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DATE=9/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238848
TITLE=KURDS AGREE ( L ONLY )
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  TWO KURDISH LONG-TIME BITTER RIVALS HAVE AGREED IN 
WASHINGTON TO WORK TOWARD REGIONAL ELECTIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ.  
THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN MASSOUD BARZANI AND JALAL TALIBANI WAS 
ANNOUNCED AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT AFTER TWO DAYS OF FACE TO FACE 
MEETINGS. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER HAS A REPORT.
TEXT:   THEY WERE THE FIRST SUCH MEETINGS IN FOUR YEARS BETWEEN 
THE RIVAL LEADERS.  THE MEETINGS WERE FOSTERED BY THE UNITED 
STATES AND A BEAMING SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT 
PRESIDED IN THE ORNATE TREATY ROOM OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT AS THE
ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE.
                      /// ALBRIGHT ACT ///
         THE RENEWED SPIRIT OF RECONCILIATION BETWEEN MR. BARZANI
         AND MR.TALABANI EXEMPLIFIED BY THEIR JOINT MEETING AND 
         JOINT STATEMENT TODAY WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE UNITED
         STATES AND OTHERS TO HELP THEIR PEOPLE.
                         /// END ACT ///
SHE SAID THERE CAN BE NO MORE IRAQI GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGNS TO 
ERADICATE WHOLE POPULATIONS SUCH AS SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS LAUNCHED 
IN THE PAST.  MS. ALBRIGHT SAID THE UNITED STATES IS INTENSIFYING
ITS EFFORTS TO HELP THE IRAQI PEOPLE--ARAB AND KURD--DEVELOP WHAT
SHE CALLED A DEEPER SENSE OF COMMON PURPOSE AND TO DEVELOP A 
STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING A FUTURE DEMOCRATIC AND PLURALISTIC IRAQ.
A SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL SAID THE ASSURANCE OF AMERICAN 
CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF THE KURDISH PEOPLE WILL BE TAKEN VERY 
SERIOUSLY BY THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRAQ. 
MR. BARZANI, SPEAKING THROUGH A TRANSLATOR, SAID THE AGREEMENT 
WILL HELP INSURE A PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOR THE KURDISH PEOPLE AND 
HE EMPHASIZED THAT HE IS NOT SEEKING TO BREAK UP IRAQ.
                 /// BARZANI TRANSLATOR ACT ///
         HERE I WOULD LIKE TO AFFIRM AND INTEREST FOR THE UNITY 
         OF IRAQ. (KURDISH) WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS NOT AGAINST THE 
         INTERESTS OF ANY COUNTRY IN THE REGION.
                         /// END ACT ///
OFFICIALS HERE EXPLAIN THAT THE KURDISH REGION OF IRAQ ALWAYS HAD
A DEGREE OF AUTONOMY AND THE KURDS FEEL SAFER WITH THAT SO LONG 
AS THE PRESENT REGIME IS IN POWER IN BAGHDAD. JALAL TALABANI 
SPOKE IN ENGLISH AND EXPRESSED SIMILAR FEELINGS.
                      /// TALABANI  ACT ///
         OUR PEOPLE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A UNITED, 
         DEMOCRATIC (SOMETHING) IRAQ AND IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
         US TO ASSURE THAT WE ARE NOT A SEPARATIST FORCE, WE ARE 
         A FORCE STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL UNITY OF IRAQ.
                         /// END ACT ///
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT ALSO COMMENTED ON THE LATEST IRAQI DECLARATION
OF DEFIANCE AGAINST UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.  SHE SAID
THE CREDIBILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL ARE
ON THE LINE AND IRAQ CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO GAIN THROUGH WHAT SHE 
CALLED YET ANOTHER CYCLE OF DEFIANCE AND THREATS.
NO DETAILS OF THE KURDISH AGREEMENT WERE ANNOUNCED, BUT A SENIOR 
AMERICAN OFFICIAL TOLD REPORTERS IT WAS FORMALLY SIGNED AND 
WITNESSED.  IT APPARENTLY SETS UP A MECHANISM FOR POWER AND 
REVENUE SHARING AND ELECTIONS BY NEXT SUMMER WITH A TRANSITIONAL 
ARRANGMENT FOR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNTIL THEN.
THE OFFICIAL SAID THERE WAS ALSO AGREEMENT TO HALT UNAUTHORIZED 
MILITARY ELEMENTS NEAR THE TURKISH BORDER. A REFERENCE TO THE 
KURDISH PEOPLES PARTY OR P-K-K--WHICH TURKEY, THE UNITED STATES 
AND OTHERS CONSIDER A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.(SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/PT
17-Sep-98 7:31 PM EDT (2331 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.