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NEWS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

April 23, 2003
Release Number: 03-04-171


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


POOL REPORT OF MR. GARNER'S TRIP TO BAGHDAD - DAY 2, PART 2

FROM: REUTERS DUBAI
Steve Pagani
PO BOX 1426
DUBAI MEDIA CITY
BUILDING 1/5
DUBAI, UAE
22nd April, 2003

Here is the latest pool copy from the Garner trip from Sulaimaniya:

Garner addressed a public meeting at a council building in Sulaimaniya. About two hundred men and women packed into the hall. Some were dressed in suits, some in traditional Kurdish turbans and billowing pantaloons.

Asked about women's rights, Garner said:

"In the future, we will have a very strong, democratic government in Iraq, and maybe one day we will have a woman to govern Iraq."

After the meeting, reporter questioned Kurdish governor of Sulaimaniya, Aso Sheikh Nuri, about what he wanted from the United States forces.

Nuri said: "The United States must first protect the safety of the Kurdish people, because they are threatened by their neighbours."

"It is true Saddam Hussein's regime has fallen, but there are regimes around us who do not like the idea of a free Kurdistan."

Asked if he wanted a free Kurdistan, he said:

"No I don't believe that in the current circumstances. We want a federated Iraq. We want to live inside a free and democratic Iraq."

Further note from earlier news conference in garden of the chalet in Dukan:

Barzani told the news conference: "We are very pleased that the entire Iraqi people will be the masters of their destiny. They will govern themselves by themselves."