Iraqi Kurdistan Region Media Summary --

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000504

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV ECON IZ TU IR

SUBJECT: Iraqi Kurdistan Region Media Summary --
February 13, 2007


1. (U) This is a Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) cable.

Kurdistan Regional Government Strongly Condemns U. S. Air Strike in
Mosul
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2. (U) The office of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)
President Massoud Barzani issued a statement condemning the killing
of Peshmerga soldiers during a U. S. air strike in Mosul last
Thursday. The statement says "We strongly condemn this ugly
operation, especially because recently these attacks have been
happening repeatedly and without any justification." The statement
added, "Kurdish citizens ask the commanders of American troops to
investigate this operation, announce the result of the
investigation, punish those who were responsible, and to know the
real motives behind the attacks." The statement also warns that
there will be "painful consequences" if these attacks continue. The
statement was issued via the Kurdish Peyamner News Agency but has
not been carried in any local newspapers.

Continuing Coverage of Palestinian Representative's Visit to Iraqi
Kurdistan
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3. (U) Major Kurdish newspapers reported on the second day of a
visit by the Palestinian Authority President's Special
Representative, Jibreel Rajoob, to Iraqi Kurdistan. Yesterday
Rajoob met with Kurdistan National Assembly Speaker Adnan Mufti at
the KNA building to discuss the strong historical ties between the
Kurds and Palestine. Mufti described the Palestinian visit as a
reinforcement of that relationship and Rajoob expressed his
readiness to sustain the relationship. Mufti, in turn, expressed
the Kurdistan Regional Government's support of the Mecca Agreement
between Fateh and Hamas, describing it as a positive initiative
towards a stable and peaceful Palestine.


4. (U) Newspapers also wrote about Rajoob's refusal to stand in
front of the Kurdistan flag at a press conference following his
meeting with KRG President Massoud Barzani on Sunday. According to
Awene independent newspaper, Rajoob and Barzani agreed to move both
the Palestinian and the Kurdish flags away from camera view.
However, in a clarification letter published in the PUK-publication
Kurdistani Nwe, the political bureau of the KDP discredited this
saying, "No flags were originally intended to be put behind speakers
at the press conference."


5. (U) The same article in Kurdistani Nwe provides further coverage
of the press conference. Fadhil Mirani, Secretary of the Kurdistan
Democratic Party's Political Bureau, Fadhil Mirani, said in the
press conference that the KRG has not agreed to shelter Palestinian
refugees. "Fateh will open its office in Kurdistan," he said. "But
the office is going to represent Fateh as a party and will not
represent the Palestinian Authority."

Anniversary of PKK Leader's Arrest Sparks Protests for His Release
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6. (U) On the eighth anniversary of the arrest of PKK President
Abdulla Aujalan, Awene independent newspaper reports on scheduled
protests organized by the "Aujalan Protection Committee" calling for
his release. On Thursday protesters will march on the Kurdistan
National Assembly building in Erbil and deliver a petition to the
parliament. A similar protest will take place in Sulaimaniyah on
Saturday. A number of elderly women at the Makhmour refugee camp
have also gone on strike for three days to mark the anniversary.

Forty-Five Kurdish Asylum Seekers Deported to Erbil
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7. (U) Knewsdaily.net exclusive
The Kurdish-language website Knewsdaily.net published an exclusive
telephone interview with a Kurdish asylum seeker who was deported
from the U. K. along with 44 others. The group arrived to Erbil
International Airport last night on a British military aircraft.
"We were handcuffed and not allowed to get off the plane until late
at night," the asylum seeker said. Knewsdaily.net also contacted
the President of the Iraqi Asylum-Seekers Federation in the U. K.,
Dashti Jamal. Jamal said that his group had lost contact with
relevant U. K. officials by the time the asylum seekers were on the
plane to Erbil and could do nothing to stop the deportation.

KNA Speaker: Turkmen Will Be Second Ethnicity in Kirkuk
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8. (U) Major media reported on a meeting between KNA speaker Adnan
al-Mufti and a delegation from the International Republican
Institute (IRI) in Erbil today. In the meeting Mufti commented, "As
soon as Kirkuk is back in the green line, Turkmen will represent the

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second largest ethnicity in Kirkuk after the Kurds." He also said
that the Kurdish leadership supports their Turkmen brothers wherever
they represent majority in terms of population. He continued that
they have every right to take the rank of governor, mayor, or any
other administrative position.

Commentaries:
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9. (U) Awene independent newspaper ran an article by Jaza Muhammed
that talks about the hopelessness of some residents and officials
concerning the possible return of Kurdish-majority towns around
Diyala Province to the Kurdistan Region territories. He summarizes
the views of two local officials. While the head of Article 140
Office in Khanaqeen is optimistic that the Article 140 Committee's
decisions will be implemented peacefully, the Mayor of Qaratapah
district anticipates a disparity in the execution of the plan. He
said there is lack of knowledge about how the plan is to be
implemented and no visible action to execute the Article 140
Committee's decisions at the local level. (Note: Article 140
Committee resolutions are scheduled to begin implementation starting
on March 15.)


10. (SBU) This media summary is completed by Press and Cultural
Specialist Hama Othman.