KurdistanObserver.com

CNN Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer

Interview With Jalal Talabani

Sep 11, 2005

Just a short while ago, I spoke with the Iraqi president, Jalal Talabani. He's here in Washington, scheduled to meet with President Bush on Tuesday.

President Talabani, thanks very much for joining us. Welcome to Washington. Welcome to "Late Edition."

PRES. JALAL TALABANI, IRAQ: Thank you very much.

BLITZER: Let's get to one immediate issue right now: Are you worried that all the focus here in the United States right now on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina will divert attention from what's happening in Iraq?

TALABANI: Well, let me first express, in the name of the Iraqi people, our condolences to great American people for what happened by Katrina. We were very sorry. We are your partners in sharing your people, what they are sorry for about.

Of course, this is some important thing, but I think the American president is determined to finish the job.

BLITZER: To finish the job in Iraq?

TALABANI: Yes.

BLITZER: The "Time" magazine has a poll that is out now -- today. It says, "Should the U.S. cut back on Iraq spending to pay for the hurricane damage?"

Sixty-one percent of the American public said yes; 35 percent said no. I guess another way of phrasing the question: Do you think financial -- so far, the United States has spent almost $300 billion trying to help the people of Iraq -- do you think that this financial cutback could occur because of Katrina, the money needed here in the United States, that could undermine your country?

TALABANI: No, we think that the United States of America has full right to spend for its internal affairs, and I think the United States of America helped to our people now stand up and we have improvement in economy, and we are producing oil more than before. And our plan to (inaudible) our resources is going on in a successful way. For that, it will not, of course, it will not affect very much the Iraqi situation.

BLITZER: When will Iraq be self-sufficient and won't depend on economic assistance from the U.S. and the rest of the world?

TALABANI: Well, first, let me remind that this day, the 11th of September, is the day on which the biggest crime was committed against humanity, against your people, which is proving that the terrorism is not starting because the war of liberation of Iraq, but because the terrorists are the enemy of the humanity, of all values of humanity and democracy, and of all real values of Islam also. I think Iraqi people have past difficulties. Iraq, now on the eve of having a new constitution -- we had a free election, we had to choose the national assembly. The national assembly elected presidency, and the president, the prime minister was appointed. I think Iraq is going gradually to be able, within two years, to stand up and to depend on its own sources. You know, Iraq is a rich country. It's a rich country, not only by the national resources, but by the (inaudible). We have hundreds of thousands of...

BLITZER: So you said -- excuse me for interrupting, because on Friday, at the Pentagon, you said two years for U.S. troops to remain in Iraq. At the end of the next two years, do you think the U.S. will be able to completely withdraw?

TALABANI: The maximum time, I said. And I said, first of all, I like to say that we'd want American forces remain in special guidance, not be engaging in daily activities...

BLITZER: Even beyond the two years?

TALABANI: Even now. Even now, we want that American forces will be special garrisons, not be engaged in daily work or operations. When we needed them -- because now we have a big number of police and army members; about 190,000 Iraqis are now in police and in the army. We can do lots of things that, before, we couldn't do it. We want Americans to be far from the daily sacrificing. It's our duty to sacrifice for our people and for our cause. I said we'll be able within two years, that everything will be OK, not -- we'll not be (inaudible). I said also, our need to American forces is not only for internal affairs of fighting against terrorism, but also to frighten neighbors who want to interfere in the internal affairs of Iraq.

BLITZER: Speaking of your neighbors, have you shut the border with Syria?

TALABANI: No, you know, that's was yesterday announced that we shut the border, but it is not. You know, we are in need to have a friendly dialogue with our brothers in Damascus, to reach agreement on the dispute on our differences with them, and they showed their goodwill. President Bashar invited me and showed his goodwill to help Iraqi people against terrorism and to end -- and to close the border. But you know, the most important thing now...

BLITZER: Let me interrupt you for a second.

Are you saying that the Syrian government of President Bashar al- Assad is trying to do everything it possibly can to stop insurgents, terrorists from coming into Iraq?

TALABANI: I cannot say everything, but I say that President Bashar offered to us that he's ready to cooperate with Iraqi government.

BLITZER: But those are words. In deeds, are the Syrians, the Syrian military, stopping insurgents from crossing the border?

TALABANI: Let me be very frank with you.  I think Syrians also started to feel that terrorism is their enemy also, and there are some activities of terrorists inside Syria. And they're now going to be convinced that the best way to have good relations with Iraqi people is to side with Iraqis, not with the terrorists. For that, I hope we'll reach agreement. But I said I hope, and...

BLITZER: In the meantime, the border remains shut.

TALABANI: Yes. We are not asking our brothers in Syria to shut the borders only, to deliver to us some criminals who are now living in Syria and prevent the activity of ex-Baathists in Syria. And we hope that our brothers in Damascus, especially we hope that President Bashar Assad will accept our demand.

BLITZER: What about Saddam Hussein? When does the trial of Saddam Hussein begin?

TALABANI: Saddam Hussein is now under investigation. (Inaudible) is going to ask him, and because we have tons and tons of documents against him, the crimes of Saddam Hussein cannot be limited. For that, it needs time -- that, for example, one week for one case...

BLITZER: But there was some suggestion in October that the trial could begin...

TALABANI: I think so, because it is the end of the investigation about some kind of crimes which can start the court with it.

BLITZER: Did he confess -- did he confess to gassing the Kurds in Halabja?

TALABANI: As he just told me, he confessed that he ordered the army to do everything that happened. He says, I am, as commander-in- chief of the Iraqi army, I am responsible for what they have done. That is in general, he confessed.

BLITZER: So you think that this is a formal confession for which he deserves to be executed?

TALABANI: I think he deserves the best kind of -- like a criminal of war -- he deserves that kind of punishment. As to the execution, you know, Iraqi court is independent. I don't want to interfere in the internal affairs of the Iraqi judges and courts. But I think he deserves as much as harsh punishment.

BLITZER: On the issue of diplomatic relations, you probably know that the president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, leader of a Muslim country, met with the Israeli foreign minister, Silvan Shalom, and they're establishing relations. Do you, as the president of Iraq -- do you want to meet with Israelis and talk about diplomatic relations between Iraq and Israel, like Jordan has, like Egypt has, like Pakistan is about to have?

TALABANI: I was asked by an Israeli journalist in the press conference. My answer was: Iraq is an Arabic country state. It is not Islamic only. And Iraq is committed to the resolutions passed by the summit of Arabs in Beirut which was presented by -- now, the king of Saudi Arabia -- King Abdullah. We said that Arab countries -- all of them, of course, including Iraq, are very (inaudible) relation with Israel if Israel accepts the resolutions passed by the United Nations. I hope it will be done. And if Palestinians will reach an agreement with Israel's government, I think then, we can (inaudible) more Palestinians in Palestine. And we must normalize the relation. But it needs time. Iraq cannot alone decide, because, you know, now we are under attack that we have relation and we have relation with Israel and thousands of Israelis (ph) are especially in Kurdistan, (inaudible). But Iraq alone in this time cannot decide this kind of decision.

BLITZER: Are you prepared personally to meet with Israelis?

TALABANI: I, as Jalal Talabani, I am not against these people. I have good relations with them. And many times, especially international and other meetings, I met many leaders of Labor parties, of the left part of the Israelis. For me, but now, you know, I'm the president of Iraq. And as the president of Iraq, I am committed to the policy of Iraqi government, which is not permitting to go to meet them.

BLITZER: One final question: the constitution. Will it be ratified in October, as scheduled?

TALABANI: I hope so. I hope so.

BLITZER: Will the Sunnis participate?

TALABANI: Well, many Sunnis participated. Excuse me to correct for you: This group which boycotted in the name of Sunnis are not representing Sunnis. We have Sunnis with us. We speak on behalf of the Sunni. Deputy prime ministers -- we have two deputy prime ministers, Sunni. We have a vice president, Sunni. We have six members of the cabinet, Sunni. We have hundreds and thousands of Sunnis, personalities, chief of tribes, well known ex-officers, are supporting the constitution. For that, those who are boycotting now, they are representing a part of Sunnis, not all of the Sunnis.

BLITZER: So you're optimistic.

TALABANI: I am optimistic. I was always optimistic. Especially now, I think the future is very clear and I hope that if you permit me to say some words to thank again the American great people for what they have done and thank President Bush for sending army to liberate. Yesterday, I visited a hospital and I expressed in the name of Iraqi people our gratitude to those heroes who came to Iraq to liberate us from the worst kind of dictatorship.

BLITZER: President Talabani, thanks very much. Thanks for joining us on "Late Edition."

TALABANI: Thank you very much. I hope to see you in Iraq very soon.

BLITZER: Thank you.