Kurdish Official, US Envoy Discuss Development, Ties

From: The PUK TV KurdSat in Kurdish

June 13, 2005

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Political Bureau Executive Board chairman, Kosrat Rasul Ali, received the US State Department envoy to Iraq, David Satterfield, and a delegation of the US forces in Iraq this morning at the PUK Political Bureau headquarters.

In a meeting, Kosrat Rasul Ali warmly welcomed the visiting delegation and thanked them for their visit to the Kurdistan region. He mentioned the friendly bilateral relations between the US and the Kurdish people, and said: "The people of Kurdistan are loyal people and appreciate the US efforts to liberate Iraq from the dictatorial reign, they will never forget the US alliance and cooperation and will carry through their efforts to bring about freedom and democracy".

He also pointed out the progress in the political process in Kurdistan and the relations between the PUK and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and said: "Our efforts to reunite the Kurdish house [as heard] are under way.

"The president of the Kurdistan region will take the constitutional oath in a ceremony that will be attended by as all. And in the near future the new Kurdistan coalition government will be formed; and in accordance with certain mechanisms in place, the two administration will reunite."

On his part, David Satterfield introduced the delegation accompanying him and said: "After assuming this post in the State Department, I found it necessary to visit the Kurdistan region and take part in the swearing-in ceremony of the president of the Kurdistan region.

"I am here, in the PUK Political Bureau, to familiarize myself, to exchange views on and discuss the current political and economic development in Iraq and Kurdistan. I look forward to discussing these issues further in my future visits."

Later on, other issues such as the drafting of the new constitution in Iraq, which is a key political issue in Iraq; and the status of the Kurdistan Peshmerga Force in Iraq and Kurdistan.