Erbil - A seasoned Iraqi-Kurdish source has stated that the Iraqi opposition
will hold a broad conference next June with the participation of independent
figures and most opposition parties and factions opposed to the current Iraqi
rule. Hoshiar Zebari, political bureau member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and KDP official in charge of foreign relations, told "Al-Sharq al-Awsat" that a US delegation, led by Ryan Crocker, deputy assistant secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, conveyed to Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq during a visit early this month the US Government's desire that Kurdish parties take part in the conference.   More than 300 people are expected to attend the conference, which is organized by the Washington-based Middle East Institute and financed by the State Department.   Zebari said the conference would be dedicated to discuss Iraq's future in light of the ideas that would be proposed.   He added that a declaration of principles to be issued at the end of the conference would
include the general outlines of the features of Iraq's future.   Zebari underlined that groups and workshops of scholars and experts would be formed at the conference to prepare reports on a number of issues, including the crimes and violations committed by the Iraqi regime against the citizens.   Other issues include the legal and constitutional matter and the role of the army and legislative and executive bodies in the future of Iraq, as well as education, health and the media.

The Kurdish official said the US delegation's visit to the region complemented
a previous visit by the same delegation early this year to inform the two main
Kurdish parties in northern Iraq of the US concern about the Iraqi Kurdish
region and underline US commitment to protect the area against any attacks.  
According to the Kurdish official, the US delegation was briefed on the situation of the region and its populace during meetings it held with various
political parties in the region, including the Assyrian parties--which represent
Christians--and Turkmen parties.

The leadership of the two major Kurdish parties, headed by Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talibani, are coordinating their stands regarding the opposition
conference, in which they would both play an eminent role. They would both
emphasize their adherence to the federation option for Iraq's Kurdistan and
would submit a unified position concerning this issue.

Meanwhile, the Higher Peace Coordination Committee between the two Kurdish parties held a new meeting yesterday in which it discussed the pending controversial issues within the framework of reconciliation between them and developments in the Kurdish region and Iraq.

A KDP leader told "Al-Sharq al-Awsat" that the recent meeting focused on means of cooperation between the two parties to face terrorism and terrorist
operations in the region, in addition to the formation of a joint operations
room of the two parties' concerned authorities to face terrorism.   The source
pointed out that a major controversial point persisted regarding the issue of
reconciliation between the two parties.   This point, he said, is the National
Council--parliament.   The source, however, reiterated that this dispute did not
and would not forestall or affect coordination and mutual work between both
parties in a great number of issues and fields.