(The Kurdistan Observer) May 5, 2002. The Syrian president, Beshar Assad, received the KDP leader Massoud Barzani and the KDP delegation accompanying him in Damascus, reported the KDP media last Friday.

Mr. Barzani who headed to Europe in the middle of last month via Syria, had several meetings with Europian officals.  The focal point of the latest  Barzani visit abroad was his second meeting with PUK leader Jalal Talabani in Germany since the Washington Accord signed between the two leaders in Washington in 1998.

Many observers believe that the two Kurdish leaders discussed plans for a government that would replace Saddam's regime once the Iraqi leader is ousted.  However, the KDP and PUK media said the aim of the meeting of the two Kurdish leader in  Germany was to discuss the ongoing peace prosses between the two parties. According to UPI, both leaders agreed to combine three of their  ministries dealing with education, health, and social affairs, as the 
first step toward the complete reconciliation of their  administrations.

The KDP Delegation accompanied Barzani was made up of Azad Berwari, Hoshiar Zebari, Mesroor Barzani, and Ghazi Zebari, the KDP representative in Damascus.