Talibani: relations with Syria are principled, strategic

The leader of the Kurdistani National Party, Jalal Talibani, has stated "our consultations with the Syrian leadership are continuous and our relations with it is principled and strategic in this phase and will continue commitment to these relations because of the support Syria signifies for us and the good deeds it had on us."

In an interview with the United Arab Emirates UAE al-Khaleij daily issued yesterday, Talibani added that current developments in the Middle East especially the likely war and the expected changes are but an incentive for us to maintain rapid and organized consultations especially with the "brothers " in Syria because they are for us allies and friends in various conditions.

On whether the Kurds in Syria will be affected in case developments will take place in Iraq, al-Talibani said Syria's Kurds are part of the Syrian people and they have to play their role as Syrian citizens and to support the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad and defend the Syrian national unity, to work under Syria's banner and for its own interest.

Talibani denied attempt to found an independent Kurdish state by the Kurdish side. He said that there is no regional or international state that seeks this matter, noting that the international, even regional efforts, talks about a political change and not a geographical change and therefore there is no justifications of fears from an alleged Kurdish state.