British Official Calls for New Elections in Kurdistan

( The Kurdistan Observer) Oct 19, 2001.The remarks of Jack Straw, the MP and Foreign
Secretary of British Government, in Ankara have eased Turkish concerns over Southern
(Iraqi) Kurdistan, reported a London based Arabic newspaper, Al-Hayat today. 

Mr. Straw indicated that the current military campaign against terrorism is focused solely on
Afghanistan, and that there has been no evidence implicating Iraq in September 11 terrorist
act or suggesting Iraq's involvement with the Qaida organization of Bin Laden.

The Foreign Secretary in discussions with the Turkish Foreign Minister, Ismael Jim
alleviated Turkey's concerns about the future of Iraqi Kurdistan. 

Mr. Straw also expressed the necessity for cooperation among the Kurdish parties in Iraq and
called for new general elections in Iraqi Kurdistan.
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