Barzani Emphasizes The Importance Of The Democratic Role

July 21, 2001

In a column published by the London-based Al Zaman yesterday, the KDP leader
Massoud Barzani was reported to emphasize the importance of the democratic role
played by the Kurdish communities abroad, indicating that it is important to find 
amechanism among the party members that matches with the new realities in the
Kurdish region. This came during a meeting with the representatives of the KDP's
6th branch which was convened in Salahuddin last Thursday.

The report added that Mr. Barzani had met several times last week with the representatives
of the Kurdish Regional Government abroad and KDP officials in Europe.

Al-Zaman also reported that the joint committee between the KDP and PUK for the affairs of
the internally displaced people in Kurdistan had met in Suleymaniah.

It was decided to prepare the list of the third round of returnees to go home next week. They
also agreed to work seriously to prepare the  fourth round of returnees to go home soon.

Last month, in accordance with the agreement of the Higher Committee for Peace between
the KDP and PUK, for the first time, 40 exiled families  in Arbil were allowed to return to
their homes in Suleymania in exchange for 35  families from Suleymania to their homes in
Arbil.
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