U.S. To Protect The Democratic Experiment In Iraqi Kurdistan
 

(The Kurdistan Observer) Aug 21, 2001. A column published by the London-based Al- Zaman today reports that the two Kurdish leaders in Iraqi Kurdistan have received assurances from the U.S.  Administration against any attack by the Iraqi regime.

According to Al-Zaman, a few days ago the KDP leader Massoud Barzani and the PUK
leader Jalal Talabani received jointly a hand written letter from the U.S. Secretary of State, 
Colin Powell, assuring them of American support for the democratic experiment in Iraqi
Kurdistan and its readiness to protect the Kurdish people in the Safe Heaven, suggesting
that the U.S. government will retaliate against any attack on the Kurds by the Iraqi army.

The Secretary of State also assured the Kurdish leaders of continued diversion of 13 percent
of Iraq's oil revenues to the Safe Heaven region.

Al-Zaman said that an anonymous high ranking KDP official also hinted at the Mr. Powell's
letter.
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