Barzani: "Kurds and the iraqi council both favor a federation"

In a gathering with some 30 Kurdish, Turkmen and Asuri representatives in Salahaddin, Iraq, Barzani claimed that there were two main populations in Iraq, the Arabs and the Kurds. “Other minorities’ rights will also be protected within the framework of federalism,” pledged Barzani. “We agreed with Iraq’s Governing Council on forming of a federation. We, the Kurdish people will decide ourselves on our relationship with the central authority.” Adding that some Turkmen had understood the situation and were struggling for their own rights, the Kurdish leader said, “But some others oppose the rights of Kurds, Turkmen, Asuri and Armenians living in Kurdistan. They should reconsider their stances.”