Khalilzad: Iraqi Opposition Has Decided To Cooperate Fully With Coalition Forces

ANKARA - U.S. President George W. Bush's Adviser for Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad said on Tuesday that Iraqi opposition had decided to cooperate fully with coalition forces.

Addressing journalists following the meeting of Iraqi opposition groups, Khalilzad said that they had held a very beneficial meeting.

He said that Iraqi opposition had decided to cooperate fully with coalition forces and deploy all their forces to the service of the coalition forces.

Khalilzad added that Iraqi opposition groups had reached a compromise to expend efforts to prevent population movements and to call on their people to cooperate with coalition forces.''

Khalilzad said that they mainly discussed issues of fight against terrorism and refugees in today's meeting.

Khalilzad stated that the opposition groups which attended the meeting stressed that they were ready to make full cooperation with the coalition powers and to give all their capacities to the coalition powers.

Khalilzad said that the groups which attended the meeting reached a compromise about preventing migration movements within the country, adding that the U.S. accepted the responsibility of controlling possible population movements to Kirkuk and Mosul in cases of conflicts in order to prevent a possible disorder. ''We take our commitment very seriously,'' said Khalilzad.

Khalilzad stressed that the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein mistreated his people, calling the Iraqi people to make cooperation with the coalition powers.

Noting that they decided to set up a commission to solve possible disagreements in Northern Iraq, Khalilzad said that they took the decision to continue cooperation in fight with terrorism.

Upon a question about the possibility of Turkey's entering Northern Iraq, Khalilzad said that the Northern Iraqi and coalition powers decided to make cooperation with Turkey in fight with terrorism and about refugees.

Khalilzad said he didn't think that the dealing of Turkish army or regional powers with these issues was the best way, adding that ''yet the sides will continue to be in contact, we try to set up certain mechanisms.'' Upon a question about intervention in Northern Iraq, Khalilzad said he didn't think Turkey would want to enter Northern Iraq on its own and that they focused on other alternatives to eliminate the reasons which would necessitate that.

Answering a question about the representation of Turkmens in Iraqi opposition, Khalilzad said that there was no understanding of first class or second class communities, adding Turkmens should take part in all fields of Iraq.

Khalilzad added that a more comprehensive meeting would be held on Wednesday, noting that other issues would be taken up in that meeting.

Iraqi Turkmen Front leader Sanan Ahmet Aga said on Tuesday that they got promise of taking part in Presidency Council that would be formed for Iraq.

Speaking to reporters after the Iraqi opposition groups meeting in Ankara, Sanan Ahmet Aga said that the meeting was held in a very warm atmosphere, adding that they were trying to keep possible damage at the minimum level.

Aga said that a five-member commission would be set up from the sides which took part in this meeting, adding that that commission would take up decisions regarding the future of Iraq.

Meanwhile Turkmens regard the statement of U.S. President's adviser Khalilzad, who said that the U.S. took the responsibility to control possible population movements to Mosul and Kirkuk, as ''no Kurdish group would enter these cities alone.''

Sounds like everyone in northern Iraq has decided to play nice.

2 posted on 03/18/2003 4:43:45 PM PST by Dog Gone

They had no choice. It was either play with us now...or pay for it later.

3 posted on 03/18/2003 4:44:43 PM PST by My Favorite Headache (Which one will lose? Depends on what I choose or maybe which voice...I ignore.)

Upon a question about intervention in Northern Iraq, Khalilzad said he didn't think Turkey would want to enter Northern Iraq on its own and that they focused on other alternatives to eliminate the reasons which would necessitate that.
Yikes. Talk about a non-answer.

4 posted on 03/18/2003 4:45:50 PM PST by Asclepius (to the barricades)

Wait till you see the bill tomorrow.. This is just too exciting..

7 posted on 03/18/2003 5:16:14 PM PST by a_Turk (After all the jacks are in their boxes, and the clowns have all gone to bed..)

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