Jalal Talabani Quotes - Page 2

Iraq is not occupied, but there are foreign forces on its soil, which is different.

The Kurdish people welcome the no-fly zone protection, contrary to the Iraqi regime that is against it.

All I wanted was to be a university teacher.

Our plan is to struggle against terrorism and have security for the country and help draft a democratic constitution as soon as possible.

Under extremely difficult circumstances (Iraq) pursues the inherently complicated task of rebuilding the country. Yet Iraq continues, courageously, to reach for the promise of a democratic, federal and pluralistic state, where generations of oppressed Iraqis will regain their dignity, freedom and the right to join the civilized and progressive nations of the world.

We are trying to persuade all the Iraqi opposition to come breathe freedom in Iraq and use liberated Kurdistan as a base for our common struggle.

A greater international role is important to lift some of the burden from the shoulders of the United States.

A military coup needs a sacrifice and courage that you can't find in an army without morale.

It is the American air protection, which safeguards the freedom enjoyed by the Kurdish region. It guarantees the cultural, health and civilizational progress made in Iraqi Kurdistan.

There is a kind of sympathy with the Americans who are looked upon as liberators.

Iraq is not going to starve to death because of the absence of assistance from Arab countries.

Conciliation is not capitulation, nor is compromise to be deemed equivalent to imbalanced concession.

Rather, it is through conciliation and compromise that we are building a fair Iraq, a just state for all its peoples.

No for the return of Saddam's Baath party. This is against the constitution and those who are negotiating to bring them back are violating the constitution.

We are not denying that Turkey has a right to defend itself from extremists but some of its actions are not serving any democratic purpose in Turkey or in Iraq. This will not benefit the relations between the two countries.

It was an agreement between Saddam (Hussein) and the shah of Iran and not between Iraq and Iran.