Jalal Talabani Turkey Quotations

I thank Turkish officials for their decision not to send troops to Iraq. Turkey is a friendly country, and I want a new page to be opened between us.

We think that PKK committed a big mistake when they resumed the war against Turkish government.... We think that the time is for all people to choose political and peaceful methods of struggle. We don't think that what they are doing is in the interests of the Kurdish people either in Turkey or in Iraq.

We wish to strengthen our ties with Turkey on the basis of constructive and prudent dialogue and mutual respect.

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.

We have to renew ties with Turkey to remove the chill in relations in the past.