Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) President Bafel Jalal Talabani delivered a speech at the International Dialogue Conference in Baghdad today. Drawing attention to the process for a resolution to the Kurdish question initiated by Abdullah Öcalan, Talabani said, “The peace process requires dialog and negotiation. As the PUK, we are in favor of peace and we support the current process.”

Appealing to international powers, Bafel Talabani stated: “Support us wherever we need it. Kurds have been fighting against the Turkish government for 40 years. There is not a single Kurdish family whose family members have not been massacred by Turkey. Kurds have witnessed the massacres perpetrated by the Turkish state against them.

The Kurds in Syria are not at peace. General Mazloum (Abdi) is under pressure because ISIS is not over. On the contrary, it is growing. According to the available statistics, there is an increase in ISIS attacks. Due to the growing threat of ISIS, international countries need to reconsider the situation in Iraq and Syria.”

Talabani pointed out that the rights of Kurds, Druze and Alawites in Syria should be secured, a new constitution should be written for Syria with the participation of all nations and beliefs, and the Kurds' defeat of ISIS should not be forgotten or ignored.