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.

Our gratitude to the American people is immense and we should never be embarrassed to express it.

We must acknowledge that for scores of years the Iraqis have offered martyrs and victims but have not been able to change the regime.

The Kurdish people have the right of self-determination like every other nation in the world.

Democracies, unlike dictatorships, are forgiving and generous, but they cannot survive unless they fight.

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

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