VZCZCXRO4592
RR RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #0897 0730552
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140552Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0182
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 000897 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
UNCLASSIFIED 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV ECON PINS IZ IR TU US
 
SUBJECT:  Iraqi Kurdistan Region Media Summary -- March 10, 2007 
 
 
¶1.  (U)  This is a Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) cable. 
 
Adnan Al Mufti:  Kurds Will Maintain Relations with Shi'a Coalition 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶2.  (U)  PUKmedia.com covered a press statement by KNA Speaker Adnan 
Al Mufti saying that the Kurdish Bloc in the Iraq National Assembly 
(INA) will maintain relations with the Shi'a Coalition.  (Note: 
Following last week's of Al Fadila party from the Shi'a Coalition, 
Iliad Alawi visited the Kurdistan Region, raising public speculation 
that Kurdish INA members would align with Alawi.)  Al Mufti stated, 
"We insist on keeping this relation with the Shi'a Coalition.  This 
relationship supports the Iraqi government." 
 
Ansar Al Islam Arrest in Penjwin 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U)  PUKmedia.com reported on the arrest of an Ansar Al Islam 
leader by local police in the Penjwin, a town on the border with 
Iran.  The head of Penjwin Police touted the capture in a statement 
for PUKmedia:  "After we received intelligence information, we 
attacked the terrorist's hiding place and got him." 
 
KRG President Meets with General Wierzinksi 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (U)  KDP media outlets covered the meeting of KRG President 
Masoud Barzani with the General Wierzinksi from the Coalitional 
Forces.  According to reports, the two discussed security in Mosul 
Province.  Following the meeting General Wierzinski visited grave of 
Mulla Mustafa Barzani, founder of the KDP. 
 
Women's Conference Marks International Women's Day in Erbil 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶5.  (U)  The major Kurdish media covered the March 8 conference on 
the Status of Women held by the local NGO Kurdish National Congress. 
 Shereen Amedi, head of Kurdistan Women's Union, delivered a keynote 
address calling for increased participation of women in society. 
The conference was held under the patronage of KRG President Masoud 
Barzani.  Muhammad Mullah Qadir made a statement on Barzani's behalf 
and Kurdistan National Assembly (KNA) speaker Adnan Al Mufti made a 
statement for the KNA.  The conference was attended by KRG 
ministers, KNA members, and representatives of women's NGOs in the 
Kurdistan Region. 
 
Reports of Bomb Explosion in Sulaimaniyah Denied by Security Forces 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶6.  (U)  The major Kurdish media covered reports of a bomb explosion 
in the Sulaimaniyah City neighborhood of Hewari Taza on March 9.  An 
anonymous source from the Sulaimaniyah Asayish security forces 
denied that the explosion was a bomb saying that it was "Flash 
Thunder," an explosive device intended to make noise but cause no 
harm to people or property.  The same source was quoted, "we did not 
arrest anyone and have no reason to believe a terrorist group is 
behind this explosion." 
 
Dutch and Polish Companies Ready to Invest in Kurdistan 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶7.  (U)  Major Kurdish media covered a meeting between KRG Minister 
of Planning Osman Shwani with executives from Dutch and Polish 
companies that are interested in investing in the Kurdistan Region. 
Shwani encouraged the companies to invest, explaining that the 
security and stability of the region provided the perfect 
environment for foreign investment. 
 
¶8.  (U)  This media summary is prepared by Public Diplomacy 
Assistant Tawar Rasheed.