Press release on the passing away of former President of Iraq Jalal Talabani

On October 3, former President of Iraq Jalal Talabani died at the age of 83 after a long illness.

Jalal Talabani was one of the most prominent modern leaders in Iraq and the Middle East. As an ethnic Kurd, he was one of the founding fathers of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), one of the two leading associations of Iraqi Kurds, which he led up until his dying days.

The prestige and political weight of Jalal Talabani led to his election as Iraq’s first non-Arab president. He held this position for nine of the most difficult years in Iraq’s recent history, between 2005 and 2014. He greatly contributed to the restoration of the Iraqi state, which was shattered by the Anglo-American invasion in 2003. In the new Iraq led by Talabani, the legitimate interests of all ethnic and religious groups, including Kurds, were respected. Jalal Talabani was a true patriot of his nation who consistently advocated federalism, unity and territorial integrity, as well as the implementation of the Kurds’ rights in a broad autonomy. This civil position plays a key role at this moment in light of the current developments concerning Iraqi Kurdistan.

Jalal Talabani was always sympathetic towards Russia and called for strengthening the traditionally friendly relations between Iraq and Russia. His contribution to the restoration of Russian-Iraqi relations as well as to their consistent improvement in the new period of Iraqi history is worthy of high praise.

We express our deep condolences to the family and friends of Jalal Talabani, the Kurdish community, the Iraqi leadership and the friendly Iraqi people.