Tehran, 2007/01/20, IRNA
 
US kidnapping of diplomats from the Iranian Consulate in Arbil has caused humanitarian problems for Iraqi Kurds living in the province, representative of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in Tehran said on Saturday.

Nazem Dabbagh said that the closure of the Consulate has deprived Iraqi Kurds and patients who had applied for Iranian visas.

Dabbagh, who is also a representative of Iraq's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) told IRNA that the Consulate used to grant visas to more than 150 people living in the Iraqi province and the US action has deprived the Iraqis of consular services for Iraqi people.

He said that the US attempted to sabotage Iran's relations with Iraqi Kurdistan province adding that fortunately there is
understanding between the two parties.

Dabbagh said that President Talabani, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and chief of Iraqi Kurdistan administration are seriously seeking to secure release of Iranian diplomats.

Iran lodged a complaint with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon against United States for kidnapping Iranian diplomats from Iran's Consulate in Arbil, Iraq.

The Consulate was set up in Arbil several years ago under an agreement between Iran and the Iraqi Kurdistan self rule government.

Iraq-US-Kidnap-Iranian Diplomats