Qubad Talabani

Qubad Talabani is U.S. representative of the Kurdish Regional Government of Iraq, and the son of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. He previously represented the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in the United States.

In February 2007, O'Dwyer's PR Daily reported that the Kurdish Regional Government had "officially opened a D.C. lobbying office, which is headed by Qubad Talabany. His goal is to mobilize grassroots support for Kurdish interests," including by establishing a Kurdish Congressional Caucus and a Kurdish-American business council. Talabany will also "promote Kurdish educational and cultural links with the U.S." 

Profiles
According to his January 2006 speaker's profile at James Madison University, "In the wake of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, Qubad Talabani served for one year as senior foreign relations officer for the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, a leading Kurdish political party responsible for administering the eastern part of Iraqi Kurdistan. In that capacity, Talabani worked closely with the U.S.-led Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance and was subsequently the PUK's top liaison with the Coalition Provisional Authority. In addition, he was a key PUK negotiator during the drafting of the Transitional Administrative Law, Iraq's first post-Saddam constitution. He also acted as a liaison officer between the PUK and U.S. military forces in Iraq.

"Previously, from 2001 until 2003, Talabani served as the deputy representative of the PUK in Washington, and, from 2000 to 2001, he was a special assistant to the then PUK representative, Dr. Barham Salih, who is currently Iraq's minister for planning and international development coordination.

"Talabani has appeared on CNN, BBC and FOX News to discuss Kurdish and Iraqi issues. His family has been involved in Kurdish politics for decades and his father, Jalal Talabani, is secretary-general of the PUK."

In 2005, Talabani married Sherri Kraham, in great secrecy at Castello del Palagio" in Italy.

In the News

 * "'The federalism concept is non-negotiable for the Kurds,' said Qubad Talabani, Washington representative of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and son of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, in a May 2005 Council on Foreign Relations meeting."


 * "Another Iraqi casting votes at the polling station was Qubad Talabani, son of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. The younger Talabani, who represents the Iraqi Kurdistan regional government in Washington, told RFE/RL that Kurds have been buoyed by a series of recent policy speeches on Iraqi given by U.S. President George W. Bush.


 * "'There were some concerns from certain circles within Iraqi society because of the debate in the United States, because of the debate among the United States Congress, that there could be a wavering of this commitment. But I think the president put the record straight, and the United States is committed to seeing this process through to the end,' Qubad Talabani said."

SourceWatch Resources

 * Barbour, Griffith and Rogers
 * Kurdistan - The Other Iraq
 * New Iraq
 * post-war Iraq
 * Russo Marsh & Rogers