(5 Oct 2004) SHOTLIST
1. Various of helicopter arriving
2. Helicopter resting on landing site with blades spinning
3. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and others getting out of helicopter
4. Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani coming out to greet Straw
5. Various of Barzani and British officials greeting each other and entering building
6. SOUNDBITE: (Kurdish) Nechirvan Barzani, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Prime Minister:
"This is an opportunity for me today to thank the British people, the British government for the liberation of the Iraqi people at the hands of the dictatorial regime"
7. Media
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jack Straw, British Foreign Secretary:
"I'm delighted to be here and delighted to see all the work that has been undertaken in the past 13 years, as you say, with the autonomy of this area under the protection of the United States and the United Kingdom."
9. Media
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jack Straw, British Foreign Secretary:
"What you have achieved here is the future for all Iraq. (Translator speaks) And we have, and with your help, make Iraq secure. Then ensure that there is the active consent of the Iraqi people through the elections that come up in January of next year."
11. Media
12. Straw and Barzani leaving press conference
13. Straw getting into a car
14. Straw's convoy parked in front of building
15. Helicopters waiting to take off
16. Convoy of cars
17. Helicopter taking off
STORYLINE:
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was in northern Iraq on Tuesday for meetings with Kurdish leaders.
He held talks with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani and afterwards the two gave a joint news conference.
Barzani thanked Britain for its role in toppling Saddam Hussein.
Straw responded by saying what had been achieved in the Kurdish region was "the future for all Iraq."
Straw is visiting the northern cities of Kirkuk and Irbil over the next few days, and will take part in talks focusing on reconstruction and plans for Iraqi elections in January.
A spokesman said Straw would spend "a few days" in the region.
Straw's office would give no other details of the visit, which was not announced in advance, citing security reasons.
The Kurdish region of northern Iraq has traditionally enjoyed a high degree of autonomy, and its leaders have been among the most consistent supporters of the US-led coalition that toppled Saddam Hussein.
The trip is Straw's third to Iraq and his first to the north of the country.
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