The Kurdistan Regional Government Representation in Austria hosted the Diplomatic Corps as well as the Kurdish and Iraqi Community in Austria at a commemoration ceremony on 9 October 2017 on the occasion of the passing of Jalal Talabani in the Viennese Hotel Imperial.
„Mam“ Jalal Talabani, former Iraqi president and founder of the Patriotic Union Kurdistan (PUK) passed away on Tuesday, 3 October 2017 at the age of 83 in Germany. Jalal Talabani was an extraordinary leader of the Kurdish liberation movement and a tireless fighter for democracy.
In the early afternoon, Representative Dr. Ramazan as well as representatives of Kurdistan’s political parties received diplomats from various countries, who offered their sympathy and condolences. Among the mourners were the ambassadors of the Republic of Iraq, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Emirate of Kuwait, as well as the Republic of Cyprus amongst others.
Following the public part of the ceremony, numerous members of the Kurdistani community in Austria commomerated the exemplary life of Jalal Talabani who was the first Kurd elected as President of Iraq in the history of the country.
Dr. Mustafa Ramazan, KRG Representative in Austria: “It was with great sadness that we gathered together to pay our last tribute of respect to president Talabani together with the Kurdistani community. “Mam” Jalal not only was a national symbol of integration but was also an elder uncle to all of us. We will miss his tireless efforts for freedom and democracy dearly.”