In addition, while in Iraq, Mr. Talabany was a key PUK negotiator during the drafting of the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL), Iraq’s current constitution.

He also acted as a liaison

From 2001 until spring 2003, Mr. Talabany served as the Deputy United States Representative of PUK.  In 2000 - 2001, he was a Special Assistant to the then PUK Representative in Washington, Dr. Barham Salih.  Presently, Dr. Salih is Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister.  Mr. Talabany is frequently interviewed by the popular press and other publications and has appeared numerous times on major television networks, including CNN, BBC, FOX News, and other American and international networks to discuss Kurdish and Iraqi issues.  Mr. Talabany studied in London and holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering.  He lives with his wife Sherri Kraham in Washington, D.C.
 
Sunbelt World Trade Association | Tucson, Arizona | 520.296.0138
In that capacity, Mr. Talabany works closely with the United States Government, the media and research institutions providing critical analysis and up-to-date information about the situation. In the aftermath of Operation Iraqi Freedom in spring 2003, he served for one year as a Senior Foreign Relations officer for the PUK in Iraq, operating mainly out of Baghdad and Sulaimani.  In that capacity, he has worked closely with the U.S. – led coalition Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA), and was the PUK’s top liaison to the Coalition after it became the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). 
Qubad Talabany’s family has been involved in Kurdish politics for decades.  His father Jalal Talabany, is the Secretary General of the PUK, and was a member of the rotating Presidency of the former Iraqi Governing Council.  Presently, Jalal Talabany is the newly elected President of Iraq.
The Sunbelt World Trade Association sponsors special luncheons and dinner meetings to honor foreign dignitaries visiting Tucson, as well as to address international trade and investment matters.  (See President's Message below.)

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President's Message

The Credit for Success in 2007 Goes to You Our Members

 Some of the highlights from the year 2007 were:  

#1 the forming of new subcommittees

#2 we have increased our meeting attendance by 100%

#3 carrying on past President John Barfield’s vision for Southern Arizona development

#4 Jan 9th Alexjandra Dreisbach gave us an inspiring talk about what the Tucson Medical Center is doing to serve wealthy foreign Patients from Mexico

#5 Jan 30  Bruce Greenberg told us about property ownership in Mexico and dramatic changes since Vincente Fox newly elected President Calderon took over  

#6 February 1st the SWTA board met to discuss our progress and plan 

#7 February 8 to11- Curt Pedersen represented Sunbelt in a meeting in Mazatlan in the State of Sinaloa where Tucson Mayor Walkup was present as well.  It seems like interest in  seaports on the west coast of Mainland Mexico is under scrutiny again with great plans for expansion. (In August, President Calderon made a major speech in regards to improving Mexico’s infrastructure BIG TIME.)

#8 February 20th – 2007 Sy Rotter spoke to us on how easy it was to obtain money from international agencies for worthy projects.  (Note: during this time Joe Boogaart worked on getting an Employer I.D. number for Sunbelt yet another bureaucratic bit of paper work and thanks to Joe our organization is now legal.)  

#9 March 6th Tucson City Manager Mike Hein spoke to us about Tucson and Pima County 

#10 March 20th Curt Pedersen talked about the explosion in Container freight and the new expansion plans for the Panama Canal

#11 April 17th Barney Popkin talked about USAID related to Water resources globally

#12 The SWTA board met again on April 25th to see how we can do better in promoting Sunbelt and interact with other groups. (Curt and Mina are now on the steering committee for Southern Arizona Logistic and Education Organization)

#13  May 1st -2007 Drs. Gene Giacomelli and Ron Richmann introduced a new company  “Sonora Transplant LLC” and the promise of Controlled Environments in Agriculture.

Southern Arizona. This company has since received major funding

#14 May 22nd  Joe Snell CEO of TREO, talked about the future of Tucson’s Economic Development. Joe told us later how impressed he was with our member’s expertise and promised that he would tap into this bank of knowledge.

#15 May 29th Pricilla Storm followed up with a talk on Public Policy and community planning in the Regional Town Hall sponsored by the Southern Arizona Leadership Council

#16 July 17 Lindiana Sarno talked about environmental sustainability in Southern Arizona

#17 July 26 Curt presented the PPP on the Panama Canal to the Saddlebrook Rotary Club

#18 August 14 Dr. Robert Breault spoke on the Growth around the world by using the business cluster a concept in optics

#19 August 21 Dr. Michael A. Cusonovich from the University of Arizona explained to us the pitfalls and frustration in getting grants for University research and how few ideas actually make it to the manufacturing stage 

#20 September 11 Roza Simkowich spoke to us about Eastern Europe and the changes that are taking place there

#21 September 17 to promote SWTA Curt gave a lecture on the Panama Canal to an “Oasis” class which in turn has led to another engagement for Sunbelt where he spoke to the Green Valley Forum on Wednesday December 19

#22 September 18 the Sunbelt Board met at the Tucson Racket Club to discuss business and how our present and future plans are coming along

#23 October 2nd Erick Smidt talked about Globalization and how it is benefiting America

#24 October 30th Tim Teich talked about Global Solar and their expansion plans

#26 November 13 Long time member Larry Koslow spoke to us about the intricacies of doing international business   

Curt Pedersen

2006/7 President and Chief Executive Officer 

 

On Thursday, April 28, 2005 Sunbelt sponsored a special luncheon for Qubad Jalal Talabany, the Washington-based representative to the U.S. of the Kurdish Regional Government. He is the son of Iraq's president, is trained as an engineer and is active politically in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. His talk was on tourism, agriculture & trade opportunities. The luncheon was at Casa Vicente.

Biography: Qubad Talabany serves as the Representative of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in the United States. The PUK is the leading political party in the Kurdistan Regional Government – Sulaimani, which administers the eastern part of Iraqi Kurdistan.