Thursday, September 13, 2007
U.N. concerned about shelling of Kurdistan
Kurdistan
(Voices of Iraq) - The United Nations is deeply concerned about the sporadic shelling of villages in Iraq's northern Kurdistan region, U.N. Special Envoy to Iraq Ashraf Qazi said on Wednesday. "Such incidents cause damage to residents of these areas, create panic and prevent them from performing their daily life activities," Qazi said in a statement received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
According to the statement, Qazi called on those concerned to spare no effort to halt the shelling and to refrain from taking any action that would undermine Iraq's political and humanitarian stability. Concerned U.N. agencies contacted local authorities and sent teams to assess the situation and immediate humanitarian needs. The teams supplied hundreds of immigrant families with humanitarian assistance such as clothing, hygiene packages, medical kits and blankets, and work is still underway to provide sufficient amounts of water to the victims, Qazi added.
The Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) UN Coordinator, Dindar Zebari, described on Sunday the Iraqi government's stance on Iranian and Turkish shelling of cross-border regions as "weak," noting that a UN delegation will visit the region to examine the situation.
According to the statement, Qazi called on those concerned to spare no effort to halt the shelling and to refrain from taking any action that would undermine Iraq's political and humanitarian stability. Concerned U.N. agencies contacted local authorities and sent teams to assess the situation and immediate humanitarian needs. The teams supplied hundreds of immigrant families with humanitarian assistance such as clothing, hygiene packages, medical kits and blankets, and work is still underway to provide sufficient amounts of water to the victims, Qazi added.
The Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) UN Coordinator, Dindar Zebari, described on Sunday the Iraqi government's stance on Iranian and Turkish shelling of cross-border regions as "weak," noting that a UN delegation will visit the region to examine the situation.
Labels: Ashraf Qazi, Dindar Zebari, Kurdistan, security, U.N.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Swede is named new U.N. envoy to Iraq
U.N.
(AP) -- Staffan de Mistura, a Swede who has worked at the U.N. for 30 years, was appointed Wednesday as the new U.N. envoy to Iraq.De Mistura, who has served as the U.N.'s deputy envoy to Iraq since 2005, replaces Pakistani diplomat Ashraf Qazi, who was named Tuesday as the top U.N. representative to Sudan. Both of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's appointments must still be approved by the Security Council.
Qazi, a respected Pakistani diplomat who has served in key posts around the world including in Washington, has been the top U.N. envoy in Iraq since July 2004. He replaced Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was one of 22 people killed in the Aug. 19, 2003, bombing at U.N. headquarters in Baghdad. After the bombing then-Secretary-General Kofi Annan pulled all international U.N. staff out of Iraq, but he allowed a small contingent to return to Baghdad in August 2004. The number of staff has remained low since then - currently 65 - because of security concerns.
Last month, the Security Council voted unanimously to expand the U.N. role in Iraq, opening the door for the world body to promote talks to ease Iraq's sectarian bloodshed. Ban said at the time the U.N. "cannot shy away" from its responsibility to help Iraq, but he added that staff security will remain "a paramount concern." He urged the General Assembly to approve additional funds for secure housing for U.N. staff in Baghdad.
De Mistura, who speaks seven languages including Arabic, has spent three decades working at the U.N., mainly in humanitarian operations. Prior to becoming deputy envoy to Iraq, he served as U.N. envoy to southern Lebanon. He is also the director of the U.N. Staff College in Turin, Italy.
Qazi, a respected Pakistani diplomat who has served in key posts around the world including in Washington, has been the top U.N. envoy in Iraq since July 2004. He replaced Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was one of 22 people killed in the Aug. 19, 2003, bombing at U.N. headquarters in Baghdad. After the bombing then-Secretary-General Kofi Annan pulled all international U.N. staff out of Iraq, but he allowed a small contingent to return to Baghdad in August 2004. The number of staff has remained low since then - currently 65 - because of security concerns.
Last month, the Security Council voted unanimously to expand the U.N. role in Iraq, opening the door for the world body to promote talks to ease Iraq's sectarian bloodshed. Ban said at the time the U.N. "cannot shy away" from its responsibility to help Iraq, but he added that staff security will remain "a paramount concern." He urged the General Assembly to approve additional funds for secure housing for U.N. staff in Baghdad.
De Mistura, who speaks seven languages including Arabic, has spent three decades working at the U.N., mainly in humanitarian operations. Prior to becoming deputy envoy to Iraq, he served as U.N. envoy to southern Lebanon. He is also the director of the U.N. Staff College in Turin, Italy.
Labels: Ashraf Qazi, Staffan de Mistura, U.N. envoy to Iraq
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Kurds reject postponement of Article 140
Government
(Kurdish Globe) - Baghdad may be looking for a three-year delay in implementing a stated article of the new Iraqi Constitution, which is anything but in the best interests of Kurds. Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani met with the UN Secretary-General's special representative, Ashraf Qazi, and rejected the possibility of canceling or postponing the implementation of Article 140 to normalize the situation in the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.
Kurdish leaders and politicians believe that any delay in implementing the article will not be in the best interests of the people of Kurdistan.
"The government of Kurdistan rejected a proposal by the government of Nuri al-Maliki to postpone the implementation of Article 140 for three years," said Mullah Bakhtiar, a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan political bureau, the party of Iraqi President, Jalal Talabani. Mullah Bakhtiar stressed that "the Kurds demand the implementation of that article in the constitutional time frame assessed."
Bakhtiar said that if Kurdish leaders agree to a three-year delay, the Baghdad government by that time will have become economically and politically stronger and may choose not to implement the article at all. "We must not lose this precious opportunity in our hands and we must work toward accelerating the implementation and not postponing it," said Mullah Bakhtiar. On his latest visit to Baghdad, Kurdistan Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani discussed the implementation of Article 140 with the Iraqi officials. He expressed optimism and described the meeting as successful.
Kurdish leaders and politicians believe that any delay in implementing the article will not be in the best interests of the people of Kurdistan.
"The government of Kurdistan rejected a proposal by the government of Nuri al-Maliki to postpone the implementation of Article 140 for three years," said Mullah Bakhtiar, a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan political bureau, the party of Iraqi President, Jalal Talabani. Mullah Bakhtiar stressed that "the Kurds demand the implementation of that article in the constitutional time frame assessed."
Bakhtiar said that if Kurdish leaders agree to a three-year delay, the Baghdad government by that time will have become economically and politically stronger and may choose not to implement the article at all. "We must not lose this precious opportunity in our hands and we must work toward accelerating the implementation and not postponing it," said Mullah Bakhtiar. On his latest visit to Baghdad, Kurdistan Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani discussed the implementation of Article 140 with the Iraqi officials. He expressed optimism and described the meeting as successful.
Fryad Rwandzi, member of the Iraqi Parliament's Kurdistan Coalition List, said that the Iraqi committee for implementing the Iraqi constitution gave Kurdish leaders two options on the Kirkuk issue, and Kurdish leaders are now studying them.
The first option states that steps for normalizing the Kirkuk situation (implementing Article 140) should be completed by the end of 2008, instead of 2007. The constitution currently calls for implementation at the end of 2007.
The second option is that Kirkuk province could become a federal region, and all areas now under control of the Kurdistan government could be returned to the Kirkuk region; then, after three years, a referendum would be held for people to decide either to be part of Kurdistan Region, the Baghdad government, or a federal region.
The first option states that steps for normalizing the Kirkuk situation (implementing Article 140) should be completed by the end of 2008, instead of 2007. The constitution currently calls for implementation at the end of 2007.
The second option is that Kirkuk province could become a federal region, and all areas now under control of the Kurdistan government could be returned to the Kirkuk region; then, after three years, a referendum would be held for people to decide either to be part of Kurdistan Region, the Baghdad government, or a federal region.
Labels: Article 140, Ashraf Qazi, Iraqi constitution, Kirkuk, Massoud Barzani, Mullah Bakhtiar
