Thursday, August 09, 2007
U.N. staff pass resolution not to increase members in Iraq
U.N.
(IPS) - The U.N. Staff Council, representing 25,000 staff members, unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday calling on Secretary General Ban Ki-moon not to deploy any additional staff members to Iraq and to remove those currently serving at the duty station in Baghdad. The resolution cites the "unacceptably high level of risk to the safety and security of U.N. personnel currently serving in Iraq," and stresses that, "the breakdown of law and order in Iraq has created a place where aid workers have become targets and pawns."
"The security situation in Iraq is getting worse every day," Emad Hassanin, first vice president of the Staff Union, told IPS. Against this backdrop, the U.S. and Britain are circulating a draft resolution aimed at expanding the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
"The U.N. needs to play an enhanced role in helping Iraqis at the present time," Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., told reporters here. "This is a very important issue, the issue of Iraq for the region, for the country, and for the world and therefore the U.N. needs to play a bigger role and help Iraqis," Khalilzad said. "One of the advantages of the U.N. is that it can reach out to many groups and some groups that do not want to talk to other external players are willing to talk to the U.N.," Khalilzad said, pointing out that, "Ayatollah Sistani, one of the influential figures of Iraq did not speak to the U.S./UK reps but does engage with the U.N. envoy."
"We are on a very strong effort to increase the numbers of international staff in Iraq," B. Lynne Pascoe, U.N. under-secretary-general for political affairs, said after briefing the Security Council Tuesday. "The current ceiling is 65. I think by the fall, by October, we'll be up to about 95," he said. Asked about a timetable for the withdrawal of the U.S. troops to go hand in hand with the expansion of the U.N. role, Khalilzad said, "We understand that the issue of the coalition presence is an issue on which Iraqis disagree. But I also know, you all know that I was in Iraq for almost two years, that no community in Iraq would like a precipitous U.S. withdrawal."
"The U.S. has been talking about a 'new and important role' for the U.N. in Iraq, as part of a public relations campaign about how things are getting better, stability is just around the corner, and so on," James Paul, executive director of the Global Policy Forum in New York, told IPS. "But in fact, the security environment is deteriorating there and the U.N. cannot operate safely or effectively."
"The U.N. Security Council is closing its eyes to the reality of the world's most serious security and humanitarian crisis," Paul continued, stressing that, "There is astounding neglect of the real situation in Iraq." Four million Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) have left their homes as sectarian fighting has spread through the country. The U.N. estimates that more than 100,000 people are fleeing Iraq each month. "Iraq is far from being stable," an Asian diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity told IPS. "With the incidence of bombings daily, there is an appalling humanitarian problem," the diplomat stressed.
The Security Council is expected to vote on the UNAMI resolution on Thursday. Some Security Council delegations, including Belgium, France, Indonesia and South Africa, have reportedly raised concerns with the draft which was circulated on Aug. 1, just nine days before the expiration of the current resolution on Aug. 10.
Labels: B. Lynne Pascoe, Emad Hassanin, Global Policy Forum, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, U.N. Staff Council, UNAMI, UNSC, Zalmay Khalilzad
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
U.N. expects to raise number of international staff in Iraq
U.N.
(AP) - The United Nations said Tuesday it expects to raise the ceiling for international staff in Iraq from 65 to 95 by October, but the U.N. Staff Council called on the secretary-general to pull all U.N. personnel out of the country until security improves. The flap emerged as Britain and the United States circulated a revised Security Council resolution that would expand the U.N. mandate in Iraq to help promote political reconciliation, settle disputed internal boundaries, and plan for a national census.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been under pressure from the United States to expand the U.N.'s role in Iraq and said in June he would consider it. But he cited deteriorating security in Iraq as an obstacle. The new text puts more focus on human rights, humanitarian issues, protecting civilians, and promoting the safety of humanitarian personnel than the initial document.
Amnesty International's Secretary General Irene Khan had complained that the original draft was completely "silent on the gross human rights abuses taking place on a daily basis in Iraq, and on the deepening humanitarian crisis in the country." Calling the revised draft "balanced," U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said, "I believe that we are well on our way to the adoption of the resolution this Thursday."
Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynne Pascoe told reporters after briefing the council Tuesday that the new mandate would enable the U.N. to work on issues "that clearly need to be done out there," especially national reconciliation, humanitarian assistance and dealing with the millions of Iraqis who have fled their homes.
"We are on a very strong effort to increase the numbers" of international staff in Iraq, he said. "The current ceiling is 65. I think by the fall, by October, we'll be up to about 95." But Pascoe stressed that there are two constraints to an expanded U.N. role: Iraqi political leaders must decide what they want the U.N. to do and security conditions must be sufficient for U.N. staffers to work. "We will be looking at the security situation everywhere to decide what level is appropriate," he said.
Soon after Pascoe spoke, the U.N. Staff Council, the executive body of the U.N. Staff Union which represents over 5,000 staff at U.N. headquarters, unanimously adopted a resolution calling on the secretary-general "not to deploy any additional staff members to Iraq and to remove those currently serving ... in Baghdad until such time as the security situation and environment improves." The Staff Council's resolution noted "the unacceptably high level of risk to the safety and security" of U.N. personnel.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been under pressure from the United States to expand the U.N.'s role in Iraq and said in June he would consider it. But he cited deteriorating security in Iraq as an obstacle. The new text puts more focus on human rights, humanitarian issues, protecting civilians, and promoting the safety of humanitarian personnel than the initial document.
Amnesty International's Secretary General Irene Khan had complained that the original draft was completely "silent on the gross human rights abuses taking place on a daily basis in Iraq, and on the deepening humanitarian crisis in the country." Calling the revised draft "balanced," U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said, "I believe that we are well on our way to the adoption of the resolution this Thursday."
Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynne Pascoe told reporters after briefing the council Tuesday that the new mandate would enable the U.N. to work on issues "that clearly need to be done out there," especially national reconciliation, humanitarian assistance and dealing with the millions of Iraqis who have fled their homes.
"We are on a very strong effort to increase the numbers" of international staff in Iraq, he said. "The current ceiling is 65. I think by the fall, by October, we'll be up to about 95." But Pascoe stressed that there are two constraints to an expanded U.N. role: Iraqi political leaders must decide what they want the U.N. to do and security conditions must be sufficient for U.N. staffers to work. "We will be looking at the security situation everywhere to decide what level is appropriate," he said.
Soon after Pascoe spoke, the U.N. Staff Council, the executive body of the U.N. Staff Union which represents over 5,000 staff at U.N. headquarters, unanimously adopted a resolution calling on the secretary-general "not to deploy any additional staff members to Iraq and to remove those currently serving ... in Baghdad until such time as the security situation and environment improves." The Staff Council's resolution noted "the unacceptably high level of risk to the safety and security" of U.N. personnel.
Labels: Iraq, Lynne Pascoe, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, security, U.N., UNSC, Zalmay Khalilzad
Friday, August 03, 2007
UNSC Iraq resolution may be approved soon
U.N.
(Al Jazeera) - A draft UN Security Council resolution to expand the world body's mandate in Iraq is expected to be approved soon. The draft sponsored by the US and Britain will give the UN scope to help promote political reconciliation, settle disputed internal boundaries, and plan for a national census. "I think it will get voted early next week," Emyr Jones Parry, Britain's ambassador to the UN, said. "There's no problem on it - it's straight forward."
Britain circulated the resolution to the other Security Council members on Wednesday and council experts went over the text. The experts were expected to meet again on Friday. Russia signalled its assent on Thursday, making approval by the Security Council almost certain. Vitaly Churkin, Russia's UN ambassador, said on Thursday that "it's overall a good draft ... I don't see any basic problems."
Britain circulated the resolution to the other Security Council members on Wednesday and council experts went over the text. The experts were expected to meet again on Friday. Russia signalled its assent on Thursday, making approval by the Security Council almost certain. Vitaly Churkin, Russia's UN ambassador, said on Thursday that "it's overall a good draft ... I don't see any basic problems."
The UN secretary-general has been under pressure from the US to expand the world body's role in Iraq. Ban Ki-moon said in June he would consider it, but said deteriorating security in Iraq was an obstacle. The small UN Mission in Iraq has helped to organise elections, promote a national dialogue, and develop institutions for representative government. Its current mandate expires next Friday.
The draft would extend the mission's mandate for a year and authorise it to help organise reintegration programmes for former combatants, assist the return of refugees and displaced people, and promote economic reform and the development of an effective civil service and social services for the Iraqi people.
It would also be asked to promote human rights and judicial and legal reforms "in order to strengthen the rule of law" and to assist the government "on initial planning for a comprehensive census". Kofi Annan, the former secretary-general, pulled all UN international staff out of Iraq in October 2003 after a spate of attacks on humanitarian workers and two bombings at UN headquarters in Baghdad killed dozens, including the top UN envoy, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
In August 2004, Annan allowed a small U.N. contingent to return to Baghdad and imposed a ceiling of 35 international workers, which has steadily increased but remains relatively low because of the security situation.
The new mandate, if approved, would come as the situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate. Besides daily violence, residents in Baghdad have had their taps run dry at the height of summer when temperatures are close to 50 degrees celsius. Residents and city officials said on Thursday that large sections in the west of the capital had been virtually dry for six days because the already strained electricity grid could not provide sufficient power to run water purification and pumping stations.
The problem highlights the larger difficulties in a capital beset by violence, crumbling infrastructure, rampant crime and too little electricity to keep cool in the sweltering weather more than four years after the US-led invasion.
The draft would extend the mission's mandate for a year and authorise it to help organise reintegration programmes for former combatants, assist the return of refugees and displaced people, and promote economic reform and the development of an effective civil service and social services for the Iraqi people.
It would also be asked to promote human rights and judicial and legal reforms "in order to strengthen the rule of law" and to assist the government "on initial planning for a comprehensive census". Kofi Annan, the former secretary-general, pulled all UN international staff out of Iraq in October 2003 after a spate of attacks on humanitarian workers and two bombings at UN headquarters in Baghdad killed dozens, including the top UN envoy, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
In August 2004, Annan allowed a small U.N. contingent to return to Baghdad and imposed a ceiling of 35 international workers, which has steadily increased but remains relatively low because of the security situation.
The new mandate, if approved, would come as the situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate. Besides daily violence, residents in Baghdad have had their taps run dry at the height of summer when temperatures are close to 50 degrees celsius. Residents and city officials said on Thursday that large sections in the west of the capital had been virtually dry for six days because the already strained electricity grid could not provide sufficient power to run water purification and pumping stations.
The problem highlights the larger difficulties in a capital beset by violence, crumbling infrastructure, rampant crime and too little electricity to keep cool in the sweltering weather more than four years after the US-led invasion.
Labels: draft resolution, electricity, Emyr Jones Parry, Russia, UNAMI, UNSC, water
Monday, July 09, 2007
Allawi says National List considering withdawing from Maliki's government
Politics
(Gulf News article) - US withdrawal from Iraq must follow the building of the country's military and security capabilities and the establishment of "some sort of law and order," says former Iraqi Prime Minister Eyad Allawi. "The withdrawal [of the US forces] will not lead to stability; instead, it will be catastrophic," he told Gulf News in an exclusive interview in Amman, Jordan. He questioned the ability of the Iraqi government, "held hostage in the Green Zone", to function if US protection were to be lifted.
Allawi, leader of one of the biggest groups in the parliament, said that the United Nations and its Security Council should be given a bigger role in Iraq, in coordination with the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Conference. Allawi said his parliamentary bloc, the Iraqi National List, was seriously considering "withdrawing from the political process" in Iraq, or at least from the Nouri Al Maliki government. FOLLOW LINK FOR FULL INTERVIEW
Allawi, leader of one of the biggest groups in the parliament, said that the United Nations and its Security Council should be given a bigger role in Iraq, in coordination with the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Conference. Allawi said his parliamentary bloc, the Iraqi National List, was seriously considering "withdrawing from the political process" in Iraq, or at least from the Nouri Al Maliki government. FOLLOW LINK FOR FULL INTERVIEW
Labels: Iraqi National List, Iyad Allawi, U.S. troop withdrawal, UNSC
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Iraqi parliament votes on UN mandate for foreign troops
Politics
(Al Jazeera) - Iraqi politicians have passed a resolution requiring the government to seek parliamentary permission before asking the UN to extend the mandate for US-led forces in Iraq. The measure was approved on Tuesday and reflects a growing disenchantment with the US-backed government. The Sadrist-drafted resolution passed with a vote of 85 to 59.
The members of parliament voted along party lines, with Sunnis joining the bloc loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr, a Shia leader, and another Shia party at odds with the leadership. Supporters of Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, opposed the resolution.
The UN mandate for foreign forces in Iraq has already been extended until December 31 at al-Maliki's request, so Tuesday's parliamentary action is not expected to have any immediate effect. However, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, a Sunni parliament speaker, said: "If the government wants to extend the presence of the multinational forces, it has to come to us in the parliament to convince us first."
The effort mirrors the rivalry George Bush, the US president, faces with the Democratic-led congress, which has urged the administration to bring troops home.The UN Security Council voted on November 28 to extend the mandate of the multinational force, but it has also authorised a review of that mandate by June 15 or earlier if requested by the Iraqi government.
Al-Maliki has said he wants Iraqi forces to take over the country's security, but he has refused to demand a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign forces. George Bakus, an aide to al-Maliki, said: "I think the situation is clear ... when the Iraqi troops are ready and can control the country, the government will ask the multinational forces to leave."
Only 144 of the 275 members of the Iraqi parliament were present for the vote, but that was enough for a quorum. Adnan Dulaimi, of the Sunni Accordance Front, supported the measure, along with the Sadrists and members of the Fadhila party - which recently broke off from the Shia-led United Iraqi Alliance. Nassir al-Issawi, a Sadrist politician, said: "This was the first step in implementing our political goal which is the withdrawal of the occupation forces.''
Those opposed included Kurdish legislators and members of other mainstream Shia parties, including al-Maliki's Dawa party and the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq. Mahmoud Othman, a Kurdish politician, objected to the resolution and said that "it is supposed that extension of the mandate of the forces should go with completing building the Iraqi forces''.
Jalaluddin al-Saghir, a Shia cleric from the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq, said the resolution was an additional obstacle for the government. "The government was at least supposed to be consulted before such a resolution was approved,'' he said. "Those who voted for the resolution had political aims."
The members of parliament voted along party lines, with Sunnis joining the bloc loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr, a Shia leader, and another Shia party at odds with the leadership. Supporters of Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, opposed the resolution.
The UN mandate for foreign forces in Iraq has already been extended until December 31 at al-Maliki's request, so Tuesday's parliamentary action is not expected to have any immediate effect. However, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, a Sunni parliament speaker, said: "If the government wants to extend the presence of the multinational forces, it has to come to us in the parliament to convince us first."
The effort mirrors the rivalry George Bush, the US president, faces with the Democratic-led congress, which has urged the administration to bring troops home.The UN Security Council voted on November 28 to extend the mandate of the multinational force, but it has also authorised a review of that mandate by June 15 or earlier if requested by the Iraqi government.
Al-Maliki has said he wants Iraqi forces to take over the country's security, but he has refused to demand a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign forces. George Bakus, an aide to al-Maliki, said: "I think the situation is clear ... when the Iraqi troops are ready and can control the country, the government will ask the multinational forces to leave."
Only 144 of the 275 members of the Iraqi parliament were present for the vote, but that was enough for a quorum. Adnan Dulaimi, of the Sunni Accordance Front, supported the measure, along with the Sadrists and members of the Fadhila party - which recently broke off from the Shia-led United Iraqi Alliance. Nassir al-Issawi, a Sadrist politician, said: "This was the first step in implementing our political goal which is the withdrawal of the occupation forces.''
Those opposed included Kurdish legislators and members of other mainstream Shia parties, including al-Maliki's Dawa party and the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq. Mahmoud Othman, a Kurdish politician, objected to the resolution and said that "it is supposed that extension of the mandate of the forces should go with completing building the Iraqi forces''.
Jalaluddin al-Saghir, a Shia cleric from the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq, said the resolution was an additional obstacle for the government. "The government was at least supposed to be consulted before such a resolution was approved,'' he said. "Those who voted for the resolution had political aims."
Labels: Fadhela party, Iraqi Accord Front, Moqtada Al-Sadr, Nouri Al-Maliki, UN mandate, UNSC
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Iraqi lawmakers endorse bill calling for foreign troop withdrawl
Politics
(AP) - A majority of Iraqi lawmakers have endorsed a bill calling for a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops and demanding a freeze on the number of foreign troops already in the country, lawmakers said Thursday. The legislation was being debated even as U.S. lawmakers were locked in a dispute with the White House over their call to start reducing the size of the U.S. force here in the coming months.
The Iraqi bill, drafted by a parliamentary bloc loyal to anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, was signed by 144 members of the 275-member house, according to Nassar al-Rubaie, the leader of the Sadrist bloc. The Sadrist bloc, which sees the U.S.-led forces as an occupying army, has pushed similar bills before, but this was the first time it had garnered the support of a majority of lawmakers.
The bill would require the Iraqi government to seek approval from parliament before it requests an extension of the U.N. mandate for foreign forces to be in Iraq, al-Rubaie said. It also calls for a timetable for the troop withdrawal and a freeze on the size of the foreign forces. The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously in November to extend the U.S.-led forces' mandate until the end of 2007. The resolution, however, said the council "will terminate this mandate earlier if requested by the government of Iraq."
Al-Rubaie said he personally handed the Iraqi bill to speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani on Wednesday. Deputy Speaker Khaled al-Attiyah told The Associated Press the draft legislation had not been officially submitted to the speaker, but was currently being reviewed by the house's legal department, apparently the final step before it can be submitted. Al-Rubaie said al-Mashhadani had a week to schedule a debate on the bill before he would use the majority that backs it to force a debate.
Al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia, which launched two uprisings against U.S. troops in 2004, has been blamed in much of the recent sectarian violence against Sunnis and has been one of the main targets of a U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown. Last month, the cleric ordered his six Cabinet ministers to leave the government after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki refused to put a timetable for foreign troops withdrawal.
The Iraqi bill, drafted by a parliamentary bloc loyal to anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, was signed by 144 members of the 275-member house, according to Nassar al-Rubaie, the leader of the Sadrist bloc. The Sadrist bloc, which sees the U.S.-led forces as an occupying army, has pushed similar bills before, but this was the first time it had garnered the support of a majority of lawmakers.
The bill would require the Iraqi government to seek approval from parliament before it requests an extension of the U.N. mandate for foreign forces to be in Iraq, al-Rubaie said. It also calls for a timetable for the troop withdrawal and a freeze on the size of the foreign forces. The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously in November to extend the U.S.-led forces' mandate until the end of 2007. The resolution, however, said the council "will terminate this mandate earlier if requested by the government of Iraq."
Al-Rubaie said he personally handed the Iraqi bill to speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani on Wednesday. Deputy Speaker Khaled al-Attiyah told The Associated Press the draft legislation had not been officially submitted to the speaker, but was currently being reviewed by the house's legal department, apparently the final step before it can be submitted. Al-Rubaie said al-Mashhadani had a week to schedule a debate on the bill before he would use the majority that backs it to force a debate.
Al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia, which launched two uprisings against U.S. troops in 2004, has been blamed in much of the recent sectarian violence against Sunnis and has been one of the main targets of a U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown. Last month, the cleric ordered his six Cabinet ministers to leave the government after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki refused to put a timetable for foreign troops withdrawal.
Labels: Khaled al-Attiyah, Moqtada Al-Sadr, Nassar al-Rubaie, troop withdrawal, UNSC
Saturday, April 07, 2007
International Iraq security conference to take place in Egypt on May 3 - 4
Politics, International, Security
(DPA) - An international conference on Iraq originally planned for April will take place in Egypt on May 3 - 4, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari reported Saturday at a press conference in Baghdad. Participating in the foreign minister conference in addition to Iraq's neighbours will be the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, the members of the G8 as well as Egypt, Bahrain and representatives of international organizations.
The conference will for the first time in years also bring together at the same table the foreign ministers of the United States and Iran. A preparatory meeting at the official level took place March 10 in Baghdad. The May meeting is to sound out possibilities of stabilizing the situation in violence-stricken Iraq as well as easing tensions in the region, Zebari said.
A US State Department official on Thursday said direct talks between US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki would not be ruled out.
(DPA) - An international conference on Iraq originally planned for April will take place in Egypt on May 3 - 4, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari reported Saturday at a press conference in Baghdad. Participating in the foreign minister conference in addition to Iraq's neighbours will be the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, the members of the G8 as well as Egypt, Bahrain and representatives of international organizations.
The conference will for the first time in years also bring together at the same table the foreign ministers of the United States and Iran. A preparatory meeting at the official level took place March 10 in Baghdad. The May meeting is to sound out possibilities of stabilizing the situation in violence-stricken Iraq as well as easing tensions in the region, Zebari said.
A US State Department official on Thursday said direct talks between US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki would not be ruled out.
Labels: Condoleezza Rice, Egypt, G8, Iraq security conference, Manouchehr Mottaki, UNSC
Friday, March 09, 2007
Arab League remarks infuriate UIA
Politics, Middle East,
(AP) Iraq's Shiite leaders expressed anger yesterday at criticism levelled against them by the top Arab League official, warning that such remarks could overshadow this weekend's regional conference to ease the security crisis in Iraq. Last weekend, Arab League's Secretary-General Amr Mousa suggested that Arab governments may take their recommendations on quelling the bloodshed in Iraq to the UN Security Council.
Such a move would be widely interpreted as a failure of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki's government. In a statement yesterday, the United Iraqi Alliance, the major Shiite bloc in parliament, said Mousa's comments amounted to "flagrant interference in Iraq's internal affairs" and "ignored the march of the Iraqi people to build a free and democratic state."
"At the same time we hope that the regional conference due to be held in Baghdad in March 10 will not be shadowed by such stands" and will not have a "negative impact" on efforts to resolve the Iraq crisis, the statement said. During a press conference yesterday, the Shiite Deputy Speaker of parliament, Khalid Al Attiyah, also denounced Mousa's comments, saying they could provoke "sedition and disputes among Iraqi people."
"We hope that the Arab League will not be part of any dispute or quarrel inside Iraq that might encourage some parties to take some Arab countries to their sides to accomplish their political desires," Al Attiyah said. Mousa's comments were made in Cairo, Egypt during a meeting of Arab foreign ministers to discuss participation in the Baghdad conference.
(AP) Iraq's Shiite leaders expressed anger yesterday at criticism levelled against them by the top Arab League official, warning that such remarks could overshadow this weekend's regional conference to ease the security crisis in Iraq. Last weekend, Arab League's Secretary-General Amr Mousa suggested that Arab governments may take their recommendations on quelling the bloodshed in Iraq to the UN Security Council.
Such a move would be widely interpreted as a failure of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki's government. In a statement yesterday, the United Iraqi Alliance, the major Shiite bloc in parliament, said Mousa's comments amounted to "flagrant interference in Iraq's internal affairs" and "ignored the march of the Iraqi people to build a free and democratic state."
"At the same time we hope that the regional conference due to be held in Baghdad in March 10 will not be shadowed by such stands" and will not have a "negative impact" on efforts to resolve the Iraq crisis, the statement said. During a press conference yesterday, the Shiite Deputy Speaker of parliament, Khalid Al Attiyah, also denounced Mousa's comments, saying they could provoke "sedition and disputes among Iraqi people."
"We hope that the Arab League will not be part of any dispute or quarrel inside Iraq that might encourage some parties to take some Arab countries to their sides to accomplish their political desires," Al Attiyah said. Mousa's comments were made in Cairo, Egypt during a meeting of Arab foreign ministers to discuss participation in the Baghdad conference.
Labels: Amr Mousa, Arab League, Khalid Al Attiyah, United Iraqi Alliance, UNSC
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Iraq's foreign minister against international intervention
Security, Politics, International
(UPI) Iraq's foreign minister said his country is against taking the Iraqi crisis to the international arena, saying this will take Iraq back to "square one." Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zibari told United Press International in an interview in Cairo Monday the idea of holding an international conference on Iraq or taking the crisis to the U.N. Security Council is "completely rejected."
He stressed that any regional or international moves should be solely focused on helping the Iraqi government restore security, stability and national reconciliation. "But those with the idea of taking the situation back to square one should realize they are delusional," said.
Zibari was responding to a request by Arab League Secretary-General Amr Mousa, on the sidelines of the Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo Sunday, to resort to the Security Council for a resolution on the Iraqi political process, including the dismantling of the militias and revoking some articles in the new constitution. During their meeting, the foreign ministers declared that resolving the Iraqi crisis is the prime responsibility of the Iraqi government and leaders.
Zibari's comments reflected fears by some of the ruling Shiite and Kurdish forces from Arab-sponsored plans to include in the new political fabric Sunni parties, including members of the dismantled former Baath Party, that oppose the U.S. occupation and the Iraqi government. Major U.S.-allied Arab countries -- Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan -- are worried by the growing influence of the Iranian-backed Shiite parties on war-torn Iraq.
He stressed that any regional or international moves should be solely focused on helping the Iraqi government restore security, stability and national reconciliation. "But those with the idea of taking the situation back to square one should realize they are delusional," said.
Zibari was responding to a request by Arab League Secretary-General Amr Mousa, on the sidelines of the Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo Sunday, to resort to the Security Council for a resolution on the Iraqi political process, including the dismantling of the militias and revoking some articles in the new constitution. During their meeting, the foreign ministers declared that resolving the Iraqi crisis is the prime responsibility of the Iraqi government and leaders.
Zibari's comments reflected fears by some of the ruling Shiite and Kurdish forces from Arab-sponsored plans to include in the new political fabric Sunni parties, including members of the dismantled former Baath Party, that oppose the U.S. occupation and the Iraqi government. Major U.S.-allied Arab countries -- Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan -- are worried by the growing influence of the Iranian-backed Shiite parties on war-torn Iraq.
Labels: Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zibari, UNSC
Monday, March 05, 2007
Arab League tells Iraq government it must control situation
Politics, Security, Region
(AP) The Iraqi government is responsible for defusing the sectarian violence tearing the country apart and should redraft the constitution and rescind laws that give preferential treatment to Shiites and Kurds, Arab foreign ministers said in a statement Sunday. Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa also hinted that Arab governments may take their recommendations on stemming the violence in Iraq to the U.N. Security Council if the government's efforts to end the crisis fail.
Sunday's statement was the strongest sign yet from the mostly Sunni Muslim Arab governments in the Middle East that they blame the Iraqi government for the country's sectarian strife. "The resolution of the conflict lies on the Iraqi government and the Iraqi leaders whose first responsibility should be to reactivate efforts for national reconciliation," the ministers said in a statement released after they met in Cairo.
In the statement, the ministers set forth several recommendations they want the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to consider before they give their full support to a regional conference on stabilizing Iraq that is scheduled to start Saturday in Baghdad. Among the recommendations are expanding the political process to achieve broader participation of Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds, confronting sectarian tensions and working to eliminate them, speeding up constitutional reform, and ensuring the equal distribution of wealth.
The ministers also called for revoking an Iraqi law that dismissed senior members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party from the government and urged the government to pass a law that specifically says Iraqis should be treated equally based on their citizenship, not their religion or ethnicity. In addition, they called on the Iraqi government to disband Shiite militias, end armed demonstrations and decide on a specific timeframe for the withdrawal of foreign troops.
"In my opinion, the mechanism (for ending the strife) should be through the Security Council, without that there will no solution," Moussa told reporters after Sunday's meeting. Sunni Arab countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan have been deeply disturbed by what they view as a Shiite bias on the part of Iraq's Shiite-led government as sectarian violence has flared in recent months. Earlier Sunday, the ministers had pledged to send representatives to the Baghdad meeting next weekend despite their reservations about the country's direction.
Sunday's statement was the strongest sign yet from the mostly Sunni Muslim Arab governments in the Middle East that they blame the Iraqi government for the country's sectarian strife. "The resolution of the conflict lies on the Iraqi government and the Iraqi leaders whose first responsibility should be to reactivate efforts for national reconciliation," the ministers said in a statement released after they met in Cairo.
In the statement, the ministers set forth several recommendations they want the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to consider before they give their full support to a regional conference on stabilizing Iraq that is scheduled to start Saturday in Baghdad. Among the recommendations are expanding the political process to achieve broader participation of Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds, confronting sectarian tensions and working to eliminate them, speeding up constitutional reform, and ensuring the equal distribution of wealth.
The ministers also called for revoking an Iraqi law that dismissed senior members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party from the government and urged the government to pass a law that specifically says Iraqis should be treated equally based on their citizenship, not their religion or ethnicity. In addition, they called on the Iraqi government to disband Shiite militias, end armed demonstrations and decide on a specific timeframe for the withdrawal of foreign troops.
"In my opinion, the mechanism (for ending the strife) should be through the Security Council, without that there will no solution," Moussa told reporters after Sunday's meeting. Sunni Arab countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan have been deeply disturbed by what they view as a Shiite bias on the part of Iraq's Shiite-led government as sectarian violence has flared in recent months. Earlier Sunday, the ministers had pledged to send representatives to the Baghdad meeting next weekend despite their reservations about the country's direction.
Labels: Arab League, Secretary-General Amr Moussa, UNSC
