Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Sadrists reject SIIC suggestion of soft partition
Politics
(Al Jazeera) - The Muqtada al-Sadr bloc has rejected a suggestion made by another Iraqi Shia politician that the country should be split into regions based on sect and ethnicity. Ammar Hakim, son of Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, the leader of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC), said that dividing the country is "an Iraqi interest, wish and decision". Responding to his comments, Sadr's spokesman in Najaf said on Sunday that his group’s opposition to federalism "is firm and has not been changed".
Sheikh Saleh al-Obeidi, Sadr's spokesman, said: "After the US Congress voted to divide Iraq, it is clear that insisting on applying federalism in the current tragic Iraqi situation is a flirtation with the [non-binding] US Congress resolution [calling for a transfer of power to three self-governing regions - or Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds]. "The SIIC is one of the largest parties in the Iraqi parliament and a key supporter of Nuri al-Maliki, the prime minister.
On October 6, Sadr and al-Hakim agreed their respective militias stop attacking each other. Meanwhile, political differences still remain and al-Hakim has argued in the past for uniting the nine Shia-majority provinces in southern Iraq. The US Congress resolution, sponsored by Senator Joseph Biden, was dismissed by Maliki, who called it an infringement on Iraqi sovereignty even though it was backed by the government in the northern Kurdish region.
Sheikh Saleh al-Obeidi, Sadr's spokesman, said: "After the US Congress voted to divide Iraq, it is clear that insisting on applying federalism in the current tragic Iraqi situation is a flirtation with the [non-binding] US Congress resolution [calling for a transfer of power to three self-governing regions - or Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds]. "The SIIC is one of the largest parties in the Iraqi parliament and a key supporter of Nuri al-Maliki, the prime minister.
On October 6, Sadr and al-Hakim agreed their respective militias stop attacking each other. Meanwhile, political differences still remain and al-Hakim has argued in the past for uniting the nine Shia-majority provinces in southern Iraq. The US Congress resolution, sponsored by Senator Joseph Biden, was dismissed by Maliki, who called it an infringement on Iraqi sovereignty even though it was backed by the government in the northern Kurdish region.
However, the principle of federalism is included in the Iraqi constitution. But Sunni Arabs, who form an estimated 20 per cent of the population and are largely located in central, resource-poor parts of the country, are also against federalism, fearing it would deprive them of oil wealth.
Labels: Ammar al-Hakim, federalism, Moqtada Al-Sadr, partition, Sheikh Saleh al-Obeidi, SIIC
Monday, October 08, 2007
Talabani supports U.S. Senate proposal to decentralise Iraq
Government
(VOA) -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani says he supports a U.S. Senate resolution that calls for the decentralization of Iraq into autonomous regions for Shi'ites, Sunnis and Kurds. The non-binding Senate resolution adopted last month is opposed by the Bush administration and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
But, Mr. Talabani said in an interview with CNN Sunday that the Senate proposal deserves consideration and does not undermine Iraq's unity. The resolution urges the creation of a federal government in Baghdad that would protect Iraq's borders and share oil revenues among the regions. Mr. Talabani, who is a Kurd, says there is "no possibility" of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region becoming independent. He says such a state would face hostility from neighbors with Kurdish minorities.
The Iraqi president also says he believes the United States can withdraw at least 100,000 troops from Iraq by the end of next year. Mr. Talabani did not explain why he thinks the U.S. military can carry out a faster pullout than U.S. commanders have discussed in public. Mr. Talabani also says the U.S. military should keep three bases in northern, central and southern Iraq to train Iraqi forces and prevent neighboring countries from interfering.
But, Mr. Talabani said in an interview with CNN Sunday that the Senate proposal deserves consideration and does not undermine Iraq's unity. The resolution urges the creation of a federal government in Baghdad that would protect Iraq's borders and share oil revenues among the regions. Mr. Talabani, who is a Kurd, says there is "no possibility" of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region becoming independent. He says such a state would face hostility from neighbors with Kurdish minorities.
The Iraqi president also says he believes the United States can withdraw at least 100,000 troops from Iraq by the end of next year. Mr. Talabani did not explain why he thinks the U.S. military can carry out a faster pullout than U.S. commanders have discussed in public. Mr. Talabani also says the U.S. military should keep three bases in northern, central and southern Iraq to train Iraqi forces and prevent neighboring countries from interfering.
Labels: autonomy, decentralisation, federalism, Jalal Talabani
Friday, October 05, 2007
Kuwait will not accept partition of Iraq
Region
(Reuters) - Kuwait will not accept any plan to divide Iraq into federal regions and wants the United States to remain there until the country is stable, the Kuwaiti Emir said in remarks aired yesterday. "We will not accept the partition of Iraq, we consider this to be dangerous to us. It will be dangerous for the whole region," Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah told Al Arabiya television, commenting on a US Senate resolution advocating the division of Iraq into federal regions. "We are against this division and I think that even the Iraqis will not accept this." The non-binding Senate amendment, which was passed last week, says the United States should actively support a political settlement among Iraqis based on a federal system of government.
The amendment has been widely interpreted as a proposal to divide Iraq along sectarian and ethnic lines into Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish regions. Shaikh Sabah also called on the United States to keep its troops in Iraq until stability is seen on the ground. "I say it frankly, I would like the United States to withdraw its troops from tomorrow, but do you think that if they pull out there will be stability in Iraq? I think not," he said.
"We will hold the United States responsible for the fighting in Iraq, therefore, I wish that they will not leave now before they maintain a strong army in Iraq that can protect Iraq and its people." Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said on Monday that the resolution was well-meaning but failed to recognise the ethnic complexity of Iraqi cities and regions. The Arab League criticised the resolution and described the idea as "hostile to Arab interests."
The amendment has been widely interpreted as a proposal to divide Iraq along sectarian and ethnic lines into Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish regions. Shaikh Sabah also called on the United States to keep its troops in Iraq until stability is seen on the ground. "I say it frankly, I would like the United States to withdraw its troops from tomorrow, but do you think that if they pull out there will be stability in Iraq? I think not," he said.
"We will hold the United States responsible for the fighting in Iraq, therefore, I wish that they will not leave now before they maintain a strong army in Iraq that can protect Iraq and its people." Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said on Monday that the resolution was well-meaning but failed to recognise the ethnic complexity of Iraqi cities and regions. The Arab League criticised the resolution and described the idea as "hostile to Arab interests."
Labels: federalism, Hoshiyar Zebari, Iraq, Kuwait, partition, Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
To Improve The Country - Agreement To Establish A Federal Government In United Southern Iraq
Politics, Tribal
(Al Bayyna Al Jadidah Newspaper) - 30 JUL - Under the slogans of “Iraq’s Unity” and the “South Witnesses Justice, Equality, Love, and Peacefulness”…southern Tribal Sheikhs have agreed to: improve the country and make a good life available to our people of southern Iraq.
They (the southern leaders) said they are doing this for: “independent Iraq”, and to return balance to the community in the south. They (the Sheikhs) want to create a southern regional government [probably similar to the northern Kurdistan government] which will the respect the original Arab tribes (of the area)…and spread justice, freedom, and equality among the people of the south.
However, we (the Tribal Sheikhs/southern leaders) want everyone to understand that this does not mean that “we” agree with the idea of “federalism” as proposed by the Occupation…We are a part of Iraq; and, we will not break off from Iraq in the future! We have decided that we will run our own affairs… by ourselves…without “foreigners” management. Tomorrow, we will publish our statement of establishment (Declaration).
They (the southern leaders) said they are doing this for: “independent Iraq”, and to return balance to the community in the south. They (the Sheikhs) want to create a southern regional government [probably similar to the northern Kurdistan government] which will the respect the original Arab tribes (of the area)…and spread justice, freedom, and equality among the people of the south.
However, we (the Tribal Sheikhs/southern leaders) want everyone to understand that this does not mean that “we” agree with the idea of “federalism” as proposed by the Occupation…We are a part of Iraq; and, we will not break off from Iraq in the future! We have decided that we will run our own affairs… by ourselves…without “foreigners” management. Tomorrow, we will publish our statement of establishment (Declaration).
Labels: federalism, southern Iraq, tribal sheiks
Friday, July 27, 2007
Iraqi and KRG PMs back federalism
Politics
(KRG) - Lawmakers from the Iraqi federal parliament and Kurdistan’s parliament (the Kurdistan National Assembly) backed federalism as the best political model for Iraq at their first ever joint conference. The members of the two assemblies in their recommendations stated, “Federal frameworks have historically been best suited to developing democratic societies, securing economic development and growth, and preventing the return of a dictatorial or tyrannical regime.”
They also strongly recommended that everyone abide by the Iraqi Constitution and its provisions, including Article 140 which sets out the return of disputed territories by the end of 2007. The Iraqi parliament and the Kurdistan National Assembly issued a protocol on how the two parliaments can cooperate on draft laws, public relations and fully implementing the constitution.
The parliamentarians also recommended protection of Iraq’s linguistic and cultural diversity, national reconciliation and dialogue, fair and transparent distribution of resources and more independence of the judiciary.
They also strongly recommended that everyone abide by the Iraqi Constitution and its provisions, including Article 140 which sets out the return of disputed territories by the end of 2007. The Iraqi parliament and the Kurdistan National Assembly issued a protocol on how the two parliaments can cooperate on draft laws, public relations and fully implementing the constitution.
The parliamentarians also recommended protection of Iraq’s linguistic and cultural diversity, national reconciliation and dialogue, fair and transparent distribution of resources and more independence of the judiciary.
Labels: Article 140, federalism, Iraqi federal parliament, KRG, Kurdistan National Assembly
Monday, July 16, 2007
Federalism seminar concludes in Kurdistan
Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - A four-day-seminar entitled "Federalism in Practice in Iraq" and attended by Iraqi lawmakers was concluded in Arbil after it recommended that a gradual distributing of administrative jurisdictions and oil revenues be introduced in Iraq based on equality between all Iraqis regardless of their race, sect or religion.
The seminar, which was concluded on Friday evening, was attended by U.N. envoy to Iraq Ashraf Qadhi, legislators and top officials from the central and Kurdistan governments. "Federalism is the best form for applying democracy in Iraq as it is a guarantee for preserving the rights of all communities in the country. Federalism in Iraq should be locally shaped and not imported from other countries' experience. Its application may take a gradual division of powers among central and local authorities," the seminar recommended.
The seminar, which was concluded on Friday evening, was attended by U.N. envoy to Iraq Ashraf Qadhi, legislators and top officials from the central and Kurdistan governments. "Federalism is the best form for applying democracy in Iraq as it is a guarantee for preserving the rights of all communities in the country. Federalism in Iraq should be locally shaped and not imported from other countries' experience. Its application may take a gradual division of powers among central and local authorities," the seminar recommended.
A final statement was issued by the seminar in which it was recommended that a gradual distributing of administrative jurisdictions and oil revenues be introduced in Iraq based on equality between all Iraqis regardless of their race, sect or religion. Another recommendation was made on implementing the constitutional article 140 on the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk. Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution stipulates normalizing the situation in Kirkuk as it was before 1970s after the former regime, the Kurds claim, lured Arabs from the middle and the south into the city and drove out Kurds.
The committee supervises the implementation of article 140 offered Arabs who voluntarily return to their original cities a compensation of 20 millions Iraqi dinars (roughly $16,000) in addition to a plot of land and a right to have his work transferred if he held a public job.
The oil-rich city of Kirkuk is inhabited by a mix of Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, and Christian communities. The participants in the seminar also highlighted "a need for establishing more solid traditions in ties linking Kurdistan region parliament and the Iraqi House of Representatives, and that more cooperation should be achieved between the two parliaments that should be regulated by a protocol to be signed between the institutions." The final session also witnessed statements by the participants condemning violence in Iraq and describing armed attacks as "terrorist and sabotage acts" that would hurt all Iraqis without discrimination and cause a great deal of damage to the country's infrastructure.
The committee supervises the implementation of article 140 offered Arabs who voluntarily return to their original cities a compensation of 20 millions Iraqi dinars (roughly $16,000) in addition to a plot of land and a right to have his work transferred if he held a public job.
The oil-rich city of Kirkuk is inhabited by a mix of Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, and Christian communities. The participants in the seminar also highlighted "a need for establishing more solid traditions in ties linking Kurdistan region parliament and the Iraqi House of Representatives, and that more cooperation should be achieved between the two parliaments that should be regulated by a protocol to be signed between the institutions." The final session also witnessed statements by the participants condemning violence in Iraq and describing armed attacks as "terrorist and sabotage acts" that would hurt all Iraqis without discrimination and cause a great deal of damage to the country's infrastructure.
The seminar opened its sessions in Kurdistan Arbil, on Tuesday, with the participation of Iraqi lawmakers coming form the Iraqi House of Representatives and Kurdistan region parliament. The seminar was organized by non-governmental organizations and received support from Italian and Kurdistan governments, in addition to Iraqi central and parliament and Kurdistan region parliament.
Labels: Arbil, Article 140, federalism, seminar
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Parliamentary committee fails to finalise agreement on amendment of constitution
Government
(Reuters) - An Iraqi parliamentary committee has failed to finalise an agreement on amending key articles in the constitution, one of the political benchmarks Washington says are important to end sectarian violence. After six months of talks, the constitutional reform committee had been expected to present parliament with a final draft of their recommendations on Tuesday.
Committee members said they would ask political leaders to deal with sensitive issues such as sharing Iraq's oil wealth more equitably and ending a ban on former members of Saddam Hussein's party members holding public office. "We have agreed on some articles but there are sensitive issues which need an agreement among the political leaders," said Saleem al-Jubouri, a member of the Accordance Front, the biggest Sunni political bloc in parliament.
The changes are aimed at bringing Sunni Arabs, who make up the backbone of the insurgency, more firmly into the political process. U.S. President George W. Bush, under pressure to show tangible progress in the four-year-old war, has pushed Iraqi leaders to agree power-sharing legislation. Jubouri said Sunni Arab and Shi'ite members of the committee disagreed with a Kurdish demand to allow regions to distribute oil income rather than the central government.
Some lawmakers from the ruling Shi'ite community, which was oppressed during Saddam's rule, are virulently opposed to former Baathists taking up government jobs. Non-Arab Kurds, also persecuted under Saddam's pan-Arab policies, resist wording on the Arab identity of Iraq. Sunni Arabs fear federalism will allow Kurds in the north and Shi'ites in the south, where Iraq's oil reserves lie, to break away into their own states. Sunni Arabs live mostly in central and western Iraq, which is poor in oil.
Jubouri said that one area of disagreement was the status of the ethnically mixed city of Kirkuk which sits atop one of the world's richest oilfields. The current constitution says Iraq should hold a referendum on the final status of Kirkuk this year. While Kurds claim Kirkuk as part of Kurdistan, Arabs oppose this. Another official in the committee said Arab members -- Shi'ites and Sunnis -- proposed making Kirkuk a separate region and dropping the idea of the referendum, which Kurds would anyway be likely to win.
Committee members said they would ask political leaders to deal with sensitive issues such as sharing Iraq's oil wealth more equitably and ending a ban on former members of Saddam Hussein's party members holding public office. "We have agreed on some articles but there are sensitive issues which need an agreement among the political leaders," said Saleem al-Jubouri, a member of the Accordance Front, the biggest Sunni political bloc in parliament.
The changes are aimed at bringing Sunni Arabs, who make up the backbone of the insurgency, more firmly into the political process. U.S. President George W. Bush, under pressure to show tangible progress in the four-year-old war, has pushed Iraqi leaders to agree power-sharing legislation. Jubouri said Sunni Arab and Shi'ite members of the committee disagreed with a Kurdish demand to allow regions to distribute oil income rather than the central government.
Some lawmakers from the ruling Shi'ite community, which was oppressed during Saddam's rule, are virulently opposed to former Baathists taking up government jobs. Non-Arab Kurds, also persecuted under Saddam's pan-Arab policies, resist wording on the Arab identity of Iraq. Sunni Arabs fear federalism will allow Kurds in the north and Shi'ites in the south, where Iraq's oil reserves lie, to break away into their own states. Sunni Arabs live mostly in central and western Iraq, which is poor in oil.
Jubouri said that one area of disagreement was the status of the ethnically mixed city of Kirkuk which sits atop one of the world's richest oilfields. The current constitution says Iraq should hold a referendum on the final status of Kirkuk this year. While Kurds claim Kirkuk as part of Kurdistan, Arabs oppose this. Another official in the committee said Arab members -- Shi'ites and Sunnis -- proposed making Kirkuk a separate region and dropping the idea of the referendum, which Kurds would anyway be likely to win.
Labels: Article 140, Baathists, constitutional reform committee, federalism, Iraqi constitution, Kirkuk, oil
Saturday, May 12, 2007
SCIRI leader calls for 'security agreement'
Politics
(AP) - The leader of Iraq's largest Shiite political party on Saturday called for a "security agreement" to be negotiated between Iraq and U.S.-led forces to outline the authorities of each side in a further indication of growing frustration over America's role in Iraq. Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim did not give more details of the proposed pact. In the past he has repeatedly complained that the U.S. military's lead in the fight against Sunni insurgents hampered the work of Iraq's Shiite-dominated security forces, which he contended were better qualified to fight the insurgents given their knowledge of the terrain and language.
"We are working toward reaching a security agreement to define the authority of each side," al-Hakim told a news conference after a two-day meeting of his party, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.
Al-Hakim's comments coincided with an ongoing campaign by lawmakers loyal to anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to get parliament to adopt legislation demanding a timetable for the withdrawal of the U.S.-led troops in Iraq and a freeze on the number of foreign forces already in the country. Officials said this week the proposed legislation has been signed by 144 members of the 275-member house, but it is not likely to retain the support of all of them if it is put to a vote.
Addressing the same news conference, senior al-Hakim aide Hummam Hamoudi sought to play down the significance of a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign forces, saying it was more important to reach a timetable for the training and equipping of Iraqi troops.
Al-Hakim said his party remained committed to the creation of a semiautonomous region in Iraq's mainly Shiite south, but stressed that such a move hinged on popular support. A federal Iraq is a key plank of the party's ideology, but politicians from the once-dominant Sunni Arab minority insist that federalism would eventually lead to the breakup of the country. Federalism was enshrined in a new constitution adopted in 2005. "We are working for the creation of a region in the center and south ... under the mechanisms provided by in the constitution and with the approval of the people," he said.
"We are working toward reaching a security agreement to define the authority of each side," al-Hakim told a news conference after a two-day meeting of his party, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.
Al-Hakim's comments coincided with an ongoing campaign by lawmakers loyal to anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to get parliament to adopt legislation demanding a timetable for the withdrawal of the U.S.-led troops in Iraq and a freeze on the number of foreign forces already in the country. Officials said this week the proposed legislation has been signed by 144 members of the 275-member house, but it is not likely to retain the support of all of them if it is put to a vote.
Addressing the same news conference, senior al-Hakim aide Hummam Hamoudi sought to play down the significance of a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign forces, saying it was more important to reach a timetable for the training and equipping of Iraqi troops.
Al-Hakim said his party remained committed to the creation of a semiautonomous region in Iraq's mainly Shiite south, but stressed that such a move hinged on popular support. A federal Iraq is a key plank of the party's ideology, but politicians from the once-dominant Sunni Arab minority insist that federalism would eventually lead to the breakup of the country. Federalism was enshrined in a new constitution adopted in 2005. "We are working for the creation of a region in the center and south ... under the mechanisms provided by in the constitution and with the approval of the people," he said.
Labels: Abdul Aziz Al Hakim, federalism, Hummam Hamoudi, SCIRI, troop withdrawal
