Thread: Archive Latest News - Think Tank - 16/08/07 - 03/11/07

I am starting a new News thread.

Please feel free to openly discuss the News. Give your thoughts and reactions as we see Iraq take care of their political and domestic issues.

Thank you.

President declares a quadripartite agreement to support the government

(Voice of Iraq) - 16-08-2007
Send this topic to a friend

Republic of Iraq
Presidential Office
Press Office

News : President declares a quadripartite agreement to support the government move and the current political situation
August 16, 2007

President of the Republic announced an agreement between four political parties, the Islamic Dawa Party and the Supreme Council and the Iraqi Islamic Union of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Democratic Party, on the national principles included in a document prepared for this matter to the government's support and move the political status quo.

He and his Excellency, in a joint press conference held at the residence of President Jalal Talabani, Thursday 16-8-2007, with representatives of the parties concerned are in agreement and Vice President Dr Adel Abdul Mahdi, the State Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and President Massoud Barzani's Kurdistan region, that this agreement is open to everyone, and that is not a monopoly of certain political forces, and "an open invitation for all those who believe in the statement and its political march" to join.

And the President pointed out that "the agreement does not mean a front moderates or extremists, but it is a strong political agreement, and also requires that the parties involved in it abandoned its previous commitments and alliances concluded with parliamentary blocs to which they belong," noting that the Convention was to strengthen these alliances, and said, "This agreement means abandoned its signatories from their parties in previous coalitions, for example, does not imply participation of the brothers in the United Iraqi Alliance in this Convention they abandoned their commitments in the coalition, and we also remain committed to the Alliance of Kurdistan."

He and his Excellency the efforts made to the Iraqi Islamic Party a party to this Convention, but the special circumstances prevented them, "emphasizing the possibility of his participation in the future.

His Excellency, "We seek through this agreement to the survival and viability of the government of national unity, and promotion of the vacancies filled through efficiencies and components capable of performing its role," and President Talabani added, "We will not abandon the government of national unity, but about, as We stand by and chaired by Professor Nuri al-Maliki them. "

And the President expressed his belief that "the implementation of the Convention would help solve many of the dilemmas and crises, as they will be working CARROT brothers to others to work with us as a national document thought is not given to the party interests, but the interests of the Iraqi people."

And on the selection of candidates from the Council of Anbar to save occupy ministerial instead of Ministers Accord Front withdrawn from the government, the Prime Minister said that "this issue exaggerated, as usual, the media talking and adds other perceptions."

Maliki added, "Yes, there are many applicants for positions in the ministry, and we still hope to reach agreement with the Muslim Brotherhood in the Accord Front to return Minister, and talk is deferred pending the completion of this process."

And the Prime Minister that "inertia or stopping suffers from the political process is not suitable to the forces that fought and struggled and struggled to become the new Iraq based on democratic foundations and the foundations of justice and equality", noting that "this agreement came to remove the inertia in the political process and is not a substitute for existing lists and lumps and do not want to be a substitute for, but came to support the political process and support these blocs and lists. "

Maliki and expressed readiness to work on the re Accord Front to exercise its role in the government and in the political process, and said that "the efforts made by the brothers in the Kurdish parties and our we also to be involved in the political process because our government is composed mainly of the spectrums of the Iraqi people" .

The premier added, "We have benefited greatly from working conditions that we spent during this period, and stood on the need to review the facts, and we hope that it will end audited return, but according to what we have come to the standards and commitments that we want when we are in the process political and in the government that we have the rights and duties of us, and if we have committed ourselves to this equation will be open to everyone who wants to participate in the political process. "

Maliki and described today's agreement as "the first step toward moving and reconsider building in the political process, as it is not definitive and that the door is always open to all those who agree with us need to move the political process and support."

And after the press conference was to sign a document of principles of national political forces agreement and the mechanisms of action, which reads as follows :

"In the name of God the Merciful

The national principles of political forces agreement and working mechanisms


Based on the depth of the historical relations struggle among Iraqi political forces that fought and struggled in the opposition to Saddam's ousted regime even topple, and to support the democratic experiment leading to the Iraqi people to achieve their aspirations to progress and prosperity and build a secure, stable Iraq has full sovereignty over their territory, initiated some basic political forces in the Iraqi arena to discuss the current situation in the country and the terrorist attack by Altkeverien and Sadamien to abort our winnings, and returning the country back, and the need to meet these more established factions unite and deepen national unity. After deliberations reached an agreement to unify ranks in order to achieve national reconciliation and strengthening state institutions and constitutional commitment to the articles of the Constitution and national interests and the success and rationalize government in the light of national following basic principles : -

In the political side

1. The need to unite and cooperate for the success of the political process - which can not be divided geographically-and propel them towards accommodate representatives of the components and Iraqi political forces, transparency and openness between the various parties in the face of challenges and political and economic security.
2. The agreement with political partners who participate in the political process on the following principles : -
- A commitment to the political process and the foundations of a democratic federal system in Iraq.
B-real participation of all partners political power and avoid the policy of exclusion and deportation.
EX-shoulder the responsibility of building the political partners and the state government in the interest of the homeland and the citizen and the government's declared commitment to the program.
3. Addressing the problems inherited from the past era, which reflected negatively on the relations between the different Iraqi groups.
4. Unifying national position in the regional and international deal to promote Iraq's sovereignty and ensure the interests of his people and protects democratic experiment fails and criminal schemes which seek to undone.

At the State level

5. Strengthening institutions and constitutional obligation, and increase the effectiveness of the House of Representatives completed its legislative, regulatory and cooperation between parliamentary blocs.
6. Attribution government for the success of its political and economic, security and service to offer the best services to citizens.
7. Expediting the completion stages of the application of Article 140 of the Constitution and the activation and support committees on the application and try to adhere to the timetable of the article mentioned in two on the settlement of the situation in Kirkuk and the disputed areas in the border provinces according to the Constitution.
8. Increase and deepen cooperation and coordination between the federal government and the government of Kurdstan territory in the area of security, military and the fight against terrorism.
9. Increased cooperation between the federal government and regional governments and governorates irregular in the territory in the areas of security, economic, political, social and all other areas including strengthens the federal government on one hand and local governments the other hand, according to the Constitution.
10. Agree on a timetable to achieve the political, legal, security and economic.
11. Activation of Iraqi diplomacy to defend Iraq and its democratic experiment.

On the security side

12. Attribution of the security plan to protect the security of citizens and to review the plan for the promotion of lifting deficiencies and gaps.
13. Work to complete the process of building and the training and equipping of the formation of the military and security organs.
14. The adoption of a unified position on the presence of foreign forces to promote Iraq's sovereignty and independence.

On the economic side, service

15. Improve the standard of living of citizens and the provision of services by reviewing economic plan and strengthen oversight of executive agencies to ensure the provision of basic services for citizens and raise the economic level, especially for disadvantaged layers and the families of martyrs and those affected in times of the former regime.
16. Diagnostic difficulties and obstacles that stand in the way of activating the various organs of the State to carry out its duties towards the citizens and fighting financial and administrative corruption.
17. Preserving the national wealth and development for the benefit and welfare of all the Iraqi people.

Mechanisms of Action

1. Agree on regular meetings of political leaders and that these meetings are meetings resolution.
2. Agree on an agenda for policies and objectives to be accomplished for the next stage.
3. The mechanism for implementing decisions through activating the role of official institutions, cooperation between the political blocs.
4. Forming a general secretariat play up and coordination and develop a system internally.
5. The agreement to coordinate information organs of political forces.
6. Continue to work with other parties, especially the Sunni Arabs and that handler internal front and strengthen participation in power.
7. The agreement represents the first phase and remain open to all who wish to work to support the political process.
8. Agree on a joint mechanism, a unified position in dealing with international and regional hub on the success of the political project from the standpoint of the Iraqi.
9. Activation or regular weekly meetings between the Presidency and the Prime Minister to deliberate on the policies and achievements of the government in compliance with the constitutional powers of the Presidency Council as the custodian of the constitution and the powers of the implementation of the Prime Minister as the Chief Executive direct and general commander of the armed forces and the powers of the Council of Ministers and Minister as Terms of reference and powers established by the Constitution.
10. Parties seek to agree on a common position and when the parties differ is not inconsistent with the positions of this agreement and to not weaken one another.


The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Party, the Islamic Call

Democratic Party Puk Iraqi Islamic Supreme Council

Sadrists stage peaceful demonstration in Najaf

Hundreds of the Sadrist bloc’s supporters in Najaf staged a peaceful demonstration on Wednesday, calling for an end to arrest campaigns and the release of detainees from the Sadrist bloc, while the spokesman for the bloc said that Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is in Iraq.

“The protesters began the demonstration at 10:00 am on Wednesday from Sahet al-Sadreen (Sadrists' square) in eastern Najaf and ended it at Sahet al-Thawrat al-Eishreen at the eastern exit of the city.

The angry protesters called on the Iraqi government and U.S. forces to release detainees and for the immediate stop to arrest campaigns, which they described as being carried out randomly.

“This demonstration aims to call on authorities to stop the recent arrest campaigns by U.S. forces against Sadrists,” the official spokesman for Muqtada al-Sadr, Sheikh Ahmed al-Shebani, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) during the demonstration.

A joint Iraqi and U.S. force last Monday arrested Emad al-Hasnawi, an activist from the Sadrist bloc, from his house in Missan neighborhood in Kufa.

U.S. forces also arrested Sheikh Fuad al-Tarafi, a senior aide for Muqtada al-Sadr, last Sunday from his house in the neighborhood.

“U.S. forces recently launched a new military operation dubbed “Phantom Strike” throughout Iraq, which mainly aims to crack down on Sadrists and elements of the Mahdi Army,” the sheikh also said.

“Muqtada al-Sadr is in Iraq,” al-Sebani also affirmed. U.S. reports recently asserted that the Shiite cleric is in Iran.

“We still adhere to the political process. We withdrew from the government but still have members in the parliament,” he noted.
The Sadrist bloc is one of the main components of the Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC) and has 30 seats out of the 275-seat parliament.

Sadrists stage peaceful demonstration in Najaf | Iraq Updates

Total curfew in bomb-hit Iraq towns

Authorities imposed a total curfew on Wednesday in an area in northwest Iraq where the Iraqi army said 175 people were killed in apparently coordinated suicide bomb attacks late on Tuesday.

Sinjar district mayor Dakheel Qassim Hassoun said only vehicles involved in rescue efforts would be allowed to travel through the area.

He said it would be impossible to establish a final death toll any time soon because many bodies were still buried in the rubble of up to 30 houses destroyed in the blasts.

Total curfew in bomb-hit Iraq towns | Iraq Updates

Army Assists in Reinvigorating Iraq's Economy

Fagah Al Dhahab needs money -- about $4 million, to hear him tell it.
Mr. Dhahab is the director general of the Hillah textiles company. His cluster of factories in the capital of Iraq's Babil province represents one piece of a network of state-run industries that dotted Iraq under Saddam Hussein, providing jobs and consumer goods, but also impeding competitive growth as lynchpins of Iraq's controlled economy.

Mr. Dhahab's operations are ongoing but suffering, victims of inadequate funding, supply shortages, understaffing and a paucity of electricity. In July, the factory's output was 450,000 meters of fabric. Before that, Mr. Dhahab said, he was forced to halt production for prolonged stretches.
Now, a Defense Department task force working to reinvigorate Iraq's economic landscape sees potential in the deteriorated plant. Paul A. Brinkley, deputy undersecretary of defense for business transformation, recently visited the site to award funding for improvements.

"We gave a grant in the amount of $2 million to support the purchase of machinery, maintenance and equipment, to help facilitate getting this factory restored to full production, so that its products can begin to be shipped, and they can begin to compete in the market," Sec. Brinkley said.

His organization, the Task Force to Improve Business and Stability Operations in Iraq, is investing millions in restoring and reequipping factories throughout Iraq, with a heavy concentration in Baghdad.

A daytrip to the Hillah factory, nestled off a major street in the town, highlighted both the progress and challenges of Sec. Brinkley's team's efforts.

Hillah is about 60 miles due south of Baghdad, not far from the ancient city of Babylon. During a short helicopter ride in from the Iraqi capital, the heavily agricultural region emerges in a quick transition from the urban sprawl to the north.

Babil's patchwork of fields is broken only by a network of canals and a main highway running north to south. The province lies in the traditional breadbasket of Iraq. The U.S. Regional Embassy Office at Hillah is situated alongside the Euphrates River, the source of irrigation water for much of the region.

It's from here that U.S. rebuilding efforts for the area are directed. State Department-led provincial reconstruction teams -- joint civilian-military units tasked with strengthening local governments, addressing basic infrastructure needs, and encouraging small-business development -- work with regional leaders to drive progress through Iraq's web of relationships.

If the PRTs work at the micro-level, Sec. Brinkley's team operates in the macro world, building regional economic hubs from its revitalized factories to support the re-opening of smaller businesses nearby.

On the drive to the factory, it's clear that small business is already thriving in Hillah. Goats, donkeys and tractors compete with more traditional vehicles in streets lined by home furnishing shops, butchers, and even a plant nursery. One sidewalk is lined with tricycles for sale. Children wave from the medians, while overhead a billboard shows a 1985-era Arnold Schwarzenegger smiling down on the scene.

But the city is rich with contrast. Down the street from a new construction site, the remnants of a small amusement park sit overgrown with weeds; the rusting Ferris wheel standing sentinel over the park's locked gate. Outside and throughout the town, piles of cement and rubbish line the roads.

Still, Hillah has benefited from a relatively stable security situation. Its majority Shiia population allows residents to enjoy an uninhibited relationship with the Iraqi police force. Patrol officers are a frequent sight on the city's street corners.

A U.S. military officer with oversight of Babil province explained that Hillah is poised to benefit from its stability.

"Everything here in Iraq is local," said Army Brig. Gen. Ed Cardon, deputy commander of Task Force Marne. "Here in Babil, as you can see, it's pretty secure, and there's a lot of business down here that you saw just as you drive down."

Brig. Gen. Cardon oversees the political and economic support elements of a tripartite strategy to stabilize Task Force Marne's area of responsibility: Najaf, Karbala, Babil and Wasit provinces. His team's efforts complement ongoing security operations in the region

Babil, and Hillah in particular, have been spared much of the fighting that has plagued other parts of Iraq. As a result, Brig. Gen. Cardon, Sec. Brinkley and the PRT leaders are able to move forward on their plans without some of the security concerns they might otherwise face.

"This is all about generating economic capacity," Brig. Gen. Cardon said.

However, security is far from the only obstacle facing these projects. During a conversation with Sec. Brinkley, Mr. Dhahab said he needs money for new equipment, repairs, and supplies. Most importantly, he said, he needs power.

The lights in the factory's conference room gave out twice during two hours of talks. Mr. Dhahab was midway through explaining how even a five-second blackout sets his production back by an hour.

According to a letter Sec. Brinkley presented to Mr. Dhahab, the $2 million the task force awarded Hillah Textiles is for purchasing new weaving, winding and dyeing machines; restoring the factory's existing jacquard machines; and purchasing raw materials.

The government of Iraq already has provided the textile factory at least $1.8 million in loans through the Ministry of Industry. Sec. Brinkley's money comes as a grant, part of DoD funds set aside for the stabilization effort.

During the meeting, Mr. Dhahab said he needs more money to purchase generators and fuel. Sec. Brinkley countered that if the director was a "good steward" of the current allotment, additional sources of funding would be opened to him. "There are no strings attached other than a process and paperwork" to ensure financial transparency, Sec. Brinkley explained.

The biggest concerns are employment and output, U.S. officials say. They made it clear there are large stakes for Hillah. "The long-term function is to make sure it's economically viable," Brig. Gen. Cardon said.

Success in the case of the textile factory would equate to a two thirds boost in its workforce, from 2,400 employees up to 4,000, the general explained.

A tour of the facilities showed plenty of spare capacity. De****e the power outage, it was clear some machines have sat idle for a long time, with threads tangled across the looms. But back in the conference room, the factory's output was on display. Richly colored striped and floral prints clashed against swathes of heavily patterned fabrics hanging in bundles from the ceiling. A children's print of bears and tigers broke up the room's round walls.

The relaxed atmosphere of the meeting was momentarily interrupted by the arrival of the Babil provincial governor, Salem Salah. With an entourage of staff, guards and reporters in tow, Gov. Salah greeted the American party, thanking them for their interest in the factory and explaining that regular employment is a critical factor for preventing violence.

Before leaving, he took the time to address members of the Iraqi press. As a member of the task force staff noted, just as in the United States, it's important for Iraqi officials to demonstrate action on behalf of their constituents.

Meanwhile, as Mr. Dhahab and his staff work to improve and grow operations at the textile factory, Sec. Brinkley, Brig. Gen. Cardon and their teams are working to line up buyers for the finished products.
"These were state-owned enterprises, so they did not have to compete on the open market," Brig. Gen. Cardon said. "Unless you can generate markets, you really don't have a factory."

The same process is taking place further north in Babil province, where Sec. Brinkley team members recently brought U.S. and foreign executives on a tour of automotive and heavy machinery factories in the town of Iskandariyah. U.S. officials presented the Iraqi leadership there with a $1.5 million grant to improve their operations.

All around Iraq, the focus is on "putting that skilled workforce back to work and creating economic opportunity and prosperity," Sec. Brinkley said.

The immediate and second-tier effects of these factories serve to improve security in the regions in which they're located by increasing prosperity and returning Iraqis to work, Brig. Gen. Cardon said.

"This is about getting these factories up and working, which gives you employment, which helps you with security," the general said.
Iraqi Clothing Factories Eyeing U.S. Holiday Market

Santa might be visiting Iraq this year to fill his holiday wish list, as Iraq's once-sagging textile industry gears up to export Iraqi-made clothing to the United States, a senior Iraqi government official said yesterday in Baghdad.

Deputy Industry Minister Sami al-Araji joined Sec. Brinkley and Iraqi Minister of Finance Bayan Jabr at a joint news conference to discuss plans to get Iraq's factories up and running. Many of the 200-plus state-run factories have been idle more than four years, resulting in mass unemployment that officials say creates a breeding ground for insurgents.

Sec. Brinkley reported "significant progress" in getting Iraq's industrial base back on track. Initially, that's been accomplished through small, incremental capital investments in equipment, maintenance, raw materials and training to reopen factories. The goal, he said, is to restore "sustained employment to the most skilled workforce in the Middle East," he said.

Congress authorized $50 million through the fiscal 2007 budget supplemental to accelerate this effort, he said.

One of the biggest success stories to date is the Iraqi textile industry, which hopes to export Iraqi-made clothing to the U.S. market in time for the holidays, Minister Araji reported. The Task Force to Improve Business and Stability Operations (in) Iraq, which Sec. Brinkley heads, is negotiating with several U.S. retailers to work out arrangements.

If all goes as hoped, a factory in Mosul could be exporting teenage clothing, a factory in Najaf, ready-made suits, and other factories, leather jackets.

Minister Araji said they'll likely be sold in small numbers and in limited markets, possibly Washington, New York, Chicago and Detroit. "It is a modest beginning of capturing of a market," he said.

But Sec. Brinkley said these sales will send "a powerful symbolism" that goes beyond sales figures. In addition to educating the U.S. and global market about Iraq's capabilities, he said they'll help restore the Iraqi people's faith in their own products.

Before 2003, most Iraqis had little choice but to buy from Iraqi factories, because U.N. sanctions limited Iraq's ability to import goods, Sec. Brinkley said. When those sanctions were lifted in 2003, imports began flooding the Iraqi market, filling the void left as its own factories went dormant.

Sec. Brinkley called getting those factories humming once again and Iraqis back to work keys to Iraq's future as a stable, secure and prosperous country. He expressed hope that success being seen in Iraq's textile sector soon will be duplicated in scores of other industries throughout the country.

Revitalizing Iraq's economy is a critical part of Multinational Force Iraq Commander Gen. David H. Petraeus' counterinsurgency plan in Iraq. "Economic development is at the core of his vision of how we bring political, economic and security restoration as a three-pronged effort here," Sec. Brinkley said.

This, in turn, will "create stability and enable the eventual drawdown of our presence here and the establishment of a stable government," he said.


Army Assists in Reinvigorating Iraq's Economy | Iraq Updates

Dana Gas posts half yearly operating profits

Dana Gas, the Middle East's first private sector regional natural gas company, has achieved first half year of operating profits, with total revenues for the half year ended 30 June 2007 rising to AED 443 million from 171 days of gas production operations, resulting in Gross Operating Cash Profit of AED 226 million.

The financial results reflect consistent operating performance during the second quarter.

The First half of 2007 saw Dana Gas complete the US$1.1 billion acquisition of Centurion Energy International in early January, establishing Dana Gas as the 6th largest gas producer in Egypt and launching the company into the exploration and production sector of the Middle East's natural gas industry. Dana Gas also built upon this position in April 2007 by signing important gas agreements with the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq.

The Long-term Assets of the Company grew by more than 100% from AED 4.0 billion to AED 8.1 billion during the first half of 2007, with Total Assets increasing 30% to AED 8.8 billion and Shareholders Equity rising to AED 6.86 billion. Net profit for the half year stood at AED 50 million, after one-time transaction fees of approximately AED 20 million and non-cash depreciation charges of AED 114 million, including those related to the Centurion acquisition.

'We are pleased with the continuous and consistent growth in the Company's operations and results,' said Mr. Hamid Dhiya Jafar, Executive Chairman of Dana Gas.

"The first half of 2007 has seen Dana Gas achieve several milestones and grow into a major player in the fast-growing Middle East gas industry, with existing strategic positions in the UAE, Egypt and Iraq, and further new projects under development in several other countries across the region, supported by the services of over 300 professional staff located in an international network of offices in the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Canada and now also Iraq. With some major projects coming onstream in the coming year, we look forward to building upon this solid foundation, and to continued future growth and expansion inshallah in the years ahead.'

Dana Gas recently announced new gas discoveries in exploration activities in its gas concessions in Egypt's Nile Delta. The Company expects to drill 12 new wells in 2007.

Dana Gas posts half yearly operating profits | Iraq Updates

Iraq sets mobile auction

Five companies will be competing tomorrow, Thursday, in an auction for three new mobile network licenses in Iraq, ITP.net reported.

The companies are Atheer, Orascom, Asiacell, Korek and Turkcell.

The auction has been delayed repeatedly since December 2005. The winners are expected to be announced on 18 August.

Iraq sets mobile auction | Iraq Updates

Clothing Made in Iraq Could Be in US Stores by Holidays

If things go according to plan, we will be seeing items made in Iraq in stores in the US by this holiday season. The items will all be in the clothing line, but are only a beginning to what is hoped a restart of the economy in Iraq.

Officials in Iraq, Deputy Industry Minister Sami al-Araji Paul Brinkley, deputy undersecretary of defense for business transformation, and Iraqi Minister of Finance Bayan Jabr held a joint news conference today to put forth plans to get the factories in Iraq back in business. There are more than 200 factories that have been idle since the start of the war, leaving many Iraqis unemployed.

Work is already underway to get the industry in Iraq back on track. So far they have been accomplishing this by small investments in equipment, materials, maintenance and the re training of the work force.

There has been $50 million that has been budgeted by Congress for the fiscal year 2007.

The textile industry is already starting to bounce back and the goal is to be able to ship merchandise to the US in time for this holiday season. Negotiations are already underway with several US retailers.

The current plans are for one factory located in Mosul exporting teen clothing. One in Narif produces ready-made suits and other factories will be geared for leather jackets.

They are not planing anything big to start with, with the aim being to get a small number of articles in limited markets, in all probability Washington, New York, Chicago and Detroit.

It is the hope that even a small start will give the Iraqi's spirit a boost as well as the economic one. And also they hope that the foreign markets will get a good impression of the Iraqi workmanship.

This is only meant as a starting point to getting Iraqis back to work and the rest of the country's industry back and working.

They view success in Iraq as taking three separate roads, political, economic and security all leading to an independent, stable and productive country

It is an ambitious project for a country in the middle of a civil war. One that will take years to complete, that is if there are no setbacks along the way. All Iraqis are not going to like the idea, but there is hope that they will want to build a country instead of tare it apart.

Clothing Made in Iraq Could Be in US Stores by Holidays | Iraq Updates

Arab League condemns bloody explosions in Iraq

Arab League on Wednesday condemned the bloody explosions which claimed the lives of more than 200 citizens in addition to hundreds wounded in Iraq Tuesday.

"The best way to end violence in Iraq is to go ahead steadily in the process of national concordance and reconciliation among the Iraqis," A statement for the League said.

It expressed sincere condolences to families of the victims and the Iraqi peoples who are still suffering from the terrorist acts which kill hundreds of innocent Iraqi civilians.

Iraq witnessed on Tuesday the worst bloody attacks since 2003 when four booby-trapped trucks exploded in the Iraqi northern governorate of Ninawa, killing more than 200 persons.

Arab League condemns bloody explosions in Iraq | Iraq Updates

Kirkuk governor discusses Kirkuk

Current Article 140 Committee making little headway, says the governor.

Kirkuk's governor, Abdul Rahman Mustafa, a Kurd, sheds light on the slow progress of implementing Article 140 and the situation of returned families.

Kirkuk Governor Abdul Rahman Mustafa said the process of implementing Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution is proceeding very slowly, similar to the situation when former Iraqi Cabinets were very sluggish in carrying out the article.

During Iyad Allawi's Cabinet (the first Iraqi Prime Minister after 2003), a committee was formed and headed by Hamid Majeed Musa to implement Article 140, but the committee made no headway, said Governor Mustafa.
The current Iraqi PM, Nouri al-Maliki, formed another committee, but it is disorganized and doesn't have the sufficient necessity to implement the article.

Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution, approved in 2005, makes provisions for the so-called "normalization" of Kirkuk. It calls for Arabs settled in Kirkuk under Saddam to return to their home provinces, while Kurds and Turkmen who were expelled are to be allowed to return.

In the spring, the Baghdad government agreed to give Arab settlers about $15,000(USD), plus a plot of land in their places of origin, if they returned voluntarily.

At the end of last month, the Ministries Council of the Baghdad government appointed Basim Ra'ad as the new chairman of the Article 140 Committee after the former chairman, Hshim al-Shabaly, resigned from his post. Ra'ad is a former cadre of the Iraqi Communist Party.

Governor Mustafa hopes that the article will be in place on schedule so that the people of Kirkuk and other designated areas can live their lives in peace.

He believes that all current members of the committee are working their hardest to implement the article, but lack of necessity and the resignation of the two previous chairmen slowed down the process.

"Implementing Article 140 means correcting those mistakes and wrong policies made by the former regime of Saddam," said Governor Mustafa.

The Globe discovered that 20 Kurdish families who had returned to Kirkuk have left again to other Kurdistan cities due to bad conditions in Kirkuk.
The Governor said that the Kirkuk governorate is using all its efforts to assist returning people and has fulfilled a lot of services for them, such as housing, water, and new schools.

"There is a lack of services still, but it is not only Kirkuk's situation; it is all of Iraq's situation due to lack of security and political crises," said the Governor, who urged returning families to be strong and stay in Kirkuk.

Governor Mustafa denied that the Kirkuk governorate let the Arabs from other cities come to Kirkuk and cause the security deterioration there. He said that the governorate already put tight security measures at the gates of Kirkuk city.

The President of Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani, lately warned of a "real civil war" if the central government does not implement the constitutional clause on the future of Kirkuk, the oil-rich city claimed by the Kurds.

Barzani, speaking in an interview with U.S.-funded Alhurra television, complained that the Baghdad government was dragging its feet on holding a referendum that could put Kirkuk under the control of the autonomous Kurdish region in the north.

"There is procrastination (by the government), and if this issue is not resolved, as I said before, all options are open....Frankly, I am not comfortable with the behavior and policy of the federal government on Kirkuk and Article 140," he said.

Kirkuk governor discusses Kirkuk | Iraq Updates