Thread: Chapter VII

Iraq-US Security Deal 'Under Wraps'
An Iraqi parliamentarian has said that the strategic security agreement drafted between the Iraqi government and the US in January 2008 is not still finalized and its details are not revealed to the Iraqi parliament.

In an exclusive interview with Alalam website Thursday, Bassem al-Sharif said the agreement has not been announced formally so far and the Iraqi parliament is not aware of the details of the agreement.

The security agreement between the Iraqi government and the US was drafted in January 2008 and signed on March 17, and it is due to be finalized early June this year

"In the agreement general issues such as Iraq's exit from the Chapter 7 of UN Charter as well as economic and cultural agreements between the two sides are addressed," he said.

Asked if the agreement was a "green light" to the occupying forces to carry out military operation in the war-shattered country under any circumstances, the Iraqi official said: "These statements are only proposals and part of the draft and cannot be relied upon until it is submitted to the parliament."

Al-Sharif also said that Iraqi forces do not have sufficient capacity to establish security in the country and the government should try to recruit more forces to restore peace and security.

The Iraqi lawmaker further said: "The parliament has made a decision that this year would be the last year the foreign troops can stay in Iraq; the government should take the decision into consideration."

A number of Iraqi political and religious figures have warned against the agreement which is feared to allow the occupying forces to continue their occupation in the country.

Ayatollah Seyyed Kazem Ha'eri, a senior Iraqi religious figure, called on all Iraqi officials not to sign any kinds of agreements which disrupt the country's sovereignty, saying," the US occupying forces are trying to legitimize their presence in Iraq."

Alalam News

Sistani aide slams long-term Iraq-U.S. deal

A representative of top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani slammed on Friday a long-term Iraq-U.S. agreement, which, he said, would "needlessly add further burdens on the Iraq people".

"We don't want Iraq to be further burdened by problems and obligations that could impinge on the nation's sovereignty as well as the coming generations," Sayyid Ahmed al-Safi said during the Friday prayers' sermon in the holy Shiite city of Karbala.

"We're, however, resting assured learning that there are political minds that put the nation's interests into consideration, and that the religious leaders are totally aware of what is planned," Safi said.

He added that what Iraq would really need is the exit from the Chapter 7 of the UN Charter without having this negatively affecting its sovereignty.

A declaration of principles was signed between U.S. President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in December 2007. The declaration was planned to be ratified on July 31, 2008 to be effective as of January 1, 2009.

The agreement governs the U.S. forces' presence in Iraq after the year 2008. This presence currently relies on a mandate by the UN, renewed annually upon the request of the Iraqi government.

The agreement should not be effective except after endorsement by the 275-member Iraqi parliament, which comprises five political blocs, the Fadhila (Virtue) Party and the Sadrist Bloc, or Iraqis loyal to Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr.

Meanwhile, Safi criticized in his Friday sermon the "slow" reconstruction efforts in Karbala. "The officials and the decision-makers have roll up their sleeves to re-build Karbala, which we call holy; it is a real honor that everyone should serve the pilgrims," he said.

The holy Shiite city of Karbala, said to house the tombs of Imams al-Hussein and his brother al-Abbas, both are highly revered figures for Shiite Muslims, lies 110 km southwest of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

Aswat Aliraq

Iraq parties oppose US long term pact

The long term pact with Americans spurred fierce reactions among a number of political parties in the country. Al Hayat Newspaper quoted political sources as saying that US Ambassador to Baghdad Ryan Crocker notified Iraqi officials last week about his country’s willingness to discuss the issue of US permanent bases in Iraq and Washington’s opposition to a clause that Iraqis insist on upon which US Forces are not allowed to use Iraqi territories in order to launch military operations. The sources noted that tension is rising with the US over some points in the Pact which Iraqis consider a violation to its sovereignty. Main rows include US Forces authorities to arrest Iraqis, use military equipments and forces without coordinating with the government and grant US soldiers, citizens and security firms immunity before the Iraqi Law.

The same sources revealed that Sayyed Ali Al Sistani informed Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki that he is against the pact after reviewing it last week. Close sources to Al Sistani affirmed that he insists on putting the pact under referendum which is refused by Crocker stressing the necessity of detaching Iraq from UN Charter Chapter 7. For his part, Sayyed Abdul Aziz affirmed that a national consensus against several points of the US pact for it violates Iraq’s sovereignty. He added that members of the political council for security formed of political blocs leaders, governmental and parliamentarian commands oppose several points of the pact.

Vice President Tarek Al Hashemi agreed with Al Hakim’s stand saying that Iraq sovereignty is a red line.

http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News...term-pact.html

Australian troops end combat mission in Iraq
(AFP)

1 June 2008

SYDNEY - Australian troops ended their combat mission in Iraq on Sunday and are withdrawing from the country, Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said.

The 550-strong force will leave their base in southern Iraq, fulfilling a promise made by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd ahead of his election last November to bring troops home from the conflict by mid-year.

‘The Overwatch Battle Group and the Australian army training team formally ceased operations at a ceremony at Camp Terendak at Tallil,’ the Australian Defence Force said in a statement.

In Iraq, local governor Aziz Kadoum Alwan said the soldiers left Dhi Qar and Muthanna provinces after a flag-lowering ceremony.

The Overwatch Battle Group soldiers had been based at Tallil air base, about 300 kilometres (186 miles) south of Baghdad, where they had been providing security training for local forces, and carrying out reconstruction and aid work.

Fitzgibbon said the withdrawal of the troops would close another chapter in Australian military history.

‘Our soldiers have worked tirelessly to ensure that local people in southern Iraq have the best possible chance to move on from their suffering under Saddam's regime and, as a government, we are extremely proud of their service,’ he said in a statement.

Details of the soldiers' return to Australia were not immediately available, but a spokesman for the minister said it would be completed by the government's deadline of mid-2008.

‘They will be moved home over the course of the next month,’ he said.

Iraqis working for Australia in the war-torn nation will also be resettled in Australia after the government announced in April it would be offering them permanent residency.

Australia joined the US-led campaign in Iraq in early 2003 but no Australian Defence Force troops were killed in combat in the country.

The Iraq campaign was unpopular in Australia and was a key point of difference between Labor leader Rudd and conservative former prime minister and staunch George W. Bush ally John Howard at the November election.

Canberra will still have 1,000 personnel deployed in support of the war but only a small security and liaison force will remain in Iraq itself. Most will be working from nearby countries on two maritime surveillance aircraft and a warship which helps patrol offshore oil platforms.

Khaleej Times Online - Australian troops end combat mission in Iraq

Abdul-Mahdi discussed with UN official
Directed by Iraq from Section VII and the Iraqi debt

Politically independent daily newspaper - Thursday, June 5, 2008

Research Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi, with the political adviser to UN Secretary General Nicholas Hess file of the Iraqi debt and to pull Iraq out of Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.

The statement said Abdul-Mahdi, the Office received a copy of which is home today: "Abdul-Mahdi discussed during his meeting today in Baghdad Political Adviser to the Secretary-General of the United Nations positive developments in the political arena and security in the country. "

He added that: "During the meeting was to discuss a number of laws and legislation that hopefully ratify it in parliament, in addition to discussing the electoral law and the ongoing preparations, and also discussed the file of Iraq's debt and to pull Iraq out of Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations." He explained: " The Vice President stressed the importance that there be effective role of the United Nations in Iraq

جريدة المواطن العراقية

U.S. keeps $50bn to pressure Iraq to sign military deal - newspaper

London, Jun 6, (VOI)- The U.S. is holding hostage some $50bn of Iraq's money in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to pressure the Iraqi government into signing a security agreement, according to information leaked to The Independent newspaper.

“U.S. negotiators are using the existence of $20bn in outstanding court judgments against Iraq in the U.S., to pressure their Iraqi counterparts into accepting the terms of the military deal,” the British daily said.

“Iraq's foreign reserves are currently protected by a presidential order giving them immunity from judicial attachment but the U.S. side in the talks has suggested that if the UN mandate, under which the money is held, lapses and is not replaced by the new agreement, then Iraq's funds would lose this immunity. The cost to Iraq of this happening would be the immediate loss of $20bn,” the newspaper added.

“The US is able to threaten Iraq with the loss of 40 per cent of its foreign exchange reserves because Iraq's independence is still limited by the legacy of UN sanctions and restrictions imposed on Iraq since Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in the 1990s. This means that Iraq is still considered a threat to international security and stability under Chapter Seven of the UN charter,” it noted.

“The U.S. negotiators say the price of Iraq escaping Chapter Seven is to sign up to a new "strategic alliance" with the United States,” it said.

“The threat by the American side underlines the personal commitment of President George Bush to pushing the new pact through by 31 July. Although it is in reality a treaty between Iraq and the U.S., Mr Bush is describing it as an alliance so he does not have to submit it for approval to the US Senate,” the newspaper explained.

“Iraqi critics of the agreement say that it means Iraq will be a client state in which the US will keep more than 50 military bases,” it said.

“The U.S. had previously denied it wanted permanent bases in Iraq, but American negotiators argue that so long as there is an Iraqi perimeter fence, even if it is manned by only one Iraqi soldier, around a U.S. installation, then Iraq and not the U.S. is in charge,” the newspaper concluded.

Aswat Aliraq

Hammam Hamoudi: "The government contracted with international companies to protect the funds out of Iraq after the seventh item (About Chapter VII)

Hammam Hamoudi said Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and the Constitution Review Committee in the House of Representatives that the American side to withdraw a claim regarding the development of its troops in the country.

Hamoudi stressed that the Americans had withdrawn a number of items contained in draft form leading to the conclusion of a long-standing convention, saying in an interview with "Radio Sawa" to identify those items related to the development of American forces in Iraq.

Hamoudi said that "there is a detailed and complex issues formed a national consensus to reject them and finally arrived at the news that the negotiators high ceiling to American demands have been reduced but there are still issues believed to be also raises some sort of national sensitivity that need further dialogue."

Hamoudi stressed that Iraq is working on three axes to ensure that the funds deposited in international banks from potential damages claims in the event of his release from Section VII of the Charter of the United Nations.

Hamoudi added that "there are those who demand to issue another resolution from the United Nations to protect these funds, which is difficult but possible, and there are those who say open to these debt claims through the judicial This requires a very long time and the third trend is to keep Iraq under Chapter VII of the remainder of these funds Under protection ", saying the government has contracted with a global consulting firms to choose the most suitable alternative.

He Hamoudi who is also head of the Constitutional Review Commission that it was also agreed in the Committee on a constitutional basis for regulating the formation and functioning of the Federation Council, which will be elected at the next election.

He reported that Hamoudi new materials added to the Constitution has set a percentage of population of each province in the membership of the European Council taken in Missan governorate model in the lower proportion of the population to be represented by three members should be increased for other provinces according to the system to be agreed upon.

Translated version of http://www.radiosawa.com/arabic_news.aspx?id=1612274

Why get on Iraq from "Chapter VII"?

While the focus of political debate and controversy recently hot on the details of the "status of forces" referred to above, has been only rarely addressed the critical issue relied upon Iraqi parties that originally justified the entry in negotiating with the U.S. side about the long-term cooperation agreement. This is the issue relating to the Convention linking Iraq to graduate from the provisions of Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations as it is no longer "poses a threat to international peace and security." Resolution 661 issued by the UN Security Council in August 1990 put Iraq under the provisions of Chapter VII, enabling him to practice under international trusteeship, as decisions are made on it by the Security Council and not to negotiate with Iraq.

There can end this situation only through a decision of this Council cancels the previous resolutions applied to Iraq's sovereignty. This despite the fact that resolution 1546 (8 June 2004) had provided for ending the occupation and authority "officially".

It should be remembered that the "Statement of political leaders" of Iraqis Aug. 26, 2007 included the following in point (2) of the third paragraph at the end of the statement:

"As leaders stressed the importance of a multi-national forces at the present time and appreciation for the sacrifices made by Iraq to assist in maintaining security and stability ....and the aspirations of the leaders of the importance of linking the renewal of Security Council resolution 1723 for one year and ending the Iraq subject to the provisions of Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations and the restoration of Iraq Full and normal as a full sovereign powers, and be restored to the international legal status, any situation which it had before the Security Council resolution 661 in in 1990. In this context, leaders need to reach with the American side - and others if necessary - to a long-term relationship based on Common interests and covers various fields between Iraq and the United States, a goal that is supposed to accomplish during the short period ahead. "

It is important paragraph (which did not receive timely attention!), Which was based upon "Declaration of Principles" signed after three months between Bush and Maliki.

And also came at the end of the text of the "Declaration of Principles" in this regard as follows:

"The Iraqi government, an affirmation of the inalienable rights under the existing Security Council resolutions, it will extend the assignment of the multinational force in Iraq in accordance with Chapter VII of the United Nations one last time. As a condition to this request, following the end of the extension mentioned above, will put Iraq under Chapter VII and classified threat to peace And security, and will return to Iraq and the international legal status that was enjoyed before the UN Security Council Resolution 661 (in August, 1990), thus enhancing the recognition and affirms the full sovereignty of Iraq and territorial waters, air space, and control over his forces and management of its affairs. "

http://www.aljeeran.net/wesima_artic...15-117561.html

Continued.......

Evade U.S.

Committed to the "Declaration of Principles", the Iraqi government informed the Security Council at the end of last year's request to extend the mandate of the "multinational force" in Iraq for one last time. In other words, the aim was linked to reach an agreement with Washington before the July 31, 2008 to end Iraq subject to Chapter VII.

But it soon became clear, before the ink dried signing of the "Declaration of Principles", that the U.S. administration's agenda and other purposes inconsistent with the commitment and undertaking by, and consistent with the political plans for Iraq and the interests of American national security. The party's refusal to accept U.S. demands in the security aspect was the Iraqi government intends to include in the letter submitted to the United Nations and as an alternative to previous letters exchanged in this regard between the U.S. government and the governments of Iyad Allawi and Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

It became obvious in the last two weeks that the U.S. administration wants to impose conditions can not be accepted by the Iraqi side, in spite of the weak negotiating position, because it is blatantly inconsistent with the national sovereignty of the country which has become "red line" can not be untouchable after escalating criticism at the popular level, cracks Wall of obfuscation and secrecy and reveal a set of facts in one go.

The retreat in Washington on its pledge to help the Iraqi side exit arrangements from the provisions of Chapter VII means that the U.S. administration wants to use this paper strong pressure in the ongoing negotiations to impose its conditions. Failure to renew Security Council resolution at the end of this year (as usual, automatically, in the past four years) means the non-renewal of immunity to Iraqi funds deposited in the "Development Fund" and make Iraq vulnerable to the demands of creditors to pay the obligations contained therein.

It also became clear that the Bush administration does not want the obligation to provide substantial pledges for Iraq, even as its obligations under the "Declaration of Principles", as this would require the U.S. Congress put forward by the Democratic Party, which enjoys a majority opposition. It is known that the administration repeatedly emphasized, responding to critics, said the agreement with Iraq is not a "treaty", and therefore do not need to be submitted to Congress for approval.

It has become clear that the Bush administration wants to employ a long-standing convention with Iraq to strengthen its position internally, and presented this agreement with the successes achieved in the security of Iraq as a major success for its strategy in Iraq, and invest for the benefit of the presidential candidate for the Republicans, John McCain, in the forthcoming presidential elections in October II (November) 2008.

http://www.aljeeran.net/wesima_artic...15-117561.html

Lol - I think it's saying that Iraq has been under Chapter VII since 1990. Iraq formally coming out of Chapter VII, while official, will be spread over a period of about six months.

It's saying that Iraq is no longer a threat to it's neighbours in the Region.

All in all it's good news!!