UNAMI: Iraqi Media Monitoring

From the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI)

Thursday, 29 July 2004

Headlines

(Al-Adala, Baghdad, twice-weekly by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq SCIRI, 28 July 2004) -
·         President Al-Yawar: We will not exclude or dispense with any section of Iraqi people to rebuild country
·         Al-Zarqawi aide captured in Kirkuk;
·         Libyan confess to his involvement in Al-Najaf explosions
·         Before arrival in Saudi Arabia, Iyad Allawi denies any Israeli presence in Iraq
·         Iraq ready to discuss immigrants' return with Iran, Turkey
·         Oil minister: Iraq to resume oil exports through Tripoli port
·         Zebari confirms deals with Russian LUKoil cancelled
·         Washington: Suicide bombers carried out operations in Iraq against their will
·         Education minister accuses those in charge of education system of corruption
·         Al-Msayyab power station staff demonstrate in front of Electricity Ministry
·         Tehran considers defence minister's statements not representative of Iraqi government
·         SCIRI leader chairs meeting to discuss current political situation, national conference
·         Human Rights Ministry opens office in detention centre on Iraqi-Kuwaiti borders
·         Terrorists arrested in successful police raids in Baghdad
·         Baghdad municipality plans to employ large numbers of workers, students in few weeks
(Baghdad, Baghdad, by the Iraqi National Accord Movement, 28 July, 2004)-

·         PM arrives in Jedda from Beirut;
·         Saudi government: This visit fulfils aspirations of two sisterly countries, serves Iraq's interests
·         Scheffer: NATO to take decision on role in Iraq soon
·         Iraqi civilian killed, 14 foreign soldiers wounded in mortar attack in Baghdad
·         Iraqi security forces arrest dangerous gang in Al-Nasiriyah
·         Supreme oil and gas council formed to develop economic resources
·         Moratinos: Spain fully committed to supporting Iraqi government
·         Financial Times: Iraqi government determined to hold national conference on schedule despite violence
·         Foreign undersecretary: No intention to threaten any neighbouring country
·         Egypt welcomes release of diplomat in Iraq
·         Training courses for Iraqi Central Bank staff in Jordan
·         Seventeen bridges, 250km-long roads rehabilitated in governorates
·         Education Ministry sets plans to implement compulsory education law
·         Japan grants 300m dollars in aid to Iraq
(Al-Da'wah, Baghdad, weekly newspaper in Arabic published by the Central Bureau of the Islamic Al-Da'wah Party, 28 July 04)
·         Member of national conference supreme preparatory body: Breaches accompanied elections; Process was step on road to elections
·         Al-Da'wah Party ahead of most parties in current elections to selection national conference members
·         Ayatollah Asefi stresses need for broad woman representation in national conference, assembly
·         Allawi: Al-Sadr not to be excluded
·         Zebari accuses Al-Jazeera channel of derailing course
·         One Iraqi killed, another injured in mortar attack in central Baghdad
·         Five unofficial ports closed, 30 ships, 50 tankers seized for smuggling oil
·         Human rights minister after visiting Saddam, his aides in prison: I saw the butchers responsible for turning Iraq into mass graves
·         Deputy director of Al-Mahmudiyah Hospital assassinated
·         Education Ministry provides 5,000 job opportunities, cancels schools for distinguished students
·         Former military men stage big demonstration in Dhi-Qhar to demand jobs, salaries
(Al-Mada is issued daily by Al-Mada institution for Media, Culture, and Arts, 28 July, 2004)-

·         Al-Yawar meets Al-Anbar tribal leaders, says: Saboteurs will not intimidate us;
·         Democratic march will go on Allawi winds up fruitful visit to Lebanon, arrives in Saudi Arabia to normalize relations
·         Jordanians hopeful of immediate end to hostage issue
·         UN expert recommends one-month delay of national conference
·         Chairman of national conference supreme body: National conference to be held on Saturday
·         Iran denies interference in Iraqi affairs
·         Al-Zarqawi aide, eight terrorist arrested in Kirkuk W
·         ashington grants Mojahedin-e Khalq protected status in Iraq
(Al-Manarah, Basra, independent & political, by Sawt Al-Janub House for Press, 28 July, 2004)-

·         National election conference postponed in Basra after failure to agree on candidate list
·         Al-Yawar: Explosion of situation in Kirkuk will blow up Iraq
·         Al-Sistani's representative in Basra: Religious authority is not direct party to elections; We do not set conditions to people or suggest names or parties; People are free to choose what they want; Religious authority is not with party against another
·         UK consul in Basra: Preserving security in Iraq is a priority
·         Allawi refuses to consider UK presence in Iraq occupation
·         Eight Basra local council members receive death threats
·         New Mosul governor appointed
·         Tribal affairs official in Iraqi Interior Ministry gunned down
·         Fishing department staff stage sit-in in Basra agriculture directorate
·         More than four million immigrants outside Iraq
·         Bank observer: Decentralized administrations in Baghdad behind sluggish investment banks in Basra
·         Human rights minister warns of bubble organizations, sets up fund to compensate victims
·         Uday Saddam Husayn's lions find new home
·         Abu Ghurayb prisoners dream of amnesty
·         British MPs consult international court on Iraq invasion
·         Zebari: Joint Iraqi-Russian company to study contracts signed under former president
·         Group holding seven hostages extends deadline
·         Allawi denies lifting ban on travel to Israel
·         Iraq appeals to France for 90 per cent debt relief
·         Jordan demands 4m-dollar compensations for Iraqi planes grounded on territory
·         German bank exploits loophole in law, appropriates 28m dollars from Iraqi assets

(Al-Mutamar, Baghdad, weekly by the Iraqi National Congress, 28 July 2004)
·         USA to Al-Fallujah residents: Aid linked to halt to attacks
·         Recommendation to abolish or amend law on 1957 census
·         Communications minister: 3,200m dollars to restore communication services
·         Talabani denies any recent visit to Israel
·         Higher education minister stresses need for university independence, encouraging investments
·         Australian experts: Rehabilitation of Iraq agricultural sector needs international support
·         Moscow bids farewell to Zebari with disappointment:
·         Baghdad finds no justification for international conference Cairo:
·         No ransom paid to free diplomat
·         High cost of security protection for foreign contractors obstructs efforts to revive water projects
·         Allawi seeks to retrieve Iraqi assets in Lebanon
·         Talks with neighbouring states to supply Iraq with electric power
·         Reports on sacking chief of staff, officers for dereliction of duty
(Al-Nahdhah, Baghdad, by Independent Democrats Movement, 28 July, 2004)-

·         United Nations recommends delay of Iraqi national conference;
·         Al-Yawar: Conference may be postponed for one week or more as dictated by national interest
·         Amnesty to be issued soon, not to include killers of Americans, Arabs
·         Allawi in Saudi Arabia to discuss bilateral relations
·         [Vice-President] Al-Ja'fari to visit Damascus soon
·         US forces threaten to deprive Al-Fallujah from aid

(Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London-based, Baghdad edition independent daily, Saudi-owned, 28 July, 2004)-

·         Allawi discloses efforts for rapprochement between Damascus, Washington
·         US forces capture Al-Zarqawi aide in Kirkuk;
·         Hostage takers network dismantled; Suicide attack aborted in Ba'qubah
·         King Fahad, Prince Abdallah meet Allawi;
·         Al-Asad informs Mubarak: We will control borders with Iraq
·         Al-Yawar: We will not negotiate hostage kidnappers, nor pay them a penny in ransom Jordanian drivers' company suspends operations in Iraq,
·         Kidnappers demand 140,000-dollar ransom for one hostage
·         Kidnapped Egyptian diplomat: An exciting experience, but I hope it will not be repeated Al-Pachachi to take part in presidential elections, to be pleased with result even if he loses
·         Sources: National conference to discuss three political reports, to elect 100 members for interim parliament; UN favours one-month postponement to avoid possible gaps
(Al-Shira, independent, political and general weekly, 28 July, 2004)-

·         Chairman of Iraqi Lawyers Union: We did not approve Arab lawyers' defence of Saddam;
·         Negroponte blocked amnesty to those involved in violent acts
·         Signs of terrorist escalation in Al-Hillah; Six officials assassinated;
·         Water purification complex bombed
·         Human Rights Ministry appoints 160 doctors in Abu Ghurayb prison
·         Environment Ministry urges government to take immediate measures to solve environment problems in Al-Sadr city
·         Al-Sistani calls for Sunni-Shi'i unity
·         Coordination meeting between Shi'i, Kurdish leaders on Iraq future arrangements
·         US forces step up preparations to attack Al-Fallujah, set up sand barricades on entrances to city
·         Iraqi embassy in Amman issue entry visas to Iraq
·         In rare international precedent, Washington grants Mojahedine Khalq right to asylum in Iraq
·         Two mortar bombs target Justice Ministry in Baghdad
(London-based Azzaman, Political and independent daily, issued by Saad al-Bazaz, 28 July, 2004)-

·         New intelligence chief in first interview: Iraq is valuable treasure; We will not allow thieves to steal it; Foreign intelligence struggle on Iraqi land is abnormal situation not to last long
·         US forces arrest Al-Zarqawi follower in Kirkuk, Fifteen suspects arrested;
·         Weapons, forged seals found
·         Allawi in Saudi Arabia to discuss security, debts
·         Al-Sistani opposes any secessionist project
·         Two bomb explosions in Ba'qubah, Al-Hillah;
·         CD shops destroyed in Baghdad
·         Al-Yawar to Al-Zaman: Date of national conference is not sacred
·         Foreign minister discusses reconstruction in Tunis
·         One civilian killed, 14 soldiers wounded in Baghdad mortar attack
·         National conference representatives speak of withdrawals from national conference because of rigged elections
National Conference has Great Effect on Iraq, Region

(Baghdad, Baghdad, by the Iraqi National Accord Movement, 28 July, 2004)- [From commentary by Falah Isma'il Hajim] "The success of the Iraqi national conference will have great effect not only on the life of Iraqi people, but also on the peoples of the entire Middle East region. This success may decide the fate of the whole Iraqi experience in building an institutionalized state, the state of law that will lay the foundation for a sound parliamentary life in a country to which humanity owes the earliest ever legal rules."

Al-Mutamar Daily: Iraqi Exiles should participate in Elections

(Al-Mutamar, Baghdad, weekly by the Iraqi National Congress, 28 July 2004) [From article by Mustafa al-Qaradaghi] "The new government, which we deeply trust, should face up to the calls and statements made here and there to exclude Iraqi exiles from participation in the coming elections under whatever pretexts Such participation is no one's favour since it is a legitimate right. It is the right path that can ensure the election of a government acceptable to all segments of Iraqi people, whether inside the country with their silent majority, or abroad with the majority that do not view secularism as blasphemy, democracy as decadence, or federalism as division, which all constitute the solid bases on which the new Iraq should be built "

Chaos, Insecurity in Iraq is American Making

(Al-Sa'ah, Baghdad, political biweekly, the Unified National Movement led by Sunni cleric Ahmad al-Kubaysi, 28 July 2004) - [From editorial] "He is under an illusion whoever imagines that what happened in Iraq or what has happened after the occupation is an evidence for the United States' failure to run the country or plan for a post-war Iraq. All literature posted on US Congress and Pentagon websites clearly indicate that chaos and insecurity are an American making. Many proposals for post-war Iraq administration procedures unanimously suggest there will be lawlessness for two or three years intended "to reshape the Iraqi mind" for the certain end of dictating US-Israeli solutions and obliterating the Iraqi mentality known for its rejection of occupiers and Zionist entity and commitment to true religious values based on dignity and honour "

Updates from Iraqi Kurdish Press
From UNAMI - Erbil

KRG HR Minister Participate in UN Forum
(Khabat daily, Erbil 29 July 2004) - Representing both Erbil and Suleiman administrations, KRG Human Rights Minster Muhammed Ihsan attended the UN 2-day conference in Amman. The Iraqi Justice Minister, SRSG Ross Mountain and other UN senior officials also attended the gathering that is focusing the UN plans for Iraq dealing with the Iraqi ministries and human rights organizations. The conference also proposed a number of humanitarian development projects for Kurdistan Region.

President Yawer: Sending Back IDPs to Kirkuk Ethical, Religious, National Duty
(Aso weekly, Sulaymanya 27 July 2004) - In his first interview with a Kurdistani newspaper, Iraqi federal president Ghazi Al-Yawer said his government would implement all the provisions of the transitional administration law (TAL) ``word by word''. On Kirkuk issue, the President asserted the need to bring back Kirkukee IDPs to the places of origin and sending back the Arab settlers to their original places [in southern and central Iraq]. He considered the pre-1968 status a good measure for normalizing the situation in the governorate.
Minister Announces Terrorist Band Arrest
(Khabat daily, Erbil 29 July 2004) - The KRG Interior Minister Kareem Sinjari announced in a televised interview with Kurdistan Satellite channel that Kurdistan security forces arrested members of a terrorist band with their equipment and explosives days ago. The terrorists had planned for suicide explosions in Erbil and disturbing the prevailing security in the city.
Oil Refinery Plant In Dahuk, Connecting Kurdistan To Iraqi National Gas Grid
(Khabat daily, Erbil 29 July 2004) - An Iraqi high delegation from the ministry of petroleum visited Kurdistan and met with the minister and senior officials at the KRG of Industry and Energy Ministry for discussion over a range of policy and technical issues, including the establishment of an oil refinery in Dahuk governorate and connecting Kurdistan Region to the national gas grid for industrial usage. Searching for more petroleum resources in Kurdistan and international investment in the region were other topics discussed at the meeting.
Iraqi Southern Governorates Consider Federal Region
(Khabat daily, Erbil 29 July 2004) - Politicians and civil society activists representing Nasiriya, Amara, Samawa and Basrah governorates in southern Iraqi are holding a conference in Nasiriya do discuss the establishment of a federal region in the south like that in Kurdistan in accordance to Article 71 of the Iraqi Transitional Administration Law (TAL), Al-Iraqiya TV reported. A representative from Basrah, where the idea emerged, said the four governorates posses enough resources to create a prosperous region like those of the UAE. We can positively eye the Kurdistan Region, which is the safest part of Iraq, another rep said. Kurdistan managed to balance between self-rule and its ties with Baghdad. We can do the same, he added.
Al-Zarqawi Aides Arrested in Kirkuk, Haweeja People Unhappy With Mayor
(Khabat daily, Erbil 29 July 2004) - In cooperation with Kirkuk police, the multi-national forces (MNF) have arrested two former officers of the defunct Iraqi intelligence and republican guards who had direct links to Al-Qaeda terrorist Al-Zarqawi in the city days ago, The MNF commander in Kirkuk announced. He also asserted the capture of another 8 suspects, all of the m Arabs who confessed their involvements in abduction and terrorism inside and outside Kirkuk city. On the other hand, members of Haweeja district municipal council submitted a memory to the Kirkuk Governor demanding him to dismiss the town's mayor for his failure in preserving security and stability in Haweeja, which became a center for abduction and terrorism in the past months, according to the memo. The Governor formed a committee to investigate the situation.
Kurdish Representation in Kirkuk Education Pessimistic
(Jamawar weekly, Erbil 26 July 2004) - The Education Department in Kirkuk operates in a 200-room building but only 2 rooms are dedicated for the Kurdish Education section. 340 employees work in that building but only 7 of them are Kurds. Out of 10,700 teachers working throughout Kirkuk Governorate, only 140 of them are Kurds.
Dyala Governor Continues Arabization, Releases Kurdish Teachers
(Jamawar weekly, Erbil 26 July 2004) - The Governor of Dyala Abdullah Al-Joboury revoked a directive that re-deployed 30 Kurdish teachers, whom the former Ba'ath regime dismissed and displaced under the infamous Arabization policy years ago. The Kurds in Dyala governorate accuse the Governor of scuffling the Kurds and attempting to prolong the Arabization policy in innovative ways. According to an ``informed'' source, Al-Jobury promised, during a conference held in Baquba under the motto of ``Towards National Reconciliation'' on 21 July, that he would not allow the Kurds consecrate their existence in the Governorate.

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