Wednesday, 26 May 2004
On the Donors Meeting in Qatar
Held on 25 - 26 May 2004
(Al- Sharq, in Arabic, 26 May 04) -
The meeting of International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq and Donors Committee will conclude today. Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Abdullah Al Mahmoud has confirmed during the inaugurating speech that Qatar has intended from the beginning that it will cooperate with the international committee to expedite reconstruction process in Iraq. He stressed on the importance of the reconstruction process that would be accomplished through donors' contributions, direct projects, bilateral projects with Iraqi government, United Nations Development Fund and the World Bank. An associated source said that four countries have decided to join the Donors Committee, Italy offered $10 million, Kuwait offered $10 million, Netherlands offered $5 million and Turkey offered $1.5 million. The committee is waiting for an answer from Iran to offer $10 million.
(Al- Watan, Doha, in Arabic, 26 May 04) -
(Al-Mashriq, Baghdad, 25 May 04) - Publishes on its front page report on the discussion at the UN Security Council regarding the new resolution on Iraq.
(Al-Mashriq, Baghdad, 25 May 04) - A front page editorial commenting on the power transition on 30 June. The editorial says that a number of political parties and movements announced that they have completed their preparations to control the Iraqi street as soon as power is handed over to the Iraqis.
(Al-Bayan, Baghdad, 25 May 04) - A front-page editorial under the headline, ``After 30 June, government and the conditions for success,'' says that after 30 June, the "occupation" will end and this will be an important step in establishing national sovereignty. The editorial adds that this date will be the first step towards real democracy in Iraq. The editorial outlines the qualifications for the next government, asserting that it must be accepted by all Iraqis and must only work for Iraqi prosperity.
(Al-Manar, Baghdad, 25 May 04) - Publishes an article discussing in detail the US policy in Iraq. The article says that the US has not only broken all of the promises it made prior to the war against Saddam Hussein, but it has knocked down the UN Security Council Resolution Number 1483 as well. The article adds that the cost of the political mistakes made by the "occupation" forces and the Governing Council is paid by the Iraqi people alone.
(Al-Dustur, Baghdad, 25 May 04) - A front page editorial discusses and comments on the concept of democracy as practiced by a number of Iraqi politicians. The editorial says that to them, democracy is "looting and plundering, favoritism and nepotism, bribes, and taking over public property."
(Al-Dustur, Baghdad, 25 May 04) - An article discusses Iraqi public opinion towards pan-Arabism. The article says that despite the crimes of the former regime, Saddam's positions towards Arab causes were crystal clear; however, many Iraqis believe that Arabs are behind what happened to them.
(Al-Adalah, Baghdad, 25 May 04) - The fighting between Al-Mahdi Army and the "occupation" forces has stopped. Al-Adalah correspondent says that the people were shocked by the damages done to the holy cities and were very shocked after discovering that several commercial shops were looted by unknown individuals. In Al-Najaf, the clashes started again, particularly in the grand market area. The report cites an eye witnesses as saying that Al-Mahdi Army is using the high population areas to hide during the clashes.
(Azzaman, Baghdad, 25 May 04) - Hundreds of Iraqis have begun a sit-in near Abu-Ghurayb Prison in response to the Islamic Party's calls. The sit-in, which will be for three days, is to protest the abuse of Iraqi prisoners and to pressure the US forces to release all the prisoners.
In Brief:
(Al-Adalah, Baghdad, 25 May 04) - A source inside the IGC says that the new government will be announced next week. The source adds that the IGC may nominate an independent or non-affiliated figure to assume the prime minister position.
(Al-Mu'tamar, Baghdad, 25 May 04) - Publishes an article criticizing Syria, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia for their objection in the Arab Summit held recently in Tunisia to deploying Arab forces in Iraq.
(Al-Mu'tamar, Baghdad, 25 May 04) - In an article discusses IGC Member Dr Ahmad al-Chalabi's relationship with the US, Al-Mu'tamar says that the current confrontation between the two parties was expected because of Al-Chalabi's "brave and frank" political and patriotic stands.
(Al-Mada, Baghdad, 25 May 04)- Iraqi Communication Ministry undersecretary says that the ministry intends to build new harbors in Iraq. The Ministry also intends to build an airport in Al-Najaf Governorate.
(Al-Mada, Baghdad, 25 May 04)- Housing and Construction Minister says that the ministry will soon receive 2 million dollars from South Korea as part of the contributions from the donor countries. The donation will be to replace ministry vehicles and equipment that were stolen after the regime's downfall.
(Azzaman, Baghdad, 25 May 04) - Night clashes occurred between the US forces and Al-Sadr militia in Al-Sadr city in Baghdad killed 47 and injured 12 Iraqis.
(Al-Nahdah, Baghdad, 25 May 04) - A health source says that more than 1,000 Iraqi citizens were killed and 2,000 others were injured since the beginning of the confrontation between the armed militias and the US forces last 5 April.
(Al-Furat, Baghdad, 25 May 04) - Planning Minister Mahdi al-Hafiz is preparing to assume the presidential position in the next government.
(Aso weekly, Sulaymaniyah 24 May) - The chances of Sunni Arab leader and Governing Council (GC) member Adnan Al-Pachachi for the post of Iraqi president is dwindling in favor of the current GC chairman Ghazi Al-Yawar, whom the US President Bush called by telephone last week. Observers in Baghdad consider this communication as a protocol call between two heads of state. Also, Shia atom scientist Dr. Hussein Al-Shahristani seems to be the luckiest amongst the candidates for the prime minister position. The Kurdish leadership demands one of the two positions, yet no indication is there, so far, on the Kurdish chances to win any of them. Some sources close to the US-led Coalitions say that Brahimi's proposed cabinet contains the names of Kurdish politician Jalal Talabani and Shia Arab Ibrahim Al-Jaafri as the two vise-presidents.
(Aso weekly, Sulaymaniyah 24 May) - (summarized article) The League of Nations revoked the Sevre Treaty that promised a national state for the Kurds [through the establishment of the Iraqi state in 1923]. The United Nations seems to do the same to the Kurds. The UN Envoy recent visit to Talabani and Barzani aimed at convincing the Kurdish leadership not to demand any of the President or prime Minister positions. Why the Kurds are wary of an active UN role in Iraq? The answer lies in the UN's recent stand with the Arabs settled in Kirkuk and alleging that Kurds were evicting Arabs from their places of origin. Also, the Kurds in Kirkuk, Khanaqeen and other places have been subjected to Saddam's Arabization and displacement policies for decades, yet the UN did not take due action. The UN Oil-for-Food was another setback for the Kurds; their share was reduced from 15 to 13% and their areas benefited less due to the UN bureaucracy and slow implementation. Do not forget that envoy is an Arab and from Algiers. This reminds the Kurds of the infamous Algiers Agreement of 1975 that ended the Kurdish revolution [Algiers signed on the agreement as mediator between Saddam and Shah of Iran]. The Kurds complain of the US for entrusting the UN with the Iraqi file and using it as an umbrella to cover its (US) embarrassment. But the UN could not preserve the rights of the Kurds because it (UN) is not aware of the Iraqi ethnic, social and political problems.
(Al-Furat, Baghdad, 25 May 04) - French official says that France looking into canceling 50 per cent of Iraq's debts to France.
(Al-Nahdah, Baghdad, 25 May 04) - The Electricity Ministry says that Samarra Electricity Plant came under mortar attack by unidentified gunmen.
(Al-Bayan, Baghdad, 25 May 04) - Ahmad al-Chalabi, member of the IGC and the leader of the Iraqi National Congress, calls on the US forces to pay compensation after the raid on his house.
NB: This is not an official document. The information contained therein was compiled by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). If you have any questions/suggestions, please contact the UNAMI Information Office at (+ 962 550 -4629/4630/4631 or Cell. + 962 77619725. Taveau@un.org <mailto:Taveau@un.org>
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
