23 November 2001
AZIZ OPENS BAGHDAD CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
MEETING. The 6th meeting of the Baghdad Conference's
Follow Up and Coordination Committee was opened by
Iraqi Deputy Premier Tariq Aziz on 12 November, according
to INA of 13 November. Attending the meeting were
representatives of a number of friendly and Arab countries,
some for the first time. Participating and speaking at the
conference were the former president of Zambia, Kenneth
Kaunda, British parliamentarian George Galloway, Russian
ultranationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky (deputy speaker
of the Russian Duma), Serbian Radical Party leader Vojislav
Seselj, former speaker of Russia's Supreme Soviet Ruslan
Khasbulatov, and Ma'n Bashur, president of the Pan-Arab
Forum in Lebanon.
Aziz reviewed the tasks of the Baghdad Conference, primary
of which is "Iraq's just cause." In this connection he asked
for support in lifting the embargo and ending the
"U.S.-British aggression" toward the country.
Aziz said the second concern of the committee was the
issue of Palestine and the need to support the people's
intifada.
He also pointed out that the U.S. president has still not
presented any tangible evidence about who carried out the
11 September events, but that President Bush is "exploiting
the event to divide the world and subjugate it to the will of the
United States."
He also called for a new Nonaligned Movement and
stressed Iraqi President Saddam Husseyn's call for
establishing an institutionalized world grouping opposed to
the policy of hegemony and monopoly with the aim of
protecting the national independence and interests of the
countries that might join.
All the other speakers expressed their rejection of the
continuation of the unjust blockade against Iraq and called
on countries to embrace the call by Saddam Husseyn.
(David Nissman)
NORMAL TIES WITH IRAN IRAQ'S TOP PRIORITY. Iraqi
Foreign Minister Naji Sabri Hadithi said in an interview with
the English-language daily "Iran News" that the current
Iran-Iraq impasse will not benefit either country and
normalization of ties with Tehran take a high priority for
Iraq's foreign policy, reported IRNA on 20 November.
He added that in order to advance the cause of healthy
Tehran-Baghdad ties, the first step should be to resolve
outstanding issues from the Iran-Iraq war, such as
refugees, MIAs, and prisoners of war.
With regard to the MIAs, he said the matter is being dealt
with by the two sides in a satisfactory manner. "Agreements
have been reached as to how to pursue this matter and find
the remaining MIAs." Iraq recently turned over the bodies of
70 soldiers and Iran reciprocated by returning the remains
of 16 Iraqi soldiers killed during the war.
Hadithi also termed "positive" the economic and
commercial ties as well as the visits by Iranian citizens to
holy places in Iraq. He said that these visits should be
encouraged, expanded, and discussed in detail during
future meetings between officials and diplomats from both
sides.
He added that he had met briefly with Iranian foreign
minister Kamal Kharrazi, but was unable to discuss
bilateral issues with him privately. (David Nissman)
SYRIA FREEZES IRAQI ASSETS. In the past few weeks the
Syrian government has frozen the assets of Iraqi
governmental bodies in the amount of tens of millions of
dollars because of a dispute over trade cooperation
agreements, "Al-Bawaba" reports on 18 November citing a
report in the London-based Arabic language newspaper
"Al-Hayat."
According to the "Al-Hayat" report, the two countries are
trying to resolve their differences. Iraqi Vice President Taha
Yasin Ramadan is scheduled to go to Damascus this week.
The paper also notes that Jordanian and other Middle
Eastern diplomats have recently warned against overly
close trade relations with Iraq. According to the diplomats,
Iraq is warming to its neighbors as a protective measure
should the U.S. choose to attack it in coming months.
"Al-Hayat" writes that trade relations with Iraq "are likely to be
threatened." (David Nissman)
FORMER IRAQI AMBASSADOR TO AUSTRIA REFUSES TO
RETURN TO BAGHDAD. The former Iraqi Ambassador to
Austria, Faris Naema (as spelled by source) has refused to
return to Baghdad, according to a Kuwaiti representative,
Safa Mahmud, of the Supreme Council for the Islamic
Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI). He told KUNA on 14 November
that Naema was accompanying his wife, who has been
working as a consultant at the Iraqi embassy in Vienna for
three years. She had been ordered by Qusay Saddam
Husseyn to return to Baghdad after he implemented some
changes in the Foreign Ministry.
Naema is remaining in Vienna due to his fear of being
penalized by Qusay and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hadithi, with
whom Naema is not on good terms.
Naema had been commander of the First Legion during the
Iran-Iraq War, then the commander of Al-Bakr Military
College. In 1990 he became an adviser to Saddam
Husseyn. In 1993 he was named ambassador to the
Philippines, and in 1993 as ambassador to Austria.
After he ended his term as ambassador, his wife, Janan
Shawqat, was appointed a consultant to the embassy in
Vienna. Naema remained with his wife. (David Nissman)
IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER SPEAKS OUT AT OIC MEETING.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hadithi, speaking at a meeting of
foreign ministers of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference (OIC) in New York, called for the intensification
and enhancement of support for the Palestinian people. He
said that "we have to make all efforts necessary to end this
systematic aggression and terrorism against the
Palestinian people and help the brothers in Palestine, Syria,
and Lebanon liberate their entire land and terminate the
despicable racist and terrorist onslaught," reported
Baghdad Television on 17 November.
He also asked the OIC to stop the U.S. aggression against
the people of Afghanistan and interference in Afghanistan's
internal affairs.
He also asked for "the Islamic countries' effective support
for our just battle against the comprehensive embargo."
He concluded his speech by saying "I would like to welcome
the call mentioned in the final statement for solidarity with
Libya, Sudan, and Iran against sanctions imposed
collectively or individually against their Muslim people. We
also hope the statement would include a call for lifting the
unjust embargo of Iraq." (David Nissman)
IRAQI VICE PRESIDENT DENOUNCES U.S. Iraqi Vice
President Ramadan said that Iraq "is capable of standing
up to the challenges posed by the United States in a bid to
undermine its security and weaken its resolve," AFP
reported on 19 November. Ramadan was apparently
responding indirectly to U.S. Undersecretary of State John
Bolton's statement at a conference in Geneva on the 1972
Biological Weapons Convention at which he said that "Iraq's
biological weapons program remains a serious threat to
international security."
He also claimed that Washington "resorts to force and
sanctions against other countries" and is "incapable of
solving any problem it has with other countries through
dialogue."
The Baghdad newspaper "Babil," which is controlled by
Uday Saddam Husseyn, is quoted as saying that Iraq "will
be the focus of attention of the U.S. administration, as will
Syria, Somalia, and Sudan." (David Nissman)
LOW QUALITY GOODS FLOOD IRAQI MARKETS. The Iraqi
Trade Ministry has halted the import of soaps from Egypt
following complaints that the ministry is buying goods unfit
for human consumption, "Iraq Press" reported on 15
November.
Local press reports speak of numerous deaths resulting
from the consumption of foodstuffs imported by the ministry
under the UN-sponsored oil-for-food program. Egypt, which
now tops countries trading with Iraq, and the Ukraine have
been singled out for shipping such products to the country.
Minister of Trade Muhammad Salih was quoted as saying
that hundreds and thousands of tons of Indian and
Ukrainian wheat have been rejected by his ministry because
they were found to be "unsuitable for human consumption."
Current Iraqi policy focuses on trade with countries
supportive of Iraq's fight against the UN trade sanctions
regardless of normal commercial practices. Even the Iraqi
Ministry of Health has accused the trade Ministry of
importing such goods, leading to death and serious illness,
even among children. (David Nissman)
UDAY REPORTEDLY KILLS NEPHEW OF IZZAT IBRAHIM.
The "Iraq Press" of 16 November reports from Damascus
that Saddam Husseyn's eldest son, Uday, shot and killed
the nephew of Izzat Ibrahim, Saddam's deputy on the
Revolutionary Command Council.
Sources inside Iraq say Uday shot Ziyad Duri in the head
several times on a main thoroughfare of Baghdad when
Duri refused to break his engagement to Ibrahim's
daughter, whom Uday had divorced last year after a short
marriage.
Ibrahim is one of Saddam's most trusted lieutenants and
officially the second in command after Saddam himself.
However, Ibrahim is old and ailing, and is apparently
powerless when it comes to someone like Uday.
Uday has reportedly murdered many people, including his
father's butler and food taster.
Saddam is said to have sent his secretary, Abdhamid
Mahmud, to Duri's funeral service to offer his condolences.
Izzat Ibrahim did not show up at the funeral, which was held
in the city of al-Dur, 150 kilometers north of Baghdad. (David
Nissman)
UDAY'S FALCON FLIES THE COOP. Saddam Husseyn's
eldest son, Uday, has mobilized Iraq's security services and
media in search of a falcon that reportedly escaped from his
personal zoo, according to "Iraq Press" from Damascus on
16 November. He has announced a reward of one million
dinars (approximately $500) for the capture of the bird.
The bird fled Uday's zoo -- which is situated in the main
presidential compound overlooking the Tigris River. Uday is
reportedly fond of rare birds. The missing falcon is one of
his rarest birds, worth some $20,000.
While Uday's zoo is flourishing, the state-run zoo is said to
be in a deplorable condition. A local newspaper, "Nabidh
al-Shabib," said that the municipality has allocated more
money to buy more animals in an attempt to revive the zoo.
(David Nissman)
FIFTEEN KURDISH OPPOSITIONISTS EXECUTED IN
KIRKUK. The Iraqi government executed 15 Kurdish
oppositionists in Kirkuk last week. They were arrested last
month by the Iraqi security apparatus, according to the
Radio of the Iraqi Kurdistan Conservatives, cited by
KurdishMedia.com of 19 November. The victims were
buried in a mass grave near a military barrack north of
Kirkuk.
It is also reported that Saddam's security apparatus has
increased its activities in recent months. Some 40 percent
of Kurdistan (south of the no-fly zone which demarcates the
Kurdistan Regional Government [KRG]) is under Baghdad
control. UN Security Council Resolution 688 is supposed to
protect the Kurds and Shi'a population but no steps have
been taken by the international community to implement it.
Kirkuk also contains a significant population of Iraqi
Turkmen who are equally unprotected.
The oil-rich cities of Kirkuk and Khanaqin are subject to the
arabization policies of the Ba'thist regime under which they
are supposed to change their nationality to Arabic; if they do
not, their properties are confiscated and they are driven
either over the border of the KRG to the north, or into the
south of the country. Their property is then taken over by
Arabs. (David Nissman)
KDP SOURCE SEES NO THREAT IN IRAQI, TURKISH
TROOP BUILDUP ON BORDER. The Arabic language
newspaper in London, "Al-Sharq Al-Awsat," of 14 November
reports that an authoritative source in the Kurdistan
Democratic Party (KDP) has described life in the region as
normal, and denied the existence of serious Turkish or Iraq
military threats.
The source confirmed the presence of an Iraqi troop buildup
along the contact lines separating territories under Kurdish
control and those under Baghdad's control. He said that
"these are precautionary measures that the Iraqi authorities
resort to from time to time and which increase in size with
reports that Iraq may come under new U.S. attacks." He
added that Baghdad had received strong U.S. warnings not
to exploit the current situation to attack the Kurdish areas.
The source also linked a Turkish troop buildup to the U.S.
campaign in Afghanistan. He said that "the Turks are
worried that there may be a mass exodus in Iraq toward
Turkey in the event of a large-scale strike against Iraq, and
that is why they are taking precautions to prevent that from
happening, and to seal the border with Iraq should the
situation warrant it."
Recently there was a light-weapons clash between an Iraqi
army unit and KDP fighters following the killing of an Iraqi
officer who had lost his way and entered an area under
Kurdish control near Irbil. Other than that, there have been
no further serious incidents. (David Nissman)
IRAQ READY TO COOPERATE WITH ARMENIA IN ALL
SPHERES. Iraq is ready to cooperate with Armenia in all
spheres, the Iraqi charge d'affaires to Armenia, Abbas Badri,
stated today in a meeting with members of the Armenian
deputy group "Armenia-Iraq," according to Arka News
Agency on 16 November.
According to Badri, the Iraqi Embassy in Armenia is working
to promote bilateral relations. He said: "Unfortunately,
Armenian businessmen are badly acquainted with the Iraqi
market and they need state support in several matters." At
the same time he noted "there are no serious reasons for
the low level of commercial relations between Armenia and
Iraq."
Armenia may export particular foodstuff products and
industrial production, Badri said. He added that "at present
we have definite contacts between Armenian and Iraqi
businessmen, and we are ready to do everything possible
for their further development." (David Nissman)
SCIRI WELCOMES U.S. STRIKES AT 'TERRORIST
REGIME.' Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir Hakim, leader of the
Iran-based Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in
Iran, told UPI on 19 November that the "Iraqi people would
favor any (U.S.) attacks if they lie within the framework of the
existing UN resolutions supporting the Iraqi people and if
they are targeted at the terrorist regime (of Saddam
Husseyn)."
Hakim added that given the present situation in the Middle
East and the lack of international consensus concerning the
"issue of Iraq," the United States does appear to be ready to
take action against Baghdad.
He claimed that the Iraqi people and its army would "topple
the regime if they are effectively supported by the
international community rather than being hampered to do
so." (David Nissman)
JUND AL-ISLAM, PUK CLASHES CONTINUE. After talks
between the Islamic Group and the Jund al-Islam proved
fruitless (the Jund refused to break up and join the Islamic
Group), and Jund fighters did not take advantage of the
general amnesty offered by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
(PUK), the battle between the Jund and the PUK resumed,
according to the Al-Sulaymaniyah newspaper "Hawlati" on
12 November.
PUK fighters attacked Jund strongholds in the vicinity of
Halabcha on 3 November. While PUK forces were able to
seize a number of Jund positions, the Jund mined them
before abandoning them. This resulted in an unknown
number of PUK casualties.
By the start of the month of Ramadan, 17 November, fighting
between the two sides continued. A senior PUK
commander stated that "there are nightly exchanges or
mortar and heavy machine-gun fire," according to
KurdishMedia.com of 17 November. However, analysts
familiar with the Jund-PUK conflict do not believe that
Ramadan will interfere with the PUK's fight against the Jund
al-Islam. (David Nissman)
BARZANI AND TALABANI EXCHANGE RAMADAN
GREETINGS. Jalal Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan (PUK), sent a telegram offering his greetings to
Masud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party.
Talabani expressed the wish that the month of Ramadan
would be an opportunity to prepare to overcome all
obstacles in full reconciliation of both parties and the
implementation of the Washington Peace Agreement,
KurdishMedia.com reported on 18 November.
Barzani reciprocated by sending the greetings of his
comrades and himself to Talabani, cadres, and fighters of
the PUK. He prayed that the holy month of Ramadan would
bring blessed rewards for the Muslim people of Kurdistan,
and that God would help both sides in strengthening their
joint struggle and their joint position on the basis of the
Washington Peace Agreement. (David Nissman)
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