In an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the opening of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Iraqi President Jalal Talibani was upbeat on Iraq.
`Iraq is doing well. Violence is down dramatically and people are returning home.` he said.
Talibani is Kurdish, and Kurdistan, his area in Northern Iraq has autonomy. Kurdistan is in the middle of an economic book and is in fact doing quite well.
Separated from the rest of Iraq since the early 1990s, it has developed on its own and had a head start on the rest of Iraq which suffered under the stifling control of Saddam Hussein and his Baath party.
A source of controversy is a bill recently passed in the Iraqi Parliament to abolish Article 50 of the Iraqi Provincial Election Law that sets aside seats for Iraqi minorities.
There have been demonstrations throughout the world by various concerned groups including over 5,000 in demonstrations within Iraq.
In a nation where over 2 million people have left and are refugees both inside and outside the country, minorities including Yazidis, Shabak, as well as the indigenous people of Iraq, the Assyrian Christians and others are deeply concerned at what they see as an Islamic drift in the country with growing influence from Iran and other more conservative regimes.
They see Article 50 which sets aside seats for each minority to protect them as a check on that drift.
One Assyrian Christian representative asking for anonymity said `Article 50 which protects the minorities is critical for the future of Iraq. We feel in fact, that a similar provision should be in the Iraqi Parliament where for example we have only two seats out of 275.
If our numbers are properly considered ? 2.5 Million or approximately 10% of the country at the last count during the time of Saddam Hussein ? we should in fact have 10 seats.
`The law was just recently passed` Talibani said `it is not consistent with the Constitution nor with what we feel is needed for Iraq. We need to do all we can to help those who are currently displaced to return home. As President I have the right to amend what parliament passes and I can assure you that we will be amending the change in the law immediately.`
He continued `We need to protect our minorities and this change sends exactly the wrong message. We are doing all we can to help those displaced to return and recently have put together a plan to provide 10 million Dinars (Approximately 8,500) to all who return as well as help in building a home and starting business for all.`
In an earlier statements Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and Foreign Minister Zebari echoed Talibani`s words by promising monthly payments to all refugees from the ballooning Iraqi Oil Fund as well as recognition for an Assyrian Province in the homeland of the indigenous Assyrian Christians in Northern Iraq.
`We need to get a message to the Assyrians and others that now is the time to come home. Whatever they need we will do for them` Talibani concluded.
`Tell them all that I will personally make sure that Article be restored and to contact me directly if there are any problems. We will do all that is needed to get all of our people home, in particular our minorities and indigenous Assyrians.`
All politicians make promises. The `devil` is in the details. All who hope for progress in Iraq hope that Talibani, Maliki and Zebari`s promises come to be.
In response to skepticism that his words will end up just that, words, Talibani thundered with his deep voice `I am President! Don?t worry.`
Having recently had serious surgery, it was time to stop. A brief prayer and the `President` was off to return to Baghdad.
Posts
