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Iraq: An Update<br>Director's Forum with His Excellency Jalal Talabani,President of Iraq

Director's Forum with His Excellency Jalal Talabani, President of Iraq

Date & Time

Tuesday
Sep. 26, 2006
2:30pm – 3:30pm ET

Overview

The day after Afghanistan's president addressed the Wilson Center, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani came to discuss the political and economic benefits of Saddam Hussein's ouster and his country's journey toward democracy.

"Every Iraqi who wants to live in dignity has benefited from liberation," said Talabani. "Iraq is no longer the property of a gang that ruled by fear and oppression."

Grateful for American support and humbled by its sacrifice, Talabani said Iraq is becoming self-reliant and now has more of its own soldiers than any other nation in the coalition. But, to ward off the constant threat of violence, "We still need your help," he said. "I can assure you that the immediate departure of coalition forces would unleash the terrorists and [empower] them."

The world is safe without Saddam, he said. International terrorists lost a major ally, supporter, and safe haven, and countries of the region no longer fear an Iraqi threat from across the border.

Iraq has made important strides toward democracy, Talabani said, beginning with national elections and a referendum on the constitution. "For the first time in Iraq's history, we ratified a constitution that enshrines many of the democratic values of human rights, equality, rule of law, and good governance," he said.

Today, he said, the various ethnic groups enjoy equal rights and participate in government. Sunni Arabs now have 58 deputies in parliament, a vice president, a deputy prime minister, and a speaker in parliament, all elected by the people. The Shi'a majority, oppressed for decades, enjoys full rights and occupies key government posts. The Kurds and Turkomen also have political representation and enjoy cultural and religious freedoms. Economically, the middle class is growing and an active private sector emerging.

The political blocs have formed a consensus on a political program and are moving ahead, under the leadership of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, to integrate those who condemn terror and violence. "The people of Iraq have opted for national reconciliation as the way forward," he said. "We choose ballots, not bullets to resolve our differences."

Iraqi and U.S. interests have merged, he said. "Complicated as the relationship may be, America and Iraq are now siblings in the world."

During a vigorous Q&A, Talabani said, "I can assure you that there will be no civil war." Some extremist groups have been fighting and Saddam's reign had imbued a sense of conflict and division, he said, but the Sunnis and Shiites "are for peaceful coexistence." He admitted extremists remain a problem. "There are people who are connected with Al Qaeda, the remnant of Saddam Hussein, [and tens of thousands of] criminals who were released by Saddam before his collapse," he said, but he believes the program of national reconciliation will prevent civil war.

Responding to a question about Iraqi oil, Talabani called oil and gas "national resources," adding that " the value of oil must be in the hands of the central government."

Talabani said he will tell his country upon his return that he received support and assurances from President Bush but that the American people remain apprehensive, and expect the Iraqi government to step up efforts to disarm the militia, secure Baghdad, and instill calm.

On women's rights, Talabani said Iraq implemented a quota that 25 percent of parliamentarians be women, adding that several women serve as ministers. He said, "All democratic forces and I myself are supporting the women's struggle for their full equality with men in Iraq."

Talabani asserted the security situation is better in many places but the media tends to focus only on the negative. For example, he said, there are fewer car bombs; last year, there were 10-14 car bombs daily but now 1-4 occur daily. And various regions throughout the country are stable. Baghdad remains a problem, he admitted, but urged us to recognize the progress in other parts of the country.

Regarding autonomous regions, Talabani said the constitution stipulates Iraq as a federative, united, independent republic though some Iraqis oppose federation. For example, "everyone recognizes this right for Kurdish people because they consider [themselves] as a nation and have the right to rule their area," said Talabani, himself Kurdish. "[Autonomy] is up to the people to decide."

The final question touched a nerve. When asked if Iraq is worse today than it was under Saddam, Talabani said, "Go see mass graves with hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and compare it with what's happening now in Iraq." Admitting there have been some human rights violations, he said, "human rights is a part of the Iraqi constitution and it is very well respected in all parts of Iraq."

Drafted by Dana Steinberg

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Middle East Program

The Wilson Center’s Middle East Program serves as a crucial resource for the policymaking community and beyond, providing analyses and research that helps inform US foreign policymaking, stimulates public debate, and expands knowledge about issues in the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.  Read more

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