29 October, 2004
DOSSIER EUROPE – IRAQ
We need Europe to help us start again, Kurdish leader says
Brussels (AsiaNews) – Historically, Europe is closer to the Middle East, but its policies vis-a-vis the region lack unity and purpose. Europe understands Iraq better than the US, but "with the exception of a few countries acting on their own, Europe has not taken any significant step to solve the Iraqi crisis".
These are but a few of the views expressed by Burhan Jaf, envoy of Iraq's Kurdish regional government at the European Union. Mr Jaf praises the signing of the new European constitution but is still waiting to "see what the new European Commission will do in foreign policy". For him, it is important that Europe have "a united foreign policy" to help Iraq start again despite the terrorists' attempt to stop it.
Key point:
Who wants to destabilise Iraq?
That's simple. There is the Baath party that lost power with Saddam's fall and is unwilling to give it up. There are various extremist groups that are anti-American. They are richly funded from abroad to fight the US. There are also foreign powers like Syria and Iran... Sadly, there are foreign interests that do not want an Iraq at peace with itself because they might lose power and influence in the country. The problem is that so much is said about bombs and massacres, but little is said about the nine tenth of the country where life goes on. The same can be said about the capital. Only some of its sectors constitute a problem, in many more life goes on more or less normally. It would be absurd to stop the peace process and our march towards democracy because of what terrorists do. (DS)
This paper comes out of Italy, one of our allies, so perhaps it is suspect - Berlusconi hasn't done much to ingratiate himself with the rest of the EU (last I heard--not that I consider that a bad thing). They have another interesting article:
Chaldean Church delegation meets al-Sistani to build peace in the country
Baghdad (AsiaNews) - "It was a very cordial meeting, like between brothers who love each" and the discussion touched upon what to do "treat a sick country," Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Emmanuel Delly said in a telephone interview with AsiaNews. He was referring to a meeting between a Chaldean delegation and ayatollah al-Sistani.
"Yesterday, we went to visit him at home in Najaf. Al-Sistani warmly welcomed us and we talked about the situation in Iraq. Together, we are trying to find ways to achieve peace."
Quite a hopeful sign that Shiites and Catholics can work together.
I came to all this via Virginia Postrel and Reason Online.
