Gains made in Kurdistan were a great asset to stability and confidence-building, he said, adding that they would generate hope that common sense would prevail in addressing significant, but not insurmountable, issues in the disputed areas, including Kirkuk. The key would be the readiness of all parties to respect mutual concerns and substitute them with the recognition that pluralism should be recognized in power-sharing arrangements that served the common interest.
Following the briefing, Hamid al-Bayati (Iraq) said the political and security situation had improved since the March 2010 parliamentary elections, and the next stage would see the withdrawal of United States forces at the end of the year. The Government was preparing its security forces to protect internal security and defend democracy. In terms of governance, the “100 days” initiative aimed at improving the performance of weak Government institutions by, among other things, trimming non-essential and honorary positions and changing the number of ministries.
Turning to national reconciliation, he said the Government had reintegrated dissolved entities through the justice and accountability law, while tribal councils had been set up to foster tribal reform. Religious conferences had been provided with support to unify the views of Iraqis, and the Government was also open to armed groups that laid down their weapons.
He said Iraq had coordinated efforts to implement the National Development Plan for 2010-2014, which included 2,700 strategic projects costing $186 billion. It aimed to help the economy make a “quantum leap” in improving services, he said, adding that the Government was still working to improve the oil industry. It was also committed to reaching agreement on conducting a census since a “real State” could not be built without one.
The new Iraq had also established credible, independent national mechanisms to monitor human rights, he said, explaining that the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights was now accepting nominations for its 11-member council. On 7 April, however, several residents of the Ashraf camp that had been occupied by the Iranian group Mujahidin e Khalq had been killed after the Iraqi security forces had tried to establish control over part of it. They had been attacked with firebombs and knives, which had led to the fatal clashes. The Government had expressed its willingness to investigate those events, but the Iranian group had refused to leave, challenging Iraq’s sovereignty, he said.
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