Full text:
27/11/2006
S72/06
Part of the activities under the European Security and Global Governance programme
DEVELOPMENT, DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN SECURITY:
THE CHALLENGE IN IRAQ
Policy Dialogue - 23 November 2006
least 60 violent deaths every day; public services have broken down; some areas only receive two hours’ electricity a day and have no clean drinking water; the distribution of wealth is very uneven and unemployment is rife; the country’s basic infrastructure has been destroyed; its multiculturalism
has become a hindrance rather than a benefit; and there is rampant
government corruption.
Mr Saeed was also critical of the government’s current logic. Its priority is to improve security, and most overseas resources have gone into this. However, most Iraqi groups have told the authorities that if there were decent services, the violence would stop. This situation has resulted in a “misunderstanding” between the government and the people, said Mr Saeed, as the government is
trying to remedy the situation with military intervention when it should be working to build democracy and involving civil society. Working with civil society on the ground Mr Saeed explained what the NPA is doing on the ground’. Over the last ten years, it set up literacy courses and helped with rural rehabilitation
and community development. Summary While the situation in Iraq is “drastic”, both NGOs and the EU are working to rebuild the country, develop democracy and build civil society, speakers told a joint EPCSolidar Policy Dialogue. They gave positive examples of how this is being done on the ground and at international level, and concluded that a holistic approach is needed, dealing with security issues while also providing basic services, democracy and freedom of speech, and helping to rebuild trust. Full report Soren Saeed, Programme Manager in Iraq, Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), outlined the background to
the current conflict in Iraq. The country had been founded “by mistake” at the beginning of the 20th century he said, bringing together diverse territories and many ethnic and religious groups. Iraq was one of the richest countries in the world, with a highly-educated urban population. However, it was ruled by a patriarchy for 3,000 years, has been involved in wars every six or seven years over the last century and 159 presidents have been assassinated.
The current situation is particularly drastic, said Mr Saeed. There are at
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‘Capacity building’ and strengthening civil society are among its key aims, and
it concentrates on three main themes: human rights, women and youth.
In the human rights field, it has also introduced education on this in schools, trained teachers and developed educational materials. Its work on women has included efforts to eradicate violence against women, creating more employment, helping women to reach decision-making positions, setting up training courses, and developing media and information campaigns. Its youth
work concentrates on projects in rural areas, encouraging their participation
in the community.
The EU's role
Karin Gatt-Rutter, Member of the Iraq Task Force, Directorate-General for
External Relations, European Commission, described the institution's work in Iraq.
Prior to 2003, the Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) provided humanitarian assistance to Iraq, mainly channelled through non-governmental organisations. In the summer of 2003, the United Nations/ World Bank ‘needs assessment’ set out what the international community could do to rebuild Iraq, and calculated that aid totalling $36 billion was needed. At the Madrid conference a few months later, the EU and the individual Member States agreed to contribute $1.2 billion, and the international community agreed to establish a UN/WB multilateral fund for Iraq.
The following June (2004), the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1546 on the hand-over of power to the Iraqis and, almost simultaneously, the Commission published
its Communication on ‘The European Union and Iraq: a framework for engagement’, laying out its future work in Iraq. The EU’s contribution to rebuilding the country so far has totalled €720 million, with funds earmarked for basic services (health, clean water and education), support for the political process (including the elections and the constitution), and capacitybuilding
in Iraqi institutions. In June 2006, the Commission published its ‘Communication for Recommendations for renewed European Union engagement with Iraq’. This suggested long-term measures, including endorsing democratic government, contributing to the rule of law and human rights, improving the delivery of basis services, supporting mechanisms for economic recovery, and setting up effective and transparent administrative structures. The Commission foresaw that
civil society’s support would be needed
in delivering many of these measures.
The EU is Iraq's third biggest international
donor, explained Ms Gatt-Rutter, and in
keeping with its heightened engagement,
has increased its presence in Baghdad.
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih
has just visited Brussels to open negotiations
on a trade and cooperation agreement. While
Ms Gatt-Rutter acknowledged that this might
seem rather “far-fetched” at the moment, she
explained that it provided greater certainty
for potential investors, easing the country’s
re-entry into the international economic
community.
She also emphasised that the Commission's
involvement in Iraq was an “active, ongoing
process” in which civil society must play
a role.
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Sophie Kisling, Middle East Adviser,
Middle East, Mediterranean Region Unit,
DG- E, Council of the European Union,
explained that June 2004 had been a “turning
point” for the EU, as the adoption of the
UN Security Council Resolution 1546 had
enabled it to develop a consensus on Iraq.
Since then, Iraq has been discussed
frequently at Council meetings, and the
EU is now engaged in offering practical
assistance to the country. One major
activity is the Integrated Rule of Law
Mission to help with capacity-building in
Iraq, particularly in the judiciary. So far,
the EU has helped to train 800 judicial
personnel and this mission will continue
until the end of 2007.
The EU will also be involved in the ‘International
Compact for Iraq’, a programme
being developed by the Iraqi government,
with support from the UN, to provide a
framework for social reforms and for the
international community's support for Iraq.
Ms Kisling described this as an “ambitious
programme” which will address all issues
relevant to development, democracy and
human security.
Discussion
Responding to a comment that the
contrasting presentations seemed to
give a picture of two different worlds,
Ms Gatt-Rutter explained that while she
had explained the “bureaucratic approach”
to dealing with the problem, this did not
ignore the difficulties on the ground.
Asked whether the situation was “hopeless”,
Mr Saeed explained Iraq was like “a liver” -
while some parts had been destroyed, others
continued to function. He added that the
international community had made mistakes,
for example by leaving it to the US to sort
out the problems in Iraq, while the Iraqis
wanted “more neutral” European support.
Asked about the gap in understanding
between the people and the government,
Mr Saeed reiterated that people wanted
food and services, while the government
wanted above all to improve the security
situation. Civil society could help to restore
the country, for example, by helping to
monitor democratic rights.
Asked about the human rights situation,
Ms Kisling said that the new Iraqi
Constitution took a strong line on these
issues. Human rights were always raised
at EU-Iraqi political dialogues, and she
hoped that the EU would use its instruments
to pursue these issues.
Asked how the situation in Iraq could
be resolved, Ms Gatt-Rutter said a holistic
approach was needed that provided security
while at the same time improving basic
services and encouraging democracy and
freedom of speech.
She pointed out that democracy had taken
a long time to develop in Europe, adding
that new Member States would be willing
to share their experiences of building
democratic structures. Ms Kisling responded
that changing mindsets was a major task.
While the goals and aims might only look
good on paper for some time, Europe
“would be there for Iraq”.
Mr Saeed believed that a key problem was
that people and different religious and ethnic
groups in Iraq had lost trust in each other, and
it would take time to rebuild this. He was also
concerned that corruption was supporting
terrorism, and if some people were benefiting
from terrorism, corruption would increase.
The GFIW leadership issued statement in Baghdad on 23 November condemning strongly the sectarians’ attacks in Sadar City and Athamia District in Baghdad. These vicious attacks killed more than 200 innocent Iraqi. For full in formation see our Arabic website and for further information please click here: www.timesonline.
THE FIRE BRIGADES UNION
… PRESS RELEASE … PRESS RELEASE … PRESS RELEASE …. PRESS RELEASE …
PARTNERSHIP PROJECT DELIVERS FIRE ENGINES TO IRAQ
Two fire engines have been successfully delivered to firefighters in Iraq and Kurdistan thanks to a partnership between the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), Perkins Engines Company and the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.
A team of FBU officials undertook the humanitarian trip, after securing support from Perkins and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.
The team started from Peterborough in Cambridgeshire, and from there the two engines were driven across ten different countries and covered a total of nearly 5000 kilometres.
Travelling via the channel tunnel the vehicles were handed over to officials of the General Federation of Iraqi Workers in Du Hok in Kurdistan. From there the fire engines were taken on to Irbil in Kurdistan and Baghdad in Iraq.
Adrian Clarke regional official of the FBU for the East of England said:
“In my experience this was a unique partnership led by a trade union and supported by both a public service and a private industry company to deliver humanitarian help to another part of the world. Fire fighters in Iraq face probably the most dangerous working conditions of any firefighters anywhere in the world at present.”
Previous visits by FBU officials delivering much needed fire kit to firefighters in Iraq had highlighted the desperate need for fire engines and equipment to carry out their duties.
Following consultations between the FBU and Chief Fire Officer Tom Carroll of the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service an agreement was reached for the FBU to purchase two appliances that had finished their operational service in Cambridgeshire and were due for disposal.
Before travel the Fire and Rescue Service’s vehicle maintenance department serviced both fire engines. Firefighters also helped ready the engines for the trip as well as helping with supplying equipment to go on them. This ensured that the Iraqi and Kurdistan firefighters had a basic firefighting and rescue capacity when they were delivered.
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer Tom Carroll said: “We were only too pleased to be able to support the FBU with their venture. It is good to know that kit and fire engines that have served us well in Cambridgeshire for a number of years and come to the end of their useful life for us, can help our firefighter colleagues in Iraq and Kurdistan provide a better service for their communities.”
As one of the vehicles was powered by a Perkins diesel engine the FBU decided to contact Perkins Engines in Peterborough and request its help. Perkins responded immediately providing support both financially and logistically. Along with a financial donation Perkins supplied a basket of service parts for the engines. The company also gave the team a list of distributors in every country which the vehicles would travel through and instructed these distributors to support any requests for assistance.
The engines proved to be extremely reliable with the only vehicle breakdowns being electrical faults.
Marion King, marketing communications manager at Perkins Engines said: “We were delighted to be able to support such a worthwhile humanitarian project.
“After meeting Adrian Clarke, who explained the background to the trip, we immediately agreed it was something Perkins wanted to support. Our sponsorship committee decided to assist with the cost of the trip but we also wanted to help ensure the vehicles made it to their final destination.
“We spoke to our distributors throughout Europe and the Middle East and they all agreed to provide assistance to the team throughout their trip.
“We were delighted to hear both vehicles had been delivered safely and that the Perkins engine had performed extremely well throughout the journey.”
Mr Clarke added: “The FBU has long been supporting our fellow firefighters in Iraq and without the help of these partners this project would not have happened. Both Perkins Engines and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service should be congratulated on their support of this life saving project and they should be proud that they employ people who not only talk the talk on diversity issues but that they are also prepared to walk the walk with their individual actions. The fact is that these fire appliances that served the communities of Cambridgeshire are now carrying on what they were designed to do and are helping to save lives once again”.
For more information contact:
Adrian Clarke FBU on 07917017713
Annette Johnson Perkins Engines on 01733 582185
Notes for Editors.
There are two different fire services in Iraq. These are the oil field firefighters and the civilian fire service which performs the same function as the fire service in the UK.
The General Federation of Iraqi Workers is newly formed since the fall of the Sadam Hussein Regime and is the equivalent of the TUC with unions affiliating to it.
The Kurdistan Workers Syndicate Union is the TUC equivalent in Kurdistan.
For more information please click here: Download file
16 November, 2006
To : The general federation of Teachers
RE : Kidnapping of Ministry of Education Officials Baghdad
Recent Kidnappings
Dear Colleagues ,
I am in receipt of correspondence for the General Secretary of the TUC Brendan Barber informing me the latest events which I find shocking and totally unacceptably. I must inform you that the executive committee of my union ASLEF, the union for train drivers in the UK agreed with Brendan Barbers statement when he states that “This cowardly attack on some of the people most involved in keeping the education system going is a terrible reminder of the persistent persecution being suffered by workers and academics in Iraq. Workers in the education sector are in the front line, facing intimidation, harassment and sometimes death, all for the simple reason that they are trying to bring enlightenment, empowerment and education to Iraq’s children and young people.
“British trade unionists have little experience of the pressures under which Iraqi workers and educationalists operate every day, but we stand in solidarity with them in their struggle to build a new Iraq – non-sectarian, non-discriminatory and free”.
We join with Brendan Barber in calling on the government of Iraq to take all steps necessary to prevent sectarian and other violence against people at work, and to restore the freedoms that they should have to join the trade unions of their choice and to bargain collectively.
Keith Norman
General Secretary
The Minister of Higher Education has Ordered the suspension of all university classes pending further notice. For more information please click here: