[R-G] FW: IRAQ: CPA: Brahimi briefing - Baghdad
Tim Murphy
info at cinox.demon.co.uk
Sun Feb 15 12:18:36 MST 2004
Please note below that for the CPA nothing said in Arabic is worth recording
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COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY BRIEFING
WITH LAKHDAR BRAHIMI, UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ENVOY
LOCATION: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
DATE: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2004
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THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT.
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MR. BRAHIMI: (Speaks in Arabic.)
Good afternoon, everyone. I don't think I have much to say by way of
introduction, except that this has been a very, very busy week for us.
We've met a very large number of people in Iraq -- still, by far, not
enough -- would have liked to see many, many more. Unfortunately, there is
only 24 hours in a day.
I think you know the reason why we are here. A request has been made by
the Governing Council, the CPA and a lot of others that the United Nations
helps find a way of moving forward the political process in Iraq. And the
secretary-general has accepted and asked us, myself and five other
colleagues, to come to Iraq and talk to people here and find out what the
facts were, so that he can determine how best the U.N. can help, if the U.N.
can do so.
I think that we have gathered enough facts. On the technical side, my
colleague Carina Perelli will stay a couple of days, longer after we leave,
to complete the technical data, collect the technical data, and also
complete some discussions with some people in the university and political
parties and organizations and elsewhere.
By the middle of next week, we'll be in New York, and we hope we'll be in a
position to tell the secretary-general what we have found out. And I hope
that soon after that he will be able to communicate his advice to the
parties here, the Governing Council and the CPA.
So this is the -- what -- I mean, by way of introduction. Yes?
Q (In Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: (In Arabic.)
Q (In Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: (In Arabic.)
Q (In Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: (In Arabic.)
STAFF: (Off mike.)
Q Mariam al-Atria (sp), Radio Sawa.
MR. BRAHIMI: Radio --
Q Sawa.
STAFF: Sawa.
Q Sawa. (In Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: (In Arabic.)
STAFF: The gentleman in -- yes, with your hand up. You, sir.
Q (In Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: (In Arabic.)
STAFF: (Off mike.) Just a second. (Off mike.)
Q (Name and affiliation off mike.) I just wanted to know -- (off
mike) --
(Cross talk.)
Q Microphone --
Q (Off mike) -- did Ayatollah Sistani signal that he would agree to
holding election after turning sovereignty -- after June 30th? And if so,
who would sovereignty be turned over to; to the Governing Council or what?
Thank you.
MR. BRAHIMI: I think that these two issues are certainly not unconnected,
but they are separate. I think that all Iraqis would like sovereignty to
return earlier rather than later, and that Ayatollah Sistani shares this
view with everybody else. It's another issue of organizing elections.
And a third issue, if you like, is to whom sovereignty is going to be
handed over. I think discussions are still going on on this third issue.
And he has his views, who I'm sure he would express them much better than I
can on his behalf. I don't think a decision has been taken on that issue.
That is still being discussed.
We are now working on what are the requirements, the minimum requirements
for a reasonably credible election. I think we agree with everybody here
that I think -- I hope that soon Iraq would be able to organize perfectly --
perfect elections, but I think most Iraqis will settle with a little less
than that, but not too much less, because otherwise the election would not
be credible.
STAFF: The gentleman in the first row with the white --
Q (In Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: No.
Q (Continuing in Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: (In Arabic.)
Q (Continuing in Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: (In Arabic.)
STAFF: The lady in the third row.
Q Barbara Plett from the BBC. Just to clarify, are you saying that
elections will take place after the hand-over of sovereignty? And if so,
what is your impression of the earliest point that they could be held?
MR. BRAHIMI: I'm not saying that. I think the secretary-general will say
that.
Q What is your impression so far from the Iraqis you've spoken to?
MR. BRAHIMI: My -- yeah, you know, I think -- I don't want to have
impressions. We are, as I said, still completing our endeavor. What I think
we have agreed to with everybody -- what I think everybody has agreed to is
that, you know, elections are terribly important, but holding reasonably
credible elections is also extremely important, and that the date of the
elections have got to be consistent with this requirement. I'm sorry I
can't be more specific than that because, you know, the situation is still
not yet -- I mean, we haven't completed our work.
Thank you.
STAFF: The gentleman in the back with the white shirt, please. Yes, go
ahead.
Q Mohammed (sp) --
(Cross talk.)
Q Mr. Brahimi --
MR. BRAHIMI: It's okay.
Q -- Sho Beppu (ph) from NHK TV Japan. Nice to see you again after two
years ago in Kabul. Mr. Sistani, of course everyone understands of the
importance of the elections as soon as possible, but latter part of his
request was to do it before June 16. Did he agree to drop that part of
request, and did he accept that it could be later than that date?
MR. BRAHIMI: I think we are -- yes, go ahead.
Q And the second question is, after your being here, after seeing the
security situation here, what is impression that the U.N. -- they expatriate
staff could come back to here? When do you think you are able to come back
here?
MR. BRAHIMI: Yeah. On the first one, I think that Ayatollah Sistani I
think agrees with me that the -- and I think this probably was his view all
along -- that preparing correctly elections is important. And I think we
have agreed that we must be certain that these elections are -- we have
also, I think -- he and I also agree that it is the government that comes
out of the ballot box that is going to take the important decisions for the
future of Iraq. About the dates, you know, again, you must ask him.
Q Second question --
MR. BRAHIMI: And second question about security and the United Nations.
Yes, you know, the 19th of August is something many of us will never forget,
not only people like Ahmad who were here, but even those of us who have not.
The secretary-general -- you might have seen the reports that have been
published following the 19th of August attack on the United Nations -- I
think demand that some important security measures must be in place for the
U.N. to be able to come back. We've been discussing with the Governing
Council, with the CPA, this issue. They are looking into it, and they will
be coming back to us. Because we want to come back; the secretary-general
would like to resume as many of our activities as possible. So do everybody
in this country, from what I heard. But I think security is important. And
for the moment, I think a lot of work needs to be done.
Q (In Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: (In Arabic.)
Q (In Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: (In Arabic.)
STAFF: Could I make an appeal? One question each, please. (In Arabic.)
Q (In Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: (In Arabic.)
Q (In Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: (In Arabic.)
Q Mr. Brahimi, Rajiv Chandrasekaran. I'm from The Washington Post.
During your time here, have you come to any conclusions as to which group or
to whom sovereignty should revert between June 30th and whenever elections
can be held? This is the -- you know, the third issue that you referred to
a second ago. You obviously met with the Governing Council today. Some
members there feel that they should receive the sovereignty. The CPA has a
plan to conduct caucuses. What sort of preliminary conclusions are you
going to back to New York with, at this point?
MR. BRAHIMI: I think the only thing I know is that we are talking about
something provisional, something that is not going to last very long,
something that is not going to have very extensive powers. But I'm afraid
that I haven't come to any conclusions there; whereas I think we have made a
lot of work on the question of elections, and as I think I told you, before
a week or 10 days, we will be able to give a view on that.
On the authority that will receive the sovereignty on the 30th of June,
discussions are still going on and the consensus is not there yet.
STAFF: The lady -- (inaudible) -- go ahead.
Q Yes, Elizabeth Farmer, CBS News. This is a little bit of a follow up
question. The plan as it was originally suggested when the transfer of
power was set up, which is quite a complicated formula of appointments
through regional councils (on ?). Have you pretty much decided that's a
non-starter?
MR. BRAHIMI: You know, we don't decide those things. But I think the
people who put it together realize that it needs at the very least to be
improved considerably. And I think they have said publicly that they are
very, very open to looking to other alternatives.
Q How do you think it should be improved? How?
MR. BRAHIMI: I don't know.
STAFF: Thank you.
Q (In Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: (In Arabic.)
Q (In Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: (In Arabic.)
STAFF: Lady in the white t-shirt there on the right. You had your hand
up. Go ahead.
Q (Name inaudible) -- from the BBC. If the caucus system of choosing a
new government is abandoned, what system will you be selecting?
MR. BRAHIMI: I don't know. I think, you know, it's not a question of
selecting a system, it is question of -- this is a political issue that
needs a little bit more discussion between the political parties.
STAFF: (Off mike.)
Q (In Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: (In Arabic.)
Q (Continuing in Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: (In Arabic.)
Q (Continuing in Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: No. No.
Q (Continuing in Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: (In Arabic.)
STAFF: (Off mike.)
Q Mr. Brahimi, Jim Sciutto with ABC-News. Could you describe for us
what, exactly, a "reasonably credible election" is? It sounds like that
involves some sacrifice, whether it's proceeding without a true census,
proceeding without full suffrage. A reasonably credible election sounds
like a not-fully credible election. So can you tell us what you're talking
about?
MR. BRAHIMI: I'm afraid I can't. And it will take about three hours to
describe that process to you. So I'm sure you'll forgive me if I don't do
that now.
Q Well, I think in the simplest terms, Iraqis deserve some description
of what they should expect in terms of an election.
MR. BRAHIMI: I'm afraid I can't do it now.
STAFF: (Off mike.)
Q (In Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: (In Arabic.)
STAFF: (Off mike.)
Q (In Arabic.) I'm here.
MR. BRAHIMI: Where are you? Ah, okay.
Q Yes. (In Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: (In Arabic.)
Q (Continuing in Arabic.)
MR. BRAHIMI: (In Arabic.)
STAFF: The lady in black -- (off mike).
Q Deborah Amos, National Public Radio. I have a large question and a
small question.
MR. BRAHIMI: My goodness.
Q Will the United Nations --
STAFF: (Off mike.)
MR. BRAHIMI: I beg your pardon?
Q Will the United Nations now be involved every step of the way as we
go from here to the elections?
And two, did the Sunni group, the clerics that you met last night, are they
willing, this new political organization, are they willing to participate
and come either into the Governing Council or take a role between now and
the time of the elections?
MR. BRAHIMI: Look, from -- to the first question, yes, I think so,
although my own -- you know, what I can -- I am responsible only for this
week. But I think that the United Nations would like to be present in every
step of the way from now on.
Your second question; yes, I think the Sunni group that we met yesterday
are very eager to participate. I think it's no secret that -- I know that
after we left them they went to a press conference, and I believe they must
have said that they don't believe that elections can be held before the 30th
of June. But they -- you know, like everybody else, they are not against
the principle of elections.
STAFF: The gentleman in the blue shirt.
Q (Name inaudible) -- Corriere Della Sera from Italy. Good afternoon,
Mr. Brahimi.
MR. BRAHIMI: Good afternoon to you. I hope I'll be better this time than
last time we spoke.
Q Than before. Yes. I hope so, yes.
Just a short question. Is there still a possibility the U.N. will not come
back to this country after -- when you come back to the secretary-general,
would you -- is it possible that he will say no after he hears what you have
to say? And secondly, do you see any real danger of a civil war in this
country?
MR. BRAHIMI: Yeah, it's a very short question and a very simple problem
that you are asking. And two questions, actually.
So the first one, I don't think that the secretary-general will say that we
don't want to go back to Iraq. The secretary-general would say that we
would like to have, as early as possible, the conditions that will allow us
to come back and develop to the full possible extent our activities in Iraq.
On your second question -- and I don't know whether you asked it seriously
or not -- I hope that -- I think -- I told the Governing Council this
morning that I am -- from what I hear, I am very optimistic because
everybody seems to be conscious that the country is in trouble, that there
are problems, difficulties, and everybody says that they would like to reach
a consensus, and so on.
But I also said that I am a little bit disturbed and I am a little bit
uneasy because there are very, very serious dangers. And I have appealed to
them, and through this press conference today I would like to appeal to
every Iraqi in every part of Iraq to be conscious of the fact that civil
wars are not started by people through a decision that, you know, tomorrow
we are going to start a civil war. Civil wars happen because people are
reckless, because people are selfish, because groups think more of
themselves than they do of the benefit of their country. I have said also
to my friends in the Governing Council and all the people I have met. I was
involved in a little bit in Lebanon. If there is one country in this part
of the world that nobody ever thought would be the theater of a civil war,
it is Lebanon, and yet we have seen what happened. I myself come from a
country where, again, nobody thought that there would be a civil war and
there was one. So I have appealed to the -- everybody I have seen to be
careful.
STAFF: This gentleman has been patient. Please go ahead.
Q Eddie Sanders from the L.A. Times. You talked about some of the
minimum requirements needed before elections. Could you give us an idea of
what are the key obstacles, the things that need to be done in Iraq today
before you could have elections, for example?
MR. BRAHIMI: Before you have elections?
Q Before you have elections. And how would you get around things like
a voter roll and some of those issues that people have said?
MR. BRAHIMI: You see, the most important factor that you need to satisfy
before you start talking about dates for an election is the legal framework.
You know, there are some very simple questions that people don't seem to
think of. Whom do you want to elect? What kind of electoral system do you
want? What kind of administrative system do you have? I mean, are the
district boundaries settled, there's no problem there? Do you want to have
a, you know, British system first, as proposed, continental European system?
What kind of system do you want? These has to be -- these are the ABC that
you need to have that.
And there is, you know, a host of other issues that have been discussed.
The role -- people say that the ration cards are a good enough system.
Great. It needs to be looked at. How long will it take to look at that
system and ascertain what is being said, that it is a good system? How do
you protect the system against fraud? Because at the same time, it is said
that there is -- there was a lot of fraudulent cards, that there are a lot
of people who didn't have that -- did not have these cards. How long does
it take to issue cards to those who do not have -- and make sure that those
fraudulent cards are not going around?
So these are just some of the issues that need to be addressed in this
election, as in any other.
STAFF: Mr. Brahimi, if I may just say that we have about six or seven
minutes left, and I have 10 requests to ask you questions. If I may ask
you, please, to make your questions short --
MR. BRAHIMI: And I make my answers short! That's his -- that's what he's
meaning. That's what he's --
STAFF: I can't tell you that. And limit yourselves, please, to one
question.
We'll go back to the left side of the room now, the gentleman -- (speaks in
Arabic).
(Lengthy exchange in Arabic.)
Q Julia Buckley (sp), NPR. Are elections contingent on a U.N.
presence?
MR. BRAHIMI: I think, in the absolute, not necessarily.
Q But did the parties tell you they wanted to have U.N. observers here
for the elections to be legitimate?
MR. BRAHIMI: Very much so. Very much. Very, very much. Very much so. I
think that -- I doubt whether we have met anybody who didn't say that they
wanted a prominent role for the United Nations in every stage of the
electoral process.
Thank you very, very much indeed, again, for your patience.
STAFF: Thank you very much.
MR. BRAHIMI: And I'm sorry if I didn't satisfy all your curiosity. Thank
you very much.
Q Are you leaving today?
STAFF: Thank you. Please remain seated until the delegation has left the
room. Thank you very, very much.
I'm sorry. We can't answer that question.
####
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