IRAQ OCCUPATION YEAR 7 - CONFERENCE AT THE EU PARLIAMENT

Dr. Faleh al-Khayat, Dr. Hassan Aydinli, Ms. Hana al-Bayaty

Dr. Faleh al-Khayat, Dr. Hassan Aydinli, Ms. Hana al-Bayaty,

Ms. Luisa Morgantini, MEP

Abdul Ilah Al-Bayaty, Dr. Omar Al-Kubaissi, Shannon Meehan

Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne, MEP

OCCUPATION YEAR 7

CONFERENCE AT THE EU PARLIAMENT IN BRUSSELS

18th March 2009

Iraq a Human Catastrophe

The Question of Oil

Kerkuk and the Turkmens

What Future for Iraq

Hosted by Luisa Morgantini, Vice-President of the European Parliament

Speakers:

Dr. Faleh Al-Khayat, Oil Expert

Dr. Omar Al-Kubaissi, Cardiologist

Abdul Ilah Al-Bayaty, Political Analyst

Dr. Hassan Aydinli, Iraqi Turkmen Front EU Representative

Shannon Meehan, IRC Director for Advocacy

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Moderated by Hana Al-Bayaty, French/Iraqi Analyst and Activist

***

Occupation year 7

What future for Iraq?

18-20 March 2009

Organized by the BRussells Tribunal, in cooperation with Vrede, 11.11.11, INTAL,the Halles de Schaerbeek, and the Beursschouwburg.

European Union Parliament

Belgian Federal Parliament

Les Halles de Schaerbeek

Beursschouwbug

The BRussells Tribunal are intellectuals, artists and activists who denounce the logic of permanent war promoted by the American government and its allies, affecting for the time being particularly one region in the world: the Middle East.

It started with a people’s court against the PNAC and its role in the illegal invasion of Iraq, but continued ever since. It tries to be a bridge between the intellectual resistance in the Arab World and the Western peace movements.

Organized by The BRussells Tribunal, in cooperation with Vrede, Intal, 11.11.11, the Halles de Schaerbeek and the Beursschouwburg

Over 100,000 US troops still occupy Iraq though the people — in Iraq and across the world — want them out. In Iraq, untold destruction is mirrored in five million Iraqis made refugees and over one million killed since 2003. While the new US administration has committed to end the war, it is for all who can act to ensure that it ends. Peace in Iraq depends on a sovereign Iraq, and that starts when the occupation ends.

Public opposition to the US-led war on Iraq has faded while the scale of the suffering of the Iraqi people is staggering, and politicians go on debating the pros and cons of ending the illegal US invasion. While the dependence of peace on the withdrawal of foreign troops is easy to articulate, what future exists for Iraq now is less easy to discern.

On the sad occasion of the 6th anniversary of the invasion, the BRussells Tribunal and its partners will bring this question to the fore in a series of events organized during three days: a hearing in the European Parliament, an informal discussion at the Belgian Federal Parliament, and two roundtable evenings at Les Halles de Schaerbeek and the Beursschouwburg.

“Occupation Year 7: What future for Iraq?” will address crucial themes: from the plight of Iraqi refugees to the future of Iraqi oil; from the humanitarian emergency caused by the war to the steps necessary to realize a democratic and peaceful Iraq. With Iraqi experts across a number of fields, panel discussions will cut through the slogans and expose the core issues.The occupation of Iraq is intolerable. As the occupation enters its seventh year, the time is now to set a different agenda.

Conference: What Future for Iraq?

What future for Iraq?

Hosted by Luisa Morgantini
Vice-president of the European Parliament

18.03.2009 14h-18h · Room PHS 7C50

14.00 Iraq - a humanitarian disaster
15.00 The question of oil
16.30 What future for Iraq?

With Abdul Ilah Albayaty, political analyst
Tareq Al-Duleimi, author and journalist
Faleh Al-Khayat, oil expert
Omar Al-Kubaisy, cardiologist
Shannon Meehan, IRC director for advocacy
Moderated by Hana Al Bayaty

Press contact: Hana Al Bayaty - hanaalbayaty@gmail.com +32 (0)488871408

Non-parliamentary registration:
Please send name and date of birth to info@brusselstribunal.org

before March 10

Organized by The BRussells Tribunal - http://www.brusselstribunal.org/

in cooperation with Vrede, 11.11.11, Intal, Halles de Schaerbeek, and the Beursschouwburg

Occupation year 7
What future for Iraq?
18-20 March 2009

Organized by the BRussells Tribunal, in cooperation with Vrede, 11.11.11, INTAL,
the Halles de Schaerbeek, and the Beursschouwburg.
European Union Parliament
Belgian Federal Parliament
Les Halles de Schaerbeek
Beursschouwburg

The BRussells Tribunal are intellectuals, artists and activists who denounce the logic of permanent war promoted by the American government and its allies, affecting for the time being particularly one region in the world: the Middle East. It started with a people’s court against the PNAC and its role in the illegal invasion of Iraq, but continued ever since. It tries to be a bridge between the intellectual resistance in the Arab World and the Western peace movements.

KERKUK CONFERENCE AT THE EU PARLIAMENT IN BRUSSELS

Ana Gomes, MEP

تفاصيل مؤتمر كركوك في البرلمان الاوروبي

Please click on the link below:

http://www.turkmentimes.net/Default/wesima_articles/news-20080624-13857.html

Iraqi Turkmen Conference at the EU Parliament in Brussels: "Kerkuk Problem and Article 140: Defining Alternatives"

“Kerkuk Problem and Article 140: Defining Alternatives"

The views of Kerkuk’s Turkmen and Arabs

Organizers: Organized by the Iraqi Turkmen Human Rights Research Foundation (SOITM) in partnership with Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) with the assistance of the office of Ms. Ana Maria Gomes, Member of the European Parliament

Location: European Parliament, Brussels, ASP 5G2

Date: 23 June 2008, 01:00pm – 04:30pm

Topics: Kerkuk is a city rich in both oil and history. Home to Turkmens, Kurds, Arabs, Chaldeo-Assyrians, and other indigenous communities, Kurdish claim of the city is at present subject to both conflict and controversy. The Turkmen and Arab leaders, citing their historic presence in the city, have expressed opposition in particular to its proposed inclusion in the nearby Kurdish region.

Selecting from article 58 of the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL) for Iraq, article 140 of the Iraqi constitution was extracted to mandate a resolution of this dispute through a process of normalization and a census, followed by a referendum to be held no later than 31 December 2007. This mechanism had however proved largely ineffectual and was not realized. The referendum appears as a consequence potentially set to deliver yet further instability and volatility.

The shortcomings of the process so far stem in part from a failure to define adequately a number of the key provisions outlined in article 140; the link between the components of normalization, census, and referendum; eligibility to vote; the threshold needed for a decision; and the boundaries of voting districts. Most crucially however, there has been little discussion of what options are to be presented to voters in an eventual referendum. This, in particular, has resulted in discussions reducing to a simple dispute between those who would see Kerkuk included in the Kurdish region and those who oppose this.

There has consequently been little room for constructive compromise. Acknowledging that the prevailing status-quo serves none of its citizens, Iraqi Turkmen participants opposed to the city’s inclusion in the Kurdistan region will be invited to present a proposal by which Kerkuk might be administered as a distinct Governorate or federal region within Iraq.

This is already the solution preferred for Baghdad, as well as many other disputed cities around the world.Iraqi Turkmens have remained marginalized during the process of reconstructing the Iraqi state after 2003, arguing that relatively little has been achieved with respect to correcting the past injustices they have suffered.

The recent waves of disproportionate Kurdish immigration into Kerkuk raises suspicions of the role this might play in the imminent referendum on the city’s future status. The conference would aim therefore to begin a process of rephrasing the discussion of Kerkuk’s future status in more constructive terms, principally by offering an alternative picture of its final status.

This conference aims to convene representatives of Iraq’s new institutions with European policy makers with an interest and opportunity to influence the reconstruction of the Iraqi state. The concerns of the Kerkuk’s Turkmens and Arabs will be presented by some of their most prominent figures in an effort to ensure that the next crucial steps in the reconstruction process proceed in a manner consistent with the principles of democracy, human rights, and the genuine inclusion of all affected not-ruling communities (minorities) in the region. These are principles without which a stable Iraq will inevitably remain illusive.

Invited contributors:

Ana Maria Gomez, MEP, Parliament’s Rapporteur on Iraq

Ali M. Sadeq, member of Kerkuk City Council

Marino Busdachin, UNPO General Secretary

Mohammed Kh. Nasef, Member of Kerkuk City Council, member of article 140 committee Mohammed Mahdi Ameen, Member of the Iraqi Parliament

Muzaffer Arslan, Advisor on Turkmen Affairs to the President of Iraq H.E. Jalal Talabani

Rakan S. Ali, member of Kerkuk City Council

Sheth Jerjis, SOITM Chairman

Tahsin Mohammed Ali Wali, Member of Kerkuk City Council, member of article 140 committee

Yako Michael Jajjo, Foundation Assyria

Kürtler Brüksel konferansından rahatsız

Dilşat Terzi-Erbil İçinde bulunduğumuz ayın 23'ünde Belçika'nın başkenti Brüksel'de yapılması planlanan Kerkük konferansı Kürtleri rahatsız etti. Bu konuda Erbil'de Kürtçe yayınlanan ve Barzani taraftarı Hewler Gazetesi'ne konuşan Kerkük il meclisi Kürt üyelerinden Awat Ahmed, konferanstaki geniş katılımın kendilerini rahatsız ettiğini ifade etti.

Ahmed " Kürtler Kerkük'te iktidarı ellerinde bulundurdukları için konferansa çağırılmadı"diye konuştu. Gazetenin verdiği bilgiye göre Temsil Edilmeyen Toplumlar Organizasyonu tarafından düzenlenen konferansa Irak'tan 70 kişi ve 45 yabancı katılacak. Kerkük il meclisinin Kürt başkanı Rizgar Ali ise gazeteye verdiği demeçte, Kerkük'ün içişlerine müdahale etmemek şartıyla tüm grupların konferans düzenlemekte serbest olduğunu söyledi.

Ali, Temsil Edilmeyen Toplumlar Organizasyonu'nu eleştirerek organizasyonun Kürtleri konferansa davet etmemesinin hayret verici olduğunu iddi ederek şöyle konuştu : " Organizasyonun devletlere sahip olmalarına rağmen Türkmen ve Arapları çağırırken, devleti olmayan Kürtleri çağırmaması hayret vericidir".

Kerkük il meclisinin Türkmen üyesi Ali Mehdi, aynı Kürt gazetesine verdiği mülakatta konferansa Irak Başbakanı Nuri Maliki'nin yanı sıra Kerkük İl meclisinden 2 Türkmen üyenin katılımıyla başlayacağını iddia etti. Ali Mehdi, konferansın Kerkük'te iktidar paylaşımının tüm gruplar arasında adil biçimde sağlanmasını hedeflediğini belirtti.

Conference on Assyrians in Iraq at the EU Parliament

MEPs Esther de Lange and Dimitrakopoulos

and Ninos Warda, Assyria Council of Europe, Brussels

Ambassador of Iraq to Brussels H.E. Mohammed Al-Doreky and ITF Europe Representative Dr. Hassan Aydinli

Ms. Esther de Lange, MEP and ITF Europe Representative

Conference on Assyrians in Iraq on 11 June 2008

Chaired by Esther de Lange, MEP

Co-chaired by Dimitrakopoulos MEP and M. Mladenov MEP

Session one : The Situation of Minorities in Iraq

Speakers:

Madeline Garlick, UNHCR, Brussels

Ninos Warda, Asyria Council of Europe, Brussels

Karin Gatt-Rutter, European Commission, Brussels

Session two: Looking towards the future

Speakers:

Michael Youash, Iraq Sustainable Democracy Project, Washington DC

Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers, Brussels

Pascale Warda, former Iraqi Minister, Hammorabi Human Rights Organization, Baghdad

H.E. Mohammed Al-Doreky, Ambassador of Iraq to Brussels

General concluding remarks by : Mrs. Ria Oomen-Ruijten, MEP

During Question and Answers Dr. Hassan Aydinli, Iraqi Turkmen Front Europe Representative, addressed the Members of the Panel, drawing their attention to the fact that ALL the communities in Iraq - and particularly in the north of Iraq - who do not possess militias and weapons are threatened and oppressed by the groups who possess militias and weapons.

He said that Iraq today is divided in two groups: those who have armed militias and the others, such as Turkmens and Assyrians who do not, and that unfortunately those who possess militias are imposing their will on the government in Baghdad to serve their own interests.

Dr. Aydinli insisted on the necessity for the EU to get more involved in Iraq to make sure that the rules of democracy are applied in order to preserve the rights of ALL communities and to make sure that EU aid is shared equitably among ALL the communities in Iraq.

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At the end of the conference Dr. Aydinli spoke to Ms Esther de Lange, MEP, about the situation prevailing in Iraq today, he brought up the subject of the so-called "contested territories, including Kerkuk" which are concerned by Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution.

He explained that the concept of the so-called "contested territories" is an invention of the Kurdish parties to annex Turkmen territories to their autonomous region, indeed, the majority of the so-called "contested territories" are populated by Turkmens and are historically Turkmen territories.

During the writing of the new Iraqi Constitution the Kurds have opportunistically taken advantage of the abnormal situation prevailing in Iraq to include Article 140 in the Iraqi Constitution. Since then, Kurds are using this Article as a means to obtain extra concessions and extra rights from the Iraqi government. For the Turkmens as well as for the majority of the Iraqis, this Article is null and void since 1st January 2008.

It is unfortunate that the UN Secretary General's Representative in Iraq, Mr. Estefan De Mistura, has proposed to prolong the duration of this Article for a further 6 months, ending 30th June 2008. This initiative of Mr. De Mistura is unconstitutional and it has been strongly disapproved by the majority of Iraqis.

Dr. Aydinli insisted that the EU should be involved in the upcoming provincial elections by sending observers to make sure that the elections this time will be democratic and fair, reminding Ms. de Lange that the last two general elections (Jan and Dec 2005) were rigged.