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INTRODUCTION:
A delegation of the Policy Institute for Religion and State (PIFRAS) made its second visit to Iraq in 3 months. The purpose of the
visit is to continue consultations with key political and religious leaders within the country, in order to listen to different perspectives on priority needs for building a framework for democracy in Iraq, seek
advice on the most appropriate design for the Art of Governance (AOG) Program and mobilize support for a strategic and equitable selection of candidates to undergo the training. PIFRAS team had several meetings with
representatives of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) on the program and sought CPA’s approval and support.
In planning the visit, PIFRAS sought the advice of number of experts including Mr.
Joseph T. Kassab, an Iraqi-born American of the Chaldean National Congress (CNC), Dr. Haider Abdul Karim, Mr. Abdul Karim Habib, and Mr. George Zoma. Mr. Joseph Kassab is based in Michigan while others are based in
Iraq.
Mr Kassab and Mr. Zoma are also the members of the Steering Committee for the AOG program. The above team helped the delegation to organize meetings with various ethnic and religious leaders, local NGOs, and CPA officials in Iraq. Mr. Kassab’s understanding of the cultural and democratic needs of the liberated Iraqi nation, and its leaders, was vital for making PIFRAS’ mission in Iraq successful.
Mr. Abdul Karim Habib was a senior military officer in Iraqi Army before he was stripped off his duties and put on strict surveillance by Sadam Hussein’s regime. The Regional Director for the AOG
program Ms. Gabriela Munteanu, from Amman, Jordan also joined the delegation to Baghdad. Her fluency in Arabic language was critical to communicate with the local leaders.
Political and religious
leaders that the PIFRAS team met were almost unanimous in their perception of the need for the emerging Iraqi leaders. They all realize the need for the rank and file of their own political parties to clearly
understand the fundamentals of the structures and functioning of a pluralist democracy. In view of the long years of perverted and oppressive functioning of the Government under the previous regime, there is a
widespread lack of experience within the country about a participatory system of governance. There is a clear lack of understanding among potential candidates about how a democracy works from the grass roots
to the highest policy making levels.
Only those who had some international exposure or had lived outside of the Middle East during the past years had some knowledge of the principles of a democracy--but the
PIFRAS delegation found out that many such people in most cases lacked ‘acceptance’ by the Iraqi people in general. Every leader the PIFRAS delegation met themselves were mindful of the question:
If elections were to be held in Iraq in the next year or so,
(a) who are likely to be elected,
(b) how much do such elected people would know about making policies
for a pluralist country,
(c) what kind of experience or exposure do they have in making such policies and
(d) what kind of impact would such elected officials have on the governance of
this multi-ethnic, multi-religious country?
PIFRAS delegation explained every leader it met the elements of the Art of
Governance Program that had been created for Iraq in consultation with experts from within Iraq and overseas. Under this program the basic goal was to hold series of broadly designed training programs in Iraq
and in the US, in collaboration with key US universities, for a group of electable candidates who has political leadership potential. It has been planned to commence implementation of the program without delay
so as to feed into the electoral process that was being planned in Iraq. PIFRAS however does not have any plans or plan on getting involved in the electoral process itself in Iraq.
PIFRAS will only help the political parties and civic groups in Iraq in preparing its candidates who would eventually want to enter public service in a democratic society.
Meetings with Political and Religious Leaders
PIFRAS delegation has had very productive meetings with the leaders of various political parties belonging to Christian, Shi’ah and Sunni groups from all
over the country.
The delegation traveled to the Kurdish region and the Southern regions to meet key political leaders to seek their support and participation in the program. The delegation received very thoughtful and valid suggestions about the Art of Governance Program from all leaders it met. In many ways these meetings helped many Iraqi intellectuals and professionals to overcome their misgivings about the program. The delegation felt that different groups are competing now to take advantage of the program. Following are some of the influential leaders the delegation met in Iraq:
Mr. Yonadam Kanna, President of the Assyrian Democratic Movement and the only representative of the Iraqi Christian population in the 25 member Governing Council, met the delegation twice to discuss the
participation of his party’s potential electoral candidates in the Art of Governance Program.
He said the program will help those with very limited exposure to the international perspective to get a broader outlook before they get elected.
Mr. Barham Saleh, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan
Regional Government in Sulaimani region, belonging to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) party, appreciated the plan and pledged his total cooperation. The PUK is also represented in the Governing Council of
Iraq through Jamal Talabani. He Saleh appointed Ms. Tania Kader Hussein, a senior staff in his administration to coordinate their participation with PIFRAS’s Washington DC office.
Mr. Sami Abdul Rahman, the
Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdish Regional Government in the Arbil region belonging to the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) met the delegation at a very short notice. Mr. Rahman is a member of the newly
formed body to draft the Iraq’s Constitution. One of his colleagues in the KDP, Mr. Barassani is a member of the Iraq’s Governing Council. Mr. Rahman showed great interest in participating his party candidates
in the AOG program. He also suggested that PIFRAS should design a shorter version of the AOG program tailored to meet the needs of senior political leaders for whom a four month absence from Iraq would not be
feasible. He suggested a shorter parallel program for senior political leaders besides a full 4 month program for younger and upcoming party leaders. This innovative suggestion will be placed before the
Steering Committee for approval and adoption after the details are worked out by our office.
Mr. Salahadin Bahauddin, the General Secretary of Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) and a member of the Iraqi
Governing Council, pledged his full support and participation in the program. He expressed that the program should be implemented at the earliest possible time as there is only limited time available now and
the elections.
He said that political leaders in the Islamic world must learn to act responsibly in matters of governance to combat the impression in the world that Islam courts confrontational and dictatorial governance. He said the AOG program will help electable leaders of Iraq to understand the emerging global order and to act accordingly. Mr. Zuhair Khoshnov of the Kurdish Islamic Union also met the delegation the previous day.
Mr. Ablahath Sawa, the President of the Chaldean Democratic Party and his party officials met the delegation at the northern city of Dohuk and expressed full support for the AOG program. Mr. Ablahath Sawa
stressed the importance of the program by saying that expanding the understanding and broadening the views of political leaders in Iraq is one of the key elements that would help to ensure the safety and security of
religious and ethnic minorities (including the Christian community in Iraq who constituted just 3% of the population) in the long term.
He said, Constitutional provisions and international pressure to ensure the security of his constituents, the Christians, would only be as good as the beliefs and understandings of elected officials from the majority community. He said, if people with narrow approach to domestic problems who does not understand the broader implications of their actions from an international perspective get elected to national level political offices, all constitutional and legislative provisions to help secure the future of religious minorities would be in vain. Simply appointing or electing a certain number of minority representatives to the National Parliament or any such law making body would not by itself ensure the safety and security of the religious minorities.
Mr. Faud Al-Rawi, President of the Iraqi Islamic Party and a member of the Iraqi Governing Council, was happy to see an organization willing to help in the most crucial area of governance.
He said the AOG program would prove to be one of the most important tools to assist in Iraq’s political recovery. He said he was concerned about the lack of experienced, broadminded leaders in Iraq in general who are ready to take responsibility for making laws besides giving political direction to the nation.
Sheikh Jalaladin, a senior cleric and an influential leader in Baghdad met the delegation in his office.
Sheikh Jalaladin is a member of the Constitution Committee. The Sheikh was very impressed by the program that he volunteered to take the idea to Ayatollah Sistani, one of the four main Shi’iah religious leaders in Iraq. Sheikh Jalaladin is considered to be very close to Ayatollah Sistani Sheikh Jalaladin pledged all the help to make the program successful. He reflected very similar sentiments as other leaders about the need to implement the Art of Governance Program at the earliest.
The US Army's NGO liaison office in Baghdad which had studied the Art of Governance Program is to make its own recommendation to the CPA for approval.
Emir Rabiah Mohamed Al Habib, President of
the Iraq Social Party has a strong following of his tribesmen inside and outside of Iraq. He suggested that America must stay in Iraq as long as it takes to put the country back on
track. Though the Emir is of the opinion that his party already had many talented and highly educated people who could be placed as the party candidates in the elections, upon the election of his candidates he would consider sending them for a short trip with the PIFRAS’s program. After detailed discussions with the Emir, it was suggested that PIFRAS could accommodate those candidates for the senior level program.
Ayatollah Hussein Al Sadr, one of the
most respected religious leaders in Iraq has a strong following. He met the delegation on the morning of
October 20 and expressed total support for the program. His ideas and expectations for a future Iraqi government proved to fit fully with the objectives of the AOG program. He appreciated the initiative and pledged all support from his office. The delegation noted that the Ayatollah had virtually outlined the key objectives of the program himself without the need to explain them to him in the first place. Secretary Powell had a meeting with Ayatollah Hussein Al Sadr at his home during his visit to Baghdad.
Ms. Sarah Hodgkinson, a State Department official in charge of the Human Rights office in Baghdad studied the AOG program and made favorable recommendations to the CPA.
Ms. Hodgkinson felt that the program would help to develop strong and broadminded leaders which would have direct bearing on the human rights situation in Iraq.
Ms. Judy VanRest, the senior CPA official in
charge of developing long term solutions to the political problems in Iraq working directly under Ambassador Paul Bremer, met the delegation to learn about the Art of Governance Program.
Ms. VanRest took a copy of the project report and promised a recommendation in favor of the program. She enquired about the financial requirements for program implementation. PIFRAS delegation suggested that approval of the plan by the CPA was critical for further proceeding even if there was no financial assistance possible. It was made clear to Ms. VanRest that PIFRAS would not be able to proceed further with the program if the CPA did not approve and fully endorse the proposal. PIFRAS needs the logistic support and cooperation of the CPA in Baghdad to carry out this program. PIFRAS would be happy to include and suggestions by CPA or any amendments or changes that it may feel is appropriate.
Ideally PIFRAS would seek the following from the Coalition Provisional Authority:
· # Approval of the Art of Governance program for implementation in Iraq.
· # Inputs from the CPA, including suggestions for amendments or changes.
· # Logistic support in Baghdad to select and manage the candidates in Iraq.
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# Support in raising funds for meeting program cost through various sources identified by PIFRAS.
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# Funding for meeting the initial program set up cost to facilitate immediate action in getting the program started.
Congressman Ronnie Shows (former member of the US Congress from Mississippi and a
member of the Board of Advisors of PIFRAS) was scheduled to join the PIFRAS delegation to meet Ambassador Bremer in Baghdad on October 23. However Ambassador Bremer and his senior officials were called away to
Washington in connection with the donor conference on Iraq scheduled to be held in Madrid (October 24, 25). It was planned that Mr. Shows and selected Iraqi leaders would accompany the PIFRAS delegation to meet with
Ambassador Bremer and Mr. Scott Carpenter, Chairman of the Governance Council. That meeting had to be rescheduled.
A list of the select people and groups that met the PIFRAS delegation are listed below:
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