www.eyeiraq.comEye MediaCopyright (C)Eye Iraq Media Agencyhttp://www.eyeiraq.com/images/EYEIRAQ.jpghttp://www.eyeiraq.com/RSS_eng.aspxhttp://www.eyeiraq.com/RSS_eng.aspx300Electricity entered Iraq in 1917, the first electricity machine installed in "Khan Pot" building, electric power generation was limited to capacity of diesel engines and low voltage of 220 volts (DC). The diesel engines have been installed then in different parts of the city. In 1918, started the distribution of a certain amount of wishing to inform their buildings and homes, the increasing demand of electric power. The competent authorities then erected (3) units, steam engines frequency as 3.3. P-AC (AC) in “Khater Khana” station and the wires were extended under the ground. (Rotary Convertor) were installed as switching equipments, in each of the “Alaboukhana” Hospital, “Majidiyah” and “Al-Elwia” feeding the network of consumers with direct current (+ 440) volts and using of lines AC 3.3 k. P lines transferred to the Baghdad network, and started then pass the wires to the western side of Baghdad (Karkh) by cables under the water (near Shoheda’a bridge). In 1927 poles were set up to carry the electric wires for street lighting in Aljaevir and the Alawi Hilla streets.# In 1955, Enlightenment and power company Electric Co., Ltd. of Baghdad was the nationalized and called on the first of October Baghdad power plant; it was associated with the Ministry of Communications and Works. In 1958, national power establishment was established which took ownership and operation of power plants of the following: molasses factory, south of Baghdad, transmission lines and substations have built by the Board of reconstruction. In 1964, National Electricity Board and Baghdad Electricity were merged and replaced with Electricity Directorate of Baghdad area, along the lines of the three directorates that were within the formations of the establishment. And in 1975, General Electricity Corporation was created to include all formations of electricity. But in 1987 it was cancel, and became the General Establishment for Electricity Distribution for Baghdad, a Chamber of the Ministry of Industry and Minerals. Then, the Electricity body was created in 1999. In 2003, the Ministry of Electricity created, which is still working hard to improve the reality of power in Iraq and to provide this service, the lifeblood of modern life with prejudice to direct the lives of citizens daily, where they suffered the electricity sector over the past several decades of wars and crises swept the country that suffered from a lack of energy production what overburdened the citizen of Iraq, especially with high temperatures in the summer.# # To identify the most important sufferings of the electricity sector that stand in the way of providing citizens with this full-service, Eye media met the Media Office manager at the Ministry of Electricity Musa’ab Sery Al-Muders, and interviewed him the following dialogue:# # * / What causes deterioration of the reality of power in Iraq? # Ministry of Electricity and its staffs are working hard to provide this important service for the Iraqi people, but there is a wide disparity between production and demand, Four years ago, the amount of production of electrical energy from our plants, obstetric up to 3500 megawatt and the demand of 8000 megawatt, but now the production volume reached 7900 megawatt and the request arrived at the 14000 megawatt, and the reason for this was that the other ministries do not cooperate with the Ministry of Electricity including the Ministry of Trade which did not establish controls over the import of electrical appliances, borders are open for trade and the Central Agency for Standardization and quality control has not examined the devices when they are imported, especially household appliances. This increased the loads of electricity needed to run the machines, as well as the Oil Ministry that takes a stake from the provinces’ electrical energy to run refineries, especially in the southern provinces; for example, in Basra province, the Ministry of Electricity has allocated 970 megawatt and a third of this quantity taken by the Oil Ministry, as well as the Ministry of Industry also take from this quota to run the factories there and in other provinces as well, and there is prior agreement with the Ministry of Industry on the exploitation of the summer period for the purposes of maintenance of laboratories and to provide some energy , but this year has not adhered to the ministry agreement what negatively affected the electrical system and that large quantities of energy, in addition, acts of sabotage that took place recently on power transmission towers affected the quantity processed for the provinces, and stoppage of a number of units obstetric due to lack of processing of fuel, also affected processing power.# # * / What are the main challenges that stand before the work of the ministry? # The electricity making is a complex one, Electricity is the equation of symbols of production and transport and distribution are problematic in generating electricity, because our stations obstetric exposed to the lethal blows and the acts of maintenance are not good and spare parts are poor in the state of siege experienced by the country, and also offer transport networks to acts of sabotage. We have 38 000 km of electrical transmission across the network and the protection needs many cadres in addition to the combat force because of the frequent targeted by armed groups, these things have affected negatively the processing of provincial energy, and also the distribution network where problems are many, mainly, over the citizen on the network, the more fruitful and, for example, electrical transformers when installing them in a particular area, allocated for the 100 House, and when the citizen to trespass over it, the processing goes to 200 houses and thus, this causes it to be disabled of working.# # * / What are the actual steps to end the suffering of Iraqi citizens? # When the Iraqi government cooperated greatly with the Ministry of electricity, an improvement has occurred significantly in the electricity system, especially when the Prime Minister Noori al-Maliky held reins over the state, coverage of all areas of the capital Baghdad and the Iraqi provinces certainly programmed and coverage of the Green Zone is definitely programmed as well, and the implementation of large-scale campaign and large by the security services in all governorates to raise the abuses which, in the first two weeks of the start of the campaign was to provide approximately 1000 megawatt of the electrical system, and drew Mr. Inspector-General to allocate hotline for reporting cases of abuse by government departments and the homes of officials and headquarters for party and the owners of generators eligibility, and with the cooperation of the citizen and government has lived up the system power to a certain extent.# # # This dialogue was conducted by Eye media reporter, Harith Mohammed.http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=19197Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:00:00 AM GMTThe presence of the American embassy in Iraq is considered as an important factor to support the recent democratic operation that Iraq is witnessing after 2003, the support of the embassy was not only for the security side, but for the political, economical, cultural and social ones, where it worked on organizing many workshops to train Iraqi staffs in different fields in many province of Iraq, in each the embassy has a branch called "consulate" which takes care of the province's affairs.# Eye media team met the American consul in Kerkok, chief of BRT, and made this dialogue with him:# # Tell us about the U.S. consulate in Kerkok, what are its most important goals? # - The U.S. Consulate in the province of Kerkok is one of the branches of the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, aimed to provide cooperation to the local government and other authorities to create a developed economic activity and to overcome the obstacles that stand in front of the political process, in addition to organizing tenders, trade and services and provide support to Iraqi refugees and cooperation with NGO's for the development of bilateral relations between Iraq and America in the areas of cultural, diplomatic, economic, educational, to the interest of people of both countries. # # Did the improvement of the security situation in Kerkok affect positively on the projects in the province?# - Kirkuk is one of the most stable provinces in Iraq, the thing which has helped in attracting investment companies from outside Iraq and the province, to implement several important projects that would promote the fact of their service in Kerkok, but at the same time it needs to pass some of the difficult political obstacles to put a future economic plan.# # Did the delay of forming the government effect on BRT job in the province?# - No, that did not affect on BRT job at all, because we don’t work with the Iraqi government only, we are working directly with citizens, like famers, workers and others, we work also with general directors in official departments who, in turn, solve the technical problems that hinder our work as a BRT.# # What is the role of BRT in Kerkok during the political gap in Iraq? # - BRT does not deal with central government, but it deals with the local government in the province, so what is happening in the central government and other political problems do not affect our work as a reconstruction team, we still moving forward and are still active in our cooperation with local authorities. # # Tell us about Iraqi government's efforts to improve the political status of Kerkok?# - Iraqi government is the one that concerned greatly in solving the political problems and to find effective solutions to those problems, especially the problem of Kerkok, which is one of the basic problems that should be paid attention and the most important ones are the economic, service and security problems, which, in turn, helps to resolve the political problem in Kerkok and all the Iraqi provinces# # This dialogue was made by Eye media reporter in kerkok, Tho Al-Fiqar Al-Hilali.http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=18424Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:00:00 AM GMTIraqi tribes forms a basic component to Iraqi community, some of them became prominent after 20th revolution and continued till this day, Iraqi people lived unified with all its colored tribes and sects which are living now on Mesopotamia unified, united and connects them a blood relation.# Eye media agency made a special meeting with Iza tribe's head, sheikh Ali Al-Burhan, to acknowledge more about the tribes' role in new Iraq, and made this dialogue:# # * What is the tribes' role in the national reconciliation?# - Tribes have an important role in Iraq with all its fields, so, since 2003 tribes began to participate in fighting terrorism and end sectarianism and all what aims to divide the country, therefore, there were a lot of foreign agendas, so, tribes played a significant role in national reconciliation because Iraq is consisted of tribes and even those parliament members, who split his way in life to serve his country, belong to a tribal community.# # * What is your role in spreading safety after ex regime?# - There was no one, actually, who could make his role after the fall of the ex regime and resolving army and police, but tribes who carried the rifles and stood against gangs (which demolished the infrastructure of the country) could; those gangs even stole the official departments and establishments of the country, whereas tribes stood strongly against those who target the Iraqi people.# # * What characterizes Iza from other tribes?# - The guys who sit in my divan are from Imara, Babylon, Najaf, Diyala, Saladin and Anbar, all belong to Iza tribe and this image expresses the social mixture of one tribe, and also the other Iraqi tribes that contain two sects, like, Obeid, Shumer, Al-Tai and others; my wife is Shiite and I have kids from her, my other one is Sunni and I also have kids from her, so, there is no difference between the two.# # * What do you wish the political procedure to come up with within the next days?# - We are about one step away from the political blocs, and I personally link me good relations with them and we, as independents, ask them to form the government quickly to miss the chance on Iraq enemies because hundreds of innocent people are dying, so, we will be happy if the government be formed and harmonized quickly due to our powerful need of services, especially water and electricity and others, so, we will stand with the government and help it build Iraq.# # * Do you think the political blocs were formed on sectarian basics?# - I consider sectarianism is over. National Coalition Bloc contains Sunnis and Shiites and so is Law state and Iraqia, because Iraq has overcome the sectarianism stage.# # * Who, as you think, has the right to form the government?# - There is an electoral and a constitutional rights, the constitutional one says the biggest bloc in the parliament is the one which will from the government, while the electoral says the winner with the largest number of seats is the one who will form the government, if this plight will not be solved satisfying all parties, then things will be more complicated. # # * One last word you would say to Iraqi people?# - Our wishes and prayers that a person, who is thoughtful of poor Iraqi people, would govern Iraq and to construct and unify it, we do not concern of which bloc he would be.# # # This dialogue was made by Eye Media reporter, Harith Mohamed, filmed by Aqeel Mohamed.http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=17406Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:00:00 AM GMTHuman rights concept is based on the recognition of all members of the human family sharing value, inheritance and dignity, they deserve to enjoy certain fundamental independences and by the approval of these independences, is one can enjoy security and safety, and be able to make decisions that organize his life.# # Laws and court systems in most countries of the world grant human rights protections. In spite of that, these systems are not always effective, and mostly unable to confirm some of the human rights. However, the global standards included the adoption of these rights when governments can not protect them. Concerning human rights in Iraq, Eye media agency met Dr. Samir Al Mukhtar, the chairman of Human Rights and civil community in Iraq and made the following dialog with him:# # •When Human Rights Foundation was established? And what are its achievements?# - Human rights organization established in the 23 \ 4 \ 2003 and four years later turned into Human Rights Commission and civil community, and the activities undertaken by the Commission had changed in order to turn into what is called now, it includes a large number of members in all parts of Iraq, in addition to the branches that spread outside Iraq (Amman, United Arab Emirates, Norway, Netherlands, France, Turkey and Syria), we have worked through this institution to monitor, document and educate citizens, where institution is considered a major institution of civil community with regard to issuing reports and education, and institution shall have a tremendous amount of certificates, international scientific and certificates, obtained by all members of the institution from its Chairman to the youngest member therein, we set about 600 workshop in all areas of human rights, and 125 workshop for the ministries of the State and arranged more than 49 conference. We hope in future to offer more support to Iraq if provided us government self-financing because our funding, especially after the law was passed, civil society organizations face difficulties in regard to funding; we can not rely on state or party because by their funding they will control the organization and this is not permissible and may not be in human rights.# # •What fields the human rights are related to? Is it possible to be politicized?# - The intervention of human rights in all areas, it has the guaranteed and settled right constitutionally for each of the charters of human rights, since the Universal Declaration, that contains 30 articles, every article states several laws, but the politicization of human rights is not possible, for this reason we did not want to ministry and minister nor commission for Human Rights, because human rights are a friend and a sergeant of the Government in that one and everyone has to confess of what the human rights achieved, which could not be achieved by any other state.# # •The concept of human rights in the world is different than the one in Iraq what is the reason behind it?# - Since the introduction of democracy to Iraq and the emergence of many parties where known human rights as the first concept of an impact in the world, so they put human rights first rituals despite the lack of knowledge of the full this concept, and later identified it through the means available to them, and this has become a concept explained by the desire and the thinking of all persons without relying on the information, because democracy is wrongly understood in Iraq and after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, many conventions showed. We hope, in the future, Iraq depend on and begin their entry into the syllabus for students, especially after the Ministry of Human Rights signed a cooperation agreement with the Ministries of Education and Higher Education, and hopefully reap the benefits of this Convention after two years or more, as we have worked to educate and sensitize students in kindergarten through cartoons, posters, paintings, photographs, books thumbnails that distributed to each school.# # •There is trafficking in human beings and suicide bombers, so many issues fall within your work, how do you deal with all these issues to delimit them?# - Trafficking in human beings is a very huge world beyond perception, it is not just limited to the sale of human organs, children or something like that, there is the sale of women as is the case in the marriage of tourism and we are trying very hard and in cooperation with more than one source to find a law to prevent this phenomenon. Concerning suicide, it is not possible to talk with someone who does not know his religion, because he won't understand the meaning of human rights when he legitimatizes murder and bloodshed.# •Why reconciled democracy was found in the new Iraq?# - Democracy is the reconciliation of agreement and compatibility, which they are talking about, is because of the political partnership in Iraq, which includes more than religion, nationality and doctrine.# # •Is America the first that encourages human rights violation in the world, do you think this is true?# - Terrorism and human rights violations exist in all countries and practiced by everyone, but we always put the blame on America and the only difference is that America when violates the right of someone, it apologizes and compensates, but the others do not.# # •One final word you would say to Iraqi people?# # - I hope in the future people be aware of what human rights are and understand and recognize them. # # Dr. Eng Samir Mohammed Al Mukhtar was born in Basrah in 1951 holds a Ph.D. in communications engineering and computer from the Swedish University who is chairman of Human rights and civil community organization in Iraq, did not exercise governmental action under the previous regime and was assigned to compulsory military service after work in the area of trade and computers, his money had been confiscated, movable and immovable property, and arrested more than once exiled from capital Baghdad to Ramadi, where he remained until the fall of the former system of moving then to the United Nations, filed a complaint against the former regime and then entered the field of human rights and humanitarian organizations, he has a membership in the Iraqi Center for the activities of humanity and the Commission on Iraqi civil Public-society institutions and the Iraqi house the new organization of developing the agricultural and Ishtar Learning and Development organization: he also was a member of the Iraqi Center for the Biology of religious symbols, member of the executive body of the National Council of Iraqi Tribes and responsible civil society, Iraqi-U.S. Friendship Organization human rights organization in Iraq, a leader also in the Amnesty International branch of Norway Head of Ayhan Al-Jaff international human rights Organization in the Middle East and Vice President of the Arab Centre for the European human rights and international law in Norway and a member of the Alliance to support human rights (Harry).# # He has many certificates of expertise and competence as he holds several certificates of appreciation and trophies and has several books, including: concepts of human rights and monitoring human rights and human rights documentation, advocacy and support for the book. # # This meeting was conducted by Marwa Bedaiwy, reporter of media eye agency, filmed by Sinan Nabil.http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=16605Sat, 15 May 2010 12:00:00 AM GMTWell-known cleric in Basra province, activist in providing humanitarian services, he established the first cultural youth center which contains Internet after the political change in Zubair, his attitudes against the public money corruptors and those who traded the citizens' suffering in Basrah. He entered into the political operation with a coalition of Shahid mihrab and was appointed as vice president of the local council in the province after the provincial elections in 2009, and knew his administration successful for this position, considered a place provides a service to the people of Basra, demanding that they deserve service projects also make maintenance of a prosperous financial and service, through the office which monitors the work of the Ad Hoc Committees to complete the projects in the city, who fail to make his colleagues be in the opportunities of corruption, which make Basra a delay in accomplishing what is decided of its projects, through the office told us, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Suleity, with all the openness and without reservations, which is known for his outspoken criticism of government officials, mindful of the amendment track their performance, which led to make acceptance and satisfaction over Basrah streets:# # ► What do you think of Basrah general situation, in terms of religion and social, due to existence of large number of different religious sects? # - City of Basra is a city of love, peace and brotherhood, religious, social, and differences that have occurred recently in our beloved country, did not affect the type of deal between different religious communities in Basra, and, as Sheikh, a Shi'ite cleric had never thought of the confiscation of freedom of thought and religion to the rest of the brotherhood of Christians and the Sabians, and we as Muslims, sunnis or Shiites, overcame the problems that planted by extremists in Iraq from those who wanted to create sedition among the people of Basra, and we are in constant contact with our brothers of Christians and the Sabians in the celebrations and holidays, and Weddings.The best proof of the satisfaction of the brothers of Christians in Basra is to establish Radio New Testament of the Christian religion, which contributed by Basra Governorate Council effectively, built and provided in good humor for the coexistence of religious and humanitarian with anyone living on Fayhaa.# # ► Are the service projects that have been implemented in Basra equivalent to what is required to citizen of basrah? # - Indeed, service in the city of Basra, it is regressive and bad which is not a new thing, and we don’t blame the former regime only, but all would be blamed and bear the responsibility of the deterioration of services, now, a new plan for the implementation of projects in stages, for instance, the drainage network of Basra have been working since the eighties, before the two companies, Hyundai (Korean) and Jabra Kashi (Hindi) and not completed yet because of the wars that went on Iraq, but until now did not enter a company specializing in this area to Iraq, local Iraqi companies do not have the expertise and engineering sufficient to qualify for the implementation of such projects important in this area, which is why the Basra Governorate Council adopted the resolution to refer projects worth more than two billion dinars to foreign companies in order to be implemented according to precise and sophisticated techniques of international companies.# # ► Education sector has many problems, what solutions do you see suitable for these problems?# - the educational sector suffer big problems and they are many in Basra, due to the high population density and consequently higher number of students, however, is not building any integrated school after the fall of Saddam's regime to lift the hustle in the schools of Basra. Directorate of Education did not take into account the of that order, as Basra needs hundreds or even thousands of schools and most schools are currently not eligible for the study, do not meet conditions of health and the environment for study, and we look at the financial budget of the provincial council for the education sector of domains which is not sufficient because there are no accurate studies for this sector and to be out of proportion and realistic concrete, in addition to administrative and financial corruption that has helped poor educational reality, especially after the political change that occurred after 2003; if the budget continues like this, it's going to get worse.# # ► Has Basra budget been divided properly in correspondence with the importance of projects? # - The Basra Financial Balance in 2010 amount to (222) billion Iraqi dinars and everybody knows that projects was not been determined in 2009, and was only a supplement to projects allocated in previous years, as has been allocated (115) billion dinars from the budget of the projects incomplete for many reasons which are: the failure to match the technical and foot-dragging in the work of companies implementing such projects, and balance remains (107) billion dinars, (50) billion of them to lift the garbage of Basra through the project will be implemented soon, and (59) billion for projects of electricity sector, which will not solve the power crisis in Basra because the electricity network needs more than (450) billion dinars in order to make citizens enjoy and get comfortable, we have allocated (4) BILLION for the construction and reconstruction of schools, including two new schools and the reconstruction of 6 old schools, and water projects have been allocated (33) billion dinars from the current budget to manipulate simple problems water projects in terms of the purchase of equipment, machinery and sterile materials, etc. ....# # ► Is the reason behind disestablishing new service projects, the lack of financial allocations, or are there other reasons? # - Lack of financial allocations by the federal government is the main reason for disestablishing new service projects in Basra which has not been taken care of and consider its relevance in economic terms and their need for service projects in many, but the future is going to change much in the reality of services as it would be the amount deducted from oil exports to Basra, a major factor and important to rely on these funds will be the local government decision making allotments to finance the creation of projects that serve the citizen of Basrah.# # ► Tell us about the exemption of the Chairman of Integrity Committee Council and the functioning of the Commission in following up issues of corruption in government departments? # - The decision to exempt the Chairman of the Integrity Committee of the Provincial Council Mr. Sattar Abdul al-Musawi, from his post, is a local political decision, and there is no professional standards that process it, and the Council is the regulator through the following and monitoring the work of government departments by members of the Committee, therefore work of the Committee does not stop on the person because it consists of 7 members to monitor the work of government commissions in the implementation of projects and follow up the issues of corruption, but there is a clear imbalance and large in the work and control panels for projects to be implemented as most of these projects have errors and technical problems which are not addressed, and the reason is the weakness of the supervisory role of some committees in regulatory authorities, the existence of projects referred since 2006 and had not yet been completed is a clear indication of weakness oversight of these committees.# # ► What matters you like in the performance of the security forces in Basra? # - security forces relationship in Basra with the local government was flawed by a simple flaws, the army in Basra deals as government and this is contrary to the Constitution and laws. Army is an operational tool, however, of the local authority and federal and it must obey the orders of government, whether federal or local. More than once we addressed the army with official letters issued by the Provincial Council or the Tourism Authority of federal that refers to the absence of any license to especially with the sale of alcohol and alcoholic beverages, which is not acceptable, and the army has to know its role in dealing with local government decisions, implementation and terms of reference and not to exceed any considerations. The army had stormed the provincial council twice, once before the last election, and the second a few days ago, and we demand that the army carried out what is required from it and not to oppose the legislation and laws and respect local government officials. We hold the judicial authorities of complicity with the counterfeiters, sellers of alcohol and exposure among documents which is permissible for them to conduct business and non-company union stiff penalties and legal right.# # ► Existence of army extensively in the streets of the city causing traffic congestion, Tell us this matter? # - army should return to the military barracks near the outer borders for protection not to be presence in the city, and we have the serious intention to propose to cancel the Basra Operational Command, we do not need to lead the military now because safety is available, thanks to God and thanks to the security services and the great efforts they have made for stability and security and the fight against the outlaws, We recognize the significant role of the military to establish security in Basra and throughout Iraq, therefore we see their existence within the city center is overrated and can move to barracks outside the city in order to make room to the police to take a role in this area and the army helped police when needed, we addressed the Police Directorate in this regard and have showed their willingness to assume this local Interior responsibility, army must exist when needed only.# # ► How do you assess Basra cultural situation?# - Cultural sites are few in Basra, like, theaters, clubs, private rooms, festivals and cultural events, and we asked the Council to maintain interest in the sector of culture because of its great importance in Basra, culture considers as a measure of the development of nations, soon, Opera House will be opened by the Ministry of Culture. local government also have undertaken the reconstruction local administration lobby and reconstruction Theatre Artists Association, and also will be places of worship, mosques, youth and sports forums; all are opened for the sake of cultural and social affairs.# # This meeting was made by Eye Media reporter in Basrah, Baha' Al-Eraiby and filmed by Iraq Ali.http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=15538Mon, 19 Apr 2010 12:00:00 AM GMTThe nucleus of federal police was formed in 2004, it consisted of two separate forces, the first belonged to security advisor office of the ministry interior and was called "Magaweer Al-dakhileea" and the second belonged to operations department which was called "Kwat hifd Al-needam", then the two forces combined together to be called "Keeadt Al-kwat Al-khasa", then it came to be called "Keeadt Al-shorta Al-watanya". It seemed that this force was made to complete the lack of forces due to the increasing of terror which was never succeeded in establishing a state during the history.# Eye media agency met Lt. general Hussein Al-awady, commander of federal police forces, and made the following dialogue:# # ► What are the reasons of forming the federal police despite the existence of army and police?# - Federal police is a middle force between army and police, its purpose is to deal with events that disable security and it is the force that works under the law cover and has authorities to manipulate security matters because using army to manipulate interior security is tradition violate, therefore the federal police was made which was not known to the Iraqi citizen before 2003. # # ► Are Federal police existed in Kurdish region?# - Now, we started forming the nucleus of federal police in Kurdish region and training the first graduated batch, the second, then, is to form the nucleus of police in the region and we put all the wanted staffs to form it.# # ► Is the federal police colored?# - federal police is a mix of different sects and nationalities, an example for this is Abu Reesha brigade in Ramadi which consists of 40% from Ramadi, 60% from Sulaimania, Diyala, Karbala and Basrah, Mosel brigade includes many sects and nationalities, in all of our organizations we find a colored people from all over Iraq, then it is the federal police of Iraq from south to north.# # ► Do you have special trainee organizations that graduate federal police individuals?# Actually, there are many and the one who goes through all these organizations will be ready. It is the main course of training which lasts fro two months at Nomania, Wasit.# The federal police individual has two sides, military and police.# # # ► What is the American role in supporting?# The Americans always offer help and support when necessary, if we ask for it, and I think there will be no need of American help.# # ► What is your assessment of the detectors for explosives?# - Detectors for explosives are being used in check points and work well in most cases, and helped us a lot in the detection of v-beds and weapons caches and improvised explosive lenses. May no longer is the best, but does not have an alternative.# # ► If the devices work well, as you mentioned, how some of the weapons and v-beds have passed them and has not disclosed them? # - In the Ministry of Interior there is a Directorate General to disable explosives which include trainees skilled in the use of detectors for explosives, and we opened courses for all users of these devices, therefore we do not have any user nowadays are not trained, but in some cases there is a poor organizing within the check point which lead to mistakable results.# # ► The security situation is unstable in Nineveh, what is your role to make security back in this province?# - We formed the HQ of Nineveh operations, and it had an active role in Rabiein operation, and sectors sent to the province which participated in the clearing of terrorist elements.# # Mosul has a nature and composition of particular social effects of social well known due to its location near the Iraqi border. After the returned of Rabiein security which rates as high, we believe Mosel streets, schools, universities and shops had returned, and now military units are conducting operations in Mosul, proactive large and has made significant achievements.# # ► What is your role in Baghdad?# -Military units exist in Baghdad, whether from the Ministry of Defense or the Interior under the command of the Baghdad Operations Command, its goal and work are one, the plans are managed uniformly and we as federal police are part of the security system of the Ministry of Interior, Baghdad Operations Command since its creation had a major role in stabilizing the security situation in the capital.# # ► Are the federal police deployed in all Iraqi provinces?# - We are a federal policemen should be present in all the provinces, and currently our collections are complete in the province of Anbar, Basra, but we have two brigades in Salah al-Din; Diyala, Wasit, Maysan, we started the formation of the Federal Police. The plans will be completed by the end of 2011; our forces will be deployed fully in all Iraqi provinces, including Kurdistan.# # This interview was made by Harith Mohamed, eye media agency reporter, filmed by Akeel Mohamed.http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=14950Mon, 05 Apr 2010 12:00:00 AM GMTBasra is on of the provinces in Iraq and the second biggest Iraqi city after Baghdad, bordered by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia from South and Iran from East; it is just 55km away from Gulf Sea and 545 km from Baghdad. Basra has a local council like other province " Basra City Council", it is well- known with its old history and culture, adding to that its economical importance where it towered over Arab Gulf and deems the solely sea outlet to Iraq receives number of loaded ships with different stuffs coming from different spots over the world and has rich oil fields which attracted a lot of businessmen and universal firms to invest in.# To spot the lights more on Iraqi smiling borderline city, Eye Media Team met its governor Dr. Shiltagh Abood al- Miah and conducted the following interview:# * What are features recognizing Basra from other provinces?# Basra has a lot of characteristics can recognize it from other provinces such as its location, population and oil where 9% of Iraq's oil exports come from Basra, adding to that stable security, environment, nature, and culture, it has been chosen as Iraq's capital of culture, really its is Iraq's capital of economy. The government now has paid an attention to Basra's economical importance and its people's scientific capabilities and encouraged investment in. For first oil round of permissions where British Bb firm won the investment with a Sino firm and Shell Gas Company won many projects in Basra, Italian ENI Company did, too. This Italian one has prepared a * what are the strategic & national projects in Basra? # We rely on Fao's huge Harbor project as the government does, it can create an – out economical status for the area, but it has been delayed a little bit for technical and material reasons and I think the investment in the harbor and establishing it is the highest solution to Iraq and Basra, I call for government to join forces and focus on building the harbor to be a big addition to Iraq where this project offers thousands of job opportunities.# Also, there are universal firms expressed readiness to build hotels, tourist & entertainment centers, super markets, malls railways and roads, and the next few days Basra will witness the signing of these projects and it will be a destination for Arab and foreigners from investors. I guarantee that people of Basra, especially those have no job opportunity next time we will serve them in finding job to raise the economic situation in Basra program to absorb workers of 1500 from Basra. # * What are the mechanisms pursued in hiring the unemployment in next projects?# We will organize new mechanism to receive forms of hiring from special offices belonged to us and other ones in city council, their mission is to study the numbers of employees where every project needs, legally organized, every one in the right place.# So I have some figures regarding the employees appointed in education, they were 2000, and other 1600 being appointed under different titles in south oil company, and 800 employees in Basra's Municipality. Then we have to seek new job opportunities, except those in government like investing in the city. # * How could you assess the security status in Basra and could international firms come to reconstruct it? # The security situation is relatively stable and all security forces are rife in city, there are a little bit incidents, people are collaborated with forces and every thing is on the right course to achieve prosperity to people in Basra. # * Has Basra a share in construction and investment where Iraq has witnessed in time of stability?# I think Basra is lucky one in love of Iraqis, Arab and Foreigners. During my term as a governor, I have been visited by a lot of ambassadors and representatives of universal firms desired to get investment's opportunities due to its natural qualifications and a strategic location. I think the investment deems the gate from which a lot of good things enter to Iraq; actually we need investing firms because country had lived hard times. We will build Iraq by our hands and our energies and we will recourse international expertise to get our target that we seek for to provide safe life to our people at large. Firms came to Iraq are a lot and took part in different international conferences such as London and Washington two months ago under the supervision of Iraq's PM Noory al- Maliky. However, the investment conference in Germany a month and a half ago, we came out with good results can serve Iraq# * There is a tendency for some companies to implement a tourist projects in Basra, please could you tell us about these projects? # Basra has suffered a lot of depression and deprivation, should find a vent of hope and convenience and it is qualified for this. So building parks and gardens and entertainment centers is our endeavor, I think, this starts to be achieved for the time being. For instance, in Maakal area where a new amusement park has been built nearby there is a nice adjacent place is suitable to be a park where its location on the main old road of Basra. For us we submitted all facilities to all investors to help succeed the entertainment to let people of Basra live in prosperity.# What are services & infrastructure rendered to Basra? # One of the reasons to retreat in development is the infrastructure's projects and services where most of these projects are incorrectly executed according to the designs. The implemented should take care and be accurate in implementation, adding to that the intervention in transferring these projects where the local government transfers projects but city council has more from regional development and coalition states have more, too, a matter caused a lot of confusion# Basra has witnessed a piling up in garbage throughout streets and Sewage networks floated is a clear – cut evidence of their failure, now our trends towards foreign companies due to their experiences in this field.# This interview has been conducted by Eye Media Correspondent in Basra province Bahaa el- Ereiby. # # # # # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=12706Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:00:00 AM GMTIt is founded in 2003 headed by Ayad Jamal el- Din, it includes educated, political, social elite both men and women in Iraqi community, it works for Iraq's interest and enhancing the Iraqi character away from all kinds of sectarian quota and religious and national fanaticism; it is the independent freed bloc where we met its secretary general Nabil Khalil Saeed al- Obeidi in the following interview: # * What are the objectives and the principles of the bloc you intent to achieve them? # Ahrar Bloc's objectives are to let Iraq away from regional and international interventions and to let its people enjoys unity from south to north, and to be a secular state and away the mixing of religion with politics and federal system or put Iraq in division. # * What are foundations where the bloc is based on? # Our internal system stipulates that there is a general body elects the executive leading body and the latter can elect a chairman for the bloc. We are in the process of holding a conference; it includes all members of the general body in order to conduct the required elections and choosing a specialized committee in all fields.# * What is the connection between Ahrar and the citizen? # Since the establishment of Ahrar, it has held a lot of meetings and conferences to let people to make aware of the bloc and for bigger participation of Iraqis, during the conference, the issue of basic principals would be explained, even strategies be explained, too. # What do you think about your mass base? # Our mass base is existed, especially when Ahrar and the name of Mr. Jamal el- Din are cited, there is credibility and popularity concerning this man and his bloc, not because he is a clergyman or politician, but he is a real man and he separates religion from politics. People have a trust with us wherever we go where we used to receive letters and e-mail all of them are supportive to our bloc; I think it is a good evidence for a mass base. # * What is the reason behind your pullout from Iraqi List Bloc headed by Mr. Jamal el- Din? # Ahrar was a part of Iraqi List in 2005 and el- Din was and still a member in parliament under title Iraqi List. He pulled himself out due to the differences in views which require taking an action, a matter made el- Din to resign and pull out. # * What do you think about Iraqi citizen's abstention to take part in elections?# There are two reasons behind Iraqi citizens' abstention; the first reason is no idea about those candidates because a lot of names are unknown before Iraqi people and the second one is a complete conviction with people of a high percentage of fake in elections, adding to that the elected political bloc and parties think that they are big ones, but give nothing. They are big being involved in power, but have no popularity. # * What things can make your bloc so special? # We have got a long history of the bloc and our conferences are successful ones and names entered elections under this entity are well- known and recognized as honest ones and their slogans (no for murder, timeserving, sectarianism and bloodshed). # * In the event of elections have not come to fruition for your bloc, are going to pull out from the political process? # Elections are not the last conclusion and not the final ambition for liberals' gathering, it is a stage whatever its results will be, this entity will continue in a strategy of proving itself and its impact on the political process and there is a whole plan for the political and social work of this entity. # * What about the intervention of neighboring states and foreign agenda in Iraqi affair and what is their impact on next elections? # Iraq is an independent country never allows any intervention from neighboring countries or other states in the world. We should have enough power can control politics, economy, and security and clearly and honestly implementing services according to efficiencies and clear practical plan and government should control the public money where a strong army should be made up of the same foundations in 1921 to be able to defend Iraqi borders. # * Do you expect that the next elections will be honest? # Our ambition that to see election an honest one, I think it is difficult to be 100%, it happens to see some violations because the electoral centers are a lot and rife at all centers of Iraq in which monitoring is hard.# * Why have you already refused to join with other powers? # The candidates as an aggregation is 287 persons and we focused in our choice on efficiency and qualifications, some of them are doctors, professors, high senior official in the government, young men and former military officers, and we will be great people because we are always clean and honest. # *Last word that you would like to tell it to Iraqi people? # I'm glad being a leading guy in this gathering more than standing as a candidate and whatever the results, but my conscience and feelings at the service of Iraqi people.# This interview conducted by Eye Media correspondent Marwa Bedewi and filmed by cameraman Sinan Nabil. # # # # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=12339Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:00:00 AM GMTIn 1991, Iraqi Institute has been founded by some Iraqi residents in Washington, where its program aimed at the time to support the Iraqi community in Washington through rendering social services, facilitate their living standards, finding job opportunities, and maintain their rights and their Iraqi citizenship.# Through these achievements, the Institute has contributed to alleviate the burden of estrangement on their shoulders. # In March 2003, the Iraqi Institute opened an office in Baghdad where its efforts focused on rebuilding in different aspects of life. The Institute implemented many programs and activities to spread principles of democracy, enhance human rights, support and develop the Iraqi civilian community.# Eye Media team met in charge of administrational and financial affairs in the institute Dhifaf al- Jarah and conducted the following interview: # * What are the previous and next projects? # As a non- governmental humanitarian organization, our most project are developmental and educational ones, for instance; we have number of projects for widows, human rights, a project to build the powers of non – governmental organizations in the south, a project to build the special powers regarding the constitutional culture, the transparency project and fighting corruption through organizing a training courses and then establishing a coalition through a network of defendants regarding human rights, call, support, and most our # * What's the nature of Teams' work in Iraq?# Most of them in Iraqi Institute are from Jurists because projects rely on law in business, for instance; Human Rights Organization's staffs are graduated from Law College and Political Sciences College. The program of widows' rehabilitation has got a lot of law in it where Education and culture are taught in, so it needs a legal background is useful for woman. # * What means are pursued by the Institute to get Iraqi human rights?# The first thing done by the non – governmental organizations is the issue of call and pressure on parties of an authority able to render services to Iraqi people. # * What methods are adopted by the Institute to educate Iraqi citizen about his rights?# Many training workshops and seminaries were organized in Iraq, the last was the ceremony organized in Baghdad and other provinces regarding human rights. # * Is there any cooperation between your Institute and other non – governmental organizations?# Yes, there is a big cooperation, not confined to non- governmental organizations, but with Human Rights Ministry, too. In 2005 and 2006, we have got a center for human rights based in the Ministry, and then we have moved in Ministry of Environment. This center counts a library contains encyclopedia and special sources about human rights is opened before people to take an advantage of it in their study. # * Which party is behind the finance?# The financing depends on projects, for instance; National Conciliation project financed by ARI and there are UNDP financing projects. In Basra, the project of Teaching City's project has been financed by UNDP, so finance relies on donators and on the project itself. # This interview is conducted by Eye Media correspondent Marwa Bedewi and filmed by cameraman Sinan Nabil. # # # # # # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=12112Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:00:00 AM GMT US had started its ties with Iraq roughly 120 years ago where the first consul delegated to Baghdad was John Henry Heinz 1889, then the consulate turned to a mission and changed to be an embassy in 1946. The ties went on, but relations later had been broken off in June 1967 during Israeli – Arab war. Iraqi and US ties had been resumed again in 1984 and continued till Gulf War in 1991. In 2005 US commenced building new embassy till 2008 where work in it had done in a cost of $ 592 m. the inauguration was in early 2009 where more than 1200 persons were work in.# Eye Media team met the US embassy spokesperson Mr. Philip Frayne and the interview included the following pivots: # * What is your role in next Iraqi elections? # We set training courses to train employees belonged to the Electoral Independent Higher Commission who would monitor the polls, for his part US army will provide security at the time of voting. # * will you support a political party or bloc or a kind of coalition to be involved in elections?# No, we do not have any sectarian slants; we solely support the political process and we need honest elections.# What the role of the US government in reply the Iranian takeover to Fakkah oil field?# We counted an internal affair between Iraq and Iran, we do not want to intervene and we think that Iraqi forces are able to defend its borders, also I think there is a joint committee between Iraq and Iran that they will discuss this issue, hopefully we see a progress and peaceful solution through diplomatic channels. # What is US role in preventing the infiltration of terrorist through Iraqi territories, do you thing it is possible to them to launch an attack through Iraqi borders on neighboring countries?# US army just gives a hand to Iraqi forces to terminate al- Qaeda elements that come through Iraqi territories, our role confined to support Iraqi forces and we can't wage a war against any one, we have a security accord signed between Baghdad and Washington. # * Do you think Iraqi security Ministries are able to provide security to Iraqi people, especially following latest explosions rocked Baghdad? # Yes, there is a hiatus in Iraq's security in regards to the latest explosions, but in general, I have said that violence during the past two years started to be lesser than before. We are in the same course to give a hand and training courses for Iraqi forces to secure country. # * the handing over of security in Iraq from US forces and received by Iraqis, do you think that US forces will back again and take it over?# No, we are abiding in a security accord, this accord should be respected, but we will do it in a good way and US forces will withdraw at the end of 2010 if we want that. # * What is the purpose of building the biggest embassy in Middle East, exactly in Iraq? # We are partners in building new Iraq and in multi fields such as fighting corruption , terrorism, agriculture, education trade, and rebuild the infrastructure of this home, we have to get a good stuff of employees, adding to that this building deems a place where employees live in due to the security environment in Iraq. # * How many prisoners and detainees of Iraqis, Arabs, Foreigners at your prisons? # For the time being, we've got in our prisons 6000 prisoners, but every month we hand some to Iraqis or release them as the Iraqi government ask that. # * do you render any support for Iraqi economy and the return of investors and firms to Iraq?# Of course, we organized a big conference in which took part more than 800 huge firms to conclude economic accords with Iraqi government and we encourage firms and investors to enter Iraq and participate in reconstruction, adding to that we provide American experts in the Ministry of Oil to conclude oil contracts with the ministry and trained their employees how to invest. # * Why do not you grant visas to US from your embassy in Baghdad? # We granted big number of visas to the US last year to Iraqis, businessmen, and students from our embassy in Jordan and other embassies in other states and we will grant more this year from our embassy in Baghdad in order to enhance bilateral ties.# # This interview conducted by Eye Media correspondent Omer al- Obeidi, and filmed by cameraman Bashir Rashid. # # # # # # # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=11763Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:00:00 AM GMT Ahmed Shia' al- Barrack# The commission of Solving Real – Estate Disputes is an independent commission, founded in purpose of doing justice to cases of dispute regarding oppression falls on real- estates happened in Iraq from 1968 through 2003 including the basic rights like (the right of property, use, residence, long- term lease ...). The commission practices its specialization and its procedures through the code No. 2 in 2006 which aborts the organizational list No. 12 of Provisional Coalition Authority dated on March 6th 2006.# In order to know more details about the nature of this commission and services rendered to people, we met the Director- General Ahmed Shia' al- Barrack and we conducted the following interview with him. # * What the point of solving the real- estate disputes?# It is a part of the provisional justice program in Iraq. It is handling all issues of confiscation and possession and halting the illegal conduct regarding the real- estate at the time of old regime.# It has been founded in 2004 and commenced its active work early 2005 and now in its course, we have more than 158 000 claims in all Iraq where 49% of claims are underway. The commission's intention is to rehabilitate the society that lived the time of dictatorship, oppression, and injustice and now in its way for democracy, freedom and multiplicity.# * What are solutions submitted to people?# Who lost his real estate is considered the claimer, hence has the right in his claim and can choose to restore his real estate or ask for compensation, it will be according to the law, we have a section specialized in compensations and we have an annual budget for compensations, made an advantage of this budget since 2006 and on. The commission paid 21 times of compensations, number of beneficiaries has reached to 4500 persons and the total is 311 b IQD. # * How could you deal with Expatriates? # All Iraqis' claims are accepted they are at outside or inside the country; inside we have 30 branches widespread in the entire country but in unequal way where it depends on number of claims existed in the area; in Kirkuk we have got 5 bureaus and Baghdad other 6 bureaus, also we have got branches in Kurdistan (Erbil, Suleimaniyah, and Dahuk). In abroad, Iraqis can visit one of the diplomatic mission's headquarters and request a special form regarding the claim and fill it and be posted to Iraq through the Foreign Ministry's mail, finally it will reach the commission and the rest we will be responsible for it. # *What kinds of claims are submitted to you?# Claims are different, they could be agricultural, industrial, commercial, and residential or confiscation or possession or claims to halt any conduct to use the agricultural lands or granting the land for another party, then taken again for ethnic or sectarian or political or religious reasons. So if confiscation came for this reason, the claimer has the right to lift his claim before the commission.# * Is it necessary to be the owner to lift my claim or answer it?# If he is a live, he can lift a claim, but if he passed a way, his heirs can do it. In case of someone in abroad, he can make a special power of attorney and the attorney can work on it. # * What the reason behind delaying the compensations? # There is a section about compensation; this section never late more than two weeks in case of the decision gets the certainty, but the delay in settling the claim down due to the lack in number of judges of appealing existed in the commission of property's disputes. We asked to increase the number of judges and submitted an amendment draft since October 2008 to the parliament, but no discussion regarding this amendment. # * What are your procedures about Green Zone's claims? # The cabinet ordered to stop the claims in Green Zone, regardless this area is under Multi National Forces or Iraqi government's control, halting claims in this place is illegal and unconstitutional one, but we have to do that as a party connected with the government. Many times we explained this issue to the cabinet, but they insisted to be so. Finally we hope that this idea about the Green Zone be changed and changing the idea about how to deal with real estates inside this area. # * How do you deal with claims came from disputed areas? # The commission has 24 000 claims in Kirkuk, but we did not take them in a political way but in different way, we never ask the claimers about their race and we never deal in double standards. # * Do you have any problems with transferring money?# Yes, there is an administrative problem in transferring money between Baghdad and Kurdistan, this problem is not being solved and sums are still existed and decisions issued from Kurdistan are still there and just we need for a technical and administrative solution with Ministry of Finance. # * Some Kuwaitis asked to regain their rights, what are procedures taken in this regard?# Kuwaitis and Saudis' claims are existed and registered for us, but due to some compensatory difficulties, we halted viewing these claims and we asked Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide us duly answer through committee of compensations in UN regarding the compensation according Security Council's resolutions or not. If they took compensations following the pullout of Iraqi army from Kuwait, then no more, but if they were not involved, we would go forward in their claims and equally paid. # * Is there any cooperation between you and the state's institution?# Yes, we have a good cooperation, our dealing is with the General secretariat of Iraq's Cabinet, it deems as a point of accord and the focal point through which work can be distributed among the institutions. We have a cooperation with other places represent the provisional justice like politicians prisoner foundation, foundation of martyrs or any other foundations have to do with us. # This interview made by Eye correspondent Karar al- Dibiani # # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=11302Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTBasra Investment Commission is a governmental one founded late 2008 according to Iraqi Investment Law No. 13 2006, it is under the supervision of Basra City Council assigned to support and promote the investment and grant opportunities and assistance to the International and local investors via license of investment, identify and secure chances of strategic investment, encouraging the investment and activating and insuring the rules of invest law to activate the economical activities to promote the status of Basra due to its enormous natural resources, the prominent petroleum and natural gas.# Eye Media Agency met Dr. Haider Ali Fadhil and made the following interview:# # * How many licenses of investment being granted to the investing firms and what is nature of these firms? # The commission has granted license on two stages; Iraqi firms and foreign firms: Iraqi one included establishing 3- projects, it commenced on a land in Basra within the entertainment sector; it is a amusement park in Ma'kal area a worth of $20 million, al- Khour Park a worth of $3 million and Basra park of $18 million and, firms received their locations and the next period will witness the inauguration of these projects where the period of work will be six months or less. For permits granted for foreign firms or foreigner investors or foreign partner, a permit has been granted to a foreigner investor to establish a complex and huge park, it is called al- Rabea Tourist Park in a worth of $107 million, it will contain big services like hotels, marketing, entertainment centers, zoo, beach cabins an water city it will be neighboring the presidential palaces in al- Bradi'iyah area, Basra. # The foreign projects, we are in the process of granting first permit to first foreign firm, it is Baker Hues, one of the biggest world firms specialized in oil field. The project is to build small factory of fuels that have been imported to Iraq where they will be locally made, adding to that establishing giant stores, workshops to maintain the digging of wells and building a center to train cadres inside the complex, we spent long time in leasing a land for this project inside the oil zone, we are still waiting for an agreement from south oil company in charge of peace of land, knowing the cost of the project is $ 238 million where more tan 700 engineers, technicians, and experts will be responsible for this project. # For the third project, we met the foreign investment in Basra and it had been discussed about building 3- industrial projects; first: steel factory, second: cement factory, third: Battery rehabilitation. All these three projects are for an American investor in associate with investors from India. We hope receive the primary papers of the projects in Basra invest commission to grant them the invest permit. # * What is your role in terminating the unemployment?# The objectives of this investment law is to provide job opportunities and terminate the unemployment and the number of investment's permits granted by Basra province investment commission to implement the investment projects have reached to 12 permits, but they are still in place and have no facilities from the Ministry, therefore; we can't say we put an end to the unemployment in Basra where projects have commenced their work have been providing more than 500 opportunity, we hope to do more in next stages to cover thousands of manpower. # * Is there any intention to establish an investment residential project in Basra? # There is a project for horizontal and vertical residential complex to be implemented by an Iranian firm where big efforts exerted, but a lingering hindered the commencement which was no space provided for this project. The Iranian firm has visited us many times, but we are still in the process of preparing the stages and final details to grant them the permit. # What about the intersections existed between the commission and Ministry of Municipalities? # All intersections between us had been solved; two months ago the commission had received the Minister's approval according to the investment's ordinance and the ordinance of sale and lease of state's real estates. # Please, could you tell us about other investment conferences where this commission has taken part in? # We took part in different conferences like in Paris, Washington, and Dubai where we made a lot of advantage from Washington conference; we met giant firms fro different sectors. In Dubai, we met al- Jabr Group, we agreed on a visit to Basra to discuss the possibility of building two big hotels near the sport city. # * Do you thing the next election is a reason to slow the investment?# Yes, it will, it will slow the investment and the investors because they need a stable environment; I expect some change following the elections within 6 months.# This interview made by Eye Media Agency's correspondent Bahaa al- Eraibi. # # # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=10969Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTUnder motto "Freedom, Independence, and Justice for Iraq, had been founded 1982, on of the biggest Iraqi political Islamic entities had fought the old regime and sacrificed a lot Martyrs, it continued its blessed march asking the help of God and turning to for backing from Iraqi people's will in order to join forces towards the joint work in a political project for changing in Iraq. He took part in the political process to build the new Iraq, his bureaus are rife in the provinces to render the best services to all sects and nationalities, it is the Islamic Supreme Council where we are being hosted at his office in Kirkuk province, and the following is the interview with Mr. Najat Hussein Hassan. # Are you with 32% for Arabs, 32% for Kurds, 32% for Turkmen and 4% for Kildan and Assyrian? # Yes, we are with the resolution despite the fact it is unfair one and we worth more than this, census of 1979 can confirms the depth of Turkmen in Kirkuk, we stand for more than 73% for the total number of population in the province, though we do not insist or overdo in our request, we believe that Kirkuk is Iraqi province, it contains Arab, Kurds and Turkmen, for this we satisfy for 32% to solve the problem. # Kirkuk conference had recently been held for all Iraqis and a front for saving Kirkuk had been formed, made up from persons out of the province, do you think, they are capable of this work? # There is a saying "people of Mecca know their mountain passes", but now in Iraq we have parties are trying to stir certain topics for personal interests. I think Kirkuk needs solution and others have to sit to find this solution to support the province not stand against, me personally I have my doubts towards some intentions, but I believe some, why they remember Kirkuk just at time of elections. # The UN will help in determining the fate of Kirkuk to be an independent zone, will agree on this? # The UN has proposals for the interest of Turkmen and no objection from the council's members on that because Turkmen own more than 80- 85% of lands and agricultural properties in the outskirts of the province and it is evidence can prove that the majority of Kirkuk is from Turkmen and the UN's proposals agree on restoring these lands to prove Kirkuk's identity. # There is a saying by former deputy Prime Minister and current PM for Kurdistan Dr. Barham Saleh" there are enemies trying to hinder the neutralization of Kirkuk, what is point of this "neutralization"? # Every one is looking for his own interest, this is wrong, we are here in democratic Iraq, we can not muzzle mouths and the cause of Kirkuk should all be honest, this issue should be dealt only through Iraqis, because Kirkuk counted the "food basket" for all. # Did you observed the corruption in Kirkuk? # Unfortunately, I have read a UN report regarding corruptive states; Somalia ranked the first place, Iraq came second, but Kirkuk ranked as first a s a province regarding corruption. This is a dangerous indicator, we support the questioning of Ministers in parliament to unveil cases of negligence and corruption because Islamic Supreme Council carries the title of Islam, and then we have to say the ' Right' even it was against us. # Is it right that Kirkuk a disputed zone? # After the collapse of regime, it was disputed area just off record, but later is a disputed one public, the old regime had brought 53 000 Arabs to be dwelled in Kirkuk, this figure had not been published, but after the collapse, it is revealed through ration card, Demographical change on Kirkuk. The problem inside Kirkuk, it contains the oil, now it is not a grace because no peace with it, we have got nothing but black smoke filled noses of our children and exposing them to different kind of diseases.# Do you think Kurdish security forces (Asayish) have a power, are they an official party? # Yes, they are in Kurdistan, Kurds following the collapse of regime had dominated every thing, their voice became lower than before, but ours higher now, they helped in fighting terrorism, the Asayish came to stop them, but some did ugly deeds like kidnap and extortion. # # This interview made by Eye Media Agency correspondent in Kirkuk Thu el- Fiqar el- Hilali an filmed by cameraman Hussam el- Hilali # # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=10580Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTA prominent Iraqi politician, born in 1945, belonged to a noble family from Wassit province, graduated from Medicine College, Baghdad University, his tribe's name is Rabe'a which had many persons who held high positions in power at the time of royal age in Iraq. He had founded a secret organization with other Iraqis in 1974. Then he continued his developing this organization till become public in Beirut, Lebanon in 1990 and called (Iraqi National Coalition Movement), appointed as Premier in 2003 in Iraqi ruling party founded by International Coalition Forces in Iraq or called Provisional Coalition Authority PCA. # # He had got a lot of achievements in building new Iraq such as rebuilding Iraqi army, held accords with NATO and military academics institutions to train Iraqi army leaderships, establishing centers, camps and police directorates. Economically, he helped to reduce the unemployment in Iraq and canceling most Iraqi debts, issuing new currency to Iraq and stabilizing the Iraqi currency (dinar) and he concluded different economical agreements with many countries and he activated all oil sectors and maintain them to be qualified for importing and he did a lot of other achievements which contributed to promote the Iraqi status. He is Ayad Elawi, Head of the Iraqi National movement where we made with him the following interview:# What is the national movement and what are its entities?# It is an merging of a group of parties, movements, national figures in one entity adopting Iraqi National project consisted of two key materials, they are: shifting the course of the political process to be a comprehensive one to Iraqis, but not for terrorists, and murderers and it considers the national interest away from the sectarian sharing forward towards building the modern state, I think this is the course that we should go in. Till now we have got 50 entity and political figures, out of them the Iraqi National Movement from which derived the Iraqi Coalition, the Iraqi Dialogue Front, the Future Movement, Life Movement, Renovation Movement, and other movements represent the Iraqi spectrum as a whole. # In press releases to MP for Iraqi Coalition Sami al- Al- Askari, he depicted your gathering as a new return to disbanded Bath party? # These statements came from sick minds, Baath party has been gone as a phenomenon and we nix any party to control Iraqis, Iraq never and ever being ruled by party or sect in Iraq, and this chaos has no foundation. # Why you used to care about Baathist?# For 30years I fought the old regime because its approach was a dictator, and authoritative, when powers fail to criticize a political program for a person, they recourse to disturb on him and pretended to have forgotten I'm one of few have subjected to an incredible pressure and attempts to assassinate at the time of the regime. I survived an attempt where I stayed a year in hospital, I think this confusion pursued by them has no credibility and we are against marginalizing Baathist and Sadrists (Sadr Movement) as persons away from those their hands bloodstained, should be a part of the political process, we have to reconcile the whole society and begin new start towards democracy, stability, progress, and prosperity. # Lately some news leaked regarding a lot of visits to Sayeed Amar al- Hakim, is that gives a signal of a good relation with Iraqi National Coalition?# Yes, we had good terms with the Islamic Supreme Council since days of opposition, they were long days in our fight against them, even this relation has a personal family traits even if we differ in approach, but our deference falls within respect rules, still we have constant contacts. # What is your opinion regarding Iranian interventions?# Iran is like other neighboring regional countries, has a hand in our internal affair, we have to honestly talk to Iranian, the best solution is a frank speech to close all files without exception to make regional real peace. # Al- Baghdadiyah quoted al- Sajri in the wake of his retreat from the movement; he accused you of receiving money worth of $100 million from unnamed Gulf States to be involved in elections?# This is not real, this not our nature to take money from states, and for me I do not need that, there is an electoral campaign financed by Iraqi businessmen in abroad to out movement, I'm connected with them in a personal relation and Ali al- Sajri had apologized and documented this apology in his speech aired by Iraqi satellite channels. I respect this man. # What do you thing about whom behind the explosions of Wednesday and Sunday?# Iraqi security forces are insufficient, untidy and there is a big responsibility falls on shoulders of the government in facing of challenges and we heard that the government accused Syria and this behavior is not correct, it should be through media, but should be through direct meetings with President Bashar al- Assad, here I wonder why Foreign Minister Zebari said I did not accuse Syria, I think all this is for local consumption to make it easy for people, but they have to tell people the truth. I think al- Qaeda is behind this. # What is your position of Kirkuk cause? # Our stance is clear regarding Kirkuk, there is a trust with our brothers from Kurdistan. Once upon a time, I was a Premier, both authorities, the executive and legislative ones, I passed a law to form a political committee led by Arab figure accepted by all to discuss what had been happening in Kirkuk of a geographical and demographical changes till we submitted a report to the selected parliamentary council in Iraq and this committee linked to the UN to make use of expertise, but unfortunately this committee had been canceled by ministries came after and parties found out later that this committee was the best solution or Kirkuk cause.# This interview made by Eye Media correspondent Hareth al- Shwaily and filmed by cameraman Akeel Mohammed. # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=10487Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTInspector – general office is a new experience appeared in Iraq after the old regime, it works on fight the financial and administrative corruption in Ministries, the government's institutions, maintain the public money to be wasted, spreading the values and culture of human rights, deepening the professionalism and independence away from ethnical, sectarian, class differences. The Inspector – generals is considered the conscience of the Ministry and its eye through reviewing and auditing the performance of the Ministry in aim of promoting the levels of responsibility and integrity. In order to know more details about the office's work, we met the Interior Minister's Inspector- General Office Akeel al- Tureihi; the following is an interview with Mr. Inspector- General. # What is the nature of Inspector – General's work and his role in Ministry of Interior MOI? # Some think his mission confined to fight the financial and administrative corruption only, but in fact this kind of corruption is a series of done by the Inspector- general himself, we check and evaluate the performance and reviewing the laws, policies, and lists …etc. As we know corruption started at the time of the old regime, but corruption in MOI is due to abnormal situations and the time of the old regime, a matter led to show us new cases of corruption. Corruption now, it falls within different shapes, some of it concerns individuals, contracts, and ghost names which is related to committees of purchases, but we have another one which is deemed the most dangerous one, it feeds the terrorism, we are serious in terminate it. # Could you provide us with names have involved in financial and administrative corruption? # It s not necessary to proclaim names here, but I would like to refer that there are big names dealt with this kind of corruption, some of them transferred to judiciary and others transferred to the commission of integrity. In our job, we never deal with names, but with documents and evidences. The Inspector – general used to submit periodical and non- periodical reports to the judiciary, and then at the end of the year submits comprehensive reports regarding all details of the whole year, it explains achievements and it takes into consideration the national and security interests have been achieved. # Will corruptive names be announced later? # We deal with the names of the corruptive whatever their posts were, we deal according to ethical and objective considerations, we should care about the secrecy of others and their names, here we point to the corruption and corruptive not libel them. # Do you deal with issues according to the bulk of corruption or the quality? # Small things lead to a big corruption and all cases should be seen in one equal eye where all the same, but we give an importance to issues of wasting money. Wasting and stealing budget of the government and stealing the citizen's and effort. We precisely pursue this kind of corruption, as we said that we might not announce names of corruptive and we may announce some, we have announce at the first quarter of this year defalcations for money estimated 170 bn IQD, as far as I know. # What is the connection between you and the commission of integrity? # Some works are very important to the commission and parliament, for us; there are means and tools to deal with regarding different issues, law allows us host of procedures, unveiling the financial interest is not our cause, but we support the commission of integrity to reveal about them, we do that before others,. I think first person had revealed about his money was Inspector- general in MOI. Inspection and administrative investigation, judicial investigation, and audit are procedures being followed in our assist given to the commission. # Would like to tell us about Corruption?# During our work in MOI, we have found out different kinds of corruptions and corruptive, in the past we found a corruption in administration and even at the monitoring apparatuses itself and Inspector- General Office. # What are the actions being taken against the corruptive?# Procedures being taken in the past were regarding the change, the Ministry senses the change like people outside, we used to face troubles at our work, our achievements are not shown clearly because of the corrupt, I can not say my office is totally clean.# Measures being taken against the corruptive are selecting persons of ranks to be planted inside the ministry, even I formed a board passes the decision to be discussed, then it is taking an action against has to take. On the other hand I select guys from small ranks, newly graduated from Police College, of course according to criteria and regulations, adding to that I submitted an idea last year supported by Americans who their work is supportive to the Ministry's work. The idea is to have an academy to train employees on direction of inspections by experienced men in the MOI; meanwhile we can render this experience to other Iraq's Ministries to know the nature of work here on our office. # Could you control all walks of the MOI? # I think it is hard to say that, but we have the proper tools to do as possible as we can, we are facing now an exceptional situation, as you know, change is hard at the very beginning, it is accompanied by impacts of the past, really we need to be joined forces by intellectuals, clergy men, research and study center, universities, and non- governmental organizations to support the governmental work and face the status quo to get the fruition. # # # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=10087Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTAttah had born in 1963 in Wassit province, married, has got two children (Mohammed and Mina), graduated from Technology University in 1984 at Ministry of Defense's expense after getting bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering, then he joined the second Military Academy, granted 1st LT Engineer and was employed in Directorate of Military presses, a position of in charge of pressing section, took part in different courses regarding developing press and maintaining big press machines, the last one was in Germany in 1990. In 1993 he was transferred to the position of commander of Press for al- Bakr Military Study University. Following the topple of old regime 2003, he was one of the first men who joined the new Iraqi army and contributed to build the new military constitutions in Iraq, his post at the very beginning of new regime was director of media in the presidency of joint chief of staff, he was involved in many courses for Iraqi media inside Iraq and a course for an American media and a third in British media regarding " spokespersons". In 2006 he was transferred to the Commander in Chief bureau as media director and spokesman for Commander- in – chief Bureau, 2007 was candidate to the post of spokesperson of Law Enforcement Plan and kept up it from the very beginning, the beginnings of planning and preparing. Lately, he came back from the US to get acquainted with latest in media regarding the work of American 'Armed Forces', Navy, and coast guard for one week. He is still doing hard work. The following is our interview with Maj. Gen. Qassim Attah: # To where have your investigations reached regarding bloody Wednesday's explosions? # Our security forces arrested number of wanted persons for committing a terror attacks and planning for more future attacks, we arrested the mastermind. Now we have underway investigations into MOI and we will declare the names of terror networks involved in these explosions, following judiciary has got papers of defendants.# We lately heard about reaching another terror network in Baghdad, could you talk about this, please? # Every day our security forces execute tasks against al- Qaeda- inspired terror organization or what so- called Islamic Iraqi state and these organizations admitted others. Our intelligent work is in progress. # Why are reporters prevented to film in streets, just through getting permission from Baghdad operation command? # We worked on forming a media committee to coordinate the media work between security forces and media, now al media allowed to wander without pressures and we are bracing for rendering help, but in crime scene every one is prohibited to be in, except the competent authorities to maintain the evidences there, I think reporters respect this, adding to that crime scene sometimes there is more than one explosion which leads to increase number of victims, for this we set a perimeter to prevent every one even the reporters. # We noticed that all citizens would help check- points in their work; do you think citizen will bear the issue of making society's life like a military style?# Military institutions have contained big numbers of citizens especially after the collapse of old regime in aim to absorb the unemployment and contribute in maintain security in different places, we are against making society in military style, we intend to build security forces in limited way, trained ones and provided with the most modern equipment and we are now in the process of studying the issue of reducing number of military forces if that possible, but taking in consideration the security of citizen and country.# There are accusations regarding violations against human rights in prisons presented by Human Rights Ministry, what is your answer? # We respect all opinions in this democratic country, there are immediate contacts between Human Rights and Baghdad operation Command, we hope pursuit continues and be away from releasing the random statements, we are ready to open all doors of detention camps and prisons before human rights ministry regarding any violations.# There are some accusations released against security forces by some parties to gain certain political objectives, we expect that in early time, especially elections are in its schedule time and we are ready to listen to people's grievances, we nix to go over human rights or human dignity even if person caught red-handed, but we have stable limits identify the mechanism of security forces. # What kind of procedures pursued to maintain and secure the polls and streets during the elections' time? # Our security forces experienced this, especially in provinces council's elections through preparing an integral security plan in association with special security committee in Baghdad, by the way we need to send a message saying" the environment to conduct elections is safe and proper". # Is there any last word can be said by Qassim Attah to Iraqi people?# I wish from inside deep to achieve security, and stability to Iraqi citizen, I think Iraqi citizen for three past years had experienced Baghdad operation command despite all challenges faced the security work which was very hard, we made a lot of sacrifices to serve Iraqi people, so we wish to see all our sacrifices are toped by achieving stability, security, and the success of democratic and political process and we wish media spotlight on negative and positive aspects to find solutions because all look at Iraq to know what is going on in. We should send a message that security is getting better, life restored to its normal. # This interview conducted by Eye Media correspondent Marwa Bedewi, filmed by cameraman Bashir Rashid. # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=9833Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTDefense Ministry's spokesperson Maj. General Mohammed al- Askri has confirmed that the last terrorist attacks is a security breeching where security institutions should hold the responsibility, he talked during an interview conducted by Eye Media correspondent about the mistakes and learning a lesson, arms contracts, the army's readiness to maintain peace and order in Iraq. The following is the interview: # Some say spokesperson is not so close of the vent or making- decision place? # Trust and reaction shown in media we carry can prove our power; we are very close to making – decision place, we have our meeting with Iraq's premier. Minister of Defense and other Ministers, we have a good direct contact with field leaders and operational leaders, also we have a direct congruity with the political blocs in parliament, non- governmental organizations, and citizen, I'm optimistic of Iraq's future. Iraqi citizen realizes the meaning of good life; it is hard to be realized by others in other countries, so we exerted efforts to serve Iraqi people to be existed in the governmental institutions to be an eye, an ear to what he needs. # The last explosions have aroused big problems? # The last explosions is a breeching, negligence, and clear- cut security defect, it is painful, we should not allow it, all security institutions should hold the responsibility like Ministry of Defense, Interior, and other institutions, because all necessities are required here to provide a good security. We advanced in good strides in this field; we will forgive ourselves to go back. # Are there any lessons to be taught from these mistakes? # Despite the evils of these explosions and despite the gap created in security, but there are two cases we should take care about: first the security forces is resolving to go forward, all we can say that these explosions would increase the attention and the determination of forces to fight terrorism, of course there are fiascos because we live a state of war, and it should not be always victorious. # Second; it is a good lesson to all security forces not to be brag and indifferent being victories have been achieved and signs of relaxing and lagging appeared to have started where following every attack, it seemed that forces in a state of alert, they should keep on, no more pains or relax again, we should remember what happened in Wednesday's and Sunday's explosions. We warned at all conferences the security forces that this will not happen again. # Third: assessing the performance of the security forces and security situation. Assessment and re-organizing are necessary, today; you ask why did this violation happen? And who are the negligent by performance and implementing through plan pursued? Was the defect with the entire leadership or with persons of lower ranks? # So, these explosions were as if an awakening for security forces to reconsider things to prevent such as terror acts again. Here, I'm not justifying that, we hold the responsibility for every thing. aftermath, a lot of procedures were taken, officers and high rank officers investigated and political and field measures were changed, we found accomplices, even neighboring countries had involved in this. As you the government demanded an international investigation in this respect, appointing a special envoy to investigate al this and this measure will be taken with every state intervening with the Iraqi affair.# # q/ what is your answer for those who are questioning against the security institutions' powers in securing borders and they need for a help from Multi National forces MNF? What are states that Iraq has contracts of weapons to purchase? # I spent 30 years working in MoD, I never left my country just after 2003. Unfortunately some are duped with neighboring countries or others regarding the Iraqi powers, they did not know about our real powers, even Multi National Forces MNF were surprised with out powers when we were together in the same missions, this the trait of Iraq soldier. # According to our abilities, if threats existed in other countries, we would see a full collapse, and these terrorist threats can cross to neighboring countries, but our powers in our security forces have prevent it to be there, I want to say that we have the power to protect our nation. Iraqi border is with six countries; Iran, Syria, Saudi, Kuwait, Turkey and Jordan. Now armies never measure with their numbers but through quality, as we decided to build a new structure for our army, we follow bases and principles and taking into consideration the strength of other powers of neighboring countries and their arming, the extension of borders, border outlets and their intervention in Iraq. # Us is bound to security accords till 2011, then a new government comes to abort or renew it, we gave our word to the government as a Ministry of Defense and on the light of that we signed the accord with the US, we told them we are capable of living to our responsibility to secure Iraq, then we started working on training and arming before the comprehensive withdrawal of US forces to avoid the security emptiness. # Now we have arm contracts with pioneer states in manufacturing weapons like France, US, Britain, Russia and Serbia to supply army in ground, sea, and air to reach the high readiness, now we are now in second level of readiness we hope to, we will first class in 2011. # / What the extent you reached to in fighting terrorism and reform the Ministry? # As a Ministry of Defense, we have reached to 70% - 80 % of fixing the Ministry, now it is a real institution, working under the title " allegiance to home " away from sectarian slants, we hope reaching the integration through cooperation with the next government in accomplishing the plans for this issue. # # This meeting is conducted by Eye Media correspondent Mohammed Obeid and filmed by cameraman basher Rashid. # # # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=9668Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTChairman of Basra City Council Jabar Ameen talked to Eye Media Agency in an interview conducted by its correspondent in the province about the lack of waters and about the solutions and the government's role in handling this crisis, the following is the complete text of the interview: # What are reasons behind the low levels of waters in Shut al- Arab River in Basra? # The low level of waters in the river and high percentage of salinity is due to the establishing of dams and other projects on two rivers' sources by Turkish government, meant Tigris and Euphrates, a matter which affected on levels of water in Iraq, hence waters come from Tigris and Euphrates carried with residues thrown at Shut al- Arab. Adding to that the cutting of water coming from Iran side and also it built dams on the rivers and changed al- Karon River's course where it used to flow in Shut al- Arab which led to make the river's levels lower than before, in turn allowed sea waters from the gulf to be in. # What are the solutions are taken by the local governments in Basra?# Solutions being followed by city council to be out of this crisis were different ones; first solution was on local level and second was Federal (central government). # 1- Local solutions: it has been ordered to all governmental departments in Basra to contain this crisis, reaching potable waters to the inflicted areas such as al- Fao county, Seebah town and we gave orders to establish plants to desalt potable waters , a matter let city council to take many decisions like:# a. Declaring al- Fao area as an inflicted area with al- Seebah.# b. Providing the inflicted areas with potable waters and sums for citizens there.# What is the role of the central government in handling water crisis? # There is a step by the Federal government, especially following submitting this problem before the eyes of the Cabinet where there was a response, Premier came to Basra with a package of solutions to solve water problem, and he instructed to establish 8- water station for desalting water. City council also found solutions in agreement with neighboring provinces to launch huge quantities from Kut dams Kal'at Saleh water regulator to get waters to Basra. He also said that meetings in pursuit with officials of neighboring provinces, they made contacts with Meyssan province to rescue the situation in Basra, the government in turn made its contacts with what is your handling to population leaving which left behind a bad situation on agriculture? # The agricultural status and problem where farmers in Basra suffered a lot, farmers suffered a lot due to the low levels of waters and the high percentage of salinity hurt# Human beings first and animals later and lands where most of them were farms provide Iraq with agricultural products and vegetables, these areas became uninhabited places, most people left. In order to solve this problem, Basra city council formed a commission to handle this crisis, it put short term plans and strategic ones to solve it and compensate farmers who suffered a lot, we met all the concerned parties of agriculture, environment, and water resources to find a study and quick solution to contain the agricultural crises. In this respect city council should take an action to be pursued with the central government and competent authorities. Prime Minister visit to Basra in which he suggested two proposals; first establishing desalting water stations for 8 locations and second to lay pipelines for waters from Abu al- Khaseeb County to Seehan to get potable water where the need it there. Another solution should be said here is the releasing of huge quantities of water from Samara's dam, north Iraq and Turkey to let Basra get enough water to its people. # # Did you get any results from talks with Iran?# Actually, if we kept our talks with Iran on the same course, we would make any progress, all think just about their own interest, as a local government we should care about ours, we have to find solutions to handle this crisis like building a dam on Shut al- Arab River to prevent losing potable waters by flowing into the sea or building huge water desalting stations is similar to ones in Arab Gulf States ,adding to that concluding contracts, accords, and strategy with neighboring states based on mutual interest. # # Neighboring countries like Iran, Syria and Turkey to let Iraq gets its share of waters.# As you know marshes had affected with drying, but now suffered from lack of water, what are your plans to revive it again and let its people back again? # There is a strategic plan prepared for this purpose submitted at the time of last term of the local government and projects had been agreed upon with Ministry of State for Marshes Affairs and Minister Hasan al- Sari, some of them achieved and others still delayed because of Finance Ministry's budget.# It is worth mentioned that Jabar Ameen Jabr elected as a chairman of city council in 2009 following the last elections of provinces and he is nominee of Law State Alliance list. # # This interview conducted by our correspondent in Basra Bahaa al- E'reibi # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=9321Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTKurdistan National Union Party KNUP is one of the Kurdish political parties in Iraq had been founded in 1957 headed by Jalal al- Talabani, his deputy Sherwan Mustafa, the party's slogan is self- determination, democracy, and human rights for Kurds in Iraq. The party had started its military campaign against the old regime in Baghdad, made many operations against army and high- rank officers at that time till the set back that party faced through old regime- led chemical weapons attack in 1988.# The party KNUP has got many bureaus a cross the country, Kirkuk office is one of them, its job is to establish good ties among the different nationalities in the region, also with the political parties, as well. In order to know more about the party and the best activities have been done, Eye Media has met Manager of public relationships in the party Mr. Mohammed Othman Aziz and conducted the following conversation: What is the best achievement being done? # During the past two years, we have been visited by the Pop and we have visited Germany, met president Jalal, parliament chairman of Kurdistan, also visited al- Anbar Province, Tikrit and its counties and towns. For making views closer among nationalities and religions we have conducted hundreds of visits to parties, non- governmental organizations, to let all know our target and to reach a real message for people in Kirkuk. # What do you think about the fate of Kirkuk following the next parliamentary elections, and what about Kirkuk's share in Iraq? # People in Kurkuk can choose their fate, they know about self- determination, but they have no right to determine the fate of other provinces and no one has the right to determine their fate. # What do you think about the fate of Kirkuk, especially after the deployment of the triple forces; Iraqi Army, American forces and Beishmarghah force in north Iraq? # We have a government and parliament; they are only having the right in this decision, but in my own opinion, any force has the power to protect us, we will be grateful then, because since 2003 we lost 3000 person, thousands of disable, widows, and children without fathers or mothers from different sects. # Is there any sectarian war in Kirkuk? # God thank, kirkuk as a whole is united and cooperated in school and trade, we have no problems at all in this, but politicians wanted that. # What do you think about proposal No. 32% for Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen and 4% for Chaldeaens and Assyrians?# People of Kirkuk agreed upon this proposal, even people in Europe are living according to the alliances among parties. # Do you thing Asayiish (security forces in Kurdistan) are doing good in Kirkuk? # Asayiish is a security apparatus belonged to Kurdistan region not executive one; they just collect information regarding terrorists to be submitted later to Kirkuk's government.# Why do Turkmen strongly reject the Kurdish deployment in Kurkuk? # Beishmargah forces are a mixture of different battalions; Arab, Kurdish and Turkmen and other nationalities, but parties belong to neighboring countries aimed at destruction and sabotage. Turkmen welcome the deployment.# # # This interview has been conducted by Eye Media correspondent Tho al- Fiqar al- Hilali, filmed by cameraman Hussam al- Hilali # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=9102Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTUnited Iraqi People Party UIPP is one of the political parties seek to build the state of law and institutions. The party has been established in 2008 headed by Ahmed al- Amri. We met al- Amri to tell us more regarding this party; we need to know more about objectives and projects. Actually he told us about Iraqi public concerns, what Iraqis have subjected to under the shadow of policies and interior & exterior agendas, the following is a dialogue conducted by Eye Media team:# Could you tell us about the inspirations of UIPP? # In the name of God, it pleases me to be before the sights of Arab Nation's sights wherever they are and it also pleases me to be a gust to your Agency, you are so welcomed, and may God bless you all. # Actually before a while my party started UIPP to be built on basis of tragic political status of Iraq based on sectarian slants or shares which in turn created tragic scenes on Iraqi streets like killing and destruction. # There are sects gathered at every party, and then what are parties found in UIPP? # From the very beginning, for every one had lived with our party, I think found no sectarian signs at all, because it bring all Iraqi people altogether, for us we feel very proud about it, we feel apart of a big nation which is " Iraq" , we need to bring Iraqis under one umbrella.# Are there any alliances with other Iraqi parties to be involved in elections? # By this, we submitted or national projects in Iraqi arena, I would like to tell you that there is a tendency from some big political parties working on this process to let a new alliance between us, but they imposed on us to leave the national project to be with their tendencies. # Does party have HQs outside in the provinces of Iraq? # Yes, there are 45 – office in all Iraqi provinces such as (Salah el- Din, Najaf, Anbar, Basra, Hilla, and Diwaniyah, adding to that Baghdad and most counties and towns belonged to the capital. # Do you expect to gain number of seats in parliament within the preliminary statistics of your supporters; this is of course in the imagination of the party? # In general we are optimistic, may be we do not want to exaggerate, may be we are the surprise in next elections in spite of the faith of the existing political parties to be the solely to gain more seats, they think that they will control the Iraqi arena, may be we get a good role at the end. The Iraqi citizen should recognize every thing, he will play a big role in choosing his representative in future. # How do you assess Iraqi parliament's performance during last four years? # As an Iraqi citizen, to assess the role of parliament for the past period, definitely my assessment will be similar to others because parliament has overwhelmed the Iraqi street with problems for years, let alone the issue of sectarian slants that Iraqis suffered a lot from where every thing was a parent in their meetings, then it is incarnated in street through violence which claimed lives of innocents, in general parliament's role was spoiled for citizens, I think my opinion similar to Iraqis. # What is your opinion to the issue of questioning the Ministers in Parliament?# If we want to assess or analyze this issue, this matter will being us back to the political process where there is a personification for a bad status , especially in embezzlement and corruption in Iraqi ministries. Iraqi citizen needs to assess a fact that who are the politicians steeling? And who are parties behind embezzlements? And who are the controller behind this and control Ministries with huge mounts of money, aren’t parties behind all this? I think this issue and its backlash will be on MPs in parliament, even Integrity commission bears, too, because most politicians are existed in the political process, they are belonged to big political blocs of power and authority where teachers, employees in different departments can't steel, big sums of money not with them, but with high – ranking positions where every one keeps silent and prefers the ' Hush' to cover the others to be able to steel. # Do you consider the questioning of Minister kind of a political game? # I think we have elections and we have some parties are trying to set up with another one, but at the end, they will be at the same problem because new government is coming and will blow the cover of the corruptive.# # This interview has been conducted by Eye Media correspondent Harith Mohammed, filmed by cameraman Aqeel Mohammed. # # # # # # # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=9067Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTIraq's Movement to patronize the deprived is a political, human, social, independent aims at patronizing Iraqis with all their sects, nationalities, and their religious, intellectual, and doctoral ownerships it works on achieving Justice and equality among Iraqis.# The movement works on spreading its aims and principles through moving among the lines of masses and holding conferences, symposiums, mass activities in and out Iraq, the prominent is to patronize Iraqi deprived people, also work on securing their rights with all legitimate means, spread the indulgence , joint human cooperation , fight discrimination, sectarian slants, dimensions of bitter sectarian dispute, defend woman and her rights and aspirations for free high standard of living and give the priority of interest for pregnant and widows ladies.# To know more about the objectives of the movement and most activities, Eye Media met Secretary Mohammed Shirhan al- Ribai and conducted the following interview: # When had the movement been founded, what are the objectives? # It had been founded on March 14th 2009, it included different nationalities from Shiites, Sunnis and Christians, it is a good evidence for fighting sectarian slants. In regards to its objectives, it is against poverty, ignorance, disease and terrorism, through all these objectives, it seeks compensating the deprived people.# What kind of means adopted by the movement to reach Iraqi people? # The movement was warmly received by Iraqis, especially orphans, divorced, widows, and poor classes of society, we are trying to work on solving their problem, and we seek their help through establishing the humanitarian societies, distributing assistance on poor families, adding to that we are trying to do the utmost to solve the problems of unemployment through appointing some of them in our private companies or in governmental facilities by our mediation through officials to find more job opportunities, thus the movement was able to make it easier between people and the movement, especially through our donation with our salaries and incentives in case we get our seats in the parliament for next stage of elections, this step has never been imitated by other blocs or parties. # Who is the supporter for the movement? Who is the financer? # We depend on self- finance, we have no financial support weather it is from inside or outside because every support has its own political demand, we count it a work of hireling, and we nix to be hireling in our country. # What are your observations have been recorded by you as a politician for period ranges from the time of toppling the old regime till now? # Points being a lot, most of them are negative; unfortunately, in 2005 we have given full power and trust are undefeatable for political blocs without knowing who are the representatives, unfortunately they sold us, today we will change our representatives.# How do you see Iraq's future? # Iraq's future is doomed by the current government, the existing blocs for the time being which they controlled the situation as a whole; they gave themselves a legislative, executive, nondependent electoral power, a matter put Iraq in bad location is different from other countries in the world to live the old days of old regime. # What do you think about your cooperation with other political powers for the country's interest? # We stand on the same distance with all parties, but we like parties believe with citizen's freedom and these entities are barley found or may be none. # Do you have any intention to be involved in certain list? # We have our negotiations with the Law state Alliance , till now our situation still not settled, if our role is neglected in this list we will retreat and announce it, but if we respected to help the deprived, then we will be with them. # What do you prefer the closed or opened list? # Iraqi citizen has to recognize and understand through his election to choose the best, honest, and leave behind his back those did nothing, we nix the closed one, and we call for the opened one, but what I heard the adoption both lists and this is more dangerous than from the first one, because they are going to declare names of nominees, but signal will be on the list only, then the head of the list will choose his members, thus the voices of those with qualifications will be gone and voters be stolen. # Mohammed Shirhan al- Ribai is an activist, Secretary of the Independent Movement for Patronizing the Deprived, from a family of politicians, most of them executed by the old regime due to their affiliation to Islamic al- Da'wa Party. # # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=9032Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTThis time and as usual we carry our tools to spotlight on a case needs a solution or an important event touches the citizens' inspirations or a news adds a good information for readers or observers, this time we have carried our questions with our hopes to get an answer towards the local government of Baghdad represented by the province council, as usual the reception was very warm and full with welcome, hospitality, nobility by Mr. Kamel Nasir al- Zaidi, chairman of Baghdad province council. We conducted with him the following dialogue: # Baghdad Province Council renders the support for all ministries as a supportive effort including the educational sector, where we have allocated at the beginning of new academic years 25 bn IQD to Baghdad Mayoralty through which the status of services of cleaning and sewage system have been improved provided on Mayoralty that the issue of cleaning should be accompanied with a huge campaign of cleaning schools and we have discussed this subject with Minister of Education Khudheir al- Khuzai, now the large and special committees are following the issue of cleaning schools and preparing sport fields to be ready tom build 60- school and 30 out of them in Karkh side of the Tigris river and other 30 in Rissafah side, this issue depends on integral budget which is still in corridors of Finance Ministry, cabinet, and parliament, the solely loser here is the Iraqi citizen, but we appealed the parliament to start first with enacting the integral budget, but parliament stepped aside this project to have others less ones, this delay counts a hindering for all Baghdad 's projects, it also counts a burden on local government's shoulder. On the other hand, the province council has allocated 80- bus to transport students from and to universities in 2008, we insist to go on in this approach and it will be enhanced with other 70 – bus, the best that we decided to develop the river transport to serve students in their moving to their universities. # The issue of displaced persons is considered an arduous one, then how you are going to deal with it? # It is from our priority, our committees will follow up the returning families and we do all our best to render services, we adopted a plan to double the sums allocated for displaced families where last year it was 1million IQD, now it had been raised to be 3-5 million IQD in order to make the family able to restore a part of what they lost of time and material things during their fleeing home. # Please, could you tell us about the projects being launched and a budget being allocated for such as the green belt of Baghdad? # We have our special projects through our executive departments to establish a green belt on Baghdad's borders, this project is now existed in Baghdad Mayoralty, and even we have big effort we should render it to the concerned Ministry of the project. The ministry has also projects where province council can cooperate with it. The project of green belt is very important to desertification, adding to that aestheticism gained by Baghdad; therefore, we call for the concerned ministry to speed up in implementing the project and overcome the obstacles for Baghdad. # How you deal with uncompleted projects or the strategic projects and how to allocate a budget for them? # All money are allocated for these continuous projects or those have already been achieved, so we have to support those projects and the projects are expected to be achieved in 2010. Strategic ones deemed important where appropriations being allocated for Baghdad province a worth of 32 bn IQD and Baghdad Mayoralty of 225 bn IQD to support the continuous projects. # # # # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=8767Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTNational Dialogue Bloc had been established in March 2009, it included members from different sects in order to be involved in next parliamentary elections due in the end of this year, away from partisanship and sectarianism, and it would constitute a kernel to wide, comprehensive, national building, it would be an opened one for all powers in parliament.# In order to spot the lights on this bloc and to let Iraqi people know its projects and the most important projects and objectives that it intends to achieve them. We met member of Iraqi parliament for Dialogue Bloc Adnan al- Jibori and we conducted this interview with him.# Why did you retract from Alliance Bloc and form the National Dialogue Bloc? # We retracted from alliance because of differences, besides the National Dialogue Council retracted too, then we formed the National Dialogue Bloc where I involved to. We are in the process to be involved in many negotiations to enter the elections with wide bloc.# What is the position of the bloc, following the provinces council's findings? # The provinces councils are different from the parliament, because they are executive councils, important figures being chosen, but parliament establishes to build a government, legislating for four next years, to establish new Iraq's state, and Iraq's future at the hands of this parliament. I think this people will have its own vision, National Dialogue Bloc has an opinion in this issue, will learn a lesson of past mistakes, and will correct its course. # Shiite Coalition included Sunni figures, is there any intention to include parties and Shiite figures? What is your political program?# The political program among the political blocs and fronts is convergent, but the internal projects are different, I think the political program pursued by Baath party never differ from Da'wa party's program or other parties because the political programs are ideal ones cannot be applied on ground and I think these programs for all parties are convergent ones calling for Iraq's unity and Iraq's interest as first. For us, the old times have recognized our project as a deadly defense for decisive causes, we have stood in the face of the federal project, project of questioning and justice which has aimed at eradicate a big nation of our people and leaving Iraqi army out of the game, this army that played a big role in defending home on the eastern gate of our homeland. # At the end, we call for a real national alliance includes all sects of Iraqi people; Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, Sunni, Shiite and big group have a real presence in Iraq to be a real and brilliant face of new Iraq. Provinces councils were not the finest say, but it was a local experience where huge pressures had been practiced against the commission to change the elections' findings, really big pressures put on members and results weren't real ones. # Iraqi people are changeable and can be changed easily if they change their view towards a person in a moment, all they claim the political arena is his, but the poll will be the finest say with our reservations on electoral commission because it was not neutral in the past due to UN's intervention in sorting the votes, I think the commission if it is not live up to its responsibilities assigned with, we will have another stance before and after the parliamentary elections. Polls, sorting votes , and database were within the UN's responsibility, it played a big role in changing whatever it wanted, but we will not allow this happen again. # What is your stance of parliamentary questioning of Ministers and hindering the one with Minister of Oil? # I think the obstacles came from big numbers of MPs who used to work as lawyers to the government, especially MP deputy chairman, he deems himself as first lawyer to the government, I'm here not to hurt the government or Ministers, but correction is a must, parliament is responsible for this job, I gave good and stimulant evidences to question those Minister, the prominent would be Minister of Oil Hussein al- Shahristani who claimed that Iraq would be able to import oil 2 million barrels per/ day, but he sent a letter to North Refinery Company telling them to halt both refineries of Salah el- Din and Seniyah's refineries, but Director – General did not response, then sent another one asking for immediate closure for all refineries to let the exports of crude oil be increased on the count of oil derivatives imported by Iraq. # The ministerial decision had ordered to halt refineries of productivity of 100 000 barrels of oil's derivatives to turn into crude oil to be exported and importing derivatives a worth of Billion of Dollars from Iran, I think this issue is enough to question him. Even there a corruption in the state, different contracts, problem with Minister of Finance who has never been questioned as long as he is controlling all banks, he represents an obstacle to all details of the Iraqi state, I think parliament should do whatever it needs to do in monitoring and legislation, especially it has to strip the parliamentary immunity from any one of MP who deserves to be so. # Is there any who thinks about his interest before home?# Yes, I think so, some are trying to question someone, but ignoring others for their party's interest, others are working as lawyers to the government without justifications # Or fear God, I think the public interest is in Iraq first.# The opened list should be with persons being chosen by people and through real, right way, but the closed one has unknown people and their interest come first, we are fighting for this. # This interview is made by Eye Media correspondent Harrith Mohammed, filmed by cameraman Aqeel Mohammed. # Adnan Thiab al- Jibori is from a peasant's family, inhabited al- Shirqat County, al- Jibor tribe; this family sacrificed a lot of souls like nephew Capt. Sitam al- Jibori who had led a coup in 1990 against the old regime through a military parade, but spoiled.# Adnan al- Jibori graduated from college of engineering, water resources department in Mosul University, he affiliated to al- Tawafiq (coalition) Front, he is now a part of the National Dialogue Bloc. # # # # # # # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=8597Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTNadeem al- Jabri is a professor of political sciences in Baghdad University since 1980s; he wrote a lot of scientific composes on the form of scientific books and published researches. He supervised letters of Master degrees and P.H D and took a part in many scientific discussions. On political level, he was one of the founders for a secret organization called al- Huda, founded in 1990 and disbanded in 1991, it was a simple experience inside Iraq, then he worked to establish al- Fadhilah party in 2000 and announced about it after the collapse of old regime, he was elected as a secretary general for the party and nominated for the position of Prime Minister, he was one of three candidates for this position, left al- Fadhilah Party after 2006 , gradually he started to form the Independent national Party with Dr. Mahmoud al Mashhdani and elite of political, scientific, social leaders. MP Nadeem was a member in the temporary parliament and a member in the current parliament, adding to that he was a member in committee of writing Iraq's permanent constitution. # Eye Media Agency met the Secretary General of the Party and conducted the following dialogue:# Could you tell us about the political project for the movement? # This project has read the status quo and read the changes have happened to the Iraqi public opinion where I have taken it away from the support of sectarian slants to the support of the national ones, we've read the street and these changes, in fact we have contributed in reaching the public opinion for a high level of national awareness. The sectarian project started to threaten the national unity of Iraq after 2003, then we realized that this project is a failed one, thus we undertook the change of the sick political status, we recognized who was the real patriot and who mongered the patriotism, then we chose the real persons to form this movement and we succeeded in polarizing the Iraqi public opinion where our movement reached to different places in Iraq. Now we are ready to be involved in next elections. # The most beautiful in the national approach to be adopted by great number of citizens and politicians, it means , it is on the right course, especially Dr. Ayad Allawy is the first who never adopts the sectarian project, during his term as Prime Minister he has never showed sectarian slants, even Dr. Saleh al- Mutlag has played the same role in positive way and other figures like Sheik Ahmed Abdul Ghafoor al- Samarai though he is the head of Sunni endowment, adding to that Minister of Interior Jawad al- Bolany and other national powers have the same course. # # Does Iran have a role in deteriorating the situation in Iraq? # Iran is a main player in deteriorating Iraq's situation, Iran is in struggle with America through Iraq, there are a lot of reports can prove that most weapons come to Iraq are from Iran and used in terrorist attacks, they are Iranian- made, then Iran is playing a part in Iraq's political status.# What do you think about al- Malky's performance? # Al- Maliky's government has passed two stages, the first one comes in the wake of 2005, but given no achievement on the ground, especially levels of security, services or the political reforms, but the last two years it has achieved a success in security , maintained the Iraqi street, forces have done the best in comparison with Foreign forces in Iraq.# What is your stance of Kirkuk and struggle happening there?# Kirkuk is a bomb, the situation there is a dangerous one, the social position could be exploded, not just Arab- Kurdish political situation, but other situations, should be treated wisely, otherwise, it would be like Samara status which had exploded every thing . Kirkuk needs leaderships of patriotism to handle this case in balanced way can maintain the rights for all.# I think the fittest solution is to declare that Kirkuk is an independent province, can not be merged with other provinces or regions and ruled according to the majority base and its rulers have to show more national harmony to get the legitimacy of achievement, to be an Iraqi city, not a place for struggle.# This interview has been conducted by Eye Media correspondent Harith Mohammed, filmed by camera man Akeel Mohammed. # # # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=7195Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:00:00 AM GMT Iraq's Environment Ministry has been established in 2003, it has a lot of activities like maintain the environment; put an end to contamination and communicable diseases where the Ministry conducts a monthly test for potable water to check behind germs, quantity of Chlorine's residue in waters, it seeks to create rooms of international and regional cooperation, it really achieved good results such as cooperation with UN environment program, run and revive marshes project through the proper techniques for environment, adding to that the assessment of contamination with Depleted Uranium DU , building powers, cooperation with world Health Organization WHO in different fields and cooperating with International Monetary Fund IMF at four main projects aim at awareness and develop powers of environmental field and preparing and assessing the environment. # Eye Media hosted by Minister of Environment Nirmin Ahmed Othman and conducted with her this interview.# Is the Ministry a monitory of executive one? # Ministry of Environment in the world is new one and become basic ministries and it is belonged no political party, the first Minster was not belonged to any party, but independent one.# Ministry of Environment being invented in Iraq due to the dire environmental status inside country, it is a negative has appeared since 2003, at that time , we have no correct environmental policy being followed, even a lot of governmental institutions have already been established without environmental permissions. Our Ministry is a monitory one, not responsible for executing sewage systems, lifting garbage, providing areas with water and …etc. # Has Ministry of Environment any role among citizens? # Persons who watch media have an idea in the Ministry's work; we need projects in investments, industry, and agriculture and those projects should be supported to get the environmental approvals. # Ministry of Environment played a part in spreading the environmental culture and awareness among citizens those who have nothing to do with the environmental policy. It is important to let them know that maintaining it , it is a habit and this habit needs change through applying laws and legislations for instance; instead of a citizen needs to throw trash in street, he has to throw it in trash bin and in order to reach that, we have to change Iraqi individual behavior.# What's the Ministry's role in solving water crisis in Iraq?# Neighboring countries use water issue as a political paper, because Iraqi government is trying to follow the diplomatic channels to provide Iraq with water, we pursued all channels of negotiations to addressing, finding a broker among all mediums and we have got promises from all parties to provide Iraq with more shares of waters, but unfortunately, all channels have failed and we can conclude it is a political paper to press on Iraq for their own agenda. # Buffalo, birds and marshes has great role due to the integral environmental system regarding the biological variation, climate, cultural variation. # What is the role of the ministry in reducing the lack of water where marshes suffered from?# Marshes area unique places, it is verified biological area; its problem is just of water. I have already visited and asked the inhabitants there about their problem, they reiterated that they need water because their living relies on reed, fishing, breeding # We submitted solutions to other parties to give a hand to these areas like using alternative methods to provide them with water, building dams on Euphrates River and using waters of the General Flow (Musab al- Aam), but must of them are inapplicable, now we have our dealing with Ministry of Electricity to provide them the alternative power. # What reasons behind contamination in Iraq? # Reasons behind contamination is using unfriendly fuels like generators and their wires as if it were a spider net, for us we can not do any thing toward that and the Ministry can't press any more on people, because they urgently need them.# What are reasons behind sandy storms in Iraq? # Sandy storms deems a big problem, desertification is behind it, lack of water , not following new tactics in irrigation and other reasons, adding to that military vehicles in desert made it worse. For our part, we held a seminar with Iraqi experts and we would like to hold another bigger one during Ramadan month to search reasons behind these sandy storms, then trying to find the proper solutions and we will ask Iraqi parliament to support all concerned ministries to handle this issue. We appealed Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Syria, Iran, and Emirates to support Iraq in this respect through financial support, intellectually to change the environment of desert. Now we are working with Ministry of Agriculture to increase places of grazing. # What is the role of political process?# Iraqi woman started to take political positions, following 2003, taking a good role in leading positions, it was the first idea we made it with a group of women inside Iraq, we have submitted a proposal to participate 400 Iraqi women for the new state in field of health and education, it is necessary to socially deal with woman and change legislations and laws regarding woman, even we submitted a lot of new ideas which were absent, in ruling council, they agreed upon a share system for woman. It is unfortunately, these new ideas came as if they were imported from abroad, adopted by many political parties had no positive role in daily life. # What is the role of Minister Nirmin in serving Iraq?# Iraqi citizen doesn't like statements and promises, I have served in different positions and learned that no promises more than my powers. Once time they asked me the period I need to clean the environment, I got no answer because I know the government's powers. I'm Nirmin I have the ability to run my institutions , I have got a group of non – governmental institutions , also I'm activist in women & youth movement and a lot of organizations, either run by me or I have a participation at them, finally I have enough energy to serve my home. # # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=7114Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTSheik Dr. Ahmed Abdul Ghafur al- Samara'i had born in Samara city, 1955, graduated from College of Islamic Sciences, bachelor degree and Master degree in Islamic History, Arab History Institute, Islamic Heritage for higher studies, and PH.D from the same institute.# He occupied the presidency of Sunni Endowments in Iraq in 2005, has many activities in Islamic affairs inside & outside Iraq through multi T.V and broadcast programs reached about 40 000 episodes , also has a scientific study regarding jurists of Mohamad's family in ages of orthodox and Ammiayt caliphs, has different participations in scientific conferences inside & outside Iraq.# Eye Media interviewed Al- Samarrai and conducted the following dialogue.# Q: what is the impact of religious speech on Iraq's status? # Iraqis lived very bitter life and some figures wanted to exploit religion in different ways, not similar to its transparent style and its Mohammedan approach, they wanted to show people a spasmodic speech, it disperse, but never brings together, this speech based on minor differences or juristic interpretative judgments, they pretended to forget the true Islamic religion, it is a human religion before al- Shafeai (intercessor) or Hanafi or Imami. The mistake here that those who talked about religion, they did not realize that religion is a 'deal', it never confines to worships, rituals and other branch juristic. A matter made Iraqis more spasmodic and fanatic, years ago, I started in investing this culture with our orators to let them understand that religion is not bigotry, but it is a great prophetic approach, it never confines on rituals, I found out through my study and researches that rituals and worships has a percentage of 5 % of religion, but the dealing is 95 %, this dealing today, is a common divider among Iraqis. I ask Iraqi people to understand that religion is a ' deal' Messenger of God, our prophet Mohammed said" Muslim who other Muslims are safe of his tongue and his hands". # How did you receive news of terrorist aggression against two holy shrines in Samara? # When criminals did their heinous crime and exploded the holy shrines, following two hours, I had attended to Samara after two hours of the explosion, I saw people there were crying, I delivered my speech before tribes, my eyes were in tears, because I know the negative results for this deed, one section will not suffer this alone, I said " I'm ready to give a hand in this and build the dome ( holy shrine) I allocated $2 million to build , I would like to let you know that people in Samara have the honor to build it. # I told head of tribes and Prime Minister that those who committed this coward deed , they killed more that 1000 persons from Samara, as they killed people before , they would be able to explode a holy shrine. Really I was in pain for the backlash of the incident, because it claimed the lives of innocent people aftermath, even there were hands behind this, they tried to agitate on fight. # What is your role in fighting al- Qaeda in Baghdad? # Al- Qaeda took Adamiyah district as a stronghold, they killed my advisor, engineer Abdul Rahman, my cousin and his son before his wife, and they were killing Sunni and Shiite alike. Also they wanted to explode Holy shrine of Abu Haniffah to let Iraq be back to the first square, for this reason I let my body guard go and clear Adamiyah from al- Qaeda, one of my body guards has died, we caught the killer, but we did not kill him, but he guided us to 25 bombed cars, thank God life now it is back to its normal and we arrested 40 leader of them. # What is your position of Iraqi blood shed by al- Qaeda?# My relationships with Shiite and Sunni are great ones from the very beginning, Shia were looking for ward to find a Sunni guy can criticize al- Qaeda to alleviate the rage a little bit, Sunni Scholars were afraid of al- Qaeda, no one can say a bad word against them, as I entered this fight and as Abu Mussaab al- Zarqawi allowed killing Shiite and Sunni alike believe with the political process, I announced before public on behalf of Sunni religious scholars, I have nothing to do with expiatory and criminal opinion , Iraqis agreed upon that Dr. Ahmed, he was the first who stood against al – Qaeda, for me, I do not withhold Sunni scholars' due, but they were threatened.# Are going to be one of the candidates at next parliamentary elections?# No, I will not do it, I'm not just a religious man but social man, politician, tribe man, relief and Iraqi, I feel my management to endowment not because I'm a religious man, I'm not a mufti (interpreter of Islamic law), but I'm a man here to bring Iraqis all together.# We ask the government that all lists of elections to be opened, to let the constituent read about the biography whose he is going to elect, but as the list is closed, then Iraqi people will choose based on list, but they will choose based on efficiency when it is opened. # # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=6414Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:00:00 AM GMT In light of tasks assigned to Minister of Planning & Developmental Cooperation Ali Ghalib Baban, either in the frame of planning operations, developmental cooperation, statistics, missions of standardization & quality control and in the frame of rehabilitations, administrative development and removing all mines from the entire Iraq, the Ministry's organizational structure has been prepared, including a host of formations lead to many missions. For us, to get acquainted with these missions, Eye Agency has met the minister and conducted the following interview: # Eye / what is the role of the Ministry in promoting the country's economy? # Ministry of Planning is the mastermind for Iraqi government in field of development and public governmental administration; it is supposed that it should lead the march of development in the country and the civilized nations never give up the planning. # Nowadays, the planning plays a big role in directing Iraq's economy and we have our endeavors to establish the ties of cooperation and coordination and exchanging data between us and other ministries, the Ministry can not do an isolated role away from other ministries. # Eye / is the Ministry ready to conduct the census? # Census can't be comprehensive one and any defect will lessen its credibility, accuracy, and accountability. In Iraq we can't exclude places from census, there is a concern from Arabs and Turkmen regarding conduct the census in its time. Mousel's MPs asked to postpone it due to the current situation in Mousel, but we will do all our best to persuade the political opposition to conduct the census in its time. # Eye / what have procedures been taken to face the upcoming water challenge to Iraq? # The water challenge in Iraq is the first one that Iraqi citizen and economy face in future. We got agriculture started to be extinct and Iraqi human suffered a lot and getting Iraq's water rights from neighboring countries through documented accords, adding to that the best use of water by following the modern irrigation tactics. # # # # This interview has been conducted by Eye Media's correspondent, Harith Mohammed, Camera man, Akeel Mohammed# # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=5072Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:00:00 AM GMT Ministry of Interior is facing now challenges after the American forces pullout from cities and boroughs in Iraq. This challenge has put it before responsibilities toward the security situation in country than other security institutions, to highlight some important topics to know more about the readiness of these forces, Eye Media Agency has interviewed senior under secretary of MOI Mr. Adnan Al- Asadi who answered the following: # What do you think about the readiness of Iraqi security forces especially after the American forces pullout? # MOI security forces has seen a lot of stages during the last years, now these forces have owned a lot of constituents that enable them to do more, they are on high readiness equivalent to their infrastructure of vehicles, weapons, and equipments, supplemented to that their readiness to receive the new task, they have already been ready to receive this task. He said" we have stated that a year before ". Knowing that the presence of MOI security forces inside cities is a good evidence of their readiness. He added. # He explained that the readiness has become bigger after 30th of June, and we can control every thing, except some issues like crimes and organized gangsters , but in regards to VBIED car bomb and those committing suicide , they are not controlled , but through enhancing the intelligence effort and information to our security forces. # Do you think security forces need more training and arming to accomplish their readiness? # No doubt, MOI needs to build its formations according to the status quo on daily basics. He said" I would like to say that MOI responsibility has doubled tens times in comparison to the past, and we will do more and more, we will bring back former officers of Iraqi Army and conducting training course regarding the technical and military aspect, we are working according to the criminal labs, have not been existed in the past, adding to that, in investigation we rely on modern and developed tactics. # Is there any Logistic support rendered through U.S forces to MOI in general? # There was a clear American Logistic support, but after 30th of June, we are in the process of concluding contracts with Americans in this field. # What are the rights given to Iraqi refugees and what's the coordination between you and countries are sheltering the refugees to give them their right? # MOI has assigned committees, its duty is the Iraqi refugees abroad, and even MOI is working now on settlements o properties inside Iraq to provide the proper atmosphere, adding to that the foreign emigrants inside Iraq. # # Eye Media Agency correspondent Harith Mohammed has interviewed Mr. Al- Assadi, Camera man, Akeel Mohammed. # # # # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=4510Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTMajor General Abdul-Karim Khalaf, General Director of the Ministry of Interior Operations, has a significant role in the stabilization of the security within the formations of the Interior Ministry, and is interested in the journalists’ affairs in order to deliver the facts as they are. # Eye Media Agency have met with the Maj. Gen. Khalaf, and found him honorable and revealer for the mysteries of the future, and conducted the following dialogue with him: # # - What measures have you taken before and after the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Iraqi cities? # - When the security agreement signed last year we started the implementation of its provisions, whereas two committees have been formed, the first called the Operations Committee led by the Minister of Defense and includes each of the Ministry Operations’ General Director and the National Police Commander and the Intelligence Agency, and we have begun work under the auspices of the Minister of Defense since then, until we identified the mechanism for the implementation of the first provision respective with the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from the cities and a comprehensive assessment has been made for all the security forces in the Interior and Defense Ministries and the supportive security forces, and identified the thirtieth of June as the day for the withdrawal of the U.S. forces and we have begun to strengthen the performance of the Iraqi forces and the completion of the requirements of training, arming, retaining the capacity and potential, and we have seen good days since the receipt of the security file so far without any accidents or criminal acts.# # - What is the work of the National Intelligence Service? # - The National Intelligence Service work is known, which is to follow-up foreign inside Iraq and to follow-up the Iraqis outside the borders of the country and this Service provides information to recognize any point target Iraq beyond the borders. # The intelligence Service of the Ministry of Interior has provided 92% of the intelligence effort during the past few days within the borders of Iraq, as this is a very large proportion, and now we have a special intelligence network system linked to satellites and is insured and cannot be accessed, and we have also established a large body of information analysis and information delivery systems and delivery of messages, and we will work on developing and supporting this Service in order to be ready before accident happens, because the success of any intelligence effort is a success of the preventive action that prevents crime. # # - When will you lift the barriers and concrete blocks from the Iraqi street? # - We support the lifting of all barriers and concrete blocks and the opening of all roads and to decrease the number of the heavy military and armored vehicles from the Iraqi cities, and we will work on this, because the Ministry of Interior did not want to turn the city into military protectorates or prisons, but rather wants to turn them into beautiful and opened cities, where rebuilding campaigns prevalent. # # - How do you deal with a criminal offense? # - We seek to deal professionally and not to extract confessions by compulsive means, as it used to be in the previous regime, where we have provided the material base for this subject through the importation of the largest planets in the world that deal with the criminal evidence, and an Iraqi specialist cadre has been trained deal with several kinds of rays, including white, red, ultraviolet and infrared, and these planets used by the developed countries and we are using them now. # # - A final word from Major General to the Iraqi people? # - I call the sons of our people to cooperate with the security forces in providing the information because it is first and foremost to protect their lives and properties, as the biggest part of the interior security lies on the Iraqi people with its men and women that concern for the lives of their children, and we hope that the coming days, be clean, as we have seen recently.# http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=4189Sun, 26 Jul 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTEye/ Jawad Al-Polani, the Iraqi Interior Minister, is an important political figure emerged after 2003, and became the general secretary of the Iraqi Constitutional Party in 2005, and his membership was frozen in the middle of 2006 after taking the post of the Minister of Interior, where the political blocs made a condition for anyone who hold this position along with the post of the Defense Minister, to be independent and not affiliated to any political parties, and after 2006 he was one of the important names that have contributed to the control of the security situation in Iraq. # The Eye Media agency have met with Al-Polani, and conducted the following interview with him:# # Eye/ How do you see the readiness of the Iraqi forces to maintain security in light of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Iraqi cities? # Al-Polani/ The security reality and indicators associated with the circumstances of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the cities in an index that reflects the Iraqi forces capacity and capability to assume responsibility, as that did not come in the 30th of June or before it, but it is an important stage that has continued to build capacities and capabilities for three years, gave a clear picture on the ability of the Iraqi forces to take on this responsibility during this period, and the working conditions and challenges of the security reality still remained, which have left former traces and tottering in a dangerous disputes environment was cited by the most areas of Iraq. # Now the security challenges and threats to the security of the nation and the citizen have decreased, and this is an indication that the security forces are moving in the right direction to complete their capabilities in the application of the other steps after June 30.# # Eye/ What are your activities to deal and collaborate with the neighboring countries? # Al-Polani/ activities with the neighboring countries have comprised holding meetings and special and bilateral events and security delegations and conferences for the development of relations and partnership-building and strategy building in the framework of the fight against threats of terrorism, and now, external threats, despite their obvious effects for a long time on the internal file, but the conditions became better and the cooperation between Iraq and these countries became well, and we are still stressing the need to communicate and improve the partnership and relationship with the neighboring countries.# # Eye/ How do you explain the explosions in Baghdad, despite the statements of the government officials of controlling the security situation there? # Al-Polani/ these bombings are targeting the innocent civilians, which is an indication to the weakness and lowliness of the perpetrators and supporters of these bombings, and the purpose of all the terrorist operations that were implemented during this period is to deliver messages from these organizations and parties that do not want the stability for this country and looking for a real destabilization for the system of the state, and are trying to say through these messages that we are exist, but their ability and capability have been greatly weakened due to the activity and the presence of the Iraqi security services, and now we have a wide range of actions in a search and investigating operations and prosecution of wanted in various regions of Iraq, and there is no area occupied by the terrorists now to carry out their crimes, and during the past four months, serious networks were carrying out terrorist operations have been arrested and are now subject to investigation in accordance with the law.# # Eye/ What is your assessment of the preparedness and effectiveness of the intelligence service in bringing accurate information? # Al-Polani/ what has been achieved in the overall intelligence activity in accordance with the conditions and possibilities available to the intelligence services was above the average, as they need great support and potentials, and the intelligence work and the intelligence services building require time enough to train and qualify the important cadres, but the intelligence reports and information available to our services have always been able to secure an easy and obvious objectives to our formations and units deployed all over the parts of Iraq and they have been dealt with in field. # Laws and legislation that develops the work of these services must be advanced as it is a matter related to law, finance, and the development of training and possibilities, and therefore after June 30, the security and intelligence services directed to develop their potentials in this aspect based on the possibilities and resources provided by the Iraqi government. # # Eye/ Is there a clear outcome cited by the Iraqi citizens to abide by the principles of human rights? # Al-Polani/ talking about human rights as a culture and a practice and methods and duties vested to the regulatory and inspection services, which continues their work to prosecute the perpetrators of violations of human rights and prevent such violations in all Iraqi state institutions that deal with the prisoners, and certainly that the Interior Ministry had a swift action and unprecedented in many institutions by taking the legal actions against those who were involved in such violations, and there were some problems during the previous period in view of the circumstances that were surrounding the infrastructure of the rule of law sector wand were in need to build and develop a relationship between the Ministries of Interior, Defense and Justice in addition to the Judicial Council. # # Eye/ How does the Ministry of Interior deal with the administrative corruption file? # Al-Polani/ the administrative corruption is a crime not differs of terrorism, but the Iraqi government's actions were quick and effective, and the Ministry of Interior have developed a criterion since 2006 to assess services, leaders and managers to be responsible for leading the fight against corruption, and now we have law and courts to consider in these issues, so our actions were quick in many services and formations, and the Ministry of Interior is dealing with 11 million Iraqi citizens annually including 500 thousand of the affiliates, so when the negatives happen, then the regulatory and inspection services pursue them strongly and forbid anyone to try to blackmail the citizens.# # Eye/ What is your futuristic plans for the military equipments? # Al-Polani/ The Ministry is developing an important strategy annually for the infrastructure and to develop its potentials in the field of processing, and the possibilities available to them have reached to 95%, and the Ministry is having an inclination to develop the technical aspect, one of the projects that the Ministry is focusing on is to develop the potentials of the border forces leadership associated with our ministry, which is consisting of 40 thousand affiliates, and is responsible for securing a borders tape of length about 360 meters, and there is a specialized system for surveillance and detection and prevention of infiltration and to follow-up violations. # # Eye/ Will the border troops be equipped with aircrafts? # Al-Polani/ We will have a special wing for aviation linked to the Ministry of Interior to ensure the requirements of the leadership of the border forces and the Federal National Police and some fundamentals that the security work is depending upon.# http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=3928Sun, 19 Jul 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTDr. Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani, the former Chairman of the Iraqi Parliament, has been grown up in the city of Kadhimiya at the capital Baghdad, was a dentist in Baghdad before entering the political process, and was arrested at the rank of a Major doctor in 1980 for his opposition to the war, and then was released after completing his sentence in military prison, and has been arrested again in the beginning of 2000 on charge of actions against the former regime, where he was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of fifteen years and his movable and immovable properties were confiscated, and then was released after the end of 2002 in the general amnesty. # Al-Mashhadani, has chaired the Political Bureau of Daawa and Guidance after the fall of the former regime, and he's one of the founders of the National Dialogue Council in 2004, he was elected as a member of the committee to draft the constitution in 2004, and was elected as President of the Iraqi Parliament in 2006, Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani have a sense of humor and spontaneity that bring to his meetings, even the serious ones, a mood of simplicity and banter, alongside of being a quick anger and emotion, and this was one of the causes of his resignation from the Presidency of the Parliament in 2008, after verbally assaulting a deputy of one of the political blocs. # Eye Media Agency have met with Dr. Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani and conducted the following interview with him:# # - What is the National Independent Trend, and what is its political project?# - The Independent National Trend is not heresy but rather is to improve the popular will and thought after examining the Iraqi street and trying to put an Iraqi solution in view of the parliament and the implications of the political process with its sectarian agendas and the quotas on the street, we discovered early that the way in which we walk by does not lead to good results, and the proof of this is what the Iraqi street have witnessed of sectarian killings and destruction and delay in the infrastructures and services to the extent that can not be tolerated.# # Why did the Parliament start to question the Ministers now? # - We have wrote several notes to the Ministry of Commerce for hundreds of times about its Minister, yet the call was not responded because that some of the blocs leaders had the interest at that time to keep the corruption as the partial funding came from the corrupted ministries, therefore, if we wanted to open the corruption file, then we must start with the administrative corruption inside the parliament, and first fix the parliamentary corruption then begin to reform the executive corruption. # Now, the Iraqi Parliament have the chance, as I only had a secretary and a room when I was in my office at the board, while now the parliament is involved in the affirmation and the negation, so, if it moved forward, then I would be very happy because it is my parliament and I'm planning to return to it, and the parliament and leaders of blocs have a real opportunity to activate the supervision role, so if the new President of the board is serious in opening the corruption file, then he must starts with all ministers and hosts one of them every week, and without exception, to find out the obstacles and the reasons for delay, not only for accounting.# # - How do you look at the government calls for the return of the Baathists? # - The Baath Party is not far from the Parliament or from the government, it is located in every corner of the two, where the senior Baathists are within the ruling system and are running the most dangerous file which is the security file, and we can not dispense with them because of their professionalism and for the wonderful role that they have adopted and they have a great competence and have not polluted with foreign agendas, Baathists have entered into the political process with other parties and names, As for the Baath Party, it is looking for an opportunity to do a coup in the current government and to assume the power all by itself.# # - Question of the Islamic parties? # - Islamic parties must return to their mosques and Husseiniat and to the advocacy and dissemination of virtue and the preservation of the Iraqi people, who started to slid towards the abyss morally and religiously, because preachers have became pashas, did not serve their people and did not keep their position on the advocacy, and rather hold on the position of leadership, as Islamists have failed so miserably in the management of the State in all parts of the world and the best example of this is Iran, where after thirty five years of Islamic rule they went out on demonstrations against the government. # Islam is a great religion, can not be monopolized by any party and can not be placed in a hole because it is like the sea, and I think that the cleanest party after the fall of the former regime, is the Communist Party because it did not hurt anybody or stain its hands with the blood of Iraqis.# # - How do you look at the 30th of June as a day of sovereignty? # - The real Day of Iraq is on the departure of the last U.S. soldier from Iraq in the 31st of December/2011, and then the Iraqi government has the right to celebrate its great achievements. # # - What are your perceptions for the future of Iraq? # - Iraq will be sovereign and lead the world, because it holds the secret of immortality of Islam inside its soil, which is Imam Hussein, peace be upon him, where God has brought him from Medina to Iraq for the soil of this country to be sacred. # # - Is there a diary for Al-Mashhadani? # - I will write my diaries to be of advantage for history and for the coming generations to learn from and to draw lessons, and not to expose others.# # This interview has been conducted by the Eye Media Agency reporter, Hareth Mohamed, with the lens of the photographer, Aqeel Mohamed.# http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=3711Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTThe IHEC has worked since its founding in 2004 to build a broad and sober information base for a real democratic practice in the post Saddam Iraq. The IHEC staff have made the most effort to strengthen the effective participation of the citizen and to exercise his right to vote in spite of the targeting cycle, which was targeting all those who serve the building of the new Iraq. In spite of the sacrifices made, but the determination to work and fulfill the commitment has continued and mounting so that the day of the election in Iraq has become a prominent sign for the others. # Eye Media Agency has met with the Director of the Elections Office Baghdad/Rusafa "Mr. Mohsen Jabbari", who delivered by his explanation on the nature of the work of the office, as well as Mr. "Hussein Al-Tai", the information director who was the most helpful to enrich us with the details. At the first we asked the Director of the Office (Mohsen Jabbari):# #  Eye / What are you relying on to update the voter record? #  the voter record update is being done in a centralized manner, where the information is collected and documented and then distributed to the IHEC offices deployed in the provinces, as well as in the sides of Karkh and Rusafa.# #  Eye/ But in the last elections, many cases of the absence of name in the electoral center have been emerged? How will you address that in the future? #  these cases are exaggerated and are not due to the presence of a default in the work of the IHEC, but occur for example when opening the update record and there are families or people moving from one place to another, however, the name of the voter still exists at the food agent and there is another instance, when the food agency to be sold to someone else and then some confusion may occur.. For these reasons and else, we always call upon the citizen to the voters record before the election date in order to avoid such situations. As for the future treatment, there is a plan to issue election cards distributed by the agent and I think that this card will resolve a lot of things.# #  Eye/ don't you see that the role of the IHEC information in raising awareness is limited to donations and campaigns during the elections only? #  The IHEC information on two types ... The first one is central, where we be informed about it from the mass communications department and we don't have the authority to intervene because we are executing and it's ok to develop awareness programs and plans in the future based on year round. #  the second type is the secondary information, which is being adopted by all branches of the Office, each according to its province, where speech in Najaf is different from what is in Salah Al-Din, and so on.# #  Eye/ did you receive instructions on preparing for a referendum on the Convention? #  So far, we have not been asked for that, but we have proactive steps, and in order to prepare for that, we will open an update for the voters' record on the beginning or the middle of next month, and you know that the law on the referendum was not approved in the Parliament.# #  Eye/ if you encountered some difficulties, Do you solve at Office or you shall be returned to the center? #  Depending on the nature of the problem, as when the last municipal elections ended, we have received dozens of complaints and we tested them over the legal department and they were referred to the Board of Commissioners and they have a legal authority specialized in the consideration of complaints.# #  Eye/ How many voters do you have in the Rusafa record? #  About two and a half million which is a large number compared to the staffing available to the IHEC.# #  Eye/ Do you mean that staffing is not sufficient? #  Yes, and we asked for increasing it, yet the question of allocations is the constraint to increase the staffing. But the current staffing still have a role in bridging the lack, and they are doing their job very well.# #  Eye/ Do you have obstacles in your work? #  Thank God we do not have any hinder, because the efforts of those working to overcome all difficulties.# #  Eye/ mentioning the difficulties, how did you find the areas in Rusafa in your work? #  Very good and there is an excellent understanding for the nature of our work and the occasional problems still exist in any work.# # For his part, the information director Hussein Al-Tai have told the Eye Media that:#  As you know, our work is to educate basically, due to that the democratic practice is so young in Iraq after decades of non-practicing it. Therefore, we work within the possibilities available to convey the idea of what the (voting) mean and its practices and rights and we have programs and plans to do so. #  Eye/ Do you continue to do so, or only during the assigned duty? #  Currently, we are trying to find a formula for continuous contact with the citizens not only through the election campaigns and during the elections time.# #  Eye/ What are you suffering from? #  the fixation of the staff, we are still on the system of contracts and we hope and wish to be referred to the permanent staffing. # #  Eye/ who are you cooperating with to deliver the idea of voting and hold seminars to raise awareness? #  with the Municipal Council, which works to coordinate with the citizens and with the colleges deaneries and institutes administrations and so on.# #  Eye/ Do you subject to pressure in your work? #  First director of the office, answered us saying: No we work for everybody and we have good relations with everyone and we don't have any pressure and then the media director confirmed that to us in private. # #  Eye/ what is the fate of the martyrs of the profession? Director of the office answered us saying..... #  As you know, there is no special law for the IHEC, as it is still not approved in the Parliament, but in spite of that and after the claim, martyr is being treated in accordance with the Law of (the terrorism martyrs affirmed in the Parliament in 2007) and all rights of the martyrs reserved. # #  Eye/ final word? #  We present our thanks to the subjective and committed media, and also we would like to express our appreciation to the High Commissioner for their respond with our branches to overcome the work obstacles. # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=3418Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTOrthopedics profession... is one of the popular traditional occupations... was long known to Arabs in the countryside and the population of the mountain where people living with bone fractures get treatment at specialists of this type of medicine which is described today with the (traditional medicine). Orthopedics (Gabeer) in language means to enrich the person's poverty or to repair a broken bone and today it is traded by people when a misfortune happens to someone, God forbid, to say the word (God comfort your mind) or (Allah Yujbur be Khatrak) ... to express solidarity with the feelings of others. # Today... orthopedist profession is still popular amongst the people, despite the development that has been seen by the medicine in the field of bone and fractures. # Mohamed Al-Hajj Qasem Al-Hweshawi... one of those who practice the profession and his generosity and the good (rendezvous) is half of treatment for those who seek the medication at him ... Eye Media has met him and asked him...# # * How did you learn this profession? # - From my father and my grandfather, as you know the orthopedist profession in an inherited profession over time and there are names for families who have practiced the profession for decades ago, and I have been practicing my career for almost (20 years)...# # * Does the cases are still the same since time immemorial, or those you are medicating were evolved? # - They are almost the same, as it is known orthopedist addresses (fractures - bruises - ruptures - a sprained ankle - sprained foot) and thus after the year 2003 we have dealt with some difficult situations.# # * Does the people's confidence in this profession is still popular? # - Yes, I say in all humility, that people have fully convinced by what we do especially those who have been medicated, as they found the art in this profession.# # * Are your customers are from men only or women have a share? # - We deal with men, women and children, and there is no embarrassment because our work is strictly humanitarian, and as you see is being done in front of the people.# # * What is the vision of the Ministry of Health and doctors to your profession? # - Foggy, and in general there is no great understanding for us, knowing that many of the doctors have sent us cases for treatment... and still people conviction is the most important.# # * Do you set prices by yourself or you just leave it for the patient? # - No... We don't put a certain price, because people pay according their potential.# # * Have you encountered any difficulties or conflicts by a certain side? # - No ... never, where our work as I said before is purely humanitarian.# # * Who is the most outstanding you have treated? # - Mr. Zuhdi - and I do not know his full name, he was a governor for Sulaimaniyah province, where he was suffering from back pain, also I have treated officers and officials including- Naeem Haddad - and others such as the lawyer, Tariq Harb, and football players.# # * I have noticed that the work environment have some reservations in terms of hygiene? # - I work every day to bring people to clean up the place and pay for them, and as you see the crowed of the market of Bab Al-Moa'adam, you can imagine the situation.# # * Did your work tools evolve? # - Yes, where previously we were using (palm leaves) while today we are using gauze and medical gypsum in orthopedics.# # * What about your style? # - Has not evolved much since the profession is of a consistent nature and style, and art has a major role in perfecting the nature of the work. # # * Did extraneous have entered the profession? # - Yes... where they are materialistic and they think that this profession is (drag bumpy) only ... and I think that they could not last.# # * A final word? # - As long as I had hoped God to reconcile to all. # # This dialogue has been carried out by the Eye Media agency reporter, Laith Al-Ali.# http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=3083Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTThe new board of the Iraqi Journalists Union was able to move promptly to activate the role of media in the new Iraq. And the success of the Union in organizing the World Conference of the Press in Baghdad recently, as well as procedural and openness steps to the neighboring countries and the world ... All of this demonstrates the seriousness of the work of the union toward the better, but members of the press are demanding the Union for more, because the work of the journalist is strenuous and needs to management and give more respect and freedom of action ... # The Eye Media was in the hospitality of the Secretary of the Union, Mr. (Saadi Al-Sabea), who gave us the opportunity to speak to him in spite of his great busyness ... at the beginning we asked him:# # • Does the Journalists Union became like (Ukadh) Market for the workers in the profession of journalism?# - He smiled... the Union was not and will not be like that, but the large amount of publications issued after 2003, has putted the Union in front of a great challenge and this has made some things are not taken into account, and today the Union has set new conditions for those who want to belong to the Journalists Union in order to verify the eligibility and merit of the applicant so as not to let aliens sneak to the profession of media. Where the Union requires the applicant editor for the membership to bring out his writings in the newspapers and bring a letter of support in case he was a Media Faculty graduate or other. # We are about another step is to repeat the editorial test, which was in operation previously so go the certainty of doubt. As you may know that granting the identity of the Union was raising around a lot of complaints and today I think it eased a lot.# # • The Iraqi Press Day is imminent (in June 14), what have you prepared for it?# - The union will hold a significant ceremony on the occasion, where the pioneer journalists and the innovators will be honored along with the families of the martyrs, also the Union will present the Press Shield and certificates of estimated for the institution and the innovative journalists.# # • What is the status of the journalists' entry facilitation to Jordan and Egypt?# - The union is still continuing its efforts in this aspect, and I think Egypt would be supportive for the Iraqi journalist.# # # • Where are the promises of the Union for the journalists?# - I want to say through the "Eye" that the matter of granting loans for the journalists will start in the coming days, and the union is trying to raise the amount of the loan or grant (from 3 million dinars to 5 million), as for lands and grant of the journalists, they are in the process of following-up ....# # # • What about the Law on the Protection of Journalists, which has been consumed by the media before seeing the light?# - The law now is at the State Consultative Council, after referral by the Cabinet and the Union is serious about following-up and passing this law because it represents a complete service for the media members rights as they are alive and after their death, or the martyrdom of one of them (God forbid). And the law would organize the media member relation with his institution, and a framework to sign a work between the journalists, media professionals and their institutions.# # • The Union has released a statement on the crisis with Kuwait... Is it political or professional?# - The Union has called for calming down in its statement with the Kuwaiti side, and its motive was to keen on good relations with its neighbor Kuwait, and to avoid escalation and not to make the statement carry any political nature, as it is a professional statement has came after the statement issued by the Kuwaiti Journalists Association.# # • Some of the mass media are still away from the professional nature... Does the Union has an action in this regard?# - The union is working to find an informative letter that establishes the principle of patriotism and keep away from the sectarian discourse and I think that the meetings of the Syndicate with the newspapers' editors have impact on that.# # • The Union building is in unenviable position... what is the substitute? # - This is true... The union is working on to move to the Olympic Committee current building which is located on the Tigris River soon, and you know that the union is not receiving any support from any side, and it depends on its own resources represented with registrations of the members and others. # # • What is the status of your preparations for the press conference of the diaspora journalists?# - Preparations are continuous and the conference will be held on next July and invitations will be forwarded to a lot of Iraqi journalists who are abroad and I think our relations with them are very well.# # • Where are the development courses for journalists?# - The union has worked to create opportunities for contact and development, where we have a program with the Arab League about that and there was a batch of journalists who had went and now we have an organized session for the young journalists.# # • What is the Union relation with the other federations the press assemblies?# - The Union is the mother, and the policy of the Union is to open the doors for all and I think that the existed federations and assemblies now were found after 2003, and in fact, they have nothing to do with us. # # • A final word?# - Press is a sacred profession and I hope that its employees respect this sacredness until we reach the desired goal... and the Iraqi media began to take its rightful role in criticizing and building the aspects of the state and the society…# # This dialogue has been conducted by the Eye Media Agency reporter, Laith Al-Ali.# http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=2838Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTMinistry of Labor and Social Affairs is part of the institutional structure of the state and take after the essential functions in its approach and overall field activities to incorporate the human rights, and aims to tackle poverty and ensure social protection and the fight against unemployment and between the social security and the training and human resource development and social welfare of the families most in need and to handicapped children and rehabilitation of depositors culturally and educationally. # The ministry is providing a range of preventive measures to prevent the occurrence of deviant behavior such as training, rehabilitation and implementing them in stages according to Specific mechanisms dealing with the management themes and the human resources and development of systems and methods of work. # The Eye Media agency team have met with the Undersecretary of the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Mr. Abdul-Sada Shnawa Fahad, the meeting addressed several themes including:# # Eye: What are the departments of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and what are the main services provided to the citizen covered with its welfare? # Minister Undersecretary: The aim of the Ministry of Labor is to provide humanitarian services to citizens with regard to employment, training and occupational health and safety and the welfare of juveniles and persons with special needs. # The ministry includes 12 public services, namely (Department of Labor and Training -Department of Social Security - the Juveniles Care Department - the Special Needs Care Department - the Social Welfare Department – the Social Welfare Department for Women - Department of Occupational Health and Safety - Studies and Research Department - Department of Planning and Follow-up), and these services work according to its terms of reference, where they oversee factories and give loans to small enterprises and the rehabilitation of the unemployed.# # Eye: How much budget was allocated for 2009 in both the investment and operational? # Minister Undersecretary: Despite the reduction, which included departments of the ministry, but the attention of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet and the Parliament, was keen to keep the same allocations in the social care department for providing social services to the citizens.# # Eye: What are the projects carried out by the ministry during the year 2009? # Minister Undersecretary: some of the ministry's projects were completed, and others are under achievement, including the construction of the social welfare services complex in Babylon, and the orphanage compound in Baghdad/ Rusafa sector, in addition to the establishment of a hotel in Najaf, the rehabilitation of training center in Kut and Mosul, and the establishment of a mall in Kirkuk, and rehabilitation of occupational centers in Kirkuk as well as in Dhi Qar and Zaafaraniya in Baghdad, in addition to social care complex in Mayssan, and the establishment of a medical center for occupational diseases inside the National Center for Health and safety, and the expansion of the disabled institutes and the complex of the Ministry of Labor services in Mayssan. # # Eye: What is the reason for the delay in the disbursement of the salaries of those covered by the social welfare network and who are the covered by these salaries? # Minister Undersecretary: The delay in the disbursement of salaries is due to an emergency resulting from a lack of information due to not reviewing the welfare department by the beneficiaries in order to update the information respective with the annual statement, and the delays in the disbursement of salaries is a precautionary measure, but the rights of beneficiaries are guaranteed and at the completion of information of the annual statement, salaries will be paid for them full since the date of interruption and without any shortage, otherwise their salaries will be cut and added to the state's treasury.# # Eye: Did the micro-credit project contribute in creating work opportunities for the unemployed and what are the controls imposed on the completed projects?# Minister Undersecretary: The micro-credit is an effective step by the Ministry to absorb unemployment and provide job opportunities for the unemployed graduates, among the conditions laid down by the ministry for the micro-credit project is that the beneficiary should be unemployed, or have no other income, and after lending the beneficiaries, their projects followed-up, because these loans are exclusively for the projects.# # Eye: The administrative and financial corruption is widespread in most Iraqi ministries, what measures have you taken to eliminate this phenomenon? # Minister Undersecretary: We have cooperated with the office of the General Inspector to reduce the phenomenon of administrative and financial corruption, and each case being monitored is immediately referred to investigation and to take the necessary measures to eliminate them. # The ministry referred many cases including those of people from outside the ministry working on behalf of the ministry for the establishment of illusory projects.# # Eye: The Ministry of Labor have launched a campaign to combat begging in collaboration with several ministries, but reality says otherwise, the fact that the beggars are in a significant increase despite of the continuing campaign? # Minister Undersecretary: committees have been formed in cooperation with the various ministries, and a campaign was launched to reduce the phenomenon of begging, and this campaign is continuous and has made an unqualified success. # # Eye: What is the aim of issuing smart card that was completed in a few days ago? # Minister Undersecretary: Following the arrival of many complaints by citizens on the violations in the work of departments of the Ministry, the idea of a smart card was developed by the ministry, which is working through the ATM, and the purpose behind it is to facilitate the access of beneficiaries to their financial allocations, and work began in this card since 31/May/2009. # # This dialogue was carried out by the Eye Media reporter, Marwa Bdiyoi Za'alan, with the lens of the photographer, Bashir Rashid. # http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=2418Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTBadr Organization is the armed wing of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq # It has turned into a political organization after the fall of the former regime, and participated in the Iraqi elections as part of the United Iraqi Alliance list. # The Badr Organization is the main line that fight against the former Iraqi regime and had played an important role in mobilizing the masses in an uprising in 1991 in most of the governorates of Iraq. # The Eye Media agency team have met with the womanly branch official of the Badr Organization, Eng. Suha Al-Kafai, as the meeting addressed several themes, including:# # Eye: What is the purpose of the Badr Organization existence, and what are the achievements since it was founded? # Suha Al-Kafai: Since the establishment of the Badr Organization in the eighties, it has been working to achieve goals such as supporting the Iraqi people and building a civilized society which is based on the involvement of all parties to serve the country. # It has also focused on woman from the outset and to activate her role through the creation of a situation believes in her qualifications and abilities to give her the appropriate space in the community. # As for our achievements, we have worked to coordinate with the various humanitarian organizations to provide assistance to orphans, and to take by the hand of the Iraqi women, and to raise her cultural and economic and health level, in addition to supporting women's issues through holding seminars and educational lectures for training and rehabilitation in order to be a leader in the various areas of the life.# # Eye: What are the obstacles faced by your work? # Suha Al-Kafai: as a result of the past stage and its sediments on the Iraqi society, the womanly branch of the Badr Organization is facing weaknesses in the educational level of women, which is one of the biggest obstacles that stand in the way of the success of our projects.# # Eye: Does the woman have a role in the reconstruction of Iraq? # Suha Al-Kafai: woman have a major role in the reconstruction of Iraq, as she represents a main pillar in the community, for the role that she play in the given area and which was created for her, so as to occupy several important posts in the government departments and institutions.# # Eye: What are the obstacles that stand in the way of the Iraqi women to take her active role in the service of society? # Suha Al-Kafai: through our tours and relations, we found that women have the enthusiasm and the rush to change her reality and help and assistance, but it takes time until women begin to achieve concrete successes on the ground.# # Eye: What is your response to the accusations and the media campaigns that are trying to abuse to the Islamic parties and movements? # Suha Al-Kafai: as a result for the struggle carried out by the Islamic groups and parties since the entry of Iraq, they have proven to be effective in the country because of its wide audience and supporters, and this in turn resulted in a strong and visible presence in the state's institutions, which was contrary to the aspirations of the other side and the enemy parties, so they fired rumors and charges to reduce the importance of these parties.# # Eng. Suha Al-Kafai brought up in a Muslim environment of intellectual parents, gave her all the care and attention, and her grandfather is the scientist, Abdul-Rasul Al-Kafai, who was an adviser to the great references, such as Al-Khoei and Muhamed Baqir Al-Sadir. # Ms. Suha has been graduated on 1989 and obtained a Bachelor of Engineering Faculty from the University of Baghdad, and then opned her way in life and worked on developing and educating her ability through joining number of courses in the various fields.# # This dialogue has been conducted by the Eye Media reporter, Marwa Bdewi Za'lan, with the lens of the photographer, Aqeel Mohamed.# http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=1806Mon, 18 May 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTThe Eye Media Agency have met with the vice President of the United Iraqi Alliance bloc, Ali Al-Adeeb, the meeting addressed several themes including: # # Eye: How do you look at the frequent visits of the Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki to the European countries, and what do they aim to? # Al-Adeeb: These visits are part of a prepared method in advance, is the method of definition with the new Iraq, which gives the real impression of the status of Iraq away from the attempts of some mass media for distorting this picture, where it was necessary for the Prime Minister to move in more than one area and give an idea of the real achievements that have been made on the security aspect, and to inform the world on the government's steps to the theme of national reconciliation, the fact that the Western world is interesting in such issues, in addition to attracting the foreign capitals to promote the Iraqi economy and develop the investment and revive the statue of the Iraqi citizen and raise his daily income.# # Eye: What are the circumstances of the misunderstanding between Ali Al-Adeeb and the Iraqi Islamic Party? # Al-Adeeb: There is no kind of any confusion between me and the Islamic Party, but there was one happened during a recent media interview about the last bombings, and I forgot that for my part, for two main reasons the first is because of the breaches that have occurred in the security services, considering that these were formed rapidly during the period after the fall of the previous regime and that the loyalty of the affiliates to these services is not only for the state, but there are elements of a multi-partisan loyalties, so this service must purifies itself from these elements. # The second reason, our conversation was on the release of prisoners in the U.S. jails and claims of the Accordance Front particularly to release them unconditionally and in large numbers, and this matter has disrupted the work of the Iraqi commissions of inquiry, and this resulted in the release of convicts with criminal evidences at the Operations of Baghdad and the Ministry of Interior.# Eye: There is information on an altercation happened between you and the deputy from the Sadrist bloc, Falah Shanshal, on the background of the last accusing you and the Prime Minister with politicizing Basra Operations? # Al-Adeeb: I have not heard such a thing at all, besides Basra Operations was not politicized, but it was against the outlaws, and that the Iraqi government spokesman, Ali Al-Dabbagh, have asserted more than once that these operations punish the outlaws basically, and there is no intended trend during these operations, but we are in a continuous debate and dialogue with the Sadrist trend.# Eye: what do you think of the political council of the Iraqi Resistance, headed by Ezzat Al-Duri? # Al-Adeeb: Al-Duri is heading a military wing of a prohibited party, which was a major cause for the destruction of Iraq economy, and it is prohibited to have any activity within the Constitution of Iraq, and we do not have any dialogue with arrangements of the Baath Party, but we are discussing within the principle of the national reconciliation with Baathists whose hands were not stained with the blood of Iraqis, mainly because they are citizens.# # Eye: In respect to the air raid carried out by the U.S. forces recently in the province of Wasit, what is the government position of that? # Al-Adeeb: as far as I know, this attack constitutes a violation for the Iraqi sovereignty and a violation for the security agreements with the U.S. side, as the U.S troops were supposed to consult with the Iraqi government, and the Iraqi forces were supposed to share them the implementation of the arrest.# # Eye: Is there any quick plan to reduce the spare hours of electricity in all parts of Iraq? # Al-Adeeb: Yes, the government is ongoing with the signing of quick contracts that would increase of the electric power, for example it had signed a contract with the U.S General Electric Corp and the Kuwaiti Corp of Al-Kharafi, and very soon the electricity Iraq, and in in Baghdad particularly will cite a significant improvement in the electric power.# # This interview was made by the Eye Media reporter, Hareth Al-Nasseri, and with the lens of the photographer, Aqeel Mohamed, and Bashir Rashid. # # Ali Al-Adeeb, is a political figure and one of the senior members of the Islamic Dawa Party in Iraq, was born in the province of Karbala in (1946), and obtained a doctorate in literature and education from the University of Baghdad, and studied psychology. # Al-Adeeb was nominated for the post of Iraqi Prime Minister in 2006, but he was vetoed by the Kurdistan Alliance list and the Accordance Front.# http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=1509Sat, 09 May 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTthe Gulf region division (GRD), a task force was formed to contribute in the reconstruction process in partnership with the Iraqi government after the ninth of April 2003, and provides high-level engineering services and responds to the needs of the Iraqi government and the multi-nationalities force, as well as the implementation of planning processes and designs and management of the civil and military infrastructural projects, , and improve the basic services and to facilitate the process of implementation of the reconstruction projects. # The Eye Media agency staff have met with the Major General Michael Air, the Commander of the Gulf region and the engineer, Richard Hancock, director of the division programs, as the meeting comprised several themes, including:# # Eye/ What did the U.S. Army Corps engineers achieve in the field of reconstruction of water and electricity sectors, especially as we pass through the hot season of summer?# Major General Michael: # We have achieved a series of projects in both sectors, as the latest and most famous one was the electrical plant of Al-Qudus, which is currently undergoing tests for the purpose of linking it with the national network, as it will contribute significantly to raise the capacity of energy production, and recently we have opened a new plant at Al-Sadir district, a station for water purification, and we are doing this work all over the country, besides establishing other facilities to deal with the stagnant water treatment and water purification. # # Eye/ Did the U.S. Corps of Engineers expose to terrorist operations targeted them directly upon working in these projects during the five years that your spent in Iraq?# Major General Michael: # No project has been exposed to any act of terrorism during the period of 8 months I was in Iraq, and there is a streamline in work and easy access to the sites and supervision, and this reflects the development of security which is the result of the successes of the Iraqi security forces, in cooperation with the coalition forces.# # Eye/What is the extent of coordination between you and the Iraqi government in the implementation of the projects?# Major General Michael: # We are pleased to say that there is a very strong working relationship with all ministries of the Iraqi government and we are coordinating as well with the U.S. agencies and with the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. # Whereas we have coordinated with the Ministry of Electricity for example, to reduce the hours to turn off electricity, and with the Ministry of Transport to improve the transportation network for the completion of projects, and this is in the service of the State and the people of Iraq, and we try to keep up on these projects to remain steadfast for a long time.# # Eye/ how is the selection of business and construction projects done, and what are you depends on?# Major General Michael: # And here the genuine partnership shows up through trading with the partner and take advice from the U.S. embassy to find new projects to improve the infrastructures in Iraq. # As for the fundamentals we have is the signing of memorandums of understanding with the Secretariat of Baghdad and the Baghdad Provincial Council, and we in return do the work from the beginning of the project until its completion, and then handed it over to the beneficiary. # # It has been mentioned that the U.S. Army Engineers' Corps - Gulf Region division includes military and civilian staff of about 350 Iraqi employees and 330 civilian staff and 180 military employees from the army and 230 contractors. Divided into three centers all over the country, which are the GRD - northern Iraq branch and the GRD - central Iraq branch and the GRD - southern Iraq Branch.# http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=1250Sat, 02 May 2009 12:00:00 AM GMTThe first municipal council has been formed in Baghdad in 1919 in the epoch of the governor Midhat Pasha, then the post of the President of the Municipal Council of Baghdad has been replaced with the secretary of the capital in 1923, where the municipal councils had a weak role as institutions in the civil society since they were formed, but after the fall of the former regime, they have been a great role in the public life for their basic services provided to the citizen such as the rehabilitation and maintenance of schools, cleaning streets and afforestation of regions, in addition to the employment of the unemployed young people and other achievements that would upgrade the services reality of the country. # In an interview for the Eye Media agency staff with the President of the Municipal Council of Karrada Sector, Abdullah Hussein Al-Ali, who have assumed his new post after he was deputy of the Council, he said: "I should be in the real level of this confidence given to me in the responsibility of leading the sector, which is considered the beating heart of Baghdad, for the important geographical location of Karrada, and the important political blocs and figures existed in there, and hence we must provide the best services for our people in Karrada, and we must do much better than before after the significant security stability in the capital Baghdad in general, and the sector of Karrada in particular, as the municipal council represents the eye and the arm of the Provincial Council which has been provided with new cadres who want to work as strongly supported”.# About the activities and achievements of the Council, Al-Ali said that "we have made many different service activities in the healthy and social areas successfully due to coordination with the executive and services authorities and the great cooperation of the people of Karrada, and still there are projects to cloth roads and pavements, and rehabilitation of sewages, in addition to other projects to make the Karrada district worthy of being the heart of the beloved capital Baghdad". # Adding that "the municipal council is also carrying out a large and extensive campaigns in cooperation with the municipality of Karrada, to recruit a large number of unemployed and in coordination with the civil society organizations, where currently about 600 Young men are rehabilitating in the competences of mechanics, electricity, agriculture, roads, sewage, and water, as trainees receive lectures in the mentioned competences within organized classes, and receive profitable monthly salaries for the period of six months, and it is possible that the top graduates to work at the municipal departments". # The Head of the Municipal Council of Karrada Sector have illustrated that the Council “ have 17 commissions similar to those of the Baghdad Provincial Council, such as the commission of services, health, education and other committees, which hold periodic meetings every week to discuss the positive and negative aspects and the requirements of the work needed by the street of Karrada, besides providing the necessary support for these committees by Presidency of the Municipal Council and in coordination with the central government”.# http://www.eyeiraq.com/NewsDetails_eng.aspx?newsId=1005Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:00:00 AM GMT