RFE/RL IRAQ REPORT
Vol. 4, No. 1, 5 January 2001
A Review of Developments in Iraq Prepared by the Regional
Specialists of RFE/RL's Newsline Team
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HEADLINES:
* REPORT OF SADDAM HUSSEYN'S DEMISE
* UDAY CALLS FOR MOVES TOWARD MULTIPARTY DEMOCRACY
* IS IRAQ SOWING ETHNIC UNREST IN IRANIAN PROVINCE?
* IRAQI MINISTER SAYS IRAQ CAN 'DESTROY' ISRAEL
* MOSCOW CONTINUES TO URGE LIFTING SANCTIONS
* GCC TO EXPLAIN POSITION ON IRAQ TO ARAB STATES
* IRAQ SEEKS TO EXPAND TRADE WITH IRAN
* IRAQ-TURKEY RAIL LINK TO OPEN
* SYRIA SEEKS STRONG MILITARY, POLITICAL LINKS WITH IRAQ
* IRAQ-INDIA WHEAT DEAL UNDER WAY - BUT BIG FIRMS STAY
AWAY
* EGYPT AIR TO RESUME REGULAR FLIGHTS TO IRAQ
* PUK CONFIRMS TURKISH FORCES IN IRAQI KURDISTAN
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REPORT OF SADDAM HUSSEYN'S DEMISE.
On 2 January, the German Press Agency (dpa) cited a
report by a representative of the Supreme Council for the
Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) that Iraqi leader Saddam
Husseyn had been hospitalized after suffering a stroke after
reviewing a 31 December military parade in Baghdad. This
report, which Iraqi officials vigorously denied, has sparked
a series of other reports that Saddam is either near death or
already dead and lead to speculation over what the political
succession in Baghdad might look like and what the future of
the country of Iraq might be. But as of this writing (4
January), none of these reports have been confirmed, nor have
there been the kind of activities in Iraq - military alerts,
rapid movement of leaders around the country, unusual
broadcasts - that observers would expect in the event of his
demise.
Since his alleged demise, Saddam has made a number of
personal appearances. (David Nissman)
UDAY CALLS FOR MOVES TOWARD MULTIPARTY DEMOCRACY.
Uday Saddam Husseyn, the son of Saddam Husseyn who was
elected to parliament last month, has called for greater
progress toward multiparty democracy in Iraq, according to
the 4 January "Financial Times."
During his election campaign, Uday had presented himself
as someone who could infuse new blood into Iraqi politics and
help usher in a new generation of politicians untouched by
the corruption and failings of the past. In his first
parliamentary presentation, Uday accused that body of failing
to be effective in its work.
Uday is also chairman of the Iraqi Journalists Union and
his outlets, including the "Babil" newspaper and the "Shabab"
television network, have been criticizing government
inefficiency and corruption over the last several months.
Given his father's supposed incapacity or even death, his
remarks have attracted far more than the usual level of
attention. (David Nissman)
IS IRAQ SOWING ETHNIC UNREST IN IRANIAN PROVINCE?
The "Tehran Times" on 3 January said that efforts were
being made to sow discord between Arabic-speaking and non-
Arabic-speaking people in Khuzestan Province. The paper said
that "there are enough evidences [sic] that Iraq imposed the
war on Iran in order to separate Khuzestan Province from the
Islamic Republic...The enemy failed in its nasty mission and
the war veterans did all to keep national integration
intact." The next day, the paper reported that the Iraq-
supported Mojahedin Khalq had fired three shells on Eslamieh
township in Ilam Province near the city of Mehran. (David
Nissman)
IRAQI MINISTER SAYS BAGHDAD CAN 'DESTROY' ISRAEL.
Iraq's defense minister, Lieutenant-General Sultan Hasim
Ahmad, told Baghdad's "Al-Zawraa" in December that "Iraq can
destroy Israel because it possesses a large combat experience
in dealing with all possibilities," UPI reported. Ahmad added
that Baghdad would not hesitate to defend any Arab country
targeted by Israel even though there currently is no ongoing
coordination between them and Iraq. In other comments, the
minister said that Iraq is prepared for any future escalation
by the United States and Great Britain, which patrol the
southern and northern no-fly zones. He explained that "maybe
the technology used by the United States is highly developed,
but the field combat experience that the Iraqi forces have
gained allows it to confront and even surpass American
technology in the battlefield." (David Nissman)
MOSCOW CONTINUES TO URGE LIFTING SANCTIONS.
Moscow's ambassador to the United Nations, Sergei
Lavrov, told ITAR-TASS on 3 January that the Russian
government believes that conditions inside Iraq could be
radically improved by a lifting of sanctions. He said that
the recent UN Security resolution prolonging the oil-for-food
program was a step forward because it increased the number of
products Iraq can purchase without the approval of the UN
Security Council but with the blessing of the Secretariat
staff. Lavrov suggested that "another important decision made
is the disbursement of 600 million euros in the next six
months for the restoration of the Iraqi oil infrastructure
and compensation of production costs." (David Nissman)
GCC TO EXPLAIN POSITION ON IRAQ TO ARAB STATES.
The 21st summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC),
which took place in Manama, Bahrain, resolved to send a
ministerial committee to tour Arab states to explain the
position of Arab Gulf leaders on Iraq, KUNA reported on 31
December. A commentary in Amman's "Al-Ra'y" noted, however,
that the Gulf countries have rejected Iraq's call for
dialogue for the sake of achieving reconciliation.
In response, Baghdad rejected GCC calls for Iraq to
demonstrate its peaceful intentions. The Ba'th Party
newspaper "Al-Thawra" said on 1 January that "the position of
the GCC is that of the Saudi leaders, which mirrors that of
the United States," AFP reported. The paper added that the
GCC itself is only "a primitive assembly that recalls tribal
alliances from the days before Islam." (David Nissman)
IRAQ SEEKS TO EXPAND TRADE WITH IRAN.
Iraqi Deputy Trade Minister Fakhri Rishan is in Iran to
promote trade, IRNA reported on 2 January. He expressed the
hope that his talks would be fruitful despite tensions
between the two neighboring states. His visit is the latest
effort at improving relations between Baghdad and Tehran. Two
months ago, Iran's transport minister visited Iraq, and last
month Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi came to
Baghdad. (David Nissman)
IRAQ-TURKEY RAIL LINK TO OPEN.
An Iraqi transportation official said that Iraq and
Turkey have agreed to open a rail link between the two
countries that would run through Syria before the end of
January, Baghdad's "Nabdh Al-Shabab" reported on 1 January.
The paper said that a project for a rail link between Iraq
and Jordan is also being discussed. Meanwhile, Baghdad Radio
reported on 2 January that the accord with Turkey also
includes civilian aviation and telephone communications. If
this plan is realized, Turkey would become the telephone
bridge for Iraqis to the rest of the world. (David Nissman)
SYRIA SEEKS BROAD MILITARY, POLITICAL LINKS WITH IRAQ.
Citing Arab diplomatic sources in Damascus, London's
"Al-Quds Al-'Arabi" on 29 December reported that a Syrian
delegation led by Vice President Abd-Al-Halim Khaddam is
working to promote military and political ties with Baghdad.
This committee, which includes military and intelligence
officials, was formed after a secret two-day visit to Iraq by
Mahir Al-Asad, the brother of the current Syrian president.
While there, he met with Qusay Saddam Husseyn, who supervises
security issues and is in charge of the Republican Guard.
(David Nissman)
IRAQ-INDIA WHEAT DEAL UNDERWAY - BUT BIG FIRMS STAY AWAY.
Six Indian companies have received letters of credit to
deliver grain to Iraq at the price of $190 a ton, India's
"Economic Times" reported on 4 January. But the paper said
that the largest multinational traders are staying away from
this deal because they believe the risks involved are too
high. Iraq is buying the Indian wheat under the UN-controlled
oil-for-food program. (David Nissman)
EGYPT AIR TO RESUME REGULAR FLIGHTS TO BAGHDAD.
Egypt's national airline, Egypt Air, will resume regular
flights to Iraq in January, UPI reported on 20 December.
Initially there will be one flight a week between Cairo and
Baghdad. There is no indication that these flights have been
approved by the UN sanctions committee, but Jordanian
officials appear to have responded positively to Cairo's
request that Egyptian planes be allowed to cross Jordanian
territory. (David Nissman)
PUK CONFIRMS TURKISH FORCES IN IRAQI KURDISTAN.
London's "Al-Sharq Al-Awsat" reported on 20 December
that PUK official Adil Murad has confirmed that a Turkish
military force, now stationed around the Qandil Mountains,
entered Iraqi Kurdistan in order to pursue members of the
PKK. Murad said that this force consists of 700 soldiers and
80 military vehicles. And he noted that the Turkish army had
entered the region in cooperation with the PUK.
A press release by the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK)
said Turkish intervention could push the region into war even
if it succeeded in destroying the PKK. According to the
"Kurdistan Observer" on 21 December, the Confederation of
Kurdish Associations in Europe (KON-KURD) echoed that KNK
statement. Meanwhile, the Kurdish Youth Union (YCK) called
for sensitivity from Kurdish youths against the occupation
movement initiated by the Turkish army against South
Kurdistan.
KNK Executive Council member Remzi Kartal, on pro-PKK
MEDYA-TV on 29 December, reacted to a report that the PKK is
prepared to withdraw if the PKK and PUK can reach an
agreement by saying that "this call, which is aimed at
eliminating the clashes among the Kurds at a time when a
scenario that targets the entire Kurdish people and that
wants to render ineffective or do way with Kurdish politics
is on the agenda, is extremely significant." (David Nissman)
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