RFE/RL IRAQ REPORT
Vol. 4, No. 10, 30 March 2001
A Review of Developments in Iraq Prepared by the Regional
Specialists of RFE/RL's Newsline Team
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HEADLINES:
* OPPOSITION ACCUSES IRAQ OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
* SCIRI FIRES ROCKETS AT SADDAM'S PALACE
* IRAQ ISLAMIC PARTY CALLS FOR NATIONAL FRONT
* IRAQ STEPS UP SPYING IN UAE
* WAS QUSAY IN TEHRAN LAST WEEK?
* SADDAM APPEALS TO ARAB SUMMIT
* PUTIN PROPOSES 'PACKAGE SOLUTION' ON IRAQ...
* ...BUT SUMMIT MAKES LITTLE PROGRESS ON IRAQ...
* ...EVEN AS SAUDIS UPSET BY ANY DISCUSSION OF IRAQ
* A YEMENI ROLE IN IRAQ-KUWAIT PRISONERS DISPUTE
* IRAQ TO BUY MALAYSIAN CARS, MOROCCAN TRUCKS
* DEPORTATIONS OF KURDS CONTINUE...
* ...AS OTHER KURDS CALLED UP FOR MILITARY SERVICE
* PKK LEADER ATTACKS PUK PEOPLE AND POLICIES
* LIFTING AMBARGO SEEN HURTING KURDS
* KURDISH RIVALS EXCHANGE NAWRUZ GREETINGS, MEET IN
U.S.
* IRAQ ARMY IN KURDISH REGION?
* HARIRI ASSASSINS IDENTIFIED
************************************
OPPOSITION ACCUSES IRAQ OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. Two
Iraqi opposition groups - one called "Ahrar Al-Iraq" (the
Free People of Iraq) and the Supreme Council for the
Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) - called on the leaders
of the Arab world at their summit in Amman to refrain from
dealing with Saddam Husseyn because of his continuing
crimes against humanity. The Ahrar Al-Iraq statement was
published by KUNA on 28 March. The SCIRI letter was
distributed in Amman and reported by news services there.
SCIRI FIRES ROCKETS AT SADDAM'S PALACE. SCIRI said that its
units had fired four Katyusha rockets at the Republic
Palace in Baghdad on 22 March and noted that the Iraqi
authorities had planted explosives in another area of the
city to "cover up this operation of the resistance,"
according to London's "Al-Hayat" on 23 March. Official
Baghdad media outlets accused "Iranian agents" of causing
the explosion near the Republic Palace. Meanwhile, Hasan
'Abdallah, official spokesman of the "Iraq Islamic
Resistance," said his forces attacked the Presidential
Palace in Baghdad with 122 mm Katyusha rockets. He noted
that this was the third such attack; others took place in
May and September of last year. 'Abdallah's group is among
those supported by Tehran. (David Nissman)
IRAQ ISLAMIC PARTY CALLS FOR 'NATIONAL FRONT.' Leaders of
the Iraq Islamic Party (IIP) told a conference on "U.S.
Policy and the Position of Iraqi National Forces" that
there is no basis for the Iraqi opposition to cooperate
with the U.S. because their objectives are so different. In
a statement published by London's "Al-Hayat" on 22 March,
the IIP called for the formation of a national front to
overcome differences within the opposition and thus become
better able to fight Baghdad.
IRAQI STEPS UP SPYING IN UAE. Iraq has increased its
intelligence activities in the United Arab Emirates, the
Iraqi National Congress told London's "Al-Zaman" on 22
March. The INC said that Baghdad is using a restaurant as
cover and is increasing its contacts with both religious
scholars and businessmen. (David Nissman)
WAS QUSAY IN TEHRAN LAST WEEK? A newspaper, "Al-Ittijah Al-
Akhar," published by Iraqi opposition figure Mish'an Al-
Juburi, says that Qusay Saddam Husseyn, the chief of the
security agencies in Iraq, paid a visit to Tehran last week
to meet Iranian security and military officials. They
reportedly discussed threats against Iraq and other
regional states arising from a U.S. plan to establish a
safe haven in southern Iraq. The Gulf newspaper "Al-Watan"
on 27 March. reports "Al-Ittijah Al-Akhar" as saying that
"following Qusay's recent visit, Iraq agreed to allow a
Syrian train to Iran to pass through Iraqi territory. [And]
Saddam Husseyn also issued a decree releasing 27 Iranian
prisoners held in Iraq." There is no independent
confirmation of this report. (David Nissman)
SADDAM APPEALS TO ARAB SUMMIT. Saddam Husseyn sent a letter
to the Arab summit in Amman urging the group to unite to
oppose Israel and to support the Palestinian people. Saddam
stressed that Iraq has always been opposed to Israel and
that it will always do so. He made no mention of Kuwait.
And he noted that 'Abdul Karim Qassim, the leader of the
Iraqi revolution, was executed because "he deviated from
the concept of Arabism and Faith," INA reported on 27
March. Saddam ended his missive with the words: "May God
damn the Jews." (David Nissman)
PUTIN PROPOSES 'PACKAGE SOLUTION' ON IRAQ... Russian
President Vladimir Putin suggested that the Arab summit in
Amman accept his proposal for a package solution to Middle
East problems, including the lifting of sanctions against
Iraq, Interfax reported on 27 March. Putin said Moscow
would do everything possible to promote dialogue between
the United Nations and Baghdad and that it would take
additional steps to guarantee the security and prosperity
of all the countries in the region. (David Nissman)
...BUT SUMMIT MAKES LITTLE PROGRESS ON IRAQ... The Amman
summit failed to take any major decisions on Iraq besides
noting that mediation efforts are underway between Baghdad
and Kuwait. But a Jordanian official is cited by the
"Kuwait Times" as saying that "the Iraqis are still
obstinate and radical about their demands. They are
rejecting compromises but (other) Arabs are united and
determined to respect their international commitments."
Nonetheless, Jordan's King 'Abdallah II was asked by Arab
League Secretary-General Ismat 'Abdul-Majid to undertake
further consultations and contacts to improve ties between
Iraq and Kuwait, according to a report from AFP on 28
March. In addition, the group is preparing a working paper
on the issue, and one Arab diplomat, speaking to the French
agency under conditions of anonymity, said that Baghdad
does appear to be moving closer to accepting its proposals,
including an Iraqi declaration recognizing Kuwaiti
sovereignty, the lifting of sanctions, discussion of
outstanding POW issues, and resumption of air links between
Baghdad and the outside world. (David Nissman)
...EVEN AS SAUDIS UPSET BY ANY DISCUSSION OF IRAQ. The
"Mideast Mirror" on 23 March noted that Saudi Arabia had
downgraded is representation to the Amman summit to express
its unhappiness with any discussion of Iraq. Prince Sultan
bin-'Abdul'Aziz, who is also second deputy prime minister,
represented Riyadh instead of Crown Prince 'Abdallah bin-
'Abdul'aziz, who has been deputizing for King Fahd at such
conferences over the last several years. (David Nissman)
A YEMENI ROLE IN IRAQ-KUWAIT PRISONERS DISPUTE. Yemeni
President 'Ali 'Abdallah Salih told a visiting Kuwaiti
delegation that "time will deal with the issue between Iraq
and Kuwait, noting that "we have told and continue to tell
the Iraqis to be quiet and we will defend you. Stay away
from the language of threats to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Threats do not bring stability to the region and do not do
Iraq any good. Sometimes the Iraqis do not listen to us and
all our efforts are wasted," Kuwait's "Al-Ra'y Al-'Amm"
reported on 22 March. Salih said that he was prepared to
serve as an intermediary on the question of POWs and has
received a letter on that issue from Saddam Husseyn. In
response, Kuwait Speaker Al-Khurafi said that he doubts
that the Iraqi regime "wants to end the nightmare in the
region," adding that Kuwait will wait to allow "Iraq [to]
present the evidence and prove what it is claiming." (David
Nissman)
IRAQ TO BUY MALAYSIAN CARS, MOROCCAN TRUCKS. The Perusahaan
Otomobil Nasional (Proton) of Malaysia is expected to sign
an agreement for the sale of 5,000 units of its 1.5 l
Proton Wira, according to a report from "Bernama" of Kuala
Lumpur of 19 March. The cars will be purchased under the
oil-for-food program. Meanwhile, it was announced by "La
Nouvelle Tribune" of Casablanca on 20 March that DAF
Industries Maroc recently shipped 100 DAF trucks to Iraq.
That deal was done under the oil-for-food program. (David
Nissman)
DEPORTATIONS OF KURDS CONTINUE... The Iraqi authorities
have forcibly deported five Kurdish families in Tuze
Khurmatoo, south of Kirkuk city. The officials seized their
documents and handed over their houses to Arab families.
The Kurds were told to register as Arabs or face
deportation to areas controlled by the Kurdish authorities.
According to the "Kurdistan Observer" of 26 March, the
deportees who arrived in the Kurdish Regional Government
have asked the UN to pressure the Iraq government to allow
them to return to their lands and end further deportation
activities. (For details on Baghdad's Arabization plan, see
"RFE/RL Iraq Report," 13 August 1999.) (David Nissman)
...AS OTHER KURDS CALLED UP FOR COMPULSORY MILITARY
TRAINING. Irbil's "Regay Kurdistan" on 12 March reported
that Kurds in the Al-Dibz Administrative District of the
Kirkuk Governorate have been told to report daily for
military training. Those who do not are arrested and then
imprisoned. In addition, Baghdad officials are threatening
the families of the non-participants with expulsion from
the area. (David Nissman)
PKK LEADER ATTACKS PUK PEOPLE AND POLICIES. On 1 February
"Serxwebun", a pro-PKK Internet magazine based in Cologne,
published a lengthy interview with Cemil Bayik, a member of
the PKK (Kurdish Workers' Party) Leadership Council,
containing an attack on the PUK and its leader Jelal
Talabani. Bayik said that "the PUK has participated in the
international plot that resulted in the imprisonment of
leader Apo [Ocalan]" and it trying to undermine PKK efforts
elsewhere. He said that the U.S. and Britain have called on
the PUK to destroy the PKK. He suggested that the KDP,
another Kurdish group, should recognize that if the PKK is
eliminated, "efforts will be made to eliminate it as well."
(David Nissman)
LIFTING EMBARGO SEEN HURTING KURDS. M. E. Pencewini,
writing in "Ozgur Politika" a pro-PKK journal published in
Neu-Isenburg on 18 March, said that if the international
embargo is lifted, the Kurds will lose all of the 13
percent share of oil revenues that they now get and that
commercial ties between Kurdish regions and other countries
would likely collapse. Given the direction things are
moving in, Pencewini suggests that the KDP and PUK should
sign a peace agreement and establish a joint parliament and
that they should "destroy" the Washington Agreement. (David
Nissman)
KURDISH RIVALS EXCHANGE NAWRUZ GREETINGS, MEET IN U.S.
Leaders of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) have exchanged Nawruz
greeting. "Kurdsat," broadcasting from Al-Sulaymaniyah on
20 March, reported that Jalal Talabani, leader of the PUK,
expressed the hope that Barzani (leader of the rival KDP)
could "revive and implement all agreements, especially the
Washington Agreement." In reply, Mas'ud Barzani, leader of
the KDP, expressed the opinion that "the two sides have
reached the conviction that the right way for solving
problems is brotherhood and cooperation between the two
sides and also the other allied patriotic parties." Both
the KDP and the PUK also sent delegations to the U.S. State
Department. The KDP was represented by Hoshyar Zebari,
principle official for the KDP for international relations,
and the PUK by the newly-appointed PUK Prime Minister
Barham Salih, according to a report from "The Kurdistan
Observer" of 24 March. (David Nissman)
IRAQI ARMY IN KURDISH REGION? The Irbil newspaper "Hawlati"
on 11 March claimed that Iraqi armed forces now occupy some
hills within the administrative boundaries of Khanaqin. A
few months ago, Iraq's forces attacked Ba'adre Region and
later the Nughawan village in Guwer region. This time it
reportedly attacked the Garmiyan region. By 3 March, its
forces had advanced within Khanaqin, moved towards Kani
Mazri heights and captured their old positions in this
area. Kurdish forces have not yet taken steps to dislodge
them, the paper said. (David Nissman)
HARIRI ASSASSINS IDENTIFIED. The Interior Ministry of the
Kurdistan Regional Government have identified the assassins
of Franso Hariri, an Assyrian KDP Central Committee member
who was killed on 18 March, the "Kurdistan Observer"
reported on 23 March. This ends any attempt by the KDP to
place responsibility on the PUK and its leader Jalal
Talabani for the crime. (See "RFE/RL Iraq Report," 9 March
2001). (David Nissman)
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