The Leader of Iraqiya List and Former Prime Minister of Iraq Iyad Allawi Delivered a Speech at ORSAM

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Iyad Allawi, the leader of Iraqiya which has appeared to be the first list out of 7 March Iraqi General Elections arrived in Ankara yesterday. The visit of Allawi who was the first prime minister after 2003 War, coincided with the critical period of government formation process. Allawi has evaluated the post-election process in Iraq in a program organized by Center for Strategic Middle Eastern Studies (ORSAM) within the framework of his visit to Turkey. Allawi who was followed by world media as well as the diplomatic mission in Ankara, has underlined some important points in his speech.

“We are against Sectarianism and Ethnic Nationalism”

Allawi emphasized that Iraqiya which appeared as the first list out of the elections despite all the prevention efforts in the pre-election period, is against Sectarianism and Ethnic Nationalism. Allawi mentioned the sensitivities of Iraqia and listed them as; providing stability in the country, protecting unity of the country and making Iraq an important actor in the future in the region.

“We have to liberate the Security Institutions from Sectarianism”

Allawi emphasized that the most important task for them now is to manage a contributive political process which includes all parties in the country. The second current task is identified as providing the security in the country through establishing state institutions by Allawi, who also emphasized that they devote too much significance to an institutional structuration in the state institutions. He mentioned that one of the most important problems of Iraq; security is likely to be a serious concern following the withdrawal of the US forces. Allawi said that one of the most important ways to provide security is to liberate security institutions from sectarianism. In addition, Allawi touched upon the daily problems of Iraqis and underlined them as the lack of supply of infrastructure services such as electricity and water and emphasized the need for comprehensive efforts to provide these services.

“We should be the one to form the government however Iraqi judiciary is politicized”

Allawi pointed out that the authority to form the government belongs to Iraqiya according to the Iraqi Constitution. Allawi reminded that the process of government formation will begin following the official declaration of the election results by the Supreme Court, described the decisions given by the Supreme Court after the elections regarding the features of the Block which will be authorized to from the government as a continuation of the deBaathization process and evaluated this situation as politicization of judicial process.

“Political Process cannot be left in the hands of Judges” 

Allawi expressed that they want to form the government which principally will be a comprehensive and loyal to the constitution, as soon as possible and are ready to form coalition with any parties that adopt those principles. Moreover he commented on the decision of the commission that is authorized to conduct evaluations regarding the election process to cancel 52 member of parliaments and said that “We are going to emphasize that we will not accept such an initiative through contacting to all important political figures in Iraq, embassies of the countries of the UN Security Council and even to Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani. Political process cannot be left in the hands of judges.” 

“Fraud may Overshadow the Recounting”

In response to a question regarding the recounting of the votes in some regions, Allawi said that “We can accept the recounting only under three conditions. First condition is the recounting to be done in Basra, Najaf, Qadisiya, Nasseriya, Mousul and Kirkuk because in these places there were lots of frauds. Second, some of the regions within Baghdad should be carefully analyzed. Third and the most important issue is that it has been more than a month after the elections, namely we do not know what happened to the votes, who protected or who interfered with them. Therefore the recounting process may be overshadowed by great frauds.”

“Mousul can be a model for Kirkuk”

In response to a question regarding the solution for Kirkuk dispute, mentioned that the agreement that has been provided by the conflicting parties through dialog can be a model for Kirkuk. Allawi said that “A process managed through trust, friendship and civilized dialog can solve Kirkuk issue.”

“Turkey’s Constructive Role should be a Model for the other regional countries”

Dr. Iyad Allawi emphasized the roles being played by neighboring regional countries in Iraqi politics. He said that Turkey does not interfere into the domestic affairs of Iraq and helps the creation of a positive atmosphere for Iraqis and such role should be taken as a model by other regional countries. In response to a question regarding Turkey-Iraq relations, Allawi said that “In our opinion, foreign policy is conducted through two ways. First, mutual interests and the second is not to interfere into the domestic affairs. With regard to the first, there are strong economic ties between Iraq and Turkey. In addition, Iraq supports Turkey’s struggle with PKK. We are ready to do whatever we can if we can form the government. We are against PKK to use Iraq as its base. With regard to the second principle, we are pleased that Turkey does not interfere into Iraqi domestic affairs and plays a constructive role.”

ANALYSIS of ALLAWİ’S SPEECH at ORSAM

ORSAM Advisor Assist. Prof. Dr. Serhat Erkmen

It is possible to list the results of Allawi’s evaluations as follows:

-All political groups in Iraq are continuing to search for external support. The domestic political balances reached a sensitive point. The roles playes by regional countries can be regarded as critical and crucial at the moments of deadlock during the bargaining prcess among the parties. -It is obvious to see that there is a high level of pressure on Allawi and the official institutions and commissions are in an effort to drive Iraqiya List into a corner through the allegations of Baathism. The avoidance of Allawi to answer the question regarding the situation within Iraqiya List is because of his unwilling to show any sign of weakness. 

-Allawi mentioning that he is open to coalition with any parties, signaled that he may give Maliki the green light in case of any deadlock in the government formation process.

-If the rising discomfort created by the courts and commissions erecting barriers although the List has emerged as the first party out of the elections inside the groups that constitute the basis of Iraqiya is reflected to the political process, Iraq can be dragged into a more complex political situation.

– The recent violent affairs albeit partly, remind the post-2005 elections process in Iraq. Although the frequency and geographical extent of the events are not like the post-2005 period, the possibility of emergence of a new political crisis and security problem in Iraq is increasing in case of the failure to form a government resting on reconciliation soon, considering the targeted institutions, figures and places.

*Translated by ORSAM Middle East Research Assistant Selen Tonkuş.