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Interview with former Foreign Minister Adnan Pachachi

Adnan Pachachi is a prominent Sunni Muslim opposition leader, a former Iraqi foreign minister and former envoy to the United Nations. Having no association with Saddam Hussein's regime, he is about to return to Baghdad following three decades in exile. Now 80, he wants to play a role in the new Iraq. Despite a reluctance to become involved in politics, Pachachi has been named by the US civil administration in Iraq as one of several prominent Iraqis in a team of "emerging leaders" who may be involved in forming an interim government. He has also been identified by Arab broadcast media as a likely candidate for prime minister. QUESTION: How would you describe the current humanitarian situation in Iraq? ANSWER: The current humanitarian situation is gradually improving, but we have problems. For example, in the last few days there has been no electricity in Baghdad and also no water. I think there have been a lot of acts of sabotage and, of course, there are the ongoing sporadic acts of violence that have being going on in every part of Iraq. Q: What other major issues need to be urgently addressed in Iraq? A: Well, the first thing of course, is the question of law and order. Until we have a secure situation it will be difficult to do anything else, and of course then we have to resume the provision of essential services like electricity and so on. A start is already being made with the problem of salaries and pensions, which would, I think, have a good effect on the problem of unemployment, which is a serious situation. As long as you have a large number of unemployed people you will have problems in security. But the more work opportunities are made available, [...] I think there will be less temptation to do anything unlawful. So these things have to be done: law and order, economy and the provision of essential services. Naturally, also one of the pressing and consistent demands of Iraqis is to have a government, or at least an interim situation in place as soon as possible. Q: How successful has the international humanitarian response for postwar Iraq been? A: Some of the countries have done a lot of work individually - I have in my mind, like United Arab Emirates and some other countries. I think they are trying their best. But they are also hampered like everybody else; they are hampered by the security problems, by the uncertain situation as far as law and order is concerned. Q: Anger at the Coalition's ongoing presence in Iraq seems to be growing daily. How widespread is this resentment, and what could be the consequences? A: People are angry because of the privations, because of the lack of security, and the Coalition wants to collect all the weapons. People feel they have to keep their weapons, because they are not secure. The more searches made by the authorities the greater the discontent. Q: What should be done about it? A: Eventually that [disarmament] has to be done, because there are just too many weapons around. You cannot say they have secure environment. Really, something has to be done as quickly as possible. But as I said, you have to really improve the economic situation first, because without that you are not going to achieve anything else. Q: What role do you think the UN should be playing in Iraq in the short, medium and long term? A: I think the UN under Security Council Resolution 1483 has been given a very important role in fact, not only in the humanitarian field but also in the political process leading to the election of a government in Iraq, which is recognised internationally. So they have a lot to do. I mean, they have the right to do it, and they have the mandate. Now it is up to them, isn’t it? Q: Do you feel the UN has been given a clear enough and wide enough mandate in Iraq? A: I think the mandate is quite substantial at this stage. Of course, it could always increase, but the UN has a very important advantage, especially in humanitarian issues. But also it has been given an important role to play in the political process, which, of course, [will become even more important] if it is going to lead to the creation of an Iraqi interim administration. You can always give them a bigger mandate if they want to, but demands on the UN are already big. Q: What is your assessment of the Coalition Provincial Authority in Iraq? A: I think they have made some hasty decisions, but now they are on the right track, it seems to me. They are trying to do their best to do something. But of course we would like the UN to be even more involved in the whole process of preparing the country for elections. Q: Having been in exile for three decades, how much real insight do you have into Iraq, its people and its problems? A: I do, because I have had a very good perception in Iraq. People seem to think that I can make a difference... We will see. Q: What are your hopes for a new future in Iraq? A: I am quite optimistic. Iraq will have a really good future, because it has all the things any country would need. It has an educated population, it has people with a strong work ethic, and also they have proven that they can live peacefully and in full harmony. Contrary to all the expectations, there was no fighting among Iraqis, sectarian or ethnic. It has been very peaceful in that respect. This is a very encouraging sign. People have learned the value of and virtue of tolerance without which democracy cannot exist.

This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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