Iraqi official: Iraq wants long-term relationship with U.S.
By Nick Hytreknhytrek@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Wednesday, October 22, 2008
One of the most important issues facing the next U.S. president is the stability and reconstruction of Iraq.
T. Hamid Al-Bayati, the permanent representative of Iraq to the United Nations since 2006, likely will have a role in helping shape Iraq's commitment to working with the new administration and the world in those reconstruction efforts. Al-Bayati will speak at the University of South Dakota tonight about his current responsibilities at the U.N. and also his time spent as a prisoner of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's regime.
Following is a portion of an interview Al-Bayati granted the Journal via telephone from his New York office.
QUESTION: In terms of foreign policy, what is Iraq hoping for from the next U.S. administration?
ANSWER: In general, Iraq wants a long-term strategic relationship with the United States, and we are in the process of negotiating such an agreement. We believe that the United States is our strong ally and we need their support.
Q: Does the Iraqi government see one candidate as being better than the other? Is there a preference between Obama and McCain?
A: The Iraqi government doesn't want to interfere in internal affairs, and whoever is going to be elected by the American people is who is to be dealt with by the Iraqi government. We don't have a preference but to respect the will of the American people.
Q: What is the biggest obstacle to reconstruction and peace in Iraq at this time?
A: During the last two years the security situation was the largest obstacle in front of reconstruction. Terrorists were targeting the infrastructure, oil facilities, power plants and even water facilities. Now with the situation improved, I think the Iraqi government is focusing on reconstruction and rebuilding of the country. I think we need foreign investments. We need foreign companies, especially in the oil and gas fields.
Q: One of the campaign issues here in the United States has been how long should the United States keep troops in Iraq or should they be withdrawn. What is the mood of the Iraqi government as far as their opinion on how long U.S. troops should be there? Or would they like to see a quick withdrawal?
A: There was some time line for the withdrawal of these forces which is the end of 2011. However, both the Iraqi and U.S. governments believe that this time line could be extended if needed to. Both countries agree that the withdrawal of the forces would depend very much on the developments on the ground. So I can say that we don't want these forces to stay one day longer than they are needed. Neither do we want them to withdraw prematurely one day earlier than they are needed.
Q: Are the Iraqi people better off now than they were before the war?
A: Yes, they are, and I can give you two examples. One of them is that during Saddam (Hussein's) regime there were so many popular uprisings against the regime. And the second proof is that during the two elections in 2005 ... between 77 and 79 percent of the Iraqi people went to the ballot boxes. This is a kind of vote for the new constitutional, parliamentary and democratic system in Iraq which followed the brutal dictatorship of Saddam's regime.
If you go
T. Hamid Al-Bayati, the permanent representative of Iraq to the United Nations, will speak at the University of South Dakota at 7 p.m. today in the Al Neuharth Media Center.
His speech, titled "The Transition to a Democratic Iraq: A Status Report," is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact the W.O. Farber Center for Civic Leadership at (605) 677-5702.
T. Hamid Al-Bayati, the permanent representative of Iraq to the United Nations since 2006, likely will have a role in helping shape Iraq's commitment to working with the new administration and the world in those reconstruction efforts. Al-Bayati will speak at the University of South Dakota tonight about his current responsibilities at the U.N. and also his time spent as a prisoner of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's regime.
Following is a portion of an interview Al-Bayati granted the Journal via telephone from his New York office.
QUESTION: In terms of foreign policy, what is Iraq hoping for from the next U.S. administration?
ANSWER: In general, Iraq wants a long-term strategic relationship with the United States, and we are in the process of negotiating such an agreement. We believe that the United States is our strong ally and we need their support.
Q: Does the Iraqi government see one candidate as being better than the other? Is there a preference between Obama and McCain?
A: The Iraqi government doesn't want to interfere in internal affairs, and whoever is going to be elected by the American people is who is to be dealt with by the Iraqi government. We don't have a preference but to respect the will of the American people.
Q: What is the biggest obstacle to reconstruction and peace in Iraq at this time?
A: During the last two years the security situation was the largest obstacle in front of reconstruction. Terrorists were targeting the infrastructure, oil facilities, power plants and even water facilities. Now with the situation improved, I think the Iraqi government is focusing on reconstruction and rebuilding of the country. I think we need foreign investments. We need foreign companies, especially in the oil and gas fields.
Q: One of the campaign issues here in the United States has been how long should the United States keep troops in Iraq or should they be withdrawn. What is the mood of the Iraqi government as far as their opinion on how long U.S. troops should be there? Or would they like to see a quick withdrawal?
A: There was some time line for the withdrawal of these forces which is the end of 2011. However, both the Iraqi and U.S. governments believe that this time line could be extended if needed to. Both countries agree that the withdrawal of the forces would depend very much on the developments on the ground. So I can say that we don't want these forces to stay one day longer than they are needed. Neither do we want them to withdraw prematurely one day earlier than they are needed.
Q: Are the Iraqi people better off now than they were before the war?
A: Yes, they are, and I can give you two examples. One of them is that during Saddam (Hussein's) regime there were so many popular uprisings against the regime. And the second proof is that during the two elections in 2005 ... between 77 and 79 percent of the Iraqi people went to the ballot boxes. This is a kind of vote for the new constitutional, parliamentary and democratic system in Iraq which followed the brutal dictatorship of Saddam's regime.
If you go
T. Hamid Al-Bayati, the permanent representative of Iraq to the United Nations, will speak at the University of South Dakota at 7 p.m. today in the Al Neuharth Media Center.
His speech, titled "The Transition to a Democratic Iraq: A Status Report," is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact the W.O. Farber Center for Civic Leadership at (605) 677-5702.
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