Differences cordon preparations for the Iraqi opposition groups conference in Brussels
Iraq, Politics, 11/7/2002

Sources in the Iraqi opposition said that deep differences are surrounding preparations to convene a conference for the opposition conference due to be organized by Iraqi groups in Belgium later this meeting.

The sources explained that the difference is based on the way of distributing seats of the participants in the conference on various organizations and forces, amid accusations to the Iraqi National Congress and the small royal movement of getting the large portion of the seats at the expense of three major Iraqi ethnic or secratrian groups which are the higher council for the Islamic revolution in Iraq, the Kurdistani National Federation and the Kurdistani Democratic Party.

The Iraqi writer and opposition member Kanaan Makkeya strongly criticized the conference. He said in an open message to the conference which will be held on November 22 in Brussels that he is "sarcastic" because it gives 40% of its proposed seats to the higher council of the Islamic revolution in Iran which takes Iran as a headquarters and 25% only to two Kurdish groups.

He questioned in his open message "where are the independents ? Where are the Democrats? where are the Assurs ? where are the other Arabs, where is Iraq in such a dwarf of democracy and fairness?" However, Brussels conference comes following the meeting which was held in August between 6 Iraqi groups in Washington under the auspices of the US.

Pushed by the Bush administration, the 6 groups vowed commitment to collaborate in organizing the conference which is presumed to discuss the form of the rule in Iraq following the toppling of Saddam Hussein.

On the other hand, the leader of the Iraqi National Congress Ahmad al-Jalabi said that any Iraqi government which will succeed Saddam Hussein will face heavy burdens to provide food for the people, and pay the accumulated debts and rebuilding the ailing oil industry in Iraq.

He said that the current oil revenues in Iraqi estimated at USD 25 billion are not enough to meet these demands, calling on the US to prevent debts from Iraq.

He detailed costs that should be shouldered by a coming Iraqi government as USD 14 billion per year to import foodstuffs; USD 8 billion to keep oil products at its current level and USD 38 billion as investments to increase oil production.

He added that costs for rebuilding Iraq will be USD 50 billion annually for ten years.

Previous Stories:
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  Iraq shows openness to a new resolution, thanks Saudi Arabia for reject US use of its bases   (11/5/2002)
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