Foundations of the Iraqi-European relations

Iraq is striving for the establishment of more stable relations with the EU, which go beyond geographical dimensions and economic interests, and are based on political and cultural cooperation in the field of democracy, pluralism and human rights. What are the foundations, on which this appeal for establishment of more stable relations between Iraq and Europe is based?

In addition to geographical proximity, considering the fact that Iraq is a natural geographical extension of the EU, especially if Turkey receives the status of a full-fledged EU member, there are also many political ties and particular economic interests, which have contributed to the good relations of Iraq with many European countries, present and future members of the EU. And here we should mention that Iraq aspires after the development of these relations only in the name of high national interests, and not for any other reasons.

It is also worth noting that the economic policy of the former regime did not pertain to some of the known and existing totalitarian models in the world. It was not a socialist policy, following the central-planning model, as was the case with the former USSR, for example; and yet it was not a policy, based on the principles of market economy. In fact, it was a policy of plunder and economic chaos, aimed only at satisfying the caprices of the ruling circle, and covering the expenses on the wars, waged by them. This is why, the wealth of Iraq was subjected to plunder and embezzlement, mismanagement of funds and embargo for decades and, as a result, the state apparatus stopped functioning and the country's economy and infrastructure was ruined.

In 1980, Iraq had a currency reserve of US $30 billion and by the end of the war with Iran in 1988 the country had accumulated a foreign debt of about US $200 billion.

That is why Iraq needs to learn from the experience of Europe, which has overcome the calamities of two world wars and has built modern societies, which offer their citizens stability and chances for prosperity. The new Leadership of Iraq strives to adopt a stable economic policy and a long-term legal basis, which would create favorable conditions for the development of the private sector, and also for attracting foreign investments to the country. For example, investments in the size of US $38 billion are necessary for the reconstruction of the oil-extracting and processing sector. A few very important steps, like the privatization of some plants and banks, have already been made. Some world banks like the ABC International Bank and HSBC have already opened branches in Iraq. In exchange, Iraq may offer a huge market (the country has a population of twenty-six million people). After terrorism and violence are eradicated from Iraq, the country is expected to become a big building site, in order to reconstruct everything, which was destroyed in the wars of the past regime. At present, for example, Iraq needs about one million new public housing units. The country also relies on its natural resources. Along with oil deposits, it also has deposits of different metals, agrarian resources and resources for development of tourism. If investments are made in the sector of tourism, Iraq will become one of the most attractive destinations in the region. The beautiful nature of the Iraqi Kurdistan and the natural reserves in Southern Iraq may attract tourists from all over the world. Iraq also has good prerequisites for development of religious tourism and the fact that the country's history dates back to the 6th millennium B.C. provides excellent opportunities for development of historical tourism. The EU and the USA can play an important role, and they also have mutual interest, in supporting Iraq in its aspiration to become a full-fledged member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). In 2004, Iraq was invited to continue attending meetings of the General Council and, as appropriate, meetings of other WTO bodies as an observer. The EU and the USA may also encourage the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to give Iraq financial aid. For example, not long ago the World Bank allotted US $100 million to Iraq for supporting the development of the education sector; after one-year-long negotiations, the International Monetary Fund and Iraq reached an agreement on the conditions for emergency post-conflict assistance to Iraq, designed to strengthen the country's economy through the next three years.

In addition, the EU and the USA have played an important role in the remission of a great deal of the foreign debts of Iraq. What Iraq has achieved in the field of politics with the implementation of democratic changes in a very short period of time is almost a wonder. For comparison, it took other countries much longer to come through the same ordeal after the end of WW II. It is true that the events I am talking about occurred almost sixty years ago, but it is also true that Iraq has to deal not only with the cruel and barbaric reactions of the supporters of the former repressive regime at home, but also with some foreign terrorist elements, who have similar interests and have already managed to infiltrate in the country. These elements are trying to destroy the young and budding Iraqi democracy, planting landmines on its way. And here I would like to emphasize that these mines claim many lives and cause great losses, but their impact remains on a surface level, because the New Iraq profoundly adheres to the idea of building a society, which believes in and observes the high principles of democracy. And these acts of terror shall not divert the Iraqi people from the way they have chosen to follow. This was practically proved by the Iraqi people during the general elections in January and the following referendum on the Iraqi Constitution, when eight million people cast their vote at the elections and about ten million took part in the referendum, despite the multiple threats.

As regards the civil rights and freedoms, the New Iraqi Leadership is striving to build an institutional state, where the citizens would have the right to determine their future and to engage in various activities in the conditions of freedom, rule of law, and respect for human rights. The members of this new civil society shall be equal and shall participate actively in the social life; the role of the civil society institutions for monitoring and control shall be enhanced, which will consequently raise the civil awareness of the Iraqi people. The New Iraqi Constitution provides that at least twenty-five percent of the Members of the Iraqi Government and of the Iraqi National Assembly shall be women.

This practice has been working in the European countries for a long time now and they encourage their neighbors to follow their lead. Iraq can learn a lot from the European experience in the field of reconstruction of the state institutions, to enable them to offer proper services to the citizens, in the conditions of rule of law, democracy, transparency and responsibility.

In Conclusion

The EU has a great interest in the encouragement of this orientation of Iraq, this interest being rooted in the desire of Europe for peace and stability in the neighboring regions and countries. If Iraq is stable, its natural and human resources will be a warranty for huge progress in the sphere of economy and will also ensure a better life for its citizens. The economic factor will no longer be an obstacle to the cooperation of Iraq with the European institutions and a burden to the European economies; on the contrary, Iraq will be an active party in this cooperation. If the partnership between the EU and Iraq deepens and Europe, along with the other countries of the world, supports the development of the Iraqi oil industry, Iraq will become a country rich in crude oil, which will be able to fully supply the oil-hungry Europe. This is one of the ways in which the disastrous situations, caused by the unexpected hikes in the prices of fuels, could be avoided and the use of crude oil resources for political purposes could be prevented. (Iraq has the second largest proven oil reserves in the world and it is a serious candidate to become the first country in oil reserves, after new oil fields are found in different places across the country.)

In addition, Iraq will be another bridge between the EU and the East, because the establishment of good relations with the EU will not concern only Iraq, but the Islamic and Arab world as a whole, and ultimately it will be part of the Dialogue among Civilizations and Religions. (At the conference in the Vatican, held in October 2005, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI paid special attention to this issue.)

By the way, during the International Conference on Islam in a Pluralistic World, held in Vienna in November 2005, Austria praised Iraq and Afghanistan for having laid the foundations of pluralism and democracy and having chosen to follow this way under very hard conditions.