Transcript: Iraq's Allawi Interviewed on Elections, Wanted Iraqis in Syria, Ties With Jordan

(Al-Ra'y) Let us begin by asking about the elections, which are currently the most important event. There are regional and world fears that the elections will have adverse results and that the absence of the Sunnis will lead to partitioning Iraq.

(Allawi) Frankly speaking, some calls have started to be made on sectarian bases. As is known, there are groups, including Shiite groups like the so-called Al-Sadr current, which are calling for boycotting the elections. This is in addition to nationalist Arab currents and the (Sunni) Association of Muslim Scholars. This issue is not confined to the Sunni or Shiite groups but several other groups which want to boycott the elections. The percentage of these parties is not known in Iraq. Also we do not know if they will continue to adopt this position. What we observe is that many parties want to participate in the elections. Our list consists of all Iraqi sects -- Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds, Turkomans, Christians, and even Al-Sadr current itself. We as a government continue dialogue with the Iraqi parties, especially the ones close to those demanding the postponement of the elections.

I met in Amman with Iraqi tribal chiefs and political figures. During my dialogue with them I did not sense a rigid position on the elections. We as a government are eager to hold comprehensive elections in which all participate. Therefore, we are taking important steps in the governorates where incidents took place. We do so to provide an appropriate atmosphere for the elections. By holding this national Iraqi dialogue we seek the participation of all in the elections so that no voice will be absent.

The elections will herald the start of the process of building the new Iraq. They will be followed by a referendum on the constitution and then the general elections which will form a permanent National Assembly. These are the mechanisms we are thinking of. God willing, we will be able to surmount the obstacles facing us and succeed in making the largest possible sector of the Iraqi society participate in the elections. All are invited to participate. I do not know why the Association of Muslim Scholars is calling for the postponement of the elections. They have the right to do so, but they must define the circumstances or mechanisms that should be made available so that the elections can be held. We have not heard this from the Association of Muslim Scholars. They only want a postponement without a specific program.

(Al-Ra'y) Is the partitioning of Iraq likely? Some believe that the elections will mainly result in partitioning Iraq.

(Allawi) This is not an easy matter. Even before the fall of the former regime there was talk that Iraq will be divided if the regime is toppled. Nothing in Iraq indicates that this is going to happen. There are terrorist forces trying to undermine security in Iraq. For example, bombings were carried out at the holy Islamic shrines and 40 Kurds were killed in Mosul. These are attempts to trigger sectarian and ethnic feuds, but I believe that they will fail.

(Al-Ra'y) What about interference in Iraq's affairs by the neighboring countries, something which is likely to reflect on the elections? Does the government have assurances that there will be no regional interference in the Iraqi elections?

(Allawi) We are certainly exerting large efforts in this direction. What is more important than the election process is stopping the flow of terrorist elements across the border. These groups seek to sabotage security in Iraq. Some of these elements have regrettably settled down in some neighboring countries, taking advantage of their hospitality. They began subversive acts in Iraq through terrorist operations targeting not only the political leaders and the security and police forces, but also all others, especially the innocent civilians and holy shrines.

They are working from across the border. I do not mean that these terrorist acts take place with the approval of the authorities in the countries from which they spring. They are certainly present in neighboring countries and have their residence permits there. We have evidence and confessions on their role in the terrorist operations.

I have recently written a letter to the president of an Arab country in which I said there are confessions by the terrorist elements and asked for his help because any setback in Iraq, may God forbid, will not stop at the border. Regional efforts to protect the border with Iraq are still below the required level. Except for Jordan, Kuwait, and Turkey, all countries are required to exert greater efforts. We demand firmer control of the borders. I have personally raised this issue during the Sharm al-Shaykh conference and during my meetings with His Majesty King Abdallah II, Egyptian President Husni Mubarak, and US President George Bush. I urged stronger control of the borders. Meetings are considered a good step in the right direction toward practical steps. If these steps are taken, calm will prevail in Iraq and this will further help the election process. We hope that our Muslim and Arab brothers will help us in this regard. Iraq will certainly emerge safely from this crisis and will not forget the positive stands.

It is saddening that the terrorist operations in Iraq are targeting the Iraqi civilians and children as well as hospitals. They are no longer directed at the Iraqi government in all Iraqi cities. They have turned into criminal acts and are thus an expression of a negative phenomenon.

Several wanted persons are in Syria. They include Sab'awi (Ibrahim), the former Iraqi president's half brother, and Tahir Habbush, former director of the Iraqi intelligence service. We have evidence supported by confessions, documents, and information that they took advantage of their presence in Syria and began to inflict harm on Iraq.

We proceed from our common interests and strong relations with the Syrian brothers and from our joint struggle against dictatorship. Our relations are strong with the Syrian leadership and people. There is no problem in our relations with Syria. The Syrian president was responsive when I met with him. We held talks about the borders and formed a committee to control the border. I asked Syrian President Bashar al-Asad to positively view Sharm al-Shaykh conference because stability in Iraq means stability in Syria. This applies to all.

(Al-Ra'y) Can you tell us about the Jordanian-Iraqi relations? You have chosen Amman for years as your major political station in the struggle against the former regime.

(Allawi) Relations with Jordan are very good and positive. They are in continuous development. I met with His Majesty King Abdallah II and the prime minister and discussed ways to promote relations. The discussions were frank and important. I asked his majesty the king about the statements attributed to him about the "Shiite arc" (that stretches from Iran to Iraq). His majesty said he meant political Islam and not the Shiites or Sunnis as a sect or community. His majesty is the descendent of the honorable family of the prophet. This family is an element unifying the Sunnis, Shiites, Arabs, and Kurds. His majesty the king is also a modern and well-educated personality that does not believe in factionalism, sectarianism, or racism. Bilateral relations are really highly developed.

(Al-Ra'y) Are there plans to develop these Jordanian-Iraqi economic relations in the future?

(Allawi) We encourage stronger economic relations with Jordan. There are a number of agreements in this regard. We will increase the volume of trade exchange between the two countries. We have started to discuss the means to develop relations by finding sources of finance in Iraq and Jordan and elsewhere in order to link the two economies and build a network of economic interests. This issue will continue to be discussed by the two countries' joint committee.

(Al-Ra'y) What is the future of the Iraqi debts? Have the Arab countries responded to the US call to reduce or scrap Iraq's debts?

(Allawi) The Arab brothers adopted positive stands which we appreciate. As you know, the Paris Club member states canceled about 80 to 90 percent of the Iraqi debts. Poland, whose prime minister visited us, canceled all its Iraqi debts. We hope that the Arab brothers who have not made a decision yet on reducing or canceling these debts to be as generous as Poland, especially since these funds were not extended to Iraq for developmental projects. Most of them were regrettably used as a fuel for the wars launched by the former regime.

(Description of Source: Amman Al-Ra'y (Internet Version-WWW) in Arabic -- Jordanian daily of widest circulation, partially owned by government; URL: http://www.alrai.com/)

Translated from the original by WNC.