Senior Iraqi Shi'I Calls for Expeditious Establishment of Regions

Oct 13, 01:40 PM

Current Headlines: Text of report by Dubai-based Iraqi private Al-Sharqiyah TV on 13 October

[Announcer-read report over video]

Ammar al-Hakim, a leader in the Iraqi Islamic Supreme Council [IISC] and son of IISC leader Abd-al-Aziz al-Hakim, called for expediting the establishment of regions within the framework of a federal system, which he believes will serve the interest of the Iraqi people and is one way to maintain the unity of this country. Speaking to a crowd of people following the Id al-Fitr prayer in Baghdad, he called for working towards establishing regions and implementing the federal system starting from the establishment of the southern region to the establishment of other regions, while asserting, at the same time, the need to preserve Iraq's territorial integrity and the unity of the Iraqi people and government. He added: "We believe in this unity, are working towards strengthening it, and are fighting for its sake." He considered the federal system as one way to achieve this unity.

Al-Hakim said: "We should, in new Iraq, change the course and replace competition within the government institution with competition within the civil institution and among all sectors of the people. He stressed the need to give all the people of a region the responsibilities and opportunities to participate in decision making and running their affairs since they are the most capable of bringing about the needed achievements."

It is worth mentioning that several currents oppose the federal system, considering it a first step towards dividing Iraq.

[Begin Al-Hakim recording] We have said, and reiterate, that we should work towards establishing regions and implementing the federal system in Iraq. From this holy place and on this holy day, I call on the sons of our people to establish their regions, starting from the establishment of the southern Baghdad region to the establishment of other regions, especially since this system serves Iraq's interests, and it is an Iraqi decision and will. [End recording]

Al-Hakim also asserted his rejection of the presence of permanent bases for foreign forces in Iraq, stressing the need for reaching a security agreement with the United States that would guarantee Iraq's full sovereignty [over its territories]. He said: "We will work towards not having permanent bases for foreign forces on Iraqi territories. We will work towards reaching a security agreement with foreign parties that would guarantee the ending of the international mandate imposed on Iraq and help it restore its full sovereignty, and we will also work towards getting Iraq out of the seventh chapter of the UN charter and assisting it in restoring its full sovereignty. He asserted that an international agreement would help Iraq and the international community in combating terrorism and utilizing international expertise to equip and train our security forces.

Al-Hakim also said that his father, Abd-al-Aziz al-Hakim, is very sick and could not lead the Id Al-Fitr prayer from his office in Baghdad days after his return to Iraq after receiving a lung cancer treatment in Iran. The IISC head greeted a large crowd of people after his son, Ammar, delivered the Id Al-Fitr sermon this morning. Ammar al-Hakim, who ran the IISC during his father's illness, told the worshippers that the doctors advised his father not to lead the long Id al-Fitr prayer. [Video shows Al-Hakim speaking]

Originally published by Al-Sharqiyah TV, Dubai, in Arabic 1302 13 Oct 07.

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