UNAMI FOCUS Voice of the Mission September 2009 News Bulletin - Issue 37 Features UNAMI in Action Governorates Iraqi Words Contact Us

United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Public Information Office UNAMI FOCUS Voice of the Mission September 2009 News Bulletin - Issue 37 Features UNAMI in Action Governorates Iraqi Words Contact Us

In This Issue: A few months into his term as the SRSG to Iraq,

A few months into his term as Ad Melkert conducted several missions through- the SRSG to Iraq, Ad Melkert conducted several missions out the country and plans for more throughout the country and plans for more (2)

Looking Towards The Next Iraqi Parliamentary Elections: January 2010 (3)

SRSG Ad Melkert Visits Iraqi Kurdistan Region (5)

Iraqi Youth participate in the celebration of the International Day of Peace in New-York (6)

Secretary-General's remarks to student observance of the In- ternational Day of Peace (7)

Iraqi Children: The Future (8)

Eid Al-Fitr in Iraq (9)

Uruk, Mesopotamia’s first city, SRSG Ad Melkert Visiting a Voting Registration Center in Salihya (UN photo) neglected (10)

UN Agencies Active in Iraq Sectors Activities* September 2009 (11)

Quotes from Iraqis (11)

SRSG Ad Melkert meeting President Barzani (UN Iraqi children having fun riding the carousel (UN photo/Sabah Abdulrahman) Photo/ZaidFahmi)

UNAMI FOCUS - September 2009

A few months into his term as the SRSG to Iraq, Ad Melkert conducted several missions throughout the country and plans for more

and ways of moving forward. In Kirkuk, an area rich in resources, he observed “the visible need for investment in housing and infrastructure.” He also noted that, “polarization and stalemate were evident”. He talked with politicians about power-sharing and resources for improving the lives of the city’s residents.

Although construction and economic activities are noticeable in Erbil, the SRSG cautioned, “There are places in the world where construction is booming, but this does not necessarily SRSG Ad Melkert with Provincial Council Members in Mosul. (UN Photo/ Rick Bajornas) reflect that an economy, as a whole, is growing sustainably”. Yet, he optimistically added, “With no doubt, stronger governance and increased By Randa Jamal stability and security are the road to higher in- vestments, more private initiatives and growth It has only been a few months since SRSG Ad and development”. Mr.Melkert will also visit Na- Melkert first arrived in Baghdad. During this jaf next month, where he will talk with key politi- time, he has met with his UNAMI and UN Coun- cal leaders about key challenges. try Team members and held meetings with Iraqi leaders, including Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. Upon his arrival, Mr. Melkert instantly showed readiness and commitment to assist the Iraqi people and government.

Accordingly, Mr. Melkert has visited several Iraqi cities to meet people and learn about the issues and needs that most urgently require the UN’s attention and expertise. In Mosul, a city ripped by violence and turmoil, the SRSG met minority community leaders and politicians to talk about the situation in their city, Arab-Kurdish relations, SRSG Ad Melkert with KRG premiership nominee Barham Salih in Erbil (UN Photo / Sabah Abdulrahman)

Mr. Melkert visits did not only focus on political discussions but also on the electoral process. He visited voter registration centers and met with civil society organizers and volunteers, such as in the area of Salhiya in Baghdad. There he noticed how seriously elections are taken in Iraq—a pre-condition for a good technical process. He said he was impressed by the sincere motivation of those present, despite the heat and lack of facilities.

SRSG Ad Melkert with the Chair of the Kirkuk Provincial Council, Rizgar This kind of civil organization and commitment Ali in Kirkuk (UN Photo/Rick Bajornas) paves the way for the national elections of Janu-

Looking Towards The Next Iraqi Parliamentary Elections: January 2010

PIO Analysis

Almost immediately after the results of the last Iraqi provincial elections were announced earlier SRSG Ad Melkert Visiting a Voting Registration Center in Salihya (UN this year, Iraq’s political machinations, parties photo) and personalities moved into high gear, tapping ary 2010, though Mr. Melkert grimly noted the partners and structuring platforms for running in destabilizing attacks of 19 August 2009. He said the next national parliamentary elections slated the response of the Iraqi government to these for January 2010. The feeling on all fronts is that atrocities, to find ways to ensure that violence the elections will be held on time, whether or not instigated by either internal or external influence an election law is passed by the Iraqi Council of does not prevent progress, was understandable. Representatives (CoR) by then. Some old alliances introduced both new blood and reforms, Indeed, Mr. Melkert affirmed that the forthcom- while new ones altogether came into being or ing elections would open up the potential to ad- morphed from pre-existing political entities. dress economic and political issues, especially via regional cooperation. He mentioned the talks As before, however, Prime Minister Nouri al- between Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Iraqi Maliki, remains at the center, and most of the President Talabani and Foreign Affairs Minister political jockeying is being aligned in terms of Zibari held in New York in September 2009, what to do, and how to organize the electoral which highlighted support for a regional ap- campaigns in relation to him. proach, and reiterated, “UNAMI’s mandate stipu- lates that we support the Iraqi government to Outside the main political alliances that repre- strengthen ties with neighbors and in boosting sent the political majority in Iraq, there are two regional cooperation”. main groups of the “minority” politicians. There are the provincial parties that want to gain seats In reflecting on his time spent thus far in Iraq, in Baghdad including Anbar’s tribal and political the SRSG also contends that strengthening the figures that emerged in recent years. What was economy in ways that bring social impact is nec- once the Anbar Awakening has now evolved essary and the Iraqi government now needs to into three main parties led by three political fig- work strategically with the UN and the World ures: The Anbar Awakening Council led by Bank. However, economic progress may be Sheikh Ahmed Abu-Risha, the Anbar Salvation contingent on security and democratic progress. Council led by Sheikh Hamid al-Hayes, and the He remarked that cooperation across the politi- Anbar Salvation National Front led by Sheikh cal spectrum helps parliament to function prop- Hatim al-Suleiman. After the highly contested erly, strengthens administration and serves gen- 2009 provincial elections, all three leaders are eral interests. UNAMI can support these objec- now looking for national platforms. Sheikh al- tives by assisting the IHEC in holding a free and Hayes has joined the newly reorganized Islamic fair election and facilitating dialogue amongst Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI) led Iraqi National various groups, such as between Arabs and Alliance (INA). Sheikh al-Suleiman has aligned Kurds. himself with the Banners of Iraq list that includes Mr. Melkert will be forging relations with his Iraqi Karbala’s Yousef al-Habboubi, who won the counterparts to prepare for relevant initiatives most votes last January, but only got one seat, and anticipates a successful national elections because he ran alone under his own name. Abu process and further economic and security pro- -Risha, on the other hand according to news gress. accounts is in negotiations with PM al-Maliki for

joining in alliance. All three are thus seeking ties Fitr holiday) a new talk is emerging suggesting with the majority parties and coalitions to ensure that former PM Iyad Allawi is in serious discus- a stronger chance of victory. sions with the newly formed INA headed by Am- mar al-Hakim, rumors persist that a new coali- In Ninewa, al-Hadba’, another new party, has tion of Saleh al-Mutlaq and Iyad Allawi would managed to grasp the political reins. It came to represent ‘Iraqi Arab Nationalists’. They appeal power running on a platform purporting to op- to former regime elements and supporters, and pose Kurdish prominence and promote Iraqi na- promote Iraqi nationalism and secularism. Inte- tionalism and the provision of better services. rior Minister Jawad Bolani, who is an independ- Now the party is planning for the national elec- ent Shiite was supposed to run with them, but tions not only in Ninewa, but also in Salah al- he may join the Shiite National Alliance instead. Din, Baghdad, Anbar, Wasit and Tamim; all of Allawi still has a chance of becoming Prime Min- them with large Sunni populations and three ister as well. with disputed territories between the Kurdistan Region Government (KRG) and the federal gov- On the majority ‘Shiite’ side, there are two main ernment. Wasit, however, is a majority Shiite coalitions running in opposition to each other. province. The speculation is that they would First is the new INA; it is a revived version of the reach out to PM al-Maliki because of their per- United Iraqi Alliance that won the most seats in ceived commonality with him. parliament in the 2005 elections. The new alliance is made up of ISCI and the Sadrists’ The other group is made up of prominent Trend, former PM Ibrahim al-Jaafari’s National ‘minority’ politicians already in power in Bagh- Reform Party, the Dawa-Iraq Party, and as men- dad. These include CoR member and prominent tioned earlier, two Sunnis, Sheikh al-Hayes of political personality, Saleh al-Mutlaq, Vice Presi- Anbar and Khalid Abd al-Wahab al-Mulla from dent Tariq al-Hashemi, the Iraqi Islamic Party Basra. The newly formed INA faced a major set- (IIP) and its Accordance Front list. Al-Mutlaq has back when the ISCI’s leader Abdul Aziz al- recently entered into negotiations with PM al- Hakim passed away last august. Although al- Maliki for possible electoral collaboration, re- Hakim’s son Ammar succeeded his father as peating similar efforts in the aftermath of the head of ISCI, the young al-Hakim does not have 2009 provincial elections. Recently, however, the same standing as his father did, leaving a news reports said al-Mutlaq was seeking alli- perceived vacuum. Al-Jaafari, Vice President ance with former PM Iyad Allawi. Adel Abdul-Mahdi, and perhaps Interior Minister Both the IIP and the Accordance Front have Bolani may emerge as contending candidates been experiencing some chaos and disorder as for the premiership. a result of Vice President’s al-Hashimi stepping PM al-Maliki’s State of Law is the other major out of the IIP, and forming his own Renewal List. list. Unlike the INA, al-Maliki is running on a na- The IIP on the other hand is pursuing to recreate tionalist agenda, and stressing cross-sectarian the Accordance Front by trying to entice back all ties. Former Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al- or at least some of the parties split from it. It Mashhadani, who was once part of the Accor- should be noted that during the course of 2008 dance Front, was the first to formally announce the Accordance Front suffered from a number of that he would run with PM al-Maliki. Mashhadani defections that year that basically reduced it to brings with him some former members of the only the IIP and parliamentarian Adnan Du- Basra based Fadhila party. As said earlier, laimi’s party, the Iraq People’s Conference. The Sheikh Abu-Risha of Anbar is also in talks with IIP is also said to be talking to al-Mutlaq, Allawi, the Prime Minister’s State of Law list. Other pos- al-Hadba’, the Iraqi Scholars, some of the Anbar sible deals might be made with al-Hadba’, the tribes, and Interior Minister Jawad Bolani’s Con- IIP, and perhaps even the League of the Right- stitution Party. However, political analysts be- eous that has recently announced that it wants lieve that such a prospect is unlikely because of to join the political process. the absence of enthusiasm among the concerned parties. Mr. al-Maliki’s greatest problem however is not so much with whom he will run with, but rather While in recent days (the week after the Eid Al- his governing style. His claim that the security

forces are capable of securing the country was shaken by the 19 August 2009 bombings, and SRSG Ad Melkert Visits the allegations that he has not been able to de- liver better services of electricity, clean water Iraqi Kurdistan Region and health in addition to the problem of unem- ployment, especially in view of the large budget cuts Iraq is experiencing.

In the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, the two ruling Kurdish parties, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) have said that they will run together in 2010. At the same time, they have rejected ideas of running with others. They still have a close alliance with the ISCI. After the vote it is likely that both will join to try to put together a ruling coalition to elect a new Prime Minister for the KRG. Both share a common opposition to SRSG Ad Melkert meeting President Barzani (UN photo/Sabah Abdulrah- PM al-Maliki. A new twist to Iraqi Kurdish politics man) is the new Change List’s announcement that it will run in the national elections. The PUK and KDP still have a solid base, but the Change List By: Sabah Abdulrahman can potentially cut into their dominance on the Kurdish vote as it was the case in the recent The Special Representative of the United Na- regional elections. PM al-Maliki could find an tions Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG) Ad opportunity at convincing the Change List to run Melkert started on September 1st 2009 a series with him. of meetings with senior officials of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), as well as with It is premature to predict which way the elec- President Massoud Barzani, his Chief of Staff tions will go, or how they will affect the Iraqi po- Fouad Hussein and Parliament Speaker Kamal litical landscape. What is certain is that Iraqi Kirkuki. politics are in a period of flux. In the 2005 parliamentary elections Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds Accompanied by UNDP officials, the SRSG also ran in three large coalitions that led to gaining visited a UNDP-sponsored ongoing project that the majority of votes. There maybe a perception aims at enhancing the Rule of Law and develop- that there have been sectarian driven agendas ment of justice in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region towards interest based politics. However, this through the establishment of a model court for change is slow and remains nascent. The PUK Rule of Law. During the visit, Mr. Melkert met and KDP are facing a new challenge from the with the KRG Chief Justice Ahmed Zubeir and Change List, while PM al-Maliki has broken with other judges from the investigation and cass- his traditional base. The major question is who ation courts. The Chief Justice briefed Mr. Melk- will al-Maliki align himself with and will he man- ert on the judiciary system in the Kurdistan Re- age to attract enough votes to keep his position? gion and its independence from the executive Will the INA, PUK, and KDP be able to stop branch of the government. “The objectives of the him? ambitious projects are,” says the UNDP Rule of Law Project Analyst Mr. Shawqi Younis, “To in- The real battle for power may very well be after crease the efficiency of the justice system and the elections in the backroom deals to form coa- provide greater court transparency, accessibility litions rather than the pre-voting negotiations and accountability; to strengthen the capacity of over who will run with whom. It all remains to be key government Rule of Law institutions to pro- seen. mote a higher standard of justice and; to en- hance the protection of citizen's rights through better access to justice and advocacy”.

On the same day - Wednesday 2 September, SRSG Melkert visited the President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, Mr. Massoud Barzani. The discussions focused on the political developments in the Region and the rest of Iraq, as well as on the elections and the issue of disputed internal territories. Mr. Melkert congratulated President Barzani for his re-election for a second term. President Barzani stated that any so- lution to the disputed territories should stem from the Iraqi Constitution according to the mechanism stipulated in Article 140, including conduction of a referendum so that the people

SRSG Ad Melkert at Parliament House with Speaker Kamal Kirkuki (UN concerned could decide on their fate. The SRSG photo/Sabah Abdulrahman) stressed the need for confidence building measures, as prescribed by his predecessor Mr. de Mr. Melkert also visited the Office of the KRG Mistura, and assured that the UN agreed that Coordinator for UN Affairs (OCUNA) where he the conduction of referendum was essential, was briefed on the OCUNA role in streamlining “But it should follow solutions that are reached the relations between the UN agencies on the through consensus and mutual trust”. one hand, and their KRG line ministries and de- Earlier that day, Mr. Melkert had visited the Par- partments on the other. Following the meeting liament House and congratulated Speaker Ka- with the KRG Coordinator Dr. Dindar Zebary, mal Kirkuki for the successful conduct of the Mr. Melkert said in a joint press conference his July elections. Mr. Melkert explained that his visit aimed at “Knowing the situation on the work on the issue of the disputed internal territo- ground and listening to KRG’s officials regarding ries would be building on what Mr. de Mistura political, social and humanitarian assistance”. had achieved so far. Also in the press conference, Dr. Zebary re- quested the UN to mount its activities in “One of Before ending his two-day visit, Mr. Melkert met the most stable areas and the second force in with Barham Salih, the Head of the Kurdistani Iraq”, through joint efforts and funding and List that won the majority of the seats in the July through relocating its Amman office to Iraq. parliamentary elections who was expected to be “The UN should play more roles in the issues nominated for KRG premiership. They dis- related to enacting the Iraqi constitution and the cussed the political situation in Iraq and the up- disputed areas”, he added. coming general elections, as well as progress and developments in different areas. Mr. Melkert started the second day of his tour with a visit to a safe haven for abused women run by a local NGO with support from UNFPA and other UN Agencies. “I am not sure we as Iraqi Youth participate in UN can do anything particular for you as a person”, Mr. Melkert said to a young woman who the celebration of the Inter- shared her story with him amid streams of tears, national Day of Peace in “But I am grateful that you shared your tragic story with us. Cases like yours convince us that New-York we need to continue supporting this NGO and others so that they can provide protection for The student observance of the International Day abused women”. The NGO that provides her of Peace has become an important tradition for lodging, food and medical treatment also pro- the United Nations Department of Public Infor- vides legal counseling and social reconciliation mation. For this year’s twelfth celebration, which efforts. Sadly, none proved helpful in her case. took place on 18 September (21 September be- “My only hope in life is to see my children again ing a UN Holiday), the theme was “Disarm Now before I die”, said the anonymous woman with for a Better World”, in line with the United Na- tearful eyes. tions Secretary-General’s “We Must Disarm” campaign.

Students from countries where the United Na- tions has established peacekeeping missions Secretary-General's remarks were invited to interact, via videoconference, with each others and with more than 700 stu- to student observance of the dents gathered at the UN Headquarters, with Messengers of Peace and the UN Secretary- International Day of Peace General, to discuss disarmament and non- proliferation issues and how it affects their lives. New York, 18 September 2009 In Iraq, where 50% of the population are said to Hello, everyone! be under the age of 15, and where millions, It's a great pleasure to welcome you to the more particularly Youth are affected by a wide United Nations today and thank you for taking range of explosive weapons, including land- part from all over the United States. mines, students go to school not knowing As you know, I just rang the Peace Bell. I think whether they will safely return home, play in you saw a broadcast of my remarks. These can public gardens or outside their homes, not be summarized in three words: We Must Disarm. knowing whether they will be the next victim of I shared some of the messages that we received the next car bomb or suicide bomb attack, go to on Twitter from people just like you – maybe the field for farming or grazing, not knowing if or even some people right in this room. when they could step on a mine. I also tweeted some of my own reasons why We That is why Iraqis wanted to make their voice Must Disarm: heard through their participation in this particular - because the world is overarmed and peace is international forum, in which they presented a underfunded. song and made genuine appeals, urging the - because disarmament contributes to develop- world leaders to pay more attention to the ment. deadly consequences of landmines’ proliferation - and because nukes threaten humankind. Let's and continuing violence in their country, and get rid of them for good. how it impacts their daily lives. I sent these messages on Twitter because I “Let’s replace the minefields with flowers”, the want to involve the whole world in the campaign song said, because when “flowers are killed, no to eliminate weapons of mass destruction. Not conscience can rest”. just political leaders but citizens everywhere – including students like you. You are the future In her presentation, Member of Parliament, Dr leaders and owners of this planet earth. Samira al-Moussawi, who heads the Women, Seeing you makes me think of my own days as Family and Child Committee at the Iraqi Parlia- a student. We didn't have modern technology, ment, focused on the extremely worrying situa- such as the Internet or compact phones that tion in Iraq, where millions of acres are uninhab- could take pictures and videos and download itable and unexploitable, as a consequence of music. Such things seemed like science fiction. mines’ dispersal. “There is an estimated 25 mil- Today they are sometimes taken for granted. lion mines dispersed throughout the Iraqi terri- In the same way, a nuclear-weapon-free world tory”, she said, reminding that this number may seem like a far-off dream, but it is not. equals the number of Iraqi citizens. “These Next week, President Obama of the United mines are randomly scattered on more than States will chair a Security Council summit on 40,000 contaminated areas, including 3,000 in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Next Baghdad and its neighbouring provinces, and year, the parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation represent a threat to up to 8 million people”, she Treaty will hold an important Review Conference continued. According to Dr. al-Moussawi “Those in the UN. The prospects for reducing nuclear death fields are estimated at 20 % of the total arsenals are better than they have been for landmines in the 83 worldwide contaminated years, though the road ahead will not be easy. countries”. It may be difficult for you to imagine me growing While these figures are only part of the arsenal up in a world with no Internet. I hope that some- day, your children will have trouble imagining of weapons and ammunitions which continue to what it was like to live in a world that could be kill and injure innocent civilians in this war-torn annihilated at any moment by nuclear weapons. country, a 10-year old student told the gathering “My father encourages me to go to school with- On this International Day of Peace, let's pledge to keep pushing, together, for a nuclear-weapon- out fear, to show terrorists that they will not stop free world. And I count on your commitment and us from living”. your leadership as future leaders of this world. Thank you.

Iraqi Children: The Future

By Ali Abdul-Jalil Devastated by a long history of wars and internal disputes, Iraqi children are the future of a nation that will rely on them to build their scattered homeland, to foil the sectarian schemes and to bring back the cradle of civilization to its deserved place. That cradle of civilization en- A group of Iraqi children participating in the International Day of Peace compassed the old Sumerians, the Babylonians (UN Photo / Zaid Fahmi) and the Assyrians who have brought prosperity not only to themselves but to the entire world. On International Day of Peace, 21 September The Song Performed by Iraqi 2009, several children invited to UNAMI deliv- Children for the International Day ered a message to the world that resonated with the horrors they are witnessing: their experience of Peace of living through the threats of violence, death and landmines. O Distinguished Gentlemen, With this background, a large proportion of Iraqi We are slaughtered by landmines children suffered a great deal through the past Landmines fill our valleys, farms and fields decades leaving them without a basic infrastruc- As days go on ture; in some areas they were deprived of the We are slaughtered by landmines right to education. Finding a playground to prac- tice some of their innocent and favorable activities was not possible. In some areas, this vul- O Distinguished Gentlemen nerable group was subject to violence, terror In all parts of Iraq and extortion. They were forced to leave their already fragile schools and instead support their Iraq’s blood is spread families by begging or working in factories. They From the North to the South were faced with landmines and kidnappings that From mountains to valleys are horrific to all and more so to children. No security, no peace The international community has a role to play in We are slaughtered by landmines rebuilding Iraq. Most of their efforts didn’t bare fruit thus far. Their efforts need to be geared O Distinguished Gentlemen towards the younger generation. Extra funds should be allocated to build and furnish schools When flowers are killed and pediatric clinics, laws enforcing child’s rights No conscience can rest and protection should be enacted, and educa- When elderly and young innocent are killed tional programs should be created and provided to children. According to a study published by No happiness no dreams the Brookings Institution on 20 August 2009, the We are slaughtered by landmines percentage of school children attending classes dropped in 2007 to 30% out of 3.5 million stu- O Distinguished Gentlemen dents, and attendants of high school to 33%. UNICEF indicates that, “Health services such as Spread this song routine immunization are in decline in many ar- All over the universe eas. Routine immunization rates in some dis- So that we remove the bombs tricts in Iraq are under 50%”. Acts of violence And replace them with seeds have increased the probability of children suffer- ing from psychosocial problems, as abuse and exploitation; street children and substance Farewell, Farewell Landmines abuse are increasingly visible phenomena in Welcome, Welcome Peace Iraq’s central cities, UNICEF also noted.

Eid Al-Fitr in Iraq "Closing the roads leading to Zawra Park and es- tablishing checkpoints helped us secure the area and its citizens preventing any attacks that might take place in such crowded areas", an Iraqi Army Officer said. "We know that these roads are vital in the middle of Baghdad and closing them creates traffic jams making people spend a lot of time waiting, but we prefer traffic jams over bombs or something similar", he added. Park visitors don't share the officer’s opinion and feel upset because their time was wasted traveling to the Zawra Park. Bilal Hamed, a young student Iraqi crowds celebrating Eid entering the main gate of Zawra Park (UN said, “It is really frustrating to spend more than four Photo/ZaidFahmi) and half hours in traffic jams and checkpoints to reach Zawra Park. We wasted most of our day just By Zaid Fahmi to get here so we have no time left to enjoy it”. Iraqis celebrated the three days of Eid al-Fitr at the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, many visiting their relatives and parks. The tradition also includes the visit of family graves on the first day. During the past several years most of Iraqi families would spend the Eid indoors because of the violence and the security situation, but that had changed with the slight improvements made in security, encouraging people to go out to parks and restaurants and thus having a normal life all over again. During the three-day Eid, hundreds of Iraqis rushed to the largest park in the center of Bagh- Iraqi families sharing a meal in the shade of a tree at the Park (UN dad, which is Zawra Park, to have fun and relax. Photo/Zaid Fahmi) “This is the second time that I bring my family here during Eid so we could have a nice meal and enjoy the nature”, Anwar Kareem said. Suhaila Ali, a housewife said, "We know that these security measures are for our safety, and that's The large numbers of visitors made the Iraqi forces why I urged my family and my two sisters and their take many steps to secure the Zawra Park. families to come here but there must be an easy Among them were closing all the roads that led to way to make us feel comfortable when we come to the park preventing cars going through and having the Park". checkpoints to search visitors entering, with one exit and one entrance to control the crowds. Despite all the difficulties and complaints that people faced during their trip to Zawra Park, they all agree that this park is a blessing, a gift to them and their families to be together safely and calmly to enjoy the Eid. "This park is our sanctuary from our daily problems giving us a chance to be with our families to see something normal like grass, trees, lakes and a Zoo full of different animals. It's a good change from the concrete walls that surround our lives". Nadia Serror commented. As for Abdullah al-Mukhtar, he said, "I don't have much time to see my kids because of my work so I brought them here to the park to spend time to- Iraqi children having fun riding the carousel (UN Photo/ZaidFahmi) gether and because my younger son wanted to see live animals instead of watching them on TV".

Uruk, Mesopotamia’s first city, long, 40m high mud brick wall that enclosed the city by order of Gilgamesh. neglected Gilgamesh also constructed the famous temple, called Eanna (House of Heaven), dedicated to By Ahmed Dwaini – Governorate Liaison Officer, the worship of goddess Innana, or Ishtar Muthana Province (goddess of love, procreation, and war). The temple of Ishtar was discovered in 1912- It would be true 1913, and is one of four known temples located to say that Uruk at the site. The temples at Uruk were quite re- was Mesopota- markable, as they were constructed with brick mia's - and the and adorned with colorful mosaic. World's - first city. Uruk is situ- Uruk’s other focal point is its ziggurat, which is the most obvious item on the landscape. These ated in the southern prov- were large temple towers with a pyramidal ince of Muthana, shaped building at the top. They were the city’s main hubs of activities. These massive ziggurat 60 km from its capital, are still visible at Samawa, and the site. 250 km south of Clay tablets, Baghdad, on an discovered in Woman from Uruk ancient branch the middle of the of the Euphrates 20th century are River, in a re- thought to be gion of marshes. Today the area is known as some of the ear- Warka. liest recorded The ancient Sumerian city of Mesopotamia writing, dating dates from the 5th millennium B.C., when the approximately 3300 BC. first settlements at the site began. It became later one of the principle city-states and an im- A ziggurat was a portant religious and scientific center. Many arti- temple tower of the ancient facts found at the site indicate that during the God of Uruk Uruk period this civilization was the model for Mesopotamian valley and Iran, many other Mesopotamian cities. The artifacts also confirm that religion was an important as- having the form of a terraced pyramid of succes- pect of culture of the city. sively receding stories or levels. Many religious writings were also uncovered Uruk was the home of Gilgamesh and is men- within the temples and a nearby cemetery tioned in the Bible (Gen. 10.10). The citizens of yielded numerous sarcophagi. Uruk were said to have first constructed the 9km However, today, there is little to nothing about the royal palace of Gilgamesh or any other king. Hundreds of antiques from its historical site have been and continue to be looted. Today’s Uruk or Warka is almost totally neglected and little care is given to its artifacts still displayed on the ground and between the walls of the ancient city. Local tribesmen, who expressed their pride that the ancient city is located in their province, seem to have taken on the task of guarding the ruins. While protective of it and prolific about its history, they recognize that “it needs books to nar- rate the importance of Uruk”, perhaps the least

The Historical city of Uruk developed excavation site of all the major ancient sites in Iraq.

same [low] stage they were at during the UN Agencies Active in Iraq previous [Saddam] regime era. We hope Sectors Activities* September 2009 this message does not fall in deaf ears and resonates in neighboring countries and international organizations dealing with wet- • WHO launched a three-week training work- lands". Kadhum Lahmoud, director-general shop for Iraqi biomedical equipment person- of the Marshlands Revival Centre at the Wa- nel from Al-Muthana Governorate. The ter Resources Ministry, 21 Sep 2009 IRIN. workshop aimed at improving staff technical skills in areas related to the basic principles • "We are working hard to attract more par- guiding to use equipment systems, trouble- ties, and there are many parties that will not shooting, safety testing and preventive join this alliance but be our allies in an ex- maintenance of specific devices like Radio- panded national front, including (Maliki's) graphic X-ray, Ultra-sonography, Cardiovas- Dawa Party, which might join the coalition or cular devices, Anesthesia/Ventilators Equip- the front". ISCI leader Ammar al-Hakim, 20 ment and Monitors for use in Intensive Care Sep 2009, Reuters. units, as well as Laboratory equipment. • I say to my brothers (children) that my father • IOM finalized the water tankering need as- urges me to go to school without fear and sessment in Ninewa governorate and is in that we shouldn’t give extremists a chance the process of coordination with the local to stop us from living. I see my father pray- government and implementing partners to ing for me to come back safely from school start water trucking in northern Iraq. and for mom to come back safely from her work. As for him, his place of employment • A Monitoring Committee of the loans pro- was blown up by an extremist who used a vided through the Japan International Coop- car bomb. Everything at his work place was eration Agency (JICA) was established to destroyed including tools, air-cool devices monitor projects supported by JICA. UNDP and the window glasses, but he was told is providing support to the Committee to that he will be back within few weeks”. One help meet the mid and long term goals for of the children who attended the Interna- Iraq focusing on enhancing specialty in fidu- tional Day of Peace activity at UNAMI, 9 ciary monitoring and capacity building in Sep. 2009 procurement and financial management. The Committee is chaired by the Prime Min- • “I send my regards to all the children of the ister’s Office with representation from the world and I look to be like those who can go Ministry of Planning and Development Co- to school without fear of a car-bomb attack operation, the Ministry of Finance, the Em- or a mine explosion”. One of the children bassy of Japan in Iraq and JICA. who attended the International Day of Peace activity at UNAMI, 9 Sep. 2009 • In the KRG UNAMI-Human Rights Office (HRO) visited the General Agency of Secu- • "We were at a checkpoint ... when suddenly rity (Asaysh) and Shaqlawa detention facili- a water tanker came toward us. The driver ties to interview the inmates and discuss the refused to stop and broke the barrier close human rights situation with the security au- to the building before exploding him- thorities. self".Jassim Mohammed, a policeman, An- bar province. Reuters, 28 Sep. 2009. • Information provided by the UNAMI Development & Humanitarian Support. • “The global economic crisis has had a nega- tive effect. It should have affected the mar- ket positively, mainly in terms of consumer Quotes from Iraqis goods, but instead the opposite happened. We need to increase economic activity, as

we are an agricultural country. There are

economic projects that could activate the • "Thank God I was able to hold the wedding economy”. Dr. Abdulreda Farag al-Badrawi, during Eid. Everything looks so normal". Ali Economy Professor at Basra University, As- Mohammed, a 31-year-old groom, 27 Sep wat al-Iraq , 27 Sep. 2009. 2009 Reuters. • "The UN can have a vital role in providing • "The marshlands have plummeted to the logistic support and supervising this impor-

tant democratic experience via appointing international observers for this task". Presi- Past Issues dent Jalal Talabani, New York, NINA, 19 • August 2009 Sep. 2009. • July 2009 • June 2009 • The summer season was the lowest in sales operations despite the plentitude of goods Click here for additional past issues and acceptable prices. The markets’ de- mand is 30% lower this year compared to UNAMI Focus the past years. This percentage may be Is an internal bulletin produced by the Public Information Office higher or lower for some other wholesalers of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq. The opinions expressed in this bulletin do not necessarily reflect those of the in Basra”. Taher Yaaqoub a merchant in United Nations. Basra - Aswat al-Iraq, 27 Sep 2009. For further information contact: [email protected] or Randa Jamal at [email protected]

• “There are large numbers of displaced per- Visit our web site www.uniraq.org sons from Mosul and tens of thousands from Talafar and other areas along the Kurdistan Said Arikat - Spokesman / Director: region. The UNHCR should cooperate with [email protected] active and prominent organizations in this Amman: +962 6 550 4700 x2640 regard”. Governor Athil al-Nujaifi, Aswat Al- Baghdad: +964 79 01 931 281 Iraq, 27 Sep. 2009. Eliane Nabaa - Deputy Chief PIO / Spokesperson: [email protected] Amman: +962 6 550 4700 x2643 Baghdad: +964 79 01 101 989

Randa Jamal - Information Officer: [email protected] Amman: +962 6 550 4700 x2644 Baghdad: +964 79 01 940 146

Salar A. Brifkani - Graphic Designer: [email protected] Erbil: +964 75 04 498 646