We still have some problems with the server that host our website. Accordingly access to website might be long and / or difficult. Please receive our apologies for the disagreement, we will try to fix the EDITORIAL problem as soon as possible Issue 57- 15th March 2007 ------------------------------------------- Lessons to be learnt Do you listen to Iraqis? This is not in reference to those with the capacity and tools (like a podium and microphone) with which to speak. This is about the other Iraqis. The ones in the streets under an incredible and immeasurable pressure, the ones who suffer from a lack of all basic services, the ones who face a humanitarian crisis that nobody wants to GHT I announce officially within the circles of the International Community or Iraqi Authorities. If you have never listened to those Iraqis, well maybe you should. They might be able to impart L some valuable lessons… H National entity th G On Tuesday March 13 , in a small restaurant about 25 people gathered. They came from all I parts of the country, had different religious backgrounds, and had an equal share of men and women. They shared some kebab and shish taouk. All in all, a seemingly normal gathering, but only if this was in a normal country. It wasn't though, it was in Iraq, where such a gathering is H not normal anymore. Y The group was assembled in Sulaymaniyah, consisting of all the stripes, colours and patterns of L Iraqi society from all the Governorates of Iraq. They didn’t discuss politics, violence or divisions. K They sang. It was the best message that could be sent to all those who advocate on or for the division of E Iraq. They all sang for their country, and they all sang together. E Whether they came from Basrah or Erbil, from Baghdad or Nassriyah; whether they were originally from Haditha or Kut, from Najaf or Mosul, they all have the same points of reference, the same songs. They also danced together, each participant learning the intricate steps or variations specific to W particular regions. I It was an incredible and moving moment of sharing. It was a moment where you really wonder how Iraq wound up in the situation it is in today, where people can talk openly about dividing the country. It was a moment where you revile politics because it is at its worst – a means for some people to look out for their own interests and to increase their own benefits. NCC Are these interests important enough to destroy a country and its people? Can the example of camaraderie and living multiculturalism as displayed (in comfort and ease) by this group be emulated and followed by their compatriots? Transparency and Accountability The above-mentioned group is participating in a training of trainers program. Two days of the training are dedicated to transparency and accountability. Because the International Community regularly stresses, with reason, the importance of such principles. Because these Iraqis are willing to adhere to internationally recognised standards. Unfortunately, training is sometimes not enough. Learning by doing and leading by example is sometimes more important. Yet it’s not always done. Everybody knows about the general level of corruption in Iraq, as well as the lack of accountability in the implementation of major reconstruction projects led and financed by dominant funding agencies. Iraqis were fed-up with the corrupted “oil for food” program. When they reproach the International Community for its indiscretions and faults, this is a clear call for the need of more accountability, which in turn can be more easily monitored with better transparency. Today, the humanitarian needs are obvious. But the means to respond are not supported or funded nearly enough. Among the reasons given for this lack is because Iraq is a rich country, or a lot of distributed money is still available, or the money has already been distributed and of course that monitoring is impossible. The NGO response to this reasoning is that the Iraqis that are suffering are not the rich ones, that there is no money available for emergencies and that monitoring is possible. NGOs work on documents to increase their accountability and to present to donors better ways and strategies to monitor programs. It’s not perfect, but efforts have been made to respond to the donors’ requests and to increase links and information sharing mechanisms/content with them. In terms of reciprocity, NGOs expected that donors might respond in kind to some of their requests and become more transparent for the purposes of better coordination. Indeed, coordination between coordination bodies is very often pointed out as a bottleneck in Iraq. NGOs, through NCCI, have requested for an observer's presence at the so-called “donors conference” that will be held in Istanbul next week. The response was that “the participation of non-donors at the IRFFI meeting […] would not be appropriate. As you may be aware, this is to be a business meeting of the donor committee to approve the reports of the WB and UN, as well as to discuss technical issues on IRFFI. Therefore for non-donors to be invited would be inappropriate.” Wonderful example of transparency isn’t it? Iraqis needs to have the support of the international community, but they need a transparent support framework they can refer to. They need to know and understand what is going on. Iraqis perhaps can't provide lessons here. But the lessons they learn through such responses are quite far removed from what the International Community is asking them to produce. When the case is one of "do as I say, not as I do" who has to be blamed for lack of transparency and accountability? Humanity Let’s come back on our above-mentioned group. They are all working daily on Human Rights in Iraq. It’s not easy and they generally look for guidance, yet again, and for the standards to be set by more experienced countries. They were all happy to see a foreigner sitting with them for their dinner. A chorus of “Ahlan Wa Sahlan” (welcome) were said. This response is far removed from the more widely spread and common image of dangerous Iraqis who want to kill all foreigners. Of course people who endorse this latter sentiment do exist and Iraq is dangerous for foreigners, but for Iraqis as well in some areas. Amalgamation is never good indeed. On the other hand, an Iraqi asked for a 3-day visa to enter the UK to participate in a conference that will focus on the problems faced by Iraqis refugees. The visa was refused. The stated reason for refusal was that “given the nature of the conference you propose to attend, you will be well aware of the NCCI Weekly Highlight 2 Issue 57– 03/15/2007 instability which prevails in Iraq and the vast numbers of people who have left the country and not returned. Given the above, I am not satisfied you intend to return to Iraq. Given the above, I am not satisfied you would be accepted to return to Jordan […] I am not satisfied on the evidence before me that you will leave the UK after a limited period, nor that you are genuinely seeking entry to the UK only for the purpose stated”. Given the wording of the refusal, it can be rephrased as: “if you are aware about the situation in Iraq (obviously an Iraqi is already aware…) and about the refugees’ situation, you will try to become a refugee. Yet we don’t want you in our country.” Are racism and fear standards more important than fostering a welcoming atmosphere today? Who should follow the example given here? Iraqis are definitively not perfect, and neither is anyone else in the world. However, those that request you to follow rules as recognised standards should in turn give a good image of what should be done. Adopting such practices are certainly the best way to work together to support the most vulnerable. To save lives. To keep humanity at the top of the agenda. ----------------------------- Salam NCCI Team NCCI Weekly Highlight 3 Issue 57– 03/15/2007 ____________________________________ Humanitarian Updates From NCCI, NGOs’ reports from the field and UN agencies Advocacy - UNHCR protests Turkish “refoulement” of recognised Iraqi refugee Source: UNHCR Document: Statement Date: March 13, 2007 Access: Open UNHCR deeply regrets the refoulement by Turkey of an Iraqi refugee on March 3. The individual, who comes from central Iraq, had been accorded refugee status by UNHCR and had been issued with the relevant documentation on February 13. On February 20, upon learning that a deportation order had been given to the refugee, UNHCR wrote to the Turkish authorities, reiterating UNHCR's position as reflected in its advisory to governments that Iraqis from southern and central Iraq 'should be favorably considered as refugees under the 1951 Convention, given the high prevalence of serious human rights violations related to the grounds of the 1951 Convention.' In that advisory, UNHCR calls upon states not to forcibly return any Iraqi from southern and central Iraq. - Sami Rasouli, back from Iraq, says U.S. is impeding peace Source: Star Tribune Document: Article Date: March 12, 2007 Access: Open Sometimes in this troubled world, even peacemakers smile. Sami Rasouli, the former restaurateur who gave up a comfortable life in Minneapolis to return to his native Iraq three years ago, laughs when he thinks about the recent trip Gov. Tim Pawlenty made to Iraq and Afghanistan. But Rasouli does sound pretty rational. "Occupation and democracy do not fit together," he says to anyone who will listen.