-Caveat Lector- Posted on Tue, Mar. 04, 2003 http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/5312120.htm
Iran Offers Plan to End Iraq Crisis ALI AKBAR DAREINI Associated Press TEHRAN, Iran - Iran offered a plan Tuesday to avert war in neighboring Iraq, calling for elections supervised by the United Nations and urging the nation's divided opposition to reconcile with President Saddam Hussein. Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi announced the plan in Tehran, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported. "We want a referendum to be held in Iraq and the Iraqi opposition (to) reconcile with the current regime in that country under the supervision of the United Nations," Kharrazi was quoted as saying during a conference held in the capital. "We believe this is a genuine move, that the Iraqi people elect their real representatives in a referendum supervised by the United Nations," IRNA quoted Kharrazi as saying. The foreign minister added, however, that Iran had no intention of interfering in Iraq's domestic affairs. "They should themselves decide on their own future and form a broad- based government in which all minorities as well as ethnic and religious groups have a share," Kharrazi said. In October, Saddam won a referendum extending his term by another seven years, capturing by official count 100 percent of the more than 11 million votes cast. The Iranian plan was quickly rejected by a key Iran-based Iraqi opposition group, and other Iraqi exiles were skeptical any sort of power-sharing or reconciliation with Saddam was possible. The plan was similar to one proposed recently by the spiritual leader of the Iranian-backed Shiite Muslim militant group Hezbollah and follows an initiative by the United Arab Emirates that urged Saddam to go into exile to avert an American attack on Iraq. Iran fought an eight-year war in the 1980s and Iran supports Iraqi opposition groups seeking to topple Saddam. Iran, however, repeatedly has said it opposes a unilateral U.S. attack against Baghdad and that any military action requires U.N. approval. Iranian leaders fear an attack without clear U.N. backing could give Washington a free hand in Iraq and leave Iran encircled by pro-U.S. regimes. "The Iraqi government, which has the power in hand now, should accept this plan," Kharrazi said. "We believe this is the only way for a peaceful change of government in Iraq, which will prevent the breakout of a war in the region." State-run Iranian television quoted deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Sadr as saying that Iran also was suggesting a meeting of Iraq's six neighbors, the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and U.N. chief Kofi Annan to deescalate mounting tension in the region. In the first reaction following Iran's announcement, the Kurdistan Democratic Party, one of the two main Kurdish groups controlling large parts of northern Iraq, rejected the idea. "No elections or referendum can be held as long as Saddam remains in Iraq. Iraqi opposition groups have agreed on a multiparty federal system to govern Iraq after Saddam's fall. No agreement can be reached between Iraqi opposition groups and Saddam because he won't accept it," said Piroud Ebrahim of the KDP. The other main Kurdish group, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, said it sent a similar proposal to Saddam six months ago and received no response. "I don't expect the Iraqi regime to respond to such a plan and Baghdad has not responded to similar initiatives," said Hazem al-Youssefi, the PUK's representative in Cairo. The key Shiite Muslim Iraqi opposition group, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, which is based in Iran, rejected the plan. The Supreme Council "has nothing to do with the plan," a Supreme Council official said on condition of anonymity. "We respect Iran's stand but Tehran usually does not impose its opinions on SCIRI and we are not committed to accept the plan." The Iranian initiative follows a proposal from the United Arab Emirates, which called on Saddam to step down and avert an American attack on Iraq. That proposal, presented during a weekend Arab summit in Egypt, was well received by Bahrain and Kuwait, but other Arabs expressed reservations, concerned that it amounted to meddling in internal Iraqi affairs and could set a precedent by calling for a fellow Arab leader's removal. In February, the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group called for a plan similar to that proposed by Kharrazi - holding an Arab or Muslim conference to form a national reconciliation government in Baghdad. "Among the priorities of a national reconciliation government would be to establish national unity, settle disputes with neighboring countries and resolve outstanding problems (over disarmament) with the United Nations," a statement from the Lebanese group said. © 2003 AP Wire and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.miami.com Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article have to stand on their own merits. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera- tions. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutra <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
