Dr. Hassan AYDINLI, ITF E.U. Representative attended the Exchange of views with Mr. Ad MELKERT at the EU Parliament

Mr. Gabriele Albertini MEP, Mr. Ad Melkert, a Representative of the U.N., Mr Struan Stevenson, MEP.




ITF E.U. Representative, Dr. Hassan Aydinli and Mr. Ad Melkert, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations for Iraq

Dr. Hassan AYDINLI, ITF E.U. Representative attended the Exchange of views with Mr. Ad MELKERT, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations for Iraq, at the E.U. Parliament in Brussels.


Brussels – On 1st December 2010, Dr. Hassan AYDINLI, Iraqi Turkmen Front E.U. Representative, attended the Exchange of views with Mr. Ad MELKERT at the European Parliament.

During his speech to members of the Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) of the European Parliament Ad MELKERT Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations for Iraq, gave his assessment of the situation in Iraq, he said that the long process of government formation seems close to be finalized and that there seems to be a continuity in the government but that the balance of power is different now that Sunnis and Sadrists will play a stronger role. He said there are reasons to be reasonably optimistic. He said that some parts of the country are now more secure, but not Mosul, Baquba and Baghdad.

Mr. MELKERT spoke about the U.N.’s role in Iraq which is mainly to promote the protection of Human Rights, to support the political process regarding the ‘disputed areas’, to help improving relations between Iraq and Kuwait. He also spoke about the U.N ’s role in monitoring the situation of Camp Ashraf.

Mr. MELKERT expressed particular concern regarding the security of Iraq’s minorities, especially regarding the Christian minority in Nineveh and Baghdad, he said the U.N. was trying to find ways to protect them. He said that before there was no distinction between religious sects in Iraq.

He declared that the U.N. “will focus on the political process in and around the disputed areas that are for the time being depending outcome between Arabs and Kurds”.

When MEP Struan STEVENSON, Chairman of the Iraq Delegation, was given the floor he congratulated Mr. MELKERT for the terrific job that he was doing in Iraq. He said that the Iraq Delegation which was set up in February 2008 as an ‘ad hoc’ delegation was now a fully fledged delegation for Iraq.

Mr. STEVENSON said he was alarmed at the interference of Iran in Iraq. He also mentioned last week’s resolution of the EU Parliament condemning the death penalty in Iraq. He spoke about the necessity to protect Iraq’s minorities as well as the refugees in Camp Ashraf. He said that there were unconfirmed rumours that the Iraqi army would attack Camp Ashraf .

Several MPs put questions to the United Nations’ envoy to Iraq. Namely:

Mr. Mario Mauro, Iraq Rapporteur (Italy)
Ms. Ana Gomes (Portugal)
Mr. Vyautos Landsbergis (Lithuania)
Ms. Emine Bozkurt (Netherlands)
Mr. Alejo Vidal- Quadras (Spain)
Mr. Willy Meyer (Spain)

At the end of the meeting Dr. Hasan Aydinli took the opportunity to speak with Mr. Ad Melkert. After having introduced himself as the Iraqi Turkmen Front Representative in the E.U. he congratulated Mr. Melkert for his speech, however, he expressed his deception that when he, the U.N. Representative for Iraq, spoke about the Iraqi people and the so-called ‘disputed territories’ he had mentioned only the Arabs and Kurds, without even mentioning the Turkmens, despite the fact that these so-called ‘disputed territories’ are mainly Turkmen territories.

Dr. Hassan Aydinli said that Turkmens’ rights should not be overlooked by the U.N.

Mr. Melkert acknowledged that the Turkmens are the third main component of the Iraqi people and said that he is also working with the Turkmen representatives in Iraq.