Regards, Ivan
Posted on 01/31/2005 12:12:41 AM PST by MadIvan
* Qazi says elections paving ground for constitution-drafting process
* Annan hails country’s ‘first step’ towards democracy
BAGHDAD: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s representative in Iraq described Sunday’s elections as “transparent and fair” and took heart at what he said was a high turnout.
“Even in security difficult areas, there are people lining up to vote. In the north and in the south, the turnout is particularly heavy,” Ashraf Qazi told the news agency, without providing numbers.
“By and large, these elections will be seen to be transparent and fair and will most importantly prepare the ground for the next phase of the transitional process which is the constitution-drafting process,” he said. “There has been a systematic attempt to disrupt the elections as we have seen in Baghdad and in other areas. It appears that the Iraqi people are expressing their determination to exercise their right to vote and choose their representatives, this is a very healthy sign,” Qazi said.
“If certain people have for whatever reason stayed away from this particular phase of the transitional process, it’s always possible, desirable and indeed a matter of priority to make sure that they participate in the subsequent phase of the transition process,” Qazi said.
He was referring to Sunni minority of Iraq, whose heartland predictably saw the lowest turnouts. Sunni parties boycotted the landmark polls, while would-be voters have been the targets of a bloody campaign of intimidation by extremist insurgents.
Final results are not expected for another 10 days, but the parliament that will emerge from the country’s first democratic elections in half a century will be tasked with agreeing on a constitution for the war-torn country. “In the next phase, our role, if invited, would be to provide advice and tap into the experience the UN has of assisting other countries draft a constitution,” Qazi said.
Earlier, the UN’s election advisor in Iraq said turnout was exceeding expectations, noting that voters were lining up at polls even in the rebel-plagued northern city of Mosul.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the world must encourage voters in Iraq’s elections, calling Sunday’s balloting “the first step” towards democracy.
“They know they’re voting for the future of their country. They’re voting for the day when they’re going to take their destiny in hand,” Annan told reporters at an African Union summit in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. “We must encourage them”
“It’s the first step in a democratic process,” Annan said of Sunday’s vote, which saw insurgent attacks killing over two-dozen in Iraq. “It’s a beginning, not an end,” Annan said in French, replying to a reporter’s question. The elections are seen as a crucial step towards Iraqi democracy after the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Officials hope a successful vote can help undermine the insurgency.
At the same time, Prime Minister Iyad Allawi cast his vote on Sunday in Iraq’s landmark elections, saying the ballot meant his countrymen could hold their heads up high. Allawi smiled broadly as he walked out of the polling booth in the fortified Green Zone complex in Baghdad. Like others casting their ballots, he had to dip his finger in indelible blue ink to prevent multiple voting.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
Hey, even the UN won't be able to screw this up. Since their terrorist buddies couldn't bomb the Iraqi people into submission, the UN wants to try and change its colors... ;)
President Bush can use this endorsement to crush Democrat opposition, however.
He needs to broadcast this far and wide - it's telling I had to go as far afield as a newspaper in Pakistan to find this story.
Regards, Ivan
How the hell could they know that? The cowardly U.N. "Observers" were in Jordan. It's a big joke to the Iraqi people.
How could that possibly happen? Jimmah Cahter wasn't over there to monitor it.
Have you forgotten the illegal French missiles with the year 2003 stamped on them?
Ivan! Where have you been? Happy Christmas and New Year!
This is a nice way to start a new working week! :-)
bttt
I agree. The UN is trying to repair it's heavily damaged image a bit.
They'd much rather assist in denigrating the elections, Iraqi freedom and Bush but the turnout made certain that they couldn't. They've been forced into a corner and have to appear statesman-like.
Much gnashing of teeth going on at the UN today too.
Transparent and fair because the UN had NOTHING to do with it.
Seeing all of those Iraqis proudly showing their ink-stained fingers as proof of voting made me wonder: how come we don't do the same thing in this country? Everyone knows that there are people in this country voting multiple times in our election, most of whom are left-wingers. This idea is so brilliant and simple it amazes me that we don't do it. It wouldn't eliminate fraud completely, but it would cut down on it dramatically.
How is the British media portraying the election?
To be honest, even the left wing Guardian is saying the voters came out in large numbers in defiance of the terrorists - it is an unqualified victory for democracy, though Bush is getting none of the credit in most of the media.
Regards, Ivan
< / sarcasm >
It's OK. We can't expect too much.
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