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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Boucher |
| 2004-04-15 |
| QUESTION: Have you heard about Muqtada al-Sadr now saying that he is dropping his preconditions for negotiations with the U.S., even though the U.S. apparently didn’t ask for negotiations directly with him? What’s your reaction to that? And does it open the way? MR. BOUCHER: Yeah, it’s kind of what you just said. We, as you know, first of all, in terms of how to work this situation, those decisions and who to talk to and all that needs to be worked out by the people on the ground in Iraq, and they are the ones who are working it. So I can’t give you any particular course of action or discussions or lack thereof or intermediaries [inaudible]. U.S. position though, U.S. policy, has been that we’re quite open and willing to look for a peaceful resolution of the difficulties around Najaf and easing of tensions. We have made clear all along, however, that Mr. al-Sadr needs to face Iraqi justice since there is an Iraqi criminal indictment or criminal charge against him; second of all, that as described in the Transitional Administrative Law, that militias need to be disbanded; and third of all, the government needs to be restored, legitimate government needs to be restored and the government needs -- government property needs to be returned. They need to return to the police stations and be able to exercise legitimate government authority in that city as elsewhere in Iraq. QUESTION: And likely, the President’s affirmation that U.S. -- or coalition forces will pursue Sadr to arrest him or kill him, and so on, is it your impression that the Iranians will not be sort of affected if that happens? [inaudible] MR. BOUCHER: That would require a level of political sophistication from me that I’m not prepared to offer because I don’t think I have it. There are different elements in the Shia community. There are some that are closely tied to Iran, some opposed, some secular, some religious, some -- you know, there are different, different people within that community. It’s not a single bloc as you point out. But exactly what the effects of this or that might end up being, I wouldn’t want to speculate. |
| Posted by:Super Hose |