IRAQ. Republic of Iraq
A state in Southwest Asia, located in the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Area - 437,000 km². Capital - Baghdad (over 3 million). Administrative division - 18 provinces (muhafaz). Population - 22.6 million (2000); 75% - Arabs, over 20% - Kurds, also Turkmen, Assyrians, Persians, Armenians, and others reside. Official languages - Arabic and Kurdish. Religion: up to 96% of the population practices Islam.
Currency - Iraqi dinar = 1000 fils.
Has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR in 1944, interrupted by the monarchical Iraqi regime in 1955 and restored after the revolution in the country in July 1958). 9.VI 1972.
National holiday - date not yet determined.
Iraq is one of the oldest states in the world. From the 17th century until the end of World War I, it was part of the Ottoman Empire. After Turkey's defeat in it, Iraq's territory was seized by Great Britain, which received a mandate to govern the country at the San Remo conference in 1920. According to the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of 1930, Iraq was formally proclaimed an independent state, but in fact, Great Britain continued to exercise its military-political control over it. In February 1955, Iraq signed a treaty with Turkey, which became the basis for the Baghdad Pact.
On 14.VII 1958, the monarchy in Iraq was overthrown and a republic was proclaimed. Iraq withdrew from the Baghdad Pact and eliminated foreign military bases on its territory. The republican government began to implement democratic reforms in the country. With the rise to power of the Ba'ath Party in 1968, land reform was carried out in the country, including in the Kurdish Autonomous Region (KAR), new labor and social security laws were enacted, among others. Iraq nationalized foreign oil companies operating in its territory. On 11.III 1974, the autonomy of Iraqi Kurdistan was proclaimed. In 1979, S. Hussein became the president of the country. Subsequently, his powers were extended through nationwide referendums in 1995 and 2002.
In September 1980, the Iran-Iraq war began. In August 1988, hostilities were ceased, allowing negotiations for a ceasefire to begin. On 15.VIII 1990, after Iraq's occupation of Kuwait and the escalation of the situation around Iraq, S. Hussein appealed to the President of Iran with a proposal for an immediate peace agreement, effectively on Iran's terms. Iraqi troops were withdrawn from the Iranian territories they occupied, and simultaneously, the exchange of prisoners of war began. In October 1990, diplomatic relations between Baghdad and Tehran were resumed.
In July 1990, relations with Kuwait sharply deteriorated, from which Baghdad demanded compensation for "losses" amounting to $2.4 billion for allegedly illegal oil extraction from a border field, the cancellation of debts from loans received during the Iran-Iraq war (around $17 billion), and the concession or leasing of strategically important islands in the Persian Gulf, Warba and Bubiyan, to Iraq.
On 2.VIII 1990, Iraqi troops occupied Kuwait, and on 8.VIII 1990, it was announced in Baghdad that Kuwait had "merged" with Iraq. The UN Security Council condemned the aggression and demanded the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi troops. The Council's resolutions imposed trade and economic sanctions against Baghdad.
After the liberation of Kuwait's territory by the anti-Iraqi coalition, the UN Security Council adopted resolutions 686 and 687 regarding the conditions for a ceasefire and the general parameters for post-war settlement, which included a demand for the elimination of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and means of delivery. Iraq officially announced its recognition of these resolutions and the cancellation of all legal acts adopted regarding Kuwait after 2.VIII 1990.
In accordance with the UN Security Council's decisions, from 1991 to 1998, the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) and the IAEA carried out significant work on inventorying and documenting the destruction of Iraq's WMD capabilities. There were repeated acute crises between Baghdad and the UN. From 16 to 20.XII 1998, the US and UK carried out missile and bombing strikes against Iraq. As a result, cooperation with the UN in the disarmament sphere was paralyzed until the end of 2002.
On 8.XI 2002, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1441, which created the necessary basis for the resumption of UN inspection and monitoring activities in Iraq. In particular, a new Commission for Monitoring, Control, and Inspections in Iraq (UNMOVIC) was established. However, London and Washington took a line on the forcible removal of S. Hussein's regime. On 20.III 2003, the US and UK began military operation "Iraqi Freedom." On 9.IV 2003, allies captured Baghdad, and on 1.V 2003, US President G. Bush announced the end of the active phase of hostilities in Iraq.
From 1.V 2003 to 28.VI 2004, the country was occupied by coalition forces, governed by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). Iraq's status as an occupied country was recorded in UN Security Council resolutions 1483 (22.V 2003) and 1511 (16.X 2003).
During the occupation period, an Iraqi administration also operated in accordance with the decisions of the UN Security Council, represented by the Interim Governing Council (IGC) and the transitional government.
On 1.VI 2004, in Baghdad, with the active assistance of the special political advisor to the UN Secretary-General L. Brahimi, the Iraqi Interim Government (IIG) was formed, headed by I. Alavi, with the election of a president (Sunni G. Yawer) and two vice-presidents (Shia I. Jaafari and Kurd R. Shaways). At the same time, the IGC dissolved itself. On 28.VI 2004, an official ceremony took place to transfer power from the CPA to the Interim Government.
On 8.VI 2004, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1546, which welcomed the formal end of the occupation of Iraq and confirmed the previously developed scheme and schedule for the political process.
On 30.1.2005, elections were held for the Transitional National Assembly (TNA). The Shiite party bloc won (51% of the votes).
The Kurdish coalition received about 25%. Sunnis effectively boycotted the elections. Based on the election results, on 6.IV 2005, a Presidential Council was formed, chaired by Kurd J. Talabani (his deputies became Sunni - former President of Iraq G. Yawer and Shia A. Abdel-Mahdi), and on 28.IV 2005, a transitional government was formed, headed by Shia I. Jaafari. On 9.V 2005, it was sworn in. The chair of the TNA was appointed to Sunni K. Hasani.
The new Iraqi cabinet has a complex coalition composition, agreed upon as a result of a "package deal" among the leaders of the main ethnic-confessional groups in the country. The dominant positions of the Shiites are balanced by significant representation of the Kurds. Sunni groups that did not participate in the elections managed to obtain 9 ministerial portfolios and a vice-premier position.
In the Law on the Administration of the Iraqi State during the Transitional Period adopted during the occupation on 8.III 2004 (currently acting as a temporary constitution of the country), Iraq is proclaimed a democratic republic, "based on the principles of political pluralism, federalism, and separation of powers at the federal, regional, and local levels." The entirety of executive power is concentrated in the hands of the Prime Minister of the transitional government. The Presidential Council, consisting of 3 members (the president and 2 vice-presidents), is endowed with representative powers. The highest legislative body - the unicameral Transitional National Assembly consists of 275 deputies. The law also establishes a schedule for the political process, the ultimate goal of which is to restore national legitimate state governance bodies.
In accordance with it, a permanent constitution of Iraq was adopted in a referendum on 15.X 2005. On 15.XII 2005, elections for a new parliament were held based on it, which will form the structures of executive power.
Currently, there are a significant number of various political parties operating in Iraq. The most influential are the Shiite parties - the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI, leader - A. Hakim) and the Islamic Dawa Party (I. Jaafari), as well as the Kurdish parties - the Kurdistan Democratic Party (M. Barzani) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (J. Talabani). The Sunni community is mainly represented by the Iraqi Islamic Party (Secretary-General - M. Abdelhamid) and the Committee of Muslim Scholars led by Sheikh X. Dari. The interests of the main national minorities in the country are represented by the Assyrian Democratic Movement (Y. Kanna) and the Iraqi Turkmen Front (S. Jabuk). Radically inclined Shiites are united around the leader of the Sadr Movement, Muqtada al-Sadr. Among the largest "secular" structures are the Iraqi National Accord Movement (I. Alavi), the Union of Independent Iraqi Democrats (A. Pachachi), the Iraqi National Congress (A. Chalabi), the Iraqi Communist Party (X. Musa), and others.
At the present stage, Iraq's leadership places a priority on establishing and strengthening bilateral relations with leading countries in the world and the region, mobilizing financial assistance for the post-war reconstruction of the country. Iraq is a member of the UN (since 1945), the Arab League (since 1945), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab Cooperation Council, OPEC, and other international organizations.
Iraq has significant economic potential, the basis of which is substantial oil reserves (over 65 billion tons), natural gas, sulfur, and phosphates. The maximum level of oil production was reached in 1979 (175 million tons). Before the start of the Iran-Iraq war, oil export revenues amounted to $21-26 billion annually.
Military actions and the 12 years of ongoing international sanctions had a devastating effect on the country's socio-economic infrastructure. The industry was almost completely destroyed, agriculture and the service sector were severely undermined. Despite ongoing efforts, it has not been possible to return to pre-war levels in oil production. There are serious disruptions in the supply of electricity and drinking water to the population, and there is a persistent shortage of food and medicines. The unemployment rate is 60%.
The internal political situation remains tense. The country is effectively experiencing a large-scale guerrilla war, with uncontrolled growth of violence and terrorist activity. The main strike of the so-called resistance movement is directed against the multinational forces in Iraq, primarily composed of US military personnel, as well as against representatives of the Iraqi leadership, employees of the reestablished state institutions, national police, and security services. Since 7.XI 2004, a state of emergency has been in effect throughout Iraq, except for the KAR, imposed based on the National Security Law adopted on 6.VII 2004.
Center, newspapers: "Az-Zaman," "Asharq Al-Awsat," "Ad-Dustour," "Al-Iraq," "As-Sabah Al-Jadid" (independent), "As-Sabah" (government publication), "Al-Mu'tamar," "Al-Ittihad," "At-Tahadi," "An-Nahda," "Al-Adala," "Baghdad" (print media of leading parties). The Iraqi National Television and Radio Network is operational.