Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

We have discussed some of these issues through other Priority Questions but I will put them to the Minister as follows: The current head of security of the interim Iraqi Government suggests that it is in charge of approximately 30% of the country. More than 80% of all people polled in Iraq are in agreement that it would be the best outcome if foreign occupational forces left the country. At the same time, there is the issue of how to create security. Has the future federal structure of Iraq been discussed at the level of the European Council of Ministers? I previously put it to the Minister that the talks taking place between the United States and Iran, for example, is an attempt to determine if an agreement with the Shi'ite community would enable a withdrawal of US troops in the short term. However, this would inevitably lead to the exclusion of Sunni groups. We have heard nothing from any European Minister regarding the future of Iraq's Kurdish areas. Does all of this mean the likelihood of a break up of Iraq being the only means by which a withdrawal of foreign troops can be managed?

The Minister would find it difficult in international law to suggest that the nature of a country's occupation, originally without a mandate, could be changed even with a Security Council resolution. For example, does this mean that the new force involved in the task of reconstruction is now bound by all international conventions, including the Geneva Convention, in its relations and responsibilities to the civilian population? If so, why did Dr. Condoleezza Rice say that thousands of mistakes have been made in Iraq?

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