Yahya Mahdi: U.S. Wants War for the Iraqi Oil

Novinite Insider » INTERVIEW | December 10, 2002, Tuesday // 00:00

Mr. Yahya Salix Mahdi has been Iraq's charge d'affaires in Sofia since August this year. He has worked for 28 years in the Iraqi Foreign Ministry with diplomatic positions in the United Arab Emirates, Iran, the United Nations, Morocco. Before his arrival in Bulgaria, he worked in the Iraqi foreign ministry in Baghdad. He is married and has five children.

Mr. Mahdi met Martina Iovcheva

Q: Bulgaria gave Iraq an official note, insisting for return of the Iraqi debt? Will Iraq return its debt to Bulgaria?

A: Iraq has never said that it wouldn't return its debt to Bulgaria. However, as you know, because of the twelve years long embargo, Iraq doesn't have the possibility to return directly this money to Bulgaria. This money could be returned via investments or labor force in Iraq or under another form. Bulgaria can ask UN for compensations as an economically affected by the embargo country under Article 50 of the UN statute. This issue needs to be solved in the framework of the United Nations. For many years, Iraq is one of these countries, which returned its debts regularly because our country is rich and has this possibility. Unfortunately, as a result of the embargo, Iraq is not able to pay its debts and all depends on the United Nations.

Q: Iraq presented the required by the resolution of the UN Security Council declaration of Iraq's weapons programmes on December 7th, a day before the December 8th deadline. The United States claim that they have strong evidence to contradict Saddam Hussein's claim to be free of weapons of mass destruction. What developments do you expect from now on?

A: Iraq confirms that it doesn't possess weapons of mass destruction. That is why Iraq presented to UN's Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (Unmovic) led by Dr Hans Blix and to the International Atomic Energy Agency the declaration and they delivered the document to the Security Council. Iraq presented in details Iraq's weapons programs since 1991. These documents prove that Iraq doesn't possess such weapons. We expect the position and the response of the United Nations. We do not expect the answer of the United States and Great Britain. For a while the United States and Great Britain have been preparing for a military operation against Iraq and their goals are different from the official ones. The goals of the United States are clear: they want to stay forever in the Gulf, to be masters of the Iraqi oil. They expected that Iraq will not be able to answer the requirements of the Security Council last resolution. That is why they gather military troops around Iraq. They prepare to strike Iraq. However, Iraq is not concerned with these threats because Iraq wants everything to be decided in the framework of the Security Council. Calculations were made, according to which an eventual military operation against Iraq would cost some USD 200 B. That shows that the Unites States have serious interests in the region. The real goal of the United States is to have power over the Iraqi oil.

Q: U.S. insists for a change of the regime in Iraq. How would you comment that?

A: These claims of the United States are a blunt interference in the internal affairs of Iraq. They say that the regime in Iraq has to be changed. We can also say that we do not like the regime in the United States or to ask President Bush to be toppled down. This is ridiculous. As you know on October 15th this year, there was a referendum in Iraq for the re-election of President Saddam Hussein. Some eleven thousand guests - journalists, politicians, etc. - saw what was the situation in Iraq during the referendum. Our president is legally elected by the people. This regime exists since 1968. Till 1991, the United States had an embassy in Baghdad. How come this country, which has worked for so many years so well with Iraq and had a diplomatic mission, started claiming now that it was so dangerous in our country.

Q: Is war inevitable?

A: The United States is gathering troops in the Gulf with the intention to strike against Iraq any time. Only Allah knows what will happen. A week ago, the American planes bombed an airport and seven civilians died. Obviously, the United States seeks an occasion to start a war.

Q: How does Iraq accept the UN inspectors in Iraq?

A: Iraq accepted the new UN Security Council resolution to avoid war. Iraq cooperates with the UN inspectors and facilitates their work. We hope that the results of their missions would finally put an end to the embargo. These inspectors are free to inspect wherever they want. Last week, Kofi Annan said that he was pleased with the work of the inspectors and the cooperation of Iraq. I want to underline that Iraq cooperates with the inspectors because of its own people, not because of the United States. We aim at lifting this inhuman embargo that continues twelve years and creates many problems.

Q: What would be the impact of a probable military operation on the life of the ordinary Iraqi people?

A: Of course, the embargo has a negative impact on life in Iraq and especially on economy. However, during the embargo the rulers did not leave the people hungry, Coupons for the most necessary foods are being distributed every month. It is true that the embargo has a very bad influence on the living standard of the people. Still, the Iraqi people are very tenacious and are ready to bear a military operation because the Iraqi people are not ready to accept an aggression against their country.

Q: Mr. Mahdi, you have been living in Bulgaria since August? What are your impressions from the country?

A: I have very good impressions from Bulgaria, its people and nature. I know that Bulgaria and Iraq have traditionally good and friendly relations. I pray Bulgaria not to take part in a conflict that could have a negative impact on these good relations. I would like to use the occasion to congratulate the Bulgarian people on Ramadan, which was celebrated last week and on the coming Christmas and New Year's holidays. I wish the Bulgarian people health, happiness and all the best.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

Interview » Be a reporter: Write and send your article

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria