A smoking peace pipe

An Iraqi envoy's talks with government opponents in Cairo highlight a sharp split, writes Salah Hemeid

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The visit of Akram Al-Hakim, Iraq's state minister for national dialogue, to Egypt last week was designed to reach out to exiled opponents of the government and convince them to move towards reconciliation. Yet, the discussions he had with a small group of former politicians and activists spurred further signs of differences on how to end Iraq's deepening national crisis. His attempt to meet with Baathists formerly aligned with Saddam Hussein did not gain ground, even as the government promised they can return to their former jobs, as long as they are not wanted for crimes committed under the former regime.

In an interview with Al-Ahram Weekly, Al-Hakim said his main goal during the week-long visit was to meet with politicians and activists "from the liberal, leftist, democratic and nationalist trends" to try to convince them to return to Iraq to take part in the current political process. But he admitted that his mission yielded little, describing it as "complicated and difficult". "We want to tell them that Iraq is now full of opportunities which should make them think seriously of returning and participating, especially in the [upcoming] elections," he said. Yet he didn't see the discussions as a complete failure insisting that "more attempts are in the pipeline."

This is part of the effort to quell the recent spiral of violence ahead of a planned US withdrawal next year and to promote healing for the war-ravaged country. In recent weeks Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki made several appeals for an end of the sectarian and ethnic division, attracting new allies. Part of his bid was prompted by his confidence that he will win the national election expected this winter after his strong show in January's local balloting.

But the efforts seemed to have stumbled after a series of clashes between Sunni militias and Shia-led government forces and a string of bombings and attacks against government police forces. The disarray reflects the anxious jockeying of the political groups before the general elections, contests expected to inflame sectarian and ethnic tensions and disrupt US President Barack Obama's plan to withdraw American combat forces before 2011.

In Cairo, Al-Hakim was told by the Iraqi activists that the government needs to introduce some drastic changes in the political process if it wants the reconciliation efforts to bear fruit. The group offered a wide-ranging plan for reconciliation that includes forming an independent committee to oversee the process independent of government control. They argued that previous attempts had failed because the government tried to impose preconditions and wasn't open to compromise. In a document they presented to Al-Hakim, and a copy of which obtained by the Weekly, they also proposed that a new all-inclusive conference should be held to draft a National Charter that will spell out goals and benchmarks of nation- building until a new constitution is written or the current one revised.

Among the proposal made was to hold a nationwide referendum to resolve the critical issue of the dissolved Baath Party. As the government has vehemently rejected the return of the party to the political arena and insisted that Baathists who are still loyal to Saddam's regime cannot return to the government or the armed forces, a key demand by Sunni Arabs, the group suggested that a plebiscite could be a democratic means to end this deadlock.

Another key suggestion the group made was to postpone the winter parliamentary elections to give time for better preparation for the reconciliation efforts and to form an independent interim government that will supervise balloting. That proposal, they argued, would allow the "silent majority" which had not been able to organise itself in political parties to come forward with their own lists of candidates or form their own coalitions.

Realising the influence some of Iraq's neighbours still exercise and their interference in the country's affairs, the group suggested that a UN-sponsored conference be held to iron out an international agreement that provides ample guarantees to protect Iraq's border, help in maintaining peace and stability and prevent any kind of foreign interference in its internal affairs. Such a conference should also provide an opportunity to address other regional security concerns and help in fostering stability in the entire Middle East and Gulf region.

The package might seem to be farfetched but according to participants in the meeting Al-Hakim promised that the government will discuss the proposals "in good faith". Al-Hakim himself told the Weekly that "some of the proposals are unrealistic" underscoring the gap still exists between the government and even its peaceful opposition groups. He said the discussions underline the government's intention "to extend its hand to all those who do not resort to violence," insisting that even former Baathists who are ready to renounce violence can still join in.

Still there is little reason for optimism and the effort will probably stay for long in the dialogue phase. One reason for caution is that Al-Maliki's urge for reconciliation now seems more prompted by his dire need for new allies among secular groups rather a genuine desire for working constructively for the common good. Government opponents, such as the Cairo group, fear that Al-Maliki is under immense pressure from both his allies in the government and the Baathists and he only needs them to raise his status ahead of the election. They also fear that they would be pawns in the political battlefield between Al-Maliki and his rivals who might torpedo any attempt to include independent and secular- minded politicians in the political process which they have dominated so far.

Iraqis have made several efforts to stamp out the six-year-old divisional politics based on sect and ethnicity, nut so far none have succeeded. They now need a new practical approach, one which while recognising their primary and secondary identities also stresses the need to highlight their all-encompassing national bonds and their ability for conflict solving. The proposals made by the Cairo group could be a good start even if the process is long and torturous, because it focuses on substance rather than form.