Iraqi Premier Says New Al-Najaf Airport Erases “Era of Injustice”
[Speech by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki at a ceremony on the inauguration of the Al-Najaf International Airport - Live]
Baghdad Al-Iraqiyah Television in Arabic at 0658 gmt on 20 July carries live a report on the “proceedings of the official ceremony on the inauguration of the Al-Najaf International Airport.”
At the outset of the report, an Iraqi Airlines plane is seen taxiing on the runway of the Al-Najaf International Airport. The anchorman in the studio says that “popular and official celebrations are taking place at the Al-Najaf International Airport with the landing of the first Iraqi Airlines plane.” The anchorman says: “This airport is a great edifice and is considered one of the landmarks of Al-Najaf. It will serve as an economic gate for the governorate, specifically for central Iraq, taking into consideration that it is a great economic source for the governorate in particular and for Iraq in general. It will also facilitate the movement of the visitors of the holy shrines. Thus, it will contribute to boosting religious tourism in Iraq.” The station continues to show Iraqi citizens and policemen carrying Iraqi flags and music is played in celebration of “receiving the first passenger plane that landed at the International Al-Najaf Airport.” The anchorman says that the plane “arrived from the Baghdad Airport.” Passengers and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki are seen coming out of the plane, “thus, announcing the official inaugurating of the Al-Najaf International Airport.” The anchorman says that the prime minister is accompanied by “a large number of officials who will attend the official inauguration of the Al-Najaf International Airport.” The Iraqi national anthem is then played.
The anchorman says: “The Al-Najaf International Airport, which is inaugurated today, in the presence of Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki, has received the first plane after three years of continuous work.”
The celebration then begins with the recitation of Koranic verses. The anchorman then says: “The initial cost of the first stage of the reconstruction of this airport totalled 70 billion Iraqi dinars. The second stage will include the reconstruction of another runway, which is 4,500 meters-long and 75 meters-wide, in addition to the reconstruction of a modern two-story passenger lounge.” A poet is then seen singing in praise of the Al-Najaf International Airport. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, Iraqi officials, Iraqi and foreign military men in military uniform, and other guests are then seen sitting on couches.”
The anchorman says: “A semi-confirmed information says that the Al-Najaf International Airport today, the day of its inauguration, will receive five planes, one of which is coming from New York, two from Baghdad Airport, and one from Iraqi Kurdistan.” The celebration continues with music and songs.
Al-Najaf Governor As’ad Sultan Abu-Gulal then delivers a speech in which he welcomes Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, “the representatives of the grand religious authorities; ministers, the representative of the ambassador of the United States in Iraq; military commanders representing the military units of the coalition forces; heads and members of provincial councils in dear Iraq; governors; chieftains, Iraqi men, members of the Iraqi Council of Representatives; directors general, dignitaries, and notables; men of religion and intellectuals; the engineers supervising the Al- Najaf International Airport; and dear guests from all over the world.” The governor then speaks about the stages of the reconstruction of this airport and the services it will render.
The governor says: “We would like to say that this airport is a gift to all Iraqis and a gift to the great religious authority in holy Al-Najaf, a gift to the citizens in the governorates who were deprived of these opportunities in the past, but will now be open to the whole world.”
At 0740 gmt, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki makes the following speech:
“In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate, and God’s peace and prayers be upon the chosen Prophet Muhammad and his righteous family. May God’s peace and blessings be upon you. Almighty God says: “And We wished to be Gracious to those who were being depressed in the land, to make them leaders (in Faith) and make them heirs.” [Koranic verse, Al-Qasas (The Narration), 28:5] This is a historic moment. It is greater than the inauguration of an airport. It is also greater than the landing of a plane. It is a moment that we term as a return to right, principles, values, and equality. It is a return to lifting injustice, unfairness, and marginalization that used to proceed from rancorous sectarian bases and backgrounds. This dear historic moment gives more than one message and sends more than signal to the effect that new Iraq is the Iraq in which the individual began to regain his dignity and equality and justice among citizens. The message tells everyone that the stage of marginalization, discrimination, and exclusion is over. This is one of the messages that was not accepted at the time of the buried regime, which refused to provide the city of the leader of the faithful, Ali [Bin-Abi-Talib], peace be upon him, with an airport to facilitate the visitors’ visit. This historic moment, in which we inaugurate this airport today beside the tomb of the leader of the faithful Ali, peace be upon him, sends another message to the effect that the new Iraqi regime, which is based on powers, local governments, and governorates, is the one that will reconstruct Iraq, and will stress that the local governments, which enjoy broad powers and which unleashed the energies and qualifications of their sons, will manage to achieve the goal and aspirations for reconstructing and building Iraq in order to join the advanced states and in a way that befits its people and sons.
“On this occasion, I congratulate Al-Najaf, the city of the leader of the faithful, peace be upon him; I congratulate the local government on this achievement and success that is added to its successes in various fields; and I also congratulate the people of Al-Najaf, scholars, and sayyids, particularly the religious authorities, on the inauguration of this airport, on this government, and on these policies. This is a moment, which all sides glorify and respect. Through this moment, they also read the future prospects, which we always speak about. Here, I send congratulations to all visitors and to all Muslims who wish to visit the holy shrines and the hero of Islam, the leader of the faithful, Ali Bin- Abi-Talib. This is because this airport will facilitate their arrival and visit and provide them with security. The local government, backed by the federal government, will not stop at providing all the necessary requirements of comfort for visitors, in terms of hotels, squares, restaurants, and other facilities and means of facilitating their movement, visits, and safe return.
“This airport is also a headline of competition among the governorates and the local governments in the various governorates in order to make persistent steps, not only towards building airports only, but also towards the issue of reconstruction that befits the governorate based on its nature and according to its needs and shortages which were inherited from the time of the former regime. This is one of our great steps towards the reconstruction of Iraq.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we had the resolve, we relied on God, and sought help from the will of the people and the sincerity of the sincere ones of its sons, parties, movements, tribes, intellectuals, men of letters, scholars, men, and women. They have all adopted a historic position to confront the terrorist and security challenge that had almost shaken Iraq and its people, turned this peaceful and dear country and its honourable people into destruction and rubble, and caused infighting among the people. They thought that they have found their long-cherished terrorist wish in Iraq in order to turn it into a country in which murderers and criminals live. However, the strong will of the elected federal government; all the sons of the Iraqi people; and the police, army, and all the security forces were lying in wait for them. If we had the resolve to confront this most dangerous challenge and succeeded in this, God willing, we will be more capable to face other challenges by continuing to have the resolve after these successes with the aim of facing the challenge of services, reconstruction, and economy.
“Here the federal government, with its institutions and ministries, is totally headed in this direction, relying on the successes that have been made in the field of security and in the process of completing the building of the political institution and the national unity government, which gave no one the chance to talk about shortages, God be praised. We have recently succeeded in completing our government and in making each of its members support each other. These political and security successes have made Iraq the focus of attention for those who look for investment, reconstruction, and services. This airport is a step on the road. The Investment Authority had signed a contract to build an investment hotel, which belongs to the private sector in Baghdad. All these are messages to all those who wish to benefit from this and to invest to come to Iraq. What is more important, however, is that our march should continue on the security and political levels. We should also continue to have the resolve to close our ranks to assume our responsibilities towards reconstruction and services, from which we and the citizens still suffer, taking into consideration that this is one of the big and serious legacies that we have inherited from the buried former regime.
“Despite all difficulties and challenges, we have the right to be proud because we have made great progress in this field, the field of improving the economic situation and the power of the Iraqi currency, decreasing rates of unemployment, and increasing individual incomes. Today, in order to eliminate the remnants of deprivation, we have launched the investment process in all fields, taking into consideration that this is the only, quick, and urgent way to employ all the unemployed people. All energies, certificates, and competences will be directly involved in the investment processes.
“This airport, which has erased an era of injustice and discrimination, will not be the only one. Karbala, and on the same path of facilitating the movement of visitors and communicating with the world, God willing, will soon witness the signing of the final contract on the reconstruction of the International Karbala Airport, which, along with the Al-Najaf Airport, will be one of the elements of facilitating the movement of visitors. Thus, the steps are continuing in all Iraq. I do not want to show off, but I will leave the issue to the ministers and to the Investment Authority, which should make persistent steps and provide guarantees and the necessary protection and facilitation to capitals to come to the country, benefit from this investment opportunity, and to develop the country while the state should head towards the strategic projects, the major projects, and the projects of public-service facilities. Here, the picture will be complete between a central government effort and local government efforts with the aim of expediting the reconstruction of Iraq. Once again, I express much thanks to the local government; to all the cadres, beginning with the governor, whose efforts are appreciated; all workers; the Provincial Council; all engineers; and all those who supported this project and enabled it to reach this stage. I tell them that we are with you on the road of completing the remaining requirements and of spending the necessary funds so that this project will really serve the visitors of the leader of the faithful, peace be upon him. Thank you all, and let us make more of these achievements. May God’s peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you.”
At 0752 gmt, Abd-al-Husayn al-Musawi, head of the holy Al-Najaf Provincial Council, gives a speech in which he speaks about the anniversary of the birthday of Caliph Ali Bin-Abi-Talib. He then praises the Iraqis’ efforts in making this achievement and thanks all those who contributed to this effort.
The celebration then continues with poetry and songs. The prime minister then leaves the inauguration site and the live relay ends at 0807 gmt.
Originally published by Al-Iraqiyah TV, Baghdad, in Arabic 0658 20 Jul 07.
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