Iraqi and UK Officials Speak at Basra Security Handover Ceremony
Text of report by Dubai-based Iraqi private Al-Sharqiyah TV on 16 December
Iraq today officially assumed authority in Basra Governorate, southern Iraq, from the British forces. Basra Governor Muhammad Misbih al-Wa’ili signed the handover of security responsibility agreement. Brigadier-General Graham Binns, British forces commander in southern Iraq, also signed the agreement. The ceremony of the handover of authority was held at the British forces’ base in the airport and was attended by David Miliband, Britain’s secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs, and Iraqi government and security officials. Iraqi National Security Adviser Muwaffaq al- Rubay’i delivered Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s speech, who hailed this step, considering it an indicator of the growing Iraqi capabilities. He emphasized the government’s endeavour to terminate militias by allowing only state-issue arms.
Afterwards, Basra Governor Muhammad Misbih al-Wa’ili delivered a speech in which he called on the armed forces to preserve the blood of innocent people. He also called on citizens to unite and work in order to preserve the Arab and Islamic identity of this governorate. He added that implementing the law and observing human rights will be the first duty which the forces will pursue after assuming security responsibilities.
Brig-Gen Graham Binns delivered a speech in which he voiced confidence that the Iraqi forces will succeed in taking over security responsibilities, calling on political alliances in the governorate to work on making the Iraqi forces’ mission of preserving security successful. This was followed by a speech by Sa’dun al-Abbadi, president of the Basra Governorate Council, in which he voiced pride over achieving sovereignty in Basra, stressing the role of Iraqi forces in maintaining security and stability in the governorate. This was followed by the ceremony for the signing of the security agreement, dealing with the handing over of the security responsibility to the Iraqi forces in Basra Governorate by the British forces.
Al-Wa’ili signed the agreement for the Iraqi side. Al-Wa’ili will assume part of the security responsibility in the governorate whereas Muhan al-Furayji, commander of the Iraqi forces in Basra, will be charged with the remaining security responsibilities. Gen Graham Binns signed the agreement for the British side.
Assuming security responsibility in this governorate, which is considered the main outlet for exporting Iraqi oil, will be the biggest test so far of the Iraqi government’s ability to maintain security without forces from the USA or its main ally [Britain]. Basra has managed to avoid sectarian war, to some extent, which killed scores of thousands of people in central Iraq. However, Basra has witnessed bloody wars among warring groups, criminals and smugglers. The groups agreed on a truce this month, whereby killing operations decreased, but an attack with three booby-trapped cars in the nearby Maysan Governorate last week brought back to minds the possibility of the occurrence of acts of violence in places from which British forces have withdrawn.
A reduced British force will remain in southern Iraq. This force will be deployed at an air base outside Basra. A small training mission and a rapid response team will be deployed at the base as well. Britain currently has 4,500 soldiers deployed in Iraq which is less than one tenth of the forces which former Prime Minister Tony Blair sent at that time to assist in toppling the former regime in 2003.
Originally published by Al-Sharqiyah TV, Dubai, in Arabic 1000 16 Dec 07.
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