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American Morning

Interview With Mowaffak Al-Rubaie

Aired January 22, 2004 - 08:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Back to Iraq right now. A compromise position may be emerging in the transfer of power in that country. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the Shiite Muslim leader, enjoys broad support throughout the country. He's rejected the U.S. plan to hold caucuses leading to an Iraqi government by the 1st of July. Al- Sistani favors direct elections. The U.S. argues Iraq is not ready for that. They cite, in part, security issues throughout the country.
Mowaffak Rubaie is a member of the Iraqi Governing Council. He's been in contact with the Grand Ayatollah about a solution that both sides might find acceptable.

Live from London is Mr. Rubaie.

When was the last time you spoke with the Grand Ayatollah and what did he tell you about the possibility of a compromise?

MOWAFFAK AL-RUBAIE, IRAQI GOVERNING COUNCIL: Well, do you -- I mean do you disagree with the Grand Ayatollah if he calls for election as opposed to selection? I think that this election is the basic manifestation of any democratic system and he represents, he wanted a system whereby it's representative, it's inclusive, it's transparent and it's legitimate and credible. That's what he's up to. If we can produce any other way of getting into that end product, if you like, then I'm sure the Grand Ayatollah will agree.

And we're suggesting basically either keeping the Governing Council and handing over the sovereignty to it or postponing the, having the election after 1st of July, in three months time or nine months time from now or 12 months time from now, and basically delaying the process, but handing more authority, more responsibilities to Iraqis.

And that's what the Grand Ayatollah wants, he wants the Iraqi people to have their say in the political process and in the reshaping of Iraq and the future of Iraq.

HEMMER: OK, so you say he is willing to compromise then. That's the impression I get from your answer there. And he's willing to compromise so long as the Iraqis have more control and more say in the future of their country.

What about this possibility with the U.N., Kofi Annan sending a team possibly to Iraq and studying whether or not direct elections can happen in the summertime or whether or not they should be delayed? Has he told you whether or not he's willing to accept that U.N. compromise? AL-RUBAIE: See, he is not an unreasonable person. If the United Nations expert team, team of experts say that it's impossible to hold the election. Now, the question is what is the best alternative to a general election? Would it be an approved list by the three major communities in Iraq? They agree on an approved list and this list put out for a referendum? Is it something else? What is -- the question will be asked to the United Nations experts and jointly with the Iraqi experts, as well, because our Iraqi experts are telling us that it is possible and practically possible to have an election within the next six to nine months.

So we need to find out what is the best alternative to the general election.

HEMMER: Sure. Sure.

OK, a couple of things here. The U.S. is saying that security is just not right in order to hold elections this summer. It's been a major concern on behalf of the coalition, in part because it may expose some of the weaknesses in not being able to crack down on the insurgents.

If the Grand Ayatollah is not on board a plan that's proposed by the Governing Council or the U.N. or the Coalition Authority, what do you believe could be the result on the ground in the Shiite population? What could happen?

AL-RUBAIE: The Shia of Iraq have made a paradigm shift in their position and that is they made a strategic decision to cooperate with the coalition forces, not -- confrontation is not a choice. We have -- a failure of the democratization of Iraq is not a choice. We have to get this successful. We have to get democracy and elections and ballot boxes into Iraq. And...

HEMMER: Let me just interject here...

AL-RUBAIE: ... the Shia have no way...

HEMMER: I just have a little bit of time left here...

AL-RUBAIE: ... to confront the coalition forces.

HEMMER: I understand.

With the lateness now, I apologize.

If the Grand Ayatollah does not like the outcome when a decision is made, does he have the power to send millions of people into the streets and really cause havoc?

AL-RUBAIE: I don't answer hypothetical questions. I do strongly believe we will be able to find a compromise between the position of the Grand Ayatollah and the coalition forces and the Governing Council and the CPA and the United Nations. I think a solution is under way and we will be able to find a way out of this.

HEMMER: Well, come back and tell us first, OK?

Mowaffak Rubaie live in London.

Nice to talk with you, OK?

We'll be in touch very soon.

Thank you, sir.

AL-RUBAIE: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired January 22, 2004 - 08:14   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Back to Iraq right now. A compromise position may be emerging in the transfer of power in that country. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the Shiite Muslim leader, enjoys broad support throughout the country. He's rejected the U.S. plan to hold caucuses leading to an Iraqi government by the 1st of July. Al- Sistani favors direct elections. The U.S. argues Iraq is not ready for that. They cite, in part, security issues throughout the country.
Mowaffak Rubaie is a member of the Iraqi Governing Council. He's been in contact with the Grand Ayatollah about a solution that both sides might find acceptable.

Live from London is Mr. Rubaie.

When was the last time you spoke with the Grand Ayatollah and what did he tell you about the possibility of a compromise?

MOWAFFAK AL-RUBAIE, IRAQI GOVERNING COUNCIL: Well, do you -- I mean do you disagree with the Grand Ayatollah if he calls for election as opposed to selection? I think that this election is the basic manifestation of any democratic system and he represents, he wanted a system whereby it's representative, it's inclusive, it's transparent and it's legitimate and credible. That's what he's up to. If we can produce any other way of getting into that end product, if you like, then I'm sure the Grand Ayatollah will agree.

And we're suggesting basically either keeping the Governing Council and handing over the sovereignty to it or postponing the, having the election after 1st of July, in three months time or nine months time from now or 12 months time from now, and basically delaying the process, but handing more authority, more responsibilities to Iraqis.

And that's what the Grand Ayatollah wants, he wants the Iraqi people to have their say in the political process and in the reshaping of Iraq and the future of Iraq.

HEMMER: OK, so you say he is willing to compromise then. That's the impression I get from your answer there. And he's willing to compromise so long as the Iraqis have more control and more say in the future of their country.

What about this possibility with the U.N., Kofi Annan sending a team possibly to Iraq and studying whether or not direct elections can happen in the summertime or whether or not they should be delayed? Has he told you whether or not he's willing to accept that U.N. compromise? AL-RUBAIE: See, he is not an unreasonable person. If the United Nations expert team, team of experts say that it's impossible to hold the election. Now, the question is what is the best alternative to a general election? Would it be an approved list by the three major communities in Iraq? They agree on an approved list and this list put out for a referendum? Is it something else? What is -- the question will be asked to the United Nations experts and jointly with the Iraqi experts, as well, because our Iraqi experts are telling us that it is possible and practically possible to have an election within the next six to nine months.

So we need to find out what is the best alternative to the general election.

HEMMER: Sure. Sure.

OK, a couple of things here. The U.S. is saying that security is just not right in order to hold elections this summer. It's been a major concern on behalf of the coalition, in part because it may expose some of the weaknesses in not being able to crack down on the insurgents.

If the Grand Ayatollah is not on board a plan that's proposed by the Governing Council or the U.N. or the Coalition Authority, what do you believe could be the result on the ground in the Shiite population? What could happen?

AL-RUBAIE: The Shia of Iraq have made a paradigm shift in their position and that is they made a strategic decision to cooperate with the coalition forces, not -- confrontation is not a choice. We have -- a failure of the democratization of Iraq is not a choice. We have to get this successful. We have to get democracy and elections and ballot boxes into Iraq. And...

HEMMER: Let me just interject here...

AL-RUBAIE: ... the Shia have no way...

HEMMER: I just have a little bit of time left here...

AL-RUBAIE: ... to confront the coalition forces.

HEMMER: I understand.

With the lateness now, I apologize.

If the Grand Ayatollah does not like the outcome when a decision is made, does he have the power to send millions of people into the streets and really cause havoc?

AL-RUBAIE: I don't answer hypothetical questions. I do strongly believe we will be able to find a compromise between the position of the Grand Ayatollah and the coalition forces and the Governing Council and the CPA and the United Nations. I think a solution is under way and we will be able to find a way out of this.

HEMMER: Well, come back and tell us first, OK?

Mowaffak Rubaie live in London.

Nice to talk with you, OK?

We'll be in touch very soon.

Thank you, sir.

AL-RUBAIE: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com