Iraq: Basra Region en route

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Iraq: Basra Region en route

Wednesday, June 16th 2010 2:26 PM

Basra, June 16 (AKnews) - A number of members in Basra local government supported on Wednesday the project to declare Basra as a region in Iraq saying that Basra is the source of Iraq's richness and the citizens do not get benefit from them, while others had different opinions where one of the local officials in the government said that the province is not yet ready to be a region."

"I ,as the head of Planning and follow-up committee, am one of the strongest supporters of this project because it would change the situation in Basra and gives the powers and provide more services for the province inhabited by more than 3 million people, but there must be a person between the three millions who is able to manage and develop it," Walid Keitan, the official of planning and follow up committee said on Wednesday.

"The province is completely ready to be a stable region because it includes most of the Iraqi riches that the Iraqi economy relies on."

The official of Religious Committee in the Council Mohammed Jaafar disagreed with this opinion saying that "Basra lacks cultural awareness and several government institutions that should be in the province and now it is full of problems and do not have the political groundwork that enable the province to establish a stable region", noting that "local government should ensure the needs of the people in the province and then think about declaring it a province. "

The official of Human Rights Committee, Hussein Ali Hussein told (AKnews) "I refuse to declare the province as a region at this time because of the continued American presence, and the Americans are seeking now to divide Iraq," Houssein Ali Houssein, the official of Human Rights committee said.

The official of Tourism Committee Zahraa al-Bijari said that "this issue is a public demand by the citizens in Basra where Basra will enjoy its richness and I support everything that serve the province and I believe that declaring the province as a region will serve the province."

The idea of Basra Region draft was initiated by the chairman of Basra provincial council, and discussing it as a project within Basra council came after services worsened and the increase in sufferings of the citizens in Basra, especially the problems of saline water in Faw and Ceyhan areas as well as other problems.

The approval of the Basra region draft needs 50+1 of the votes of the citizens of the province, after which the Commission will declare the quorum to announce Basra as a region.

Rn/gs AKnews http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/9/155711