Is it time for a national settlement in Iraq?
The predominantly Shiite National Alliance that constitutes the majority of the Iraqi parliament released a document for national reconciliation for the post-Islamic State phase, though it is far from being implemented on the ground.
NAJAF, Iraq — On Oct. 31, the Iraqi National Alliance announced the “Historical Settlement” document it recently drafted. The alliance has been working for more than a year to finish this document in order for it to be a national anchor to reach a final historical settlement for the post-Islamic State (IS) phase.
Today, as IS is about to be completely eliminated from Iraq, one must wonder whether it is finally the time for Iraqis to achieve a historical settlement in order to put an end to their conflicts that have accumulated over the years.
The document states that it represents the National Alliance’s consensual vision aiming to achieve “a national settlement that would result in a historical Iraqi reconciliation.” The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) has pledged to make political efforts, such as “rallying support for the process of national reconciliation and pushing this initiative forward locally, regionally and internationally.”
All of the National Alliance’s components have agreed to allow UNAMI to “define and settle the official representation of all Iraqi components and parties, in a way that suits everyone, as well as address the parties disrupting the settlement, as per the measures adopted by the UN.”
