Hoshyar Zebari Quotations

We reached the final agreement with the Kuwaiti government to resume our diplomatic activities and we will reopen our embassy within the few coming weeks.

We have presented our visions and our priorities to you. Now it's your turn to look at those elements and those priorities to see where you can help,

to protect the freedoms of the rest of the civilized world.

Make no mistake. We are here to stay, ... We are not temporary or interim leaders. After Saddam's topple, you have to live with these faces, whether you like them or you dislike them.

left to the Kuwaiti government itself and its estimation about the situation in Iraq.

ideas (he has presented) for some practical steps which can help boost morale on the domestic Iraqi scene.

I think this project of democracy-building in Iraq has alarmed many authoritarian autocratic regimes in the region, ... Many of them are counting on our failure, and they have not been helpful.

people are saying that Saddam is going to try the occupation, Saddam is going to try the government, but really we are not afraid of that. I don't think that even the US or Britain are afraid of this.

Really there hasn't been any differences of opinion between the Iraqi government and U.S. Embassy at all,

Regrettably, the bulk of foreign fighters and terrorists are infiltrating from Syria, and the Syrian government has not demonstrated any serious cooperation to help us stop their transit,

will help the reconciliation efforts and the healing process.

We do not have any preconceptions that could be seen as attempts to deprive some Russian company of the possibility of exploiting oilfields in Iraq,

We have warned our neighbors - our Arab brothers, our Islamic brothers - that the new Iraq is going to be a different one, ... It's always been taken by those who oppose change in Iraq that Iraq has been hijacked - by the Americans, by the Israelis, by the Kurds, by the Shiites - to strip it from its Arab womb. ... If you care so much, why don't you have embassies? Why don't you send ambassadors?

We need these forces. It is an Iraqi need, more than an American or coalition need. The consequences would be catastrophic.

Those who are going to testify against him need security protection.

This would cause a humanitarian crisis and provide a foothold for terrorists to launch their evil campaign in our country and beyond our borders.

withdrawal would create a vacuum and we, the Iraqis, are not ready to fill it. There would be the possibility of a junior Saddam coming up again.

We will challenge these elements in Iraq, the antidemocratic elements, by even bringing the handover of sovereignty before June 30 as a sign we are ready for it,

We feel strongly that there is a lack of political will in Syria towards its commitments to Iraq. Regrettably, the bulk of foreign fighters and terrorists are infiltrating from Syria, and the Syrian government has not demonstrated any serious cooperation to help us stop their transit.

We want a good, solid constitution. We don't want to force a deal on any group that they're uncomfortable with.

engaging in talks with everyone who believes in the political process.

They and others are frightened really of this experiment to succeed. This is the bottom line. They don't want these values, these ideas to take root in a country like Iraq. This may affect them.

These statements are extremely regrettable... coming from a colleague of ours in government, ... a bedouin on a camel.

successes we are making in some parts of the country.

Nowhere are the goals of freedom, democracy and progress more at stake, ... We know our clear way forward, but we need your help. We need the help of every member nation and this organization to win this fight. We stick together, or we lose together.

This in my view and the view of the Iraqi government has set a bad precedent and sent all the wrong messages, ... Terrorists should not be rewarded. Otherwise, this could repeat itself.

They don't deny there is infiltration, ... but they are always willing to establish mechanisms, communications, etc., to deal with these problems.

They fear Iraq is drifting from the Arabs, being divorced from the Arab world, and the increased influence of another neighboring country. This time, we are seeing some positive moves by the Arab League toward more realization of the situation on Iraq.

Everybody is waiting. They haven't made up their minds whether this Iraqi project will succeed or not, ... Everybody is apprehensive and some of them, to be honest, want it to fail so they can keep away from this pressure to reform.

Talks are continuing. They are not bogged down. They are not gridlocked, ... We believe we will reach an agreement very soon.

talking about relations with the outside world and of handling them.

It will really be the trial of the history of his regime over 35 years,

This is a very important resolution for us and, definitely, we need to have our own input into this.

Iraq is proud to stand with the nations of the world as a country that upholds the core values of the UN charter, ... But Iraq also provides the test case for success or failure. We know our clear way forward, but we need your help. We need the help of every member nation and this organization to win this fight. We stick together or we lose together.

The problem was to get judges who were not afraid to prosecute Saddam despite intimidation and threats.

The security challenge is related to the progress and advance we make in the political process,

The people in the southern provinces have no interest whatsoever to see British forces leave because they're providing security, stability, structure, and relations have always been good ... really between the British forces and the local Iraqis in this area,

We as Iraqis have suffered enormously as a result of al-Qaeda and its leader.

These are new ideas, ... That's why they are not comfortable.

All indications we are getting, even from those provinces where the vote may swing, are encouraging and positive as for a yes vote for this constitution,

All indications we are getting ... are encouraging and positive for a 'Yes' vote for this constitution. This would be really a major achievement, ... So my guess is, yes, it will be passed.