Iraq Swears in New Diverse Government

Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari has managed to complete his plans and filled the 6 vacancies to set up his new government which was sworn in on 9 May 2005. After his Shiite-dominated alliance won the election on 30 January, he promised to set up a government that would represent all the major ethnic and religious groups of Iraq.

Negotiations over the members of the new, free-elected and democratic government took several months, as many Jaafari's nominations were not approved in the National Assembly.

The Prime Minister's goal to balance all Iraq's main groups in government proved to be a difficult task, which the 3 months process of negotiations reveals. Also, his wish to reconcile all ethnic and religious groups faced misunderstandings. For example, after his appointment to the position of human rights minister, Hisham Shibli rejected the post explaining that "he was chosen simply for being a Sunni."

As he noted for Reuters, "I am a democratic figure, I am completely against sectarianism."

However, it has been said that new ministers were chosen according to their qualifications, not their ethnical or religious affiliation.

Finally, a cabinet consisting of 17 Shiite ministers, 8 Kurdish, 5 Sunni and one Assyrian Christian - Ms Bassima Youssef, was created. This diversity has been observed despite the fact Iraq is a mostly Muslim country - and in addition 5 women have been included in the cabinet. However, not everyone agree with Jaafari's methods.

One of the opponents is Bishop of Amadiyah (northern Iraq), Mgr Rabban al-Qas, who for AsiaNews explained his reasons.

"The new government is without a doubt a good thing. It is the first democratically-elected government in the country’s history and there are very capable people in the cabinet."

But he pointed out that the choosing of ministers for the new cabinet to be set up was too long, and Rabban al-Qas sees its reason in the "excessive importance given to religion and ethnicity."

In his opinion, people should not be selected according to their ethnicity or religion, but only regarding their qualities and abilities: "To me, there is something wrong in this because we must consider the whole country, not only one’s own group or religion," he said.

However, Iraq is known to identify itself primarily by religion and ethnicity and not first as citizens of a nation. This is why, it was explained, that the new government was chosen in this way.

Rabban al-Qas expressed that what is more important now for the Church, it is to "choose those people who work for the good of the whole country rather than for narrow confessional or partisan interests". Together with other Bishops the decision of not having Christian Party in next election was made.

Despite these objections, Bishop Rabban al-Qas hopes that ministers will work together "for the good of the country" and warns that following the "narrow interests of their own group" must be avoided. He asked that focus be put into the development of Iraq.