Prof. Hans Koechler paid a visit to Auckland recently to deliver lecture on ‘The Global War on Terror - Contradictions of an Imperial Strategy'. He is President of the International Progress Organisation (IPO) and a renowned international jurist, activist expert on international law, injustice, and power politics, academic and much-published progressive author:
Dr Koechler's clear perceptions on the subject assume greater relevance here now, following the terror raids, arrests, and mass intimidation of Tuhoe last October; and the subsequent Law Commission review now underway of NZ's criminal and terrorist legislation.

Since 1972, UN Secretaries-General in their statements subsequently acknowledged Professor Köchler’s contributions to international peace. In April 2000, Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Professor Koechler as international observer at the Scottish Court in the Netherlands (Lockerbie Trial) which to this day remains unresolved largely due to the non-compliance of the British government in releasing the supposedly secret information to the court.

Darpan-The Mirror : Dr. Hans Koechler, welcome, welcome to Aotearoa. Thank you for being willing on your holiday to spend some time sharing your knowledge with us. You have talked tonight about the global war on terror-what is it new about terror and terrorism in the current context?

Prof. Koechler: The new feature is that a kind of universal threat is now being connected to the term terrorism and fear is being instilled into the people because they are make believe that there is a threat to our western civilization even to the very survival of the western community and to the preservation of the identity that is emanating from this kind of illusive enemy which is called international terrorism. That I think is the new feature because in earlier decades, in earlier eras, terrorists acts were specified and people identified certain-the interests coming from certain specific groups but now apparently this danger is somehow general and vague and entire civilizations are presented as a threat to our own civilization.

Darpan-The Mirror: So who is promoting this and why?

Prof. Koechler: As far as I can see it is promoted by the establishment, powerful political and economic establishment, media establishment in the leading countries of the western world. On top of them first and foremost is the United States of America and in addition for instance the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Northern Island and some other Western allies.

Darpan-The Mirror: And what do they have to gain from this?

Prof. Koechler: Well, frankly speaking, it is about the global power in a situation in which there is no challenge to the Western supremacy and particularly in which there is no real threat to the security of the Western world. I mean after the demise of communists, after the collapse of the Soviet block; apparently one feels the need to create another enemy stereotype which will allow to somehow justify certain measures of control over the rest of the world. Usually a government needs an enemy; people have to be rallied around the government in defence against an enemy from outside and this threat or the other which is now supposedly threatening the west is presented as terror- or as terrorism or as the terrorists.

Darpan-The Mirror: You described it as self-defeating; why do you think it is self defeating?

Prof. Koechler: It is finally doomed to fail because it necessitates a constant a kind of perpetual mobilisation of the people and of the resources of a country. When you present the threat as universal and when there is no possibility to identify specifically certain groups from which the threat emerges, you have to engage in a total of strategy of prevention and you have to exclude even the slightest possibility of attack from whichever direction and that means you have to be prepared 24 hours seven days a week hundred percent. And for that reason somehow the …somehow the…strength or the capacities of the countries that engage in such an undertaking will be exhausted and the other reason why I think this is in the medium and long term is a self-defeating exercise. And the other reason is this kind of strategy antagonizes entire nations and even peoples and civilizations in such a way that they will not feel any loyalty towards those countries that engage in that struggle and they may challenge the supremacy of those countries and they may be more determined in their resistance than they otherwise would be, if there would be a kind of rational relationship on the basis of the definition of mutual interest, as also could be the case.

Darpan-The Mirror: Why have politicians, political leaders, intellectual leaders in so much of the west not challenged? You gave the example of the Japanese member of the senate who had raised issues and those issues had not appeared in the mainstream media. What- Why do you think that is occurring?

Prof. Koechler: I personally feel on the basis of my own experience now over several decades having dealt with issues particularly of the Middle East of the Muslim world that most of the people in the media and in the academic community are just afraid for their own position. They do not want to somehow be marginalized or that they do not want to be sidelined which would be the case if they speak out critically against this entire strategy. So it is a kind of opportunism or the kind of fear which people are not able to overcome because very often if one really speaks out, one is confronted with quiet strong media campaigns and the careers of some people might suffer if they do speak out.

Darpan-The Mirror: But if we contrast that to the civil rights campaigns and the challenges that there were to the suppression of rights during the 1960’s, 1970’s in the West- we are now seeing a revisiting of the normalization, militarization, of suppression of fundamental rights. What’s different? Why are we seeing those voices of dissent now?

Prof. Koechler: I think that as far as Europe is concerned, then I am only an expert on these matters; in Europe as far as Europe is concerned the entire social climate if one may use that term, is different compared to the 1960’s and also our students in universities nowadays are much less outspoken and are much more obedient so to speak as far as the politically correct opinions are concerned. But maybe the situation now has to do with a kind of overall opinion control or fear that has been instilled into the people and no one dares to be or doesn’t want to be disloyal towards his community or wants to speak out against the supplementary soft state.

Darpan-The Mirror: So how would you relate this to that of Palestine? We have seen the stories of killings and maiming everyday; we have seen the depravation of basic necessities of life- of access to electricity and to water and food? How do you interpret or analyze the situation in Palestine and the responses to it within the framework of your thinking?

Prof. Koechler: As far as I understand that I have followed the developments in Palestine since 1970’s and that means it’s now more than three decades, as far as I see it, most of what you refer to now, most of the events are not adequately presented to the wider public; most of the people would just not know what is really going on, the news’ are filtered through the corporate media, if people would really be aware of the situation…people live…under which people live in for instance the Gaza strip, there would be some stronger and critical position against the policies for instance of the western countries. But as far as I see it, there is a lack of…lack of comprehensive information and the other problem as far as Palestine is concerned is that is this linkage with Islam as a threat and particularly terrorism-the linkage of Islam and terrorism.

Darpan-The Mirror: So when you are looking at the way the western states respond to the use of force to suppress resistance movements, freedom fighters, terrorists however they are defined by one side or the other. What are the factors that you think drive the decisions of states now can I put that in the local context…

Prof. Koechler: Yeah.

Darpan-The Mirror: Our government here for example had no problem with recognizing the General who lead the coup in Thailand. The military government there and the government here was perfectly happy to deal with, had no problem in dealing with Musharraf in Pakistan; Bainimarama the leader of the military coup in Fiji is ostracized, there are sanctions against anyone in the military including one who wanted to come here in January whose family members were part of the military, what are the kinds of considerations do you think that drive the differential responses of the western leaders to regimes that are actually very similar in their particular style and in the suppression of rights attached to it?

Prof. Koechler: I would use the term of “the policy of double standards”. A government applies certain principles of legality or certain criteria of the rule of law selectively according to the specific constellation of interest. And so it is no surprise to me, of course I am not aware of the specific policies of the government here, but it is of no surprise to me to see that the government applies certain principles or insists on the implementation of certain principles in one case and totally overlooks them. Of course in the neighbourhood there may be different interests…and different from which your country may have…that explains…why one insists on certain rules in this case and does not insists on certain rules in other cases. Of course, that creates a credibility problem but I do not know...frankly speaking upto the present moment I do not know of any government which really would be consistent in the application of principles and which would avoid in its foreign policy the so-called policy of double standards.

Darpan-The Mirror: The New Zealand government has also made great play out of the fact that it did not join the coalition of the willing in the invasion of Iraq but it’s there in Afghanistan; Does that sound a convincing clean hands kind of principled approach to you or do you have problems with that kind of differentiation?

Prof. Koechler: In terms of legal doctrines, I would say I would have problems with this kind of differentiation but one could say first of all the government of New Zealand made a good decision in not sending troops to Iraq may of the government that joined the coalition of the willing regret this by now and some have already withdrawn their troops. So the government here was lucky in having not fallen into that trap but as far as new principles are concerned in my view the interventions in both countries Iraq and as well as in Afghanistan are a violation of sovereignity of those countries and both interventions are not duly justified or legitimized by international law; even in the case of Afghanistan there is no authorization of the intervention by American and NATO forces in that country.

Darpan-The Mirror: So do you think International law has become so devalued that it is no longer actually defendable in many of those instances or do you think it is a recoverable concept that might still have some value if it can be removed from the grip of the Security Council?

Prof. Koechler: I don’t know. Eventually it may already be beyond repair so to speak. The big problem I see it that in a situation in a global constellation in which there is no balance of power there is absolutely no incentive for the hegemonial country to abide...to abide by the rule of law or to obey the law. There is no incentive for instance for that country to respect Security Council resolutions, on other way because of the veto this country like for others can block any decisions by that Council at any moment. But as far as Afghanistan is concerned the situation went even that far that for instance my own country the Republic of Austria which according to its constitution is permanently neutral according to the Swiss model. Even my country has sent forces though in a very small number but sent forces to Afghanistan. Of course people say that this is not compatible with the statutes of permanent neutrality. Can be? It never can be compatible but these things happen now and one is just reinterpreting terms according to the constellation, political constellation of interest at a given moment.

Darpan-The Mirror: So what’s your sense of what might happen in Iran? What are your fears what might happen?

Prof. Koechler: I did fear that the United States together with their ally in the Middle East plus one or two European countries might militarily intervene in Iran and that was according to my knowledge… also the plan of the United States administration two years ago...one year ago. What I see now is the inter-actions services of that very country have expressed an opinion that is contradicting the strategy of the President of the United States. So now my hope is that the US is reconsidering its war plans against Iran and that it will not attack Iran because it will totally destabilize not only the situation in the Middle East but the situation far beyond that region.

Darpan-The Mirror: You stressed a lot on the foreign policy in ideological and the economic interests are also integral to this not only in the Middle East but in the way many economies are now becoming almost dependent on perpetual certainly many aspects of the economy are; Fiji where you are going to go tomorrow the Fiji economy is dependent on remittances; almost 90% of remittances are coming from the security workers that are operating in Iraq; you have an economy that becomes dependent on war and when people come back and bringing the militarization back into the country itself, do you see any similar kinds of militarization of economy within Europe and America that might want to keep perpetuating this process?

Prof. Koechler: As far as Europe is concerned I do not yet see that tendency firmly established. In United States it appears obvious to me that there is a kind of self-perpetuating situation and that’s the economic interests that lead to the involvement of the country into military adventures. As far as our countries in the European Union are concerned I think we are not yet reached that stage…the military industry in most of the European countries is much less strong and much less developed than it is in the United States.

Darpan-The Mirror: Just one last question…we become aware that terrorism has become a domestic issue in this country with the arrests that were in part under the Terrorism Suppression Act with most of those arrested being Maori Sovereignity activists. Do you think the global war on terror is actually having an internal dimension that legitimizes the use of state power against its own dissident internal factions as much as against the other in the global context? And how in that sense do you think we might connect the domestic realities to the international experiences?

Prof. Koechler: I am in this country only since very short time so I am not so familiar with the internal political situation however I do hope that a distinction will be made between tensions that may exist domestically and the international issues related to the so-called global war on terror. As of the present moment I do not see any connection between what is going on here between the government and the representatives of the native population of New Zealand and the war on terror. And just hope that no one will exploits this extremely emotional climate surrounding the global war on terror for internal domestic politics or for internal security measures. One thing…the one situation is to be totally kept separate from the other.

Darpan-The Mirror: Thank you very much for your time. We wish you safe travel and we look forward to having you back here again before July. Thanks!

Prof. Koechler: You are welcome!

Syed Akbar Kamal is Producer/Director for current affairs programme Darpan-The Mirror on the World Wide Web.

22.6. APR – The Victims Bodies of the Sectarian Militias

21.6. APS – the Bloody Explosions in Popular Market / Baghdad

21.6. APS – the Bloody American Crime Against a Family

17.6. Displaced in Iraq Up to 800,000 - UNHCR

15.6. 'Special Weapons' Have a Fallout on Babies in Fallujah

15.6. Action for Iraqi Children

15.6. Remember! Remember!

11.6. Explosion in Kazimiya Rising Toll to Five Dead and Ten Wounded

29.5. AMSI Condemns the Plan of the UN Representative in Iraq

7.5. UNICEF Warns of Iraqis "At Risk"

30.4. UN: Tell US to End Illegal Detention Practices in Iraq

28.4. UN Probe Urged Over Iraqi Inmates

22.7. U.N. Observer Says Governments Using Terror to Instill Fear in Communities

22.7. UN ENVOY DISCUSSES 'CRUCIAL YEAR' FOR IRAQ

21.7. Ban calls protecting children in armed conflict a ‘moral call’

20.7. WHO mission returns to Iraq to support healthcare improvements

20.7. JOHN B. QUIGLEY: After Iraq, U.S. has no moral capital to lead other nations on global quests

20.7. Aid workers fleeing Somalia over threats

18.7. Ban Ki-moon is Bush’s marionette at the UN

18.7. UNAMI calls for investigation over activist's assassination in Ninewa

17.7. WHO restores permanent international presence in Iraq

16.7. IHEC opens 563 voter registration update centers - UNAMI

15.7. Iraq, Afghanistan wars creating new arms markets

12.7. GLOBAL: Why everything costs more

11.7. Sindh University vice chancellor slams United Nations role in Iraq

11.7. Iraq Party Rejects Kirkuk Poll Delay; UN Admits Errors on Disputed Areas; Update

11.7. UNAMI official pledges to rectify disputed areas report

11.7. FIVE YEARS LATER, A HIDDEN CRISIS: Report of the IRC Commission on Iraqi Refugees

10.7. One out of five Iraqis is a refugee, U.N. says

10.7. UN official in Arbil, meets Kurdish parliament's speaker

9.7. U.N. official to visit Arbil on Thursday to discuss article 140

9.7. One-sixth of Iraq's residents displaced – UN

8.7. Crimes of the Century: Occupation & Contaminating Iraq with Depleted Uranium

8.7. Prohibited weapons cresis in Fallujah 2008

8.7. The US downplaying of the Iraqi displacement crisis, a potent symbol of US failure in Iraq, is as short-sighted as it is immoral

8.7. Syria tells UN: Israel burying nuclear waste in Golan Heights

8.7. Another way to skirt U.N.

7.7. Depleted Uranium Situation Worsens - Dr. Doug Rokke, PhD.

7.7. UNHCR and implementing partners active in Al Sadre City

7.7. OPPOSITION TO INVASION OF IRAQ BASED ON EMOTION OR FACTS?

4.7. Iraqi Ulama: "It's Haram To Coperate With The Invaders"

4.7. UN submits proposal for Kirkuk elections

4.7. UNHCR: Q&A: A day in the life of our man in Baghdad

4.7. Ongoing violence taking heavy toll on Afghanistan’s children, says UN envoy

4.7. Bush-Led 'Disaster Capitalism' Exploits Worldwide Misery to Make a Buck

3.7. UNHCR resettlement conference focuses on helping refugees at risk

2.7. UN: economic insecurity hits rich and poor nations

2.7. Gunmen distribute leaflets threatening chieftains in Jalawla

2.7. De Mistura expects holding provincial elections by the end of 2008

2.7. Still time for Iraq local elections this year: U.N.

1.7. Iraqi children tell their stories through music at UNICEF-sponsored event in Geneva

29.6. UN official arrives in Khaneqeen

28.6. Iraq numbers tell grim story

28.6. WHO opens office in Baghdad

28.6. U.N. Finds Afghan Opium Trade Rising

28.6. UNESCO: Director-General condemns assassination of Iraqi journalist Muhieddin Abdul Hamid

28.6. Fragile advances in Middle East need to turn into real progress, UN official says

27.6. Is it time yet to hold Bush and Cheney responsible?

27.6. UN: Israel violated truce 7 times in one week

26.6. South Africa: Govts Must Unite Against High Fuel Prices

26.6. UNHCR resumes second food distribution of the year in Syria

26.6. UN urges to find compromising solutions in Kirkuk

26.6. UNESCO chief speaks out against killing of Iraqi journalist

26.6. IAEA says Syria nuclear probe off to good start

26.6. UN urges to find compromising solutions in Kirkuk

24.6. U.S. Foreign Policy and Reorganizing the United Nations Towards a World Parliament

23.6. Appeals court rules against Bush administration in enemy combatant case

23.6. UN nuclear inspectors visit Syria nuclear site

22.6. IOM: Displaced Iraqis Increasing

22.6. Baghdad squatters told to leave occupied homes

22.6. U. S. expects to admit goal of 12,000 Iraqi refugees

21.6. UNICEF Iraq helps the children of Sadr City regroup after intense violence

21.6. In the wake of increased kidnappings, UNICEF calls on governments to protect children

21.6. Child abductions on the rise in violence hit countries: UN

20.6. UNICEF Statement on the continued abduction, torture and rape of children around the world

20.6. Critics Demand Resignation of U.N. Official Who Wants Probe of 9/11 'Inside Job' Theories

20.6. ‘Protection’ the theme as UN activities mark World Refugee Day

20.6. Rape Constitutes War Crime: UN

20.6. Iraq: Kurds, Turkmen and Arabs Reject UN Proposal

20.6. UN Proposal Provokes Anger in Iraq

20.6. Why Iraq won't be South Korea

19.6. Bush's war on Iraqi children is the worst of all war crimes

19.6. UNICEF appeals for more aid to Iraq children

19.6. Iraqi government's decree violates Geneva Convention – MKO

19.6. Iraq: Defining Alternatives to the Kerkuk Problem

18.6. UNICEF boosts emergency operation to help Iraqi children

18.6. [UNICEF:] Conflict has defined life for an entire generation of Iraqi children

17.6. Secretary-General deplores deadly bombing at Baghdad market

17.6. UN to Address Rape as Weapon

17.6. Tight security measures in Diala in place for UN official's visit

17.6. UN Security Council press statement in Iraq

14.6. HUMOR: U.S. tells U.N. council [= U.S.] Iraq security improving

14.6. UN official says financial controls on Iraqi oil proceeds ‘deficient’

14.6. US UN envoy urges Syria, Iran to stop gunmen flow into Iraq

13.6. IRAQI REFUGEES IN IRAN HELD UP BY RED TAPE AND BORDER CLOSURES, UN SAYS

12.6. Iraqi Kurdish leaders unhappy with UN report on future of Kirkuk

11.6. Iraq: UN weapons inspectors submit final report

11.6. Barazani heads extended meeting to discuss De Mistura report

10.6. US quits UN Committee on Israel Cite

9.6. Arabs in Kirkuk refuse UN recommendations

9.6. United Nations conference offers derisory level of aid for millions hit by food prices

8.6. 95 lawmakers criticize the U.N. recommendations over disputed districts

8.6. De Mistura's proposal on internal borders is unfair – Kurdish official

7.6. US distances itself from UN rights body

7.6. UNAMI recommendations on disputed areas unconstitutional-MPs

7.6. Iraq: UN mission details options for resolving internal boundary disputes

7.6. Fifth Committee takes up $300 million budget for 2008/09 peacekeeping support account

6.6. Priest elected UN General Assembly president

6.6. Vietnam gets ready for UN Security Council presidency

6.6. US should probe alleged inhuman treatment on child detainees: UN

6.6. UN: Improve Treatment of Children in Armed Conflict

6.6. U.N. experts rap U.S. "cruelty" to child prisoners

6.6. UN scolds U.S. for detaining children

6.6. US warns Sandinista diplomat against dividing UN

6.6. Killing of Iraqi journalists sparks condemnation from UNESCO head

6.6. UN panel criticizes U.S. war crimes charges for Guantanamo minors

6.6. UN recommendations on disputed areas "disappointing" – Kudish MP

6.6. Talabani and UN envoy discuss Kirkuk issue

6.6. "Lofty"UN Summit Vows to Fight Hunger

6.6. On that Senate Investiation Into Pre-War Iraq Intelligence

5.6. UNAMI recommends status of 4 disputed areas

5.6. Priest elected UN General Assembly president

5.6. UN expert condemns death penalty in Iraq

5.6. Investigator urges inquiry into UN Baghdad deaths

5.6. Resist by any means necessary

5.6. U.S. calls for peacekeeping review in Georgia's rebel regions

4.6. Bush Vowed US Would "Kill" Anyone Who Interfered in Iraq

4.6. U.N. envoy to raise Afghan, Iraqi killings with U.S.

4.6. UN says solving food crisis could cost $30 billion

4.6. US nears [phony] “goal” for Iraqi refugees admissions

3.6. UN official holds rich nations accountable for food shortages

3.6. World Leaders Discuss Food Crisis

3.6. Ban calls for 50 pct rise in world food output

2.6. France's Kouchner, Kurdistan's Barzani Discuss Kirkuk Referendum

29.5. Iraq Seeks Debt Forgiveness at UN Conference

28.5. Activists and UN: Iraqi women need more security

28.5. U.S. held hundreds of children in Iraq: Russia’s UN ambassador

28.5. FRIDE: DEATH IN BAGHDAD AND THE UN ROLE IN IRAQ

28.5. UN new project about Iraq Kirkuk issue

28.5. Iraqi PM off to Sweden to take part in intl. compact conference

27.5. UN food agency receives funding boost to feed 750,000 displaced Iraqis

26.5. UN group on mercenaries to visit Britain

22.5. UN Chief Welcomes Syria-Israel Talks

19.5. UN envoy stresses necessity of launching provincial elections on time

18.5. UN may scale back fiscal aid for refugees, because occupation’s "failure"

16.5. ACLU: United States violates UN protocol in its treatment of Iraqi, and American, children [But the real figure of children detainees not 500, but 6,500!]

13.5. Security Council Backs US on Iraq

12.5. UN aid for Iraqis at stake due to price rise in Jordan

12.5. IRAQ: Local aid groups support UNHCR appeal for more funds

10.5. UNHCR seeks donor help amid funding shortfall for Iraq operation

9.5. Jordan pledges to UN continued help to Iraqi refugees

9.5. UNHCR faces funding shortfall for Iraq operation

8.5. UNESCO: Shady Future Facing Food Crisis

8.5. UNHCR expresses appreciation for Syria's effort over Iraqi refugees

7.5. UNICEF: Children's needs in Iraq not met

7.5. UNICEF alarmed by plight of Iraqi children in Sadr City

3.5. World Food Crisis: Jewel in whose crown?

1.5. IRAQ: UNHCR concerned about funding for refugees, IDPs

1.5. USG Pascoe reiterates UN commitment to Iraq at the Third Ministerial Conference of Neighboring Countries

29.4. UN Security Council should address MNF-Iraq detainee policies: HRW

28.4. UN: Tell US to end illegal detention practices in Iraq

28.4. Human Rights Watch Asks U.N. Security Council To Tell U.S. To End Illegal Detention Of Iraqis

26.4. Iraqi children silent victims of ongoing violence, says UN envoy

26.4. UNHCR deplores Turkey's deadly refugee expulsions

26.4. UNAMI chief urges Parliament to select Baghdad electoral office directors

25.4. Morning Brief: U.N. urges action on global food crisis

25.4. UN censures US and Israel over Syria nuclear row

24.4. UN Cuts School Children's Meals

24.4. Imperialists' policies cause worldwide hunger

21.4. INTERVIEW-Fate of Iraq's Kirkuk needs political solution-UN

19.4. Pope issues UN unity warning

15.4. [IRAQ] Elections commission to study suggestions on elections law with UN

15.4. Iraq: UN backs conference to prevent recurrence of cholera outbreak in Kurdistan

14.4. UN Chief: Red Alert on Food Soaring Prices

12.4. Siding with power

12.4. De Mistura to initiate proposal on Iraq

12.4. Crucial Times Ahead in Iraq, UN Envoy Tells European Officials

7.4. INTERVIEW-Iraq's humanitarian crisis worsens--U.N. official

7.4. INTERVIEW-Iraq's humanitarian crisis worsens--U.N. official

7.4. Iraq: Doctors still unable to work normally in Baghdad suburb

6.4. IRAQ: UN agencies call for international help to clear mines

5.4. IRAQ-JORDAN: Top UN official highlights "gravity" of humanitarian situation

5.4. U.N. Urges Improving Security For Aid Workers In Iraq

4.4. UN warns of 'very grave' problems in Iraq

4.4. UN estimates 700 killed in recent clashes between Iraqi government and Shiite militiamen

4.4. UN officials call for improved security and access to reach Iraqis in need

3.4. President Halonen wants UN to lead Afghan civilian aid

3.4. UN says unexploded ordnance in Iraq hampers development projects

3.4. Sweden to host international UN conference on Iraq

2.4. More than 2.77 million Iraqis internally displaced: UN

1.4. Iraq: UNAMI Focus - Voice of the Mission News Bulletin Mar 2008

1.4. Australia Seeks UN Security Council Seat

29.3. UN agencies to aid victims of Basra clashes

28.3. UN Slams Islam Defamation in Media

24.3. 'Time is short' for Iraq to right itself - UN envoy

21.3. UN chief recommends UN transfer $100 mln to Iraq development fund

21.3. U.N. requests additional $1.1 billion

20.3. UN committed to helping Iraqis build a peaceful future

19.3. U.N. Chief Deplores Deadly Bombing At Holy City In Central Iraq

18.3. UNHCR:Number of Iraqi asylum seekers doubles

18.3. U.N. funds electoral education in Iraq

17.3. UNAMI issues its 12th report on the situation of human rights in Iraq

16.3. Violence downtrend in Iraq may not last-UNAMI

16.3. U.N. questions whether Iraq attacks can be kept down

16.3. UN Envoy Says Iraq Has 'Window Of Opportunity'

16.3. Targeting civilians a crime against humanity: UN

15.3. UNHCR: Clear criteria for return of Iraqi refugees not met, does not

promote returns

15.3. UN health officials: Skin disease rising in southern Iraq with children at risk

10.3. UNAMI period report