“There is hope to recover bodies of 2 assassinated Algerian Diplomats”, Iraqi official

A senior Iraqi Foreign Ministry Official Doctor Abdelkarim Hachem Mostafa gave an exclusive interview to “Echorouk Al Yaoumi” during a visit to the Qatari capital Doha in which he said that in-depth investigations were still underway to shed all the light on the assassination in Bagdad of Algerian Diplomats Belaroussi and Belkadi.  

• Q : With regard to the assassination of martyrs Belaroussi and Belkadi, what are the results achieved so far in the investigations to this effect ?
• – You know, Iraq has been beset for several years now by the heinous scourge of terrorist violence like some other countries in the world mowing down many innocent lives. The Iraqi authorities are doing their utmost to carry through the ongoing investigations and to bring the criminals before justice.
• Q: Is there a probability to recover the bodies of the 2 Algerian diplomats soon as called for repeatedly by their families?
•  – I am confident the bodies will be repatriated to Algeria once the security inquiries are wrapped up.
• Q : Concerning the case of our Iraqi colleague Mountadhar Ziadi, can you tell us about his situation and is he about to face trial ?
• – Your colleague has to assume his responsibilities as he committed an act contrary to the law by throwing his shoes at a foreign head of state. He is now in an Iraqi jail and enjoys all his rights as an Iraqi detainee. He has 2 lawyers, an Iraqi and a Swiss to ensure his defense. He is expected to stand trial in Baghdad on January 31st 2009 in all fairness and transparency before an Iraqi court.
• Q : In a press statement, the brother of Ziadi Said that there was an agreement between Mountadhar and the Iraqi government whereby Ziadi should officially apologize to Iraqi Premier Al Maliki in exchange for the clearing of all the charges of brutality and torture he leveled against Iraqi security agents during and after his arrest.
• Is this true?
• – A lot has been said about this affair over the past few days even a request to asylum by Ziadi in Switzerland but all things considered, this case rests now,  with the Iraqi justice which acts independently from the executive and legislative bodies.
• Q : Frankly Doctor Hachem, are the detention conditions for the Iraqi journalist up to the mark ?
• – I can assure you that Mountadhar’s rights are fully preserved in this Iraqi jail and he is regularly visited, without any major hitch, by his lawyer and his family members.
• Q : Is he benefiting in custody from medical care as he is reportedly in a paltry health condition according to his family ?
• – There is no doubt that he is taken in charge in terms of medical care similarly to all the other Iraqi inmates without any exclusion or bias as it is the usual practice in all Iraqi prisons.
• Q : In a separate file, what will be the fate of the US- Iraq security accord in case of a victory of the “Al Sadr” followers in the upcoming national referendum against the security pact signed between Washington and Baghdad ?
• – I should point out that the security pact was signed between the US and Iraqi governments and was also endorsed by the Iraqi parliament. The forthcoming referendum slated for late June has no direct link with the security pact. It mainly deals with the election of local authority assemblies.
• Q : However, US President Barak Obama announced that US troops could be pulled out of Iraq before 2011. So, what will be the fate of the security pact?
•  – This will be a good thing which will be greatly hailed by the Iraqis but such a troop withdrawal could be possible once the security situation is fully normalized and in close concertation between the US and Iraqi military.
• Q : Is the Iraqi Army ready to take over in case of a US troop withdrawal? 
• – This is a matter for the US and Iraqi military chiefs to decide after a thorough perusal of the unfolding security situation in Iraq.