08/04/2005

Newly-elected Iraqi politicians arrive in province

Newly-elected Iraqi politicians facing the task of building democracy in the southern city of Basrah are to be briefed this weekend about post-conflict Northern Ireland by University of Ulster experts.

The politicians, accompanied by senior regional officials and liaison staff, are on a fact-finding visit to Northern Ireland, which includes a meeting with academics from INCORE, the university’s international conflict research centre, based at the University’s Magee campus.

The municipal representatives were elected to the Basrah Provincial Council in January during national and provincial polls that marked an important step on the road to democracy following the fall of the previous regime.

The 22-member delegation is in Northern Ireland on an education study trip organised by Basrah Provincial Council to give newly-elected representatives a first-hand look at democratic processes functioning in a range of different political environments.

The delegation, which includes nine newly elected councillors, is headed by the BPC Second Deputy Chairman Mrs Israa Abd Al Ali Abdul Wahab; Deputy Governor Mr Lu’ai Abd Al Amir Abbas Al-Batat.

INCORE Associates Professor Tom Fraser, who is Magee Provost, Professor Paul Arthur and Stephen Ryan will brief the delegation on Saturday about Northern Ireland’s political history, its conflict and peace process and how political factions and communities deal with challenges and rival pressures.

(MB)

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