Report: 'Helsinki Agreement' results in accord; 'Participants committed themselves to work towards a robust framework for a lasting settlement'

Above: Helsinki, Finland. Below: The major players -- Nuri al-Maliki (Prime Minister, Shiite), Tariq al-Hashemi (one of two Vice Presidents, Sunni), Moqtada al-Sadr ('fiery' anti-American cleric, Shiite), Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim (head of the largest Shiite coalition), Jalal Talabani (President of Iraq, Kurd, Qadiri Sufi sect of Sunnism), and Massoud Barzani (President of Iraqi Kurdistan, Naqshbandi Sufi sect of Sunnisim). The largest Sunni bloc recently returned to parliament after Mahmud Mashhadani was reinstated as speaker, but has withdrawn its cabinet ministers from Maliki's cabinet. Sadr's parliamentary bloc also returned recently to the legislature following a protest of the most recent bombing of the al-Askari shrine in Samarra, but also withdrew from the cabinet in April. Last week Sadr announced a suspension of militia activies by his Mahdi Army following clashes in Karbala which left over 50 dead. Maliki recently announced a new coalition involving al-Hakim and Talabani, but noticeably lacking Sunnis. Not pictured is former Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, whose smaller Sunni bloc is boycotting cabinet meetings and has announced it will withdraw from government.

Iraq parties meeting in Finland agree on road map to peace

Representatives from Sunni and Shiite groups in Iraq agreed on a road map to peace during secret talks in Finland, organizers said.

The four-day meeting brought together 16 delegates from the feuding groups to study lessons learned from successful peacemaking efforts in South Africa and Northern Ireland.

"Participants committed themselves to work towards a robust framework for a lasting settlement," said a statement issued late Monday by the Crisis Management Initiative, a conflict-prevention group that organized the meeting.

In an agreement released by CMI, the participants "agreed to consult further" on a list of recommendations to begin reconciliation talks including resolving political disputes through non-violence and democracy...

The venue and other details were kept secret to allow the participants to meet in private, although the final document was named the "Helsinki Agreement," suggesting the talks may have been held in the capital.

Among those reportedly at the talks were representatives of the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr; the leader of the largest Sunni Arab political group, Adnan al-Dulaimi; and Humam Hammoudi, the Shiite chairman of the Iraqi parliament's foreign affairs committee.

The recommendations also included the disarmament of feuding factions and forming an independent commission to supervise the disarming of armed groups "in a verifiable manner."

Read the rest at the International Herald Tribune

Secret deal for roadmap to peace bears stamp of Ulster

Representatives from Sunni and Shia groups in Iraq agreed on a road map to peace based on the experience in Northern Ireland after four days of secret talks in Finland, reconciliation group the Crisis Management Initiative said last night...

But it was not clear last night what influence these representatives have or whether they were committed to bringing their organisations on side...

The 12-point plan

1 Resolve political issues through non-violence and democracy.

2 Prohibit use of arms while in talks.

3 Form independent commission to disarm groups in verifiable manner.

4 Accept results of negotiations.

5 End international interference.

6 Commit to protect human rights.

7 Assure independence and effectiveness of the law and courts, especially constitutional court.

8 Full participation of all parties in political process and governance.

9 Take all steps to end violence, killings, forced displacement and damage to infrastructure.

10 Establish independent body to explore how to deal with the past in way which will unite nation.

11 Support efforts to make political process successful and to protect Iraq's unity and sovereignty.

12 Participating groups commit to principles as complete set of rules.

Read the rest at the Guardian

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