Summary

NAME: UN IRAQ 20061219I TAPE: EF06/1236 IN_TIME: 11:08:35:19 DURATION: 00:03:33:09 SOURCES: UNTV/Pool DATELINE: New York, 19 Dec 2006 RESTRICTIONS: SHOTLIST UNTV 1. Wide exterior United Nations building 2. Tracking shot, Tariq al-Hashemi, Vice President of Iraq, coming out of room and towards microphone (after meeting with Kofi Annan) 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Tariq al-Hashemi, Vice President of Iraq: "I reconfirmed to him (referring to Kofi Annan) that Iraq will be very much interested to see the United Nations play an increasing role in the Iraqi file. Many things are so far left pending or without significant contribution from the international community that we have to focus on from now on." 4. Medium shot security personnel 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Tariq al-Hashemi, Vice President of Iraq: "There are many things in fact that they (United Nations) could contribute in Iraq. First of all they should be a partner in our reconciliation project. They have experience in South Africa, they have experience in Ireland. I think they are the party who should be on the front in helping Iraqis, in fact, to get things together, especially the Shia and the Sunni. This is part. The second part is in fact, this is very important: the security. Security, what we need is time, in fact, to reshuffle, retrain our armed forces and again the United Nations could play a major role." 6. Medium shot al-Hashemi and aides approaching doorway 7. Medium shot al-Hashemi greeing Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and shaking hands 8. Wide shot al-Hashemi and Annan and aides sitting at table, zooms into al-Hashemi, and then pulls out to reveal Annan shaking hands with al-Hashemi aides Pool 9. Wide exterior Council on Foreign Relations 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Tariq al-Hashemi, Vice President of Iraq: "The president, your president, made some sort of brainwashing of Mr. Blair, in fact. Mr. Blair in fact is back to 'square one,' He's just back to his adamancy that 'It's difficult, in fact, Mr. Hashemi, we can't announce that we are afraid that we will pass a false message to terrorism, that we give up because of the threats.' I understand that, so OK, I said, 'Let us make some sort of amendment to the theme. Say it in this way: Timetable conditional.' Conditional withdrawal means that you rebuild the Iraqi Armed Forces on a professional basis. The time comes that this project is concluded. There should be no excuse, in fact, for you to stay in Iraq." 11. Medium shot al-Hashemi and moderator 12. SOUNDBITE (English) Tariq al-Hashemi, Vice President of Iraq: "And I personally, and my party, is going to struggle and to fight until we get the Shia with the Sunni, joining forces to rebuild Iraq. There is no other way. I shoulder my responsibilities. I am not going to talk on behalf of the Sunnis. I am going to talk on behalf of all Iraqis. This is the only language. The only project that could put an end of the Iraqi dilemma is to go back to the national common interest of Iraq. That's it." 13. Medium shot al-Hashemi and moderator STORYLINE US President George Bush had "brainwashed" UK Prime Minister Tony Blair over Iraq troop withdrawals, the country's vice president said on Tuesday. Speaking in New York, Tariq al-Hashemi said Blair had promised Iraqi officials he would convince Bush to set a date for troops to begin pulling out. "The president, your president, made some sort of brainwashing of Mr. Blair," Hashemi told his audience at the Council on Foreign Relations. "Mr. Blair in fact is back to square one. He's just back to his adamancy that 'It's difficult, in fact, Mr. Hashemi. We can't announce that we are afraid that we will pass a false message to terrorism, that we give up because of the threats'." Hashemi said he understood that, and suggested an "ammendment to the theme." "Say it in this way: 'timetable conditional'," Hashemi said. "Conditional withdrawal means that you rebuild the Iraqi Armed Forces on a professional basis. The time comes that this project is concluded. There should be no excuse, in fact, for you to stay in Iraq." Earlier, after meeting United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, Hashemi said Iraq needed the UN to help resolve the crisis. "I reconfirmed to him (Annan) that Iraq will be very much interested to see United Nations play an increasing role in the Iraqi file. Many things so far left pending or without significant contribution from the international community that we have to focus on from now on," he said. Al-Hashemi, Iraq's most senior politician from the Sunni Arab minority, said the UN could help by training the army and also with reconciliation. "There are many things in fact that they could contribute in Iraq. First of all they should be a partner in our reconciliation project. They have experience in South Africa, they have experience in Ireland. I think they are the party who should be on the front in helping Iraqis, in fact, to get things together, especially the Shia and the Sunni," he said. He added the UN could play a major role in security while Iraqi forces were trained. Hashemi warned that without reconciliation, his country is doomed. "And I personally, and my party, is going to struggle and to fight until we get the Shia with the Sunni, joining forces to rebuild Iraq," he said. "There is no other way. I shoulder my responsibilities. I am not going to talk on behalf of the Sunnis. I am going to talk on behalf of all Iraqis. This is the only language. The only project that could put an end of the Iraqi dilemma is to go back to the national common interest of Iraq. That's it." Both al-Hashemi's brother and sister, the former head of the Iraqi Islamic Party women's affairs unit, were gunned down last April.