Czech Iraqis join compatriots in landmark vote

Iraqis have been taking part in landmark elections in their country to elect the first full-term government, and Iraqis in the Czech Republic, too, have taken part. On Wednesday 82 of them travelled to Vienna by busses provided by the Foreign Ministry, in order to support of the democratic process. A little earlier we spoke to Ahmed Ghlim - the spokesman for the Iraqi Forum in the Czech Republic, who has lived in the Czech Republic for 26 years. He told Radio Prague about his feelings on the vote.

Photo: CTK

"My personal feeling is that I've fulfilled a life-long wish to vote in normal elections, like any normal person. These are the first democratic elections since 1953. So I'm very happy about that, as well as the fact that I was able to vote from abroad. The mood on the busses was very festive, lots of singing and national dishes, similar to the interim elections at the beginning of the year, when we went to Berlin. The future of Iraq is understandably on all our minds, and it's something that is endlessly discussed."

Photo: CTK

According to Ahmed Ghlim, the situation in the Czech Republic is clear cut: there are those who feel it is their responsibility to vote, and there are those who - since the fall of Saddam Hussein - have consistently failed to take part. Of 280 Iraqi expatriates on Czech soil, some perhaps have not retained citizenship, and still others may have wanted to take part, but were unable for example, for health reasons, while others refuse for political reasons. As for those who did vote, many remain optimistic. Despite daily reports of continuing instability and bloodshed in Iraq, many Iraqis still think that 2006 will be a better year. Ahmed Ghlim once more:

"As far as Iraq is concerned I am confident that a lot can change. Now, when we have political parties, and now when we have Sunnis joining in the political process - that itself brings hope. As voters we reject terror - we made this clear on our way to Vienna, and even today the terrorists' room to manoeuvre is slowly growing more limited. Regardless of who wins the elections - all parties taking part stressed this - whoever wins must bring security first. Then we can deal with basic human needs: electricity and water. When security is settled in Iraq, I think the situation will truly improve."