Iraqi politicians visit Czech Rep to see "democracy at work"

Regional and Senate elections in the Czech Republic last week were an example of the democratic process at work, exactly 15 years after the fall of communism. Among those observing the elections were a group of a dozen or so Iraqi politicians invited to the Czech Republic ahead of their country's own elections in January. How did the Iraqis view the elections here, and could the Czech Republic provide a role model?

Iraqi politicians visit Czech Rep to see "democracy at work"

The Iraqi delegation at the press conference, photo: CTK

"Our visit to this beautiful republic is very necessary to us because the Czech people, when they established their republic, went perhaps in the same way we are going now."

Sheik Hussein Ali Shalaan, of the Iraqi National Unity Party, sees the Czech elections as an inspiration.

"It was difficult for us before, so we come here to see what they do, what we can learn, and how the elections go. So, many things help us in our own country, I hope."

Maan T. Ali of the Iraqi Liberal Party agrees and says he and his colleague were able got a practical view:

"This experience has been a great benefit. We don't have experience with free elections in Iraq, and we got a sense of how people really vote on Election Day, how ballots are filled, and put in the box, and separated. It was a great practical exercise."

All the Iraqi politicians visiting Prague were optimistic, but Sheik Hussein Ali Shalaan says the national elections in January will involve a measure of risk:

"Let me answer in Arabic: of course we expect many rebels or terrorists will be against and will try to do something against this election. But, I think the government of Iraq and the people are for it, and I think that the elections will be well-protected to see they go through. Holding an election, creating a constitutional parliament is one of the most important ways of taking the wind out of the terrorists' sails."

Iraq faces far more daunting tasks than the Czechs ever did: continuing violence, religious strife, terrorist cells operating in the very heart of the country, all adding to the instability.

The Iraqi delegation said they were taking home a bag full of experience from the Czech elections, experience they hope to apply. But, it is clear it will be a very difficult road, a view shared by Professor Azhar Abdalwahab of Baghdad University in Iraq.

"The situation in Iraq is very different from the situation in the Czech Republic. The situation is very complicated. I'm sorry to say that but they make the situation 'very simple' and I don't agree with them."

Here an interpreter expands Mrs Azhar's answer:

"She means our delegation, when they give their speech they say there is no problem, that security is not a problem and that everything is very good. She has another view that this is just a lie. We have terrible things in Iraq and the situation is very bad and people are suffering."

In the end, even Professor Azhar supports Iraqi elections being held as soon as possible as an absolute necessity: like the other members of the delegation she agrees that the sooner Iraqis have elections behind them the sooner they can embark on long-term democratic change.