MSP Welcomes visit

Please address all correspondence to:

Dr Bill Wilson MSP
Scottish Parliament
EH99 1SP

Tel. 0131 3486805
Fax. 0131 3486806


e-mail:
Bill.Wilson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk


10 July 2007

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Use
MSP WELCOMES VISIT OF IRAQ OIL UNION LEADER TO UK: “NOW LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE OIL LAW!”
Dr Bill Wilson, MSP for the West of Scotland, today welcomed the announcement that the leader of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU) had been granted a visa to visit the UK and would be in the country from Tuesday July 10th until Thursday July 19th.

Dr Wilson’s comments followed his press release of 23 June and his Parliamentary motions of 18 June in which attacked the proposed Oil Law in Iraq and accused multinational corporations and the US and UK governments of effectively usurping control of Iraq’s oil resources [see bottom of this document for full details].

Dr Wilson said, “I was disturbed to learn earlier that Hassan Jumaa Awad al Assadi, President of the 26,000-strong IFOU, was unable to visit the UK and present the objections of union members to the Oil Law to the authorities and public in the UK, as he could not get a visa. I wrote to both David Miliband, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and to Dominic Asquith, the British Ambassador to Iraq, to urge them to ensure that Hassan Jumaa be issued with a visa as soon as possible.

“I am delighted that the leader of the Iraq oil union will now be allowed to make his argument within the UK. To deny the Iraq people the right to put their argument to the people of the UK would have been nothing less than dishonest. There is strong opposition in Iraq to passing a law which takes control of Iraqi oil from the people of Iraq and hands it to the multi-nationals — it is right that the voice of that opposition should be heard in the UK.

“Both Blair and Bush assured us that this war was not about oil but about democracy. If this assurance is to be even vaguely believable then both the UK and US governments must end all pressure on the Iraqi government to pass this law. Admiral Fallon must withdraw his deadline (for the Oil Law to be adopted by the end of this month), and the UK, the USA and the IMF must accept that Iraq’s oil belongs to the Iraqi people.”

Background Information

1. Text of letter sent to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, David Miliband, on 3 July

The Right Honourable David Miliband
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

Dear Mr Miliband

Granting the President of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions a visa to visit the UK

Congratulations on your recent appointment. I wish you well in what will undoubtedly be a challenging position, not least because of the situation in Iraq, an aspect of which I wish to direct your attention to in this communication.

The UK Ambassador to Iraq, the Hon. Dominic Asquith, stated last August: “Our objective is a shared one: to build a strong, united, democratic, and stable Iraq, with a government that exercises full sovereignty and authority through effective institutions trusted by its citizens.”

He also said: “The Iraqi people need to have confidence in their government and all its institutions to improve their lives. […] The future of Iraq lies firmly in Iraqi hands. As the British people see Iraqis themselves – ordinary people, business people, officials and politicians alike – take control of their lives, so our determination to help you succeed strengthens.”

His statements seem at odds with the current situation. Iraqi politicians and oil workers find themselves under pressure to accede to the private development agendas of multinational companies through exclusive contracts lasting up to 30 years, the effect of signing up to the currently proposed Oil Law. The corporate interests of multinationals have been represented thus far by the governments of the UK and the USA through the current Iraqi Hydrocarbon Law, which they have been party to since July 2006. You will know that Admiral William Fallon (Commander of US Central Command) insisted to Prime Minister Maliki that the new Oil Law be signed by the end of July. This law effectively cedes the state's sovereignty and control over the development of the majority of Iraq's oil reserves to multinational companies. Denying a visa to Hassan Jumaa Awad al Assadi (President of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions) at this time amounts to denying the people of Iraq a fair opportunity to present their objections to an international audience and to denying the UK electorate balanced information on developments in Iraq. It also flatly contradicts the spirit and letter of the statements made by the UK’s ambassador to Iraq. I trust you will arrange for a visa for Hassan Jumaa immediately, with the deadline for the signing of the anti-democratic and rapacious Oil Law so near.

I look forward to receiving reassurance on this matter.

2. Website of the General Union of Oil Employees in Basra

http://www.basraoilunion.org/

3. Previous Press Release (dated 23 June 2007)

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Use
IRAQI OIL FOR THE IRAQIS, MSP DEMANDS: SCOTTISH SOLDIERS DYING TO LINE POCKETS OF MULTINATIONALS?
Dr Bill Wilson, MSP for the West of Scotland, yesterday made an outspoken plea for Iraqi Oil to remain in the hands of Iraqis. He was speaking after meeting Ewa Jasiewicz, researcher/campaigner with Platform, a group concerned about the currently proposed Iraqi Oil Law, legislation that would effectively sign over the exploitation of that nation’s oil reserves, and most oil-related profits, to multinational companies.

Dr Wilson’s impassioned comments came only five days after he lodged two parliamentary motions expressing concern about the Oil Law and the circumstances surrounding it. He explained that he had been deeply disturbed for many years by the situation in Iraq and found the ongoing hypocrisy of the UK and US governments and their flagrant disregard for the welfare of Iraqis shameful and repugnant. “When Ewa Jasiewicz contacted me after hearing of my Scottish Parliamentary motions on the issue, and told me she would be talking on the issue at the University of Strathclyde, I was keen to meet her. We discussed how we could best raise awareness of the blatant extortion that the Oil Law amounts to. I told her that if I could do anything to help restore justice and democracy in that abused nation I would be delighted to help.”

Dr Wilson likened what happened with Scottish oil in 1979 to what is currently happening in Iraq, but implied that if Scots had been upset by the usurpation of their natural resources then they should be even more disturbed by the Iraqi situation: “The USA is pushing the Oil Law so hard that the Iraqi government believes it will be brought down if it does not pass it. The US military — Admiral Fallon — has given the Iraq government a deadline of the end of July. The UK government admits to supplying the Iraqi government with advice, advice provided over the barrel of a rifle.”

He said that it was totally inappropriate to push for the Oil Law to be signed when Iraq was an occupied country torn by civil war: “As I understand it the proposed legislation will dictate the way Iraq’s oil is exploited for the next thirty years. This is akin to what happened with the carving up of Africa when indigenous peoples were tricked into signing their land and resources away for a pittance. Here the Iraqi trade unions, and people as a whole, are firmly against it, but they are being forced into it — sometimes at gunpoint. Protesting oil workers have been threatened with death. Scottish soldiers are dying there too —is it to line the pockets of the multinationals rather than to promote democracy? The facts suggest their blood is being spilled primarily to buy cheap oil for the likes of BP — one of the “advisers” provided by the UK was the former head of BP Azerbaijan. You’d have to be very naïve not to believe that expropriating the oil wasn’t a major reason for invasion.”

Dr Wilson attacked not only the roles of the US and UK governments and the large oil companies but also that of the International Monetary Fund, pointing out that the IMF had made financial support for Iraq conditional upon acceptance of the Oil Law.

Speaking of Scotland’s attitude to developments in Iraq, Dr Wilson said that he understood the ministers in the Scottish government did not sign Scottish Parliamentary Motions but he was pleased to note that First Minister Alex Salmond had already given a lead to the way the SNP-led government should view the matter — by signing Katy Clark’s Early Day Motion 1180 in London in his capacity as Westminster MP. Dr Wilson said he also wished to congratulate Ms Clark, Labour MP for Ayrshire North and Arran, for her integrity in making a stand against the UK government’s position, and similarly congratulate John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, for his EDMs, “…And, of course, my congratulations to Platform, for their outstanding campaigning on this issue. It was a privilege to meet Ewa Jasiewicz and I wish her, Platform, and the Hands Off Iraqi Oil campaign every success.”

He concluded with the remark: “The attitudes taken by the UK and Scottish governments could speak volumes. I trust the nation of Scotland will not want the blood and oil of Iraqis on its conscience, not to mention the blood of our own soldiers. Iraqi oil for the Iraqis. No more blood for oil. I shall be making these points to all those I meet at tomorrow's SNP National Council meeting.”

[The National Council Meeting is taking place today at the Dynamic Earth centre.]

Background Information to press release dated 23 June 2007

a) SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY MOTIONS

Date of Lodging: 18 June 2007
Short Title: Iraq: Right to Strike
S3M-00194 Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): That the Parliament notes with grave concern the death threats against members of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU) who were recently protesting against the proposed oil law which would effectively cede control of Iraq’s oilfields to multinational companies; further notes that the right to strike is protected by the core conventions of the International Labour Organisation, to which the Iraq Government is a signatory, and accordingly expresses its support for calls for the threat of violence against the oil workers to be withdrawn and for their legitimate right to strike to be recognised should they choose to exercise it.

Date of Lodging: 18 June 2007
Short Title: Iraq: Privatisation of Oil
S3M-00195 Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): That the Parliament notes with concern proposals to pass laws allowing the privatisation of Iraq’s oil industry; notes that both the Blair and Bush administrations stated that their declared major purpose for invading Iraq was to remove weapons of mass destruction and that the invasion was not motivated by that country’s oil reserves; notes that both administrations have stated their support for the introduction of democracy in Iraq, and accordingly is confident that the UK and US administrations will demonstrate their good intentions by encouraging the Iraq Government not to privatise that country’s oil but to maintain it as a source of income to help Iraq’s reconstruction and recovery.

b) WESTMINISTER EARLY DAY MOTIONS

Date of Lodging: 20 March 2007
Short Title: Iraqi Oil Law
EDM-1180 Katy Clark (Ayrshire North and Arran) (Labour): That this House notes that Iraq's economy is heavily dependent on oil and that decisions about the future of Iraq's oil industry will have a major bearing on that country; further notes that the constitution of Iraq states that oil and gas are owned by all the people of Iraq; expresses concern that the British Government, in its involvement in the drafting of Iraq's new oil laws, has sought the views of international oil companies regarding the possible types of contracts that the Iraqi government should offer; believes that decisions on the Iraqi oil industry should be made by the Iraqi people without outside interference; and calls on the Government to disclose to the House all representations it has made in relation to the oil law.

See also John McDonnell’s EDMs:

http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=33467&SESSION=885
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=33468&SESSION=885

c) EWA JASIEWICZ/PLATFORM/HANDS OFF IRAQI OIL

Ewa Jasiewicz
Researcher/Campaigner
PLATFORM
http://www.carbonweb.org/iraq
020 7403 3738
0044 7749 421 576

Hands Off Iraqi Oil: http://www.carbonweb.org/showitem.asp?article=256&parent=39
Useful links and quotes: http://www.carbonweb.org/showitem.asp?article=56&parent=4

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