Iraq Profile: Mehdi al-Hafez

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040501/photos_wl_me_afp/040501193036_dphh2ucs_photo0

The man most likely to lead Iraq's interim government when it takes over from the US-led coalition on June 30th says the United Nations should play a leading role in the transfer.
Mehdi al-Hafez, a secular Shiite Muslim who is currently planning minister, also says he opposes the formation of an Iraqi government based on sectarian or ethnic quotas, like the current US-installed provisional Governing Council.
The US plans for the handover have been clouded by a fierce upsurge in anti-occupation violence in the country.
Mr Hafez has won support to become interim prime minister from UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi and nearly all of Iraq's ethnic, political and religious factions.
http://abcasiapacific.com/news/stories/asiapacific_stories_1099416.htm

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BEIRUT, Lebanon, March 18 (UPI) -- Iraqi Minister for Planning and Development Cooperation Mehdi al-Hafez expressed optimism over his country's economic future and reconstruction bid despite formidable difficulties pertaining to political instability and lack of security.
"The situation in Iraq is not that bad and tragic and what is happening in reality is not exactly as aired on television screens to the outside world," al-Hafez said in an interview with United Press International Thursday.
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Al-Hafez, who is participating in the "Iraq Economic Forum" hosted in Beirut to explore investment opportunities in Iraq's reconstruction process, said the economic issue in his war-ravaged country was complicated because it is closely linked to political solutions as well as security stability.
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040318-114627-9411r.htm

Iraqi Planning Minister praises Zayed
posted on 29/02/2004
Mehdi Al Hafez, Iraqi Planning Minister has lauded the unstinted stance of President H.H Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in supporting the Iraqi people.
http://www.uaeinteract.com/news/default.asp?cntDisplay=10&ID=236

Iraq's planning minister expects conditions to improve after handover
KUNA (Kuwait), 17 Apr 04
Iraq's Planning Minister Mihdi Al-Hafez said that the security and stability issues in Iraq is a worry to everyone, hoping that stability and security will be restored in his country when power is transferred to the Iraqis by the end of June. Interviewed by KUNA following his talks with high ranking Austrian officials, Al-Hafez said that a very fruitful dialogue was held with the Austrian government and which was sponsored by the President Thomas Klestil and it is expected that Austria will be one of the first countries to contribute in Iraq's reconstruction to also boot the bilateral trade cooperation. Regarding Iraq's reconstruction plan, the Iraqi minister said that the plan includes 14 economic sectors with a 55 billion dollar cost, in which 33 billion dollars have been secured received from donor states and the international organizations.
http://tides.carebridge.org/TIRR/D-TIRR168.htm