Meeting between LFIQ and ISCI

LFIQ Chair Cllr Clive Furness and Director Gary Kent have met Ihsan Al Hakim and Ali Hussaini of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq which is one of the main Shia parties.

They agreed to begin a political dialogue on matters of mutual concern. LFIQ seeks such relations with all Iraqi parties.

They agreed on the need to increase commercial and political links between Iraq and the UK with a special emphasis on the need for direct flights and a more liberal visa system so that various exchanges can be expedited.

They also agreed to work together to improve the position of the Iraqi trade unions which the ISCI team said should be allowed to flourish.

They will meet after the Iraqi parliamentary elections on 7 March to review progress.

Clive and Gary said after the meeting in the Commons: “it is very important that LFIQ has good working relations with all the main parties. We don’t take sides between them and it is up to the Iraqi voters to choose their own representatives. We are strongly on the side of the Iraqi labour movement and are seeking support for full freedoms for the unions. Support from ISCI would be very good indeed.”