Ghazi Yawer

Sheikh Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer (Ghazi Yawer) is deputy president of the Iraqi Interim Government. He assumed office as president on June 30, 2004, when the Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) was "disbanded and the new Iraqi interim government" took over. He was superceded as president by Jalal Talabani. 

Sheikh al-Yawer is married to Nesreen Mustafa Berwari, the Minister of Public Works in the Iraqi Interim Government.

Profile
According to a June 1, 2004, BBC/UK Profile, "Despite his criticisms, Yawer also has close ties to the US. Iraq's new interim President, Ghazi Yawer, is a businessman and tribal leader. The 45-year-old US-educated moderate Sunni and a former exile has strong ties to Washington, although he has been sharply critical of the coalition.

"He has said the US-drafted resolution gives Iraqis too little control over the coalition troops that will stay. Only 'full and complete sovereignty would be acceptable,' he has said."

Yawer "was the candidate most favoured by the IGC" and his "appointment was only confirmed by UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi after his main rival - the US-backed former Foreign Minister, Adnan Pachachi - turned down the post reportedly due to the lack of support by IGC members. ... The move finally ended several days of wrangling and horse-trading between the IGC, top coalition officials and Mr Brahimi.

"A prominent tribal leader from the northern city of Mosul who generally appears in tradition Arab dress, Mr Yawer has also wide support from various ethnic and religious groups.

"He studied engineering at Georgetown University in Washington, and for many years ran a telecoms company in Saudi Arabia.

"In an earlier interview with the London-based Arabic newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat, he said he would only accept the post of president if it came with real powers.

"He also said is was 'totally unacceptable' for the US to remain in Saddam Hussein's former Republican Palace presidential compound and convert it to their embassy, as some reports have suggested. 'This is like someone who pokes his finger in another's eye,' he said."

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * Iraqi Constitution
 * Iraqi Interim Government Members
 * Iraqi sovereignty: Exit Strategy from Iraq
 * Iraqi sovereignty: June 30, 2004