Korean Troops in Iraq Praised
By Kim Se-jeong
Staff Reporter
While the destiny of Zaytun was debated in Korea, it has done something meaningful gaining admiration and respect from the Iraqi people, including an Iraqi diplomat in Seoul.
Mustafa Musa Taufik, charge d' affaire of the Iraqi Embassy in Seoul, expressed appreciation for the work of the Zaytun Division in Iraq on behalf of the Iraqi people.
``The troops acquired admiration and respect from the Iraqi people.'' Taufik said in an interview with The Korea Times.
The division has carried out humanitarian and rehabilitation work in northern Iraq since it was first deployed in 2004.
Last month, the National Assembly passed a bill to extend the deployment for another year. Taufik welcomed the passage, saying, ``We need it.''
He said Zaytun makes knots between peoples of Korea and Iraq, recalling two incidents that occurred last month.
An Iraqi boy was flown to Korea for medical treatment last month. The boy lost his both legs in a bomb blast. He was one of the few lucky ones who had access to medical help through Zaytun in Iraq, and one of the three luckiest ones who had a chance to travel to Korea for surgery. He has a new pair of artificial legs, and his story was televised.
The diplomat, who met the boy, said he could see the connection between the Iraqis and the Koreans at the hospital.
On another occasion, he was at the center of that connection.
``I was on my way home from a reception held at Lotte Hotel in Seoul. When I was in the elevator, I heard two Korean women talking (in Korean), and there was one word I could understand,'' and which was ``Iraq" in Korean.
So he asked them what they were talking about, and learned that a son of one of the two women had served as a member of Zaytun.
Now, Taufik keeps their phone number in his phonebook after having the mother and the son come over to his apartment for a meal.
Next year will see the celebration of the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Yet, little has exchanged through the diplomatic channel for it has long been impassable.
After the Gulf War in 1991, the diplomatic channels closed. It was in 2003 that the Korean Embassy reopened in Iraq, and in 2007 the Iraqi Embassy in Seoul.
The first year of relations after the resumption were ``distinguished'' and ``fruitful.''
``During 2007, we witnessed several visits of Iraqi figures to Korea, the resumption of joint-committee meetings, signing the special agreement in the field of energy, as well as training programs that have been taking place in different fields,'' he said.
Yet, mindful of recent tension between Iraq and Korea over oil exploration by a South Korean company, he said the action from the Iraqi government wasn't intended to sour the bilateral relations.
"I hope that the decision of the Iraqi government has not been considered as a threat against the relations between the two countries, which witness a notable improvement,'' Taufik said, ``The current visit of the Iraqi Minister of Oil to the regional government of Kurdistan comes in this connection to deal with the issue objectively.''
Last month, the Iraqi central government warned it would stop selling oil to Korea unless a South Korean company put an end to an oil exploration project that has been underway in the Kurdistan region.
Taufik explained the tension is a result of an ``internal problem'' within Iraq.
After nearly three decades of dictatorship under Saddam Hussein, a new government of multi-parties of Sunni, Shi'a and Kurds was launched.
Incumbent Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is a Kurd and Prime Minister Jawad al-Maliki a Shiite.
Korea imported nearly one billion worth of Iraqi oil in 2006, and that accounts for five percent of total South Korean oil imports. The biggest importing country is Saudi Arabia, followed by the United Arab Emirates.
Taufik believes relations can grow beyond merely economic, but says domestic stability and security must precede.
"As you know, the security situation needs to be improved in order to promote Korean companies to work in Iraq for investment and for reconstruction,'' he said.