Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., February 08, 2008 Adar1 2, 5768 | | Israel Time: 19:19 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie waving during a visit to a U.S. military base in the heavily guarded Green Zone in central Baghdad on Thursday. (AP) Last update - 19:21 07/02/2008 Angelina Jolie visits Baghdad to highlight plight of Iraqi refugees By The Associated Press Tags: Angelina Jolie, Baghdad  BAGHDAD - Academy Award-winning actress Angelina Jolie brought her star power to Baghdad Thursday on a mission as a United Nations goodwill ambassador to highlight the plight of Iraqi refugees. The actress said there needs to be a more coherent plan as the more than 2 million internally displaced Iraqis begin to trickle back to their homes amid a recent lull in violence that had threatened to spark a civil war in the country. "There's lots of goodwill and lots of discussion, but there seems to be just a lot of talk at the moment and there are a lot of pieces that need to be put together," Jolie said in an interview with CNN. Advertisement "What happens in Iraq and how Iraq settles in the years to come is going to affect the entire Middle East," she added. "And a big part of what it's going to affect, how it settles, is how these people are returned and settled into their homes and their community and brought back together and whether they can live together and what their communities look like." Jolie had a 30-minute meeting with the top U.S. commander in Iraq Gen. David Petraeus and Paula Dobriansky, under secretary of state for global affairs, to discuss issues related to displaced people and humanitarian relief. Her itinerary also included meetings with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Iraqi migration officials, as well as with UN officials, Iraqi employees of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and internally displaced people, the embassy said. "I am concerned as a humanitarian, of course, but I am also concerned as an American about the desperation and aggression that can come from years of neglect and displacement," an embassy statement quoted Jolie as saying. AP Television News footage also showed the actress mingling with American troops during lunch at a dining facility in the heavily guarded Green Zone, which houses the embassy and Iraqi government offices in central Baghdad. "I was glad to have the opportunity to come to Baghdad and thank them face-to-face," Jolie was quoted as saying. The actress last traveled to Iraq in August, when she saw firsthand the plight of conflict refugees stranded in the blazing desert near the Syrian-Iraqi border. The actress has worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) since early 2001. In May, a foundation set up by Jolie and her partner Brad Pitt donated $1 million to help those affected by the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region and neighboring Chad. The UNHCR estimates that more than 4 million Iraqis have been displaced since the March 2003 U.S.-led invasion - 2 million who have fled to mostly neighboring countries and 2.2 million who vacated their homes but remained displaced by the sectarian violence that had pushed the country to the brink of civil war. Thousands have returned home in recent months, largely because they had run out of money and could not find work or legal status in the overwhelmed neighboring countries, others after hearing reports of declining violence with an influx of U.S. troops and a Sunni revolt against al-Qaida in Iraq. But UN and U.S. officials have warned a massive influx of returns could cause new tensions as Sunnis and Shiites come home to houses occupied by members of rival sects and the religious character of many neighborhoods in Baghdad changed during the violence between Sunnis and Shiites. A new joint report from the International Organization for Migration and the Ministry of Displaced and Migrants indicates that 31 percent of the more than 2 million internally displaced Iraqis claim that someone has occupied their home. The problem is compounded by weakness in Iraq's legal system: Dana Graber Ladek, an Iraq displacement specialist at the International Organization for Migration, said no effective legal mechanism exists for people to reclaim ownership of their home. "We have this gap in terms of what are the legal avenues Iraqis can take post-April 2003 and it is really only the local courts, which are not a reliable means of solving the problems," Ladek told The Associated Press in a recent interview. At the moment there isn't the legal structure needed to solve this problem. Related articles: Sudan to host thousands of Palestinian refugees from Iraq UN: Brazil absorbs 36 Palestinians who fled Iraq in 2003 Rosner's blog: Not despite Iraq - because of Iraq Bookmark to del.icio.us   Baghdad, Interrupted Movie star Angelina Jolie takes on Iraq as UN goodwill ambassador. Unwanted praise Hezbollah leader Nasrallah compliments on the Winograd Committee report.   1.   well now, that will solve problems 19:17  |  frenz 07/02/08   2.   squatters in owned homes by other Iraqi`s 22:44  |  Rozz 07/02/08   3.   jolie is a joke 00:25  |  unknown 08/02/08   4.   Will the send her to the West Bank? 00:34  |  Adam 08/02/08   5.   God bless her beautiful heart 01:55  |  Nadia 08/02/08   6.   # 3 to the unknown in canyon lake, tx 02:52  |  eric 08/02/08   7.   Unilateral declaration 06:04  |  Morris Valentine 08/02/08   8.   USA Kids, What About Them? 11:08  |  D.Torres 08/02/08   9.   # 6 Eric thanks for some honesty, finally 13:17  |  Petra 08/02/08   10.   # 7 Morris, lol only in your dreams 13:18  |  Petra 08/02/08   11.   # 8 D. Torres 13:22  |  Petra 08/02/08   12.   #1 Frenz and What are YOU doing? 13:23  |  Petra 08/02/08   13.   To Petra (#10) 17:19  |  Morris Valentine 08/02/08   14.   Liquidate HER! 18:18  |  Da Cleric 08/02/08

Today Online Syria upgrades missiles thanks to Iranian support Responses: 172 Palestinian PM: Peace deal with Israel 'unlikely' this year Responses: 69 Editorial: Open the Rafah crossing Responses: 68 B. Weinthal: Germany is the logical place to start embargo of Iran Responses: 45 Hamas confiscates humanitarian aid trucks sent to Gaza Responses: 61 Rosner's Domain Why many Jewish men go beardless (WTR) New poll: Is it legitimate for Israel to cut electricity to Gaza? The Jewish vote: Obama carried Massachusetts, Connecticut Obama, Clinton and Iran: The vote that made the difference Clinton or McCain? That's a tough one More Headlines 19:03 Hamas: Gaza power cuts won't deter Qassam rocket fire 18:59 Sources: Blair 'shocked' by Dichter fears of arrest in U.K. 18:40 France's Le Pen gets suspended jail term for comments on Nazi occupation 17:55 Egypt boosts troop security on Gaza border amid Hamas abduction threat 13:18 Iran helps Syria develop missile that can target Israel better 06:48 Grave near Kiev is reminder of 20th century's only blood libel 15:10 Report: Tehran says it is building a second atomic power plant 15:59 Davis Cup: Israel leads Sweden, 1-0, after Sela beats Bjorkman 14:48 Dollar falls as Fischer says won't intervene in currency market 13:11 Palestinian PM says he sees no peace accord with Israel in 2008 Previous Editions Select Day 07 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 25 jan

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations U.S. CITIZEN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY Last chance to vote in Israel, in-person, Democrats-Abroad Global Primary. Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved