Agreements on drafting Iraqi constitution expected
Iraq, Politics, 8/15/2005

Talks resumed on Sunday held between Iraqi political factions over reaching a final agreement on drafting the constitution. This followed differences over two issues, federalism with the south, and the relations between the provinces and the central government.

The speaker of the Iraqi national assmebly ( parliament) Hajim al-Hosni denied that there is a final agreement that has been reached between the sides of the meeting, noting that these talks are still ongoing in order to reach "satisfactory solutions" over pending issues.

He stressed that this parliament, represented by its speaker, is the side in charge of making statements on the constitution, noting that the statements of the Iraqi officials express their own personal views.

Meantime, Kamaran Qarra Daghi, the spokesman for the Iraqi president Jalal al-Talbani said that an agreement should be reached over the draft of the constitution on Sunday, but he simultaneously admitted that Saturday's evening talks were not decisive.

The Iraqi president Jalal al-Talibani said that the two main pending issues are the issue of the federalism and the relation between the state and the religion. But he expected that this draft was due to be completed by August 14, denying the existence of any intention to postpone it until after the general elections in December.

Talibani said that the main points of difference were settled and the other standing issues are to be discussed in meetings between the Sunni members of the committee with Eyad Allawi party and another that brings together the Shiite with the Kurds. Kurdish member Mahmoud Othman said that the draft constitution will be handed over to the parliament even if it will be rejected by the Sunnis on the committee.

For his part, Saleh al-Mutlaq, the Sunni member in the constitution drafting committee expressed his confidence in reaching an agreement by Sunday, but he expected the postponement of decisions on certain pending issues that cannot be agreed upon until a future date.

Previous Stories:
  UN extended mission in Iraq   (8/12/2005)
  Tariq Aziz permitted to see family   (8/12/2005)
  Calls to divide Iraq on religious-ethnic lines rejected   (8/12/2005)
  Iraqis on track to finish new constitution, US official says   (8/11/2005)
  Pentagon links withdrawal from Iraq to political, security conditions   (8/11/2005)
  A constitution for Iraq   (7/2/2005)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search