Thursday, September 13, 2007
IAF deny return of minister to government
Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi's office denied on Wednesday that Minister of Planning and Development Cooperation Ali Baban decided to return to the government, describing media reports on that as "misinterpretation of Baban's statements." "Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi received on Wednesday morning the resigned minister Ali Baban at his office in Baghdad," Hashemi's office said in a statement received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The statement added "minister Baban clarified the truth and objectives about his stand that was reported by media on his return to the government, saying that some regrettably politicized his stand and mistakenly misinterpreted it as a rebellion on the Iraqi Accordance Front's decision to quit Maliki's government."
Minister of Planning and Development Cooperation Ali Baban on Tuesday unveiled that he decided to return to the government after a meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, adding "my decision came in favor of serving the public good" after he was entrusted with carrying out "important investment projects."
Baban stressed during his meeting with Hashemi his "commitment to IAF's decision to quit the cabinet and that he neither intends to return to the government nor violates his obligation towards IAF of which he is a member," VP's office said. The statement added "the issue was settled and the misunderstanding was clarified."
Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Sunni Accordance Front said that IAF is no longer part of Maliki's government even "if all ministers returned to cabinet."
The statement added "minister Baban clarified the truth and objectives about his stand that was reported by media on his return to the government, saying that some regrettably politicized his stand and mistakenly misinterpreted it as a rebellion on the Iraqi Accordance Front's decision to quit Maliki's government."
Minister of Planning and Development Cooperation Ali Baban on Tuesday unveiled that he decided to return to the government after a meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, adding "my decision came in favor of serving the public good" after he was entrusted with carrying out "important investment projects."
Baban stressed during his meeting with Hashemi his "commitment to IAF's decision to quit the cabinet and that he neither intends to return to the government nor violates his obligation towards IAF of which he is a member," VP's office said. The statement added "the issue was settled and the misunderstanding was clarified."
Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Sunni Accordance Front said that IAF is no longer part of Maliki's government even "if all ministers returned to cabinet."
Labels: Ali Baban, Iraqi Accordance Front, Tariq al-Hashemi
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Iraqi Accordance Front MP returns after boycott
Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - Iraqi Minister of Planning and Development Cooperation Ali Baban decided to return to the government and end his boycott, a source from the Iraqi cabinet said on Tuesday. "Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki hailed Baban's decision and appreciated his "courageous step" to return to undertake his job for the good of the Iraqi people," the source, whole asked not to be named, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The source did not give further details on the minister's surprising decision. Baban is a member of the Sunni Arab-majority Iraqi Islamic Party, headed by Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi. The party is one of the main Sunni components of the Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF). The IAF, the third largest bloc in Iraqi parliament with 44 out of a total 275 seats, had announced last month that its five ministers and deputy premier, Sallam al-Zawbaie, have quit the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki because "the government slammed the door shut to any reforms that would help rescue Iraq."
The IAF is composed of three main Sunni political organizations: the Iraqi Islamic Party, the Congress of the People of Iraq and the National Dialogue Council. Baban himself had threatened to withdraw from the government before his bloc's decision last month if the oil and gas law approved without making "fundamental amendments". He asserted that the law has "negative effects" on Iraqi oil wealth, calling for holding a referendum on that law.
The source did not give further details on the minister's surprising decision. Baban is a member of the Sunni Arab-majority Iraqi Islamic Party, headed by Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi. The party is one of the main Sunni components of the Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF). The IAF, the third largest bloc in Iraqi parliament with 44 out of a total 275 seats, had announced last month that its five ministers and deputy premier, Sallam al-Zawbaie, have quit the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki because "the government slammed the door shut to any reforms that would help rescue Iraq."
The IAF is composed of three main Sunni political organizations: the Iraqi Islamic Party, the Congress of the People of Iraq and the National Dialogue Council. Baban himself had threatened to withdraw from the government before his bloc's decision last month if the oil and gas law approved without making "fundamental amendments". He asserted that the law has "negative effects" on Iraqi oil wealth, calling for holding a referendum on that law.
Labels: Ali Baban, Iraqi Accordance Front
