Thursday, August 16, 2007
Accord Front: Anbar Salvation Council’s Ministers (Nominees) Will NOT Represent Us
Politics, Tribal
(Badr Newspaper) - 15 AUG - Accord Front spokesman, Salim Abid Al Jabouri stated, “The Anbar Salvation Council’s nominees who are intended to replace Accord Front’s Ministers (who withdrew from Al Maliki’s Administration) do not represent the sect (all Sunnis), they only represent themselves.” On the other hand, Iraq’s Vice President Tariq Al Hashimi has made the following demand: all of the political blocs must attend the upcoming “meeting of top-level political leaders”. Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki has called for all of Iraq’s political leaders to participate in this meeting.
Ali Al Barrak, a spokesman for the Vice President’s (Al Hashimi’s) office, said: Al Hashimi has accepted the invitation to attend this conference of top-level political leadership, however, he made the following condition: all of Iraq’s political leaders must take part in this meeting! On another hand, Ayad Al Samaraie, the Accord Front’s Chief (in Iraq’s Parliament) emphasized the necessity of the government’s fulfilling the Constitution. He continued: Iraq is witnessing a political crisis; because, the leaders have abandoned the political programs. They abandoned the goals which all the sides participating in the political process had agreed on. Al Samaraie told the press, “Abandonment of the Constitution is the reason for Iraq’s political crisis.”
Recently, Al Maliki said that this (top-level political leaders) meeting will discuss: the political blocs’ demands, and which of these demands that we can accomplis but, only on the condition that the political blocs accept the need to: approve key legislation in the Parliament, and hold a confirmation vote (concerning the Sadr Movement’s six) Ministers who resigned. It has been a month since he (Al Maliki) submitted a list of replacement Ministers to Parliament.
It is expected that this top-level meeting will include many individuals, such as: the (Iraqi) Republic’s President – Jalal Talabani, plus Iraq’s two Vice Presidents – Adil Abd Al Mahdi and Tariq Al Hashimi, (Prime Minister) Al Maliki, Kurdistan’s Regional President – Massoud Barzani, and other leaders of (Iraq’s) political blocs.
Ali Al Barrak, a spokesman for the Vice President’s (Al Hashimi’s) office, said: Al Hashimi has accepted the invitation to attend this conference of top-level political leadership, however, he made the following condition: all of Iraq’s political leaders must take part in this meeting! On another hand, Ayad Al Samaraie, the Accord Front’s Chief (in Iraq’s Parliament) emphasized the necessity of the government’s fulfilling the Constitution. He continued: Iraq is witnessing a political crisis; because, the leaders have abandoned the political programs. They abandoned the goals which all the sides participating in the political process had agreed on. Al Samaraie told the press, “Abandonment of the Constitution is the reason for Iraq’s political crisis.”
Recently, Al Maliki said that this (top-level political leaders) meeting will discuss: the political blocs’ demands, and which of these demands that we can accomplis but, only on the condition that the political blocs accept the need to: approve key legislation in the Parliament, and hold a confirmation vote (concerning the Sadr Movement’s six) Ministers who resigned. It has been a month since he (Al Maliki) submitted a list of replacement Ministers to Parliament.
It is expected that this top-level meeting will include many individuals, such as: the (Iraqi) Republic’s President – Jalal Talabani, plus Iraq’s two Vice Presidents – Adil Abd Al Mahdi and Tariq Al Hashimi, (Prime Minister) Al Maliki, Kurdistan’s Regional President – Massoud Barzani, and other leaders of (Iraq’s) political blocs.
Labels: Anbar Salvation Council, Ayad Al Samaraie, constitution, Iraqi Accordance Front, Salim Abid Al Jabouri, Tariq Al Hashemi
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Maliki supports Assyrian request for own province
Security, Minorities
(AINA) - Assyrian Christians in Iraq have made a formal request for a Province of their own inside the war-torn country, and many see this as the only way to persuade thousands of refugees outside the country to return. The Assyrian Province, under the same legal framework as neighboring Kurdistan, is seen as a key to bring the Northern part of Iraq into stability.
In a wide-ranging, exclusive interview in Tokyo for ANS with Ken Joseph Jr., Iraqi President Nouri al Malaki affirmed the Assyrian Christians' right to have a Province of their own, which could be provided for under the Iraqi Constitution. Malaki said: "I have a bias towards the Assyrian Christians. They are the indigenous people of our country and our most nationalist and good people."
He added: "We want them to be inside the country and active and able to retake their rights. We will do all we can to help them. At the same time, if they feel they need an area, a province of their own as the Constitution provides, I support this fully."
In a wide-ranging, exclusive interview in Tokyo for ANS with Ken Joseph Jr., Iraqi President Nouri al Malaki affirmed the Assyrian Christians' right to have a Province of their own, which could be provided for under the Iraqi Constitution. Malaki said: "I have a bias towards the Assyrian Christians. They are the indigenous people of our country and our most nationalist and good people."
He added: "We want them to be inside the country and active and able to retake their rights. We will do all we can to help them. At the same time, if they feel they need an area, a province of their own as the Constitution provides, I support this fully."
Reacting to large numbers of refugees in neighboring countries, Malaki said: "We do not consider them refugees. They are displaced, and we are doing all we can to create a situation where they can return. They are our responsibility and we do not need help from others to take them in -- they will return home."
Malaki was addressing questions concerning the minorities, many of whom are in neighboring, countries including an estimated nearly 500,000 Assyrian Christians. During the interview, Malaki appeared upbeat about the future of his country in contrast to the daily bad news coming out of Iraq.
Malaki was addressing questions concerning the minorities, many of whom are in neighboring, countries including an estimated nearly 500,000 Assyrian Christians. During the interview, Malaki appeared upbeat about the future of his country in contrast to the daily bad news coming out of Iraq.
Labels: Assyrian province, Assyrians, constitution, northern Iraq, Nouri Al-Maliki
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Disagreement on Kurdistan's constitution
Kurdistan, Politics
(Presstv) - The disagreement between the Islamic and secular parties in the Iraqi Kurdistan region has widened over the drafting of the region's constitution. The secular parties and groups in Iraq's Kurdish parliament are against the inclusion of Islamic laws in the constitution.
A member of the Islamic Party of Kurdistan, Zana Roustaie, has rejected the stance taken by the seculars on the issue as "extremism", saying that Islamic Party and other Islamic groups in the Kurdish parliament will try to incorporate Islamic laws in the constitution. The Kurdistan Islamic Union has also stressed that the constitution should be based on holy Islam.
A member of the Islamic Party of Kurdistan, Zana Roustaie, has rejected the stance taken by the seculars on the issue as "extremism", saying that Islamic Party and other Islamic groups in the Kurdish parliament will try to incorporate Islamic laws in the constitution. The Kurdistan Islamic Union has also stressed that the constitution should be based on holy Islam.
Labels: constitution, Islamic, Islamic Party of Kurdistan, Kurdistan, Kurdistan Islamic Union, secular, Zana Roustaie
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Womens and civil rights groups battle for rights in Kurdistan's constitution
Politics
(AINA) - Women groups and civil rights organization are making a last-minute attempt to have their rights enshrined in the proposed constitution of the Kurdistan region in Iraq. Article 7 of the proposed constitution has been getting negative attention from rights groups. The article says "the fundamental tenets of Islamic Shari'a law will be considered as one of the major sources for legislation making," based on the premise that the majority of the Kurdish people are Muslims.
But rights groups say this clause constitutes an attack on the basic rights and liberties of the people in the region, especially women and non-Muslim minorities. April 1 was the deadline for submitting complaints and suggestions about the new constitution. "In our opinion this is a forced Islamization of the constitution as well as of the society in Kurdistan," said Houzan Mahmoud, the overseas representative of the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq.
Mahmoud, who is of Kurdish origin, is coordinating a campaign urging the removal of the article in question.
Under the proposed article, decisions on family matters such as divorce, child custody, polygamy and inheritance would be influenced by Islamic Shari'a law and would automatically favor men and discriminate against women, Mahmoud said.
While there is a desire for secularism in Kurdistan, the authors of the constitution and the political parties are giving in to the Islamists by adding this article, she said. The campaign is calling for both local and international involvement in changing this clause.
But rights groups say this clause constitutes an attack on the basic rights and liberties of the people in the region, especially women and non-Muslim minorities. April 1 was the deadline for submitting complaints and suggestions about the new constitution. "In our opinion this is a forced Islamization of the constitution as well as of the society in Kurdistan," said Houzan Mahmoud, the overseas representative of the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq.
Mahmoud, who is of Kurdish origin, is coordinating a campaign urging the removal of the article in question.
Under the proposed article, decisions on family matters such as divorce, child custody, polygamy and inheritance would be influenced by Islamic Shari'a law and would automatically favor men and discriminate against women, Mahmoud said.
While there is a desire for secularism in Kurdistan, the authors of the constitution and the political parties are giving in to the Islamists by adding this article, she said. The campaign is calling for both local and international involvement in changing this clause.
Labels: Article 7, civil rights organisations, constitution, Kurdistan, women groups
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Zebari tells Arab Summit not to interfere with Iraqi constitution
Politics, Region
(AFP) - Iraq’s government does not need an order from the Arab summit on how to amend its constitution and boost national reconciliation, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said yesterday. “Amendment of the constitution is an obligation written in the text of the constitution, and we are determined to do it without waiting to be told,” Zebari told AFP.
Arab foreign ministers meeting ahead of the summit here agreed Monday to call for an amendment of Iraq’s constitution to give Sunni Arabs a greater share of power in the war-ravaged country and prevent its breakup. The call came in a draft resolution to be submitted to Arab heads of state starting their annual summit today.
“We have obligations toward our people and we know them. We don’t need a diktat from Arab countries. We tell them (Arab states) that the idea of national reconciliation is ours, not yours,” Zebari said. The Iraqi government has initiated moves to review the de-Baathification law, he added. The Arab foreign ministers also called Monday for “reviewing the de-Baathification law in order to enhance the national reconciliation process in Iraq,” according to one minister.
What Iraq does need from fellow Arab states is their help in “fighting terrorism and controlling the borders to stop arms crossing” into the country, said Zebari. Iraq’s Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani sent to the Cabinet on Monday a new de-Baathification law aimed at promoting national reconciliation, the premier’s office said.
Arab foreign ministers meeting ahead of the summit here agreed Monday to call for an amendment of Iraq’s constitution to give Sunni Arabs a greater share of power in the war-ravaged country and prevent its breakup. The call came in a draft resolution to be submitted to Arab heads of state starting their annual summit today.
“We have obligations toward our people and we know them. We don’t need a diktat from Arab countries. We tell them (Arab states) that the idea of national reconciliation is ours, not yours,” Zebari said. The Iraqi government has initiated moves to review the de-Baathification law, he added. The Arab foreign ministers also called Monday for “reviewing the de-Baathification law in order to enhance the national reconciliation process in Iraq,” according to one minister.
What Iraq does need from fellow Arab states is their help in “fighting terrorism and controlling the borders to stop arms crossing” into the country, said Zebari. Iraq’s Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani sent to the Cabinet on Monday a new de-Baathification law aimed at promoting national reconciliation, the premier’s office said.
Labels: 19th Arab Summit, constitution, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Political obstacles hinder Iraq's development
Politics
(AP) Iraq's fragmented leadership is struggling to meet the major benchmarks that it has pledged to the United States to achieve soon, with political wrangling and a chaotic legislature standing in the way. The issue took on new urgency last week when House Democrats drafted legislation that would require President Bush to certify by July 1 and again by Oct. 1 whether the Iraqi government is making progress on security, an oil plan and constitutional amendments.
Even if the Democratic proposals never make it through Congress, pressure is mounting for the Iraqis to meet a timetable or risk losing U.S. troops and support. But the Iraqis face a host of obstacles that go to the heart of the crisis. Recent talk of changes in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government may just increase the paralysis as groups maneuver for power.
Iraq missed the Dec. 31 target dates to enact laws establishing provincial elections, regulating distribution of the country's oil wealth and reversing measures that have excluded many Sunnis from jobs and government positions because they belonged to Saddam Hussein's Baath party. The U.S. is also pushing for constitutional amendments to remove articles that the Sunnis believe discriminate in favor of the Shiites and Kurds. U.S. officials also want Iraqis to pass a bill to set new elections for provincial governments to encourage greater public participation at the grass-roots level.
The only success has been a new oil law, which al-Maliki's Cabinet endorsed Feb. 26 and sent to parliament for approval. Leaders of all main political blocs have pledged to support the bill, which lays down rules for negotiating contracts and distributing the revenues among Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds. But parliament has not taken up the measure yet, and the deputy speaker said the draft may have to be sent back to the Cabinet because al-Maliki's staff skipped some legal steps in endorsing it.
Likewise, the bill on provincial elections is bogged down in procedural matters. The measure is designed to address problems caused when the Sunnis boycotted the January 2005 election, in which provincial councils were chosen. That resulted in Shiites winning power in some areas with Sunni majorities. Shiite lawmakers are not eager to give up those gains.
Legislation to relax the ban on former Baath party members holding government jobs or elective office faces an even tougher road. Shiites and Kurds, who suffered the most under Saddam's Sunni-dominated regime, are reluctant to reinstate thousands of members of the party responsible. The government provides most jobs here, and the ban effectively deprives thousands of former Baath members of a livelihood. Many are Sunnis, and the U.S. believes the rules are driving Sunnis into the insurgency. The main Sunni bloc in parliament wants the rules loosened so that thousands of lower-ranking party members can get their jobs back.
Ali al-Lami, executive secretary of the government committee that screens former party members, said the factions reached a broad compromise during a meeting Feb. 28, whereby the number of Baath members under the ban would be cut by more than half. Other former party members would be offered reinstatement or retirement with pensions, he said. Al-Lami said al-Maliki had endorsed the compromise.
Even if the Democratic proposals never make it through Congress, pressure is mounting for the Iraqis to meet a timetable or risk losing U.S. troops and support. But the Iraqis face a host of obstacles that go to the heart of the crisis. Recent talk of changes in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government may just increase the paralysis as groups maneuver for power.
Iraq missed the Dec. 31 target dates to enact laws establishing provincial elections, regulating distribution of the country's oil wealth and reversing measures that have excluded many Sunnis from jobs and government positions because they belonged to Saddam Hussein's Baath party. The U.S. is also pushing for constitutional amendments to remove articles that the Sunnis believe discriminate in favor of the Shiites and Kurds. U.S. officials also want Iraqis to pass a bill to set new elections for provincial governments to encourage greater public participation at the grass-roots level.
The only success has been a new oil law, which al-Maliki's Cabinet endorsed Feb. 26 and sent to parliament for approval. Leaders of all main political blocs have pledged to support the bill, which lays down rules for negotiating contracts and distributing the revenues among Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds. But parliament has not taken up the measure yet, and the deputy speaker said the draft may have to be sent back to the Cabinet because al-Maliki's staff skipped some legal steps in endorsing it.
Likewise, the bill on provincial elections is bogged down in procedural matters. The measure is designed to address problems caused when the Sunnis boycotted the January 2005 election, in which provincial councils were chosen. That resulted in Shiites winning power in some areas with Sunni majorities. Shiite lawmakers are not eager to give up those gains.
Legislation to relax the ban on former Baath party members holding government jobs or elective office faces an even tougher road. Shiites and Kurds, who suffered the most under Saddam's Sunni-dominated regime, are reluctant to reinstate thousands of members of the party responsible. The government provides most jobs here, and the ban effectively deprives thousands of former Baath members of a livelihood. Many are Sunnis, and the U.S. believes the rules are driving Sunnis into the insurgency. The main Sunni bloc in parliament wants the rules loosened so that thousands of lower-ranking party members can get their jobs back.
Ali al-Lami, executive secretary of the government committee that screens former party members, said the factions reached a broad compromise during a meeting Feb. 28, whereby the number of Baath members under the ban would be cut by more than half. Other former party members would be offered reinstatement or retirement with pensions, he said. Al-Lami said al-Maliki had endorsed the compromise.
Labels: al-Maliki, Baathists, benchmarks, constitution, draft oil law, oil, provincial elections, security, U.S. support
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Committee to meet on constitution amendment next month
Politics
(VOI) The committee reconsidering items in the Iraqi constitution will hold its coming meeting next March, a Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC) member of parliament said on Monday."Most members of the committee are now attending workshops outside Iraq over constitutional matters," Sami al-Aaskari told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) by telephone.The forthcoming meeting, he added, will "envisage proposals tabled by different parties on amendments of certain items in the Iraqi constitution." In light of these recommendations there will be consultations among political blocs in this respect, he said.
The Iraqi Parliament had set up a committee in November 2006 to reconsider certain constitutional items and that it should finalize its work in a period not more than four months, not including the legislative recess.The committee is composed of 29 members representing the Iraqi political and ethnic spectrum. The members elected Sheikh Hammam Hammoudi of the UIC as chairman, Fouad Maasoum of the Kurdistan Coalition, the second largest parliamentary bloc, as vice chairman and Abbas al-Bayyati of the UIC as rapporteur.
Labels: amendment, constitution, Sami al-Aaskari, UIC
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Iraq considering Malaysian model for new constitution
Politics
(AP) Iraq is looking to ethnically diverse and harmonious Malaysia as a possible model for a new Iraqi constitution, an official was reported as saying Thursday. Hummam Hammoudi, the head of a committee considering amendments to the Iraqi constitution, made the comments during a dinner hosted by the northern state of Penang for visiting Iraqi lawmakers and U.N. officials, according to the report by Malaysia's national news agency Bernama.
Neither Hammoudi nor Iraqi embassy officials could be immediately reached to confirm his comments. Hammoudi's committee is studying how the constitution can be revised to foster peace and end sectarian strife.
Hammoudi is a Shiite lawmaker and cleric on the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, which makes up the largest party in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's ruling coalition. Hammoudi's 29-member committee is dominated by 12 members from the Shiite bloc. The others are Kurds, Sunnis, other minorities and secularists.
The panel is expected to propose the amendments by mid-May. A national referendum will be held on the changes after they are approved by a majority vote in the 275-member legislature.
Neither Hammoudi nor Iraqi embassy officials could be immediately reached to confirm his comments. Hammoudi's committee is studying how the constitution can be revised to foster peace and end sectarian strife.
Hammoudi is a Shiite lawmaker and cleric on the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, which makes up the largest party in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's ruling coalition. Hammoudi's 29-member committee is dominated by 12 members from the Shiite bloc. The others are Kurds, Sunnis, other minorities and secularists.
The panel is expected to propose the amendments by mid-May. A national referendum will be held on the changes after they are approved by a majority vote in the 275-member legislature.
Labels: constitution, Malaysia, politics
