Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Political meetings to start on Wednesday
Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said on Tuesday that the political leaders' meetings will start on Wednesday, noting that they will hold four-way and five-way meetings, mainly for the blocs that withdrew from the government. This came in a press statement released after a lunch banquet Talabani held in honor of Iraq's Kurdistan President Massoud Barazani and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
The banquet was also attended by Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi, representatives of all political blocs and a large number of ministers and lawmakers. "Today's meeting was a good opportunity to create an appropriate atmosphere for holding the political meetings which will start tomorrow, mainly the blocs that withdrew from the government," the statement said.
The Iraqi government is facing an aggravated political crisis after the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front and Iraqi National List announced the withdrawal of their ministers, while the Sadrists quit the cabinet months ago. The president also announced that four-way and five-way meetings will be held for leaders of political and parliamentary blocs participating in the political process string from Wednesday.
For his part, Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi said "we are optimistic as bilateral talks and meetings between all political leaders were made in an attempt to reach a common understanding." Iraq's Kurdistan President Massoud Barazani described today's meeting as preliminary for the upcoming meetings, while the Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said that the tomorrow's meeting will discuss means to solve problems that hamper the political process.
"There are several demands need to be accomplished as soon as possible, including laws related to the parliament's work, oil and gas law and the provinces' law," the premier also said. "There are some issues related to the government including appointing new ministers to replace those who withdrew and other issues within the constitution," he added. For his part, leader of the IAF, Adnan al-Dulaimi expressed hope that "this meeting will solve all disputes."
The banquet was also attended by Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi, representatives of all political blocs and a large number of ministers and lawmakers. "Today's meeting was a good opportunity to create an appropriate atmosphere for holding the political meetings which will start tomorrow, mainly the blocs that withdrew from the government," the statement said.
The Iraqi government is facing an aggravated political crisis after the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front and Iraqi National List announced the withdrawal of their ministers, while the Sadrists quit the cabinet months ago. The president also announced that four-way and five-way meetings will be held for leaders of political and parliamentary blocs participating in the political process string from Wednesday.
For his part, Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi said "we are optimistic as bilateral talks and meetings between all political leaders were made in an attempt to reach a common understanding." Iraq's Kurdistan President Massoud Barazani described today's meeting as preliminary for the upcoming meetings, while the Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said that the tomorrow's meeting will discuss means to solve problems that hamper the political process.
"There are several demands need to be accomplished as soon as possible, including laws related to the parliament's work, oil and gas law and the provinces' law," the premier also said. "There are some issues related to the government including appointing new ministers to replace those who withdrew and other issues within the constitution," he added. For his part, leader of the IAF, Adnan al-Dulaimi expressed hope that "this meeting will solve all disputes."
Labels: emergency political summit, Iraq, Jalal Talabani
U.S. - "major" political changes to follow political summit
Politics
(Gulf News) - Under pressure from the Congress, Arab states and Sunni Iraqi leaders, the US administration on Tuesday set the stage for "major" political changes in Iraq. The changes will be in "the structure, nature and direction of the Iraqi state," a senior American official in Baghdad was quoted by AP as saying. He did not give out details, but the plan is expected to be high on the agenda of a 'crisis summit' which would be attended by key Iraqi leaders who seek to save the crumbling national unity government of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki.
About 50 political leaders had "a friendly meeting" over lunch yesterday at the Baghdad residence of President Jalal Talabani, but the meeting was overshadowed by a suicide attack which killed 10 people in the Iraqi capital. Also, a key player and one of the most senior Sunni Arabs in the government, Vice-President Tariq Al Hashemi, failed to attend Talabani's luncheon. Al Hashemi, a critic of Al Maliki's alleged sectarian bias, said members of his Iraqi Islamic Party, part of the Sunni political bloc that quit the government, would hold meetings with leaders from regional Kurdish parties today before the summit, which will be held later this week.
The summit had been in question until a last-minute push from US Ambassador Ryan Crocker who called on Al Hashemi. Sunni leaders and some Arab countries have reportedly accused Al Maliki of sectarian bias and harbouring close ties with Iran.
About 50 political leaders had "a friendly meeting" over lunch yesterday at the Baghdad residence of President Jalal Talabani, but the meeting was overshadowed by a suicide attack which killed 10 people in the Iraqi capital. Also, a key player and one of the most senior Sunni Arabs in the government, Vice-President Tariq Al Hashemi, failed to attend Talabani's luncheon. Al Hashemi, a critic of Al Maliki's alleged sectarian bias, said members of his Iraqi Islamic Party, part of the Sunni political bloc that quit the government, would hold meetings with leaders from regional Kurdish parties today before the summit, which will be held later this week.
The summit had been in question until a last-minute push from US Ambassador Ryan Crocker who called on Al Hashemi. Sunni leaders and some Arab countries have reportedly accused Al Maliki of sectarian bias and harbouring close ties with Iran.
Labels: emergency political summit, Iraq, Jalal Talabani, Nouri Al-Maliki, politics, Ryan Crocker, Tariq Al Hashemi
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Allawi won't attend political summit
Politics
(Al-Arabiyah television) - Salim al-Juburi, a spokesman for the Iraqi Accordance Front, told Al-Arabiyah television in an August 12 interview that leaders from the front will likely attend the meeting convened by Prime Minister al-Maliki. Al-Juburi said a number of preparatory meetings have already been held in order to set the agenda for the political summit.
"We feel the meeting is important and it is a step for political reform," al-Juburi said. He added that even if some of its demands are met, that doesn't necessarily mean the front's members will return to their cabinet posts.
Former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi will not attend the political summit, Al-Sharqiyah television reported on August 12. The news channel quoted Allawi as saying he will not be able to accept an invitation to attend. It also quoted an unidentified member of Allawi's media office as saying Allawi never received an invitation to attend the meeting.
Meanwhile, Iraqi media reported on August 12 that Kurdistan regional President Mas'ud Barzani has arrived in Baghdad to attend the political summit. Barzani reportedly met on August 12 with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and aides to al-Maliki.
Labels: emergency political summit, Iraqi Accordance Front, Iyad Allawi, Salim al-Juburi
Monday, August 13, 2007
Mailki calls emergency political summit
Politics
(AFP) -- Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called Sunday for the senior leaders from Iraq's bitterly divided communities to hold crisis talks aimed at saving his beleaguered national unity government. "I have invited major political leaders to a meeting to discuss substantial matters," said Maliki in a televised speech. "Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow could be the first meeting for these leaders to discuss the political programme and important strategic problems," the Shiite premier added.
Seventeen ministerial posts in Maliki's government are empty or filled by members boycotting cabinet meetings amid protests by many parties at Maliki's faltering programme of national reconciliation. Hopes that his so-called unity coalition can be saved now depend on the senior leadership of the rival parties cutting a new power-sharing deal that can convince the bitter Sunni minority to return to the fold. Maliki, President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, and Vice President Adel Abdel Mehdi, another Shiite, are expected to attend the crisis summit.
Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, the senior Sunni Arab in the government and a critic of Maliki's alleged sectarian bias whose presence would be considered crucial, has not yet made it clear whether he will attend. Talabani's office also said Sunday that contacts with political blocs would take place in the next few days, without giving any details, following his talks in Baghdad with Massud Barzani, the president of Iraqi Kurdistan.
Since the US-led invasion of March 2003, Iraq has plunged into an abyss of overlapping civil conflicts that have divided its rival religious and ethnic communities, and left tens of thousands of civilians dead. Washington has warned Iraq's leaders to work harder on unity, concerned that the political stalemate could torpedo efforts to reconcile the warring factions and undermine the work of 155,000 American troops to end the conflict.
Shiite parties are suspicious of Sunni leaders whose minority sect dominated political power under executed former dictator Saddam Hussein and accuse them of supporting violent insurgent groups. Sunni leaders accuse the Shiite parties of ties with powerful neighbour Iran and condemn their alleged complicity with Shiite militias.
Seventeen ministerial posts in Maliki's government are empty or filled by members boycotting cabinet meetings amid protests by many parties at Maliki's faltering programme of national reconciliation. Hopes that his so-called unity coalition can be saved now depend on the senior leadership of the rival parties cutting a new power-sharing deal that can convince the bitter Sunni minority to return to the fold. Maliki, President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, and Vice President Adel Abdel Mehdi, another Shiite, are expected to attend the crisis summit.
Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, the senior Sunni Arab in the government and a critic of Maliki's alleged sectarian bias whose presence would be considered crucial, has not yet made it clear whether he will attend. Talabani's office also said Sunday that contacts with political blocs would take place in the next few days, without giving any details, following his talks in Baghdad with Massud Barzani, the president of Iraqi Kurdistan.
Since the US-led invasion of March 2003, Iraq has plunged into an abyss of overlapping civil conflicts that have divided its rival religious and ethnic communities, and left tens of thousands of civilians dead. Washington has warned Iraq's leaders to work harder on unity, concerned that the political stalemate could torpedo efforts to reconcile the warring factions and undermine the work of 155,000 American troops to end the conflict.
Shiite parties are suspicious of Sunni leaders whose minority sect dominated political power under executed former dictator Saddam Hussein and accuse them of supporting violent insurgent groups. Sunni leaders accuse the Shiite parties of ties with powerful neighbour Iran and condemn their alleged complicity with Shiite militias.
Labels: Adel Abdel Mahdi, emergency political summit, Jalal Talabani, Massoud Barzani, Nouri Al-Maliki, Tareq al-Hashemi
