BAGHDAD, June 19
(AFP) - 10h51 - The new president of Iraqi
Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, defended the demands of
his people before the national parliament on Sunday
and said the new constitution must be based on
previous agreements and current interim law.
"If we use the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL)
and our agreements before the fall (of Saddam
Hussein) as a basis, then we will be able to write
and approve the permanent constitution on time," the
former rebel leader told MPs in Baghdad.
"We all agreed that the TAL would be the basis and
we must stick to that. We must not back away from
it." |
Photo: AFP |
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The TAL was passed under the previous US-led
occupation authority that ruled Iraq from after the
fall of ousted leader Saddam Hussein in April 2003
until June 2004.
The law calls for the drafting of the constitution
by August 15 and putting it to national referendum
by October 15, although it does allow for a one-off
six-month delay.
"We promise once again to cooperate in building a
federal, democratic, pluralist and thriving Iraq,"
Barzani said, shedding his traditional Kurdish dress
for a smart black suit and red tie for the occasion.
"We must correct all the reasons and consequences of
the forced change in the demographic make-up of the
country practiced by the previous regime in Kirkuk
and other Kurdish regions."
Barzani, son of the father of Kurdish nationalism
Mullah Mustafa Barzani, was sworn on June 14 as
regional president of Iraqi Kurdistan which includes
the three northern provinces of Sulaimaniyah, Arbil
and Dohuk.
Kurds, long oppressed under Saddam's regime and now
a pivotal partner with Shiites in the transitional
government, have been pushing hard for enshrining
the principal of federalism in the constitution.
They also want the northern oil city of Kirkuk to be
included in their autonomous region. This has
angered Sunni Arabs and Turkmen in Kirkuk, which has
seen increased violence in recent days.
Kurds want all those allegedly forced out of Kirkuk
during Saddam's Arabisation drive in the area to be
allowed back and their property returned to them.
They also want a census to be held after the return.
The mechanism is outlined in article 58 of the TAL.
"We must apply article 58 and admit Kirkuk's Kurdish
character and make it a a symbol of coexistence,"
insisted Barzani.
AFP
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