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Kurds Suggested Swiss Model.
Federation not the Only Disagreement
Baghdad - The broad constitutional committee,
consisting of the committee of the 55, derived from
the Iraqi National Assembly (Parliament) and the
Arab Sunni committee, which includes 15 members,
would start work in two days
Abbas Al Bayati, member of the committee of the 55
which is responsible for drafting the Iraqi
permanent constitution, told Al Hayat that the
constitutional committee of the 70 would rely on
bases, other than the interim state law, including
the former Iraqi constitutions and the constitutions
of Arab and Islamic countries.
He stated that a legal consultant of the former
South African president Nelson Mandela has submitted
the experience of his country in drafting the new
constitution. He pointed out, "The South African
model has assisted in activating the process of
communication between the Iraqi constitution
drafting committee and the Iraqi masses."
Al Bayati denied the existence of any ready drafts.
He noted that there are some articles in the interim
state administration code that seem to be settled.
Kamal Mohie Eddin, a leader in the Kurdistani
National Union (headed by Talebani) told Al Hayat
that the Kurdistani Alliance bloc has submitted
suggestions with regard to the controversial issue
of the federation. He added, "The Swiss model was in
the eyes of the Kurds when they submitted
suggestions with regard to the form of the
federation that would be established in Iraq."
He noted that the Alliance has refused having Islam
as the major or first source of legislation, but it
confirmed that the Kurds agree that Islam is the
official religion of the state.
Ahmed Al Barrak, member of the dissolved governing
council and member of the Shiite political council,
considered that speaking about fears of excluding
anyone from the process of drafting the constitution
is "a mere illusion". He told Al Hayat, "The draft
of the constitution would be submitted for a
plebiscite, which refutes any claim about excluding
any parties."
He referred to the presence of variance in opinions
between the supporters of an Iraqi national
federation and the supporters of an administrative
federation for each Iraqi province.
He believed that the division is still existing with
regard to the type of the governing system: whether
republican or constitutional. He also referred to
another disagreement on the constitutional governing
system, in case it is approved: Would it be based on
one or two councils? Would the second council be an
appointed one (from noblemen and clan chiefs) as it
is the case in Britain, or would it be elected, as
in the United States?
Al Hayat
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