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Baghdad, Iraq - Hussein Al
Shehrestani, vice president of the National
Assembly, said that there are five amendments that
were made in the Iraqi constitution draft. They were
read to the National Assembly and approved on August
28.
In the mutual press conference, which was held with
Fuad Ma'sum, vice president of the constitutional
committee, on Wednesday, Al Shehrestani pointed out
that the amendments were made in Article 3, which is
dealing with the Iraqi identity, as being a part of
the Islamic world and a founding effective member of
the Arab League that is adhering to its covenants,
and articles 108 and 110, which are dealing with the
water policy of the country. On the other hand,
article 44, which stated the application of
international agreements, unless contradicting with
the Iraqi constitution, was omitted and an article
(Article 135) had been added within the interim
articles. It states that the Prime Minister shall
have two deputies in the first elections round.
Al Shehrestani confirmed that the article dealing
with Baath Party is still remaining. This is due to
the fact that the Baath Eradication Council, which
has been created upon the state administration code
for the interim period, is still practicing its
duties and has not finished them. He added, "When
the Integrity Council is done with its duties, it
shall be dissolved, upon voting for the dissolution
decision on behalf of the majority of the elected
National Assembly.'
He pointed out that the demands of the Arab Sunni
representatives saying, "We have listened to a
number of remarks and amendments that they demanded
for. Nevertheless, no one can demand for executing
amendments without reviewing their situation
regarding the draft and announce his disapproval to
it and even encourage for the murder of Iraqis and
justify that."
As regards the statements of the Arab League
Secretary-General Amr Mousa in relation to the
amendments, which were executed in the constitution,
Al Shehrestani said, "despite our respect to all
viewpoints of Arab, friendly and unfriendly
countries, the constitution draft has never been set
upon foreign parties' desires, but upon the accord
of Iraqi parties."
On his behalf, Dr. Fuad Ma'sum, head of the
constitutional committee, confirmed that the
amendments made in the draft are not crucial, even
with regard to the fact that Iraq is a founding and
active member of Arab League, as this alternative
has been submitted since the first days of the
meetings of the constitutional committee. A number
of linguists, jurists, economists and experts have
reviewed the draft text and made the necessary
linguistic amendments.
As regards the meeting of the representatives of
Arab Sunnis with the president of Kurdistan region
Masud Barzani and their announcement that they have
reached an agreement on 6 points out of a total of
12 demands, Ma'sum said, "This was a mere exchange
of opinions and some of the suggestions submitted on
their behalf were hard to achieve, especially with
regard to the identity of Iraq and the federation."
He confirmed that it was possible to consider the
six points that Sunni representatives and Masud
Barzani have agreed upon, in case they announced
their approval to the constitution draft.
In statements to Al Sharq Al Awsat, the judge Wael
Abdel Latif, from the Iraqi Slate, has criticized
the amendments. He described them as illegal and
illegitimate amendments. He clarified that they were
made in secrecy and that neither the constitutional
committee nor the National Assembly have been
consulted about them. He added that the
constitutional committee bears no responsibility as
the accord between the Kurdistani Alliance and the
Shiite Iraqi United Coalition does not apply to the
constitutional committee. He pointed out that the
postponement of the 15 suspended points to the
political leaders is considered as a knockout for
the National Assembly and the constitutional
committee. In response to a question about these
accusations, Al Shehrestani said to Al Sharq Al
Awsat, "This is not true. It is not a law legislated
on behalf of the National Assembly but is submitted
to the Iraqi people. The National Assembly
represents the people. When the people are present,
it does not matter what their representative
believes. The draft is decided on behalf of the
Iraqi people."
Within the same context, Sa'dun Shafi, from the
Kurdistani Alliance, said that no fundamental
changes have been made in the draft. He denied any
agreements between the Kurdistani Alliance and the
Arab Sunnis and. He said that the Sunnis approve the
federation for the Kurds as a reality, but they
reject it for the center and the south of Iraq. He
confirmed that the Kurdistani Alliance does not
approve this article, due to the alliance with the
Coalition Bloc. He also pointed out that there are
no disagreements between the alliance and the
coalition on the issue of the eradication of Baath
party.
Al Sharq Al Awsat
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