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Discussions to form Iraqi government
continue
9.2.2006
By Maad Fayad
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London, Feb 9
(Asharq Al-Awsat) - Dr. Fuad Maasoum, and a
member of the Kurdish coalition taking part in
discussions to form the upcoming government,
indicated that a meeting was held on Wednesday with
the United Iraqi Alliance, the Shiaa coalition led
by Abdul Aziz al Hakim.
The two sides discussed “several ideas and a number
of suggestions regarding the make-up of the new
government”, he said. Further discussions are
scheduled to take place on Sunday.
In an interview with Asharq al Awsat, the high
ranking official in the Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan, led by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani,
said, “We agreed that a government plan should be
discussed by all sides, agreed upon and followed. It
is important that “all political groups which won in
the last elections should take part. |
Dr. Fuad Maasoum |
No Iraqi side should be sidelined since the current
situation calls for the participation of all Iraqi
factions. The principle, which the political party
that obtains two-thirds of the vote forms the
government, should be followed.”
With the Shiaa coalition expected to announce their
candidate for premiership on Saturday, Maasoum
predicted “the meeting [of the two groups] the
following day will bring about important results”,
hinting that Dr. Adel Abdul Mahdi will be their
choice for Prime Minister. “We are awaiting the
official and final decision of the UIA in this
regard. We respect the alliance’s decision to select
the candidate they wish to head the new government,”
he said.
The Kurdish leader stressed it was important that
all sides agreed to take part in the new government
on condition that “a plan be put forward and
discussed. All opinions should be heard. The UIA
should present a policy paper for the upcoming
government.”
“Conditions and red lines have not featured in the
discussions and we did not hear such terminology in
our meetings with the Alliance. We will not use such
terms in our talks with other political groups;
there are no pre-conditions and no red lines in the
discussions. All ideas are open for discussion,”
Maasoum added.
As soon as a new government is formed, “the
permanent Iraqi constitution will be implemented”
instead of the current Law of Administration set by
the Governing Council and which did not define a
time limit to form a new government.
The constitution specified a 15 day limit for
parliament to convene and elect a president and 15
days to form a government after the President and
his deputies are chosen and a Prime Minister is
selected to form a government,” the Kurdish leader
said.
Asharq Alawsat
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