Kurdistan Coalition Member says Iraqi government
talks delayed
Kurdistan Coalition List official Fu'ad Ma'sum told
RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq (RFI) in a 25 February
telephone interview that talks on forming the new
government have been temporarily put on hold due to
the tight security measures imposed after the 22
February bombing of Samarra's Golden Mosque, which
ignited the latest increase in sectarian violence.
Ma'sum:
Yesterday and today, [the talks] have actually been
stopped, especially between the [Kurdistan]
Coalition List and the other parties. A meeting was
planned but the curfew measures have hindered it
taking place.
RFI: Some say the negotiations have stopped
because the [Sunni-led] Iraqi Accordance Front has
withdrawn from them. To what extent is this true?
Ma'sum: The
meetings and dialogues are not held just between the
Iraqi Accordance Front and the others. There have
been talks between us and the [Shi'ite-led] United
Iraqi Alliance and these are not limited to the
Iraqi Accordance Front. |
Kurdistan Coalition List official Fu'ad Ma'sum |
|
They have been terminated now due to the recent
developments and the serious situation. Because of
that, when the president of the republic, [Jalal
Talabani,] was preparing a message to deliver two
days ago [on behalf of political parties as well],
all of the various parties agreed among themselves
that he would do so at a [joint] press conference.
So the work has been going on and there is constant
telephone contact between the various parties,
trying to get out of the stagnation in forming a
cabinet.
The situation may remain like this for a day or two
but the parties must definitely meet after that to
put forward their proposals. Those will be accepted
by whoever accepts them, and if someone rejects
them, it will be only his responsibility. We will
not insist on being a part of the government. If we
see that we cannot agree on the style and the form
of the government, we will not participate in it.
Then, we would not bear any responsibility for the
failure of that government. But if it is successful,
that will be what we want.
RFI: Are there any legal and constitutional
violations in the fact that the new parliament has
not convened yet and a new government has not been
formed?
Ma'sum: No. In
fact, as far as parliament is concerned, it was
supposed to convene tomorrow, that is on Sunday [26
February], because there is the 15-day deadline
[after the announcement of election results]. That
may be extended an additional 15 days. So parliament
is obliged to convene within the coming 16 days [by
13 March]. Parliament has not convened for now
because there was an ongoing search for a solution
to the pressing problems.
The intent was that parliament does not become a
scene of conflicts, agitations, and mutual attacks.
But if we do not reach any solution, parliament will
have to convene. All the problems will move in
there, and [its members] will have to study them in
full detail.
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