Iraqiya renews its conditions for attending national conference meetings
30/04/2012 11:22


BAGHDAD, April 30 (AKnews) - Iraqiya List stated today that that it is not trying to disrupt the political process in Iraqi, reiterating that its participation in any meetings depends on the approval of the Erbil agreement and the implementation of the agreement by State of Law Coalition (SLC).

Iraqiya List led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi announced earlier that it will not participate in the meetings of the preparatory committee for the national conference of the conference itself if Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki does not implement five demands, some of which are related to the Erbil agreement.

The preparatory committee is expected to meet this week to vote on the agenda for the conference.

Spokesman for the National Accord Movement Hadi al-Zalmi said: "The participation of Iraqiya in any meeting depends on the implementation and application of the Erbil agreement.

"Iraqiya is completely aware that the failure to initiate the implementation of the Erbil agreement is a waste of time.

"The National Coalition prepared the working paper for the national conference and it will be presented to political parties to make amendments to it."

The Erbil agreement proposed by President of the Kurdistan Region Massoud Barzani ended a nine-month dispute over who should run the government following March 2010's elections. The deal, which was signed by all the major political party leaders in Erbil, reinstated Maliki for the second successive term.

Maliki's elections rival, Ayad Allawi, whose Iraqiya List won the elections, was promised a National Council for Strategic Policies in return for his concession over the PM post. The council was not formed and the PM's State of Law Coalition and Iraqiya began incriminating and accusing each other of violating the Erbil pact.

Iraqiya List objects to the management of Iraq by Maliki, saying he has taken all of the power.

Maliki said that the powers granted to him are constitutional and those who oppose this must change the constitution instead of blaming opponents.

The political tension in Iraq escalated after the issue of an arrest warrant against Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, a senior leader in Iraqiya List, and the sacking of Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq from his office, who is also a senior leader in Iraqiya.

Consultative meetings were recently held in the Kurdistan Region and were attended by Barzani, head of Iraqiya List Allawi, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, head of Sadrist Movement Muqtada al-Sadr and the leader of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI) Adel Abdul Mahdi.

The officials discussed the need to implement the Erbil agreement.

President Jalal Talabani called for the conference to be held at the beginning of this month but the gathering was not held on time due to a lack of agreement about its agenda.

By Haider Ibrahim

RN/DM/AKnews
https://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/304507/