Iraq's Political Leaders Yet to Discuss Three Presidencies ...

11/10/2010

Iraq's political leaders yet to discuss three presidencies

BAGHDAD, Leaders of the major political parties in Iraq wrapped up their meeting here on Tuesday after reaching final agreement on several key issues.

The agenda of the meeting did not include the highly problematic issues of the three presidencies - the head of the state, the head of government and the speaker of parliament, rapporteur of the meeting Dr. Rozh Shawis told reporters.

"The conferees managed to iron out differences over such issues as the commitment to the provisions of the constitution, the dossier of the national council for strategies, the bill on accountability and the national reconciliation endeavor," he revealed.

Dr. Shawis, also chief negotiator of the Kurdistan Alliance, hailed the progress made by negotiating parties while reaffirming commitment of his alliance to their previous stands.

"The great achievement made today shows clearly the resolve of the parliamentary blocs to press ahead on the road towards a breakthrough to the standoff resulting from the March election," he affirmed.

The meeting, held at president of Iraq's northern region of Kurdistan Masoud Barzani's house in Baghdad under his initiative, gathered leader of the State of Law alliance and incumbent Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, leader of the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq Ammar Al-Hakim, head of Iraqi Front for National Dialogue Salih Al-Mutlaq and Deputy Prime Minister Rafi Al-Issawi.

It also gathered Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Vice Presidents Tariq Al-Hashimi and Adil Abdul Mahdi.

However, Ayad Allawi, chairman of Al-Iraqiya List and former interim prime minister, failed to show up while Abdul-Mahdi left shortly before the end of the meeting and headed for Allawi.

Dr. Shawis attributed Allawi's absence to a health problem, voicing hope that the two men would be able to rejoin the talks which will continue here for the coming two before the Iraqi Parliament sits on Thursday.

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