The European Union president welcomed the draft Iraqi constitution and noted the process was difficult, but all Iraqi groups were involved in writing it, according to a statement. The EU encouraged all Iraqis to participate in the next step of the political process through voting in the referendum, which is schedule to take place on October 15. The statement also said that the EU will continue to help the Iraqi people in all possible ways, such as helping in organizing the referendum and election.
U.S. Influence 'Too Much' Says UN Official
U.S. influence in the process of drafting a constitution for Iraq is excessive and "highly inappropriate", a United Nations official says. "It is a matter of public record that in the final weeks of the process the newly arrived U.S. ambassador (Zalmay Khalizad) took an extremely hands-on role," Justin Alexander, legal affairs officer for the office of constitutional support with the United Nations Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) told IPS. "Even going so far as to circulate at least one U.S draft."
Alexander, who oversaw the recent proceedings in Baghdad added: "This involvement was highly inappropriate for a country with 140,000 soldiers in country."
| I can't think of a better time to be involved. |
Zaid al-Ali, a legal expert who also oversaw the drafting process in Baghdad, made a similar case at a meeting at the International Association of Contemporary Iraqi Studies in London. "There are three ways in which the occupation intervened in the context of Iraq's constitution-writing process," he said. "Firstly, the occupation authorities selected and affected the makeup of the commission that was charged with drafting Iraq's transitional law, and its permanent constitution. Second, the occupation determined the limits and parameters within which the constitution was to be drafted. Third, the occupation authorities intervened directly in order to safeguard its interests in the context of the constitutional negotiations."
| Noticed that, did you? No doubt you'd prefer Sammy to be writing the constitution, and getting 100% of the vote. |
|