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| Iraq |
| Kirkuk issue settled: Kurdish groups satisfied with amendments |
| 2008-08-06 |
| There is relief across political Kurdish circles over an agreement made between Iraqi political blocs who have made important amendments to the provincial council elections law, which is due for endorsement by the federal parliament. The most important amendments within the new law, according to the United Nations proposal will be the sharing of administrative power equally in the province of Kirkuk between Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen. There is also an emphasis on articles in the Iraqi constitution that are relevant to Kirkuk, such as article 140 of the Iraqi constitution, which is designed to hold a general referendum in Kirkuk in preparation for self-determination to joining the Kurdistan region. There are also amendments included in article 24 to enact a special law for Kirkuk elections, which should be held no later than October 31. "The new law adopted by the United Nations proposal represents grounds for a radical solution to the constitutional problem of Kirkuk in Iraq. I think that most importantly for Kurds is bringing back Article 140 to the constitution and stopping the intentions of those who sought to overthrow this article," said Sami Chorc, former minister of culture for the Kurdistan Regional Government. According to the Iraqi constitution, Article 140 of the constitution should have been applied by the end of last year, but it was not applied and some Arab and Turkmen parties considered that it would be the end of this article. Michael Ebrahim, director of Radio Zagros Kurdish in Arbil told Gulf News, "The return of this article in accordance with the new electoral law proposed by the United Nations is a victory for democracy and constitution in Iraq and not a victory for the Kurds. It is a defeat for malevolent parties opposed to a democratic Iraq." Some observers in Baghdad believe that a waiver to the Arabs and Turkmen by the Kurds to share administrative powers equally in Kirkuk, despite the existence of a majority Kurdish population in the city is a defeat for the Kurds. "This waiver is not a defeat at all but is proof that the Kurds believe in and respect the rights of others, this concession is a good reassurance to all parties worried about the joining of Kirkuk to the Kurdistan Region," Najemeldeen Al Gaf, a Kurdish political researcher told Gulf News. The President of the Kurdistan region Massoud Barazani who has returned to Arbil from Baghdad expressed his satisfaction, because of the new law and amendments made to it. Sources close to Barazani believe that enactment of this law has returned the force of Kurdish alliances with major political parties in the Iraqi government. The party headed by Nouri Al Maliki, the Supreme Council led by Al Hakim and the Sunni Islamic Party led by Vice President Tarek Al Hashemi supported the position and demands of the Kurds during the negotiations that took place In Baghdad. The law represents a step forward to stop the regional intervention, especially in relation to the crisis of Kirkuk. |
| Posted by:GolfBravoUSMC |
| #1 IMO, Independent Kurdistan is the only possible possitive outcome of the Iraqi adventure. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2008-08-06 11:55 |