- Title: IRAQ: REACTIONS TO THE DELAY IN SIGNING INTERIM IRAQI CONSTITION
- Date: 5th March 2004
- Summary: (W7) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (MARCH 5, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. SLV DAN SENOR, U.S.-LED COALITION SPOKESMAN, TALKING TO ASSISTANTS 0.06 2. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) DAN SENOR, U.S.-LED COALITION SPOKESMAN, SAYING: "The Governing Council reached unanimous agreement on an interim constitution earlier this week, and over the last 24 hours a few of the members raised some concerns relating to some technical matters, dealing with minority rights. They raised these concerns on behalf of the Iraqi people. We thought it's very important when leaders of Iraq have concerns that affect millions of Iraqis that they should be able to revisit them. And so, that's what they're doing tonight. They're having a discussion about it, it's an important process in a democracy. We're letting it go." REPORTER ASKS: "Can you be more specific on technical issues?" " I'd rather not, only because the Governing... it's the Governing Council's issue and they're working on it and so, we'll let them work it through. But it relates to one article, one specific article in the document, relating to minority rights and it will affect millions of Iraqis and Iraqi political leaders on their behalf, on behalf of these millions of Iraqis, say: "We have a concern," we think it's important for them to resolve it." 0.56 3. WIDE OF TELEVISION LIGHTS BEING SET UP 1.02 4. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) DAN SENOR, U.S.-LED COALITION SPOKESMAN, SAYING: "I have spent a lot of time working in the government of another democracy, in the United States, and I've seen on multiple occasions, at the last minute, new issues raised, last minute negotiations. It's the twists and turns of democracy. It's okay, it's part of the process, it's healthy. It's something we're accustomed to. It's something that's new in Iraq, but we think it's a good thing, it's healthy for the country, for Iraqis to be able to raise concerns whether it's at the last minute or with plenty of time left." 1.27 5. SLV SENOR CONFERRING WITH STAFF 1.30 (EU) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (MARCH 5, 2004) (REUTERS) 6. TOP VIEW OF THE TABLE WHERE IRAQI GOVERNING COUNCIL (IGC) MEMBERS DUE TO SIGN INTERIM CONSTITUTION 1.37 7. WIDE OF TABLE WITH PENS WHERE IGC MEMBERS WERE DUE TO SIGN CONSTITUTION 1.44 8. SLV FORMER HEAD OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL ADNAN PACHACHI ALSO FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER (SUNNI) 1.49 9. WIDE OF HALL 1.57 10. WIDE OF EMPTY CHAIRS FOR GOVERNING COUNCIL MEMBERS 1.59 11. CLOSE OF SIGN ON ONE OF THE CHAIRS WITH IGC MEMBER FROM IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS (SHIITE) AHMED CHALABI'S NAME 2.06 12. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOHAMMED BAQIR, MEMBER OF BAGHDAD COUNCIL: "This agreement proves there is a democracy in Iraq because everyone says what they think without the fear of reprisals. It is a good thing for the people of Iraq. This is the kind of democracy we have been working towards. Hopefully the constitution will be signed as soon as possible." 2.22 13. SLV SIGNING TABLE 2.28 14. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) KHALED ABDUL HUSSEIN, MEMBER OF BAGHDAD COUNCIL "The constitution must definitely be signed. It is true that there are differences in opinion and each one of them (the IGC members) has a different opinion and a different point of view. This is normal since they all represent different parties. The whole thing is just a matter of time. It will be signed by tomorrow, the day after or in a week, maximum." 2.48 15. VARIOUS OF IRAQI DELEGATES 2.56 17. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF BAGHDAD COUNCIL ALI HAMEED: "The time table was not long enough; it was a very short time ... and I also know, personally, that the last few days, the members were up until 6 in the morning trying to solve these problems." 3.08 18. WIDE OF CHILDREN PERFORMING 3.15 19. WIDE OF IRAQI MINISTERS CLAPPING 3.19 (EU) KERBALA, IRAQ (MARCH 5, 2004 (REUTERS) 20. TOP VIEW CROWDS AT IMAM HUSSEIN MOSQUE 3.26 21. WIDE OF MINARETS/ BLACK FLAG FLYING IN HONOUR OF THE DEAD 3.28 22. TOP VIEW CROWDS CHANTING (2 SHOTS) 3.40 23. WIDE OF CLERIC GIVING SERMON 3.49 24. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABDUL MAHDI KERBALAI, REPRESENTATIVE OF SHI'ITE LEADER, GRAND AYATOLLAH ALI AL-SISTANI: "Some Iraqi parties are trying to insert a dangerous article into the administrative transition interim law which has not been made public (information has been leaked). We cannot announce our point of view and opinion on this article. We don't have detailed information about this article, but it will pose threats to the future of the relations between Iraq's different parties. This article gives members of one party (Kurds) the right to veto the permanent constitution if it contradicts their demands." 4.48 25. VARIOUS OF FRIDAY PRAYERS SEEN FROM ABOVE (8 SHOTS) 5.22 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 20th March 2004 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BAGHDAD AND KERBALA, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVA139O5LGY93VC327F2GB8UPKW6
- Story Text: Signing of Iraqi interim constitution for
Iraq is delayed after last-minute objections by some Shi'ite
Governing Council members to parts of the document, in
particular an article they believe could give too much
influence to the Kurds in the north.
Last-minute objections from five Shi'ite leaders
delayed the signing of Iraq's interim constitution
indefinitely on Friday (March 5) and political sources said
U.S. officials were trying to resolve the problems.
The U.S.-appointed Governing Council agreed on the law
on Monday (March 1) and had been due to sign it at 4 p.m.
(1300 GMT), a key move for the U.S. administration in Iraq
as it prepares to return sovereignty to Iraqis by June 30.
Guests and journalists gathered at a podium set up for
the ceremony and a choir and small orchestra warmed up, but
the council did not appear for the signing.
"The Governing Council reached unanimous agreement on
an interim constitution earlier this week, and over the
last 24 hours a few of the members raised some concerns
relating to some technical matters, dealing with minority
rights. They raised these concerns on behalf of the Iraqi
people. We thought it's very important when leaders of Iraq
have concerns that affect millions of Iraqis that they
should be able to revisit them" said Dan Senor, U.S.-led
Coalition spokesman.
Hamid al-Bayati, from the Supreme Council for the
Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), said five Shi'ite
Governing Council members had objected to several aspects
of the constitution.
Senior coalition officials played down the delay,
saying it was not about priority issues -- the role of
Islam in the state and the role of women -- and that the
council was settling differences.
"This agreement proves there is a democracy in Iraq
because everyone says what they think without the fear of
reprisals. It is a good thing for the people of Iraq. This
is the kind of democracy we have been working towards.
Hopefully the constitution will be signed as soon as
possible," Baghdad council member Mohammed Baqir said.
"The constitution must definitely be signed. It is true
that there are differences in opinion and each one of them
(the IGC members) has a different opinion and a different
point of view. This is normal since they all represent
different parties. The whole thing is just a matter of
time. It will be signed by tomorrow, the day after or in a
week, maximum." Khaled Abdul Hussein, another member of the
Baghdad council told Reuters television.
U.S. administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer, was sitting in
on the council talks. A council source said Bremer was
negotiating individually with the five holdouts.
Bayati said the Shi'ite leaders were concerned about
two clauses in the document, which the council had agreed
on unanimously last Monday after heated discussions.
The first issue was the proposed structure of the
presidency. The second was a clause which they fear could
give Sunnis and Kurds what they see as too much influence
in a constitutional referendum due in 2005.
There are three Kurdish provinces in Iraq. The clause
would potentially allow the Kurds veto power over the
constitution.
Bayati said the council members who raised objections
were Abdul Aziz al-Hakim of SCIRI, Ibrahim Jaafari of the
Dawa party, Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, current council president
Mohammed Bahr al-Uloum, and Ahmad Chalabi of the Iraqi
National Congress.
Another councillor said there had not been enough time
for the negotiations.
"The time table was not long enough; it was a very
short time ... and I also know, personally, that the last
few days, the members were up until 6 in the morning trying
to solve these problems," Ali Hameed, head of Baghdad
council said.
The signing ceremony was originally scheduled for
Wednesday (March 3) but was postponed as a mark of respect
for at least 181 people killed in attacks in Kerbala and
Baghdad on Tuesday (March 2).
The last-minute delay was an embarrassment for the
U.S.-led administration, which had organised musicians and
children dressed in various Iraqi national costumes for the
signing ceremony.
In Kerbala, a representative of the top Shi'ite leader,
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who is behind the
objections, addressed crowds gathered for Friday prayers.
"Some Iraqi parties are trying to insert a dangerous
article into the administrative transition interim law
which has not been made public", Abdul Mahdi Kerbalai said.
"We don't have detailed information about this article
but it will pose threats to the future of the relations
between Iraq's different parties. This article gives
members of one party (Kurds) the right to veto the
permanent constitution if it contradicts their demands."
Just a few hours earlier, the Imam of the Kadhimiya
mosque, where 65 people were killed in attacks last
Tuesday, had attacked the agreement, warning of sectarian
violence and diminishing influence in the Kurdish areas in
the north.
Washington says it is hunting an al Qaeda operative,
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who it says is the prime suspect in
Tuesday's attacks targeting Shi'ites marking a religious
holiday.
U.S. military officials have stressed that while
sovereignty will be handed over in June, U.S.-led forces
will continue to be responsible for security.
Iraqi and U.S. officials say the transitional law sees
elections for a transitional assembly by the end of January
2005. That assembly will draft a permanent constitution and
prepare for full polls by end 2005.
Alongside the assembly the plan is for an unelected
government -- some sort of multiple presidency, a prime
minister and a cabinet.
The law does not detail the shape of the government to
take over when Washington hands over power on June 30, a
fact some political sources said was also a problem for
Shi'ite leaders.
Islam is the official religion, but not the main source
of law. The law says Iraq will be a federation, without
detailing the relationship of the provinces, most
controversially the northern Kurdish area, to central
authority.
The constitution includes a bill of rights U.S.
officials say is comprehensive, but the campaigning group
Human Rights Watch said it did not do enough to guarantee
women equal rights.
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