Iraq's constitutional dispute lingers with last-minute talks
Last-minute negotiations to address Sunni Arab objections to Iraq’s draft constitution resumed today, with only four days left before the charter is put to a nationwide vote that will determine the course of the country’s transition to democratic rule.
Politicians close to the talks, held at the Baghdad residence of President Jalal Talabani, said today may likely be the last day for reaching a deal on the long-drawn issue.
“Political efforts are continuing to try and bridge differences over some clauses and it’s possible that agreement already has been reached on two points,” government spokesman Laith Kuba told a news briefing.
“This may be the last chance,” said Kurdish politician Mahmoud Othman.
Iraq’s Sunni Arabs, dominant under Saddam Hussein, say the charter will cause the break-up of Iraq, discriminates against their minority community and ignores the country’s Arab identity.
The Sunni Arab side in the negotiations is led by leaders of the Iraqi Islamic Party, the country’ largest Sunni party, and the National Council for Dialogue, an umbrella group of political parties and tribal associations.
The dispute over the charter has exacerbated Iraq’s already simmering ethnic and religious divisions. A “no” vote in Saturday’s referendum could heighten these tensions and hand a moral victory to Sunni-led insurgents whose attacks have wracked the country for two-and-a-half years.
The constitution draft can be defeated by either a simple majority or if two thirds of voters in three of Iraq’s 18 provinces say “no”.
If agreement is reached on all outstanding issues, according to Kuba, the draft will be sent back to parliament for endorsement.
The 275-member chamber, which is dominated by Iraq’s Shiite majority and their Kurdish allies, went into a one-month recess yesterday, but could be recalled for an emergency session if the need arose.
Already, copies of the draft are being distributed among Iraqis. Kuba said any changes in the charter as an outcome of the ongoing negotiations would be publicised in the media to familiarise Iraq’s 15.5 million voters with what they will be casting ballots on.
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