28 May 2012
BAGHDAD - The Iraqiya bloc led by parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi today described the call by President Jalal Talabani to hold the national conference as "unsuccessful", adding that political agreements should be implemented before holding any political meetings.
Two days ago Talabani renewed his call to hold the national conference in a statement addressed to the Iraqi people and warned of growing tension and risks if the conference is not held.
Bloc leader Talal al-Zobaie said: "Talabani's invitation to hold the national meeting is not successful considering that there are Erbil and Najaf agreements and any meeting will affect the country's supreme interests.
"Iraqiya considers that there is a need to have a starting point for the implementation of previous agreements before holding any political meeting."
Four political leaders previously gathered in Najaf to write a letter giving the National Alliance one week to nominate an alternative to PM Nouri al-Maliki.
The four leaders who signed the request were leader of the Sadrist Movement Muqtada al-Sadr, Kurdistan's President Massoud Barzani, Iraqiya List leader Ayad Allawi and speaker of the Iraqi parliament Osama al-Nujaifi.
Prior to meeting in Najaf, the same four leaders gathered in Erbil on April 28 to write a letter outlining a number of political demands.
The letter was sent to National Coalition (NC) leader Ibrahim al-Jaafari and gave PM Maliki 15 days to respond or else the leaders would withdraw confidence from his government. The deadline ended and Sadr denied receiving any response from the NC to the letter.
Iraqiya List - led by Ayad Allawi - objects to the mechanism adopted by PM Maliki in managing the country.
Maliki and his supporters say that he is working according to the constitution and asked those who describe him as a dictator to amend the constitutional articles and items.
BAGHDAD - The Iraqiya bloc led by parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi today described the call by President Jalal Talabani to hold the national conference as "unsuccessful", adding that political agreements should be implemented before holding any political meetings.
Two days ago Talabani renewed his call to hold the national conference in a statement addressed to the Iraqi people and warned of growing tension and risks if the conference is not held.
Bloc leader Talal al-Zobaie said: "Talabani's invitation to hold the national meeting is not successful considering that there are Erbil and Najaf agreements and any meeting will affect the country's supreme interests.
"Iraqiya considers that there is a need to have a starting point for the implementation of previous agreements before holding any political meeting."
Four political leaders previously gathered in Najaf to write a letter giving the National Alliance one week to nominate an alternative to PM Nouri al-Maliki.
The four leaders who signed the request were leader of the Sadrist Movement Muqtada al-Sadr, Kurdistan's President Massoud Barzani, Iraqiya List leader Ayad Allawi and speaker of the Iraqi parliament Osama al-Nujaifi.
Prior to meeting in Najaf, the same four leaders gathered in Erbil on April 28 to write a letter outlining a number of political demands.
The letter was sent to National Coalition (NC) leader Ibrahim al-Jaafari and gave PM Maliki 15 days to respond or else the leaders would withdraw confidence from his government. The deadline ended and Sadr denied receiving any response from the NC to the letter.
Iraqiya List - led by Ayad Allawi - objects to the mechanism adopted by PM Maliki in managing the country.
Maliki and his supporters say that he is working according to the constitution and asked those who describe him as a dictator to amend the constitutional articles and items.
© AK News 2012
