.Iraq rivals meet to bring premiership row to head
BAGHDAD - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his arch rival for the premiership Iyad Allawi met on Wednesday, aides said, in a bid to resolve a row that has stalled coalition talks for months.
The meeting was only their second head-to-head since an inconclusive March 7 general election that has created a prolonged power vacuum and fears insurgents intent on derailing constitutional politics might exploit the uncertainty.
“It was an exchange of points of view and important issues such as the formation of a national unity government,” said Hassan Sneid, a member of parliament from Maliki’s State of Law alliance, who was present at the meeting.
Sneid said there “was no political deal” behind the meeting and its importance had been exaggerated.
But he added both Maliki and Allawi “expressed their wish to speed up the formation of a government before July 14,” the deadline for parliament to hold its first session since MPs were sworn in earlier this month.
US ambassador Christopher Hill said the hard bargaining between the two declared rivals remained at a “preliminary stage,” but that he was encouraged all sides were still talking to each other constructively.
“Obviously there is going to be a lot of bargaining and discussion about ministries,” Hill told reporters.
“They are going to look at leadership positions — prime minister, president and speaker,” he said.
“There are questions whether we have a presidency position which is changed,” he added, referring to suggestions that the deadlock over the premiership be resolved by giving more power to the presidency to create checks and balances between the two positions.
“The important thing from our point of view is that discussions are still ongoing,” the US ambassador added.
Khaleej Times
The meeting was only their second head-to-head since an inconclusive March 7 general election that has created a prolonged power vacuum and fears insurgents intent on derailing constitutional politics might exploit the uncertainty.
“It was an exchange of points of view and important issues such as the formation of a national unity government,” said Hassan Sneid, a member of parliament from Maliki’s State of Law alliance, who was present at the meeting.
Sneid said there “was no political deal” behind the meeting and its importance had been exaggerated.
But he added both Maliki and Allawi “expressed their wish to speed up the formation of a government before July 14,” the deadline for parliament to hold its first session since MPs were sworn in earlier this month.
US ambassador Christopher Hill said the hard bargaining between the two declared rivals remained at a “preliminary stage,” but that he was encouraged all sides were still talking to each other constructively.
“Obviously there is going to be a lot of bargaining and discussion about ministries,” Hill told reporters.
“They are going to look at leadership positions — prime minister, president and speaker,” he said.
“There are questions whether we have a presidency position which is changed,” he added, referring to suggestions that the deadlock over the premiership be resolved by giving more power to the presidency to create checks and balances between the two positions.
“The important thing from our point of view is that discussions are still ongoing,” the US ambassador added.
Khaleej Times
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