Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BAGHDAD3533
2005-08-29 20:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

Special Media Reaction Report - Opinions on the

Tags:  OPRC KMDR KPAO IZ 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BAGHDAD 003533

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/R/MR, NEA/PPD, NEA/PPA, NEA/AGS, INR/IZ, INR/P

E.0. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO IZ
SUBJECT: Special Media Reaction Report - Opinions on the
Iraqi Draft Constitution

SUMMARY: Discussion on the draft constitution was the major
editorial theme of the daily newspapers on August 29, 2005.
END SUMMARY.

--------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
--------------


A. "Achievement and Victory" (Al-Bayyan, 8/29)

B. "The Draft Constitution at the National Assembly" (Ad-
Dustoor, 8/29)

C. "The Announcement of a Distinguished Day in Iraq" (Al-
Taakhi, 8/29)

D. "Iraq Before and After the Constitution" (Az-Zaman, 8/29)

E. "About the Endorsement of the Draft Constitution" (As-
Sabah al-Jadeed, 8/29)

F. "Iraqi Islamic Party's Al-Hashimi Outlines Position on
Draft Constitution" (Al-Jazeera TV, 8/29)

G. "Sunni Leaders Reject Draft Constitution" (Al-Sharqiyah
TV, 8/29)

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SELECTED COMMENTARIES
--------------


A. "Achievement and Victory"
Al-Bayyan (affiliated with the Islamic A-Da'wa Party led by
Al-Ja'afari) published a front-page editorial about the
constitution:

"Yesterday, the Iraqi people felt pleased about the
endorsement of the draft constitution. This ratification
came after three days of discussions and meetings to solve
all pending issues. After that, we are now waiting for
referendum day. All the political parties and blocs in the
National Assembly have made concerted efforts to ensure that
all Iraqi sects participated in the constitutional process.
They gave those who boycotted elections a chance to
participate in this process for the sake of drafting a
united constitution.

However, some groups tried to impose their conditions at the
expenses of others and this has led to a delay in settling
pending issues. It was possible to solve these issues
through voting in the National Assembly yet the
parliamentary blocs ignored that option and preferred
negotiating in a way that satisfied all groups. We think
that the endorsement of the draft constitution is a
significant achievement and victory for the Iraqi people
because this constitution was drafted by Iraqis and ratified
by the peoples' representatives. This represents a victory
because it is a big strike against the terrorists. This
victory has reinforced the political process and moved Iraq
forward on a new historic stage."


B. "The Draft Constitution at the National Assembly"
Ad-Dustoor (independent) published a front-page editorial by

Bassim Al-Sheikh about the constitution:

"The national assembly approved the completed draft of the
permanent constitution yesterday with reservations of the
fifteen Sunni members. After the approval of the draft, they
started to debate and negotiate and will continue until the
upcoming referendum on October 15, 2005, when Iraqis will
take responsibility and make a final decision. Voting "Yes"
or "No," all Iraqi sects will engage in the decisive moment
to move their country to a bright new future.

All those who criticize the viewpoints and reservations
between political leaders and constitution drafting members
are wrong, this is how Iraqis should discuss and decide
their future-through democracy and freedom. Now we can
express our opinions and thoughts and we can reject and
discuss things freely.

All political leaders should work on behalf of the Iraqi
national compact, not to gain private benefits. We are
working hard to make this political process succeed and to
defeat those who tried their best to terminate Iraqi dreams.
The final outcome will be decided by good Iraqis who
sacrifice themselves for the freedom of their country. Now
that the draft constitution is complete (from the
legislative angle) we will move to the public referendum
stage to get real and final and approval for Iraq's new
permanent constitution."

C. "The Announcement of a Distinguished Day in Iraq"
Al-Taakhi (affiliated with the Kurdistani Democratic Party
led Masood Barazani) published a front-page editorial by
Sa'ad Badr Khan about the constitution:

"Yesterday, the Iraqi draft constitution was finally
announced. Thus, Iraq approaches another step forward in the
constitutional process--after this the draft is to be
approved by the Iraqi people. The constitution is the most
dangerous document in a society. It's a document that
organizes relationships between rulers and the people and it
outline the main authorities within the community.
Unfortunately, Iraq has gone decades without having a
constitution because the dictator Saddam considered it
merely a piece of paper that could be ripped at anytime.
That is how Saddam governed the country without a
constitution. The Kurdish people have struggled for the sake
of establishing democracy in Iraq and to guarantee their
legitimate rights. Therefore, the Kurds want an Iraqi
constitution that can guarantee and safeguard Kurdish rights
as a legitimate segment of people in Iraq. Without a doubt,
the drafting of the constitution was a very difficult task
and it would not have been accomplished without the bone
fide efforts of patriotic politicians. The Kurdish
leadership has played a big role in making this draft
successful through opening the door to dialogue among
different Iraqi groups. We are excited about the
accomplishment of the draft constitution but at the same
time, we must remember that the Kurds have approved this
constitution despite the fact that it does not completely
satisfy Kurdish ambitions. The Kurds have the right to self-
determination. Although there are some issues (such as the
status of Kirkuk) that remain to be solved we will never
give up our demands. We hope that all Iraqis will approve
the draft constitution so that they can live new lives based
on democracy and justice. The 28th of August will always be
a historic day in Iraq's history."


D. "Iraq Before and After the Constitution"
Az-Zaman (independent, anti coalition) published a page-five
editorial by Jassem Murad:

"Will the constitution stabilize the security, political,
economic and humanitarian situation in Iraq? In fact, all
political parties bet on the elections and said that these
elections would bring peace and stability back to this
country. Those elections were successfully held in spite of
terrorists' plans that attempted to thwart them. However,
those elections could not stabilize the situation in Iraq.
The situation has actually worsened and the post election
period led to a plurality of political parties scattered on
the Iraqi map. If this is the post election period, then how
can we imagine what will happen after the constitution's
ratification? Can this constitution solve our crises? We
could say yes if there were a national Iraqi leadership that
could move Iraq forward and away from sectarianism but the
reality shows that the constitution cannot solve our crises
because we have to understand these crises open-mindedly and
transparently. We have to reinforce the notion of national
dialogue to isolate terrorists from those who want to
participate in the political process. In addition, we must
work hard to improve public services and start
reconstruction projects to end unemployment in Iraq. And we
have to make citizens feel they are protected by the
government. By accomplishing these conditions, the post
constitutional period may witness a historic move in our
lives. Otherwise, crises will not be solved and they will
continue until they make people explode against the
government."


E. "About the Endorsement of the Draft Constitution"
As-Sabah al-Jadeed (independent) published a front-page
editorial by Ismael Zayyer:

"Iraqis deserve to celebrate the completion of their
permanent draft constitution, a good initiative for Iraqis
to open closed doors. Iraqis reached a final accord after
hard and peaceful efforts and dialogue among all political
groups to reach a final agreement freely and with no air of
injustice.

We may have different points of view and opinions but we are
all a unified nation, a land and country with one
significant Iraqi soul throughout.

We agree with all those who have their own ideas and views
concerning the constitution, they have a right to express
their choices the way they want through the media. Today we
celebrate our success, but we should be aware that this is
the first step in the democratic process, and we must work
hard and prepare for the next step--the upcoming referendum
on the draft constitution.

If Iraqis accept or reject the draft constitution freely in
the upcoming referendum process we must respect that. What
is more important is that we have a truly free and fair
referendum with polling boxes far removed from Iraq's
presidential guards, private guards, and the security and
intelligence apparatus because we now have national dialogue
and freedom."


F. "Iraqi Islamic Party's Al-Hashimi Outlines Position on
Draft Constitution"
Al-Jazeera TV carries live a news conference, in Baghdad, by
Tariq al-Hashimi, secretary general of The Iraqi Islamic
Party, on the party's position on the draft constitution.

"All I can say is that the draft constitution was submitted
in the absence of the principle of agreement which
constituted the basis for the Iraqi Islamic Party's
participation in becoming a partner in drafting the
constitution. Regretfully, this draft constitution does not
reflect our aspirations, concerns of Iraqis, nor fulfills
our legitimate and national principles, as much as we had
hoped it would. It is an incomplete draft and the party
continues to have reservations over many of the issues
enshrined in it which continued up until yesterday to be a
subject of conflict and disagreement among negotiating
parties. This is the opinion of the Iraqi Islamic Party.
The party, through all possible political efforts, will not
hesitate to amend these paragraphs until they become
compatible with the country's higher interests and the
concerns of Iraqis in the present and the future.Not the
entire draft is bad. It includes good and bad elements. We
shall confront the elements which we continue to believe
that it would be in the interest of the country and Iraqis
to change now or in the future.The Islamic Party contests
this draft constitution, but does not reject it in part and
parcel"


G. "Sunni Leaders Reject Draft Constitution"
Al-Sharqiyah TV in Arabic 28 Aug 05, News conference by Abd-
al-Nasir al-Janabi and Salih al-Mutlaq, members of the Iraqi
National Dialogue Council.
"..we do not believe that what was achieved rises to the
level of the requirements which fulfill the Iraqi people's
aspirations. We ended up with disagreement on key points
which cannot be ignored in any way whatsoever. We believe
that ignoring them will lead to partitioning Iraq -- land,
people, and identity. Therefore, we announce that we do not
accept and even reject the draft constitution paragraphs on
which no agreement was reached. This renders the draft
illegal.We also call on the Arab League, the United Nations,
and all international community institutions to intervene
and prevent the passage of this draft and to rectify the
clear flaws in it. We, however, will continue to be a vital
part of the political process and will work very hard and
sincerely along the path aspired for our beloved Iraq,
beginning with our active participation in the next
elections, regardless of how the draft constitution will end
up.The constitution must either be accepted or rejected as a
whole. If a single point in the constitution is
unacceptable, voters will reject the constitution
altogether.We believe that the Iraqi citizen will reject
this draft because of the presence of these controversial
points.I think that if this constitution passes as it is, it
will worsen everything in the country and it will increase
the violence in the country. But at the same time we are
asking through these channels all the Iraqis to express
their views in a very peaceful way and be away from the
violence."