Objections to U.S. Draft for Iraq

"It is less than what we expected," Al-Yaver told reporters after talks with civilian U.S. officials appointed in Iraq. He underlined the fact that Iraqis should be given the right to control oil income and the withdrawal of foreign forces. He said that the TGC hopes those factors will be included in the final draft.

The U.N. Security Council’s permanent representative France’s Foreign Minister, Michel Barnier said yesterday that the draft needs to be revised. He suggested a round table meeting to handle the ‘representation state of the new interim Iraqi government to be formed.’ Russia also announced a request to work on the draft while disclosing that many questions have been left unanswered in the document.

The draft has been criticized by France, Russia and Germany because it does not address issues such as who will be in control of the command chain of the Iraqi police and troops, who the participants of the international force to be deployed will be and the date of the deployment. It was praised in terms of its confirmation of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In addition, neighbors’ support for the rebuilding and security of Iraq are emphasized in the draft and importance of Turkey is pointed out. Another element of the draft that received positive feedback is that there is no referral to a temporary constitution included in it.

Meanwhile, Shiites reportedly want the prime ministry and the Kurds to insist on a presidency if there is no prime ministry as the June 30 date for sovereignty handover nears.