UN: Iraqi elections not before the end of February

BAGHDAD, Dec 2 (KUNA) -- United Nations has asserted that the legislative elections can not be held before the end of February and if vice-president Tareq Hashemi vetos the second version of the electoral law again, then it will be difficult holding the elections before next March.
These remarks were made during a meeting between Ad Melkert, head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Sandra Mitchell, head of the UN supporting team for the Iraqi electoral commission and Iraqi parliament speaker, Iyad Al-Samaraei, according to a statement issued by Al-Samaraie.
The statement has also asserted that the UN delegation has presented at the outset of the meeting a report on the outcomes that will be approved by the UNAMI in light of the revised electoral law, the mechanisms of distributing seats to the various provinces and the extent of harm that will inflict some of them as a result of using veto.
The meeting has also touched on proposals made by some political factions and their applicability while Mitchell has pointed out that most of these proposals are politicised and not technical and this makes the UNAMI so restricted in dealing with them unless they are made by the legislative authority of the country.
Mitchell went on to say that, "In light of the current conditions, it will not be possible for the elections to be held before the end of next February and its date may be forwarded to March in the event of a second veto." Meanwhile, Parliament's Speaker Samarae has expressed his apology for this delay saying, "We did our best to convince the concerned parties not to push things toward this fix." Further, Al-Samarae has stressed, "The necessity of easing the harms inflicted on the provinces that had their seats reduced as much as possible and endeavoring to remedying shortcomings through instructions and regulations issued by the UNAMI if possible." UNAMI headed by Melkert had previously discussed with vice-president Adel Abdul Mahdi the electoral law and the last revision of it.
A statement issued by Abdul Mahdi's bureau said that," The vice-president received yesterday evenint in Baghdad Melkert and discussed with him the latest political developments in Iraq." The statement added that," The meeting also touched on the electoral law and the latest revision of it in preparation for holding the upcoming legislative elections." The statement went on to say that," The Iraqi vice-president has asserted the important part played by the UN through its mission in Iraq in bolstering the efforts exerted for making the elections a success." Further, the statement said that," Melkert has asserted that the UN is ready to give support and assistance to Iraq to enable it to achieve the components of political stability,pointing to the importance of taking all necessary measures to render the legislative elections successful." Various political factions hold currently consultations and parleys to bring the different views closer on the electoral law that was vetoed by vice-president Tareq Al-Hahsemi in the first time, then it was amended by the parliament and was sent to the Presidency of the Republic Body and ratified by head of the republic Galal Talbani and his deputy Adel Abdul Al-Mahdi.(end) mhgh.af KUNA 021753 Dec 09NNNN