Annan hails Iraq's new draft constitution, urges parties to continue inclusive process
Welcoming the completion of Iraq's new draft constitution, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today urged the
parties to maintain their spirit of national reconciliation as the process moves towards the document's adoption – an
important milestone in the country's political transition.
In a statement released by his spokesman, Mr. Annan praised the “earnest efforts” made by all Iraqi political entities
amid difficult circumstances and pledged the world body's continuing support for Iraq as it emerges from war.
The Secretary-General urged all Iraqi communities and political entities “to continue to work together in a spirit of
national reconciliation, through a fully inclusive, transparent and participatory political process in the period
leading to the national referendum when the Iraqi people will decide on their new constitution. That poll will take
place in October.
The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and its constitutional team provided support to the constitution-making
process. According to today's statement, the Secretary-General has instructed his Special Representative, Ashraf Qazi,
to continue efforts to promote national dialogue and consensus-building among all Iraqi communities and political
entities, “with a view to helping the Iraqi people build the foundations of a new peaceful, democratic and united Iraq.”