SALAHADDIN, June 30 (AKnews) - The secretariat of the founding conference of Salahaddin region today denied receiving a letter from Iraq’s Electoral Commission about Salahaddin region, expressing its full readiness to cooperate with the commission to announce the province an autonomous region.
The Electoral Commission stated that the operations department sent a letter to Salahaddin province to provide the province with new forms about the demands of turning the province into a region.
The head of Salalahaddin’s founding conference Najeh al-Mizan said: "We didn't receive any official letter from the commission about announcing the province an autonomous region and we got only words.
"We wonder about the reason behind the delay in the issue and why we weren't provided with forms when we asked for them.
“We are ready to cooperate with the commission in case new forms were sent to us and we do not have any problem in this regard. We are waiting for the commission to send us the forms."
The general secretariat of the founding conference of Salahaddin region announced on December 8 about issuing new forms to collect signatures of supporters to turn the province into a region.
The constitution allows turning an Iraqi province into an autonomous region after getting the contest of one third of the members of the provincial council or a request from 10 percent of the voters before holding the referendum.
The call for the formation of regions in Iraq has met different responses. Supporters consider the move to be a reaction to the policy of the government in Baghdad and the failure to accelerate the establishment of service projects. Opponents meanwhile believe the call comes within the sectarian framework.
Most of those who call for the formation of Salahaddin region belong to Iraqiya coalition but MPs in the coalition - in addition to leader Ayad Allawi - oppose the idea.
By Othman al-Shalash
RN/DM/AKnews