Shafaq News/ Politicians, academics, discussed on Saturday, the subject of expanding the powers of the governorates in the light of escalating claims for the formation of Regions, in addition to the experience of Kurdistan and the differences between them and the aspirations of the formation of Regions in other parts of Iraq,

The member of the House of Representatives for the Iraqi List Ashar Sheikhly touched in her search under the title on (federalism and Iraqi experience) to the legal basis for the demands of the provinces to form regions, organized by Iraq's Constitution of 2005, referring to forms of states and regimes, stressing the need for a federal system of government.

"Even in the smallest countries in the world Monaco, the administration is divided between the Prince of Monaco and the administration ", noting that the trend now in the world is to "stay away from the central system to a decentralized system in which powers are distributed between the center and other areas."

Alsheikly the lecturer in the seminar said that "administration of decentralization that characterizes the federal system cancels any control or financial authority by central administration on the provinces", highlighting examples of federal regimes : " It is called in Iraq Regions and in U.S. states and in Switzerland, cantons and in the other States areas, and that this system is based on  the binary legislative, executive and judiciary authorities . "

Sheikhly said that there are three methods for dealing with the provinces and territories in a constitutional manner :" first is  to limit the powers exercised by the federal government and the rest is  to the prerogative of provincial and local governments," and second "to limit the powers of the regions and the rest is left to the federal government," pointing out that the third way is to limit "the powers of the government and the regions together.

She explained that "The Iraqi constitution chose to fix the powers of the federal government and the common powers and the rest is for the powers of the regions."

She spoke about the difference between Region of Kurdistan and attempts to form regions in other areas, saying "the Kurdistan Region existed before the constitution was approved, and that the requirements were found to form a Region," . She made no secret for her refusal to form regions that are found   " on national, ethnic or sectarian bases."

In her responses to the observations Sheikhly indicated to a number of other dilemmas, including the military situation and the attacks of neighboring states as to be within the  "the powers of the federal authority exclusively, but this is not applied  in Iraq for political reasons."

The participants agreed that the failure of the center in providing services to the people and the success of the Kurdistan Region is pushing the provinces to demand to establish Regions.

In conclusion, Sheikhly summed up her position "I am not with the centralism and I'm with the Kurdistan Region, but I'm not with the regions in the provinces, and I see that the provinces should have wide powers."

After that, the political analyst Ibrahim Sumaidaie referred  to "The inability of the political system in Iraq for the accomplishment of the state of citizenship . Although the international community has been collaborating with Iraq, as well as U.S. , the politicians delayed the project of the state."

Sumaidaie who was a lecturer at the symposium said that "the most important sticking point is Article 140, as despite the focus on and the large budgets allocation  to follow up the implementation of the solution they did not make even one step," noting that the anomaly relationship between the center and the region contributed to solve only 10% of the sticking points.

Despite his praise of the conditions experienced by the Region of Kurdistan and the construction and reconstruction in it he argues that " The companies of other countries race to invest in Kurdistan is a temporary wedding ", citing the lack of " real investment opportunities in Kurdistan except for tourist facilities unlike other areas, according to his opinion that have enormous wealth which is not exploited so far.

Sumaidaie turned to the claims of establishing a Kurdish state, and said that in the case of seeking to implement that, "The regional effects will press strongly  on the Kurdistan Region."

He said he did not oppose the annexation of the disputed areas to the Kurdistan Region, provided that Iraq remains unified, referring to the Arabs' failure in Iraq with regard to the relationship with Kurdistan, "I think we, the Arabs contribute to the isolation we impose on the Kurds."

He suggested "pushing Arab characters towards the parliament and in the Kurdish areas," and he felt that this "benefits the Kurds in the first place and develops the spirit of citizenship," . He urged creating  "pockets of Arabs and Turkmen in Kurdistan, as it will have a voice within the Kurdish government and parliament."

He said that " The calls for the regions establishing happened as a reaction to policies and attempts to resolve the conflicts between the political forces since 2003, especially after the absence of the U.S. role," explaining that "the call to the regions is not realistic need."

Ibrahim Sumaidaie concluded his speech by saying "Our goal must be to maintain the Kurdistan Region on the condition that it  does not go to the state project, and the Arabs are to be less severe in dealing with Kurdistan, because the racist radical Arab nationalists push Kurds toward ultra-nationalist positions."

In answering to the participants observations Sumaidaie added "Science is moving counter to the nation-state, and that Article 140 is a problematic before being a solution and I call that the disputed areas should be annexed to Kurdistan Region to be accompanied with the pockets of Arabs and Turkmen. We must establish the State of coexistence."