National Council for Strategic Policies still valid – MP

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq’s proposed National Council for Strategic Policies (NCSP) is still valid and has not been cancelled, the Legislature for the State of Law Alliance, Ali al-Allaq, said on Sunday.   “The NCSP had been part of the agreement that took place among different political blocs in Arbil and Baghdad. Dialogue regarding it still continues,” Allaq told IraqiNews.com news agency.  “No final decision has bee,n taken in this respect, and the NCSP was not cancelled,” he added.   Differences towards the NCSP, proposed after the formation of the new Iraqi government and scheduled to be led by the Leader of al-Iraqiya Bloc, Iyad Allawi, still exist.   Allawi has been demanding granting the Council broad authorities, including executive authorities, whilst the National Alliance, led by Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, rejected these calls, saying that they stood counter to the missions of the Council of Ministers.   The Spokeswoman for al-Iraqiya Bloc, Maysoun al-Damaloujy, recently stated to IraqiNews.com that Allawi had rejected the post of NCSP’s Chairman, “due to tactics of postponement that had been practiced, thing that did not cope with his position and the size of al-Iraqiya Coalition.”   A media source in al-Iraqiya Bloc also told IraqiNews.com that “Allawi had officially announced his rejection to hold the said post.”   Regarding the issue of the security ministries in the new cabinet, Allaq said that “Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had presented several names, demanding that his National Alliance study them.”  “We are still waiting for the final decision that will be in the hands of the Prime Minister,” Allaq added.    SKH (TF)/SR 803