PM stresses national, constitutional grounds for Iraqi state

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Saturday said that the Iraqi state should be based on clear “national and constitutional” grounds that define competences and responsibilities. “The accordance and quota-based systems adopted by the government were necessary to proceed from one stage to another, but they cannot remain forever because they hinder the progress of the country…,” Maliki said in his speech before a Baghdad-based conference on elite and competence-based management. Earlier today, the Iraqi Elite and Efficiencies Conference (IEEC) launched its conference in the Iraqi capital with the participation of the Iraqi premier. Based in Baghdad, the Iraqi Elite and Efficiencies Conference is concerned with scientific, political, economic, social and educational affairs. SS (P) 1