Gov’t inclined to grant local gov’ts more authorities – Maliki

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Premier Nouri al-Maliki disclosed today that the inclinations of the Iraqi government are to grant more authorities to local governments, except in matters related to security, sovereignty, foreign relations, and natural wealth which should remain in the hands of the central government. He pointed to the external elements in inciting division feelings in the country. During his attendance to the Decentralization in Iraq Conference, organized by the Ministry of Provinces’ Affairs, he confirmed this inclination to be in the service of reconstruction “in order to build a strong state with administrative and political systems.” He warned that decentralization will incite the feeling of division if there are sectarian or religious trends. Maliki called to enhance the national feeling to build a strong state based on legal and constitutional systems. The Conference was attended by some ministers, as well as the governors, chairmen of provincial councils, experts and researchers in this field. RM (TI)/SR 594