Article 140 and The Future of Iraq
A Conference Sponsored by Washington Kurdish Institute, the Penn Program in Ethnic Conflict - Univ. of Pennsylvania, and the Kurdish National Congress of NA
Friday May 9, 2008
9:00am to 5:00pm
Location:
2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Capitol Hill, Washington D.C.
Independence & South Capitol St, SW
Capitol South Metro Stop - Blue and Orange Lines
Please send name, affiliation, and daytime telephone number
Registration is Required (Space is Limited)
Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution mandates a process of normalization and referendum for disputed territories, although it continues to be a vexing issue which needs to be addressed. The most significant of these disputed territories is the governorate and city of Kirkuk, which suffered ethnic cleansing and expulsion by the Baathist regime of Saddam Hussein. Makhmur, Sinjar, Khanaqeen and other areas of rural Kurdistan also fall under the jurisdiction of Article 140.
The future of Iraq depends on Article 140 and its aim of using a democratic and constitutional framework to address problems that are long overdue for resolution. The Iraqi government failed to meet the 2007 deadline for Kirkuk specified by Article 140, which includes full normalization and a referendum on unifying with the Kurdistan Regional Government. A six-month extension was granted to fulfill this constitutional obligation.
Speakers at the conference will discuss all dimensions of Article 140 and its implementation. The program for the event will be forthcoming.
Dr. Najmaldin Karim, President of WKI
Dr. Saman Shali, President of KNCNA
Prof. Brendan O'Leary, Director of the Penn Program
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