Statement Attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the United Nations Support to the Constitutional Process in Iraq

Yesterday, the Secretary-General received a letter from Mr. Hajim N. Al-Hasani, President of the Transitional National Assembly of Iraq, inviting the United Nations to help promote national dialogue between the Assembly's Constitutional Drafting Committee and the Iraqi people, and to help build consensus nationwide for the draft constitution, in accordance with Security Council resolution 1546 of 2004.

A UNAMI constitutional support team, led by Nicholas Fink Haysom of South Africa, has been in Baghdad since mid-April, engaged in preparatory activities. Having now received an official request, the United Nations will continue to work closely with the Iraqi Government, the Transitional National Assembly and other relevant bodies, as well as with the international donor community, on this key challenge for the country's future.

The Secretary-General urges the people of Iraq to seize this historic opportunity, and to pursue the constitutional process in a manner that is inclusive, participatory, transparent and responsive to the key demands of all Iraqi political constituencies. He hopes that every effort will be made to complete the drafting of the constitution within the timetable for Iraq's political transition.