U.A.R. And Iraq Unify Political Leadership

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30630, 22 December 1964, Page 17

U.A.R. And Iraq Unify Political Leadership

(N.Z.P.A.- Reuter—Copyright)

BEIRUT, December 20.

The United Arab Republic and Iraq have established a unified political leadership between them, Bagdad and Cairo Radios announced tonight.

The leadership has been formed under an agreement signed between the two countries on October 16, which provided that the unified leadership would be the highest political authority’ in both countries.

The announcement of the agreement of October 16 said one of the basic functions of the unified political command would be to take “all practical steps to achieve constitutional unity between the two countries within a maximum of two years.”

It said the command would supervise foreign policy, the Armed Forces, defence affairs, economic planning, national guidance, education and national security, and “discuss the internal affairs of both countries to find suitable solutions to them and supervise their implementation.”

The command would include the Presidents of both countries and at least six

members from each, it was said, and would meet every two months and hold extraordinary meetings if necessary.

On September 20 President Abdul Salam Arif, of Iraq, announced that a census would be taken in Iraq shortly to prepare for General Elections to follow the proclamation of union between the U.A.R. and Iraq.

The two radios said the unified political leadership consists of 25 people, including the Presidents of the two re-

publics, the two Prime Ministers, the four U.A.R. VicePresidents, and a number of Ministers from both countries.