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Iraq

Despite all the predictions, the self-discipline shown by the majority of the groups has been huge. It is not an easy thing for people to come together to define a new constitution when, as has been said, there are long memories of difficulties, death, dangers and opposition to one another. It has been put to me that there is always the chance that the Iraqi people will vote down the constitution. I am asked, given that situation, ““What do they do?”” What they do is what any democracy does; they go back and discuss the matter again. I hope that it will not take as long as it took us, having voted down Scottish devolution, to get round to bringing it in again. If my memory serves me correctly, that took 21 years. Let us remember that despite all the difficulties the Iraqis have got where they are, with 155 out of 157 articles of the constitution having been agreed almost unanimously and with debate on two of them. That is a major step forward. I have every confidence in the Iraqi people being able to debate these matters and to take the decision on their own democratically. That is what we are trying to help them build.