Presidency council: 69 laws, 64 decrees, 8 agreements in 2007

Iraq's presidency council ratified 69 laws, signed eight international pacts and agreements and issued 64 decrees during the past year, a presidential statement said.

According to the annual report issued by the Iraqi presidency's legal department on the achievements of the presidency council in 2007, the council ratified and issued 69 laws, most significantly the military penal code, and the first amendment to the retirement law and the independent Supreme Commission for Elections law, read the statement that was received by Aswat al-Iraq, Voices of Iraq, (VOI).

The council also ratified the financial agreement between Iraq and the International Development Institution, issued 64 decrees and signed eight international pacts and agreements.

Deputy Speaker Sheikh Khaled Atiyya said during a press conference in early December 2007 that the council had approved 75 laws and repealed 34 others.

Under the Iraqi constitution, all laws passed by the parliament should be sent to the presidency council for approval. If denied or not approved within 10 days of receipt, the law has to be returned to the parliament for further debate and subsequently resubmitted to the council for approval.