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| Iraq |
| Maliki says developments in Iraq determine presence of foreign troops |
| 2008-07-22 |
| (VOI) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said on Monday during his meeting with visiting U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama that developments in Iraq will determine the presence of foreign troops in the country. "Al-Maliki stressed that developments on the ground will enable Iraqi and U.S. sides to agree on a clear vision regarding the presence of troops, noting that the two sides agreed during their negotiations on the long-term agreement," according to a statement released by al-Maliki's office and received by Aswat al-Iraq -- Voices of Iraq -- (VOI). A declaration of principles was signed between U.S. President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in December 2007. The declaration was planned to be ratified on July 31, 2008 to be effective as of January 1, 2009. The agreement governs the U.S. forces' presence in Iraq after the year 2008. This presence currently relies on a mandate by the UN, renewed annually upon the request of the Iraqi government. The agreement should not be effective except after endorsement by the 275-member Iraqi Parliament, which comprises five political blocs, the Fadhila (Virtue) Party and the Sadrist Bloc, or Iraqis loyal to Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr. "We now have a strong government which saved Iraq from terrorism," al-Maliki added, expressing his optimism regarding realizing the Iraqis' ambitions in security, stability and economic prosperity," he also said. "For his part, Obama congratulated al-Maliki on the achievements made by his government, hailing the U.S.-Iraqi relations and the developments in the country," the statement said. "The U.S. senator told al-Maliki that the American people seek to have strategic relations with Iraq, asserting the U.S. commitment to maintain Iraq's security and stability," it added. A cabinet media source had said earlier that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and visiting U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama discussed a number of topics including the future of U.S. military presence in Iraq. "Maliki received Obama as soon as he arrived in Baghdad and the two sides discussed the possibility of U.S. troop cuts in Iraq," the source, who asked that he is name not be revealed, told the VOI. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 But this was published in Iraq. When will the US press pick it up? |
| Posted by: Bobby 2008-07-22 06:44 |