|
Bush, Talabani discuss complex Iraq security deal
25.6.2008
|
|
|
|
June
25, 2008
WASHINGTON, — President Bush and Iraq's
president expressed cautious optimism Wednesday
about prospects for completing a complex agreement
that would keep U.S. troops in Iraq after a U.N.
mandate expires at year-end.
Bush said the U.S. was working on an agreement that
"suits" the Iraqi government. Iraqi President Jalal
Talabani, speaking in the Oval Office after meeting
with Bush, cited recent progress and said he hoped
it could be finished "very soon."
U.S. and Iraqi authorities are trying to meet a July
target date for completing the security agreement.
Talks bogged down over several key issues, which
Iraqi lawmakers said violated the nation's
sovereignty. Recently, however, Iraqi authorities
said prospects for a deal had brightened after the
Americans submitted new, unspecified proposals. |
President Bush meets with Iraq's President Jalal
Talabani(R), Wednesday, June 25, 2008, in the Oval
Office at the White House in Washington |
"We talked about a strategic framework agreement
that suits the Iraqi government," Bush said. "We
talked about elections and different laws that have
been passed. We talked about the fact that the
economy's improving and that the attitude of the
people there has improved immeasurably over the
years."
Bush wants the agreement in place before he leaves
office. If not,www.ekurd.net
major decisions about
how U.S. forces operate in Iraq could be left to the
next president, including how much authority the
U.S. must give Iraqis over military operations and
how quickly the handover takes place.
"We are doing our best for this agreement —
strategic agreement with the United States of
America," Talabani said. "I think we have very good,
important steps toward reaching to finalize this
agreement ... very soon."
Talabani also said he thinks the Iraqi government
can pass oil and elections laws this year and has
moved forward on normalizing relations with Iran and
Syria and improving relations with Turkey, Egypt,
Jordan and Kuwait.
He said he briefed Bush about Iraq's struggle
against terrorism and militias threatening civil
war.
"Now, I can say that Iraq — a big part of Iraq is
stable and is secured and separated from the danger
of terrorism and militia," Talabani said. "Yes, some
places ... there are some groups who remain here and
there."
Copyright, respective author or news agency, AP
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news
information on this page
|
® 