FarmerJohn
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki seems to be coming to a position close to that of presidential candidate Barak Obama and moving away from that of John McCain.
FJ
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A short-term memorandum of understanding setting down a coalition troop withdrawal schedule has emerged as a key option in the U.S.-Iraqi security talks.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, speaking in Abu Dhabi, said his government is favoring a short-term accord. His comments come as frustrated negotiators have been working on a long-term bilateral pact that would cover security.
"Now we are trying to reach a memorandum of understanding either to end the presence of the troops or a memorandum of understanding to reschedule their withdrawal," al-Maliki said, according to his press office in Baghdad.
Iraq and the United States have been negotiating strategic framework and status-of-forces agreements that will spell out their relationship in security and other areas.
The U.S.-Iraq security relationship has been the most critical aspect of discussions because it will set down rules governing the conduct of American forces in Iraq.
Al-Maliki reiterated on Monday that the underlying aim of the agreement is the "full sovereignty of Iraq."
A U.N. mandate that sets down the parameters for U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq expires at the end of the year. The United States wants to forge an agreement by the end of July.
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Last week, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari broached the idea of a memorandum of understanding.
He said that a security agreement outlining the relationship between the United States and Iraq is "reachable" and believes the Americans have been showing much "flexibility" in the talks.
He said he was hopeful that the status of forces pact, setting down a legal framework for the activities of U.S. troops, will be reached by the end of July.
But Zebari said there were other options if a status of forces agreement couldn't be reached.
They would include "an interim arrangement until the SOFA negotiation is completed through protocol, through a memorandum of understanding between the two governments or to go back to the Security Council at the end of the year and ask for another extension," he said.
Zebari said progress has been made in one aspect of the deal: Private security contractors working in Iraq would no longer receive immunity from prosecution there.
The American delegation in the negotiations has shown "a great deal of flexibility" on immunity issues for military personnel and civilians who work for the military, on the detainment of Iraqi citizens and on the authorization of U.S. military operations, Zebari said.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/07/07/iraq.security/index.html
FJ
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A short-term memorandum of understanding setting down a coalition troop withdrawal schedule has emerged as a key option in the U.S.-Iraqi security talks.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, speaking in Abu Dhabi, said his government is favoring a short-term accord. His comments come as frustrated negotiators have been working on a long-term bilateral pact that would cover security.
"Now we are trying to reach a memorandum of understanding either to end the presence of the troops or a memorandum of understanding to reschedule their withdrawal," al-Maliki said, according to his press office in Baghdad.
Iraq and the United States have been negotiating strategic framework and status-of-forces agreements that will spell out their relationship in security and other areas.
The U.S.-Iraq security relationship has been the most critical aspect of discussions because it will set down rules governing the conduct of American forces in Iraq.
Al-Maliki reiterated on Monday that the underlying aim of the agreement is the "full sovereignty of Iraq."
A U.N. mandate that sets down the parameters for U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq expires at the end of the year. The United States wants to forge an agreement by the end of July.
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Three killed in Iraq bombings
UAE to cancel Iraqi debt
Last week, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari broached the idea of a memorandum of understanding.
He said that a security agreement outlining the relationship between the United States and Iraq is "reachable" and believes the Americans have been showing much "flexibility" in the talks.
He said he was hopeful that the status of forces pact, setting down a legal framework for the activities of U.S. troops, will be reached by the end of July.
But Zebari said there were other options if a status of forces agreement couldn't be reached.
They would include "an interim arrangement until the SOFA negotiation is completed through protocol, through a memorandum of understanding between the two governments or to go back to the Security Council at the end of the year and ask for another extension," he said.
Zebari said progress has been made in one aspect of the deal: Private security contractors working in Iraq would no longer receive immunity from prosecution there.
The American delegation in the negotiations has shown "a great deal of flexibility" on immunity issues for military personnel and civilians who work for the military, on the detainment of Iraqi citizens and on the authorization of U.S. military operations, Zebari said.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/07/07/iraq.security/index.html
