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Iraq to seek parliamentary approval for
long-term U.S. pact
14.4.2008
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April
14, 2008
BAGHDAD, -- Iraq will seek parliamentary
approval for a strategic agreement being negotiated
with the United States even though it expects heated
debate over the deal, Foreign Minister Hoshiyar
Zebari said.
U.S. and Iraqi officials began talks last month on a
strategic framework agreement that defines long-term
bilateral ties and a separate "status of forces"
deal outlining rules and protections governing U.S.
military activity in Iraq.
The issue has become highly charged in Washington,
with members of Congress saying it could tie the
hands of the next administration by locking the
United States into a long-term military presence in
Iraq and arguing Congress should give its consent. |
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari |
Zebari, speaking to Reuters on Sunday, said the
first round of negotiations had been completed.
U.S. and Iraqi officials in Baghdad have said they
aim to finish negotiations by July, well before the
next U.S. president is elected on November 4.
"There isn't any hidden agenda here. This agreement
will be transparent, it has to be presented to the
representatives of the Iraqi people, the parliament,
to ratify it," he said.
"I'm sure there will be some heated political debate
when we come to that but I think on the other hand
there is a strong will by the mainstream leadership
in this country that this is for Iraq's good. We
need that continued engagement."
The deal is sure to be rejected by the movement of
anti-U.S. Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr,www.ekurd.net
which has 30 seats in
the 275-member parliament. Sadr pulled his movement
out of the government last year over Prime Minister
Nuri al-Maliki's refusal to set a timetable for the
withdrawal of U.S. troops.
The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush
has repeatedly said it will keep Congress informed
about the negotiations but not ask for its
agreement.
Both Republican and Democrat senators said last week
they may try to force the White House to seek its
approval.
The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, told
Congress last week that the deal would not establish
permanent bases in Iraq nor specify the number of
forces to be stationed in Iraq.
Zebari said both sides hoped to meet that deadline,
adding talks would resume soon. The first round was
highly technical, he said, without giving details.
U.S. forces operate in Iraq under a United Nations
mandate that expires at the end of 2008. Iraq does
not want that mandate extended, so the two
governments must agree guidelines to allow U.S.
forces to remain beyond the end of this year.
Copyright, respective author or news agency, Reuters
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