Iraqi PM updates Turkish president with U.S.-Iraq security pact developments-statement

BAGHDAD/IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Friday discussed with Turkish President Abdullah Gul the ways to boost the ties between the two countries and the latest developments of U.S.-Iraqi security pact. “Iraqi PM al-Maliki discussed in a telephone call with Turkish president Abdullah Gul the ways to boost the ties between the countries,” said a government statement received by IraqiNews.com. “PM al-Maliki updated Turkish president Gul about the latest developments of the security pact between Iraq and the U.S.” the announcement noted. Washington and Baghdad are currently negotiating a security pact that would decide the future of US forces in Iraq after the present UN mandate expires at the end of this year. The UN mandate currently acts as the legal framework for the presence of foreign forces in the violence-wracked country. The announcement pointed out premier al-Maliki would send delegations to Iraq’s neighbouring countries, including Turkey, to show latest details of the agreement. The security pact has set off long-time debates in government and religious circles. Some of government politicians said the U.S. had given the furthest point in the current draft of the agreement, while other regarded it as “breaching Iraq’s sovereignty”. The Iraqi government unanimously agreed that a security pact with the U.S. lacked some “necessary amendments” according to government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh. The draft status-of-forces agreement calls for U.S. combat troops to be out of Iraqi cities by July30, 2009, and out of the country entirely by December 31, 2011. The agreement allows for an earlier withdrawal or an extension of the U.S. forces’ stay in Iraq by agreement of both parties. AM(S) 1