Clinton says U.S. supports Iraq’s political process

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani met with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at his residence in New York on Saturday on the sidelines of the 64th UN General Assembly session. “Secretary Clinton stressed during the meeting that the United States supports Iraq’s political process and would pledge its commitments in this respect,” according to a statement by Talabani’s Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) as received by Iraqi News. “The two sides discussed several security and economic issues of mutual concern and ways to push forward bilateral cooperation,” read the PUK statement. “Talabani and Clinton also saw eye to eye on the importance of the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Iraq , scheduled for January 16,” it added. Also in New York , Talabani met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and discussed with him means of strengthening relations between Baghdad and Tehran . AmR (P)/SR 1