Talabani calls on Obama to support establishment of new Iraq

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani expressed happiness with the continued positive development in Iraqi-U.S. ties, stressing the importance of continued U.S. support for the establishment of the new Iraq, a presidential statement said. “President Talabani met with U.S. President Barack Obama and his accompanying delegation at a palace in Baghdad with the attendance of the two vice presidents Adel Abdulmahdi and Tareq al-Hashemi, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Burham Saleh,” said the statement received by IraqiNews.com news agency. “Talabani reviewed the positive development Iraq has witnessed in the political, security, and economic fields, and the importance of realizing the real national reconciliation,” the statement added. He expressed happiness over the positive development of relations between Baghdad and Washington. “Talabani stressed the important of continued U.S. support of the democratic march in the country to establish the new Iraq, a democratic, federal, free and independent Iraq,” it said. “Obama reiterated his country’s support of Iraq in various domains,” the statement said. “Barack Obama vowed to provide all necessary support for Iraq’s stability and prosperity,” it said. Obama had arrived in Baghdad earlier on Tuesday in a surprise visit to the country, his first to an Arab country since assuming office last January. SH (S)/SR 1