Allawi, VP Hashemi discuss security pact

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi and former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi discussed a host of political issues, including the security pact planned to be signed with the United States, according to a presidential release on Tuesday. “In light of the recent security draft agreement offered by the U.S. administration, the cabinet will deal with it just like any other draft law,” Hashemi was quoted as saying in the release as received by IraqiNews.com. “We had a second meeting of the Political Council for National Security (PCNS), during which we listened to the answers and remarks by the ministers of defense, interior and finance,” Hashemi said in statements after he met with Allawi on Monday. Iraqi government officials say that the U.S. side has offered great concessions to hammer out a final draft for the pact, while politicians argue that it contained items that impinge upon Iraq’s sovereignty and independence. By virtue of this agreement, if approved, the status of U.S. forces in Iraq would determined after the UN mandate for the U.S. army expires by the end of 2008. In accordance with the draft agreement, the U.S. presence in Iraq would continue until December 31, 2011, after which the Iraqi government may ask the U.S. administration to pull out its forces from Iraq. AmR (S) 1