Al-Maliki asserts no ‘secret attachments’ in troops withdrawal deal

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Tuesday expressed that the U.S. troops withdrawal agreement does not include any secret attachments, expressing sorrow over some parties’ rejection to the agreement with seeing it. In his word to the Iraqi people tonight, al-Maliki said “political leaders in Iraq were aware of all talks on the agreement, but I’m sorry for those who reject it without seeing or studying it.” “There are some notes on the agreement, but Iraqi negotiators proved their abilities and trust the people gave to them,” he added. “Without signing the agreement Iraq will stay under chapter 7 of the UN charter,” he explained. “The agreement is a strong start to get back Iraq’s complete sovereignty in three years as it stipulates the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq’s cities on June 30, 2009 and complete withdrawal from Iraqi territories in January 2011 and it’s a final date and will not be extended,” the premier explained. “The agreement also includes not launching any military operation without Iraqi government’s permission and with complete coordination with it,” he said, pointing out that no one will be arrested without a judicial order and if the U.S. forces arrested anyone they should give him in to the Iraqi authorities in less than 24 hours. “We are looking forward to the parliament to say a word to realizes Iraq’s sovereignty and integrity and we will abide by any decision taken by the parliament which has the right to accept or reject the agreement,” he concluded. The Iraqi cabinet endorsed the controversial pact, also known as the status-of-forces agreement (SOFA), by an overwhelming majority of 27 votes to 1. The Iraqi and U.S. sides have been negotiating a long-term security deal during the past months. The pact should determine the legal framework for the U.S. presence in Iraq after the end of this year, when the international mandate granted by the UN Security Council to the U.S. army to intervene in Iraq is due to expire.   SH (S)/SR 1