Parliament has right to ratify agreement not to debate it – FM

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on Thursday said that the parliament has the right to ratify the U.S. troops withdrawal agreement not to debate it. Speaking at a join press conference with his Italian counterpart Franco Frattini in Baghdad, Zebari said “the parliament has the right to ratify this agreement to debate it again or negotiate it because the government is the only body which has the right to sign such agreements.” “Debates held yesterday at the parliament on the agreement were a natural thing in a democratic country and we believe there is a possibility for the parliament to ratify the agreement,” he added. Speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mahmoud al-Mashhadani on Wednesday decided to adjourn yesterday session until Thursday after heated arguments between Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and lawmakers on the U.S. troops withdrawal agreement. Zebari attended the session to respond to lawmakers’ questions on the agreement. Meanwhile, the minister described talks with his Italian counterpart as fruitful. “We held talks with Frattini to encourage Italian companies to contribute in rebuilding Iraq and to rehabilitate Iraqi museums,” Zebari said. For his part, Frattini said “Italian culture minister asked me to invite Iraqi tourism minister to visit Italy to continue cultural cooperation between the two countries.” On the security deal, he said “we hope the Iraqi parliament will ratify the agreement.” Italy took part in the 2003 war on Iraq and was the fourth largest force in the coalition forces with 3,000 personnel. SH (S) 1