VP, U.S. envoys discuss activation of SOFA

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdelmahdi met with the former U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, and the current envoy, Ryan Crocker, to discuss means of activating the U.S. troop withdrawal agreement, according to a presidential statement. “On Monday, Abdelmahdi discussed with Khalilzad and Crocker means of putting the laws outlined in the agreement into effect, in addition to the subject of troop withdrawal and the readiness of Iraqi security forces,” read a presidential statement that was received by IraqiNews.com. On Thursday, the Iraqi Parliament approved the security pact with the United States, also known as the Status-of-Forces Agreement (SOFA), with a majority of 149 votes to 35. SS (P) 1