Talabani, Clinton co-stress joint cooperation

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Saturday received U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her accompanying delegation for talks during which the two sides co-stressed the need to beef up cooperation between the two countries, according to a presidential release. “President Talabani discussed with U.S. Secretary of State Clinton Iraq’s political, security and economic developments and the breakthroughs achieved by the Iraqi diplomacy at the Arab, regional and international levels,” read the statement as received by IraqiNews.com news agency. “Talabani has pinpointed the major role played by the United States in helping the Iraqis get rid of dictatorship and usher in a new era that rests on democracy, pluralism and federacy,” it added. Clinton said her visit came to renew her country’s support for the new Iraq and its government and political process, asserting her government’s keenness to go on helping the Iraqis to have a better political future until full-fledged stability and prosperity are achieved. The meeting was attended by Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, Minister of Water Resources Lateef Rasheed, the presidential cabinet chief Nusseir al-Aani and Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Labid Abawi from the Iraqi side and new U.S. ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill and other officials from the U.S. side. AmR (P)/SR 1