Talabani confirms necessity to keep US experts in Iraq

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq ’s President Jalal Talabani has said that necessity would push Iraq to keep US military experts in his country and called for holding the next Arab Summit in Baghdad .   “The Iraqi forces have proved ability to fill the vacuum, expected to be left after the withdrawal of the American forces from the country at the end of the current year,” Talabani said in his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday, but he reiterated “necessity to keep American experts to make use of their expertise, after the withdrawal.”   Talabani said that “ Iraq had cut an important course in building its political system, through national partnership and its overcome of all passive elements it had faced, following the achievement of a security improvement.”   “We still depend on our five-year plan, our oil & gas licensing to develop the economy of the country, that restored its power after the passive impacts of the previous regime,” Talabani said.   He said that “Iraq’s 5-year plan, scheduled to end by 2014, includes the achievement of 2,700 strategic projects and raising the average income-per-capita to 8,000 US dollars per annum, along with having got rid of the international sanctions, restoration of its control on its financial revenues and its beginning to achieve positive steps to secure a fertile environment,” calling for the “holding of the next Arab Summit in Iraq early next year and to open channels by all world states in Baghdad.”   As regards to the regional developments, Talabani said that “recent events in the Arab Region has proved the correctness of the line we followed, as we support the ambitions of the Arab peoples towards the change and democracy.”   “ Iraq believes in the use of the nuclear power for peaceful purposes and calls for the peaceful settlement in dealing with Iran ’s nuclear dossier,” the Iraqi President said, “warning from any escalation that would harm the interests of all parties.”   SKH (FT) 521