Middle East News
Iraq: Talks over US security agreement at critical stage
Jul 2, 2008, 12:54 GMT
Baghdad - Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Wednesday negotiations between Baghdad and Washington on a long-term security agreement were at a critical stage and both sides would have to make compromises.
'Negotiations are at a sensitive stage and require compromises from both sides. In any negotiations you can not get everything you want. But we are working to preserve Iraq's sovereignty,' Zebari said at a press conference.
The security agreement will lay down the legal bases for a continued US military presence in Iraq after a UN mandate expires at the end of the year.
Both countries are also negotiating another long-term agreement on economic, political and security relations.
'Both agreements will come as one deal,' Zebari said.
Talks have recently hit a snag over a US demand for private security contractors working in Iraq to have immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law.
This demand and other sticking points over the powers of US troops to control military operations and airspace and arrest Iraqi citizens have provoked strong opposition from across the Iraqi political spectrum.
But a lawmaker from the Kurdish Alliance, which is part of Iraq's ruling coalition, said Zebari told a closed session of parliament on Tuesday that the US agreed that private security contractors would have no immunity.
Zebari told lawmakers, however, that US troops and civilians working with them would have 'legal immunity,' Mahmud Othman said.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
Lance, uh, you are stuck in a rut.
Take off your 'religious fanatic' goggles.
page: 1
lanceJul 2nd, 2008 - 13:09:49
So, what's the problem?
... christians get to dole out charity and rebuild Iraqis' defunct civilization while muslims get to see the light of jesus. Certainly Iraqis must understand that. Christians loose money and Iraqis gain eternal life and lots of consumer goods. It really sounds like a good deal when you think about it. All they have to do is submit. And if they are good enough the pope mobile will be acomin'.
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