By NNN-KUNA,
Baghdad : Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has praised the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for writing off billions of US dollars in debts on Baghdad.
Talabani, in remarks during a meeting with US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, commended the outcome of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki’s visit to Abu Dhabi during which the UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nuhayyan announced the writing off of debts and its interests, totalling USD 7 billion, as well as appointing an ambassador in Baghdad, an official statement said.
Talabani and Crocker discussed ongoing negotiations between the US and Iraq to signing a long-term framework agreement that will allow American troops to stay in Iraq beyond 2008.
Crocker said the US vowed to respect the sovereignty and independence of Iraq.