By NNN-KUNA,
Baghdad : Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki discussed on Sunday with US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte the security strategic agreement between Washington and Baghdad, amid speculation on agreement is near completion.
“Negotiations are still on and there are very few issues still pending,” Negroponte said.
“We are very close to reaching an agreement. It’s not wise to reveal the details until we reach a final agreement, and we hope to reach a final agreement very soon,” said Negroponte.
A statement by Al-Maliki office said Negroponte and his accompanying delegation were received at the Prime Minister’s office this evening.
The meeting highlighted “the progress made on political and security fields, and latest developments on U.S. and Iraqi security negotiations on the agreement between the two countries,” the statement noted.
The statement further said that Al-Maliki had expressed interest that such agreement must “ensure the unity of Iraq’s sovereignty and high national interests and serve the interests of the Iraqi people.”
Negroponte renewed US support for the Iraqi government to achieve security, stability and prosperity in Iraq and across the nation-building institutions.
Washington and Baghdad are trying to hammer out a deal that would lay the framework for the future of US forces in the violence-wracked country after 2008, when a UN mandate governing their presence expires.
Al-Maliki last month said the two sides have, however, agreed to withdraw US forces from Iraqi cities by June 2009 and from the country by December 2011.