By NNN-KUNA,
Baghdad : Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki has received a phone call from US President-elect Barack Obama, an official statement here said.
The statement said Obama expressed his appreciation Wednesday of the Iraqi government’s efforts to pass the status of forces agreement (SOFA) and said he is to stress respect of Iraq’s sovereignty and committed to what he termed “a responsible pullout” of US forces from the country.
Obama also praised Maliki’s efforts to improve the security and living conditions in Iraq, noting that he is looking forward to visit to the country after assuming the top office.
On his part, the Iraqi prime minister voiced his country’s keenness to upgrade the US-Iraqi bilateral relations to serve both states’ interests.
He remarked he is hopeful of a new era of relations once foreign military presence in Iraq comes to an end.