Obama, al-Maliki hail shift in US-Iraqi ties

Washington, 21 October (WashingtonTV)—US President Barack Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Tuesday both said that relations between their countries were entering a new period, shifting beyond security concerns to broader concerns of investment and development.

Al-Maliki was in Washington to attend the two-day Iraq Investment and Business Conference, which he said was an important milestone.

“What is wonderful about this trip is that it represents a transition in our bilateral relationship so that we are moving now to issues beyond security and we are beginning to talk about economy, trade, commerce,” Obama told reporters at the White House.

Obama cited Iraq’s “continuing progress”, strides on investment, and a “commitment to democratic policies.”

He also said that both Washington and Baghdad wanted elections scheduled for next January to be held on time. Election legislation has been delayed in Iraq’s parliament because of disagreements on several issues, reports CNN.

US and Iraqi officials are concerned that a delay in the election, or a resurgence of violence ahead of the vote, could unravel the country’s growing stability.

Al-Maliki said he had discussed with Obama a new era of US-Iraqi ties.

“Our relations today have moved along and not only confined to the security cooperation, but today have moved to the economic development and to providing prosperity for the Iraqi people,” he said.

He added that the end of the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein should be a cause for lifting international sanctions, which are still in place against Iraq.

Obama told the prime minister that he was committed to the goal of having all US troops out of Iraq by 2011.

Sources: White House website, CNN News

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