BAGHDAD: The United States and Iraq appeared to be edging closer to a final agreement on the future of American troops in Iraq after Washington said yesterday it had responded positively to new demands from Baghdad.
US Embassy spokeswoman Susan Ziadeh said that the US had returned to the Iraqis a final text that lays out the framework for the US military presence in Iraq beyond the expiry of the UN mandate at the end of the year.
“We have gotten back to the Iraqis with a final text. Through this step we’ve concluded the process on the US side,” she said. “We’ve responded positively in order to move this process forward in a way that reflects the sovereignty of both sides,” added Ziadeh, without elaborating on which points the US had agreed to.
Iraqi government spokesman Ali Al-Dabbagh earlier told state television that Washington had yesterday replied to demands by Baghdad that some clauses of the pact be amended by making changes of its own. The Iraqi government would now review these suggestions. “These modifications now need a meeting with the American side to reach a joint understanding,” Dabbagh said.
“The atmosphere is positive; the Iraqi side needs more time to give the main political entities time to review the proposed US remarks and modifications,” he said.
But according to US-financed Al-Hurra television, the United States has responded only to some of the changes Baghdad wants made. It did not elaborate. A series of issues has repeatedly delayed the pact that both sides had originally aimed to sign by July 31 this year.
