Iran says Iraq’s sovereignty must be respected

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday called to safeguard Iraq’s sovereignty in the long-term security deal that is scheduled to take place between Iraq and the United States. “The stance of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the Iraqi security agreement is based on respect for its national sovereignty, independence and freedom,” the Iranian news agency IRNA quoted Hassan Qashqavi as saying during his weekly press conference. The U.S. and Iraqi governments are currently negotiating a security pact that would regulate the presence of foreign troops in the country after 2008. A declaration of principles was signed between U.S. President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in December 2007. The declaration was scheduled to be ratified on July 31, 2008 and to come into force as of January 1, 2009. The agreement governs the presence of U.S. forces in the country after 2008 and will not come into force without the approval of the Iraqi Parliament, which has 275 members from five blocs, in addition to the Sadrist movement and al-Fadhila party. The U.S. troops’ presence currently relies on a mandate by the United Nations and is annually renewed at the request of the Iraqi government. SS (S) 1