Iraq’s President, US Ambassador, discuss means to activate next meeting of Iraq’s Political Leaders

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq ’s President, Jalal Talabani, and the U.S. Ambassador to Baghdad , James Jeffery, have discussed in Baghdad on Friday means for activating the next meeting of the Political Leaders to settle their current differences, a Presidency statement reported.   “President Talabani has discussed in a meeting with Ambassador Jeffery, at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Friday, “the most important developments in the Iraqi politics and the current efforts to activate the next meeting by the Leaders of Iraq’s Political Forces, aimed at achieving agreement and to settle their current suspended issues,” the statement stated.   It quoted Talabani as having said in the meeting that “ Iraq looks at the United States as a strategic partner and ally, stressing that this partnership needs to expand joint cooperation and coordination, in such a way that would serve the high interests of both countries.”   Ambassador Jeffery on his part, the statement pointed out, has said that “the American forces would eventually leave Iraq , but the strategic relations and friendship between both sides would remain and continue.”   The Leaders of Iraq’s Political Forces had held a meeting last Saturday, under patronage of President Talabani, attendance of Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, Parliament Speaker, Usama al-Nujeify, Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, Mid’hat al-Mahmoud, Leader of al-Iraqiya Coalition, Iyad Allawi.   The meeting was also attended by the Representative of north Iraqi Kurdistan Region’s President, Roz Nouri Shawes, the Chairman of the Supreme Islamic Council, Ammar al-Hakim, Iraq ’s Vice-Presidents and Deputy-Prime Ministers and a number of Parliament members.   Talabani told a news conference after the meeting that Leaders of the Political Forces have agreed to activate the role of the Special Committee, formed to look into the Arbil Agreement, confirming that agreement had been reached to take a united position towards the continuation of the U.S. troops presence in Iraq or their departure, in a decision to be taken in two weeks time.   The Iraqi President had reiterated that the discussions took place, in an atmosphere of frankness and fraternity, reflecting new understandings towards the U.S. military presence in Iraq, the Arbil Agreement and its implementation, as well as an agreement to hold another session in two weeks time, in order to study the results of the said Committee’s activity and its decisions towards the implementation of the previous agreements.   SKH (FT)   824