Iraq’s VP confers with U.S. Ambassador on joint relations

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq ’s Vice-President, Tareq al-Hashimy, has conferred on Tuesday with the U.S. Ambassador to Baghdad , James Jeffery, on bilateral relations and the current political situation, according to an Iraqi Presidential statement.   “Hashimy has received the U.S. Ambassador to Baghdad on Tuesday, with whom he reiterated the significance of implementing the agreements that paved the way for the formation of the new government,” said the statement, copy of which was received by IraqiNews.com news agency on Wednesday.   The statement had quoted Hashimy as “having expressed anxiety for the escalation of the assassination attempts and security violations, that took place with the recent escape of prisoners from Basra and Baghdad prisons, that necessitate the boosting of efforts to put an end for them.”   Hashimy, the statement pointed out, had also stressed on “necessity to name Iraq ’s security cabinet ministers in the nearest possible time, according to the shares agreed upon between leading political blocs.”   Noteworthy is that the U.S. combat troops had withdrawn from Iraq at the end of August last, according to the Security Agreement, signed between Washington and Baghdad at the end of 2008, whilst the remaining U.S. non-combat troops, estimated at 50,000, are scheduled to leave the country by the end of the current year.   SKH (IT)   570