U.S. counts on Kurdish president to endorse several laws - Cheney
Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Tuesday , 18 /03 /2008 Time 10:01:28
Baghdad, Mar 18, (VOI) - U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney said on Tuesday that the United States depends on Kurdish President Massoud Barazani to reach an agreement between the Iraqi and U.S. governments and endorse the important laws, necessary to support national reconciliation.
"The United States counts on al-Barazani to help us to reach an agreement with the Iraqi government," Cheney said in statements after his meeting with Barazani in the city of Arbil.
He invited President Barazani to visit the U.S.
Cheney arrived in Arbil, the capital of the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region, on Tuesday morning to discuss recent political developments with Kurdish officials.
The U.S. vice president arrived in Baghdad on Monday on an unannounced visit during which he met with U.S. military commanders, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, and other Iraqi officials.
The visit coincides with the 5th anniversary of the U.S. forces' invasion of Iraq and falls within a regional Middle East tour by Cheney he began with the Sultanate of Oman. He is also scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank, and Turkey.
Cheney's last visit to Iraq was in May 2007.
U.S. President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki issued a joint letter in November. The "Declaration of Principles" appears as a mutual "expression of friendship."
According to this declaration, the United States will assist Iraq into being granted membership in the World Trade Organization. The two countries will engage in scientific and cultural exchanges.
It also includes a provision that promises to maintain security assurances and commitments to Iraq to deter foreign aggression against the country that violates its sovereignty and integrity of its territories, waters, or airspace.
Last January Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zibari said that Iraqi will ink a long term security, political, and economic agreement with the U.S. in mid-July 2008.
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