Maliki, Kerry Express Desire For Healthy, “New” U.S.-Iraq Relationship

By Mariko Lamb – Talk Radio News Service

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki met with members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Thursday to discuss bilateral efforts to pursue a healthy new relationship between the two nations.

Chairman Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) expressed hope for future relations with Iraq. “All of us are very very hopeful that the path that we are on today marks a new relationship with Iraq, one where we are the United States and Iraq, two countries operating as we do with countries all around the world.”

Maliki expressed gratitude for efforts and sacrifices made by the U.S. in the past, and he ensured the committee that U.S. troops are no longer needed in Iraq. “Iraqi troops were able to maintain security and law and order, and this is a result of joint efforts,” he said.

Maliki also expressed Iraq’s strong desire for the removal of UN sanctions imposed on Iraq. “Iraq now does not represent any threat to peace and security,” he explained. “We are full of confidence that the United States as well as all countries in the international community…will help us to get out of Chapter 7 [sanctions].”

Kerry and Maliki assured together that U.S. and Iraq will work together in the spirit of mutual interests to implement both the U.S.-Iraqi security agreement and the Strategic Framework Agreement between the two nations.