Zebari: 2011 a decisive year for Iraq

[hammy]

Posted 26/01/2011 04:00 AM

BAGHDAD (Reuters) sign and the Iraqi foreign minister this year could be "very crucial" for Iraq and said the political and economic challenges and a major security facing the Iraqi government is stressing that the government is required to Ptnevz obligations and commitments in order to prove that it is able to move Iraq "to where".

Hoshyar Zebari said in an interview with Reuters that "this year will be very crucial in transit to Iraq where it is." He added that the challenges facing the Iraqi government, many "and should implement the agreements agreed upon and put into use." And went on Zebari said in a statement to these challenges and said that the political side of which is that the current government should complete its formation and that many of the countries monitored the political stability "relative" in Iraq was now after the formation of the government, "Is it a fact or not," in addition to the benefits of the international political waiting for Iraq, particularly with regard to his exit from Chapter VII, the international sanctions that were imposed on him by the UN Security Council.

Zebari said the security challenge is that this year will mark the end of the military presence of foreign (U.S.), according to the security agreement signed between Iraq and the United States.

He added that the economic challenge will be to the government's ability to show it was "able to develop Iraq's oil wealth and gas through licensing contracts" signed by Iraq last year with a number of foreign companies the world.

But Zebari said: "I think that prospects are bright, but you must work and continuous effort in this direction."

The Iraqi government was formed late last year but a number of ministerial portfolios and private security is still vacant is not set and the ministers have yet another addition to the bags other task such as the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Electricity.

He predicted Zebari to see the Arab Summit scheduled to be held end of March, post a large Arab and explained that the extensive contacts took place with Arab leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh economic summit in Egypt recently and said "We have received commitments explicit and clear from the number (from the Arab leaders) and I can say that the attendees will be looked very good to attend this summit. "

Zebari, speaking about the importance of holding the summit in Baghdad and said it would be important to Iraq are just as important to the Arabs. He said that the political message of holding the summit in Iraq "is that there is an Arab readiness to accept the new Iraq, his regime and the political choices of its people."

He added that preparations for the Iraqi and preparations "list and are in full swing for the establishment of the summit on time" and that the Iraqi government has allocated hundreds of millions of dollars for the rehabilitation of a number of large hotels in Baghdad, in addition to the rehabilitation of "villas and presidential palaces" inside the Green Zone.

Zebari, speaking for the Iraqi security preparations for this summit and said, "We have our accounts in order to prevent any action that would disturb the atmosphere of security .. We have contingency plans and alternative plans in order to hedge than anything unforeseen."

Zebari, speaking on the nature and form of U.S. presence in Iraq, particularly after the end of military presence, according to the security agreement signed between the two sides.

Zebari said that the U.S. presence in Iraq will continue but the new arrangements established by the Government of Iraq and the might of the nature of diplomatic and not military.

He said, "there is no willingness on the Iraqi side and even the U.S. to extend the (security agreement) ... but the nature of presence and work will differ completely from the military relationship to the security natural political and diplomatic relationship."

Zebari said that the nature of this presence to be determined and governed by the need for the Iraqi government at the time. Zebari declined to talk in detail about this subject, but said that "the nature of our consultations and discussions that will intensify in the near future is to look at the organization and framing of the relationship with America, according to a new basis is the current U.S. military presence."

The Iraq and the U.S. have signed a security agreement the end of 2008 to allow American military presence in Iraq until the end of 2011.

According to the security agreement, the United States withdrew the bulk of its troops by then numbering about 170 thousand soldiers and kept currently around 20 thousand identified their job training and provide support and advice to Iraqi forces.

http://www.babnews.com/inp/view.asp?ID=33900

[estephan]

Posted 26/01/2011 04:00 AM

Zebari, speaking for the Iraqi security preparations for this summit and said, "We have our accounts in order to prevent any action that would disturb the atmosphere of security .. We have contingency plans and alternative plans in order to hedge than anything unforeseen."

And then a few hours later he's assassinated.

[johnfagan]

And then a few hours later he's assassinated.

That is perfect. So true, so true.