(VOI)- U.S. President George W. Bush said on Wednesday he expects to seal a security pact with Iraq but added there were no plans for permanent U.S. bases there.
"I think we'll end up with a strategic agreement with Iraq," Bush said at a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He called media reports that there were plans to build permanent U.S. bases in Iraq "erroneous", adding there was "all kinds of noise" about the issue in the United States and Iraq. A declaration of principles was signed between U.S. President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in December 2007. The declaration was planned to be ratified on July 31, 2008 to be effective as of January 1, 2009. The agreement governs the U.S. forces' presence in Iraq after the year 2008. This presence currently relies on a mandate by the UN, renewed annually upon the request of the Iraqi government. |