Obama, Maliki Agree on Iraq, Differ on Syria

Local Editor

It seems that US President Barack Obama agrees with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on the Iraqi situation, ahead of the withdrawal. However, the two men don’t have the same view concerning the situation in Syria. Just two weeks before the US withdrawal from Iraq, President Barack Obama discussed with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki the scheduled pull out and the Syria conflict. On the pull out, which will take place at the end of this year, Obama and Maliki pledged to work together to “ensure Iraq’s political stability and strengthen its national defense”. During a news conference in the White House, Obama said the postwar partnership between the two countries will comprise programs to “strengthen Iraq’s democratic institutions, expand trade and commerce, increase education exchanges and enhance Iraq’s security”. However, on the Syrian issue, al-Maliki publicly differed with Obama's call for Syrian Presidednt Bashar al-Assad to step down, saying he had no right to call for another leader's ouster. Obama attributed the differences on Syria to "tactical disagreements" with Maliki and said he understood that the Iraqi leader's position on Assad was motivated out of a sincere concern for Iraqi interests. "I know that people must get their freedom and their will and democracy and equal citizenship. We are with these rights ... because we have achieved that ourselves", Maliki said at a joint press conference with Obama. "But I do not have the right to ask a president to abdicate. We cannot give ourselves this right", said Maliki, adding that he hoped Syrians would achieve their aspirations without affecting Iraqi security. Obama said that both he and Maliki believed that "when the Syrian people are being killed or are unable to express themselves, that's a problem”. "There's no disagreement there", Obama said, adding: "I expressed to Prime Minister Maliki my recognition that given Syria is on Iraq's borders -- Iraq is in a tough neighborhood -- that we will consult closely with them as we move forward”. "Even if there are tactical disagreements between Iraq and the United States at this point in how to deal with Syria, I have absolutely no doubt that these decisions are being made based on what Prime Minister Maliki believes is best for Iraq, not based on considerations of what Iran would like to see". Last week, Iraq pledged to convince Syria with the initiative proposed by the Arab League, following a visit by AL Chief Nabil al-Arabi to Baghdad. Following meeting between Arabi and Iraqi Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zebari, AL chief said: “We have talked about Syria and we demanded interference from Iraq which has a good relation with Syria”. "The Iraqi government has told us that it will hold talks with the Syrian government to find a solution for this issue”, said al-Arabi who arrived in the Iraqi capital last Thursday. Meanwhile: Iran Intel. Minister Meets Saudi Crown Prince in Riyadh Whats up??

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