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Maliki, senior US delegation mull US troops presence in Iraq after ''11
Politics 7/10/2011 12:06:00 AM
BAGHDAD, July 9 (KUNA) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki received at his office late Saturday a senior US delegation comprising Deputy National Security Council Advisor Denis McDono, Assistant Secretary of State Tomas Nider, and Vice President's National Security Advisor.
In a brief statement, Maliki office said the meeting focused on developing Iraqi-US relation in different domains in line with Strategic Frame security Agreement, under which the US will pull the majority of its troops out of Iraq by the end of 2011.
The talks also touched upon increasing American firms' contribution to the Iraq rebuilding through the Joint Iraqi-American Economic Council.
For its part, the American delegation renewed the US support to the Iraqi government's efforts toward preserving the country's stability, prosperity and economy.
US Embassy in Baghdad also revealed that the delegation would hold meeting with other senior Iraqi officials to mull the extension of the presence of some of the US troops after the end of 2011.
In mid 2010, US troops in Iraq had been reduced to below 50,000 soldiers. Washington said that the remaining US troops in Iraq are conducting support and training missions.
US military forces are to pull out completely from Iraq by the end of 2011 according to the security pact named Status of Forces Agreement, or SOFA, signed late in 2008 between Baghdad and Washington. (end) ahh.ibi KUNA 100006 Jul 11NNNN
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