NEW YORK (AFP) — The United States and Iraq are close to an agreement on the presence of US troops in the country beyond 2008, the foreign ministers from the two countries said Saturday.
"Well, we are very close. I've said many times, really, that I think it is in the final stages. And this will need the support of all the political leaders to have this agreement," said Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.
He was speaking at the start of talks in a New York hotel with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the sidelines of the UN Assembly General.
"We are working on the SOFA. We're making good progress. This is an important agreement," agreed Rice.
She was referring to the accord dubbed the Status of Forces Agreement which is to put in place a deal for the future status of US troops after the UN Security Council mandate for the multinational force expires on December 31.
But differences still remain, notably on granting immunity to US soldiers for acts committed in Iraq, whether Washington has the right to detain Iraqi prisoners and on the future command of military operations on the ground.
"It is also not easy when you are working with a sovereign government, and we intend to fully respect the sovereignty of Iraq," Rice said.
"We need certain protections for our forces so that we can continue the gains that we've been making.
"But we also are working in the context of a long-term strategic framework that will make us allies and friends for a long, long time to come."
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