Iraq still awaiting US response on changes

The course of negotiations on proposed amendments to the security agreement is stagnant awaiting a decision or a signal from the US Administration in its last days. However, it is expected to be put off for till after the US presidential elections so that the orientation and foreign policy of the new President would be put into shape. This might be the closest justification to the bustle spurred by the security agreement as it passes from one stage to another. MP Mahmoud Othman described US threats of withdrawing their troops from Iraq as exaggerated and unrealistic. In an interview with the Newsmatic, he said that the US wants to stay long in Iraq, and it is proved, as it is building up in Baghdad a mammoth headquarters to the US Embassy. Still, Othman went further by warning that transferring security authorities from the US part to the Iraqi Government might tense up relations between Baghdad and Kurdistan in the future.
On the other hand, Othman was pessimistic towards rejecting the security agreement as he deemed it would have negative impact mainly by keeping Iraq under UN Security Council Chapter VII and maintaining a fragile security in the country for Iraqi security forces are not fully ready yet.
While Iraq awaits a response from the US, Iraq neighboring countries are vigilant since the security agreement would step the US in the Middle East. In this context, Turkish President Abdullah GulAbdullah Gul contacted Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki who briefed his Turkish counterpart about the process of security agreement negotiations revealing that the government will send delegations to neighboring countries including Turkey to display the security deal after the US addresses Iraq amendments request.
On the Iraqi internal level, stands are pouring in as time is running. Iraqi Unified Coalition Party stressed following a meeting on Thursday night headed by Abdul Aziz Al Hakim and attended by Vice President Adel Abdul Mehdi the necessity of saving Iraq and not risking its future, underlining the importance of reaching Iraqi consensus and not engage in uncertain projects.
Vice President Abdul Mehdi told Reuters that time is running regarding the security agreement with the US noting that the Iraqi Government cannot accept the present draft of the agreement while Iraqis will approve the final say of the government as there will be no divisive stands.
On Thursday night, President Jalal TalabaniJalal Talabani and vices President Adel Abdul Mehdi and Tarek Al Hashemi as well as Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki held an extensive meeting about the steps to be taken following the US response to the security agreement amendments.

Source: www.alsumaria.tv