Thread: Chapter VII

Iraq-US Security Deal 'Under Wraps'
An Iraqi parliamentarian has said that the strategic security agreement drafted between the Iraqi government and the US in January 2008 is not still finalized and its details are not revealed to the Iraqi parliament.

In an exclusive interview with Alalam website Thursday, Bassem al-Sharif said the agreement has not been announced formally so far and the Iraqi parliament is not aware of the details of the agreement.

The security agreement between the Iraqi government and the US was drafted in January 2008 and signed on March 17, and it is due to be finalized early June this year

"In the agreement general issues such as Iraq's exit from the Chapter 7 of UN Charter as well as economic and cultural agreements between the two sides are addressed," he said.

Asked if the agreement was a "green light" to the occupying forces to carry out military operation in the war-shattered country under any circumstances, the Iraqi official said: "These statements are only proposals and part of the draft and cannot be relied upon until it is submitted to the parliament."

Al-Sharif also said that Iraqi forces do not have sufficient capacity to establish security in the country and the government should try to recruit more forces to restore peace and security.

The Iraqi lawmaker further said: "The parliament has made a decision that this year would be the last year the foreign troops can stay in Iraq; the government should take the decision into consideration."

A number of Iraqi political and religious figures have warned against the agreement which is feared to allow the occupying forces to continue their occupation in the country.

Ayatollah Seyyed Kazem Ha'eri, a senior Iraqi religious figure, called on all Iraqi officials not to sign any kinds of agreements which disrupt the country's sovereignty, saying," the US occupying forces are trying to legitimize their presence in Iraq."

Alalam News