2008 Press Releases
Press Conference Deputy Secretary Negroponte with Foreign Minister Zebari
Baghdad, Iraq
October 7, 2008
FOREIGN MINISTER ZEBARI: (via translator) Welcome. At the outset, I would like to welcome in Iraq the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. No doubt, he is not a stranger to Iraq. He knows the country, and he has served as an ambassador in Iraq. And I was honored to meet him five years ago, when he was the representative at the United Nations.
This is his fifth trip to Baghdad, and he had an opportunity to move about and to tour a number of governorates. And also today he was visiting the school of law at the University of Baghdad. Truly, this visit was a very important and useful visit for us in the government, with regard to our friends in the American administration, especially in light of the fact that the progress we are talking about on the security side and political and economic sides is real progress, and serious progress, and needs additional efforts to support this march.
Also, among the principal discussions Mr. John Negroponte made was the issue, the security agreement, or the status of the forces, or the SOFA, and the discussions about this treaty has reached a very advanced level. And a number of the disputed points will be resolved. And there will be a need, of course, for the support of all the Iraqi leaderships for the agreement.
Naturally, we cannot say that we have accomplished this agreement, because there are governmental mechanisms, and parliamentarian mechanisms, and constitutional mechanisms. But we are very close to reaching a satisfactory result to the two countries and the two people. And this agreement will serve the interests of Iraq and the United States and the region.
Again, welcome, Mr. Negroponte. You have honored us with your visit.
DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE: Thank you so much, Foreign Minister Zebari. I am delighted to see you again. And you are so right, we have been friends and colleagues since 2003, when you first came in representation of your country to New York at the United Nations in those very early days after the liberation of Iraq. And you have been a strong friend and a consistent partner throughout all of these years.
I am, of course, delighted to be back in Iraq once again. As the foreign minister said, this is my fifth trip to Iraq since my tenure as ambassador. And I must say that a lot has changed. As a matter of fact, much has changed since my last visit here, less than just a year ago.
Over the past five days, I have visited locations in six provinces: Ninewa, Kirkuk, Anbar, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and of course, Baghdad. I met with President Talabani, Prime Minister Maliki, the two vice presidents, Abd al-Mahdi and Vice President Al-Hashimi, deputy prime ministers Salih and Issawi, and the executive council, and the president of the Council of Representatives, Mr. Mashhadani, as well as the leadership of the Kurdish regional government.
We have had fruitful discussions on a number of economic and political issues, including, as the foreign minister mentioned, the security agreement -- although I hasten to add that I am not the negotiator for that agreement. Both our countries have teams that are specially and fully dedicated to negotiating that agreement.
While traveling within Iraq, I met with local and provincial officials, members of the Iraqi and United States military, as well as military and civilian colleagues at provincial reconstruction teams, the PRTs. While at the PRTs, I had a chance to hear firsthand about the tremendous work that Iraqis and Americans are doing in partnership at the grass roots level on a range of projects vital to the rebuilding of Iraq.
I am certainly encouraged by the advancements Iraq has made, both in terms of security, economic revitalization, and political progress. The recent passage of an election law by parliament is noteworthy. Iraq is slowly, but surely, strengthening its democracy and deepening its roots, country-wide.
I heard often while traveling, and in my meetings with the government of Iraq, that it was of paramount importance to resolve the call for minority representation during the electoral process. I understand that discussions are moving forward to address this concern.
The progress on security is striking, and I hope that Iraqis will come together to translate that progress into a revitalization of the economy, and delivery of critical infrastructure and services to the population. There is much work for our Iraqi friends, in terms of improving services and rebuilding, and we stand ready to help.
On another note, I am happy to say that after more than four years of a renewed diplomatic presence in this country, the American people remain dedicated to the vision of a free Iraq. And, in that spirit, our foreign service and civil service colleagues have, once again, come forward to answer the call to serve. Volunteers have stepped forward to fill all of our embassy positions for the coming year, including a large number of positions in the field, working out at the PRTs.
Soon, Ambassador Crocker and his team will be moving their offices over to the new embassy compound, where my colleagues will continue their work to assist and support Iraq. This is part of a transition to a more normal embassy posture, in keeping with full Iraqi sovereignty.
In closing, I would also like to thank you, the press, both Western and Iraqi and Arab journalists, who risk their lives to bring to the world what is still one of the most compelling stories around the globe. I thank you for your work, and commend you for your dedication and professionalism. Thank you very much.
And I believe that now the foreign minister and myself would be prepared to answer a few of your questions.
QUESTION: (via translator) Radio Sawa. One question, very briefly, to your Excellency Mr. Zebari. After the return of the American delegation to Iraq for the -- solving the outstanding problems, there is the problem of immunity, and sovereignty, and other problems, we would like to learn about the solutions that you are able to reach.
If you allow me another question to Mr. Negroponte: The visit that you made to Kirkuk, which came, naturally, after the solution that was reached through the law of elections, what is the message that you brought through this visit? Thank you very much.
FOREIGN MINISTER ZEBARI: To the -- for the question directed to me, I would like to confirm to you and the other media members that since we started the negotiations and talks regarding the security agreement, we found that this agreement will be presented to the Council of Representatives, the representatives of the Iraqi people, to ratify it or to reject it. This is the mechanism, in accordance with our constitution.
Therefore, we do not have anything to hide from you or the raised issues. All the agreements of the SOFA or the status of the forces, are international almost, the immunity, and the rights, and the responsibilities, and the time framework. And I personally went to the Council of Representatives. For three hours I explained to them the background of this agreement and its items.
The new proposals are positive. And they deal principally with the matter of the legal jurisdictions. And these are (inaudible) countries. There are solutions to everything and ways out, so that two parties brought delegations to decide these outstanding issues. In fact, the issue requires political decisions, and I believe that, in the coming period, you will notice an active political movement by the principal leaderships to decide these matters, which has come very close to conclusion.
And, as we have said, we have common interests for the two parties to reach a result, taking into consideration the factor of time. The factor of time is very important in order to reach an agreement that is honorable, that will maintain the rights and the sovereignty of Iraq, a sovereign state, and with a strategic partner, that is, the United States.
DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE: Kirkuk. I went to Kirkuk. I had been there on several of my previous visits. The last time I went to Kirkuk, in November of last year, the provincial council was not even meeting in its entirety, because several of the groups, the ethnic groups, were boycotting the council.
So, I think one of the important messages that came to me, at least, was that here, the council is meeting in its full membership. And all the different elements spoke at that meeting: the Turkmen, the Assyrians, the Chaldeans, the Kurds, the Arabs, and so forth. So, I think that it was a very useful meeting, in that regard.
The second point I would make is that, as we all know, there is a special provision for dealing with Kirkuk in the Iraqi constitution. And it is important that this issue be dealt with on a legal and peaceful basis, through dialogue, within the framework of the constitution. And the United Nations, through its representative here, Mr. de Mistura, has been playing a helpful role in that regard, and has been analyzing and preparing some options for the consideration of the various parties.
And the third point I would make is that the new electoral law exempts Kirkuk, as I understand it, from the forthcoming elections, so as to be able to take into account the work that is necessary to move towards a resolution of the Kirkuk question, as provided for under Article 140 of the constitution.
So, I would say that I found a positive atmosphere there. Security was better than it had been last year. The police are up to full strength, and providing for security of the city. And I generally found a more upbeat atmosphere than I had 10 or 11 months ago.
QUESTION: (Associated Press) I wonder, Mr. Negroponte, if you can comment. And you have been saying that the negotiations are close. And December 31st is approaching. So maybe, if we could get something more specific about what's being discussed, and about these new proposals?
And also if you have agreed, at least, on a withdrawal date, how firm is 2011? And what conditions might be attached?
DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE: Yes. I think at this stage -- I think here is what I would say. I'm afraid I'm not going to satisfy you completely, or if at all, with respect to your question, because we have both agreed that, while we're still negotiating, there is no point in getting into detailed discussions of where we might not yet have come to closure. Because what you would have people doing is dissecting disagreements without fully understanding the background.
I think the real point I would like to make here is that both countries are pursuing this issue from the point of view of their own national self-interest. That would be my first point.
And the second is that our working assumption is that both sides want to reach an agreement on this subject. We know the Security Council resolution is going to expire on the 31st of December. The government has told us they do not want another Chapter 7 resolution on the question of coalition troop presence. So we obviously have to find some other legal mechanism for doing that. And we have -- both sides have -- dedicated, literally, hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of negotiating time to moving towards that agreement.
And I don't think I could add to how Foreign Minister Zebari characterized the progress we are making. He said, "We are close." And we are going to be working on this intensively, and against the very deadline that you spoke about.
FOREIGN MINISTER ZEBARI: Just, really, there are some universal -- any SOFA agreement with Iraq, with Japan, or Germany, that has relevance to jurisdictions, immunities, timing, these are universal. They are not specific to Iraq. And these agreements always take time to reach an acceptable, reasonable resolution.
And I believe that both sides are very close to resolve what remains of issues, especially bearing in mind the timing. We are under the time factor here. So our resolution of this has to be in the interest of both sides.
And the government is committed, in fact, to reach, as I said, an honorable agreement, to preserve its sovereignty, its independence, and its good, friendly relations with the United States.
Also, about the time line, I think this has been out in the media, but all these are condition-based. This progress that we have described, the beginning, needs to be sustained and to be durable. And I think every Iraqi official is aware of the consequences of any reversal of the present achievement that has been won, hard-won, by the sacrifices of the multi-national forces, and by the Iraqi security forces.
QUESTION: (via translator) From Al Iraqiya. Is the issue of immunity that will be given to the American soldiers the point of disagreement that is outstanding? And is there any final deadline for the declaration of the final agreement?
FOREIGN MINISTER ZEBARI: (via translator) The issues are the immunities, and there is progress in the new proposals by the Iraqi government with regard to this subject. Many of the issues where the legal jurisdiction and immunity have been decided in the previous discussions. Truly, the issue requires political decisions at the present time, because almost all the issues were dealt with that exist in this agreement.
I cannot give you a time line, specific time line. There are mechanisms, governmental and constitutional, and parliamentarian. The executive council must have an opinion. The political council for national security as well, which is an advisory council, the agreement will be presented to it. The decisive institution is the Council of Representatives, in resolving this matter. The Council of Representatives must look at it.
And I mentioned the factor of time. And truly, the visit of His Excellency, Mr. Negroponte, was very useful in moving this situation for the purpose of reaching a specific result. I, in my belief that there is a positive atmosphere, a kind atmosphere regarding this agreement, and we said from the outset that it will not include any secret appendixes or any special things. It will be transparent and public. And the final word will come from the representatives of the Iraqi people and the parliament.
MODERATOR: This will be the last question. (Inaudible) from the Washington Post.
QUESTION: (Washington Post) Mr. Zebari, if I understood the translation correctly, are you suggesting that the immunity issue, the U.S. troop issue, has been resolved, and is now going to be placed in front of the politicians? And, if so, what way -- in which way has this, the issue of U.S. troop immunity, been resolved?
FOREIGN MINISTER ZEBARI: If I understood your question –
QUESTION: You seem to be suggesting that the main sticking point, which was U.S. troop immunity (inaudible) --
TRANSLATOR: (Speaking in Arabic.)
FOREIGN MINISTER ZEBARI: I don't want to give you any false hope about where we are. But I think we are very close. I mean, the issue of the jurisdiction, and the immunities, there have been new ideas, new formulations, and a new language that could be acceptable, or reasonable.
But no final decision has been made. This issue. needs, I think, some bold political decisions. And we are at that stage. And that's why I suggested that soon, you and your colleagues will see hectic political meetings here in Baghdad on these issues, to determine the fate of the SOFA.
DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE: Thank you
MODERATOR: Thank you very much, Ladies and Gentlemen. That concludes our briefing.
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