Iraq, U.S. discuss status of forces

BAGHDAD, March 13 (UPI) -- Senior U.S. State Department officials and the Iraqi foreign minister discussed the blueprint for the status of forces agreement framing the U.S. role in Iraq.

U.S. President Bush and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani signed a broad declaration of principles outlining the role the United States will play in Iraq once the U.N. mandate governing the mission there expires at the end of 2008.

"The two parties started (Tuesday), in the ministry of foreign affairs, talks .... on agreements and arrangements for long-term cooperation and friendship, including agreement on temporary U.S. troop presence in Iraq," a statement by the Iraqi foreign ministry said.

The al-Alam news agency noted that the negotiations regarding the status of forces agreement coincided with the U.S. presidential race, as various U.S. officials commented the agreement would not bind the hands of the next U.S. president.

The senior adviser to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Ambassador David Satterfield, stressed in statements before the House Foreign Affairs Committee March 4 that the agreement "will not establish permanent bases in Iraq, nor will they specify in any fashion the number of American forces to be stationed there."

A representative with the U.S. Embassy in Iraq told United Press International the goal was to complete negotiations by July.