The Iraqi government said Thursday that U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has called Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and confirmed his commitment to responsible withdrawal for U.S. troops from Iraq.
In a statement issued by Maliki's office, Obama pledged to Maliki in his call late on Wednesday that his country will "respect the sovereignty of Iraq and integration of its land, along with working together to ward off terrorists and responsible withdrawal."
Obama also thanked Maliki's government for its efforts in gaining parliament's approval of a security pact that stated U.S. troops will pull out in three years.
Maliki said he is keen to promote bilateral relations in the framework of strategic cooperation agreement that would serve the interests of the two countries, the statement said.
During his election campaign, Obama had said that he intends to get the American soldiers in Iraq home within 16 months after carrying the post of commander in chief.
Late last month, Iraq signed a key security agreement which will keep the U.S. military presence here for another three years.
美國(guó)當(dāng)選總統(tǒng)奧巴馬1日重申,他將履行上任后16個(gè)月內(nèi)從伊拉克撤出所有美國(guó)作戰(zhàn)部隊(duì)的競(jìng)選承諾。
奧巴馬當(dāng)天在芝加哥舉行的新聞發(fā)布會(huì)上說(shuō),他就任后16個(gè)月內(nèi)從伊撤出所有美國(guó)作戰(zhàn)部隊(duì)是“一個(gè)合理的時(shí)間框架”。他同時(shí)指出,伊拉克議會(huì)上周通過(guò)的駐伊美軍地位協(xié)議使美國(guó)走上了從伊撤軍的“順利軌道”。
他說(shuō),在具體的撤軍安排方面,他將聽(tīng)取他剛剛提名的國(guó)防部長(zhǎng)人選、現(xiàn)任國(guó)防部長(zhǎng)蓋茨和美軍參謀長(zhǎng)聯(lián)席會(huì)議主席馬倫的意見(jiàn)。
奧巴馬說(shuō),與撤軍有關(guān)的優(yōu)先議題是要確保駐伊美軍安全撤離,以及確保在伊部隊(duì)接管安全事務(wù)過(guò)程中伊百姓的利益。