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.
美國當選總統(tǒng)奧巴馬1日重申,他將履行上任后16個月內(nèi)從伊拉克撤出所有美國作戰(zhàn)部隊的競選承諾。
奧巴馬當天在芝加哥舉行的新聞發(fā)布會上說,他就任后16個月內(nèi)從伊撤出所有美國作戰(zhàn)部隊是“一個合理的時間框架”。他同時指出,伊拉克議會上周通過的駐伊美軍地位協(xié)議使美國走上了從伊撤軍的“順利軌道”。
他說,在具體的撤軍安排方面,他將聽取他剛剛提名的國防部長人選、現(xiàn)任國防部長蓋茨和美軍參謀長聯(lián)席會議主席馬倫的意見。
奧巴馬說,與撤軍有關(guān)的優(yōu)先議題是要確保駐伊美軍安全撤離,以及確保在伊部隊接管安全事務(wù)過程中伊百姓的利益。