BAGHDAD, Aug. 22 (VOI) - Former Iraqi Prime Minister and Leader of al-Islah (Reform) party Ibrahim al-Jaafari criticized the Iraqi politicians' stances regarding the long-term Iraqi-U.S. agreement, according to a statement released from his office on Friday.
"Al-Jaafari received at his office in Baghdad a delegation from the Democratic National Union of Kurdistan under Nasier al-Jaderji and criticized the Iraqi politicians' stances from the long-term agreement with Washington," said the statement received by Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq (VOI).
Jaafari had criticized the long-term Iraq-U.S. agreement, noting "I renounce the humiliating agreement between Iraq and the United States."
A declaration of principles was signed between U.S. President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in December 2007. The declaration was planned to be ratified on July 31, 2008 to be effective as of January 1, 2009.
The agreement governs the U.S. forces' presence in Iraq after the year 2008. This presence currently relies on a mandate by the UN, renewed annually upon the request of the Iraqi government.
The agreement should not be effective except after endorsement by the 275-member Iraqi parliament, which comprises five political blocs, the Fadhila (Virtue) Party and the Sadrist Bloc, or Iraqis loyal to Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr.
Jaafari is a member of the Islamic Dawa Party, to which incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki
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© Aswat Aliraq 2008
