Statement by Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker and General Ray Odierno On the Ratification of the Strategic Framework Agreement and the Security Agreement by Iraq’s Presidency Council:
We welcome today’s ratification by Iraq’s Presidency Council of the Strategic Framework Agreement and Security Agreement. With this action and following an exchange of diplomatic notes, these agreements will become official and will enter into force on January 1, 2009.
The United States Embassy and the Multi-National Force - Iraq will begin immediately to implement these two agreements with our Iraqi partners. We will undertake initiatives to strengthen our cooperation in the fields of economics, energy, health, the environment, education, culture, and law enforcement. The United States will support Iraq’s request to the UN Security Council to continue protection of Iraqi assets. And we look forward, under these agreements, to the continued reduction in U.S. forces and the normalization of bilateral relations as two sovereign and co-equal nations.