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Skriven 2006-07-25 23:35:26 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0607252) for Tue, 2006 Jul 25
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Fact Sheet: Prime Minister Maliki's Meeting with President Bush
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 25, 2006

Fact Sheet: Prime Minister Maliki's Meeting with President Bush



Today, President Bush Met With Prime Minister Maliki And Discussed The
Agenda Of Iraq's Unity Government. Prime Minister Maliki is the leader of a
government chosen by the Iraqi people through free and fair elections. He
has a vision and a strategy to reduce violence and to rebuild his country.
He has laid out a comprehensive plan for the future of his free nation.
Iraq's leaders recognize their challenges, and they have identified their
priorities. The President reaffirmed America's commitment to support Iraq's
constitutional democracy and to help Prime Minister Maliki's government
succeed.

Prime Minister Maliki's Agenda For Iraq's Unity Government

Since Taking Office, Prime Minister Maliki Has Focused Iraq's Unity
Government On Immediate Actions In Three Key Areas:

1. Security: Improving security by both military and political actions;
securing Baghdad; eliminating armed gangs; and promoting national
reconciliation and the rule of law. The Prime Minister understands the new
dimensions of the current problems, and he is working to crack down on the
terrorists and death squads that are fueling violence in Iraq.

2. Governance And Economic Reform: Immediately building economic and
government capacity; increasing production of oil and electricity; and
building a foundation for prosperity.

3. International Engagement: Engaging the nations of the region and the
world in Iraq's democratic and economic development.

Security In Baghdad

Terrorists And Extremists Continue To Destroy Innocent Life In Iraq, Yet
They Have Not Shaken The Determination Of The Iraqi People To Build A Free
Country. The Iraqi and Coalition strategy is to remain on the offensive,
including in Baghdad.

Under The Prime Minister's Leadership, Coalition And Iraqi Leaders Are
Modifying Operations To Help Bring Greater Security To The Iraqi Capital.
Coalition and Iraqi forces will secure individual neighborhoods, ensure the
existence of an Iraqi security presence in them, and gradually expand the
security presence as Iraqi citizens help them root out those instigating
violence. The plan will involve embedding more U.S. military police with
Iraqi police units to make them more effective.

To Support This Plan, Additional American Troops And Iraqi Security
Personnel Will Be Deployed To Baghdad In The Coming Weeks From Other Areas
Of The Country. President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki agreed that Iraqi
Security Forces need better tools to do their job - and we are working to
equip them with greater mobility, firepower, and protection.

Transition To Iraqi Civilian Control Iraqi Security Forces Are Growing In
Strength And Capability, And Recently A Key Province In Southern Iraq Was
Transferred To Full Iraqi Civilian Control. We expect other provinces to
make this transition later this year.
  þ To Build On This Momentum, Prime Minister Maliki And President Bush
    Have Agreed To Establish A Joint Committee To Achieve Iraqi
    Self-Reliance. This new partnership will seek to ensure the smoothest
    and most effective assumption of security responsibility by Iraqi
    forces.
  þ The Prime Minister Made Clear That He Does Not Want American Troops To
    Leave His Country Until His Government Can Protect The Iraqi People.
    The President assured him that America will not abandon the Iraqi
    people.

Iraqi Leaders Initiative

President Bush And Prime Minister Maliki Discussed Several New Initiatives
They Are Undertaking To Create Opportunity For The Iraqi People, Including
The Iraqi Leaders Initiative. Starting next summer, the Iraqi Leaders
Initiative will bring to America 200 high school and university students
from all regions of Iraq and all sectors of Iraqi society to study at local
institutions and build personal friendships with the people of our country.

The International Compact For Iraq/Economic Development

President Bush And Prime Minister Maliki Discussed Prime Minister Maliki's
Proposal For An International Compact For Iraq, Which Is Expected To Be
Signed Later This Year. The Compact will outline Iraq's commitment to
specific economic reforms - and the international community's commitment to
support those reforms. The United States will work hard to encourage other
countries to support the compact, and provide assistance to help Iraq's new
democracy succeed.

Iraq's Economy Has Made Real Progress In The First Two Months Of The New
Unity Government. Most macroeconomic indicators are in positive territory,
and Iraq has realized its highest oil production and export levels since
before the war. Exports are averaging 1.47 million barrels per day for the
year, and 1.60 million per day in June. Many challenges remain in these
areas, but real progress is being made under the Prime Minister's
leadership.

Prime Minister Maliki Has Laid Out His Plans For New Investment Laws,
Anti-Corruption Measures, Restored Financial Relationships With Gulf
States, And Initiatives To Restore Essential Services Through Investment
And Reform - And He Is Following Up. Prime Minister Maliki's efforts
include directing each cabinet member to establish a comptroller and to
submit ethics and financial disclosure agreements. He has submitted an
investment law to parliament, which he expects to be enacted before the end
of this month.

Prime Minister Maliki Is Also Reaching Out To The International Community
To Make Iraq A Reliable Economic Partner. He has visited Saudi Arabia, the
UAE, and Kuwait to encourage them to invest in Iraq. He will visit the UN
this week to further discussions on an International Compact for Iraq.

Lebanon And Regional Issues

The President Appreciated Hearing Prime Minister Maliki's Perspective On
The Situation In Lebanon. President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki agree on
the urgency of alleviating humanitarian distress in Lebanon and the
importance of strengthening the Lebanese government and supporting the
Lebanese people.

Political Reconciliation

On Saturday, Prime Minister Maliki Formally Named The National Council For
The Reconciliation And National Dialogue Plan. This Council is made up of
30 leaders from all major religious and political groups and will implement
the reconciliation plan that Maliki announced on June 25. Implementing this
plan will be an ongoing effort that the United States and the United
Nations are prepared to support.
  þ Prime Minister Maliki's Reconciliation Initiative Identifies The Right
    Priorities, Including De-Ba'athification Reform, Amnesty Programs,
    Militia Demobilization, And Accountability For The ISF. Statements from
    Ayatollah Sistani in recent days and demonstrations of solidarity
    between Shi'a and Sunni Waqfs represent Iraq's desire for peace and
    unity in the wake of a terribly violent week.

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