Secretary Clinton: October 2009
Remarks With Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki After Their Meeting
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Treaty Room
Washington, DC
October 19, 2009
SECRETARY CLINTON: Good afternoon. It is a pleasure for me to welcome the prime minister back to Washington to keep building and deepening the partnership between our nations. It is a partnership based on the goal of a sovereign, stable, and self-reliant Iraq, and guided by the terms of the Strategic Framework Agreement.
Today, the prime minister and I discussed a range of issues, and we agreed to establish a diplomatic joint coordinating committee under the Strategic Framework Agreement. In that committee, we will discuss all Chapter 7 issues that need to be resolved. Tomorrow’s U.S-Iraq Business and Investment Conference will be a very important priority for both of us. By bringing together business and government leaders from both countries, we hope to pave the way for greater international investment in Iraq and closer economic ties between us.
As Iraq emerges from conflict, the stability that is occurring will drive greater prosperity, which will help create a lasting peace and bring jobs that will lift families’ income and give Iraqis a greater opportunity to chart their own futures. I want to thank Prime Minister Maliki and the other Iraqi leaders who are here today for their leadership on this important conference and the issue, and I want to express our pleasure at seeing the recent amendments to Iraq’s national investment law.
We also discussed the upcoming national elections which are critical to Iraq’s future. Obviously, we are supporting the efforts to ensure that the elections are credible and legitimate, and that a new government is formed in a timely way to continue the peaceful stability and economic growth that is so important.
And finally, Mr. Prime Minister, I really salute the Iraqi people. They have withstood the challenges of sectarianism, violence, and terrorism. They have made tremendous sacrifices and have achieved the right for a secure and peaceful future of progress and prosperity. The United States remains committed to Iraq and the people of Iraq.
PRIME MINISTER MALIKI: In the name of God, peace be upon you. In this occasion, I take the opportunity to express my happiness and pleasure to be here inaugurating the investment conference between Iraq and America. We have met Mrs. Clinton, the Secretary of State, and it was the second meeting with Mrs. Clinton. The first one was in July this year. We had talks, and our talks, in fact, concentrated on the importance of activating the strategic agreement – framework agreement between Iraq and America.
This conference, which will be held tomorrow, and the strategic agreement between Iraq and America means that the relationship between Iraq are no more on the militant level. In fact, it moved to the economic level and other horizons. Iraq, in fact, attempts to inaugurate an extensive and comprehensive investment process, especially after the stability achieved in the country.
In addition, and besides the task of reconstruction, in fact, Iraq seeks and attempts to find revenues to find new ways for increasing and promoting its revenues to cover the cost of reconstruction. In fact, we have waited to carry out or to make amendments on the investment laws in Iraq. And this conference is – will be held after achieving these amendments. The governors and the representative of provincial councils will stay in the United States of America to coordinate and to strengthen the ties and relationships between the Iraqi governors and the American governors.
The meeting with Mrs. Clinton, in fact, was fruitful and very important. We have talked and tackled different issues related to Iraq and to different – to many issues, especially the problem of the Chapter 7. And we, in fact, discussed to get Iraq out of this chapter eventually. In fact, we have the same points of view and we have the same ambitions. And our ambitions for future are sure and as addressed. In fact, this means that we have succeeded in confronting and defeating terrorism, but we have another task, which is creating new opportunities, to create welfare and economic development. The next meeting, I hope it will be in Baghdad. Thank you very much.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. Thank you, sir. I will come back, but I’m going to walk out our guest.
Remarks to the Press
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Treaty Room
Washington, DC
October 19, 2009
SECRETARY CLINTON: Okay. Jill, because you had asked a question this morning.
QUESTION: Madame Secretary, thank you. Following up on this morning, the latest indications are that Karzai has gotten 48 percent of the vote, so according to the constitution, that means a runoff. You’ve been speaking with him. In fact, it would be interesting to find out whether you spoke with him today. But is he committed to a runoff? If not, what does that do to the legitimacy of that – of the vote, the election? And what about the prospects for a coalition government?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Jill, you’re right; I have spent a lot of time on the phone over the last several days, since last week, and again today, talking with a number of the people directly involved, including President Karzai and Dr. Abdullah. The ECC, the Elections Complaint Commission, has made its findings known, and we’re looking to hear from President Karzai tomorrow, Kabul time. But we have continued to urge that everyone follow the constitution and the legal process, which is important for the people of Afghanistan and their leaders to exemplify a commitment to the orderly running of elections going forward.
I am very hopeful that we will see a resolution in line with the constitutional order in the next several days, but I don’t want to preempt in any way President Karzai’s statement which will sort of set the stage for how we go forward in the next stage of this.
QUESTION: Madame Secretary, will you wait to unveil the new Administration policy on Afghanistan – will you wait until the election results are final and you have a credible government to work with?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I think that really this is one of the factors that has to be taken into account. And I know that the President and all of us working with him are very conscious of the importance of determining the way forward with the elected leadership in Afghanistan. But I’m not going to in any way prejudge what the President decides to do or put any restraints on his actions. But obviously, this is a major part of our strategic review as to getting the election behind us, getting a new government that can represent the partnership we’re seeking as we move forward.
QUESTION: Is it practically possible to get a second run done before winter?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes, it is. We have every assurance from General McChrystal and the ISAF command, as well as the Afghan security representatives, that it is absolutely possible to do.
QUESTION: You said you expected to hear from President Karzai tomorrow, Kabul time.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes.
QUESTION: And you said you were hopeful that there would be a resolution in line with the constitution --
SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes.
QUESTION: -- within the next few days.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes.
QUESTION: Why won’t that be tomorrow? Why won’t we have clarity on it tomorrow if that’s when you expect him to respond?
SECRETARY CLINTON: He is going to announce his intentions. I’m going to let him do that. But I am encouraged at the direction that the situation is moving.
MR. KELLY: Okay. Thank you very much.
QUESTION: Madame?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes.
QUESTION: One more? Niharja Farouk from Iraq TV. Your Excellency, there is no clear position from U.S. Government about Iraqi request to open investigation about the bloody Wednesday, the bombing that putting in Iraq, and like many people is killed. What is the U.S. position from Iraqi request?
SECRETARY CLINTON: The U.S. position is that we support a special representative of the security – of the Secretary General being appointed to look into these very serious matters. We were deeply upset by the tragic bombing of the ministries of foreign affairs and finance that took so many innocent lives and injured so many other Iraqis. So we support the Iraqi request that there be a special representative to look into these very serious problems.
QUESTION: You expect like on a few days, like the Secretary General will be like names that are presented to go to Iraq?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I think that the Secretary General intends to make an announcement, and I will leave that to him to make the announcement so that it comes directly from the Secretary General.
QUESTION: Thank you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you.
Ye gods! Like who asked that like last question? Like how did she like figure out like what the question like WAS?
