Almotamar.net Google alerts - While receiving Iraq President Jalal Talabani, US President Georges W. Bush reiterated the necessity for the Iraqi government to meet the goals of progress and confirmed his determination to help Iraq. President Bush emphasized the importance of issuing the long awaited oil law and the law that allows for former regime officers to engage in the public life. The US President urged President Talabani to work on reforming the election process in Iraq’s Province, saying that President Talabani fully realizes the importance of implementing these benchmarks.

President Bush revealed that he will send to Iraq one of his closest aid, deputy national security adviser, Meghan O'Sullivan whose mission would be to help the Iraqi government meet political benchmarks set by the US in order to pursue its non-military assistance to Iraq. President Bush and Talabani agreed that Al Qaeda remains a major threat to the US and Iraq.
“David Petraeus said public enemy number one in Iraq is al Qaeda.
Al Qaeda happens to be public enemy number one in America, too. And that should say, loud and clear, to citizens who still remember the lessons of September the 11th that it's in our interests to help the Iraqis defeat Al Qaeda. We must not let Al Qaeda have a safe haven in Iraq. I'm confident we can succeed”, Bush said.
While displaying the current situation in Iraq compared to previous assessments, President Talabani reiterated his commitment to help achieve progress and national reconciliation, though acknowledging few difficulties on the ground.
“I must tell you that I am committed, as the president of Iraq, to benchmarks and to do our best to achieve some progress forward for national reconciliation, for passing the new oil law, de- Baathification, investment, and other laws which are now under discussion. And I think we are due to finish all of it and send it to parliament to be achieved. At the same time, we are committed to do our best to train our army and our forces to replace, gradually, the American forces in taking responsibility of the security of our country”, Talabani said.
It is to be noted that President Talabani headed to the United Sates for medical checks.