Key Facts on the Declaration of Principles

February 6, 2008

The Declaration of Principles for a Long-Term Relationship of Cooperation and Friendship between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America, November 26, 2007

Goal: Strategic Framework Agreement
The declaration establishes the outline of a formal relationship between an independent, sovereign Iraq and the United States. It is intended to define the bilateral relationship replacing the current UN mandate under which U.S. and U.S.-led forces are responsible for contributing to the security of Iraq.

KEY POINTS:

Political, Diplomatic, and Cultural Issues
• Consolidate Iraq’s democratic system by supporting national reconciliation and upholding the Constitution, protecting it from internal and external threats
• Promote regional stability, encourage Iraqi political development, and maintain non-intervention in internal affairs
• Encourage cultural, educational, and scientific exchanges with Iraq

Economic Issues
• Support Iraq’s economy and its transition to a free market system
• Increase the flow of foreign investments to Iraq and provide financial and technical assistance to enforce the strength of Iraqi institutions
• Help the Republic of Iraq develop an economic position in international, regional, and bilateral organizations, including the World Trade Organization
• Aid Iraq in lobbying for debt forgiveness and war reparations as well as decrease the flow of funds and properties illegally exported just prior to or after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime

Security Issues
• Provide security assistance and commitments to deter foreign aggression
• Assist in the training, equipping and arming the Iraqi Security Forces
• Support efforts of the Republic of Iraq in combating “Al-Qaeda, Saddamists, and all other outlaw groups regardless of affiliation”

Next Steps:
• The Bush administration and Iraqi leaders set the goal of finalizing a “strategic framework agreement” between the two governments before July 31, 2008
• The U.S. Senate will need to ratify the agreement if the commitments in the agreement are equivalent to commitments made in a treaty
• Iraq’s Council of Representatives must approve any treaty or agreement by a two-thirds majority of Iraq’s Council of Representatives



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