United States and Iraq establish principles for future relationship, agree to negotiate implementing agreements during 2008.

• Author: Crook, John R.

In November 2007, President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Nouri Kamel Al-Maliki of Iraq concluded a "Declaration of Principles for a Long-Term Relationship of Cooperation and Friendship Between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America." The declaration affirms the parties' intention to replace their current legal relationship, heavily shaped by past UN Security Council resolutions, including the Chapter VII mandate authorizing the U.S.-dominated Multinational Force-Iraq, with a relationship embodying more normal principles of international relations as agreed by the two states. The declaration states the parties' intention to conclude implementing agreements on political, cultural, economic, and cultural matters prior to July 31, 2008. (1) The U.S. administration's explanatory materials do not indicate the legal form that these implementing agreements are expected to take-whether treaties, executive agreements requiring approval by Congress or implementing legislation, or pure executive agreements.

The president and the prime minister signed the declaration in video-linked signing ceremonies in Washington and Baghdad. Excerpts follow:

[T]he Governments of Iraq and the United States are committed to developing a long-term relationship of cooperation and friendship as two fully sovereign and independent states with common interests. This relationship will serve the interest of coming generations based on the heroic sacrifices made by the Iraqi people and the American people for the sake of a free, democratic, pluralistic, federal, and unified Iraq.

The relationship of cooperation envisioned ... includes a range of issues, foremost of which is cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, and security fields, taking account of the following principles:

First: The Political, Diplomatic, and Cultural Spheres

1. Supporting the Republic of Iraq in defending its democratic system against internal and external threats.

2. Respecting and upholding the Constitution as the expression of the will of the Iraqi people and standing against any attempt to impede, suspend, or violate it.

3. Supporting the efforts of the Republic of Iraq to achieve national reconciliation ...

4. Supporting the Republic of Iraq's efforts to enhance its position in regional and international organizations and institutions ...

5. Cooperating jointly with the states of the region on the basis of mutual respect, non-intervention in internal affairs, rejection of...