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Obama to host Iraqi PM for talks on ties next month

04 November 2011 21:16 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. U.S. President Barack Obama will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki next month at the White House for talks on bilateral ties, White House said in a statement on Friday, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"President Obama looks forward to welcoming Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to the White House on December 12," said the White House, adding that the talks are aimed at "deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the U.S. and Iraq."

"The President honors the sacrifices and achievements of all those who have served in Iraq, and of the Iraqi people, to reach this moment full of promise for an enduring US-Iraq friendship," said the statement.

Last month, Obama announced that all U.S. troops stationed in Iraq will pull out of that country by the end of this year, and the Iraq War will be over.

His announcement has drawn fire from some conservative politicians in the U.S. In an interview with ABC last month, Republican Senator John McCain called the withdrawal a "serious mistake," voicing concerns about an increased Iranian influence in Iraq.