Al Abadi, reading a statement issued by Al Maliki's Dawa Party, warned
that Iraq and the United States disagree on nearly every point. The Shi'ite
parliamentarian warned that the two sides would fail to reach agreement by a
July deadline. The mandate by the United Nations Security for the
U.S.-led coalition in Iraq expires in 2008.
"I don't think that we can meet this date," Iraqi government spokesman
Ali Al Dabbagh said. "There is a difference in viewpoints between Iraq and
the United States. I don't think that time is enough to end this gap and to
reach a joint understanding. Therefore, we are not committed to July as a
deadline."
In 2007, Baghdad and Washington agreed in principle to a long-term
American military presence in Iraq. The proposed military alliance was meant
to keep the U.S. military in at least six Iraqi bases in an effort to ensure
that neighboring Iran would not launch an invasion.
"The Americans have some demands that the Iraqi government regards as
infringing on its sovereignty," Al Abadi said. "This is the main dispute,
and if the dispute is not settled, I frankly tell you there will not be an
agreement."
Since then, officials said, Iraq has sought to limit the extent and
period of the U.S. military presence. Baghdad has also demanded payment for
the U.S. use of Iraqi bases.
"Almost all American suggestions were countered by different Iraqi
ones," Al Abadi said.
U.S. officials have acknowledged a significant gap between the Iraqi and
American positions. They said the Bush administration has conceded on many
of the Iraqi demands.
The Dawa statement came in wake of a meeting between Iraqi Foreign
Minister Hoshyar Zebari and State Department adviser on Iraq, David
Satterfield. Zebari issued a statement that pledged Iraq's commitment to
conclude negotiations before the expiration of the UN mandate.
"The parties discussed efforts to ensure Iraq's rights and its full
sovereignty," Zebari said.