Obama Calls Maliki, Stresses Support for 'Unified, Democratic Iraq'
U.S. President Barack Obama called Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Tuesday to congratulate him on the Arab summit held last week and to stress his support for a unified Iraq.
In a statement announcing the call, the White House termed last week's Arab summit, Iraq's diplomatic coming-out party following the full withdrawal of U.S. troops late last year, a "success."
"The two leaders discussed the United States and Iraq's joint efforts to advance peace and security in the region as strategic partners," the statement said.
"President Obama expressed the United States' firm commitment to a unified, democratic Iraq as defined by Iraq's constitution," the statement said.
The U.S. leader also told Maliki that he backed Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's call for a national conference this week to bridge sharp differences between rival political blocs in the country.
Source: Agence France Presse
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