WASHINGTON, October 20 (RIA Novosti) - U.S. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that relations between the U.S. and Iraq were developing rapidly and were no longer exclusively security-related.
Obama was speaking after Washington talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, in the U.S. capital in connection with an international business and investment forum.
"We didn't just talk about military and security issues," Obama said. "What is wonderful about this trip is that it represents a transition in our bilateral relationship so that we are moving now to issues beyond security and we are beginning to talk about economy, trade, commerce."
Obama also said he would stick to its promise to have all U.S. troops out of the country by August 2010.
However, for this to occur, nationwide elections must take place in Iraq in January, and Obama urged the Iraqi leader to make sure that parliament passes the necessary legislation in time.
"We have seen in the last several months a consolidation of a commitment to democratic politics inside of Iraq," Obama said. "We are very interested, both of us, in making sure that Iraq has an election law that is completed on time so that elections can take place on time in January."
Al-Maliki urged Obama to assist with the annulment of all UN sanctions.
Sanctions were imposed after the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, toppled by a U.S. invasion in 2003, ordered the invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
"This is important to move Iraq forward and to promote investment," the Iraqi leader said.
