The Strategic Framework Agreement

Iraq's presidential council on Thursday approved the Status of Forces Agreement with the United States.

A statement from Multi-National Force-Iraq:

Crocker, Odierno Statement on Ratified Security Agreement
Thursday, 04 December 2008
U.S. Embassy Baghdad, MNF-I Joint Release

U.S. EMBASSY BAGHDAD — We welcome today’s ratification by Iraq’s Presidency Council of the Strategic Framework Agreement and Security Agreement. With this action and following an exchange of diplomatic notes, these agreements will become official and will enter into force on January 1, 2009.

The United States Embassy and the Multi-National Force-Iraq will begin immediately to implement these two agreements with our Iraqi partners. We will undertake initiatives to strengthen our cooperation in the fields of economics, energy, health, the environment, education, culture, and law enforcement.

The United States will support Iraq's request to the UN Security Council to continue protection of Iraqi assets. And we look forward, under these agreements, to the continued reduction in U.S. forces and the normalization of bilateral relations as two sovereign and co-equal nations.

Reportedly, SOFA has a sister document whose details are yet to be made public. Radio Sawa reported that Zebari and Crocker signed “another long-term strategic agreement, which the U.S. ambassador said would shape relations between the two countries in all areas for years to come.” It’s actually surprising that there’s no mention of this second document anywhere in the media.

(Previous Mudville entries on the SOFA here.)