Unofficial Translation of U.S.-Iraq Troop Agreement from the Arabic Text

McClatchy Newspapers | McClatchy Newspapers • Published November 18, 2008

• Links
• Comments (0)

Translated from the Arabic by Sahar Issa, Jenan Hussein and Hussein Kadhim of the McClatchy Baghdad Bureau.

The United States of America and the Republic of Iraq - which will hereafter be referred to as the two parties - recognize the importance of strengthening their joint security and participating in global peace and stability, fighting terrorism in Iraq and cooperating in the fields of security and defense to deter aggression and threats directed towards the sovereignty and unity of Iraq and its constitutional, federal, democratic system;

They hereby confirm that this cooperation is built upon the basis of mutual respect for each other's full sovereignty and according to the objectives and principles of the UN mandate;

And according to the wish of both parties to reach a mutual understanding to enhance cooperation between them;

Without encroaching upon the sovereignty of Iraq, upon its soil, water or airspace, and upon the basis of being two independent, equal states of sovereignty, have agreed to the following:

This agreement defines the basic rules and requirements that regulate the temporary presence of the American Forces in Iraq, their activities in it and their withdrawal from Iraq.

"The installations and areas agreed upon" refers to the Iraqi areas used by the U.S. Forces while this agreement is valid."

"U.S. Forces" refers to the entity that includes all the personnel of the American Armed Forces, the civilian personnel connected to them and all their possessions, installations and equipment present on Iraqi territory.

"Member of the U.S. Forces" refers to any person that belongs to the army of the United States, its navy, air force, marine force or coast guard.