President Obama discusses Afghanistan election progress and Iraq's political and economic transition with Prime Minister Maliki.
Key Takeaways
- Afghanistan has made significant progress in holding elections under difficult conditions.
- US-Iraq relations are evolving from military focus to economic partnership.
- Timely elections in Iraq are critical for democratic consolidation.
- US military withdrawal from Iraq is planned with clear timelines.
- Economic development and investment are central to Iraq's future stability.
What the video covers
- President Obama congratulates President Karzai on accepting the certification of Afghanistan's recent election despite security challenges.
- Obama highlights the commitment of Afghan leaders to the rule of law and democratic principles.
- He praises Ambassador Carl Eikenberry and Senator John Kerry for their efforts in supporting Afghanistan's election process.
- Obama reaffirms the US commitment to withdraw combat troops from Iraq by August next year and all troops by 2011.
- The discussion with Prime Minister Maliki covers Iraq's democratic progress and the importance of timely elections.
- The bilateral relationship between the US and Iraq is transitioning from security to economic development and trade.
- A business and investment conference aims to promote US-Iraq economic cooperation and investment opportunities.
- Prime Minister Maliki emphasizes Iraq's progress beyond dictatorship, focusing on rebuilding sectors like agriculture, oil, and tourism.
- Both leaders stress the importance of adhering to the strategic framework agreement for sustained cooperation.
- The video includes consecutive interpretation of the dialogue, highlighting key political and economic themes.
Chapters
- 00:00Introduction and Afghanistan Election Statement
- 00:46Commitment to Rule of Law in Afghanistan
- 01:40Discussion on Iraq's Democratic Progress
- 02:44Afghanistan's Path to Peace and Security
- 03:32Transition in US-Iraq Relations Beyond Security
- 05:15Promoting Investment and Economic Growth in Iraq
- 06:10Translation and Closing Remarks
- 10:42Business Investment Conference and Strategic Cooperation
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
Hello everybody. Before I discuss the meeting that I've just had with Prime Minister Maliki, I just want to make a brief statement about Afghanistan. I had the opportunity to speak with President Karzai this morning, and I wanted to congratulate him on accepting the certification of the recent election. As we all know, this has been a very difficult time in Afghanistan to not only carry out an election under difficult circumstances, where there were a whole host of security issues that had to be resolved, but also post-election a lot of uncertainty.
Speaker A
to congratulate him on accepting uh the certification of the recent election. As we all know, this has been a very difficult time in Afghanistan uh to not only carry out a election under difficult circumstances uh where there were a whole host of
Speaker A
President Karzai, as well as the other candidates, I think have shown that they have the interests of the Afghan people at heart. That this is a reflection of a commitment to the rule of law and an insistence that the Afghan people's will should be done. So, I express the American people's appreciation for this step.
Speaker A
uh President Cararzi as well as uh the other candidates I think have shown uh that they have the interests of the Afghan people at heart. Uh that this is a reflection of a commitment to rule of law. Uh and a an insistence that the
Speaker A
As I mentioned before, this has been a difficult election. You have violent forces opposed to democracy in Afghanistan. Yet despite these very difficult conditions, what we've seen is elections take place. We have now seen the IEC and the ECC in Afghanistan complete their work. We have seen the candidates expressing a willingness to abide by constitutional law, and there is a path forward in order to complete this election process. I want to give particular thanks to Ambassador Carl Eikenberry and his team who've been working tirelessly throughout this process. I also want to commend Senator John Kerry, who was in the region traveling and ended up working extensively with Ambassador Eikenberry and was extraordinarily constructive and very helpful. So, I think he deserves great congratulations. Moving forward, we will continue to work with our ISAF partners as well as the Afghan government, however this election turns out, to ensure that we can move Afghanistan towards peace, security, and prosperity, and that the will of the Afghan people is ultimately done. So, we are pleased with the steps that have been taken today, and we hope that we can build on this progress. I finally want to thank the incredible work of our US military and the young men and women who are stationed in Afghanistan who are doing so much to help bring about a more secure, prosperous, and democratic Afghanistan. I am grateful to have the opportunity to see Prime Minister Maliki once again.
Speaker A
As I mentioned before, this has been a difficult election. Uh you have violent forces opposed to democracy in Afghanistan. Uh and yet despite these very difficult conditions, what we've seen is elections take place. We have now seen the IEC and the ECC in
Speaker A
We had a wide-ranging discussion about the continuing progress that Iraq is making. We have seen in the last several months a consolidation of a commitment to democratic politics inside of Iraq. 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.
Speaker A
to Ambassador Carl Iikenberry and his team who've been working tirelessly uh throughout this process. Uh I also want to commend uh Senator John Kerry who was in the region traveling uh and ended up working extensively with Ambassador Iikenberry and was
Speaker A
That is consistent with the transition that has been taking place, and I reemphasized my commitment to Prime Minister Maliki that we will have our combat troops out of Iraq by August of next year and all of our troops out of Iraq by 2011. But we didn't just talk about military and security issues. 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. The business and investment conference that's taking place is going to be very well attended. It includes not only Prime Minister Maliki but business leaders from both the United States and Iraq. We've seen over the last several months progress being made on providing clarification about investment laws inside of Iraq.
Speaker A
move the Afghan uh that the that we can move Afghanistan towards peace and security and prosperity and that the will of the Afghan people uh is ultimately done. So, uh we are pleased with the steps that have been taken today and we hope that
Speaker A
There are obviously enormous opportunities for our countries to do business together. So, I just want to congratulate Prime Minister Maliki on what I'm confident will be a successful conference and to reemphasize my administration's full support for all the steps that can be taken so that Iraq can not only be a secure place and a democratic country but also a place where people can do business, people can find work, families can make a living, and children are well educated. That broader sense of a US relationship with a democratic Iraq is one that I think all of us are confident we can now achieve. So, thank you so much for your presence here today. And I don't know if you may maybe we could translate the last part just about Iraq as opposed to Afghanistan.
Speaker A
prosperous and democratic Afghanistan. I am grateful to have the opportunity to see uh Prime Minister Maliki once again.
Speaker A
Just in case there's something you need. Yes, sir. Um, Madmat. Forchech. Fore! Foreign! Foreign!
Speaker A
interested both of us in making sure that Iraq has an election law that is completed on time so that elections can take place uh on time in January.
Speaker A
Foreign [Music] for New Zealand. Obama. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Forch. [Music] Be itch.
Speaker A
of Iraq by 2011. Uh but we didn't just talk about military and security issues. Uh 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
Speaker A
You [Music] Thank you, Mr. President, and this opportunity to hold the business investment conference is a big economic demonstration and the manifestation of the importance of this event that brings together more than 1,000 business entrepreneurs and a very distinguished high-level Iraqi delegation. We have also discussed with President Obama the various issues and the fact that our relations today have moved along and are not only confined to security cooperation but today have moved to economic development and to providing prosperity for the Iraqi people. We have discussed the issues of common interest to our bilateral relations under the strategic framework agreement and the various sectors, and all this is important for a broader relation of our two nations. We have also discussed the issue of the elections and the importance that these elections be held on time based on national principles. We have also commented on the role of the United States that supports Iraq and the importance to end the international sanctions on Iraq and to remove Iraq from under Chapter 7 because we don't have weapons of mass destruction anymore, and today we have put forth a lot of common sacrifices and today there is a pluralistic political system in Iraq.
Speaker A
over the last uh several months progress being made on uh providing clarification about investment laws inside of Iraq.
Speaker A
This is important to move Iraq forward and to promote investments. We will follow up on the outcome of the business investment conference in its various sectors because today Iraq has moved beyond the dictatorship and beyond the destruction, and we are trying to rebuild all our sectors of agriculture, oil sectors, tourism, and so forth. We want to give US companies an opportunity to be present in investing in Iraq, and all this cooperation is on the basis of the strategic framework agreement. Thank you very much.
Speaker A
for all the steps that can be taken so that Iraq can not only be a secure place and a democratic democratic country but also a place where people can do business, people can find work, uh families can uh make a
Speaker A
and children are well educated. And that broader sense of a US relationship with a democratic Iraq is one that I think all of us are confident we can now achieve. So, thank you so much for your presence here today. And I
Speaker A
don't know if you uh may maybe we could translate the last part just about Iraq as opposed to Afghanistan.
Speaker A
just in case there's something you need. Yes sir. Um Madmat. forchech. Fore! Foreign! Foreign!
Speaker A
Foreign [Music] for New Zealand. Obama. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. forch. [Music] Be itch.
Speaker A
You [Music] Thank you, Mr. President and uh this opportunity to hold the business investment conference is a big economic uh demonstration and the manifestation of the importance of this event that brings together more than 1,000 uh business entrepreneurs and a very
Speaker A
distinguished high level Iraqi delegation. We uh I have also discussed with uh President Obama the uh u uh the various issues and uh that the fact that our relations today have moved along and not only confined to the security
Speaker A
cooperation but today have moved to the uh economic and uh economic development and to providing prosperity for the Iraqi people. We have discussed the issues of common interest to our bilateral uh uh relations uh under the uh that are now today uh framed under
Speaker A
the strategic framework agreement and the various sectors and all this is important for a broader relation of our two nations. We have also discussed the issue of the elections and the importance that these elections be held on time based on the national
Speaker A
principles. We have also uh uh commented on the role of the United States that supports Iraq and the importance to uh end the international sanctions on Iraq and to remove Iraq from under chapter 7 because we don't have weapons of mass
Speaker A
destructions anymore and today that we have put forth a lot of common sacrifices and today that there is a pluralistic uh political system in Iraq.
Speaker A
This is uh important to uh move Iraq forward and to promote uh uh investments. Uh we will follow up on the outcome of the business investment uh conference in the in its various sectors because today Iraq has moved beyond the
Speaker A
dictatorship and beyond uh beyond the destruction and we are trying to rebuild all our sectors of agriculture, oil sectors, tourism and so forth. uh we want to give the US companies a an opportunity to be present in investing
Speaker A
in Iraq and all this cooperation on the basis of the strategic framework agreement from and thank you very much.
Topics:President ObamaPrime Minister MalikiAfghanistan electionIraq electionsUS military withdrawalUS-Iraq relationseconomic developmentbusiness investment conferencedemocracysecurity











