9.4  |  June 2005 to May 2006

738.  Mr Blair visited Iraq on 22 May.360 He met President Talabani and, separately,

Prime Minister Maliki.

739.  Both men asked Mr Blair whether media reports that the UK was looking to

withdraw from Iraq were accurate. Mr Blair responded that the UK:

“… had the same objective as the Iraqi government: to go when the latter’s forces

were ready to take over.”

740.  A joint statement issued by the two Prime Ministers at a press conference after

their meeting said that the:

“… process of transition would start in some provinces in the coming months, and

by the end of the year responsibility for much of Iraq’s territorial security should have

been transferred to Iraqi control.”361

741.  The statement recorded agreement to continue efforts to widen the countries

engaged in Iraq:

“The Iraqi Government for its part would provide a compelling vision of the way

ahead showing how international assistance would complement its actions in pursuit

of the common goal of a stable Iraq at peace with its neighbours.”

742.  Mr Blair and Prime Minister Maliki had “discussed the situation in Basra and

agreed to work closely on ensuring greater security and stability there”. A high-level Iraqi

delegation would visit Basra soon.

743.  After the press conference, it was reported that:

“Mr Maliki surprised Mr Blair’s team at the press conference by saying the UK

handover to Iraqi forces could begin in June. British officials later corrected this,

saying that the planned date was actually July.”362

744.  Maj Gen Cooper reported that the statement had “aroused understandable interest

in Provincial political circles” where it “certainly raised expectations”.363

360  Letter Banner to Siddiq, 22 May 2006, ‘Iraq: Prime Minister’s Meeting with Talabani’; Letter Banner to

Siddiq, 22 May 2006, ‘Iraq: Prime Minister’s Meeting with Nouri al-Maliki’ attaching ‘Joint statement about

the visit of the UK Prime Minister’.

361  Letter Banner to Siddiq, 22 May 2006, ‘Iraq: Prime Minister’s Meeting with Nouri al-Maliki’ attaching

‘Joint statement about the visit of the UK Prime Minister’.

362  The Guardian, 23 May 2006, Troop pull-out from Iraq to be speeded up.

363  Minute Cooper, 24 May 2006, ‘GOC MND(SE) – Southern Iraq Update – 24 May 2006’.

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