U.S., Iraq start talks soon on agreement to replace UN mandate

BAGHDAD (CNN) - Iraq and the United States will begin talks this month
on a bilateral agreement that it is hoped will establish a long term
relationship between the two countries, a leading Iraqi official said Monday.

The talks, set to start in the third week of February, will deal with
economic and political issues, though the main focus will be on Iraq's
long-term security, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said.

The final agreement is expected in July and will replace a U.N. mandate
that runs out in December.

Al-Dabbagh previously announced that the talks would take place behind
closed doors but that the process would be transparent – "there is no secret
talk," he said. He said creating a better relationship between the two
countries was "the main principle of what the round of talks is going to be."