Gordon Brown announced that the two countries would remain in close contact after the pullout of troops and only 200-300 consultants would continue their operation in Iraq. The mission of the currently serving 4100 British soldiers in Basra in southern Iraq ends on May 31, and they will leave the country within a two months afterwards.
Barack Obama, US president elect, would like to raise the number of allied forces serving in the region, but Great Britain refuses to take up new mission obligations as it has another 3800 soldiers serving in Afghanistan and the British troops have been suffering great losses in the last months.
Brown pointed out that the British troops have been able to accomplish all four mission goals: the successful training of Iraqi security forces, political security, progress in economic rebuilding and a securing of the normal civil operation of Basra airport. Iraq foresees a 10% of economical growth by the end of 2008. The number of bomb attacks in Basra dropped from 37 in May 2007 down to just one last month under British supervision. After the pullout of the British forces the peacekeeping operation in the region will be handed over to American soldiers. The American troops, according to the latest agreement accepted by the Iraqi Parliament, will stay in the country up till 2011.
1. joint announcement – közös bejelentés
2. troops – csapatok
3. pullout of troops – csapakivonás
4. currently – jelenleg
5. allied forces – szövetséges erők
6. obligations – kötelezettségek
7. mission goals – küldetési célok
8. economic rebuilding – gazdasági újjáépítés
9. forsees – jósol
10. hand over – átad
