Readout of Assistant Secretary Feltman's Trip to Baghdad

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Readout of Assistant Secretary Feltman's Trip to Baghdad


Taken Question
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC

April 18, 2011




Question: Please provide a readout of Assistant Secretary Feltman’s meetings in Iraq. Was the situation at camp Ashraf discussed?
Answer: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman visited Iraq from April 14 to April 17 to discuss transition issues, the future of the U.S.-Iraqi partnership, and regional developments. During his visit, Assistant Secretary Feltman met with President Talabani, Prime Minister Maliki, Parliament Speaker Nujayfi, Deputy Prime Minister Shahristani, Foreign Minister Zebari, and other prominent Iraqi leaders including Adel Abd al-Mahdi, Ammar al-Hakim, and Ayad Allawi. In meetings with Iraqi leaders, Assistant Secretary Feltman emphasized the United States’ commitment to a long-term partnership with Iraq under the Strategic Framework Agreement that will broaden the emphasis on political, economic, environmental, technological and cultural cooperation, while also building on success in the security realm that was the focus of recent years. He also discussed a number of other issues including Iraq’s regional relations and political dynamics of the new Iraqi Government. Feltman raised the situation at Camp Ashraf and emphasized the need for restraint on all sides to avert further violence. Assistant Secretary Feltman also received an update from Ambassador Jeffrey and other Embassy officials on the progress of our military-to-civilian transition and all aspects of our post-2011 diplomatic presence.


PRN: 2011/600