Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
Sign up for Near Eastern Affairs email updates. The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA), headed by Acting Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman, deals with U.S. foreign policy and U.S. diplomatic relations with Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Regional policy issues that NEA handles include Iraq, Middle East peace, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and political and economic reform. Clickable Map
Remarks by UN Ambassador Susan Rice on U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement
Amb. Rice (June 19): "Rooted in our shared strategic interests with the Government of Iraq, heartened by the heroic service of thousands of brave Americans and many others, and mindful of the future of millions of Iraqis, the United States remains deeply committed to Iraq." -Full Text
Current Situation in Iraq
Ambassador Chris Hill (June 18): "[T]his is an important month because we’re getting to ... one of the major milestones of the security agreement that is the out-of-the-city milestone where our combat forces will be out of the remaining urban areas in Iraq. It’s an important moment ... because as we go forward with the security agreement, we will also be moving ahead on something called the Strategic Framework Agreement, and this is an agreement which will really govern our relationship for, we hope, decades to come, that will involve our educational exchanges, economic relations, various political exchanges, things that we work on internationally." -Full Text
Secretary Clinton Meets With Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman
Secretary Clinton (June 17):"Minister Lieberman’s visit gave me the opportunity to reaffirm the United States deep, unshakable friendship and bond with Israel. Our commitment to Israel’s security is and will remain a cornerstone of our foreign policy, and I was pleased to have this chance to express that personally to the foreign minister. The United States has no greater ally in the Middle East and no greater friend than Israel. -Full Text -Joint Statement
Briefing by Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell on His Recent Travel to the Region and Efforts Toward Achieving A Comprehensive Peace
Special Envoy Mitchell (June 16): "I have made four trips to the region, including several visits to Israel and to over a dozen Arab countries. Our focus right now is to create the context for the resumption and early conclusion of meaningful negotiations. To help achieve this, we’re asking all parties to take meaningful steps. Israelis and Palestinians have a responsibility to meet their obligations under the Roadmap, to which they committed in 2003. It’s not just their responsibility. We believe it’s in their interests as well." - Full Text
Secretary Clinton Welcomes Middle East Democracy Activists
Secretary Clinton (June 8): "[W]e have a number of very important issues that we wish to work with people across the world and particularly with Muslims across the world. And among those are democracy and human rights that are really at the core of self-expression and personal freedom and potential." - A New Beginning: President Obama Speaks to Muslims Around the World from Cairo
President Obama (June 4): "I've come here to Cairo to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, one based on mutual interest and mutual respect, and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles -- principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings....I will try to...speak the truth as best I can, humbled by the task before us, and firm in my belief that the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart." - -More from White House President Obama Travels to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Germany, and France
Press Secretary Gibbs (May 29)
: "[T]he second stop on the trip will be the President's speech in Cairo. ...The speech will outline his personal commitment to engagement, based upon mutual interests and mutual respect. He will discuss how the United States and Muslim communities around the world can bridge some of the differences that have divided them. He will review particular issues of concern, such as violent extremism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And he will discuss new areas for partnership going forward that serve the mutual interests of our people." -Full Text Secretary Clinton's Meeting with Visiting Egyptian Democracy Activists
Secretary Clinton (May 28): "Well, I am so honored to receive this group here at the State Department. This is a group of young men and women from Egypt who are committed to improving the lives of the Egyptian people, providing more economic opportunity, greater growth in democracy, respect for human rights. They come from a variety of backgrounds. Each of them brings a special experience, an expertise to their interests and their efforts." -Full Text Secretary Clinton Meets With Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit
Secretary Clinton (May 27): "I asked [Foreign Minister Gheit, General Suleiman, and the delegation from Egypt] to extend our thanks to President Mubarak and others in the Egyptian Government who are working to resolve conflicts and bridge divides. And I assured them that President Obama and I are fully committed to a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, to a two-state solution, and that we regard Egypt as an essential partner in helping us to realize that vision." -Full Text Secretary Clinton Meets With Roxana Saberi
Secretary Clinton (May 27): "Well, we are absolutely delighted and obviously, relieved to have Roxana home safely, to have her parents here with us. This was a matter of great concern to our country, certainly to the Obama Administration, to me personally, not only as Secretary of State, but as a mother. And my heart went out to Roxana and to her parents every single day." -MoreNew Ambassador to Iraq
The White House has issued the following readout on the President’s meeting with Ambassador Chris Hill: Earlier this week, Ambassador Hill was confirmed by the Senate to serve as our Ambassador to Iraq. Ambassador Hill will head to Iraq this week, and the President wanted to speak with him before he leaves for his important new post. They discussed the current situation in Iraq and the need to make political progress. -More on IraqSpecial Press Briefing by Special Envoy George Mitchell
Special Envoy George Mitchell briefed reporters On-the-Record, Off-Camera on his recent travel to the region and efforts toward achieving a comprehensive peace. This briefing took place in the Department’s press briefing room at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 16, 2009. -More -Special Briefing
Remarks by President Obama and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Before Bilateral Meeting
President Obama (June 4): "Well, I just want to thank President Mubarak, as well as the people of Egypt, for their wonderful hospitality. I'm very much looking forward to speaking at the university this afternoon. I wanted to first sit down with President Mubarak, who obviously has decades of experience on a whole range of issues." -Full Text
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