Shays Commends Secretary Rice for Participating in Expanded Iraq Neighbors Meeting

Press Release

Congressman Christopher Shays (CT-4) today commended Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for participating in the Expanded Iraq Neighbors Meeting held yesterday.

The meeting held in Kuwait between Iraq, its neighbors and permanent members of the U.N. Security Council focused on boosting Iraq's security, by sharing intelligence and improving border controls.

In October 2006, following Shays 14th trip to Iraq, he wrote in a letter to then Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stating his recommendation that a conference of Iraq's neighbors -Syria, Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Jordan - convene to engage directly on measures that will create security and stability in Iraq.

Two months later, on December 6, 2006, the Iraq Study Group (ISG) called for a similar step recommending that the United States, working with the Iraqi Government, launch a comprehensive "New Diplomatic Offensive" to deal with the problems of Iraq, including "engaging Iran and Syria in a diplomatic dialogue, without preconditions."

"I am grateful this forum in Kuwait was held so Iraq and its neighbors could meet without preexisting conditions to have a dialogue about the challenges in Iraq," stated Shays.

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