Rice Announces “Neighbors” Meeting
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
WASHINGTON (AP) – America and the Iraqi government are launching a new diplomatic initiative to invite Iran and Syria to a “neighbors meeting” on stabilizing Iraq, Secretary of State Rice said Tuesday.
“We hope these governments seize this opportunity to improve their relations with Iraq and to work for peace and stability in the region,” Ms. Rice said in remarks prepared for delivery to a Senate committee. Excerpts were released in advance by the State Department.
The move reflects a change of approach by the Bush administration, which previously had resisted including Iran and Syria in diplomatic talks on stabilizing Iraq.
