Kerry lauds impressive progress in Iraq-Kuwait relations

The US Secretary of State John Kerry Kerry said in a phone call to Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari "that he was impressed by the recent progress the two nations (Kuwait and Iraq) have made toward resolving remaining UN Chapter VII issues" and that "this was a clear example of determined and persistent diplomacy paying off." Kerry also discussed recent developments in Iraq and the region, the State Department statement stated. It disclosed that Kerry thanked the Iraqi Foreign Minister "for his efforts to help organize a unity meeting of Iraq's political and religious leaders at the end of May and the meeting between Prime Minister (Nouri) Maliki and KRG President (Masoud) Barzani on June 9." The statement added that Kerry noted that he was "encouraged by the positive tone of these meetings and urged Iraqi leaders to build on these steps by continuing direct dialogue and taking concrete action to address political differences." "The two agreed on the importance of a unified approach against violence and the need to address legitimate grievances peacefully and in a manner consistent with the Iraqi constitution," it stressed. He assured the Foreign Minister that the United States would continue to work to help Iraq improve relations with other neighbors in the region," the statement noted. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister also discussed the situation in Syria, where Kerry "reaffirmed that the United States continues to work aggressively for a political solution with the goal of a second Geneva meeting, but that the use of chemical weapons and increasing involvement of Hezbollah demonstrates the regime's lack of commitment to negotiations and threatens to put a political settlement out of reach" "The Secretary expressed our concern about the increasingly sectarian nature of the Syrian conflict on both sides, including atrocities committed in recent days in Qusayr and in Deir EzZor," according to the statement. In that light, Kerry noted his "appreciation for the Foreign Minister's statement on June 11 discouraging Iraqis from joining the fight in Syria," where Kerry further urged that Iraq "take every possible measure to help end the military resupply of the Assad regime and thereby increase the pressure that will be necessary to advance a political solution."