Zebari discusses Syrian crisis with US, British officials

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari met last night with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq and Iran Brett McGurk. Talks during the meeting covered regional developments and the political situation in addition to the outcomes of his recent visit to Ankara, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said in a press statement. Zebari also reviewed with the US official the Syrian crisis and the ongoing consultations for the convening of the Geneva 2 Conference in order to find a political solution to this crisis and its impact on neighboring countries, the statement said. They also discussed the program of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al –Maliki's visit to the United States and the topics to be discussed during the visit, including political and economic cooperation, it added. The Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will head is scheduled to pay an official visit to the United States at the end of this month and meet with US President Barack Obama. Zebari also discussed the Syrian crisis during a meeting with British Ambassador in Baghdad Simon Collis last night. According to statement issued by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, Zebari also discussed with the British Ambassador bilateral relations and latest regional developments. The statement added that the two sides also reviewed preparations for holding next Joint Ministerial Committee Meeting aiming at stregnthening economic cooperation between the two countries.