governor of Kirkuk province , discussed with U.S. Department of Security Cooperation official within the US embassy in Baghdad, Gen. Mick Bednarek in his bureau the political and security situation and the importance of holding local elections in the province. The governor's office said in a statement today that the U.S. official promised to visit Kirkuk, indicating that the two sides had agreed on the need to strengthen security coordination and cooperation to face the challenges and risks of terrorism in Iraq.