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Meetings with Iraq's Neighbors

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced last Tuesday that the United States will join Iraq in talks with Iraq's neighbors later this month and in April. The meetings will focus on Iraq's future.

The first meeting is scheduled for March 10 in Baghdad, Iraq's capital. "The conference will send a message to the world," said Labid Abawi, an Iraqi official.

The U.S. announcement came as a surprise. In the past, the U.S. has resisted talks with Iran and Syria. Iraq says that both countries plan to attend the meetings. "We hope these governments seize this opportunity to work for peace and stability in the region," Rice said.

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