Arabic Press Release

English Press Releases

April 19, 2007
Cairo, Egypt

Ambassador Satterfield: I had very good discussions with the Secretary General, we welcomed the positive role that has been played by the Arab League and the Secretary General in the engagement to support efforts to seek progress toward a stable, peaceful, prosperous, democratic Iraq. More broadly, to see progress made throughout the region in advancing a region which is at peace with itself, at peace with the international community, which can move forward at the fastest pace possible. This is a central role, it's a role which we hope the Arab League will continue to play, and we will continue to be engaged with the Arab League as it moves forward on this basis.

Question: Mr. Ambassador, can you tell us what the U.S. is going to do regarding the outcome of the Arab Initiative meeting of yesterday, especially considering the conditions they set in order to normalize their relations with Israel?

Ambassador Satterfield: The focus of my discussions today as the Special Coordinator to the Secretary of State on Iraq, was, of course, Iraq. And there we see a very significant role of the Arab League. We will certainly consider the outcome of yesterday's Arab meeting.

Question: Where are the human rights in Iraq?

Ambassador Satterfield: With respect to Iraq's situation internally, we are dismayed - as is the entire world - by the acts of terror, by the acts of violence, which have wrought such suffering on innocent Iraqis of all political orientation and all ethnic and sectarian groups. All Iraqis have suffered from this violence and this terror and it is our hope that through the establishment of greater security and the advancement of the process of political reconciliation in Iraq, this violence will end and that the terror can be confronted by all within Iraq and from the outside.

Thank you.