Maliki Arrives In Washington

BAGHDAD / NINA / Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki arrived to Washington on an official visit lasting several days at head of a ministerial delegation. Ali al-Moussawi , media adviser to the Prime Minister told the National Iraqi News Agency / NINA / : that al-Maliki will attend working breakfast with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, adding that al-Maliki will head tomorrow to the Congress, where he will meet with the heads of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate and Congress, Senator Robert Mendes and Ed Royce. Moussawi added, "Al-Maliki will meet on Thursday, with both U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hegel and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey and other officials from the U.S. Department of Defense. He confirmed that "al-Maliki will hold talks with U.S. President, Barack Obama on Friday, where he would discuss with him a number of files , including " the development of bilateral relations and expand the horizons of cooperation in accordance with the Strategic Framework Agreement signed between the two countries in addition of ways to strengthen security and stability and the fight against terrorism , as well as discuss the latest developments in the region , especially the Syrian file . " It is worth mentioning that Maliki headed yesterday to the United States on an official visit accompanied by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, Acting Defense Minister, Saadoun al-Dulaimi and a number of members of the House of Representatives. / End