Appointed-Ambassador Lukman Faily held meetings on July 2, 2013 with several members from the U.S. State Department.
Mr. Faily met with Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman and the two discussed the political and economic situation in Iraq and the implications of the conflict in Syria on the region. Ms. Sherman offered her condolences to the families of those affected by the recent attacks and expressed the willingness of the United States to help the Iraqi people. She praised the United Nations Security Council's recent decision to remove Iraq from Chapter VII sanctions as progress for Iraq and Kuwait.
On the topic of educational partnerships, Ann Stock, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), and Ambassador Faily highlighted the importance of vocational programs that will help build Iraq and also discussed the need for increased short term educational programs.
Mr. Faily spoke with Ambassador Luis CdeBaca - Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons - and the two discussed the importance of respecting human rights and the need for government to have a better understanding of relevant issues affecting women in prison and during conflict and displacement.
Ambassador Faily also met with the Office of Iraq, part of the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. The Economic Team briefed the Ambassador on the economic side of the Strategic Framework Agreement and stages of implementing the SFA.