Readout of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s Meeting with Iraqi Council of Representatives Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi
January 21, 2014

Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Hagel met with Iraqi Council of Representatives Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi today at the Pentagon.

The secretary lauded the Government of Iraq’s continued outreach to local Sunni tribal leaders and officials to evict terrorist fighters from Fallujah and other parts of western Iraq.

Secretary Hagel provided an update on U.S. efforts to accelerate delivery of critical defense equipment to resupply the Iraqi Security Forces conducting missions in Anbar Province. The secretary also underscored the importance of proceeding with federal Iraqi elections as scheduled, and encouraged the Government of Iraq’s efforts to implement local and national political initiatives.

The secretary concluded the meeting by reaffirming the steadfastness of the U.S-Iraq bilateral relationship and the U.S. commitment to helping the Iraqi government ensure the safety and security of all Iraqi people.