Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs

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The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA), headed by Assistant Secretary C. David Welch, deals with U.S. foreign policy and U.S. diplomatic relations with Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Regional policy issues that NEA handles include Iraq, Middle East peace, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and political and economic reform. Clickable Map

U.S-Libya Comprehensive Claims Settlement Agreement
Assistant Secretary Welch (Oct. 31): "I’d like to talk a little bit about these arrangements here in a moment, but first let me step back and say something about the importance of this step. Some time ago, Libya renounced terrorism and took steps to begin to remove itself from the implications that its relationship with past acts of terrorism had. Also, they decided, around the same period of time, to get out of the WMD business, foreswearing weapons of mass destruction. These were important decisions by the Libyan leadership and they led Libya back into a path of better relations with the United States, better relations with the international community." Full Text

President Bush Participates in Video Teleconference with Iraq Provincial Reconstruction Team Leaders and Brigade Combat Commanders
President Bush (Oct. 15): "I've just finished a meeting with our Ambassador, and General Odierno, members of our -- some of the PRTs, Provincial Reconstruction Teams, in Iraq, for folks who have been spending time in Iraq. We are having success in Iraq. And one of the main reasons why is we're implementing an innovative strategy that combines our military with civilian expertise to help people at the grassroots level build a society that will lay the foundation for peace." Full Text

Briefing on U.S.-Libya Relations
Assistant Secretary Welch (Oct. 10): "The agreement that we forged with Libya provides for a humanitarian fund which would settle claims on both sides. The total value of that humanitarian fund is to be $1.8 billion, of which 300 million would be for victims – Libyan victims, and one-point – 1,500,000,000 would be for American victims. ...This was agreed between Libya and the United States in the arrangement signed on the 14th of August." Full Text

Remarks at the Presentation of the Distinguished Service Award to Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and Commanding General U.S. Central Command David Petraeus
Secretary Rice (Oct. 6): "It's a distinct honor to join you for a very special occasion: the presentation of the Distinguished Service Award to General David Petraeus and to Ambassador Ryan Crocker. This is the highest honor that the State Department confers. And I cannot think of two more deserving public servants to receive it." Full Text

Middle East Digest
The "Middle East Digest" is a collection of excerpts from the U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefings that are related to U.S. foreign policy interests in the Middle East.