WASHINGTON, April 19 (UPI) -- Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage is visiting Iraq's neighbors to promote support for a transfer of power in Iraq, the State Department said Monday.
"The focus of the deputy secretary's visit is to promote regional and international support for the transition to a sovereign, democratic government in Iraq," department's spokesman Richard Boucher told a briefing in Washington.
He said Armitage had visited several of Iraq's neighbors, including Kuwait and Bahrain, besides meeting with the coalition and U.S. officials in Iraq.
In Kuwait, the deputy secretary met with Prime Minister Sheik Al-Sabah and Foreign Minister Muhammed Al-Sabah. In Iraq he met with Ambassador L. Paul Bremer and representatives of the Governing Council.
"In both stops we find his meetings were constructive and cordial," Boucher said.
Monday he visited Bahrain and met with King Hamad al- Khalifa, the prime minister and other leaders. He will make additional stops in the Gulf region.
"He's also engaging in discussions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian situation, and efforts to support home-grown reform, to expand political, economic and educational opportunity throughout the Near East region," Boucher said.
