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Iraq

Iraq’s Accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention (Jan. 14)
The United States welcomes Iraq’s decision to become the newest party to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which will become effective on February 12, 2009. Iraq will be the 186th member of the CWC’s Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), leaving only 9 states as non-members. [more]

Inaugural Meeting of the Iraqi-U.S. Higher Coordination Committee (Jan. 13)
Joint statement issued by the United States and the Government of Iraq following the inaugural January 13, 2009 meeting of the Iraqi-U.S. Higher Coordination Committee.

Dedication Ceremony for New U.S. Embassy in Baghdad
Deputy Secretary Negroponte (Jan. 5): "It is from here that the men and women, civilian and military, will help build the new Iraq." Full Text | Press release | View Video | Photos

President Bush Meets With Iraq President Talabani in Iraq
President Bush (Dec. 14): "Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you and the Vice Presidents for greeting me. I've known these men for a long time, and I have come to admire them for their courage and for their determination to succeed. I am also here to herald the passage of the SFA/SOFA as a reminder of our friendship and as a way forward to help the Iraqi people realize the blessings of a free society." Full Text

President Bush and Iraq Prime Minister Maliki Sign Strategic Framework Agreement and Security Agreement
President Bush (Dec. 14): "I am looking forward to signing the joint statement here affirming two landmark agreements that solidify Iraq's democratic gains, that recognize Iraq's sovereignty, and that puts the relations between our two countries on a solid footing today and a solid footing tomorrow. They cement a strategic partnership between our two countries, and they pave the way for American forces to return home, as the war in Iraq approaches a successful end." Full Text

Expanded Visa Services at Embassy Baghdad (12/8)
Embassy Baghdad will begin processing immigrant visas on February 1, 2009. Immigrant visa applicants who had previously scheduled appointments at the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Ankara, or Cairo but were unable to travel to those appointments may now contact the National Visa Center at nvccongressional@state.gov or (603) 334-0700 to have their cases transferred from other immigrant visa processing posts and scheduled for interview in Baghdad. The National Visa Center will also begin routing and scheduling all immigrant visa cases for beneficiaries residing in Iraq for Baghdad. [more]

An Iraqi airways plane sits on the tarmac at Baghdad International Airport in Baghdad. Dec. 28, 2005. ©AP/WWP. The Iraq Investment and Reconstruction Task Force, U.S. Department of Commerce, helps U.S. companies participate in reconstruction and other business opportunities in Iraq. The State Department's Office of Commercial and Business Affairs also provides information on reconstruction contracts.

Highlights

In Focus: Renewal in Iraq

Fact Sheets:
-- The Strategic Framework Agreement and the Security Agreement with Iraq
-- Iraq Cultural Heritage Project (ICHP)
-- Success of the Surge Allows Political Improvements in Iraq
-- The Way Foward in Iraq

Reports
--Report: Consolidating the Gains, Completing the Transition: Supporting Iraq's Self-Reliance and Stabilization Through the President's 2008 Supplemental and 2009 Budget Requests
--The Section 1227 report covers current military, diplomatic, political, and economic measures.
--The Section 2207 report provides updates on Iraq Relief and Reconstruction.
-- Report: "The New Way Forward: Funding Iraq's Transition to Self-Reliance and Stabilization in the President's 2007 Supplemental and 2008 Requests
--"Advancing the President's National Strategy for Victory in Iraq" PDF | HTML
--"Rebuilding Iraq: U.S. Achievements" PDF | HTML
--National Strategy
--The Iraq Weekly Status Report provides updates in the eight key areas identified as pillars of U.S. Government policy.

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