George Mitchell is Special Envoy for Middle East Peace. -Visit
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.
Persecution of Religious Minorities in Iran
Assistant Secretary Crowley (Mar. 12): "In recent weeks, authorities detained at least 25 Baha’is. Reports indicate there have been more than 45 new detentions of Baha'is in the last four months alone, and currently as many as 60 Baha'is are imprisoned in Iran solely on the basis of their religious beliefs." Full Text»
Case of Missing U.S. Citizen Robert Levinson
Assistant Secretary Crowley (Mar. 9): "Today marks the three-year anniversary of the disappearance of U.S. citizen Robert Levinson, who went missing in Iran during a business trip to Kish Island in 2007. Mr. Levinson will remain a priority for the United States until he is reunited with his family." Full Text»
Iraqi National Elections
Secretary Clinton (Mar. 7): "I congratulate all the people of Iraq who participated in national elections today.... Iraqis have chosen a new government to lead their country at a critical time." Full Text» Statement by Ambassador Hill and Gen. Odierno»
Execution of Political Prisoners in Iran
Assistant Secretary Crowley (Mar. 5): "The United States notes with great concern reports the Iranian courts have upheld a death sentence for 20-year-old university student Mohammad Amin Valian. Valian was arrested for throwing stones during the December 27 Ashura demonstrations, a crime to which he confessed." Full Text»
Travel to the Middle East
Assistant Secretary Crowley (Mar. 4): "Special Envoy Senator George Mitchell will travel to the Middle East for meetings on Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Monday with Palestinian President Abbas." Daily Press Briefing»
Comprehensive Peace in the Middle East
Assistant Secretary Crowley (Mar. 2): "...We have a shared goal of comprehensive peace in the Middle East. And we think we are at a point in time where there’s some reason to believe that the parties are getting closer to the kind of discussions that we think will lead to resolving the complex issues that they face." Daily press briefing»
President Names Special Envoy to Islamic Conference
On February 13, 2010, President Obama appointed Rashad Hussain to serve as his Special Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).As Special Envoy to the OIC, Rashad Hussain will deepen and expand the partnerships that the United States has pursued with Muslims around the world since President Obama's speech in Cairo last June. Full Text»
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The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA), headed by Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman, deals with U.S. foreign policy and U.S. diplomatic relations with Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, 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
Iraqi Women Provincial Council Leaders
Secretary Clinton (Mar. 16): "Today I had the privilege of meeting with twenty-two Iraqi women provincial council leaders and an influential civil society leader from Anbar. These women are visiting the United States to participate in an exchange of ideas on public service in the U.S. and in Iraq." Full Text»
Secretary Clinton Meets With Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak
Secretary Clinton (Feb. 26): "We believe a two-state solution is the best way to end the conflict and guarantee peace, security, and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians alike." Full Text»
Joint Statement by Secretary Clinton and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdulla bin Zayed al Nahyan (Feb. 23)
The United States and the United Arab Emirates have a strong partnership and share a common vision for a secure, stable, and prosperous Middle East. Full Text»
Assessment of Iraq Before the March 7th Elections
Ambassador Hill (Feb. 19): "The U.S. wants to help introduce Iraq to the international community and see that Iraq, this newly very democratic state, is one that will really take its appropriate place in the international arena." Full Text» Video»
Upcoming Iraqi Elections and U.S.-Iraqi Relations 
Ambassador Hill (Feb. 17): "For us, this is a very important election because it’s an election that will enable us to continue to develop what we see as a long-term and very important relationship - strategic relationship - with the Republic of Iraq." Full Text»
