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(Washington, Mar 1) – Researchers at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) are available to offer journalists insight and context to supplement coverage of this week’s announcement that the U.S. will participate in meetings between Iraq and its neighbors—including Iran and Syria—over the next two months.

USIP’s "Iraq and its Neighbors" project has been analyzing the situation in Iraq’s neighboring countries since 2004. The research component includes four reports addressing Iraq’s relationship with Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Reports on Syria and Kuwait’s relationship with Iraq are forthcoming. In addition, high-level, non-official dialogue between Iraqi foreign policy leaders and their counterparts from the neighboring states has been an ongoing part of the Institute's work to prevent conflict across Iraq's borders. In late March, the Institute's dialogue initiative will reconvene in the region, ahead of the early April regional diplomatic conference recently announced by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the Iraqi government.

The Iraq Study Group (ISG), which Congress asked USIP to facilitate, recommended in its report that the U.S. open diplomatic channels with Syria and Iran as part of a major new regional diplomatic initiative for Iraq. The ISG report is available online for download for free.

Journalists wishing to discuss Iraq and its neighbors may contact the project’s director, Scott Lasensky, at +1-202-429-3839, Vice President of USIP’s Center for Conflict Analysis and Prevention Paul Stares at +1-202-429-3891 or USIP Vice President for Peace and Stability Operations Daniel Serwer at +1-202-429-3840.

Of Related Interest

• Syria and Political Change II
  USIPeace Briefing, March 2006
• Syria and Political Change
  USIPeace Briefing, December 2005
• Iran and Iraq: The Shia Connection, Soft Power, and the Nuclear Factor
  Special Report, November 2005
• A Critical Triangle: Iraq, Iran and the United States
  USIPeace Briefing, September 2005