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The
Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, headed by Assistant Secretary of State Edward
S. Walker, Jr., deals with U.S. foreign policy and U.S. diplomatic relations
with the countries in the Near East and North Africa.
Peace in the Middle East remains illusory, though significant steps are being made. Recently, Israel withdrew its forces from Lebanon, which Israel had occupied since the 1980s to ensure the safety of its northern regions. Though Syria continues to demand a complete Israeli pullback from the Golan Heights, new leadership in Syria may create a situation more receptive to compromise.
In Iraq, U.S. and British airplanes have waged a largely unnoticed war. Planes of both nations enforce no-fly zones that were created after the Gulf War in 1991 to protect Iraqi insurgents in the area. In 1999, Iraq has tried shooting at the planes. In response, the U.S. and Britain have bombed various sites throughout the country.
Tensions with Iran have eased in the past years. In 199, moderate Mohammad Khatami was elected President. Since that time, both countries have slowly begun to improve relations with the other. In 2000, moderates were swept into office in legislative elections. This increased the likelihood that U.S. -Iranian relations will improve in the future.
For more information, please contact the official State Department Bureau for Near EasternAffiars at http://www.state.gov/www/regions/nea/index.html.
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