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Biden pledges commitment for Iraq

WASHINGTON, April 27 (KUNA) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden reaffirmed the country's commitment to supporting Iraq' energy sector in a meeting with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Hussein Al-Shahristani late Thursday, according to the White House. During a visit, the Vice President thanked Al-Shahristani for his participation in this week's U.S.-Iraqi Joint Coordinating Committee on Energy meeting, according to a statement. The Vice President reaffirmed U.S. commitment to work with Iraqi leaders from across the spectrum to support the continued development of Iraq's energy sector.
The two leaders discussed a range of regional issues and developments in Iraq. Washington is anxious to ease a political crisis, between Iraq's central government and the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan, that erupted after U.
S. troops left Iraq last year, which analysts fear could strain the country's unity if it escalates further.
Kurdistan Regional Government President Masoud Barzani recently met Biden in Washington and has also visited Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who has publicly chided Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for stoking the conflict. (end) hy.rk KUNA 270918 Apr 12NNNN