WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will travel next week to Morocco, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where she will be attending meetings with top officials, it was announced here Wednesday.
State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement that on December 11-13, Clinton will travel to Marrakech, Morocco to participate in a meeting of the Friends of the Syrian People.
She added that "this latest meeting provides an opportunity to consult with like-minded governments in the region and around the world on how best to continue support for the Syrian opposition and on efforts to end the bloodshed".
She indicated that while in Morocco, Clinton will also meet with King Mohammed VI, as well as senior Moroccan government officials, "to discuss bilateral and regional issues".
Clinton will then travel to Tunis, Tunisia to co-host the 9th Forum for the Future Ministerial with the Government of Tunisia on December 13.
While there, Clinton will also meet with "senior Tunisian government officials to discuss progress in the country's transition to democracy as well as bilateral and regional issues," she noted.
The U.S top diplomat will conclude her trip in Abu Dhabi to participate in the 3rd ministerial meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) on December 14.
"The centerpiece of the meeting will be the announcement by Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed of the opening of the first-ever International Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism, which the GCTF set in motion at its September 2011 launch," according to Nuland.
Clinton will also meet with senior Emirati government officials to discuss regional and bilateral issues, Nuland said. (end) si.mt KUNA 052201 Dec 12NNNN