| GEO World | | British Foreign Secretary in Iraq | Updated at: 0027 PST, Friday, February 27, 2009
 LONDON: The British foreign secretary David Miliband has reached Iraq on a two-day visit Thursday to further UK ties with the Middle East country in different fields.
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office announcement has described the visit as a first visit by a British Minister since the successful provincial elections in January.
During the visit, Miliband is due to meet Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, Vice Presidents Adil Abdul Mahdi and Tariq Al-Hashimi, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, and Iraqi politicians, including members of the new provincial council in Basra.
Discussions are likely to focus on further developing the UK-Iraq relationship through trade, educational and cultural links, recent provincial elections, the Middle East Peace Process and human rights issues.
In addition to his bilateral meetings David Miliband is due to meet Iraqi Chevening scholars and UK personnel serving in Iraq.
The UK troops based in the southern province of Basra are due to return home by the coming summer although some will be left behind to train Iraqi military forces. |  |
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