U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, bottom left, stand beside Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki, bottom right, as UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Ben Lynn Basco, top left, and Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Mousa look on at The Third Expanded Ministerial Conference of the Neighbouring Countries of Iraq are seen in Kuwait, Tuesday, April 22, 2008. A meeting of Iraq's neighbors has opened in Kuwait with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki trying to persuade Arab states that his country has 'passed the crisis' and is much better off than it was a year ago.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (front C) stands between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki (R) during a group photo at the Third Expanded Ministerial Conference of the Neighbouring Countries of Iraq in Kuwait City April 22, 2008.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice anad Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki during a summit in Kuwait City. Iraq said its Sunni Arab neighbours are starting to accept the new Shiite-led government in Baghdad, but vowed to be patient in its appeals for their diplomatic and economic support.
Kuwait Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah (7th left) hosts the Third Expanded Ministerial Conference of the Neighbouring Countries of Iraq in Kuwait City April 22, 2008, as the delegates, including U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (5th left) and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal (8th right), pose for a group picture.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, center, shakes hands with Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Babacan, left, and Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, right, at a meeting of Iraq's neighbors held in Kuwait, Tuesday, April 22, 2008. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki speaking in Kuwait, urged neighboring countries Tuesday to 'stop terrorists from infiltrating our lands,' but also said his hands are outstretched to Arab states willing to stop 'making security excuses' about not opening embassies in Baghdad.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice talks to journalists after a meeting of Iraq's neighbors held in Kuwait, Tuesday, April 22, 2008. Rice says the Bush administration explicitly warned former U.S. President Jimmy Carter against meeting with members of Hamas, the Palestinian faction that controls the Gaza Strip and which is regarded by the U.S. as a terror group. Rice, attending a regional meeting on Iraq's security and future Tuesday, contradicted Carter's assertions that he never got a clear signal from the State Department. Rice told reporters that the U.S. thought the visit could confuse the message that the U.S. will not deal with Hamas.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice talks to journalists after a meeting of Iraq's neighbors held in Kuwait, Tuesday, April 22, 2008. Rice says the Bush administration explicitly warned former U.S. President Jimmy Carter against meeting with members of Hamas, the Palestinian faction that controls the Gaza Strip and which is regarded by the U.S. as a terror group. Rice, attending a regional meeting on Iraq's security and future Tuesday, contradicted Carter's assertions that he never got a clear signal from the State Department. Rice told reporters that the U.S. thought the visit could confuse the message that the U.S. will not deal with Hamas.