Downing Street Says

» Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Iraq

Asked about the report in the Financial Times that the Prime Minister would make a statement on Iraq troop levels in 3 weeks time, the PMS replied that it was well known that the Prime Minister would give a statement to the House when the House returned in early October.

Asked if he recognised the FT report, the PMS replied that the report looked fairly speculative to him, but the Prime Minister would make a statement on Iraq in early October, which he first announced at Camp David.

Asked what was discussed in the Prime Minister’s meeting with General Petraeus yesterday, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister met with General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker, and that the meeting also involved the Foreign Secretary and the Chief of Defence Staff. They had a good meeting, and the Prime Minister was pleased to have the opportunity to hear directly from General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker to get their assessment of the security situation on the ground, and the progress being made by the coalition and the Iraqi authorities in Iraq.

Asked to comment on the report that the Prime Minister was close to agreement with the US on the next phase, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister would update Parliament on the position relating to British Forces in Iraq, in early October. There was nothing to say in advance of that.

Put that the American Ambassador to Afghanistan was in London, and was this in any way linked to the discussions with Petraeus yesterday, the PMS replied that these were separate meetings. There were no plans for him to meet the Prime Minister.

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