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US Secretary Kerry to travel to Brussels, Algiers and Rabat

WASHINGTON, March 26, /ITAR-TASS/. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Brussels, Algiers, and Rabat on April 1-5.

While in Brussels, Secretary Kerry will attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Foreign Ministerial and meet with NATO fellow foreign ministers to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and preparations for the upcoming NATO Summit in September, the Department of State said on Wednesday, March 26.

Kerry will participate in meetings of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, the NATO-Georgia Commission, and a meeting with the Foreign Ministers of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) contributing nations. NATO Foreign Ministers will also celebrate the success of NATO’s Open Door policy by commemorating the five-, ten-, and fifteen-year anniversaries of Allies who joined the Alliance in the post-Cold War period.

The Secretary will also co-chair the fifth U.S.-EU Energy Council with Department of Energy Deputy Secretary Daniel Poneman, EU High Representative Cathy Ashton, and EU Commissioner for Energy Gunther Oettinger.

Kerry is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts as well as a trilateral meeting with EU High Representative Cathy Ashton and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, where they will discuss Ukraine, developments in the Middle East and other issues.

In Algiers, Secretary Kerry will meet with senior Algerian officials and co-chair the U.S.-Algeria Strategic Dialogue with Algerian Foreign Minister Lamamra. The dialogue, launched in October 2012, demonstrates our close coordination with Algeria on a range of bilateral and regional issues, including political and security developments, boosting economic ties, and strengthening civil society.

While in Rabat, Secretary Kerry will co-chair the U.S.-Morocco Strategic Dialogue with Moroccan Foreign Minister Mezouar and will meet with senior Moroccan officials to discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues. This dialogue, launched in September 2012, underscores our ongoing close cooperation with Morocco and will focus on political affairs, economic and security cooperation, and educational and cultural issues, the Department of State said.

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