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19 March 2004

Transportation Dept. to Send Experts to Iraq

Additional assistance to Afghanistan also considered

The U.S. Transportation Department is sending experts to Iraq to help in the reconstruction of that country's transportation system, the agency announced March 18.

In a news release, the department said that the initial team of Federal Aviation Administration officials will be followed by groups of experts in maritime, rail and other surface transportation modes.

Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta, who unveiled the initiative the same day at the conclusion of a four-country trip to the Middle East, said his department also will consider providing additional transportation assistance to Afghanistan and strengthening cooperation with Jordan and Kuwait.

Following is the text of the news release:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

March 18, 2004

U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY TO SEND TEAM TO ASSIST IN RECONSTRUCTION OF TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS IN IRAQ

Amman, Jordan -- U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta today announced that he is sending a team of experts to assist in the reconstruction of Iraq's transportation system. Secretary Mineta made the announcement in a speech Thursday in Amman, Jordan, at the conclusion of a five-day trip to the Middle East that included visits to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Jordan.

The team consists initially of Federal Aviation Administration officials and will be followed by maritime, rail, and surface experts. The team is a precursor to a permanent DOT mission at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, when it opens in July. Secretary Mineta indicated that port improvements at Umm Qasr will be a major transportation priority.

"The Middle East is a critically important region, and one in which we must continue to build strong relationships," he said. "This team will provide the expertise necessary to rebuild a transportation system for Iraq that can support its economic development."

The Secretary also noted that the department will look for ways to increase transportation assistance to the Government of Afghanistan, and will seek to further strengthen U.S. transportation ties with Jordan and Kuwait.

During his trip, Secretary Mineta held meetings with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the Prime Ministers of Kuwait and Jordan, Coalition Provisional Authority Administrator Paul Bremer and the Transportation Ministers of all four countries.

Secretary Mineta made the trip to assess the current state of transportation needs in the region and to further the United States' broader international transportation agenda. His bilateral discussions covered a wide range of transportation issues including post-war reconstruction, regional development of infrastructures, liberalization of markets, and safety and security.

The Secretary's speech was delivered to the Jordanian-American Business Association.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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