US homeland security chief plans trip to UAE, Saudi Arabia
AFP
WASHINGTON- US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is to travel to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia for talks on global security and counter-terrorism issues, her office said Saturday.
A statement issued by the Department of Homeland Security said Napolitano would visit Saudi Arabia on Sunday and Monday and hold talks with "top Saudi officials about a variety of global security issues."
US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano
Napolitano will then travel on to the UAE Monday and Tuesday for a meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization, which brings together senior security officials worldwide to discuss ways to boost aviation security.
"The secretary will participate to build consensus on strengthening global aviation security, and to identify specific steps which nations can take individually and collectively to protect all passengers," the department said.
Napolitano, who has played a lead role in monitoring a major oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, has decided to cancel a stop in Italy for a Group of 6 security meeting, sending an assistant secretary in her place.
"While overseas, she will remain engaged with all developments in the BP oil spill and direct response actions as necessary," the department said.
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