FROM THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

John Taylor, Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs, will
travel to several countries in the greater Middle East region from February
14 to February 23, with stops in Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel and the West
Bank. 

In Afghanistan, he will highlight private sector development, discuss improvements in revenue collection, and talk with other donors on achieving
measurable results ahead of the Afghan elections in June.  In Iraq, he will
review progress on strengthening the financial sector, focusing on monetary
policy and the banking sector.  

In Israel, he will participate in a meeting of the Joint Economic Development Group with Under Secretary of State Al Larson, and meet with economic policymakers, including Minister Netanyahu and central bank governor Klein.  In the West Bank, he will participate in the first meeting of the Palestinian Economic Development Group with Under Secretary of State Al Larson and meet with economic policymakers, including Minister Fayyad.

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