April 30, 2004

His first meeting was at a group of Iraqi women, representatives of the Iraqi Women's Network, representing 55 NGOs working women's issues, and the Advisory Committee for Women.  He had an exchange of views on issues facing Iraqi women and the Iraqi people as a whole. They agreed on the paramount importance of a secure environment in which Iraq's people could prepare the way for an interim government and free, direct elections by the end of January 2005.  He urged the group to ensure that women's views were heard in consultations with the U.N. special representative, al-Brahimi, and in the nominations process for the independent Iraqi electoral commission.

http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2004/tr20040430-1401.html