Press release

Foreign Secretary meets General John Allen

Foreign Secretary meets General Allen to discuss the international coalition’s response to the threat of ISIL.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond met U.S. General John Allen, Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, in London today. Speaking after the meeting, the Foreign Secretary said:

General Allen and I agreed that tackling the threat posed by ISIL demands a long-term, comprehensive and coordinated international response. There are no short cuts or quick fixes.

In both Iraq and Syria, people want stable, inclusive, non-sectarian governments that can provide prosperity and security, but instead they find themselves on the front line in resisting terrorists and extremists. The UK and its allies will continue to support them and to play a strong and active part in the international coalition that is degrading ISIL. Both our national security and the security of the region depend on tackling this scourge.

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Published 22 October 2014