Vice President Biden today called Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to discuss a range of topics including the crisis in Syria. The Vice President and the Prime Minister agreed to conduct more frequent, high-level consultations between the U.S. and Iraq, given our shared interest in developments in Syria and the region. Both leaders also reaffirmed that the long-term, strategic partnership between the U.S. and Iraq is an important source of stability in the region.