That is our biggest concern in terms of maintaining unity and keeping Syria from being an operating base for terrorist extremists.

NEWYORKER: The Thin Red Line

Maintaining international unity has been frustrating at times, as Undersecretary Burns acknowledged in a telephone conference with reporters today.

NPR: U.N. Votes to Impose Sanctions on Iran

He will stress the "importance of maintaining the unity of Iraq, " say that "separate efforts undercut the unity of the country" and that "the Kurdish republic cannot survive financially without the support of Baghdad, " the official said.

NPR: Kerry In Iraq To Press On Iran Flights To Syria

And he was also expected speak by phone to Massoud Barzani, president of the oil-rich autonomous region of Kurdistan, to stress the importance of maintaining Iraq's unity.

BBC: Kerry presses Iraq on Iran weapons flights to Syria