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Subject IndexTuesday, November 24, 2009
Deepening Cooperation With India
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 24): "[T]he ability and the commitment of India and the United States to work together will be critical to our successes in both nations in addressing common challenges and achieving shared goals in the 21st century. As the world’s largest democracy and the world's oldest democracy, we are poised to collaborate on a number of fronts, from strengthening our security and confronting the threat of violent extremism, to fostering breakthroughs in science and technology, to increasing political, economic, and social opportunities for the world's women." -Full Text
20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Iron Curtain
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 23): "This year we are commemorating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain. And that helped put Bulgaria on the path toward democracy and a market economy, both of which were reaffirmed in their recent elections. There was no way to know in 1989 how this would work out. But the transition, which has not always been easy, has made it possible for so many millions of people in Central and Eastern Europe to really have a place in charting their own future and making a claim to a better future, and I am very impressed by the remarkable progress that has been made."  -Full Text
Window of Opportunity in Afghanistan
Special Representative Holbrooke (Nov. 23): "We have been waiting a long time to work with a government that was a result of the elections. And whatever one thinks of the elections, they were not perfect. ...They produced a winner and a legitimate government with which we intend to work as closely as possible. As the Secretary said, we are encouraged by what we saw ...as a window of opportunity." -Full Text

 

In Other News

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Location: Washington, DC Description: State Department Spokesman Ian C. Kelly. AP Photo
START Treaty
Spokesman Kelly (Nov. 23): "We're working on two tracks. One is to get that text done by early December. And then since we recognize we’re not going not have a fully ratified treaty in both capitals, we’re looking at ways that a number of provisions can remain in effect in this period between December 5 and whenever the new treaty is ratified." -Full Text
Secretary Clinton's address to troops in Kabul, Afghanistan, November 19, 2009
Gratitude to Troops in Afghanistan
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 19): "I am delighted to have this chance to come by and thank you in person for what you’re all doing. I’m very grateful to the leadership that both General McChrystal and General Rodriguez are giving to NATO-ISAF and to our American team. But I know that the work that’s done every single day is done by all of you in every aspect of this mission. I know we’ve got some of our allied partners here, and I want to thank all of them for representing their countries and being part of this extraordinary international effort." -Full Text
November 19, 2009: Statement by Assistant Secretary Posner Statement before the House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on religious freedom in the Middle East
Political and Religious Freedom in the Middle East
Assistant Secretary Posner (Nov. 19): "We seek a principled engagement with other nations on this issue—in a spirit of mutual interest and mutual respect. ...We are convinced that the freedom to profess, practice, and promote one’s religion is a basic human right, a social good, a source of stability, and a key component of international security." -Full Text
Date: 11/19/2009 Description: Deputy Secretary Jacob Lew and a delegation of key leaders from the U.S. State Department and other senior representatives laugh and say their goodbyes after witnessing first-hand the Provincial Reconstruction Team's training at Muscatatuck Center for Complex Operations Thursday Nov. 19. The civilian assistance is a critical component of President Obama's overall strategy for civilian training. © U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Will Hill
Making a Difference in Afghanistan
Deputy Secretary Lew (Nov. 19): "We have a lot of confidence in all of you as you go out to Afghanistan to be able to make a difference. ...I have confidence that each of you can make a difference in the work you do, and I hope the training here has helped prepare you to go out and be as effective as we know you can be." -Full Text
November 18, 2009: Remarks by Under Secretary for Political Affairs William J. Burns at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Event, Washington, DC
A New Era in U.S.-Indian Partnership
Under Secretary Burns (Nov. 18): "It is no coincidence that the first state visit in the Obama Presidency will come from India, and Prime Minister Singh will arrive in Washington next week at a moment of great opportunity. Few relationships will matter more to the course of human events in the 21st century than the partnership between India and the United States." -Full Text 
Date: 11/17/2009 Location: Washington, DC Description: Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson and Coordinator for Counterterrorism Daniel Benjamin testimony before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on counterterrorism in the Sahel Region of Africa. © State Dept Image
Counterterrorism in Africa
Assistant Secretary Carson (Nov. 17): "While the security challenges in the Sahel are not new, several attacks in recent months against African and western targets have drawn additional focus to the situation. Key countries in the area, including Algeria, Mali and Mauritania, have intensified efforts to coordinate their activities against AQIM and address the region’s short, medium, and long-term vulnerabilities." -Full Text -View Video
Date: 11/18/2009 Description: Secretary Clinton with and U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry and Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan: Richard C. Holbrooke at Meet and Greet at Embassy Kabul with Employees and Their Families. © State Dept Image by Daniel Wilkinson
Building a Strong Partnership With Afghanistan
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 18): "We want to be a strong partner with the government and the people of Afghanistan. And I always say both because it’s not either/or. It has to be both." -Full Text -View Video
Date: 11/18/2009 Location: Washington, DC Description: Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Judith A. McHale delivers remarks at the Open Doors 2009 annual meeting held at the National Press Club. © State Dept Image
Open Doors Report on International Education
Under Secretary McHale (Nov. 16): "We are delighted to release Open Doors today, because we have very good news to share with all of you.  Hosting foreign students and scholars not only enriches the educational experience of the exchange participants, it helps to build lasting ties among peoples and nations." -Full Text -View Video
Date: 11/17/2009 Description: Members of U.S. Southern Command's Joint Task Force Bravo distribute disaster relief assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development to El Salvadoran communities afflicted by Tropical Storm Ida. © USAID Image
U.S. Responds to Natural Disaster in El Salvador
On November 7-8, heavy rainfall related to Tropical Storm Ida caused floods and landslides in much of the central and eastern areas of El Salvador, including the capital city of San Salvador, which has resulted in more than 190 deaths and severe infrastructural damage and agricultural losses. At least 14,000 people have been forced from their homes and are staying in temporary shelters. -Full Text
Date: 11/16/2009 Description: Secretary Clinton's remarks on USA Pavilian at the World Expo Shanghai 2010 during press availability in Shanghai, China. © AP Image from Video
World Expo Shanghai 2010
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 16): “We’re grateful for your generosity and your steadfast belief in the importance of the Expo, the American role here and what this USA pavilion here can do to strengthen cooperation and partnership between the American people and the people of China. We are building it and we believe that when the Expo opens in 166 days 70 million people will come.” -AP Text  -Full Text -View Video
Date: 11/13/2009 Description: Secretary Clinton attends a forum with students at the University of Santo Tomas, the Philippines. © AP Image
The U.S. Role in World Affairs
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 13): "We have a lot of challenges at home that we need to address, particularly the economic ones. …If we are not involved, people want us involved; and if we’re involved, they say, oh, well, you shouldn’t be involved, except if we aren’t, then they want us back. There’s an expectation that we will be involved in political activities around the world, and…we’re going to do our best to try to be helpful." -Full Text
Date: 11/13/2009 Description: Secretary Clinton addressed an audience during a townterview with Maria Ressa, Ricky Carandang and Pinky Webb of ABS-CBN at the University of St. Tomas in Manila, Philippines. © AP Image
Townterview at University of St. Tomas in Manila
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 13): "I was very proud to see Barack Obama inaugurated as our President, and very honored to work with him in his Administration. But the Philippines is ahead of us. You've had two woman presidents. So I really should ask you what's the secret here, because it's quite a tribute to your society that you are choosing people on the merits in a democratic process. And I think that that will come to pass in our own country." -Full Text -View Video

Highlights

Secretary Clinton traveled to Europe and Asia, November 8-19.

Click on any trip marker to go to a larger interactive map, complete with video, photos, and the Secretary's remarks from the trip.
Voices of U.S. Diplomacy and the Berlin Wall
To mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Department of State's U.S. Diplomacy Center launched the Web exhibition Voices of U.S. Diplomacy and the Berlin Wall. Through this interactive exhibit, you can explore the dynamic work of diplomats who labored in Germany from the end of World War II through German unification in 1990. The story is told through their oral histories, artifacts, and more.
Doors to Diplomacy 2010 Web Project Competition
Date: 2008-11-06 00:00:00.0 Description: Doors to Diplomacy website contest. State Dept PhotoThe Department of State and the Global SchoolNet Foundation announce the 2010 "Doors to Diplomacy" award competition, recognizing the student-created Global SchoolNet Web projects that best teach others about the importance of international affairs and diplomacy. -More

Flu Updates
Since the June 11, 2009, World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of a pandemic, the new H1N1 virus has continued to spread, with the number of countries reporting cases of novel H1N1 nearly doubling. Updates about H1N1 are available through the links below.

United We Serve
Date: 06/17/2009 Description: United We Serve. Serve.gov. © Serve.gov imageServe.gov is a new portal for you and all Americans to find ways to serve in your communities. Americans are putting their own country back on the right track: Be a part of it! Visit Serve.gov, choose your keyword -- "education," "environment," or whatever interests you -- type in your ZIP Code, and see what opportunities our partner organizations have in your area.
Virtual Student Foreign Service (VSFS) Internships
Date: 05/12/2009 Description: Virtual Student Foreign Service logo: Outline of world map in square surrounded by the words Virtual Student Foreign Service. State Dept PhotoVirtual Student Foreign Service (VSFS) Internships, announced by Secretary Clinton at the 2009 New York University commencement speech, are part of a growing effort by the State Department to harness technology and a commitment to global service among young people to facilitate new forms of diplomatic engagement. The VSFS Internships will be developed over the next year and will seek to harness the energy of a rising generation of citizen diplomats.
-Register/More Information

Traveling?

Date: 08/25/2003 Location: Malta Description: Aerial view of Mellieha village with its parish church, Malta. © AP Photo
Malta
Malta was an important cultic center for earth-mother worship in the 4th millennium B.C. Archeological work shows a developed religious center there, including the world's oldest free-standing architecture, predating that of Sumer and Egypt.
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Date: 2009-05-11 00:00:00.0 Location: Singapore Description: The Fullerton Hotel, flanked by the financial center. Singapore, May 2009. [U.S. Embassy Singapore photo.]
Singapore
Singapore has a varied linguistic, cultural, and religious heritage. Malay is the national language, but Chinese, English, and Tamil also are official languages. English is the language of administration and also is widely used in the professions, businesses, and schools.
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Date: 05/24/2007 Location: Vienna, Austria Description: Concert by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra held on grounds of Schoenbrunn Palace. © AP Photo
Austria
Austrian history as such dates back to 976, when Leopold von Babenberg became the ruler of much of present-day Austria. In 1276 Rudolf I became the first Habsburg to ascend to the throne. Although never unchallenged, the Habsburgs ruled Austria for nearly 750 years.
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Date: 03/09/2009 Location: Meknes, Morocco Description: Crowds of buyers pack the markets in the old town of Meknes, Morocco, during the Mawlud an-Nabi public holiday when Muslims celebrate the birthday of Islam's Prophet Muhammad. Vineyards around Meknes produce most of the 35 million bottles of wine bottled each year in Morocco. © AP Image
Morocco
Moroccans are predominantly Sunni Muslims of Arab, Berber, or mixed Arab-Berber ancestry. Morocco is home to 14 public universities. Mohammed V University in Rabat is one of the country’s most famous schools. Founded over 1,000 years ago, Karaouine University is the oldest center for Islamic studies in the Maghreb. Morocco’s most prestigious private English-language university, Al-Akhawayn, was founded in 1993. Its curriculum is based on an American model. - Full Text
A yacht sails past the Sydney Opera House on Sydney Harbour, Australia, July 13, 2006. [© AP Images]Australia
Much of Australia's culture is derived from European roots, but distinctive Australian features have evolved from the environment, aboriginal culture, and the influence of Australia's neighbors. The vigor and originality of the arts in Australia--film, opera, music, painting, theater, dance, and crafts--have achieved international recognition.
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