Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled to Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Vietnamand Afghanistan from July 18th through July 23rd. In Pakistan, Secretary Clinton participated in a meeting of the bilateral Ministerial-level Strategic Dialogue she chairs with her counterpart, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. In Afghanistan, Secretary Clinton attended the Kabul Conference. In Seoul, Secretary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gate s commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Korean War and met with President Lee Myung-bak. In Vietnam, the Secretary attended a luncheon highlighting the 15th anniversary of the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral relationship. She also participated in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Post Ministerial Conference and following that she joined the Foreign Ministers of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam for their second meeting to discuss the Lower Mekong Initiative. Secretary Clinton also led the U.S. delegation to the 17th ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial in Hanoi.
WASHINGTON, DC, July 21 -- In 2010, seventeen countries across sub-Saharan Africa celebrate fifty years of independence. In honor of this important historic moment; in acknowledgement of the extraordinarily young demographic profile of the region; and as part of an effort to forge strong, forward-looking partnerships in the years ahead, President Obama will host a forum in Washington, D.C., from August 3 - 5 with approximately 120 young leaders from civil society and the private sector representing more than forty countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Together with American counterparts and U.S. government officials, the participants will share their insights on key themes of youth empowerment, good governance, and economic opportunity. President Obama will host a town hall meeting at the White House with these young leaders to discuss their vision for transforming their societies over the next fifty years. Read More
"Our alliance with Thailand ... is a key example of America's enduring commitment to the region, and it plays an indispensable role as a platform for projecting shared interests and values..."
BANGKOK, THAILAND, July 16 -- William Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs discussed U.S.-Thai relations and American strategic engagement in the Asia-Pacific region at Chulalongkorn University. Under Secretary Burns' trip was part of a larger effort by the Obama administration to enhance and deepen our engagement in the Asia-Pacific, and in particular, in Southeast Asia and with ASEAN. He said “Over the course of the next few decades, climate change, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, widespread poverty, and threats to human rights will pose significant challenges for all of us. Meeting those challenges requires a renewed emphasis on partnerships among us. Nowhere are those partnerships more significant for stability and prosperity across this region than in our treaty alliances with Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, the Philippines and, of course, Thailand.” Read More
NEW DHELI, INDIA, July 23 -- United States Ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer signed the Counterterrorism Cooperation Initiative (CCI) Memorandum of Understanding along with Home Affairs Secretary G.K. Pillai, who signed on behalf of India. The signing is the latest evidence of the close and effective cooperative efforts between the United States and India on counterterrorism, information sharing, and building capacities. Read More
WASHINGTON, DC, July 15 – Officials from the U.S. Department of State discussed U.S. efforts in support of the Haitian people and the Haitian Government as they work to rebuild their country after the devastating earthquake that occurred on January 12, 2010. Participants on the call included Haitian-Americans as well as representatives from various nongovernmental organizations.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Cheryl Benton served as the moderator. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Caribbean and Central American Affairs Julissa Reynoso and Public Affairs Counselor Embassy Port-au-Prince Jerome Oetgen updated the group and answered questions.
At the sixth month mark since the earthquake in Haiti, this conversation was an opportunity for State Department officials to reassure Haitian-Americans of the U.S. government's continuing support and assistance in short and long-term recovery and reconstruction efforts. Speakers laid out the efforts and accomplishments of the people and Government of Haiti, of the international community, and of the U.S. Government since the earthquake. They also acknowledged the long and difficult path to sustainable development and stressed the U.S. Government and international partners' commitment to helping realize the vision of the Government of Haiti set forward in their Action Plan for National Recovery and Development.
This call is part of a larger long-term outreach strategy on behalf of the State Department to communicate with Haitian-Americans and members of nongovernmental organizations who are helping with reconstruction efforts in Haiti.
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“The United States has long recognized that a strong and secure Israel is vital to our own strategic interests. And we know that the forces that threaten Israel also threaten the United States of America. And therefore, we firmly believe that when we strengthen Israel's security, we strengthen America's security. ” - Secretary Of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
WASHINGTON, DC, July 16 – The Saban Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings Institution hosted Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew J. Shapiro for a discussion of the state of the U.S.-Israeli security relationship, and the Obama administration's ongoing efforts to make this relationship stronger than ever. Assistant Secretary Shapiro highlighted recent efforts to expand defense consultations, security assistance programs, and partnerships in training, defense technology and related fields. Senior Fellow Kenneth Pollack, director of the Saban Center, provided introductory remarks and Ambassador Martin Indyk, Vice President and Director of Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution moderated the discussion. Read More» Fact Sheet» Video»
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Goal of Doubling Exports Over Five Years to Support Millions of American Jobs Is On Track
WASHINGTON, DC, July 7 – President Barack Obama provided a progress report on the National Export Initiative (NEI), which shows that the President's goal of doubling exports and supporting several million new jobs over five years is on track, and that exports in the first four months of 2010 grew almost 17 percent from the same period last year. Since the President called for the NEI in his State of the Union Address, significant progress has been made on each of its five main objectives:
Improved advocacy efforts on behalf of U.S. exporters : The Department of Commerce has coordinated 18 trade missions with over 160 companies participating in 24 countries.
Full progress report on the National Export Initiative» Members of the President's Export Council»
"The State Department makes use of a broad range of tools to attack transnational drug and other criminal enterprises."
WASHINGTON, DC, July 21 -- David T. Johnson, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs discussed International Counternarcotics Policy before the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Domestic Policy. He discussed the role of the Department, diplomacy through teamwork, country programs and results, and reducing demand. He concluded by stating, “The State Department makes use of a broad range of tools to attack transnational drug and other criminal enterprises. Our primary focus is on improving the criminal justice sectors – police, prosecutors, courts, and administration – of foreign governments so that they can confront such threats directly on their home turf and before they reach our borders. In key drug source countries, this also includes support for drug crop elimination and assistance programs to wean farmers away from drug crops. By modernizing police methods and criminal laws, we also improve the ability of partner governments to cooperate with U.S. law enforcement agencies at the operational and prosecutorial level.” Read More»
WASHINGTON, DC, July 15 -- Ambassador Eric Goosby, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, led the U.S. delegation to the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria. The conference brings together an estimated 25,000 participants, including scientists, health care providers, political, community and business leaders, government, non-governmental and multilateral organization representatives, and people living with HIV/AIDS, to discuss efforts to stop HIV/AIDS. Reflecting America's leadership in the fight against global AIDS through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the U.S. used this opportunity to share data, best practices, and lessons learned from PEPFAR-supported programs with the global community of HIV/AIDS program implementers. Read More»
WASHINGTON, DC, July 19 -- A U.S. delegation began a fourth round of discussions on inter-country adoption to pursue an agreement that provides greater safeguards for children and families in the adoption process between the two countries. During the bilateral talks, which are scheduled for July 21-23, the delegation will review the latest draft of the adoption agreement, making every effort to ensure that it addresses the legal and policy concerns of both countries. The U.S. team is headed by Mary Ellen Hickey, Managing Director of the Office of Overseas Citizens Services, and includes representatives from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the State Department's Legal Adviser's Office and Bureaus of Consular and European Affairs. Read More»
"The first observance on July 18 this year honors President Mandela's extraordinary contributions and lifelong commitment to justice and human dignity."
WASHINGTON, DC, July 15 -- Secretary Clinton released a statement to commemorate the first observance of Nelson Mandela International Day. Secretary Clinton said, “Last year, the United States joined 192 other United Nations member states in supporting the creation of Nelson Mandela International Day. Its first observance on July 18 this year honors President Mandela's extraordinary contributions and lifelong commitment to justice and human dignity.” Read More»
