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U.S. Department of State

Diplomacy in Action

Deputy Secretary of State

The Deputy Secretary, William J. Burns serves as the principal deputy, adviser, and alter ego to the Secretary of State; serves as Acting Secretary of State in the Secretary's absence; and assists the Secretary in the formulation and conduct of U.S. foreign policy and in giving general supervision and direction to all elements of the Department. Specific duties and supervisory responsibilities have varied over time.

Second Meeting of the Afghanistan-U.S. Bilateral CommissionDate: 05/11/2013 Description: Deputy Secretary Burns with Afghan Foreign Minister Dr. Zalmai Rassoul at the U.S.-Afghanistan Bilateral Commission in Kabul. - State Dept Image

At the invitation of Foreign Minister Dr. Zalmai Rassoul, Deputy Secretary William Burns and his delegation visited Kabul May 11, 2013, to convene the second meeting of the Afghanistan-U.S. Bilateral Commission, established by the Afghanistan-U.S. Enduring Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA). In the meeting, both sides reviewed progress in implementing the SPA’s shared vision of a secure, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan and discussed steps to strengthen our enduring partnership as sovereign nations. Statement»   Remarks»  Media Roundtable»

U.S. Assistance in Somalia

Deputy Secretary Burns (May 7): "Ultimately, it is up to the people of Somalia to ensure that reform succeeds. But we all have a responsibility to support their efforts."  Full Text»  More»

Community of Democracies Ministerial

Date: 03/22/2013 Description: Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns at the 44th OAS Extraordinary General Assembly in Washington, DC. © Maria Patricia Leiva/OASDeputy Secretary Burns (Apr. 29): "The calls for dignity, freedom, and democracy we have heard from Tunis to Sana’a are no different from those we heard two decades ago in Warsaw or Ulaanbaatar." Full Text»  Fact Sheet»
 


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