Dipnote - Entries By Category http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/index/ en U.S. Department of State 2009-11-07T00:24:20+00:00 Global Partnerships Advance Cairo’s “New Beginning” About the Author: Farah Pandith serves as the Special Representative to Muslim Communities.

On Tuesday, almost exactly five months after the President’s speech in Cairo announcing a “New Beginning” with Muslims around the world, Secretary Clinton spoke in Marrakesh at the Forum for the Future and reiterated the U.S. commitment to a "New Beginning." Standing before leaders from the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) region, as well as from the G-8 countries, the Secretary highlighted some of the actions we are taking to move beyond words -- actions we are taking to create partnerships, and through those, opportunity.

Through the Civil Society 2.0 initiative, we will help grassroots organizations use digital technology to tell their stories, build their membership and support bases, and connect to their community of peers around the world. Technology provides us with enormous opportunities to narrow the gaps and create understanding between people of different cultures, races, ethnicities and faiths. Connecting people together is one way we can help empower civil society at the grassroots level.

Secretary Clinton also announced the upcoming President’s Entrepreneurship Summit, which will take place early next year. The Entrepreneurship Summit will focus on the positives things young Muslim entrepreneurs are doing around the world through their creative ideas and passion for action. It addresses a need I’ve been hearing from young leaders around the world. The Summit will not only highlight amazing entrepreneurs but will help social, business, and technology entrepreneurs scale up their efforts. In so doing, they will impact their communities in big and small ways. Jobs and income are important benefits of successful entrepreneurship, but it goes beyond that: Entrepreneurs have the power to transform their lives and the lives of others around them. I hope you will go to www.entrepreneurship.gov/summit to learn more about the Summit, share your ideas, and nominate delegates!

I can tell you that the initiatives the Secretary has outlined directly respond to what I have heard in my own meetings with civil society leaders and, particularly, young people. I just returned from Kuwait, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia myself. The most encouraging thing about meeting with young people in these three societies was their energy and their own desire to make a difference. I met a young woman in Kuwait who writes a blog about what it feels like to grow up in Kuwait in 2009, having recently returned to her country after several years away. She was passionate about the future and the importance of sharing information. I met a young social entrepreneur in Jeddah who started a green campaign called GreenJeddah. She and her peers were seized with this issue and wanted to educate their community about recycling. I met a young man in Baghdad who started a tech company and wanted to do more to build networks of young people to share feedback and experiences. We need to enable and empower them. This is exactly what we are trying to do with the initiatives Secretary Clinton announced.

As the Secretary said, “it is results, not rhetoric, that matter in the end.” While listening and learning from each other are key first steps, true change will only come from building partnerships. When we work together, whether in government, academia, a non-profit organization, or as entrepreneurs, we each bring a unique perspective. Harnessing these different perspectives towards partnerships for action enables us to work together for the common good.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/partnerships_advance_new_beginning/ 2009-11-05T16:11:37+00:00 Secretary Clinton Releases 2009 International Religious Freedom Report remarks during the release of the 2009 International Religious Freedom Report. She stated, "The right to profess, practice, and promote one’s religious beliefs is a founding principle of our nation. In fact, many of our earliest settlers came because they wanted the freedom to practice their own religion without a state interfering or oppressing that practice. It is the first liberty mentioned in our Bill of Rights, and it is a freedom guaranteed to all people in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

I want to underscore that, because this is not just an American value. This was agreed to be a universal value. Religious freedom provides a cornerstone for every healthy society. It empowers faith-based service. It fosters tolerance and respect among different communities. And it allows nations that uphold it to become more stable, secure and prosperous. As President Obama said in Cairo, freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. These facts underlie our commitment to the cause of religious freedom. That’s why we make the issue of religious freedom a priority in our diplomacy, and this annual report is the centerpiece of our efforts." Full Text | Video]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/2009_irf/ 2009-10-26T17:10:56+00:00 Historians Meet at The Hague To Discuss Transparency and Technology About the Author: Joseph Wicentowski serves as a Historian in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Public Affairs.

A little known fact is that the United States was the first country to systematically publish its foreign policy documents, starting in 1861. In the years since that first volume of the Foreign Relations of the United States series was published, the Department's Office of the Historian has published over 450 books, totaling in the tens of thousands of archival documents, with thousands more released each year. One by one, other countries established their own official diplomatic document series, and in 1991, the editors of these series from around the world decided that it would be very useful to meet to share the results of their labor and discuss issues of common concern. Last week, the latest such conference -- the 10th International Conference of Editors of Diplomatic Documents -- was held in The Hague in the Netherlands, with over 25 countries in attendance.

Three of my colleagues and I served as the U.S. delegation to the conference this year, and we thoroughly enjoyed meeting our counterparts from other countries. The attendees were a fascinating group, made up of historians, archivists, and ambassadors. I learned that some countries, like ours, have historical offices or archives within their foreign ministries, while some countries delegate the task of editing official documents to independent institutions. No other country has a law like ours mandating the production and standards of the Foreign Relations series (Pub. L. 102-138, title I, Sec. 198(a), Oct. 28, 1991), but delegates from all countries were equally dedicated to the principle that releasing these documents is a valuable public service. At a time when the idea of "transparency" and "open government data" are motivating governments around the world to release records faster and in more accessible forms, offices like mine and those of my counterparts overseas can thrive, because our fundamental goal is to inform citizens about the foreign policy decisions and actions that our governments have taken.

It was an exciting conference also for the historical content and the methodological insights we shared with each other. Each conference has a historical theme selected by the host country, and this year's theme -- international development aid -- was chosen by our hosts at the Institute of Netherlands History, who recently completed a major multi-volume study on the history of Dutch development aid. My colleague, Kristin Ahlberg, presented a paper on the evolution of U.S. food policy, focusing particularly on the Johnson Administration, and her findings dovetailed well with presentations from an interdisciplinary group of scholars of foreign aid from France, India, Germany, the Netherlands, and Tanzania.

The second theme running through the conference was how best to use digital technology and the world wide web to improve how we edit and publish diplomatic documents online. We have all long recognized the huge potential of the web for making government data accessible, but there are several key challenges for historians and editors in online publishing. For example, one of our traditional tools isn't easily adaptable to the web: the humble footnote. Footnotes are a key tool for annotating primary source documents and helping the reader put them in context, but they are surprisingly difficult to make usable online. Also, the web finally allows us to distribute scanned images of the original primary source documents, but search engines aren't able to penetrate the images to search the text well. Finally, how can we both publish online and in print, and not get too bogged down by publishing in multiple formats?

Given all the concern the delegates shared about these issues, I was happy to share the solutions to each of these issues that my office has recently developed. Using newly refined standards and technologies (namely, TEI, XQuery, and native XML databases such as eXist), we can now serve up footnotes and scanned images, publish online and in print, and make it all fully searchable. Our counterparts were eager to discuss our innovations, and we were happy to share our expertise. Perhaps it is fitting that the U.S., which started the first diplomatic history documents series in the 19th century, is still plowing new ground in promoting government transparency and international cooperation into the 21st century.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/hague_history/ 2009-10-26T16:35:00+00:00 United Nations Day About the Author: Kurtis Cooper is a Press and Public Diplomacy Officer for the Bureau of International Organization Affairs.

October 24, 2009 marked United Nations Day, the anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations (UN) Charter on October 24, 1945. It has been celebrated as UN Day since 1948.

The United States and the United Nations marked the occasion in a number of ways. U.S. President Barack Obama issued a Proclamation earlier this week. Additionally, Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs Esther Brimmer held a number of talks about the unheralded benefits of the United Nations in both Los Angeles and San Fransisco, the UN's birthplace.

She also took a few minutes to discuss the benefits of membership in UN multilateral organizations during her last visit to UN headquarters.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/un_day/ 2009-10-24T16:21:23+00:00 Stories Help Sell the Foreign Service Exam About the Author: Paul Mayer serves as the Consular Section Chief at the U.S. Consulate General in Montréal, Canada.

In the end, it was the stories that they liked the best.

In mid-September, when my colleague Tracy and I walked over to McGill University to talk with American students about the Foreign Service Exam and life as a Foreign Service Officer, we weren’t sure what we would find. We knew that American students who were brave enough to “study abroad” (the Academy maintains that Canada is, in fact, a foreign country… ref. poutine, curling, and Celine Dion) would probably already be thinking of America’s role in an increasingly complex world. We also knew that students at one of North America’s most prestigious universities would come prepared with good questions. Fortunately, no one asked me to explain the Kyoto Protocol.

We arrived at McGill and walked by a crowded classroom, not wanting to disturb the lecturer, only to find that the students were actually waiting for us. Cha-ching! After we introduced ourselves and discussed the mechanics of registering for and taking the Foreign Service Exam, Tracy and I gave a brief summary of our job experiences and started sharing some reflections on Foreign Service life. Neither of us could recall sipping sherry and exchanging witty bon mots with Cabinet ministers. Rather, as a Human Rights officer in a poor, sub-Saharan African country, Tracy had seen and heard some truly ghastly stories. Less than two years after joining the State Department, she was the person who was writing them up for inclusion in the annual Human Rights Report.

For me, ten years after having been a first-responder consular officer at a horrible plane crash in Southeast Asia, it didn’t take much to remember or articulate the sense of obligation I felt toward the American citizens who had been killed, and to the families they left behind. It will take much for me to forget the scenes or feelings or smells of that day, though. To be fair, I also remember clearly another heavy burden placed on my shoulders when I agreed to be a judge at a national beauty pageant in a Scandinavian country. Foreign Service Officers serve their country in many different ways.

Neither of these stories are classic feel-good recruiting tales, but I’m pretty sure that the 60-70 McGill students packed into the room would have been suspicious if they thought they were being sold a bill of goods. When Tracy and I were asked to share more stories from our diplomatic assignments, we both smiled and thought, “Where do we begin?” I suppose you could say we were successful, because after 90 minutes, at least two-thirds of these busy, multi-tasking, iPhone wielding students were still in the room.

Montréal is one of the sites for the written Foreign Service Exam, and before we started the outreach program, organized by our Public Diplomacy Section, every one of our limited testing slots was already filled up. Following our meeting at McGill, and a second one at neighboring Concordia University, we opened up more testing slots, and we were pleased to see that they filled up, too. We can’t be sure if there was a direct correlation with our visits and the stories we’d shared, but we’d like to believe there was. The only definitive proof may come when a future FSO candidate expresses a desire to specialize in beauty pageant judging...]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/stories_fse/ 2009-10-21T18:03:08+00:00 Partners in Peace: U.S. Initiative Trains and Equips Nearly 87,000 Peacekeepers About the author: Jennifer Pulliam is a program manager for the Global Peace Operations Initiative in the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.

We’ve received a lot of questions on our recent Dipnote posting on U.S. efforts to train and equip foreign troops to serve in international peacekeeping missions under our Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI), a few of which I’d like to share with you today.

What does GPOI do? How long has it been in operation?

Established in 2004, GPOI is a U.S. program primarily designed to assist with training and equipping military units deploying to peacekeeping operations. Through GPOI, we currently provide training to 56 partner countries around the world, about half of which are located in Africa. Among other accomplishments, we've trained nearly 87,000 troops to date, a high percentage of which have deployed to UN and regional peacekeeping missions.

“UN peacekeeping can deliver important results by protecting civilians, helping to rebuild security, and advancing peace around the world,” President Obama said September 24 when he and Secretary Clinton and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice recognized the importance of peacekeeping in an event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

“Over the last ten years, the demands on peacekeeping have grown, and operations have become more complex. It is in all of our interests to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of these efforts,” Obama said. GPOI is part of this effort to ensure that we have sufficient numbers of well-trained peacekeepers available to respond to these needs and help create conditions for post-conflict recovery remain a priority.

What kind of training and equipment do you provide under GPOI?

The training we provide through GPOI depends on the requirements and requests of the participating partner country. Supported training spans a wide range of tasks, to include soldier skills relevant to peacekeeping operations, staff training for personnel who will work in mission headquarters, or courses for military observers in peacekeeping missions. As for equipment, it also depends on the requirements and requests of the participating country but can include a wide range of non-lethal equipment, such as uniforms, tents, generators, vehicles, etc.

Does GPOI provide support to regional organizations?

Through various support activities, GPOI seeks to enhance the capacity of regional and sub-regional organizations to train for, plan, deploy, manage, and sustain peacekeeping operations. In Africa, for example, we work very closely with the African Union and regional bodies such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to provide staff training and equipment such as communications gear and information technology, as well as supporting multinational peacekeeping exercises. GPOI has also funded training and the provision of equipment for African Union troops that are currently deployed in Somalia.

How are GPOI programs linked to capacity building activities in other G8 countries?

GPOI program managers coordinate closely with G8 and other international contributors to coordinate efforts and promote complementarities among the many ongoing capacity building initiatives. In particular, participation in an annual G8++ Global Peace Support Operations Capacity Building Clearinghouse is designed to enhance cooperation and avoid redundancies to maximize program outcomes. Through GPOI, the United States also partners with other G8 countries. For example, the United States and Italy have partnered to operate an international “train the trainer” center for stability police units that deploy to peacekeeping missions.

Does GPOI support Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) also operating on the ground in post-conflict countries?

NGOs also play a critical role in peace processes and are particularly essential for providing humanitarian assistance and rebuilding post-conflict societies. In general, GPOI doesn't provide assistance directly to NGOs, as our program is focused on enhancing the capabilities of military peacekeepers. But our programs often do include training for military troops to help them more effectively work with NGOs in a peacekeeping environment.

What are some of the challenges facing peacekeepers?

In terms of the troops we train, primary problems are often related to resource constraints and shortfalls ─ for example, often partner countries lack the equipment they need to train and deploy their troops. With respect to troops deployed to peacekeeping missions, they are often working in very difficult conditions ─ for example, poor infrastructure and insecure environments ─ that complicate their efforts to carry out their missions.

Overall, do you consider the program a success?

We do! The global demand for peacekeeping forces has increased substantially since the 1990s. The UN now has about 116,000 peacekeepers deployed around the world and expects this trend to continue. There are still significant gaps in international peacekeeping capabilities, and we are working hard with our partner countries to address these issues.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/partners_in_peace/ 2009-10-21T17:16:50+00:00 World Food Day 2009 Secretary Clinton recently provided a statement recognizing World Food Day October 16, 2009:

"On World Food Day, we join with others to reaffirm our commitment to work to combat one of today’s most critical issues—global hunger. More than one billion people—one sixth of the world’s population—suffer from chronic hunger. This year there are an estimated 105 million more people who are chronically hungry than last year. The world has taken notice. Now we must take action." Full Text | Global Food Security Page

Remarks With U.S. Secretary of Agriculture]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/world_food_day_2009/ 2009-10-16T15:43:57+00:00 U.S. Seeks To Increase Capable, Willing, Democratic States Yesterday, Ambassador Susan Rice delivered remarks at Howard University. Ambassador Rice said:

"Today our world — the world you will inherit — is more interconnected than at any point in human history. Increasingly, we rise or fall together. If Somalia is forsaken, violent extremists can find their way to our soil. If horrific violence in Guinea or the Democratic Republic of Congo is left to rage on unchecked, all of our consciences are shamed. If disease festers anywhere, pandemics can affect us everywhere. We face an extraordinary array of transnational security challenges that cross borders as freely as a storm. By definition, they cannot be tackled by any one country alone, even one as powerful as our own.

But just as our perils are shared, so too are our opportunities. To seize these opportunities, the United States needs to help grow the ranks of capable, democratic states — states that can deliver on both their responsibilities to the international community and to their own people. Capable states are those that control their territory, govern justly, provide security and essential services, protect their citizens’ rights, and offer their people hope for a better future. When a country cannot — or will not — perform these core functions, when a nation is wracked by war, when a state becomes a shell, its people suffer immediately. But over the longer term, a fragile state can also incubate global trouble that can spread far beyond its borders.

It is not enough simply to build up the corps of capable, democratic states. We need states with both the capacity and the will to tackle common challenges. As we have been reminded in recent years, we cannot take that will for granted, even among our closest allies. If we want others to help combat the threats that concern us most, then we must help others combat the challenges that threaten them most. For many nations, these are first and foremost the things that afflict human beings in their daily lives: corruption, repression, conflict, hunger, poverty, disease, and the lack of education and opportunity.

When the United States joins with others to confront these challenges, it’s not charity. It’s not even barter. In today’s world, more than ever, what is good for others is often good for us too. When we manifest our commitment to tackling the threats that menace so many other nations; when we invest in helping protect the lives of others; and when we recognize that national security is no longer a zero-sum game, then we increase other countries’ will to cooperate on the issues most vital to us.

We build that will by demonstrating responsible leadership. We build will by setting a tone of decency and mutual respect rather than condescension and contempt. We build will by abiding by the rules we expect others to follow. We build will by pursuing pragmatic, principled policies and explaining them with intelligence and candor. And in the broadest sense, we build will when others can see their future as aligned with ours.

A fundamental imperative of U.S. national security in the 21st century is thus clear: we need to maximize the number of states with both the capacity and the will to tackle a new generation of transnational security challenges. We need a modern edifice of cooperation, built upon the foundation of responsible American leadership, with the bricks of state capacity and the beams of political will."

Read the Ambassador's full remarks here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/democratic_states/ 2009-10-09T20:53:40+00:00 “Guiding Principles for Stabilization and Reconstruction”: A Strategic Roadmap for Peace About the Author: Ambassador John Herbst serves as the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization at the U.S. Department of State.

A strategic roadmap for civilians engaged in reconstruction and stabilization missions is long overdue. As the United States and its international partners remain committed to Afghanistan, the need for strategic guidance that is comprehensive, institutionalized, and truly shared across institutions has never been clearer.

Today, the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction & Stabilization is pleased to announce the Guiding Principles for Stabilization and Reconstruction — the first strategic “doctrine” ever produced for civilian planners and practitioners involved in peacebuilding missions. It is a practical roadmap for helping countries transition from violent conflict to peace. Exactly one year ago today, the U.S. Army rolled out its unprecedented Field Manual 3-07: Stability Operations, which established the U.S. military’s support role in these operations. The Guiding Principles manual released today is a complementary publication, designed to support the civilian side of the U.S. interagency — those entrusted to lead these challenging missions.

Developed by the United States Institute of Peace and the U.S. Army Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute, the Guiding Principles manual offers two important contributions: 1) a comprehensive set of shared principles and 2) a shared strategic framework. Both rise directly from the enormous wealth of knowledge and experience that has accrued across the global peacebuilding community over the last two decades. The development of the manual involved intensive vetting and consultation sessions with NATO planners, British stabilizers, UN peacebuilders and other key partners. It also involved a thorough review of hundreds of doctrinal documents produced by the very institutions that have toiled in these difficult environments.

The strategic framework is the cornerstone of the manual and is based on a validated construct of common End States, Necessary Conditions and Major Approaches. It embraces five shared end states for these missions: a safe and secure environment, rule of law, stable governance, a sustainable economy and social well-being. Together, the framework and shared principles offer a critical tool for educating and training the hundreds of officers in the Active, Standby and Reserve components of the U.S. Department of State’s Civilian Response Corps.

While there is no silver bullet for the immense complexities of these operations, the Guiding Principles manual is a must-read for all levels of individuals involved in any aspect of a reconstruction and stabilization mission, be it decision-making, assessment, planning, training and education, implementation or metrics. It is the bible for reconstruction and stabilization operations.

Our mission in the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction & Stabilization is to lead, coordinate and institutionalize U.S. government civilian capacity to respond in these environments. The manual augments this mission by establishing a set of baseline principles that can help improve U.S. interagency cooperation, along with cooperation with our partners at home and abroad, including national governments, international institutions and nongovernmental organizations. By institutionalizing and translating into practical guidance the many lessons we have learned, we can help free decision makers, planners and practitioners from the ad hoc approaches of the past.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/strategic_roadmap_for_peace/ 2009-10-07T16:41:49+00:00 Violence Against Women: Global Costs and Consequences Yesterday, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer testified before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Below is an excerpt from her submitted, written testimony.

Violence against women is an issue that should concern us all. Women are the key to progress and prosperity in the 21st century. When they are marginalized and mistreated, humanity cannot progress. When they are accorded their rights and afforded equal opportunities in education, health care, employment, and political participation, they lift up their families, their communities, and their nations.

As we look ahead toward a comprehensive international campaign to end violence against women, we must ensure that all of the following are a part of our strategies:

(1) First, we must define this violence not as a women’s issue but as one of international human rights and national security. This means that our efforts to prevent and combat violence must go beyond current campaigns aimed primarily at women. Our efforts must recognize that men and women at all levels of society and of all ages have roles to play. Crucially, it also means that our strategies cannot exist purely at the grassroots level. Policymakers and decision-makers must recognize and take up this issue not only as one that touches on their interests, but as one that is at the heart of their interests and for which they have responsibility.

(2) Involvement by international religious leaders of all faiths is critical.

(3) Men can and must be a part of the effort to end violence against women.

(4) Continuing to work towards women’s economic empowerment is essential. Beyond the development gains that accrue to countries in which women are active economic participants, women who control their own resources are better-positioned to escape situations of violence. Achieving this goal means identifying and working to remove institutional obstacles to women’s economic success, including inequitable land tenure laws and customs as well as those that constrain equal property rights and inheritance.

(5) Access to high-quality education is fundamentally important, for both girls and boys. We must ensure that girls not only have access to the same education as boys, but that they are safe as they travel to and from school and while they learn.

(6) In areas of conflict, the best outcome is a rapid end to strife. We must recognize the collateral damage inflicted on civilian women in regions of protracted conflict, and improve protection for women, prevention of further atrocities, and we must ensure the prosecution of perpetrators, be they soldiers or top commanders. The recent passage of U.S.-sponsored UN Security Resolution 1888 is progress, but we must ensure that the new resolution itself is effectively and expeditiously implemented.

(7) We must recognize that violence against women flourishes where impunity is the norm. Regions in conflict are particularly vulnerable to judicial breakdown, but impunity can also reign long after conflicts are resolved. We know that good laws alone won’t ensure that women will be protected. We must work with governments around the world to focus on the implementation of laws and on judicial training in order to ensure an end to impunity.

(8) Where programs are working well, we should take them to scale.

(9) Finally, we need to understand that violence against women is a policy imperative that deserves to be our highest priority. We need to recognize that this problem of violence is, at root, a manifestation of the low status of women and girls around the world. Ending the violence requires elevating their status and freeing their potential to be agents of change in their community.

The State Department’s Office of Global Women’s Issues is deeply committed to implementing these strategies and to building the kinds of partnerships that will allow us to leverage international progress toward our goals. We will address violence against women by promoting the rule of law, enhancing strong criminal and civil justice programs, encouraging implementation of laws, and building public awareness of the benefits of educating girls and providing them with economic opportunity and health care as well as changing societal attitudes.

Read Ambassador Verveer's full written testimony here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/violence_against_women_costs_consequences/ 2009-10-02T18:15:33+00:00 Women’s Empowerment Central to U.S. Foreign Policy In a video message, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer underscored the central role women's empowerment and equality play in U.S. foreign policy. Ambassador Verveer said:

"Investing in women is one of the most powerful forces for international development and for advancing the causes of peace and security, democracy and prosperity around the world; and, yet, it’s a force that is still significantly untapped. Equality for girls and women isn’t only the right thing to do -- it’s also the smart thing -- for no country can get ahead if half its citizens are left behind. We still have a long way to go before women have equal economic participation, or equal political representation, or access to education and health care, or are free from violence and have the chance to follow their dreams.

In 1995, when Secretary Hillary Clinton was First Lady, she gave an historic speech at a United Nations Conference on Women in Beijing, China. She talked about how human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights. It’s that simple: a matter of equal human dignity, respect and opportunity. In that speech, she said that girls and women comprise the majority of the world’s poor, unfed and unschooled; and that is still the case, sadly. She talked about how women in many places are subjected to rape as a tool of war, to domestic abuse, and child marriages; how they are bought and sold like commodities in human trafficking; and how girl babies are cast aside just because they are born girls; and, tragically, these and other violent practices are still happening every second somewhere around the globe, and these problems are still urgent.

But despite the enormous challenges, we are making progress. We are making progress because women -- and so many good men who support them -- from Afghanistan and Jordan to South Africa, from Poland and Turkey to Argentina, and all the countries in between, women are struggling to change our world for the better. More world leaders are ready to listen and take measures to improve the status of girls and women.

We know what works. We know that when a girl goes to school, she improves the life of her family and community. She is given a brighter future. When a poor female entrepreneur gets access to credit, her business and her family flourish. When a mother receives health care, she and her family can prosper.

Women’s empowerment and equality are central to our foreign policy, because we cannot tackle the great challenges of our time -- whether dealing with the environment, security, the global economy, or human rights -- without the participation of women at all levels of our society.

I hope you will raise your voice and join our efforts. I invite you to explore our website and to learn more about what the State Department is doing; and please sign up to find out about how you can advance the progress of girls and women everywhere. And in so doing, together we can create a better world for all of us."]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/womens_empowerment/ 2009-10-01T21:20:33+00:00 Global Food Security: U.S. Commitment to Action Secretary Clinton's Remarks at the Clinton Global Initiative Closing Plenary | Briefing by Chief of Staff and Counselor Cheryl Mills on Food Security

Tomorrow, Secretary Clinton and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will co-host a food security event. Watch our video and share it with your friends and family.

More than one billion people — one sixth of the world's population — suffer from chronic hunger. Without enough food, adults struggle to work and children struggle to learn. Global food supplies must increase by an estimated 50 percent to meet expected demand in the next 20 years. Advancing sustainable agricultural-led growth increases the availability of food, keeps food affordable, and raises the incomes of the poor.

Momentum is building for global action. Developing country leaders have recognized the need to invest in their own food security. At the 2009 L’Aquila G8 Summit, donors collectively committed $20 billion to agricultural development and a new approach to global food security.

The U.S. is committed to working as part of a collaborative global effort centered around country-led processes to improve food security. We are working with stakeholders to advance action that addresses the needs of small scale farmers and agri-businesses, and harnesses the power of women to drive economic growth. We will increase our investment in agriculture development while maintaining our support for humanitarian food assistance.

Learn more about the U.S. plan to fight hunger and join us on Facebook to be part of the discussion today.

Join the fight against hunger – sign up to get updates on how you can be a part of the solution.

Related Entry: Five Principles Guide Approach to Food Security]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/global_food_security_commitment/ 2009-09-25T14:13:26+00:00 A New Approach for Missile Defense Secretary Clinton's op-ed, "The New System Offers a Real Missile Defense," appeared in the Financial Times today. Secretary Clinton wrote:

Last Wednesday, President Barack Obama approved the recommendations of his entire national security team to deploy a stronger and more comprehensive missile defense system in Europe. This decision came after a lengthy and in-depth review of our assessment of the threat posed by Iran’s ballistic missile program, and the technology that we have to confront it. And it is a decision that will leave America stronger, and more capable of defending our troops, our interests, and our allies.

With the president’s decision, we will deploy missile defense sooner than the previous program, so that we will be able swiftly to counter the threat posed by Iran’s short and medium-range ballistic missiles.

We will deploy missile defense that is more comprehensive than the previous program, with more interceptors in more places, and a better capacity to protect all of our friends and allies in the region. We will deploy technology that is actually proven so that we do not waste time or taxpayer money, and we will preserve the flexibility to adjust our approach to the threat as it evolves.

This is a stronger and smarter approach than the previous program. It does what missile defense is actually supposed to do – it defends America and our allies.

We are not “shelving” missile defense. We are enhancing our capacity to protect our interests and our allies. We are not walking away from our allies but are deploying a system that enhances allied security, advances our co-operation with Nato, and actually places more resources in more countries.

Two of those allies are Poland and the Czech Republic, and we deeply appreciate their willingness to host parts of the previously planned system. We will continue to co-operate closely with both nations and both will have the opportunity to be closely involved with missile defense. I want to underscore that we are bound together by our common commitment as Nato allies, and also by deep historical, economic, and cultural ties that will never be broken.

For 60 years, the Nato alliance has been a force for peace, prosperity and security in Europe and around the world because of the commitment to collective security embodied in Article V of its charter: An attack on one ally is an attack on all. An attack on London or Warsaw is an attack on New York or Washington. Nato demonstrated this commitment after the September 11 terrorist attacks, when for the first time, the alliance invoked Article V and Nato sent assets to the U.S. to help protect us from additional terrorist attacks.

Finally, let me reiterate what the president said last Wednesday: This decision was not about Russia; it was about Iran and the threat that its ballistic missile programmes continue to pose. And because of this decision, we will be in a far stronger position to deal with that threat, and to do so with technology that works.

While we pursue this new path, we will make clear our readiness to engage Iran and focus its leaders on a clear choice: whether to join the international community as a responsible member or to continue down a path to further isolation.

But the security of our allies and our forces cannot wait. That is why we are moving ahead with a new approach for missile defense.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/missile_defense/ 2009-09-20T23:08:19+00:00 Prevention of Modern Slavery About the Author: Carla Menares-Bury serves as Multilateral Affairs Coordinator for the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP).

Earlier this week, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Alliance Against Trafficking in Persons hosted a regional conference titled "Prevention of Modern Slavery: An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure." Secretary Clinton delivered a video statement at the opening session of the Vienna conference in which she said, "New economic pressures are likely to aggravate the problem further, so this conference comes at a time of renewed urgency. It is an opportunity to place a renewed focus on prevention and the root causes of trafficking."

Over 250 experts from governments, international organizations, and civil society met to discuss the impact of the global economic crisis on the "supply and demand" for trafficking, the necessity and challenge of assessing the impact of prevention programs, understanding the trafficking business model, identifying innovative prevention practices, and the role of media in combating human trafficking. While we have made great progress in the fight against modern-day slavery, much remains to be done in addressing the causal factors of human trafficking. This conference can be an important step in preventing men, women, and children from becoming victims.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/prevention_slavery/ 2009-09-18T14:03:19+00:00 Four Fundamental Freedoms Secretary Clinton spoke at the Roosevelt Institute's Four Freedoms Medals Gala Dinner, where she said:

"Freedom of expression, for example, is no longer just defined by whether citizens can go to the town square, or the town hall, and criticize their government without fear of retribution. Advances in technology, from email and blogs to Twitter and text messaging, have opened up new forums for exercising free speech, and created new targets for those who would suppress the open exchange of knowledge and ideas.

Often, as we deal with these problems in the State Department now, we see that human rights defenders, civil society advocates, bloggers, and journalists are now being targeted for harassment and prosecution, even murder.

We see the continuing imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi, the recipient in absentia of the Freedom from Fear Award in 2006. We see the murders of journalists in Russia who are trying to expose the truth of criminal activity and governmental misconduct. We see Iran using arbitrary arrests to detain nearly 4,000 people for voicing or reporting complaints about the conduct of recent elections. And then we see the consequences of what happens in Venezuela or China, or elsewhere, when people believe that they are just exercising the universal right to speak and be heard.

Just weeks ago, an award-winning journalist and human rights activist was abducted and shot to death while investigating human rights violations in Chechnya. And while I welcome Russian President Medvedev's pledge to foster independent media, actions speak louder than words. Dozens of journalists have been killed in Russia in the last decade. Most of the murders are unsolved. Those responsible for such crimes should be brought to justice. And we in the United States have to stand firmly on the side of those who speak out. (Applause.)

We will continue to form partnerships with those who share our values, like the Government of the Netherlands. On Monday, the United States will take its place as a returning member of the UN Human Rights Council. When I made the decision that we would rejoin the Human Rights Council – (applause) – there were those who questioned that. How can you be part of something that is so contrary to the values that we espouse, that we wish to uphold, not only here at home but around the world? Well, we are going in to the arena. One of our priorities will be upholding universal standards for freedom of expression as we combat intolerance and discrimination everywhere it rears it head. (Applause.)

And we are reinvigorating the Global Internet Freedom Task Force as a forum for addressing challenges to internet freedom around the world, and we are urging United States media companies to take a proactive role in challenging foreign governments’ demands for censorship and surveillance of their citizens. (Applause.)

President Obama and I are committed to defending the Freedom of Expression on the new terrain of the 21st century so that, someday, people everywhere will have unencumbered access to the flow of information and the tools of expression – tools which are more abundant and more powerful today than at any time in history."

Read Secretary Clinton's full remarks or what she said about freedom of religion, freedom from want and freedom from fear.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/four_fundamental_freedoms/ 2009-09-14T17:27:55+00:00 The Sky’s the Limit About the Author: John Byerly serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Transportation Affairs.

As you know, the Secretary recently gave a speech at the Council of Foreign Relations outlining her policy priorities. What you may not know is the extent of State’s involvement in international economic policy-making. The Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs (EEB) and economic officers at U.S. embassies throughout the world address diverse economic issues, ranging from trade and investment to energy, finance, communications, sanctions and the global transportation system.

EEB’s Transportation Affairs division is devoted to providing the fullest possible support to the U.S. global transportation industry. Here at the Office of Aviation Negotiations, we lead interagency teams that negotiate Open Skies Agreements, eliminating government interference in the commercial decisions of airlines and allowing them to provide more affordable, convenient, and efficient air service for consumers.

We signed our first Open Skies agreement with the Netherlands in 1992. Since then, we’ve reached agreement with more than 90 other countries, in all regions and at all stages of development. Our Open Skies policy has had consistent bipartisan support. Currently, we’re seeking Open Skies agreements with Japan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Kyrgyzstan, and pursuing the second stage of negotiations of our landmark 2007 Open Skies agreement with the European Community and its 27 member states.

The sky’s the limit as we work towards a world-wide transportation system that is open, efficient, secure and safe for the rapid and economical movement of people and goods.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/aviation_negotiations/ 2009-08-26T20:51:55+00:00 President Obama Gives Ramadan Message President Obama delivers Ramadan message.

President Obama extends his best wishes to Muslims around the world during Ramadan. The President's message is part of an on-going dialogue with Muslim communities that began on inauguration day and has continued with his statement on Nowruz and during his trips to Ankara and Cairo. In his Ramadan message, President Obama said:

"All of these efforts are a part of America’s commitment to engage Muslims and Muslim-majority nations on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect. And at this time of renewal, I want to reiterate my commitment to a new beginning between America and Muslims around the world.

As I said in Cairo, this new beginning must be borne out in a sustained effort to listen to each other, to learn from each other, to respect one another, and to seek common ground. I believe an important part of this is listening, and in the last two months, American embassies around the world have reached out not just to governments, but directly to people in Muslim-majority countries. And from around the world, we have received an outpouring of feedback about how America can be a partner on behalf of peoples’ aspirations.

We have listened. And like you, we are focused on pursuing concrete actions that will make a difference over time – both in terms of the political and security issues that I have discussed, and in the areas that you have told us will make the most difference in peoples’ lives.

These consultations are helping us implement the partnerships that I called for in Cairo – to expand education exchange programs; to foster entrepreneurship and create jobs; and to increase collaboration on science and technology, while supporting literacy and vocational learning. We are also moving forward in partnering with the OIC and OIC member states to eradicate polio, while working closely with the international community to confront common health challenges like H1N1 – which I know is of particular to concern many Muslims preparing for the hajj.

All of these efforts are aimed at advancing our common aspirations – to live in peace and security; to get an education and to work with dignity; to love our families, our communities, and our faith. It will take time and patient effort. We cannot change things over night, but we can honestly resolve to do what must be done, while setting off in a new direction – toward the destination that we seek for ourselves, and for our children. That is the journey that we must travel together."

Read the President's full Ramadan message and more on the White House Blog.

Message also available in: Amharic | Arabic | Bengali | Dari | French | Hindi | Indonesian | Malay | Pashto | Persian | Punjabi | Russian | Turkish | Urdu ]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/president_obama_ramadan_message/ 2009-08-21T18:18:55+00:00 A New Approach at the United Nations U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice outlined a new U.S. approach to the UN in a speech she delivered at New York University.

Today, at New York University, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice delivered an address titled "A New Course in the World, A New Approach at the United Nations." In it, she offered thoughts on the United States changing the course it charts in the world — and how, consistent with the new direction, the Obama Administration is dramatically changing the U.S. approach to the United Nations.

Ambassador Rice said, "Today, as we steer a new course at the United Nations, our guiding principles are clear: We value the U.N. as a vehicle for advancing U.S. policies and universal rights. We work for change from within rather than criticizing from the sidelines. We stand firm in defense of America’s interests and values, but we don’t dissent just to be contrary. We listen to states great and small. We build coalitions. We meet our responsibilities. We pay our bills. We push for real reform. And we remember that in an interconnected world, what’s good for others is often good for America as well.”]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/new_approach_united_nations/ 2009-08-13T02:01:58+00:00 United Against Trafficking in Persons About the Author: Ambassador Luis CdeBaca serves as Director of the State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State.

Secretary Clinton, who has led the fight against modern-day slavery for over a decade, has introduced a new way forward in tackling this heinous crime. To our three ‘P’ paradigm of prosecution, protection, and prevention, she is adding a fourth ‘P’: partnership.

This includes partnership between governments; between law enforcement and NGOs; between federal, state, and local agencies; and between the public and private sectors. So, we are committed to fostering partnerships within the U.S. government among the more than ten federal agencies that fight human trafficking at home and abroad. From investigating and prosecuting traffickers, to providing medical help for victims, to preventing slave labor in supply chains, the U.S. government is committing the full weight of its resources and power to ensure that men, women, and children are treated with full dignity and respect.

I’m blogging this week about two great examples of partnership with federal agencies that may not immediately spring to mind when people think of modern-day slavery issues – the Department of Education and the Department of Defense.

On Monday, I had the privilege of speaking at the 2009 “Power of Change” national conference sponsored by the Department of Education. More than 2,000 teachers, superintendents, health officials, principals, and police officers attended the opening plenary session, hosted by the Office of Safe & Drug-Free Schools.

I was pleased that the organizers for the first time included human trafficking on the agenda, because trafficking threatens the safety of our children and our communities. With co-panelist Ernie Allen of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, I called these educators’ attention to how trafficking can affect the children in their care. This is especially important because the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 defines those children who are maintained in prostitution as trafficking victims.

Every one of the conference attendees was essentially a ‘first responder’ on this issue. They serve on the front lines of this fight. They see their students every day and notice the signs of abuse. Or they have the relationships of trust with students that lead kids to reach out to them when in trouble.

All who work with young people should be aware of the dangers that threaten their students. Technology increasingly has become a trafficking tool, with internet fora used not just to exchange apartments or furniture, but to make prostitution assignations. Offenders use chat rooms, message boards, and specialized websites to obtain information about where vulnerable young victims can be found. The most vulnerable girls are those considered “throw-away” or runaway youth from dysfunctional families. They are at risk of becoming prey to pimps who lure them with the promise of love and security, only to expose them to a world of cruelty and violence.

On Tuesday, in contrast to the audience at the Department of Education, I addressed a gathering of commissioned officers and brigadier generals at the Department of Defense’s two-day anti-TIP conference. The conference was part of mandatory trafficking awareness training for all military personnel.

In addition to this required training for all U.S. service members, DOD should be commended for its efforts to take action through anti-TIP Public Service Announcements broadcast throughout the world on the Armed Forces Network, a hotline for reporting incidences of TIP, and a zero tolerance policy outlined in the Uniform Code of Military Justice on service members contributing to sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. An exciting new initiative by DOD will seek to ensure that slave labor or slave-made goods do not taint our procurement supply chains or those contractors who support deployments overseas.

Much like the Department of State, DOD has a global mission in addition to its domestic presence. Their reach makes them an important partner to help raise awareness, identify trafficking, and take action. U.S. service members can identify and report incidences where they witness people exploited against their will in bars and clubs, in labor contracts globally, or in private homes as domestic servants.

If you’d like to know how to report possible trafficking in the United States or abroad, please visit our website for a global hotlines list of anti-trafficking resources, or here in the United States call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888. You, too, can be an important partner in abolishing modern-day slavery.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/united_against_tip/ 2009-08-06T20:03:24+00:00 The Growth of Renewable Energy Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, Environment and Science Reno Harnish speaks about the growth of renewable energy.

We went to Sharm el-Sheikh at the explicit instructions of Secretary Clinton. She wanted us to join the International Renewable Energy Agency. This is at the heart, really, of President Obama’s policy for clean energy, clean tech, clean jobs. And he has devoted himself to this. As you remember, $61 billion worth of programs, grants and guarantees were in the stimulus package. And he’s pledged 150 billion in revenues over the next ten years to speed the growth of renewable energy. So the Secretary was looking at the President and saying, this is it, this is what the President wants.

Secondly, renewable energy is going to be key to climate change. It’s not the only answer. We’ve got to look at low carbon growth in many other sectors. But renewable energy is no carbon. And the extent we can bring it on faster, the better impact we’ll have on getting to a future that is a good one.

Let me say one last thing. This is also not just about climate change, but it’s also about energy security for developing countries. The developing countries are enormously important, and they don’t have the grids that we have in Europe or the United States. And renewable energy can help them as well.

I want to say also, by the way, going back on what I just said, that when we were there at Sharm el-Sheikh, we made the big pitch to have the center of this, the site, the headquarters of IRENA, the International Renewable Energy Agency, in the developing countries. And we were very happy that the group decided to have it – the 136 nations decided to have it in the United Arab Emirates. This can’t just be about Europe or North America. Renewable energies are going to speak to the developing world and their needs. And so this – it’s perfectly appropriate that the site ended up in United Arab Emirates.

You asked about where we’re going with this. Well, that’s the answer. We want the International Renewable Energy Agency to be bringing technical assistance to the developing countries so that they can more easily receive renewable energy. We want to look at laws – are they encouraging direct investment. We want to look at barriers – are there so many encouragements for some of the traditional fuels like coal, that they’re blocking out the emergence of renewable energy.

That’s where we want the International Renewable Energy Agency to go. And we think it can be an important force in spreading renewable energy around the world.

Before us is the hard work of making a broad agreement on climate change. In the meantime, we’re forging ahead with the International Renewable Energy Agency, which helps us to get at the problem of reducing greenhouse gases.

And we’re doing other things. Our team here at the State Department has a program, a series of programs to bring clean technology to the developing countries. We’re really focused on China and India, for example, because China has recently surpassed us as a greenhouse gas emitter. So the answer is that the big agreement is still out in front of us. But in the meantime, we’re not just sitting still. We’re doing things like entering into the work of the International Renewable Energy Agency, and doing direct development programs for clean technology.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/renewable_energy/ 2009-07-31T16:36:24+00:00 U.S. Signs UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities About the Author: Patrick Ventrell serves as Information Officer at the U.S. Mission to the UN in New York.

Today, Ambassador Susan Rice signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on behalf of the U.S. Government. This is really a landmark moment, as the United States joins 141 other nations who have already signed what President Obama calls “the first new human rights convention of the 21st Century.” The signing took place on the 38th floor of UN Headquarters, and there was palpable excitement in the air — the United States is back to fully participate on human rights issues on the international stage.

Because of renovations to UN Headquarters (the multi-year Capital Master Plan is already in motion to completely update the UN from a 1950s iconic landmark, into a fully modern office complex), the signing took place in a small conference room down the hall from Secretary General Ban’s office, instead of the normal treaty signing room. In addition to a number of the most important advocates for persons with disabilities, the room was packed with press, and applause broke out as Ambassador Rice finished signing the Convention.

Ambassador Rice was all smiles and so was Senior Advisor to the President Valerie Jarrett who had come up from the White House for the event. They both delivered moving remarks about the significance of the United States signing on to this important document which promotes, protects and ensures “the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities…” and promotes “respect for their inherent dignity.” With ten percent of the world’s population living with a disability (650 million people by most counts, and at least 54 million of them Americans) reaffirming their fundamental rights is truly a proud moment for the United States.

Today, I couldn’t help but think of all of our disabled veterans who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan in particular. They have fought and sacrificed for their country, and they can be sure that their country will not be left out of the international community’s efforts to protect their fundamental rights.

Having said all that, our work is not finished on this Convention. Ms. Jarrett announced the creation of a new senior level position at the State Department to deal with disability human rights issues. This person will spearhead the strategy to promote the rights of persons with disabilities internationally, lead the coordination among federal agencies as the Administration makes the push for quick ratification of the Convention in the Senate, and will work to ensure that the needs of persons with disabilities are addressed in international conflict and disaster relief situations.

Now we are all headed back to a reception at the U.S. Mission to celebrate with over a hundred supporters and a diverse representation of some of the 54 million Americans living with a disability.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/un_convention_persons_with_disabilities/ 2009-07-31T02:09:24+00:00 Global Partnerships and Innovation Critical to Progress About the Author: Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley serves as the U.S. Department of State's Special Representative for Global Partnerships.

Developing new partnerships around the world is at the heart of the Obama Administration’s foreign policy.

That was the clear message delivered by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in her major address at the Council on Foreign Relations July 15, 2009. She called for creating a new architecture of cooperation to meet today’s global challenges and “tilting the balance away from a multi-polar world and toward a multi-partner world.”

This vision extends beyond cooperation with governments and multilateral institutions to include new partnerships with businesses, organizations, philanthropies, universities, religious groups, and Diaspora communities.

In a world of complex challenges and stretched budgets, harnessing the talent, resources, and expertise of the private sector and civil society is both an opportunity and a necessity. In the 1960s, nearly 70 percent of all money flowing from the United States to the developing world was official development assistance. Today, over 80 percent is from private sources.

As Special Representative for Global Partnerships, I am working to tap into the wealth of possibilities beyond government and forge the new partnerships around the world. Under the Secretary’s leadership, we are positioning the State Department to fill three key roles:

First, as a convener, bringing together people from across regions and sectors to work together on issues of common interest.

Second, as a catalyst, launching new projects, actively seeking new solutions, providing vital training and technical assistance to facilitate additional projects.

And third, as a collaborator, working closely with our partners to plan and implement projects – avoiding duplication, learning from each other, maximizing our impact by looking for best practices.
One example of how much we can accomplish through innovative public-private partnerships is our Phones-for-Health initiative, which leverages cutting-edge information technology to improve AIDS programs in developing countries. A number of technology companies and development funds joined with the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the State Department to launch the $10 million program, which uses mobile phones to relay medical information from areas lacking internet access or hard lines directly to health authorities’ computer systems, enabling rapid interventions such as distribution of medication and education programs for those at risk. This partnership has supported treatment for millions of people affected by HIV/AIDS and has helped prevent millions more from becoming infected.

If done right, public-private partnerships can deliver real results for people around the world and advance our national foreign policy objectives. That is our goal.

Secretary Clinton famously wrote that “it takes a village to raise a child.” We must apply that same ethic of shared responsibility and common purpose to meeting today’s global challenges. No one nation can meet these challenges alone. Only by developing new approaches and new partnerships can we achieve the progress we need.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/partnerships_progress/ 2009-07-27T18:11:47+00:00 U.S. Diplomacy Supports Space Exploration About the Author: Julie M. Rottier serves in the Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science.

My friends and family are often surprised when I tell them the U.S. Department of State works on space policy, and that I am a part of that effort. International cooperation is key to successful space exploration. Space diplomacy is a very delicate matter and leaves little room for error. The 40th anniversary of the moon landing this week is a reminder for me why the Department continues to advance space issues. Since the landing, much progress has been made through space exploration, which I certainly hope and expect will continue to improve our daily lives.

My office, the Office of Space and Advanced Technology (OES/SAT), handles international space policy and multilateral science and advanced technology issues for the Department of State. Among its goals are: to ensure that U.S. space policies and multilateral science activities support U.S. foreign policy objectives; to ensure that U.S. international initiatives and political commitments on space are science-based, protect national security, advance economic interests, and foster environmental protection; and to enhance U.S. space leadership and competitiveness through work with other space-faring nations.

OES/SAT has primary responsibility for U.S. representation to the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPOUS), where a wide range of space policy issues are discussed. In the 1960s and 1970s, this committee developed the Outer Space Treaty and three related UN conventions, which still serve as the bedrock of international space law. UNCOPUOS has also been a vital forum for U.S. efforts to develop new international guidelines on emerging issues such as minimizing the generation of orbital debris and ensuring safe space operations and sustainable access to space. The Office maintains the official U.S. registry of objects launched into outer space, oversees implementation of the 1998 Intergovernmental Agreement on the International Space Station, and provides support to NASA for a network of overseas emergency landing sites for the Space Shuttle. OES/SAT leads interagency coordination on all civil space-related international agreements implementing important NASA, NOAA, and USGS cooperation with other space agency partners, and plays a key role in the implementation of National Space Policy focused on dual-use space applications such as space-based positioning, navigation, and timing, satellite-based remote sensing and earth observation, and the monitoring of physical phenomena in the Sun-Earth system (space weather).

Currently, OES/SAT office is coordinating a broad diplomatic effort to encourage acceptance of the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) as a worldwide standard for satellite-based navigation. In 2004, an agreement was reached with the European Union (EU) to ensure compatibility and interoperability of GPS and the EU’s new global navigation satellite system (GNSS) called Galileo. Bilateral discussions are also underway with other GNSS providers such as Russia, Japan, and India. As a member of the UN Action Team on GNSS resulting from the Third UN Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), held in 1999, OES/SAT, representing the United States, was instrumental in the creation of the International Committee GNSS (ICG), an informal body bringing together providers and users of GNSS technology to promote compatibility and interoperability among systems, cooperation on matters of mutual interest related to civil satellite-based positioning, navigation, timing, and value-added services, and promoting the use of GNSS to support sustainable development, particularly in the developing countries. The U.S. hosted the third full meeting of the ICG in Pasadena in December 2008.

OES/SAT represents the State Department in a range of international deliberations on advanced technology issues. The office leads an interagency effort to coordinate U.S. international activities in the emerging field of nanotechnology and leads U.S. participation in several multilateral bodies such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Working Party on Nanotechnology. Similarly, the office represents the State Department in the negotiation and implementation of the ITER nuclear fusion test reactor project through the ITER organization and in the NATO Science Committee as well as other multilateral science organizations.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/diplomacy_supports_space_exploration/ 2009-07-20T16:09:47+00:00 U.S. Committed to Nuclear Nonproliferation About the Author: Ellen O. Tauscher serves as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reinforced our nation’s commitment to nuclear nonproliferation efforts in her speech on Wednesday at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Nine days into my tenure as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, we’re aggressively tackling President Obama’s agenda that he so eloquently detailed in his speech in Prague earlier this spring.

Assistant Secretary for Verification and Compliance Rose Gottemoeller and her team are negotiating “New START,” a follow-on agreement to the START Treaty, which expires December 5. In the weeks and months to come, Secretary Clinton and I will be working closely with the Senate to pave the way for ratification of the New START agreement.

Earlier this month, President Obama and Russia President Medvedev committed to reducing the number of strategic nuclear weapons to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and stop acts of nuclear terrorism.  The pursuit of President Obama’s ambitious vision of nuclear reductions and our ongoing negotiations with The Russian Federation are examples of the new diplomatic concept of flexibility in addressing post-Cold War realities and bolstering confidence in and broadening international support for non-proliferation efforts, as well as laying the groundwork for continued cooperation between the U.S. and Russia.

As President Obama and Secretary Clinton have stated, strengthening the framework for international cooperation on nuclear nonproliferation is a critical challenge for all of us.

That’s why the we are working to shore up the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT)—and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that monitors it—not only to help create the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons, but also to manage the renewed interest in nuclear energy. 

Secretary Clinton made it clear why we’re doing this, and why we must do more.

“Our capacity to take responsibility, and our willingness to change, to do the right thing, are themselves hallmarks of our greatness as a nation and strategic assets that can help us forge coalitions in the service of our interests,” she said, adding that the administration is taking a “series of concrete steps to reduce the threat and spread of these weapons, including working with the Senate to ratify the follow-on START agreement and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.”

We’re also reviewing our nuclear posture and jump starting work on a Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty. This won’t be easy, but it is fundamental to our national security and creating a more peaceful world. 

]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/nuclear_nonproliferation/ 2009-07-17T15:53:47+00:00 A New Era of Engagement Today, Secretary Clinton delivered a sweeping policy speech at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Today, at the Council on Foreign Relations, Secretary Clinton spoke about the Administration's approach to foreign policy priorities. Secretary Clinton said:

"The question is not whether our nation can or should lead, but how it will lead in the 21st century. Rigid ideologies and old formulas don’t apply. We need a new mindset about how America will use its power to safeguard our nation, expand shared prosperity, and help more people in more places live up to their God-given potential.

President Obama has led us to think outside the usual boundaries. He has launched a new era of engagement based on common interests, shared values, and mutual respect. Going forward, capitalizing on America’s unique strengths, we must advance those interests through partnership, and promote universal values through the power of our example and the empowerment of people. In this way, we can forge the global consensus required to defeat the threats, manage the dangers, and seize the opportunities of the 21st century. America will always be a world leader as long as we remain true to our ideals and embrace strategies that match the times. So we will exercise American leadership to build partnerships and solve problems that no nation can solve on its own, and we will pursue policies to mobilize more partners and deliver results.

First, though, let me say that while the ideas that shape our foreign policy are critically important, this, for me, is not simply an intellectual exercise. For over 16 years, I’ve had the chance, the privilege, really, to represent our country overseas as First Lady, as a senator, and now as Secretary of State. I’ve seen the bellies of starving children, girls sold into human trafficking, men dying of treatable diseases, women denied the right to own property or vote, and young people without schooling or jobs gripped by a sense of futility about their futures.

I’ve also seen how hope, hard work, and ingenuity can overcome the longest of odds.... And all that I have done and seen has convinced me that our foreign policy must produce results for people – the laid-off auto worker in Detroit whose future will depend on global economic recovery; the farmer or small business owner in the developing world whose lack of opportunity can drive political instability and economic stagnation; the families whose loved ones are risking their lives for our country in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere; children in every land who deserve a brighter future. These are the people – hundreds of millions of them here in America and billions around the world – whose lives and experiences, hopes and dreams, must inform the decisions we take and the actions that follow. And these are the people who inspire me and my colleagues and the work that we try to do every day.

In approaching our foreign policy priorities, we have to deal with the urgent, the important, and the long-term all at once... We want to reverse the spread of nuclear weapons, prevent their use, and build a world free of their threat. We want to isolate and defeat terrorists and counter violent extremists while reaching out to Muslims around the world. We want to encourage and facilitate the efforts of all parties to pursue and achieve a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. We want to seek global economic recovery and growth by strengthening our own economy, advancing a robust development agenda, expanding trade that is free and fair, and boosting investment that creates decent jobs. We want to combat climate change, increase energy security, and lay the foundation for a prosperous clean-energy future. We want to support and encourage democratic governments that protect the rights and deliver results for their people. And we intend to stand up for human rights everywhere."

In facing these world challenges, she explained that there are two inescapable facts: no nation can meet these challenges alone, and most nations worry about the same global threats. The Secretary said that we’ll use our power to create partnerships aimed at solving problems. We’ll go beyond states to create opportunities for non-state actors and individuals to contribute to solutions. In short, we will lead by inducing greater cooperation among a greater number of actors, tilting the balance away from a multi-polar world and toward a multi-partner world. Secretary Clinton added:

"We will remain clear-eyed about our purpose. Not everybody in the world wishes us well or shares our values and interests. And some will actively seek to undermine our efforts. In those cases, our partnerships can become power coalitions to constrain or deter those negative actions. And to these foes and would-be foes, let me say our focus on diplomacy and development is not an alternative to our national security arsenal. Our willingness to talk is not a sign of weakness to be exploited. We will not hesitate to defend our friends, our interests, and above all, our people vigorously and when necessary with the world’s strongest military. This is not an option we seek nor is it a threat; it is a promise to all Americans.

Building the architecture of global cooperation requires us to devise the right policies and use the right tools. I speak often of smart power because it is so central to our thinking and our decision-making. It means the intelligent use of all means at our disposal, including our ability to convene and connect. It means our economic and military strength; our capacity for entrepreneurship and innovation; and the ability and credibility of our new President and his team. It also means the application of old-fashioned common sense in policymaking. It’s a blend of principle and pragmatism.

Smart power translates into specific policy approaches in five areas. First, we intend to update and create vehicles for cooperation with our partners; second, we will pursue principled engagement with those who disagree with us; third, we will elevate development as a core pillar of American power; fourth, we will integrate civilian and military action in conflict areas; and fifth, we will leverage key sources of American power, including our economic strength and the power of our example."

In her remarks, the Secretary spoke specifically about Iran.

"We watched the energy of Iran’s election with great admiration, only to be appalled by the manner in which the government used violence to quell the voices of the Iranian people, and then tried to hide its actions by arresting foreign journalists and nationals, and expelling them, and cutting off access to technology.... We know that refusing to deal with the Islamic Republic has not succeeded in altering the Iranian march toward a nuclear weapon, reducing Iranian support for terror, or improving Iran’s treatment of its citizens.

Neither the President nor I have any illusions that dialogue with the Islamic Republic will guarantee success of any kind, and the prospects have certainly shifted in the weeks following the election. But we also understand the importance of offering to engage Iran and giving its leaders a clear choice: whether to join the international community as a responsible member or to continue down a path to further isolation.

Direct talks provide the best vehicle for presenting and explaining that choice. That is why we offered Iran’s leaders an unmistakable opportunity: Iran does not have a right to nuclear military capacity, and we’re determined to prevent that. But it does have a right to civil nuclear power if it reestablishes the confidence of the international community that it will use its programs exclusively for peaceful purposes.

Iran can become a constructive actor in the region if it stops threatening its neighbors and supporting terrorism. It can assume a responsible position in the international community if it fulfills its obligations on human rights. The choice is clear. We remain ready to engage with Iran, but the time for action is now. The opportunity will not remain open indefinitely."

Toward the conclusion of her remarks, the Secretary said:

"We are determined to channel the currents of change toward a world free of violent extremism, nuclear weapons, global warming, poverty, and abuses of human rights, and above all, a world in which more people in more places can live up to their God-given potential. The architecture of cooperation we seek to build will advance all these goals, using our power not to dominate or divide but to solve problems. It is the architecture of progress for America and all nations."]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/era_engagement/ 2009-07-15T22:18:47+00:00 Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Yesterday, addressing the U.S. Agency for International Development, Secretary Clinton spoke about the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review.

Yesterday, Secretary Clinton participated in a town hall meeting at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The Secretary spoke about a new enterprise, the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR). The QDDR will help us create short-term and long-term blueprints for advancing our foreign policy objectives and enhancing coordination between USAID and the State Department, a crucial element of exercising smart power. Through this process, we will be working closely with the White House to harmonize the activities of USAID and the State Department with the goals and actions of the entire government. Secretary Clinton said:

"We see in the Obama Administration development as one of the most powerful tools we have for advancing global progress, peace, and prosperity. The President and I believe that it therefore must be a vital part of our country’s foreign policy. And when I became Secretary of State, here in this great space, I pledged to elevate development to its rightful place alongside diplomacy and defense as we tackle the many global challenges and seize the opportunities facing us.

We are committed to pursuing peace and prosperity in every corner, not only in the marble halls of government, but in rural villages, in distant cities, where people are striving to live and work and learn and raise families and grow old with dignity. These are universal dreams, and the United States seeks to make them a reality for more of the world’s people.

To that end, we have set the United States Government on a path to double foreign assistance with our 2010 budget request. We’ve made significant pledges of assistance for the West Bank and Gaza. We’ve made development an integral part of our approach in Afghanistan and Pakistan and Iraq. And at last week’s G-8 meeting in Italy, the President announced our food security program that will come with a major increase in funding for food and sustainable agriculture. And again, when he was in Ghana, he focused on the importance of smart development.

So development stands on its own pillar of our foreign policy, as does diplomacy and defense. And at their best, they reinforce each other. When USAID and the State Department work in tandem, we achieve a multiplier effect, significantly increasing the scope and the impact of our programs and policies.

To deliver concrete results, we have to maximize our effectiveness. That’s why I’m excited to be here today to discuss a new enterprise, the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, which I announced at the State Department on Friday.

We are adopting this idea from the Pentagon. The Pentagon has successfully used this quadrennial review process to improve effectiveness and to establish a long-term vision. And I know from my time – about six years on the Senate Armed Services Committee – that the defense review helped convey the Department’s mission to all stakeholders, from members of Congress, to the members of the armed forces and their civilian colleagues, and to the rest of government, as well as to the American public.

Diplomacy and development deserve the same rigorous evaluation and strategic thinking. To protect our nation, advance our interests, and spread opportunity to more people in more places, we, of course, need more than a top-notch military. We need talented diplomats to foster partnerships and negotiate peace. We need experts in development, like all of you, to steer crucial investments and the material conditions of people’s lives, from strengthening health and education to improving agriculture and access to food and water.

We also need development experts to create the conditions for what President Obama described in Ghana as transformational change. So we rely on your expertise to promote and support good governance, fair and open access to global markets, strong political and economic institutions, and a thriving civil society.

As we’ve seen in many places around the world and most recently in Afghanistan, long-term stability depends not only on the defeat of violent extremists, but also on the construction of roads, the creation of jobs, and the strengthening of Afghan institutions to address the needs of the people.

For the past six months, I have fought on behalf of USAID and the State Department to get you the resources you deserve to do your jobs well. We’ve called for our government to increase its support of our work. But in return, we are also called to improve on that work. So this review comes at a critical time. We are facing an unprecedented set of challenges. And too often in the face of these challenges, USAID and the State Department are forced to play catch up when we should be taking the lead.

The truth is we know we can do better. We know that, those of us in this effort together, better than anyone. But it’s also true that in a time of economic recession in our own country, we owe it to our brothers and sisters and parents and friends and colleagues and classmates who are struggling to be able to put their own family’s future on a strong footing, to explain to them why at this time we are asking for significant increases in the work of diplomacy and development.

We therefore have to strengthen and streamline our organizations. And we have to be sure that we do so in a way that tells the story of the importance of the work that the State Department and USAID does for the citizens of the United States as well as for the people of the world.

So we’re going to launch this major reevaluation of how we set our priorities, organize our work, and allocate our resources to make sure that we start looking to the horizon; to plan, not just react. For the State Department and USAID to have the greatest impact, we cannot simply strengthen each agency on its own. We need to maximize the collaboration between us. We want to build on the existing partnerships and find new opportunities, to share knowledge, tackle common problems, and align our programs around the world."

You may read the Secretary's full remarks here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/quadrennial_diplomacy_and_development_review/ 2009-07-14T21:12:47+00:00 Global Road Safety Depends On Action, Awareness About the Author: Nancy Carter-Foster serves as Senior Advisor in the Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science.

Driving may seem like a commonplace activity to many Americans, but it is still a dangerous task at home and in much of the world. Nearly 1.3 million people die and 20-50 million more worldwide are injured in road crashes every year. That translates to 3,500 people dying and 137,000 more being seriously injured or disabled every day. More than half of those killed in traffic crashes are people in the prime of their lives, between the ages of 15-44. It is also the second leading cause of death for children between the ages of 5-15. Road crashes are the leading non-natural cause of death for Americans living, working and traveling abroad.

In November, this critical issue will be addressed in a summit to be hosted by the Russian Federation in Moscow, under UN auspices, to call attention to the far-reaching impact of motor vehicle injuries and fatalities from unsafe driving conditions and roads in both the developed and developing world. This very first Ministerial Summit on Global Road Safety will establish a public, international dialogue about this issue.

Low and middle-income countries carry a disproportionate burden, accounting for 90 percent of the total road fatalities, which is not only costly in human life, but also in economic development and growth. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the annual cost of road traffic crashes in these countries exceeds $100 billion, which amounts to nearly double the total combined development assistance these countries receive every year from bilateral and multilateral donors. Road safety is also a key component in attracting – or discouraging – foreign investment and tourism. As developing countries continue to build infrastructure and add motorized vehicles to the roads at a rate of up to 18 percent per year, it is critical to address the traffic safety issue now. According to the WHO, this growing problem could become the third leading cause of global burden of disease by 2020, if steps are not taken to stem the tide.

There is a great deal of effort and international collaboration on road safety. Improving road safety does not happen by “accident,” but rather through the efforts of many sectors of society, both governmental and non-governmental, to take action and to raise awareness for prevention efforts. The summit host, the Russian Federation, has implemented a special-purpose federal program to reduce road fatalities by 25 percent by 2012. In the last 40 years, the United States has reduced crash rates by more than 50 percent — an encouraging figure that demonstrates that this problem is not insurmountable when addressed appropriately.

I know that deliberate and determined efforts of society are the only way we can drastically improve road safety. This is why it is so important to address the problem as a global community. We are looking forward to the summit and will keep you posted with updates on its progress.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/road_safety/ 2009-06-29T15:18:23+00:00 United We Serve Today, President Obama announced United We Serve – a call to action for all Americans to volunteer this summer.

This summer, President Obama is calling on all of us – young and old, from every background, all across this country – to participate in our nation’s recovery and renewal by serving in our communities. From June 22 to September 11, United We Serve will begin to engage Americans from coast to coast in addressing community needs in education, health, energy and the environment, and community renewal. Serve.gov is your online resource for not only finding volunteer opportunities in your community, but also creating your own.

On the White House Blog, Cammie Croft provides more information:

"Since his Inauguration, the President has called on all Americans to serve our communities and be a part of building a better future for our country. And given this unique moment in our history with the unprecedented challenges we are facing, there isn't a more important time than now for us to get involved.

That is why today the President is announcing United We Serve – a call to action for all Americans to volunteer this summer and be part of building a new foundation for America, one community at a time.

We know that ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things when empowered with the proper tools. The Corporation for National Service, the federal agency dedicated to fostering service in communities across the country, is providing those tools on their website, Serve.gov. They make it easy to not only find volunteer opportunities in our neighborhoods, but also to create and promote our own projects. It's time to roll-up our sleeves and get to work."

View the President's announcement and get started at Serve.gov.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/united_we_serve/ 2009-06-17T16:35:20+00:00 Coercion in a Time of Crisis About the Author: Ambassador Luis CdeBaca serves as Director of the State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State.

Today, Secretary Clinton, along with Members of Congress, released the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. This report, which is mandated by our anti-trafficking law, analyzes the problem of modern slavery. Millions of people worldwide are held in compelled service through coercion, often in such areas as prostitution, agricultural work, or domestic service. Some of these people are vulnerable because they’ve migrated to work, but many are enslaved in their own countries.

Moviegoers around the world were shocked the see the forced begging and sexual slavery depicted in the Academy Award-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire. But for too many people – especially women and children – this is their sad reality. The annual TIP report looks at what governments are doing to address this crime, especially their efforts to prevent trafficking, to protect victims, and to prosecute the slaveholders.

This year’s report addresses the theme “Coercion in a Time of Crisis,” because our staff and officers at embassies around the world have seen an increased vulnerability to trafficking as a result of the global economic crisis. When I was working as a federal civil rights prosecutor, I saw that traffickers very often would prey on their victims’ hopes for opportunity and a better life. It is not just intuitive sense that a person who needs to help pay for medicine for their parents or school for their siblings would travel to work, and be vulnerable to exploitation.

The 175 country narratives in this report are the product of our excellent reports staff, the subject-matter experts who study the human trafficking problem in each country in depth. Working closely with partners in the U.S. embassies around the world, the staff includes the input of nongovernmental organizations, press accounts, and information provided by the governments. The photographs that accompany this post illustrate the cost of coercion for so many who seek a better life.

We look forward to hearing your views on human trafficking, and we urge everyone to join us in the fight against modern slavery.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/tip_report_2009/ 2009-06-16T14:12:20+00:00 Bright Lights Among Dark Clouds About the Author: Lillian deValcourt-Ayala serves as Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome.

Much of the news out of Rome last week had high entertainment value.  With much of the coverage focused on Gaddhafi decked out in shades for his meetings with Italian officials and the tent set up to accommodate him and his delegation in the Villa Pamphili park, one could completely miss the fact that food security topped the agenda of two multilateral gatherings here. 

At the beginning of the week, the Executive Board of the World Food Programme (WFP) held its annual meetings and focused their discussion on funding frameworks and priorities in light of the global economic slowdown.

The U.S. delegation, headed by U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Undersecretary Burnham John “Bud” Philbrook, arrived at WFP from Washington with a strong sense of pride in a recent accomplishment.  Leveraging the widest range of our humanitarian assistance tools in recent memory, the U.S. is enabling the UN food agency to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of Pakistani refugees fleeing the Swat valley.  Going far beyond the provision of traditional American food aid, U.S. financial support of WFP’s outstanding logistics capabilities enabled the set up of 25 innovative humanitarian hubs that continue to operate despite security challenges.  An infusion of U.S. cash allowed the organization to purchase emergency food rations in local and regional markets, supporting developing economies and small holder farmers.  And the reprogramming of wheat already in Pakistan as well as the dispatch of U.S. commodities from a prepositioned facility in Djibouti provided another tool for WFP to rapidly respond to rising needs.  Such flexible, broad-ranging support from the U.S. forms the backbone of WFP’s emergency response operation.

While the Executive Director of WFP warned G-8 leaders of darker days to come in a world where more than one billion live with chronic hunger, Secretary Clinton honored Dr. Ejeta of Ethiopia, one of Africa’s brightest lights in the fight against hunger.  The Secretary also outlined seven principles that support an emerging new global approach to hunger with a strong emphasis on comprehensive investment in agriculture.

Bill Gates, Bob Geldof, and Desmond Tutu echoed the concerns of a report released by Bono’s ONE group by urging G-8 countries to deliver aid they promised to Africa.  Advocacy on food security could not be more welcome at a time of such serious challenges.  “Chicken Little-ing” the issue, however, can be counter-productive.  The sky is not falling.

At the G-8 Development Ministerial in Rome on Friday, Acting USAID Administrator Alonso Fulgham announced President Obama’s intention to double U.S. foreign assistance by 2015.  The Ministerial, under Italy’s G-8 Presidency, included a variety of developing countries to strengthen the collective response to such a crucial international issue.  Widening the discussion will help bring more bright lights together in dialogue to ward off the menacing clouds.

]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/world_food_programme/ 2009-06-15T22:40:20+00:00 Developing a New Global Approach to Ending Hunger Today, Secretary Clinton spoke at the 2009 World Food Prize announcement ceremony and posted a blog entry about chronic hunger and food security.

Today, Secretary Clinton spoke about the Obama Administration's commitment to providing leadership in developing a new global approach to ending hunger. The issue of chronic hunger and food security is at the top of the agenda at the State Department. Secretary Clinton said, "For too long, our primary response has been to send emergency aid when the crisis is at its worst. This saves lives, but it doesn't address hunger’s root causes. It is, at best, a short-term fix."

Secretary Clinton reminded us, "This morning, one billion people around the world woke up hungry. Tonight, they will go to sleep hungry. Today, in a village in Niger, a woman will walk for miles in search of water to irrigate crops that are parched by drought. Today, in Haiti, a farmer’s surplus fruit will go to waste because he has no way to store it or to bring it to market. Today, in Congo, a family will flee a conflict that has left their farms and fields fallow. And today, in a schoolhouse in Bangladesh, children will struggle to learn because their bodies are struggling to survive on insufficient nutrition. The effects of chronic hunger cannot be overstated. Hunger is not only a physical condition, it is a drain on economic development, a threat to global security, a barrier to health and education, and a trap for the millions of people worldwide who work from sunup to sundown every single day but can barely produce enough food to sustain their lives and the lives of their families.

Most of all, hunger belies our planet’s bounty. It challenges our common humanity and resolve. We do have the resources to give every person in the world the tools they need to feed themselves and their children. So the question is not whether we can end hunger, it’s whether we will."

In her remarks, Secretary Clinton highlighted the efforts of 2009 World Food Prize Laureate Gebisa Ejeta to advance food security.

"Dr. Ejeta began his journey in a hut in Ethiopia, where he was born to a mother who was passionately committed to his education. He walked 20 kilometers every Sunday to attend school. He boarded in town for the week, and then he walked home to his family every Friday. Eventually, he made it to college, where he planned to study engineering, but his mother convinced him he’d do more good for the world if he studied agriculture.

After completing his Ph.D. at Purdue...he has gone to work focusing on sorghum, a staple crop in parts of Africa, Central America, and South Asia. He helped develop Africa’s first commercial hybrid strain, which needed less water and actually yielded more grain. Then he developed another variety, resistant to Striga weed, which had regularly wiped out a significant portion of Africa’s cereal crops.

Even while he was making breakthroughs in the lab, he took his work to the field. He knew that for improved seeds to make a difference in people’s lives, farmers would have to know how to use them, which meant they would need access to a seed market and the credit to buy supplies. ...Now, he reminds us that a system of agriculture that nourishes all humankind requires more than a single breakthrough or advances in a single field. It requires a sustained and comprehensive approach. We need to create a global supply chain for food. Today, that chain is broken, and we need to repair it and make it stronger."

Secretary Clinton identified seven principles that support sustainable systems of agriculture in rural areas worldwide.

"First, we will seek to increase agricultural productivity by expanding access to quality seeds, fertilizers, irrigation tools, and the credit to purchase them and the training to use them.

Second, we will work to stimulate the private sector by improving the storage and processing of foods and improving rural roads and transportation so small farmers can sell their fruit, the fruits of their labor, at local markets.

Third, we are committed to maintaining natural resources so that land can be farmed by future generations and that it help – that includes helping countries adapt to climate change.

Fourth, we will expand knowledge and training by supporting R&D and cultivating the next generation of plant scientists.

Fifth, we will seek to increase trade so small-scale farmers can sell their crops far and wide.

Sixth, we will support policy reform and good governance. We need clear and predictable policy and regulatory environments for agriculture to flourish.

And seventh, we will support women and families. Seventy percent of the world’s farmers are women, but most programs that offer farmers credit and training target men. This is both unfair and impractical. An effective agricultural system – (applause) – an effective agricultural system must have incentives for those who do the work, and it must take into account the particular needs of children.

So these are the seven principles that will guide us in the coming weeks, as we scale up our work and help us set benchmarks to measure our efforts. We are committed to collecting data and assessing our progress, and when necessary, correcting our course. Now for us, sustainable agriculture won’t be a side project. It is a central element of our foreign policy."

Read the Secretary's full remarks from today's ceremony or her Huffington Post blog entry on "Attacking Hunger at Its Roots."]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/ending_hunger/ 2009-06-12T00:26:20+00:00 Public Diplomacy: A National Security Imperative Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith A. McHale spoke today at the Center for a New American Security.

Today, at the Center for a New American Security Under Secretary McHale spoke about renewing U.S. engagement with the people of the world and restoring the kind of leadership that made the United States a force for global progress for so much of history. Secretary Clinton has put people-to-people diplomacy at the heart of smart power and has underscored our need to, “build new partnerships from the bottom up, and to use every tool at our disposal.”

Under Secretary McHale said, “Whether we are strengthening old alliances, forging new partnerships to meet complex global challenges, engaging with citizens and civil society, or charting new strategies in Afghanistan and Pakistan, our national interests depend on effective engagement and innovative public diplomacy. The stakes could not be higher. We must get this right…This is not a propaganda contest — it is a relationship race. And we have got to get back in the game.”

In particular, Under Secretary McHale highlighted the work to be done in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“Enhanced public diplomacy is a key component of the President’s new strategy in the region…To achieve the President’s aims, we are launching a multi-faceted strategy to provide platforms for local moderate voices, support democratic institutions and civil society, and position the United States as a long-term partner working to create opportunities and enable the people of the region to chart the futures of their own countries.

We are responding to requests from the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan to help meet the needs of their people. Secretary Clinton recently announced more than $100 million in humanitarian support for the people of Pakistan. And Ambassador Holbrooke just announced another $200 million. Since 2002, the United States has provided a total of more than $3.4 billion to alleviate suffering and promote economic growth, education, health, security and good governance in Pakistan.

Yet we have a credibility gap with many in the region — some have called it a ‘trust deficit.’ So part of our task is reassuring the people that our aim in the region is to support their own aspirations. We need to do a better job of getting the word out about what we are doing to help Pakistan and Afghanistan become more stable and prosperous, both through the local media and by communicating directly with people.”

Under Secretary McHale concluded her remarks by saying, “A few days after I started at the State Department, I moved into George Marshall’s old office. General Marshall saw a world beyond our shores devastated by war and reeling from economic crisis. He knew that our fates and our fortunes were intertwined and that America had to engage with the world to ensure our future. So he launched one of the most far-reaching engagement efforts in history. And today we are still reaping the rewards of that investment in mutual prosperity and security. From Cairo to Kabul, from quiet villages to crowded cities, America is once again reaching out a hand of friendship and seeking new relationships. We know it is the right thing to do and we know, like General Marshall did, that our future depends on it.”

You may read the full transcript of the Under Secretary's speech here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/public_diplomacy_national_security_imperative/ 2009-06-11T22:45:20+00:00 A Whole of Government Approach to Stability About the Author: Matthew Cordova is Deputy Director of Planning for Civil-Military Affairs in the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization.

Secretaries Clinton and Gates have spoken frequently and eloquently about the need to strengthen civilian instruments of national power to leverage the full potential of the U.S. Government (USG). Current U.S. national security challenges include violent extremist organizations, ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the global financial crisis, and weak and failing states. These challenges are highly dynamic and complex because of the number of actors involved and the speed at which the environment changes. Whole-of-government capabilities are necessary to manage national security issues that are by nature complex, dynamic and of international concern. There is no single agency or country solution and no single strategy that will endure over time to solve these challenges.

The U.S. civil-military approach to stability operations demonstrates the development of a dimension of smart power, using the right tool, or combination of tools, for each situation. Stability operations are diverse in nature and require flexible responses. The United States has been involved in 17 stability operations since the fall of the Berlin Wall -- ranging from present-day efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq to prior efforts in Bosnia, Kosovo and Haiti among others.

Now approaching its fifth year, the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS) is maturing into an operational component of U.S. smart power. S/CRS is charged with building and managing a civilian-military capability to plan, manage and conduct U.S. stabilization operations on behalf of the Secretary of State. Civilian-military coordination is a central feature of the whole-of-government capability S/CRS is building with domestic, foreign affairs and national security agencies of the federal government. This is consistent with our highest priority – keeping the American people safe – and based on the premise that homeland security goes hand in hand with national security.

S/CRS has led a range of interagency activities to coordinate civilian and military efforts to plan, train and operate together for overseas stability operations. Since 2005, the USG has developed an interagency planning and coordination framework for interagency stability operations – the Interagency Management System (IMS). The IMS has been robustly exercised at U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Joint Forces Command, and components of the framework have been employed in real-world situations, such as the fall 2008 crisis in Georgia. In April, we worked with U.S. European Command and U.S. Army Europe on our most sophisticated exercise to date – Austere Challenge 2009, which exercised planning mechanisms and the Civilian Response Corps with U.S. European Command. These efforts to operationalize smart power through the Civilian Response Corps and interagency planners reflect the USG’s new approach to planning and conducting stability operations: a civilian-led whole-of-government plan, properly resourced civilian capabilities and the U.S. military in a support role. The Department of Defense has been among the strongest champions of this new approach.

The civil-military approach we have developed is not hypothetical; it is being applied to U.S. national security priorities today. In Afghanistan, the new Interagency Civil-Military Action Group (ICMAG) within the U.S. Embassy is the lead body for policy implementation and problem solving. Already, ICMAG has facilitated integrated guidance and geographically-based plans for Regional Command-East and is now moving to Regional Command-South. It has supported development of functional sectoral efforts in areas such as health and focused district development and is increasingly coordinating with international actors such as the International Security Assistance Force (on metrics), the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (on district mapping) and with the United Kingdom (Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team). ICMAG is also working on developing an integrated metrics system in-country.

To ensure the changes described above endure, the State Department is leading a significant USG effort to institutionalize these new processes and capabilities in interagency doctrine, training and planning efforts. Along with other civilian agencies, the Department of State has contributed to emerging Department of Defense doctrine, concepts and capabilities related to irregular warfare, stability operations and counterinsurgency. S/CRS has made significant investments in building habitual relationships with the Geographic Combatant Commands, Joint Forces Command, Special Operations Command and professional military schools to ensure that these key military actors are integrated into the civilian-led Smart Power construct for Stability Operations. S/CRS played a significant role in assisting the U.S. Army in its development of an updated stability operations field manual that emphasizes military support to civilian-led efforts.

A key enabler to these efforts is the civilian resources called for by Secretaries Clinton and Gates. Civilian agencies and the Department of Defense are now planning, operating and training together in a more concerted manner. Congress is a crucial partner and has recognized the value of a whole-of-government capability by permanently establishing S/CRS in legislation and authorizing and funding the stand up of an initial Civilian Response Corps. While this capability is maturing, sustaining it will require a concerted civil-military effort to ensure a balance of resources that meets both the immediate and longer term international security needs of the nation.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/government_approach_stability/ 2009-06-10T20:39:20+00:00 World Environment Day: Illegal Wildlife Trade Threatens Endangered Species About the Author: Billie Gross serves as a Public Affairs Specialist in the Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science at the U.S. Department of State.

As the black market wildlife trade continues to flourish, the Department of State remains steadfast in its efforts to highlight this critical issue and to spread public awareness of the problem. To continue the momentum spurred by the highly successful Harrison Ford PSAs, the Department of State has once again partnered with WildAid.

Today, in recognition of World Environment Day, the U.S. State Department is showcasing two Public Service Announcements (PSAs) featuring conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall. Dr. Goodall, a world renowned primatologist and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, agreed to film the PSAs to further spread the message that reducing demand for illegally trafficked goods will prevent the killing of endangered species. These PSAs were filmed in New York City in September 2008 and are now being distributed to overseas audiences with the help of U.S. embassies around the world.

The illicit trade in wildlife amounts to at least $10 billion a year globally and is an even greater threat to wildlife than the loss of their habitat. Many of the animals currently being captured, killed and trafficked are at the brink of extinction, and the demand for these goods is pushing these creatures ever closer to the edge. Ultimately, extinctions have grave impacts for ecosystems and human communities as well.

The Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT), initiated in 2005, focuses public and political attention and resources on ending the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products. Members of the CAWT include the governments of Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom as well as a host of other nongovernmental organizations.

The U.S. works with its CAWT partners to improve wildlife law enforcement by expanding enforcement training, information sharing and strengthening regional cooperative networks. CAWT works to energize high-level political will to fight wildlife trafficking by broadening support at the highest political levels for actions to combat the illegal trade in wildlife. It also focuses its efforts on reducing consumer demand for illegally traded wildlife by raising awareness of the impacts of illegal wildlife trade.

Awareness is critical because we may be contributing to the illegal wildlife trade simply by unknowingly purchasing goods that are a result of that trade. It’s very easy to find tourist souvenirs made from illegally harvested ivory, tortoise shells, feathers, fur, bones, skins or other products originating from endangered species. The sale of these products not only puts many species at risk of extinction, but also supports criminal activity. Wildlife trafficking also contributes to global health problems because diseases such as avian influenza, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Ebola and tuberculosis can cross species lines and jump from animals to humans.

The United States is the second-largest consumer market (after China) in terms of demand for illegal wildlife products. In light of this, the messages narrated by Dr. Jane Goodall have resonance not only for a global audience, but also for all of us closer to home.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/world_environment_day/ 2009-06-05T04:36:07+00:00 Public Affairs Must Inform Foreign Policy About the Author: P.J. Crowley serves as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs.

Last week, I began my tenure as the Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs.  I am humbled and exhilarated by the task before me and am grateful for the trust and confidence President Obama and Secretary Clinton have placed in me.

Almost 20 years ago, I was assigned to Germany, one of the highlights of my 26 years serving with the U.S. Air Force.  I have been contemplating those days as I prepared for this assignment.  During my time in Germany, the Berlin Wall ceased to divide East from West.  The people of East and West Germany literally pushed until the wall was breached and ultimately removed.

In the aftermath, when given a choice, the people of Eastern Europe rejected Communism and moved swiftly to associate themselves with the rule of law, market economies and responsible and accountable governments.  This success was due in no small measure to institutions like the United States Information Agency, Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, which helped foreign publics understand that they could have the rights and opportunities of free people.  This was public diplomacy at its best, and proved to be a cornerstone of our policy of containment.  Now, Secretary Clinton’s focus on using smart power – the full compliment of diplomatic, economic, military, political, legal, and cultural tools is leading us back to a balanced approach to foreign policy that served us well throughout our history.

As we know, global challenges hardly disappeared with the end of the Cold War.  Today, we continue to combat extreme ideologies in an expanding conflict in Afghanistan while dealing with festering violence in Iraq.  Success in this current struggle will require the same kind of patience, determination and skill that we demonstrated during the Cold War – identifying a clear, peaceful and modern alternative to the people of the world, reinforcing our strategic narrative while diminishing that of extremist insurgents.  As Secretary Clinton stated in her recent testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the State Department is seeking the resources to deploy a new strategic communication strategy to buttress our foreign policy.  Ultimately, we cannot succeed unless we build and sustain public support at home and around the world.

Today’s global communications environment is dramatically different than it was even a few years ago.  A digital image can be transmitted from anywhere in the world at an instant, as we saw with the cell phone image of the execution of Saddam Hussein and its impact.

One of my goals is to have the State Department communicate its message more strategically.  In order to do this, we must be dynamic and use all available means both old and new media - traditional methods such as the Daily Press Briefings as well as experimenting with new media, such as Facebook, Twitter, and video through the Internet.  The culmination of this effort will be a virtual presence that is engaged in a global dialogue, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in all corners of the world.

Given the expanded nature of the communications environment, Secretary Clinton decided to restructure the Bureau of Public Affairs.  I will serve as the Assistant Secretary, but not as the every day spokesman for the department.  One of my foremost responsibilities will be to ensure that public affairs informs public policy.  This is why you’ll hear me repeatedly coming back to the idea of a strategic communications plan.  My task, working with Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale and the newly designated spokesman, Ian Kelly, will be to serve as the senior advisor to the Secretary, contribute to the administration’s interagency strategic planning and lead the Bureau of Public Affairs and the dedicated public affairs professionals at the State Department and around the world.  I am an avid Red Sox fan.  Judith is a Yankees fan and Ian, a Cubs fan, but we are united by a higher calling and significant challenges.

Tackling these global challenges – extremism, nonproliferation, climate change, global health and food security just to name a few – will require, as Secretary Clinton has said repeatedly, coordinated, international partnerships at the government-to-government and people-to-people levels and all variations in between.  In order to build and sustain such partnerships, we must communicate effectively.  Effective communication is a two-way street, so as much as I look forward to keeping you informed on new initiatives, I’m even more eager to hear your ideas.

]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/public_affairs_foreign_policy/ 2009-06-01T20:53:20+00:00 Public Diplomacy: Renewing America’s Engagement With the People of the World About the Author: Judith McHale serves as Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.

I am deeply honored to join President Obama and Secretary Clinton in spearheading America’s renewed engagement with the people of the world. As Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs I will work with a talented team of career diplomats all over the globe to build lasting relationships of mutual trust and respect between the American people and foreign publics.

As the daughter of a U.S.Foreign Service Officer, I was taught that there is no higher calling than public service. When my father was stationed in apartheid-era South Africa, our home was under police surveillance, friends were detained and mistreated, and I saw what it means to live in a society that is not free. That experience instilled in me the importance of fulfilling our responsibilities as citizens, of public service, and of standing up for what we know is right.

So even though I am new to the State Department, I am deeply aware of the importance of engaging people across the globe. At Discovery Communications, which I helped expand into 170 countries, we prided ourselves on building bridges of knowledge and information that connected people all over the world. We believed in engaging people internationally on their own terms, respecting their languages, customs, and interests.

I believe passionately that public diplomacy is both integral to our foreign policy and essential for our national security, and I plan to bring that same spirit of respectful engagement to my new role here at the State Department.

In today’s rapidly changing world, the United States must continue to move beyond traditional government-to-government diplomacy and seek innovative ways to communicate and engage directly with foreign publics.

The challenges we face require a complex, multi-dimensional approach to public diplomacy. We have to listen more and lecture less. And we have to learn how people in other countries and cultures listen to us. We need to understand their interests and aspirations, and use our leadership to provide them with information and services they value. If we do this right, we can forge relationships that become part of their daily lives. They may come to see their relationship with us, the United States of America, our government, and our greatest asset of all – the American people – as essential to their ability to achieve progress and prosperity, and fulfill their dreams of a brighter future.

This vision is more possible than ever because new communications advances provide unprecedented opportunities to engage people directly, to connect them to one another, and to dramatically scale up many traditional public diplomacy efforts. They provide us the opportunity to move from an old paradigm in which our government speaks as one to many, to a new model of engaging interactively and collaboratively across lines that might otherwise divide us from people around the world. Public diplomacy is not something the government can or should do alone. New technological tools will help us tap into the spirit, optimism, and diversity of the American people, including our many Diaspora communities with their deep ties and networks spanning the globe.

I look forward to working with the dedicated professionals here at the State Department and new partners from across our country to provide the open hand of friendship the President promised the world in his inaugural address.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/public_diplomacy/ 2009-06-01T16:47:20+00:00 21st Century Statecraft In a YouTube video message, Secretary Clinton speaks about 21st century statecraft.

On the U.S. Department of State's YouTube Channel, Secretary Clinton speaks about 21st century statecraft and encourages the American people to be citizen ambassadors who use the communication tools at our disposal to advance the interests of our nation and humanity everywhere. Twenty-first century statecraft brings together technology and the talents of citizens in ways that previous generations could not have imagined. Watch the Secretary's video message to learn more about how the State Department is engaging the public and harnessing the energy of a rising generation of citizen diplomats.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/twenty-first_century_statecraft1/ 2009-05-29T17:24:42+00:00 Saluting UN Peacekeepers Around the World About the Author: Judy Buelow serves as Deputy Director of the Office of Peacekeeping, Sanctions, and Counter-terrorism in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs.

Today marks the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, and offers us an opportunity to reflect on the purpose and role of UN peacekeeping missions around the world and the men and women who serve in those missions. It may come as a surprise to many that the first UN peacekeeping mission was established 61 years ago, and that there have been a total of 63 such missions in the years since.

Peacekeeping has evolved a good deal over the last six decades, from maintaining ceasefires and stabilizing conflict situations, to more robust mandates that can include helping to build government institutions, monitoring elections, and disarming, demobilizing, and reintegrating former combatants. What hasn’t changed is the fact that it can be a dangerous business.

There are currently more than 92,000 personnel serving in 16 UN peacekeeping operations from Haiti to Cyprus, Darfur to Lebanon. And while UN peacekeeping can’t resolve every conflict, the U.S. firmly believes that it can be a valuable tool for helping parties to a conflict restore peace and stability.

The truth of that statement can been seen in places like Sierra Leone, Guatemala, and Mozambique, which are at peace today with the help of successful peacekeeping missions. The U.S. strongly supports the UN’s “blue helmets,” and in part that support stems from the fact that multilateral peacekeeping allows the U.S. to share the burdens and risks of peacekeeping with the world community.

So, today we salute the brave and dedicated men and women serving in UN peacekeeping missions around the world. The world is a safer, more stable place as a result of their efforts.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/un_peacekeepers/ 2009-05-29T14:09:42+00:00 Free Media Essential to Democracy In recognition of World Press Freedom Day, Secretary Clinton released this statement:

The United States is proud to join the international community in celebrating World Press Freedom Day and the contributions that journalists make to advancing human dignity, liberty, and prosperity.

We live in a world where the free flow of information and ideas is a powerful force for progress. Independent print, broadcast, and online media outlets are more than sources of news and opinion. They also expose abuses of power, fight corruption, challenge assumptions, and provide constructive outlets for new ideas and dissent.

Freedom of the press is protected by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is a hallmark of every free society. Wherever media freedom is in jeopardy, all other human rights are also under threat. A free media is essential to democracy and it fosters transparency and accountability, both of which are prerequisites for sustained economic development.

Those who seek to abuse power and spread corruption view media freedom as a threat. Instead of supporting an open press, they attempt to control or silence independent voices. The methods they use against news organizations and journalists range from restrictive laws and regulations to censorship, violence, imprisonment, and even murder. Such tactics are not new, and cannot go unanswered.

We are especially concerned about the citizens from our own country currently under detention abroad: individuals such as Roxana Saberi in Iran, and Euna Lee and Laura Ling in North Korea.

On behalf of President Obama, I want to affirm the United States’ strong commitment to media freedom worldwide. We will champion this cause through our diplomatic efforts and through our exchange and assistance programs. We will work in partnership with non-governmental organizations and directly with members of the media. And we will stand with those courageous men and women who face persecution for exercising and defending the right of media freedom.

]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/free_media_essential/ 2009-05-04T13:33:42+00:00 U.S. Foreign Policy Built on Defense, Diplomacy, and Development Secretary Clinton and Secretary Gates testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee today. Secretary Clinton said:

"Secretary Gates and I are here together because our departments’ missions are aligned and our plans are integrated. The foreign policy of the United States is built on the three Ds: defense, diplomacy, and development. The men and women in our armed forces perform their duties with courage and skill, putting their lives on the line time and time again on behalf of our nation. And in many regions, they serve alongside civilians from the State Department and USAID, as well as other government agencies, like USDA.

We work with the military in two crucial ways. First, civilians complement and build upon our military’s efforts in conflict areas like Iraq and Afghanistan. Second, they use diplomatic and development tools to build more stable and peaceful societies, hopefully to avert or end conflict that is far less costly in lives and dollars than military action.

As you know, the United States is facing serious challenges around the world: two wars; political uncertainty in the Middle East; irresponsible nations, led by Iran and North Korea, with nuclear ambitions; an economic crisis that is pushing more people into poverty; and 21st century threats such as terrorism, climate change, trafficking in drugs and human beings. These challenges require new forms of outreach and cooperation within our own government and then with others as well.

To achieve this, we have launched a new diplomacy powered by partnership, pragmatism, and principle. We are strengthening historic alliances and reaching out to create new ones. And we’re bringing governments, the private sector, and civil society together to find global solutions to global problems.

The 2009 supplemental budget request for the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development is a significant sum, yet our investment in diplomacy and development is only about 6 percent of our total national security budget. For Secretary Gates and myself, it is critically important that we give our civilian workers, as well as our military, the resources they need to do their jobs well."

Read the Secretary's full opening remarks before the Senate Appropriations Committee.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/defense_diplomacy_development/ 2009-04-30T22:46:42+00:00 Country Reports on Terrorism Released The Department of State released the annual Congressionally mandated Country Reports on Terrorism 2008 today. U.S. law requires the Secretary of State to provide Congress, by April 30 of each year, a full and complete report on terrorism with regard to those countries and groups meeting criteria set forth in the legislation.

The Country Reports on Terrorism 2008's "Strategic Assessment" chapter highlights terrorism trends and ongoing issues in 2008. This chapter sets the scene for the detailed analysis that follows. Significant achievements in border security, information sharing, transportation security, financial controls, and the killing or capture of numerous terrorist leaders have reduced the threat. But the threat remains, and state sponsorship, improved terrorist propaganda capabilities, the pursuit of weapons of mass destruction by some terrorist groups and state sponsors of terrorism, and terrorist exploitation of grievances represent ongoing challenges.

The terrorist groups of greatest concern – because of their global reach – share many of the characteristics of a global insurgency: propaganda campaigns, grass roots support, transnational ideology, and political and territorial ambitions. Responding requires a comprehensive response that focuses on recruiters and their networks, potential recruits, the local population, and the ideology. An holistic approach incorporates efforts aimed at protecting and securing the population; politically and physically marginalizing insurgents; winning the support and cooperation of at-risk populations by targeted political and development measures; and conducting precise intelligence-led special operations to eliminate critical enemy elements with minimal risk to innocent civilians.

Significant achievements in this area were made this year against terrorist leadership targets, notably the capturing or killing of key terrorist leaders in Pakistan, Iraq, and Colombia. These efforts buy us time to carry out the non-lethal and longer term elements of a comprehensive counterterrorist strategy: disrupting terrorist operations, communications, propaganda, subversion efforts, planning and fundraising, and preventing radicalization before it takes root by addressing the grievances that terrorists exploit and discrediting the ideology that provides their legitimacy. Actions that advance these strategic objectives include building and strengthening networks among governments, multilateral cooperation, business organizations, and working within civil society. It is crucial to empower credible voices and provide alternatives to joining extremist organizations.

Working with allies and partners across the world, we have created a less permissive operating environment for terrorists, keeping terrorist leaders on the move or in hiding, and degrading their ability to plan and mount attacks. Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Jordan, the Philippines, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and many other partners played major roles in this success. Dozens of countries have continued to pass counterterrorism legislation or strengthen pre-existing laws that provide their law enforcement and judicial authorities with new tools to bring terrorists to justice. The United States has expanded the number of foreign partners with which it shares terrorist screening information. This information serves as an important tool for disrupting and tracking travel of known and suspected terrorists.

Read the full report.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/country_reports_terrorism_2008/ 2009-04-30T21:12:42+00:00 Making Climate Change Central to U.S. Foreign Policy Secretary Clinton spoke today to delegates participating in the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate at the State Department. The Secretary said:

"I’m delighted to welcome all of you to the State Department for this very consequential meeting. As I look around the table, I think I have met in bilateral forums with all of the countries here, if not in multilateral forums, over the last nearly 100 days. And at each and every one of those meetings, global warming, climate change, clean energy, a low-carbon future has been part of our discussions. And I’m very pleased to welcome the personal representatives of 17 major economies, the United Nations, and observer nations to this first preparatory meeting of the major economies on energy and climate.

I think it’s significant that this discussion is taking place here at the State Department, because the crisis of climate change exists at the nexus of diplomacy, national security and development. It is an environmental issue, a health issue, an economic issue, an energy issue, and a security issue. It is a threat that is global in scope, but also local and national in impact. I’m delighted that our Special Envoy for Climate Change, Todd Stern, will be working with you, as will Mike Froman, who sits at that nexus in the White House between the National Security Council and the National Economic Council.

You know the details or you would not be here. There is much going on in the world today that challenges us, and it is remarkable that each of your nations has committed to this because we know that climate change threatens lives and livelihoods. Desertification and rising sea levels generate increased competition for food, water and resources. But we also have seen increasingly the dangers that these transpose to the stability of societies and governments. We see how this can breed conflict, unrest and forced migration. So no issue we face today has broader long-term consequences or greater potential to alter the world for future generations.

So this morning, I would like to underscore four main points. First, the science is unambiguous and the logic that flows from it is inescapable. Climate change is a clear and present danger to our world that demands immediate attention. Second, the United States is fully engaged and ready to lead and determined to make up for lost time, both at home and abroad. The President and his entire Administration are committed to addressing this issue and we will act.

Third, the economies represented here today have a special responsibility to pull together and work toward a successful outcome of the UN climate negotiations later in the year in Copenhagen, and I’m delighted that Denmark could join us because they are going to host this very important meeting. And the Major Economies Forum provides a vehicle to help us get prepared to be successful at that meeting.

And fourth, all of us participating today must cooperate in developing meaningful proposals to move the process forward. New policy and new technologies are needed to resolve this crisis, and they won’t materialize by themselves. They will happen because we will set forth an action plan in individual countries, in regions, and globally. It took a lot of work by a lot of people to create the problem of climate change over the last centuries. And it will take our very best efforts to counter it."

Read the Secretary's full remarks at the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/climate_change_central/ 2009-04-27T19:10:58+00:00 U.S. Committed to Fight Against Malaria About the Author: Rear Admiral Timothy Ziemer serves as Coordinator of the U.S. Global Malaria Programs.

Each year 300-500 million people suffer from malaria with children and pregnant women at greatest risk from this devastating, ancient disease. Ninety percent of these deaths are among children in impoverished areas of rural Africa. While malaria has been all but forgotten in the United States, it remains the leading cause of death for children under 5 in Africa, killing approximately 1 million people a year.

A son of missionaries, I grew up in Asia where malaria was a fact of life. Do you know or remember that malaria was prevalent in the United States until the 1950’s? Foreign diplomats to the United States who lived in Washington received hardship pay because of malaria along the Potomac. It was eradicated in the U.S. and other developed countries in the 1950’s and 1960’s due to very concerted and aggressive efforts by governments to eradicate the disease thru the use of insecticide sprays and other prevention and treatment methods. These efforts were not supported in Africa, and malaria has been allowed to fester almost unchecked. It was as though the developed world turned their back on the problem – it didn’t go away. Anopheline mosquitoes and the malaria parasites they carry have proven to be dangerously adaptable to our control methods – mosquitoes have developed resistance to insecticides and parasites have developed resistance to drugs such as chloroquine. Populations in malarial areas had no defense.

Malaria is often referred to as a disease of poverty as it mostly afflicts those who are least able to afford prevention and treatment services. Economic losses due to malaria in Africa are estimated to be about US$12 billion per year. Men and women are kept from work, children from school, and many families are forced to use much of their modest discretionary income to pay for expensive malaria treatments.

On behalf of the American people, the U.S. government has taken extraordinary steps to curb the spread of this preventable and curable disease. In 15 high burden countries in Africa, the U.S. has helped to dramatically scale up highly effective malaria prevention and treatment interventions.

The U.S. reached more than 32 million people with malaria prevention or treatment measures in the past year. Working with host country governments other development partners, Rwanda, Zambia, and Zanzibar have achieved major reductions in the number of people infected with malaria. Declines at the regional and district-level have also been reported from Mozambique, Tanzania, and Uganda. These achievements have been associated with substantially reduced mortality rates of children under the age of five in both Rwanda and Zambia.

The U.S. also supports the Amazon Malaria Initiative (covering the eight countries making up the Amazon Basin of South America) and the Mekong Malaria Program (covering the five countries in the Mekong Region in Southeast Asia), as well as anti-malaria activities in South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria.

Widespread distribution of mosquito nets that prevent mosquitoes from biting their intended victims, new and effective drugs to treat malaria, medicines that protect pregnant women and their unborn babies, and spraying insecticides on the inside walls of homes to kill mosquitoes that transmit the disease are all sharply reducing malaria deaths in several African countries. These efforts are bringing newfound hope that malaria is not an intractable problem, and giving children a fighting chance to improve their quality of life and build better futures.

Progress has been dramatic thanks to major contributions from our partners, including host country governments, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (Global Fund), the World Bank, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and private sector companies, such as Exxon-Mobil, and NGOs like Malaria No More.

Improving the health of populations, reducing the spread and impact of diseases are not only important in their own right, but they also result in greater productivity, economic growth, and contribute to peace and political stability. Healthier populations are able to pursue education and employment opportunities, making them better-able to contribute to and benefit from economic growth and to participate in community affairs and governance. Addressing global health issues thus not only improves the lives of the people of developing nations but also directly impacts the interests of American citizens.

This is a good news story, and one you can support as well. For as little as $10 you can purchase a mosquito net for a family in Africa. This is a great way to give children a fighting chance to improve their quality of life and build better futures. To find a list of organizations that accept contributions to help in the fight against malaria, please visit our website.

Each year on April 25 the world recognizes World Malaria Day to call attention to the disease and to mobilize action to combat it. I hope that soon we can celebrate the elimination of malaria as a major public health threat.

You may watch or read Secretary Clinton's statement on World Malaria Day.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/fight_against_malaria/ 2009-04-24T23:13:58+00:00 Secretary Clinton Honors World Malaria Day Secretary Clinton delivers a video statement in honor of World Malaria Day.

World Malaria Day is recognized on April 25. Every year, between 300 and 500 million people suffer the effects of malaria. The disease claims more than one million lives annually, and 90% of its victims are children. Together with its terrible human toll, the effects of malaria hurt educational achievement, worker productivity, and economic development. It afflicts the impoverished, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, and is itself a source of poverty.

In honor of World Malaria Day, Secretary Clinton calls to attention the effects of this disease and reaffirms U.S. commitment to curb the spread of the disease and work with global partners to end malaria as a major public health threat. You may watch or read the Secretary's statement.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/world_malaria_day/ 2009-04-24T15:50:58+00:00 Diplomacy, Development Safeguard America’s Security Secretary Clinton spoke today before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. Secretary Clinton said:

"[W]e think that diplomacy and development are ever more important to safeguarding the security and prosperity of our people and our nation, because after all, if we are successful in either managing or solving problems, we save the money and the lives that would otherwise have to be spent in dealing with conflict. ...We have launched a new diplomacy that we believe is powered by partnership and pragmatism and principle. And I’m very proud of the men and women of the State Department and USAID who literally work around the clock and around the world."

Read the Secretary's full remarks.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/diplomacy_america_security/ 2009-04-23T18:33:58+00:00 “Greening Diplomacy” Secretary Clinton spoke today at the State Department’s “Greening Diplomacy” Earth Day event.  In her remarks, the Secretary said:

“We’re trying to green diplomacy and we want to do it every day, not just on Earth Day. That starts with our foreign policy, and accepting that climate change is more than a scientific phenomenon. It’s a political challenge, it’s an economic force, it’s a security threat, and a moral imperative. We’ve already seen the results of climate change, which has, because of rising waters, because of desertification, displaced communities, and jeopardized food and water supplies, helped to spread epidemics and threatened the continued existence of island nations.”

Read the Secretary’s 2009 Earth Day remarks.

]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/greening_diplomacy/ 2009-04-23T02:52:58+00:00 Secretary Clinton Presents Obama Administration Foreign Policy Priorities Secretary Clinton appeared today before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.  In her remarks, the Secretary said:

“Our priorities are clear. We are deploying the tools of diplomacy and development along with military power. We are securing historic alliances, working with emerging regional powers, and seeking new avenues of engagement. We’re addressing the existing and emerging challenges that will define our century: climate change, weak states, rogue regimes, criminal cartels, nuclear proliferation, terrorism, poverty, and disease. We’re advancing our values and our interests by promoting human rights and fostering conditions that allow every individual to live up to their God-given potential.

Now, I know that many of your questions today will deal with longstanding concerns: Afghanistan and Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, certainly the Middle East, the fallout from the global financial crisis. I will speak briefly to those, and I look forward to answering any questions you might have.

As you know, in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the President has outlined a strategy centered on a core goal: to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaida, and to prevent their safe return to havens in Afghanistan or Pakistan. We combined our strategic review with intensive diplomacy, and nations from around the world are joining our efforts. More than 80 countries and organizations participated in the international conference in The Hague, and a donors’ conference just concluded in Tokyo raised over $5 billion.

In Iraq, we’re working toward the responsible redeployment of our troops and the transition to a partnership based on diplomatic and economic cooperation. We’re deploying new approaches to the threat posed by Iran, and we’re doing so with our eyes wide open and with no illusions. We know the imperative of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. After years during which the United States basically sat on the sidelines, we are now a full partner in the P-5+1 talks.

In the Middle East, we engaged immediately to help bring the parties together to once again discuss what could be done to reach a two-state solution. We’re maintaining our bedrock core commitment to Israel’s security, providing economic support, security assistance, and we are also doing what we can to bolster the Palestinian Authority, and to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

More broadly, we’re working to contain the fallout from the global financial crisis. Our efforts at the G-20 focused in large measures on the poorest and most vulnerable countries. We need to provide support for the International Monetary Fund. We need to provide direct assistance to countries such as Haiti, where I traveled last week. These resources will help democratic, responsible governments regain their economic footing and avert political instability with wider repercussions.

Now, these challenges demand our urgent attention, but they cannot distract us from equally important, but sometimes less compelling or obvious threats, ranging from climate change to disease to criminal cartels to nonproliferation.

In today’s world, we face challenges that have no respect for borders. Not one of them can be dealt with by the United States alone. None, however, can be solved without us leading. All will have a profound impact on the future of our children. As daunting as these challenges are, they also offer us new arenas for global cooperation. And we’re taking steps to seize these opportunities.”

Read more of Secretary Clinton’s remarks before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/foreign_policy_priorities/ 2009-04-22T18:22:58+00:00 Climate Change: Time To Act Now Todd Stern serves as Special Envoy for Climate Change. He speaks about the "Focus the Nation" Clean Energy Town Halls and the Obama Administration's climate policy.

Hi, I’m Todd Stern, the U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change. I am honored to participate in this nation- wide town hall, and I want to thank Focus the Nation and each of you for the vital work that you are doing on behalf of the environment. Focus the Nation is doing an essential job educating and engaging our young leaders and empowering them to play an active role in shaping our future. The teach-in that you all convened on a thousand campuses last year was a tough act to follow, but you’ve topped that with today’s town hall meetings.

There is no doubt about the urgency of the climate change crisis, and you will not hear anyone in this Administration question the signs. The time for denial, delay and dispute is over, and the time to act is now.

And this Administration is acting. President Obama’s stimulus plan provides $80 billion of new spending and loan guarantees to accelerate our clean energy transformation. In addition, the President has called for a dramatic expansion in our investment in clean energy research and development.

Moreover, the Administration is working actively with key members of Congress to implement a bill to put a cap on carbon pollution that would cut our emissions more than 16% from current levels by 2020 and 80% by 2050.

Along with these efforts at home, I am working hard to demonstrate that America is back and ready to lead in international climate negotiations. Just recently, I returned from a two week conference in Bonn, Germany as part of a series of prep meetings that will culminate in a major summit in Copenhagen at the end of this year.

Climate change is truly a global challenge, and the United States cannot solve it alone. In eight days, we will welcome representatives from 17 major countries accounting for some 80% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions here to the State Department. We look forward to a candid exchange to lay the foundation for what I hope will be success in Copenhagen and begin charting a path to a low carbon future. Climate change affects all of us, and we need each of you to remain committed to this important issue.

Thanks so much, and keep up the good work.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/climate_change_act_now/ 2009-04-22T04:53:58+00:00 Putting Environmental Issues Where They Belong About the Author: Todd Stern serves as Special Envoy for Climate Change.

In the lead-up to Earth Day in 1996, Secretary of State Warren Christopher set out what at the time seemed an ambitious vision: “to put environmental issues where they belong: in the mainstream of American foreign policy.” Thirteen years later, Secretary Christopher’s vision has taken hold. Thanks to Secretary Clinton, the environment – particularly the global climate change crisis – is front and center in U.S. diplomacy.

I saw this first-hand when I joined Secretary Clinton on her inaugural trip to China, Japan, Indonesia, and South Korea. There, in meetings with Presidents and Prime Ministers, with Foreign Ministers and business groups, and with students and non-governmental organizations, climate change was a critical part of the agenda.

There is no question anymore that the world must take urgent and bold action to combat climate change. The science is clear, and threat is real. The United States must lead on this issue, and we will. We have already taken bold domestic action and we will continue to develop a comprehensive climate and energy plan that will create millions of jobs and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

And, even closer to home, Secretary Clinton has challenged each of the employees of the Department of State to get involved personally by contributing our ideas and efforts to her new Greening Diplomacy Initiative.

While we develop the necessary steps to combat climate change at home, we are also actively reaching out and listening to our partners abroad. Climate will be in the spotlight again next week, when the State Department hosts 17 economies, plus the United Nations and Denmark (as host of this December’s UN climate conference) for the first preparatory session of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate.

In order to forge a global solution to this crisis, we need climate to be at the core of our foreign policy; thanks to President Obama and Secretary Clinton, it is.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/environmental_issues/ 2009-04-22T04:32:58+00:00 U.S. Committed To Revitalizing Multilateral Cooperation About the Author: Dr. Esther Brimmer serves as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs.

Much has been said about President Obama’s pledge for a “new era of engagement” for the United States. In the Bureau of International Organization Affairs, which I have just been sworn in to lead, this commitment means revitalizing U.S. multilateral cooperation before the United Nations and other international institutions. It is truly an exciting time to be joining the team of talented people in the Department of State and this Administration to help lead this effort.

During his Presidential campaign, then-Senator Obama often spoke of a new direction for U.S. leadership in international affairs to “strengthen our common security by investing in our common humanity,” arguing that the security and welfare of every American is affected by the security and welfare of those who live outside the United States. This represents a return to the role America played after World War II, when we helped to lead the international community in establishing an array of multilateral institutions.  While this led to an enhanced role for America in the world, it also served to enhance our security and stability at home.

Today, we face new and fast-moving challenges on any number of issues: food security, human rights, terrorism, climate change. Issues that no state can address effectively alone. For this reason, the United Nations, though imperfect, is the institution best placed to bring nations together to address jointly the collective challenges of the 21st century. Similarly, the United States, though imperfect, finds itself in a position of leadership at the United Nations, and this Administration has accepted the call.

On human rights, the United States has accepted the call to leadership by making a very early decision to reengage with the UN Human Rights Council and to seek a seat on the Council this year with the goal of working to make it a more effective body to promote and protect human rights. It is true that the Human Rights Council’s record has been quite disturbing. It needs fundamental change to do more to promote and protect the human rights of people around the world and end its repeated and unbalanced criticisms of Israel. However, I share the belief of the President, Secretary of State Clinton and U.S. Permanent Representative to the U.N. Ambassador Rice that the U.S. voice is better heard from the inside than from the outside. We will use that voice in the Council and elsewhere to promote and protect human rights.

The United States also plays an important leadership role in UN peacekeeping operations, providing around 26% of the annual UN budget for peacekeeping, in addition to providing training and equipment. By working through the UN, we can assist in those areas in which we could not intervene unilaterally. In places like Liberia and Haiti, UN peacekeeping operations have helped to mitigate dangerous armed conflicts and foster fragile new peace.  Countries like Sierra Leone, Guatemala and Mozambique are at peace today, years after UN peacekeeping operations successfully completed their missions and drew down. However, much work remains to be done. In the coming months, I hope to work with my colleagues in making peacekeeping operations more effective instruments to restore peace and stability. This includes improving the administration of peacekeeping operations, building member state support to make UN peacekeeping more effective, and encouraging a thorough review of the mandates for both proposed new peacekeeping operations and for existing operations when they come up for renewal, with a view to modifying those mandates as appropriate.

When people think about the UN, they usually think of the politically-charged debates in the Security Council or the General Assembly. But the UN system is comprised of many agencies and organizations quietly trying to get the job done, sometimes in quite difficult circumstances.  The World Food Program (WFP), for example, is the agency on the global frontlines charged with providing food to the most vulnerable populations in some of the most challenging locations in the world. Another example, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), coordinates global use of the radio spectrum, promotes cooperation internationally in assigning satellite orbits, and establishes worldwide standards for various communications systems. Every time you call overseas or listen to satellite radio, ITU has helped make that possible. I earned a pilot’s license when I was 20, so the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which establishes the principles and techniques of international flight, is of personal interest to me. Indeed, every time any one of us steps on a plane, we are carried by a framework ICAO created to help to keep us safe. As Assistant Secretary, I look forward to working with ICAO, ITU, the WFP, as well as the myriad other UN agencies and organizations, to help foster and improve U.S. cooperation.

It is an honor and a privilege to join the outstanding Department of State team. While much work needs to be done, I am confident that we will enjoy tremendous success in laying the groundwork for reinvigorated U.S. leadership in multilateral arenas going forward into the next century, and I look forward to updating you on our progress on DipNote.

Read Assistant Secretary Brimmer’s previous entry.

]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/revitalizing_multilateral_cooperation/ 2009-04-13T20:55:58+00:00 Antarctic Treaty Marks 50 Years, Supports Today’s Efforts To Address Climate Change Today Secretary Clinton addressed the first joint session of the Arctic Council and the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and recognized the 50th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty. Secretary Clinton said:

“The genius of the Antarctic Treaty lies in its relevance today. It was written to meet the challenges of an earlier time, but it and its related instruments remain a key tool in our efforts to address an urgent threat of this time, climate change, which has already destabilized communities on every continent, endangered plant and animal species, and jeopardized critical food and water sources.

Climate change is shaping the future of our planets and – our planet in ways we are still striving to understand. But the research made possible within the framework of the Antarctic Treaty has shown us that catastrophic consequences await if we don’t take action soon. The framers of the treaty may not have foreseen exactly the shape of climate change, but their agreement allowed scientists to model its effects, including glaciologists studying the dynamics of ice, biologists exploring the effects of harsh temperatures on living organisms, geophysicists like those who discovered the hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica that prompted the ban embodied in the 1987 Montreal Protocol. Today, the hole above the Antarctica is starting to close, thanks to the world’s response to this discovery.

So the treaty is a blueprint for the kind of international cooperation that will be needed more and more to address the challenges of the 21st century, and it is an example of smart power at its best. Governments coming together around a common interest and citizens, scientists, and institutions from different countries joined in scientific collaboration to advance peace and understanding.”

Read the Secretary’s remarks here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/antarctic_treaty/ 2009-04-06T19:53:40+00:00 G-20 Summit: Laying Groundwork for Progress Yesterday, after a series of meetings and discussions at the G-20 Summit, President Obama said:

"While here in London I had the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with leaders of Russia, China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and India, as well as Great Britain. ... [W]e ... discussed coordinated actions on a range of issues: how we could reduce the nuclear threat; how we could forge a coordinated response to North Korea's planned missile launch; how we can turn back terrorism and stabilize Afghanistan; how we can protect our planet from the scourge of climate change. I'm encouraged that we laid the groundwork for real and lasting progress on a host of these issues."

Read President Obama's remarks here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/g20_summit_groundwork_progress/ 2009-04-03T12:53:40+00:00 Reconstruction and Stabilization: Civilian Deployments to Hot Spots Ambassador John Herbst serves as the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization at the U.S. Department of State.

My name is John Herbst. I’m the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization in the Office of Reconstruction and Stabilization at the State Department. This is a relatively new office. It was created not quite five years ago, and it was created in response to the problems we ran into in Afghanistan, and especially Iraq, providing civilian oversight for the activities needed to rebuild those societies.

S/CRS was created to do two things: one, to organize all assets on the civilian side of the U.S. Government for conducting successful stabilization operations to make sure we had the right plan, the right implementation group, the right strategy to reconstruct society; two, we were organized to establish a Corps of civilians with the right skills needed to deploy into a crisis. S/CRS has come a long way in the last almost five years, and we are in the process right now of building a Civilian Response Corps of 600 people. We have also created a system for organizing the U.S. Government – we call it the Interagency Management System – which has been thoroughly tested, and parts of which have been used in real-life crises.

S/CRS has an office now of over 100 people. And we have deployed our people to hot spots around the world. They have seen action in Darfur, in eastern Chad, in Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Kosovo, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Our people have gone to these different places to do different things. For example, in Haiti, we helped train police. We helped provide the equipment and the wherewithal for police to return to Cité de Soleil, which is the principal slum in the city of Port-au-Prince, a slum which had no policing until we helped put police back there. We sent an expert on the rule of law to Liberia to help develop the legal system there to run in a way which we all consider to be fair. We’ve had our most important deployments in Afghanistan. We have had as many as 12 people on the ground there. We’ve helped every American Provincial Reconstruction Team write a plan of civilian operations.

At our urging, the last couple of months, our Embassy in Kabul stood up an interagency group, called the Interagency Civilian-Military Action group – the Integrated Civilian-Military Action group – to help ensure that all American efforts in Afghanistan were fully coordinated – the efforts of the Defense Department, USAID, the State Department, Justice Department, and so on.

S/CRS is looking for people to staff the Civilian Response Corps. The Civilian Response Corps will have employees from eight different agencies. We will have a special component (inaudible). The inner core of this is what we call the active component. These will be people who have no jobs but to deploy to places in crisis. We are looking for people who have the skills needed in a country which has a very poorly functioning government, who have a sense of adventure to join the Civilian Response Corps. We’re looking for people who are able to provide oversight in areas like engineering, the people involved in the rule of law, policemen, judges, corrections officials, attorneys. We’re looking for public administrators, public health officials, for city planners, port operators, agronomists. We’re looking for people with these skills, a sense of adventure, and willing to contribute to American national security by helping countries where we have great national security interests at stake to stabilize. This is the future, I think, of the State Department – this expeditionary capacity to put people on the ground in dangerous situations where American interests are on the line.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/civilian_deployments/ 2009-04-01T18:35:40+00:00 Secretary Clinton’s Statement on World Tuberculosis Day Today marks World Tuberculosis Day. Secretary Clinton issued a statement, joining others around the world in saying “I am stopping TB.”

Tuberculosis (TB) kills almost 5,000 people each day and is the leading cause of death for people living with HIV/AIDS. The U.S. Government is the largest contributor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, which has detected and treated over 4 million cases of TB. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is working to improve the diagnosis and treatment of TB for co-infected persons, and is engaged in infection control efforts to prevent new cases of TB. In addition, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has tuberculosis programs in more than 35 countries.

In her statement, Secretary Clinton said: "While much has been accomplished in the fight against this disease, there is still much more to be done if we are to meet the Millennium Development Goal of halting and reversing the spread of TB by 2015. I strongly believe the State Department should continue and expand its commitment to reducing the global burden of TB, and I look forward to working to improve the global response to this and other leading causes of death for the world's poorest communities."]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/statement_world_tuberculosis_day/ 2009-03-24T17:44:32+00:00 Language and Digital Natives: From the Silk Road to ExchangesConnect About the Author: Melvin W. Hall serves in the Youth Programs Division of the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The monikers Net Generation, Millennials, and Digital Natives identify a generation coming of age in a global information and communication technology (ICT) environment. Computer and Internet savvy, this new generation of young women and men propel globalization forward using social networks that span the globe: Facebook, MySpace, Humble Voice, and Trig, to name a few. Millennials interact with their international peers to weave social networks across one global, virtual city; they exchange ideas, culture, music, literature; they inspire creativity, innovation, and change. In fact, Digital Natives’ creative use of language for “texting” testifies to their ingenuity and ability to influence our culture. A few examples: WYHAM (when you have a minute); LHO (laughing head off); UR2YS4ME (you are too wise for me); H2CUS (hope to see you soon); and, two acronyms likely to be used extensively over spring break, AITR (adult in the room) and POS (parent over shoulder). These and other linguistic innovations bring into sharp relief the one global network that unites all global networks and cultures in time and space – language. To paraphrase Confucius, “When we grasp language we grasp the one thread which links up the rest.”

The excitement surrounding new social networks and the accompanying flashy and advanced technology, however, can lead us to believe that global social networks are relatively new and cause us to forget language’s vital importance to any social network. A broad historical perspective of social networks reveals that they are not new and that language is the one enduring, essential component of all technological advances. Consider the following global networks: Progress in language and writing allowed Hammurabi (ca. 1795 – 1750 B.C.E.) to create a unified network of Mesopotamian City States by posting his laws on stone tablets located at the center of cities within the ambit of his empire. Technological advances in agriculture, navigating, and writing made possible trade along the Silk Road (c.a. 200 to 400 B.C.E.) creating a global network that stretched from Europe and Africa to East Asia and encouraged cultural exchange. The Romans (c.a. 43 to 200 C.E.), thanks to technological advances in engineering, created a sophisticated network of roads that linked the most distant frontiers of their global empire – Britain to Africa to Central Asia, again, creating opportunities for cultural exchange.

Technological developments in more recent history also expanded global social networks. The steam engine and railroads linked vast stretches of continents, such as Russia’s Trans-Siberian Railway (c.a. 1891), connecting Western Russia with Eastern Siberia, China, and Mongolia. The transatlantic telegraph cable (1866) linked two continents divided by an ocean: North America and Europe. And, of course, more recently, radio, T.V., satellites, the Internet and mobile phones have accelerated the pace of global networking and cultural exchange. Take language away from any of these networks and we lose our grip on the one thread that unites and animates all social networks; we are left with technology “signifying nothing.”

The same is true for “new” social networks used by Digital Natives. Without a shared language social networks could divide people and cultures even while technology connects them with its global reach. Non-English social networking sites, some of which have more users and greater appeal than Facebook, nicely illustrate this point: Vkontakte.ru and Odnoklassniki.ru (Russian); 51.com and Kaixin001 (Chinese); Mixi (Japanese); Cyworld (Korean); Kindo.com (Hindi); Yonja (Turkish); As-hhab (Arabic). And, of course, there is the recently launched Arabic Facebook. The proliferation of non-English social networks requires Americans to continue to advance their language skills in order to stay connected with people from around the world. In fact, an often overlooked characteristic of Global Digital Natives (GDNs) is that they are multilingual; they can join conversations in a variety of languages.

Students from across the United States participate in conversations about language learning, culture, and link up with their international peers on ExchangesConnect. The “NSLI-Y Group,” an ExchangesConnect social network, links young Americans with a desire to learn Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Hindi, Korean, Russian and Turkish and become Global Digital Natives. The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) is a Department of State sponsored language program that provides full scholarships for Americans ages 15 to 18 to study those seven languages in intensive overseas summer, semester, and academic-year programs. By learning these less commonly taught languages American youth will acquire the linguistic skills necessary to become truly Global Digital Natives. They will be able sustain cultural exchange by using language in their academic and professional careers, engaging their international peers on-line and in person. In essence, NSLI-Y’s intensive programs are a springboard to a lifetime of language use and participation in global networks with people from around the world. To learn more about NSLI-Y Group — and to grasp the historic, cultural and geographic thread which links up the rest — go to ExchangesConnect and become a Global Digital Native. TAFN – BOS (that’s all for now – boss over shoulder).]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/language_exchanges_connect/ 2009-03-21T23:02:40+00:00 Human Rights Reports: Three Main Trends Secretary's Remarks

Today, the U.S. Department of State released the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2008. These congressionally mandated reports describe the performance of governments across the globe in putting into practice their international commitments on human rights. Last year was characterized by three trends: a growing worldwide demand for greater personal and political freedom, governmental efforts to push back on those freedoms, and further confirmation that human rights flourish best in participatory democracies with vibrant civil societies.

You may read the individual country reports as well as an overview of why and how the reports are prepared.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/human_rights_report/ 2009-02-25T22:45:36+00:00 Food for Thought About the Author: David Nelson serves as Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Business Affairs. Video Text

I am fortunate this week to be missing the snow back in Washington, as I lead the U.S. delegation to the High Level Meeting on Food Security for All held in Madrid, Spain, Jan. 26-27. I am even more fortunate to be working on a critically important issue that makes a real difference in people’s lives around the world.

On Monday, I had the honor to be joined “virtually” here in Madrid by our new Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. In a videotaped message to attendees, which you may also view in the player above, she stressed that the United States is committed to building a new partnership among donor states, developing nations, UN agencies, NGO’s, the private sector and others to better coordinate our policies on food security. Numerous delegations sought me out to express appreciation for the video, both for its content and for the concrete demonstration of how important this issue is to the U.S. government.

As Secretary Clinton made clear in her remarks, food security is critically important; alleviating hunger worldwide is a top priority of this Administration. Food insecurity and high food prices threaten the prosperity and security of many developing countries.

With the complex global challenges we share in this new century, we need the collaboration and coordination among nations that is evident at this meeting. The session was convened by the Government of Spain, and it has brought together a broad range of committed stakeholders and Ministers from more than 126 countries.

At this meeting, there are people from national governments, civil society, trade unions, private sector, academia, donor agencies and multilateral organizations. It’s rewarding to be a part of this diverse group, all working together to review progress achieved since the High-Level Conference on World Food Security in Rome in June of last year, to agree on ways to move forward quickly, and to establish mechanisms for better coordination.

I’m confident we are making important steps in our efforts toward furthering global efforts to find a long term solution to hunger. When I get back to Washington, I look forward to continuing to advance our work to decrease hunger and food insecurity.

And who knows, maybe the snow will have melted by the time my plane touches down.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/food_for_thought/ 2009-01-27T21:33:01+00:00 Secretary Clinton Names Special Envoy for Climate Change Today, Secretary Clinton named Todd Stern as the Special Envoy for Climate Change. The Special Envoy will serve as a principal advisor on international climate policy and strategy and will be the Administration’s chief climate negotiator. In her remarks, Secretary Clinton said:

"As should be evident by now, the President and I believe that American leadership is essential to meeting the challenges of the 21st century. And chief among those is the complex, urgent, and global threat of climate change. From rapidly rising temperatures to melting arctic icecaps, from lower crop yields to dying forests, from unforgiving hurricanes to unrelenting droughts, we have no shortage of evidence that our world is facing a climate crisis.

And let’s be clear. A world in crisis goes well beyond the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink. It is at once an environmental, economic, energy and national security issue with grave implications for America’s and the world’s future. A quick scan of the globe vividly conveys the human toll. Competition for scarcer resources like food and water will lead to further migrations of populations, regional conflicts, and greater disparities between the rich and poor. Reliance on foreign sources of oil and gas influence our way of life here at home and continues to compromise our national security.

So the urgency of the global climate crisis must not be underestimated, nor should the science behind it or the facts on the ground be ignored or dismissed. The time for realism and action is now. And President Obama and I recognize that the solutions to this crisis are both domestic and global, that all nations bear responsibility and all nations must work together to find solutions. Under President Obama, America will take the lead in addressing this challenge, both by making commitments of our own and engaging other nations to do the same."

Read the Secretary's full remarks here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/special_envoy_climate_change/ 2009-01-26T20:23:01+00:00 Secretary Clinton Calls for Strengthening International Development Efforts Today, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton addressed the staff of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In remarks, Secretary Clinton said:

"I wanted to come here today with a very simple message: I believe in development, and I believe with all my heart that it truly is an equal partner, along with defense and diplomacy, in the furtherance of America’s national security.

I don’t think it is at all unexpected to look at the feelings that people have toward our country in sub-Saharan Africa, and to see the positive attitudes toward the United States because of the work that is being done through PEPFAR, through the Malaria Initiative; tangible results that make a difference in people’s lives, linked to the heart and the enthusiasm of the American people, has been a critical element of our being able to further our national interests and exemplify our values. As we look toward the future, it is essential that the role of USAID and our other foreign assistance programs be strengthened and be adequately funded and be coordinated in a way that makes abundantly clear that the United States understands and supports development assistance.

Now, there are many new missions that many of you have undertaken in the last several years: the reconstruction and stabilization missions, the kinds of post-conflict missions, the role working hand-in-hand with our military colleagues. And in every instance where we look at what the United States is doing abroad, we will find someone, maybe from this very room or colleagues of yours across the world, who is there. Time and again, when I speak to my friends over at the Defense Department, they will confess that they very often have to turn to you to determine how best to spend the money they’ve been given for development, reconstruction, and stabilization. Our diplomats who believe in the development mission, but whose primary goal is to serve our diplomatic function, will also make clear that they look to you to be partners in how we advance America’s role in the world.

What I’m hoping to do as your Secretary of State is to work with USAID to provide the kind of leadership and support that will give you the tools you desperately need in order to fulfill the missions we are asking you to perform. We are asking you to do more and more with less, and my goal is to make sure we match the mission and the resources. It will be very difficult for us to expect you to perform at the very high level of professionalism that we will expect, without providing you the resources to do the job we ask you to do.

As I said yesterday in the State Department, we are going to work toward robust diplomacy. And I challenged my colleagues in the State Department to think more broadly, more deeply, outside the proverbial box, to let us know the ideas you have that will make what you do more effective for us. And I offer the same challenge to all of you here at USAID. I know that for some of you, this has been not just a career, but a labor of love, and that sometimes it hasn’t been easy, but that you have stayed with this mission because of your conviction of its importance. But I am asking you now to help us help you to be more effective."

Read Secretary Clinton's full remarks here.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/clinton_international_development/ 2009-01-23T21:28:01+00:00 Secretary Clinton Announces High Level Diplomats for Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Middle East SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. Thank you very much, and welcome to the State Department. Please be seated.

We are delighted to be joined this afternoon by President Obama and Vice President Biden for this very important announcement. But it is also absolutely a delight to have the President and the Vice President here with us today. It is an indication of the President's commitment to a foreign policy that protects our national security and advances our interests and is in keeping with our values. So we, Mr. President, take great heart from the confidence that you have placed in us.

Today, we start the hard work to restore our standing and enable our country to meet the vexing new challenges of the 21st century, but also to seize the opportunities that await us. The President is committed to making diplomacy and development the partners in our foreign policy along with defense, and we must be smarter about how we exercise our power. But as I said this morning upon entering the building, the heart of smart power--are smart people. And Mr. President, we have them in abundance here in the State Department, USAID, and our related agencies.

Today, you will see an example of the kind of robust diplomacy that the President intends to pursue and that I am honored to help him fulfill. Nowhere is there a need for a vigorous diplomatic approach more apparent than in the two regions that epitomize the nuance and complexity of our interconnected world. Many of you in this building, many of your Foreign Service and Civil Service and Foreign National colleagues have been engaged on behalf of issues related to the Middle East and to Afghanistan and Pakistan for years, sometimes, as we know, at great peril and personal sacrifice. That work has been invaluable, and it will continue to be the underpinning of everything our government does to achieve peace and stability in these regions.

At the same time, we know that anything short of relentless diplomatic efforts will fail to produce a lasting, sustainable peace in either place. That is why the President and I have decided to name a Special Envoy for Middle East Peace and a Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Given the magnitude of the issues confronting us, we will bolster the excellent work that is done daily here, as well as in our embassies and outposts around the world, and particularly in these two regions, by an intensive push undertaken through the efforts of these two seasoned diplomats.

Mr. President, by coming here to the State Department, and through your announcement today of these two positions, you are, through word and deed, sending a loud and clear signal that diplomacy is a top priority of your presidency, and that our nation is once again capable of demonstrating global leadership in pursuit of progress and peace.

We are honored to have you join us on only the second day in office. We are grateful to you for highlighting these urgent issues and the collaboration needed to address two of the biggest foreign policy challenges of our time. I know that everyone here at State and in our various embassies and consulates and other outposts throughout the world look forward to working closely with these two exceptional public servants, as we strive to protect and advance America's interests and find a path to peace and greater harmony in these vital areas of the world.

I am pleased now to introduce someone who is no stranger to this Department, who has been a friend and partner, as a Senator, as the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and now as our Vice President. There are few people who have been so devoted to promoting diplomacy and development as our guest, Vice President Joe Biden. (Applause.)

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: Thank you very much. Madame Secretary, let me begin by saying congratulations. It was a bright day for the whole Department and the Foreign Service when you walked through that door. And so, congratulations to you.

Mr. President, your choice of our colleague, Senator Clinton, is absolutely the right person, in my view, at the right moment in American history.

We've come here today to the State Department to send a very clear message, a clear message at home as well as abroad, that we are going to reinvigorate America's commitment to diplomacy. This effort will be led by Secretary Clinton. I believe, and as I know you do, Mr. President, because you chose her, that she has the knowledge, the skill, the experience, as well as that sort of intangible commodity of having personal relationships with many of these world leaders, which makes her uniquely - in my view, uniquely qualified to put diplomacy back in the forefront of America's foreign policy.

For too long, we've put the bulk of the burden, in my view, on our military. That's a view not only shared by me, but by your Secretary of Defense as well. And our military is absolutely - to state the obvious, absolutely necessary, but not sufficient. Not sufficient to secure the interests of this great nation.

In a moment, Mr. President, you're going to announce two new powerful weapons in our - or I mean, I guess the Secretary is going to announce two very powerful weapons in our diplomatic arsenal. They have faced and helped resolve equally challenging issues to the ones they face today in their - throughout their careers, from the Balkans to Northern Ireland. Both - both are outstanding public servants and both are very, with all full disclosure, Mr. President, very old and close and friends.

Mr. President, if you'll permit me, I'd like to thank them. I'd like to thank them for their willingness to come back into government to take on two of the most vexing international dilemmas that we face and require their incredible capacity. And so I compliment the Secretary on her recommendations and your choices, and I look forward to--with following you, Mr. President, to reinvigorate diplomacy in the world. It is the key, ultimately, to our security. I thank you. (Applause)

SECRETARY CLINTON: The President and I feel very grateful for the willingness of both of these extraordinary Americans to serve. And it is also fitting to thank their families. Both Mrs. Mitchell--Heather--and Kati, Richard Holbrooke's wife are here, along with other family members. These are very difficult assignments. They are disruptive of settled and successful lives. And we thank them for taking on these responsibilities.

It's my great honor to introduce the man who the President and I have asked to be the Special Envoy for Middle East Peace. He will lead our efforts to reinvigorate the process for achieving peace between Israel and its neighbors. He will help us to develop an integrated strategy that defends the security of Israel, works to bring an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that will result in two states living side by side in peace and security, and to achieve further agreements to promote peace and security between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

Senator Mitchell will also work to support the objectives that the President and I believe are critical and pressing in Gaza, to develop a program for humanitarian aid and eventual reconstruction, working with the Palestinian Authority and Israel on behalf of those objectives. It is a great personal pleasure to introduce George Mitchell, a man who is well known inside this Department and across Washington and America, who has been willing to accept this important assignment. (Applause.)

SENATOR MITCHELL: Mr. President, Madame Secretary, I am grateful to you for your kind words and for the confidence that you show in me and in Ambassador Holbrooke. It's a great honor for me to be able to serve our country again, and especially to do so with my friend and distinguished colleague, Richard Holbrooke.

I don't underestimate the difficulty of this assignment. The situation in the Middle East is volatile, complex, and dangerous. But the President and the Secretary of State have made it clear that danger and difficulty cannot cause the United States to turn away. To the contrary, they recognize and have said that peace and stability in the Middle East are in our national interest. They are, of course, also in the interest of Israelis and Palestinians, of others in the region, and people throughout the world.

The Secretary mentioned Northern Ireland. There, recently, long-time enemies came together to form a power-sharing government, to bring to an end the ancient conflict known as the "Troubles." This was almost 800 years after Britain began its domination of Ireland, 86 years after the partition of Ireland, 38 years after the British army formally began its most recent mission in Ireland, 11 years after the peace talks began, and nine years after a peace agreement was signed. In the negotiations which led to that agreement, we had 700 days of failure and one day of success. For most of the time, progress was nonexistent or very slow. So I understand the feelings of those who may be discouraged about the Middle East.

As an aside, just recently, I spoke in Jerusalem and I mentioned the 800 years. And afterward, an elderly gentleman came up to me and he said, "Did you say 800 years?" And I said, "Yes, 800." He repeated the number again - I repeated it again. He said, "Uh, such a recent argument. No wonder you settled it." (Laughter.)

But--800 years may be recent--but from my experience there, I formed the conviction that there is no such thing as a conflict that can't be ended. Conflicts are created, conducted, and sustained by human beings. They can be ended by human beings. I saw it happen in Northern Ireland, although, admittedly, it took a very long time. I believe deeply that with committed, persevering, and patient diplomacy, it can happen in the Middle East.

There are, of course, many, many reasons to be skeptical about the prospect for success. The conflict has gone on for so long, and has had such destructive effects, that many have come to regard it as unchangeable and inevitable. But the President and the Secretary of State don't believe that. They believe, as I do, that the pursuit of peace is so important that it demands our maximum effort, no matter the difficulties, no matter the setbacks. The key is the mutual commitment of the parties and the active participation of the United States Government, led by the President and the Secretary of State, with the support and assistance of the many other governments and institutions who want to help.

The Secretary of State has just talked about our long-term objective, and the President himself has said that his Administration - and I quote - "Will make a sustained push, working with Israelis and Palestinians to achieve the goal of two states: a Jewish state in Israel and a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security."

This effort must be determined, persevering, and patient. It must be backed up by political capital, economic resources, and focused attention at the highest levels of our government. And it must be firmly rooted in a shared vision of a peaceful future by the people who live in the region. At the direction of the President and the Secretary of State, and in pursuit of the President's policies, I pledge my full effort in the search for peace and stability in the Middle East. Thank you. (Applause.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much, Senator Mitchell.

I next have the great personal pleasure of introducing the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ambassador Holbrooke will coordinate across the entire government an effort to achieve United States' strategic goals in the region. This effort will be closely coordinated, not only within the State Department and, of course, with USAID, but also with the Defense Department and under the coordination of the National Security Council.

It has become clear that dealing with the situation in Afghanistan requires an integrated strategy that works with both Afghanistan and Pakistan as a whole, as well as engaging NATO and other key friends, allies, and those around the world who are interested in supporting these efforts. It is such a great decision on the part of the Ambassador to respond to the call that the President and I sent out, asking that he, again, enter public service and take on this very challenging assignment. And we are grateful that he has. Ambassador Holbrooke. (Applause.)

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: Mr. President, Mr. Vice President, Madame Secretary, Senator Special Envoy Mitchell, I thank you so much. It's an extraordinarily moving thing for me to return to this building again, having entered it so many years ago as a junior Foreign Service Officer.

As somebody whose career was determined in that initial decade of my life in the Foreign Service, I want to tell you, Mr. President, that I know that the Foreign Service and the Civil Service and the Foreign Service Officers serving around the world will appreciate and remember the fact that you chose to come to the Department on your second day to demonstrate what you have with this fantastic team. And if I may, on behalf of all Foreign Service Officers, active and retired, I want to thank you so much. (Applause.)

I'm also honored by the presence of two good and close friends, Vice President Biden and, of course, my boss--immediate boss, Secretary Clinton, and to share the podium with a colleague from the Irish days and many Senate events, Senator George Mitchell. I thank you for your confidence in offering me this daunting assignment, and all I can do is pledge my best to undertake it. I see -- thinking of my early years in the Foreign Service, I see my former roommate in Saigon, John Negroponte, here. We remember those days well, and I hope we will produce a better outcome this time. (Laughter.)

I also have to thank Kati; my two sons, David and Anthony; my stepdaughter--my beloved stepdaughter, Lizzie and her fiancx David, especially for coming down here today. And I hope that I'll be able to see you sometime in the next few years. (Laughter.)

Mr. President, Madame Secretary, Mr. Vice President, you've asked me to deal with Afghanistan and Pakistan, two very distinct countries with extraordinarily different histories, and yet intertwined by geography, ethnicity, and the current drama. This is a very difficult assignment, as we all know. Nobody can say the war in Afghanistan has gone well. And yet, as we speak here today, American men and women and their coalition partners are fighting a very difficult struggle against a ruthless and determined enemy without any scruples at all, an enemy that is willing to behead women who dare to teach in a school to young girls, an enemy that has done some of the most odious things on earth.

And across the border, lurks a greater enemy still: the people who committed the atrocities of September 11th, 2001.

We know what our long-term objective is. I hope I will be able to fill out the mandate which Secretary Clinton has mentioned: to help coordinate a clearly chaotic foreign assistance program, which must be pulled together; to work closely with General Petraeus, CENTCOM, Admiral Mullen, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General McKiernan and the command in Afghanistan, to create a more coherent program.

If our resources are mobilized and coordinated and pulled together, we can quadruple, quintuple, multiply by tenfold the effectiveness of our efforts there.

In Pakistan the situation is infinitely complex, and I don't think I would advance our goals if I tried to discuss it today. I wish to get out to the region and report back to the Secretary, the Vice President, and the President. But I will say that in putting Afghanistan and Pakistan together under one envoy, we should underscore that we fully respect the fact that Pakistan has its own history, its own traditions, and it is far more than the turbulent, dangerous tribal areas on its western border. And we will respect that as we seek to follow suggestions that have been made by all three of the men and women standing behind me in the last few years on having a more comprehensive policy.

So I thank you again for your confidence in me. I look forward to working for you, with you closely, and following a joint effort to do better than we have in the past. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, we are not only honored and delighted, but challenged by the President coming here on the second day. (Laughter.) This puts the pressure on everybody. And yet, Mr. President, we feel up to that challenge. We want to do our very best work in furtherance of your goals. You set a high standard in your Inaugural Address as to what we are aiming toward. And I pledge to you on behalf of the thousands and thousands of dedicated public servants who serve you, on behalf of diplomacy and development, that we will give you our very best efforts. It is an honor to be working to fulfill the goals that you have set for our country.

Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States. (Applause.)]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/clinton_envoys/ 2009-01-23T01:24:01+00:00