September 23 and 24 2009 – Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

My colleagues and I (I was traveling with Nicole from our Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Bureau and Benson, from our Humanitarian Information Unit) arrived in the city after dark, at about 8:00 in the evening. The first impression of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) comes just as you exit the airplane. There’s a certain organic smell, caused mostly, I would guess, by the many open fires around the city. The heat, high humidity and cloudy sky (it rained just after our arrival) gave the air a heavy, smoky feel that is instantly recognizable.

There is a long road from the airport to the city center. The sheer force of humanity is one of the first images that grabs you when you exit the airport. There are no traffic lights or cross-walks. In their place, there is a sort of collective understanding between the mass of pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, cars, buses, lorries and trucks. No one seems to be speeding, yet nothing is overly slow. The crowds move in and out and flow around one another in a sort of organized chaos. Everyone seems calm, everything is normal. We pass by thousands of images; flickering candles over tables selling all types of foods and goods; children and adults moving in and out of buildings and side streets: trucks filled to the brim with humanity, on one the front door is bent and ajar; brief glimpses of a family or group of friends sitting around a table. An entire world passes by in our hour drive to the hotel.

I’m in Kinshasa as part of a three-week fact-finding mission on the conflict with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), which has terrorized the people of northern Uganda and—more recently—DRC, southern Sudan and the CAR for the past several years. We will be traveling to Kinshasa, Goma, Bunia, and Dungu in DRC and Kampala and Gulu in Uganda. Kinshasa, DRC’s capital, is also headquarters for the Mission of the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), the largest UN peacekeeping mission in the world. Over the next several days we will meet with UN officials and our colleagues at the Embassy. From here, we will fly across the country to the city of Goma in the eastern DRC. It’s my first time in Kinshasa and I have always dreamed of visiting the capital of this country that has such a rich history marked by tragedy.

We are staying in a hotel in the center of Kinshasa and we’ll head to the Embassy around 8:00 in the morning. The hotel is somewhat typical in that it has a funny feel of out-of-place luxury. It feels a bit isolating and I’ve never grown completely comfortable with being able to buy beer and a good meal in a country where much of the population lives on less than one dollar a day. There are several people waiting outside the front door selling newspapers, maps, shoe shines and other small goods, trying to get the attention of the wealthy visitors inside the hotel.

One of the best aspects of my job has been to have the chance to get to know and meet with many people who have overcome tremendous challenges and returned to serve their countries in some capacity. I’m looking forward to meeting many of these people on this trip.

The Embassy in Kinshasa stands out in comparison to some of our other Embassies in the region, mostly because it is not one of the “New Embassy Compounds” (NECs) that have been built since the attacks on our Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. Unfortunately, high walls and tight security checks are a requirement for doing our work in many parts of the world. The NECs are generally large, modern and well-protected whereas the older Embassies tend to be older and less fortified. Nevertheless, I was impressed by the level of security.

We held a meeting at the MONUC headquarters, which are down the street from the Embassy. It was a strange experience because while walking down the street, you suddenly come across rows of barbed wire and a well guarded entrance that makes you feel as though you have entered a war zone, including a fully armed guard post with a soldier in blue beret, with machine gun at the ready.

Our stay in Kinshasa is short since our most important meetings will be in northeastern DRC, where the fight against the LRA is taking place, and in Uganda where the LRA originated. Nevertheless, the briefings and meetings we received were extremely helpful. As a temporary visitor to the capital on this trip, I am deeply cognizant of the burden we place on the small staff at the Embassy. Beyond basic logistical support, our visit required that the Political Section identify and set up meetings with the most appropriate people for us to speak with. I’m glad we’re not staying too long, so the Embassy officers can get on with their work without having to take care of us.

September 25, 26 and 27, 2009 – Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo

Our flight today was not your traditional commercial flight experience since we were flying to Goma on a UN airplane, one of the regularly scheduled flights by MONUC.

The airplane was in relatively good condition and run by a Canadian crew. It was painted all white with a simple UN in black letters on the side. We had a bit of technical trouble with the brakes of the airplane, which made us turnaround and disembark once before takeoff, but soon we were off to Goma. The flight itself was uneventful and we soon found ourselves in the middle of the continent, having flown the entire latitudinal distance of DRC.

We landed on an airstrip that is somewhat infamous, since the last quarter of it was covered by volcanic rock after an eruption several years ago. A large commercial airplane that was cut off from the rest of the airport sits rusting on the far side of the lava field. Goma itself sits on Lake Kivu, one of the “great lakes” of central Africa. The scenery is lush, beautiful, and green. The picturesque lake, the verdant flora and harsh-looking volcanic rock gives the city what I can only describe as an organic, natural feel.

We were picked up by a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) driver and brought to the “American House” near the border with Rwanda, close to the center of Goma. This is a relatively new house that the U.S. government maintains to ensure a presence in eastern Congo and provide a place for the numerous U.S. Government visitors to stay. It sits on the lake and is a beautiful setting to hold meetings. There is a balcony facing the lake where you can sit and do work while the breeze from the lake keeps you cool. The only downside is that the house is directly under the flight path for arriving flights, so the sound of landing airplanes can at times be a bit much. Nevertheless, the setting is beautiful.

We are here for the weekend and over the next few days we will meet with a number of NGOs and UN representatives. Goma is a hub in the region and will be our jumping off point to the cities of Bunia and then Dungu, in LRA-affected territory. Goma itself has not been directly affected by the LRA, but instead has been the epicenter of eastern DRC’s other conflicts, particularly those involving Laurent Nkunda’s CNDP (which recently was integrated into the Congolese army as part of a peace agreement) and the FDLR, whose leadership includes members of the former Rwandan armed forces and others who took part in the 1994 genocide. As a result, for some time the city has been home to a number of humanitarian NGOs as well as a large MONUC base. The city itself was directly threatened in 2008, although today it feels secure and calm. However, high walls and barbed wire are still found throughout the city, including at the entrance to the American House where my colleagues and I are staying.

We must fly through Goma to get to Bunia and Dungu, but we also held several meetings with UN and NGO actors that proved extremely useful in understanding the situation farther north. Although it was a weekend, we had no difficulty scheduling meetings. The people who work here are dedicated and work in difficult, sometimes dangerous situations. I am very impressed by the work they do to help the people of this region. I often found myself wishing I could stay longer and do more to help.

September 28, 2009 – Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo

Today we began our trip north from Goma. Although I’m a bit sad to leave (the location in many ways was idyllic) I’m also looking forward to getting closer to the areas that are the focus of our trip to the region. We flew on an older Russian (Ukrainian?) plane first to Entebbe near Kampala, Uganda, and then after a quick transfer we flew in the same plane on to Bunia. The airplane was clearly older than the plane we had taken to Goma and the instructions were in Russian, but the flight was smooth.

Our arrival in Bunia was different than that of Goma. The city was smaller and the landing strip was controlled by MONUC. There are no paved roads and the overall feel of the place was much more rural. The housing seemed to be a mix of concrete blocks and mud brick. As we approached the town from the landing strip, many of the buildings turned out to be offices of various NGOs and UN Agencies. As the capital of Ituri district, Bunia hosts many NGO and UN offices due to the conflicts that raged here in past years. Though linked with the current instability in the Kivus, these conflicts involved different armed groups and appear to be largely on the wane.

Before we arrived, a UN official who we were able to talk to on the phone recommended a hotel close to their offices. During the afternoon we held meetings with some of the NGOs and UN officials in the city. That night we ate outdoors with some of the UN agencies in the region at a local Indian restaurant. It was an exciting experience, having dinner with aid workers in one of the most conflict-prone regions in the world.

Before our dinner, my travel colleagues and I had the chance to sit on the balcony of our hotel and relax a bit. There is something about the sunsets in this region that are hard to capture. Near the equator the sun sets very quickly – it will be 6:00 and feel as though it will be light for hours more and suddenly, thirty minutes later, you realize it has become pitch dark. Nevertheless, the sunsets seem more intense and orange than I have I see anywhere else.

September 29, 30, and October 1, 2009 – Dungu, Democratic Republic of Congo

The next morning we began our trip to the airport expecting another quick flight to Dungu. Instead we found out we would be flying by helicopter, an Mi-17 run by a Bangladeshi contingent, two of whom were doing some pre-flight maintenance when we pulled up on the tarmac. We had to wear headphones over our ears to muffle the sound of the engine and blades. Still it was comfortable enough for me to grab some sleep.

It was fascinating flying over this part of northeastern Congo because it drove home so clearly the point of how remote an area we were about to enter. For as far as the eye could see, there was nothing but what appeared to be old growth rain forest. We flew for almost two hours in the helicopter (the ride was surprisingly smooth) and after the first fifteen minutes, leaving the Bunia area, we hardly passed a road or village. We flew below the clouds for most of the trip and could see rain storms in the distance and the trees below.

At our arrival it was raining and the entire area around the airstrip had turned to mud, which combined with the white tents of the MONUC airbase and World Food Program center, the sand bags and barbed wire, left the feeling that we were at a forward operating base rather than a rural airport.

Dungu itself is not large; the main street is little more than several houses along a dirt street. A UNICEF driver picked us up and drove us to the base where we were sleeping. It took us about thirty minutes to travel 8 kilometers on a dirt road that at times had forest on both sides up to the road. All along the road we passed civilians and FARDC (Congolese military) soldiers armed with AK-47s.

The UNICEF 4x4 took us to a base that held the Moroccan soldiers that make up the bulk of the MONUC forces in the region. Inside the base was a large UNICEF tent that they allowed us to sleep in. It held about 15 beds. Showers were to be by bucket. Food was locally prepared.

The site of the base was stranger than fiction in a way, almost like a movie set. The base was made up of tents in the courtyard of a giant brick European “castle” that clearly was abandoned and had fallen into a state of disrepair.

We heard conflicting stories about this mysterious castle—either a Greek business man had built it over a hundred years ago, or, more romantically although less likely, a Belgian colonial administrator went crazy and stole money intended for a local hydroelectric dam to build himself the bizarre structure.

I shared my tent with several UN workers, mostly from other African countries. They were all extremely welcoming and willing to talk and even help me with getting my bed sheets and water. UNICEF was particularly helpful in this regard. They made sure we had food, a car and whatever else was needed for our trip. This was a clear theme throughout our forty-eight hour stay in Dungu – everyone was welcoming and willing to help and was excited to talk about the work they were doing. We are particularly in the debt of UNICEF for the help they provided us on this trip.

Our meetings with the UN agencies and NGOs in Dungu were the most useful for understanding the challenges posed by the LRA and the complicated political situation in Congo, particularly to the local populations who have endured literally decades of abuse caused by instability and incursions by several rebel groups. Unfortunately for these people, the LRA is only the latest chapter in a long, devastating history.

A word about the dedication of the UN and NGO workers we met : these are some of the most impressive people I have ever met in my entire life. One man we met (who was only 28 years old) had headed an office of over 50 for nearly two years. Others had been there in various roles taking risks to help the people in the region. Each one we met, I feel certain; can be credited with saving lives. I view them as real heroes. Seeing people dedicate their lives to making a difference in the world is deeply humbling.

Eventually it came time for us to leave Dungu, although I can say I could have stayed a lot longer. For some reason I’m more comfortable outside of the capital, working with people “on the ground.” I want to stay and help them and feel almost bad that I’ve popped in for a couple of days and asked some questions only to leave as quickly as I arrived.

One set of “meetings” deserves special note. We made a point to visit the local hospital, where we heard there were several victims of LRA attacks receiving treatment. There we met a 17 year old boy who had been shot in the side during an attack. In soft-spoken French, he recounted how his village was attacked by long-haired men wearing uniforms speaking a language he didn’t understand. They took an unknown number of children and killed two of his friends. Another boy recounted how he had been attacked while walking along the road by eight men. He was shot in the leg and barely survived. One of the most insidious aspects of the conflict the LRA is waging in this area is the random nature of their targeting of civilians. The local populations must feel almost hunted. It is not an ideological conflict, but a war targeting innocent civilians.

October 2-7, 2009 – Kampala, Uganda

After several days of staying in tents in northeastern Congo, it was a relief to be in Kampala. The hotel is relaxed and we had our first day off of the trip over the weekend. It was a chance to get a bit of the dirt out of our shoes and clean some of our clothes.

We are in Kampala to meet with the Embassy staff, political figures, civil society and the NGO community. The LRA and the ongoing conflict feel very far away. Our meetings focus on the political context to the conflict and we are meeting with a variety of actors in the government and civil society to better understand the complex political situation here.

Additionally, we are in Kampala a mere three weeks after riots that started when the Buganda traditional king was denied access by the government to an area north of Kampala. The ensuing riots left more than twenty killed. Despite the recent tension, though, the city feels calm and business appears to be continuing as usual. After our meetings here we will travel to the north of Uganda to the city of Gulu, where the LRA finds its roots.

October 7-9 – Gulu, Uganda

One of the folks I’m traveling with served in Uganda three years ago and is for the first time seeing Gulu since then. She is amazed by the progress the city has made since the LRA was forced out of the area in 2006. This is my first visit to Gulu and the city appears like any thriving central African city to me. There are several billboards lining the street advertising cell phones, banks, and other businesses. Traffic is relatively light, but there are cars on the streets. Stores, restaurants and bars on each side of the main street appear open for business and several new buildings are being built.

This stands in stark contrast to what I had read about Gulu. Just a few years ago this city was the center of operations against the LRA and was under constant threat. Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps surrounded the city and held tens of thousands. Today the camps are slowly closing down and hold only several thousand remaining people who are in most cases unable to return home despite the peace in the region. It’s fascinating to consider the changes to this city in just a few years and the difference peace and security can make to development.

Of our many meetings during this last phase of the trip we took time to visit one of the remaining IDP camps. Although much smaller than at it’s height, it was still moving to see and meet people who were living in these camps and imagine what they had been through.

Our visit to Gulu was relatively short, only two days, but it was nice to end the trip on a more positive note. The city is moving forward and it is really striking what a difference simple security can make toward development.

October 10-11 – Conclusion and return home

The return trip is a long two flights, nearly twenty-four hours of travel door to door. I’m jet lagged and tired, and slept on and off for nearly two days. It’s disorientating to come back to work after three weeks on the road. I learned a tremendous amount about the struggles of the people in northeastern Congo and the progress in northern Uganda.

If you’d like more information about the Lord’s Resistance Army or the plight of the people of northern Uganda, one book I picked up on my way out called “Aboke Girls” is recommended. The book tells the story of a kidnapping by the LRA of 30 girls from a school in Northern Uganda and the efforts of the Head Mistress to get the girls back. I read this book on the flight home (it’s a quick read at only 160 pages) and it was a good way to reflect on the trip I had taken and all of the work the international community is trying to do to protect the people of the areas affected by the LRA. The book details the horrors these girls and other abductees faced during their ordeal. It is impossible to come from this trip and feel anything but great urgency to continue the work to find a lasting solution to the LRA.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/lra/ 2009-10-28T19:09:04+00:00 Trip Information Page | Interactive Travel Map | Text the Secretary

Secretary Clinton is currently traveling in Pakistan to continue efforts to create a comprehensive relationship with Pakistan that covers a whole range of issues that are important to the people of Pakistan, important to the people of the United States, and to the greater region. During her flight en route to Pakistan, Secretary Clinton described the trip by saying, "...While I am in Pakistan, I will be having a number of official meetings with not only the president, the prime minister, and the foreign minister, but other ministers in the government, members of parliament of a number of parties, as well as meeting with the opposition, the Sharifs. I will also be doing a lot of public diplomacy and engagement and doing events with students, with women, with Pashtun elders, going to pay respect to some of the cultural places of significance in Pakistan. So it’s going to be a very, very broad survey of everything we are doing and some of the announcements that I will be making on the trip to further demonstrate that we want a long-term relationship with Pakistan. We believe we have a lot in common. We have areas of disagreement, obviously. We’re trying to narrow those and expand common ground that we both can take over together.

So it’s going to be a very intensive trip. We’ll be hitting the ground and immediately going into meetings. I’ll be going to Lahore the next day, back to Islamabad, so we’re going to have a very, very busy schedule. So with that, let me just throw it over to all of you."]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/secretary_arrives_pakistan/ 2009-10-28T13:28:10+00:00 About the Author: Lillian deValcourt-Ayala serves as a Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome, Italy.

We were not as fast as Carl Lewis in the Olympics nor did our team place first in 4th Run for Food this weekend, but runners from our three U.S. embassies in Rome got involved and showed our commitment.  That’s the difference we all can make in the real life race against hunger.

The UN’s largest technical agency, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), commemorated World Food Day on October 16 to refocus world attention on the need to achieve food security, even in times of crisis.  This year five new FAO Goodwill Ambassadors including Carl Lewis joined the effort, lending their star power to bring an end to wide-spread suffering.

At this time of year FAO honors one of America’s great anti-hunger champions, George McGovern, through a lecture series established in his name.  Our U.S. Mission has the honor to organize the participation of distinguished McGovern lectors like NYU’s Dr. Marion Nestle who spoke this year on the future of food.

What about the future of food?  In the United States, there is a growing awareness about the importance of knowing our farmers, knowing our food, and improving our diets – not only for ourselves as individuals and for our families and communities, but also for our planet and in support of the world’s hungry.  As Ertharin Cousin, U.S. Ambassador the UN Agencies in Rome, told an international audience gathered for the McGovern lecture, “In times of crisis we have a window of opportunity to re-examine not only our ways of doing business, and the structure of our institutions and our food systems, but also our personal relationship with food.”

So as our American team rounded Circus Maximus, we showed the flag of our country and with feet pounding the pavement acknowledged that our future depends on hunger awareness and personal action.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/running_for_food/ 2009-10-26T17:32:09+00:00 About the Author: Sumreen Mirza serves as a Policy Officer in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau Oceans, International Environment and Scientific Affairs.

The U.S. and China met this week in Beijing to review progress achieved in the second year of the U.S.-China Ten Year Framework (TYF) on Energy and Environment Cooperation.  This framework encompasses action plans for collaboration on five existing priorities: clean, efficient and secure electricity production and transmission, clean water, clean air, clean and efficient transportation, and conservation of wetland ecosystems and nature reserves. In addition to identifying new activities under existing action plans, the Joint Working Group made significant progress in finalizing a draft action plan for energy efficiency collaboration. Read more about the TYF and the MOU on US-China Cooperation on Climate Change, Energy and Environment.

Alongside policy and technology cooperation, the Ten Year Framework also focuses on practical collaboration through joint projects known as ecopartnerships. The first seven ecopartnerships were established in December 2008 and involve the pairings of cities, ports, companies, research laboratories and academic institutions from both the U.S. and China . The delegates met with the Chinese partners and learned first-hand how ecopartnerships can become successful incubators for policy testing, technology demonstration, and subnational government capacity building on issues within our six areas of cooperation.   Both sides are developing and implementing ways to strengthen the program. In the coming year, the Joint Working Group will develop guiding principles for selecting additional ecopartnerships. Read more about ecopartnerships.

The U.S. delegation to Beijing was comprised of 22 members representing the Department of State, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation, Department of Commerce, Trade Development Agency, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and Agency for International Development.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/u.s._china_ten_year/ 2009-10-26T17:26:41+00:00 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/ 2009-10-26T17:10:54+00:00 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 10^th 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 19^th century, is still plowing new ground in promoting government transparency and international cooperation into the 21^st century.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/hague_history/ 2009-10-26T16:35:24+00:00 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/ 2009-10-24T16:21:49+00:00 stated, "....Our nation seeks a new beginning with Muslims around the world, a relationship based on mutual interest and mutual respect. It’s a relationship that requires us to listen, share ideas, and find areas of common ground in order to expand a peaceful, prosperous future."

How Might the U.S. Support a Relationship of Mutual Respect With Muslims Around the World?]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/q_muslim_respect/ 2009-10-23T14:09:43+00:00 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/ 2009-10-21T18:03:46+00:00 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/ 2009-10-21T17:16:10+00:00 About the Author: Major General (Ret.) Scott Gration currently serves as the President’s Special Envoy to Sudan.

This morning Secretary Clinton announced the results of this Administration’s Sudan policy review, accompanied by Ambassador Rice and myself. The strategy is the result of months of serious and extensive deliberations and considerations of the complex challenges by the most senior levels of this Administration. It provides the integrated and comprehensive approach that the issues in Sudan require, and it is focused on achieving verifiable progress on the ground.

This strategy includes three primary strategic objectives: first, a definitive end to conflict, gross human rights abuses, and genocide in Darfur; second, implementation of the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that results in a peaceful post-2011 Sudan, or an orderly path toward two separate and viable states at peace with each other; and third, ensuring that Sudan does not provide a safe haven for international terrorists.

To achieve these objectives, we are committed to using all levers of American influence. Fundamental to our approach is a policy of broad, deep engagement for lasting change on the ground . That includes engagement with the National Congress Party (NCP), the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Darfuri armed movements and civil society, as well as countries in the region and the broader international community.

Crucial to these efforts will be a frank dialog with the Government of Sudan about what needs to be accomplished, how the bilateral relationship can improve with verifiable improvements in conditions on the ground, and how strong pressures will be exerted on Sudan if conditions remain the same or worsen.

The situation is urgent. Time is short. Failure is not an option. The United States is committed to working for a sustainable, lasting peace in Darfur and full implementation of the North-South CPA. We are focused on verifiable progress on the ground. If you want to read more information about our new comprehensive strategy for Sudan, I encourage you to read Secretary President Obama’s statement Clinton’s remarks, and the public strategy document.

I thank you for your support, and encourage you to remain committed and involved on this critical issue. Thank you, Scott.

• Implement best management practices in commercial fleets to minimize their vulnerability to pirate attacks;


• Discourage ransom payments to pirates;


• Prosecute pirates in national courts when national ships and crews are attacked; and


• Support capacity building programs to help countries in the region better prevent pirate attacks and to prosecute pirates and their enablers.

For Oscar Morales, Founder of Un Millon Voces Contra Las FARC in Colombia, a peaceful challenge against crime and violence is only a sms away. One text, one click, one million mobilized in a collective voice for positive change. From cellphones to virtual communities, young leaders are creating onramps for millions of citizens to engage against narco-violence in their backyards, cities and nations. And this is only the beginning. From October 14th to 16th, over 100 young leaders, entrepreneurs, policy makers and academics from over 20 countries spanning from Lebanon to Brazil to Sri Lanka gather in Mexico City for the 2009 Alliance for Youth Movements (AYM) Summit to explore ways to advance grassroots movements seeking positive social change through 21st century technology and tools.

This morning, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual, U.S. Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero and Mexican Secretary of Government Fernando Francisco Gómez Mont Urueta ushered the opening day of the AYM 2009 Summit addressing young leaders working to end violence throughout Latin America and around the world. Katie Dowd, State Department New Media Advisor, commented, “I hope these young leaders can empower this generation and generations to come to continue testing the boundaries of technology to effect social change.” Following the opening remarks, Alejandro Marti of SOS Mexico and Elias Kuri of Iluminemos Mexico took the podium and shared their success stories as pioneers of citizen participation and mobilization for peace and security in Mexico. Lee Brenner of Fast Forward Group added, “Bringing together some of the leaders and innovators in social media and social change is inspiring, and it helps develop the creative juices that can make real change!”

Today’s events featured a plethora of panel discussions on new media technologies to amplify the cause, the role of 21st Century women leaders, social media and good governance, and social media as a tool to promote human rights. Panelists included young leaders and entrepreneurs who have become the global agents in the technological pathways toward peace-building and social change. For Rodrigo Nogueira of Viva Favela, an AYM delegate from Brazil reaching out to kids living in the favelas (slums), “Last night and today, I have met people from around the world who all share the same passion. I thought I was alone. AYM offers the chance to empower people to produce changes in real life, not virtually.”

AYM 2009 is sponsored by Causecast.org, Facebook, Gen Next, Google, Hi5, Howcast Media, MTV, MySpace, PepsiCo, Univision Interactive Media, Inc., the U.S. Department of State, WordPress.com and YouTube.

You can watch the live streaming video as key speakers at the AYM Summit address some of the pressing issues of today and answer your questions. Follow participants and speakers throughout the day on Twitter with #aym09. Log on and join in. More updates to come.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/aym_spotlight/ 2009-10-15T21:11:25+00:00 Interactive Travel Map | Text the Secretary Answers

About the Author: Special Representative Farah Pandith is the Special Representative to Muslim Communities.

On Wednesday, Secretary Clinton visited the ancient Kazan Kremlin in the Republic of Tatarstan, the center of Muslim education, culture and faith in Russia. She met with local officials and held discussions with religious leaders to learn more about Kazan’s experience in fostering mutual respect and promoting interfaith understanding.

With large Muslim and Orthodox Christian communities, Kazan is a model of ethnic and religious diversity and a powerful example of mutual respect among people of different backgrounds and faiths. It is home to the Russian Islamic University, the Kul Sharif Mosque, the largest in Eastern Europe, and also a 16th Century Annunciation Cathedral. The Kazan Kremlin was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible (1547-1584), and the fortress is built on an ancient site that dates from the Muslim period of the Golden Horde in the 13th Century. Legend has it that the last queen of Kazan leapt to her death from the Suyumbika Tower as Moscow’s forces retook Kazan. Today this region has become one of the most developed areas in Russia, and the Tatarstan government claims the lead in the number and diversity of religious organizations in Russia.
Many people do not realize just how diverse Muslim communities around the world are. According to a report published last week by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, about one-fifth of the world’s Muslims live as religious minorities in their home countries. Russia, for example, is home to almost 16.5 million Muslims.

I spent the past week traveling through Nigeria and Kazakhstan meeting with civil society leaders, students, government leaders, journalists, and scholars. Both Nigeria and Kazakhstan are home to historic Muslim communities and a tradition of respect for religious diversity. (Muslims make up about half the population in each country.) Just this week in Astana, Kazakhstan, I saw an inter-faith center that is home to the "world’s religions," symbolizing the importance Kazakhstan places on mutual respect. Last week in Kano, Nigeria, where Islam has been part of the community since the 1400s, the people I spoke with talked about their excitement that America recognizes how critical it is that we learn from each other. In almost every meeting, we talked about the importance of building mutual respect for each other regardless of faith, ethnicity, or background. Without respect and partnership, we can’t build a strong future or inspire the next generation to work together.

The Secretary’s visit to Kazan helped highlight this important point: people of different faiths and ethnicities can cherish their heritage and still live and learn together to build a thriving economy and a bright future. ]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/travel_diary_kazan/ 2009-10-14T17:06:40+00:00 Interactive Travel Map | Text the Secretary Answers

Secretary Clinton recently provided remarks at the unveiling of the Walt Whitman Monument in Moscow. The Secretary said:

"I think that both the mayor and Minister Lavrov and Jim Symington have very well said the significance of the placement of this statue here today of Walt Whitman. It is reciprocal for the statue 10 years ago of Alexander Pushkin that was placed on the campus of The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., very close to the White House and the State Department.

I agree with Minister Lavrov that just as Pushkin and Whitman reset poetry, we are resetting our relationship for the 21st century. And that relationship is not just between our two governments, but most importantly, it is between the Russians and American people. Whitman recognized that we have so much in common, and if I could, I just want to draw your attention to the quote that was chosen that is on the base of the sculpture. And here is what it says: “You Russians and we Americans, so far apart from each other, so seemingly different, and yet in ways that are most important, our countries are so alike.”

Read the Secretary's full remarks or more about her trip to Europe.

Read the previous Travel Diary entry.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/russians_americans/ 2009-10-14T12:33:25+00:00 About the Authors: Suzanne Hall, Public Diplomacy Advisor for Canada and Mexico in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs and Tina Huang, U.S. Department of State Intern, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Office of Public Diplomacy.

Picture this: a thriving community arts center in the heart one of Mexico City’s at-risk neighborhoods; a peaceful, neutral space for young people to heal, learn and grow; and arts and communication classes inviting students to connect, express and rebuild. In Iztapalapa, Mexico City—a working-class borough home to over 1.8 million Mexicans—this is not merely a vision, but a nine-year-old reality. Since 2000, Fabric de Artes de Oriente (FARO de Oriente) has become a grand-scale community center offering youth of all ages creative alternatives in the form of visual arts, dance, theater, music and radio. On October 14, 2009, representatives from U.S. new media and telecommunications firms as well as the policy making and academic communities took an in-depth look at FARO de Oriente as a model for how arts and technology can equip Mexican citizens, and especially youth, with a better awareness for the positive, constructive alternatives that exist amidst their struggle against narco-violence. This team of leaders and scholars are part of the second State-sponsored “Tech.Del” to dialogue about the role of new media and technology in helping Mexican citizens more effectively engage against drug cartels.

Kicking off the October “Tech.Del,” Ambassador Pascual welcomed the delegation and honored guests yesterday evening at his Mexico City residence. Throughout the evening, media and telecommunications pioneers and student leaders across Mexico joined the “Tech.Del” in conversations about citizen and youth engagement via new media innovations. Roberta Jacobson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Mexico and Canada remarked, "We are excited and grateful to be partners with a group of young American entrepreneurs who have offered their time and expertise to Mexican citizens and groups peacefully challenging organized crime to connect and amplify their voices and reject of drug violence."

Early this morning, the “Tech.Del” continued their discussions on media and technology with a series of high level meetings with Rafael Fernandez de Castro, Presidential Advisor to President Calderon on International Affairs and Competitiveness along with key Mexican officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretary of Government, Office of the Presidency, Mexican Institute of Youth, and General Secretary of the Center for Investigation and National Security. The focus of the discussions was on ways in which media innovations can enhance citizen awareness and build cultural peace. Jason Liebman, CEO of Howcast and member of “Tech.Del” commented about the challenges of social media adoption, “It has been surprising to learn how prohibitive access to the internet and SMS is for Mexican citizens. The costs on the ground in Mexico are three to five times more than in the U.S.” Another member, James Eberhard, CEO of Mobil Accord said, "We're seeing lots of challenges. It's clear that we need to find a Mexican leader that can mobilize the youth who are hungry for direction."

The delegation’s visit to FARO de Oriente later in the day marked one of the major highlights of the trip. Meeting the staff and students of this busy community center, which serves over 150,000 youth annually, the “Tech.Del” listened to the stories of struggle and triumph that community members faced and how art and technology have been a part of their healing and empowerment as residents of Iztapalapa. Follow the “Tech.Del” visit on Twitter @farodeoriente.

After the visit to Iztapalapa, an afternoon of meetings followed with key industry leaders and stakeholders including a lunch meeting with founders of bourgeoning new media tools against crime and violence, directors of internet and telecommunications firms and Mexican scholars on human rights and civic engagement. Also, stay up-to-date with “Tech.Del” throughout the day on Twitter using the #mextech hashtag.

Following the day-long “Tech.Del” meetings, members of the delegation will join other world leaders and youth activists for the second annual Alliance for Youth Movement conference. Stay tuned for more updates. ]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/tech.del_youth/ 2009-10-14T09:51:58+00:00 Interactive Travel Map | Text the Secretary Answers

Secretary Clinton recently provided remarks following a tour of the Boeing Design Center in Moscow. The Secretary said:

"I’m excited about the new Dreamliner. I can’t wait to see it in action for myself. But we also can maybe celebrate some of the less tangible results of this partnership. The engineers who work here – 1,400 of them – not only to help drive technological progress, but they promote shared prosperity for each of our nations, and indeed for the world as a whole. The contributions go way beyond building and improving Boeing aircraft. It really fosters collaboration that ranges from joint ventures, some of which are explained in the promotional material, as well as the titanium-focused work that has been done here. Russia produces the titanium for these airliners....

But these knowledge-based jobs, particularly in a country like Russia which has such a highly educated population, and particularly in the sciences and engineering, really in the STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering, mathematics – it’s just a treasure trove of potential for the Russian economy. I’ve heard President Medvedev talk about how he wants to see the Russian economy become more knowledge-based. The commodities are a great engine for the economy, but I think he’s really looking to the future when he talks about more knowledge-based jobs like those that we see here. It does provide a win-win. The bi-national commission that we’ve set up is looking for win-wins. We just don’t think that zero-sum politics works in the 21st century. We’re too interconnected, we’re too interdependent. So we’re going to see a lot of cooperation that comes out of a better understanding and appreciation of what each of our countries can contribute."

Read the Secretary's full remarks or more about her trip to Europe.

Read the previous Travel Diary entry.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/boeing_moscow/ 2009-10-13T23:03:54+00:00 Interactive Travel Map | Text the Secretary Answers

Secretary Clinton recently provided remarks during a reception for civil society leaders in Moscow. The Secretary said:

"We believe that Russians yearn for ...rights, just as Americans and people around the world. I have been encouraged by President Medvedev’s statements towards a more open society and his stated commitment to combat corruption and strengthen the rule of law. He has also acknowledged that Russia’s prosperity is dependent upon responsible governance, because stable economic development is impossible without accountable, transparent governance.

We believe that innovation and entrepreneurship can only thrive in an open society where knowledge and ideas are exchanged as freely as goods and capital. Just as competition in the marketplace fuels growth and better products, political competition produces more accountable governance and better political solutions.

These are causes that many of you have championed for years, and they are vitally important to Russia’s future. A society cannot be truly open when those who stand up and speak out are murdered and people cannot trust the rule of law when killers act with impunity. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 18 journalists have been killed in Russia since 2000 in retaliation for their work. But in only one case have the killers been convicted. When violence like this goes unpunished in any society, it’s undermining the rule of law, chills public discourse, which is, after all, the lifeblood of an open society, and it diminishes the public’s confidence and trust in their own government."

Read the Secretary's full remarks or more about her trip to Europe.

Read the previous Travel Diary entry.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/civil_society/ 2009-10-13T21:46:03+00:00 Interactive Travel Map | Text the Secretary Answers

Today, Secretary Clinton met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. The Secretary said:

"I want to start by thanking Minister Lavrov for hosting me in Moscow today, along with my delegation. We have had a very productive and comprehensive set of discussions. This follows on the work that we began over the last many months to transform the relationship between our two countries, to find common ground wherever we can, to further mutual respect and mutual interests, without in any way accepting the fact that there are not differences between us, because there are. But to talk about those differences, to share them openly, we think is also an important part of this new aspect to our relationship.

Just three days ago, Sergey and I were in Zurich working together to bring about the signing of the historic protocols between Armenia and Turkey regarding normalization of relations. Both of our countries strongly support this process, and it’s another example of how we are working together.

We believe that the framework that has been established that was announced by our two presidents during the summit here in Moscow in July is extremely important. We have agreed to discuss a broad range of important matters in these 16 working groups, which, as Sergey has said, have begun their important consultations. We know that this takes time. It doesn’t happen overnight. It requires building trust and confidence between us. But I am very convinced that this is important for each of our nations and our people, and indeed, the world."

Read the Secretary's full remarks or more about her trip to Europe.

Read the previous Travel Diary entry.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/us_russian_relationship/ 2009-10-13T20:16:37+00:00 Interactive Travel Map | Text the Secretary Answers

About the Author: Meghan O'Toole serves as Cultural Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Dublin.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took time to stroll through one of Dublin’s most iconic streets on Sunday, accompanied by Ambassador and Mrs. Rooney. Dublin shoppers along the pedestrian corridor of Grafton Street were surprised to see Secretary Clinton arrive fresh from her meetings with Taoiseach Brian Cowen and President Mary McAleese.

The Secretary posed for pictures with families and some fellow Americans who were visiting Dublin. “We’re from New Jersey!” one couple shouted before the Secretary smiled and gave them enthusiastic thumbs up. The crowd moved with the Secretary towards Bewley’s Café where she ordered a coffee to go. The cafe buzzed with delighted customers who had just settled in for an uneventful cup of coffee before heading off into the crisp evening. The second story window seats at Bewley’s proved to be the ideal spot for people watching when the Secretary and her entourage gathered below. Customers old and young pressed their faces to the glass, and seemed unsure whether to run downstairs and join the crowd or stay seated upstairs for the birds eye view.

The Secretary then walked up Grafton Street and turned off on Harry Street for a stop at McDaid’s pub, a favorite haunt for many Irish literary figures. The busy pub welcomed the Secretary with a surprised and enthusiastic ovation. As she sipped a half pint of Harp Lager, Secretary Clinton spoke with renowned Irish broadcaster George Hook of Newstalk Radio’s "The Right Hook," and discussed world issues from the global economy to the peace process in Northern Ireland.

Young mothers held their children above the crowds outside of McDaid’s and one told her son to “look for the lady in the yellow scarf!” The crowd shifted back to South Anne Street where Secretary Clinton warmly thanked Ambassador and Mrs. Rooney. Onlookers continued to cheer and snap pictures on their cell phones as the lady in the yellow scarf, Secretary Clinton, departed for Dublin Airport and concluded her first official visit as Secretary of State to Ireland.

Read more about the Secretary's trip to Europe or the previous and next Travel Diary entries.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/clinton_dublins_grafton_street/ 2009-10-13T17:36:33+00:00 Interactive Travel Map | Text the Secretary Answers

About the Author: Ellen O. Tauscher serves as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.

On Sunday, I flew to Moscow to join Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and hold discussions with our Russian counterparts on the full range of arms control, nonproliferation, and missile defense issues, including a new strategic arms reduction treaty to replace the current START Treaty.

For almost fifteen years, START, which expires on December 5, 2009, has substantially reduced Cold War nuclear forces, institutionalized predictability into our nuclear relationship with Russia, and allowed both sides to monitor and verify each other’s nuclear forces.

Without a new treaty, these advantages would be lost.

President Obama and President Medvedev directed negotiators to work out a legally binding and effectively verifiable agreement that would reduce delivery vehicles and warheads to levels below those contained in the START Treaty and the 2002 Moscow Treaty – before December 5.

A new START Treaty would enhance our national security and maintain a level of transparency in the strategic environment between the United States and Russia. Moreover, reducing our arsenals would in turn reduce the likelihood that nuclear warheads and technology would fall into the wrong hands. After all, the United States and Russia possess about 95 percent of the world’s nuclear weapons.

Achieving this objective would be another important milestone in nuclear disarmament. President Obama and Secretary Clinton regard a new START Treaty as a down payment for future reductions, and we hope those talks would begin immediately following ratification. We will continue to further our engagement with our friends and allies, as the United States leads the global effort in arms control once again.

In his remarks in the Rose Garden after winning the Nobel Peace Prize, President Obama reiterated his ambitious nuclear disarmament goal – to achieve the peace and security of a world free of nuclear weapons. A new START Treaty is the first step in that direction.

Read more about the Secretary's trip to Europe or the previous and next Travel Diary entries.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/travel_diary_a_new_start/ 2009-10-13T14:48:37+00:00 Secretary Clinton Travels to Zurich, London, Dublin, Belfast and Moscow, October 9-15, 2009

Secretary Clinton's Address to Full Session of Northern Ireland Assembly

Secretary Clinton's Joint Press Statements With First Minister Robinson and Deputy First Minister McGuinness

Secretary Clinton's Remarks With Lord Mayor Long at Reception Hosted by the Lord Mayor of Belfast

Secretary Clinton's Remarks at Top of Northern Ireland Business Working Group

Press Availability Following the Northern Ireland Business Working Group

Secretary Clinton's Interview With Ann Curry of the Today Show

Secretary Clinton's Interview With John Humphrys, BBC Radio

Secretary Clinton's Interview With George Hook of "The Right Hook" Radio Show]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/09_1013_recent_news/ 2009-10-13T14:19:14+00:00 Interactive Travel Map | Text the Secretary Answers

About the Author: Declan Kelly serves as U.S. Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland.

I am thrilled to tell you about my visit to Belfast, Northern Ireland today with Secretary Clinton. This is a particularly exciting time to be back in Belfast, as Northern Ireland stands at an important crossroads. Since May 2007, the Northern Ireland Executive has been reinstated under the process of devolution, which is a transfer of various executive powers to authorities in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is in a position to take control of its economic future, and has come a long way since The Troubles. As you can imagine, political and economic security are inexorably linked here. The investment climate will improve now as it did following the Good Friday Agreement and the cease-fires of the 1990’s, when the United States alone invested over $1 billion and created over 20,000 jobs. Maintaining the momentum of peace is absolutely critical to continued economic success.

This morning, the Secretary addressed the Northern Ireland Assembly at the Stormont, where she commended the people of Northern Ireland on their progress towards a lasting peace. Later, she joined a business roundtable discussion with Northern Ireland and American business leaders that I organized as Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland, a position to which I was appointed last month by Secretary Clinton. As the Economic Envoy, I am working to enhance trade and investment linkages between the U.S. and Northern Ireland – to the mutual benefit of all involved.

President Obama’s proposed Framework for Strong, Sustainable and Balanced Growth, outlined at the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh last month, shows the United States Government’s commitment to improving economic opportunities all over the world. The world is facing the greatest economic challenges since the 1930’s, and we must all work together to overcome them. Northern Ireland, while it has suffered along with us, has faster growth than the U.K. average in employment, property prices, and foreign investment. There is much room for fruitful economic collaboration between the United States and Northern Ireland, and it is my job to see that it happens.

Today’s discussion, held at the beautiful campus of Queens University Belfast, was very fruitful. Movers and shakers from the business, entrepreneurial, and government sectors were chosen as counterparts to the working group formed during the Clinton Global Initiative last month. Today these two groups came together and got the ball rolling on mutually beneficial ideas and initiatives, particularly in the fields of higher education and technology. The goal is to improve Northern Ireland’s economic competitiveness, while benefitting the United States at the same time. Together, we will move forward on the road to economic recovery, and here in Northern Ireland – to peace and stability as well.

Read more about the Secretary's trip to Europe, her remarks following the business working group meeting at Queens University, or the previous and next Travel Diary entries.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/trade_investment_linkages_northern_ireland/ 2009-10-12T17:42:53+00:00 Interactive Travel Map | Text the Secretary Answers

Today, Secretary Clinton spoke before a full session of the Northern Ireland Assembly in Belfast. The Secretary said:

"We meet at an important time in the history of Northern Ireland. In the 11 years since the Good Friday Agreement was signed, you have traveled a long way together on the road to peace. Groups have laid down their weapons. Empty streets are now bustling with activity. And here, in this chamber, men and women who were once sworn enemies work side by side to secure the achievements of recent years, and to deliver a stable, prosperous future for the people you represent.

These accomplishments are remarkable, and a credit to you and to all those who have worked for peace, not only the leaders here at Stormont, but also Westminster and Leinster House. But most importantly, to the thousands of ordinary citizens, mothers and fathers, whose determination to end the Troubles made them fervent activists for peace.

At this time, we can recognize you have traveled a great distance. But you do not need me to tell you that your journey is not yet over. The promise of the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement is not yet fully realized. And Northern Ireland is now facing a new challenge with the global economic downturn, which threatens some of the gains that you have made in the past decade.

The value of peace is not only the absence of violence. It is also the presence of new opportunities for investment and jobs, for education and health care, and political participation. So it is critical, in this moment of economic turmoil, to protect the progress you have already achieved, and to build upon it, to ensure that your people continue to enjoy the rewards of peace, and to embrace it for the long term.

Since this assembly was restored two-and-a-half years ago, this devolution has enabled you to work together to enact sensible, necessary reforms on everything from health to housing to environmental safety. No one ever said it was going to be easy. Of course it is difficult. It is the nature of democracy. It is not easy in any legislature, as I know from experience, under the best of circumstances. But in these circumstances, the work you have done is all the more extraordinary.

So, please know that the Obama administration and the United States is committed to helping you finish your journey to put far behind you the long years of division and conflict, to build confidence and trust across all communities and political parties, and to honor the hopes and sacrifices of your people by making whole and permanent Northern Ireland's emerging peace.

Now, we know what it means to be supportive. And we also know what it means to meddle. And I want to be clear that when it comes to the important issue of devolution, of policing and justice, that is a decision for this assembly to make. But as a true friend -- and I thank the Speaker for his kind comments -- my hope is that you will achieve what you have set out to do, to complete the process of devolution. And I am confident that, together, you can go forward and harness the exciting, human, and economic potential that Northern Ireland has to offer.

I know there has been considerable effort in recent weeks to address concerns, and work toward a resolution during this important period. There have been many moments in Northern Ireland's peace journey when progress seemed difficult, when every route forward was blocked, and there seemed to be nowhere to go. But you have always found a way to do what you believed was right for the people of Northern Ireland. As Scripture urges us, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

And today, Northern Ireland stands as an example to the world of how even the staunchest adversaries can overcome differences to work together for the common and greater good. So, I encourage you to move forward now with that same spirit of unstoppable grit and resolve. And I pledge that the United States will be behind you all the way, as you work toward peace and stability that lasts."

Read the Secretary's full remarks, her joint press statements with First Minister Robinson and Deputy First Minister McGuinness or more about her trip to Europe.

Read the previous or next Travel Diary entry.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/clinton_northern_ireland_assembly/ 2009-10-12T16:57:47+00:00