The United States advised the government of Syria that it has suspended all embassy operations effective February 6, 2012, given ongoing violence and a deteriorating security situation. All official U.S. embassy personnel and their family members have departed. In a statement, State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland said:
"We, along with several other diplomatic missions, conveyed our security concerns to the Syrian government but the regime failed to respond adequately. Ambassador Ford has left Damascus but he remains the United States Ambassador to Syria and its people. As the President's representative, he will continue his work and engagement with the Syrian people as head of our Syria team in Washington. Together with other senior U.S. officials, Ambassador Ford will maintain… more »
The 48th Annual Munich Security Conference took place February 3-5, 2012, in Munich, Germany. In this video from the U.S.-European Media Hub, U.S. Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany Philip D. Murphy notes that this year marks the first-ever participation by two U.S. Cabinet officials in this event. Ambassador Murphy also describes how the conference has changed over the years, but points out that "one thing that hasn't changed over 48 years is how important the American role is, and how importantly we take that role."
During the conference, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said, "...I have now traveled to Europe 27 times… more »
About the Author: Kris M. Balderston serves as Special Representative for Global Partnerships.
This week, I joined the White House in honoring 14 leaders in American diaspora communities with roots in the Horn of Africa as Champions of Change. These leaders are helping to build stronger neighborhoods in communities across the United States, and are working to mobilize networks across borders to address global challenges.
Prior to the event, I had the pleasure of hosting these remarkable individuals for lunch at the State Department, with support from the International diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA). Throughout our lunchtime conversation, I was continually struck by the passion, expertise, insight, and personal commitment of each and every Champion,… more »
About the Author: Hannah Johnson serves as DipNote's Assistant Editor.
This week's "Photo of the Week" comes to us from the First Plenary of the 2012 Session of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva, Switzerland, on January 24, 2012. Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification and Compliance Rose E. Gottemoeller delivered the opening statement for the United States on the progress on arms control and disarmament that has been made over the course of the past year.
Assistant Secretary Gottemoeller said, "The New START Treaty entered into force on February 5, 2011.… The treaty represents a strong foundation for further bilateral reductions and an important step on the path towards a world without nuclear weapons. Discussions… more »
About the Author: Tom Weinz served as the dedicated Foreign Service Liaison Officer for Pacific Partnership 2010 and Pacific Partnership 2011. He now serves as the dedicated Foreign Service Officer for Pacific Partnership 2012.
“Prepare in calm to respond in crisis.” This was the motto chosen by Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12) Commodore Jim Morgan as 200 participants gathered in San Diego on January 30 and 31 for the Mid-Planning Conference (MPC) for PP12. All four host nations -- Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia -- sent high-level delegations, as did many of our partner nations, including Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, New Zealand, and Thailand.
Pacific Partnership, created in response to the terrible tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people in 2004, will carry out its seventh annual mission from May to September of this year. The program was developed by the U.S. Navy, but has become a demonstrable example of the “whole of government” approach to American policy in the Pacific, including participation by the Department of State, USAID, NOAA, and… more »
DipNote is the official blog of the U.S. Department of State —a place to share stories, discuss experiences, and inspire new ideas on the important foreign policy issues of the day. more »
Across the eastern Horn of Africa, more than 11 million people -- a number greater than the populations of Houston and New York City combined -- are now in need of emergency assistance to survive. Learn more about the current crisis, including how you can help.
I am a proud citizen and i respect the people's sense of moral responsibility on this matter. but i fear it is way to ethnocentric for direct backing from…
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Spokesperson Nuland (Feb. 14): "We remain deeply concerned about multiple allegations of human rights abuses by security forces, including illegal and arbitrary detentions throughout the electoral process." more »
![The U.S. Embassy building is seen in Damascus, Syria on January 12, 2011. [AP File Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0206_embassy_syria_m.jpg)
![Composite image of leaders in American Diaspora communities with roots in the Horn of Africa, recognized as Champions of Change by the White House on January 30, 2012. [White House photos]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0204_champions_hoa_m.jpg)
![Rose E. Gottemoeller, Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, delivers the opening statement for the United States at the First Plenary of the 2012 Session of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland, on January 24, 2012. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0203_disarmament_conference_m.jpg)
![A Micronesian boy holds onto Project HOPE volunteer, Andrew Siler's hand, while Able Seaman Thomas Pearson of Royal Australian Navy, Lt. Michael Bloir, and Project HOPE volunteer Hanna Taylor puts four sticks in a Micronesian boy's leg at Nanpei medical civic action project site for Pacific Partnership 2011 in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, on July 9, 2011. Pacific Partnership 2011 visited the islands of Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Federated States of Micronesia. [Photo By Kristopher Radder]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0203_pacific_partnership_m.jpg)
