Foreign Policy
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18 November 2009 Corruption
Continues to Hobble Social, Economic Progress Corruption continues
to hobble social and economic progress in most countries, according to the latest
report by Transparency International, a nonpartisan, civil society organization
which monitors corruption from some 90 offices around the world. The majority
of the 180 countries included in the 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)
score below 5 on a scale from 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 10 (perceived
to have low levels of corruption). CPI rankings measure perceptions of public-sector
corruption based on surveys of experts and businesspersons based both in the
country and abroad. The rankings focus on the abuse of public power for private
benefit.
06 November 2009 Helsinki
Treaty Spurred Fall of Berlin Wall, End of Communism When 35 European
nations, including the United States and the Soviet Union, signed the Helsinki
Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe on August 1,
1975, it set in motion events that would topple the Berlin Wall and leave a lasting
imprint on international relations.
07 October 2009 Guinea Violence a "Vile Violation" of Human Rights, Clinton Says U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said an international investigation is needed into the killings and rapes by Guinean security forces against peaceful protesters and bystanders at a stadium in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, saying "there should be no impunity" for the perpetrators.
06 October 2009 Secretary Clinton's Remarks With Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on American Power and Persuasion
05 October 2009 Countries Hit by East Asian Disasters Receive U.S. Assistance The United States has been part of international relief efforts in the East Asia-Pacific region after separate natural disasters struck Indonesia, the Philippines, Samoa and neighboring islands within a period of less than one week. In efforts to find victims, provide relief and assess damage, the Obama administration has sent military and civilian personnel, relief supplies and cash.
02 October 2009 Remarks by Secretary Clinton, OIC Secretary-General Ihsanoglu Officials discuss bilateral relations in Washington.
02 October 2009 Seeking a New Generation of Cyberdefenders Though they tend to be young and eager, skilled cybersecurity experts are small in number. There simply are not enough of them to meet projected long-term global public and private sector requirements. Corporations, smaller businesses and governments need future leaders who can provide information assurance by protecting computer networks containing proprietary information or political-military strategies and monitoring, detecting, analyzing and responding to any actions that could compromise or infiltrate those networks.
02 October 2009 United States Working to Bridge Gaps in U.N. Human Rights Council The first session of U.S. participation in the United Nations Human Rights Council has been "a terrific learning experience," and although the United States will not always agree with the body’s opinion, "it’s important that we’re in there defending the values we hold dear," says Esther Brimmer, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for international organization affairs.
30 September 2009 United States Sending Assessment Teams to Tsunami-Stricken Areas The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency is sending two disaster assessment teams to American Samoa, along with a team from the U.S. Coast Guard, to assess the impact of an earthquake, the ensuing tsunami and extensive flooding, the White House says. "We also stand ready to help our friends in neighboring Samoa and throughout the region, and we'll continue to monitor the situation closely as we keep the many people who've been touched by this tragedy in our thoughts and in our prayers," President Obama said September 30.
30 September 2009 Clinton Hails U.N. Resolution to Protect Women Against Violence Says violence against women is criminal, not cultural.
23 September 2009 Obama Challenges United Nations to “New Era of Engagement” The interests of the world’s peoples are shared, more than at any point in human history, and the international community must embrace “a new era of engagement” to confront pressing challenges such as nuclear proliferation, climate change and economic crisis, President Obama told the United Nations General Assembly.
• Remarks by the President to the United Nations General Assembly
18 September 2009 Clinton Outlines U.S. Agenda for U.N. General Assembly The United States will promote an agenda at the opening of the 64th session of the U.N. General Assembly focused heavily on building international partnerships, promoting nuclear nonproliferation, resolving issues in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan and forging economic development initiatives.
• Remarks by Secretary Clinton
11 September 2009 Nonproliferation, Climate Change Top U.S. Issues for U.N. Meeting The Obama administration is considering global issues such as climate change and food security to be immediate security challenges, along with more traditional security topics like nonproliferation and arms control, as the U.S. delegation prepares for the 64th United Nations General Assembly, opening September 19 in New York.
27 August 2009 Grants from Millennium Challenge Corporation Spur Development When Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton identified lack of good governance as a major obstacle to development during her recent trip to Africa, she also highlighted a global solution in use throughout the continent and South America, Asia and Europe: the compacts of the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
19 August 2009 U.S. Marks World Humanitarian Day, Announces Additional Aid U.S. officials marked the first World Humanitarian Day by announcing an additional $160 million to support global aid work and calling for governments and parties in conflict areas around the world to pay attention to the safety of humanitarian workers.
14 August 2009 United States “Ready to Lead Once More” at United Nations The Obama administration recognizes that the well-being and security of Americans is “inextricably linked” to that of people everywhere in the world, and it is making “rather dramatic changes” toward multilateralism in its approach to the United Nations, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice says.
11 August 2009 Obama, Clinton Condemn Sentencing of Burma"s Aung San Suu Kyi The decision by Burma"s ruling military to convict and sentence Nobel Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to 18 additional months of house arrest is "unjust" and violates universal human rights principles, said President Obama, who calls for the veteran democracy leader and other Burmese political prisoners to be set free.
06 August 2009 Obama Aide on a New Approach to Safeguarding Americans Remarks by assistant to the president for homeland security.
26 July 2009 Secretary's Remarks: Interview With David Gregory of Meet the Press
21 July 2009 United States Seeks Deeper Relations with India Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton pledged a new era of strengthened relations with India and announced the launch of a strategic dialogue between the two countries.
20 July 2009 U.S.-India Joint Statement Following Clinton's New Delhi Meetings Diplomats committed to building enhanced India-U.S. strategic partnership.
18 July 2009 Secretary Clinton’s Interview with Frankly Speaking In Mumbai, secretary discusses relations with India and Pakistan.
17 July 2009 North American Leaders to Meet August 9–10 The leaders of Canada, Mexico and the United States will meet in August to discuss security, economic and trade policies, health issues and regional challenges like the political crisis in Honduras, said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The annual summit will be held August 9–10 in Guadalajara, Mexico, and will involve Mexican President Felipe Calderón, who is hosting the summit, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Obama. The leaders' summit was created in March 2005 and is held annually.
15 July 2009 Secretary Clinton's Foreign Policy Address at the Council on Foreign Relations
• Question & Answer session from Secretary Clinton's Foreign Policy Address
15 July 2009 Clinton Tells Iran's Leaders Now Is the Time for Engagement Iran’s leadership should respond to President Obama’s offer of engagement over its nuclear activities, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says, adding that the opportunity "will not remain open indefinitely."
14 July 2009 State Department's Todd Leventhal Discusses Conspiracy Theories Todd Leventhal, disinformation and conspiracy theory specialist with the U.S. State Department, answered questions in a July 14 CO.NX webchat on conspiracy theories.
10 July 2009 Special Press Briefing on Diplomacy and Development Strategy
18 June 2009 Department of State's Office of the Historian Announces New Website: www.history.state.gov
13 June 2009 Secretary Clinton's Remarks at the 100th Anniversary of the Boundary Waters Treaty
11 June 2009 Public Diplomacy: A National Security Imperative Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale spoke at the Center for a New American Security’s third annual conference, "Striking a Balance: A New American Security". The conference offered recommendations on how to strike a balance between immediate and long-term national security challenges facing the United States. Topics included Iraq, Afghanistan-Pakistan, National Security, North Korea, and combating violent extremism.
11 June 2009 Obama's Cairo Speech Resonates with Africans, State's Carson Says There was widespread interest across sub-Saharan Africa in President Obama's speech June 4 from Cairo to Muslims worldwide because many of the speech themes resonated directly with Africans who look forward to participating in a "new dialogue" with the United States, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson said June 5.
10 June 2009 White House Document on Advancing the Role of Women Series of documents central to Obama administration’s agenda.
05 June 2009 Many Muslims Saw Hope, Change in Obama's Cairo Speech "The speech gave me hope that change can happen, especially by collaboration and by seeing common ground and interest," 19-year-old Ingy Hassieb said. The Egyptian college student reflected on the words he had heard when the new American president, Barack Obama, came to Cairo with the call to initiate "a new beginning between the United States and Muslims."
04 June 2009 A New Beginning President Obama's speech in Cairo, Egypt as prepared for delivery.
• Fact Sheet: The U.S. and Muslim communities around the world (PDF)
03 June 2009 State's McHale to Spearhead U.S. Global Public Engagement Judith McHale, President Obama's selection to spearhead the government's public outreach to global audiences, says the United States needs to engage the people of the world in new and innovative ways. "I believe passionately that public diplomacy is both integral to our foreign policy and essential for our national security," McHale, a former international media executive, said at her recent Senate confirmation hearing.
02 June 2009 Secretary of State Clinton's Travel to Cairo, Egypt While in Cairo 3-4 June 2009, Secretary Clinton will join President Barack Obama for his speech, and participate in the President's meeting with President Hosni Mubarak.
26 May 2009 White House Document on Delivering on Change: Foreign Policy This series describes issues central to Obama administration's agenda.
20 May 2009 Clinton's Opening Remarks at Senate Hearing on Foreign Operations Testifies before Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing May 20
19 May 2009 Remarks by Secretary Clinton at the Global Press Conference Highlights U.S. humanitarian aid to Pakistan, foreign policy goals.
18 May 2009 Remarks by Secretary Clinton At Barnard College Commencement Ceremony
13 May 2009 Taking Diplomatic Action Against Piracy U.S. outlines anti-piracy efforts to combat piracy worldwide.
13 May 2009 U.S. Seeking Improved Relations with Western Hemisphere Nations President Obama wants the United States to build a new cooperative approach to relations with other Western Hemisphere nations that is supported by the twin pillars of democratic governance and inclusive prosperity, says Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg.
12 May 2009 Pelosi, Holt Meet With British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Rush Holt of New Jersey returned today from an official visit abroad that began Thursday in Jordan and continued on to Qatar, Iraq and the United Kingdom.
12 May 2009 State Department Official Encourages Dialogue with Muslim World President Obama and his administration are fully committed to pursuing "a deep and positive dialogue with Muslims around the world based on mutual respect and in support of our mutual interests," according to a key State Department official.
08 May 2009 Commercial Fleet Owners Ask U.S. Congress for Solutions on Piracy Piracy in waters off the coast of Somalia has increased so much in 2008 and 2009 that some elements of the U.S. commercial shipping industry are now saying they want armed protection on vessels. More than 150 attacks and 55 successful hijackings have occurred in 2008 and 2009 in the seas off the Horn of Africa, according to James Caponiti of the U.S. Maritime Administration.
08 May 2009 U.S. Announces $27.5 Million for Pakistan, Afghanistan Food Aid USDA provides international assistance through Food for Progress Program.
05 May 2009 Obama Seeks Close Coordination with Afghan, Pakistani Leaders The presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan are arriving for meetings with President Obama and other senior U.S. officials to try to develop closer trilateral coordination against terrorism and to address the impact of the global economic crisis in their countries.
05 May 2009 Pakistan’s Security Seen as Vital to U.S. National Security The hallmarks of U.S. engagement with Pakistan must be constancy and consistency to assure a strong partnership in the fight against Taliban extremists, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke says.
04 May 2009 Young Mariners Get Up-Close Lesson in Thwarting Pirates In the 100 years the Massachusetts Maritime Academy has taught mariners to crew merchant ships, not once had pirates hijacked a U.S.-flagged vessel. Never had weapon-wielding sea bandits kidnapped an American captain. The students' anti-piracy training seemed abstract, until Somali raiders boarded the Maersk Alabama April 8.
30 April 2009 Clinton's Remarks at Senate Hearing on War Supplemental Request Clinton, Gates testify on aligning departments' missions, overall goals.
29 April 2009 Key to Obama Foreign Policy Is Expanded Global Engagement President Obama set three major foreign policy goals when his administration began 100 days go: re-establish America’s standing in the world; create dialogue with friends, partners and adversaries based on mutual respect; and work together in building partnerships.
22 April 2009 Clinton Discusses Wide-Ranging U.S. Diplomatic Agenda The United States is pursuing a wide-ranging diplomatic agenda that is based on strengthening alliances, cultivating partnerships with key regional powers and building constructive relationships with China and Russia, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says. "In today’s world, we face new challenges that have no respect for borders. Not one of them can be dealt with by the United States alone," Clinton said before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "None, however, can be solved without us leading."
21 April 2009 Clinton, Libyan Minister Qadhafi on Bilateral Relations U.S., Libya have opportunities to deepen, broaden cooperation, says Clinton.
16 April 2009 Remarks by Defense Secretary Gates at Army War College Says international navies, shipping firms must partner to thwart pirates.
19 April 2009 Obama Praises Constructive Talks at Summit of the Americas President Obama said the U.S. entered the fifth Summit of the Americas in equal partnership with the nations of the Western Hemisphere based on mutual respect, common interests and shared values, and leaves after three days of constructive talks with what he called a good first step.
17 April 2009 Middle East Special Envoy Mitchell's Visit to Israel Mitchell meets with Israeli officials, works toward a comprehensive peace.
16 April 2009 Call for End to Hostilities in Sri Lanka United States urges government to help Tamil citizens in safe zone.
15 April 2009 Secretary Clinton's Announcement of Counter-Piracy Initiatives “This week, the State Department is taking four immediate steps as we move forward with a broader counter-piracy strategy. But let me underscore this point: The United States does not make concessions or ransom payments to pirates.”
14 April 2009 Obama Administration Seeks Greater Involvement with U.N. The Obama administration is "deeply committed to international human rights issues and to the United States being an active player in advancing universal standards," said Esther Brimmer, President Obama's newly appointed assistant secretary for the State Department’s Bureau of International Organization Affairs.
13 April 2009 Obama to Allow More Travel, Money Transfers to Cuba The U.S. will allow Cuban Americans unlimited travel and money transfers to family in Cuba, the White House says. Cuban Americans may also send clothes, personal hygiene items, seeds, fishing gear and other personal necessities to family members in Cuba. Businesses will be able to obtain licenses to sell cellular telephones, television services and other telecommunications devices to Cubans, with family members in the U.S. allowed to pay for them.
• Promoting Democracy and Human Rights in Cuba
08 April 2009 Press Statement Following E3+3 Political Director's Meeting in London The Political Directors of China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union met in London today following the important discussions between our leaders in recent days.
30 March 2009 United States Official Development Assistance Increases Worldwide United States Official Development Assistance (ODA) increased substantially across social and economic sectors worldwide in 2008 based on preliminary U.S. data provided to the OECD this week.
24 March 2009 United States Seeks Multilateral Diplomacy with World Community The perception that the U.S. has not been engaging the world community and has been pursuing foreign affairs unilaterally is erroneous, and even more so with the Obama administration, a senior U.S. diplomat says.
24 March 2009 Statement by Secretary Clinton on World Tuberculosis Day 2009
16 March 2009 New Guantánamo Detainee Policy Rooted in International Law The Obama administration has issued new standards for holding terrorism suspects at the Guantánamo Bay detention center that are rooted in international law and mark the White House’s latest step toward final closure of the facility by early 2010.
08 March 2009 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on International Women's Day 2009
05 March 2009 Sudan's Bashir Should Be Held Accountable, Says Clinton After an international court issued an arrest warrant for Sudan President Omar al-Bashir for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called for calm and reiterated America’s commitment to peace, justice and security for Africa's largest country.
26 February 2009 Fiscal 2010 Budget Seeks More Spending for Diplomacy, Assistance President Obama is calling for a nearly 10 percent increase for spending on diplomacy and foreign assistance in 2010, putting the United States on a path toward greatly increasing its spending in those areas, according to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
23 February 2009 Clinton: Enhancing Relations with Governments and People A significant part of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s four-nation trip to East Asia was connecting with people in ways they had not experienced in recent years.
20 February 2009 Biden Says Accurate Intelligence Essential for Policymaking The Obama administration will need timely, credible and accurate intelligence from the nation's 16-agency intelligence community if it is to carry out its goals and objectives over the next four years, Vice President Biden says.
20 February 2009 Clinton Names Special Representative for North Korea Policy Veteran American diplomat Stephen Bosworth, the current dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, has been named special representative for North Korea policy and will oversee the Six-Party Talks on halting North Korea's nuclear development program.
07 February 2009 Biden Lays Out U.S. Foreign Policy Goals, Approaches Vice President Biden says the United States will be guided in its foreign relations by the principle that there is no conflict between its security and its ideals — each reinforces the other. It is the obligation of the international community "to listen to and learn from one another, and to work together for a common prosperity and security of all," Biden said in a major foreign policy address February 7 to the Munich Conference on Security Policy.
04 February 2009 Special Representative Departs for Afghanistan, Pakistan The new U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, is making his first visit to the region to begin consultations, a State Department spokesman says.Holbrooke is going to the region without a specific agenda.
28 January 2009 JCS Chairman Mike Mullen Briefs on U.S. National Security Strategy Update
27 January 2009 Secretary Clinton's Remarks with Reporters on U.S. Foreign Policy Clinton answered a range of questions on Middle East, Iran, Afghanistan.
26 January 2009 American Envoy Pledges Renewed Commitment to United Nations The U.S. is committed to helping strengthen the United Nations so it can meet a host of emerging challenges, says America's new ambassador to the international body, Susan Rice. "President Obama's view is clear, that our security and well-being can best be advanced in cooperation and in partnership with other nations. And there is no more important forum for that effective cooperation than the United Nations," Rice told reporters after presenting her credentials to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
23 January 2009 U.S. Foreign Policy Shifts with Lightning-like Speed With near lightning speed, President Obama has altered the course of U.S. foreign policy less than 48 hours after taking office by making clear that the country's goals and objectives will be consistent with American values and the rule of law. Saying "we have no time to lose," Obama summed up in a clipped response how urgent he believes it is to reinvigorate American diplomacy and to chart a new course in foreign relations.
22 January 2009 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Calls for Robust Diplomacy Hours after being sworn in as the 67th secretary of state, Hillary Clinton arrived for her first day on the job, telling a crowd of State Department employees gathered to welcome her that she will work with "joy and responsibility, commitment and collaboration."
Global Hunger & Food Security |
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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.
Resources
• Global
Hunger & Food Security (U.S. State Department)
• Food
Security (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Related News
18 November 2009 U.S.
Pledges $3.5 Billion to Spur Agriculture-Led Economic Growth The United
States will invest $3.5 billion over three years to spur agricultural growth
in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way. “Let us mark 2009 as the
year in which we reversed the decline in investment in agriculture and took up
the challenge to ensure global food security for all,” said
Alonzo Fulgham, acting administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development,
November 17 at the World Summit on Food Security in Rome.
16-18 November 2009 : World
Summit on Food Security (links to www.fao.org)
18 November 2009 News from the Summit
• World Summit on Food Security Declaration (PDF, 7 pages)
• Statement of the head of the U.S. Delegation to the Summit, Alonzo Fulgham (U.S. Embassy Rome website)
16 November 2009 Rome
Summit Seeks to Promote Food Security Worldwide The November 16–18 World
Summit on Food Security offers a chance to broaden
the international coalition working to promote greater food security for the more
than 1 billion chronically hungry people who are now at risk worldwide. Franklin
C. Moore, deputy assistant administrator in the Africa Bureau at the U.S. Agency
for International Development (USAID) and USAID’s coordinator
for food security, made that point in an interview with America.gov just
before leaving for the Rome summit, which is being sponsored by the United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Moore is part of the U.S. delegation attending
the event, which more than 60 heads of state and government are expected to attend.
16 November 2009 Food
Security Top Priority for Obama Administration Food security is one of the top issues worldwide and a “very top priority” for
the Obama administration, says longtime food security advocate Tony Hall, former
U.S. ambassador to the U.N. World Food Programme and former U.S. lawmaker, who
spent 24 years in Congress working to feed the hungry worldwide. Hall, who is the
executive director of the Washington-based Alliance to End Hunger, discussed food
security policy with America.gov on the eve of the World
Summit on Food Security in Rome.
13 November 2009 Report
Links Agriculture Successes to Food Security Successes in agricultural
development that have significantly reduced world hunger are highlighted in a
new report from a research group.Millions Fed: Proven Successes In Agricultural
Development,
released November 12 by the International Food Policy Research Institute, is the
first compilation of successes linked to increased food security.The full
text of the report (PDF, 17.3MB) is available on the Web site of the International
Food Policy Research Institute.
16 October 2009 Secretary Clinton's Statement on World Food Day
State Department Web Site
The State Department Home Page offers access to the wide variety of documents produced by the department. Following is a selection of those pages particularly useful to observers of U. S. foreign policy.
Secretary's Home Page carries texts and transcripts and provides information on the Secretary's overseas travels.
Daily Press Briefings from the State Department's Bureau of Public Affairs.
Freedom of Information Electronic Reading Room provides reference points for State Department records and
information access programs. It also displays frequently-requested documents released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Publications contains many major Department of State documents such as annual reports, periodicals and irregular serials.
State Department Historian's Office Bureau of Public Affairs, publishes the official documentary history of U.S. foreign policy and provides historical research and advice for the Department of State.
Archive site for speeches by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
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