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Lincoln Bicentennial

Abraham Lincoln 12 February 1809 - 15 April 1865 In 2009 people throughout the world will mark the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States of America. The story of his life and its tragic end is a familiar one, but perhaps not so well known are his connections with the United Kingdom. Read more!

November 2009

19 November 2009 Counterterrorism: Press Conference with Secretary Clinton at U.S. Embassy Kabul

19 November 2009 Clinton: Afghans Face Critical Moment With Karzai’s Second Term  U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is in Afghanistan to join foreign dignitaries and Afghan leaders November 19 for President Hamid Karzai’s inauguration ceremony. Clinton says Afghanistan is at a critical moment in its history on the eve of the inauguration of Karzai’s second term.

19 November 2009 START Aggregate Numbers of Strategic Offensive Arms  Fact Sheet: Data compiled as of July 2009.

19 November 2009 U.S. Congress Studying Current Restrictions on Travel to Cuba  The U.S. Congress is looking at removing a decades-old policy that restricts travel by Americans to Cuba. “U.S. law lets American citizens travel to any country on earth, friend or foe — with one exception: Cuba. It’s time for us to scrap this anachronistic ban, imposed during one of the chilliest periods of the Cold War,” two influential members of Congress said in a recent opinion article in the Miami Herald newspaper.

19 November 2009 End Distractions and Take Serious Steps, Obama Tells North Korea  The door is open to peacefully resolve the issue of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and allow it to become more integrated with the international community, President Obama says. But Pyongyang must take concrete action and work with its partners in the Six-Party Talks to make progress on the core issues of the discussions.

19 November 2009 U.S. Welcomes Armed Repulsion of Pirate Attack  The United States on November 18 welcomed the repulsion of a band of pirates by gunfire from a private security team on a ship off the northeastern coast of Somalia.Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the department is pleased with the success of the team on board the Maersk Alabama, the same ship that was hijacked in April when it did not have a security team onboard. In that incident, pirates held the ship’s captain hostage until an elite unit of U.S. military snipers freed him.

19 November 2009 Secretary Clinton on Naming of New President of the European Council and EU High Representative

18 November 2009 Clinton’s Remarks at the Meet and Greet with Employees in Kabul  U.S. seeks strong partnership with the government and people of Afghanistan.

18 November 2009 Briefing by Secretary Clinton En Route Kabul, Afghanistan

18 November 2009 Economic Recovery Depends on Rebalancing Global Demand   To establish a global foundation for growth and avert future economic crises, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says, the major advanced economies must rebalance global demand. “The financial crisis also showed clearly that previous global economic patterns were unsustainable,” he said. “Cooperation through the (Group of 20) will remain essential as we start to unwind extraordinary measures and put in place the broad framework to achieve a strong, sustainable and balanced recovery, and implement profound financial reforms at home and abroad.”

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.

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.

18 November 2009 International Enrollment at U.S. Colleges Again Breaks Records  For the second year in a row, record numbers of men and women from outside the United States chose to study in U.S. institutions of higher education. “I am delighted to see the large increase in the number of international students who are choosing to study in the United States,” said Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith A. McHale in welcoming the report, Open Doors 2009. “The all-time high number of international students who studied here in the 2008/09 academic year testifies to the quality and diversity for which American higher education is known around the world.”

18 November 2009 White House Senior Adviser Gavin Discusses U.S.-Angolan Relations  There are new opportunities ahead in U.S.-Angolan relations. A spirit of partnership exists that is focused on the future rather than the past, and the United States wants to be a responsible partner and capitalize on opportunities that now exist to move the bilateral relationship forward, says President Obama’s senior White House adviser on African affairs, Michelle Gavin.

18 November 2009 Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton's Trip to Afghanistan  Secretary Clinton will travel to Afghanistan to attend President Karzai’s November 19 inauguration ceremony, meet with Afghanistan’s leadership, international partners and allies, US troops, staff in Provincial Reconstruction Teams, and Embassy staff. This is the Secretary's fourth trip to Afghanistan, first as Secretary of State.

18 November 2009 U.S. Taking Practical Action on Climate Change  Deputy Chief of Mission Richard LeBaron speaks at the "creating the climate for change" conference in London.

18 November 2009 News from the World Summit on Food Security
 • 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)

17 November 2009 Joint Statement by President Obama, Chinese President Hu in China  Obama welcomes China as a strong, successful member of community of nations.

17 November 2009 Statement on U.S.-China Energy Efficiency Action Plan  Plan emphasizes economy, energy security and combating climate change.
 • Announcements on U.S.-China Clean Energy Programs

17 November 2009 Statement on U.S.-China Shale Gas Resource Initiative  Initiative to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote energy security.

17 November 2009 IAEA Report Shows Iranian Nuclear Activities Have Expanded   An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on Iran’s nuclear activities underscores the country’s continued refusal to comply fully with its international nuclear obligations, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly says, and he expressed doubts that Iran will formally respond to the agency’s offer to allow it to enrich its uranium in another country to provide fuel for a medical-research reactor.

16 November 2009 Societies Free of Internet Censorship Are Stronger, Obama Says  The free flow of information on the Internet builds a stronger society, encourages creativity and helps people around the world participate in the political process and hold their governments accountable, President Obama told Chinese students in Shanghai. Speaking at a town hall meeting ahead of meetings with Chinese leaders in Beijing, Obama said he is “a big believer” in technology and openness and a “big supporter of noncensorship” even though it means that he finds himself the subject of constant criticism. In the United States, “the fact that we have free Internet or unrestricted Internet access is a source of strength,” and the president said open Internet use should be encouraged.

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.

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 Numbers of Americans Studying Abroad Up 8.5%  A record number of U.S. students are studying abroad, reflecting the value of an international academic experience as preparation to live and work in a global society. According to the Open Doors 2009 survey, the number of Americans studying abroad increased by 8.5% to 262,416 in the 2007/08 academic year. This increase builds on two decades of steady growth and represents four times as many U.S. students than in 1987/88.

16 November 2009 International Students Come to United States in Record Numbers  The number of international students at colleges and universities in the United States increased by 8% to an all-time high of 671,616 in the 2008/09 academic year while the number of “new” international students — those enrolled for the first time at a U.S. college or university in fall 2008 — increased by 16%. This represents the largest percentage increase in international student enrollments since 1980/81.

16 November 2009 Clinton: Karzai Must Do More to Fight Corruption to Get Aid  U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai must do more to crack down on corruption if he wants continued civilian aid from Washington. In an interview with U.S. network ABC broadcast Sunday, Clinton said the Obama administration wants the Afghan government to establish a major crimes tribunal and an anti-corruption commission.

16 November 2009 Experts See Sustained Human Rights Movement Emerging in Iran  To overcome a legacy of suspicion and mistrust, the United States should inaugurate a process of long-term, patient engagement with Iran on a wide range of issues — including its nuclear and human rights policies — according to a distinguished panel of scholars and diplomats appearing on Capitol Hill November 4. The conference, sponsored by the Iranian American National Council, took place on the 30th anniversary of the seizure of American hostages at the U.S. embassy in Tehran.

15 November 2009 United States, Russia Close to New Arms Control Treaty  President Obama held consultations with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on the sidelines of the 17th annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Singapore, and their talks focused on two areas: a new arms control treaty and what to do about efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Since their first meetings in London and later Moscow, Obama and Medvedev have agreed on the urgent need to reduce U.S. and Russian nuclear arms stockpiles. Negotiators from both nations have been working feverishly on a replacement treaty for the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START I, which expires December 5.

15 November 2009 APEC Leaders Agree on Sustainable Growth Strategies President Obama says quick, coordinated, unprecedented actions by many of the leaders in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum helped pull the global economy back from the brink of a deeper recession, but now is the time to begin putting balanced economic growth strategies in place. “Economies around the world are beginning to grow again. And we are on the path to recovery,” Obama said November 15 at the 17th annual APEC forum being held in Singapore.
 • President Obama’s Remarks at APEC Leaders' Summit

15 November 2009 Future U.S.-Afghan Relations  Secretary Clinton Interview With George Stephanopoulos of ABC's This Week.

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.

12 November 2009 Mitigation Policy Central Challenge in Climate Change Negotiation  When negotiators meet in Copenhagen in December to discuss international action to fight global warming, the hottest debate will concern how to reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Policies designed to reduce CO2 emissions and stabilize greenhouse gases at a level that is environmentally sustainable are crucial to mitigate the effects of climate change.

12 November 2009 Clinton Sees Copenhagen Climate Conference as Steppingstone  The U.N.-sponsored climate conference in December in Copenhagen can become the steppingstone to a full and binding legal climate agreement if it focuses on the right blend of practical approaches and principles, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says. “The United States has taken dramatic steps in the past year to change the way we use energy at home, and we have taken our seat at the table in international climate negotiations,” said Clinton in a press conference at the foreign ministers’ meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Singapore

12 November 2009 International Collaboration Key to Mitigating Climate Change (Part 1 in a series)   Human activities, especially those that burn fossil fuels and emit planet-warming carbon dioxide, are driving changes in the climate system. Mitigating these changes and their potentially disastrous effects is stimulating a new kind of technology cooperation among governments, industries and institutions.

12 November 2009 H1N1 Flu Activity Rising in Several Northern Hemisphere Countries  Pandemic H1N1 influenza virus has become the dominant flu virus in all countries and territories where people are affected, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and the illness that H1N1 produces has specific features that differentiate it from seasonal flu. As of November 1, more than 199 countries and overseas territories/communities have reported 482,300 laboratory-confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including 6,071 deaths. The case count is much lower than actual cases because many countries have stopped counting individual cases, particularly of milder illness.

10 November 2009 Relaunching Talks Is First Step in Middle East Peace Process  The critical first step in the Middle East peace process is to relaunch negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis without preconditions, says U.S. Under Secretary of State William Burns.
 • Remarks by Under Secretary Burns

10 November 2009 Iran’s Acceptance of Enrichment Deal Would Build World Confidence   The Obama administration continues to expect a favorable response from Iran to a proposed deal that would allow Iran to obtain nuclear fuel for medical isotopes, but Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton noted that internal debate within the Iranian government may account for its failure thus far to respond to the international offer.

09 November 2009 Secretary Clinton’s Remarks at the Brandenburg Gate Celebration

09 November 2009 Moving Beyond History: The Fall of the Berlin Wall  Secretary Clinton Meets with U.S. Embassy Berlin personnel and their families.

09 November 2009 Obama: Iraq Election Law an “Important Milestone”  President Obama says the approval of a long-delayed election law by the Iraqi parliament is an important milestone. Obama says it helps clear the way for a planned withdrawal of American combat troops. Shortly after the Iraqi parliament approved the new election law, Obama went before reporters at the White House. “This is an important milestone as the Iraqi people continue to take responsibility for their future,” he said.

09 November 2009 African Migrants Invest in Their Home Countries  Investment in their home countries by migrants from Africa is contributing to economic growth on the impoverished continent. This business development has caught the attention of African governments, development agencies and the world’s largest cash-transfer company, Western Union Company, which are working to facilitate such investment.

08 November 2009 Clinton’s Speech on 20th Anniversary of Berlin Wall’s Fall  Secretary Clinton addresses the Atlantic Council Gala dinner in Berlin.

09 November 2009 U.S., Germany Call for Greater Accountability in Afghanistan  Washington — The United States and Germany called on Afghan President Hamid Karzai to implement measures to deliver services for the people of Afghanistan, root out corruption, and increase accountability and openness in the way the government works. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said at a press conference with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle in Berlin that the allies have been very clear with the Afghan government that they are expecting more in good governance, and will develop benchmarks for the government to meet.

09 November 2009 Presidential Proclamation : World Freedom Day

09 November 2009 U.S. Domestic and International Actions on Climate Change  Remarks by Deputy Chief of Mission Richard LeBaron to the UK Environment Agency's Annual Conference.

07 November 2009 Statement of President Barack Obama on House Passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act.
 • The White House : Health Care
 • The Obama Plan: Stability & Security For All Americans
 • White House blog History: The House Debates Health Reform

06 November 2009 Business Conference Seen as Marker of New U.S.-Iraq Relationship  The U.S-Iraq Business and Investment Conference, held in Washington October 20–21, is another marker of the transition in the U.S.-Iraqi relationship from a focus on security to an emphasis on development of the Iraqi economy, President Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki say.

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 August1, 1975, it set in motion events that would topple the Berlin Wall and leave a lasting imprint on international relations.

05 November 2009 Briefing by Ambassador Morningstar on U.S.-EU Energy Council Dialogue on strategic energy policy and technology via teleconference.

05 November 2009 U.S. Statement to OSCE on Tolerance and Non-Discrimination  Remarks by Chargé d’Affaires Fuller to the Permanent Council in Vienna.

05 November 2009 Remarks by President Obama at Tribal Nations Conference  Obama answers questions on U.S. treatment of tribal nations.

04 November 2009 U.S. Perspectives on Central and Eastern Europe  Philip H. Gordon, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs.

04 November 2009 United States Still Opposed to Israeli Settlements, Clinton Says   Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton repeated that the Obama administration does not accept the legitimacy of Israeli West Bank settlements and wants to see the establishment of a Palestinian state with borders based on territory that Israel has occupied since 1967.

04 November 2009 Briefing by Secretary Clinton en Route to Washington  Clinton briefed reporters aboard the plane from Cairo, Egypt

04 November 2009 Mullen Urges Afghan President to Stop Corruption   Newly re-elected Afghan President Hamid Karzai must take significant measures to cut government corruption and establish its legitimacy, the top U.S. military officer said.

03 November 2009 Remarks By President Obama, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt Of Sweden, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, And European Council High Representative Javier Solana After their Meeting
 • U.S.-EU Summit Declaration and Annexes (PDF, 12 pages)

03 November 2009 Press Briefing by Assistant Secretary Philip Crowley en Route to Cairo, Egypt

03 November 2009 Clinton Reaffirms U.S. Commitment to Muslim Communities  In a speech to the sixth Forum for the Future, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to broad engagement with Muslim communities around the world and the equally strong U.S. commitment to comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

03 November 2009 Remarks by Secretary Clinton at the Forum for the Future

03 November, 2009 Forum for the Future and Examples of U.S. Support for Civil Society  The Forum for the Future is a joint civil society initiative of the countries of the Broader Middle East and North Africa region (BMENA) and the Group of Eight (G8). It brings together leaders from government, civil society and the private sector to exchange ideas and form partnerships to support progress, reform, and expanded opportunities for the people of the region.

03 November, 2009 Secretary Clinton Announces Global Partnerships to Advance Cairo’s “New Beginning”  Secretary Clinton delivered a major speech on November 3 in Marrakesh, Morocco at the Forum for the Future, an initiative of the countries of the Broader Middle East and North Africa region (BMENA), the G8 countries, and civil society and private sector groups. She reaffirmed the commitment of the United States to broad engagement with Muslim communities around the world and outlined concrete steps the United States is taking to follow up on the “New Beginning” that President Obama launched in Cairo.

03 November, 2009 Secretary Clinton Announces Civil Society 2.0 Initiative to Build Capacity of Grassroots Organizations  In her remarks today to the Forum for the Future, Secretary Clinton announced Civil Society 2.0, which will help grassroots organizations around the world use digital technology to tell their stories, build their memberships and support bases, and connect to their community of peers around the world.

03 November 2009 Sale of U.S. Embassy in London  The U.S. State Department has entered into an agreement to sell the Chancery in London, located in Grosvenor Square.  The sale is to Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company headquartered in Doha, Qatar.  The agreement was signed for the United States by the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Louis B. Susman.

02 November 2009 Obama Congratulates Afghan President and Urges Internal Reforms President Obama has congratulated Afghan President Hamid Karzai on winning re-election but also called for a “new chapter” to improve Afghan governance and end corruption. Obama also cited a need to increase the ability of Afghan forces to provide security for their own country.

02 November 2009 Secretary Clinton's Remarks With Moroccan Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi-Fihri in Marrakesh, Morocco

02 November 2009 Statement by Secretary Clinton on the Middle East  Clinton says Israelis express willingness to restrain settlement activity.

01 November 2009 Secretary Clinton's Remarks on the Afghanistan Elections

October 2009

31 October 2009 Secretary Clinton's Remarks With Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem

30 October 2009 Secretary Clinton Concludes 3-Day Visit to Pakistan U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today completed a 3-day visit to Pakistan. In her meetings and public events in both Islamabad and Lahore, Secretary Clinton underscored America’s desire to build a broad and deep partnership with Pakistan based on mutual trust and respect that both combats violent extremists and strengthens Pakistan’s democratically elected government and civilian institutions to serve Pakistan’s people.

30 October 2009 Clinton Calls for Strengthened Partnership with Pakistan  The United States seeks to be a partner with Pakistan in economic development and trade, education, health care, energy development and regional security, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says. Clinton, who wrapped up a three-day visit to Pakistan October 30, told business leaders at a roundtable discussion in Lahore that the United States is proud and pleased to be Pakistan’s largest trading partner and its largest foreign investor. “We have seen the opportunities for investment and growth,” she added.

30 October 2009 Secretary Clinton's "Townterview" with Prominent Women Journalists in Islamabad, Pakistan

30 October 2009 Senate Vote Marks Next Step in Complex Effort to Close Guantánamo Shortly after his inauguration, President Obama called for the closure of the detention facility at the Guantánamo Bay Naval Station in Cuba within a year, banned use of torture in interrogations, pledged adherence to the Geneva Conventions, and created a task force to develop a new policy for detainees.

29 October 2009   New YouTube video: Scamnet: Lonely Hearts Scam Division  Avoid being a victim of scams - watch Embassy employees "Tom Consul" and "Joe Tuesday" investigate the latest scam using the internet. The U.S. Embassy London also offer advice on how to avoid being a victim of a scam.

29 October 2009 Clinton Announces Millions in Assistance for Pakistani People  As part of her first visit to Pakistan as secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton announced millions of dollars in U.S. assistance to benefit a variety of the country’s programs and institutions, ranging from humanitarian, education and security assistance to microloans and a cellular-phone social network

29 October 2009 United States Pursuing Comprehensive Peace in Middle East Region  The issues, opportunities and challenges that the United States faces in the Middle East are among the most consequential for its security and interests, says U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman.

29 October 2009 Town Hall with Secretary Clinton at Government College University

29 October 2009 Secretary Clinton's Travel to the Middle East

28 October 2009 U.S. Foreign Policy and the OSCE: Shared Core Values  Statement by Philip H. Gordon, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

28 October 2009 United States Provides $45 Million for Higher Education Commission

28 October 2009 United States Stands with Pakistan Against Violent Extremism

28 October 2009 Secretary Clinton Remarks With Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi

28 October 2009 U.S. Pledges $56 Million for Assistance to Displaced Pakistanis  Funds to support Government of Pakistan’s humanitarian relief efforts.

28 October 2009 Note on U.S. Aid for Pakistan Law Enforcement, Border Security  U.S. provides $103.5 million in support for law enforcement programs.

27 October 2009 On-The-Record Briefing by Secretary Clinton En Route Islamabad, Pakistan

27 October 2009 On the Anniversary of 1929 Crash, How Is It Different Now?  Four-score years ago, on Oct. 28 and 29, 1929, the U.S. stock market crashed. Those two days, known as Black Monday and Black Tuesday, burst a bubble of speculative trading and helped trigger the Great Depression. On this 80th anniversary of the great crash, it is striking to compare the modern stock market to the market of the 1920s.

27 October 2009 U.S. Mission to African Union Shows Commitment to Africa  The United States was the first major non-African country to appoint a full-time ambassador to the African Union (AU), and that shows the importance the people of the United States attach to their partnership with the people of Africa, says the U.S. ambassador to the African Union, Michael Battle.

26 October 2009 The 2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus: A Global Challenge  State Department on U.S. efforts to confront the spread of H1N1.

26 October 2009 Briefing on the Release of the 2009 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom
 • International Religious Freedom Report 2009
 • From the International Religious Freedom Report 2009: United Kingdom

26 October 2009 Freedom of Speech and Religion Must Be Balanced, Clinton Says  There must be a sensible balance between freedom of religion and freedom of speech, says Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. ldquo;An individual’s ability to practice his or her religion has no bearing on others’ freedom of speech,” Clinton said at a special briefing October 26 marking the release of the 2009 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom.

26 October 2009 United States to Triple Number of Civilian Experts in Afghanistan The Obama administration has nearly doubled the number of U.S. civilian experts working in Afghanistan since assuming office and plans to bring the number up to 974 by the end of 2009, according to Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Lew.

25 October 2009 Statement by the President on Today's Bombings in Baghdad, Iraq  "I strongly condemn these outrageous attacks on the Iraqi people, and send my deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones. These bombings serve no purpose other than the murder of innocent men, women and children, and they only reveal the hateful and destructive agenda of those who would deny the Iraqi people the future that they deserve.

25 OCtober 2009 Secretary Clinton's Remarks: Bombings in Baghdad  "I want to personally express my heartfelt condolences to the victims of today’s savage attacks in Baghdad and for the tragic loss of so many Iraqi lives. I strongly condemn the bombings at the Iraqi Ministry of Justice and the headquarters of the Baghdad Provincial Administration."

23 October 2009 Ambassador Louis Susman presents his credentials to Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II
 • Press release: Ambassador Susman presents Credentials

23 October 2009 Iran Delays Answer on Draft Enrichment Proposal  The United States, France and Russia have given the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) a “positive response” to a draft proposal to supply Iran with nuclear fuel for a medical research reactor, but Iran has asked for a few more days to consider the arrangement.

23 October 2009 NATO Looks at Boosting Afghanistan Support, Defense’s Gates Says  Defense Secretary Robert Gates said NATO allies are considering sending more military forces and civilian aid to Afghanistan as President Obama also is considering what course the United States will take there. Gates attended an informal meeting of NATO defense ministers in Bratislava, Slovakia, October 22–23, and Afghanistan was a featured topic on the ministers’ agenda.

22 October 2009 Mideast Peace Requires Taking Risks, Rice Tells Israelis  The days when countries could pursue their own interests in isolation from the needs of the global community are over, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice told an Israeli audience, and she also called for a relaunch of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians “without preconditions” to resolve permanent-status issues between the two sides.

22 October 2009 Education, Economic Opportunity Help Curb Violence Against Women  Education and economic empowerment are among the most important tools to prevent the victimization of millions of women around the world who are suffering from violence, experts told members of the U.S. Congress. Speaking at a hearing before the International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Verveer noted that there is a very close relationship between poverty, lack of opportunity, desperation and the low status of women.

22 October 2009 Press Freedom Group Concerned over Europe, Welcomes U.S. Progress  In its eighth annual world press freedom index, the watchdog group Reporters Without Borders warns that Europe, which largely has led the world in free press standards, has seen individual declines over the past year. Also, while the United States has increased its standing, Israel and Iran have both scored much lower marks than in 2008 because of press freedom violations, the organization says.

22 October 2009 Biden Praises Central Europe’s Democratic Advances Vice President Biden praised the courage of the people of Central Europe for taking world history in the 20th century and moving it in a new direction toward freedom, justice and fairness. “Twenty years ago the world watched in awe and admiration as men and women throughout this region broke the shackles of oppression, and emerged a free people,” Biden said in Bucharest, Romania, as Europeans observe the 20th anniversary of the end of the Cold War. “When the Iron Curtain was lifted, the wall fell in Berlin, in their places grew democracy, a democracy that you’ve deserved for a long time.”

New ePublication
The U.S. Supreme Court - Equal Justice Under Law
As an institution, the Supreme Court commands respect, legitimacy, and prestige both in the United States and abroad. The October 2009 edition of eJournal USA describes many aspects of the U.S. Supreme Court. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Solicitor General Elena Kagan present their introductions and contributions by legal scholars and journalists focus on the elements of judicial decision making and independence of the justices. Four Court officials and a former Supreme Court law clerk also describe their jobs.

21 October 2009 Secretary Clinton Remarks at the United States Institute of Peace

21 October 2009 Iraq Drawdown on Track, Policy Chief Says  Although much work remains to draw down the U.S. troop presence in Iraq, Pentagon officials told Congress here today the Defense Department is well on schedule to meet President Barack Obama’s withdrawal timeline.

21 October 2009 Missile Defense Plan Designed to Meet Growing Threat to Europe  The new phased missile defense plan that President Obama has proposed for Europe is designed to meet a growing threat not only to the United States, but also to allies, Vice President Biden said October 21 in Warsaw, Poland.

20 October 2009 Obama Lauds Afghan President’s Participation n Runoff Vote  Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s agreement to participate in a runoff vote for his country’s presidential election is "an important step forward" toward ensuring a credible electoral process and it strengthens Afghanistan’s democracy, President Obama says. Obama issued a statement October 20 welcoming Karzai’s decision, which came after the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan determined that the incumbent president had received a majority of votes from the August 20 election, but at 49.67 percent had come just short of the 50percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff vote. The second round voting has been scheduled for November 7.

20 October 2009 Obama Praises Democratic Advances in Iraq  President Obama praised the democratic commitment of the Iraqi people and their government as he also called for timely passage of a new election law for January 2010 parliamentary elections. Obama met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki October 20 at the White House.
 • Remarks by President Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki

20 October 2009 Secretary Clinton at U.S.-Iraq Business and Investment Conference  Clinton stresses economic development, business opportunities and democracy

19 October 2009 Sudan Policy Aims at Ending Genocide, Implementing Peace Accord  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton unveiled a “comprehensive” U.S. policy for resolving the conflicts in Sudan, focused on ending human rights abuses and genocide in the Darfur region, fully implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and ensuring Sudan does not become a haven for violent extremists.

19 October 2009 Sudan: A Critical Moment, a Comprehensive Approach  Outlines critical lessons learned, U.S. strategic objectives and actions.

19 October 2009 Secretary Clinton Remarks to the Press  Comments on Afghanistan and Iraq.

19 October 2009 Strategy Review Will Continue to Move Forward, Gates Says  Questions about the legitimacy of Afghanistan’s national elections are a complicating factor, but President Barack Obama’s strategic review doesn’t hinge on the outcome, and ongoing military operations aren’t being affected, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today. The Afghan election issue has “complicated the situation for us,” Gates said, but he said he doesn’t expect it to delay Obama’s decision on the larger issue of charting the way forward in Afghanistan.

19 October 2009 Biden to Visit Poland, Romania and Czech Republic  Vice President Biden will travel to Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic to discuss a range of issues at a critical time for East European nations that are transitioning from local agendas to a broader global security environment. All three nations are NATO members, all are involved in security operations in Afghanistan, and all are involved in the advancement of democracy, Tony Blinken, national security adviser to the vice president, said in a briefing with reporters before Biden leaves for Europe October 20. Biden will consult with leaders in Warsaw, Bucharest and Prague October 20–23.

19 October 2009 U.S. Ambassador to U.N. to Embark on Mideast Talks  The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is traveling to Israel Monday in a bid to advance peace efforts in the Middle East. During her three-day trip, Susan Rice is to hold bilateral talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.She will also deliver remarks Wednesday at a conference hosted by Israeli President Shimon Peres.

19 October 2009 Statement of President Barack Obama on Sudan Strategy

16 October 2009 Secretary Clinton's Video Message for Alliance of Youth Movements Summit (YouTube)
  U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton recorded a video message for participants of the Alliance of Youth Movements Summit in Mexico City. Said Secretary Clinton "I want to congratulate all of you who have come to Mexico City, in person and online, to be a part of this groundbreaking summit. You are the vanguard of a rising generation of citizen activists who are using the latest technological tools to catalyze change, build movements, and transform lives. And I hope this conference provides an opportunity for you to learn from each other and discover tools and techniques that will open new doors for activism and empowerment when you return home." The transcript is available at State.gov .

16 October 2009 Clinton Optimistic About Russian Support on Iran, Missile Defense  On October 13, during a trip to Russia, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton gave an extensive interview with the ABC News program Nightline. The interview covered a whole range of international issues, as well as Clinton’s working relationship with President Obama and her own political career. The following are excerpts in which Clinton talks about U.S. relations with Russia, cooperation on Iran, and anti-missile defense systems.

16 October 2009 World Trade Body Membership Tops U.S. Trade Agenda for Russia  Seeing Russia join the World Trade Organization tops the U.S. trade agenda for Russia, says a senior U.S. official. By early summer, hopes were high that a common understanding had been reached as to what Russia needed to do to become a member of the WTO. But everything changed on June 9, when Russia’s prime minister, Vladimir Putin, announced that Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan would withdraw their individual applications to join the trade organization and make a joint bid for membership, said Betsy Hafner, director for Russia and Eurasia at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

16 October 2009 Clinton: China, Russia Trade Pacts Show Economic Interdependence  Trade agreements recently announced between China and Russia, including a mammoth natural gas arrangement, illustrate a world of greater economic interdependence and interconnectedness, and a world vastly different from the Cold War period of the 20th century, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says in a recent Moscow interview.

16 October 2009 U.S. Disappointed by U.N. Council’s Vote on Goldstone Report   The United States is disappointed by the decision of the U.N. Human Rights Council to endorse a report on the January conflict between Israel and Hamas, saying the resolution approved in Geneva was unbalanced and goes beyond the serious allegations that came out of the U.N. inquiry, led by former South African judge Richard Goldstone. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said that the U.S. decision to vote against the resolution “in no way diminishes the deep concern that we have about the tragic events of last January” and the suffering they caused to Palestinians in Gaza and Israelis in southern Israel.

15 October 2009 New York Celebrates 400th Anniversary of Hudson’s Voyage  In September 1609, Henry Hudson and the crew of his ship, the Half Moon, tasked with finding a shortcut water passage from Europe to the Indies, sailed into the harbor destined to become the site of New York City, then explored the river later to be named in Hudson’s honor. Now both the Netherlands and the United States are celebrating the 400th anniversary of Hudson’s arrival — an event that presaged some 50 years of Dutch control of the area until the New Amsterdam they established fell to the British and became New York City.

15 October 2009 Ambassador Wolff Remarks to U.N. Security Council on Middle East  Update on Special Envoy Mitchell’s trip, two-state solution and peace.

15 October 2009 Obama Pushes For Tougher Financial Regulation  President Obama is urging Congress to approve his plan to create a new government agency to protect Americans against financial abuses. The president wants to establish a Consumer Financial Protection Agency. Obama says Americans need a single consumer agency to protect them against irresponsible lenders.

15 October 2009 Secretary Clinton’s Interview with Kim Ghattas of the BBC  Secretary answers questions on Russia, Iran and Afghanistan.

14 October 2009 WHO to Ship Swine Flu Vaccine to Poorer Countries in November  The World Health Organization says it will begin shipping millions of doses of the swine flu vaccine to poorer countries, possibly as early as November. WHO vaccine chief Marie-Paule Kieny says about 100 countries will receive donations of the vaccine.

14 October 2009 Murderers of Russian Journalists Must Face Justice, Clinton Says  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says those who have attacked Russian journalists and other human rights defenders must be brought to justice. She told Russian civil society leaders that democracy and a respect for human rights are integral to their country’s future stability and prosperity.

13 October 2009 United States, Russia Making Progress on Arms Reduction Treaty  The United States and Russia are making progress in replacing a current treaty for reducing nuclear arsenals with one that goes further in physically reducing arsenals and also lessening perceived tensions over nuclear weapons, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says. President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed at a meeting in April to reduce nuclear arsenals well below the levels called for in the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START I.

13 October 2009 Clinton, Lavrov: No Iran Sanctions Yet  U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says it is not yet time for additional sanctions against Iran, and she praised Russia for its cooperation on the issue. Clinton spoke to reporters in Moscow on October 13 after meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

13 October 2009 USTR Kirk Says Services Trade Plan Essential to Trade Talks  Creating new market opportunities for international services trade is essential to a successful conclusion of the 2001 Doha round of trade-liberalization talks by the end of 2010, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said. "We know that the biggest gains to the global economy are likely to derive from multilateral services liberalization, but the offers on the table right now fail to deliver on that promise," Kirk said at the Global Services Summit held in Washington.

13 October 2009 Ambassador Susman presents Credentials

12 October 2009 Joint Press Statements With First Minister Robinson and Deputy First Minister McGuinness

12 October 2009 Secretary Clinton Remarks With Lord Mayor Long at Reception Hosted by the Lord Mayor of Belfast

12 October 2009 Press Availability Following the Northern Ireland Business Working Group

12 October 2009 Secretary Clinton Interview With John Humphrys, BBC Radio

12 October 2009 Address of Secretary Clinton to Full Session of the Northern Ireland Assembly

11 October 2009 U.S. Committed To Working With Ireland  Said Clinton in remarks with Ireland Prime Minister Brian Cowen "I know our commitment to working with like-minded friends, such as Ireland, means that we'll be seeing a lot of each other and consulting often about what more we can do to provide the conditions for peace, security, and prosperity. ... Our diplomats and our aid workers collaborate together to resolve conflicts, fight hunger, poverty and disease, our businesses invest in trade to create new jobs and wider prosperity, education, innovation, and productivity have made Ireland a great place to do business, and Americans have leapt at the opportunity."

11 October 2009 Joint Press Availability With U.K. Foreign Secretary Miliband  "The international agenda is broad and deep. And the United States and the United Kingdom are partners, working to advance our shared values on every front, from rebuilding the world economy, to combating climate change and fighting hunger, to facing down the threats of nuclear proliferation and violent extremism, to helping advance a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. We stand shoulder to shoulder in the effort to build a global architecture of cooperation, and to develop the partnerships that are needed to meet these global challenges."

10 October 2009 Secretary Clinton's Remarks: Plane Briefing en Route London, U.K.

09 October 2009 U.S. Officials Announce New Food and Agriculture Research Agency  A new government agency plans to bring together government and private scientists to improve research in food and agriculture. The establishment of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture was announced October 8 by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and White House Science Advisor John Holdren.

09 October 2009 Obama Wins Nobel Prize for Nuclear Disarmament, Multilateralism  Why did President Obama win the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize after only nine months in office? The Norwegian Nobel Committee cited Obama’s "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples," particularly his work to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

09 October 2009 Remarks by the President on winning the Nobel Peace Prize

09 October 2009 President Obama wins 2009 Nobel Peace Prize (links to nobelprize.org)   Today, Friday, the Nobel Committee awarded President Obama the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples".

Secretary Clinton in London, Dublin, Belfast, October 09-12, 2009

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton travelled to London, Dublin, Belfast, and Moscow from October 9 to 15, 2009....read more.

08 October 2009 Background Briefing by Senior State Department Official on Secretary Clinton's Upcoming Trip to Europe

08 October 2009 On-the-Record Briefing on Secretary Clinton's Upcoming Travel to Europe

08 October 2009 Readout of call between the President and Prime Minister Gordon Brown

08 October 2009 Statement on Inaugural U.S. Flight Transiting Russia  Agreement allows U.S. to transit lethal equipment across Russia’s territory.

08 October 2009 Officials Say Somali Piracy Is Declining  In 2008, Somali pirates captured more than 100 large commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, provoking a massive international response. Today, some 40 warships patrol Somali waters. The patrols and other measures have helped decrease successful hijacking more than 90 percent. Monsoon winds also contributed to the reduction, but U.S. maritime officials warn hijackings may increase now that the regional monsoon season has ended.

07 October 2009 Nuclear Nonproliferation a Shared Responsibility, Official Says  Efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons and prevent nuclear terrorism must be shared, including "collective efforts" by countries to prevent others from crossing "the nuclear threshold," the State Department’s top diplomat on arms control told the United Nations General Assembly.

07 October 2009 Obama Examining a Range of Strategies for Afghanistan  President Obama and his national security team are examining a range of strategies for achieving long-term security in Afghanistan, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in a recent televised interview.

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 Minimizing Potential Threats from Iran: Administration Perspectives on Economic Sanctions and Other U.S. Policy Options  Statement by Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.

06 October 2009 Secretary Clinton's Remarks With Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on American Power and Persuasion

06 October 2009 IMF, World Bank Plan Way Forward for Global Economy  The world cannot return to a pattern of uneven economic growth that relies on consumer-led spending in one economy and export-led growth in others, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says. "We are now witnessing stabilization of the global economy and the beginnings of recovery," Geithner said in remarks prepared for delivery at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank annual meetings in Istanbul.

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.

05 October 2009 Three American Researchers Awarded Nobel Prize in Medicine  Three American medical researchers won the 2009 Nobel Prize in medicine for their research into how cells operate. Their work has affected cancer treatment and understanding of the aging process. The winners are Elizabeth Blackburn of the University of California, San Francisco, Carol Greider of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Jack Szostak of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital.

05 October 2009 Geithner at International Monetary and Financial Committee  Treasury secretary speaks on forging a framework for growth.

02 October 2009 Remarks by Secretary Clinton, OIC Secretary-General Ihsanoglu  Officials discuss bilateral relations in Washington.

02 October 2009 Secretary Clinton to Travel to London, Dublin, Belfast and Moscow  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will travel to London, Dublin, Belfast, and Moscow from October 9 to 15, 2009.

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.

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 In Building Schools for Girls, Mountaineer Honors Sister's Memory  Mountain climber turned humanitarian Greg Mortenson says his work of the past decade building schools in remote villages across Pakistan and Afghanistan has taught him one overriding lesson: Westerners can "drop bombs, build roads or put in electricity, but until the girls are educated, a society won’t change."

01 October 2009 Obama Says Iran Talks "Constructive" but Need Follow-Up Action  President Obama says the first day of talks between Iran and representatives from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany (collectively known as the P5+1) were a "constructive beginning," but Iran's government needs to follow up pledges of cooperation with "constructive action."

01 October 2009 Obama Facing Critical Decisions in Afghanistan, Pakistan  President Obama met with his national security team in the White House Situation Room on September 30 to evaluate the progress that has been made and the challenges that lie ahead in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Among the challenges are recent U.S. public-opinion polling numbers that show declining support for continued U.S. military operations in Afghanistan.

01 October 2009 The Obamas Visit Copenhagen to Support Chicago’s Olympic Bid  President Obama will travel to Copenhagen, Denmark, to support Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games at the 121st International Olympic Committee Session, according to the White House. The president will depart Washington on October 1, arriving in Copenhagen on the morning of October 2 just before Chicago’s presentation to the IOC voting members. He will join his wife, Michelle Obama, who arrived in Copenhagen on September 30. Mrs. Obama is leading the U.S. delegation to the IOC session.

01 October 2009 Statement on Afghan Legal Professionals Who Will Study in U.S.  The Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the Public-Private Partnership for Justice Reform in Afghanistan are sponsoring three Afghan legal professionals to complete Master of Laws degrees at Harvard University and Washington and Lee University this fall. Georgetown University also played a role, waiving tuition for one of the students to attend their pre-LL.M. preparatory course last summer.

01 October 2009 Statement on U.S.-Iraq Business and Investment Conference  Conference, scheduled for October 20–21, promotes U.S.-Iraqi partnership.

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