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Turkey and Armenia: Normalization of Relations

The United States welcomes the statement made by Armenia and Turkey on normalization of their bilateral relations. It has long been and remains the position of the United States that normalization should take place without preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe. We urge Armenia and Turkey to proceed according to the agreed framework and roadmap. We look forward to working with both governments in support of normalization, and thus promote peace, security and stability in the whole region.  --From the US State Dept.--

Clinton to US House: 'Daunting Challenges'...'Priorities Clear.'

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

Secy. of State Clinton Speaking before the US House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington, April 22nd.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Ranking Member. Greetings to many friends and former colleagues. It is a pleasure to be here with you this morning. This Committee has been the source of many advances in our nation’s foreign policy and I look forward to working with you to continue that tradition.

When I appeared before the Senate – that’s that other body on the other side of the Capitol – I spoke during my confirmation hearing of a commitment to pursue a policy that would enhance our nation’s security, advance our interests, and uphold our values. Today, nearly 100 days later, I am pleased to report that we have begun making progress toward achieving that goal.

I want to begin by recognizing and thanking the men and women of the State Department and USAID, who are serving our country around the clock and around the world. I’m extremely proud of their work. With their talents, and under President Obama’s leadership, we have put forward a new diplomacy powered by partnership, pragmatism, and principle.

PHOTO: United States Department of State

KING ABDULLAH of JORDAN and OBAMA - Tea and Talking Peace in the Middle East

Barack Obama having tea with King Abdullah of Jordan in a one-on-one meeting in the Oval.

White House Photo by Pete Souza

'...I'd also like to extend a warm thanks on behalf of many Arabs and Muslims who really had an outstanding response to the President's outreach to the Muslim Arab world. It has gone on extremely well and really begins I believe a new page of mutual respect and mutual understanding between cultures. And I will -- I continue to commit Jordan and myself to working with you, Mr. President. You have given us hope for a bright future for all of us...'  -- KING ABDULLAH

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND KING ABDULLAH OF JORDAN IN JOINT PRESS AVAILABILITY
White House, Oval Office, April 21st, 2009

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Hello, everybody. Take your time, guys. We're going to answer a few questions.

First of all, I just want to welcome His Majesty King Abdullah to the White House. This is a first visit by a leader of another state; in part, it's reciprocity for the extraordinary hospitality that the King and Queen showed me when I visited Jordan prior to the election -- in which the King had personally drove me to the airport. And I won't tell you how fast he was going. (Laughter.)

But more importantly, it's representative of his excellent leadership internationally, as well as a unmatched friendship with the United States upon a whole range of issues. I think that King Abdullah represents a modern approach to foreign policy-making in the Middle East, a approach that is able to see many different sides of an issue, that is obviously constantly mindful of Jordanian interests, but also seeks to resolve issues and conflicts in a peaceful and respectful fashion.

We are very pleased to have been able to work so closely with his government for many years. It is a great friendship between two great countries and two great peoples. And I am confident that that friendship will only be strengthened.

Very briefly, we spoke obviously about a Middle East peace process, my commitment as well as his to moving that process forward with some sense of urgency. We spoke about the broader hope on a range of issues related to Iran and Afghanistan; the issues of terrorism in the region. We spoke about the impact that the economic crisis may be having on both our countries and the need to promote effective international cooperation around those issues. And I'm confident that in the months and years to come our partnership and our friendship will continue to grow.

A week of Diplomatic Surprises - Cuba, Chavez and now a Qadhafi

This week has seen a major diplomatic opening by the White House to Cuba, multiple greetings exchanged between Obama and Hugo Chavez... and today's meeting with with Libyan National Security Adviser Dr. Mutassim Qadhafi and Secy. of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State, Washington, DC, April 21st.

SECRETARY CLINTON: I am very pleased to welcome Minister Qadhafi here to the State Department. We deeply value the relationship between the United States and Libya. We have many opportunities to deepen and broaden our cooperation. And I’m very much looking forward to building on this relationship. So, Mr. Minister, welcome so much here.
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR QADHAFI: Thank you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. We’re delighted you’re here.
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR QADHAFI: Thank you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you all very much.

'wonderful working with our Dutch allies'

'the Dutch “3D” approach – defense, diplomacy, and development – pursued simultaneously, which may sound familiar to some of us, is a model for our own efforts and the future efforts in Afghanistan. There’s a lot of work for us to do there...'

'I also want to thank the Dutch Government for their leadership in the G-20 process. The successful London Summit was enhanced by the prime minister and the foreign minister’s strong support for open markets and opposition to protectionism. We know that the Dutch economy has been hard hit by this global downturn. With the world’s seventh largest international financial sector, the Netherlands is a major participant in the global economy...'

Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen of the Netherlands met with Secy. of State Hillary Clinton in

Washington, DC on April 20, 2009. Here are their comments to the press which covered a wide range of foreign policy issues:

A very specific special envoy appointed - Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy

US STATE DEPT: The Secretary has appointed Ambassador Richard L. Morningstar as Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy.

Ambassador Morningstar and his staff will support the United States’ energy goals in the Eurasian region. He will work on key energy issues relating to Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Central Asia and the Caucasus. He will provide the Secretary with strategic advice on policy issues relating to development, transit, and distribution of energy resources in Eurasia.

Jordan's King Abdullah speaks with Clinton on 'how to bring Israelis and Palestinians to the negotiation table'

Jordanian King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein met with US Secy. of State Hillary Clinton, Washington, DC, April 21, 2009 and made these remarks to the press prior to their meeting:

SECRETARY CLINTON:  Well, His Majesty is no stranger either to the State Department or to Washington.  He has been a partner, an ally and a friend of the United States on behalf of his country and on behalf of the search for peace that would result from a two-state solution in the Middle East.  And I am deeply honored and greatly delighted to welcome His Majesty back to the State Department for the series of important meetings.

 

KING ABDULLAH:  Mrs. Clinton, thank you very much.  It’s a great honor for me to be back here in Washington.  We’ve had some very fruitful discussions this morning with President Obama.  I’m here at the State Department now to go over the priorities that Jordan and Arab countries need to put in front of themselves on how to bring Israelis and Palestinians to the negotiation table, and hopefully open a new chapter of peace and stability in the Middle East and move the peace process forward.

 

So it is a great honor to be here, and I look forward to working with you, Mrs. Clinton, and working as hard as we can to finally bring peace and stability to the Middle East.

Securing Our Citizens’ Future - US Summit of the Americas Goals Document

The White House has released the following document to announce measures from President Obama 'that reinforce the U.S. commitment to work jointly to advance the goals agreed to in Trinidad and Tobago' at the Summit of the Americas. The document covers three primary areas: Social Inclusion and Economic Development, Energy and Climate Change and issues of Citizen Safety (such as firearms trafficing).

The United States and the 2009 Summit of the Americas: Securing Our Citizens’ Future

On April 17-19, President Barack Obama attended the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, along with the 33 other democratically elected Heads of State and Government of the Western Hemisphere.  The President used his first meeting with many of his regional counterparts to start engaging in a new relationship with countries of the Americas and to forge partnerships and joint approaches to work on the common challenges facing the people of the Americas—the economic crisis, our energy and climate future, and public safety.  The theme of the Summit was "Securing Our Citizens' Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security, and Environmental Sustainability." 

Over the past three days, the Summit leaders demonstrated their commitment to promote human prosperity by agreeing to cooperate to address the current financial crisis, strengthening efforts to reduce inequality, improving food security, promoting health, and improving the quality of education.  In the spirit of partnership, leaders committed to developing strategies to promote access for our people to reliable, efficient, affordable and clean energy, especially for the poorest sectors.   Leaders also agreed to take actions to promote environmental sustainability.  Recognizing the importance of addressing the threats to security in our hemisphere, leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen public security.  Leaders also affirmed that the aspirations and goals for the Americas depend on strong democracies, good governance, the rule of law, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.  President Obama announced measures of the past three days that reinforce the U.S. commitment to work jointly to advance the goals agreed to in Trinidad and Tobago.

Barak Obama's Speech at Summit of the Americas

FULL TEXT of Barak Obama's Speech at Summit of the Americas Opening Ceremony

OBAMA: 'I think everybody recognizes that we come together at a critical moment for the people of the Americas.  Our well-being has been set back by a historic economic crisis.  Our safety is endangered by a broad range of threats.  But this peril can be eclipsed by the promise of a new prosperity and personal security and the protection of liberty and justice for all the people of our hemisphere.  That's the future that we can build together, but only if we move forward with a new sense of partnership...'

'I'm prepared to have my administration engage with the Cuban government on a wide range of issues -- from drugs, migration, and economic issues, to human rights, free speech, and democratic reform.  Now, let me be clear, I'm not interested in talking just for the sake of talking. But I do believe that we can move U.S.-Cuban relations in a new direction...'

Photo: White House photo by Pete Souza

Read FULL TEXT of  of Barak Obama's Speech at Summit of the Americas Opening Ceremony

State Dept. - Clinton pauses Latin America for Europe

US foreign policy has been focused on Latin America. Now that the Summit of the Americas has closed, President Obama is once again focused on domestic issues and the economy. Secy. of State Clinton is able to broader her foreign affairs agenda. Today she has meetings with two of her European counterparts, from Europe.
Daily Appointments Schedule for April 20, 2009, Washington, DC,April 20, 2009, Secretary of State Clinton:

10:45 a.m. Bilateral Meeting with Maxime Verhagen, Minister of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands.
2:15 p.m. Bilateral with Meeting Marcos Kyprianou, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cyprus.

SUMMIT Follow-up: Obama-US and UNASUR - 12 Nations of South America

'I would characterize the meeting as very civil, very positive; a good discussion, no tension in the room.  Most of the South American Presidents spoke...there was a frank exchange'

White at the 5th Summit of the Americas in Trinidad, US President Obama met with the heads of state from UNASUR or The Union of South American Nations, a group representing these 12 nations of South America:    Argentina   Bolivia   Brazil   Chile   Colombia   Ecuador  Guyana
 Paraguay  Peru   Suriname   Uruguay  Venezuela The group was formed by a trading group called The Andean Community which includes: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru and Mercosur (Mercosul) a previous trading agreement between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.  Chile, Surinam and Guyana are also a part of UNASUR.

This is a White House released backgrounder on the meeting  between Barak Obama and Heads of State of UNASUR, by Senior White House Experts/Officials: The President met this morning with the 12 members of UNASUR.  UNASUR is a grouping of all of the countries of South America.  The group is currently headed by the President of Chile, Mrs. Bachelet.  This is done on a rotating basis, so she was Chairman of the meeting.

I would characterize the meeting as very civil, very positive; a good discussion, no tension in the room.

PHOTOS: LEFT: Presidents Evo Morales of Bolivia, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela at the Summit RIGHT: President of Colombia Alvaro Uribe
Photos by: Summit of the Americas

White House - from Summit - Microfinance Growth Fund to help Small Business in Americas

From the White House, announced at The Summit of the Americas: New $100 Million Microfinance Growth Fund for the Western Hemisphere:  The global credit crisis is having a significant and harmful impact on the availability of finance for micro and small businesses that provide a majority of the jobs in the Hemisphere.  This is one of the factors jeopardizing recent hard won gains in reducing poverty.  While the region has a wealth of microfinance institutions, these lenders are now confronting a serious shortage of private finance from both international and local sources.  As the supply of lending is shrinking, the demand for smaller loans is expanding as job loss escalates and the newly unemployed are falling back on micro and small enterprises as their sole source of income.  To address this shortfall, the Treasury Department brought together key U.S. and multilateral institutions to develop a rapid response.