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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

Prep Call to Host of Summit of the Americas

Readout of the President's call with Prime Minister Manning of Trinidad and Tobago 
President Obama spoke with Prime Minister Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago today to thank him for his efforts in preparing to host the upcoming Fifth Summit of the Americas.  The President looks forward to participating in the Summit and discussed with the Prime Minister a shared desire to focus the Summit on addressing the common challenges facing the people of the Americas.  The President is committed to building strong and productive partnerships in the hemisphere and believes the Summit represents an important step toward achieving this objective.  He looks forward to meeting Prime Minister Manning and to working with him to advance our shared goals.

Readout of the President's call with President Mills of Ghana

President Obama congratulated President Mills on his inauguration and noted that Ghana's election demonstrated the Ghanaian people's commitment to democratic governance.  President Obama emphasized the importance of Ghana's democratic leadership in Africa, particularly in light of the troubling coups in Mauritania, Guinea, and Madagascar.  The two leaders also discussed the importance of combating the growing narcotics trade which threatens stability throughout West Africa.  The President said that he is looking forward to further developing the strong U.S.-Ghana partnership.

ASIA: BENGALI, LAO & KHMER Diplomacy for the New Year

US Secy. of State Hillary Clinton pushed the 'Diplomatic Greetings Button' 3 times, sending New Year messages from the American people to people in Bangladesh, Laos and Cambodia.

FROM US STATE DEPT. -- SECY. CLINTON
Bangla New Year - Pohela Boishakh Message

I send greetings to all around the world who are observing Pohela Boishakh, the New Year festivities celebrated by those who share common Bengali cultural and linguistic traditions.

As you welcome the year 1416, I salute the spirit of tolerance and shared linguistic and cultural heritage that brings so many together, regardless of religion or nationality, to usher in a new year with music, drama, and traditional foods.

All New Year celebrations reflect the hope of new beginnings. As the world faces the greatest economic challenges in generations, we all must stand together to embrace the New Year’s promise of rebirth and renewal. It is our shared hope for the future - our shared dream of a better world for our children - that brings us all together to celebrate our common humanity. I send my best wishes for a special day shared with family and friends. Shubho Nobo Borsho.    --  PHOTO by:  Kazi Tahsin Agaz (Apurbo) --

Lao New Year:  On the occasion of the traditional Lao New Year celebration, I would like to extend my warm wishes for a peaceful, prosperous year to the Government and the people of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. In this year of new beginnings, I look forward to continuing and enhancing cooperation between our two countries on many areas of mutual interest. 
Transliteration: Sook dii pii mai or souksan van peemai or sabidee pimai  or Happy New Year!

Khmer New Year: On behalf of the American people, I wish to congratulate the people of the Kingdom of Cambodia on the occasion of Khmer New Year.

This past year has been marked by significant progress in our relations, including humanitarian ship visits by the U.S. military, new agreements to implement assistance programs in economic development and the rule of law, and Peace Corps volunteers in 11 provinces.I look forward to the year ahead, as our two nations identify even greater opportunities to strengthen our bilateral ties, as well as to work together on mutual areas of interest. We value Cambodia's commitment to further its social, economic and democratic development.

On the occasion of the Khmer New Year, I wish the Cambodian people peace, prosperity, and best wishes.

Statements by US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Washington, DC, April 10-11, 2009

US Secretary of State back on her Diplomacy Game

Secy Clinton had returned to her, often rigorous schedule home-based meetings with foreign ministers. This, following a week-long intense whirlwind of Head-of-state level diplomacy, where the actions of US Pres. Obama were front and center.
NOTICE: Two meetings with leaders from the Middle East; Panama today -- look out for continued duologue with Latin American leaders in preparation for the 5th Summit of the Americas; also Mrs. Clinton continues to keep Energy on the front burner -- recognizing the Energy Policy and Climate Change are key to her foreign policy and diplomacy.

Daily Appointments Schedule for Secy. Hillary Clinton, for April 8, 2009
Madame Secretary is in Washington, DC

11:30 a.m. -- Bilateral with His Excellency Ivailo Kalfin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.
12:00 p.m. -- Remarks to Department of State Spring Interns, Stay-in-School, and Cooperative Education Program Students.
1:15 p.m. -- Lunch with Energy Secretary Steven Chu.
2:30 p.m. -- Bilateral with His Excellency Samuel Lewis Navarro, First Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Panama.
3:00 p.m. -- Bilateral with His Excellency Elias Murr, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Lebanon.
4:00 p.m. -- Bilateral with The Honorable Stephen Smith, M.P., Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia.
5:00 p.m. -- Bilateral with His Excellency Dr. Taieb Fassi Fihri, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Morocco.

US Diplomacy after Europe -- on to Latin America, 33 Leaders at the Summit of the Americas

'It will give our President the opportunity to meet...33 democratically elected heads of state...'
'It’s unfortunate that the governments of Venezuela and Bolivia themselves made the decision to expel our ambassadors. That’s an unnatural situation, and we hope that that will change.'

US STATE DEPT. ANNOUNCEMENT on -- Upcoming Summit of the Americas
with Jeffrey S. Davidow, Ambassador, Washington, DC

MR. AKER: Good afternoon, everyone. It’s our great pleasure and privilege today to be able to introduce Ambassador Jeffrey Davidow, who is the Special Advisor to President Obama for the Summit of the Americas, which will take place later this month in Trinidad and Tobago.
Ambassador Davidow.
AMBASSADOR DAVIDOW: Thank you. Good afternoon. Perhaps it would be helpful if I placed the summit into the context of recent developments. I think as you all know, since President Obama was elected, we have seen a period of intense diplomatic activity with this hemisphere.

Just to review some of the developments, the President of course received, even before the Inauguration, President Calderon of Mexico. After taking office, the President traveled to Canada and received here President Lula of Brazil. He also, of course, interacted with the presidents of Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, and the prime minister of Canada at the G-20 summit in London.

OBAMA CALLS ON YOUNG TURKS: 'The world will be what you make of it'

'I'm counting on young people to help shape a more peaceful and prosperous future...So to all of you, I want you to know that the world will be what you make of it. You can choose to build new bridges instead of building new walls... you will find a partner and a supporter and a friend...[in US]'

FULL TEXT, COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT OF REMARKS AND Q & A of US PRESIDENT BARAK OBAMA, Town Hall, ISTANBUL,TURKEY, April 7th, 2009:

OBAMA: Thank you so much. Well, it is a great pleasure to be here. Let me begin by thanking Professor Rahmi Aksungur--did I say that properly--who is director of the university here. And I want to thank all the young people who've gathered together. This is a great privilege for me and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm going to make a few remarks at the beginning and then I want to spend most of the time having an exchange and giving you an opportunity to ask--ask questions of me and I may ask some questions of you.

So as I said yesterday, I came to Turkey on my first trip overseas as President for a reason, and it's not just to see the beautiful sights here in Istanbul. I came here to reaffirm the importance of Turkey and the importance of the partnership between our two countries. I came here out of my respect to Turkey's democracy and culture and my belief that Turkey plays a critically important role in the region and in the world. And I came to Turkey because I'm deeply committed to rebuilding a relationship between the United States and the people of the Muslim world--one that's grounded in mutual interest and mutual respect.

Turkey and the United States have a long history of partnership and cooperation. Exchanges between our two peoples go back over 150 years. We've been NATO allies for more than five decades. We have deep ties in trade and education, in science and research. And America is proud to have many men and women of Turkish origin who have made our country a more dynamic and a more successful place. So Turkish- American relations rest on a strong foundation.

That said, I know there have been some difficulties in recent years. In some ways, that foundation has been weakening. We've had some specific differences over policy, but we've also at times lost the sense that both of our countries are in this together--that we have shared interests and shared values and that we can have a partnership that serves our common hopes and common dreams.

The Diplomacy of Climate Change -- US to World: 'We believe'

'George Bush didn't believe in climate change. I do...'
'we're going to turn off all the lights and everybody is going to stop driving...'

Climate Change and environmental issues have not been center stage on US President Barak Obama's diplomatic, economic (G20) and defense (NATO) tour of Europe. The Climate issue has been ever-present, however, in the more informal sessions and Town Halls, many having younger demographics.

These remarks came in response to questions from the audience at Obama's Town Hall in Istanbul, TURKEY, Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

Responding to how he is different than Pres. Bush:
OBAMA: When it comes to climate change, George Bush didn't believe in climate change. I do believe in climate change, I think it's important. That doesn't mean that suddenly the day I'm elected I can say, OK, we're going to turn off all the lights and everybody is going to stop driving. Right? All I can do is to start moving policies that over time are going to obtain different results.

He also responded to a question specifically about what he will do about Climate Change:
OBAMA: As many of you know, I think the science tells us that the planet is getting warmer because of carbon gases that are being sent into the atmosphere. And if we do not take steps soon to deal with it, then you could see an increase of three, four, five degrees, which would have a devastating effect, the oceans would rise; we don't know what would happen to the beauty of Istanbul if suddenly the seas rise. Changing weather patterns would create extraordinary drought in some regions, floods in others. It could have a devastating effect on human civilization. So we've got to take steps to deal with this.

When the Kyoto Protocol was put forward, the United States opted out of it, as did China and some other countries, and I think that was a mistake, particularly because the United States and, is the biggest carbon, has been the biggest carbon producer. China is now becoming the biggest carbon producer because its population is so large. And so we need to bring an international agreement together very soon.

US Special Envoy to head back to Middle East...work on 2-state solution

Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell Travel
Special Envoy Mitchell will travel to the Middle East beginning April 13 to advance the goal of the two-state solution and comprehensive peace in the region. He is scheduled to meet with key officials in Israel and the Palestinian territories, Egypt, the Gulf, and North Africa. Special Envoy Mitchell's aim for this trip is to discuss next steps in moving the parties toward a lasting peace that will benefit all the people of the region.

Statement from US State Dept. April 6, 2009

Ayatollah to Obama: 'Our nation loathes the languages of threats and incentives'

Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei responded to President Barak Obama's 'Nowruz Address'. In an address, in Mashhad, Iran, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei called for the US to 'demonstrate change in policy' over 'mere rhetoric'. On March 21st, the Ayatollah said:  "They use the slogan of change but in practice no change is seen...Did you remove the sanctions? Did you stop supporting the Zionist regime? Tell us what you have changed...Our nation loathes the languages of threats and incentives. But we have no experience with the new president and the new US administration. Thus, we will reserve judgment and will base it on their actions...Avoid an arrogant tone, avoid arrogant behavior, avoid bullying, do not interfere in any nations affairs...If you change your attitude, we will change our attitude."

-- Excerpts of quotes as reported by Iran's Press TV --

Text of Obama's address to Iran

IRAN to Obama: 'If you change...we won't turn our back on you'

Responses have been trickling in to President Obama's Nowruz (Iranian New Year) video message to IRAN:
THIS FROM --  Ali Akbar Javanfekr, press advisor to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad:
If Mr. Obama takes concrete action and makes fundamental changes in U.S. foreign policy towards other nations, including Iran, the Iranian government and people won't turn their back on him...By fundamentally changing its behavior America can offer us a friendly hand...Unlimited sanctions which still continue and have been renewed by the United States are wrong and need to be reviewed...Supporting Israel is not a friendly gesture and the New Year is an opportunity for the United States to change this policy.

OBAMA ADDRESSING THE PEOPLE AND GOV. OF IRAN:
So on the occasion of your New Year, I want you, the people and leaders of Iran, to understand the future that we seek. It's a future with renewed exchanges among our people, and greater opportunities for partnership and commerce. It's a future where the old divisions are overcome, where you and all of your neighbors and the wider world can live in greater security and greater peace.

I know that this won't be reached easily. There are those who insist that we be defined by our differences. But let us remember the words that were written by the poet Saadi, so many years ago: 'The children of Adam are limbs to each other, having been created of one essence'.

READ THE COMPLETE TEXT OF OBAMA'S MESSAGE TO IRAN