State Department

Washington, DC, March 30, 2009 -- Gordon Duguid, Acting Deputy Department Spokesman, Office of the Spokesman, Bureau of Public Affairs, stated: The United States supports the government of Côte d’Ivoire's (Ivory Coast) commitment to an International Monetary Fund-supported (IMF) economic reform program and attainment of the first stage of debt relief under the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC). To achieve economic stability and make progress toward completing the HIPC debt relief process, we urge Côte d’Ivoire to fully implement its reform measures, especially those related to fiscal discipline and transparency.    » read more »

March 24, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Luis C. de Baca as Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the State Department.

President Obama said, "I’m grateful that this fine public servant has agreed to join my administration, and I am confident that with Secretary Clinton he will be an indispensable part of our team as we work tirelessly to stand up for human rights and the rule of law. I am confident that his unique experiences and proven ability will make him a strong advocate for our values and for justice around the globe."

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individual today:    » read more »

March 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key administration posts: David H. Stevens, Assistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Harold Hongju Koh, Legal Adviser, State Department; and Dr. Yvette Roubideaux, Director of Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services.

President Obama also announced that he has designated Judge Emily C. Hewitt to be the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.    » read more »

March 20, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key administration posts: Dr. Steven E. Koonin, Under Secretary for Science, Department of Energy; David Sandalow, Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs, Department of Energy; Ambassador Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, State Department; Kathy Martinez, Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), Department of Labor; Jonathan S. Adelstein, Administrator for the Rural Utilities Service, United States Department of Agriculture; Timothy W. Manning, Deputy Administrator for National Preparedness, FEMA, Department of Homeland Security; and Priscilla E.    » read more »

Washington, DC -- March 20, 2009 -- The United States condemns the process through which Marc Ravalomanana was forced to resign as President of the Republic of Madagascar and Andry Rajoelina subsequently was installed as the de facto head of state as undemocratic and contrary to the rule of law.

This series of events is tantamount to a coup d’etat and the United States will not maintain our current assistance partnership with Madagascar.

In view of these developments, the United States is moving to suspend all non-humanitarian assistance to Madagascar.    » read more »

March 18, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key administration posts: Susan Burk, Special Representative of the President, with the rank of Ambassador, State Department; Raphael Bostic, Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Michelle J. DePass, Assistant Administrator for International Affairs, Environmental Protection Agency; Cynthia J. Giles, Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Environmental Protection Agency; Michael L. Connor, Director, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior; Scott Blake Harris, General Counsel, Department of Energy; and Joseph C.    » read more »

March 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Obama announced his intent to nominate Rose Gottemoeller for Assistant Secretary of State for Verification and Compliance.

President Obama said, "Turning the tide on the threat of nuclear weapons and strengthening the international non-proliferation regime is one of the great and urgent challenges of our time. Rose Gottemoeller’s extraordinary commitment and expertise make her a valuable addition to the State Department and my national security team as we renew American diplomacy to create a more secure world."

Rose Gottemoeller Biography:    » read more »

Washington, DC -- March 17, 2009 -- Acting USAID Administrator Alonzo Fulgham and Daniel A. Reifsnyder, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment and Sustainable Development, will lead an interagency delegation of technical experts to the Fifth World Water Forum in Istanbul, Turkey, March 16-22, 2009.

The World Water Forum is the largest international event on water. The host country, Turkey, is expecting over 20,000 attendees, including more than 100 Ministers. The participation of more than ten U.S. agencies demonstrates the U.S. commitment to engaging on water and sanitation issues, advancing U.S. partnerships and activities, and building global capacity, in order to better address water and sanitation challenges.    » read more »

March 11, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Lieutenant General Karl Eikenberry as Ambassador to Afghanistan and Christopher R. Hill as Ambassador to Iraq.    » read more »

Washington, DC -- March 11, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce the extension of the “Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Honduras Concerning the Imposition of Import Restrictions on Archaeological Materials from the Pre-Columbian Cultures of Honduras.” Ambassador Hugo Llorens, representing the Government of the United States, and Minister of Culture, Arts, and Sports Dr. Rodolfo Pastor Fasquelle, representing the Government of Honduras, exchanged diplomatic notes in a ceremony in Tegucigalpa on March 3, 2009, to extend the agreement.    » read more »

March 6, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Today, President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals for key State Department posts: Esther Brimmer, Assistant Secretary for International Organizations; Phil Gordon, Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs; and Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues.

President Obama said, "Each of these individuals brings a deep knowledge and expertise in their field, along with a commitment to strengthen American diplomacy to meet 21st century challenges. They will be joining a leadership team at the State Department which will be at the forefront of our effort to renew America’s security and standing in an uncertain world."    » read more »

February 17, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) – Four leading nongovernmental organizations issued a statement on February 16, 2009 applauding the decision by the US Department of State to send a negotiating team to Geneva to participate in the Durban Review Conference, Human Rights Watch said today. The statement was signed by Timothy E. Wirth, president of the United Nations Foundation; Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch; William H. Luers, president of the United Nations Association of the USA; Karin Ryan, director, Human Rights Program of The Carter Center; and Mort Halperin, former director of policy planning, US Department of State.    » read more »

Washington, DC -- February 10, 2009 -- The U.S. Chargé d'Affaires to Belize, J.A. Diffily, signed a letter of agreement on February 9, 2009 with the Government of Belize implementing the Merida Initiative, a multi-year regional effort to combat organized crime, gangs, and the trafficking of narcotics and firearms.

Minister of National Security Carlos Perdomo signed the letter on behalf of the Belizean government. Also present was Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of National Security, Lloyd Gillett. The signing of the letter provides an initial $1,008,000 in funding for the first year of the Merida Initiative.    » read more »

February 03, 2009 -- Remarks With British Foreign Secretary David Miliband After Their Meeting -- Washington, DC -- SECRETARY CLINTON: Hello. I’m delighted to welcome back to the State Department a friend and someone with whom we have a very positive working relationship, Foreign Secretary David Miliband. Our two countries have stood side by side confronting global challenges for a very long time, and we’ve just had a substantive, broad-based discussion about a number of issues that are facing both the United Kingdom and the United States and the world.    » read more »

February 03, 2009 -- Remarks by Secretary Clinton and Special Envoy Mitchell After Their Meeting -- Washington, DC -- SECRETARY CLINTON: Good morning. I welcomed our Special Envoy George Mitchell back from his trip to the Middle East and Europe this morning, and we were able to have a long discussion about what he heard and learned in the region. This kind of diplomatic force projection that Special Envoy Mitchell represents is something that both the President and I believe very strongly in, and I was pleased that the President agreed to appoint Senator Mitchell. And of course, he quickly sprang into action.    » read more »