|  | | | H I G H L I G H T S
| Sunday, December 18, 2005 | | |
|
![Election workers sift through the ballots after the polls closed at an Iraqi national elections voting center in Dearborn, Mich., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005. [AP Photo]](/all/20051218151601im_/http://www.state.gov/cms_images/iraq_election_140.jpg) Extraordinary Day for Iraqis
Secretary Rice (Dec. 16): "I think we ought to congratulate the Iraqi people on an extraordinary day. They came out in huge numbers. They came out from the Sunni community which had boycotted the elections in January. You saw people taking a blind relative to the polls, little children celebrating with their ink-stained fingers. And so this is a great day for the Iraqi people." full text
![Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice greeting Liberian President-elect Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf on December 15, 2005 [State Department Photo]](/all/20051218151601im_/http://www.state.gov/cms_images/rice_johnson_sirleaf_140.jpg) Liberian President-Elect Johnson-Sirleaf Congratulated on Election Victory
Secretary Rice (Dec. 16): "I congratulate Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf on her election and look forward to working closely with her as she assumes office next month. The people of Liberia in a free and fair election have made an historic choice and the United States will continue to support Liberian efforts to build a just, democratic, and prosperous country." full text
 2005 Performance and Accountability Report
This report describes the Department’s achievements and challenges in this extraordinary moment for America and for the world. It also highlights our efforts to manage taxpayer dollars responsibly in support of our nation’s endeavor to support the aspirations for liberty and democracy of people all around the world. report
| | | | | I N O T H E R N E W S | | | | |  Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried (Dec. 14): "It is my contention today that since the President's Second Inaugural, which set out the freedom agenda, we have made significant progress to develop just this 'concerted effort of free nations' and we have put it to work on an agenda to advance freedom in the world." full text
The U.S. Department of State was one of only two agencies to receive two Presidential Award for Management Excellence awards. The Department's "PMA Human Capital" and "Employee Profile Plus" initiatives were honored.
| | Guatemala recently completed its program to clear landmines and unexploded ordnance from its territory, thanks in part to United States assistance that was channeled through the Organization of American States.
 The Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference is being held in Hong Kong, December 13-18. In general, ministerial conferences are the WTO's highest decision-making body, meeting at least once every 2 years and providing political direction for the organization.
|
| | | | |
|
