|  | | | H I G H L I G H T S
| Sunday, January 1, 2006 | | |
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![Secretary Rice receives flowers from Pakistani children upon her arrival in Islamabad, Pakistan on Wednesday, March 16, 2005. [State Department Photo]](/all/20060101091618im_/http://www.state.gov/cms_images/rice_pakistan_children_140.jpg) 2005: The Year in Pictures - Strengthening Alliances and Defending Principles
In 19 trips, Secretary Rice traveled 240,181 miles and visited 49 countries. During 2005, the United States also worked with countries around the world to help the victims of terrible natural disasters. For Secretary Rice and the men and women of the U.S. Department of State, 2005 was a year of strengthening alliances and defending principles in support of security, democracy, and prosperity. view photo gallery
![Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq officials address a news conference in Baghdad, Iraq on Wednesday December 28, 2005 [© AP/WWP]](/all/20060101091618im_/http://www.state.gov/cms_images/2005_1230_iraq_election_140.jpg) U.S. Strongly Supports Iraqi Election Review Process
Secretary Rice (Dec. 29): "I welcome the invitation of the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq to international monitors and experts to observe and review the December 15 elections, including the complaints settlement process. I also welcome endorsements of the Electoral Commission's action by parties that have voiced grievances regarding the December 15 election." full text
![Secretary Rice press availability after Middle East Quartet Meeting with ,left to right, European Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov [State Department photo]](/all/20060101091618im_/http://www.state.gov/cms_images/2005_0920_quartet2.jpg) Quartet Welcomes Palestinian Elections as Positive Step Forward
Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli (Dec. 28): "The Quartet welcomes the upcoming Palestinian Legislative Council elections as a positive step toward consolidation of Palestinian democracy and the goal of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Quartet calls on the Palestinian Authority and the Central Elections Commission to ensure a free, fair, and open process in accordance with Palestinian law." more
| | | | | I N O T H E R N E W S | | | | |  The U.S. Disappointed by the Swiss Supreme court decision to extradite Mr. Evegeny Adamov to Russia. In issuing this judgment, the court has overruled the earlier decision of the Swiss Federal Council to extradite Mr. Adamov to the United States.
The Sri Lanka Donors Group recently urged an end to violence in Sri Lanka. The group expressed a deep concern about the continued erosion of Sri Lanka’s 4-year-old cease-fire as marked by the recent series of violent incidents.
| | Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings will co-host the U.S. University Presidents Summit on International Education January 5-6, 2006, in Washington, DC.
The U.S. is troubled by conviction of Egyptian Ayman Nour. Mr. Nour's detention and sentencing raise serious concerns about the path of political reform and democracy in Egypt.
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