printable banner

Subject IndexWednesday, November 18, 2009
Date: 11/18/2009 Location: Kabul, Afghanistan Description: Secretary Clinton meeting with Afghanistan Ambassador Eikenberry and General McChrystal. © U.S. Embassy/DWilkinson
Building a Strong Partnership With the Government and People of Afghanistan
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 18): "We want to be a strong partner with the government and the people of Afghanistan. And I always say both because it’s not either/or. It has to be both. And I will look forward to the conversations that I will be having with the president and others. We have engaged in a very careful and thoughtful review. When the President asked us to make this review, we wanted to question every assumption, we wanted to look at every possible decision. Because we know that this is a turning point that we all face together." -Full Text
A New Era in U.S.-Indian Partnership
Under Secretary Burns (Nov. 18): "It is no coincidence that the first state visit in the Obama Presidency will come from India, and Prime Minister Singh will arrive in Washington next week at a moment of great opportunity. Few relationships will matter more to the course of human events in the 21st century than the partnership between India and the United States. India, as all of you know very well, is a rising global power, soon to be the world’s most populous country, with a trillion dollar-plus economy. The world’s largest democracy, India is a powerful model for other emerging democracies, a model of tolerance and of strength in diversity." -Full Text 
Date: 11/16/2009 Description: Secretary Clinton's remarks on USA Pavilian at the World Expo Shanghai 2010 during press availability in Shanghai, China. © AP Image from Video
World Expo Shanghai 2010
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 16): “We’re grateful for your generosity and your steadfast belief in the importance of the Expo, the American role here and what this USA pavilion here can do to strengthen cooperation and partnership between the American people and the people of China. We are building it and we believe that when the Expo opens in 166 days 70 million people will come. And with this rain today, maybe a hundred million people with even greater good fortune will come. Thank you all very much.” -AP Text  -Full Text -View Video

TEXT THE SECRETARY

Ask Secretary Clinton a question
about her trip to Europe and Asia:
U.S.: 90822 Non-U.S.: 202-255-6299
Secretary Clinton arrived in Kabul, Afghanistan today and will attend President Karzai’s November 19 inauguration ceremony. -TRIP PAGE
Date: 11/18/2009 Description: Secretary Clinton arrives at the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan November 18, 2009. [AP photo] © AP Image

In Other News

envelope
Date: 03/24/2009 Description: Great Seal State Dept Photo
President Obama and Secretary Clinton to Meet With Senior Indian Leaders
Spokesman Kelly (Nov. 17): ..."This is a state visit. I think it’s the first state visit of the Obama Administration. The White House is working on an agenda. I know that Under Secretary Burns has been very actively involved in coordinating the strategic dialogue framework that we have with India. The Secretary looks forward to participating in these meetings. I think she’s going to host at least one event here at the State Department." -Full Text -View Video
Date: 11/18/2009 Location: Washington, DC Description: Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Judith A. McHale delivers remarks at the Open Doors 2009 annual meeting held at the National Press Club. © State Dept Image
Open Doors 2009: Annual Report on International Education
Under Secretary McHale (Nov. 16): "We are delighted to release Open Doors today, because we have very good news to share with all of you.  Hosting foreign students and scholars not only enriches the educational experience of the exchange participants, it helps to build lasting ties among peoples and nations.  That is why we are happy to report that for the 2008-2009 academic year, we have witnessed an 8% increase in the number of international students choosing to study in the United States." -Full Text -View Video
Date: 11/17/2009 Description: Members of U.S. Southern Command's Joint Task Force Bravo distribute disaster relief assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development to El Salvadoran communities afflicted by Tropical Storm Ida. © USAID Image
U.S. Responds to Natural Disaster in El Salvador
On November 7-8, heavy rainfall related to Tropical Storm Ida caused floods and landslides in much of the central and eastern areas of El Salvador, including the capital city of San Salvador, which has resulted in more than 190 deaths and severe infrastructural damage and agricultural losses. At least 14,000 people have been forced from their homes and are staying in temporary shelters. -Full Text
Description: Afghan horsemen wind their way over a mountain path on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, June 5, 2005.
Future U.S.-Afghan Relations
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 15): "We agree that our goal here is to defeat al-Qaida. That has been a clear goal and a mission from the President ever since he made his commitment of additional troops back in the spring. And we understand that the Afghans themselves need help in order to defend themselves against the Taliban. Those are mutually reinforcing missions. But our highest obligation is the American people. It is to do everything we can to make sure that America is secure, that our allies, our interests around the world, are protected. And that is what we are focused on." -Full Text
Date: 11/13/2009 Description: Secretary Clinton attends a forum with students at the University of Santo Tomas, the Philippines. © AP Image
The U.S. Role in World Affairs
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 13): "We have a lot of challenges at home that we need to address, particularly the economic ones. …If we are not involved, people want us involved; and if we’re involved, they say, oh, well, you shouldn’t be involved, except if we aren’t, then they want us back. There’s an expectation that we will be involved in political activities around the world, and…we’re going to do our best to try to be helpful." -Full Text
Location: China, Guangzhou Description: Students from Guangzhou School State Dept Photo
President Hosts a Town Hall Meeting for Youth in Shanghai, China
On November 16, President Obama will have a town hall meeting with Chinese youth in Shanghai, China. At the meeting, the President will interact with young Chinese and discuss the relationship between our two countries in the years ahead. -White House Blog
Date: 11/12/2009 Location: Manila, Philippines Description: Secretary Clinton with students at the Malanday National High School. © AP Image
U.S. Donates New Relief Funds to the Philippines
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 12): "Today, I am pleased to announce that there will be more than $5 million in new relief funds for the Philippines. This new support will help rebuild schools like this one..." -Full Text
Date: 11/11/2009 Description: Secretary Clinton steps on stage to give remarks following APEC ministerial meeting. © AP Image
APEC Singapore Conference
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 11): "[W]e’ve had a productive day of discussion, covering the full range of regional and global issues confronting our nations. I have stressed the Obama Administration’s commitment to substantive cooperation." -Full Text
Date: 11/10/2009 Description: Under Secretary Burns. © State Dept Image
America and the Middle East in a New Era
Under Secretary Burns (Nov. 10): "I’ve learned that a little humility goes a long way in the exercise of American power and purpose in the Middle East. We come by that humility honestly, through many trials and many errors." -Full Text
Secretary Clinton in Berlin, Germany
20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 9): "And tonight, we remember the Germans on both sides of the wall, but particularly the Germans in the East who stood up and finally were able to say, “No more. Freedom is our birthright and we will take it by our own hands." -Full Text
Date: 03/24/2009 Description: Great Seal State Dept Photo
Nuclear Proliferation
Spokesman Kelly (Nov. 13): "I think we’re always concerned about the possibility of the proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear materials. We feel confident that the command and control of nuclear weapons in Pakistan is secure. And we don’t have any specific concerns about proliferation per se from – specifically from Pakistan." -Full Text
Date: 11/09/2009 Description: Secretary Clinton with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle. © AP Image
U.S. Relationship With Germany
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 9): "We had constructive and productive discussions starting in Washington last week, continuing here in Berlin. The United States is eager to work with the new German Government on a full range of shared challenges. We face complex threats that cannot be stopped by borders or oceans." -Full Text

Highlights

Secretary Clinton is traveling to Europe and Asia, November 8-19.

Click on any trip marker to go to a larger interactive map, complete with video, photos, and the Secretary's remarks from the trip.
Doors to Diplomacy 2010 Web Project Competition
Date: 2008-11-06 00:00:00.0 Description: Doors to Diplomacy website contest. State Dept PhotoThe Department of State and the Global SchoolNet Foundation announce the 2010 "Doors to Diplomacy" award competition, recognizing the student-created Global SchoolNet Web projects that best teach others about the importance of international affairs and diplomacy. -More

Flu Updates
Since the June 11, 2009, World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of a pandemic, the new H1N1 virus has continued to spread, with the number of countries reporting cases of novel H1N1 nearly doubling. Updates about H1N1 are available through the links below.

United We Serve
Date: 06/17/2009 Description: United We Serve. Serve.gov. © Serve.gov imageServe.gov is a new portal for you and all Americans to find ways to serve in your communities. Americans are putting their own country back on the right track: Be a part of it! Visit Serve.gov, choose your keyword -- "education," "environment," or whatever interests you -- type in your ZIP Code, and see what opportunities our partner organizations have in your area.
Virtual Student Foreign Service (VSFS) Internships
Date: 05/12/2009 Description: Virtual Student Foreign Service logo: Outline of world map in square surrounded by the words Virtual Student Foreign Service. State Dept PhotoVirtual Student Foreign Service (VSFS) Internships, announced by Secretary Clinton at the 2009 New York University commencement speech, are part of a growing effort by the State Department to harness technology and a commitment to global service among young people to facilitate new forms of diplomatic engagement. The VSFS Internships will be developed over the next year and will seek to harness the energy of a rising generation of citizen diplomats.
-Register/More Information

Traveling?

Date: 2009-05-11 00:00:00.0 Location: Singapore Description: The Fullerton Hotel, flanked by the financial center. Singapore, May 2009. [U.S. Embassy Singapore photo.]
Singapore
Singapore has a varied linguistic, cultural, and religious heritage. Malay is the national language, but Chinese, English, and Tamil also are official languages. English is the language of administration and also is widely used in the professions, businesses, and schools.
- Full Text 
Date: 05/24/2007 Location: Vienna, Austria Description: Concert by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra held on grounds of Schoenbrunn Palace. © AP Photo
Austria
Austrian history as such dates back to 976, when Leopold von Babenberg became the ruler of much of present-day Austria. In 1276 Rudolf I became the first Habsburg to ascend to the throne. Although never unchallenged, the Habsburgs ruled Austria for nearly 750 years.
- Full Text 
Date: 03/09/2009 Location: Meknes, Morocco Description: Crowds of buyers pack the markets in the old town of Meknes, Morocco, during the Mawlud an-Nabi public holiday when Muslims celebrate the birthday of Islam's Prophet Muhammad. Vineyards around Meknes produce most of the 35 million bottles of wine bottled each year in Morocco. © AP Image
Morocco
Moroccans are predominantly Sunni Muslims of Arab, Berber, or mixed Arab-Berber ancestry. Morocco is home to 14 public universities. Mohammed V University in Rabat is one of the country’s most famous schools. Founded over 1,000 years ago, Karaouine University is the oldest center for Islamic studies in the Maghreb. Morocco’s most prestigious private English-language university, Al-Akhawayn, was founded in 1993. Its curriculum is based on an American model. - Full Text
A yacht sails past the Sydney Opera House on Sydney Harbour, Australia, July 13, 2006. [© AP Images]Australia
Much of Australia's culture is derived from European roots, but distinctive Australian features have evolved from the environment, aboriginal culture, and the influence of Australia's neighbors. The vigor and originality of the arts in Australia--film, opera, music, painting, theater, dance, and crafts--have achieved international recognition.
- Full Text 
Colombia
In 1822, the U.S. became one of the first countries to recognize the new republic and to establish a resident diplomatic mission. The U.S. Government estimates that there are 61,000 U.S. citizens living in Colombia and anywhere from 15,000-40,000 visiting Colombia in any given month. Currently, there are approximately 250 American businesses conducting operations in Colombia.
-Full Text -Read about Colombia's capital, Bogota, in State Magazine (PDF)

 

Learn About...

The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.