Bureau of International Organization Affairs

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Date: 12/15/2009 Location: Washington, DC Description: Logo for Bureau of International Organization Affairs © State Dept ImageThe Bureau of International Organization Affairs develops and implements U.S. policy in the United Nations, its specialized and voluntary agencies, and other international organizations. The Bureau’s mission is to advance U.S. national interests through multilateral diplomacy, while ensuring that the international organizations with which we work are effective, efficient, and accountable. Read More» 

 


Assistant Secretary Esther Brimmer Presents Remarks at Roundtable on Responsible Agricultural Investment
Date: 04/25/2010 Location: Washington, DC Description: Assistant Secretary Esther Brimmer presents remarks at Roundtable on Responsible Agricultural Investment © MCC PhotoThe Government of the United States of America, the Government of Japan, and the African Union Commission hosted a Roundtable discussion on Responsible agricultural investment (RAI) on April 25, 2010 in Washington DC, in close coordination with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the World Bank. Full Text»


Assistant Secretary Esther Brimmer Welcomes World Food Programme Executive Director Josette Sheeran, April 23, 2010
Date: 04/23/2010 Location: Washington, DC Description: Assistant Secretary Brimmer greets Executive Director Josette Sheeran and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Agencies in Rome Ertharin Cousin.  - State Dept ImageAssistant Secretary Brimmer greets Executive Director Josette Sheeran and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Agencies in Rome Ertharin Cousin. The three met to discuss the U.S. role as Executive Board member of the World Food Programme, and to discuss current challenges to providing emergency food assistance worldwide. The U.S. remains the single largest country contributor to the World Food Programme. 


Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Ambassador Rice (Apr. 20): "I am pleased to announce today that the United States has decided to review our position regarding the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples." Full Text»

 


UN Plaza: Smart Power at the State Department
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of International Organization Affairs Suzanne Nossel speaks with Mark Leon Goldberg of UN Dispatch about “smart power” and the UN Human Rights Council on BloggingHeads.

 


Assistant Secretary Brimmer Greets Director General Yukiya Amano of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Date: 04/14/2010 Location: Washington, DC Description: Assistant Secretary Brimmer Greets Director General Yukiya Amano of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the U.S. Department of State. - State Dept ImageThe Bureau for International Organization Affairs welcomed the Director General’s visit following the Nuclear Security Summit on April 14, 2010. During the meeting between Assistant Secretary Brimmer and Director General Amano, the leaders discussed the vital role of the IAEA in the global priorities of nonproliferation, nuclear security, nuclear safety, and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, as well as the importance of carrying the Summit momentum forward. The two seized the opportunity to discuss preparations for next month’s 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference. 


IO welcomes Special Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference Rashad Hussain
Date: 04/13/2010 Location: Washington, DC Description: Rashad Hussain, Special Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference. - State Dept ImagePresident Barak Obama announced the appointment of Rashad Hussain as Special Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on February 13th, 2010. As Special Envoy, Mr. Hussain serves as the U.S. Envoy to the OIC, and seeks to deepen and expand the partnerships that the United States has pursued with Muslims around the world. More»   

 


Secretary Clinton Meets With UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
Date: 04/12/2010 Description: Secretary Clinton holds a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the Department of State. © State Dept photo by Michael GrossSecretary Clinton (Apr. 12): "We have so many matters to discuss because we’re working together to face a myriad of challenges in the world today, but I’m very grateful for his partnership and his friendship. Full Text»

 

 


Rebuilding Haiti: A Global Response to a Global Crisis (As appeared in the Huffington Post, April 7, 2010)
Date: 2009-03-31 00:00:00.0 Location: Washington, DC Description: Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs Dr. Esther Brimmer © State Dept PhotoAs a participant at the recent International Donors' Conference for Haiti, I was heartened to see the overwhelming show of support for the people of Haiti as they work to rebuild their nation. Over 150 nations and institutions were present at the Donors' Conference, and all listened intently as Haitian officials, including President René Préval, laid out an Action Plan for National Recovery and Development of Haiti.


International Donors' Conference Towards a New Future for Haiti
Date: 03/30/2010 Location: New York City Description: Assistant Secretary Brimmer and Counselor Mills at a Foreign Press Center briefing International Donors' Conference Towards a New Future for Haiti. © UN ImageAssistant Secretary Brimmer (Mar. 30):
"Thank you very much to the Foreign Press Center for organizing this gathering and opportunity to talk about both the international support for Haiti, particularly the role of cooperation with the United Nations and that’s where I will focus. I’d particularly like to express appreciation to the United Nations for co-hosting the conference tomorrow entitled, International Donors Conference Towards a New Future for Haiti." Full Text» 


So Future Generations Never Forget the Horrors of Slavery
Date: 03/26/2010 Location: UN Headquarters, NY Description: Students commemorate International Day of Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. © UN ImageLast week, the world marked the International Day of Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Students and teachers from four continents engaged via the UN Cyberschoolbus to discuss the theme: "Expressing our Freedom through Culture." United Nations Headquarters in New York organized the event which gathered approximately 500 students in the audience and linked via video conference to students in Cuba, Ghana, The Gambia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and the United Kingdom. See So Future Generations Never Forget the Horrors of Slavery, DipNote Blog.


U.S. Explanation of Vote on the Defamation of Religions
Date: 03/25/2010 Location: New York City Description: UN Human Rights Council  © UN ImageOver the course of the last year, fueled by our President’s commitment to engage actively and sincerely in this Council, my government has sought to build common ground, to overcome the differences that have defined this debate, and to make progress on the many imperatives that we share in common. We share a deep concern about discrimination, the targeting and ridiculing of individuals based on their religion, and interreligious violence. Full Text» 


Rebuilding for Resilience Workshop (March 22-23, 2010)
Date: 01/29/2010 Location: Port-au-Prince, Haiti Description: Two men carry zinc sheets to rebuild collapsed home. © AP File PhotoThe U.S. Government co-sponsored a workshop in Miami, Florida with the UN International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction, which hosted over 100 internationally renowned technical experts and policy makers. The workshop resulted in the production of a draft set of recommendations. See International Efforts Turn to Rebuilding Haiti, DipNote Blog.


International Leaders Discuss Haiti at the World Urban Forum V
Date: 03/24/2010 Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Description: A general view of Rio de Janeiro, March 19, 2010. © AP ImageOn March 23rd , as part of the UN Habitat-organized 5th World Urban Forum (WUF) in Rio de Janeiro, Assistant Secretary Esther Brimmer particpated in the Brazilian-hosted Special Session on Haiti called “Building Back Better” at which the Prime Minister of Haiti, Jean-Max Bellerive, gave a keynote address. Assistant Secretary Brimmer focused on the United States cooperation with the UN and previewed the upcoming Haiti Donor’s Conference. Assistant Secretary Brimmer participated in WUF as a high-level U.S. Delegate since its opening March 22, and has conducted multilateral and bi-lateral meetings along with outreach sessions throughout her time in Brazil. Full Text» See Addressing Urban Issues: An Important Element of International Engagement, DipNote Blog.


Acting Assistant Secretary Gerry Anderson greets UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director General Jacques Diouf on March 22nd
Date: 03/22/2010 Location: Washington, DC Description: Acting Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs Gerry Anderson greets UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director General Jacques Diouf on March 22, 2010. - State Dept ImageThe parties reviewed FAO technical assistance and field-based expertise provided to Haiti and other countries to develop and/or review agricultural investment plans. The parties also discussed Bureau priorities including the progress of ongoing reform efforts occurring at the FAO.

 


A World Free of Nuclear Weapons? Progress on President Obama’s Prague Agenda
Date: 03/19/2010 Location: Washington, DC Description: Amb. Glyn Davies, Permanent Representative of the United States to the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United Nations Office in Vienna. - State Dept ImageAmbassador Glyn Davies (Mar. 18): "We are in the midst of accelerating developments on both the positive and negative sides of the nuclear ledger which will determine how fast and how far the world can go toward achieving a nuclear-weapons-free future – and a future in which the many positive benefits of peaceful uses of nuclear technology are fully realized." Full Text»

 


Date: 03/12/2010 Location: Washington, DC Description: Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Agencies in Rome Ertharin Cousin Conduct Joint Brief Press On U.S. Policy in Somalia. - State Dept ImageAssistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Agencies in Rome Ertharin Cousin Conduct Joint Brief Press On U.S. Policy in Somalia, March 12, 2010 More»

 

 


Assistant Secretary Brimmer Welcomes Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Afghanistan and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), March 5, 2010
Date: 03/05/2010 Location: Washington, DC Description: Assistant Secretary Brimmer welcomes Steffan de Mistura, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Afghanistan and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). - State Dept ImageAssistant Secretary Brimmer welcomes Staffan de Mistura, incoming Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Afghanistan and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Dr. Brimmer expressed appreciation for the essential work that the UN conducts for the Afghan people. The two discussed plans for future coordination and communication.


International Law and the UN
Date: 03/02/2010 Description: Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs Esther Brimmer at speaking engagement in Chicago. - State Dept ImageAssistant Secretary Esther Brimmer traveled to Chicago this week to speak at the Chicago Council of Global Affairs and Northwestern Law School on the importance of multilateral engagement. This trip is the third in a series of trips she is taking around the United States to discuss U.S engagement at the United Nations and other international organizations, and to elaborate on the benefits to American citizens of multilateral engagement. Full Text» Audio» DipNote Blog»