Posted by DipNote Bloggers on Aug 24, 2009 - 11:50 AM
In the following op-ed for People.com, Secretary Clinton shares about her visit to Goma and discusses how the U.S. is responding to sexual and gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In 11 days of travel across Africa, I saw humanity at its worst –…
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Posted by DipNote Bloggers on Aug 21, 2009 - 05:53 PM
![Palestinians watch President Obama's speech on television, Gaza Strip, June 4, 2009. [AP Photo]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825102236im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2009_0821_obama_speech_m.jpg)
Emphasizing America’s commitment to engage Muslims and Muslim-majority nations on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect, the President said, “In the last two months, American embassies around the world have reached out…directly to people in Muslim-majority countries. And from around the world, we have received an outpouring of feedback about how America can be a partner on behalf of peoples’ aspirations. We have listened. And…we are focused on pursuing concrete actions that will make a difference over time – both in terms of the political and security issues…and in…
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Posted by DipNote Bloggers on Aug 21, 2009 - 01:57 PM
President Obama extends his best wishes to Muslims around the world during Ramadan. The President's message is part of an on-going dialogue with Muslim communities that began on inauguration day and has continued with his statement on Nowruz and during his trips to Ankara and Cairo. In his Ramadan message, President Obama said:
"All of these efforts are a part of America’s commitment to engage Muslims and Muslim-majority nations on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect. And at this time of renewal, I want to reiterate my commitment to a new beginning between America and Muslims around the world.
As I said in Cairo,…
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Posted by DipNote Bloggers on Aug 21, 2009 - 11:27 AM
Interactive Travel Map | Text the Secretary | Behind the Scenes Photos
Behind the scenes video of Secretary Clinton’s visit to Africa.
Secretary Clinton visited Africa August 3-14, 2009. This video represents some of the “behind the scenes” snapshots taken by staff traveling with the Secretary. Read more…
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Posted by Thomas E. Weinz on Aug 21, 2009 - 10:15 AM
![People living in a ramshackle camp bathe in Solomon Islands' capital, Honiara, July 27, 2003. [AP]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825102236im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2009_0821_solomon_islands_m.jpg)
Early in this series, I reflected on how our best-laid plans often take a detour. My personal detour came in French New Caledonia, when some medical tests prevented my sailing with the USNS Byrd, and I subsequently returned to the Washington, DC area. Although I know both Solomon Islands, and PP09's specific mission, very…
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Posted by Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Aug 20, 2009 - 04:38 PM
![Secretary Clinton with policewoman at Roberts International Airport, Monrovia, Aug. 13, 2009. [AP]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825102236im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2009_0820_clinton_liberia_m.jpg)
About the Author: Linda Thomas-Greenfield is the U.S. Ambassador to Liberia.
Liberia was one of the final stops on Secretary Clinton’s 11-day trip across Africa. I was proud to welcome her to the…
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Posted by Joshua N. Baker on Aug 20, 2009 - 01:06 PM
![Space Shuttle Endeavour along with International Space Station, July 20, 2009. [NASA/ AP Photo]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825102236im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2009_0820_space_shuttle_m.jpg)
In cooperation with the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science (OES) and the National Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, Libya, recently sent twenty-four students and two Libyan teachers to attend a space camp at the Advanced Space Academy in Huntsville, Alabama. A professional Libyan film crew accompanied the students and teachers to capture the ten-day event.
At the Academy, the students and teachers learned about the mental, emotional, and physical demands astronauts face. During the ten-day camp, which…
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Posted by Andrea Zumbrum on Aug 19, 2009 - 11:56 AM
![Students review lessons in a classroom in Santiago, Chile, Feb. 3, 2006. [AP Photo]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825102236im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2009_0819_education_center_m.jpg)
U.S. embassies and consulates abroad are uniquely positioned to reach out directly to citizens of other countries to share aspects of American culture. Our partnerships with Binational Centers (BNCs) are one of the best means we have to do so. BNCs serve as educational hubs in both capitals and other cities in many countries. They offer people of all ages — young kids through elderly citizens — opportunities to learn English, access libraries and learn more about American culture.
There are more than 120 BNCs in 18 countries throughout…
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Posted by DipNote Bloggers on Aug 19, 2009 - 09:36 AM
"The foreign minister and I...discussed the bilateral defense cooperation agreement that our governments hope to sign in the near future. This agreement ensures that appropriate protections are in place for our service members. It will allow us to continue working together to meet the challenges posed by narco-traffickers, terrorists, and other illegal armed groups in Colombia. These threats are real, and the United States is committed to supporting the Government of Colombia in its efforts to provide security for all of its citizens.
I want to be clear about what this agreement does and does not do. First, the agreement does not create U.S. bases in Colombia. It does provide the United…
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Posted by DipNote Bloggers on Aug 18, 2009 - 05:44 PM
![President Obama with President Mubarak at the White House, Washington, DC, Aug. 18, 2009. [AP]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825102236im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2009_0818_obama_mubarak_m.jpg)
"The United States and Egypt have worked together closely for many years, and for many of those years President Mubarak has been a leader and a counselor and a friend to the United States. We obviously have a lot of great challenges that have to be dealt with and we are continuing to work together to find those areas where we can find common ground and to work in concert to bring peace and security to the region.
The Arab-Israeli situation is something that has been of ongoing interest and we had an extensive conversation about how we could help to jumpstart an effective process on all sides to move away from a status quo that is not working for the Israeli people, the Palestinian people,…
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