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Subject IndexThursday, July 2, 2009
Engagement With Muslim Communities
Special Representative Pandith (July 1): "I’m an American Muslim, and that’s part of the way in which I look at things, that’s the lens with which I look at things. And if you look at the diversity of Islam in America, it’s multifaceted, it’s nuanced. Our mosques are in every state of our nation. Muslim Americans are from more than 80 different ethnic backgrounds. Why do I mention this to you? Because I think when you think about approaches for engagement, I take that with me as I think about things.... There’s not one program that is going to be the magic program to engage with Muslims." -Full Text

 

The U.S. Supports Afghan Women
Ambassador Verveer (June 30): "The women in Afghanistan are critical to progress and stability in their war-torn country. It is in Afghanistan’s interest that human development and the unity of action take place. Only by men and women working together can Afghanistan move forward. The Secretary of State and Ambassador Holbrooke asked me to go to Afghanistan to reaffirm the United States’s commitment to Afghan women and to underscore the President and Secretary’s personal commitment to women’s rights." -Full Text
Description: Map and flag of Honduras.
Situation in Honduras

Senior Administration Official (July1):
"[B]oth the President and the Secretary have described events as a coup.... [W]e are working with our partners in the OAS, through the Inter-American Democratic Charter, to try to fashion a resolution of this interruption of democratic and constitutional order. And therefore, we will wait until the Secretary General has finished his diplomatic initiatives and reports back to the General Assembly on July 6th before we take any further action." -Full Text  -Travel Information


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In Other News

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Date: 07/01/2009 Description: U.S. Amb Rooney and Secretary Clinton during swearing in ceremony. © State Dept Image
Daniel Rooney Sworn In as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland
Secretary Clinton (July 1): "Forty million Americans boast Irish heritage, and I expect we have a few in the room today in addition to the Rooneys. And as every American can attest, those of our neighbors and friends who are sons and daughters of Ireland are fiercely proud of their ancestry. And we are so grateful to the Irish immigrants who sweated and sacrificed to build this country and who broke down barriers at every level of society." -Full Text  -View Video
Date: 07/01/2009 Location: State Department, Washington, DC. Description: Secretary Clinton poses with Jose H. Villarreal, U.S. Commissioner General to the 2010 World Exposition, Shanghai, China. © State Dept Image
World Expo Shanghai 2010
Secretary Clinton (July 1): "I am delighted that Commissioner General Villarreal has accepted this role. He has the background and stature required to ensure a strong United States presence at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. Our national pavilion will showcase American business and technology, as well as cultures and values to foster stronger friendship between the American and Chinese peoples." -Full Text
Date: 03/24/2009 Description: Great Seal State Dept Photo
Honduras: U.S. Supports OAS Mandate
Spokesman Kelly (July 1): "[W]e’re all focused on making sure that the principles of the OAS, particularly the principles of the Inter-American agreement, are fulfilled in terms of making sure that the democratic process plays out and constitutional order is restored."
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Date: 06/29/2009 Description: Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg, Kosovar President Fatmir Sejdiu and Kosovar Prime Minister Hashim Thaci at the Signing Ceremony. © State Dept Image
Kosovo Signs World Bank and IMF Agreements
Deputy Secretary Steinberg (June 29): "The documents that you’ve just signed are documents to two of the most important international institutions that we have. The World Bank and the IMF reflect the cooperation of the broader international community to address the economic challenges that we all face, and they will be important partners for you, as you continue the journey that you’ve embarked on over the last decade to build a stronger and more capable Kosovo" -Full Text -Media Note
Date: 01/14/2009 Description: Wind turbines.
The Statute of the International Renewable Energy Agency Signed
IRENA will engage governments around the world in promoting a rapid transition toward the widespread and sustainable use of renewable energy on a global scale. Our government’s participation is an important element of the Administration’s effort to support clean energy technologies and the development of low carbon economies to address global climate change and to advance our domestic and foreign policy objectives.
-Statement
Date: 06/26/2009 Location: Trieste, Italy Description: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov; UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana; and U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell answer questions during a press conference in a G8 foreign ministers' meeting in Trieste, Italy. © AP Image
Middle East Quartet Issues Statement
(June 26): "The Quartet underscored that the only viable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one that ends the occupation that began in 1967 and fulfils the aspirations of both parties for independent homelands through two states for two peoples, Israel and an independent, contiguous, and viable state of Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. The Quartet welcomed the commitment of Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas to the two-state solution." -Full Text 
Description: Resourceful refugees adapting to a limited supply of electricity.
World Refugee Day 2009
Secretary Clinton (June 20): "Around the world today, millions of people endure war, genocide, famine and natural disasters. ...The 34 million refugees and internally displaced persons are some of the world’s most vulnerable people. They are also some of the world’s toughest people. On World Refugee Day, we remember not only what they have survived but the strength and spirit with which they’ve survived it. And we pledge to stand with them and help them build safe and fulfilling lives—not on the outskirts of society, but in the heart of it. " -Full Text
Date: 06/22/2009 Description: Joint press availability with Deputy Secretary James Steinberg and Georgia Foreign Minister Gregory Vashadze. © State Dept Image from Video
Deepening the U.S. Partnership With Georgia
Deputy Secretary Steinberg (June 22): "The most important feature of this visit is the opportunity that we’ve had to launch the U.S.-Georgia committee on our strategic partnership which opens a new chapter of our longstanding and deep friendship between our two countries. And today, we’ve had working groups addressing...the economy, defense and security, democracy, and people-to-people exchanges. And these meetings underscore the commitment that we have to implementing the important agreement–our charter with Georgia, as we deepen this strategic partnership. " -Full Text -Video 
Date: 06/18/2009 Description: U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Christopher R. Hill gives remarks on the current situation in Iraq © State Dept Image from Video
Current Situation in Iraq
Ambassador Hill (June 18): "[T]his is an important month because we’re getting to ... one of the major milestones of the security agreement that is the out-of-the-city milestone where our combat forces will be out of the remaining urban areas in Iraq. It’s an important moment ... because as we go forward with the security agreement, we will also be moving ahead on something called the Strategic Framework Agreement, and this is an agreement which will really govern our relationship for, we hope, decades to come, that will involve our educational exchanges, economic relations, various political exchanges, things that we work on internationally." -Full Text -Video
Date: 06/08/2009 Location: Washington, DC Description: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. AP file photo. © AP Image
New Era in U.S.-India Relationship
Secretary Clinton (June 17): "So four platforms of cooperation – global security, human development, economic activity, science and technology – can support us in launching this third phase of the U.S.-India relationship.... We want India to succeed as an anchor for regional and global security. And we want India to succeed so that the world’s two largest democracies can work together as strong partners." -Full Text -Video

 

Special Representative Elizabeth F. Bagley
New Special Representative for Global Partnerships
Special Representative Bagley (June 18): "We must now make the transition to 21st Century Statecraft, engaging with all the elements of our national power... That is where partnerships come in. Our private sector is an extraordinary source of innovation, talent, resources, and knowledge; and in the past, we have only scratched the surface." -Full Text  -Global Partnership Initiative Site
Date: 06/16/2009 Description: A young boy packs mud bricks in Liberia. Photo from the Trafficking in Persons Report 2009. © Photo from Emily Holland/International Rescue Committee
Trafficking in Persons Report 2009
Secretary Clinton (June 16): "Today, the State Department releases our annual report on trafficking in persons. It underscores the need to address the root causes of trafficking, including poverty, lax law enforcement, and the exploitation of women. The Trafficking Report is not an indictment of past failures, but a guide for future progress." -Full Text -Ambassador CdeBaca's Briefing -Report -Op-Ed by Secretary Clinton

Highlights

Pittsburgh Summit 2009Date: 06/23/2009 Description: Pittsburgh summit 2009 logo. © State Dept Image
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania will host the G-20 Summit September 24-25, 2009.  President Obama will chair this meeting of leaders from countries around the world who will review the progress made since the Washington and London Summits and discuss further actions to assure a sound and sustainable recovery from the global financial and economic crisis. -Pittsburgh Summit Website

Gay and Lesbian Pride Date: 06/18/2009 Description: Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, 2009: J. Michelle Schohn and Mary E. Glantz © State Dept Image
J. Michelle Schohn and Mary E. Glantz are a tandem couple serving in Washington, DC. Dr. Glantz entered the Foreign Service in 2002 and served her first tour in Baku as a political officer. -More

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.

Rhythm Road Tours
Date: 06/30/2009 Description: Jazz musician. Photo courtesy Eric Gruber. © State Dept ImageJazz at Lincoln Center is now accepting band applications for Rhythm Road tours -Apply now
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
Flu Updates
On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6 in response to the ongoing global spread of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus. A Phase 6 designation indicates that a global pandemic is underway. Updates about H1N1 are available through the links below.


Traveling?

Date: 05/07/2004 Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Description: Vacationing Saudi Arabians are silhouetted at a public beach in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia near the Jeddah fountain, a landmark in the city. © AP PhotoSaudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's current development plan focuses on economic diversification in addition to education and inclusion of women in society. The plan calls for establishing new universities and new colleges with technical specializations. Privatization as well as emphases on a knowledge-based economy and tourism will help in the goal of economic diversification.
 
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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
Turkey
Modern Turkey encompasses bustling cosmopolitan centers, pastoral farming villages, barren wastelands, peaceful Aegean coastlines, and steep mountain regions. More than 70% of Turkey's population lives in urban areas that juxtapose Western lifestyles with more traditional ways of life. The Turkish state has been officially secular since 1924. Approximately 99% of the population is Muslim. 
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Date: 05/21/2009 Location: Medan, Indonesia. Description: An Indonesian Muslim girl checks her Facebook account at an Internet cafe. © AP Image
Indonesia
Indonesia's approximately 240.3 million people make it the world's fourth-most populous nation. The island of Java is the most populous island in the world and one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Constitutional guarantees of religious freedom apply to the six religions recognized by the state, namely Islam (86.1%), Protestantism (5.7%), Catholicism (3%), Hinduism (1.8%), Buddhism (about 1%), and Confucianism (less than 1%).
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Date: 10/05/2008 Description: An Egyptian soldier riding a camel guards a group of tourists watching the great Giza Pyramids near Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008. © AP PhotoEgypt
Egypt's vast and rich literature constitutes an important cultural element in the life of the country and in the Arab world as a whole. Egyptian novelists and poets were among the first to experiment with modern styles of Arabic literature, and the forms they developed have been widely imitated. Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz was the first Arab to win the Nobel prize for literature. Egyptian books and films are available throughout the Middle East.
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