About the Author: Major General Walter D. “Waldo” Givhan, United States Air Force, currently serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Plans, Programs and Operations in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.

I recently had the privilege of visiting James Madison University to attend the closing ceremony for the 2012 Senior Managers’ Course in Explosive Remnants of War and Mine Action, where I met a select group of individuals serving on the front lines of humanitarian crises and post-conflict environments around the world.

This year, the 17 participants represented 13 different countries, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Uganda, and Vietnam. These “Senior Managers” are each leaders in their respective national mine action and ERW programs. This diversity the students bring in terms of background and experience is one of the main reasons… more »

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On June 6, 2012, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled to Baku, Azerbaijan, where she met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, and held a roundtable discussion with civil society representatives.

In her discussions with President Aliyev and Foreign Minister Mammadyarov, they focused on three key areas: security, energy, and democratic reform. Secretary Clintonsaid, “On security, I reiterated my appreciation for Azerbaijan’s past contributions in Iraq and Kosovo and its vital ongoing work in Afghanistan.… more »

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is greeted by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov upon her arrival in Baku, Azerbaijan, on June 6, 2012. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]

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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will travel to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey from May 31-June 7. In Denmark, Secretary Clinton will hold bilateral meetings with senior Danish officials in Copenhagen. She will also participate in the kick-off event for Green Partnerships for Growth, a bilateral initiative to promote green technology through public and private sector partnerships.

On June 1, Secretary Clinton will travel to Oslo, Norway, to meet with senior Norwegian officials and give keynote remarks at a global health conference hosted by the Norwegian government titled, “A World in Transition… more »