Ambassador Susan E. Rice, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, delivers remarks at the Security Council Open Debate on the Middle East in New York, New York, October 15, 2012. [Go to http://usun.state.gov/briefing/statements/199137.htm for a text transcript.]

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
August 14, 2012

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy R. Sherman and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun on August 14 held the inaugural round of U.S.-China Middle East Dialogue in Beijing, as agreed to at the fourth round of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue in May.

The two sides held constructive discussions regarding developments in the Middle East. The United States and China discussed ways for both countries to promote greater cooperation on regional and global challenges including energy security. Under Secretary Sherman and Vice Foreign Minister Zhai also discussed pressing issues in the Middle East, with particular attention to Iran and Syria.

The United States reiterated its commitment to working together to build a cooperative partnership with China and welcomed China playing a more active and positive role in world affairs.

About the Author: Ambassador David T. Killion serves as U.S. Permanent Representative to UNESCO.

Next week I am going to a meeting in Switzerland for SESAME, which I happen to think is the most exciting and revolutionary scientific undertaking that practically nobody outside of the scientific community has ever heard of.

What is it and why do I think it is so radical and so important?

The first question is easy.

SESAME actually stands for ‘Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East’ and will be the region’s first major multi-country scientific research center. It’s being developed under the auspices of UNESCO and is scheduled to open fully in Jordan in 2015. When it is completed, SESAME will be the Middle East’s only source of so-called “high intensity synchrotron X-rays,” key building blocks for research into biology,… more »

The 19^th Session of the Human Rights Council underscored the importance of robust engagement at the Council, where the United States continues to work with a diverse range of countries from all regions of the world to address urgent human rights concerns.

U.S. leadership kept the Council at the forefront of the international effort to promote and protect human rights in the Middle East as the Arab Spring continues to transform the region. U.S. engagement has resulted in significant improvements to the Human Rights Council (HRC) over the past two and a half years, making it a more effective and credible multilateral forum for promoting and protecting human rights.

At the same time, the Council’s biased and disproportionate focus on Israel continues to be a major challenge, as exemplified by the annual Item 7 resolutions. Through engagement at the Council, the U.S. continues to vigorously oppose this biased treatment. MORE

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivers remarks at luncheon honoring TechWomen participants in Washington, D.C., July 6, 2011.

Join Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton as she honors 37 women from the Middle East and North Africa and their American mentors who participated in TechWomen, an initiative that harnesses the power of technology and international exchanges as a means to empower women and girls worldwide. The event will be streamed live on www.state.gov and DipNote on July 6, 2011, at 12:00 p.m. (EDT).

TechWomen, which Secretary Clinton first announced during the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship in the spring of 2010, brought 37 women from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and the Palestinian Territories to the… more »

About the Author: Luke Forgerson serves as DipNote’s Managing Editor.

President Barack Obama delivered a speech on U.S. policy in the Middle East and North Africa at the Department of State on May 19, 2011. Recognizing the changes that have taken place in the Middle East and North Africa in recent months, President Obama announced a new approach to promoting democratic reform and economic development, as well as peace and security across the region.

The President said, “…We face an historic opportunity. We have embraced the chance to show that America values the dignity of the street vendor in Tunisia more than the raw power of the dictator. There must be no doubt that the United States of America welcomes change that advances self-determination and opportunity.… more »

President Barack Obama delivered a speech on U.S. policy in the Middle East and North Africa at the Department of State on May 19, 2011. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton provided the introductory remarks for President Obama.

Secretary Clinton said, “Mr. President, from your first days in office you have charged us with implementing a bold new approach for America’s foreign policy — a new blueprint for how we advance our values, project our leadership, and strengthen our partnerships. We have seen that in a changing world, America’s leadership is more essential than ever, but that we often must lead in new and innovative ways.

“And so, Mr. President, these Foreign Service Officers and these Civil Servants, the men and women of the State Department and USAID, work every day to translate your vision into real results — results on the… more »

President Barack Obama will deliver a speech on events in the Middle East and North Africa and U.S. policy in the region on Thursday, May 19 at 11:40 a.m. (EDT). The speech will be live-streamed from the State Department and available on WhiteHouse.gov/live. Immediately afterwards, the live-stream will switch to a follow-up Twitter chat with Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes, during which you can pose questions and reactions via Twitter. Please use the hashtag #MESpeech. You can learn more here. more »