President Obama, Secretary Clinton Meet With Kyrgyz President Otunbayeva

Posted by DipNote Bloggers / March 08, 2011

President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton welcomed Kyrgyzstan President Rosa Otunbayeva to Washington, D.C., March 7-8. President Obama and Secretary Clinton held meetings with Kyrgyzstan President Otunbayeva at the White House and Department of State. The Kyrgyz President was also on hand for the 2011 International Women of Courage Awards, where she was named an honoree of the award.

With National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, Presidents Obama and Otunbayeva discussed U.S. Kyrgyzstani relations and U.S. support for Kyrgyzstan's democracy at the White House on March 7.

On March 8, Secretary Clinton and President Otunbayeva held a bilateral meeting at the Department of State. Secretary Clinton said, "I'm so delighted that the president could be here for International Women's Day and bring such a wonderful message to the people of the United States and the women of the world on behalf of herself and her country."

Kyrgyzstan President Otunbayeva, an honoree of the 2011 International Women of Courage Awards, delivered remarks at the ceremony. She said, "Secretary Clinton, I accept this award on behalf of all women of Kyrgyzstan who struggle from the day to day to make their voices heard. This award belongs to those who, despite their condition, rise above and demand respect to their human dignity. In big politics, when a woman stands up to dictator or it is a domestic situation when she refuses to accept violence and humiliation, what do we have celebrating today? The courage is one of the same quality and scale. Many millions of women do not have the fame and publicity that I enjoyed in my political career. It is so to these nameless, but truly heroic women that I dedicate this award and mostly humbly pledge to continue my work for the cause of social justice and the rule of law."

You can read President Otunbayeva and Secretary Clinton's complete remarks here.

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