Tag Archives: Cote d’Ivoire

New START is Signed / Clinton on the Middle East / The Sweetest Mangoes

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The START treaty gets signed. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton calls for democratic change in the Middle East. President Obama calls for an orderly transition in Egypt. The State Department honors former Iran hostages on the 30th anniversary of their release. A top U.S. diplomat says defeated former Côte d’Ivoire President Laurent Gbagbo must go. A grant is helping preserve early Christian frescoes in Macedonia. And, learn about a joint U.S.-Pakistan program and the world’s sweetest mangoes.

New START for U.S., Russia
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov exchange diplomatic documents in Munich, concluding a two-year effort to reduce nuclear arsenals to their lowest levels in more than 50 years. Clinton, right, and Lavrov, left, sign instruments of ratification to implement the New START treaty which reduces the number of nuclear warheads to 1,550 for each nation from 2,200 warheads.

Clinton: Democratic Change is Mideast “Necessity”
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The status quo in the Middle East is unsustainable and democratic change in the region is a “strategic necessity,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tells officials from NATO, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia at the Munich Security Conference in Germany. ”This is not simply a matter of idealism,” Clinton says.

Obama Calls for Egypt to Move Toward Transition
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President Obama says violence against peaceful demonstrators and the shutdown of information sources will not resolve Egypt’s political unrest, and he repeats his call for the Egyptian government to immediately begin an orderly transition process that includes a broad section of the opposition and addresses their grievances.

The Iran Hostage Crisis, 30 Years Later
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The U.S. State Department used the 30th anniversary of the release of 52 hostages in Iran to honor them as heroes and to hear the thoughts of five prominent former hostages. The 444 day Iranian hostage crisis, which began in November 1979, was a painful period for the hostages, their families and the United States. 

Gbagbo’s Closing Window
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The window for defeated former Côte d’Ivoire President Laurent Gbagbo to leave honorably, peacefully, with amnesty, is closing, U.S. Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Phillip Carter says.  

Restoring Macedonian Frescoes
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The Early Christian frescos at Stobi, Macedonia are being preserved thanks to a grant from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation. The main goal of the project is to perform conservation work on the unique wall paintings in the Episcopal basilica at the site of the ancient town of Stobi, capital of the former Roman province Macedonia Secunda.

A Sweet Deal for U.S., Pakistan
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In spring 2011, Pakistan will send its first shipments of the world’s sweetest mango to the United States. This initial export marks a milestone in an ongoing joint project with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pakistani farmers and mango growers to expand Pakistan’s mango industry.

Clinton on U.S.-China Relations / Locke on U.S.-China Trade / Martin Luther King Jr.

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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the United States and China are at a key junction in shaping the future of their bilateral relationship. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke says trade should play a key role in that relationship. The president-elect of Côte d’Ivoire seeks peace. Freedom House issues its annual report. Remember the Rev. Martin Luther King with this photo gallery.

The U.S.-China Relationship
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The United States and China are at “a critical juncture,” and will need to pursue wise policies and be honest about their differences in order to keep their bilateral relationship “on a positive trajectory,” says Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Three decades after establishing bilateral relations, “our economies are entwined and so are our futures,” says Clinton, right.

Enhancing U.S.-China Trade
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 Commerce Secretary Gary Locke calls on the Chinese government to create a more equitable commercial relationship with the United States to foster business and industrial growth for both nations. Locke called for steps to enhance the U.S.-China commercial relationship which he called “perhaps the most important bilateral trading relationship in the world.”

A Call for Côte d’Ivoire Peace
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Alassane Ouattara, the president-elect of Côte d’Ivoire, says he does not want a civil war in his country. “It is not only the 54% who voted for me, but I am also the president of the 45% who did not vote for me. So obviously, I do not want bloodshed,” says Outtara.

A Decline in Free Countries
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The number of free countries suffered its fifth consecutive year of decline in 2010, says Freedom House, an independent watchdog organization, which blamed bolder authoritarian regimes and inadequate resistance from democratic countries for the decline.

King with President Lyndon Johnson as he signs the Civil Rights ActPhoto Gallery: The Life and Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
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Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated his life to the nonviolent struggle for racial equality in the United States. January 17, 2011, marks the 25th anniversary of Martin Luther King Day, a federal holiday that honors King’s legacy and challenges citizens to engage in volunteer service in their communities. Visit this photo gallery to learn more about Dr. King’s Life and work. At right, King attends the 1964 signing of the Civil Rights Act into federal law by President Lyndon Johnson.

New Sanctions in Côte d’Ivoire / Secretary Clinton’s Travel Agenda / A Russian Poet’s Drawings

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The U.S. steps up pressure on the ex-president of Côte d’Ivoire to step down. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton heads to the Middle East. Vice President Biden leads Haiti talks. A top U.S. official sees potential for a sustained recovery. Climate change negotiations ended a month ago; now comes the hard part. The United States is helping Pakistan track tuberculosis. Meet an Egyptian blogger who became an author. And finally, Russian poet Joseph Brodsky is also known for his drawings.

U.S. Sanctions in Côte d’Ivoire
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The United States has imposed financial sanctions against former Côte d’Ivoire President Laurent Gbagbo, who has refused to yield the presidency to newly elected Alassane Ouattara. Gbagbo’s wife, Simone Gbagbo, and three of his senior advisers also face sanctions , says Adam Szubin, left, director of the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.


Secretary Clinton’s Middle East Agenda
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s travels January 8-13 to the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar to promote greater political, social and economic opportunities for the region’s youth. A senior State Department official says U.S. support for civil society groups will top the agenda.

U.S., Haiti Partner for Reconstruction
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Vice President Biden leads a team of U.S. government officials in meetings with Haitian-American leaders ahead of the one-year anniversary of Haiti’s devastating earthquake to discuss the “unprecedented challenges that remain for recovery and reconstruction efforts.”

 A Self-Sustaining U.S. Recovery
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A self-sustaining recovery that is driven by improving consumer and business spending may be taking hold in the U.S. economy, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Benjamin Bernanke says. Bernanke tells the U.S. Senate Budget Committee the pace of the economic recovery in the United States will likely be moderately stronger this year than in 2010.

 Keeping Promises After Cancún Climate Talks
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A month after climate negotiations concluded in Mexico, nations are working to keep their promises to cut greenhouse gas emissions, U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Change Jonathan Pershing says. Right, activists demonstrate outside the climate conference in Cancún.

Tracking TB in Pakistan
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With U.S. support, researchers are conducting the first comprehensive survey of tuberculosis in Pakistan since the 1980s. Pakistan long has been listed among the 22 nations with the highest rates of tuberculosis.

Egyptian Blogger Becomes Author
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Egyptian author Ghada Abdel Aal is a widely recognized media figure and representative for a generation of young professional women throughout the Middle East. Her career started when she launched her blog, “I Want to Get Married,” in 2006.

A Russian Poet’s Artwork
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Russian-American poet Joseph Brodsky is probably the most studied Russian poet of the 20th century. He was also an accomplished artist, says Solomon Volkov, author of the book Conversations with Joseph Brodsky. Left, a Brodsky self portrait.

The U.S. Prepares for Hu / Assessing Côte d’Ivoire, Sudan / An Iranian American Star

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The United States is “preparing diligently” for Chinese President Hu Jintao’s state visit. A top U.S. diplomat discusses the political crisis in Côte d’Ivoire and the coming vote in Sudan. Defense Secretary Robert Gates heads to China, Japan and South Korea. Construction of coal-fired power plants is on the decline in the United States. And, finally, meet Iranian-American actress Sarah Shahi.

Preparing for Hu
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Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi meets with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and other senior U.S. officials ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao’s January 19 state visit to the United States. In remarks with Yang, Clinton says Hu’s visit is “very much anticipated and looked forward to,” and the Obama administration is “preparing diligently” for it.

An Historic Occasion in Sudan
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The January 9 referendum in Sudan will be an “historic occasion” for the Sudanese and all Africans, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson says.

The Crisis in Côte d’Ivoire
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Carson also says the political crisis in Côte d’Ivoire is a challenge to democracy not only in that country but across West Africa and worldwide. “There is no question that the election in Côte d’Ivoire was stolen,” he says.

Gates Travels to Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul
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Defense Secretary Robert Gates plans talks with high ranking officials during an upcoming trip to China, Japan and South Korea. Gates will stress the importance of  a sustained and reliable military-to-military relationship between the United States and China. 

Rethinking Coal
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Construction of coal-fired power plants has slowed significantly in the United States as a sluggish economy and uncertainties surrounding future energy policy make electric utilities rethink their investment plans. Power companies did not break ground on a single new coal plant in 2009 or 2010, the environmental group Sierra Club reported recently.

An Iranian-American Star
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Sarah Shahi, right, stars in a new American TV show, a first for an Iranian-American actor. Shahi, of Texas, plays lawyer-turned-mediator Kate Reed in Fairly Legal, which premieres January 20 on the USA Network.

START Treaty Ratified / The Smart Grid / Gifts That Give Back

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The Senate ratifies the U.S.-Russia START strategic nuclear arms pact. The U.N. General Assembly adopts an amendment supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights. The United States is working with Pakistan to help it recover from devastating floods, working with Russia on smart grid technology, and working with some of Côte d’Ivoire’s neighbors to investigate how to reinforce the U.N. peacekeeping force in the country during the ongoing political crisis. Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants are spending a year in America. And finally, this holiday season, give a gift that gives back.


START Ratified by U.S. Senate
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The U.S. Senate ratified the New START arms reduction treaty between the United States and Russia that will reduce each nation’s nuclear arsenals to their lowest levels in more than a half century. The Senate gave its approval by a vote of 71 to 26 on December 22. The new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty was signed by President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on April 8 in Prague. 

U.N. Includes LGBT Rights
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The Obama administration welcomed the U.N. General Assembly’s adoption of a U.S.-sponsored amendment that restores gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in its broad condemnation of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. “Killing people because they are gay is not culturally defensible – it is criminal,” says White House press secretary Robert Gibbs.

A U.S.-Pakistan Partnership
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The United States and Pakistan are working together on several new projects to help rebuild and improve agriculture, health, transportation and other services in Pakistan as that country continues to recover from devastating floods.

U.S. and Russia Talk Smart Grid
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Making energy use more efficient, reliable, affordable, secure, and more consumer-driven through smart grid technology was the topic of a series of recent meetings between Russian and American energy experts in Washington, D.C. and in Texas, made possible by the Energy Working Group of the U.S.–Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission.

U.N. Force in Côte d’Ivoire
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The United States is in discussions with some of Côte d’Ivoire’s neighbors to investigate how to reinforce the U.N. peacekeeping force in the country and ensure that it is capable of maintaining peace and security as its political crisis continues. Along with refusing to hand over power after his election defeat, Laurent Gbagbo has demanded that the 9,000-member U.N. peacekeeping force withdraw. The U.N. Security Council unanimously passed a resolution to extend the force’s mandate until June 30, 2011.

Fulbright Language Teachers
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More than 400 Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants from 49 countries are spending a year in the United States, to not only hone their knowledge of the English language and American life, but also to encourage American students to study foreign languages and culture.

Photo Gallery: Gifts that Give Back
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During the holiday season, many people want to give gifts that have a greater meaning. It’s easier than ever to make a purchase that can help provide income to artisans in developing countries, support donations of food or medicine to the needy, aid victims of war or abuse, or support environmental efforts. Explore this photo gallery of “gifts that give back.” At right, a “Path to Peace” basket created by Rwandan women.

A New Government for Iraq / Archives Hosts Newest Americans / Tweeting the Civil War

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President Obama calls the new Iraqi government a major step forward. The United States puts new pressure on those who are undermining democracy in Côte d’Ivoire. Not news: Twenty-five new U.S. citizens are sworn in. News: They are sworn in within sight of the U.S. Constitution. A new U.S. initiative is aimed at fighting world hunger through agriculture. A summit for U.S. and Russian class presidents is held in Russia. Finally, what would Lincoln tweet? 

A New Government for Iraq
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The Council of Representatives swore in a new Iraqi government led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on December 21 in Baghdad after approximately nine months of debate. President Obama, at right with al-Maliki, calls the new government, “a significant moment in Iraq’s history and a major step forward in advancing national unity.”

New U.S. Response to Flawed Election Process in Côte d’Ivoire
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The United States has imposed travel restrictions upon Côte d’Ivoire’s President Laurent Gbagbo, members of his regime and others who are undermining their country’s democratic process. The Obama administration continues to urge Gbagbo to step down in favor of president-elect Alassane Ouattara.

New Citizens and Old Documents
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Twenty-five new citizens of the United States were sworn in squarely in front of the nation’s founding documents — the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The new citizens were joined by friends and family members at a ceremony in the rotunda of the National Archives building.   

Fighting World Hunger
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Fighting world hunger is at the heart of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s new Feed-the-Future global initiative, which was implemented in May to further a pledge made by President Obama of $3.5 billion toward agricultural development. The program helps nations produce more higher-quality food and improve targeting the right food to the very young and to pregnant women, says Dr. Rajiv Shah, the administrator of USAID.

A Gathering of U.S., Russian Student Leaders
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Student body presidents representing U.S. colleges and universities across the United States went to Russia in November to meet their counterparts in what many officials and academics hope will be the first of many such exchanges in coming years. It was the first program under the auspices of the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission’s Education, Culture and Sports Working Group.

The American Civil War, Online
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News aggregators, blogs and social media outlets like Twitter are providing a new way to experience the 1861-1865 American Civil War in “real time” as the conflict has its 150-year anniversary. Online resources allow access to richer information sources and invite everyone to be a participant.

A Green Christmas / Côte d’Ivoire Violence / Persian Food Blogs

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This year, many people are choosing to have a green Christmas by reducing their holiday carbon footprint. The United States condemns the violence in Côte d’Ivoire following the recent elections. And meet Persian food bloggers, who offer their readers both recipes and a sense of community.

Dreaming of a Green Christmas
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In recent years, many people have chosen to add a shade of green to their Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or other year-end festivities by limiting the size of their holiday carbon footprint. One British study found that households generate an additional 1,430 pounds (650 kilos) of carbon dioxide during Christmas. At right, The National Christmas Tree, shown here with President Obama and his family, is illuminated by LED energy-saving bulbs. 


U.S. Condemns Violence in Côte d’Ivoire
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Deputy Assistant Secretary of State William Fitzgerald urges all Ivorians to respect the will of the people as expressed in a November 28 vote in which Alassane Ouattara was elected as the next president. Fitzgerald condemns the recent violence in Côte d’Ivoire as “egregious.”

An Online Taste of Iran
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Three Iranian-American women created separate blogs with parallel missions of offering Persian recipes. “I’ve always loved to write, and I’ve always loved to cook, and… I thought, ‘Well, why shouldn’t I be the one to have a blog about Persian food?’” says Sanam Lamborn.

Recipes for Persian Memories
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Persian food blogs offer recipes and a sense of community to their readers. Azita Mehran, author of the blog Turmeric & Saffron, writes mini-essays that includes recipes and memories of childhood trips or news of what she’s found at the market. Above, her red lentil soup.

U.S. Support for Liu / The Côte d’Ivoire Vote / Seeds of Peace

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Days before he is to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, the United States is supporting jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. The U.S. calls for a smooth transition of power after elections in Côte d’Ivoire. In the past couple of weeks, the U.S. has participated in five European summits. Mobile phones are giving people access to financial systems in Africa for the first time. An American educator will be speaking about higher education in Africa. And, an unlikely friendship grows from Seeds of Peace.

U.S. Backs Jailed Nobel Winner
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Barry White, the U.S. ambassador to Norway, will attend the December 10 Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in a show of support for jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. The U.S. House of Representatives has also passed a resolution honoring the Peace Prize winner for promoting democratic reform in China and calling for his immediate release from prison. At right, a banner picturing Liu is installed at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo.

The Côte d’Ivoire Vote
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The U.S. urges President Laurent Gbagbo to hand over power and authority to Alassane Ouattara, who won the second round of Côte d’Ivoire’s presidential election. If that does not happen, the U.S. will take further steps such as travel bans or sanctions directed against President Gbagbo, his family and associates, says U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson.

For U.S., Five European Summits
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The United States participated in five summits over the past couple of weeks, engaging with nations from Europe, Central Asia and North America. These summits presented “an unprecedented opportunity for engagement with our partners in Europe and Eurasia,” says Philip Gordon, the assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs.

Mobilizing African Banking
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In African countries such as Tanzania and Malawi, mobile telephones are taking a first step into the formal financial system. Almost 1 million active customers in Tanzania use mobile-phone payments to transfer funds to relatives, buy supplies, pay doctors and save money for future emergencies.

A Moroccan Higher Ed Conference
Barbara Brittingham, president of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges’ Commission on Institutions of Higher Education, will be a featured speaker alongside leading Moroccan and international experts and officials at the Moroccan Fulbright Alumni Association’s annual conference.

Seeds of Peace Take Root
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Seeds of Peace is an organization that brings teens from conflict areas around the world to a summer camp in Maine, U.S.A., where they foster trust, understanding and communication. For Joseph Katona, left, a Jewish kid from Los Angeles, and Omar Dreidi, a Palestinian kid from Ramallah, it meant a lasting friendship.

The U.S.-Polish Alliance / Elections in Côte d’Ivoire / Soccer in Cyprus

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President Obama and Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski reaffirmed their commitment to the U.S.-Polish alliance. Alassane Ouattara has legitimately been elected president of Côte d’Ivoire and needs to be respected, says Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice. The U.S. urges calm after controversial elections in Haiti. China has a critical role to play in reducing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. is working with other nations to confront piracy off the coast of Somalia. Learn about the Iran Primer and the International Writing Program. And, finally, American soccer stars visit Cyprus.

The U.S.-Polish Alliance
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President Obama and Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski meet in the Oval Office and reaffirm their commitment to expanding defense cooperation, supporting greater economic links and promoting democracy in Europe and globally. Additionally, they call for U.S. and Russian ratification of the New START arms reduction treaty, which Komorowski, left, says is “the investment in the better and safer future.”


The Vote in Côte d’Ivoire
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U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice says a communiqué from the Economic Community of West African States backs Côte d’Ivoire’s Independent Electoral Commission’s declaration that Alassane Ouattara is the country’s legitimately elected president. Ouattara “has been elected,” she says, and “he needs to be respected.”

U.S. Urges Calm After Haiti Vote
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The Obama administration calls for calm in Haiti as irregularities and complaints stemming from the country’s November 28 presidential election are reviewed. State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley says the United States and others in the international community “stand ready to support efforts to thoroughly review irregularities so that the final electoral results are consistent with the will of the Haitian people.”

U.S., China to Meet on North Korea
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Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg is leading a high-level team of officials to Beijing for talks with senior Chinese officials about Northeast Asian security and recent hostile acts by North Korea. “China has a critical role to play” in reducing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, says Steinberg.

Confronting Somali Pirates
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The United States is working with more than 60 nations and international organizations to confront piracy off the coast of Somalia, a problem that has threatened the development, peace, security and stability of eastern Africa.

The Iran Primer
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Journalist Robin Wright asked more than 50 experts from government, universities and think tanks, from the United States and the Middle East, to help her educate Americans about modern Iran. The resulting chapters became the Iran Primer.

When Writing Meets Dance
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An international group of writers had their words interpreted by the CityDance Ensemble of Washington as part of the International Writing Program (IWP) at the University of Iowa. “We represent a united nations of writers,” says Christopher Merrill, director of the IWP, “and we are always looking for connections among readers, writers, audiences, and translators.”

American Soccer Stars in Cyprus
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Through the U.S. Department of State’s Sports Envoy program, former U.S. men’s national players Tony Sanneh and Sasha Victorine led soccer clinics for Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot youths during a coaching trip to Cyprus. “Soccer is one of the universal languages that allow us to communicate with people from all over the world,” says Sanneh. At right, Victorine high-fives young players.

Clinton in Central Asia / Elections in Cote d’Ivoire / Good News for Polar Bears

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In Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan has a new parliamentary democracy and Kazakhstan is emerging as a force. The U.S. says that the provisional results of Cote d’Ivoire’s election should stand. Iran has an opportunity to improve relations with the international community. The top U.S. negotiator calls for ratification of START. Entrepreneurs are needed to lead economic growth in Africa. And, finally, the U.S. is moving to protect the habitat of Alaskan polar bears.

Democracy in Kyrgyzstan
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited Kyrgyzstan and praised the country’s new parliamentary democracy and the quality of recent national elections. “This is a country that has been through a great deal of change and upheaval … however, the elections show that the people of Kyrgyzstan want to resolve disputes peacefully through politics, not violence,” Clinton, at right with Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva, said.


An Emerging Kazakhstan
Hosting the first summit in 11 years of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe highlights Kazakhstan’s emergence as a force in Central Asia, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says. “As the first former Soviet Republic to lead the OSCE as an independent nation, Kazakhstan has helped to focus attention on Central Asia’s challenges, as well as its many opportunities,” says Clinton.

Cote d’Ivoire Election Results
The provisional results of the second round of presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire show opposition candidate Alassane Ouattara as the victor with 54.1 percent of the vote. These results are a “victory for the Ivorian people” and should stand, says U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs William Fitzgerald.

An Opportunity for Iran
U.S. officials are welcoming Iran’s agreement to hold talks about its nuclear program December 6-7, and say there is still room for Iran to build confidence with the international community. In Kazakhstan, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the meetings offer Iran “an opportunity … to come to the table and discuss the matters that are of concern to the international community,” principally its nuclear program.

A Call for START Ratification
In an op-ed published in the December 1 edition of The Hill, Rose Gottemoeller, assistant secretary of state for arms control, verification and compliance and chief U.S. negotiator of the New START Treaty, calls on the Senate to ratify the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty so the United States can “get back to work with Russia.”

Economic Growth in Africa
As Africa takes its place on the world business stage, entrepreneurs must be ready to play leading roles. Murray Low, director of the Eugene Lang Entrepreneurship Center at the Columbia University Business School, says Africa has “huge business opportunities” and as such, “people are now figuring out how to tap those opportunities.”

Good News For Polar Bears
The U.S. government has designated an area larger than the state of California as “critical” polar bear habitat, a move aimed at protecting the threatened  animals from impacts of climate change. The rapid increase in man-made greenhouse gas emissions has accelerated the melting of sea ice, on which polar bears depend to mate, hunt for food, and raise their cubs.