US Mission Geneva

The United States sends its best wishes to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI as he leaves the Vatican after years of service and dedication.

By a vote of 58–41, the U.S. Senate confirmed Chuck Hagel, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska, as the next secretary of defense.

Assistant Secretary of State Michael H. Posner met with civil society groups, international organizations, former political prisoners, and corporate representatives in Rangoon

From February 24 to March 6, Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

The United States is providing $19 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the people of Syria. This brings the United States humanitarian assistance total in response to this crisis to nearly $385 million for populations within Syria as well as those in neighboring countries.

Economic ties between the United States and the European Union account for half of the world’s economic output and nearly $1 trillion, or one-third, of the global trade in goods and services.

North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs constitute a threat to U.S. national security and to international peace and security.

This year’s initial contribution funded through the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, will support UNHCR efforts worldwide.

The United States is looking forward to the Internet 2013 conference being hosted by OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic from February 13-15.