North Korea's Missile Launch A Violation
Ambassador Rice (Apr. 5): "The United States expressed its strong view that the launch yesterday constituted a clear cut violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1718, and it is our view that this action merits a clear and strong response from the United Nations Security Council. We will be embarked on additional consultations with partners in the Security Council as well as allies and concerned parties outside of the Security Council towards obtaining that kind of outcome." -Full Text
-President's Statement -Amb. Bosworth's Briefing 
Joint Session of Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and Arctic Council
Secretary Clinton (Apr. 6): "The genius of the Antarctic Treaty lies in its relevance today. It was written to meet the challenges of an earlier time, but it and its related instruments remain a key tool in our efforts to address an urgent threat of this time, climate change, which has already destabilized communities on every continent, endangered plant and animal species, and jeopardized critical food and water sources. Climate change is shaping the future of...our planet in ways we are still striving to understand." -Full Text
Date: 04/03/2009 Description: President Barack Obama addresses a Town Hall meeting at Rhenus Sports Arena in Strasbourg, France, Friday April 3, 2009. © AP Photo
President Obama Discusses Afghanistan During Town Hall in France
President Obama (Apr. 3): "The United States of America did not choose to fight a war in Afghanistan. We were attacked by an al Qaeda network that killed thousands on American soil, including French and Germans. ... So I've made a commitment to Afghanistan, and I've asked our NATO partners for more civilian and military support and assistance. We do this with a clear purpose: to root out the terrorists who threaten all of us, to train the Afghan people to sustain their own security and to help them advance their own opportunity, and to quicken the day when our troops come home." -Full Text

In Other News

Description: Great Seal State Dept Photo
U.S. Remains Focused on Two-State Solution
Acting Spokesman Wood (Apr. 3): "The Israeli Government has just come into place. We are going to be working with that government and with our Palestinian partners to try to move toward this two-state solution I think we all want to see happen. We want to do this as quickly as possible." -Full Text -Video
Date: 09/19/2008 Description: A Pakistani tribal girl cooks food at a refugee camp set up for displaced villagers who fled Pakistani tribal areas due to fighting between Pakistani troops and militants, Friday, Sept. 19, 2008 in Charsadda near Peshawar, Pakistan. © AP Photo
U.S. Gives $9.3 Million To Help Displaced Pakistanis
The U.S. Government announces a new contribution of $9.3 million to help Pakistanis displaced by conflict in their country. The money will support emergency operations in Pakistan managed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross. -Full Text
Date: 04/02/2009 Description: President Barack Obama delivers remarks at press conference. © AP Photo
G-20 Summit: Laying Groundwork for Progress
President Obama (Apr. 2): "[W]e ... discussed coordinated actions on a range of issues:  how we could reduce the nuclear threat; how we could forge a coordinated response to North Korea's planned missile launch; how we can turn back terrorism and stabilize Afghanistan; how we can protect our planet from the scourge of climate change." -Full Text
Date: 03/31/2009 Location: The Hague, Netherlands Description: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivers a statement at The International Conference on Afghanistan. © AP Photo
Conference on Afghanistan
Secretary Clinton (Mar. 31): "The range of countries and institutions represented here is a universal recognition that what happens in Afghanistan matters to us all. ...Our success...will not only benefit Afghanistan, Pakistan and the region, but also the blueprint for a new diplomacy powered by partnership and premised on shared interests." -Full Text  
-More From Travel
Date: 03/25/2009 Location: Mexico City Description: Secretary Clinton and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Patricia Espinosa participate in a joint press conference at the Mexican Foreign Ministry, Mexico City. © U.S. Embassy
U.S., Mexico Share a Strong and Sustained Partnership
Secretary Clinton (Mar. 25): "Our two nations know each other very well, and with good reason. This is one of the most important relationships that exists between any two countries in the world. We are part of the same family, we share this continent as our common home, and we will inhabit a common future." -Full Text -More from Travel
Date: 06/25/2003 Location: Agra, India Description: The Taj Mahal is reflected in a pool in Agra, India, June 25, 2003. © AP Photo
U.S.-India: Challenges of the 21st Century
Deputy Secretary Steinberg (Mar. 23): "The U.S.-India bond is between two societies, not just two governments. ... The Indian Diaspora community, the influx of Indian students in our universities, collaboration between our NGOs and civil society and growing economic and business interests – all have been pulling India and the United States closer for decades." -Full Text
Date: 06/29/2007 Location: Nairobi, Kenya. Description: Children gather at the school compound during their break at Undugu school in Nairobi. © AP Photo
Study Tour for Drug Counselors
The State Department is sponsoring a study tour for 12 professionals in the area of substance abuse from Afghanistan and Kenya during the week of March 23. This effort is part of the United States’ Global Initiative to provide drug abuse treatment services for the specials needs of drug addicted women and their children living in Afghanistan and Kenya. -Full Text 
Date: 03/24/2009 Location: U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC Description: Secretary Clinton and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd after their meeting. State Dept Photo
U.S., Australia Reaffirm Commitment To Face Challenges Together
Secretary Clinton (Mar. 24): "America doesn’t have a better friend in the world than Australia, a friend through good times and hard times on so many of the historic and difficult challenges that have faced the United States and Australia, both singly and together." -Full Text 
Wind turbines. AP Photo
A Global Reponse to Climate Change
Special Envoy Stern (Mar. 29): "America is now once again strongly committed to developing a global response to climate change. We do not doubt the science, we do not doubt the urgency, and we do not doubt the enormity of the challenge before us." -Full Text

 

Date: 03/17/2009 Description: Secretary Clinton meets with Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. State Dept Photo
U.S., Northern Ireland: Working for a Better Future
Secretary Clinton (Mar. 17): "The two men standing on either side of me led Northern Ireland through the last days in a commendable manner. ...We’re committed to looking forward to a future where we, the United States, working with them, can create a better life...." -Full Text 
Date: 03/19/2009 Location: Hanover, Germany Description: Refugees from Iraq sit in the airport in Hanover, Germany, Thursday, March 19, 2009, waiting for transport to the border transit camp. © AP Photo
$150 Million To Help Displaced Iraqis
The United States is pleased to announce new FY 2009 contributions of more than $141 million to help Iraqis who remain displaced as a result of the war. These contributions come in addition to the $9 million that the United States committed earlier this fiscal year, to total $150 million thus far in FY 2009. -Full Text
Location: New York City Description: Eleanor Roosevelt and the Human Rights Declaration © UN Photo
Human Rights, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity
The U.S. supports the UN Statement on “Human Rights, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity,” and is pleased to join the other 66 UN member states who have declared their support of this Statement that condemns human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity wherever they occur. -Full Text

Highlights

Secretary Clinton traveled to The Hague and Europe March 31 to April 4.

The round State Department seal follows Secretary Clinton's location. Clicking on the seal brings you to a larger interactive map, complete with video, photos, and the Secretary's remarks from the trip.
Ask the Ambassador
Date: 03/13/2009 Description: Flags of U.S. and Paraguay. State Dept PhotoU.S. Ambassador to Paraguay Liliana Ayalde discussed U.S.-Paraguay bilateral relations. Answers coming soon...


Student Website
Date: 04/03/2009 Description: Home page for the student website at future.state.gov. State Dept PhotoYouth are the world's future diplomats. Visit the State Department's student website at future.state.gov and get the who, what, when, where and why of foreign affairs!


Traveling?

Date: 05/24/2007 Location: Vienna, Austria Description: Concert by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra held on grounds of Schoenbrunn Palace. © AP Photo
Austria
Austrian history as such dates back to 976, when Leopold von Babenberg became the ruler of much of present-day Austria. In 1276 Rudolf I became the first Habsburg to ascend to the throne. Although never unchallenged, the Habsburgs ruled Austria for nearly 750 years.
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Zweierspitze Mountain near Mastrils, Switzerland, December 11, 2006. [© AP Images]
Switzerland
Switzerland sits at the crossroads of several major European cultures, which have heavily influenced the country's languages and cultural practices. Switzerland has four official languages--German, French, Italian, and Romansch. The German spoken is predominantly a Swiss dialect, but newspapers and some media broadcasts use High German. Many Swiss speak more than one language. English is widely spoken.
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Fishermen drag a small boat up the shore in Sao Pedro Bay, Sao Vicente, Cape Verde. September 8, 2000. [© AP Images]
Cape Verde
The Cape Verde Islands are located in the mid-Atlantic Ocean some 300 mi. off the west coast of Africa. The archipelago includes 10 islands and 5 islets, divided into the windward (Barlavento) and leeward (Sotavento) groups.
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Date: 03/11/2008 Location: Caye Caulker, Belize Description: Hundreds of grunts make their way close to the surface of the ocean in this underwater view, highlighting their colors, off the Belize Barrier Reef near Caye Caulker, Belize. The reef forms a nearly continuous wall of coral for almost 140 miles and is home to hundreds of fish varieties. © AP Photo
Belize
Tourism attracts the most foreign direct investment, although significant U.S. investment also is found in the telecommunications and agriculture sectors. A combination of natural factors--climate, the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, numerous islands, excellent fishing, safe waters for boating, jungle wildlife, and Mayan ruins--support the thriving tourist industry.
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Maca Indians perform during national Indians Day in Mariano Roque Alonso, Paraguay, April 19, 2007. [© AP Images]Paraguay
Pre-Columbian civilization in the fertile, wooded region that is now Paraguay consisted of numerous seminomadic, Guarani-speaking tribes, who were recognized for their fierce warrior traditions. They practiced a mythical polytheistic religion, which later blended with Christianity. 
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