DipNote: The Week in Review

Posted by Sarah Goldfarb / January 30, 2011

About the Author: Sarah Goldfarb serves as DipNote's Associate Editor.

Today, Secretary Clinton addressed the unfolding events in Egypt during interviews with ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX and NBC. The Secretary said, “…[T]his is an intensely complex situation. It does not lend itself to quick yes-or-no, easy answers, but instead, I think the path that President Obama has charted, that we are pursuing, that calls for no violence, that supports the aspirations and human rights of the Egyptian people, that stands behind concrete steps toward democratic and economic reform is the right path for all of us to be on.”

Secretary Clinton then traveled to Haiti to consult with members of civil society, political actors, Haiti's president, and international partners on the ongoing electoral situation, as well as reconstruction efforts.

Earlier in the week, Secretary Clinton joined President Barack Obama in condemning the terrorist attack at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport. U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Beyrle paid his respects to the victims of the bomb attack in a video.

Ambassador Goosby reinforced the President and Secretary's statements on the tragic loss of David Kato, who was at the forefront of the fight for human rights for all Ugandans, including members of Uganda's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.

President Barack Obama outlined his foreign policy goals in the 2011 State of the Union Address, noting that it will require us to approach that world with “a new level of engagement in our foreign affairs.”

Throughout the week, Secretary Clinton held a number of high-level meetings at the Department of State, including bilateral meetings with Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez, Sudanase Foreign Minister Ahmen Ali Karti, Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, and Colombian Vice President Garzon. She also traveled to Mexico last weekend, where she met with Mexican Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa to discuss regional and global issues.

With the unfolding events in Tunisia, Assistant Secretary Jeffrey D. Feltman traveled to Tunisia to meet with government officials, political party leaders, and civil society advocates in order to convey U.S. support for the Tunisian people. In Syria, Ambassador Robert Ford presented his credentials to President Bashar Assad.

After last week's visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao, Obama Administration officials created a high-tech bridge across the Pacific to discuss the recent trip and other important issues with Chinese bloggers.

In Pakistan, U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter honored the winners of the Pakistan Fast Growth 25 Contest and highlighted their role as job creators. The Ambassador and his wife, Dr. Marilyn Wyatt, also held an open and candid conversation with 29 university students from underserved areas of Pakistan and covered issues such as U.S.-Pakistan relations, efforts to combat terrorism, and U.S. civilian assistance.

One year after the devastating earthquake, the first American Corner was inaugurated in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, giving Haitian children access to books and educational materials to help them prepare for the challenges ahead. We also saw award-winning writers from around the world converge on Jaipur, India, for a literature festival.

In Tanzania, we learned how microfinance is empowering Tanzanians, and in Washington, the Albanian-American Enterprise Fund (AAEF), recipient of a U.S. government grant, returned $15 million to the U.S. Treasury. This marks the successful completion of a 1995 USAID program to promote growth of the private sector in Albania and assist the country's transition to a market-based economy.

In Afghanistan, USAID is collaborating with the Ministry of Public Health to support midwifery education programs throughout the country, and is increasing the number of skilled midwives in an effort to reduce infant and maternal mortality. USAID Administrator Raj Shah announced this week that the United States and Russia are partnering to eradicate polio around the globe.

Captain Franchetti, mission commander of Pacific Partnership 2010, visited the State Department to express her gratitude for the Department's assistance in carrying out the mission of the Pacific Partnership -- to enhance relationships with host and partner nations through medical, dental, and engineering outreach projects.

Here at DipNote, we regret the postponement of the “Conversations With America: Recent Trends in Anti-Semitism Around the World,” but we will be sure to let you know when it is rescheduled.

We appreciate your feedback and comments, and we look forward to hearing you from you.

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