Foreign Policy Newsletter of December 23, 2011
Photo: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at Georgetown University on women, peace, and security. State Department photo my Michael Gross.
A Digest of this Week's Major Statements
[…] Today, I want to focus on one aspect of peacemaking that too often goes overlooked – the role of women in ending conflict and building lasting security. Some of you may have watched a week ago Saturday as three remarkable women – two from Liberia, one from Yemen – accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. For years, many of us have tried to show the world that women are not just victims of war; they are agents of peace. And that was the wisdom behind the historic UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which was adopted a decade ago but whose promise remains largely unfulfilled. So it was deeply heartening to see those three women command the global spotlight and urge the international community to adopt an approach to making peace that includes women as full and equal partners […]
USTR Kirk: Trade is Vital to Global Economy (2011-12-21)
The commitment of the United States to the World Trade Organization and the international trading system is not new, fleeting or superficial, but is long-standing, because a rules-based trading system is vital to global economic well-being, the U.S. trade representative says.
Clinton on Supreme Court Ruling of Presidential Election in DRC (2011-12-20).
The United States is deeply disappointed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the electoral commission’s provisional results without fully evaluating widespread reports of irregularities, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says. See also: Dossier on US Policy toward Africa
Secretary Clinton on Reports of Violence in Egypt (2011-12-19)
I am deeply concerned about the continuing reports of violence in Egypt. I urge Egyptian security forces to respect and protect the universal rights of all Egyptians, including the rights to peaceful free expression and assembly. We call upon the Egyptian authorities to hold accountable those, including security forces, who violate these standards. Those who are protesting should do so peacefully and refrain from acts of violence. Our thoughts are with the families of those who have been killed or injured. See also: Dossier on US Policy toward the Middle East.
Clinton at Release of "To Walk the Earth in Safety" Report (2011-12-19)
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton makes remarks at the release of the tenth edition of To Walk the Earth in Safety, a report on the removal and destruction of unsecured conventional weapons and U.S. success in humanitarian demining.
With the passing of National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong Il, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is now in a period of national mourning. We are deeply concerned with the well being of the North Korean people and our thoughts and prayers are with them during these difficult times. It is our hope that the new leadership of the DPRK will choose to guide their nation onto the path of peace by honoring North Korea’s commitments, improving relations with its neighbors, and respecting the rights of its people. The United States stands ready to help the North Korean people and urges the new leadership to work with the international community to usher in a new era of peace, prosperity and lasting security on the Korean Peninsula. See also: Dossier on US Relations with North Korea
I’m particularly proud of the role that the United States played through the NATO alliance in helping protect and support the Libyan people during this dramatic and inspiring revolution. This was a very unique alliance against tyranny and for freedom.
Even though Operation Unified Protector has ended, I want to stress that the United States, despite the fact that that program has ended, will continue – will continue to stand by the Libyan people. To that end, we are looking forward to building a close partnership with the Libyan government, and we stand ready to provide whatever assistance they need in the spirit -- in the spirit of friendship and in the spirit of mutual respect. See also: Dossier on US Policy toward the Middle East.
[…] This stop in Beijing is the final stop on a three-city visit to North Asia. We began, of course, in Seoul, went on to Tokyo, and then came here to Beijing. We believe that the very good and in-depth discussions that we have had around the Northeast Asian region give us a good basis for understanding what we need to do to achieve the goals of the Six-Party Talks, and primarily that is, of course, achieving a stable and peaceful Korean Peninsula, free of nuclear weapons. Now I will head back to Washington to report […] See also: Dossier on US Relations with North Korea
