Foreign Policy Newsletter of February 17, 2012
Photo: President Barack Obama meets with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, Tuesday, Feb., 14, 2012, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A Digest of this Week's Major Statements
Clinton, Others at Launch of Climate and Clean Air Coalition (16-02-2012)
[...] The range of countries, organizations, and industries gathered in this room today reflects the weight of scientific research showing that climate change is one of the most serious and complex problems facing our world. We know its impacts. It impacts global security, the global economy, global food and water supplies, and the health and well-being of people everywhere. And we know that in the principal effort necessary to reduce the effects of carbon dioxide, the world has not yet done enough. So when we discover effective and affordable ways to reduce global warming – not just a little, but by a lot – it is a call to action. [...] We think that today's announcement ... will be looked back on in years to come as a real turning point in the fight against the effects of climate change across our globe." State Dept. Fact Sheet on Climate and Clean Air Coalition (16-02-2012)
[...] While the Afghan drug trade begins in Afghanistan, its causes and consequences extend far beyond its borders. So must our responsibility for solving it. This is a global problem that demands a common response, rooted firmly in the full implementation of the three UN drug conventions. And to that end, I would like to say a few words about our multi-pronged approach to reduce production at the source, expand regional cooperation, target illicit financial flows, and invest in demand reduction and drug abuse prevention.
[...] We share an obligation to explain to the larger American public the crucial importance of robust U.S. engagement on the international stage. Now, we can debate the scope and flavor of that engagement, but I think we can all agree that the United States must remain a leading voice and a leading light in the world community. Today I would like to take just a few minutes to discuss how the United States is demonstrating that leadership at the UN and in other international organizations. Let me begin by observing that the American public does not generally spend a great deal of time focusing on the actions and functions of the UN. When it does, it is often during a crisis and in the context of the UN Security Council.
Assistant Gordon answers questions on Iran in a BBC interview in Brussels, Belgium (16-02-2012)
[...] I don’t want to speculate on what Israel might do, but clearly the talk on such an action reflects what everybody knows is growing concerns throughout the region and in Israel, about what many Israelis consider to be a potentially existential threat, all the more reason for us to up our efforts in the international community both to show Iran that there is a different way forward which is a diplomatic one but also to show it that if it fails, it runs real risks of growing isolation, and…
[...] The United States continues to pursue a peaceful, humane solution to the untenable situation at Camp Ashraf. The critical next step is the voluntary movement of the first group of 400 Ashraf residents to the new transit facility at Camp Hurriya (former Camp Liberty). The United States supports the UN’s call for the Iraqi government and the residents of Camp Ashraf to continue to cooperate and begin this movement peacefully and without delay.
[...] So we have to be both unrelenting in our efforts to end it and understanding about what works and what doesn’t work. And I think you’ll hear that firsthand from the panelists. We enter into this with a lot of humility because we have to empower those people in those villages to make the decisions.
Now we cannot excuse this as a cultural tradition. There are many cultural traditions that used to exist in many parts of the world that are no longer acceptable. We cannot excuse it as a private matter because it has very broad public implications. It has no medical benefits. It is, plain and simply, a human rights violation. And as we think about the rights of young girls to be free from both physical and mental violence, we can understand why this is such an important issue that deserves attention from the United States Congress and from leaders across the globe.
[...] Today, the UN General Assembly sent a clear message to the people of Syria: the world is with you. An overwhelming majority of UN member states have backed the plan put forward by the Arab League to end the suffering of Syrians. Bashar al-Assad has never been more isolated. A rapid transition to democracy in Syria has garnered the resounding support of the international community. Change must now come.
[...] Kosovo may be a young country, but you hold a promising future, and the United States is committed to supporting an independent, sovereign, multiethnic Kosovo. I commend Kosovo’s elected leaders for their dedication to the aspirations of the citizens of Kosovo through stronger democratic institutions, greater economic opportunities, and promoting the rule of law. This path will lead the citizens of Kosovo to full Euro-Atlantic integration, and to lasting stability and prosperity for your country.
European Union & United States agree to historic partnership on organic trade (sector valued at $50+ billion) (15-02-2012)
[...] The European Union and the United States announced today that beginning June 1, 2012, organic products certified in Europe or in the United States may be sold as organic in either region. This partnership between the two largest organic-producers in the world will establish a strong foundation from which to promote organic agriculture, benefiting the growing organic industry and supporting jobs and businesses on a global scale.
[...] As I indicated during my recent visit to APEC and the East Asia Summit, the United States is a Pacific nation. And we are very interested and very focused on continuing to strengthen our relationships, to enhance our trade and our commerce, and make sure that we are a strong and effective partner with the Asia Pacific region. And obviously, in order to do that, it is absolutely vital that we have a strong relationship with China. White House on Strengthening U.S.-China Economic Relations (14-02-2012)
[...] In this area, as in many others, we’re working together to an unprecedented degree. Let me be clear: I believe, as the President said also to the Vice President in the Oval Office not long ago, we believe that a rising China is a positive development -- not only for China but also for the United States and the world. It will fuel economic growth and prosperity, and a rising China will bring to the fore a new partner with whom we can have help meeting the global challenges we all face. Even as our nations cooperate, though, as the Vice President point out, we will continue to compete. As Americans, we welcome this competition. I’ve said to the Vice President before, it’s part of our DNA. And it pushes our companies to develop better products and services and our government to craft better policies.
[...] Well first, as you know, we have long supported Turkey’s full membership in the EU. We don’t have a vote, but we have certainly made our views known year after year because we think it’s in both Turkey’s interest and Europe’s interest for Turkey to be a full member of the European Union. And I am one who thinks eventually that will occur, that it is something that is very much in the interests of both economic and political integration. So I don’t want anyone to get discouraged, and I don’t want anyone to walk away from it – but like with any difficult negotiations, sometimes it needs to be put on the backburner for a while, and we have enough to keep us busy right now in the region.
And there is certainly a role for the United States to play because of our long association with, and alliance with Turkey that we value greatly. We’ve been partners and allies in NATO, where Turkey’s played a very constructive role from the beginning till the recent day. So we continue to believe that it’s in everyone’s interest for Turkey to become an EU member.
