U.S. Department of State

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Indonesian Foreign Minister R.M. Marty Natalegawa address reporters before their bilateral meeting at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on May 16, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]

Vice President Joseph Biden and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry host a luncheon in honor of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on May 16, 2013. [State Department photos/ Public Domain]

Promoting Inclusion and Rights for Disabled Athletes Through Sports

Young Pacific Island Athletes and Their Coaches Pose for a Photo Outside the U.S. Capitol

Did you know that contrary to popular belief, sign language is not universal? Although the exact number of sign languages around the world is still unknown, 19 deaf track and field athletes communicated through a universal language that they all could understand last week: sports.

I was lucky enough to meet these energetic, young athletes and their six coaches from the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, and the Solomon Islands who were here in the United States participating in a Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Sports Visitors program.

Welcoming the Secretary to Sweden and the Arctic

My team and I at the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, had the privilege to welcome Secretary Kerry to Sweden on May 14th and 15th. The Secretary visited Stockholm and Kiruna, Sweden’s northernmost city. It was the first time a Secretary of State traveled to two Swedish cities in one visit and the second time we welcomed a Secretary of State to Sweden during the past year (Secretary Clinton was here last June). MORE

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivers remarks at the Arctic Council Ministerial Session in Kiruna, Sweden on May 15, 2013. A text transcript can be found at http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/05/209403.htm

Ten Things You Should Know About the Arctic and the Arctic Council

An Iceberg Is Seen Off Ammassalik Island in Eastern Greenland

1. The Arctic Council is comprised of eight member countries: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States. MORE

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivers remarks with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt in Stockholm, Sweden on May 14, 2013. A text transcript can be found at http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/05/209352.htm

Visegrád Four: Key Partners in the Transatlantic Community

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry attends a presentation with seven other Arctic Council Ministers in the LKAB mine, Kiruna, Sweden on May 15, 2013. [State Department photo / Public Domain]

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry participates in the Kiruna Ministerial Meeting of the 8th annual Arctic Council meeting at the City Hall in Kiruna, Sweden on May 15, 2013. [State Department photo / Public Domain]