U.S. Department of State

Orchestrating a Security Conference

Sat, 18 May 2013 19:21:43 -0400

For the past six years, the New York staff for the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), in concert with the FBI and locally-based academic institutions, has organized an annual security conference focusing on international law enforcement. The conference this year allowed three IVLP groups, all high level law enforcement professionals representing 32 countries, to come together and meet with U.S. counterparts. Read more on DipNote.

Deepening the U.S. Partnership With Northern Europe

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:57:18 -0400

On May 16, Finnish Ambassador Ritva Koukku-Ronde welcomed me and the Nordic-Baltic (NB) Ambassadors to her home on Embassy Row for a candid discussion on some of the most pressing global challenges we face today. Over a traditional Scandinavian breakfast, we exchanged views on a wide-range of issues, from the DPRK to ending the bloodshed in Syria to climate change in the Arctic. I very much appreciated hearing from our close friends. MORE

Secretary Kerry Travels to the Middle East and Africa

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:51:10 -0400

Secretary Kerry will travel May 21 to Muscat, where he will meet with senior Omani officials to discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues.

On May 22, the Secretary will visit Amman, where he will meet with key international partners to further explore ways that the international community can work towards bringing together both sides of the conflict and developing a path toward a negotiated political solution to the crisis in Syria.

On May 23-24, Secretary Kerry will travel to Jerusalem and Ramallah. In Jerusalem, he will meet with Israeli leaders, and in Ramallah he will meet with the Palestinian leadership.

Secretary Kerry will then travel May 24-25 to Addis Ababa, where he will meet with senior Ethiopian officials to discuss bilateral issues and participate in the Golden Jubilee of the Organization of African Unity at the African Union Summit.

On May 26, Secretary Kerry will depart Addis Ababa and return to Amman, where he will participate in the World Economic Forum.

The Secretary will depart Amman and return to Washington on May 27.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivers remarks with...

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:44:38 -0400

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivers remarks with Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC on May 17, 2013. A text transcript can be found at http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/05/209581.htm

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Bangladeshi...

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:29:30 -0400

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on May 17, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on May 17, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on May 17, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Turkish Foreign...

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:16:44 -0400

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on May 16, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on May 16, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on May 16, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]

In Brussels, International Community Solidifies Commitment to Mali's Recovery

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:57:00 -0400

Women Sell Cloth at the Grand Market in Bamako, Mali

Representatives from more than 80 countries met in Brussels on May 15 to pledge their support for Mali, which is recovering from political upheaval and the occupation of its northern territory by rebels and terrorist groups.

Nancy Lindborg, USAID’s Assistant Administrator for the Bureau of Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, and I announced an additional $32 million in new U.S. humanitarian assistance to support Malians affected by the crisis. MORE

In a video message, Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent...

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:41:01 -0400

In a video message, Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, commemorates International Day Against Homophobia on May 17. Read more on DipNote.

In a video message, Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent...

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:45:44 -0400

In a video message, Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, commemorates International Day Against Homophobia on May 17. Read more on DipNote.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivers remarks with...

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:04:02 -0400

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivers remarks with Indonesian Foreign Minister R.M. Marty Natalegawa at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC on May 16, 2013. A text transcript can be found at http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/05/209509.htm

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Indonesian Foreign...

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:40:50 -0400

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 on May 16, 2013.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with Indonesian Foreign Minister R.M. Marty Natalegawa at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on May 16, 2013.

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...

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:33:09 -0400

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, with U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, right, delivers remarks in honor of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the U.S. Department of State.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, right, and U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, left, listen as Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the U.S. Department of State.

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

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:58:01 -0400

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

Thu, 16 May 2013 09:54:00 -0400

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...

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:08:58 -0400

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

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:16:13 -0400

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...

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:11:55 -0400

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

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:03:28 -0400

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry attends a presentation with...

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:22:19 -0400

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...

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:21:00 -0400

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov chat on May 15, 2013 in Kiruna, Sweden during the conclusion of the 8th Arctic Council meeting. [State Department photo /

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry answers a question on May 15, 2013 during a ministerial news conference at the conclusion of an Arctic Council meeting in Kiruna, Sweden.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry signs the Kiruna Declaration and the Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response Agreement during the close of an Arctic Council meeting in Kiruna, Sweden.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov answers a question on May 15, 2013 during a ministerial news conference at the conclusion of an Arctic Council meeting in Kiruna, Sweden.

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]