“So many of the qualities that we Americans hold dear we imported from this land — perseverance, faith, an unbending belief that we make our own destiny, and an unshakable dream that if we work hard and we live responsibly, something better lies just around the bend.
“So our histories are bound by blood and belief, by culture and by commerce. And our futures are equally, inextricably linked. And that’s why I’ve come to Belfast today — to talk about the future we can build together.” MORE
Secretary Kerry: Peace Corps “The Best Use of Citizenship”
Secretary of State John Kerry took a break from meetings last week at the Organization of American States General Assembly in Antigua, Guatemala, to swear in the first group of Peace Corps volunteers of his tenure.
During an intimate gathering before he addressed the staff of Embassy Guatemala City, the Secretary chatted with the incoming class of Guatemala Response volunteers. MORE
Secretary Kerry Travels to the Middle East and Africa
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 uncorks a bottle of champagne en route from Andrews Air Force Base to Stockholm, Sweden as he celebrates the first press briefing at the U.S. Department of State Department by his new Spokesperson, Jen Psaki, on May 13, 2013. [State Department photo / Public Domain]
On Thursday, President Obama leaves on a three day trip to Mexico and Costa Rica, where he will meet with key leaders to discuss a range of issues. In Mexico the President will meet with his counterpart, President Peña Nieto, on ways we can deepen our economic and commercial partnership.
In Costa Rica, President Chinchilla will host a meeting with President Obama and heads of state of the other Central American countries and the Dominican Republic, where the leaders can discuss our collective efforts to promote economic growth and development in Central America and our ongoing collaboration on citizen security.
We asked Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, to preview the upcoming trip and some of the issues the President would be discussing in his meetings. Check it out above or watch the video on YouTube.
Learn more about President Obama’s trip to Mexico and Costa Rica at whitehouse.gov.
Following a busy Tuesday at NATO, Secretary of State John Kerry continued to meet with foreign leaders in Brussels today. Secretary Kerry began this morning with “an expansive conservation” with Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders, before he met with Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze and then held a dialogue with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. His meetings covered an extensive range of topics, from the importance of trade negotiations to security… more »
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry travels to Brussels, Belgium on April 22, 2013.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry greets Belgian Ambassador Pierre Labouverie upon arrival in Brussels, Belgium on April 21, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]
Secretary Kerry meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and members of the Syrian Opposition Coalition in Istanbul, Turkey on April 20, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]
![U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry looks on as Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani shake hands after their trilateral meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on April 24, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2013_0424_kerry_afghanistan_pakistan_m.jpg)
![U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry greets Belgian Ambassador Pierre Labouverie upon arrival in Brussels, Belgium on April 21, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/f8f2a218c2fb0623742f9e33393b3818/tumblr_mlmfi1p13j1qcug8io1_500.jpg)
