Deepening the U.S. Partnership With Northern Europe
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
Visegrád Four: Key Partners in the Transatlantic Community
On May 14, I hosted my counterparts from the foreign ministries of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. These four Central European countries form a consultative group called the Visegrád Four, or V4. Although under Communist rule from the 1940s until 1989, in less than a generation they have successfully built democratic governments and transitioned to market economies, earning membership in NATO and the European Union. MORE
Working Multilaterally To Prevent Genocide
![Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman (left/right) and UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng (left/right) discuss U.S. and UN efforts on atrocity prevention and response, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., March 26, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2013_0328_sherman_dieng_m.jpg)
About the Author: Tori Holt serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs.
On Tuesday, March 26, the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng came to Washington, D.C. to discuss efforts for atrocity prevention with Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman and other senior U.S. officials, briefing on his work internationally and thanking the US for its establishment of the Atrocities Prevention Board (APB) by President Obama.
In my meeting with Special Adviser Dieng, we stressed the importance of working closely with the United Nations, multilateral—as well as bilateral—partners on preventing genocide and mass atrocities, before they occur.
During a full day of consultations, Special Adviser Dieng also met with State and…more »
Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman’s Travel to Somalia
Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
November 4, 2012
On November 4, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman visited Mogadishu, Somalia to meet with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahamud, Speaker of the Federal Parliament Mohammed Osman Jawari, African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Force Commander Lieutenant General Andrew Gutti, the UN Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General for Somalia, and leaders of Somalia’s civil society and business community. Under Secretary Sherman is the highest ranking U.S. official to visit Somalia in more than twenty years, and her visit underscored the U.S. Government’s commitment to Somalia’s stabilization efforts.
Under Secretary Sherman welcomed the announcement by Somalia’s Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon that he has named his new cabinet. Under Secretary Sherman noted that the United States is pleased to see that the new cabinet includes two women, which is a positive reflection of the important role women play in all aspects of Somali life. Somalia’s parliamentarians will soon meet to consider the new cabinet.
In her comments to senior Somali officials, Under Secretary Sherman stressed her conviction that Somalia is now a place of hope, not of despair. She congratulated the Somali President and Speaker of Parliament on the important political progress made in Somalia, including the August 20 formation of Parliament and September 10 election of President Hassan Sheikh. The Under Secretary affirmed the centrality of the Somali government and people in guiding international support to the country. MORE
Travel of Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy R. Sherman to Russia
Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
June 16, 2012
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy R. Sherman departs for Moscow, Russia today to lead the United States’ delegation to talks June 18-19 between the P5+1 countries (China, France, Germany, Russia, U.K., United States and EU) and Iran over Iran’s nuclear program.
