Mexico and Central America to improve the operational
capacity
of their security forces
more The
participating delegations to 4th Mexico-SICA dialog agreed to strengthen
coordination in order to improve the operational capacity of their
respective security forces...
The Future
of U.S. Public Diplomacy
more Under-Secretary
Judith A. McHale: Public opinion is influencing foreign governments
and shaping world affairs to an unprecedented degree. In the past
25 years 40...
History will reveal decisive Special Operations
role, Mullen said
more Addressing
a group of Navy SEALs, the nation’s top military officer
said history would show the decisive contributions provided by
special operations troops in Iraq and Afghanistan...
U.S. President Obama decided continuation of
emergency on Cuba more Obama:
In accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act
(50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing the national emergency with
respect to Cuba and the emergency...
EU-Latin American countries held intense trade talks
more Representatives
from seven Latin American countries, grouped into two blocs - Central
American and Andean - have been discussing various trade agreements
with the EU since...
Cuban leader Raúl Castro
stressed agreement to
create a Regional Community
more Cuban
President Raúl Castro, said this Monday that the decision
taken at the Summit of the Unity to create the Community of Latin
American and Caribbean States is of...
U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M.
Gates visited CIA Headquarters
more U.S.
Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates visited CIA Headquarters,
where he met with CIA Director Leon E. Panetta, addressed the
Agency’s workforce, and received...
U.S. VP Joseph Biden
says the best is yest to come as regards recovery
more Biden:
ndependent economists believe that, thanks to the Recovery Act,
about 2 million people are on the job today who would not have
work otherwise. Is that good...
Russian FM Sergey Lavrov
paid an official visit to Cuba
more Minister
of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov,
paid an official visit to Cuba from February 11-13. He also led
a Russian interagency delegation at...
Ministerial Meeting for EU-Brazilian
Political Dialogue
more The
Ministerial Meeting for Political Dialogue between the European
Union and the Federative Republic of Brazil will be held today
at Viana Palace in Madrid. The meeting will be...
Independent UN expert
urged immediate cancellation of Haiti’s external debt
more An
independent United Nations human rights expert today called for
the immediate cancellation of Haiti’s external debt to
allow it to recover from the devastating earthquake that struck...
Missile Defense Review
links Strategy to Threats, DoD says
more The
Ballistic Missile Defense Review released today aligns U.S. missile
defense posture with near-term regional missile threats, and
sustains the ability to defend the homeland...
Trade negotiations
between the EU and Central America within sight
more The
elections and investiture of Porfirio Lobo as President of Honduras
have cleared the way for the EU to restore normal relations with
the Central American country...
Haitian relief efforts have long way
to go despite improvement
more The
emergency relief operation in Haiti continues to make progress
on a daily basis although considerable logistical restraints
have meant large numbers of people suffering...
Inter-American Institutions undertake
Joint Mission to Haiti
more OAS
Assistant Secretary General, Ambassador Albert Ramdin arrives
in Port au Prince, Haiti, today, January 28th, accompanied by
a delegation of representatives from four...
Intelligence Reform:
The Lessons and Implications of the Christmas Day Attack
more The
attempted attack on December 25 was a powerful illustration that
terrorists will go to great lengths to defeat the security measures
that have been put in place since September 11...
G20 Communiqué on the situation in Haiti
more The
Group of 20 expresses its solidarity and sincere condolences
to the people and Government of the Republic of Haiti for the
devastation caused by the earthquakes of January 12...
Remarks by U.S. President Obama on
Financial Reform
more Obama:
This economic crisis began as a financial crisis, when banks
and financial institutions took huge, reckless risks in pursuit
of quick profits and massive bonuses. When the...
U.S. welcomes election of Sebastian
Pinera as Chilean President
more We
congratulate President-elect Sebastian Piñera on his election
and the Chilean people for another exemplary election process
which illustrated again Chile’s enormous respect...
UN Security Council,
General Assembly pledge support for Haiti quake victims
more The
192-member United Nations General Assembly and the 15-member
Security Council observed a minute of silence today as they stood
in solidarity with the countless earthquake...
Official detailed FBI’s Post-9/11
Counterterrorism Efforts
more Ever
since 9/11, critics have suggested that the FBI isn't up to its
task as our nation's lead counterterrorism agency. Yet, as the
nation focused on the failures of the intelligence community
in the...
Homeland Security Secretary
Napolitano to review Airport Security Procedures
more Secretary
of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today announced that she
is dispatching Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute, Assistant Secretary
for Policy David Heyman and other senior Department...
Due to the timely loans,
our financial system has stabilized
more Remarks
by U.S. President Obama on the Economy: Our nation's banks play,
and have always played, a crucial role in our national economy
-- from providing loans for homes and cars and colleges; to supplying
the...
Canadian PM Harper announced G-20 leaders will meet in Toronto
in 2010
more Prime
Minister Stephen Harper announced today that Toronto will host
the G-20 Summit on June 26 and 27, 2010. The Prime Minister made
the announcement with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak during...
United States welcomes the turnout of the presidential election
in Honduras
more We
commend the Honduran people for peacefully exercising their democratic
right to select their leaders in an electoral process that began
over a year ago, well before the June 28 coup d'etat. Turnout
appears to have exceeded that...
The 9th Mexico-European Union Joint
Committee meeting was held in Brussels
more The
ninth meeting of the joint committee that was created by the
Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation
Agreement (Global Agreement) was held in Brussels, Belgium on
November 26-27, 2009. The Mexican...
The President of Argentina,
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, to visit Brazil
more The
President of Argentina, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner,
will make an official visit to Brasília on November 18,
2009, under the Brazil-Argentina Integration and Bilateral Coordination
Mechanism (MICBA). This is the fourth...
U.S. President Barack Obama declared
that the Economy "is now growing again"
more Over
the past 10 months, we’ve taken a number of bold steps
to break the back of this recession. We’ve worked to stabilize
the financial system, revive lending to small businesses and
families, and prevent responsible homeowners from losing their...
Brazil’s marine and offshore industry,
great potential for Finland
more Minister
for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen emphasised
the world-class quality of Finnish expertise in offshore and
marine technology when he met on Wednesday, 11 November with
José Sergio Gabrielli de Azevedo, President and CEO of
Petrobrás, the world’s third largest oil company
with its...
Third Japan-India Strategic Dialogue on Economic Issues
more On
November 16 (Mon), the Third Japan-India Strategic Dialogue on
Economic Issues will be held in Delhi, India. This dialogue will
be attended by Mr. Yoichi Otabe, Deputy Minister for Foreign
Affairs, as the Chief Delegate of the Japanese side, and Mr.
Ashok Chawla, Finance Secretary of India, as the Chief...
Second U.S. Briefing on the ongoing Situation in Honduras
more by
U.S. Assistant Secretary Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. This is an important
moment for Honduras. This is an agreement done by Hondurans in
response to a Honduran crisis in which we and the international
community, especially the Organization of American States, provided
support and facilitation...
Remarks by U.S. Ambassador Wolff on the Situation in Honduras
more Mr.
President, we thank the Secretariat for the report on the activities
of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala
and express our strong support for CICIG. We are pleased to be
a co-sponsor of the resolution presented today by the delegation
of Guatemala. We would also like to recognize the...
State visit proved strategic relations between Mexico and Guatemala
more In
response to an invitation by Mr. Álvaro Colom, President
of Guatemala, Mexican President Felípe Calderón
paid a state visit to Guatemala on October 26 and 27, accompanied
by a top level delegation, during which they issued the following:
The Presidents agreed that the constructive political dialogue...
President Obama signed Emergency Declaration for H1N1 Flu
more - DoD
release Pursuant to section 201 of the National Emergencies
Act (50 U.S.C. 1621), I hereby report that I have exercised
my authority to declare a national emergency in order to be
prepared in the event of a rapid increase in illness across
the Nation that may overburden health care resources...
Mexican Federal Government prepared for New Outbreak of A/H1N1
more President
Felipe Calderón declared that Federal Government is prepared
to cope with the outbreak of the A/H1N1 flu virus and urged Mexicans
to maintain and reinforce preventive measures. “Once again,
I would like to invite all the workers in the country’s
Health Sector to redouble our epidemiological surveillance in
order to deal with...
U.S. Treasury designated Mexican Nationals, Company (Tijuana)
more - Report
on Tijuana Cartel (PDF) The U.S. Department of the Treasury's
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today designated Mexican
national Edgardo Leyva Escandon, five members of his financial
network, and one Mexico-based company as Specially Designated
Narcotics Traffickers for their ties to the Arellano Felix
Organization...
Man charged with Conspiracy to provide Material Support to
Terrorists
more A
Sudbury, Mass., man was charged today in federal court with conspiracy
to provide material support to terrorists. Acting U.S. Attorney
Michael K. Loucks and Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge
of the FBI - Boston Field Division, announced today that Tarek
Mehanna, 27, of 6 Fairhaven Circle, Sudbury, Mass., was charged
in a...
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the Sudan Strategy
more - background
briefing "President Obama and I have discussed this
issue over many months and most recently over this past weekend.
The fate of the Sudanese people is profoundly important to
him, to me, to Ambassador Rice, to General Gration, and to
our nation. Sudan is the largest country in Africa, one that
has been torn by myriad religious...
Mutual help to fight drug trafficking and terrorism, Uribe
asked
more “Integration
in defense, so we can help each other in the fight against terrorism,
in the fight against drug trafficking”. President Álvaro
Uribe Vélez declared at the end of a meeting he held with
his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
President Álvaro Uribe Vélez reiterated this Monday
the importance of fighting terrorism and drug...
With growing dependence, Pentagon Officials stress Cybersecurity
more Pentagon
officials stress that no matter what computer you use, you need
to take cybersecurity into account. With growing dependence on
information technology and increasing threats against it, President
Barack Obama declared October to be National Cybersecurity Month.
The Defense Department is one of the largest computer...
Hillary Clinton met with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov
remarks
before the meeting - full
remarks President Obama and I believe that it is this cooperative
relationship and the acceptance of shared responsibility that
is really at the core of the 21st century relationship between
the United States and Russia. One example of that is the work
that our technical experts are doing on a START agreement to
cut our nuclear...
U.S. President Barack Obama is Nobel Peace Prize 2009
more - remarks The
Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize
for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary
efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation
between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance
to Obama's vision of and work for a world without...
New Bomb 'MOAB' has "important capability," DoD Official
says
more The
Defense Department is developing an advanced “bunker-buster” bomb
that should be ready for deployment this summer, senior Pentagon
officials said. The department has been “working on technology
that allows us to get at deeply buried, hardened targets” since
2004, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters here. Development...
|
Economic freefall has been stopped
and financial markets have calmed
more Joint
Statement of U.S. Treasury top officials saying: "The policies
we have enacted in the last year and those proposed in the President's
Budget seek to restore economic and fiscal health after...
Brazil
and Germany are Strategic partners
more Germany
and Brazil are linked by a strategic partnership that covers
far more than just economic issues. Federal Foreign Minister
Guido Westerwelle stressed this fact on...
We must draw the lessons from what
occurred in Haiti, Préval told Obama
more Préval:
These are lessons for all of mankind. The Haiti earthquake was
immediately followed by the earthquake in Chile, as well as other
earthquakes throughout the world...
U.S. government
efforts to counter violent extremism
more Ambassador
Daniel Benjamin: In the past eight years, the United States has
made great strides in what might be called tactical counterterrorism – taking
individual...
Developing a Counterterrorist Strategy
for the Future
more Daniel
Benjamin, Coordinator, Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism,
IPI: al-Qa’ida isn’t the only terrorist group with
global ambitions. For example, Lashkar e-Taiba...
Lockheed to speed development of Joint
Strike Fighter (JSF) more Defense
Department leaders and Lockheed Martin executives explained to
international partners changes that have been made in the Joint
Strike Fighter program. Ashton Carter...
Cuban FM Rodriguez
denounced "new
U.S. aggressive escalation against Cuba"
more Speaking
during the third day of the 13th Session of the Human Rights
Council underway in this Swiss city until March 26, the Cuban
diplomat condemned the human rights...
Talks between Ban and Argentine official
focused on dispute with UK
more Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon today took note of Argentina’s concerns regarding
the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) during a meeting at United Nations
Headquarters with...
Clinton defended U.S. State Department
budget before the Senate
more U.S.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: We are fighting two wars
that call on the skill and sacrifice of our civilians as well
as our troops. We have pursued a dual-track approach...
OAS and United Nations to strengthen
Cooperation
on Transnational Security Issues
more he
Organization of American States (OAS), through its Secretariat
for Multidimensional Security, and the United Nations Office
on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) will sign a...
EU, UN and United States
pledge to improve their coordination in Haiti
more After
attending an informal meeting of European development ministers
at La Granja de San Ildefonso in Segovia, the three main players
in rebuilding Haiti after the earthquake...
Spanish FM Moratinos urged European
Union to improve relations with Cuba
more Spanish
Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said on Monday in Madrid
that the European Union’s policy toward Cuba is “hardly
satisfactory” and urged this regional...
Ongoing sanitation
issues and shelter issues in Haiti
more Amb.
Merten: Obviously, we face ongoing challenges. I think our next
issues we’re most concerned about are sanitation issues
and shelter issues, particularly regarding short...
Second State of the
Union Address for U.S. President Obama (2010)
more Obama:
One year ago, I took office amid two wars, an economy rocked
by a severe recession, a financial system on the verge of collapse,
and a government deeply in debt...
Russia, U.S. conducted
strategic arms reduction talks
more General
of the Army Nikolai Makarov and U.S. Admiral Mike Mullen discussed
arrangements for a new document to replace the Strategic Arms
Reduction Treaty (START I)...
EU, U.S. seek greater coordination
in the fight against terrorism
more The
informal meeting of Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs of
the EU (JHA) that begins today in Toledo will devote most of
the first day to analysing, jointly with the United States...
Clinton made remarks on Internet Freedom
more Clinton:
The spread of information networks is forming a new nervous system
for our planet. When something happens in Haiti or Hunan, the
rest of us learn about it in real time...
Security Council authorizes 3,500
more UN peacekeepers for Haiti
more The
Security Council today backed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s
call to increase the overall force levels of the United Nations
peacekeeping mission in Haiti to support the...
Obama, Clinton, Bush
spoke about Recovery in Haiti
more President
Obama: We just met in the Oval Office - an office they both know
well. And I'm pleased that President George W. Bush and President
Bill Clinton have agreed to lead a...
UN Secretary-General's briefing to the General Assembly on
the Emergency in Haiti
more Casualties
can not yet be estimated but they are certain to be heavy. Of
Haiti's 9 million people, initial reports suggest roughly third
may be affected by the disaster. Large portions of the...
Ban Ki-Moon voiced
concern after major earthquake hits Haiti
more Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon today voiced concern for the people of Haiti as well
as the United Nations staff there after a major earthquake struck
off the coast of the impoverished Caribbean...
In 2009,
2.638 guerrilla members demobilized in Colombia
more Last
year, 2.128 members from the Farc, 492 from the Eln and 18 members
of breakaway groups decided to leave guerrillas organizations.
Since August 7 2002, 20.555 members of illegal groups...
Climate of fear leads to impunity
for criminals in Colombia, UN expert warns
more Despite
important steps taken by the Colombian Government, a climate
of fear pervades the country’s judicial system due to attacks
and threats against the judiciary, victims and witnesses, a United
Nations...
Special U.S. Press Background Briefing on Counterterrorism
more The
fact is that I think as the President made clear in his statement
it is now clear to us that there are bits and pieces of information
that were in the possession of the U.S. government in advance...
Uribe asks to take to court foreign
political leaders who support FARC
more According
to the Head of State, the support expressed by the leaders of
the Coordinadora Continental Bolivariana (Bolivarian Continental
Coordination) to the Farc, from Venezuela, shows complicity with...
U.S. Treasury's Sobel's remarks to
9th Annual Parliamentary Transatlantic Forum
more Sobel:
Over the past day, you have heard from leading experts on the
critical regional challenges facing the United States. I would
like to discuss an equally important global challenge--promoting
economic growth. Growth is...
Situation in Honduras
remains unsettled, EU declared
more Since
the summer, the political situation in Honduras has been complicated.
President Zelaya was ousted and the government that is now in
charge was not democratically elected. Tomorrow, Sunday, there
will be elections. The crisis is not...
Iran-Venezuela foreign ministers discussed
issues of mutual interest
more Foreign
Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in a meeting with his Venezuelan
counterpart Nicolas Maduro here on Tuesday evening discussed
with him issues of mutual interest. After the meeting, Mottaki
told reporters that the two sides agreed on expansion of ties...
U.S. and Angola hold Strategic Partnership Dialogue Meetings
more During
Secretary Clinton’s visit to Angola on August 9-10, 2009,
she and Angolan Foreign Minister dos Anjos agreed to jointly
create a new mechanism for bilateral cooperation between the
United States and Angola. The resulting Strategic Partnership
Dialogue will consist of regular bilateral working group...
Israeli President Peres addressed session of the Brazilian
Congress
more Israel
has made research and development efforts in six new industries
necessary to the future world. Brazil's largeness and Israel's
smallness can complement one another. A large and diverse land
- from the headwaters of the Amazon to the modern architecture
of Brasilia. Its diverse colors produce sensation...
Response to OIG Audit of the FBI’s Sentinel Program
more The
following is in response to the Department of Justice’s
Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report, “Sentinel
Audit V: Status of the FBI’s Case Management System.” “The
FBI appreciates the Inspector General’s review of the FBI’s
Sentinel Program progress and recognition of the FBI’s
efforts...
Latin America making important progress towards development
more The
head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has spotlighted
the slow global progress towards reducing gender inequality and
violence against women on the first day of a three-day official
visit to Chile. Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator, met President
Michelle Bachelet and Foreign...
U.S. Department of State announced a Breakthrough in Honduras
more - Special
Briefing - UN
Secretary-General encouraged - EU
Statement Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered
the following remarks Friday morning, October 30, 2009, in
Islamabad, Pakistan: I'm very pleased to announce that we've
had a breakthrough in negotiations in Honduras. I want to congratulate...
Mexico to seek closer bilateral relationship with Syria
more Undersecretary
of Foreign Affairs Lourdes Aranda traveled today to Syria to
reiterate the importance that Mexico gives to its ties with that
country, to promote a closer bilateral relationship and to reaffirm
Mexico’s support for the Middle East peace process. During
her meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Moallem, Ambassador
Aranda reiterated...
The Fourth China-U.S. Relations Conference opened in Beijing
more On
October 22, 2009, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said it
is believed that with joint efforts of both sides, the visit
to China by U.S. President Barack Obama next month will achieve
positive results, and inject new vitality into the positive,
cooperative and comprehensive relationship between the two countries
in the 21st century...
Colombia to normalize its relations with the international
community
more During
the act to pay tribute to the Senator of Norte de Santander Department,
Efraín Torrado, President Álvaro Uribe Vélez
reiterated the Government’s commitment with that region
of the country. He also said that the right of the people who
live near the border to have unlimited integration is superior
to the competence of the governments...
FBI answered OIG Audit of Foreign Language Translation Program
more The
following is a response to the Department of Justice’s
Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report entitled, “The
Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Foreign Language Translation
Program.” “The FBI appreciates the Inspector General’s
review of the FBI’s Foreign Language Program. This audit
is a follow-up to the 2004 report and...
U.S. Blockade against Cuba discussed in OAS Meeting
more Venezuela
and Nicaragua introduced the issue of the U.S. economic blockade
against Cuba in a meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization
of American States (OAS) underway in Washington to discuss the
current political crisis in Honduras. The discussion led to a
debate between the representatives of the two nations and...
Central America most crime-ridden region in world, UN report
finds
more Central
America has become the region with the highest levels of non-political
crime worldwide, with an average murder rate of 33 per 100,000
inhabitants last year, three times greater than the global average,
a new United Nations report warns, noting that crime threatens
the region’s development. Some 79,000 people have been
murdered...
Russian-American Working Group on Arms Control met
more The
first meeting of the Working Group on Arms Control and International
Security was held in Moscow on October 12 as part of the Russian-American
Presidential Commission established after the bilateral summit
in Moscow in July this year. The co-chairs of the group are Sergey
A. Ryabkov, Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ellen...
Maryland Scientist charged with Attempted Espionage
more A
Maryland scientist who once worked in varying capacities for
the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense and the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration has been arrested for attempted
espionage, David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National
Security, Channing D. Phillips, Acting U.S. Attorney...
Colombian President Uribe met with Guatemalan counterpart Colom
more “We
want to work to make decisive contribution in the fight against
global warming”, President Uribe said in Guatemala and
he added that “that’s the importance of the fight
against drug trafficking. Because drug trafficking begins by
using the countries just as a way of passing through, but then
it destroys the jungle to grow drugs and it finishes by...
Concern over growing use of foreign mercenaries in Honduras
more A
group of independent United Nations experts voiced concern today
over the influx of foreign mercenaries in Honduras since the
Central American nation’s President was deposed in a military
coup in June. The experts have received reports of the recruitment
of former Colombian paramilitaries to protect properties and
individuals in Honduras...
Hugo Chavez reiterated Posada Carriles’s Extradition
Request
more Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday once again urged his American
counterpart Barack Obama to extradite international and self-confessed
terrorist Luis Posada Carriles to Venezuela. The South American
leader made the request during a meeting of the Venezuelan Council
of Ministers at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Prensa...
FBI trains U.S. and Central American Law Enforcement Partners
more This
October, 27 law enforcement officers from six domestic agencies
and six international agencies are participating in the Central
American Law Enforcement Exchange (CALEE) program in the U.S.
and El Salvador. Fifteen officers from Belize, Guatemala, El
Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama visited the FBI Academy
in Quantico, Virginia...
Colombia wants to keep good relations with neighboring countries
more “Our
energy and determination to fight terrorism has nothing to do
with our friendliness for our brother countries in order to have
the best relations with them”, he stated. In an interview
on the Emisora del Atlántico Radio Station, from Barranquilla
city, President Álvaro Uribe reiterated that his Government
has the determination to fight against domestic terrorism... |
