Secretary Remarks

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Cabinet Exit Memo Washington, DC January 5, 2017     Introduction When President Obama took office in 2009, the United States was engaged in two costly wars, faced the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and had a diminished standing with many of our allies and partners around the world. The starting point for this Presidency was one of the toughest I have ever seen in my decades of public service. Over the past eight years, President Ob...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Antarctica, Argentina, Canada , Chad , Chile, China, Cuba , France , India , Iran , Iraq , Israel , Italy , Korea, North , Libya , Nigeria , Russia , Saudi Arabia , Somalia , Sudan , Syria , Thailand , Ukraine , United Kingdom , United States , Western Hemisphere, Yemen

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation, The Ocean and Polar Affairs, Treaties and International Agreements

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State 92nd Street Y New York City, NY September 18, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: What a great welcome. Thank you all. How are you? Everybody good? That’s a lousy answer. How are you? (Applause.) Thank you. QUESTION: That was a rock star welcome. SECRETARY KERRY: You’re the rock star. Thank you. Happy to be here. I can’t see over this thing. QUESTION: I’m very lucky to spend the next 20 minutes asking Secretary Kerry questions about American leadership, an...

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Regions: Afghanistan, China, Colombia , France , Germany , Iran , Iraq , Japan , Norway , Russia , Saudi Arabia , Syria , Ukraine , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Science, Technology, and Innovation, The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Photos from the trip» Secretary of State John Kerry traveled to Vienna, Austria, on July 22 to join EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and the U.S. Delegation in Vienna for the first day of high-level talks at the Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol.   The meeting was aimed at making progress on a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) phasedown amendment for adoption later this year. Achieving such an amendment would build upon the climate change success achieved last ...

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Regions: Australia , Brunei , China, France , Laos , Philippines

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Climate and Environment, Global Health, The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Greenwald Pavilion, Aspen Institute Aspen, Colorado June 28, 2016 MR ISAACSON: Thank you very much. It’s a great honor and pleasure for us to have a man I’ve admired – most of us have admired – for many years, a man who – U.S. Naval, served in Vietnam, won the Purple Heart – I mean, three Purple Hearts, the bronze medal, the silver medal, has been a senator, candidate for president, and now our Secretary of State. In the past two ...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Canada , Colombia , Egypt , France , Germany , Iran , Iraq , Ireland , Israel , Jordan , Pakistan , Philippines , Syria , Turkey , United Arab Emirates , United Kingdom , United States , West Bank

Topics: Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Science, Technology, and Innovation, The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Press Availability John Kerry Secretary of State Vienna, Austria May 17, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Well, good afternoon, everybody, and let me begin by thanking the Government of Austria again. They have very generously facilitated this latest meeting of the International Syria Support Group and they’ve facilitated two rounds before this. I want to express my appreciation to the co-chair of the task force, Sergey Lavrov, and to Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura. They have both been obviously integrally...

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Regions: Australia , Austria , Canada , France , Iran , Iraq , Libya , Russia , Spain , Syria , Turkey , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Countering Terrorism, Energy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Oxford, United Kingdom May 11, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: (Applause.) Wow. I think I’m just going to stop right now. (Laughter.) Thank you for just an incredibly warm, tremendous welcome to this historic hall. It’s a great honor for me to be here. Bob, where’d you run off to? Where did he go? Thank you so much for your welcome. And Warden MacMillan, thank you very much. I appreciate it. (Inaudible) Baroness Cathy Ashton, my good friend, thank you so muc...

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Regions: Afghanistan, China, Cuba , France , Guatemala , Iran , Iraq , Jordan , Lebanon , Niger , Nigeria , Russia , Saudi Arabia , Syria , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation, The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC April 28, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: (Applause.) Arnie, thank you very, very much. Good morning, everybody. How are you doing? We’ve never been better off than with all of these part-time employees. (Laughter.) He wants to work here; he does work here. Ladies and gentlemen, this is not a diplomat, this is a diplo-mutt. (Laughter.) And he’s great. He’s a lot of fun. He’s met a lot of prime ministers and foreign ministers, and they&rs...

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Regions: Canada , China, France , Iran , Korea, North , Syria , United Kingdom , United States , Yemen

Topics: Climate and Environment, Energy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Treaties and International Agreements

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Omni Hotel Los Angeles, CA April 12, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Mickey, thank you very, very much. I remember you when you were six foot four and blond, and I’m not sure what you are now, but we all get cut down to size in this business. (Laughter.) I have to tell you all, first of all, what a great privilege it is to be here with the Pacific Council. I have great respect for, admiration for your commitment to all things international, and it’s a privilege fo...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Armenia , Australia , Bahrain , Brazil , Canada , China, Colombia , India , Iran , Italy , Jordan , Korea, North , Libya , New Zealand , Russia , Saudi Arabia , Singapore , United Kingdom , United States , Yemen

Topics: Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Global Health, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation, The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Interview John Kerry Secretary of State New York City April 5, 2016 QUESTION: John Kerry is here. He is the 68th Secretary of State of the United States. After 28 years in the Senate, he succeeded Hillary Clinton in 2013. Last year, he brokered a landmark nuclear deal with Iran. He’s also played a key role in the latest round of Syrian peace negotiations. According to The New Yorker ’s David Remnick, Kerry’s admirers and critics alike describe him in similar terms – “tirele...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Australia , China, India , Iran , Iraq , Israel , Japan , Korea, North , Russia , Syria , Tunisia , Ukraine , United Kingdom , United States , West Bank

Topics: Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Global Health, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Photos from the trip» Secretary of State John Kerry traveled to Rome, Italy, to lead the U.S. delegation to the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL Small Group Ministerial. Coalition partners reviewed progress to date and discussed ways to further intensify commitments across all lines of effort to degrade and defeat this terrorist group. Other nation countries represented included Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, European Union, France, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, New Z...

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Regions: Canada , France , Italy , Norway , Syria , United Kingdom

Topics: Countering Terrorism

Press Availability John Kerry Secretary of State Revere Hotel Boston, Massachusetts October 13, 2015 SECRETARY KERRY: Well, good afternoon. I’m delighted to welcome Secretary Carter and our friends from Australia, Foreign Minister Bishop and Defense Minister Payne. Julie and Marise, I’m really happy to have you here in Boston. We’ve been delighted to be able to give you a slight taste of this great city, which I have the privilege of calling home. And I think it’s been a very con...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Australia , China, India , Iran , Iraq , Israel , Philippines , Russia , Saudi Arabia , Syria , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation, The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Ben Franklin Room Washington, DC October 7, 2015 SECRETARY KERRY: Toria, thank you very much. Welcome, everybody, to the Ben Franklin Room of the State Department. Friends from Germany and intrepid leader Fred Kempe, Bill Harrop, and all the generous contributors to the Diplomacy Center, as well as to our brilliant seventh and eighth floors, we are deeply appreciative for your generosity. And special guests, everybody – it is really wonderful to see you here. ...

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Regions: Argentina, Australia , Canada , China, Germany , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Press Availability John Kerry Secretary of State U.S. Embassy London, United Kingdom December 16, 2014 SECRETARY KERRY: Afternoon, everybody. Thanks for being here. Obviously, the last few days have been fairly intensive set of discussions, and we’ve covered a lot of ground, so I thought it was important to try to bring everybody up to speed on the road journeyed and the road ahead. Before I do, though, I want to address, for a moment, the tragic events that have taken place over the course of the...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Australia , France , Israel , Pakistan , Russia , Syria , Ukraine , United Kingdom , United States , West Bank , Yemen

Topics: Climate and Environment, Combating Drugs and Crime, Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC November 17, 2014 Thank you. David, thank you very much. Thank you all. Good morning to you. I’m delighted to have a chance to be able to be here and appreciate the breadth of what you all are going to be tackling over the course of the day, so I particularly am grateful. David, thank you for – everyone – rearranging schedules so that we could flip this around today, literally leaving straight from here to go to th...

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Regions: Canada , Egypt , Indonesia , Iran , Iraq , Israel , Jordan , Lebanon , New Zealand , Norway , Russia , Syria , Turkey , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Global Women's Issues, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation, The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State London, United Kingdom June 13, 2014 AMBASSADOR BARZUN: Well, it is great to see your faces. Now, as you look at the faces on the walls up here, there’s some you may recognize – Abraham Lincoln, President Obama, George Washington, my predecessor over here -- there’s one you might – oh, where did he go? – might not recognize over there, which is Ambassador John Wynant. And he was ambassador here from 1941-1946, and I would argue, and I t...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Australia , Germany , Iraq , Syria , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Ben Franklin Room Washington, DC November 20, 2013 SECRETARY KERRY: Well, good afternoon. I’m delighted to welcome Foreign Minister Bishop and Defence Minister Johnston to Washington for what has been a very productive Australia-United States Ministerial meeting, or AUSMIN as we call it for short. I think everybody understands that the relationship between the United States and Australia is really extraordinary, and though we live in different hemispheres and ...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Australia , Indonesia , Iran , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Treaties and International Agreements

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Dean Acheson Auditorium Washington, DC November 20, 2013 Greg, thank you very much. Wow. Can’t we find seats for you folks? I feel badly. (Laughter.) But thank you for being here in such numbers. I’m very, very pleased to be able to share a few thoughts with all of you, and I’m particularly glad to be here to emphasize this enormous agenda that we have and that we share together, which Greg Starr heads up for us here at the Department. He’s, ...

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Regions: Australia , Iran , Korea, South , Libya , Syria , United Kingdom , United States , Yemen

Topics: Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Human Rights and Democracy, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Treaty Room Washington, DC March 18, 2013 The video below is available with closed captioning on YouTube . SECRETARY KERRY: Well, good morning, everyone. It’s a great pleasure for me to welcome somebody I met previously as Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and we got to know each other, and I’m happy to welcome him back, Foreign Minister Bob Carr. I’m grateful for the chance that we had just now to discuss a broad array of issues regardi...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Australia , China, France , Israel , Japan , Jordan , Korea, North , Korea, South , Syria , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, The Ocean and Polar Affairs, Treaties and International Agreements

Press Availability Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Hawaii Convention Center Honolulu, Hawaii November 11, 2011 SECRETARY CLINTON: Good afternoon, everyone. Let me begin by saying how pleased I am to be here in beautiful Honolulu for this APEC Leaders' Meeting and the work that all of the ministers have been doing, and to have a chance to report to you briefly about the extraordinary efforts underway here. As you know, President Obama will be arriving back home shortly, and we will then emb...

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Regions: Australia , Burma , China, Indonesia , Iran , Korea, North , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Climate and Environment, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Treaty Room Washington, DC October 8, 2009 SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, good afternoon, everyone, and join me, please, in welcoming Foreign Minister McCully to the State Department. We’ve had the opportunity to talk on several occasions and reaffirm the strong partnership between the United States and New Zealand which has enhanced peace and prosperity in the Pacific and beyond for many years. We have two nations that share democratic values, common hi...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Antarctica, China, France , Iran , New Zealand , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Energy, Global Health, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, The Ocean and Polar Affairs, Treaties and International Agreements

Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Waldorf-Astoria Hotel New York, NY September 26, 2009 ( A short film produced by the Department of State on the United States’ Commitment to Global Food Security is shown .) (Applause.) SECRETARY GENERAL BAN: Honorable Secretary of State Clinton, President Kagame, Prime Minister Hasina, distinguished heads of state and government, honorable ministers, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to welcome you to this important event, a...

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Regions: Australia , Bangladesh , Brazil , China, Guinea-Bissau , Ireland , Italy , Malawi , Pakistan , Rwanda , Senegal , Tajikistan , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Global Health, Global Women's Issues, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Excerpts From Press Conference After Meeting Somali President Nairobi, Kenya August 6, 2009 SECRETARY CLINTON:  Just this week in Australia we have been reminded that there are those who would use Somalia as a training ground for attacks around the world. No one knows better than the president the challenges facing Somalia and his people. SECRETARY CLINTON:  If al-Shabab were to obtain a haven in Somalia which could then attract al-Qaida and ot...

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Regions: Australia , Eritrea , Kenya , Somalia , United States

Topics: Countering Terrorism

Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Nairobi, Kenya August 6, 2009 SECRETARY CLINTON: President Sheikh Sharif and I have just concluded a very thorough and productive discussion – thank you – about the challenges facing his country and the efforts of the international community to support the Transitional Federal Government as it stands up for the people of Somalia and against the threat of violent extremism. The United States pledges our continued support for President Sheikh S...

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Regions: Djibouti , Eritrea , Ghana , Kenya , Somalia , South Africa , Uganda , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Countering Terrorism, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Foreign Press Center Washington, DC May 19, 2009 SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, good afternoon, everyone. It’s a real pleasure to be here with you today. We believe that a free press is an integral part of our democracy. And as I said earlier this month on World Press Freedom Day, President Obama and I are determined to continue the United States’ commitment to media freedom worldwide. And I’m very proud of the State Department’s long t...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Australia , Canada , China, Egypt , Ghana , Indonesia , Iran , Italy , Nigeria , Pakistan , Poland , Russia , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Press Briefing for High School Student Newspaper Editors Secretary Colin L. Powell Washington, DC November 18, 2002 (11:02 a.m. EST) SECRETARY POWELL: Well, good morning, everyone. Forgive me for being a few moments late. I had a meeting that I couldn't break off fast, and then finally I said -- (Photographs being taken.) What did I walk into? A camera club? (Laughter.) QUESTION: They told them they can take pictures. (Laughter.) SECRETARY POWELL: But I finally told my guests that I have to go, I had a ...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Canada , China, Cuba , France , India , Iraq , Korea, North , Kuwait , Russia , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Treaties and International Agreements

Campaign Against Terrorism Secretary Colin L. Powell House International Relations Committee Washington, DC October 24, 2001 [ As Delivered ] As Prepared Mr. Chairman. Mr. Lantos. Members of the Committee. I am pleased to appear before you today to update you on our nation�s diplomatic response to the September 11 terrorist attacks, as well as to report to you on my recent trip to Pakistan, India, and China. Before I begin, I would like to take a moment to commend you, Mr. Chairman, along with this Comm...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Australia , Canada , China, India , Korea, North , Pakistan , Russia , United Kingdom , United States , Western Hemisphere

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Treaties and International Agreements

Remarks on Trip to Asia Secretary Colin L. Powell Press Briefing On Board Aircraft En Route to Tokyo, Japan July 23, 2001 SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you for joining us on this long trip. Five countries in just a few days� time, with not a lot of lingering in anywhere except in Hanoi for the major conferences that I will be attending. I have been looking forward to this trip�my first trip to Asia. A chance to visit, not only the important countries in the region, countries that we have alliances with as wel...

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Regions: Australia , Canada , China, Japan , Pakistan , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy

Briefing on Upcoming Travel to Japan, Vietnam, The Republic of Korea, The People's Republic of China, and Australia Secretary Colin L. Powell Press Briefing Washington, DC July 20, 2001 SECRETARY POWELL: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. How are you all today? I'm pleased to have a few minutes to spend with you to talk about the Asia trip that I am about to undertake. As you know, I leave for Asia on Sunday afternoon on a trip that will take me to Tokyo, to two ASEAN meetings in Hanoi, to Beijing, to ...

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Regions: Australia , Canada , China, India , Japan , Korea, North , Korea, South , Mexico , Pakistan , Taiwan , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam

Topics: Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Treaties and International Agreements

Remarks at the National Newspaper Association's 40th Annual Government Affairs Conference Secretary Colin L. Powell Remarks to the National Newspaper Association Hyatt Regency Hotel, Washington, DC March 23, 2001 SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen, for that warm welcome. It's a great pleasure to have the opportunity to address you again. I think it has been almost ten years since last I had this privilege, and I remember fondly that morning. I am especially touched that General ...

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Regions: Angola , Canada , China, Cuba , India , Iran , Iraq , Israel , Japan , Korea, North , Korea, South , Libya , Russia , Taiwan , United Kingdom , United States , Uzbekistan

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Human Rights and Democracy, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Treaties and International Agreements

Confirmation Hearing by Secretary-Designate Colin L. Powell Secretary-Designate Colin L. Powell Washington, DC January 17, 2001 Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman and Chairman Biden. It is a great pleasure for me to be here this morning. I am honored to appear before the Committee as the nominee of President-elect Bush to be the Secretary of State of the United States of America. I deeply appreciate the confidence that the President-elect has placed in me. If I receive the advice and consent and approval...

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Regions: China, Colombia , Cuba , Iran , Iraq , Israel , Korea, North , Kuwait , Nigeria , Russia , Syria , Taiwan , United Kingdom , United States , Western Hemisphere

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Climate and Environment, Combating Drugs and Crime, Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Treaties and International Agreements