Secretary Remarks

Loading Map... Photos From the Trip» Secretary of State John Kerry traveled to Cairo, Riyadh, Warsaw, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Amman, Geneva, and Abu Dhabi from November 2 to November 11. In Cairo, Secretary Kerry held bilateral discussions with officials. In Riyadh, Secretary Kerry met with King Abdullah to discuss a wide range of bilateral and regional issues. He reaffirmed the strategic nature of the U.S.-Saudi relationship, given the importance of the work between our two countries...

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Regions: Algeria , Iran , Morocco , Poland , Saudi Arabia , Switzerland , United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State German Ministry of Foreign Affairs Berlin, Germany December 5, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Well, I’m going to wear that around the office for the next three weeks and see if I get any respect at all. (Laughter.) Guten Abend . Danke . Vielen dank . Thank you all for this really absolutely extraordinary and completely unexpected gathering. I’m so privileged and grateful for all of you coming here to share in this special moment, this friendship between Federal R...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Antarctica, France , Germany , Greenland , Iran , Iraq , Israel , Italy , Kuwait , Russia , Switzerland , Syria , Tunisia , United Kingdom , United States , Yemen

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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Geneva, Switzerland September 9, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: So thank you all for tremendous patience during the course of a very long day which obviously has required a lot of detail work, and we appreciate everybody’s patience in hanging in there. Today, the United States and Russia are announcing a plan which we hope will reduce violence, ease suffering, and resume movement towards a negotiated peace and a political transition in Syria. And we believe that the pl...

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Regions: China, Iran , Korea, North , Russia , Saudi Arabia , Switzerland , Syria , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Countering Terrorism, Energy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State President Wilson Hotel Geneva, Switzerland August 26, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Well, good evening, everybody, and thank you very, very much for your patience. I know you were expecting us to have a chance to chat with you a little bit earlier, and you’ve been waiting and waiting, and we thank you for that. We’ve been chatting and chatting too. So I am really pleased to be back in Geneva, and I want to thank Foreign Minister Lavrov for joining me today, for ...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Iran , Iraq , Russia , Switzerland , Syria , Turkey , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Countering Terrorism, Energy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC July 28, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the people of Switzerland on your National Day on August 1. The United States is proud to count Switzerland among its closest friends and partners. Our countries share a deep bond rooted in our common ideals – democracy, support for peace, and a commitment to the rule of law – as well as our robust and expanding trade and investment ties. Switzerland...

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Regions: Iran , Switzerland , Syria , United States

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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Ambassador Alexa L. Wesner Bristol Hotel Vienna, Austria May 18, 2016 AMBASSADOR WESNER: So on behalf of all three missions here, Secretary Kerry, welcome back to Vienna. Thank you for taking the time this morning to be with us. It means a lot to us. It also – I mean, I am especially grateful that you’re here today. Perhaps you could dispel a myth. (Laughter.) There have been some rumors floating around that we’ve been leading our colleagues in Swi...

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Regions: Armenia , Austria , Iran , Libya , Saudi Arabia , Switzerland , United Kingdom

Topics: Energy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State President Wilson Hotel Geneva, Switzerland May 2, 2016 QUESTION: Can you tell us how you’re going to separate al-Nusrah from the opposition fighters and stop the fighting in Aleppo? SECRETARY KERRY: Well, this is what we’re discussing, and – among other things. There are a number of different ways to approach it. There were a lot of conversations taking place yesterday, the day before, today, and we’re getting closer to a place of understandi...

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Regions: Switzerland

Topics: Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State President Wilson Hotel Geneva, Switzerland May 2, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Well, good afternoon, everybody. I’m very appreciative to Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations envoy to Syria, for his tremendous work and his efforts over the last months to help to bring life to a political process in the midst of a conflict that is in many ways out of control and deeply disturbing to everybody in the world, I hope. The cessation of hostilities that we were able to neg...

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Regions: Iran , Russia , Switzerland , Syria , United States

Topics: Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Washington, DC April 18, 2016 Well thank you very, very much. Winston Churchill reminded all of us that the only reason people give a standing ovation is they desperately need an excuse to shift their underwear. (Laughter.) So I know that all of you had a far more noble concept – and utilitarian, I hope. My profound thanks to Jeremy Ben-Ami, my thanks to the board of directors, my thanks to all of you for b...

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Regions: Iran , Israel , Morocco , United Kingdom , United States

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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Bayerischer Hof Hotel Munich, Germany February 13, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you, Wolfgang. Thank you very much. Well, Wolfgang, thank you for reminding me that everything I’m doing now is a last. (Laughter.) It’s a little – depending on what I decide to do, so maybe not. (Laughter.) I am really happy to be back in Munich and I’m very happy to share thoughts with this, the 52nd edition of the Security Conference. And I think if you all thin...

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Regions: Afghanistan, China, France , Germany , India , Iran , Iraq , Jordan , Lebanon , Norway , Qatar , Russia , Saudi Arabia , Syria , Turkey , Ukraine , United Kingdom , United States

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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Davos, Switzerland January 22, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Klaus, thank you very, very much. Hello, everybody. Good morning to you. Klaus, first of all, thank you for your very warm, generous introduction. I especially want to thank you for your superb leadership of the World Economic Forum for many years. As you’ve said, it’s been my honor to come here. This may have been the hardest trip of all. I was looking up at the mountain, fresh snow, and I saw those b...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Chad , China, Cuba , France , India , Iran , Iraq , Japan , Korea, North , Korea, South , Libya , Niger , Nigeria , Norway , Somalia , Switzerland , Syria , 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

Interview John Kerry Secretary of State World Economic Forum Davos, Switzerland January 21, 2016 QUESTION: We are joined right now by the U.S. Secretary of State. He’s had his finger on the pulse of a number of hot-button issues – from the easing of Iranian sanctions and the release of U.S. prisoners to ISIS’s growing terror network and now the potential fallout throughout the Middle East as oil prices keep plummeting. Secretary John Kerry joins us right now. SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you...

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Regions: China, Iran , Israel , Korea, North , Russia , Saudi Arabia , Switzerland , Syria , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Countering Terrorism, Energy

Interview John Kerry Secretary of State Davos, Switzerland January 21, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Well, listen, everybody. Greetings and thank you for your patience while we’re here, obviously. There’s a lot of bilateral diplomacy, trilateral even, that’s going on. I met this morning with Prime Minister Sharif and President Ghani and the Vice President. I also met one-on-one and otherwise with Prime Minister Netanyahu. And last night we met with President – the Vice President and I me...

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Regions: Burundi , Cambodia , China, Colombia , France , Iran , Iraq , Israel , Korea, North , Saudi Arabia , Switzerland , Syria , Ukraine , United Kingdom , United States , Yemen

Topics: Countering Terrorism, Energy, Human Rights and Democracy, Science, Technology, and Innovation, The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Vienna, Austria January 16, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Good evening, everybody. Thank you very much for your patience. And I apologize for the fact that I can’t stay to take questions, which I would like to do. But we are operating under some very tight constraints on the rest period the law allows for our pilots, because of some of the delays. So as a result, I need to get to the airport and get on the plane. But I will make a statement before doing so, and I hope...

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Regions: Austria , China, France , Iran , Oman , Russia , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Energy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Milan, Italy October 17, 2015 SECRETARY KERRY: (Applause.) Foreign Minister Gentiloni, thank you very much. Mr. Prime Minister, Commissioner Sala, distinguished guests all: Vorrei cominciare congratulandomi il ministro degli esteri – (applause) – il governo italiano e gli italiani tutti per aver accolto una stupenda Expo a Milano. Grazie. (Applause.) L' Expo avvicina il mondo al fine, di volgere lo sguardo, sui temi quali la sicurezza alimentare e la...

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Regions: Italy , New Zealand , Syria , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Energy, Global Health, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State UN Headquarters New York City September 25, 2014 Well, thank you very much. Thank you for a generous introduction. Mr. Deputy Secretary General, thank you for your leadership and thank you for your important words here today. And thank you to the many activists out here, those of you who are championing this effort on the frontlines. We certainly welcome Victoria Beckham. Thank you for taking this on. And I want to note that my old friend and our leader, Eric Goosby...

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Regions: Ethiopia , Ghana , Namibia , Switzerland , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Global Health, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Geneva, Switzerland November 24, 2013 QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thank you for joining us. My first question: A lot of people say Iran is just going to be North Korea, a country that agrees to stop its nuclear ambitions in order to get sanctions lifted and then secretly goes ahead and continues with its program. Why do you think Iran is not North Korea? SECRETARY KERRY: Well, there are many reasons why it’s not. First of all, it’s a member of the NPT. Seco...

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Regions: Iran , Israel , Korea, North , Switzerland , United Kingdom

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Countering Terrorism, Energy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Geneva, Switzerland November 24, 2013 SECRETARY KERRY: Well, good very early morning to all of you. It’s been a long day and a long night, and I’m delighted to be here to share some thoughts with you about the recent negotiations. I particularly want to thank the Swiss Government. I want to thank the United Nations. It’s been a (inaudible) and we’re honored to be here, even at this very early hour of the morning. I particularly want to thank my colleagues from the U...

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Regions: Afghanistan, China, France , Iran , Israel , Switzerland , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Energy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Waldorf Astoria Hotel New York City September 23, 2013 SECRETARY KERRY: (In progress) and to the distinguished ministers, I want to thank you. I want to thank you for being here, all of you, very, very much. We appreciate it. As Cathy mentioned, this is the third high-level meeting of the Equal Futures Partnership, and we’re delighted to have former heads of state as well as some other distinguished leaders, foreign ministers. All of you are so (inaudible) to ...

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Regions: Bangladesh , Belgium , Italy , Japan , Mexico , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Global Women's Issues, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Intercontinental Hotel Geneva, Switzerland September 14, 2013 SECRETARY KERRY: Well, thank you very much for your patience, not just this morning, but over the last couple of days. We’re very appreciative and particularly grateful to Sergey Lavrov, who stayed extra time from what he had originally planned, hoping we’d finish sooner, and this gave us additional opportunity to be able to work through some of the issue...

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Regions: France , Iran , Korea, North , Russia , Switzerland , Syria , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Combating Drugs and Crime, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Treaties and International Agreements

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and UN Special Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi UN Offices Geneva, Switzerland September 13, 2013 The video is also available with closed captioning on YouTube. SECRETARY KERRY: Let me just say to everybody that we will not – we will each make a very brief statement. We’ll not be taking questions at this time. And we apologize for that, but we need to get back to the conversations that we’re having on the issue of chemi...

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Regions: Russia , Switzerland , Syria , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Intercontinental Hotel Geneva, Switzerland September 12, 2013 The video is also available with closed captioning on YouTube. FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV: (Via interpreter) (In progress) – delegations that accompany us. Of course, we would like you to have unbiased ideas about what we are going to do. But I think that you understand well before we start to tell you what we are going to do, we should get down to a very serious work, the work which is dedicated to a ...

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Regions: Russia , Switzerland , Syria , United States

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Countering Terrorism, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Chief of Mission Residence Tokyo, Japan April 14, 2013 SECRETARY KERRY: Good morning. Wonderful to be with you all. Hi. How are you? What’s your name? PARTICIPANT: (In Japanese.) SECRETARY KERRY: I’m happy to meet you. Hi. PARTICIPANT: Hi. I’m (inaudible). SECRETARY KERRY: How are you? (Inaudible.) How are you? Welcome. Nice to see you. How are you? PARTICIPANT: Hi. SECRETARY KERRY: How do you do? How are you? Konichiwa. (Laughter.) How are you. Ni...

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Regions: Egypt , Japan , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam

Topics: Climate and Environment, Energy, Human Rights and Democracy, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State U.S. Embassy Rome, Italy February 28, 2013 SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. (In Italian.) That’s our nickname for him anyway. But I can’t go into all the stories, folks. Neither of us would be allowed to go home – probably be arrested in ex post facto. It’s an enormous privilege for me to be here with you. Thank you very, very much for turning out to welcome. And let me just begin by, first of all, saying notwithstanding our ...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Egypt , France , Iraq , Italy , Spain , Tunisia , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Energy, Human Rights and Democracy, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Geneva, Switzerland December 7, 2011 SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much. And it’s an honor for me to join all of you here for the 60th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 50th anniversary of the Statelessness Convention. I’m honored to be here with the minister for immigration from Kenya and to stand with all of the other ministers and senior government officials to reaffirm our commitment to the principles of the two conve...

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Regions: Kenya , Switzerland , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Palais des Nations Geneva, Switzerland December 6, 2011 Good evening, and let me express my deep honor and pleasure at being here. I want to thank Director General Tokayev and Ms. Wyden along with other ministers, ambassadors, excellencies, and UN partners. This weekend, we will celebrate Human Rights Day, the anniversary of one of the great accomplishments of the last century. Beginning in 1947, delegates from six continents devoted themselves to drafti...

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Regions: Argentina, Botswana , Colombia , India , Mongolia , South Africa , Switzerland , United States

Topics: Global Health, Global Women's Issues, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State National Museum Manama, Bahrain December 3, 2010 MODERATOR ONE: Madam Secretary, welcome to Bahrain. It’s an honor to have you here. SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you, and thank you for hosting this wonderful event. And thanks to all of you for being here at the museum for this discussion. I’m very much looking forward to it. I think that – you may know this is my first trip to your country, but already I am feeling very much at home. So I h...

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Regions: Bahrain , China, Egypt , France , Iran , Israel , Jordan , Russia , Saudi Arabia , Switzerland , United Kingdom , United States

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

Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State United Nations Headquarters New York City September 30, 2009 SECRETARY CLINTON: The 6,195 th meeting of the Security Council is called to order. The provisional agenda for this meeting is before the Council in document S/Agenda 6,195, which reads, and I quote: “Women and Peace and Security,” end of quote. Unless I hear any objection, I shall consider the agenda adopted. The agenda is adopted.   I should like to inform the Council that I ...

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Regions: Argentina, Austria , Burkina Faso , Canada , Chad , Chile, China, Costa Rica , Croatia , France , Guinea , Iraq , Ireland , Italy , Japan , Liberia , Mexico , Norway , Russia , Rwanda , South Africa , Sudan , Tanzania , Turkey , Uganda , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam

Topics: Energy, Global Women's Issues, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Remarks to the Press on Trip to Africa and North Atlantic Council Meeting Secretary Colin L. Powell Press conference En route Budapest, Hungary May 27, 2001 QUESTION: How do you think U.S. policy towards Africa has changed as a result of the trip? SECRETARY POWELL: I think, as a result of the trip, we have made clear to Africa that it will be a priority for us. I think there was some doubt about that, but between President Bush's statements in recent weeks and his actions with respect to Angola, and the...

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Regions: Hungary , South Africa , Turkey , United Kingdom , United States

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