Secretary Remarks

Photos from the trip» U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry traveled to Europe from December 4-11, for a series of bilateral and multinational meetings. On December 4-5, the Secretary met in Berlin, Germany, with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to discuss cooperation on a range of regional and global issues, including the upcoming NATO and OSCE Ministerials, Syria, and Ukraine. Secretary Kerry also received the Federal Cross of Merit from Foreign Minister Steinmeier, and he met with a...

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Regions: Belgium , France , Germany , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Photos from the trip» U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry traveled to Rome, Italy, and Vatican City on December 2-3 for bilateral meetings and to participate in the Rome Mediterranean Dialogues. In Rome, the Secretary met with Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni to discuss cooperation on a range of regional and global issues, including Libya, Syria, Iraq, and the enduring strength of the Transatlantic Alliance. At the Rome Mediterranean Dialogues, Secretary Kerry worked with other senior leade...

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Regions: Italy , United Kingdom , United States

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

Photos from the trip» Secretary Kerry traveled to Kigali, Rwanda, from October 13-14, 2016, to join EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and others in striving to achieve U.S. climate and environmental goals at the Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is widely regarded to be one of the most successful environmental treaties ever and was the first treaty to achieve universal ratification. This global agreement has put the stra...

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Regions: Rwanda , United Kingdom , Yemen

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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State C Street Lobby Washington, DC January 19, 2017 SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you. (Cheers.) Thank you, thank you, thank you very much. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you. I accept the nomination. (Laughter.) Thank you very much. That was – that silenced it pretty fast. (Laughter.) I am leaving here, obviously, with sadness. It’s bittersweet because you leave. But I actually am excited about the next chapter. And I have a feeling we’re all going to continue to cross paths, co...

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Regions: China, Colombia , Cuba , France , Korea, North , Saudi Arabia , South Africa , Syria , Ukraine , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Global Health, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Cambridge, Massachusetts January 9, 2017 SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much for a generous welcome to somebody who is about to become one of the most visibly unemployed people in America. (Laughter.) I am really thrilled to be here. Great, always, to be home, but it’s special to be here at MIT. And I want to begin by thanking Dean Schmittlein. Thank you very, very much. It&...

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Regions: Antarctica, Brazil , Chile, China, India , New Zealand , Saudi Arabia , United Kingdom , United States

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, Treaties and International Agreements

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 Washington, DC January 5, 2017 SECRETARY KERRY: Hi, everybody. Matt, welcome back. QUESTION: Happy New Year. Thank you. SECRETARY KERRY: Congratulations, Matt. QUESTION: Thank you. Thank you very much. SECRETARY KERRY: A little Vaille. QUESTION: Yeah. SECRETARY KERRY: No sleep. QUESTION: Happy New Year, Mr. Secretary. QUESTION: What’s that? SECRETARY KERRY: What? QUESTION: Happy New Year, sir. SECRETARY KERRY: Happy New Year to everybody. Thank you all. Great ...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Antarctica, China, Colombia , Cuba , Egypt , France , Iran , Iraq , Israel , Korea, North , Libya , Nigeria , Norway , Russia , Sudan , Syria , Turkey , Ukraine , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Energy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation, The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 30, 2016 On behalf of President Barack Obama and the American people, I send warmest wishes to the people of Myanmar on the occasion of your independence day on January 4. The past year has been a historic one for Myanmar, as your first civilian-led, democratically-elected government in over half a century took office. The warm and close relationship between the United States and your country was symbolized by State Counsellor Aung Sa...

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Regions: United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Interview John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 28, 2016 QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thank you for joining us. This is a very important moment. SECRETARY KERRY: Happy to be here. Thank you. QUESTION: An unusual speech. First of all, Donald Trump, the president-elect, tweeted today, in part, that he was very much disagreeing with this policy. He tweeted, “We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with…total disdain and disrespect.” He went on to say that this will all ch...

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Regions: China, Egypt , France , Israel , Russia , United Kingdom , United States , West Bank

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State The Dean Acheson Auditorium Washington, DC December 28, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very, very much. Thank you. (Coughs.) Excuse me. Thank you for your patience, all of you. For those of you who celebrated Christmas, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Happy Chanukah. And to everybody here, I know it’s the middle of a holiday week. I understand. (Laughter.) But I wish you all a very, very productive and Happy New Year. Tod...

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Regions: Egypt , France , Iran , Israel , Jordan , Saudi Arabia , United Kingdom , United States , West Bank

Topics: Countering Terrorism, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation, The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 23, 2016 Today, the United States acted with one primary objective in mind: to preserve the possibility of the two state solution, which every U.S. administration for decades has agreed is the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Two states is the only way to ensure Israel's future as a Jewish and democratic state, living in peace and security with its neighbors, and freedom and dignity f...

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Regions: Israel , United States

Topics: Countering Terrorism, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 22, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Hello, everyone. Season’s greetings and a happy 70th birthday to the Foreign Press Center. You know, as I enter the final weeks of my tenure as Secretary of State, I wanted to congratulate the center and all of you for your hard work in reporting on the United States and world affairs. And obviously, both have been presenting extraordinary opportunities for major analysis and reporting this past year. I thought...

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Regions: Syria , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Global Health, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 21, 2016 On behalf of President Barack Obama and the American people, I send warmest wishes and congratulations to His Imperial Majesty on the occasion of his birthday on December 23. In the more than quarter-century of Emperor Akihito’s reign, the ties between Japan and the United States have flourished, and our alliance serves as a symbol of stability, friendship, and mutual dedication to peaceful development in East Asia and ...

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Regions: Japan , United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 19, 2016 The United States condemns the assassination today in Ankara of Russian Ambassador Andrey Karlov. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones, the Russian people, and with the other victims who were injured in this shooting. We stand ready to offer assistance to Russia and Turkey as they investigate this despicable attack, which was also an assault on the right of all diplomats to safely and securely advance and represen...

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Regions: Russia , Turkey , United Kingdom , United States

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 18, 2016 International Migrants Day is an opportunity to reflect upon the many ways that migrants enrich our cultures, economies, and societies. Like no other time in modern history, the world is on the move. In 2015, some 244 million people crossed national borders to seek jobs, join family, study, invest, and contribute to cutting-edge research. Migrants’ contributions to America are striking. More than 40 percent of our high-...

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Regions: United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Press Availability John Kerry Secretary of State Riyadh, Saudi Arabia December 18, 2016 FOREIGN MINISTER AL-JUBEIR: (In Arabic.) SECRETARY KERRY: Assalamualaikum . Let me say how pleased I am to be back in Riyadh, and I’m particularly happy to be here with my friend the foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, and I want to thank him for his very warm welcome. We had as solid a discussion on a whole group of issues, as he has just shared with all of you, as we have ever had. And particularly I think the ...

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Regions: China, Iran , Iraq , Lebanon , Saudi Arabia , Syria , United Kingdom , United States , Yemen

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

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 16, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Kazakhstan as you celebrate your Independence Day and 25th anniversary of independence on this December 16. The United States was the first country in the world to recognize Kazakhstan's independence in 1991, so this December also marks 25 years of U.S.-Kazakhstani relations. Kazakhstan made a strategic decision 25 ye...

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Regions: Kazakhstan , United States

Topics: Energy, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 15, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Hello, everybody. I just wanted to bring you all up to date on what we’ve been trying to do with respect to the tragic situation in Syria, and obviously mostly focused or especially Aleppo. I don’t think I have to elaborate, but I’m going to certainly focus on the anger and the anguish that everybody feels – or most people feel – about the continued relentless and inexcusable attacks tha...

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Regions: Iran , Qatar , Russia , Syria , Turkey , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Countering Terrorism, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 15, 2016 Ensuring the continued implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is a top strategic objective for the United States and for our allies and partners around the world. The JCPOA makes our nation, and the entire world, safer by verifiably ensuring Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon. This administration has made it clear that an extension of the Iran Sanctions Act is not necessary either to address activity outsi...

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Regions: Iran , United States

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 13, 2016 I congratulate Rex Tillerson on his nomination as Secretary of State. The State Department will continue to provide our full support for a smooth transition, so that the incoming Administration can pursue the important work of U.S. foreign policy around the world.

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Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 13, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Hi, good afternoon. AUDIENCE: Hi. SECRETARY KERRY: Aw, come on, you can do better than that. Hi. AUDIENCE: Hi. SECRETARY KERRY: All right, all right. Now everybody is getting excited again. Whoa, let me just make sure – here we go. So hello, everybody, and welcome. I am really happy to welcome you all here to the Ben Franklin Room of the State Department, and Happy Holidays to all of you. My wife Teresa is over...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Iraq , Pakistan , Sudan , Tunisia , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 12, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I send our best wishes to the people of Kenya as you celebrate 53 years of independence on December 12. As you mark the establishment of Kenya as a Republic, let us also celebrate the strong partnership between our two nations. The United States will continue to support Kenya’s ongoing effort to build a prosperous and democratic society that allows all of Kenya&rsquo...

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Regions: Kenya , United States

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 10, 2016 The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 68 years ago today to recognize and elevate the inherent dignity and inalienable rights of all individuals. On this International Human Rights Day, we recommit ourselves to upholding universal respect for the fundamental freedoms of all humankind. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights holds the promise of hope for the civilians who are c...

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Regions: United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Press Availability John Kerry Secretary of State Quai d'Orsay Paris, France December 10, 2016 FOREIGN MINISTER AYRAULT: (Via interpreter, in progress) Yesterday at the UN General Assembly meeting, the resolution of – a resolution that was voted with (inaudible) full majority, and despite the use of chemical weapons by the regime, this is the logic of war that is still prevailing. This is why Sheikh Mohammed, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and myself wanted to call upon our close partners and to meet for...

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Regions: France , Germany , Iran , Russia , Syria , United Kingdom

Topics: Countering Terrorism, Energy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Quai d'Orsay Paris, France December 10, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Well, I’m heavier now. (Laughter.) Jean-Marc, merci beaucoup, merci mes amis . I am so grateful to all of you for coming here, to all of the Ayrault family who’ve attended and gave us a wonderful lunch today which we’ve enjoyed enormously (inaudible). To Madame la president of the COP that helped us so enormously to be able to pass the Paris Agreement, distinguished ambassadors, Your Exc...

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Regions: France , Germany , Iran , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 9, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the government and people of Burkina Faso on the 56th anniversary of your nation’s independence. We welcome the continued efforts of the government of Burkina Faso to further consolidate democracy and promote good governance. The United States remains committed to working with Burkina Faso to strengthen democratic institutions, advance regional peace an...

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Regions: Burkina Faso , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Embassy Paris Paris, France December 9, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very, very much, and I trust this does not have to be scanned by security so I can actually – (laughter). Jane, thank you. This is tremendously meaningful. I’ve been going to the beaches of Normandy since I was a kid. I can actually remember seeing the burned-out hulks of some of the tanks and landing craft, et cetera. I was that young. It was not too ...

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Regions: China, France , Korea, North , Syria , United Kingdom , United States

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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Hamburg, Germany December 8, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Friends and colleagues, we meet in Hamburg today to reaffirm the same idea that tied us together in Helsinki 41 years ago: that our collective security is directly linked to the growth of our economies and the protection of basic human rights. In our era as in the past, we advance the security and prosperity of our citizens when we advance the timeless principles that are at the heart of the OSCE – democratic ...

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Regions: Armenia , France , Germany , Moldova , Ukraine , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 8, 2016 I join all Americans in mourning the loss of my Senate colleague and good friend John Glenn – a steadfast voice of patriotism and one of our greatest Americans. John is one of the best and bravest men I’ve ever known. He went to war, went into space, and then he went to Washington where he served the people of Ohio in the Senate for more than two decades, always fighting for the principles he believed in. His decis...

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Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Hamburg, Germany December 7, 2016 QUESTION: Secretary Kerry, did you discuss Aleppo? Were there any agreements? SECRETARY KERRY: We obviously talked about the extraordinarily dire situation in Aleppo and we exchanged some ideas about it, and we intend to connect in the morning to see where we are on it. MR KIRBY: Thanks, everybody. Thank you.

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Regions: Germany

Press Availability John Kerry Secretary of State Brussels, Belgium December 6, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Well, good afternoon, everybody. I am pleased to be back in Brussels – obviously, a little bit bittersweet – to be here with my NATO colleagues for the last ministerial as Secretary of State, but I’m happy to be with my colleagues and pleased to be back in Brussels. There’s nothing nostalgic about our need to constantly reaffirm the importance of collective defense and democratic ...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Antarctica, Belgium , Egypt , Iran , Israel , Russia , Syria , Ukraine , United Kingdom , United States

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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Brussels, Belgium December 6, 2016 QUESTION: Good morning, Secretary Kerry. What do you expect from this meeting today? SECRETARY KERRY: I hope a very constructive conversation about the importance of NATO and our commitment to many enterprises that we’re working on together, ranging from Afghanistan to counterterrorism to the operations in the Aegean with respect to migrants, the frontline state reassurance program. There’s an enormous amount on the age...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Belgium

Topics: Countering Terrorism

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Berlin, Germany December 5, 2016 MODERATOR: So my job is to introduce a man who needs no introduction. As I said in there, literally, the most consequential Secretary of State in my lifetime, which is longer than I think I would like to admit. (Laughter.) And when you just think about what this man has been able to accomplish, the impossible to the impossible to the impossible – whether it’s getting China to agree to carbon emission limits or putting tog...

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Regions: China, France , Germany , Greece , Iran , Israel , Italy , Syria , United Kingdom , United States

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

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 5, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I warmly congratulate Finland on the 99th anniversary of your independence on December 6. Our cooperation and friendship with Finland have never been stronger. In the last year, we accelerated our collaboration in bilateral and multilateral fora on defense, global security, human rights, and climate change. Our common democratic values and spirit have deepened our cooperati...

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Regions: Finland , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Global Health, 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 Berlin, Germany December 5, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Wow. That sounds like a campaign introduction, folks. (Laughter.) I accept the nomination. (Laughter.) I’m ready to go. How are you all? Hey guys, I’m really happy to see you guys here. Thank you very much. How are you doing? You good? You having fun? How are you having fun? What are you doing to have fun? Come on up here and talk to me. Come here, come here, come here. Come here. I have a very talkative ...

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Regions: France , Germany , Iran , Italy , Syria , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam

Topics: Climate and Environment, Energy, Global Health

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 4, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I offer heartfelt warm wishes to the people of Thailand on the anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Aduyladej’s birthday, this December 5. We note with sadness the passing of King Bhumibol, who would have been 89 years old on this day. We remember His Majesty for the great vision and dedication with which he led Thailand, and for the enduring friendship he nurture...

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Regions: Thailand

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State The Willard Hotel Washington, DC December 4, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you very much. That’s really wonderful. Thank you. MR INDYK: Haim is going to unveil a plaque that we made for you for the occasion. MR SABAN: I’m the unveiler-in-chief. (Laughter.) Okay, so I was told -- SECRETARY KERRY: Wow. MR SABAN: I was told to read. Who paid for this? Brookings or me? (Laughter.) It looks really expensive, doesn’t it? (Laughter.) But you know what? Ther...

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Regions: Egypt , France , Germany , Iran , Israel , Japan , Jordan , Kuwait , Libya , Pakistan , Philippines , Russia , Saudi Arabia , Syria , Taiwan , Turkey , United Kingdom , United States , West Bank , Yemen

Topics: Energy, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 3, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Hello everyone. On behalf of the entire State Department, I am really pleased to join in recognizing the 25th annual International Day set aside to honor the one billion people around the world who have disabilities. Here in the United States, after many, many years of discrimination and delay, we have finally made substantial progress in ensuring that persons with disabilities are able to exercise their full rights. ...

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Regions: Armenia , Georgia , Kenya , Peru , United States

Topics: Energy, Human Rights and Democracy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 3, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Hello, everybody. (Applause.) Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very, very much. Welcome. Welcome to the Ben Franklin Room of the State Department. Welcome to this very celebratory evening. It’s a special evening for all of us. Whether you come from afar or you live in Washington, tonight is special and it is wonderful for me to be able to be here hosting Saturday Night Live for the fourth time. (Laughte...

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Regions: Iran , United Kingdom , Vietnam

Topics: Climate and Environment, Energy

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 3, 2016 I congratulate the people of The Gambia for their peaceful and democratic presidential election on December 1. We also congratulate President-elect Adama Barrow on his historic victory, which will mark the first democratic transfer of power in the country, and we look forward to working with him as he helps to usher in a new era in The Gambia. I also commend President Jammeh for respecting the results and for agreeing to peace...

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Regions: United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Photos from the trip» Secretary of State John Kerry traveled to Antarctica, New Zealand, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Peru from November 10 - November 18. From November 10-12, Secretary Kerry traveled to Antarctica, where he visited McMurdo Station, the largest research station of the U.S. Antarctic Program, as well as surrounding areas on Ross Island, and the U.S. Government’s Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.  He was the first Secretary of State and the most senior U.S. g...

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Regions: Antarctica, New Zealand , Peru , United Kingdom , United States , Yemen

Topics: Climate and Environment, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Global Health, Global Women's Issues, Science, Technology, and Innovation, The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Press Availability John Kerry Secretary of State Parco dei Principi Hotel Rome, Italy December 2, 2016 FOREIGN MINISTER GENTILONI: (Via interpreter) Good evening. Welcome to the Secretary of State and the Minister of Foreign Affair’s meeting. Thank you. Thank you to the Secretary of State John Kerry for having accepted to take part in this MED dialogues. I consider this a gesture of friendship, of consideration towards our country. I also thank him for the strategic type speech he made at the meet...

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Regions: Afghanistan, France , Iran , Iraq , Italy , Libya , Russia , Syria , Ukraine , United Kingdom , Yemen

Topics: Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Global Health, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Parco dei Principi Hotel Rome, Italy December 2, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: (Via interpreter) Thank you very much, Paolo, and good evening. I would like to thank Foreign Minister Gentiloni, the president of the Italian Republic, the Instituto di Studi Internazionale for hosting this successful conference on the Mediterranean. (Inaudible) a special friendship. I am very grateful to you for the many courtesies that you have afforded me as Secretary of State, and it’s...

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Regions: Antarctica, China, France , Iran , Iraq , Italy , Libya , Russia , Saudi Arabia , Syria , Tunisia , Turkey , United Kingdom , United States , Yemen

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, The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Rome, Italy December 2, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: We have exchanged a set of ideas which there will be a meeting on early next week in Geneva and we have to wait and see whether those ideas have any legs on them, but I will say that both sides understand the importance of trying to continue the diplomacy and trying to see if something can be done. And nobody’s waiting for the next administration. They both feel there is urgency. QUESTION: Is – these are low-...

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Regions: Italy

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 1, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the people of the Central African Republic on the occasion of your country’s national day celebration. America values its friendship with the Central African Republic and applauds your commitment to peace and democracy. Together, we are working to end violence, heal internal divisions, and create a firm foundation for economic and social progress. In th...

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Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 1, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I extend my warmest wishes to President Bounnhang Vorachit and the people of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic as you commemorate your National Day on December 2. This year marked another high point in our bilateral relationship, culminating in an historic visit by President Obama and the announcement of our Comprehensive Partnership. Together we have built a stron...

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Regions: Laos

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 1, 2016 The United States welcomes yesterday's vote by the Colombian congress - by a substantial margin - to approve the peace accord negotiated between the Colombian Government and the FARC, an accord that we believe will help achieve a just and lasting peace for all Colombians. Under the accord, the FARC will demobilize, disarm, and form a political organization that will participate in Colombia's democratic system. The Colo...

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Regions: Colombia , United States

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 1, 2016 On World AIDS Day, we commemorate the lives lost and communities devastated by HIV/AIDS. We also celebrate those lives that have been saved and the courageous individuals who have brought hope and healing to those living with and affected by this disease. Thirty-five years ago, the first published report appeared of five previously healthy men in Los Angeles diagnosed with what soon would be known as AIDS. I have been engaged ...

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Topics: Global Health

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 30, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Barbados on your Independence Golden Jubilee. On this special day in this special year, my government joins with all of you in celebrating Barbados’ 50 years of independence and your beautiful country’s many accomplishments in democratic governance, environmental stewardship, and the creation of economic opportunity. The United ...

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Regions: Barbados , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State The Treaty Room Washington, DC November 30, 2016 (The memorandum was signed.) SECRETARY KERRY: My great pleasure to welcome the foreign minister of Egypt here today, and I think both of us would express our pleasure at signing this U.S.-Egypt cultural property agreement. This has been years in the making. It represents the first agreement in the Middle East or North Africa regarding the protection of antiquities. And it’s a real challenge on a global basis, so...

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Regions: Egypt , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Treaties and International Agreements

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 29, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I offer my sincerest congratulations to the people of Romania as you celebrate the 98th anniversary of your nation’s Unification Day on December 1. My government places a high value on its strategic partnership with Romania, a trusted NATO Ally and a major contributor to international peace, security, and the rule of law. Your country, like the United States, will ho...

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Regions: Romania

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State The Ritz Carlton Washington, DC November 29, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very, very much, Karen. “Under the weather” is a polite word for the crud. (Laughter.) Anyway, thank you, Karen, for a wonderful introduction. And it’s with great pride that I accept the nomination. (Laughter.) Shh. It’s a little dangerous right now. (Laughter.) I am suffering from a bunch of grandchildren, all of whom are sniveling at...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Antarctica, China, Colombia , Cuba , Germany , Honduras , Iran , Japan , Korea, North , Lebanon , Libya , Russia , Saudi Arabia , Syria , Ukraine , United Kingdom , United States , Yemen

Topics: 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, The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 28, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I am pleased to congratulate the people of Mauritania on the 56th anniversary of your nation’s independence. The United States values its partnership with your country and appreciates your government’s role in promoting regional peace and security. We look forward to our continued collaboration in expanding trade and investment, facilitating social progress, an...

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Regions: Mauritania , United States

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

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 26, 2016 We extend our condolences to the Cuban people today as they mourn the passing of Fidel Castro. Over more than half a century, he played an outsized role in their lives, and he influenced the direction of regional, even global affairs. As our two countries continue to move forward on the process of normalization -- restoring the economic, diplomatic and cultural ties severed by a troubled past -- we do so in a spirit of friend...

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Regions: United States

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 25, 2016 On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the United States reaffirms our belief that gender-based violence is never acceptable, that women and girls have the right to live free from violence, and that countries are stronger when homes, neighborhoods, and communities are safe for everyone. Over the past year—indeed, throughout history—there have been far too many brutal acts of violen...

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Regions: United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 25, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I am pleased to congratulate the people of Albania as you celebrate the 104th anniversary of your nation’s independence on November 28. The United States and Albania enjoy a long history of friendship and cooperation. Your country is a growing force for regional and global security, and the United States deeply appreciates your contributions to the Global Coalition t...

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Regions: Albania , United States

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 25, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of the Republic of Suriname as you celebrate the 41st anniversary of your nation’s independence on November 25. My country places a high value on its longstanding friendship with Suriname and on our joint efforts to promote prosperity, strengthen democratic institutions, safeguard the security of our citizens, improve health care...

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Regions: Suriname

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 20, 2016 I welcome public announcements by all sides to commit to a renewable Cessation of Hostilities that began on Saturday for an initial period of 48 hours. I call on all sides to adhere to these commitments, which would allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid and could help create the conditions for advancing the peace talks. As before, the United States stands ready to assist the Yemeni people and strongly supports the contin...

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Regions: United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 20, 2016 On Transgender Day of Remembrance, the United States solemnly honors the memory of the many transgender individuals who lost their lives to senseless acts of violence. Transgender persons around the world are targeted by rising levels of violence fueled by hatred and bigotry. This is a global challenge and we all must do more to protect transgender persons on the basis of equality and dignity. In the United States, our Consti...

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Regions: United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Grand National Theater Lima, Peru November 18, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Scott, thank you very much. My apologies to all on two counts: one for arriving, and then two for leaving almost as fast as I arrived. (Laughter.) But I received a call from the State Department; unfortunately, I needed to take it. But my apologies to all. Scott, thank you so much. Thanks for helping to lead this effort. I’m delighted to see that you are balancing the needs of customers with ...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Peru , South Africa , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Energy, Global Women's Issues, Human Rights and Democracy, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 17, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate Latvia on the 98 th anniversary of your independence on November 18. Latvia is a strong partner and ally of the United States. The strength of our relationship was underscored by Vice President Biden’s participation in the Baltic Summit hosted by Latvia in August. Together with the leaders of Estonia and Lithuania, we reaffirmed our friendship and stro...

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Regions: Estonia , Latvia , United States

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 17, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the Monegasque citizens as you celebrate the Sovereign Prince’s Day on November 19. Please also accept our warmest felicitations on the tenth anniversary of full diplomatic relations between the United States and Monaco. Monaco is one of the world’s oldest sovereignties and has been a trusted friend to the United States for over 150 years. The Un...

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Regions: Monaco , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Energy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Lima, Peru November 17, 2016 QUESTION: How are your meetings going so far? SECRETARY KERRY: Very good. Excellent. QUESTION: Any concerns about protectionism in the United States after Trump’s election? SECRETARY KERRY: I haven’t heard a word of it yet. STAFF: Thank you, everyone. Thank you. SECRETARY KERRY: No, everybody is looking forward to building on a good, solid trade relationship and we had good discussions. QUESTION: Will the United States still ...

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Regions: Peru , United States

Topics: Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Lima, Peru November 17, 2016 QUESTION: Mr. Foreign Minister -- QUESTION: Mr. Kerry, if I may ask you, how did it go? SECRETARY KERRY: We had a constructive, important conversation about a number of topics ranging from Yemen to Libya to Syria, obviously, as well as Ukraine and bilateral concerns. So we had a very broad discussion. FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV: It was a good meeting. QUESTION: Did you mention by any chance the incident that happened at the Department of St...

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Regions: Libya , Peru , Ukraine , United Kingdom , Yemen

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Marrakech, Morocco November 16, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you so much, everybody. I apologize for being a few moments late. There was a fire and then there was some traffic backed up, and so here I am and here are you, and thank you for being here. Let me begin by thanking our terrific U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change Jonathan Pershing. I couldn’t be luckier than to have him in this job. He was over at the Energy Department for a while. We stole him fro...

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Regions: Antarctica, Brazil , China, Fiji , France , Greenland , India , Morocco , New Zealand , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Energy, Global Health, Science, Technology, and Innovation, The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates November 15, 2016 MR TONER: So guys, this is on the record, unless otherwise notified. QUESTION: Unless otherwise notified. Yes, sir. MR TONER: And I think we have about 10 minutes, because we’ve got – we’re running late. SECRETARY KERRY: All right. Let’s roll. MR TONER: So let’s roll. SECRETARY KERRY: You all set? QUESTION: Yes, sir. I guess – let’s talk breaking news, I guess, first. Yemen. ...

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Regions: China, Iran , Oman , United Arab Emirates , United Kingdom , United States , Yemen

Topics: Climate and Environment, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 15, 2016 On behalf of the entire State Department, I congratulate Ambassador Rick Olson on his retirement after three decades of dedicated service to the country. Rick is quite simply one of our most distinguished diplomats, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service who has been on the forefront of our work in the Middle East, Africa, and most recently in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He has brought extraordinary experience and leader...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Pakistan

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Muscat, Oman November 14, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you, Marc, very, very much. Good morning, everybody. Assalamu alaykum. How are you? AUDIENCE: (In Arabic.) SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you very much. It may be – being Secretary of State may be more fun. I’m – after the last few days, I guess I’m re-convinced that it’s not more important. But I’ve been privileged, really privileged, to serve as Secretary and to work with extraordina...

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Regions: Iran , Oman , United States

Topics: Global Health

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Premier House Wellington, New Zealand November 13, 2016 PRIME MINISTER KEY: Okay, good morning. So we had a great opportunity to welcome Secretary Kerry to New Zealand and to catch up with him after his brief but I’m sure important trip down to Antarctica. Let me just start by saying what we’ve been saying for a very long period of time, that the relationship with the United States is probably in the best shape it’s been for decades. I think a grea...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Antarctica, Australia , China, Iraq , Nauru , New Zealand , Peru , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam

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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Pukeahu National War Memorial Wellington, New Zealand November 13, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Mr. Ambassador, Mark, thank you very, very much. Thank you also for your tremendous linguistic display a little bit earlier. (Laughter.) I’m delighted to be here with all of you. Minister Brownlee and General Keating, thank you very much for honoring us by being here today, and to all of you parliamentarians, counselors, and distinguished guests all. It’s a great hon...

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Regions: Afghanistan, New Zealand , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Wellington, New Zealand November 13, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: (In progress) I was impressed by his language skills, but – (laughter.) (Inaudible.) And I want to thank him for his service, his family for their commitment. As all of you know, he was a professional ballplayer – (inaudible) knows that – and he actually – he batted in the same lineup as one of my heroes, Carlton Fisk. PARTICIPANT: Carlton Fisk. SECRETARY KERRY: Right? PARTICIPANT: Ri...

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Regions: Antarctica, Germany , Iraq , Japan , New Zealand , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 12, 2016 I want to congratulate the government and people of Colombia on achieving a revised peace agreement. President Santos and his negotiating team, those from the "No" campaign, and other important sectors of Colombian society deserve credit for engaging in a far reaching and respectful national dialogue following the plebiscite. This agreement has the benefit of many hours of discussion between supporters and critics o...

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Regions: Colombia

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Christchurch International Airport Christchurch, New Zealand November 12, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Hi, everybody. How are you? QUESTION: Hi there. QUESTION: Welcome back to New Zealand. SECRETARY KERRY : Well, let me just say what an extraordinary experience it was and how impressed I am by the remarkable commitment of so many scientists and so many involved people to learn more, to be able to help guide important policy decisions and I was very grateful today. I went ...

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Regions: Antarctica, New Zealand

Topics: Climate and Environment, Global Health, Science, Technology, and Innovation, The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State McMurdo Station Antarctica November 11, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Kelly, thank you very, very much. Thank you all. I know it was coming to see me, or what? (Laughter.) No, I don’t mean to make light. Honestly, it’s very, very touching that you all came out to share a few words this evening. Kelly, thank you. That – first of all, that means a lot to me. But frankly, more importantly, being here really means a lot to me, and I’ll share a few though...

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Regions: Antarctica, China, India , Russia , Saudi Arabia , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Energy, Global Health, Science, Technology, and Innovation, The Ocean and Polar Affairs, Treaties and International Agreements

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 10, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I am pleased to congratulate the people of Angola on the 41st anniversary of your nation’s independence on November 11. The United States deeply appreciates its strong and productive partnership with Angola. Your country has been a valued voice for peace in the region, and we applaud the leadership you have shown in helping to resolve conflicts, particularly in the G...

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Regions: Angola , United States

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 10, 2016 Today, President Obama requested an additional $5.8 billion to support the Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in a FY 2017 Budget Amendment to counter Daesh and combat violent extremism. Defeating Daesh, which poses an immediate threat to our citizens, our country, and our allies, is an urgent U.S. priority and we must ensure we have the full resources necessary to do so. Over the past t...

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Regions: Iraq , Syria

Topics: Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Photos from the trip» Secretary Kerry traveled to Tipperary, Ireland, on October 30 to meet with Irish Foreign Minister Charles Flanagan for a discussion about the Northern Ireland peace process and a range of regional and global issues. While in Ireland, the Secretary also accepted the Tipperary International Peace Award, which was awarded by the Tipperary Peace Convention to honor the Secretary’s efforts to end conflicts in a number of countries. The Secretary then traveled to London, U.K....

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Regions: Ireland , Libya , United Kingdom

Topics: Climate and Environment, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State The George Hotel Christchurch, New Zealand November 10, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Can I just say before we sit down, I want to say what a pleasure it is for me to be in New Zealand, back in New Zealand for me, the first trip as Secretary but I’ve been here before and love it. And I really – I want to express the appreciation of President Obama and the American people for the tremendous cooperation with New Zealand on so many issues. First of all, New Zealand...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Antarctica, China, New Zealand , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Energy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 8, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, it is my pleasure to relay our best wishes to the people of Cambodia on the 63 rd anniversary of your country’s independence. The strong bond between the U.S. and Cambodian people benefits both our countries. It was a pleasure to be back in Cambodia this January, and to see firsthand the incredible economic progress and poverty reduction. The United States is proud to...

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Regions: Cambodia , United States

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 6, 2016 On behalf of everyone at the State Department, I welcome the reports of the release of Wallead Yusuf Pitts Luqman, a U.S. citizen, who had been detained in Yemen for more than a year and a half.‎ My team and I have been focused on Wallead's detention since the beginning, working closely with our partners in the region, and I have also been in direct contact with his family. I want to take this opportunity to express my...

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Regions: Oman , Yemen

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 5, 2016 The Egyptian government took important steps this week as part of its ongoing economic reform program. Liberalizing its foreign exchange system and reducing costly fuel subsidies demonstrates a determination to put the country on the path to economic recovery. The task before them is a challenging one, but ‎it is encouraging that Egyptian leaders are making the difficult decisions needed to move their country towards prosp...

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Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State The Treaty Room Washington, DC November 4, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Good morning, everybody. I am extremely pleased to welcome here the new secretary-general of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, who brings very, very special and important skills to this job at this particular moment in time. He has dedicated a lifetime to public service – former prime minister of Portugal and a commissioner of the UN mission on human – on refugees. And I think everybody...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Portugal , United States

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

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 3, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Dominica as you celebrate the 38 th anniversary of your nation’s independence on November 3. Our two countries share a long history of friendly and productive relations. We collaborate on renewable energy, climate change, and regional security initiatives. I am especially proud of our cooperation on the Energy and Climate Partn...

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Regions: Dominica

Topics: Climate and Environment, Energy, Global Health

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 3, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I offer warm congratulations to the people of Panama as you observe the 113th anniversary of your nation’s independence on November 3. Panama and the United States share a long history of friendship based on our common values, rich cultural bonds, and close people-to-people ties. We applaud your successful completion of the Panama Canal expansion – a...

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Regions: Panama , United States

Topics: Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Ben Franklin Room Washington, DC November 3, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, mabuhay . AUDIENCE: Mabuhay. SECRETARY KERRY: I’m happy really happy to welcome everybody. What a crowd. This is amazing. Are you running for office? (Laughter.) AMBASSADOR KIM: Next job. SECRETARY KERRY: Next job. (Laughter.) Obviously, one of our most popular diplomats, and impressive. I am really delighted that so many of you could come and join us...

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Regions: Australia , Korea, North , Philippines , United States

Topics: Treaties and International Agreements

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 3, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I send my sincerest congratulations to the Kingdom of Tonga on your National Day, November 4th. Over the years, the Kingdom of Tonga and the United States have enjoyed an enduring friendship that has enabled us to work together on a wide range of issues. From joint global security operations to conserving our ocean’s resources, our nations’ collaborative efforts...

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Regions: Tonga , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Global Health

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 2, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia on the 30th anniversary of your Independence Day this November 3. This month also marks the 30th anniversary of the Compact of Free Association between our two countries, which demonstrates the important and long-standing relationship between our people. The United States...

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Regions: United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Loy Henderson Auditorium Washington, DC November 2, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Good morning. AUDIENCE: Good morning. SECRETARY KERRY: How are you doing? Everybody good? AUDIENCE: Yeah. Good. SECRETARY KERRY: Good. The loudest “yeah” was over here. Where are you from? QUESTION: Sri Lanka. SECRETARY KERRY: Sri Lanka. Well, you have reason to be loud. That’s good. I appreciate – Sri Lanka’s done some amazing things in the last years. So Evan, t...

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Regions: Afghanistan, China, France , Iran , Iraq , Italy , Kazakhstan , Libya , Russia , Syria , Tajikistan , United Kingdom , United States

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

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 1, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Antigua and Barbuda on the 35th anniversary of your nation’s independence on November 1. The United States values its longstanding friendship with you and looks forward to continued cooperation between our countries in support of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative and our shared commitment to sustainable development, human...

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Regions: United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Human Rights and Democracy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State London, United Kingdom October 31, 2016 MR KHAN: Can I thank you all very much for coming to this town hall meeting at the best town hall in the world, city hall. This is my living room, and I’m really pleased that we have the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in city hall today. And Secretary Kerry has agreed to take loads of questions from the floor, but those who manage his time say you’re going to get time for three. (Laughter.) So can I have an ide...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Canada , China, Iran , Russia , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam

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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Benjamin Franklin House London, United Kingdom October 31, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Well, Sir Bob, I’m really thrilled to receive this award, and Marcia, thank you so much for what you’re doing here. And thank you all for being here – Mr. Ambassador, who cleverly, cleverly conspired to be the 100,000th. (Laughter.) I’m impressed by this connivance. You were in cahoots. It’s great. Well, listening to Mike Bloomberg, I’m humbled, but I...

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Regions: United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Energy, Global Health, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Chatham House London, United Kingdom October 31, 2016 MR NIBLETT: Welcome to Chatham House, excellencies, lords, ladies, and gentlemen, and welcome also to this 2016 Chatham House Prize ceremony. We’re delighted that so many of our members are here with us today; also supporters, guests, thank you very much for making the time. Our Chatham House Council members, our Panel of Senior Advisors, our Second Century Committee, representative of U.K. Government, oppo...

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Regions: Afghanistan, China, France , Iran , Ireland , Israel , Qatar , Russia , Saudi Arabia , Syria , United Kingdom , United States

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

Press Availability John Kerry Secretary of State Tipperary, Ireland October 30, 2016 FOREIGN MINISTER FLANAGAN: Good morning, everybody. Welcome to the Golden Vale of Tipperary on this beautiful autumn morning, and in particular I want to especially welcome Secretary of State John Kerry not only to Ireland but to the heart of Ireland to receive the highly acclaimed Tipperary International Peace Award. Today, the Secretary of State joins a long list of awardees which includes Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorb...

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Regions: Canada , Iran , Ireland , Korea, North , Russia , Syria , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam , Yemen

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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Aherlow House Hotel Tipperary, Ireland October 30, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Well, Martin, thank – I’m really incredibly touched, moved, very, very grateful, and hope and pray that there is no way possible that the glen of Aherlow and its beauty will remain a secret anywhere. (Laughter.) Really, you are blessed here in so many ways – blessed by your people. I thank you for your eloquence, I thank you for the honor of this award, which I accept really o...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Germany , Iraq , Ireland , Japan , Korea, North , Libya , Nigeria , South Africa , Syria , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam

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

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC October 28, 2016 I am pleased the United States has been reelected by the United Nations General Assembly to a new term on the UN Human Rights Council. We thank the General Assembly for its support and pledge to continue to work closely with the international community to address urgent and serious human rights concerns worldwide and to strengthen the Council as an institution. U.S. engagement has helped transform the Council into a more balan...

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Regions: Iran , Korea, North , United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC October 27, 2016 In further proof that the world is finally beginning to understand the urgency of the threats facing our planet, today in Hobart, Australia, 25 governments including the United States approved the creation of the world’s largest Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Antarctica’s Ross Sea. The Ross Sea Region MPA will safeguard one of the last unspoiled ocean wilderness areas on the planet – home to unparalleled mari...

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Regions: Antarctica, New Zealand , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Energy, Global Health, The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC October 27, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the people of Turkey as you celebrate the 93 rd anniversary of the founding of your republic on October 29. As a long-time Ally, the United States remains steadfast in support of Turkey’s democratically elected government and institutions—institutions enshrined in Turkey’s constitution. And we express again our condolences to the friends and...

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Regions: Turkey , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC October 27, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines as you celebrate the 37th anniversary of your nation’s independence. The United States and St. Vincent and the Grenadines enjoy a strong relationship based on our shared respect for universal human rights, the rule of law, and democracy. My government is proud to work alongside yours to promote in...

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Regions: United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Interview John Kerry Secretary of State Chicago, Illinois October 26, 2016 QUESTION: Secretary Kerry, welcome. I – we’re 80-some days from the – as we sit here today at the University of Chicago, we’re 80-some days from the end of this administration. It seems like a good time to kind of look back a little bit at your life and your career. And I wanted to ask you, I’m so intrigued by the fact that your dad was in the Foreign Service. And I was – what influence did tha...

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Regions: China, France , India , Iran , Iraq , Israel , Italy , Russia , Spain , Syria , Ukraine , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam , West Bank

Topics: Climate and Environment, 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