Secretary Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Seoul, Republic of Korea

Shilla Hotel

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thank you, everyone.  Thank you, and good morning again.  Thank you.

So I again want to thank President Yoon and Foreign Minister Cho for bringing us together to discuss what is one of the most transformational forces that’s shaping our future, our world, our democracies – and that is artificial intelligence.

I think it’s hard to overstate the extent to which

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Regions: Chile, United Kingdom , United States

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

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I offer heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness Pope Francis on the eleventh anniversary of his election to the See of Rome.

The United States and the Holy See are united by common values such as respect for human rights, including freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression, as well as dignity for all. We continue to work together to address the challenges of climate change, hum

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Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State Via Teleconference QUESTION: It is my absolute honor to welcome to the show Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Hello, sir. SECRETARY POMPEO: It’s great to be with you. Thanks for having me on today. QUESTION: You’re very welcome. There’s all kinds of things we want to try and get through in our limited time. But first of all, you have to be incredibly proud of your department for getting 70,000 – I mean, 70,000 – Americans home from 128 countries. That’s a remarkable t...

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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

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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

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May 31, 2012 to June 7, 2012 Travels With Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Photos : Armenia  | Azerbaijan Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled to Denmark , Norway , Sweden , Armenia , Georgia , Azerbaijan , and Turkey from May 31-June 7. In Copenhagen, Denmark, Secretary Clinton held bilateral meetings with senior Danish officials. She also participated in the kick-off event for Green Partnerships for Growth, a bilateral initiative to promote green technology t...

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

July 31, 2012 to August 10, 2012 Travels With Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Photos Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled to Africa July 31 through August 10, 2012. During this trip, the Secretary emphasized U.S. policy commitments outlined in the Presidential Policy Directive - to strengthen democratic institutions, spur economic growth, advance peace and security as well as promote opportunity and development for all citizens. The Secretary’s first stop was Sene...

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Regions: Somalia , South Africa , Sudan , Uganda , United Kingdom , United States

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February 22, 2012 to February 26, 2012 Travels With Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Photos On February 23, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton began a four-nation trip to London and North Africa. In London , the Secretary attended a conference hosted by Prime Minster David Cameron, dedicated to building stability and peace in Somalia. Heads of state and foreign ministers from over 50 countries as well as representatives of the United Nations and the African Union will attend. The timing of the ...

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November 11, 2012 to November 20, 2012 Travels With Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Photos: Australia  -  East Asia Summit Cambodia 2012 | President's Trip Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled to Perth and Adelaide, Australia ; Singapore ; Bangkok, Thailand ; Rangoon, Burma ; and Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 11-20, 2012. On November 11, Secretary Clinton traveled to Perth, Australia to join U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Australian Foreign Minister Bob Car...

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August 30, 2012 to September 9, 2012 Travels With Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Photos Secretary Clinton traveled to the Cook Islands, Indonesia , China , Timor-Leste , Brunei , and Russia departing Washington, DC on August 30. In the Cook Islands, Secretary Clinton attended the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Post Forum Dialogue on August 31 as part of our intensive engagement and ongoing collaboration with the Pacific Islands. Her visit emphasized the depth and breadth of American engagem...

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December 3, 2012 to December 7, 2012 Travels With Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Photos Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is traveling to Prague, the Czech Republic; Brussels, Belgium ; Dublin, Ireland ; and Belfast, Northern Ireland December 3-7. Secretary Clinton traveled to Prague, the Czech Republic, December 3 to meet with Czech officials on strengthening Czech energy independence, as well as advancing human rights and supporting democratic transitions around the world. Secr...

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June 29, 2011 to July 2, 2011 Travels With Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Photos: Hungary | Lithuania | Spain Secretary of State Clinton traveled to Budapest, Hungary , June 29, to participate in the dedication of the Lantos Institute. The establishment of the Lantos Institute has been supported by the Government of Hungary to promote Hungarian-born Congressman Tom Lantos’ long commitment to democratic principles and the protection of individual and human rights. Secretary Clinton also ...

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December 4, 2011 to December 8, 2011 Travels With Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Photos: Switzerland | Netherlands On December 4-8, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled to Germany , Lithuania , Switzerland , Belgium , and the Netherlands . In Bonn, Germany, Secretary Clinton led the United States’ high-level, interagency delegation to the International Conference for Afghanistan on December 5. The Bonn Conference, the first of its kind to be chaired solely by the Afghan Go...

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July 1, 2010 to July 6, 2010 Travels With Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Photos | Poland Photos  | Georgia Photos | Answers From Text the Secretary In Kyiv , Secretary Clinton opened the second meeting of the Strategic Partnership Commission and met with government officials, including President Yanukovych and Foreign Minister Gryshchenko, and with civil society and independent media leaders. In Krakow , Secretary Clinton participated in the celebration of the 10th anniversary ...

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Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC January 16, 2017 On the one-year anniversary of Implementation Day under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), we mark an historic understanding that prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and demonstrated the power of sustained, principled, multilateral diplomacy to address major international challenges. Implementing this highly technical deal has required diligent efforts by all participants -- the P5+1, the European Union,...

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Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State London, United Kingdom January 16, 2017 QUESTION: Secretary Kerry, welcome to the program. SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you. Happy to be here. QUESTION: We have a lot to talk about. The incoming president, your Administration’s legacy. But first and foremost, I want to ask you because here we sit on the very day that Donald Trump gives an interview to a German and a British newspaper. First and foremost, he says that he’s going to give a speedy, new, free and ...

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Regions: Iran , Israel , Russia , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam

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Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Paris, France January 15, 2017 SECRETARY KERRY: Look, I – first of all, I am grateful to the French for being willing to host the conference and I appreciate and respect their moral engagement and passion with the issue of peace, which I know matters to them deeply. And I think that – I really do believe that it is important that 70 nations, particularly – well, entities, but mostly nations – came together to reinforce the two-state solution ...

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Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Ho Chi Minh University of Technology and Education Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam January 13, 2017 SECRETARY KERRY: President Dung, thank you very, very much for that introduction. Xin Chao Viet Nam. (Applause.) I want to thank Party Secretary Dinh La Thang, and the People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong. I'm very, very grateful for your welcome. I'm honored to be here, And I'm very pleased to be here in a building the president just told me was b...

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Regions: Cambodia , China, Laos , Thailand , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam

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

Interview John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC January 10, 2017 QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, this journey, this part of your life, is coming to an end. You’ve traveled more than any other secretary of state. You have spent considerable time and hours on a lot of issues, from China to Russia to – from Asia to Latin America. But principally, you spent a lot of time on Israel and Palestine and you spent a lot of time on the Iran nuclear deal and you’ve spent a lot of time on Syria and...

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Regions: Afghanistan, China, Egypt , Indonesia , Iran , Iraq , Israel , Russia , Syria , Turkey , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam , West Bank

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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State U.S. Institute of Peace Washington, DC January 10, 2017 MS WOODRUFF: Thank you, Nancy. I’m delighted to be here and, Mr. Secretary, I understand you sprinted across the street. Is that right? SECRETARY KERRY: My sprinting days are reduced, but I came. I got here. (Laughter.) MS WOODRUFF: Well, there – you were spied hurrying, I’ll put it that way. SECRETARY KERRY: “Spied,” right. (Laughter.) MS WOODRUFF: So the format is that I’m ...

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Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Department of State Washington, DC January 10, 2017 UNDER SECRETARY KENNEDY: Secretary Baker was not able to be with us here this evening, but it’s now my honor to read a letter from the 61st Secretary of State: “Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. I regret that I am unable to join Secretary Kerry and my former secretary colleagues, all of whom have been crucial to the creation of the U.S. Diplomacy Center Pavilion. The completion of the Diplomacy Center...

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Regions: France , Iran , United Kingdom , United States

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Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC January 9, 2017 Throughout my career, including as Secretary of State, I have stood strongly in support of the LGBTI community, recognizing that respect for human rights must include respect for all individuals. LGBTI employees serve as proud members of the State Department and valued colleagues dedicated to the service of our country. For the past several years, the Department has pressed for the families of LGBTI officers to have the same pr...

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Interview John Kerry Secretary of State Cambridge, Massachusetts January 9, 2017 QUESTION: Senator Kerry, I hear you have logged 1.4 million more miles than any other secretary of state in history, and I’m wondering, are you happy to be done with this or would you keep going if you could? SECRETARY KERRY: It’s a great job. It’s a great job. I could certainly keep going for a while, but that’s not the way it is, so I’m looking forward to new adventures – to getting out...

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Regions: Antarctica, China, France , Iran , Israel , Korea, North , United Kingdom , United States , West Bank

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

Interview John Kerry Secretary of State Cambridge, Massachusetts January 9, 2017 QUESTION: Secretary Kerry, thank you so much for speaking with me today. SECRETARY KERRY: My pleasure. Thank you. QUESTION: First of all, I want to ask you – just big-picture here – how are you feeling at the end of your term? SECRETARY KERRY: I feel great. I mean, I feel very energized still, very focused, trying to finish up some key things; regretting a little bit that there isn’t more time to try to fi...

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Interview John Kerry Secretary of State Department of State Washington, DC January 6, 2017 QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thank you very much for joining us today. SECRETARY KERRY: A pleasure. Thank you. QUESTION: As you prepare to leave office at the end of the term, Russia and the role of Russia’s cyber hacking in the U.S. Russia has now, according to testimony and the intelligence at Armed Services hearings, Russia has hacked the State Department as we knew, the Joint Chiefs, obviously the DNC and ot...

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Interview John Kerry Secretary of State Department of State Washington, DC January 6, 2017 QUESTION: Is it true that the Trump transition has decreed that all politically appointed ambassadors have to be gone by Inauguration Day? SECRETARY KERRY: Yes. QUESTION: Does that tell you that they intend to make a pretty clean break with the Obama Administration’s foreign policy? SECRETARY KERRY: No, because all ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the president, number one. Number two, it is traditional ...

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Regions: Afghanistan, China, Egypt , Iran , Israel , Jordan , Korea, North , Russia , Syria , Taiwan , United Kingdom , United States , West Bank

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Interview John Kerry Secretary of State Department of State Washington, DC January 6, 2017 QUESTION: I want to start with Russia, and I know you said you have talked to your counterparts about the hacking. Did you say to them that you knew it went to the highest levels in the Russian Government? SECRETARY KERRY: In every way possible, the Russians were informed about our knowledge and displeasure about what was happening. QUESTION: Again, did they realize you knew that it was at the highest levels of th...

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Regions: Iran , Mexico , Russia , Syria , Ukraine , United Kingdom , United States

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Interview John Kerry Secretary of State Department of State Washington, DC January 6, 2017 QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thanks for much for joining us. SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you. QUESTION: Donald Trump – does his disparagement of the U.S. Intelligence Community hurt the U.S. with allies and undermine the U.S. with adversaries? SECRETARY KERRY: Wolf, I don’t – honestly, I don’t want to get into the president-elect’s current back-and-forth. He has a meeting today. I presume hope...

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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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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

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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

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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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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 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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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 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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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

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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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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

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

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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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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

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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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 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 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 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 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

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

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 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 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

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 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

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC October 26, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I am pleased to congratulate the people of the Czech Republic as you celebrate the 98th anniversary of your national day on October 28. As an American whose grandfather was born in a small town that is now Horni Benesov, I am delighted to recognize the enduring alliance between our two countries. This partnership can be seen in our joint membership in NATO and the OSCE and ...

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Regions: Czech Republic

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Hilton Chicago Hotel Chicago, Illinois October 26, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Well, good evening, everybody. And thank you, very, very much to Ivo Daalder. Thank you, sir, Mr. Ambassador. And thanks to the Chicago Council for Global Affairs for inviting me here. And a profound thank you to Ambassador Lou Susman for his very generous introduction. And most importantly, Marge and Lou, thank you for many, many years of extraordinary friendship. I really value it. And I thin...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Canada , China, Iran , Israel , Japan , Korea, North , Nigeria , Russia , Rwanda , Saudi Arabia , Somalia , Syria , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam

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 Chicago, Illinois October 26, 2016 MODERATOR: It is an honor to welcome a Secretary of State to the University of Chicago. It is part of the mission of the Institute of Politics to facilitate these kinds of opportunities for you to interact with practitioners and leaders, and so we’re really pleased on that account. But I – our other mission is somewhat larger than that, which is: We live in a somewhat dispirited time in our politics. I don’t know ...

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Regions: Afghanistan, China, France , Georgia , Germany , Iran , Iraq , Israel , Japan , Korea, North , Lebanon , Nigeria , Philippines , Qatar , Russia , Saudi Arabia , Somalia , Syria , Turkey , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam , Yemen

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Energy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Science, Technology, and Innovation, The Ocean and Polar Affairs, Treaties and International Agreements

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Treaty Room Washington, DC October 25, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Good morning, everybody. It’s my pleasure to welcome the Executive Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Dinh The Huynh here to Washington for his first visit with me here in Washington. And he will be going from here to New York and to Boston and having other meetings in the course of his stay here. But the executive secretary is a member of the Politburo in Vietnam, and as executive secretary...

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Regions: China, United States , Vietnam

Topics: Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Human Rights and Democracy, Treaties and International Agreements

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC October 24, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I am pleased to congratulate all Austrians as you celebrate your national day on October 26. The relationship between the United States and Austria is rooted in the interests and ideals we share, including our support for democracy, our respect for human rights, and our joint commitment to building a world that is peaceful, prosperous, and guided by the rule of law. My gove...

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Regions: Austria , Iran , United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State The White House Washington, DC October 24, 2016 Well, thank you, Valerie. Thank you very, very much, and my apologies to all for being a moment late. But let me second what Valerie said with respect to the efforts of everybody. This is our last meeting, as she mentioned, and I have to say that over the four years of this effort, I’m personally really grateful for and impressed by the extraordinary distance we have traveled here. This all-of-government effort h...

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

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC October 24, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the people of Zambia on the 52nd anniversary of your nation’s independence. Our countries have long enjoyed a warm bond rooted in our shared respect for democracy, peace, and individual freedoms. The United States appreciates your commitment to responsive and representative governance and applauds your regional leadership, particularly in providing much...

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Regions: United States , Zambia

Topics: Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Yun Byung-se, and South Korean Minister of National Defense Han Min-koo Room 1107 Washington, DC October 19, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Well, good afternoon and welcome, everybody, to the fourth 2+2. We’re delighted – Secretary Carter and I are very delighted to welcome our counterparts here and we look forward to a very fruitful discussion on a number of topics. We have quite a broa...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Korea, North , Korea, South , United States

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Energy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Treaties and International Agreements

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Treaty Room Washington, DC October 19, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you. Good afternoon, everybody. I want to start by welcoming my friend, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, back to Washington. He is here with Korean Defense Minister Han for the fourth U.S.-R.O.K. 2+2 discussion, as we call it. And this afternoon, joined by Defense Secretary Carter, we had a very productive discussion about our alliance and about the various possibilities that we face in terms of increa...

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Regions: China, Iran , Japan , Korea, North , Korea, South , Russia , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 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

Photos from the trip» U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry traveled to Brussels, Belgium, from October 4-5, 2016. He lead the United States delegation at the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan. At the Conference, he joined representatives from over 70 other international donors to reaffirm our collective support for Afghanistan’s development and self-reliance. He also met with Afghan President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah to discuss our continuing support for Afghanistan and to encourage...

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Regions: Afghanistan, United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC October 12, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I offer my warmest congratulations to the people of Equatorial Guinea as you celebrate your nation’s Independence Day, October 12. The United States values its friendship with you and looks forward to continuing our work together in pursuit of shared goals, including greater prosperity, improved governance, access to quality health care, respect for human rights, and ...

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Regions: Equatorial Guinea , Guinea , United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Palo Alto, California October 10, 2016 MS BOYD: So, Mr. Secretary, welcome to Silicon Valley and thank you for joining us today. SECRETARY KERRY: Happy to be here. Thank you. MS BOYD: I’m going to dive right in because we have a little bit less time than we planned. And I wanted to start with the big news from Friday. And since so much news broke on Friday, I should probably be a little more specific. (Laughter.) So on Friday, the Obama Administration official...

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Regions: Argentina, China, Cuba , France , 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, Science, Technology, and Innovation, The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC October 7, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I offer my best wishes to the people of Uganda as you celebrate the 54th anniversary of your nation’s independence. The friendship between our peoples is important to the United States. My government strongly supports your aspiration for further economic and social development and respect for human rights. The United States will continue to assist you in efforts to bui...

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Regions: Somalia , Uganda , United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Concert Noble Brussels, Belgium October 4, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Well, je suis John Kerry. (Laughter.) Welcome. Karen, merci, danke schon, dank u wel , and thank you – I’m really delighted to be here in the heart of Europe. I’m delighted to be in this extraordinary library building of great history, and I thank you, all of you, for taking time to come and to listen and to share thoughts and engage in something of a dialogue – a little one-sid...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Belgium , China, Denmark , France , Germany , Iran , Russia , Syria , Ukraine , 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, Science, Technology, and Innovation, The Ocean and Polar Affairs, Treaties and International Agreements

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC September 30, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the people of Germany as you mark the Day of German Unity on October 3. As a young boy living with my family in Berlin in the 1950s, I witnessed firsthand the harmful impact of Cold War division. At the time, there were many who believed that Germany would never again be united and that its people would never be allowed to come together under the banner of ...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Germany , Iran

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

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC September 30, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I am pleased to congratulate the people of the Republic of Palau as you celebrate the 22nd anniversary of your nation’s independence on October 1st. The close relationship between our two countries is built upon a foundation of our shared respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The service and sacrifice of Palauans in the U.S. Armed Forces is a testament ...

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Regions: Palau , United States

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

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC September 29, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the people of Botswana on the 50th anniversary of your nation’s independence. My country deeply values its friendship with your government and with all of you, a friendship based on mutual respect and responsibility. The United States particularly commends Botswana for its love of peace, its commitment to democracy, and its steadfast leadership in env...

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Regions: Botswana , United States

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

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC September 29, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the citizens of Nigeria as you celebrate your Independence Day on October 1. I recently returned from my third trip to Nigeria as Secretary, and I came away with a strong sense of the nation’s resolve to build a better future. During my trip, I was reminded that many Nigerians are engaged in bringing people together across the divides of culture, reli...

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Regions: Nigeria , United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC September 29, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the people of Cyprus as you celebrate the 56th anniversary of your nation’s Independence. The bonds of friendship between the Republic of Cyprus and the United States are rooted in common values of freedom and democracy, and can be seen in our joint efforts to promote peace, prosperity, and security for all our citizens. Together, we are acting to adv...

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Regions: Cyprus , United States

Topics: Energy, Human Rights and Democracy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Harman Center of Arts Washington, DC September 29, 2016 MR CLEMONS: Thank you. So let’s get to Syria stuff. I hear a rumor – I don’t know if it’s true – that Vladimir Putin and Sergey Lavrov are huddled around a screen right now in one corner of the world watching us, and I hear Lindsey Graham and John McCain are near another. And so I’d like to ask you, what would you like to communicate to the world and to those parties about Sy...

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Regions: Afghanistan, China, Iran , Israel , Jordan , Russia , Rwanda , Syria , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam

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 September 28, 2016 Teresa and I join countless friends and admirers around the world in expressing our deep sorrow at the passing of Israeli leader Shimon Peres. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and with the people of Israel as we mourn the loss of one of the world's greatest statesmen. Shimon's life traced his country’s extraordinary journey. He was one of Israel's founding patriots. He was an immigrant who went ...

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Regions: Israel , United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Wilson Center Washington, DC September 28, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Jane, thank you for a wonderful introduction. I hugely appreciate your support, your counsel. And obviously, we are living in complicated times. I want to thank you for many, many years of remarkable service to our country. Jane was reminding me as we were walking up here that we were by happenstance on a flight together not so many years ago, and she secretly informed me of the offer from the Wilson C...

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Regions: Australia , Canada , Chile, China, France , Germany , Israel , Italy , Japan , Korea, North , Korea, South , Philippines , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 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 Palace Hotel New York City September 23, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Well, colleagues, welcome and good afternoon. I’m delighted to have a chance to be able to catch up to everybody, and thank you all for being here. Our time is a little bit limited, as you know, and our agenda is, as always, fairly unlimited, pretty substantial, so I’m going to jump right in if I can. First of all, I want to thank Foreign Minister Anifah for co-hosting, and I particularly wan...

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Regions: China, Indonesia , Korea, North , Laos , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State The Palace Hotel New York City September 21, 2016 Translated from French. SECRETARY KERRY : Good afternoon everybody. We’re really very happy to be here. It is my great pleasure to welcome the Tunisian President Caid Essebsi, who you know. I am going to speak a little in French as he has asked me to. Mr. President, welcome. I am delighted to see you again. PRESIDENT ESSEBSI: Thank you very much. SECRETARY KERRY: Tunisia is in the middle of a significant transi...

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Regions: France , Tunisia , United Kingdom , United States

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

Interview John Kerry Secretary of State Palace Hotel New York City, NY September 19, 2016 QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thank you so much for joining us on your last UNGA. I just have to ask you about these explosions last night. I know the mayor discounted terrorism, but is it a little early for that, especially given the fact that these devices might have been similar to the Boston Marathon? SECRETARY KERRY: Well, I have to leave the judgment to the mayor and his team. They’re really an outstanding f...

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Regions: China, Colombia , Iran , Jordan , Norway , Russia , Syria , United Kingdom , United States , West Bank

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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State United Nations Headquarters New York City September 19, 2016 Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman. I apologize for being a little bit late. Even with a motorcade, traffic is hard. I want to applaud the United Nations for convening this very timely session on the largescale movement of refugees and migrants, and obviously, we all come here convinced that there should be no question that we all need to do more in order to help people who are fleeing persecution and violence. ...

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Regions: Syria , United States

Topics: Energy, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Marriott New York East Side New York City, NY September 18, 2016 FOREIGN MINISTER KISHIDA: (Via interpreter) (In progress.) -- face the threat from North Korea totally different in dimension from the past regarding provocations, including the recent nuclear test (inaudible) development of nuclear and missile capabilities. The international society is required to initiate a different response accordingly. U.S., ROK, and Japan must be in the driver seat to lead the in...

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Regions: Japan , Korea, North , United States

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Human Rights and Democracy, Treaties and International Agreements

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC September 16, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I offer warm wishes to the people of Chile as you observe your nation’s Independence Day on September 18. The United States values its close and productive partnership with Chile. Our countries are bound together by our deep commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. My government is proud to work with yours to support peace ...

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Regions: Chile, United States

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

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC September 16, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Mexico as you celebrate the 206th anniversary of your nation’s independence. The United States and Mexico are not only neighbors, but close partners and friends. Our relationship is based on a host of shared interests, people-to-people ties, and a commitment to democratic values. After more than two centuries of living side-b...

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Regions: Mexico , United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC September 15, 2016 On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Costa Rica as you celebrate the 195th anniversary of your nation’s independence on September 15. Our countries enjoy a longstanding and remarkably strong friendship, rooted in our shared values and commitment to keeping our citizens safe, supporting democratic institutions, defending human rights, and expanding economic oppor...

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Regions: Costa Rica , United States

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