Secretary Remarks

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

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

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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State 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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Rice University Houston, Texas April 26, 2016 MR LEEBRON: Good evening, and welcome to this wonderful venue at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. We are thrilled to be hosting such a remarkable event tonight and thankful to Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy for making it possible. We are very grateful to Secretary Kerry for choosing the Baker Institute for his address this evening, and we welcome him warmly to Rice University. ...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Antarctica, China, France , Germany , Iran , Iraq , Mexico , Saudi Arabia , Syria , Tunisia , United Kingdom , United States

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, Treaties and International Agreements

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Press Briefing Room Washington, DC Learn more: Atrocities Prevention Report March 17, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Good morning, everybody. In 2014, the terrorist group Daesh began to seize territory in Syria and Iraq, overrunning major cities and committing atrocities. The United States responded quickly by denouncing these horrific acts and – more importantly – taking coordinated actions to counter them. In September of that year, President Obama mobilized an...

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Regions: Iraq , Syria , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Countering Terrorism

Op-Ed John Kerry Secretary of State Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew Miami Herald December 20, 2014 President Obama’s decision to begin normalizing relations with Cuba will advance United States’ interests and those of the Cuban people. The 11 million people of this island nation have waited far too long — over half a century — to fulfill their democratic aspirations and build closer ties with the rest of the world in the 21st century. Our new...

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Regions: Cuba , Panama , United States , Western Hemisphere

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

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC December 17, 2014 Raj has been an outstanding Administrator, a creative innovator, and a dynamic leader. After five years, he absolutely deserves this transition, and he leaves USAID after making a dramatic mark — transforming this institution into one that's more entrepreneurial, more modern, and more nimble, while promoting resilient democracies and battling extreme poverty across the globe. I first heard Raj’s name many year...

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Regions: Haiti , United Kingdom

Topics: Science, Technology, and Innovation

Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC October 31, 2014 On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Dominica on the 36th anniversary of your independence on November 3. As the first country in the Americas to elect a female prime minister, you remain a symbol of gender equality for the region and the world. The United States shares a cooperative relationship with Dominica through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative and the U.S....

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Regions: Dominica , United States

Topics: Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Global Women's Issues

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Treaty Room Washington, DC October 8, 2014 SECRETARY KERRY: Good morning, everybody. I’m very privileged to be here welcoming Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond to the State Department, and I’m even more privileged to work with him and to form a partnership that gives full gusto to the meaning of the special relationship that Great Britain and the United States share. So it is important for us to be continuing – I think we – Philip mentioned to...

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Regions: France , Iraq , Liberia , Russia , Sierra Leone , Syria , Turkey , Ukraine , United Kingdom , United States

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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Ronald Reagan Building Washington, DC September 19, 2014 SECRETARY KERRY: (Applause.) Thank you very much. Eliot, thank you very, very much. I accept the nomination. (Laughter.) It’s wonderful to be here. I give you a lot of credit, Eliot. As someone who represents New York’s 16th District, as someone from the Bronx, thank you very much for not mentioning that the Boston Red Sox are 26 games out of first place. (Laughter.) As I had the privilege of servi...

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Regions: Ethiopia , Iraq , Solomon Islands , Sudan , Syria , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Global Health, Global Women's Issues, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Treaties and International Agreements

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC September 11, 2014 I just wanted to touch base with all of you in the Department and USAID as we all together stop and think about September 11th. This is a tough day on the calendar for all of us, obviously, because it’s so much more than just any day on any calendar. None of us will ever forget where we were 13 years ago when we were attacked here at home and lost thousands of Americans, just as we all remember two years ago when we were attac...

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Regions: United Kingdom

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State East-West Center Honolulu, Hawaii August 13, 2014 MR. MORRISON: Well, thank you. Aloha. I want to welcome everyone. And for our online audience, and also for the Secretary, I’d like to describe who is here in our audience. We have the mayor of Honolulu, Mayor Caldwell. We have our senator, Mazie Hirono. We have our former governor, George Ariyoshi, and our other former governor, John Waihee. We have many members of the business and intellectual and public affa...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Australia , Burma , China, Hong Kong , Indonesia , Iran , Japan , Kiribati , Korea, North , Philippines , Solomon Islands , 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, Treaties and International Agreements

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Myanmar International Conference Center Naypyitaw, Burma August 9, 2014 Thank you very much, Mr. Co-Chair, I appreciate it very much. And again, I repeat we all appreciate your leadership and particularly hosting us here now. And I want to welcome the ASEAN Secretary General Minh. Thank you very much for being here with us, too. And to all of our colleagues. Cooperating closely with ASEAN, by the way, couldn't be more important for this effort because we and the...

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Regions: Burma , United States , Vietnam

Topics: Climate and Environment, Energy, Global Health

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Treaty Room Washington, DC August 5, 2014 MS. HYDE: Good afternoon. Mr. President and Secretary Kerry, Mr. Minister, and friends of Ghana: I am delighted to welcome you here for the signing of Ghana’s $498 million compact with the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation. This agreement represents a major milestone in the U.S.-Ghanaian partnership, and I want to thank both teams, from Ghana and from MCC, who worked tirelessly to develop this in...

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Regions: Ghana , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Energy, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Treaties and International Agreements

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State National Academy of Sciences Washington, DC August 4, 2014 Thank you very, very much. My apologies that we are beginning just a couple of minutes late, and we’re delighted to welcome everybody here. Let me just say at the outset I had the chance to speak here earlier today on civil society, but I want to reemphasize the degree to which President Obama and the whole Administration are genuinely very excited about these several days. This summit has been long in...

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Regions: India , United States

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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Omni Shoreham Hotel Washington, DC July 28, 2014 SECRETARY KERRY: Wow. What a great group. Thank you. Please, sit down. Sit down, sit down. Thank you. It is so good to see you all. Welcome. You having fun? AUDIENCE: Yes. SECRETARY KERRY: I’m glad to hear it. It’s just beginning. And the President’s going to get a chance to speak with everybody before long. That’ll be great. We look forward to it. I can’t tell you – I’m reall...

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Regions: Ethiopia , South Africa , Tanzania , United Kingdom , United States

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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Ben Franklin Room Washington, DC June 19, 2014 SECRETARY KERRY: Robyn, thank you very, very much. Thank you to all of you. Welcome to this celebration of pride here at State, and I’m very, very honored to have a chance to be able to talk with everybody. And thank you especially for putting up with my tardiness, which is not my fault. Blame Iraq and – (laughter) – a few other places. But I’m really delighted to be here. Robyn’s leadershi...

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Regions: Iran , Iraq , Russia , Uganda , United Kingdom , United States

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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Dean Acheson Auditorium Washington, DC June 18, 2014 Ken, thank you very, very much for reminding me of the years that have passed. (Laughter.) And first, let me begin with a profound apology to everybody here. I don’t make it a practice to run over your schedules; unfortunately the world is not cooperating with mine today. (Laughter.) So I was not able to get down here in time, and I’m going from here upstairs for the unveiling of former Secretary Condo...

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Regions: United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam

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

Remarks John Kerry    Secretary of State Catherine A. Novelli    Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment  Loy Henderson Conference Room Washington, DC June 17, 2014 Moderator:  Under Secretary Catherine Novelli Guest Speakers:  Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr., President, Republic of Palau Heraldo Munoz, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chile Borge Brende, Foreign Minister, Norway Robert Dussey, Foreign Minister, Togo Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Managing D...

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Regions: Benin , Chile, France , Indonesia , Norway , Palau , Russia , Togo , United Kingdom , United States

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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State George Marshall East Auditorium Washington, DC November 21, 2013 SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you all for coming. This is by far one of the best parts of this job, is when you get to recognize extraordinary talent and you see families and friends, colleagues, people come together to celebrate extraordinary talent and service to our country. So I’m thrilled to be here and I apologize to all of you that we’re running just a little bit behind. We had an overflow ...

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Regions: Afghanistan, China, India , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan , 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

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC November 13, 2013 Good afternoon.  I really do wish I could be there with you in person, because I have enormous respect for - and interest in - the work that’s bringing all of you together in London today.  We all know that the Call to Action on Protecting Women and Girls in Emergencies is important and long overdue:  We feel it with greater urgency every time we read the horror stories of human trafficking, rape in refugee camps...

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Regions: Syria , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Interview John Kerry Secretary of State Islamabad, Pakistan August 1, 2013 The video is available with closed captioning on YouTube. QUESTION: Thank you very much for giving us time. My first question is about your commitment with democracy. The U.S. believes in democracy, U.S. is a champion of democracy all over the world. But why U.S. is not taking a clear position on military intervention against the democratically elected government of President Morsy in Egypt? SECRETARY KERRY: Well, it’s a ve...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Egypt , Pakistan , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Countering Terrorism, Energy, Human Rights and Democracy

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State New Delhi, India June 23, 2013 AMBASSADOR POWELL: ( In Hindi ) Good evening. A very big thank you to all of you for joining us tonight for this very special occasion. It’s my pleasure to welcome Secretary Kerry back to India, and to recognize his 28 years of service as a senator, in which he played a very important role in promoting our U.S.-India bilateral relationship, including heading up a Congressional trade mission at the time our economic relations were...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Australia , China, India , Pakistan , Thailand , Turkmenistan , 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, Treaties and International Agreements

Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State Opening Remarks Before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Washington, DC April 17, 2013 SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you very, very much, Madam Chairwoman and Madam Ranking Member, my good friend Nita Lowey, Chairman Rogers, and members of the committee. It’s great to appear before you. This is a privilege for me. I like the intimate setting, and I look forward to having good dialogue with everybody. We do indeed...

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Regions: Afghanistan, China, Germany , Israel , United Kingdom , United States

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

Testimony John Kerry Secretary of State Opening Remarks Before the House Foreign Affairs Committee Washington, DC April 17, 2013 The video below is available with closed captioning on YouTube . Well, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I ask you just to remember what goes around comes around. (Laughter.) Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Congressman Engel, Ranking Member. Thank you for your comments about Boston. It’s impossible for me to express my sadness and my anger, frankly, over those terrible even...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Iraq , Israel , Korea, North , Syria , United Kingdom , United States

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

Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Benjamin Franklin Room Washington, DC November 28, 2012 SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you, and welcome to the State Department. And here in the Diplomatic Rooms, in a room named for Ben Franklin, we have many events throughout the course of the year, but I like to think that Mr. Franklin would find this one especially important because of his commitment to innovation and all that can spring from good businesses doing good work. I want to thank Under Secretary...

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Regions: Rwanda , United States , Vietnam

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

Address Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Washington, DC December 19, 2011 Thank you.  Well, it is wonderful to be back at Georgetown to give all of the students an excuse not to keep studying for their last finals.  (Laughter.)  That’s what accounts for the enthusiastic response here in Gaston Hall.  But thank you so much, President DeGioia.  This great university has such a long history of nurturing diplomats and peacemakers and at least one former president who ...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Chile, Egypt , Iraq , Ireland , Kenya , Liberia , Nepal , Senegal , United Kingdom , United States

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

Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Acting Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Frank Ruggiero; USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Afghanistan and Pakistan Alex Thier Washington, DC December 16, 2010 SECRETARY CLINTON: Hi, everyone. Well, since we are talking about Afghanistan and Pakistan today, and I just came from a long briefing at the White House with Secretary Gates and General Cartwright, along with the President and the Vice President, I wanted to come here and...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Pakistan , United States

Topics: Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy

Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton    Secretary of State Anne-Marie Slaughter    Director Patrick F. Kennedy    Under Secretary for Management  Rajiv Shah    USAID Administrator Dean Acheson Auditorium Washington, DC December 15, 2010 UNDER SECRETARY KENNEDY: Good morning, everyone. Before beginning this Secretary of State town hall meeting on the QDDR, I would like to ask all of you to rise for a moment in a moment of silence and memory of Ambassador R...

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Regions: Afghanistan, China, Haiti , India , Iraq , United Kingdom , United States

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

Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Melbourne, Australia November 7, 2010 MODERATOR: Hello, I’m Leigh Sales. Welcome to this ABC News special, Hillary Rodham Clinton: An Australian Conversation. Let me explain today’s format. The Secretary of State will address our audience here in Melbourne for about 10 minutes or so and I’ll briefly interview her afterwards. I’ll then open the floor to questions from our audience will go for about three quarters of an hour. In our...

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Regions: Afghanistan, Australia , Brazil , Burma , Cambodia , China, Fiji , France , Guinea , Haiti , India , Indonesia , Malaysia , New Zealand , Pakistan , Papua New Guinea , Somalia , Syria , United Kingdom , United States , Yemen

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

Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Washington Convention Center Washington, DC October 1, 2009 Thank you. Well, thank you very much, Stephen, and it is a real pleasure for me to join you today and be part of what has already been a very substantive program. I thank you and the Corporate Council on Africa for your tireless efforts to develop stronger business and trade ties between the United States and the countries of Africa. And I want to also recognize my colleague in the cabinet, the ...

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Regions: Angola , Botswana , Italy , Kenya , Liberia , Mauritius , Niger , Nigeria , Rwanda , Senegal , South Africa , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Treaties and International Agreements

Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Kenyatta International Conference Centre Nairobi, Kenya August 5, 2009 Good morning. Let me thank the trade minister for those welcoming words, and tell you what a privilege it is for me to join you here today. I am very grateful to the people and Government of Kenya for hosting this AGOA Forum, and particularly to the president, the prime minister, and the entire Kenyan Government. The presence of so many distinguished leaders from across Africa reflect...

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Regions: Ghana , Italy , Kenya , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Treaties and International Agreements