President Abdelaziz Bouteflika Meets Secretary Clinton

State Department Photo

El Mouradia Palace
Algiers, Algeria

October 29, 2012

SECRETARY CLINTON: First, let me say how pleased I am to be back in Algeria and to have this chance to consult in depth with the President and (inaudible). I want to thank the President for his hospitality in the time that he has spent talking with me and that we will continue over lunch. We reviewed our strong bilateral relationship, including the fact we had an excellent Strategic Dialogue on a number of issues just last week in Washington.

And we had an in-depth discussion of the region, particularly the situation in Mali. I very much appreciated the President’s analysis, based on his long experience, as to the many complicated factors that have to be addressed to deal with the internal insecurity in Mali and the terrorist and drug trafficking threat that is posed to the region and beyond. And we have agreed to continue with in-depth expert discussions, to work together bilaterally and with the region – along with the United Nations, and the African Union, and ECOWAS – to determine the most effective approaches that we should be taking.

So again, I thank the President for his time and very helpful observations, and I look forward to continuing our discussion on a matter that is of particular interest to us both.

Thank you very much.

U.S. State Department Launches Global Connections 2.0 Program

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

October 26, 2012

U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced today the launch of the 2012 – 2013 Global Connections 2.0 Program, a virtual exchange program for teachers and students from the United States and 19 countries from the Middle East and North Africa.

Through Global Connections 2.0, teachers and students in the Middle East and North Africa will expand their computer literacy skills, gain a deeper understanding of other countries’ cultures, and develop their leadership skills, giving them tools to make a difference in their home communities. In partnership with the International Education and Resource Network (iEARN), this program empowers youth to use technology and online collaboration to address global challenges and engage in dialogue with the international community.

Global Connections 2.0 builds on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 21st century statecraft policy, leveraging technology to create connections among Americans and their counterparts in the Middle East and North Africa.

Since 2000, the State Department’s Global Connections and Exchange (GCE) Program has supported collaboration and online linkages among students, educators, and community youth leaders from U.S. and overseas secondary schools and youth organizations. Virtual exchange offers meaningful cross-cultural exchange opportunities to students otherwise unable to participate in physical study abroad programs.

U.S. Under Secretary María Otero to Travel to Mali

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

October 26, 2012

Under Secretary María Otero will travel to Bamako, Mali from October 29 to November 1, 2012.

In Mali, Under Secretary Otero will meet with Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra, President Dioncounda Traore as well as other government officials, human rights activists, UN agencies, and NGOs to discuss political and civilian security issues – including the conflict in northern Mali – refugee and migration issues, food security, human rights, trafficking in persons and combating terrorism.

During her trip, Under Secretary Otero will tour a UN food distribution site to meet with internally displaced persons. She will also visit a rehabilitation center for trafficked persons.

Under Secretary Otero will be accompanied by Ambassador Pat Haslach, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Justin Siberell, Deputy Coordinator for Regional Affairs and Programs of the Bureau of Counterterrorism, and Christopher Runyan, Director for African Affairs, National Security Staff.

U.S. Under Secretary Wendy Sherman to Travel to Eastern and South Africa

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

October 25, 2012

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman will travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia from October 29 to November 8. Under Secretary Sherman will further numerous objectives during her trip including advancing regional security, promoting strong democratic institutions, extending U.S. appreciation for African peacekeeping efforts, and leading the first meeting of the U.S.–South Africa Bilateral Working Group on African and Global Affairs.

Beginning her trip in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Under Secretary Sherman will meet with officials and civilian stakeholders to urge greater progress on security sector reform, accountability, anti-corruption efforts, and to discuss the conflict in the east. In Rwanda, she will engage officials to increase their participation in regional and bilateral political dialogues to bring about an end to the conflict in the eastern DRC. In Uganda, Under Secretary Sherman will focus on the U.S./Uganda partnership in regional security including Somalia and the efforts against the Lord’s Resistance Army, as well as on the importance of good governance and a strong civil society for both democracy and economic growth.

In South Africa, Under Secretary Sherman will lead the U.S. delegation of the first Bilateral Working Group on African and Global Affairs, as announced by Secretary Clinton last August. While in Kenya, Under Secretary Sherman will follow up on Secretary Clinton’s discussions about the importance of free, fair, and peaceful elections in March 2013 and Kenya’s role in advancing regional security. Under Secretary Sherman will finish her trip in Ethiopia, where she will reaffirm the U.S./Ethiopia partnership. In doing so, she will underscore our intent to continue work on the three pillars of the bilateral relationship: economic growth and development, democracy and human rights, and regional peace security.

The U.S. Congratulates Burkina Faso's Dr. Lassina Zerbo

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

October 23, 2012

The United States would like to congratulate Dr. Lassina Zerbo on his selection as Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization. Dr. Zerbo, in his capacity as Director of the International Data Center, has displayed the management skills, technical skills, and diplomatic acumen needed for the position of Executive Secretary. We commend Dr. Zerbo on his willingness to take on the important tasks of the Executive Secretary, and his readiness to address the challenges that will face the PrepCom in the years ahead.

For more information about Dr. Zerbo visit http://www.ctbto.org/the-organization/the-provisional-technical-secretariat-pts/organizational-structure-of-the-pts/curriculum-vitaelassina-zerbointernational-data-centre-division/

U.S. Assistant Secretary Richard To Travel to Kenya and South Sudan

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

October 22, 2012

Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration Anne C. Richard will travel to Kenya and South Sudan, October 24-31, 2012. Assistant Secretary Richard will focus on protection and assistance for refugees in both countries, as well as review U.S. Refugee Admissions Program operations in Kenya.

Kenya currently hosts more than 630,000 refugees, most of whom are from Somalia. In Nairobi, Assistant Secretary Richard will meet with government officials and representatives of both international and nongovernmental organizations. She will also visit Kakuma refugee camp, which is home to more than 100,000 refugees, primarily from Somalia and South Sudan. She will observe reproductive health programs for refugees at Kakuma, among other assistance efforts. In Kakuma and at the Department of State’s Resettlement Support Center in Nairobi, she will meet with staff who prepare refugee applicants for resettlement in the United States.

South Sudan currently hosts more than 200,000 refugees, mostly from Sudan. Assistant Secretary Richard will visit with refugees and humanitarian staff, and observe on-going efforts to provide safe neutral settlements and meet the emergency needs of new Sudanese arrivals. There are currently some 110,000 Sudanese refugees in settlements in Maban County, and over 60,000 refugees at Yida and other sites in Unity State, double the number since April 2012. Additional refugees are expected with the coming dry season, once roads are passable. In Juba, she will meet with government officials and representatives of both international and nongovernmental organizations.

U.S. Assistant Secretary Hammer To Travel To Uganda, Kenya, and South Africa

Photo courtesy of whitehouse.gov

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

October 22, 2012

Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Mike Hammer will travel to Kampala, Uganda, Nairobi, Kenya and Pretoria and Johannesburg, South Africa, departing Washington, DC on October 22nd. At each stop he will engage with journalists, students, civil society leaders and government spokespeople on public diplomacy and communication efforts, support for democratic institutions and freedom of press and economic statecraft, among other topics. He will also underscore the U.S. government’s commitment to the region.

While in Johannesburg, Assistant Secretary Hammer will deliver keynote remarks at the launch of the new location of the Africa Regional Media Hub, which is one of six media hubs around the world managed by the Bureau of Public Affairs. The hubs – in Brussels, Dubai, Johannesburg, London, Miami and Tokyo – serve as conduits through which the Department communicates American foreign policy directly to international audiences.

U.S. & East African Community Announce Progress In Trade & Investment P’nership

Nairobi, Kenya –The United States Government, represented by the United States Trade Representative, and the East African Community (EAC) today issued the following statement outlining further progress under the U.S.-EAC Trade and Investment Partnership:

Today, 19th October 2012, the East African Community and the United States have taken important steps to advance the U.S.-EAC Trade and Investment Partnership – a new initiative that supports the economic integration of the EAC and enhances the U.S.-EAC trade and investment relationship. This new Partnership is built on the recognition of the important role that trade and investment play in economic and social development including job creation, both in East Africa and the United States.

The EAC and the United States agreed on a framework to move forward on the establishment of a Commercial Dialogue, which will be formally launched in late November 2012.

The EAC and the United States also agreed that their respective technical teams will meet at the soonest possible date for further consultations toward negotiation of a proposed investment treaty and a trade facilitation agreement. The technical teams will further discuss and agree on the trade capacity building assistance, including identification and agreement of priority areas to support the Trade and Investment Partnership. The EAC acknowledged that the United States already provides substantial assistance to the EAC Partner States and the Secretariat, including an additional amount of up to $10 million (ten million United States Dollars) that the United States will provide over the next five years to the EAC Secretariat to support regional economic integration.

As the next step, the EAC Ministers responsible for Trade and Investment, and the U.S. Trade Representative agreed to advance the U.S.-EAC Trade and Investment Partnership within their respective administrations. They also agreed to hold their next Ministerial meeting on the margins of the 2013 AGOA Forum.

The statement follows a Ministerial meeting on October 19, 2012 in Nairobi, Kenya attended by Ministers from the EAC Partner States, the Deputy United States Trade Representative, the representative of the EAC Secretary General, Senior Officials from the EAC Partner States, and senior U.S. Government officials from a number of U.S. Government agencies, including the Departments of State, Commerce, and Transportation, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The EAC and the United States announced this new Trade and Investment Partnership at the AGOA Forum in Washington D.C. earlier this year. The initial items the EAC and the United States have agreed to explore under this new Partnership include an investment treaty, a trade facilitation agreement, continued trade capacity building assistance, and a commercial dialogue. Building upon the foundations of our existing trade and investment relationship, the Partnership will help to promote EAC regional integration, social and economic growth, and expand and diversify U.S.-EAC trade and investment. It could also serve as building blocks towards a more comprehensive trade agreement over the long term.

The U.S.-EAC Trade and Investment Partnership is an important component of the U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa, which President Obama announced in June 2012.

Young North African Leaders To Attend Active Citizen Summit in U.S.

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

October 19, 2012

The U.S. State Department, in partnership with the American Council of Young Political Leaders, is hosting a 10-day Active Citizen Summit for 60 young leaders (ages 18-35) from the Middle East and North Africa from October 21-31. The program will feature leadership development workshops, short internships, policy discussions, and capstone presentations.

The program will begin with two days of communications and leadership development workshops in San Francisco, and will be followed by short internships in California, North Carolina and Utah. It will culminate with a two-day session in Washington, D.C. featuring discussions with U.S. government officials and presentations from the delegates at the Newseum. A small number of American youth counterparts and young leaders from Arab-American Diaspora communities will also participate in the program.

The Active Citizen Summit provides an exciting opportunity to positively respond to the opportunities and challenges facing youth in the Middle East and North Africa.
The program’s goals are
(1) to expand capacity for young leaders to participate in civil society and contribute as active citizens
(2) to provide young leaders a window into the American political process and society, and
(3) to strengthen and expand relationships with and among young leaders in the Middle East and North Africa.

Secretary Hillary Clinton to CNN: ‘I Take Responsibility’ in Libya Attack

Hillary Clinton Photo (Reuters/Yuri Gripas)
Story Source: Yahoo News / Oliver Knox

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told CNN in an interview Monday that she—not the White House—takes responsibility for the security situation in Benghazi, Libya, ahead of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack there that claimed the lives of four Americans, including the ambassador.

“I take responsibility,” Clinton told CNN in one of a series of television interviews she gave after arriving in Peru. The comments from America’s top diplomat came on the eve of President Barack Obama’s second debate with Republican challenger Mitt Romney, a face-off that seemed likely to include questions about the administration’s handling of the bloody assault.

“I want to avoid some kind of political gotcha” with just three weeks before the election, Clinton said, underlining that she—not Obama and Vice President Joe Biden—has the final word on security at America’s diplomatic posts overseas.

The White House took heavy fire from Republicans for blaming the attack on Muslim anger at an Internet video ridiculing Islam—even though intelligence officials from the U.S., France, Britain and Italy had quickly labeled the assault an act of terrorism.

And Biden stoked the controversy when he said, in his debate with Republican rival Paul Ryan last week, that “we weren’t told” of requests for more security on the ground. State Department officials had testified that such requests had been denied by Washington.
U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens was slain in the onslaught, making him the first American ambassador killed in such an attack since 1979. Romney has led Republican charges that the strike is a symptom of Obama’s “unraveling” foreign policy.

In the CNN interview, Clinton blamed “confusion” after the attack for the initial focus on the video, which has fueled angry demonstrations across the Muslim world. The State Department has said it never blamed demonstrations for the bloodshed in Benghazi. The White House has said that the intelligence community initially believed that the film had played a role.

Clinton also said that while she would work to improve diplomatic security, “we cannot retreat” from the world. “We can’t not engage,” she said.

Kenya Hosts 2012 African Women Entrepreneurs Program

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

October 15, 2012

The U.S. Department of State and the Vital Voices Global Partnership will conduct follow-on training in Nairobi, Kenya for the 2012 African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumnae, October 15-19, 2012. The workshop will focus on business strategic planning, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), export processes and documentation, and how to build a competitive business. The training is funded by the ExxonMobil Foundation, as part of its ongoing commitment to support the economic advancement of women. It will build on Secretary Clinton’s vision of “smart power,” which embraces the full range of diplomatic tools – in this case women’s entrepreneurship – to bring people together to foster greater understanding.

AWEP is an initiative launched by the U.S. Department of State in July 2010. It identifies and builds networks of women entrepreneurs across sub-Saharan Africa poised to transform their societies by owning, running, and operating small and medium businesses, and by becoming voices for social advocacy in their communities. This AWEP initiative, benefiting more than 120 participants from 44 African countries, leverages public-private partnerships to increase women’s economic participation and address key barriers that women confront when starting and growing businesses. To learn more about AWEP, click here: http://www.state.gov/p/af/rt/awep/index.htm.

Secretary Clinton Delivers Remarks on Democratic Transitions in the Maghreb

U.S. Under Secretary María Otero Travels to Mauritania

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

October 12, 2012

Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights María Otero will travel to Nouakchott, Mauritania from October 15-17, 2012. She will meet with government officials, including President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, representatives from civil society, UN agencies and youth groups to discuss political and democratic developments in the country, electoral processes, refugees and humanitarian assistance and combating trafficking in persons. This is the most senior-level U.S. State Department visit to Mauritania in five years.

U.S. State Department To Sponsor Apps4Africa 2012: Business Challenge

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

October 12, 2012

As part of its engagement with African partners in promoting economic opportunity and development in Africa, the U.S. Department of State will sponsor Apps4Africa 2012: Business Challenge, an Africa-wide competition to encourage the development of mobile, web, and desktop applications (“apps”) that help address the challenge of youth unemployment in Africa. The competition will be launched October 24-26 at the inaugural DEMO Africa technology and investor forum in Nairobi, Kenya.

In coordination with Appfrica International, the U.S. Department of State, through the Bureau of African Affairs, will bring together civil society, academia, and the private sector to support African technology innovators in creating apps that promote job creation, help businesses connect with potential employees, and tackle other challenges faced by African job-seekers. Through this competition, we seek to promote the use of technology as a means of youth empowerment; support the development of civil society and private-sector networks; and highlight African solutions to local employment challenges.

Apps4Africa 2012: Business Challenge builds on the success of the two previous Apps4Africa competitions, Apps4Africa 2010: Civic Challenge and Apps4Africa 2011: Climate Challenge. This year’s competition will be launched at DEMO Africa, a pan-African technology and investor forum geared toward identifying leading innovators and supporting fast-growing technology startups. DEMO Africa is supported by the U.S. Department of State through its Liberalizing Innovation Opportunity Nations (LIONS@FRICA) partnership, which seeks to promote innovation and support technology entrepreneurs in Africa. After the Apps4Africa launch, regional brainstorming sessions with stakeholders will be held in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Ghana, Senegal, and Nigeria. Competition winners will receive prizes, including cash awards.

For more information please visit http://apps4africa.org

Secretary Clinton’s Statement on Equatorial Guinea National Day

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

October 12, 2012

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Equatorial Guinea as you celebrate your independence day this October 12.

The United States is committed to promoting peace and prosperity for the people of Equatorial Guinea. We support efforts to achieve economic growth in a manner that is consistent with the values of democracy and good governance. And we remain committed to working together to meet the challenges of the future.

I wish all people of Equatorial Guinea peace and prosperity in the years to come.

U.S. Sends New Chargé d’Affairs to Libya

Photo courtesy of patdollard.com

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State,
Washington, DC

October 11, 2012

Laurence Pope has arrived in Tripoli as U.S. Chargé d’ Affairs to Libya. Mr. Pope’s selection as Chargé d’ Affairs emphasizes the commitment of the United States to the relationship between our two countries and to the people of Libya as they move forward in their transition to a democratic government. We will continue to assist as Libya builds democratic institutions and broad respect for the rule of law – the goals that Ambassador Stevens worked hard to achieve.

Chargé Pope looks forward to working with the Libyan Government and the Libyan people during this historic and challenging time, as we build strong economic, social, political, and educational bridges between our two people.

Pope served as a Foreign Service Officer from 1969-2000, retiring at the rank of Minister Counselor after having held a number of senior posts in the Department of State. He was the Director for Northern Gulf Affairs (1987–1990), Associate Director for Counter-Terrorism (1991–1993), U.S. Ambassador to Chad (1993–1996), and Political Advisor to the Commander-in-Chief of United States Central Command (1997–2000). In 2000, President Clinton nominated him as Ambassador to Kuwait.

Laurence Pope retired from the U.S. Foreign Service on October 2, 2000 after 31 years of service. He continues to consult with various institutions and is a respected author.

A graduate of Bowdoin College, Chargé Pope also had advanced studies at Princeton University and is a graduate of the U.S. Department of State Senior Seminar, and is a Senior Fellow at the Armed Forces Staff College. He speaks Arabic and French, and resides in Portland, Maine.

United States to dialogue with Nigeria on the Niger Delta

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

October 11, 2012

A U.S. delegation led by Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Cynthia Akuetteh will attend the U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission working group on the Niger Delta, October 16-17 in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. This is the second meeting of the Niger Delta working group, and the eighth in a series of working groups convened through the U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission since its establishment in April 2010.

The discussions will center on accelerating development through public-private partnerships, enhancing environmental protection, and strengthening maritime security in the Niger Delta. The U.S. delegation will include Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs Reta Jo Lewis, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Conflict and Stabilization Operations Ambassador Patricia Haslach, AFRICOM Air and Maritime Chief Phillip Heyl, U.S. Coast Guard Senior Technical Advisor Robert Pond, Department of Energy Liaison to AFRICOM Carolyn Gay, and USAID West Africa Office Director Edith Houston.

Secretary Clinton and Archbishop Desmond Tutu Speak at International Day of the Girl

U.S. Issues Statement on Appointment of New Somalia Prime Minister

Photo courtesy of mysanantonio.com

Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC

October 10, 2012

The United States welcomes the October 6 appointment of Somalia’s new Prime Minister designate, Mr. Abdi Farah Shirdon by President Hassan Sheikh Mahamud. We look forward to Mr. Shirdon’s selection of a new Cabinet and the presentation of the new government to Parliament for review and endorsement in accordance with Somalia’s new provisional Constitution. We are encouraged by Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari’s promise to support the new administration as it works to move Somalia forward. The United States continues to stand with the Somali people as they stabilize and rebuild their country and looks forward to hearing from the new government how we can best work together in partnership for the benefit of Somalia and the region.

Morocco and Egpyt Among Countries To Be Toured By The Boston Boys As Part Of The American Music Abroad Program

Photo courtesy of reverbnation.com

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

October 10, 2012

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, in partnership with American Voices, announced that the Boston, Massachusetts-based Bluegrass/Americana group The Boston Boys will tour Morocco, Israel, Egypt, Cyprus, and Saudi Arabia this fall as part of the American Music Abroad series.

Tour activities will include public concerts, lectures, demonstrations, workshops, media outreach, and collaborations with local musicians. The group will conduct a pre-tour outreach program with local students at the School Without Walls in Washington, D.C. on October 15.

The American Music Abroad program sends American bands overseas to engage with audiences and communities, especially underserved youth. This season’s 12 participating American Music Abroad groups were selected from a pool of nearly 300 applicants to travel to more than 40 countries to promote cross-cultural understanding through music. The 2012-2013 season will feature a variety of American musical genres, including urban/hip-hop, bluegrass, country, Americana, classical/jazz, rock/blues, and Hawaiian slack key guitar/hula.

For more information, please visit http://exchanges.state.gov/cultural/ama.htm

Secretary Clinton’s Statement on Uganda National Day

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

October 9, 2012

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Uganda as you celebrate 50 years of independence this October 9.

In early August, I had the chance to meet with President Museveni and discuss the importance of democratic institutions and human rights. I pledged U.S. support in the fight against HIV/AIDS and for greater regional security. Uganda is a strong partner, particularly as we work together for regional peace and security through our partnership to bring stability to Somalia and defeat the Lord’s Resistance Army. The United States remains dedicated to working with Uganda to make the shared vision of a strong, prosperous, and democratic Uganda a reality through efforts to support democracy, human rights, health, food security, and economic growth.

Secretary Clinton’s Statement on Lesotho National Day

Department of State
Washington, DC

October 4, 2012

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Lesotho on your 46th Independence Day this October 4.

Lesotho and the United States have a strong legacy of partnership, working to promote good governance, economic development and trade, and health. Lesotho has made great strides toward strengthening its democratic institutions and rule of law, exemplified by this year’s historic elections. The peaceful transfer of power through the ballot box marks not only a milestone in Lesotho’s history, but also serves as a positive example for the region. The United States looks forward to continuing our partnership with Lesotho and furthering economic cooperation between our two countries.

I wish all Basotho continued peace and prosperity as you celebrate this special day.

Newest African Ambassadors Present Letters of Credence to President Obama

Photo courtesy of chellgrove.wordpress.com

AMIP News
Washington DC

On Tuesday, September 18, 2012, 3 new African Ambassadors presented their Letters of Credence to President Obama at the White House.

The Ambassadors are:

* Her Excellency Marie-Louise Cecile Potter, Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles
* His Excellency Kaambi Roubani, Ambassador of the Union of Comoros
* His Excellency Mohamed Mostafa Mohamed Tawfik, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt

The presentation of credentials is a traditional ceremony that marks the formal beginning of an Ambassador’s service in Washington.

Teachers from Morocco and South Africa To Participate In UNESCO’s World Teachers’ Day Celebration in Washington, DC

Photo courtesy of blog.amdsb.ca

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

October 2, 2012

The U.S. Department of State announced today that 68 American teachers and 19 international teachers will be honored on UNESCO’s World Teachers’ Day in Washington, D.C. on October 5. The U.S. teachers participated in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ Teachers for Global Classrooms program, and the international teachers are currently participating in the Bureau’s Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching Program. The teachers are gathering for a two-day symposium to discuss how they will integrate global content and practice into their classrooms.

U.S. secondary teachers from 32 American states took part in the Teachers for Global Classrooms Program, which sent them to Brazil, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, or Ukraine for several weeks to globalize their U.S. schools and classrooms. U.S. teachers learned with, and from, their colleagues in other countries to develop international knowledge and skills.

On Friday, the U.S. teachers will be joined by 19 international teachers from Argentina, Finland, India, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, Singapore, and South Africa who are currently studying and conducting research at the University of Maryland for a semester under the Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching Program. This Program sends U.S. primary and secondary school teachers abroad for three to six months and brings international teachers to the United States for a semester.

World Teachers’ Day, designated by UNESCO in 1994, is held annually on October 5 to celebrate teachers worldwide, mobilize support for teachers, and ensure that the needs of future generations will continue to be met.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs promotes international mutual understanding through a wide range of academic, cultural, private-sector, professional, and sports exchange programs. These international exchanges engage youth, students, educators, artists, athletes, and emerging leaders in many fields in the United States and in more than 160 countries. Alumni of these exchanges comprise over one million people around the world, including more than 50 Nobel Laureates and more than 350 current or former heads of state and government.

Women from Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe To Participate In U.S State Department and espnW Global Sports Mentoring Program

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

October 2, 2012

On Thursday, October 4, ESPN’s Sage Steele will emcee a celebration honoring the 17 emerging leaders and their American mentors of the first-ever U.S. Department of State and espnW Global Sports Mentoring Program at the U.S. Department of State. Steele serves on the Department’s Council to Empower Women and Girls Through Sports, where she works to elevate the global conversation on using sports as a means to empower women and girls. She is the co-host of ESPN’s flagship program SportsCenter.

The luncheon celebration, hosted by Assistant Secretary of Educational and Cultural Affairs Ann Stock, will highlight the month-long mentoring program. Christine Driessen, Chief Financial Officer of ESPN, will deliver keynote remarks.

The U.S. Department of State and espnW Global Sports Mentoring Program brought women from Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Macedonia, Nigeria, the Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Tajikistan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to work alongside leading American women executives in all aspects of sports, including marketing, administration, journalism, and non-governmental organizations.

During this program, leading American women executives shared their expertise in sports, business, and leadership and opened their networks to the international emerging women leaders. This year’s mentors were selected from the following entities: Burton, Colavita, ESPN, Gatorade, LPGA, NCAA, Procter & Gamble, Saatchi & Saatchi, Stanton & Company, Under Armour, University of Oregon, USA Gymnastics, U.S. Olympic Committee, Women in Cable Telecommunications, and the Women’s Sports Foundation.

This collaboration between the U.S. State Department and espnW, which was conducted in coordination with the University of Tennessee’s Center for Sport, Peace, and Society, aims to use sports as a vehicle to expand opportunities for women and girls worldwide.

Secretary Clinton’s Statement on Guinea National Day

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

October 1, 2012

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Guinea on the 54th anniversary of your independence this October 2.

The United States and Guinea share a commitment to democracy, economic development, and inclusive government. We are pleased at the news of the upcoming legislative elections. A transparent and timely electoral process will benefit the Guinean people. The United States remains dedicated to working with Guinea to strengthen democratic governance and promote national reconciliation.

I wish all Guineans a year of peace and prosperity.