Foreign Policy

26 September 2008 Former Secretaries of State Discuss Future of American Policy  A packed auditorium at George Washington University in Washington gave a rock-star reception to five former secretaries of state who took the stage to discuss the new foreign policy of the next president. College students and CNN correspondents led the conversation, which featured America’s top diplomats from Republican and Democratic administrations. Colin Powell, Madeline Albright, Warren Christopher, James Baker and Henry Kissinger fielded questions on topics such as climate change, the Middle East and Russian relations as part of the news network’s The Next President: A World of Challenges.

19 September 2008 Speech By Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates Remarks at Oxford Analytica, United Kingdom

19 September 2008 Bush Makes Eighth and Final U.N. Appearance    When President Bush steps into the cavernous U.N. General Assembly Hall for his eighth and final time as the leader of the United States, he will take a moment to look back and assess what has been accomplished and also look forward to what still needs to be achieved.

28 August 2008 Ideas Abound for Improving U.S. Public Diplomacy Effort  Debate continues on how America can best present its image abroad, with many proposals put forth to improve both the U.S. public diplomacy effort and to define the goals of that effort.

27 August 2008 Democrats Stress Barack Obama's Willingness to Work with Allies  Party leaders and campaign surrogates for presumed Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama stress the candidate's multilateral approach to foreign policy, saying that the Illinois senator would improve America’s image in the world.

26 August 2008 U.S. Election Helping America's Image Worldwide  The U.S. presidential race, with "the spectacle of democracy at work," is a great thing for America's image worldwide, and historically has given a boost to U.S. public diplomacy, Nicholas Cull, a professor of public diplomacy, tells America.gov.

06 August 2008 U.S.-Republic of Korea Summit Statement  President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea and President George W. Bush of the United States of America held a summit meeting in Seoul on August 6, 2008. In their meeting, the two leaders had in depth discussions on the development of the ROK-U.S. Alliance, the approval of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, the North Korean nuclear issue and other North Korea-related issues, and ways to expand cooperation on important bilateral, regional and global issues.

06 August 2008 Bush Pledges Continued Commitment to Asia  The U.S. has played a pivotal role in Asia's transformation from a region gripped by post-World War II poverty to a thriving economic powerhouse, says President Bush, pledging America’s continued commitment to strengthening diplomacy and trade ties, as well as confronting shared challenges across the region.

05 August 2008 World's Largest AIDS Conference Calls for Universal Action Now  HIV/AIDS is the focus of world attention for scientists, policymakers, activists and patients as the 17th International AIDS conference meets in Mexico City August 3-8 and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) releases its 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic.

23 July 2008 Secretary Rice at ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference  U.S. is deeply committed to engagement with Southeast Asia, Rice says.

23 July 2008 Mullen Discusses Iraq, Afghanistan, Election in Interview  The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff spoke out on the need for additional troops in Afghanistan, potential troop reductions in Iraq, and the upcoming U.S. presidential election during a wide-ranging "Newsmakers" interview on PBS's "NewsHour With Jim Lehrer" last night.

16 July 2008 Rice Launches New Civilian Response Corps Helping states emerge from conflicts, disasters and political crises represents a complex international security challenge, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and America’s new Civilian Response Corps offers a new approach to stabilization and reconstruction efforts.

15 July 2008 Remarks by Secretary Of Defense Robert Gates at U.S. Global Leadership Campaign   Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said diplomacy and development should lead American efforts abroad, and he warned against a “creeping militarization” of U.S. foreign policy.

02 July 2008 State's Glassman Discusses Public Diplomacy for the 21st Century  Glassman outlines impact of war of ideas, including terrorism.

02 July 2008 Statement by President Bush on G8 Summit  U.S. to focus on food security, energy and health issues at meeting.

02 July 2008 Food Aid, Development Issues Figure Prominently in G8 Summit  The Group of Eight major economies will hold critical meetings with the leaders of seven African nations on the opening day of their three-day annual summit in Japan to address food aid and economic development assistance.

01 July 2008 Zimbabweans Relying on Foreign Broadcasts for Political News  Zimbabwe's people have needed information more than ever as the political crisis has intensified in recent months between President Robert Mugabe and his opposition led by Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) founder Morgan Tsvangirai.

01 July 2008 Africa Forum to Focus on Expanded Trade, Economic Growth  When government leaders from sub-Saharan Africa meet in Washington July 14-16 at an annual economic forum, the focus will be on mobilizing private investment to expand trade and growth across the continent, say senior U.S. officials.

30 June 2008 Bush Calls for Additional Sanctions Against Zimbabwe's Rulers  In response to the Zimbabwean government's June 27 decision to hold a "sham" presidential run-off election and its campaign of violence against political opponents, President Bush says the United States will prepare additional sanctions against President Robert Mugabe's regime and will work for strong U.N. and international action to resolve the country’s ongoing crisis.

27 June 2008 Remarks at G-8 Ministers Press Conference

25 June 2008 Under Secretary Glassman on How to Win the War of Ideas  Military action against insurgents, terrorists and those who give them safe harbor is essential. It is working now in Iraq, and has helped keep Americans safe since 9/11. But as President Bush's National Strategy for Combating Terrorism put it two years ago, "In the long run, winning the War on Terror means winning the battle of ideas."

23 June 2008 Protecting Refugees a High U.S. Priority  Refugees clearly need protection; the challenge lies in determining what types of protection and how best to provide them. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) chose protection as the theme for the 2008 International World Refugee Day, observed on June 20, to raise awareness of the plight of displaced people everywhere.

19 June 2008 Secretary Rice Interview With Fareed Zakaria of CNN

19 June 2008 Secretary Rice Remarks At the Council on Foreign Relations

19 June 2008 Remarks by Rice at Heritage Foundation on U.S. Policy in Asia.

09 June 2008 New U.S. Public Diplomacy Head Cites "Arsenal of Persuasion"  Using the "arsenal of persuasion" -- soft power, smart power and public diplomacy -- is critical to beating terrorism, says James Glassman, the newly confirmed under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs.

05 June 2008 Sec. Rice Remarks With Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan After Their Meeting

01 June 2008 Gates, Mullen Discuss Far-Ranging Defense Issues   Defense Secretary Gates wrapped up the Asia Security Summit expressing confidence in strides being made and sharing insights about topics ranging from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to China's military buildup to the standup of the new U.S. Africa Command.

30 May 2008 Peacekeeping Initiative Aims to Meet Growing Demand  Confronted with a shortage of capable peacekeepers and a limited ability to train soldiers and special police units for peace operations amid increasing demand, the U.S. and its Group of Eight partners agreed to a plan to meet the demand.

19 May 2008 The Transatlantic Relationship in the Next U.S. Administration  Kurt Volker, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs speaks in Brussels.
View video (2 min 25 sec):  Windows Media  |  Quicktime

14 May 2008 U.S. Response to the Global Food Crisis: New Approaches  Henrietta Fore, Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance and USAID Administrator, before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

05 May 2008 Remarks at the National Endowment for Democracy's Pakistan Forum  John Negroponte, Deputy Secretary of State.

30 April 2008 Long-term Approach to Food Aid Problems Necessary, Rice Says  A long-term, broad-ranging and integrated approach to dealing with food aid problems can help avert future food crises, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told 65 Peace Corps country directors and headquarters staff.

28 April 2008 Secretary Rice's Remarks at the Peace Corps 2008 Worldwide Country Director Conference Conference.

25 April 2008 The United States and the International Criminal Court: Where We've Been and Where We're Going   Remarks by Legal Advisor John Bellinger to the DePaul University College of Law.

24 April 2008 Malaria Initiative Helping Save Lives, Treat Disease  Efforts to reduce deaths caused by malaria in 15 African countries are succeeding because of a cooperative strategy based on partnerships between the U.S. and each African nation, says first lady Laura Bush.

17 April 2008 Food Crisis Has Long-Term Global Challenges, Rice Says  President Bush is seeking an additional $350 million from Congress to provide immediate emergency food assistance, but the current food crisis has long-term global challenges, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

16 April 2008 Pope Benedict's First U.S. Visit Draws Large, Lively Crowds  President Bush welcomed Pope Benedict XVI on the South Lawn of the White House April 16 in one of the largest arrival ceremonies ever held at the White House, saying Americans are "open to your message of hope."

15 April 2008 U.S. Committed to Building New Security Partnerships  America’s diplomats and military personnel are coming together in new ways to help friends and allies better safeguard their countries, improve area livelihoods and build regional security. "It's building partner capacity, not only with military forces but, for instance, building partner capacity to deliver health care, AIDS programs, to deliver education to the population," says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. "If a democratic government doesn't deliver that, pretty soon it's going to be out of power."
 • Secretary Rice’s Testimony Before House Armed Services Committee
 • Opening Statement by Secretary of Defense Gates to the House Armed Services Committee

09 April 2008 President's FY 2009 International Affairs Budget Request  Statement by Secretary Rice Before the Senate Appropriations Committee.
 • Transcript of Secretary Rice's statement (PDF, 28 pages)

03 April 2008 U.N. Peacekeeping Vital to International Security  U.N. peacekeeping operations serve as crucial tools in addressing a wide array of threats to international peace and security, especially where direct military involvement by the United States is not necessary or appropriate, says a senior U.S. diplomat.

17 March 2008 Aid Official Uses YouTube to Urge Information Sharing  The top American foreign aid official is inviting people involved in international development to access a new Internet network known as the Global Development Commons to share information about ways to reduce poverty.

12 March 2008 Opening Remarks by Secretary Rice on State’s FY 09 Budget

06 March 2008 Secretary Rice's Remarks on Empowering Women To Work for Peace   "Where states do not or cannot ensure that their people have an opportunity to benefit from globalization, the results are troubling and often the victims are women. ...We in the international community should make sure that we hear the voices of women and account for their concerns whenever we seek to establish or to keep the peace. If we do that, we are actually making the job of keeping the peace easier."

06 March 2008 Bush Requests Nearly $7 Billion To Strengthen U.S. Diplomacy  President Bush is asking Congress for nearly $7 billion in extra funding to pay for diplomatic initiatives aimed at giving U.S. allies in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Western Hemisphere the tools they need to promote peace and stability, build strong governments, deliver essential services to their citizens and promote long-term prosperity.

06 March 2008 Briefing by Secretary Rice en Route Brussels, Belgium  Rice comments on NATO, Afghanistan, Middle East peace process

29 February 2008 U.S. Looks Forward to Continued Partnership with Pakistan  The U.S. welcomes the return of civilian rule in Pakistan and looks forward to working with the new government once it is formed in the coming weeks to continue improvements in democracy, education and governance while promoting security and economic opportunity.

25 February 2008 Bush on New Sanctions Imposed on Several Burmese Businesses

18 February 2008 U.S. Recognizes Kosovo as Independent State  Says Secretary Rice, "The United States has today formally recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state. We congratulate the people of Kosovo on this historic occasion. President Bush has responded affirmatively to a request from Kosovo to establish diplomatic relations between our two countries. The establishment of these relations will reaffirm the special ties of friendship that have linked together the people of the United States and Kosovo."
 • Teleconference Briefing on Kosovo by Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs

13 February 2008 Rice's Opening Remarks at Senate Foreign Relations Committee

12 February 2008 Remarks on Transformational Diplomacy by Secretary Rice.

30 January 2008 PEPFAR Prevents Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV  The Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) program, involving anti-retroviral treatment for infected mothers and their children, is one of several programs funded by the five-year, $15 billion President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), announced by President Bush in 2003. Since then, PEPFAR has provided treatment for more than 1.4 million men, women and children.

24 January 2008 Joint Statement on Democracy and Human Rights in Burma  The following is a joint statement by the U.S. Secretary of State and the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom and France issued at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

23 January 2008 Address by Secretary Rice at the World Economic Forum
 • Discussion at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum
 • Video : World Economic Forum

02 January 2008 U.S. and British Leaders Call for End to Kenyan Violence  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband jointly cited the need for "a sustained call from Kenya's political leaders for the cessation of violence by their followers" and called for the country's leaders to engage "in a spirit of compromise that puts the democratic interests of Kenya first."
 • Statement by United States, United Kingdom on Situation in Kenya

02 January 2008 Fact Sheet on the State Department's Civilian Police and Rule of Law Programs

31 December 2007 Bush Administration Promises "Sprint to the Finish" in 2008  In a series of recent interviews, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice mapped out the foreign policy road ahead for 2008, the Bush administration's final year in office.

28 December 2007 Pakistan Should Move Forward with Democratic Process, U.S. Says  The U.S. is reaching out to political leaders across Pakistan in the wake of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination, urging them to move forward with the democratic process. "She was a champion for democracy," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said of Bhutto after signing a condolence book at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington.

21 December 2007 Press Conference by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice  Secretary Rice says that 2007 has been a busy and challenging year, but also a positive one.

13 December 2007 Secretary Rice Interview with the Associated Press; remarks on the Iran NIE, North Korea, Gaza, the situation in Lebanon, Pakistan and Russia.

11 December 2007 USA Today Editorial Board Roundtable with Secretary Rice  Secretary Rice responded to questions about Iraq, the recent National Intelligence Estimate on Iran, the Middle East peace process and U.S. relations with Russia.

10 December 2007 Sec. Rice's Remarks on pragmatism and idealism in U.S. foregn policy   “We have a need for pragmatism because without power and prudence we can accomplish nothing, either for ourselves or for others. But we also have need of idealism because if our policies are not guided by our principles then we are left with little more than power.”

19 November 2007 World Benefits from Expansion of Democracy  The world is benefiting from the expansion of democracy and stands to gain even more through greater stability as democracy and development spread in the future, said U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte.

31 October 2007 Stabilization and Reconstruction Operations: Learning from the Provincial Reconstruction Team Experience  Congressional testimony by John E. Herbst, Coordinator for Office of Reconstruction and Stabilization

25 October 2007 Burmese Life U.S. Embassy London's Glenn Tosten, shares his recent experience of life in Burma.
Listen to audio:    Subscribe to podcast:    Read transcript

23 October 2007 U.S., British Efforts To Stabilize Iraq-Turkey Border Intensify  Stepped-up diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions along Iraq's northern border with Turkey after cross-border attacks by the terrorist group Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) were the focus of an October 22 meeting between Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

22 October 2007 Joint Statement on Turkey by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and David Miliband, M.P., Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
See also: Remarks by Secretary Rice and British Foreign Secretary Miliband after their meeting.

19 October 2007 Bush Announces Additional Sanctions Against Burmese Junta  Saying "business as usual" in Burma is "unacceptable," President Bush announced an expansion of U.S. sanctions against the country's military rulers and their associates, accusing them of perpetrating "ongoing atrocities" against the pro-democracy opposition.

01 October 2007 Secretary Rice Remarks At the Rollout for Partnership for Democratic Governance  “This unique multinational partnership focuses the international community on specific ways to help developing nations strengthen their institutions of governance. It expands our multilateral capability to support democratic institutions, sustainable development, and good governance.”

24 September 2007 Freedom from Violence, Tyranny Tops U.S. Agenda for U.N. Meeting  Freedom from violence and freedom from tyranny will be the major themes the United States will promote during the opening meetings of the 62nd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York beginning September 25, says Mike Kozak of the National Security Council.

17 September 2007 World Forum on the Future of Democracy  “For our friends and allies, as well as for our enemies and potential adversaries, our commitment to democratic values must be matched by actions,” the secretary said.

17 September 2007 Sinking in the Polls  Op-Ed by Karen Hughes, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs

12 September 2007 Many Modern Conflicts Are Food Wars, Say Experts  Throughout history, hunger has been both a cause and effect of war. For this reason, according to anthropologist Ellen Messer and political scientist Marc Cohen, most modern conflicts should be viewed as "food wars," a concept that poses unique challenges for the United States as the world’s leading provider of food assistance.

30 August 2007 President Bush Condemns Ongoing Actions of the Burmese Regime  President Bush condemns the actions of the Burmese regime in arresting, harassing, and assaulting pro-democracy activists for organizing a peaceful demonstration.

23 August 2007 Statement by Deputy Press Secretary Gordon Johndroe on National Intelligence Estimate and the situation in Iraq

15 August 2007 State Department Daily Press Briefing  Thoughts are with Victims of Barbaric Attack in Iraq; Discusses several issues relating to Iran including reporting that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards might Be designated a Terrorist Group.

10 August 2007 Satellite Flood Forecasts Save Lives, Livelihoods in Bangladesh  Deadly floodwaters finally are receding in rivers of the South Asian nation of Bangladesh. The weekslong deluge killed nearly 200 people and affected 12 million in 40 of 64 districts, according to the World Health Organization, but the toll was eased by an advanced flood forecasting system developed in the U.S.

07 August 2007 Peace Corps Has Adapted to a Changing World, Director Says  Since its founding in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, the U.S. Peace Corps has sent volunteers to developing nations not only to help provide essential services, but to promote a better understanding between Americans and people of other cultures.

18 July 2007 Democracy Advancing Worldwide Despite Recent "Pushback"  People living under tyranny around the world should know the United States remains committed to helping them secure their basic human rights, says Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte.

17 July 2007 U.N. Priorities Focus of White House Meeting  President Bush held wide-ranging discussions with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Iraq, Middle East peace, climate change, North Korea and efforts to stop the violence in Sudan’s Darfur region.

12 July 2007 Afghan-Pakistani Border Stability Operations Focus of U.S. Aid  The U.S. is working with the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan to build stability along the rugged border between those two nations. The presidents of both countries recognize the importance of stabilizing the border region and the need to improve mutual relations, according to an assessment offered to members of Congress by Ambassador Richard Boucher.

12 July 2007 Regional Groups Key to Building Community of Democracies  Regional and inter-regional cooperation lies at the "very heart" of the Community of Democracies, the State Department’s Paula Dobriansky says, referring to the coalition of countries created in 2000 to promote and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide.

11 July 2007 Americas-Africa Democracy Ties Must Benefit Regions’ People  A burgeoning democratic partnership between the Americas and Africa must translate into better lives for people in those regions, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Speaking at the Organization of American States, Rice lamented the "great and tragic suffering" by too many people in the Americas and Africa who are excluded from opportunities for economic advancement and social justice.

06 July 2007 Liberia Moves Toward Credible Elections with U.S. Support  Liberian election officials have taken an important step toward administering credible elections. In June 2007, the U.S.-based nongovernmental organization IFES hosted intensive trainings in Liberia to introduce the country's election officials to an innovative curriculum called Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections, or BRIDGE.

19 June 2007 U.S. Heads Public-Private Fund To Aid Refugee Women, Children  The State Department is creating a new fund, to which private citizens and businesses can donate, to address the critical needs of refugee women and children.

11 June 2007 Bush Seeks To Expand Education for World’s Poorest Children  As part of U.S. efforts to boost international development, President Bush is launching a plan to expand education assistance for children in the world’s poorest countries, says the White House.

08 June 2007 G8 Leaders Pledge Assistance for Africa, Emerging Economies  Leaders of the Group of Eight nations, meeting for three days in Germany, pledged to assist Africa and other countries, and endorsed President Bush’s initiative for a major global climate agreement by the end of 2008.

08 June 2007 Free Trade, Aid Help States Transform Themselves, Rice Says  The U.S. will continue to use free trade, foreign aid and all elements of its power to promote an open international order based on political liberty, free markets, self-determination and national sovereignty, says U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

02 June 2007 U.S. Commitment to Asia Is Unwavering, Defense Secretary Declares  Contrary to the perceptions of some, the U.S. remains deeply committed to a strong, vibrant partnership with Asia across the full spectrum of economic, political, and security dimensions, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said in a broad-ranging policy address in Singapore.

01 June 2007 Democracies Must Speak Out for Democratic Practices, Rice Says  Democratic countries have an obligation "to speak out for democratic practices," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says. In a press availability with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos June 1 in Madrid, Spain, Rice said democratic development in the Western Hemisphere, particularly in Venezuela and Cuba, was one focus of their discussions.

01 June 2007 U.S. Announces Five-year, $30 Billion HIV/AIDS Plan
Listen to audio:    Subscribe to podcast:    Read transcript

31 May 2007 U.S. Aid Programs Reach Out to Vulnerable Global Communities  In a sweeping outline of U.S. development assistance prior to traveling to the G8 leaders meeting, President Bush announced new programs to boost educational and financial market opportunities in the world's poorest countries

30 May 2007 President Bush Announces Five-Year, $30 Billion HIV/AIDS Plan  President George Bush announced May 30 that he would work with Congress to double the U.S. commitment to fight HIV/AIDS around the world -- to $30 billion -- and reauthorize the legislation that established the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

29 May 2007 Secretary of State Rice Briefing En Route Berlin, Germany  Among the topics discussed by Secretary Rice were the Middle East, Iran, missile defense and Sudan.

24 May 2007 U.S. Is Largest Donor of Foreign Aid, Report Says  The U.S. is the single largest donor of foreign economic aid, but, unlike many other developed nations, Americans prefer to donate their money through the private sector, according to a new report published by a Washington research organization.

22 May 2007 HIV/AIDS Fight Remains High Priority for U.S.  President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is proving effective, according to Alec Mally, counselor to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.

09 May 2007 U.S. To Intensify Outreach Efforts in the Pacific Islands  The U.S. plans to expand its public diplomacy efforts in the Pacific Islands through a new public affairs office in Fiji and expanded exchange and English-language programs, says the State Department’s Karen Hughes.

24 April 2007 U.S. HIV/AIDS Program Blending Food Aid, Anti-retroviral Therapy  The U.S. is combining nutritional assistance with anti-retroviral drug therapy to boost the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs in developing countries, says Michele Maloney-Kitts, program director of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

20 April 2007 Bush Administration Seeks Change in Emergency Food Aid Delivery  The Bush administration's proposal to use up to 25 percent of emergency food aid funds for purchases of food located near crisis sites would increase U.S. capacity to get food quickly to where it is needed, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns says.

19 April 2007 U.S. Presses for Broader Use of Targeted International Sanctions  The United States is expanding its use of targeted sanctions aimed at halting nuclear proliferation, terrorism and money laundering, and encouraging other countries to do likewise, U.S. officials say.

18 April 2007 Democracy and Development Intrinsically Linked, Rice Says  Well-governed democracies must be able “to deliver for their people” or they will not be able to sustain momentum for democratic development, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

10 April 2007 Secretary Rice Cites Importance of Free Press to Democracy  U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised journalists for being on the front lines to report "some of the most difficult conflicts in the world."

04 April 2007 Developing Countries Need To Act To Prevent Official Misconduct  Developing nations should not wait for a national scandal to put in place a system for preventing and detecting misconduct by public officials, says a representative of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.

04 April 2007 21st Century Naval Strategy Based on Global Partnerships  In an interdependent world where 90 percent of all goods move by sea, emerging U.S. naval strategy is focusing on global partnerships to create a more secure maritime environment, says Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Mullen.

03 April 2007 U.S. AIDS Relief Program Has Made "Good Start," Evaluators Say  Two years into the five-year U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, an evaluation committee at the Institute of Medicine concludes that the program has made a good start toward meeting its ambitious targets and establishing the program to make further progress.

02 April 2007 U.S. Urges Action on Implementation on U.N. Anti-Corruption Pact  The international community should move beyond the discussion phase and direct its resources to implementation of the U.N. Convention Against Corruption because a major international meeting that helped to establish the pact has exceeded original goals, says a U.S. official.

15 March 2007 U.N. Reform "Imperative," Ambassador Khalilzad Says  President Bush’s nominee to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations says he will work to implement effective reform of the multilateral organization and to defuse international crises.

14 March 2007 Bush Renews U.S. Commitment to Latin America  In a joint press appearance with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, President Bush highlighted the need for closer bilateral and regional cooperation on trade, immigration reform and security in the Americas.

13 March 2007 Millennium Aid Funding Achieving Results, Official Says  Millennium Challenge Corporation funds are achieving development results by focusing on such country-identified priorities as infrastructure improvements that make access to markets, clinics and schools possible, and support projects that secure land tenure for farmers, says John Danilovich, MCC's executive director.

08 March 2007 2008 AIDS Relief Budget Request Tops Original Commitment  President Bush has asked the U.S. Congress to approve $5.4 billion for his President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief for fiscal year 2008 (2008-2009), the last year of the five-year effort to fight HIV/AIDS around the world.

07 March 2007 U.S. Military Increasing Contacts with China, Commanders Say  U.S. commanders in the Pacific region told Congress they are optimistic about the recent nuclear agreement with North Korea, gradually are increasing military contacts with China and would like to start bringing thousands of American military families to South Korea, where most troops currently serve one-year hardship tours.

06 March 2007 Humanitarian Missions as Important as Combat for U.S. Military  Even as U.S. forces battle in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, thousands of American troops continue to take part daily in humanitarian and peacekeeping work around the globe. Their goal is to help set the conditions for stability and economic prosperity in places of political turmoil or in the immediate aftermath of natural disasters.

05 March 2007 U.S. Committed to Social Justice in Latin America  The Bush administration is introducing a series of initiatives aimed at helping the countries of Latin America extend health care, education and economic opportunity to the region’s millions of working poor.

28 February 2007 U.S.-Africa Trade Act Seen as Key to African Economic Success   Landmark legislation enacted seven years ago to enhance trade between the United States and Africa still holds the key to continued African growth and development, says Assistant U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Florizelle Liser. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has been "a clear success" for sub-Saharan African economies, Liser said.

28 February 2007 U.S. Supports Involving Iran, Syria in Iraq Regional Meeting  The United States supports and will participate in the Iraqi government’s initiative to invite Iran and Syria to a regional conference, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said during a congressional hearing February 27 to discuss emergency funding for operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

23 February 2007 U.S. Aid to Africa Triples During Bush Administration  By tripling U.S. assistance funds for Africa, President Bush has made good on promises made at two Group of Eight summits that the U.S. will support development on the continent, a senior U.S. aid official says.

23 February 2007 U.S. Diplomat Sees Progress in Somalia  Somalia's struggle to form a unified government after 15 years of clan warfare is achieving success, thanks to partners in the Horn of Africa region like Ethiopia and with help from the United Nations, the African Union and the U.S., Ambassador Vicki Huddleston told the Council on Foreign Relations February 22 in Washington.

21 February 2007 U.S. Foreign Assistance To Focus on Long-Term Development  The president’s budget request for the fiscal year beginning October 1 would focus U.S. foreign aid on the long-term development of countries that govern justly and democratically, invest in education and health care and support poverty reduction and economic progress, says Randall Tobias, director of U.S. foreign assistance.

12 February 2007 U.S. Anti-HIV/AIDS Effort Could Become Largest in History  The president’s budget request for fighting global HIV/AIDS, if approved by Congress, will make that international health initiative the largest in history dedicated to a single disease, the U.S. global AIDS coordinator says.

08 February 2007 U.S. Must Enhance Diplomatic Resources To Meet Global Challenges   The United States cannot rely on military force alone in addressing the challenges of the 21st century, according to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and must strengthen its diplomatic resources to ensure it can engage the world effectively and constructively.

07 February 2007 U.S. Official Pledges Immediate Help for Somalia Stabilization  The United States is prepared to provide immediate support for the deployment of an African stabilization force in Somalia following the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops who helped Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) wrest control of the country from radical Islamists, says U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer.

06 February 2007 U.S. Creating New Africa Command To Coordinate Military Efforts  The Defense Department is creating a new U.S. Africa Command headquarters, to be known as AFRICOM, to coordinate all U.S. military and security interests throughout the continent, the Bush administration announced February 6.

06 February 2007 Pentagon Seeks Nearly $500 Billion for 2008 Defense Budget   The Defense Department has submitted a $481.4 billion request to Congress to support operations around the world and in cyberspace for the fiscal year beginning October 1 (FY08). Supplemental 2007 funds for operations in Iraq, Afghanistan are also requested.

05 February 2007 Bush’s Budget Request Would Continue Increase in Foreign Aid  U.S. foreign assistance could increase 12 percent in fiscal year 2008 from the enacted 2006 fiscal year levels as part of the $2.9 trillion budget plan President Bush has proposed, said Ambassador Randall Tobias. Tobias is director of U.S. foreign assistance and administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

31 January 2007 U.S. Official Issues Upbeat Assessment of African Union Summit  U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer wrapped up a busy schedule of meetings at a summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by highlighting cooperative efforts on nettlesome issues like conflict in Sudan and Somalia.

30 January 2007 State Department Nominee Will Push "Transformational Diplomacy"  After 46 years in public service, Ambassador John Negroponte told senators he is ready to return to the State Department as deputy secretary -– the second-ranking position in the department -- to push the new transformational diplomacy favored by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the Bush administration.

25 January 2007 Sudan's Peace Accord Making Progress, U.S. Official Says  The agreement the U.S. helped broker in Sudan that ended more than 20 years of civil war is making "steady progress," says Lauren Landis, director of the State Department's Sudan Programs Group.

23 January 2007 Bush Outlines U.S. Initiative to Fight Malaria in Africa  A fact sheet released by the White House as a companion document to President Bush’s 2007 State of the Union Address

18 January 2007 U.S. Optimistic on Direction Somalia Is Taking, Official Says   Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer gave an upbeat assessment of the progress Somalia is making toward forming a national unity government aimed at providing security and stability for the nation, which has been ravaged by clan fighting and warlordism.

09 January 2007 U.S. Sees Key Role for United Nations in 2007  In 2007, the U.N. Security Council must be ready to deal with terrorism, cross-border violence, widespread and systematic human rights violations, refugee flows and political instability before these issues escalate into wars, the U.S. says.

08 January 2007 Bush Nominating New Ambassadors to the United Nations and Iraq  The Bush administration announced its intention to nominate Zalmay Khalilzad, current U.S. ambassador to Iraq, to be its ambassador to the U.N., and Ryan Crocker, ambassador to Pakistan, to succeed Khalilzad in Baghdad.

08 January 2007 House Committee Leaders Announce Foreign Policy Priorities  As the 110th Congress gets under way, military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan will be a focus of the four House committees with primary responsibility for foreign relations and military matters, according to committee chairmen.

Africa

02 October 2008 Conflict Prevention Will Be Key for New Africa Command  The U.S. military activated its sixth geographic command, dedicated exclusively to the continent of Africa, on October 1. The new U.S. Africa Command flag was unfurled during a formal ceremony held at the Pentagon before African dignitaries and members of the U.S. Congress on the first day of AFRICOM — as it is known — as a fully independent unified command.

16 September 2008 U.S. Supports Zimbabwean Political Agreement  The Bush administration has not yet reviewed the 50- to 60-page political deal signed September 11 between Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, but a State Department spokesman expressed general support for the agreement and urged that it be "faithfully implemented."

07 August 2008 Terrorism Cannot Destroy Strong U.S.-Africa Ties  The "unspeakable" bombing by al-Qaida of the U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 10 years ago strengthened the long-standing ties that bind the American, Kenyan and Tanzanian people, said U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

25 July 2008 U.S. Sanctions Tightened Against Zimbabwe Regime  Citing continued politically motivated violence and the failure to lift a ban on humanitarian assistance, the Bush administration expanded its economic sanctions against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and other individuals and entities with close ties to his regime.

15 July 2008 Rice Highlights "Sea Change" in Africa  There has been a "sea-change" in the way Africans approach their own challenges, in America’s approach to the region and in the way the world sees today’s Africa, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the seventh annual African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum.

15 July 2008 Zimbabwe’s Rulers Might Face Additional U.S. Sanctions  The Bush administration is seeking to expand its financial restrictions on Zimbabwe's leadership to include a greater number of individuals and corporations and government entities, according to the State Department’s top envoy on African issues.

14 July 2008 U.N. Security Council Fails to Pressure Zimbabwe’s Government   Expressing disappointment at the failure of the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution condemning and sanctioning Zimbabwe's leaders, U.S. officials said they will continue to seek ways to pressure President Robert Mugabe’s government to end the violence against its political opposition and engage it in serious negotiations.

14 July 2008 Burkina Faso Signs $480.9 Million Aid Compact with United States  Burkina Faso’s commitment to building a better life for its people shows how economic growth can overcome poverty, says U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, earning the West African nation a $480.9 million Millennium Challenge Compact to continue on the path to reform.

07 July 2008 G8, African Leaders Discuss Zimbabwe  Members of the Group of Eight major industrialized democracies met with leaders from seven African nations to discuss actions against Zimbabwe over its flawed presidential runoff election and an array of global issues confronting Africa, including health, food, trade and investment.

01 July 2008 Zimbabweans Relying on Foreign Broadcasts for Political News  Zimbabwe's people have needed information more than ever as the political crisis has intensified in recent months between President Robert Mugabe and his opposition led by Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) founder Morgan Tsvangirai.

01 July 2008 Africa Forum to Focus on Expanded Trade, Economic Growth  When government leaders from sub-Saharan Africa meet in Washington July 14-16 at an annual economic forum, the focus will be on mobilizing private investment to expand trade and growth across the continent, say senior U.S. officials.

30 June 2008 Bush Calls for Additional Sanctions Against Zimbabwe's Rulers  In response to the Zimbabwean government's June 27 decision to hold a "sham" presidential run-off election and its campaign of violence against political opponents, President Bush says the United States will prepare additional sanctions against President Robert Mugabe's regime and will work for strong U.N. and international action to resolve the country’s ongoing crisis.

28 June 2008 Statement by the President on Zimbabwe  "On Friday, the Mugabe regime held a sham election that ignored the will of the people of Zimbabwe. The international community has condemned the Mugabe regime's ruthless campaign of politically-motivated violence and intimidation with a strong and unified voice that makes clear that yesterday's election was in no way free and fair. "

29 June 2008 Crisis in Zimbabwe  The Government of Zimbabwe has followed a sham election with an illegitimate inauguration. As the Southern African Development Community Troika and election observer mission, as well as many African leaders have already said, any outcome from this illegitimate runoff cannot be considered credible. We condemn the actions of the Mugabe regime, which continues to reject the will of the Zimbabwean people, abuse their human rights, and deny them humanitarian assistance.

24 June 2008 Mugabe Regime Prepares to Force Vote in Sham Zimbabwe Election  Zimbabwe's ruling party intends to force people to vote in the June 27 presidential runoff where incumbent President Robert Mugabe will be the only candidate on the ballot, the U.S. ambassador in Harare said, adding that the violence against the political opposition "has not abated" despite opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai’s decision not to contest the election.

23 June 2008 Zimbabwe’s Government Illegitimate Without Free and Fair Vote  The Zimbabwean government's continuing campaign of violence and intimidation against its political opposition and opposition supporters makes it "impossible for there to be a free, fair or peaceful election in Zimbabwe," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says. Related:
 • Statement by Secretary Rice on the Crisis in Zimbabwe

19 June 2008 No Pretense Zimbabwe Vote Will Be Free and Fair, Rice Says  With only a short time left before Zimbabwe’s June 27 presidential runoff election between incumbent President Robert Mugabe and opposition challenger Morgan Tsvangirai, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the ongoing campaign of violence and intimidation by Mugabe supporters against their political opposition shows that Zimbabwe's government does not intend the vote to be free and fair.

18 June 2008 U.S. Secretary of State Praises Strength of Kenyan Democracy  U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised the "strength of Kenyan democracy" June 18 while announcing that she will co-chair a round table on Zimbabwe in the U.N. Security Council on June 19. Secretary Rice spoke just before a meeting at the State Department with Kenyan Prime Minister Raila A. Odinga and his delegation. Both officials talked briefly with reporters.
Related:  • Rice, Kenyan Prime Minister Odinga Remarks Before Their Meeting

06 June 2008 U.S. Ambassador McGee Briefs on Recent Events in Zimbabwe  Update on the situation in Zimbabwe by Ambassador McGee via video conference

05 June 2008 A Better Africa for Africans Is Goal of U.S. Policy  The ultimate goal of U.S. foreign policy in Africa is to create a better environment for Africans and better prospects for their future, and not to compete with China for influence.

03 June 2008 Zimbabwe Suspends CARE Operations, Leaving 110,000 Without Food  The Zimbabwean government’s decision to suspend the operations of the nongovernmental organization CARE effectively deprives 110,000 of its citizens of food aid, and comes as President Robert Mugabe participates in the U.N. World Food Security conference in Rome.

02 June 2008 Statement by the President on Zimbabwe  While Robert Mugabe makes political statements in Rome, his people continue to face empty markets at home.

22 May 2008 Leon H. Sullivan Summit VIII Billed as "Summit of a Lifetime"  The Leon H. Sullivan Foundation's June 2-6 summit in the cities of Arusha and Zanzibar in Tanzania will explore a wide range of themes -- including investment, infrastructure, tourism and the environment -- as part of an ever closer U.S.-Africa partnership, according to the foundation’s vice president for policy and program development.

08 May 2008 Campaign of Terror Unleashed in Zimbabwe  In the aftermath of the March 29, 2008 elections, President Robert Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF party has unleashed a wave of political violence designed to cow opposition members and supporters into submission and deter them from participating or voting their conscience in a possible runoff election.

01 May 2008 Africa-Centered Military Command Designed to Listen and Respond  Security, stability and safety are the top goals for military-civilian activities.

25 April 2008 Time for Zimbabwe's Neighbors to Exercise Leverage, U.S. Says  The Bush administration has called on Zimbabwe's neighbors to use "maximum leverage" to help the country’s citizens avoid a dramatic crisis, citing indications that forces loyal to President Robert Mugabe are preparing to use severe force against the government’s political opposition.

22 April 2008 U.N. Looking for Ways to Enhance African Peacekeeping  U.N. peacekeeping operations should have clearly defined goals and specific missions, timelines and budgets, and they should not be a substitute for ending conflicts or an excuse for delaying ways to resolve them, says U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad. "Despite substantial improvements, we face enormous challenges," Khalilzad says of U.N. peacekeeping efforts. Part of the problem faced by the United Nations is that resources are overstretched and the supply of well-equipped peacekeepers does not meet demand, he says.

22 April 2008 U.S. Supports African Stance Against Arms Shipments to Zimbabwe  The U.S. does not believe that shipping Chinese arms and light weapons to Zimbabwe is in anyone's best interests, a State Department official says. The State Department has urged countries in southern Africa not to allow a Chinese freighter to dock and offload a cargo of AK-47 assault rifles, mortars and ammunition destined for landlocked Zimbabwe, says deputy spokesman Tom Casey. And the United States has also asked the Chinese government to recall the freighter.

22 April 2008 An Overview of AFRICOM: A Unified Combatant Command  By Claudia E. Anyaso, Director, Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs for African Affairs at the WIIS-US Army War College AFRICOM Conference.

18 April 2008 Rice Urges Zimbabweans to Release Election Results  The U.S. stands with the Zimbabwean people in their efforts to carry out the results of recent national elections, but it also calls on President Robert Mugabe's government to release election results.

16 April 2008 Kenya's New Coalition Government Is Important Step Forward  The Bush administration welcomes an announcement by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga that they have agreed on a coalition Cabinet to share power. The U.S. State Department described the development as a courageous decision to move the country forward following the violence that occurred after the December 27, 2007, election.

16 April 2008 Ambassador Khalilzad Briefs U.N. Security Council on Africa  Statement by Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. Permanent Representative, in the Open Debate on Strengthening the Relationship Between the UN And Regional Organizations, in the Security Council.

13 April 2008 Kenya: Agreement on Composition of Coalition Cabinet  The U.S. welcomes the announcement by President Kibaki and Prime Minister-designate Odinga that they have reached agreement on the composition of the coalition cabinet. Formation of the cabinet is an important step along the road toward full implementation of the political accord.

09 April 2008 Kenyan Leaders Urged to Resume Talks on Coalition Government  The U.S. is encouraging Kenyan leaders to resume talks aimed at creating a power-sharing Cabinet and a coalition government, say senior U.S. officials. "The United States and the entire international community stand ready to assist the coalition government and to help ensure that the provisions of the February 28 political accord are fully respected," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says. President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister-designate Raila Odinga agreed to create a power-sharing Cabinet, which is central to the creation of a coalition government.

26 February 2008 Bush Urges Congress To Double U.S. Aid to Africa  Since taking office in 2001, the Bush administration has doubled U.S. aid to Africa in a move viewed as the single largest development undertaking since the reconstruction of postwar Europe under the Marshall Plan.

26 February 2008 No Excuse for Further Delay in Kenya, Rice Says  Amid continued deadlock and the threat of renewed violence in Kenya, the United States is joining the international community and the Kenyan people in urging President Mwai Kibaki and his political rival Raila Odinga to honor their pledge to conclude a power-sharing agreement.
 • Statement by Secretary Rice on Kenya’s Political Solution

25 February 2008 New U.S. Military Command Responds to African Requests  The head of the new U.S. Africa Command already has traveled to 30 African nations to hear requests from national leaders on how the United States can best support their efforts to achieve stability and prosperity. And African leaders have typically asked for U.S. assistance to establish systems to monitor coastal areas, improve maritime safety and security, and promote better maintenance and logistics.

18 February 2008 Secretary Rice Remarks After Meeting with Former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan

18 February 2008 Kenya Crisis Needs To End Soon, Rice Says  The situation in Kenya is a "crisis and a crisis that needs to end soon," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says following daylong talks there with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, political opposition leader Raila Odinga and other concerned parties. Answering questions from reporters in Nairobi, Kenya Rice outlined four items to which former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the feuding political parties have agreed in a framework.

President Bush's Trip to Africa, 14-21 February 2008

 » White House Trip page

President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)
 • About PEPFAR
 •  Video: Saving Lives Creating Hope Trailer
 •  Video: Saving Lives Creating Hope 15-minute documentary

21 February 2008 Roundtable Interview of the President and the First Lady by the Travel Pool  The President reflects on his African trip and concludes “America should not be dictating to these countries. America ought to be helping leaders make decisions. And that's what we're doing. And we go to Africa with a belief in the capacity of human beings to meet high standards.”

21 February 2008 Bush Pledges 1 Million Schoolbooks for Liberian Children  On the final stop of his five-nation Africa tour, President Bush told the Liberian people that the United States stands with them and will help them recover from decades of civil war. As part of that effort, he pledged 1 million textbooks for Liberian schools and locally made school desks and seating for 10,000 Liberian schoolchildren. In remarks on the parade grounds at the Barclay Training Center in Monrovia February 21, Bush said, “The people of the United States will stand with you as you rebuild your country.” The center is an operations and training base for the Liberian military.

20 February 2008 Bush Cites Positive Changes in Africa  Africa has changed "in a very positive way" since President Bush first took office seven years ago, he said in Ghana February 20. He attributed that positive change to the work of African leaders.

20 February 2008 Bush Explains Focus of Africa Military Command  President Bush, during his five-nation tour of Africa, took the opportunity at a stop in Ghana to explain how the new Africa Command (AFRICOM) is a part of his administration's strategy "to support African leaders to deal with Africa's problems."

20 February 2008 President Bush Participates in Press Availability with President Kufuor of Ghana

19 February 2008 President Bush Visits Kigali Memorial Centre in Rwanda

19 February 2008 President Bush Participates in Joint Press Availability with President Kagame of Rwanda
 • Fact Sheet: United States-Rwanda Bilateral Investment Treaty

18 February 2008 Tanzanian Children To Receive Free Bed Nets, Bush Says  Calling the suffering caused by malaria "needless," and "every death caused by malaria ... unacceptable," President Bush says an initiative to distribute 5.2 million free bed nets in Tanzania will be enough to protect every child in the country between the ages of 1 and 5.

14 February 2008 U.S. Committed to Africa’s Success, Bush Says  The United States has doubled assistance to Africa during the Bush administration -- the largest expansion of foreign aid since the reconstruction of postwar Europe under the Marshall Plan. And President Bush says that the region’s long-term success lies in helping promote democracy and peace, which in turn spur economic development and entrepreneurship.
 • Remarks by President Bush, First Lady on U.S. Policy in Africa
 • Fact Sheet: U.S. Africa Policy

14 February 2008 Rice Headed to Kenya To Help Resolve Ongoing Conflict  Kenya is an important friend and ally, and the U.S. wants to see a full restoration of democracy and an end to the civil strife that has gripped the nation since the disputed December 27, 2007, presidential election.

13 February 2008 Press Briefing by NSC Hadley on Bush’s Upcoming Trip to Africa  President and Mrs. Bush’s trip to Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia will demonstrate America’s "strong commitment" to economic growth and development and to peace and stability across the African continent, says National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley.

08 February 2008 Bush Africa Trip To Highlight U.S. Partnership with Region  President Bush’s upcoming visit to Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia will demonstrate America’s commitment to the people of Africa and highlight how the United States has partnered with African leaders to address the challenges of disease, poverty and security.

08 February 2008 Military’s Africa Command Will Promote Security, Spur Development  The U.S. military’s new Africa Command (AFRICOM) will do more than help the region confront security challenges, say officials. It also will be an essential tool to support governments across the continent as they develop African solutions to the continent’s development challenges.

06 February 2008 Bush Administration Combating HIV/AIDS and Malaria in Africa  Deadly infectious diseases, especially HIV/AIDS, have brought humanitarian and economic disaster to sub-Saharan Africa in recent decades as developing countries there have coped with the loss of life, orphaned children and a shortage of working-age adults. One of the hallmarks of President Bush’s administration has been a dramatic increase in U.S. assistance to Africa, including money for disease prevention and care.

05 February 2008 NSC Hadley’s Speech at Carnegie on Bush’s Upcoming Trip to Africa  National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley highlights the president’s trip and the U.S. partnership with the people of Africa.

04 February 2008 Bush Trip Will Showcase Strong Pro-Africa Legacy  President Bush’s February 15-21 trip to five African nations is going to be "very historic and significant" because it will "solidify one of the strongest components" of his legacy: Africa, says the first and former assistant U.S. trade representative for Africa, Rosa Whitaker.

29 January 2008 Kenyans Must Find Political Solution to Current Crisis, U.S. Says  Kenya, a nation of nearly 34 million people, is an important friend of the United States, and an important mediator in regional civil strife and humanitarian crises elsewhere in Africa. And so in the current period of violence, the Kenyan leadership must work out a way forward, U.S. officials say.

09 January 2008 Additional U.S. Humanitarian Assistance to Kenya  The U.S. Agency for International Development will be providing an additional $4.8 million in humanitarian aid to assist vulnerable and displaced Kenyans following recent post-election violence across the country. This new announcement is in addition to an initial $200,000 which went to the Kenya Red Cross Society for the purchase and distribution of emergency relief supplies, bringing the total to $5 million in humanitarian assistance.

08 January 2008 U.S. To Provide $200,000 for Emergency Relief in Kenya  The U.S. will provide $200,000 to the Kenya Red Cross Society for relief supplies for people displaced by violence related to the disputed presidential election, according to a January 7 press release from the U.S. Agency for International Development.

07 January 2007 Statement by the President on Kenya  "I welcome the visit of African Union Chairman John Kufuor to Nairobi to help facilitate a dialogue to resolve Kenya's political crisis. I condemn the use of violence as a political tool and appeal to both sides to engage in peaceful dialogue aimed at finding a lasting political solution".

06 December 2007 Rice Consults with African Leaders on Regional Conflicts  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said a comprehensive cease-fire agreement between Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government and nonextremist political groups will help facilitate the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid in the country and urged the TFG to "renew and revitalize efforts towards a lasting political solution."

30 November 2007 Briefing By Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer on Secretary Rice's Upcoming Travel to Ethiopia

16 November 2007 Treasury's Paulson Says African Leadership Vital in Four Areas  Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson has identified four areas where African leadership is vital to accelerate and sustain economic development -- natural resource protection, financial markets, business climates and free trade.

15 November 2007 New Africa Command Will Promote Security, Spur Development  Helping Africans confront security challenges in their region long has been a priority of the United States, say senior U.S. officials. But the military’s new Africa Command (AFRICOM) also will prove an essential tool in continuing an equally long-standing commitment to helping communities across the continent strengthen governance, improve health care and meet economic development goals.

13 November 2007 Economic Progress in Africa Focus of Secretary Paulson's Trip  Economic progress in Tanzania, South Africa and Ghana -- including infrastructure development and job creation -- will be the focus of U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr.'s trip to the emerging market countries.

09 November 2007 U.S. Ship To Host Multinational Experts off African Coast  The USS Fort McHenry arrived off the coast of West Africa in November to lead an international team of experts that will train African sailors to confront the daily challenges of illegal fishing, piracy, drug trafficking and oil smuggling.

07 November 2007 "New Opportunity" Now Exists for Reconciliation in Somalia  Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government now has a "new opportunity" to promote peace and reconciliation and bring the communities in Somalia together, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer told the Voice of America.

31 October 2007 Africa Now at a “Turning Point,” Ugandan President Says   Africa stands today at a “turning point” in its history, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni told an audience in Washington October 31. Addressing business executives, investors, diplomats and Africanists, Museveni said, “Africa is breaking old paradigms in order to integrate itself profitably into the global economy and to liberate itself from the charity of strangers.

29 October 2007 President Bush To Host Ugandan President for White House Talks  President Bush will welcome Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to the White House October 30 for talks that will salute Museveni’s leadership in promoting peace and reconciliation in Somalia and Africa's Great Lakes region, in battling the HIV/AIDS pandemic and in promoting economic growth and development in Uganda and throughout the continent.

23 October 2007 U.S. Companies Urged To Invest in African Infrastructure  U.S. and African business leaders and officials are encouraging U.S. companies to take a bolder approach to investment opportunities created by rapid economic growth in Africa.

12 October 2007 New U.S. Command To Take Broad, Inclusive Approach to Africa   The new U.S. regional military command for Africa, an integrated defense, diplomatic and economic organization, will enhance U.S. efforts to advance security and prosperity in Africa, U.S. officials say.

02 October 2007 Consultations with African Partners Key to U.N. Process  Sudan's Darfur region, Somalia, Congo and Zimbabwe top UNGA talks Talks among U.S. officials and African leaders meeting during the opening week of the 62nd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) focused on the crisis in Sudan’s Darfur region, security challenges in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and needed reforms in Zimbabwe.

02 October 2007 U.S. Africa Command Marks Startup of Initial Operations  The new U.S. military organization responsible for operations across Africa marked the startup of its initial operations yesterday, according to a U.S. Africa Command news release.

06 September 2007 U.S.-Based Charity Sends Unused Medical Supplies to Africa  Early in 2007, a young boy at the Hubert Maga Hospital in Cotonou, Benin, with a severe version of malaria benefited from intravenous therapy made possible by Doc to Dock, a nongovernmental organization that collects unused supplies from U.S. medical centers and ships them to hospitals in Africa.

06 August 2007 U.S. Africa Command Builds Partnerships, Fosters Self-Sufficiency  The precise role the newly created U.S. Africa Command will play is to build on long-standing partnerships to deliver humanitarian assistance and foster self-sufficiency by helping African nations build strong, effective democracies, according to U.S. officials.

01 August 2007 Lesotho Gets Boost with Five-Year U.S. Millennium Grant  Lesotho's economic growth prospects have become brighter with the recent Millennium Challenge Corporation decision to help the small southern African country build a much-needed dam.

26 July 2007 African HIV Sufferers Get Chance at Futures, Laura Bush Says  Thanks to the Bush administration’s fight against HIV-AIDS worldwide, people who thought they were dying of the disease are finding they have a second chance at life. First lady Laura Bush, speaking at the National Press Club, marveled at "the Lazarus effect" she saw during her most recent trip to Africa. (Lazarus, according to a story in the Christian Bible, after having been dead and entombed for several days, was raised to life by Jesus Christ.)

23 July 2007 Africa Trade Forum Proves Networking Success  The expansion of export trade in Africa is leading to more jobs and prosperity. This is happening, in part, because of the networking program created by U.S. legislation passed seven years ago to replace aid with trade as the engine for economic growth on the continent, a State Department official says.

19 July 2007 Sub-Saharan Africa Benefits from Expanded International Trade  The United States will continue pursuing a growing economic partnership dedicated to promoting prosperity through expanded trade with some of Africa’s poorest countries, according to America’s top trade official.

18 July 2007 Africa Trade Act Has Human and Business Face  There is a human element built into the landmark African Growth and Opportunity Act that is meant to ensure its engine for economic change does not become an engine that grinds people up for corporate and government gain.

18 July 2007 Agriculture Can Be Key to Diversifying African Trade  A major goal now of the seven-year-old African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is to help sub-Saharan nations diversify their economies from dependence on oil and gas exports to exporting agricultural products.

09 July 2007 Africa Trade Act Helps Liberalize Continent’s Economies  Strengthening the partnership for economic reforms and development between the United States and 38 African nations is the aim of the sixth annual African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum.

29 June 2007 Africa Health, Education Programs Get Boost from U.S. First Lady  Winding up an eventful trip to Africa, U.S. first lady Laura Bush voiced support and promised more aid for nations struggling with HIV/AIDS and malaria, and to those striving to raise literacy levels. She completed her five-day tour in Mali June 29, after visits to Senegal, Mozambique and Zambia.

29 June 2007 African Economies Improve with Aid from Compacts with U.S.  Since it was established in January 2004, the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has made "tremendous progress" working with African partners to diminish poverty by providing more than a $2 billion in grants, not loans, to spur sustainable economic growth, MCC Deputy Chief Executive Officer Rodney Bent told Congress June 28.

22 June 2007 New Africa Command To Have Unique Structure, Mission  The new Defense Department command in Africa, AFRICOM, will be unique in its mission and command structure, according to Ryan Henry, principal Defense Department under secretary for policy. Henry told reporters that the U.S. is consulting extensively with African nations and other allies as planning for the new command, which is expected to become operational in the fall of 2008, continues

22 June 2007 HIV/AIDS, Malaria Focus of Laura Bush's Africa Trip  First lady Laura Bush embarks on her third Africa tour June 25, during which she will visit U.S.-funded HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention and treatment projects. She also will highlight education and women’s empowerment during her five-day trip to Senegal, Mozambique, Zambia and Mali.

19 June 2007 Somalia Needs Power-Sharing, Expert Tells U.S., EU Lawmakers  The main hope for a nonmilitary solution to the Somalia crisis is for the Transitional Federal Government to share power with moderate opposition groups, making national reconciliation a prime goal, a former ambassador told U.S. and European lawmakers.

23 May 2007 Millennium Challenge Corporation To Add Two African Partners  The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S.-funded development aid organization, expects to sign two new funding agreements, with Mozambique and Lesotho, in the summer of 2007, according to the corporation’s chief executive officer, John J. Danilovich.

18 May 2007 U.S.-Africa Forum Expanding Beyond Trade Issues  Trade facilitation will share the stage with finance, infrastructure development, product quality standards and a host of other economic issues at the Sixth African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum, U.S. officials say.

17 May 2007 U.S. Congress Examines Drinking Water Crisis in Africa  Millions of people in Africa are stricken with preventable diseases every year because they lack what the developed world takes for granted -- clean drinking water. The why, how and where of providing what many in the West see as the bedrock of sustainable development were examined at a May 16 hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa.

14 May 2007 Africa's Strategic Importance to U.S. Is Growing, Envoy Says  A senior diplomat says her recent appointment as the first full-time U.S. envoy to the African Union (AU) highlights a growing U.S.-African partnership aimed at pursuing political stability and economic prosperity on a strategic continent.

24 April 2007 U.S. Military’s Africa Command Will Help African Leaders  The U.S. military’s new command center for Africa, Africa Command (AFRICOM), will not include large numbers of troops, but will promote regional security and stability while coordinating U.S. support for African leaders, senior Pentagon officials say.

14 March 2007 Additional Zimbabwe Sanctions Possible, State Department Says  In response to the Zimbabwean government’s violent repression of its political opposition, the Bush administration is considering "additional measures" to its existing targeted sanctions.

13 March 2007 Rice Calls for Release of Zimbabwean Opposition Leaders  The Bush administration is calling for the "immediate and unconditional release" of political opposition leaders in Zimbabwe and urging the government of President Robert Mugabe to allow its citizens the right to express their views without fear of violence or intimidation.

12 March 2007 U.S. Condemns Crackdown on Zimbabwe Protesters  The government of Zimbabwe’s attack on opposition protesters in the Harare suburb of Highfield was "brutal and unwarranted," the State Department said, calling for the immediate release of those detained and for medical treatment to be provided to the injured.

Burma Cyclone

20 may 2008 United States Increases Humanitarian Assistance to China, Burma  The U.S. has stepped up humanitarian support to China in the aftermath of the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan province, providing more than $815,000 in assistance that includes specialized search, rescue and recovery equipment, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development.

16 May 2008 United States Rushing Aid Flights to China, Burma  The United States will provide direct humanitarian relief to China in the wake of a magnitude 7.9 earthquake that struck the region around Sichuan province May 12. In addition, the United States already has provided vital satellite imagery of the region to Chinese authorities to help them locate victims and identify damaged roads and infrastructure.

15 May 2008 United States Completes 13th Humanitarian Aid Flight to Burma  The United States flew another five humanitarian aid missions into Burma May 15, bringing the total number of flights up to 13, but much more is still needed to help the Burmese people, who are reeling in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis.

14 May 2008 Burma Cyclone Survivors Need World's Help  Nearly two weeks after Cyclone Nargis devastated Burma, more than a million survivors remain in desperate need of water, food and shelter, says a top U.S. official, who urged the country’s military rulers to let more aid workers in to save lives.

14 May 2008 U.S. Commits $17.4 Million to Assist Burma  The U.S. will give $13 million in food and logistical assistance to the U.N. World Food Programme for relief to Burma, bringing to $17.4 million total U.S. government assistance made available to the country thus far.

12 May 2008 First U.S. Disaster Aid Shipment Arrives in Burma  U.S. humanitarian assistance began arriving for the people of Burma as authorities finally allowed the first of three American C-130 cargo planes to deliver supplies, and the United States pledged an additional $13 million for communities ravaged by Cyclone Nargis more than a week ago.
 • USAID Official Luu on U.S. Assistance Efforts in Burma
 • USAID Responds to Cyclone Nargis (USAID Website)

09 May 2008 Burma Agrees to Allow U.S. Cargo Plane with Relief Supplies   Seven days after Cyclone Nargis slammed into Burma's densely populated Irrawaddy Delta killing thousands and displacing thousands more, the ruling military junta has given permission for the United States to send in a military C-130 cargo plane with emergency relief supplies on May 12, a White House spokesman says.

08 May 2008 Burma Aid Is About Saving Lives, Not Politics, Rice Says  The death and destruction in Burma is not a matter of politics, it's a matter of saving lives, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. "And it should be a matter that the government of Burma wants to see its people receive the help that is available to them," she says.
 • Briefing on U.S. Preparations for Relief Efforts for Burma

07 May 2008 U.S. Seeks Neighbors' Help on Sending Disaster Aid Teams to Burma  The United States is asking Burma's neighbors to convince the ruling military junta to permit U.S. and other disaster assessment teams into the country so that global humanitarian relief efforts can begin the recovery from "a humanitarian disaster of immense scope," a State Department official says.

07 May 2008 U.S. Military Ready to Provide Aid for Stricken Burmese  A flotilla of U.S. Navy vessels, rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft, U.S. Air Force planes and thousands of servicemembers are ready to assist Burma’s cyclone-stricken people, if asked, a senior Defense Department official said here today.

06 May 2008 U.S. Provides $3.25 Million to Aid Burma Cyclone Victims  The U.S. is providing $3.25 million in humanitarian aid to Burma and is prepared to do considerably more if the ruling military junta would permit, the White House says. "The United States has made an initial aid contribution, but we want to do a lot more," said President Bush. "We're prepared to move U.S. Navy assets to help find those who've lost their lives, to help find the missing, to help stabilize the situation. But in order to do so, the military junta must allow our disaster assessment teams into the country."

Asian Cyclone

13 December 2007 Embassy Official Discusses Aid to Bangladesh After Cyclone Sidr   U.S. Chargé d'Affaires ad Interim Geeta Pasi at U.S. Embassy Dhaka answered questions in a December 13 USINFO Webchat on what the U.S. is doing to assist Bangladesh after Cyclone Sidr.

11 December 2007 Avian Flu, AIDS Figure in U.S. Health Assistance to Bangladesh  Cyclone Sidr’s deadly landfall wreaked havoc in southern Bangladesh November 15, killing thousands, displacing hundreds of thousands, and adding pain and desperation to a nation whose population of 133 million already struggles with poverty and disease. To help with the latest crisis and meet longer-term health challenges, the U.S. Agency for International Development has committed $19.5 million for cyclone relief.

05 December 2007 Statement on Additional U.S. Funds for Food Relief in Bangladesh  The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, will provide $5 million to the World Food Program for the emergency operation in Bangladesh in the aftermath of Cyclone Sidr. The WFP emergency operation will provide immediate relief assistance to over 2.2 million affected people and help restore livelihoods and rural community infrastructures in Bangladesh.

28 November 2007 Storm-Stricken Bangladesh Gets Aid from U.S. Marines, Sailors  ... Twenty-four hundred U.S. Marines and sailors are helping the Bangladeshi government provide clean water, medical aid, food and other relief supplies to victims of Cyclone Sidr, the most severe storm to hit the country since 1991.

19 November 2007 U.S. Sends Ships, Supplies to Cyclone-Devastated Bangladesh  The U.S. is sending naval ships and $2.1 million in emergency relief supplies to Bangladesh to help the victims of Cyclone Sidr, which ravaged the country's southern coast. President Bush and first lady Laura Bush, as well as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, have expressed their condolences and sympathies to the victims while the USS Essex and USS Kearsarge, each carrying 20 helicopters for relief-and-rescue operations, steam toward the coast of Bangladesh.

19 November 2007 USAID Press Release: USAID Airlifts Emergency Relief Supplies to Bangladesh

18 November 2007 Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on U.S. Government Disaster Relief Support Following Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh

17 November 2007 President and Mrs. Bush Extend Condolences to Victims of Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh    President and Mrs. Bush offer condolences to the victims of Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh, especially those who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods in this tragedy. The United States Government has provided an initial contribution of 2.1 million dollars for emergency relief.

Pakistan

19 November 2007 State's Negroponte Urges Lifting of Emergency Rule in Pakistan  Emergency rule in Pakistan is undermining years of successful reforms, says Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, who met with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf November 16-17 to underline U.S. concerns about a key regional ally.

17 November 2007 Statement by Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte in Islamabad, Pakistan  Remarks by Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte upon his departure from Islamabad, Pakistan following meetings with President Musharraf and other senior Pakistani government officials.

07 November 2007 Democracy, Authoritarianism, and Terrorism in Contemporary Pakistan  Opening Statement by John D. Negroponte, Deputy Secretary of State before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

06 November 2007 Pakistan’s Musharraf Urged To Hold Elections, Shed Uniform Soon  Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf, should lift the state of emergency in the country and hold elections as soon as possible, President Bush and other administration officials say.

12 July 2007 Afghan-Pakistani Border Stability Operations Focus of U.S. Aid  The U.S. is working with the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan to build stability along the rugged border between those two nations. The presidents of both countries recognize the importance of stabilizing the border region and the need to improve mutual relations, according to an assessment offered to members of Congress by Ambassador Richard Boucher.

27 June 2006 Rice Says U.S. Remains Committed to Pakistan   The U.S. is committed to supporting Pakistan’s economic prosperity and its reconstruction efforts following the devastating October 2005 earthquake, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in Islamabad, Pakistan.

27 April 2006 U.S., Pakistan Launch Strategic Dialogue on Economics, Security   Pakistan and the U.S. have a "unique relationship" based on common security interests, according to U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns, and through the newly launched U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, the two countries seek to broaden that relationship through increased commercial, educational and technological exchanges.

Darfur Humanitarian Emergency

24 April 2008 Humanitarian Crisis in Darfur Worsening, U.S. Envoy Says  The humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan is worsening and the number of killed and displaced people continues to grow, reflecting an atmosphere of continuing violence, a senior U.S. diplomat says.

23 April 2008 U.S. Response to the Situation in Darfur  The U.S. is deeply concerned about the violence in Darfur, which includes unconscionable attacks against innocent civilians, humanitarian workers, and peacekeepers. In the face of increasing instability, the United Nations-African Union hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur authorized by the United Nations Security Council on July 31 must deploy rapidly.

23 April 2008 United States Sanctions on Sudan  The U.S. has imposed economic sanctions on a total of seven individuals and more than 160 companies owned or controlled by the Government of Sudan or linked to militia. The individuals have widespread involvement in Darfur, and have been linked to violence, atrocities, and human rights abuses in the region.

19 February 2008 Fact Sheet: United States Leading The Global Response To Crisis In Darfur

25 January 2008 Bush Traveling to Africa February 15-21  President to visit Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia

17 January 2008 Remarks by President Bush After Meeting with Special Envoy for Sudan

09 January 2008 Statement on Attack upon U.N. Peacekeepers in Darfur  The U.S. condemns the January 7 attack by the Sudanese Armed Forces on United Nations peacekeepers who were traveling in a supply convoy in Darfur. This attack against peacekeepers in white vehicles clearly displaying UN markings is unacceptable and violates the demands of the Security Council and the Government of Sudan’s public pledges to cooperate with the deployment of the peacekeeping mission.

31 December 2007 Formal Transfer of Authority to the Hybrid United Nations/African Union Peacekeeping Force in Darfur  We welcome today’s formal transfer of authority from the African Union-led peacekeeping force in Sudan (AMIS) to the hybrid United Nations/African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). We call on the United Nations’ Department of Peacekeeping Operations and all UN member states to work to deploy the full hybrid operation as rapidly as possible.

03 October 2007 Senate Testimony on Darfur  Jendayi E. Frazer, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs says “Sudan is a top priority for the Administration.”

24 September 2007 Progress Seen in Resolving Conflict in Darfur   Measurable progress is being made on resolving conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan by the United States and international partners that have been working to arrange talks among the warring parties, a U.S. diplomat says.

01 August 2007 U.N.-A.U. Hybrid Force in Darfur Must Deploy "Without Delay"  U.N. Security Council Resolution 1769, which authorizes the deployment of a U.N.-African Union peacekeeping force to Sudan’s Darfur region, is a "new and unique form of cooperation" between the two international organizations, U.S. officials said. They called for the immediate deployment of the 26,000-member force to protect civilians and humanitarian workers in the area.

24 July 2007 USAID, Other Donors Coordinate Humanitarian Efforts in Sudan  Throughout Sudan, logistics and information coordination programs funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development support cargo shipments, humanitarian worker transportation and information-sharing. Vital for service delivery, coordinated efforts ensure that people and goods reach those in need as quickly as possible.

27 June 2007 China's Influence a Key to Peace in Darfur, Rice Says  China's economic clout in Africa has grown over the years, putting it in a significant position to help end the genocide in Darfur, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a press interview in Paris.

25 June 2007 Darfur Needs More from International Community, Rice Says  Speaking on the eve of a United Nations-sponsored meeting in Paris on the crisis in Darfur, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says she is disappointed at the failure of the international community to bring an end to the violence that has killed hundreds of thousands while displacing millions in Sudan's western region.

12 June 2007 U.S. Says Africa Should Not Be Sole Source of Darfur Peacekeepers  Sudan’s insistence that only African troops participate in a hybrid African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur would render the force ineffective since the continent cannot supply the number of needed troops, the Bush administration says.

07 June 2007 U.S. Might Push for New U.N. Sanctions Against Sudan  The U.N. will press for new international sanctions against Sudan if the U.N. Security Council cannot obtain agreement from Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on an African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force for Darfur, said U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad.

29 May 2007 U.S. Tightens Sudan Sanctions  The U.S. will tighten economic sanctions against Sudan for failing to end the violence in Darfur, announced President Bush. “For too long, the people of Darfur have suffered at the hands of a government that is complicit in the bombing, murder and rape of innocent civilians,” Bush said.
See also: President Bush Announces Increased Sanctions Against The Government Of Sudan.

18 April 2007 Bush Urges Action on Darfur  President Bush says the U.S. will step up sanctions against Sudan if President Omar al-Bashir continues to ignore pledges to end the violence in the Darfur region of his country.

17 April 2007 Diplomats Cautiously Optimistic on Darfur Peacekeepers  The Security Council has welcomed Sudan's acceptance of increased U.N. support for peacekeepers in Darfur, but council members are proceeding cautiously until the much-needed reinforcements are actually on the ground in the region.

17 April 2007 Negroponte Signals Khartoum About U.S. Concern over Darfur  Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte has concluded his first trip to Sudan, where he visited refugee camps in Darfur and met with President Omar al-Bashir, conveying the "widespread concern" in the U.S. about the continuing violence in the western region.

11 April 2007 Top U.S. Diplomat Cites Chinese Cooperation on Darfur  China increasingly is cooperating with the U.S. toward ending the violence in Sudan's Darfur region, while President Bush "wants action" and is prepared to impose further sanctions on Sudan, says Ambassador Andrew Natsios, the president's special envoy to Sudan.

02 April 2007 Sanctions on Sudan Under Consideration, U.S. Says  The U.S. is looking at the "next diplomatic steps" to take on Sudan to pressure the government to allow peacekeeping forces into the Darfur region to provide security and stability, said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

20 March 2007 U.S. Pledges Help for Refugees in Chad, Central African Republic  The U.S. will continue to provide humanitarian support to help protect vulnerable civilians in Chad and the Central African Republic who have been affected by conflict in Sudan's Darfur region, said a top State Department official.

13 March 2007 Sudanese President Appears To Step Back from Peace Commitments  The Bush administration is "extremely troubled" by Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir’s recent letter to the U.N, in which he appears to back away from prior commitments to the Darfur peace agreement, according to State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey.

08 February 2007 Diplomacy Still Offers Best Hope for Solution to Darfur Crisis  Even though policymakers in both the Bush administration and Congress increasingly are frustrated by the Sudanese government's reluctance to end the violence in Darfur, analysts agree diplomacy still offers the best solution to the crisis that began in early 2003.

07 February 2007 Lack of Troop Contributions to Darfur Creates "Bottleneck"<  The three-phase deployment of an African Union-United Nations force in Darfur, Sudan, is facing "bottlenecks" because U.N. member states have not made firm commitments to contribute troops, and both international organizations need to work out the command structure of the force, the Bush administration says.

06 February 2007 U.S. Looks to Envoys’ Visit To Help Break Darfur Stalemate   Frustrated with the lack of progress in getting a U.N. peacekeeping mission into the troubled Darfur region of Sudan, Acting U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Alejandro Wolff says that the Security Council is looking to the upcoming visit of international envoys to break the stalemate with the Sudanese government.

Humanitarian Assistance

15 September 2008 U.S. Provides $19.5 Million to Help Haiti Recover from Storms  The U.S. is sending $19.5 million in humanitarian aid to Haiti to help victims of four tropical storms that struck the small Caribbean nation in less than 30 days. Tropical storms Fay and Hanna and hurricanes Gustav and Ike have affected an estimated 600,000 people in nine of Haiti's 10 departments (regions), according to the U.S. Agency for International Development.

15 September 2008 Humanitarian Assistance to the Cuban People Following Hurricanes Gustav and Ike  Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike have caused severe damage to Cuba, displacing over two million people and destroying homes across the island. In order to assist the Cuban people in this time of crisis, the United States is taking several steps.

04 September 2008 Water Projects Worldwide Benefit from U.S. Expertise, Funding  Conflicts over water supplies strike at the heart of what people and wildlife need to survive, as in Africa, where Kenyan subsistence farmers compete for limited water with world-renowned Tanzanian wildlife reserves. Globally, water disputes between countries and between the powerful and the powerless create complex situations where fair resolution is critical.

04 August 2008 U.S. Government, Private Groups Funnel Donations to Palestinians  The U.S. government and a humanitarian organization devoted to helping the Palestinian people have established a mechanism to channel private American donations into programs that benefit the Palestinians.

31 July 2008 U.S. Law Extends Global Assistance for HIV/AIDS by Five Years  President Bush signed into law July 30 a five-year extension of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), launched in 2003 as a five-year, $15 billion multifaceted approach to fighting the disease around the world. The new legislation increases the U.S. financial commitment, authorizing up to $48 billion from 2009 to 2013 -- the largest commitment by any nation to fight a single disease.

30 July 2008 President Bush Signs H.R. 5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008
Related:
 • Fact sheet In Focus: HIV/AIDS
 • Fact sheet In Focus: Health Care
 • Fact Sheet: A Historic and Lifesaving Commitment to Fight HIV/AIDS

18 July 2008 U.S. Humanitarian Aid Focuses on Saving Lives, Not Politics  The U.S. long has understood that humanitarian assistance for victims of natural or man-made disasters must be offered without political considerations, because saving lives and livelihoods demands nothing less.

14 July 2008 Fact Sheet: PEPFAR: A Historic Commitment To Compassion  In 2003, President Bush launched the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, (PEPFAR), committing $15 billion over five years to combat global HIV/AIDS – the largest international health initiative in history to fight a single disease.  In 2007, the President called for Congress to expand our commitment to this successful program for five additional years.

20 June 2008 United States Saves Lives, Improves Livelihoods  U.S. government aid, rooted in partnership not paternalism, helps other nations in times of crisis and provides ongoing developmental assistance to countries that govern justly, invest in their people and promote economic freedom.

03 June 2008 World Leaders Begin Debate on Crop Use for Biofuels, Food  The relation of biofuel production to the rising cost of food is expected to be a major point of discussion at a June 3-5 United Nations summit in Rome on world food security.

02 June 2008 U.S. Officials to Urge Increased Agriculture Development Aid  Top U.S. officials attending a United Nations conference addressing the global food crisis will call for more agricultural development assistance to countries most able to increase food production rapidly. The United States also will call for increased research in agricultural technologies, said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer, who will lead the U.S. delegation.

30 May 2008 Department of State Fact Sheet: Promoting Worldwide Food Security
The United States is the world’s largest food aid donor and has acted quickly to address the rise in global food prices. The U.S. is on track to provide nearly $5 billion – far more than any other country – to fight global hunger in 2008 and 2009. From 2001 to 2006, approximately 50% of total world food aid came from the U.S. Food security is an international issue requiring an international response.

08 May 2008 U.N. Food Aid Agency Urges Countries to Lift Food Export Bans  The head of the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) has called on countries that ban exports of food commodities to lift those restrictions so more food can be available for humanitarian aid. Approximately 40 countries have imposed bans as world commodity prices have increased several times in the past year. As a result, WFP is having trouble securing enough food for aid, WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran told a meeting at the International Institute of Economics in Washington May 6.

01 May 2008 President Bush Discusses Food Aid  President Bush said “... with the new international funding I'm announcing today, we're sending a clear message to the world: that America will lead the fight against hunger for years to come.”

30 April 2008 Long-term Approach to Food Aid Problems Necessary, Rice Says  A long-term, broad-ranging and integrated approach to dealing with food aid problems can help avert future food crises, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told 65 Peace Corps country directors and headquarters staff.

29 April 2008 U.S. Additional Emergency Food Assistance in FY 08  The U.S. Agency for International Development is providing assistance in response to the increase in food prices worldwide. USAID will provide an additional $240 million in food aid to meet emergency needs around the world, bringing the total emergency food aid provided by USAID, on behalf of the American people, to $1.36 billion since October 2007.

15 April 2008 Bush Orders $200 Million for Emergency Food Relief  Responding aggressively to a worsening global food crisis, President Bush has ordered an estimated $200 million in emergency U.S. food assistance for global relief efforts and to help relieve political instability in some regions. "This additional food aid will address the impact of rising commodity prices on U.S. emergency food aid programs, and be used to meet unanticipated food aid needs in Africa and elsewhere," the White House said in a statement.

21 February 2008 U.S. and U.K. Agencies Agree To Coordinate on Poverty Reduction  The U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has reached an agreement with the United Kingdom's Department for International Development to increase cooperation on poverty reduction in developing countries, the MCC said in a press release issued February 19.

30 October 2007 Anti-AIDS Program Scores Successes in Africa  When 30-year-old Daniel Chipeleka learned in 2005 that his wife, Miriam, was pregnant with their fifth child, he accompanied her to the Chembe Rural Health Center near the Congolese border and got tested, along with Miriam, for HIV.

31 August 2007 USAID Works To Break Link Between Hunger and Conflict  The U.S. Food for Peace Program teams with the U.N. and humanitarian aid organizations to help break the link between hunger and armed conflict by building greater food security.

21 August 2007 Briefing on U.S. Assistance to Earthquake and Hurricane Victims In the Western Hemisphere Region

04 April 2007 U.S. Pledges Assistance After Solomon Islands Tsunami  In response to the deaths, destruction and homelessness caused in the Solomon Islands April 2 by the 8.1-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami, the U.S. has contributed $250,000 in disaster assistance funds to support immediate relief needs in these South Pacific islands.

18 January 2007 Millennium Challenge Corporation Motivating Countries To Reform Three years after it was established, the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has evolved into a major factor in the developing world in motivating countries to adopt economic, political and social reforms, says the agency's chief executive officer.

04 January 2007 Rice Announces Nearly $17 Million in Initial U.S. Aid to Somalia  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced that the U.S. is providing $16.575 million as an initial “robust” response to meet humanitarian needs in Somalia following the re-establishment of control over the country by the Transitional Federal Institutions.

World Aids Day 2007 White House : Office of National Aids Policy America.gov: Global Health

30 November 2007
 • President Bush Remarks on World AIDS Day 2007
 • Statement by Secretary Rice on World AIDS Day, 2007
 • Fact Sheet: World AIDS Day 2007

30 November 2007 AIDS Experts See Hope, Concerns in Confronting Virus  On the eve of World AIDS Day, President Bush renewed his pledge to fight the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. "The pandemic of HIV/AIDS can be defeated, he said, through international cooperative efforts such as his President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). "We continue to fund research and develop new methods of treatment and prevention," he said, referring to PEPFAR’s five-year, $15 billion commitment to fight the disease.

State Department Web Site

The State Department Home Page offers access to the wide variety of documents produced by the department. Following is a selection of those pages particularly useful to observers of U. S. foreign policy.

Secretary's Home Page carries texts and transcripts and provides information on the Secretary's overseas travels.

Daily Press Briefings from the State Department's Bureau of Public Affairs.

Freedom of Information Electronic Reading Room provides reference points for State Department records and information access programs. It also displays frequently-requested documents released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)