Middle East
26 June 2009 Quartet Statement from the Meeting in Trieste The Quartet affirmed its determination to actively and vigorously seek a comprehensive resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, 1397, 1515, 1850, the Madrid principles including land for peace, the Roadmap, and the agreements previously reached between the parties.
26 June 2009 Secretary Clinton Appoints Farah Pandith to Head New Office of The United States Representative to Muslim Communities Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has asked Farah Pandith to head the new Office of the United States Special Representative to Muslim Communities. Special Representative Farah Pandith and her staff (S/SRMC) will be responsible for executing the Administration’s efforts to engage with Muslims around the world on a people-to-people and organizational level.
24 June 2009 Military Leaders from U.S., Gulf States Discuss Security Threats U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told military leaders from the Gulf region that today's security environment in the Gulf poses dilemmas and opportunities that span all borders.
24 June 2009 New U.S. Special Representative Announced for Muslim Outreach Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has appointed Farah Pandith to serve as special representative to Muslim communities, in charge of a new office that is responsible for outreach with Muslims around the world.
23 June 2009 Gulf Nations Support of Iraq Contains Iran Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today urged Persian Gulf countries to work together and with the United States on securing Iraq and containing Iranian ambitions.
17 June 2009 Remarks by Secretary Clinton, Israeli Foreign Minister Lieberman Diplomats discuss a range of issues, including Mideast peace talks and Iran.
16 June 2009 United States Seeks Early Conclusion of Mideast Peace Talks President Obama’s special envoy for Middle East peace, George Mitchell, says he believes there is a realistic chance of accommodating Israel’s desire for security with the Palestinian desire for an independent state, and says the United States is currently focused on the resumption and “early conclusion” of meaningful negotiations.
• Briefing by Special Envoy George Mitchell
Speaking to reporters at the State Department June 16, Mitchell said Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton clearly have stated that “the only viable resolution to this conflict is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states.”
15 June 2009 U.S. Welcomes Israeli Leader's Endorsement of Palestinian State The U.S. welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s endorsement of the goal of establishing a Palestinian state, describing it as an "important step forward," and says President Obama will continue working with Israel, the Palestinians and others to achieve a two-state solution, as well as a comprehensive regional peace between Israel and its neighbors.
10 June 2009 U.S. Seeks Rapid Resumption of Middle East Peace Talks The United States seeks a quick resumption and an early conclusion to the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, U.S. Special Envoy George Mitchell says. Mitchell’s visit to the West Bank city of Ramallah, the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority, is part of President Obama’s efforts to reinvigorate negotiations that ultimately would lead to the creation of a Palestinian state living at peace alongside Israel — often referred to as the "two-state solution."
08 June 2009 Commitment to Democracy Seen in High Lebanese Election Turnout Pledging to continue U.S. support for Lebanese sovereignty, President Obama congratulated Lebanon’s people for holding a peaceful parliamentary election that he says demonstrated their courage and their strong commitment to democracy.
27 May 2009 Remarks by Secretary Clinton, Egyptian Foreign Minister Gheit Diplomats discuss relations, Middle East peace process and North Korea.
22 May 2009 Biden: The Future of Lebanon Is for the People to Decide Vice President Biden reaffirmed U.S. support for the Lebanese government, and also encouraged the Lebanese people to hold fair, free and open parliamentary elections June 7 that reflect their will. At a brief press conference May 22 at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, east of the Lebanese capital Beirut, Biden said that he was not there to offer support for any particular political party or candidate.
18 May 2009 Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Discuss Peace Process President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapons program and strengthening the U.S.-Israeli relationship in their first meeting as heads of state.
Both Obama and Netanyahu acknowledged that for peace to be achieved, peace talks must resume.
15 May 2009 Obama to Stress Two-State Solution with Netanyahu May 18 President Obama will welcome newly elected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House May 18, beginning the first of three separate high-stakes consultations to refocus the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
12 May 2009 Statement on White House Visit of Middle East Leaders President Obama to discuss achieving peace in the Middle East.
07 May 2009 Remarks on Lebanon by Ambassador Rice at U.N. Security Council Calls for full implementation of Resolution 1559 until requirements are met.
05 May 2009 Biden Urges Israel to End Settlements, Back Two-State Solution The status quo that has existed in the Middle East over the past 10 years has not served the interests of the United States or Israel, Vice President Biden told U.S. supporters of Israel. There are obligations to be met by all parties to bring peace efforts to a successful conclusion, Biden said, and those include the Palestinian Authority’s fight against terror and incitement against Israel, and Israel’s work toward a two-state solution with the Palestinians and an end to its building of settlements.
27 April 2009 United States Supports Free, Independent, Sovereign Lebanon The U.S. supports a free, independent and sovereign Lebanon and parliamentary elections there in June that are without intimidation and outside influence, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says.
21 April 2009 United States Will Be Engaged in Arab-Israeli Peace Process The prospect of an Arab-Israeli peace still exists, but will require some difficult choices, says President Obama. At a brief White House news conference, Obama said that achieving a lasting peace and the creation of a Palestinian state requires resolution on the part of all involved parties.
25 March 2009 United States Committed to Free, Democratic Lebanon Renewed engagement with Syria will not supplant America's unwavering support for a free, democratic Lebanon, says a top U.S. diplomat. Such support is a key component to lasting peace and security in the Middle East, adds acting Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman.
09 March 2009 U.S. Envoys Meet with Syrian Officials Representatives of the United States and Syria held comprehensive and constructive talks in Damascus, Syria, and found considerable common ground on an array of issues, a senior U.S. diplomat says.
04 March 2009 Time Is of the Essence for Palestinian State, Says Clinton America strongly supports the creation of a future Palestinian state, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says, pledging to work for peace by engaging a new Israeli government on halting settlement expansion and easing border restrictions.
02 March 2009 United States Pledges $900 Million for Palestinians Saying time is of the essence, the United States pledged $900 million in humanitarian aid for the Palestinians at an international conference in Egypt.
• Fact Sheet: United States Assistance to the Palestinians
February 2009
27 February 2009 Clinton Leaves for Middle East, Europe for Extended Talks Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is beginning a series of official visits to the Middle East and to Europe aimed at restarting Mideast peace talks and boosting trans-Atlantic relations. Clinton begins the trip March 2 at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh at a donors conference for Gaza.
17 February 2009 A North Korean Missile Launch Would Be Unhelpful, Clinton Says A long-range ballistic missile launch by North Korea would prove unhelpful in enhancing sensitive U.S. and North Korean relations, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says.
13 February 2009 U.S. Wants Rigorous, Persistent Engagement in Asia, Clinton Says Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says that the U.S. wants a more rigorous and persistent commitment and engagement with East Asia across an array of issues from the current economic crisis to nuclear proliferation, climate change, clean energy, health and income.
09 February 2009 Biden Says Finding Lasting Mideast Peace Requires Collaboration Vice President Biden says it will take close collaboration among Arab and European partners and the United States to find a resolution to the vexing challenges of creating a lasting Middle East peace.
05 February 2009 Clinton To Make First Foreign Mission to East Asia Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will address a broad range of issues, from economics to climate change, during an eight-day, four-nation trip through East Asia, a State Department official says.
03 February 2009 Special Envoy Mitchell to Return to Middle East This Month
Middle East special envoy George Mitchell is beginning what will become high-level engagement by the United States in trying to end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, says Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
02 February 2009 Gaza Truce Remains Fragile, Say U.S. Officials As President Obama's Middle East envoy completes his first round of regional consultations, continued violence in the Gaza Strip threatens international peacemaking efforts, says State Department acting spokesman Robert Wood.
January 2009
30 January 2009 United States Humanitarian Support to Palestinians
29 January 2009 U.S. Envoy Expresses Concern for Loss of Palestinian Lives The United States is concerned about the loss of Palestinian lives and the pressing humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip in the aftermath of a 22-day conflict between Israeli and Hamas forces, U.S. Middle East special envoy George Mitchell says.
• 29 January 2009 Statement by Middle East Peace Envoy George Mitchell in Ramallah Envoy urges sustainable, durable cease-fire to achieve two-state solution.
28 January 2009 Middle East Envoy Calls for Strengthened Gaza Cease-Fire A lasting Gaza cease-fire must be based on an end to arms smuggling to Hamas and a reopening of blockaded borders, says George Mitchell, U.S. special envoy for Middle East peace.
27 January 2009 Obama Pledges New American Partnership in Middle East President Obama says that the United States “offers a hand of friendship” to the Middle East and broader Muslim world and wants a new relationship firmly rooted in mutual respect and mutual interests. “What you’ll see is someone who is listening,” he said.
26 January 2009 Interview of the President by Hisham Melhem, Al Arabiya
26 January 2009 President Sends Special Envoy Mitchell to Middle East One of the key missions of Middle East special envoy George Mitchell's trip to the region will be to consolidate the cease-fire after the three-week-old Gaza conflict, a State Department spokesman says, and to ensure progress toward Middle East peace.
• State Department Daily Press Briefing
22 January 2009 Obama Pledges "Active Engagement" on Middle East Peace President Obama has reached out to Middle East leaders to emphasize that progress toward peace in the region will be among his administration’s top foreign policy priorities. "He used this opportunity on his first day in office to communicate his commitment to active engagement in pursuit of Arab-Israeli peace from the beginning of his term," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.
22 January 2009 Obama Names Special Envoys for Middle East, Afghanistan-Pakistan President Obama joined Secretary of State Hillary Clinton January 22 to announce former Senator George Mitchell as his special envoy to the Middle East peace process and Ambassador Richard Holbrooke as his special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan — moves that underscore the new administration's commitment to renewing America's leadership through reinvigorated diplomacy.
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Middle East