What's New

July 2008

24 July 2008 America Must Continue to Stand for Freedom, Bush Says  America must continue to stand with those who seek freedom not only from tyranny, but also from the scourges of poverty, disease and hunger, says President Bush. "The challenge for future presidents and future Congresses is to ensure that America always stands with those seeking freedom -- and never hesitates to shine the light of conscience on abuses of human rights across the world," Bush said in a July 24 speech at the U.S. Agency for International Development.

22 July 2008 Arms Control Verification Requires Experts with Special Skills  The media often trumpet the dispatch of arms control experts to a country of concern. But what these experts do often remains largely invisible. Verification experts were sent into Iraq, for example, to search for dangers. In June 2008, U.S. and Iraqi experts sent to Canada the last bit of concentrated natural uranium accumulated during Saddam Hussein’s reign at the country’s main nuclear complex in Tuwaitha.

24 July 2008 Sports Exchanges with Iran Build Bridges  Sports exchanges are one tool to help rebuild bridges between U.S. and Iranian societies after 30 years of estrangement, said Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns at a July 9 House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on U.S. relations with Iran.

24 July 2008 Surrogates' Off-Message Remarks Can Hurt Presidential Candidates  Ill-chosen comments by surrogates for 2008 presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama have rocked both campaigns, political experts tell America.gov. Remarks that conflict with or distract from the message candidates are trying to send voters are a recurring feature of the 2008 presidential race.

24 July 2008 Clean-Energy Fuels Create Buzz on Capitol Hill  T. Boone Pickens, an octogenarian Texas oil billionaire, recently paid to air television ads promoting his plan to reduce U.S. dependency on foreign oil through developing alternative energy sources. "We don’t need anymore talk. We need a plan. And it's got to be a top priority of the next president and the next Congress," Pickens said in the ad. An estimate of U.S. annual foreign oil expenditures -- $ 700 billion a year -- appeared on the screen.

24 July 2008 Human Rights – Useful Links as compiled by America.gov.

24 July 2008 The India Safeguards Agreement: Moving India Towards the Nonproliferation Mainstream  Remarks by Ambassador Gregory Schulte, U.S. Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United Nations in Vienna at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, London.

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.

23 July 2008 Kazakhstan Committed to Reforms, Says State’s Boucher  Kazakhstan is earning America's support for its bid to lead the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) by committing to further progress on democratic reforms, says Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher.

23 July 2008 Online Resources for Environmental Information   Compiled by America.gov this list of online resources for environment issues covers S.S. Government, International Organizations and Nongovernmental Organizations.

22 July 2008 Rice Says Iran Has Not Been Serious in Nuclear Talks  The U.S. and five other world powers have shown they are serious that Iranian leaders must decide whether to halt Iran’s uranium enrichment program, which could be used in manufacturing nuclear weapons, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. "And I think it's also very clear that there are going to be consequences if they don’t," Rice says. According to Rice, the current strategy is to get the Iranian regime to stop uranium enrichment and to accept a package of incentives. If the regime does not stop, she says, there is enough agreement among the six countries to bring additional sanctions through the U.N. Security Council.

22 July 2008 White House Hails Arrest of Radovan Karadzic  The White House congratulated Serbia following its arrest of one of the world’s most-wanted fugitives -- Radovan Karadzic, the 1990s Bosnian Serb leader during the horrors of "ethnic cleansing."  "This operation is an important demonstration of the Serbian government’s determination to honor its commitment to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia," said White House press secretary Dana Perino in a July 21 statement. "There is no better tribute to the victims of the war’s atrocities than bringing their perpetrators to justice."
Related: U.S. Statement on Arrest of Bosnian Serb Wanted for War Crimes.

22 July 2008 Missile Defense Plan Directed at Rogue Nations, Not Russia  The U.S. has reiterated that its planned missile defense system in Europe is not directed against Russia but rather against the growing threat from rogue nations such as Iran, according to a senior U.S. military official.  "Ten interceptors in Poland could absolutely not match the hundreds of interceptors and thousands of warheads that the Russians have deployed," Lieutenant General Henry Obering, director of the Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency, said at a recent briefing.

21 July 2008 U.S. Attorney General Urges Congress to Act on Detainee Process  The United States continues to seek a legal process for adjudicating the rights of those detained as illegal combatants that is constitutional, transparent and still addresses national security concerns.
Related: U.S. Attorney General Discusses Enemy Combatants in Guantanamo

21 July 2008 Remarks by Secretary Rice En Route Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates  Secretary Rice discussed recent developments in the diplomatic process concerning Iran.

21 July 2008 Bush Remarks to Members of 2008 U.S. Summer Olympic Team.
Related: eJournal : The Olympic Experience

18 July 2008 Statement by the Press Secretary on Iraq  President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki spoke yesterday in their regularly scheduled secure video conference, about a range of matters including the improving security situation and the performance of Iraqi Security Forces across Iraq. The two leaders welcomed the recent visit of Prime Minister Erdogan to Baghdad and the successful visit of Prime Minister Maliki to the UAE.

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.

18 July 2008 U.S. Seeks New Agreement on Cluster Munitions  The United States is pushing for a new legally binding protocol under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) that would reduce the potential humanitarian impact of cluster munitions while preserving legitimate strategic options.

18 July 2008 Rice Receives Leaders of Newly Independent Kosovo  U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice welcomed top officials from Kosovo in their first visit to Washington, highlighting the new democracy’s progress toward strengthening government institutions and protecting Serb communities. She also reaffirmed American support for Kosovo’s new administration.

17 July 2008 Pakistan Must Do More to Police Tribal Zone, Defense Leaders Say  Pakistan must do more on its side of the border with Afghanistan to combat terrorist extremists, U.S. defense leaders said.

17 July 2008 John McCain, Barack Obama Debate War Policies   As they campaigned in battleground states and reached out to minority voters, the presidential candidates seemed eager to prove they are prepared to deal with the lagging economy and ready to handle challenging security issues as commander in chief.

17 July 2008 Presidential Candidates’ Foreign Policy Advisers a Diverse Group  Foreign scholars, journalists and government officials closely monitor the latest foreign policy pronouncements of American presidential candidates, but they also pay close attention to the candidates’ foreign policy advisers, who can influence strongly the course of a new presidency.

16 July 2008 Webcast - Politics and Pundits: The Influence of the Media on Elections and Democracy

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.

16 July 2008 State’s Glassman Briefs on Public Diplomacy, War of Ideas  Under Secretary outlines U.S. public diplomacy goals and efforts in the war of ideas.
•  Fact Sheet on the Civilian Response Corps
•  Secretary Rice's Remarks

16 July 2008 State’s Glassman Briefs on Public Diplomacy, War of Ideas ... Under Secretary outlines U.S. public diplomacy goals and efforts in the war of ideas.

16 July 2008 Missile Defense Agency Director Briefs on Missile Defense  Lt. Gen. Obering briefed reporters on the work of the Missile Defense Agency.

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.

15 July 2008 Press Conference by the President  President Bush discussed a wide range of topics including the U.S. economy, energy, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan

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.

15 July 2008 Good Governance Measures Reflect New Global Consensus  With growing support from such disparate sources as the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations (G8), the World Bank, and the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation, many nations are making steady -- if sometimes overlooked -- progress in strengthening their democratic practices and successfully combating corruption.

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 Milestone of 500 Open Skies Flights Celebrated  Unarmed observation aircraft cruise over the territory of select nations collecting aerial photographs. But these aircraft are not spying; instead they are part of a successful confidence- and security-building regime known as the Open Skies Treaty.

14 July 2008 U.S. Law Promotes Religious Freedom Around the World   Even though many countries have become more tolerant in recent years of individuals worshiping as they choose, there are still governments abusing religious freedom, President Bush said on the 10th anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act.

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.

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.

14 July 2008 Georgia: Escalation of Violence in South Ossetia and Abkhazia  The United States is concerned by the recent escalation in violence in the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and calls upon all sides to return to direct negotiations and resolve their differences peacefully.

11 July 2008 White House Statement on Regulating Greenhouse Gases   Since 2001, the United States has had the second best performance of all industrialized nations, reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 3 percent –– through a combination of increased efficiency, improved technologies, and conservation.  The President has committed the U.S. to further reductions, working in partnership with other major economies in a way that ensures sustained economic growth and actual global emissions reductions.

11 July 2008 Process of Selecting Vice President Evolved over Centuries  America’s earliest running mates often competitors rather than partners

11 July 2008 United States Pledges $400 Million at Kosovo Donors’ Conference  International donors meeting in Brussels, Belgium, July 11 pledged $1.2 billion to assist with development efforts in Europe’s newest democracy, Kosovo. The U.S. delegation, led by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Henrietta Fore, pledged $400 million, and the European Union pledged $789 million to help the country over the next four years.

10 July 2008 Defense Department on New Cluster Munitions Policy   The Department of Defense released a newly approved U.S. cluster munitions policy that the United States believes will provide better protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure following a conflict, while allowing for the retention of a legitimate and useful weapon.

10 July 2008 Fact Sheet: Ballistic Missile Defense Agreement Between U.S., Czech Republic

10 July 2008 Internet Revolutionizes Campaign Fundraising Electioneering changed in the 2004 presidential campaign when Democratic contender Howard Dean used the Internet as his staging ground and the public responded by donating time and money. Four years later, Internet fundraising has leapt ahead, with prospective Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama enjoying particular success thanks to Web 2.0 interactive and social networking tools that enhance online community participation.

09 July 2008 Six-Party Talks Shift to Confirming North Korean Nuclear Claims   As envoys to the Six-Party Talks meet in Beijing to build on recent progress in stabilizing the Korean Peninsula, verifying North Korea’s nuclear claims will top the agenda, says Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill.

09 July 2008 U.S. Policy Toward Iran  Statement by William J. Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs before the House Foreign Affairs Committee

09 July 2008 U.S. Officials React to Iranian Missile Test

G-8 Summit, Japan, July 6 - 9 2008

09 July 2008 Bush Praises Significant Progress on Climate Change President Bush praised the major world economies for making significant progress during the final day at the Group of Eight forum by agreeing that there must be a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by developed and developing nations if there is to be any hope of reining in global warming by mid-century.

09 July 2008 Declaration of Leaders Meeting of Major Economies on Energy Security and Climate Change
 • Fact Sheet: the Major Economies Leaders Meeting Making Progress Toward A Future International Climate Change Agreement

08 July 2008 The President's Push for Accountability Highlights Successful G-8 Summit, Hokkaido Toyako, Japan

08 July 2008 G8 Supports Cutting Greenhouse Emissions 50 Percent by 2050  The Group of Eight (G8) major economies agree that the deteriorating effects of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment require cutting emissions 50 percent by 2050 to rein in global warming, says a senior U.S. official.

08 July 2008 Rice Signs Missile Defense Agreement in Prague  A new agreement between the United States and the Czech Republic to host a key component of a Europe-based missile defense system marks a step toward safeguarding Europe and the international community, says U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

08 July 2008 Supreme Court Completes Business for 2007-2008 Term   Court rules on gun control, Guantanamo detainees and capital punishment.

08 July 2008 G8 Declaration on the World Economy

07 July 2008 Bush, Russia’s Medvedev Highlight Agreement on Iran, North Korea  President Bush and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev highlighted their agreement on security challenges posed by Iran and North Korea following their first formal presidential meeting.

07 July 2008 Press Briefing by James Connaughton, Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality  Briefing on the G8 meeting, in particular the climate discussions.

07 July 2008 New Research Shows Increased Arab Support for Two-State Solution  Arab public opinion supports a two-state solution to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict, according to recent research presented at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution.

06 July 2008
President Bush Participates in Joint Press Availability with Prime Minister Fukuda of Japan

05 July 2008 President's Radio Address  President Bush spoke about the meaning of Independence Day and the defense of liberty.

03 July 2008 Joint U.S.-Russian Statement: One Year of Progress Following the Joint Declaration on Nuclear Energy and Nonproliferation

02 July 2008 Presidential Message on Independence Day 2008

02 July 2008 Secretary Rice Highlights Global Partnership with China  Progress toward peace on the Korean Peninsula may have dominated the headlines, but Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's wide-ranging agenda in Beijing reflects the complexity and importance of today’s U.S.-China relationship.

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.

02 July 2008 Highest U.S. Court Examines, Interprets Constitutional Right  The right of U.S. citizens to keep and bear arms cannot be denied by state or local governments, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled June 26, but it also found the right is not unlimited and can be regulated without violating the Constitution.

02 July 2008 Six-Party Talks Setting Stage for New Diplomacy in Northeast Asia  The diplomatic process behind North Korea's abandonment of its nuclear arsenal could lead to a new era of peace and stability for the region, says America’s top diplomat for East Asia and the Pacific.

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 Defense Department Briefing on New Charges Against Detainee.

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.

01 July 2008 Statement by Bush on Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty  On 40th anniversary, calls on members to work diligently to strengthen NPT.

June 2008

30 June 2008 "Food for London" : Embassy Cultivates Growing Business of Urban Farming  They went to the U.S. to learn more about agriculture in America's cities, and now they're back and helping London boost its own farming capacity. Four Britons traveled on an Embassy-sponsored small grant last year, and this year they organized a conference at City Hall focusing on agriculture policies in London.

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.

30 June 2008 Secretary Rice in China Discusses Relations with North Korea  As the Six-Party Talks approach a new phase, stepped up diplomatic engagement will be key to realizing a nuclear weapons-free Korean Peninsula and improved regional security, said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at a June 29 press conference with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Beijing. "We, I believe, stand at the threshold of turning an area that has been a source of conflict into a source of cooperation."
 • Secretary Rice Remarks With the Press in Beijing

30 June 2008 Race Relations a Factor in 2008 Presidential Election  Race relations will be a factor in the 2008 presidential election between presumed Democratic candidate Barack Obama and his presumed Republican opponent, John McCain, several political experts tell America.gov.

29 June 2008 U.S. Ambassador Cites Positive Changes in Iraq  Iraq is enjoying some substantial political, and economic progress in addition to better security, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq said during an interview on CNN’s "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer" today. "As security has improved, the environment has changed for the better," Ryan C. Crocker from Baghdad. "That allows for compromises to emerge that simply were not possible before."

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.

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. "

27 June 2008 Remarks at G-8 Ministers Press Conference

27 June 2008 U.S.-Chinese Relations Progress Despite Military Modernization  While questions remain about China’s increasing military expenditures, the country’s shared interests with the United States in enhanced regional security ensure cooperation and continued progress, senior U.S. defense officials say.
 • Secretary Rice Remarks With Chinese Foreign Minister Yang

27 June 2008 Many Political Parties Shape U.S. Political Agenda  On the surface, there does not seem to be much in common among a teetotaler, a socialist, a reformer, an environmentalist and a bull moose. But in the U.S. political arena, they symbolize a wide range of past and present "Third Party" organizations, and have influenced U.S. presidential elections.

27 June 2008 Survey Finds Americans Are Religious, Tolerant, Nondogmatic  The typical American believes in God (92 percent), believes in absolute standards of right and wrong (78 percent), prays at least weekly (75 percent), believes in life after death (74 percent) and believes in sacred scripture as the word of God (63 percent). But that typical American is also tolerant of other peoples' beliefs and strikingly nondogmatic in the sense of not believing his or her own religion to be the only path to salvation or to have a monopoly on truth.

26 June 2008 American Embassy completes Perimeter Security Project
 • View photo gallery (direct link)
  Watch Ambassador Tuttle's comments: Clip 1 | Clip 2 | Clip 3

26 June 2008 Press Briefing with Ambassador David M. Satterfield   Ambassador David Satterfield, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State and Coordinator for Iraq, discussed recent developments in Iraq at a June 26 press briefing at the Foreign Press Association in London, in which he described Iraq as "a dynamic country...experiencing considerable and significant transformation and evolution, the consequence of the last 18 months of steadily diminishing violence, progressive security, progressive stabilization."

  (MP3 38 minutes)

26 June 2008 United States to Ease North Korea Political, Economic Sanctions  The U.S. will remove North Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism within 45 days, as long as it can be verified that North Korean leaders have kept their promises and dismantled their nuclear bomb-making program, says National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley. "The president was committed and did today notify the Congress of his intent to lift North Korea's status as a state sponsor of terrorism," Hadley said. This action and lifting final economic sanctions under the Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA) carry with them "some consequences in terms of easing sanctions," he said.
 • Diplomacy Is Working on North Korea, Secretary Rice Says
 • Bush Remarks on North Korea
 • North Korea: Presidential Action on State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST) and the Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA)

26 June 2008 Gates Welcomes Pakistan’s Pledge to Reassert Pressure at Afghan Border  Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today praised a pledge by Pakistani officials to renew pressure along its northwestern border, where militants responsible for violence in eastern Afghanistan have taken refuge. "The challenges that we're facing in Afghanistan, … are in some measure a result of the relaxation of pressure on the Pakistani side of the border," Gates said during a Pentagon news conference.

24 June 2008 Invigorating the U.S.-Turkey Strategic Partnership  "Like Turkey itself, U.S.-Turkey relations have navigated remarkable transitions over the past 50 years. Today, we are living in perhaps the most exciting period. Timeworn clichés about Turkey, such as “bulwark against the Soviet Union,” or “NATO Ally since the Korean War,” or “bridge between East and West” are being updated with new concepts, such as “energy hub” and “vibrant emerging market.”"

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."

25 June 2008 U.S. Seeks Long-Term Partnership with Pakistan  Pakistan's new, democratically elected government presents the United States with a historic opportunity to revitalize its relationship with a key regional ally, senior U.S. officials say. "The safety and security of the U.S. is inextricably linked to the success, security and stability of a democratic Pakistan," says Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher, America's top diplomat for South and Central Asia.

25 June 2008 President Bush Meets with President Talabani of Iraq

24 June 2008 U.S., United Kingdom Border Agencies Agree to Expedite Travel Between Nations  U.S. Customs and Border Protection signed a joint agreement today with the government of the United Kingdom to develop a bilateral pilot program to facilitate travel between the two nations. The International Expedited Traveler Initiative will integrate CBP's Global Entry program with the British registered traveler program.

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.

24 June 2008 Palestinian Justice System Essential to Mideast Peace, Says Rice  Security and the rule of law represent the foundations of any successful state, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, citing $242.3 million in total new aid pledged to revamp the Palestinian justice system, which is an essential ingredient in the Middle East peace process.
 • Rice Remarks in Support of Palestinian Civil Security, Rule of Law.

24 June 2008 Middle East Quartet Statement  The Quartet reaffirmed its support for ongoing Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and stressed the urgent need for tangible progress towards the shared goal of an agreement by the end of 2008 on the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, and an end to the conflict. The Quartet expressed its commitment to support the parties in taking and implementing the difficult decisions required in order to achieve these outcomes.

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.
 • Statement by Secretary Rice on the Crisis in Zimbabwe

23 June 2008 Violence in Iraq Drops to Four-Year Low  Violence in Iraq dropped in May to its lowest level in four years, according to a Defense Department report released to Congress today. The quarterly report, required by Congress, measured progress in the country in March through May of this year.

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

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.

20 June 2008 United States, European Union Share Similar Policies for Cuba  The U.S. and the European Union have common goals for Cuba, and they start with the release of political prisoners, a healthy respect for political opposition leaders and free and fair elections for the Cuban people.

20 June 2008 Afghan Justice, Agriculture Sectors Grow, Confront Opium Trade  The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its Afghan partners shut down the powerful drug trafficking organization of Haji Baz Mohammad, a Taliban-linked narco-terrorist, in 2005, after a four-year battle that demonstrated a strengthening collaboration between the United States and the newly democratic Afghanistan.

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

19 June 2008 Gaza Truce Is Helpful, United States Says  One of the objectives of the 2007 Annapolis Conference on the Middle East was to enhance security for Israelis and Palestinians, so a truce between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip can be helpful in moving peace negotiations forward, says State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey.

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.

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

19 June 2008 U.S., China to Cooperate on Energy and Environment  At the fourth meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue in Annapolis, Maryland, the United States and China signed a Ten Year Energy and Environment Cooperation Framework that sets goals and lays out concrete next steps.

18 June 2008 United States Plans New Travel Procedures for 27 Countries  Beginning January 12, 2009, travelers to the United States from 22 countries in Europe and five in the Asia-Pacific region currently exempt from certain U.S. visa requirements will be using a new online travel authorization process, the new Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

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" 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

18 June 2008 President Bush Discusses Energy
Related:
 •  Fact Sheet: Reducing Gas Prices and Foreign Oil Dependence
 • Policy Memorandum: American Made Energy

17 June 2008 Statement, Letter by P5+1 Partners on New Incentives Package for Iran  The text of the updated incentives package presented to Iran by the P5+1 partners (United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russian Federation, China, the United States and European Union) on possible areas of cooperation with Iran.

17 June 2008 Rice Remarks After Meeting Lebanese Prime Minister-designate.

16 June 2008 Treasury Removes 60 Names from Narcotics Traffickers List  The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today removed from its list of Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers 60 individuals who, since their designation, have severed ties with Colombia's notorious Cali drug cartel and are assisting Colombian authorities.

16 June 2008 Rice Warns Israel on Settlement Expansion   An Israeli plan to expand settlement activity in disputed areas of East Jerusalem could slow progress toward a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned during her latest peace mission to the region.

16 June 2008 European Leaders Join Bush on More Iranian Sanctions  British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have joined President Bush in further efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons or the means to develop them.

16 June 2008 President Bush Meets with Peter Robinson, First Minister of Northern Ireland, and Martin McGuinness, Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland

16 June 2008 Press Gaggle en route Belfast by Dana Perino and National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley

16 June 2008 Remarks by President Bush and United Kingdom Prime Minister Brown in Joint Press Availability
 Watch the Press Availability
(Windows Media Player - opens in a new window)
Courtesy of 10 Downing Street

15 June 2008 Kosovo’s Constitution Enters into Force

15 June 2008 Press Gaggle by Dana Perino and National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley

13 June 2008 Interview of the President by Ned Temko of the Observer

13 June 2008 President Bush Visits Paris, Speaks to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development  On its 60th anniversary President Bush spoke about the legacy of the Marshall Plan and the current state of the relationship between Europe and the United States. The President said “Instead of focusing on issues within Europe, we're increasingly looking to matters of global reach. Instead of dwelling on our differences, we're increasingly united in our interests and ideals.”

12 June 2008 President Bush Participates in Joint Press Availability with Prime Minister Berlusconi of Italy

12 June 2008 Afghan Determination Earns $20 Billion in New Aid  The Afghan people have shown their determination to rebuild their country, and the international community has responded by pledging more than $20 billion in new aid to help Afghanistan continue along the road to recovery. “We all know that success will not be easy, but Afghanistan has reached a decisive moment for its future,” first lady Laura Bush told delegates from more than 80 countries and institutions at the International Conference in Support of Afghanistan in Paris.
 • 12 June 2008 Fact Sheet: The Afghanistan Support Conference: Renewed U.S. and International Commitment

12 June 2008 Weapons Proliferation Poses Serious Threat, Official Says   A broad partnership of nations must be prepared to act against weapons proliferation and the illicit arms trade to successfully fight international terrorism, a senior U.S. diplomat says. And the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction represents a major security threat of the 21st century and requires a new, comprehensive strategy.

12 June 2008 Agreement Between the United States and Russia for Cooperation in the Field of Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

11 June 2008 Bush, Germany's Merkel Seek Common Front in Dealing with Iran  German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Bush, following a meeting in Germany, expressed a strong commitment to presenting a common U.S.-European Union policy on Iran. Merkel said Iran should live up to its promise of nuclear openness or face additional consequences.

11 June 2008 Bush Visits Europe 60 Years After Marshall Plan  When President Bush touched down in Slovenia June 9 for his last major visit to Europe, he set foot on a continent that has reinvented itself. From the devastation and division of World War II to the thriving European Union of today, Europe has experienced a renewal that has roots 60 years ago in the American Marshall Plan.

11 June 2008 Afghans Appeal for Aid at Paris Conference  Building a nation remains an all-too-literal description of the challenges facing Afghanistan’s 32 million citizens after decades of conflict. "This was one of the poorest countries in the world in the '50s and the '60s and the '70s, and then went downhill for 20 years," says Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher. "It shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody how much there still is to do."

11 June 2008 Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) in Orbit  At 12:05 p.m. EDT, the Delta II rocket easily lifted the GLAST spacecraft off the launch pad, out of smoke and clouds and into a beautiful Florida sky headed for space.

11 June 2008 President Bush Participates in Joint Press Availability with Chancellor Merkel of Germany

10 June 2008 Bush, European Leaders Support Additional Iran Sanctions  European leaders at the U.S.-EU Summit in Slovenia have agreed to a proposal to consider expanded sanctions on Iran, including greater restrictions on its banking industry, in an effort to restrain Iran's nuclear development program.

10 June 2008 U.S.-EU Cooperation to Advance Freedom, Prosperity Worldwide

10 June 2008 2008 U.S.-European Union Summit Declaration

10 June 2008 Total U.S. Security and Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan

09 June 2008 Bush Sees European Trip as Vital to Continuing Global Commitments  President Bush sees his final visit to Europe as a time to thank allies that have stood with the United States in Afghanistan and in Iraq during some of the most turbulent times of his presidency, but also as an opportunity to foster renewed commitment to vital issues affecting everyone.

09 June 2008 Rice to Meet with Israeli, Palestinian Negotiators  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is returning to Jerusalem and Ramallah to meet with the chief Palestinian and Israeli negotiators and assess progress in sensitive Middle East peace talks.

09 June 2008 First Lady Urges Redoubled Effort in Afghanistan  Urging the world to "stand more strongly" with Afghanistan, first lady Laura Bush visited the South Asian nation to highlight signs of progress as well as continuing challenges ahead of an aid donors conference in Paris.
 • Afghan Government Charts Challenges Ahead at Paris Conference

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.

09 June 2008 Remarks by the President upon Departure for Europe  The President said, "I'm looking forward to meeting with our friends and allies. We've got strong relations in Europe, and this trip will help solidify those relations. And we got a lot to talk about."

08 June 2008 Mission Specialists Mike Fossum and Ron Garan completed the third STS-124 spacewalk   Their excursion which ended at at 4:28 p.m. EDT Sunday lasted six hours and 33 minutes.

06 June 2008 Bush To Begin Eight-Day Visit to Europe   President Bush will begin an eight-day visit to Europe that will focus on strengthening U.S.-European ties across an array of global issues.

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.

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

05 June 2008 Casualties from Land Mines, Other Explosives in Sharp Decline   People in more than 50 nations can live more safely this year because of effective land mine action programs that are saving lives and improving livelihoods across the globe, according to a new State Department report.

05 June 2008 United States Does Not Seek Permanent Bases in Iraq  The United States is not seeking to build permanent military bases in Iraq under a new agreement currently being negotiated between the two governments. “There isn’t going to be an agreement that infringes on Iraq’s sovereignty," U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker says.

04 June 2008 Trafficking In Persons 2008: a Department of State Report.
From the Trafficking In Persons 2008 report:  The United Kingdom.
See also:
 • Rice Remarks at Release of Annual Trafficking in Persons Report
 • Ambassador Lagon Briefs on Release of Trafficking in Persons Report
 • Key Facts about the Trafficking in Persons report

04 June 2008 National Security Advisor Hadley Briefs on Bush's Trip to Europe.

04 June 2008 Syria Agrees to U.N. Inspection of Former Nuclear Site  The U.S. welcomed plans by the International Atomic Energy Agency to conduct a three-day inquiry into a defunct Syrian nuclear reactor built with North Korean help, but cautioned Syrian officials to allow the U.N. inspectors access to all suspected areas where nuclear activity may have been conducted.

04 June 2008 Presidential Campaign Enters New Phase as Primaries End  As the final Democratic primary voters cast ballots in South Dakota and Montana June 3, Illinois Senator Barack Obama told his supporters that, "because of you," he expects to become the first African-American presidential nominee of a major political party.

04 June 2008 World Environment Day Urges "Kick the Carbon Habit"  When World Environment Day was inaugurated by the U.N. General Assembly in 1972, few realized how critical an issue the environment still would be three decades later. "Climate change is becoming the defining issue of our era," according to the U.N. Environment Programme, and for that reason the emphasis for 2008 is promoting ways to live sustainably and stop practices that contribute to climate change.

03 June 2008 Remarks by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)

03 June 2008 DHS announces Pre-Travel Authorization program for U.S.-Bound Travelers from Visa Waiver Countries  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced today the Interim Final Rule for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a new online system that is part of the Visa Waiver Program and is required by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007.
 • ESTA Fact Sheet
 • ESTA Frequently Asked Questions
 • Privacy Impact Assessment (PDF)
 • System of Records Notice (PDF)

03 June 2008 Remarks by Secretary Rice At the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference

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.

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 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.

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.

02 June 2008 The Path to the 2008 Presidential Nomination  After hours of debate in a Washington hotel May 31, members of the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC’s) bylaws and rules committee approved a plan to give Michigan and Florida’s delegates -- both pledged and unpledged -- half a vote each. There are now 4,234 delegate votes available, with a majority of 2,118 needed to earn the nomination, as opposed to the previous 2,026.

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.

back to top ^