Category: Mar2015

National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice met yesterday with Moaz al-Khatib, former President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition.  Mr. Khatib offered his perspective on the path to a political solution to resolve Syria’s civil war.  Ambassador Rice stressed that Bashar al-Asad has lost all legitimacy to govern and must go, expressed concern for the humanitarian…

President Barack Obama welcomed Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, and the accompanying Afghan delegation to Washington from March 22-26, 2015. The visit offered an opportunity to renew U.S.-Afghan relations, review the joint achievements of the last 13 years in Afghanistan, and to discuss the actions each…

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts: ·         Kathleen Ann Doherty – Ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus, Department of State ·         Hans G. Klemm – Ambassador to Romania, Department of State ·         Jeffrey Prieto – General Counsel, Department of Agriculture ·         Lucy…

The President spoke today with Chancellor Merkel of Germany concerning the crash of Germanwings flight 9525.  He expressed his condolences and those of the American people for the tragic loss of life, including the loss of many schoolchildren.  The President offered the Chancellor the full assistance of American officials in responding to this tragedy.

The President called Spanish President Rajoy today about the crash of Germanwings flight 9525.  The President conveyed his condolences and those of the American people to Spain and to the families of those lost on the flight.  He offered President Rajoy the full assistance of American officials as needed to respond to this tragedy

This afternoon, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco met with Lebanese Minister of the Interior Nouhad Al-Machnouk to discuss the U.S.–Lebanon partnership and regional security concerns, including the international effort to degrade and defeat ISIL.  Ms. Monaco commended the performance of the Internal Security Forces and the Lebanese Armed Forces…

National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice met today with Defense Minister Aliyu Mohammed Gusau of Nigeria. Ambassador Rice noted Nigeria’s upcoming presidential elections on March 28, and, echoing President Obama’s message to the Nigerian people earlier this week, she underscored the importance of a transparent, free, fair, and inclusive electoral process without violence. She also…

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of New Hampshire and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by the severe winter storm and snowstorm during the period of January 26-28, 2015. Federal funding also is available to state and eligible local governments and…

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Kathleen Ann Doherty, of New York, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Cyprus. Hans G. Klemm, of Michigan, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor,…

Vice President Biden called the Chairperson of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel for Sudan and South Sudan and former President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki today to discuss Sudan. Vice President Biden thanked President Mbeki for his leadership and his efforts to bring the many Sudanese groups together, and the two discussed the importance of…