Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton released a joint press statement at the European Commission Berlaymont Offices in Brussels on October 14, 2010. Secretary Clinton and High Representative Ashton spoke about the critical collaboration between the United States and the European Union. The pair focused on the international community's response and long-term strategy for Pakistan following the devastating floods in August.

Secretary Clinton said, "[W]e have been consulting closely and regularly on a full range of issues that are of concern to both the European Union and the United States, and I am very pleased that tomorrow she and Pakistani Foreign Minister Qureshi will host a meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan. It's a group of 26 nations and institutions united behind Pakistan's progress, and they will assess the results of the work that this group has accomplished since last year's summit that was co-chaired by President Obama in New York."

She continued, "This will reinforce the importance of a global response to the crisis in Pakistan. Since the floods began, many countries have come forward with significant financial and in-kind support for the relief effort. Now, as Pakistan shifts from relief to recovery and reconstruction, more help will be needed."

Secretary Clinton expressed her appreciation for the European Commission and its member states' contributions. "I want to acknowledge the great effort that the European Commission and its member states have made in responding to this global crisis. I think all told, they have contributed nearly $450 million toward relief and recovery efforts. And furthermore, last month they announced the decision to extend enhanced market access to Pakistan to give Pakistani businesses a much-needed boost at this critical time."

She also noted U.S. flood relief efforts in Pakistan. "To date, we have provided $388 million in financial support and an additional 75 million in logistical and in-kind support. Up to 30 U.S. helicopters evacuated nearly 23,000 people and delivered more than 16 million pounds of relief supplies."

"We did this first and foremost because responding to humanitarian disasters is a core value of my country, and we believe strongly that in partnership with our European friends we can contribute greatly to not just the immediate relief but the reconstruction, as we did with the earthquake in 2005 in Pakistan, with the tsunami in Southeast Asia, and as we are working together in Haiti."

"We are also helping because Pakistan is our partner. We are deeply involved in an ongoing Strategic Dialogue, and next week I will host the third high-level meeting of the Strategic Dialogue in Washington and review the work that 13 working groups of the United States and Pakistani governments are engaged in."

"We also believe that stability in Pakistan is essential to our shared fight against terrorism and to protect the security of the people of our country and friends and allies like those in Europe. Now, of course, the international community can only do so much. Pakistan itself must take immediate and substantial action to mobilize its own resources, and in particular to reform its economy."

"The most important step that Pakistan can take is to pass meaningful reforms that will expand its tax base. The government must require that the economically affluent and elite in Pakistan support the government and people of Pakistan. We have been very clear on that, and I am pleased that the government is responding. I know how difficult this is, but it is absolutely unacceptable for those with means in Pakistan not to be doing their fair share to help their own people while the taxpayers of Europe, the United States, and other contributing countries are all chipping in to do our part. The government must also take steps to alleviate the crippling power shortages that stifle economic growth while making life difficult for the Pakistani people."

In closing, the Secretary said, "Now, the work ahead is significant. Later today, Pakistan, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank will provide their assessment for reconstruction. It will be a daunting request. They will need to rebuild and build thousands of schools and health clinics, restore thousands of kilometers of roads, erect dozens of bridges, restore the irrigation system. And as they do so, they can count on our support. They must take the lead and we will be there by their side."

You can read the Secretary's full remarks here.

You can follow the Secretary's travel here.

NATO holds joint foreign affairs and defense ministerial meetings in Brussels on October 14, 2010. Secretary Clinton and Secretary Gates will participate in meetings with their NATO counterparts. The meetings will be an opportunity to work with allies on a revitalized NATO and review progress in Afghanistan.

What issues should top the agenda at the NATO foreign affairs and defense ministerial meetings?

About the Author: Tom Countryman serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Central European Affairs. He previously served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs.

It is not unusual, as a U.S. diplomat, to begin a new job and find oneself in familiar territory. Since taking the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Central European Affairs two weeks ago, that is what I have experienced. Returning to work on a region I know and admire is a great opportunity, but it has been even more thrilling as I take stock of just how far the Western Balkan states have come in the last 10 years.

Secretary Clinton traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Serbia this week to reiterate the U.S. government's deep and long-term commitment to the future of Balkan states. Her visit comes at a historic and critical time for the region -- 15 years after the Dayton Accords established peace in the region and 10 years after democratic forces brought about the fall of the Milosevic regime. Since then, the Balkan region has made tremendous progress. But our work is not done -- during her visit, the Secretary affirmed to the citizens of these countries that the United States remains committed to achieving our common goal of full Euro-Atlantic integration for all the states of the region and a stable, prosperous future for their citizens.

I've joined a team of remarkable people in Washington and in the field who intimately know the region and are dedicated to working with the people of the Balkans as they strengthen regional cooperation and move beyond the tragic events of the 1990s. We just witnessed elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and as the new government develops, as the Secretary told students in Sarajevo, we stand ready to help this state's leaders find a path forward to implement necessary reforms. It was a particularly poignant moment for me when the Secretary opened our new embassy compound in Sarajevo and dedicated the street outside to Robert C. Frasure, who died during the siege of Sarajevo in 1995, a model of the U.S. diplomat's dedication to improving the prospects for countries around the world.

Perhaps the best visual example of progress in the region was the Secretary's visit to Gracanica, just outside Pristina, where she met with ethnic Serb mayors of newly decentralized Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo. This would not be possible without a clear commitment from all in the region to reconciliation and stability. This is why the anticipated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia is so important. Direct, constructive dialogue in the spirit of good neighborly relations will allow Kosovo and Serbia to resolve technical issue of great import to the daily lives of their citizens. And this will not only clear the path forward for further consolidation of Kosovo's young democracy, but open the door for a prosperous Euro-Atlantic future for all the Balkan states.

In the last 15 years, the European Union has also grown as a significant force for good in the region. I look around the region and see Croatia on the cusp of EU membership and other states already beginning the accession process. Albania and Croatia are the two newest members of NATO; Montenegro has a Membership Action Plan, and Macedonia will be invited to join the Alliance once a resolution to the name issue is found.

The European Union remains a strong partner to keep all the states of the region on the right path to further consolidate their democratic institutions, strengthen their economies, and fight corruption and organized crime that plagues the entire region. The United States and European Union have worked together successfully for over a decade to move the Balkans beyond the divisive mindset that tore apart the region in the 1990s. As the Secretary said during her trip, it is the credible prospects for membership in NATO and the EU that provide the best incentives for states in the region to continue these important reforms and promote regional cooperation.

Ultimately, of course, the decision to move forward in implementing these reforms and achieving Euro-Atlantic integration lies with the leadership and the people of the Western Balkans. To me, one of the most promising developments of the last decade is the understanding and acceptance among countries in the region that their prospects rise and fall together. This has encouraged regional cooperation and ethnic reconciliation. As the countries of the Western Balkans make the hard choices necessary for reform, the United States stands with them. I look forward to contributing my part to that work.

You can follow the Secretary's travel here.

About the Author: Patrick S. Moon serves as U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The next generation of Bosnia and Herzegovina's leaders said they felt inspired and energized by Secretary Clinton's Town Hall meeting October 12 in Sarajevo.

"Young people here don't think they have a chance to say anything, but she gave us a chance to raise up our voices," said Demi Comage, a law student from the University of Sarajevo and president of a local youth organization. "It was quite inspiring to me. This talk gave me the power to walk on."

A diverse mix of 400-some students from across the country -- ranging from high school students from Islamic medressas to graduate students from mainly Croat areas and university students from the Republika Srpska -- came to the National Theater for a chance to have a conversation with the Secretary during the first stop of her visit to the Balkans. Before the dialogue began, though, the students received a simple plea from the Secretary.

"The United States believes in the future of this country and believes in the potential of the young people," she said, adding later, "Now is the time to build on the gains that have been made in recent years. Now is the time to strengthen democratic institutions, to deepen peace between neighbors, and to create the conditions for long-term political, economic, and social progress."

The young people were full of questions and comments for the Secretary. A young woman asked for advice on integrating divided schools. Another asked for tips on expanding the role of women in politics here. A graduate student expressed hope for more college exchanges between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Interest in the Secretary's visit was, unfortunately, much higher than the number of seats at the National Theater. Hoping to "democratize" the Town Hall event, we at Embassy Sarajevo asked our Facebook Friends to submit questions for the Secretary. A young woman from Banja Luka, Tanja Mihajlovic, wanted to know about the future of U.S. development plans here. Secretary Clinton responded, "We are willing and standing by ready to help,” but that the necessary work of constitutional and economic reforms must come from within.

"Now there needs to be what we would call a second wind, where people do not get discouraged, where they do not give up, where they do not accept the status quo, where they do not retreat into their own communities and have nothing to do with the other," Secretary Clinton added, answering Ms. Mihajlovic's question.

Although Secretary Clinton's message was well-captured by the title of the event, "Forging a Future Together," the venue itself was powerful. More than any other building in this city, the National Theater has been a place of hope. Since its opening performance in 1921, the squat stone building on the banks of the Miljacka River has hosted well over 1,000 plays, ballets, operas and concerts. Most significantly, the theater remained a beacon of culture and life during the dark years of Sarajevo's three-year siege during the early 1990s.

Many of the young people in the audience had no direct memories of the war, but Secretary Clinton invoked the conflict in her call to action. "I urge you to remember the hard times that your families in this country have already endured and the toughness and the talents that carried you through," she said. "If you channel those strengths now into the difficult but rewarding work of shaping the future you will inherit, you will be the beneficiaries. The more engaged you are, the more you demand of your leaders, the more you can contribute to political, economic, and social progress that leads to prosperity and opportunity for you."

Amila Kurtovic, a student who attended the State Department's Ben Franklin Summer Institute in 2008, said she was surprised by the Secretary Clinton's candor during the Town Hall event. "I thought she was very open,” Kurtovic said. “She really thought about our questions. She actually listened to what we said.”

After the hour-long event, Kurtovic, who urged the Secretary to expand student exchange programs, said she left the theater will ideas churning in her head. She's already making plans to become more engaged in politics and civil society here. “The Secretary wasn't giving us false promises. She said that we need to make our own changes, but this was inspirational for me,” Kurtovic said. “The Secretary came to Sarajevo and she chose to talk with students, not just government representatives.”

You can follow the Secretary's travel here.

About the Author: Jose W. Fernandez serves as Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Business Affairs.

I am in Des Moines, Iowa, surrounded by rock stars of the food security world. No, it's not Willie Nelson on a Farm Aid tour, but it may well be the next best thing. I am here for the awarding of the 2010 World Food Prize. This award was begun in 1986 by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his achievements in the Green Revolution, as a way to honor those who make ground-breaking contributions to improving the world's food supply. In addition to honoring this year's winners of the World Food Prize, experts from around the world have gathered for the Borlaug Dialogues to address cutting-edge issues in food security and nutrition.

The theme for this year's events is a famous phrase of Dr. Borlaug's and his final words: “Take it to the farmer,” with a focus on small holder farming and rural livelihoods. The conference will highlight how small-holder farmers in the developing world will have a critical role to play in increasing productivity. There are still close to one billion people around the world who suffer each and every day from chronic undernourishment, and the majority of these people, mainly women and children, live in or near areas of small-holder farming.

The objectives of the Borlaug Dialogues are in complete accord with the wide variety of programs on which the State Department is working, and not just on food security in and of itself. The list is as diverse as the problem is vast: increasing innovation, developing and nurturing local entrepreneurship, stewardship of soil and water resources, protecting biodiversity, the need for dietary diversity, and new ways to solve nutritional deficiencies with traditional foodstuffs, and ways to reduce the staggering post-harvest losses in poor regions.
Under Secretary Clinton's leadership, the State Department has focused attention on food security and the availability of and access to food populations in danger around the world. The challenges of the Millennium Development Goals to reduce world hunger by half by 2015 are being addressed through a variety of insightful programs.

For example, my Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs is supporting Secretary Clinton's vision through the Feed the Future initiative. Feed the Future is an initiative that focuses all of our innovation and technical resources on food production, preservation, and distribution. These resources include not only today's best agricultural and bioscience technology, but also all of the tools available us, including the use of cell phones to broadcast weather information or health clinic notices to farmers and families in remote regions.

We are also realizing the Secretary's vision through the Global Entrepreneurship Program (GEP), which cultivates the culture of entrepreneurship in traditional economies to increase growth and economic advancement, as well as to spread the benefits of innovation faster in every sector of the economy. The GEP coordinates public and private partners to support budding entrepreneurs through training and advocacy.

We continue to look for ways in which government, NGOs, and the private sector can work with their counterparts in target countries to find new solutions to the entrenched problem of global hunger. Send me your ideas -- I'd love to hear from you about ways to support these innovative partnerships.

Assistant Secretary Fernandez's related entries: Expanding Our Toolkit in the Fight Against Global Hunger and Behind the Scenes: “1,000 Days: Change a Life, Change the Future”

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton held a townterview with students, women leaders, and members of civil society in Pristina, Kosovo, on October 13, 2010. The Secretary was asked a variety of questions from challenges Kosovo is currently facing to Kosovo's future.

Secretary Clinton said, "I think that I see the way that Kosovo is moving forward to be very encouraging. You are building up your democratic institutions, which is very important. You(tm)re about to have another election which needs to be as strong and transparent and free as possible with as much participation. You are working on economic development, privatizing some of the inefficient state enterprises like electricity and telecommunications. So on the democratic, constitutional, economic front, you're making progress and the United States stands ready to help you continue that progress."

"I think there needs to be improvements in services, education, healthcare, other kinds of services that the people of Kosovo are looking for, and again, we will be there to help you. I am very pleased at how there is a commitment to integration and pluralism within Kosovo. I just met with the elected Serb mayors in municipalities here and talked through with them what they're doing to make a difference in the lives of the people that they represent. And as you said, there will be an important dialogue, starting with Serbia, that will begin to solve some of the remaining problems that still exist, which is very important for both countries so that both countries can move toward European integration."

She continued, "The United States does not have a vote in the European Union, but we believe strongly that all the countries of the Balkans should be starting on a path toward European integration, beginning with visa liberalization for people in Kosovo, particularly young people, so that you can travel, study, work, really tell the story of Kosovo beyond your own boundaries."

"So although I know the road ahead is challenging, you've come such a long way. And what you have overcome and what your parents and your grandparents have had to deal with really puts you in a strong position to build your own country to be a model for yourselves and for others in the region, and then to play an active role in the future in Europe. And that's what I'm going to commit myself to help you to achieve."

You can read the Secretary's full remarks here.

Secretary Clinton is traveling to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, and Brussels from October 11 to 14. The Secretary is meeting with government and civic leaders, and citizens to highlight the continued U.S. commitment to support all the Balkan states in achieving their aspirations for full integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic community. Learn more about her trip here.

In Pristina, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci on October 13, 2010. The Secretary spoke about the U.S. partnership with Kosovo, as well as the hope for Kosovo and Serbia to forge a positive, long-term relationship.

Secretary Clinton said, "From the start, the United States supported Kosovo's right to exist as a sovereign, independent state within its existing borders. We welcomed the International Court of Justice's recent advisory opinion affirming Kosovo's legal right to declare independence. And now we will continue to support Kosovo as it does the hard work of building a stable, prosperous, and democratic country that is at peace with its neighbors and increasingly integrated into the Euro-Atlantic community. To that end, the United States is encouraged by the upcoming dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia which offers a chance for these countries to settle practical problems and overcome obstacles to being good neighbors."

"As I said to Prime Minister Thaci today and to Serbian President Tadic yesterday, some matters, like the status, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Kosovo, are not up for discussion. But the leaders of both countries must approach the dialogue in good faith and with respect for each other's concerns. These talks represent an opportunity to address immediate and practical needs while making progress toward mutually beneficial goals -- for example, increasing travel and trade. So the United States has urged both Serbia and Kosovo to come to the table with a plan -- and we know that Kosovo has already presented a framework -- and to lay the groundwork for a positive, long-term relationship."

She continued, "As a brand new country with a dynamic, multiethnic population and the youngest population in Europe -- as I saw in the streets with all the beautiful babies and children that I had a chance to see -- Kosovo is called to do many things at once. Kosovo is called to instill a tradition of democracy and establish strong public institutions to spark sustained economic growth, attract foreign investment, and create jobs for all of those young people; to continue with a transparent plan to privatize inefficient state enterprises like the electricity and telecom companies; to establish a firm commitment to the rule of law; free, fair, transparent elections; and to encourage people from different backgrounds and ethnicities to live in harmony and work together to build a common future. All of these tasks are essential and none of them is easy."

"The United States will continue to provide whatever support we can to the people and Government of Kosovo as you work toward these goals in the months and years ahead. We will assist as needed with the upcoming elections. They are a milestone for this new democracy. And we know that they will be transparent and faithful to the constitutional order. We will support the development of Kosovo's private sector. We see great potential for Kosovo's economy to grow, especially if you make investments in your young people, who are, after all, your country's greatest resource."

Secretary Clinton continued, "While there is no question that there is a long road that we must travel together ahead of us, let us stay focused on where this road leads, a future in which an independent, multiethnic Kosovo is secure and thriving, where opportunities for young people are abundant, where democratic traditions are strong, and where peace reigns throughout the region. That is a future worth working for."

"Kosovo must take the lead yourself. But I want you to know, Prime Minister, that just as we have been with you on the hard road to independence, we will stay with you. We are your partners and we are your friends and we are very committed to your future."

Secretary Clinton also sent a special greeting to all of the American troops, as well as the troops from our allies and partners serving at Camp Bondsteel. She said, "I'm sorry that I could not get out to visit you personally on this trip, but I thank you for everything that you are doing to support stability in Kosovo and across the region. President Obama and I are committed to helping the countries of the Balkans achieve lasting stability and prosperity."

You can read the Secretary's full remarks here.

You can follow the Secretary's travel here.

About the Author: Charlotte Hu is the Public Affairs Officer at U.S. Embassy Georgetown, Guyana.

On September 30th Special Representative to Muslim Communities Farah Anwar Pandith made her first visit to the South America's Caribbean coast, with a special stop in Guyana. This country has a distinct history and one of Latin America's largest Muslim populations. Although Guyana's history often goes untold, there is a strong and vibrant cultural influence from South Asia. Today, many Guyanese are immigrants, or the descendants of immigrants, who came from India, present-day Pakistan, Java, and other parts of South and South East Asia. Beginning in 1838, Asian and South East Asian Muslims arrived in South America to work as indentured laborers, merchants, and farm workers. Ms. Pandith was eager to learn about Guyana, its people, and unique place within the Western Hemisphere.

Special Representative Pandith had a packed schedule in order to get a broad understanding of views from people across Guyanese society. She met with students from Bishop's College, Isa Islamic School, and Shaeed Boys and Girls Orphanage, had meetings with Muslim, inter-faith, and civic leaders, as well as an evening event with over 150 members of the Muslim Youth League.

In particular, Special Representative Pandith was impressed by the nuanced questions she was posed by Guyanese students. It was immediately clear that the Guyanese students, young and old, are globally-engaged, critical thinkers with a keen understanding of how world events influence their lives. While some students said they got news from Facebook, others obtained information from the mainstream media. No matter what the sources, they had questions that ranged from foreign policy to American culture.

“This morning, I was floored by the level of sophistication of the questions the Guyanese students asked. They are among the most well informed students I've met,” Ms. Pandith said. Quite the accolade given that the Special Representative has visited nearly 30 countries in the past ten months! The students voiced concerns about the reputation of Islam globally, asked about President Obama's vision and agenda, and inquired about the U.S. Constitution with regard to religious freedom. Guyana's focus on education was apparent throughout the trip.

Ms. Pandith was appointed in June 2009 and serves as the United States' first Special Representative to Muslim Communities. Her office is focusing on people-to-people engagement, especially with the "next generation" and building networks of like-minded thinkers. In her role as Special Representative, she wants to listen, engage, discuss, share, and partner with civil society and government leaders. She is focused on finding ways to build initiatives together for the common good.

"I am charged to directly engage with Muslims around the globe on a people-to-people level. I am listening to voices inside these communities, learning from them, brainstorming with them, and looking for ways to partner with them to create and grow sustainable, organic and scalable solutions to the greatest challenges we face," she said.

Ms. Pandith explained that President Obama's Cairo speech laid out a vision of engagement based on mutual interest and mutual respect. The President and Secretary Clinton have continually stressed the importance of reaching out and building dialogue and partnerships.

“I am here to listen, to seek new partnerships with civil society, to build a new way forward based on mutual interest and mutual respect. The Office of the Special Representative is a global portfolio,” she explained. “I have an opportunity to go beyond the traditional government-to-government approach and to really think about how we can build cooperation, partnerships, and dialogue with Muslim communities at the people-to-people level,” she explained.

A key part of Special Representative Pandith's work is to reach out to those under the age of thirty. Muslims make up about one fourth of the world's population and of this group approximately 60 percent or more are under thirty. Ms. Pandith calls this the "Facebook generation" -- those who connect in ways that were never available to previous generations. As a part of her efforts she uses social media tools like Facebook and Twitter to build a worldwide community of young people who are making positive change. Her message is clear -- young people are empowered as never before and it is up to them to take action in their communities.

About the Author: Conrad Turner serves as Public Affairs Officer at U.S. Embassy Belgrade in Serbia.

On October 12 and 13, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton paid her first-ever visit to Belgrade, Serbia. During her stay, she met with Serbian President Boris Tadic and other officials, as well as social activists, journalists, and alumni of U.S. exchange programs. Her visit comes at a time of improving relations between the United States and Serbia, and heightened efforts by Serbia to speed its progress towards joining the European Union and forging closer ties with Euro-Atlantic security institutions. The United States is a strong supporter of Serbia's European aspirations, and for years has been a steady supporter through USAID programs in the reforms and development necessary for Serbia to gain status as a candidate for membership in the European Union.

The United States is also encouraging Serbia to seek to solve practical issues with all of its neighbors, including Kosovo. A member of NATO's Partnership for Peace, Serbia recently sent a military representative to NATO headquarters to assist its Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mission. The Serbian Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces' excellent cooperation with the Ohio National Guard has for years been a highlight of the bilateral relationship, and this partnership has helped Serbia in its efforts to improve its ability to operate jointly with U.S. and other partner forces.

Secretary Clinton's visit also coincides with an increase in traditional ties between the citizens of both countries, such as high school, university, and professional exchanges, as well as links between cultural, educational, and scientific organizations. This has also been a time of greater opportunities for strengthening trade and investment ties between America and Serbia. While noting the government's accomplishments, the Secretary's meeting with representatives of civil society demonstrates the importance she attaches to the role of ordinary citizens in improving people's lives while protecting human rights, and the role they play in helping the government respond to citizens' needs and improve the quality of its services. Importantly, with her visit to Belgrade, the Secretary also conveyed the message that the United States looks to the future and is both Serbia's friend and supporter.

You can follow the Secretary's travel here.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered remarks at a civil society reception in Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro, on October 12, 2010. The Secretary commended the people of Serbia's work to rebuild a democracy and noted the important role civil society has played in making this happen.

Secretary Clinton said, "Civil society is playing a critical role in consolidating the democratic gains that we have seen here the last decade. NGOs and activists are engaged across the full spectrum of issues, and I was encouraged to hear that the Serbian Government is creating a new office to facilitate dialogue between civil society and the government. The United States is committed to the work you are doing. Our Civil Society Advocacy Initiative that I announced in my speech in Krakow this summer to the Community of Democracies is a core element of our assistance efforts here and an important part of the $1 million that the American people invest each week to help strengthen democracy here in Serbia and fuel economic growth and inclusive prosperity."

"This program has provided training to more than 500 civil society representatives. It has helped support more than 70 advocacy campaigns to address issues ranging from illegal dumping to human rights. Our partnership here in Serbia represents one piece of a much broader effort to strengthen civil society in countries around the world. This work is part of our daily agenda at the State Department and USAID, and it was a major focus of President Obama's recent speech to the United Nations General Assembly."

"Our commitment to this issue reflects our own experience. Throughout America's history, civil society activists have worked to expand rights to more citizens, improve working conditions for workers, protect our environment, and strengthen our country in so many ways. And here in Serbia, your efforts to promote human rights, religious tolerance, media freedom, regional reconciliation, and Euro-Atlantic integration will help write a similar story of progress."

In closing, the Secretary said, "I'm looking forward to speaking with you in these small groups because I want to hear from everyone to give everyone a chance to express yourselves and to give us additional ideas about how we can be a better partner for civil society in Serbia. Because we see Serbia's future aligned with Europe and aligned with the West and part of the Euro-Atlantic community. Serbia's values, Serbia's traditions, Serbia's aspirations and goals are very much in keeping with what I know will bring a better opportunity and a better future for not only you but, most importantly, the next generation."

You can read the Secretary's full remarks here.

You can follow the Secretary's travel here.

About the Author: Alec Ross serves as Senior Advisor for Innovation in the Office of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

On October 11, I traveled to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, a city just on the other side of the border from El Paso, Texas. The 1.3 million people of Juarez have been living under the horrific impact of narcoviolence for several years. The numbers speak for themselves -- in 2009, transnational criminal actors killed more than 9,600 people. Since taking office in 2006, President Felipe Calderon and the Mexican government have bravely stepped up to confront this drug-fueled violence. In April 2010, the Mexican Secretariat of Public Safety (SSP) took over responsibility for security in Juarez, and now 4,500 federal police officers attempt to keep peace on the city streets. In spite of this, the homicide rate in Juarez so far this year is on pace to exceed the devastating rate witnessed in 2009.

So how can we get our arms around this situation, and work with our partner Mexico to help provide a safe environment for their citizens to study, work and raise their families?

There is no single and simple answer, but one ingredient we know is the key -- helping Mexican citizens take an active and effective role in their own security.

Secretary Clinton has recognized the United States' co-responsibility for the situation in Mexico, as demand for drugs on the U.S. side of the border in large part fuels the crime. The United States is partnered with the Mexican government on security issues through the Merida Initiative. Through Merida, we provide equipment and training in support of law enforcement operations to promote the long-term reform and professionalization of Mexican security agencies. Secretary Clinton is very focused on how we can empower the citizens of Mexico --and specifically Juarez -- to help achieve a long-term, sustainable peace. Without the active participation of the residents of Juarez and other cities throughout Mexico, security solutions brought to the table will only serve in the short term.

One clear way the people of Mexico can help combat the violence is by sharing information on criminal activity with local law enforcement authorities. Unfortunately, many Mexican citizens do not feel safe calling the current emergency lines, as they believe their personal security could be at risk. This results in missed opportunities for Mexican law enforcement officials to take down criminals. According to a recent survey by the Instituto de Estudios Sobre la Inseguridad (ICESI), 78 percent of crimes go unreported in Mexico, and less than two percent actually result in convictions.

In my role as Senior Advisor for Innovation, I have led a team over the last year to explore how we can use technology to help overcome the challenge of personal security risk in the current emergency line in Juarez. Mobile phone penetration is extremely high in Juarez: approximately 80 percent of the population has a cell phone. We saw an opportunity to draw in the people of Juarez to be part of a positive change in their communities through mobile technology.

Our team in Washington and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City has worked closely with the Mexican government and private Mexican mobile providers to develop a secure tipline that will be available to residents of Juarez in coming months. The immediate challenge is to encourage the people of Juarez to have confidence in the new system and share information that could lead to prosecutions and eventually arrests of criminal actors.

Both the Mexican and U.S. teams are also working with civil society organizations in Mexico to develop an online platform through which they can review trends in both crimes reported and responses by authorities. This critical participation by civil society can help create a positive feedback loop required to achieve real improvements in the response time by Mexican law enforcement to reports from citizens.

Our end goal is to support our Mexican partners in creating a safer, more productive Juarez. Our strategy involves multiple components. One absolutely critical element is engaging the people of Mexico through mobile technology to be part of this positive change.

Hector Murguia was inaugurated as the new mayor of Juarez this past Sunday, October 10. Mayor Murgu noted in his inaugural speech: "Crime is powerful, but it's not invincible." Clearly, he couldn't be more right. Our hope is that the anonymous citizens' complaint program will empower the citizens of Juarez to contribute to reestablishing a safer community for themselves and their families.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with Serbian President Boris Tadic in Belgrade, Serbia, on October 12, 2010. The Secretary and President Tadic discussed a number of issues, including the progress of Serbia's democracy over the past decade, the goal of EU integration, and Serbia's strong cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

The Secretary said, "For me personally, it is a great honor to be here in Serbia 10 years after the people of this country began to reclaim their own future. That victory of the people's will was a milestone in the long struggle to build Serbia's democracy. And in the decade that has followed, Serbia has made great progress, and we, speaking on behalf of the United States, owe a debt of gratitude to all of those who helped create that progress: members of Serbia's civil society; its political leaders, Mr. President; and of course, the citizens themselves."

She continued, "Achieving the goal of EU integration requires leadership. And Mr. President, you have been providing that leadership. Now, there are areas where, as the President said, we will not agree, and foremost among them is Kosovo. But we believe that the September 9th United Nations General Assembly resolution provides a good basis for a meaningful, forward-looking dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. That dialogue can and will benefit people in Kosovo and Serbia by addressing practical, day-to-day issues and the long-term relationship between you. It will also have a positive impact on the relationship between Serbia, your neighbors, Europe, and the United States."

"I also want publicly to thank Serbia for your strong cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. I appreciate all that has been done by your government, particularly your law enforcement officials, and I appreciate again hearing from President Tadic the high priority that Serbia places on fulfilling its remaining obligations to the Tribunal."

In conclusion, Secretary Clinton said, "Let me close by reaffirming our admiration for the progress that has taken place here in Serbia over the last decade. As Vice President Biden said when he was here, the United States values Serbia as a country with not only a tremendous history, but more importantly a vast potential. We believe in the potential of Serbia. Serbian Americans have made many contributions to the growth and development of the United States, and we are absolutely convinced that Serbia can become not only a member of the European Union but a leader in Europe, an example in Europe. And the United States is committed to working with you to help you build a better future for this country, for your people, and for this region."

You can read the Secretary's full remarks here.

You can follow the Secretary's travel here.

About the Author: Ambassador Luis CdeBaca leads the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

In our commitment to preventing human trafficking, the world is moving beyond poster campaigns to more innovative solutions that harness the private sector to end the demand for modern slavery. I wanted to share some new developments on that front.

On October 1, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act (the Act) into law. The Act requires certain major companies to publicly post their efforts to eradicate trafficking and slavery in their direct supply chains. By acknowledging both the prevalence of modern slavery in consumer goods and the interest of the state in enabling consumers to make educated choices, Senator Darrell Steinberg crafted a piece of legislation that has the potential to fundamentally change how corporations engage on this issue.

In the past, forward leaning companies hid their best practices out of fear of being a brand associated with modern slavery, while irresponsible companies excused their inaction by pointing to impossibilities that simply aren't. Modern day slavery exists in the shadows, but corporate policy should not.

Together, civil society, local government, and federal government must ensure that the information is acted upon AND leveraged, making today's best practices tomorrow's industry standards, and building opportunities that move us closer to comprehensively addressing trafficking in persons throughout our supply chains.

That's why I'm heartened to see companies like LexisNexis lead before they are asked by pulling together businesses who have always led on this issue and those who stand to break new ground within their industries. In its inaugural meeting yesterday, the Business Coalition Against Human Trafficking (BCAT) began to explore how business can engage in real ways to combat both sex and labor trafficking and establish business protocols that build upon rather than undercut rule of law.

I look forward to watching these efforts unfold and wish them great success.

Today, Secretary Clinton participated in a town hall meeting with students and civil society representatives at the National Theater in Sarajevo. The Secretary said:

"I am here with a very simple message, that the United States believes in the future of this country and believes in the potential of the young people. And I want to hear directly from you, because this city is close to the hearts of millions of Americans who followed the events of the 1990s and worked and prayed for peace. And here I am back in Sarajevo just a few weeks before the 15th anniversary of the Dayton Accords, which helped to end the war and establish a framework for a lasting peace.

"This theater is a fitting place for our meeting. It has been here over the decades that artists and writers and intellectuals and citizens and activists have gathered to share ideas and put forth their own opinions about the best way forward, to tell their stories. And what I hope is that you, as the future leaders of Bosnia-Herzegovina, will have a story that is compelling and positive, that not only paints a vision of the future, but helps to realize that. I want to hear firsthand about your concerns and your questions, but let me just offer a few thoughts.

"The Balkans are a critical part of Europe -- dynamic and resilient, rich in history and culture. I"m well aware that the history, also, is filled with pain and conflict. But the people of the Balkans have worked very hard to move beyond that violence and to re-imagine and then rebuild a different pathway."

Secretary Clinton continued, "...[I]n my conversations here in Sarajevo with leaders as well as in Belgrade and Pristina, I have the same message. I will reinforce that message and I hope it will be heard not just by leaders, but by the people they represent. Now is the time to build on the gains that have been made in recent years. Now is the time to strengthen democratic institutions, to deepen peace between neighbors, and to create the conditions for long-term political, economic, and social progress.

"Now, for Serbia and Kosovo this means, among other things, making their upcoming dialogue a success by engaging sincerely and creatively to resolve their differences once and for all.

"And here in Bosnia and Herzegovina it means bolstering your commitment to a sovereign state, one that delivers results for all of its citizens by passing reforms that will improve key services, attract more foreign investment, make government more effective and accountable. These reforms are needed for their own sake, but they are also needed if your country is to fulfill the goal of becoming part of the European Union and NATO.

"Your neighbors have already taken strides in that direction because they know there is no better way to achieve sustained economic growth and long-term political stability than by integrating with Europe. The European parliament just passed overwhelmingly visa liberalization for Bosnia and Herzegovina. And I believe now is the time for the citizens of this country to make your voices heard following up on the results of your election. Because although much of the work must be done by your government, leaders listen to people and each of you has a role to play in being sure your voice is part of this dialogue."

You can read the complete transcript of Secretary Clinton's town hall meeting in Sarajevo here.

You can follow the Secretary's travel here.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton dedicated the new Embassy Compound and Robert C. Frasure Street in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on October 12, 2010. Secretary Clinton said, "I believe that this new building, with its innovative design and its location in the heart of Sarajevo, is a fitting symbol of the friendship between our two countries. And I want to thank all of the people from both countries who worked so hard to build it."

"The friendship between our nations began with your independence nearly two decades ago, and so did our shared sacrifice in the name of peace. In 1995, during the siege of Sarajevo, three Americans lost their lives trying to make their way into the city to take part in peace talks. Today, we honor the memories of Robert Frasure, Joe Kruzel, and Nelson Drew, and we re-dedicate ourselves to the cause for which they died, the cause of peace, stability, prosperity in Europe."

The Secretary continued, "Ambassador Frasure and his colleagues came here to help end the conflict that claimed so many thousands of lives. They were determined to get to the peace negotiations, but the main road was blocked. Rather than give up, they decided to take the Mount Igman route, despite its risks. That decision was one of great courage and selflessness, but it was not an isolated incident. It was part of America's enduring commitment to a Europe that is free, whole, and secure, a commitment that stretches from the First World War to the Second, the Cold War, and the Balkan Wars. It is also a commitment that spans generations of Americans. Joe Kruzel's father was a flying ace who shot down four Nazi fighter planes in the skies over Europe during World War II, and after the war Nelson Drew's father served in a U.S. Army peacekeeping unit stationed in Germany."

"Half a century later, that same commitment to peace led to the Dayton Accords. We believed then, as we do now, that the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina lies in the heart of an integrated and democratic Europe. And we stand ready to help you achieve our common goal, a Bosnia and Herzegovina that is firmly anchored in the European Union and NATO."

You can read the Secretary's full remarks here.

You can follow the Secretary's travel here.

A senior State Department official held a background briefing en route Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Secretary Clinton is traveling to the Balkans and Brussels October 11-14.

After her visit to Sarajevo, the Secretary will travel to Belgrade, Serbia, where she will meet with Serbian leaders, including President Tadic, Prime Minister Mujezinovic, and Defense Minister Sutanovac. Secretary Clinton will also hold a civil society reception in the region.

The Secretary will also travel to Kosovo, where she will meet with the acting president, Prime Minister Thaci, and Foreign Minister Hyseni. Speaking to the current situation, the senior official said, "And as you all know, Serbia and Kosovo -- there was a UN General Assembly resolution last month calling on Serbia and Kosovo to begin a dialogue that would be facilitated by the European Union. And that's something the United States strongly supports. We want to see Serbia and Kosovo talking to each other. The United States strongly supports Kosovo's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and we firmly believe that the talks between Serbia and Kosovo must not be about status or questioning Kosovo's independence or sovereignty, but like all neighbors, there is a range of practical issues that they need to talk to each other about."

"And so we fully support this General Assembly resolution calling for this dialogue, and it will be an opportunity for the Secretary to speak to the leaders of both Serbia and Kosovo about how they can together move forward to deal with the practical issues between them and both continue on the path to integration in Euro-Atlantic relationships."

You can read the senior official's full remarks here.

You can follow the Secretary's travel here.

About the Author: Sarah Nolan serves as Assistant Chief of Protocol for Diplomatic Partnerships.

Last week, the Office of the Chief of Protocol announced the destination of the next "Experience America" trip -- Atlanta, Georgia! Ambassador Marshall will lead a delegation of nearly 50 foreign ambassadors, representing over 500 million people from all around the world, to Atlanta starting Tuesday, October 12. The goal of this program is to plant the seeds for new international business partnership and give these diplomats a deeper understanding and appreciation of America's people, culture and institutions. In anticipation of our trip, the Atlanta Journal Constitution published an Op-Ed from the Chief of Protocol Ambassador Capricai Penavic Marshall that I wanted to share with DipNote's readers. You can read the Op-Ed below or click here.

"Selling the world on spirit of Atlanta"

Atlanta is one of our great cities. Home to innovative companies such as Coca-Cola and CNN, the world's busiest passenger airport, and a talented and creative work force, Atlanta is a city where the world comes to do business. It is rich in history and culture, full of diversity and dynamism, and Atlanta's story has always been entwined with America's.

That is why, this October, I am leading a delegation of nearly 50 foreign ambassadors from all over the world to visit Atlanta as part of the State Department's "Experience America" program.

Our goal is to plant the seeds of new partnerships between organizations, businesses, and local officials and their counterparts overseas. The relationships that grow out of these visits can help create new jobs and educational opportunities, and they can burnish Atlanta's reputation around the world.

Working closely with Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, the Office of the United States Chief of Protocol has organized a substantive and exciting itinerary for these ambassadors.

Highlighting technology, education and entrepreneurship, we will visit Georgia Tech and tour some of its premier research facilities, including a joint program with Emory University on biomedical engineering. New relationships abroad will help expand the reach of both these great Atlanta universities and create new opportunities for their students. We will also visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for a tour and conversation on global health with Ambassador Eric Goosby, the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator at PEPFAR, and Dr. Tom Frieden, the director of the CDC, moderated by Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Focusing on Atlanta's business community, Metro Atlanta Chamber President Sam A. Williams has invited us to an event with Mayor Reed and the heads of many Atlanta companies. The event will emphasize Atlanta's vibrant business community, international environment and send a clear message: Atlanta is a great place to do business.

The ambassadors will also meet with senior executives at CNN, a global icon and Atlanta institution. Of course, no trip to Atlanta would be complete without a visit to the World of Coca-Cola, where the ambassadors will be hosted by senior executives, learn about the company's global operation and discuss new possibilities for partnerships.

At the Carter Library, the ambassadors will meet with President Carter and learn about the many initiatives spearheaded by the Carter Center, from election monitoring to the eradication of Guinea worms.

We hope to provide our visitors with a deeper understanding and appreciation of America's people, culture and values. Where better to do that than Atlanta, home to so much of the legacy of the civil rights movement? The ambassadors will tour Morehouse College, receive a presentation on the papers of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. housed there, visit the King Center and participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at his tomb. I hope they will carry some of what they see and learn there back with them to their homes around the world.

These diplomats will leave Atlanta with a new network of partners, businesses and organizations they can work with in the future. The result could be new educational exchange programs and research projects, new investment opportunities and business relationships, and a deeper cross-cultural understanding. That would be good for Atlanta, good for America and good for the world.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that “America has a great story to tell and we need to be telling it every day in every way.” That's the spirit behind this trip.

I can't wait to show off Atlanta and its famous Southern hospitality. Together, we'll give our visitors a view of America they'll never forget.

Ambassador Capricia Penavic Marshall is chief of protocol of the United States.

About the Author: Jennifer McCabe serves as Canadian Public Affairs Assistant at U.S. Embassy Ottawa.

Today we're celebrating Thanksgiving in Canada -- a holiday to give thanks at the close of the harvest season. Across most of Canada, the fall foliage is now at its magnificent peak; and as we look around at the beauty of this nation, we see much to be thankful for. The second Monday in October is when Thanksgiving is officially observed; however, people generally get together for their Thanksgiving meal on any one of the three days of this three-day holiday weekend. Most families in Canada celebrate Thanksgiving with a special dinner with family and friends. A traditional Thanksgiving dinner usually includes a roasted turkey and pumpkin pie. In this nation, where many Canadians are "New Canadians" or immigrants, we're seeing traditional turkey dinner side dishes spiced up with ginger, cumin, plantains and a mosaic of other new foods. Happy Harvest, and Happy Thanksgiving to all in Canada!

About the Author: Luke Forgerson serves as DipNote's Managing Editor.

Our readers -- particularly those who follow DipNote on their Blackberry or iPhone -- are well aware that mobile technology is reshaping the way we all work, learn and communicate. This week, when the Apps4Africa competition winners were announced, we saw several examples of how mobile technology can directly improve the lives of people. One of the winning apps, called Mamakiba, is a budgeting tool that helps pregnant women save for and prepay prenatal care and the costs of delivery.

Three hundred million women in low- and middle-income countries, however, do not have access to mobile technology, due to an array of economic and social barriers. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and British former First Lady Cherie Blair called on us to close this gender gap and launched the GSMA mWomen Program, as part of a commitment to fairness and to progress.

At an APEC meeting, Ambassador Melanne Verveer called closing the gender gap in economic participation the best prescription for economic growth, and Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Ann Stock launched TechWomen, an initiative to connect women from the Middle East and North Africa working in technology with their counterparts in Silicon Valley. Secretary Clinton underscored the vital importance of building professional connections and mentorships in her remarks to the 12th Annual Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit.

Under Secretary of State Maria Otero honored six women conservationists who have dedicated their lives to saving the planet and improving women's rights, including past Nobel Peace Prize recipient Dr. Wangari Maathai of Kenya. Secretary Clinton applauded the Nobel Committee's decision to award this year's Nobel Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo, an advocate for human rights and peaceful political reform, and called for his immediate release from prison in China.

In Dhaka, Ambassador Ertharin Cousin recognized the many individuals and organizations who are working to improve food security to ensure Bangladesh "shall overcome." Assistant Secretary of State Jose Fernandez traveled to Indonesia, where he participated in an agricultural and investment forum and addressed expanding the fight against global hunger. The World Food Program USA recognized Secretary Clinton for her efforts in advancing the international community's response to address global hunger.

In Kabul, we saw progress in Afghanistan's agricultural sector, with 136 Afghan and 40 international vendors coming together for an international fair demonstrating Afghan high-value services and crops, such as grapes, pomegranates, dried fruits, and cashmere. We also read about U.S.-supported road paving projects, which help in the transportation of agricultural goods from field to market in Afghanistan.

Elsewhere around the world, American diplomats connected young leaders in New Zealand; addressed the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender refugees and asylum seekers at a roundtable in Geneva; assessed stabilization and reconstruction needs in Kyrgyzstan; addressed adoption and children's issues in Ethiopia; and supported the carpet sector in Pakistan. USAID's Mark Ward addressed how America's development professionals and NGO partners aim to accomplish their missions while balancing transparency and security concerns. And in New York, Ambassador Eric Goosby announced a three-year pledge of $4 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Back in Washington, Secretary Clinton addressed the U.S.-Georgia Charter Strategic Partnership, and Ambassador Luis Cdebaca spoke on how the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons is working to turn words into action in the fight against modern slavery. U.S. consular officials cheered the receipt of the year's first diversity visa lottery application. (You can learn more about the visa lottery program at travel.state.gov.) Here at DipNote, we launched the "Readers Write…" feature to spotlight and answer comments from our community.

As we look at the week ahead, Secretary Clinton will travel to the Balkans and Belgium. The city of Brussels is home to three U.S. diplomatic missions, including to the European Union and NATO, and Truman Hall, where you can find this week's Art in Embassies selection on display.

While in Brussels, the Secretary will meet with EU counterparts and join U.S. Defense Secretary Gates for NATO meetings. In the lead-up to the Secretary's travel, we asked you, our readers: "What issues should top the agenda at the NATO foreign affairs and defense ministerial?" We look forward to reading your responses to this question, and hearing from you on all the entries we post in the coming week.

About the Author: Camille Benton serves as a Curator for ART in EMBASSIES.

As NATO ministers meet this week to discuss collaborative approaches to contemporary issues, we are reminded that artists also offer insightful approaches to current issues, especially those that concern the global community.

Gyöngy Laky is a Hungarian-born, San Francisco-based artist, who uses materials found in nature -- primarily orchard debris, park trimmings, and street tree prunings -- and artfully combines them with recycled and industrial elements to create dynamic sculptural objects that reveal a profound respect for nature. The artist explains, "Of course I want that my art moves the viewer visually with beautiful, interesting or attractive forms. But I find it at least just as interesting that each symbol radiates a statement. I hope people understand this and that it gets them thinking…"

Laky's Go And... (pictured above left, with a detail to the right) is a stylized ampersand sign, made of ash branches, paint, and screws, and is part of a series that finds its form in the exploration of letters, words, and symbols. The work is included in Art Across the Atlantic, the ART in EMBASSIES exhibition at Truman Hall, residence of the U.S. Ambassador to NATO. The exhibition is comprised of works by European-born artists who have worked in the United States and U.S. artists who have worked in Europe, and reflects the creativity and innovation of our transatlantic societies.

Gyöngy Laky is a Professor Emeritus, University of California, Davis. She received a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship and was one of the first textile artists to be commissioned by the Federal Art-in-Architecture Program. She completed undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and founded the internationally acclaimed Fiberworks, Center for the Textile Arts, there in 1973. Her work is in the collections of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Smithsonian's Renwick Museum of American Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and others. Her papers are housed in the Smithsonian's Archives of American Art and her Oral History is in the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley.

In a statement released today, Secretary Clinton congratulated Mr. Liu Xiaobo on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Secretary Clinton said, "I applaud the Nobel Committee's decision to award this year's Nobel Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo. Throughout its history, the Peace Prize has often been used to recognize the heroism of those who have, through persistent and peaceful efforts, sought to build a world that is more fair and free.

"Mr. Liu has been a consistent advocate for fundamental freedoms and human rights for his fellow citizens and for peaceful political reform. Mr. Liu's work, including his role in the drafting of Charter '08, and his receipt of this honor highlight the fact that while China has made tremendous economic progress in the last three decades, political reform has lagged behind. As I said in Krakow this summer, governments should recognize the constructive role that citizens such as Liu Xiaobo play. We urge China to uphold its international human rights obligations and to respect the fundamental freedoms and human rights of all Chinese citizens. We reiterate our call for Liu Xiaobo's immediate release from prison."

Secretary Clinton travels to the Balkans and Brussels next week, October 11-14. Today, Philip Gordon, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, briefed reporters about her trip.

Assistant Secretary Gordon said, "Secretary Clinton will travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, and Brussels. She's going to the Balkans to underscore the continued commitment of the United States to supporting all the Balkan states as they build prosperous, peaceful, and democratic societies and move to take their rightful places as full members of the European and Euro-Atlantic community.

"Secretary Clinton's visit follows the important trip that Vice President Biden took in May 2009, as well as several others by Deputy Secretary Steinberg, myself, and others in the Administration over the past year. In the Balkans, the Secretary will meet with a range of government officials, civil society representatives, and she will attend events with citizens of these countries. She will take stock of progress in the region, exchange ideas, and engage with these groups on a range of issues. In Brussels, the Secretary will participate in meetings with EU officials and NATO counterparts to strengthen and cement U.S. partnership with the EU and work with allies on the revitalized NATO.

"Let me just walk you through what she's actually going to do. On Tuesday the 12th, in Sarajevo, the Secretary will meet with the Bosnian tri-presidency as well as High Representative Valentin Inzko. She will also dedicate the new embassy compound in Sarajevo which is scheduled to open shortly. On the 12th, in Belgrade, the Secretary will meet with President Tadic, Foreign Minister Jeremic, and Defense Minister Sutanovac. That evening, she will also meet with members of civil society. On Wednesday, October 13th, in Kosovo, the Secretary will meet privately with acting President Krasniqi, Prime Minister Thaci, and Foreign Minister Hyseni. She will then travel to Gracanica, a Serb-majority municipality near Pristina where she will meet with municipal leaders in the Kosovo-Serb community.

"After she gets back to Pristina, she will hold a meeting with women's leaders, other civil society leaders, and youth from all ethnic groups. In all of these stops -- Sarajevo, Belgrade, and Pristina -- the Secretary will participate in various media events as well as embassy meet-and-greet.

"Continuing on to Brussels, on October 14th, the Secretary will meet with EU Council President Van Rompuy and EU High Representative Baroness Ashton, followed by a meeting with European Parliament President Buzek and other EU Parliamentary leaders. Secretary will then join Secretary Gates for a joint NATO ministerial, bringing together foreign and defense ministers from NATO countries. The ministerial will be an opportunity to review progress on the new strategic concept and in the war in Afghanistan.

"She will then depart Brussels on the evening of the 14th for Washington."

You can read the full transcript here.

About the Author: Adrian Pratt serves as Assistant Public Affairs Officer at U.S. Embassy Wellington.

Organizing a conference for future leaders in New Zealand can take a lot of work. But when you bring together 50 vibrant, engaged and driven students from across the country together for the first time, fun is a natural by-product.

The early October "Connecting Young Leaders" conference, coordinated by the U.S. Embassy in Wellington, wove together a number of top goals: We used social media to deepen our outreach to the young and future leaders of New Zealand, built mutual understanding between our countries as well as long-term relationships.

By way of background, Ambassador David Huebner, almost as soon as he arrived, began assembling student advisory groups at each of the country's universities. These students were selected for the promise they showed as future leaders of New Zealand. The ambassador met with each of these groups while he was traveling, but the students themselves had not met their counterparts from other universities.

"Connecting Young Leaders" was to fix that. We had already established a by-invitation-only Facebook group -- Kiwusdo -- for student discussions.

Now we wanted to get them all to meet.

The students were a little reserved when we brought them together for a reception and political history lesson at parliament on the first night. By the end of the second evening, there was no keeping the group quiet. They had bonded.

Along the way, we organized panels to discuss the state of the world, Kiwi and international politics and law, environmentalism, Pacific development, the global economy and trade. We even invited a leadership guru, who finished the conference on a high note.

The ambassador then hosted the students at his residence for a high-decibel dinner at which the themes of the day continued to be hashed out.

The conference has already been tweeted, videoed, and blogged about. Speakers from Washington, DC, greeted the students via a recorded video message. Questions from the students to the speakers that were not answered due to time constraints during the Q&A; sessions were answered later online, through Kiwusdo. Throughout the day photos of the conference were uploaded to Facebook and Flickr, so that the students could share with their friends and family in real time using the free wi-fi provided.

The goals now will be to keep the students engaged -- with each other, and with us. With social media, we're already well on the way to achieving that.

To read more about the "Connecting Young Leaders" conference, visit U.S. Ambassador Huebner's blog.

About the Author: Jose W. Fernandez serves as Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Business Affairs.

I am halfway around the world from Washington, and on October 6, I participated in the Indonesia Joint Agriculture and Investment Forum. I traveled to Malaysia and Indonesia this week to discuss trade, investment, entrepreneurship, energy, and of course, agriculture. I am proud to be part of President Obama and Secretary Clinton's renewed commitment to political, economic, and educational engagement with dynamic emerging economies like Indonesia. I am especially pleased to be back in Indonesia after my successful visit this past spring, during which we discussed the issues of post-harvest loss and agricultural biotechnology.

The Indonesia Joint Agriculture and Investment Forum builds on that work by including many distinguished participants to chart a course for the future. Dr. Bayu Krishnamurti, Indonesian Vice Minister of Agriculture, Ambassador Eric Bost of the Borlaug Institute, and many other luminaries in the field have come together to discuss new agricultural technologies, investment in post-harvest infrastructure, and expanded cooperation at research universities.

Ultimately, we are all here to reaffirm our commitment to fight global hunger. While there are no magic bullets in this battle, we must look to new technologies, including biotechnology, for the role that they can play in the "new green revolution." I believe that biotechnology, and the improved crops it can develop, will prove to be an important new element in our traditional package of tools to increase productivity and address head-on the challenges of hunger and climate change.

To that end, we are renewing several key partnerships in the area of biotechnology. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will work with the Indonesian government and the Program for Biosafety Systems to develop a new and fully functional biosafety framework in Indonesia.

We are also building on long-standing partnerships with international agriculture research centers. USAID will be supporting collaboration between the International Rice Research Institute and the Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development, and other partners to roll out Golden Rice, an important food-based approach to alleviating Vitamin A deficiency and associated serious health issues in Indonesia.

In the face of one child dying of malnutrition every six seconds, our greatest tool is increased cooperation and collaboration to develop and share the best solutions possible.

About the Author: Katie Dowd serves as New Media Director at the U.S. Department of State.

Announced today -- appropriately -- at a crossroads for innovation and technology in Nairobi, Kenya, the iHub opened its doors to announce the winners of the first Apps4Africa competition.

Secretary Clinton congratulated the winners of the competition in a video statement saying, “Your work to develop 21st century solutions to Africa's challenges is a powerful example of what individuals can do to shape a dynamic, successful future.”

Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Judith McHale launched Apps4Africa in July 2010 in Nairobi, Kenya, and the competition generated more than 20 entries from the participating countries of Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania. Civil society groups and citizens challenged program developers to find innovative technological solutions to everyday problems on issues ranging from transparency and governance to health and education.

The competition was built on Secretary Clinton's Civil Society 2.0 initiative and helps civil society use digital technology to connect to their communities and develop innovative solutions to shared problems. The winners chosen have developed applications that marry measurable impact with creativity and ingenuity across the region.

The winning application iCow, is an application we can envision scaling far beyond Eastern Africa as it enables farmers everywhere to better manage breeding periods of their cows and to also monitor their cow nutrition leading up to the calving day. This application can serve to help farmers yield the most from their farms.

Our third place winners developed an application that has could reap real benefits for struggling mothers. Mamakiba, is a patient-facing SMS savings calculator and prepayment tracking tool specifically designed to help low-income women save and prepay for their maternal health needs such as ante-natal care and clinical delivery. Many women struggle financially, and this application can help teach the value of budget planning and provide lifesaving care for women and their families.

And one of our honorable mentions truly is a unique application called Fogs Funeral Announcements which is application for generating death and funeral announcements via text message. Radio and newspaper are costly in the East African region and the Fog application allows users to cheaply and easily draft, edit and send these types of messages to ensure they reach friends, family, former schoolmates and colleagues -- an important Kenyan custom.

You can find all the information and details about the winners here. The first of its kind, Apps4Africa is the beginning in a series of regional events and competitions that the State Department will help convene, host and connect in Africa.

About the Author: Ambassador Eric Goosby serves as U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

I am in New York for the Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The United States is committed to the success of the Global Fund as part of our shared goal to save lives devastated by these diseases. Our investment is a central component of President Obama's Global Health Initiative, along with our large bilateral programs such as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the President's Malaria Initiative, and U.S. programs focused on issues such as maternal and child health.

We strongly support the Global Fund's collaborative, country-driven, performance-based approach, and we are proud to be its largest donor, having provided more than $5.1 billion to date. As President Obama said in his speech at the Millennium Development Goals Summit last month, we are strengthening our commitment to the Global Fund.

I was pleased to announce yesterday that the Obama Administration is making a three-year pledge of $4 billion to the Global Fund for 2011 through 2013. This marks the first time that the United States has made a multi-year pledge to the Global Fund.

What's more, this pledge is a 38 percent increase in the U.S. investment over the preceding three years and is by far the largest dollar increase of any donor nation this year.

Why are we taking this step? It will save and improve lives of those devastated by these three diseases. It will increase life expectancies in affected countries.

Moreover, this pledge is linked to a firm call to action that calls upon the Fund to make needed reforms and for other donor nations to share in the responsibility of saving more lives effectively and efficiently.

Simply put, we have three goals with this historic pledge:

First, we need to drive needed reforms and ensure smart, effective investments that will build upon the success of the Fund and save more lives. At this conference, the U.S. has called upon the Global Fund Board to develop an action agenda that includes clear timelines and measures progress so all parties can be held accountable for clear action steps. You can read our “Call to Action” at www.PEPFAR.gov.

Second, we made this pledge to leverage other donors' contributions. This commitment serves as a challenge to other donors -- including other governments and the private sector -- to do their share to save more lives, alleviate suffering and increase life expectancies. Meeting the need is a global responsibility. All donors have a shared responsibility to not only sufficiently invest in the Fund, but to ensure that its investments are achieving the ultimate goal of saving lives. Moreover, country grantees have an obligation to continue to improve their health systems to ensure that investments are made effectively and efficiently, and the U.S. will continue to support them in building the capacity to do so.

Finally, this pledge shows continued U.S. leadership to the ultimate measurement of success -- increasing the number of lives saved. This pledge is part of a comprehensive approach to combating AIDS, TB, and malaria through President Obama's Global Health Initiative. In addition to financing, as part of our effort to strengthen Global Fund grant performance and impact, the U.S. will increase our already substantial investment in technical assistance, capacity building, and country level coordination.

Any future increases in U.S. funding will be tied to fulfillment of the Global Fund's action plan, as well as to the relative scale-up of contributions by other donors to the Fund. In short, all stakeholders must come together to build upon the past success achieved by the Fund.

Ultimately, this pledge will allow the Global Fund to do its job -- and do it better. We are proud of our relationship with and commitment to the Fund and the work it has done over the years. This unprecedented pledge is a signal to the world that even in these difficult times, the U.S. is firmly committed to fighting these devastating diseases and ultimately saving more lives.

About the Author: Elizabeth Drew is a Special Assistant for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.

The stakes for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) refugees and asylum seekers are high: many people fleeing persecution based on their sexual orientation or gender identity encounter violence and abuse in the countries they've fled to, where they remain invisible and at risk, often isolated from even community-based support.

The Obama Administration continues to advance a comprehensive human rights agenda that includes elimination of violence and persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity. I represented the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) at a roundtable in Geneva on this theme last week. The roundtable, the first of its kind, will result in enhanced policy and operational guidance for staff of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at headquarters and in the field. A group of representatives of different governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and academics met from September 30-October 1, and -- despite the jetlag suffered by participants flying in the previous day from as far away as Australia, Kenya, Uganda, Canada and the United States -- we had a remarkably dynamic and productive discussion. We were especially pleased that UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres and Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Erika Feller welcomed us to a reception after our first day of talks, reflecting the commitment of UNHCR's senior leadership on this issue.

I moderated a session on good practices and current initiatives, describing PRM's efforts to integrate and elevate this issue within our broader work, including our convening a working group with NGOs and other U.S .government offices on this issue and supporting a regional pilot program to build capacity to address LGBT protection challenges. The group welcomed U.S. leadership on this topic, and was appreciative of our public statements, including PRM Assistant Secretary Eric Schwartz's speech at the State Department's LGBT Pride Month event in June. My government representative counterparts spoke about their efforts on this front, and NGO participants shared the innovative programming work they're doing in Kenya, Uganda and the Middle East, particularly in the area of staff training and sensitization.

Our group parted on Friday with both a renewed sense of urgency and ideas for a way forward.

Secretary Clinton and Georgian Prime Minister Nikoloz Gilauri delivered remarks today at the U.S.-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership omnibus meeting. Secretary Clinton said, "The relationship between Georgia and the United States stands on a foundation of shared values and common interests. The Charter that our countries signed in January 2009 has given us a framework for further developing our cooperation. And today, I want to reiterate our commitment to working together to advance Georgia's security and democracy.

"The United States will not waver in its support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. That support is a core principle of our Charter on Strategic Partnership, and it is fundamental to our bilateral relationship.

"The United States remains committed to Georgia's aspirations for membership in NATO, as reflected in the Alliance's decisions in Bucharest and Strasbourg-Kehl. We strongly support Georgia's efforts related to its Annual National Program, which promotes defense reform and guides cooperation with NATO. And we continue to support Georgia's efforts on defense reform and improving defense capabilities, including NATO interoperability and Georgia's contributions to ISAF operations in Afghanistan.

"We are extremely grateful for Georgia's contributions to NATO's efforts in Afghanistan. Seven hundred and fifty Georgian soldiers in ISAF are serving shoulder-to-shoulder with U.S. Marines in Helmand Province, with another 200 serving with French troops. They are helping Afghans build a more secure, stable, and prosperous future, and working to safeguard our common security against the threat of terrorism. And we were deeply saddened by your loss last week of the four Georgian soldiers and by the casualties that you endured earlier. I want to express our condolences and solidarity with the Georgian people in the face of our shared sacrifice and loss.

"...We care about Georgia's security and Georgia's democracy. We support the Georgian people in your aspirations to build a better future. And we appreciate this opportunity to strengthen that close relationship at many levels in both of our governments to build relationships among people, not just between governments, and to support the kind of changes that are occurring in Georgia that we, in turn, can then trumpet to our own people here, including investors who we would urge to take a close look at Georgia and others in our country who are standing by and urging on and cheering for the changes that Georgia is making and the role model that you are becoming."

You can read the full transcript here.

About the Author: Jeffrey Ladenson serves as the Adoption Unit Chief in the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu traveled to Ethiopia from September 1-4 and met with Ethiopian government officials and representatives of international and local organizations in order to discuss children's issues, including the plight of orphans and other vulnerable children in the country. During her stay in Ethiopia, Senator Landrieu visited orphanages, child care centers, and other facilities and interacted with over 500 Ethiopian children at these venues. She also met with the President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, His Excellency Girma Wolde Giorgis, at the National Palace.

Ambassador Susan Jacobs, who serves as the U.S. Department of State's Special Advisor for Children's Issues, Gary Newton, the U.S. Agency for International Development's Special Advisor for orphans and vulnerable children, and a prominent group of American business and NGO leaders traveled with the Senator.

During their visit to Ethiopia, Senator Landrieu and the other members of the delegation shared the U.S. experience on children's issues, including adoption and foster care, and learned from Ethiopian experts and child welfare specialists about the Ethiopian situation. Senator Landrieu noted, “In my first visit to Ethiopia, I have been struck by the dedication of all those committed to assisting children and families in need. Their efforts have had a profound effect on me.”

The visit allowed Embassy Addis Ababa to raise the issue of vulnerable children at multiple levels of the Ethiopian Government, and with other stakeholders in adoption and child welfare policy. Embassy Addis Ababa hopes to build on these discussions and support the Government of Ethiopia's goal to accede to the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption.

About the Author: Matthew J. Owens serves as a public affairs specialist in the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP).

Each year, the U.S. Department of State releases the Trafficking in Persons Report, which provides a global diagnosis of the global effort to combat human trafficking.

This year, the report, which included rankings and narratives on 177 countries including the United States, was nearly 400 pages long. These pages hold the stories of victims, recommendations for governments, and a clear path forward toward partnership to lift people out of all forms of modern slavery.

On Thursday, September 30, Ambassador Luis CdeBaca traveled to Capitol Hill to update Congress on how the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons -- and the State Department at large -- is working to turn words into action. Click here to read Ambassador CdeBaca's testimony.

Ambassador CdeBaca joined several key partners in the anti-trafficking movement in testifying before the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, including David Abramowitz of Humanity United, Dr. Aruna Uprety of the Rural Health Education Services, Neha Misra of the AFL-CIO's Solidarity Center; and Dr. Beryl D'Souza of the India Dalit Freedom Network. In addition, Ambassador Mark Lagon of Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service testified, thereby signifying the continued commitment from one U.S. administration to the next to combat trafficking in persons.

Utilizing the expertise of diplomats worldwide and partnering with nongovernmental organizations by funding anti-trafficking projects, such as shelters and public awareness campaigns, the Office is working hard to tackle all forms of modern slavery -- be they sexual or labor trafficking.

Learn more about human trafficking at www.state.gov/g/tip. Follow the G/TIP Office on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Author: Ivna Giauque serves as a Public Affairs Officer in the Bureau of Consular Affairs.

About three dozen officials from the Bureau of Consular Affairs gathered in a State Department conference room on October 5 to witness receipt of the first electronic Diversity Visa Lottery applications. When the clock struck noon, the group broke into applause as a photo of an Australian woman popped onto wall-mounted screens and marked the official opening of this year's 2012 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery registration period. Above, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Michael D. Kirby (right) and Director of Enterprise Systems Haar Sandhu watch as the applications come in. The same screens that displayed photos of applicants showed a tally of the number of applications by country and another dashboard-like display measured the speed of submissions. The smooth start-up reflected weeks of work by staff in the Bureau's Computer Systems and Technology Division.

The Congressionally mandated DV Program makes 50,000 diversity visas available annually to persons who meet strict eligibility requirements from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Selected applicants are drawn randomly.

At the opening of last year's registration period, more than 3,500 applications came in the first hour alone. This year just over 5,400 applications arrived within the registration's first hour. Last year's 60-day registration period ended with over 16 million applications. This year registration will run 30 days.

The Department of State first implemented the electronic registration system with DV-2005 in order to make the DV process more efficient and secure. The Department utilizes special technology and other means to identify those who attempt to commit fraud for the purposes of illegal immigration or those who submit multiple entries.

While electronic registration has been in place for a number of years, this is the first year that the entire process is electronic, including the notification of selected applicants and the scheduling of their visa interviews. Applicants can go on-line at any time after May 1, 2011, to check the status of their registration.

Entries for the lottery may be submitted electronically through 12:00 p.m. EDT Wednesday, November 3, 2010.

A special briefing about the DV program at the Foreign Press Center can be viewed here.

For more information about the DV program, please click here.

For DV program instructions, please click here.

To submit an entry form, go to: www.dvlottery.state.gov.

About the Author: Ertharin Cousin serves as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies in Rome.

Hearing a classroom of the poorest of Bangladeshi schoolchildren sing “We Shall Overcome,” first in Bangla and then in English, provided an emotional yet joyful beginning to my final day in the field. We visited the Follatahat Bangladesh Government Primary School and met with student beneficiaries of the World Food Program's (WFP) school feeding program. Our traveling team received a briefing on the latest results of this USDA-funded program. I was delighted to learn that since 2002, when the program began, beneficiary schools such as Follatahat have seen enrollment increase by 16 percent, attendance increase by 14 percent, and dropout numbers decrease by 10 percent. These figures represent hard evidence of the positive results derived from providing these nutritious energy-packed biscuits to the Bangladeshi schoolchildren.

The government of Bangladesh recognizes the current success and future potential of the school feeding program. In fact, it recently announced plans for a 2011 launch of a complementary school feeding program with an initial goal of reaching an additional one million school children. Government officials informed us that their long-term strategy includes a nationwide, country-operated school feeding program. Having recently participated in the pride-filled Cape Verde school feeding handover program from WFP, I look forward to any future opportunity to celebrate such a moment with the Bangladesh government. During my journey through this beautiful country, I witnessed a strong will and determination by the people as well as the government to lift their nation up from food insecurity and poverty. The government's desire to eventually take over their country's school feeding program represents just one example.

I also witnessed a number of commonalities between Americans and Bangladeshis. Particularly, I noticed many Bangladeshis share our strong entrepreneurial spirit. This entrepreneurial spirit supports agricultural development across the entire value chain. It drives the poorest rural farmers to perform the work that enables them to feed their families today, while they acquire new skills, training and support that will create the value-added products or services to feed, clothe, educate and provide more opportunities for the entire family.

Programs such as USAID's Poverty Reduction by Increasing the Competitiveness of Enterprises (PRICE) support 18,400 Bangladeshi shrimp farmers by training and teaching them about improved shrimp/prawn farming technologies. We visited a PRICE shrimp/prawn farm to learn more about how Bangladeshis are increasing the productive capacity of their aquaculture farms while simultaneously enhancing the quality standards of product raised for delivery to local processors and destined for eventual sale on the export market. Surprisingly, despite limited land available for aquaculture programs, some farmers tripled their yields after participating in the PRICE program. The Bangladesh shrimp and frozen food export industry annually generates over USD 500 million. The increased quality and quantity of the shrimp for the industry is vital.

After leaving the shrimp farm, we toured a USAID PRICE shrimp processing plant. This plant purchases, processes, and markets shrimp from local farmers like the ones we met earlier in the day. PRICE provides the plant with consulting assistance and training on issues related to food safety. We experienced first-hand the company's commitment to meeting these global food safety requirements, as we were required to don our gear and wade through chlorinated water in knee-high boots before being permitted entry into the plant's processing area. The plant's staff of 155, most of whom are women, were diligently working to ensure the delivery of quality products for the export market, another link in the agricultural value chain. The Bangladeshi government and private sector are committed to investing in programs like PRICE across the entire industry. This will ensure not only the industry's positive reputation but also their continuing to meet the highest quality and product safety standards, from beginning to end, starting with quality shrimp larvae to safe and clean packaging of the final frozen products. After our processing plant tour, the owners cooked up some of this locally-grown shrimp for us. Delicious!

As I conclude my Bangladesh trip, I will always remember the rural schoolchildren who sang for me a song of hope. They personified this hope when, in response to my question "what do you want to be when you grow up?" each boy or girl answered with either "a doctor" or "a teacher". These children really do believe that in spite of their too-often hungry bellies that they "will overcome." I commend all the farmers, entrepreneurs, public servants in the Bangladeshi government, the UN organizations, donors, and civil society, as well as my U.S. government colleagues, all working together each and every day to ensure the reality of a better tomorrow for these children and so that Bangladesh "shall overcome."

You can read about the start of Ambassador Cousin's trip here, and her visits to other food security programs in Bangladesh here. You can learn more about global hunger and food security here.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was awarded the George McGovern Leadership Award for advancing the international community's efforts to address global hunger at the World Food Program USA's 9th annual awards ceremony and reception. Former Senator and Goodwill Ambassador to the World Food Program George McGovern presented the award to Secretary Clinton. Executive Director of the World Food Program Josette Sheeran and President and CEO of WFP USA Richard Leach also participated in the event.

Secretary Clinton said, "[W]e are at the State Department really on a mission when it comes to hunger. But it's a slightly more expanded and somewhat different approach that we are taking. We know very well that hunger is a drain on economic development. It is a threat to the stability of governments, as the food riots have shown over the last two years, and it certainly it deprives us of the talents and energy of nearly a billion people worldwide.

"So how do we tackle it? Because we know that fighting hunger is a priority for us and it demands our highest levels of patience and commitment. We are aware of our historic achievements like the Green Revolution because, as George pointed out, the huge shipment of food from the United States to India was soon replaced by India becoming self-sufficient, thanks to American technology and know-how being transferred to India. And it is important that we focus on science and research again, that we put a lot of effort and commitment behind looking for ways to bring about the widespread distribution of micro-nutrients, for example, the integration of nutrition into HIV and AIDS programs, the development of heartier nutrient-rich crops like beans, bread, to contain more iron. These are now being field tested in Rwanda to address anemia, a leading cause of deaths of mothers and children and of cognitive delay among children.

"We've seen a growing consensus among world leaders that demands action. That consensus is enshrined in the Millennium Development Goal on poverty and hunger. It was carried forward in the last year by the G-8 and the G-20, which together pledged $22 billion to support agricultural development in impoverished countries.

"And as Josette said last week at the United National General Assembly, ministers from six countries came together with leaders of the European Union, UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, civil society, the private sector and, of course, the World Food Program to launch the 1,000 Days campaign. The goal being to improve nutrition starting with conception all the way through a child's second birthday. And creating a consensus around this and a plan, so that people understand what they can do to contribute, was hardly imaginable two years ago. We now have to implement, but at least we have arrived at an agreement about the way forward.

"So I think we have reached a shared understanding of the need for a sustainable, comprehensive approach, where there really is a role for everyone to play. We need the science and the tools that science and technology bring to help us carry that out. We need the political leadership that is sustainable. We certainly need a better understanding of how to deliver food and not interrupt, disrupt, and destroy markets in the host countries... We understand that agricultural development in many parts of the world is primarily a women's issue because in most places in the developing world 60 to 70 percent of the small farmers are women, and they are very often denied access to the best seeds and fertilizer and other assets that will contribute to increasing their yield. We know that it does very little good to increase yield in a region of a country where there are no roads to get the excess produced to market in any timely way. We know that in the absence of storage facilities, including cold storage that can be shared either because of the private sector building them or government programs that incentivize the building of them, we(tm)re still going to lose about 40 percent of the harvest in many countries.

"So we have a much broader understanding of what it will take in this fight against hunger. And as we press ahead with the Feed the Future Initiative, we need your involvement. We need your guidance, your feedback, your support, because we have to be ready to take this on for the long run."

Read Secretary Clinton's full remarks here.

Today, we bring you a new occasional feature on DipNote: "Readers Write." Look for more comments -- and replies -- highlighted on the blog in the weeks to come!

In response to a previous blog posting, Dr. Eileen N. in California had written:

"Focusing on health in children is important, but their adult parents must be healthy too. Any global health care system strengthening program must include provision for sustainable changes and improvements to the entire healthcare system no matter what age the people it serves may be. Although admirable and a start, a healthy child program runs the risk of consuming healthcare resources at the expense of the greater good, just as disease specific programs do. Broaden the program out in order to create healthy families and healthy communities."

Jennifer Klein, who works on global health policy topics in the Office of Global Women's Issues, replies:

Doctor N.,

You raise a very good point. The “Thousand Days” initiative was created to deliberately focus on child and maternal nutrition within a narrowly-defined (and crucial) time period, but that doesn't mean that other programs and initiatives don't -- or shouldn't -- take a broader view.

The U.S. Global Health Initiative (GHI), for example, prioritizes sustainability and a holistic conceptualization of health. This worldwide program seeks to strengthen existing health systems and develop countries' capacity to improve the health of their people. It recognizes that, for instance, improving women's health means successfully tackling the economic, cultural, social, and legal barriers that put obstacles in the way of their care. This means taking on gender-based violence, a lack of educational and economic opportunity, and harmful traditional practices, such as early marriage and female genital mutilation. The Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues has been active in promoting this initiative.

The Global Health Initiative will help the U.S. integrate and coordinate its many global health programs so they meet the range of needs women, children and families face in the developing world. Secretary Clinton's recent address on the initiative explains the vision. You can also see examples of the GHI in action in the work of the U.S. Agency for International Development, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

We believe that providing a variety of programs, coordinated through GHI, allows us to be nimble and responsive to changing healthcare needs around the world and to adapt our strategies to different regions and cultures on the basis of “lessons learned.” You can follow some of those stories on DipNote (e.g., Swaziland's Bold Leadership in Fighting HIV/AIDS; Reproductive Health Care in Crisis Situations), and we hope to bring you more in the future.

Thanks for your thought-provoking comment!

About the Author: Claire Sneed serves as a Conflict Prevention Officer in the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction & Stabilization (S/CRS).

In April 2010 a popular uprising brought down the Government of Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. The Provisional Government that filled the power vacuum was soon put to the test when ethnic violence erupted in the south of Kyrgyzstan in early June, creating a fragile environment for an inexperienced Provisional Government in a country of strategic importance to the United States. To support the efforts of U.S. Embassy Bishkek and the U.S. Government to ensure the stability of the Provisional Government and prevent further violence, S/CRS deployed an interagency team of Civilian Response Corps members to provide technical and administrative support to the embassy in areas critical to the country's stability.

In January 2010, concerns about Central Asia prompted U.S. officials to facilitate a whole-of-government conflict analysis and planning process for Kyrgyzstan. The process engaged dozens of U.S. Government offices in Washington, as well as an interagency team at the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek, to identify key questions related to Kyrgyzstan's short and longer term stability. Senior leadership at the U.S. Embassy, leadership of the Manas Transit Center, representatives from the U.S. Department of State's South and Central Asia Bureau and other offices, members of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and representatives from the Department of Defense (DOD), including CENTCOM, worked together to identify country-specific and broader regional factors affecting stability and to develop a whole-of-government strategic plan to address these factors.

Following the uprising in April 2010, senior leaders from the budget, planning, and assistance coordination offices of the State Department's Bureau for Europe and Eurasia, USAID's Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, and the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS) agreed to send a multi-office team to Kyrgyzstan to help the U.S. Embassy develop a six-month stabilization strategy for U.S. assistance to the Provisional Government to help lay the groundwork for a constitutional referendum and parliamentary elections in the fall of 2010. Three Civilian Response Corps members participated in the State-USAID assessment, which set broad objectives for the 6-12 month period, assigned U.S. Government resources to these objectives, and identified critical technical areas, such as elections, security, and economic and trade policy, which the Provisional Government identified as key to achieving peaceful transition. To meet the objectives set forth in the assessment, an expanded team of Civilian Response Corps members was selected and deployed in May and early June.

In early June, however, the situation worsened as ethnic violence erupted in the southern cities of Osh and Jalalabad, resulting in hundreds dead and thousands wounded, the destruction of public infrastructure and entire neighborhoods, and the expulsion of tens of thousands of minority ethnic Uzbeks into neighboring Uzbekistan, creating a humanitarian and refugee crisis. The Civilian Response Corps team responded quickly to the changed circumstances. A small assessment team deployed to Osh to assess security, damage, and humanitarian need and to evaluate timing to stand up a temporary U.S. Assistance Coordination Unit in the south. The team also increased U.S. Embassy reporting and provided technical advice to the U.S. Embassy and local officials on key stability issues such as assistance coordination, security, economic policy, and elections. An additional S/CRS representative was assigned to CENTCOM to help coordinate efforts between the Civilian Response Corps; DOD; USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance; State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration; and other U.S. offices participating in the humanitarian response.

Several valuable lessons learned have come out of this engagement and will be useful for future U.S. efforts to respond to complex stabilization challenges. First, U.S. Government stabilization efforts and plans to address conflict and instability should be based on a shared understanding of changing dynamics on the ground, ideally through a robust interagency assessment. Only through collaboration at the very beginning of an engagement can a full picture of the situation on the ground be achieved. The second lesson is that, where appropriate and feasible, a civilian surge effort must be based on a detailed concept of operations developed jointly with the U.S. Embassy and key Washington offices to ensure a coordinated response. Third, U.S. civilian stabilization efforts can only be successful with clear and accepted mandates, roles, and responsibilities, and clear processes for communication and decision-making. Finally, all of these requirements for successful U.S. stabilization response are achievable if stabilization resources, goals, and plans account for those that already exist and are ongoing, not only those of the U.S. Government in-country, but those of our host nation partner and counterparts as well.

The work of the Civilian Response Corps continues in Kyrgyzstan, with the deployment currently scheduled to end in December 2010. Support to the U.S. Embassy will remain a high priority with S/CRS and the Civilian Response Corps standing ready to provide assistance to help ensure peace and stability in this area important to U.S. national security.

Related Entries: Providing Assistance and Supporting International Efforts in Kyrgyzstan, Helping the People of Osh Move Toward Peace and Reconciliation and Rebuilding Kyrgyzstan: U.S. Pledges $48.6 Million at International Donors' Conference

About the Author: Ruth Bennett serves as an Editor and Community Manager at DipNote.

This past week, we continued our coverage of the UN General Assembly in New York. The United States applauded the UN Human Rights Council's creation of the first-ever Special Rapporteur on freedom of assembly and association; Secretary Clinton spoke about ways to counter threats to international peace and security; and Assistant Secretary Brimmer reflected on the importance of multilateral engagement more generally. Several people provided us with helpful summaries of the spectacularly busy schedule of UN meetings and discussions: Major General (Ret) Scott Gration wrapped up coverage of Sudan for us; the CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation discussed development policy; and several Assistant Secretaries provided press readouts summarizing developments in specific areas of the world and offering their thoughts.

Although -- as you can see -- UNGA's scope is truly global, there was a special emphasis on global development this year, and on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in particular. On September 28, we watched a discussion of the first-ever Presidential Policy Directive on Global Development, and we followed up with an in-depth look at one important aspect of development: food security. Ambassador Cousin, from the United Nations Agencies in Rome, explored food security in Bangladesh and wrote about the programs that are succeeding there. Our Photo of the Week came from her trip, and gave us a literal boatload of reasons to care about ensuring the world's food supply.

Our initial coverage of UNGA and the MDGs last month included this argument from Ambassador Verveer that women's equality (MDG #3) is key to meeting the other Millennium goals. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting this week took up a similar theme, focusing on the regional and global economic progress that could come from women's increased economic empowerment. The reasons for women's economic under-participation are complex, and solving the problem isn't straightforward. Ambassador Verveer addressed one aspect of the problem -- with an emphasis on a solution that's working well in India -- in her entry “Mobilizing Communities to Address Gender-Based Violence.” We asked for your input on the topic in our Question of the Week.

In Pakistan, 1,900 students graduated from U.S.-funded “employability” training, and, in The Bahamas, “Eunice Kennedy Shriver” Day reminded us that we can all make a difference in our communities. Our colleagues at Africom sought to do just that by providing 10,000 Ugandan students backpacks, helping to make homework -- or, at least, carrying it -- a little easier.

Back in Washington after the end of high-level UNGA sessions, Secretary Clinton spoke at a historical conference on Southeast Asia (additional reflections on the conference are here). She met with EU High Representative Lady Ashton and -- on the eve of the 20th anniversary of German Unification -- with German Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Westerwelle. In a blog entry DipNote readers told us they particularly welcomed, Secretary Clinton also spoke about President Obama's Executive Order imposing sanctions on Iranian officials who are responsible for, or complicit in, serious human rights abuses. Assistant Secretary Yun testified on the Hill about Cambodia's debt; the U.S. Embassy in Quito provided an update on the situation in Ecuador. We noted the 18th anniversary of the Senate's approval of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, and the 300 days since its expiration. Far from past tensions over arms control, the paintings of William James Glackens -- our current ART in EMBASSIES offering -- brought the week to a close with a soothing vision of tranquility.

About the Author: Kurt Campbell serves as Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

Last week, I joined leaders and representatives from around the world at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City. I met with key international players from the Asia-Pacific region and had the opportunity to underscore the United States' enduring commitment to the region and the importance of multilateral cooperation in addressing the global and transnational issues that affect us all.

Secretary Clinton and I attended President Obama's bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Kan of Japan and Premier Wen Jiabao of the People's Republic of China. I also attended meetings with leaders and representatives from Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, the Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Malaysia, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Singapore. These face-to-face meetings are an important part of our high level of engagement with the nations of the Asia-Pacific region. Our Asian allies and partners play a critical role in international architecture, through their valuable political, economic, and cultural contributions to the world.

On Friday, September 24, I attended President Obama's meeting with the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the second U.S.-ASEAN summit and the first to be held in the United States. This meeting underscored the importance that the United States places on ASEAN, and the Administration's desire to enhance engagement in Southeast Asia. At this summit, the leaders discussed a broad range of global and regional issues, from trade and investment to climate change to maritime security and non-proliferation. We look forward to continuing to deepen our relationship with our ASEAN partners in the months ahead.

I also had the good fortune of joining Secretary Clinton for a meeting with the Pacific Island Leaders that she hosted in New York. This was the second such meeting she hosted and demonstrates the commitment the United States places on the Pacific. We also were fortunate to be joined by representatives from New Zealand and Australia, two critical partners for the U.S. in the Pacific.

I returned from New York invigorated and resolved that American engagement in the Asia-Pacific will be instrumental to our future and to advancing American national interests.

About the Author: Erica Thibault serves as Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Nassau, The Bahamas.

“Every person, regardless of whatever different abilities they may have, can contribute, can be a source of joy, can beam with pride and love.” - Eunice Kennedy Shriver

U.S. Embassy Nassau, Special Olympics-Bahamas and more than 150 Special Olympic athletes, coaches, volunteers and supporters came together on September 25 to honor the founder of the Special Olympics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, through an afternoon of games and dancing on the front lawn of the residence of the U.S. Ambassador, Nicole A. Avant. Eunice K. Shriver was a leader who broke down barriers to improve the lives of millions of people with intellectual disabilities, as well as their families' lives and their communities, for over five decades. Although she passed away on August 11, 2009, her legacy lives on through the continued growth of the Special Olympic movement and the annual Eunice Kennedy Shriver (EKS) Day celebrations that take place around the world.

There are currently over 400 Special Olympic athletes from The Bahamas and scores of local volunteers and financial supporters who assist these inspirational athletes in realizing their dreams. The Prime Minister of The Bahamas, the Rt. Honorable Hubert A. Ingraham, officially recognized Special Olympics-Bahamas' impact on the community by issuing an official proclamation declaring September 25, 2010, to be "EKS Day" across The Bahamas. This proclamation was the driving force behind Saturday's celebration hosted by U.S. Ambassador Nicole A. Avant and her husband, Ted Sarandos, at their Liberty Overlook home. Eunice K. Shriver's granddaughters, Eunice and Francesca Shriver, along with representatives from Best Buddies International, a global non-profit that creates opportunities for integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, traveled to The Bahamas to take part in the event, meet with athletes and personally thank the people of The Bahamas for embracing the movement.

U.S. Ambassador Nicole A. Avant is a long-time supporter of the Special Olympics and Best Buddies because she believes both organizations are committed to expanding the possibilities of people with intellectual disabilities, which fuels hope in all of us to make a difference. "I'm so proud that I have the opportunity to honor Shriver's legacy by recreating a mini 'Camp Shriver' on my front lawn," she said. “The Special Olympics' annual EKS Day teaches us that differences are to be celebrated and appreciated and that every individual is entitled to dignity."

Shriver launched a movement that inspired generations of people with intellectual disabilities to “play on” and become agents of acceptance and action in their communities. Shriver convened the first Special Olympic Games in Chicago on July 20, 1968, only seven weeks after her younger brother, Robert Kennedy, was assassinated in Los Angeles. In front of a crowd of fewer than 100 people, 1,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities marched in the opening ceremonies and joined Mrs. Shriver as she recited what continues to be the Special Olympics oath: “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” Today, more than three million Special Olympics athletes are training year-round in all 50 states in the United States and in more than 185 countries.

EKS Day is celebrated each year to inspire new fans to embrace the movement. It is a global call for inclusion, acceptance, and unity for and with individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Special Olympics-Bahamas' National Chairman Basil Christie believes that The Bahamas is a better place because the Special Olympics is active here. "The courage, determination and the motivation to excel displayed by Special Olympics athletes inspires our community -- young and old alike -- to adapt to a new attitude of ‘yes I can'. We owe it all to Eunice Kennedy Shriver because the spirit of self-worth generated by these athletes has positively changed the lives of thousands around the world."

For more information on Eunice K. Shriver's life and the Special Olympics movement, please visit www.eunicekennedyshriver.org.

About the Author: Kristen Hickman serves as Public Affairs Officer for the Office of ART in EMBASSIES.

William James Glackens offers a peaceful escape from the intensity of metropolitan living in his work Brewster's Creek currently on view as part of the ART in EMBASSIES exhibition at Spaso House, Moscow. Past tensions over arms control and arms reduction seem far removed from this quiet, secluded scene that depicts a life free of worry and fear. A native of Philadelphia, Glackens worked as an illustrator for newspapers and magazines for many years. In his free time, he studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. He traveled to France a number of times and was influenced largely by the works of Renoir.

Later, he moved to New York City where he became associated with the Ashcan School, a group of eight artists who exhibited their works without pre-approval by juries of the existing art establishment. The Eight, as they were called, became key figures in the realist movement and often focused their work on urban scenes. Yet, Brewster's Creek evokes the comfort of a rural scene and beckons a return to the pleasures of a simple life. Whether in Moscow or Washington -- or any number of cities around the world -- getting away from the day-to-day routine sometimes requires just a few minutes from an artist's point of view.

Today marks the 18th anniversary of the Senate's approval of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with a vote of 93-6. This groundbreaking treaty, negotiated by both the Ronald Reagan Administration and the George H.W. Bush Administration, reduced the number of strategic nuclear weapons in the U.S. and Russian arsenals and set up a system of inspections and verification that ensured stability between the two superpowers. The START Treaty expired exactly 300 days ago, leaving the United States without crucial on-the-ground inspections and other verification mechanisms of Russian strategic nuclear forces.

To remedy this, the New START Treaty is now working its way through the Senate. Like the START Treaty, the New START Treaty advances some of our most critical national security objectives and will provide stability and predictability between the world's two leading nuclear powers. New START will also restore crucial on-the-ground inspections and other verification mechanisms of Russian strategic nuclear forces that began with the START Treaty.

Secretary Clinton met with Senator Kerry yesterday on Capitol Hill, where they discussed the Foreign Relations Committee's recent strong, bipartisan 14-4 vote to move New START to the Senate floor. The Secretary said:

"This vote that was in the Committee demonstrates unequivocally that national security is a bipartisan commitment. As we have seen with every arms control agreement, going back to the original START 1 treaty that was passed, ratified by the Senate 18 years ago tomorrow, this is an obligation and responsibility that senators addressed without regard for the day-to-day politics…[S]upport for New START by our entire military leadership, our intelligence community, six former secretaries of state, five former secretaries of defense, three former national security advisors, and seven former commanders of U.S. Strategic Command is an extraordinary endorsement of why this treaty needs to be passed, and passed in the lame duck session."

National security is unequivocally a bipartisan responsibility. The Senate has consistently supported treaties like the START Treaty, the INF Treaty and the Moscow Treaty on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis. The full Senate will have a chance to vote on the New START in the lame duck session and will once again have the chance to demonstrate to the American public and the world that Senators from both sides of the aisle can come together to support an agreement that is clearly in the best interest of the American people and international security .

To learn more about the New START Treaty, click here.

On September 30, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton commented on the situation in Ecuador. The Secretary said, "We are closely following events in Ecuador. The United States deplores violence and lawlessness and we express our full support for President Rafael Correa, and the institutions of democratic government in that country. We urge all Ecuadorians to come together and to work within the framework of Ecuador's democratic institutions to reach a rapid and peaceful restoration of order."

The U.S. Embassy in Quito, Ecuador provides information regarding the services which are available to American Citizens in Ecuador. On October 1, U.S. Embassy Quito issued this statement:

"The protests associated with yesterday's crisis have subsided. Reports indicate that police are returning to work today, October 1. The airports in Guayaquil and Quito have reopened, but there are few international flights at this time. Please contact your airline carrier for the most up-to-date information.

"...Roads appear to be open, although traffic is generally light. If leaving the home is necessary, American citizens are advised to take caution and be aware of the situation around you.

'The U.S. Embassy in Quito is open today, and it is anticipated that the U.S. Consulate in Guayaquil will re-open shortly. The U.S. Embassy recommends continuing to monitor Ecuadorian news outlets for any updates. We will also continue to provide new information as warranted."

Americans living or traveling in Ecuador are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Ecuador through the Department of State's travel registration website.

The U.S. Embassy in Quito is located at Avigiras E12-170 y Eloy Alfaro. The telephone number for American Citizen Service (ACS) inquiries is (011 593-2) 398-5000. Within the same city use the last seven digits. Add the city code for intercity telephone calls.

U.S. citizens should consult the Country Specific Information for Ecuador and the latest Travel Alerts and Warnings and Worldwide Caution at the Department's travel.state.gov website. Updated information on travel and security in Ecuador may also be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States or by calling 1-202-501-4444 outside the United States.

About the Author: Suzanne Nossel serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs.

Just hours ago, the UN Human Rights Council created the first-ever Special Rapporteur on freedom of assembly and association to provide a new level of attention these fundamental freedoms currently lack.

Support for the resolution, which the United States led, came from more than 60 co-sponsoring countries from every region.

President Obama and Secretary Clinton have made freedom of association a U.S. foreign policy priority. In a speech at the Community of Democracies in July, the Secretary decried the crackdown underway on the work of non-governmental organizations and human rights defenders that find themselves targeted by governments that prefer not to hear the messages these brave activists and advocates deliver. As the Secretary said, "the United Nations Human Rights Council needs to do more to protect civil society. Freedom of association is the only freedom defined in the United Nations declaration of human rights that does not enjoy specific attention from the UN human rights machinery."

We hope this resolution will strengthen the hands of civil society activists worldwide, too many of whom are subject to increasing levels of government restrictions and repression. In championing this issue at the Human Rights Council, we brought together a wide coalition of countries to stand up on behalf of ordinary citizens seeking to meet, consult, organize and bring change to their countries.

We worked with a core group of supporters on this resolution, including Czech Republic, Indonesia, Lithuania, the Maldives, Mexico and Nigeria, demonstrating the power of cross-regional partnerships to tackle tough issues.

The resolution passed by consensus, winning the backing of many countries that have not always stood up for these fundamental rights. We hope the resolution becomes an impetus for countries the world over to strengthen protection for these core freedoms, and that it empowers individuals to assert their rights.

In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly last week, the President called civil society the "the conscience of our communities," stating that "the arc of human progress has been shaped by individuals with the freedom to assemble and by organizations outside of government that insisted upon democratic change."

We applaud the UNHRC's decision to address this issue, and will continue our leading efforts to expand respect for this important right for civil society and individuals all over the world.

About the Author: Lindsay Krasnoff serves as a Historian in the State Department's Office of the Historian.

The first day of our conference was a long one -- 12 hours of events and programs -- yet eventful. Secretary Clinton opened the conference, reminding us that, "people do not easily shake off the weight of history." The concept of history -- what it is, the different ways that one may reflect on it, and how history can be used in the realm of diplomacy and international affairs -- was one of the central themes addressed by each of our speakers, scholars, and panelists. Throughout the day, we were reminded of how much the history of the period of American involvement in Southeast Asia, from 1946 through 1975, marked and shaped the United States in a multitude of ways -- and how much this history is still with us today.

History through the eyes of those who participated in it was the prevalent theme for the first half of the day. Dr. Kissinger and Ambassador Holbrooke told the audience about their experiences conducting U.S. foreign policy in Vietnam in the 1960s and 1970s, while two scholars from Vietnam, Ambassador Tran Van Tung and Dr. Nguyen Manh Ha, exposed us to "The View from Hanoi." However, it is also important to think about how one can use history, as the several of the senior scholars of the field reminded us yesterday afternoon. How can historians make history more accessible, and how can policymakers better use history to help inform them when making present-day policy decisions were two important questions raised for reflection.

Those who participated in the evening's media roundtable forced the audience to look at the history of the Vietnam War through yet a different lens. In sharing their experiences of covering the war, from both Vietnam and Washington, DC, William Beecher and Morley Safer gave us a better perspective of what went on behind the scenes of the media's coverage of the war and U.S. policy at the time. Moderator Marvin Kalb not only shared his experiences, but directed the discussion over a range of topics that included how the panelists felt their coverage impacted U.S. policy. Edith Lederer provided countless examples of what it was like to be a female reporter in Vietnam covering the war and the various obstacles she encountered, while Barry Zorthian explained what it was like to be on the other side of the divide while he served as the U.S. Minister Counselor for Information and Director of the Joint U.S. Public Affairs Office in Vietnam.

Ambassador Negroponte began our second day by asking us how we wish to teach the Vietnam War to our students, and to reconsider some of the popular myths that surround this period in our history. The four academic panels today investigated how the United States interacted with its allies, how force and diplomacy were used during the Vietnam War, and what can be learned from the history of the counterinsurgency and reconstruction programs in Vietnam. The final panel of the conference brought the entire experience back home to the United States, with a look at the reaction of Americans to the U.S. intervention in Vietnam.

Joe Yun, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, testified today before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment. Deputy Assistant Secretary Yun spoke about Cambodia's increasing political stability, progress on political and social issues, and improvement in U.S.-Cambodian relations.

Mr. Yun said, "Debt relief can be an important means of achieving U.S. goals of promoting economic growth, well-functioning financial markets, and economic reform abroad. Longstanding United States policy is to coordinate sovereign debt restructuring internationally, primarily through the Paris Club group of official creditors. This multilateral approach is a good value for the U.S. taxpayer because it increases recoveries from countries that are not paying their debts to the United States while maximizing benefits of debt relief for heavily-indebted, low-income countries that are unable to meet their payment obligations.

"...Cambodia's bilateral debt to the U.S. government remains an irritant to the relationship. A satisfactory resolution of Cambodia's debt would accelerate the development of an already improving bilateral relationship and enhance Cambodia's own economic development by improving its creditworthiness and access to international capital markets.

"...Senior U.S. government officials have repeatedly encouraged Cambodia to live up to the 1995 Paris Club agreement it signed with the United States and other creditors, and urged it to sign the pending U.S.-Cambodia bilateral agreement without further delay. However, Cambodia may be reluctant to accept the current proposal to settle the bilateral debt issue if it believes there are good prospects of converting a significant amount of the debt service it would otherwise pay to the United States into a form of increased U.S. assistance.

"...The Administration is concerned that creating a special statutory debt reduction program for a country that is unwilling, rather than unable, to pay its debts sets a poor precedent for other counties in similar circumstances and sends the wrong message about prudent debt management. Cambodia has accumulated arrears to the United States while paying other creditors on time, and in at least one case, early. Every year, both within and outside of the Paris Club context, the United States reviews and declines similar requests for debt-for-assistance swap arrangements from debtor countries that are current on their debt service and may owe billions of dollars of debt.

"The Administration has therefore urged the Cambodian government to sign the pending bilateral debt agreement and re-establish a track record of timely repayments under that agreement. We have told the Cambodian government that if it makes scheduled payments for at least one year, the U.S. government would communicate to the IMF that efforts are underway to resolve official arrears. This action could pave the way, should Cambodia then obtain an IMF program and a future Paris Club debt treatment, for a rescheduling of the accumulated arrears. Unfortunately, the Cambodian government has not responded to this overture and continues to accumulate arrears on debts owed to the United States.

"...In sum, Cambodia's prompt agreement to resolve U.S. debt claims by drafting a Bilateral Agreement implementing the 1995 Paris Club Agreed Minute, as Cambodian officials proposed in 2006, would eliminate this long-standing dispute in a scenario of otherwise improving bilateral relations. A Cambodian agreement would also enhance the country's creditworthiness and its ability to access international capital markets. Other countries following this path have benefited enormously."

You can read Deputy Assistant Secretary Yun's full remarks here.

More photos: U.S. Department of State's Flickr photostream | State@Work

Last week, our Photo of the Week highlighted the work of thousanddays.org, an organization built around the idea that adequate nutrition is key to child development, particularly in the critical thousand-day window that includes the mother's pregnancy through a child's second birthday.

The work of thousanddays.org is part of a broader focus on food security: solutions to increasing the world's food supply to meet future demands. Food security -- having a reliable source of food and sufficient resources to purchase it -- underpins the health of children and adults as well as the productivity of nations. Advancing sustainable agricultural-led growth increases the availability of food, keeps food affordable, and raises the incomes of the poor.

Today's Photo of the Week comes from Bangladesh, where Ambassador Cousin recently traveled. "How do you feed a country with half the population of the United States squeezed into an area the size of the state of Iowa?," Ambassador Cousin asked. The solutions, she wrote, involve resource preservation, community outreach and training, improved farming methods, access to markets, and country-driven development. And the picture, taken en route to a USAID project? That's to remind us what's at stake.

About the Authors: Kara Aylward serves as Germany Desk Officer and Ron Hawkins serves as Public Diplomacy Desk Officer in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs.

On the eve of the 20th anniversary of German Unification, German Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle joined Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for a lunch followed by a press event. The Secretary congratulated the German people on this occasion and on their tremendous success since unification, an example to all nations that overcoming divisions peacefully is possible.

The Secretary underscored that the United States and Germany are close allies partnering together in many areas of common interest, including Afghanistan, the Middle East, promoting human rights and development, and advancing global security and prosperity. The Foreign Minister reinforced the message of U.S.-German collaboration and expressed his appreciation to the American people for the strong role the United States played in realizing German unity 20 years ago.

You can read the transcript of Secretary Clinton's remarks with German Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Westerwelle here.

About the Author: Ertharin Cousin serves as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies in Rome.

After an incredible boat ride across the Bay of Bengal, where fishermen in their long crescent-shaped wooden boats with oversized oars were attempting their catches for the day, we arrived at the USAID Integrated Protected Area Co-Management program (IPAC) site -- in the Sundarbans -- on September 29. The Sundarbans is the largest remaining mangrove in the world, and its natural resources have generated livelihood support and met the food security needs of the local residents for generations. The USAID program is introducing a co-management approach to conservation by local communities and Bangladesh Forest Department officials. This program recognizes the importance of saving the forest as well also ensuring that the affected area families have the ability to feed their children.

During our visit, a local community group performed an interpretive song and dance. The performance demonstrated how the IPAC program teaches Sundarbans dwellers -- most of whom are unable to read or write -- viable alternatives to the income generating activities they historically practiced. These practices included net-fishing and timber-cutting, actions that damage the mangrove. As a result of this type of training, the locals are beginning to better understand that protecting the mangrove also acts as a defense against natural disasters, such as cyclones and flooding -- frequent occurrences in Bangladesh.

Cyclone Sidr struck Bangladesh in late 2007, but farmers -- both men and women, many landless before Sidr -- continue to feel the effects. With their assets destroyed by floodwaters, many still benefit from the FAO Emergency 2007 Cyclone Recovery and Restoration Project, which provides farming inputs, including tillers, feed and livestock. I had an opportunity to see first-hand how the beneficiaries of this program are rebuilding their livelihoods one sheep at a time.

In Bagerhat, men and women held their registration cards as they lined up in neat and orderly rows behind signs that read: "POWER TILLER BENEFICIARY," "SHEEP BENEFICIARY," "SEED AND FERTILIZER BENEFICIARY." Everyone waited patiently to receive his or her allotment. There were only women in the sheep line, because women normally stay at home and thus are the livestock caretakers. One unmarried woman we spoke to has turned her two-goat allocation from the program into a profitable business selling products door-to-door. This very entrepreneurial widow sold one goat then used the proceeds to procure small household items, which she now sells to her neighbors. Through artificial insemination, her second goat is now expecting a kid -- more opportunities for profits and sales.

On our way back to Khulna, we visited the USAID Post Cyclone Sidr Livelihoods Reconstruction Program (PCSLRP), which is implemented by USAID partner World Vision. This market program represents the true spirit of our "Feed the Future" initiative. The goal is not just increasing livelihoods, but also ensuring that farmers have access to markets and consumers maintain access to quality affordable food. This program supports construction of new marketplace facilities. These facilities protect the vendors as well as their produce, fish and customers from the blistering heat, floods and monsoonal rains while providing a higher level of sanitation. The market we toured appeared clean and organized. In fact, the fresh vegetables and fish tempted our buying impulses.

We also learned that the facility generates good economic results, because this new market consolidation -- in one central location as opposed to along the road-side -- allows the growers and fishermen to obtain better prices. When we spoke to these sellers, their enthusiasm regarding this incremental increase in prices was clearly evident. The market facility is coordinated and overseen by a community market management committee, allowing buyers and sellers better access to market information. As an aside, we also learned that PCSLRP also trains and supports women's employment in livestock care and breeding. This project allows women to earn additional income from their home, because most married women here remain at home and raise the children.

Throughout the day, I saw how the work of FAO, USAID and their NGO partners is beginning to generate results, from the fields to the marketplace. The programs we visited were not just designed to create sustainable market-driven results, but they also respond to the cultural and community needs of the populations they serve. Sustainably reducing hunger and poverty begins with vulnerable countries, which should decide on their own needs, priorities and strategies. Country ownership provides the most effective means to coordinate development efforts and achieve sustainability. When we use the words "country-driven," we are definitely on the right track in Bangladesh to "walking the talk."

Read Ambassador Cousin's previous entry from Bangladesh or more about global hunger and food security.

As The State Department Historian, Ambassador Edward Brynn, noted this morning, today's conference on "The American Experience in Southeast Asia, 1946-1975" is the sixth in a series spanning more than a decade, and represents the office's “most ambitious effort to date to bring together those who played a seminal role in this conflict, and those who have dedicated their lives to identifying and assessing Vietnam's enormous consequences.”

Speaking at the conference today, Secretary Clinton said, "For Americans of my generation, the war in Vietnam shaped the way we view the world and our country. Like everyone in those days, I had friends who enlisted -- male friends who enlisted -- were drafted, resisted, or became conscientious objectors; many long, painful, anguished conversations. And yet, the lessons of that era continue to inform the decisions we make. And for Vietnamese of the same generation who saw their country torn apart by war and who shared also the anguish, the loss of loved ones, friends, and family members as so many Americans did, the memories are also vivid and, for many, still painful.

"People do not easily shake off the weight of history. All over the world, we see the bitter legacy of old conflicts and enmities. It is a source of many of our most persistent challenges. I see it every day as I work with governments on very intractable conflicts that are difficult to even imagine resolving because of the accumulated history of mistrust, of violence that has joined peoples together over time. But how remarkable it is that the American and Vietnamese people have decided to leave behind a history they could not change and embrace a future that we can shape together."

Recalling a visit to Hanoi ten years ago, Secretary Clinton said, "...the most moving experience was our visit to a site where Vietnamese and American archeologists, along with American and Vietnamese soldiers, were searching together for the remains of a missing United States pilot who had crashed 33 years before, Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence Evert. Bill and I stood there watching this work with Lieutenant Colonel Evert's children, now grown beside us. We watched the workers carefully sift through the mud. Knee deep, they painstakingly excavated the fragments of Colonel Evert's F-105 fighter plane and the tatters of his uniform. It was a sacred site and both sides were joined in that work. The Vietnamese Government had sent engineers to help, villagers had come forward with artifacts and information, and eventually the Everts were able to take their father home.

"...The image of that dig 10 years ago has stayed with me. Americans and Vietnamese covered in mud, searching together for traces of a shared and painful past, not because they sought to relive it nor to open old wounds, but because together we recognized we have to face our past if we're going to make peace with it.

"And that is what history, your work, this conference, and the many volumes that have been published, is all about. Historians are excavating, sifting, and straining, helping us know our history more fully so that we can put the past behind us and move forward together.

"The progress between Vietnam and the United States has been breathtaking. When I was in Hanoi to help commemorate the 15th anniversary of the normalization of relations, I addressed a large group of American and Vietnamese businesses that are working together. Our trade agreement has created jobs and spurred growth on both sides of the Pacific. Our friendship has become an anchor of security and stability in the region. An entire generation of young people has grown up knowing only peace between Vietnam and America, and the relationships that they are forming through educational and cultural exchanges, through new businesses and social networks are drawing us even closer together."

You can read the full text of Secretary Clinton's remarks here.

Today, President Obama signed an Executive Order that imposes sanctions on Iranian officials determined to be responsible for or complicit in serious human rights abuses involving Iran. In a press briefing with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke about the new Executive Order. She said:

"...President Obama signed an Executive Order targeting eight Iranian officials responsible for serious and sustained human rights abuses since the disputed election of June 2009. On these officials' watch or under their command, Iranian citizens have been arbitrarily arrested, beaten, tortured, raped, blackmailed, and killed. Yet the Iranian Government has ignored repeated calls from the international community to end these abuses, to hold to account those responsible and respect the rights and fundamental freedoms of its citizens. And Iran has failed to meet its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

"The steady deterioration in human rights conditions in Iran has obliged the United States to speak out time and time again. And today, we are announcing specific actions that correspond to our deep concern. The mounting evidence of repression against anyone who questions Iranian Government decisions or advocates for transparency or even attempts to defend political prisoners is very troubling.

"This week, Iranian authorities banned two reformist political parties and shut down two more newspapers. This follows a series of convictions and harsh sentences for a number of political prisoners. Two internationally recognized human rights defenders were sentenced to six-year prison terms. A student leader was given an eight and a half year sentence for insulting the president. Human rights lawyers, bloggers, journalists and activists for women's rights have all been jailed and many have fallen ill due to mistreatment in prison.

"Now, these actions obviously contradict recent claims made at the United Nations that Iranians enjoy the right of free expression and that no one is imprisoned for political reasons. In signing this Executive Order, the President sends the message that the United States stands up for the universal rights of all people. And as President Obama said at the United Nations last week, we will call out those who suppress ideas. We will serve as a voice for the voiceless. And we will hold abuse of governments and individuals accountable for their actions.

"This is the first time the United States has imposed sanctions against Iran based on human rights abuses. We would like to be able to tell you that it might be the last, but we fear not. We now have at our disposal a new tool that allows us to designate individual Iranians, officials responsible for or complicit in serious human rights violations, and do so in a way that does not in any way impact on the well-being of the Iranian people themselves.

"The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 permits us to impose financial sanctions and deny U.S. visas to specific Iranian officials where there is credible evidence against them. In doing so today, we declare our solidarity with their victims and with all Iranians who wish for a government that respects their human rights and their dignity and their freedom. By doing so, we convey our strong support for the rule of law, and we speak out for those unable to speak for themselves because they are jailed or frightened or fear retribution against themselves or their families.

"Today, again, we call for the immediate release of all political prisoners in Iran and around the world, and we call on the Iranian Government to take actions to end these abuses and respect the universal rights and freedoms of its own citizens."

Read the transcript of the briefing here. Learn more about the new Executive Order and see a list of the individuals identified for sanctions here.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with EU High Representative Lady Catherine Ashton today in Washington, DC. After their meeting, Secretary Clinton said, "...It's a very great pleasure for me to welcome Lady Ashton back to the State Department. Over the last year, we have had the opportunity to spend a lot of quality time together as we've traveled around the world. And I very much appreciate her leadership and the ability to discuss and work on a number of common concerns."

Secretary Clinton continued, "The post-Lisbon EU is expanding its role in world affairs, and the United States values our growing partnership with the EU and we see it as a cornerstone of global peace and security. It goes to the point of being self-evident that our ties with Europe are broad and deep, rooted in our common values and our shared history. And we have to look for opportunities to make the past not just a glorious time of close transatlantic cooperation, but as the prelude to a very smart, sustained involvement globally on the new threats and opportunities that confront us."

Secretary Clinton addressed many areas in which the United States and the EU are already working together, particularly the Balkans, the Middle East and South and Central Asia. Secretary Clinton said:

"We are partners in the Quartet and we share a strong interest in direct negotiations continuing between the Israelis and Palestinians. And I want to thank Lady Ashton and the EU for the strong support that has been given to the Palestinian Authority's efforts to build institutions and lay the foundation for a future state. We are working to continue these talks. Senator Mitchell is in the region today and will be meeting with Lady Ashton upon her arrival tomorrow.

"We also discussed our continuing concerns about Iran's nuclear programs and reaffirmed our commitment to seek a diplomatic solution. Of course, it requires Iran responding to the standing invitation that the High Representative has extended for the resumption of the P-5+1 discussions. And I want to also thank you for the many contributions to Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is very impressive that the EU has recently committed to increase Pakistan's access to EU markets.

"We discussed at some length the Balkans, where we both remain fully engaged and committed to helping all the countries of the region realize their aspirations for full integration into the Euro-Atlantic community. The United States welcomes the European Union's efforts to help Serbia and Kosovo resolve the practical issues between them, and I will be going to the region in about ten days. And we discussed at some length how we will enhance our cooperation not only at this level but on the ground."

You can read the transcript of Secretary Clinton's remarks with Lady Ashton here.

About the Author: Lindsay Krasnoff serves in the Office of the Historian.

This being Washington, DC, one of the first questions that people ask me is: what do you do? When I respond, “I am a historian in the Office of the Historian at the Department of State,” I am usually met by a blank stare.

Nestled in Foggy Bottom, the Office of the Historian has been part of the Department of State for many decades. Our office currently has more than 30 historians in several divisions, who carry out numerous missions. One of these missions is to compile and publish the Foreign Relations of the United States series.

Commonly referred to as FRUS, the Foreign Relations series is the oldest official documentary record of its kind. First authorized by President Lincoln in 1861, FRUS has remained in continuous publication providing documentary coverage of all significant aspects of United States foreign policy since the Civil War. FRUS is an indispensable resource for the scholarly community, the general public, the press, and policy makers. It provides valuable historical context to aid in understanding historical events and their relevance to current policy. The evidence provided in FRUS allows for analysis and reflection on United States policy, and reexamination of the history of the conflict in light of newly declassified information.

Today, the Office of the Historian launches a two-day historical conference, “The American Experience in Southeast Asia, 1946-1975.” It's a morning of beginnings and ends for us. For the past year, several of us have helped to plan and execute the multi-faceted and ambitious program agenda. Now that the event is fully upon us, it is somewhat bittersweet.

One of the main goals for hosting this conference is to commemorate the end of a process that began in 1971, when the first section on “French Indochina” pertaining to the year 1946 was published in a FRUS volume entitled, “The Far East.” Since then, the Office of the Historian has published more than two dozen FRUS volumes on the subject, culminating on September 23, 2010, with the publication of the last volume in the series, which covers the final phase of engagement from the Paris Peace Accords to the Fall of Saigon in 1975. This sub-series detailing United States engagement in Southeast Asia now consists of 26 Foreign Relations volumes spanning 24,500 pages of official documents produced by the White House, the Department of State, the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, and other government agencies.

Our conference highlights the completion of this sub-series, with special focus on the Vietnam War period, 1961-1973. Yet, it also serves as an opportunity to re-examine the history of American policy towards Indochina/Vietnam during this period.

In this sense, when Secretary Clinton opens our conference today, she will launch a two-day period of reflection and re-examination; a forum for American and international scholars to present papers on such critically important Vietnam War topics as force and diplomacy, counterinsurgency and pacification, the United States and its allies, and the war at home. As part of the academic community, my office finds this scholarship, based upon declassified and -- in some cases, recently released -- documents to be very exciting.

Our featured speakers include Dr. Henry Kissinger, Ambassador John Negroponte, and Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. Rounding out our scholarly panels today will be two speakers from Hanoi, who will offer some perspective on the North Vietnamese experience, and a panel of senior scholars who will discuss how academia has treated the Vietnam War. Finally, to close a long and eventful first day, we have put together a panel of distinguished journalists to provide a unique perspective on the role and impact of the media on public opinion and U.S. policy during the war. This evening's 6:00 p.m. roundtable discussion on the media and the Vietnam War by William Beecher, Marvin Kalb, Edith Lederer, Morley Safer, and Barry Zorthian promises to be quite interesting.

Thus, as months of planning for this conference ends the years of hard work by our historians who have compiled, edited, declassified, and published the FRUS Southeast Asia/Vietnam sub-series, we look forward to the beginnings of new and renewed discussion on the history of U.S. foreign policy of this period.

About the Author: Ertharin Cousin serves as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies in Rome.

How do you feed a country with half the population of the United States squeezed into an area the size of the state of Iowa? I went to Bangladesh to find out. I brought along two local reporters and a group of journalists from India, Zambia, Uganda, Guatemala, Malawi and Rwanda, places where feeding people is also a challenge. Yesterday ,we traveled from Dhaka to Khulna which will serve as our base from where we will visit projects led by the U.S. government and UN agencies, including the World Food Program (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

When I think of cookies, I usually think of an Oreo -- one of my favorites -- but for over a million children in Bangladesh, "cookie" takes on a whole new meaning. For these kids, special cookies jam-packed with vitamins and minerals provide over a third of their daily caloric intake. With support from WFP and USDA, the Central Marketing Company (CMC) in the southern district of Khulna and 11 other factories similar to it bake these cookies. We visited CMC to witness first-hand the making of these nutritious gems. Our traveling party donned hygienic lab coats, caps and booties and toured the simple but squeaky-clean factory with the local Bangladeshi owner. As only one of many CMC clients, WFP provides the factory with a vitamin and mineral pack that is blended together with fortified flour, contributed by USDA, to produce a simple yet tasty cookie. This nutritious cookie gives over 1 million Bangladeshi school children not just the energy they need to focus on their studies, but also, in far too many cases, their only nutritious meal of the day.

At the cookie factory, we spoke with female employees -- who comprise the majority of the factory's 400 employee workforce. The women told us that before coming to work at CMC they had no jobs and little means of earning money to feed their children. Now with their CMC income they have enough money to put food on the table. This family-friendly factory also offers free day care to those working moms -- giving the mothers the assurance that their children are safe and properly cared for while they are busy at work.

After the factory visit, we drove through the amazingly lush rice fields to see first-hand what a difference $100 can make in rural Bangladesh. We found out when we visited the next stop on our tour: a village participating in IFAD's Microfinance and Technical Support project. Seven years ago, Mrs. Golapi Biswas eeked out a meager subsistence living by selling vegetables from her home garden. When IFAD, through a local NGO, began a micro-credit program aimed at poverty-stricken women, Mrs. Biswas took out a $100 loan and started a fish farm. The fish not only provided protein to her family, and with money from fish sales she was able to expand into the poultry business. A regular borrower from the micro-credit facility -- Mrs. Biswas today has profits of $4,000 per year. This may seem like a small sum, but in a country where 40% of the people live on less than $2 a day, this is a veritable fortune. She has also been able to send one child to the city for higher education, has purchased land, and now has plans to expand her business even further.

Before heading off to the Khulna live bird market, I met with women from the "Marsh of Ghosts," which refers to an area of land lost from a tidal surge during Cyclone Aila. Bangladesh is plagued by natural disasters -- flooding often puts 30% of the country's landmass under water in what has become a "normal year." These women had just participated in training provided by FAO, funded by USAID in collaboration with the European Union. The training and asset distribution program helps these women recover and maintain their livelihoods after the devastating cyclone. Through the FAO program, each woman received 20 chickens, learned how to raise them in a clean environment, keep them healthy and protect them from the deadly H5N1 avian influenza virus. After speaking with some of the women, I learned that their new chicken-raising businesses now allow them to feed their families, send their children to school, and plan for the future.

Back in Chicago, my chickens come wrapped in Styrofoam and plastic, de-feathered and ready to fry. At our next stop, I witnessed live chickens displayed in cages, selected by customers, and slaughtered on the spot. In the past, this live bird market in Khulna, with so many chickens in one place, faced the dangerous possibility of the spread of avian influenza. Now, through results from an FAO-USAID program, including improvements in marketplace cleanliness, disinfection and training of bird handlers, the threat of bird flu has been significantly reduced.

Needless to say, yesterday was filled with numerous examples of the positive impact the Rome-based UN agencies provide to the work of creating a food-secure Bangladesh. With the government, civil society, private sector, USAID and the other bilateral donor partners working together, partnerships are coming together to make a difference in Bangladesh.

Later today, I am looking forward to seeing the Sundarbans mangrove -- the largest in the world and home to the Royal Bengal tiger -- where we will experience how communities who depend on the mangrove for their income are learning new ways to earn a living, while simultaneously protecting this precious resource.

Stay tuned for more reports from Bangladesh tomorrow.

Read Ambassador Cousin's next entry from Bangladesh and learn more about global hunger, food security and the "1,000 Days: Change a Life, Change the Future" initiative.

About the Author: Dr. Esther Brimmer serves as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs.

The high-level portion of the annual United Nations General Assembly is now winding down, giving us an opportunity to reflect on the concrete benefits of multilateral cooperation for the American people as well as for the citizens of the other nations of the world.

To take just one example, on the issue of international terrorism: Yesterday, I had the honor of joining Secretary Clinton as she addressed a United Nations Security Council session devoted to our shared efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism worldwide. As the Secretary said, countering terrorism is not a task that any country can achieve on its own. It is a global challenge that requires a global response, and we are far more likely to succeed in stopping terror if the nations of the world work in concert.

In her remarks, the Secretary called for a comprehensive approach to countering terrorism: from intelligence officers capable of identifying threats, to law enforcement officers capable of stopping them, to justice systems that can fairly and effectively prosecute the perpetrators. Every country suffering under the threat of terrorism needs such capacities, and we must work to help other countries develop them, just as those countries need to exercise the will to use them.

As part of this comprehensive approach, the Secretary pointed out that in order to stop terrorism, we also have to stop people from becoming terrorists in the first place. As she said, “Al Qaeda and other groups offer a false narrative of destruction that appeals to people whose lives are characterized by frustration or desperation. We must provide an alternative narrative of hope and possibility -- one that is matched by policies that create new opportunities for people to build a better future for themselves and partake in broader global progress.”

That alternative narrative requires an assertive U.S. voice on the international stage, and the Administration's effort to engage deeply and broadly in the multilateral arena should be noted. A couple of important examples from last week's dizzying number of meetings and events in New York help to tell the story. Last Wednesday, the United States launched an innovative new development strategy, outlined by President Obama during the Millennium Development Summit, which will give hope and help to the frustrated and desperate people among whom terrorists sometimes find a susceptible audience. On Friday, I had the opportunity to participate in a meeting of the Alliance of Civilizations, which yesterday's Security Council session repeatedly cited as providing a new and innovative approach to building bridges of cultural understanding around the world that can help counter the deceitful and hate-filled rhetoric of violent extremists.

Those examples are just one portion of the U.S. effort to marshal the entirety of the United Nations system in support of our shared goals. Today, I am in Montreal participating in the 37th Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). ICAO is the UN agency that deals with international air transport, including promoting airline security, facilitating border crossing procedures at airports, and promoting machine readable passport standardization -- each of which factors into keeping Americans and other citizens of the world safe from would-be terrorists. The Assembly is an opportunity for countries to discuss and improve airline safety, security, and environmental standards. While in Montreal, our delegation -- led by Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano and Transportation Secretary LaHood -- will be working with other member states on a Declaration on Aviation Security. We will use this Declaration to establish a foundation that strengthens global aviation security measures, so that we can all fly to international destinations safely and with relative ease.

So what do we gain from all these meetings and declarations? The answer is clear: when we address crucial transnational issues such as counterterrorism, development, climate change, human rights, and more, we do so most effectively and most enduringly as a member of the international community. The U.S. voice is an important one, our efforts and priorities are watched closely, and, in rededicating ourselves to leading a coherent, effective international system, we make that system both more vibrant and more effective.

Update: You can find the video and transcript of the event here.

Secretaries Clinton, Gates and Geithner, Administrator Shah and MCC CEO Yohannes will address the Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) on Global Development at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition Conference today at 3:00 p.m. (EDT). This event will be live streamed on www.usglc.org.

On September 22, President Obama signed a Presidential Policy Directive on Global Development, the first of its kind by a U.S. administration. The directive calls for the elevation of development as a core pillar of American power and charts a course for development, diplomacy and defense to reinforce and complement one another in an integrated, comprehensive approach to national security.

The Department of State plays a central role in achieving the goals of the PPD. The Secretary of State has responsibility for ensuring that diplomacy and development are effectively coordinated and mutually reinforcing in the operation of our foreign policy. In support of the PPD and the National Security Strategy, Secretary Clinton is overseeing the first Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, which will propose steps to strengthen our diplomatic and development capabilities to better meet our foreign policy goals and operationalize our new Global Development Policy across State and USAID.

Over the past week, a number of regionally-focused discussions and events took place in conjunction with the UN General Assembly meeting in New York. Several U.S. officials provided press readouts summarizing developments in specific areas of the world.

Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs, spoke about Secretary Clinton's bilateral meetings with African leaders and about international engagement on Somalia. Assistant Secretary Carson said, "yesterday afternoon, there was a major meeting on Somalia chaired by the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. There were approximately four or five heads of state there, including the prime minister of Ethiopia, the president of Uganda -- President Museveni, and a number of the foreign ministers, including the foreign minister of France Kouchner, the foreign minister of Italy Frattini, the foreign minister of Great Britain, Mr. Hague, and we were represented at that meeting by our Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg.

"Mr. Steinberg pointed out to those there that we see the problem in Somalia as a national problem, a regional problem, and also a global problem. It is a problem that has metastasized over the last two decades, which has led to a situation where we now have international piracy, foreign fighters going into Somalia, and some groups in Somalia supporting remnants of the al-Qaida East Africa cell that was responsible for the destruction of our embassies in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi in August of 1998.

"It's a regional problem because of the large number of refugees that flow out of Somalia into neighboring Kenya, an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 move out every year from that country into Kenya, but refugees going into Ethiopia, Eritrea, Yemen, and Djibouti as well; large amounts of illegal arms flowing, large amounts of illegal commerce. Somalia is a collapsed state with a weak government unable to project either power or stability or to provide services to its people." You can read the full text of Assistant Secretary Carson's remarks here.

Assistant Secretary Kurt Campbell, of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, spoke about this week's summit with Pacific Island leaders, about ASEAN, and about President Obama's bilateral meetings. Assistant Secretary Campbell said, "I just came from the Secretary's summit with Pacific Island leaders. When we say Asia Pacific, sometimes there's too much focus on the A and not very much focus on the P, and the truth is that we have enormous strategic, moral, and political imperatives for stronger engagement in the Pacific. Many of these nations are longstanding American allies, support us in the United Nations, and we work closely with them on a range of important issues like climate change.

"I, along with Secretary Clinton, were in the bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Kan and Premier Wen Jiabao. We also had a chance to participate in the historic, first ever U.S.-ASEAN summit held in the United States last week. During that session, we talked about a range of issues, including how to institutionalize this relationship between the United States and ASEAN, critical issues of mutual interest including the upcoming American engagement in the East Asia summit. Secretary Clinton will represent the United States in Vietnam later in October.

"...I think what the week underscores is that the United States deeply appreciates and understands the strategic significance of what's playing out in the Asian Pacific region, and we are attempting to step up our game, not simply in terms of strategic and political issues, but also in economic and other matters as well." You can read the full text of Assistant Secretary Campbell's briefing here.

For this week's European and Eurasian events, Assistant Secretary Philip Gordon, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, delivered the briefing. Assistant Secretary Gordon said, "today started with the NATO-Russia Council meeting, and that was just the latest in a series of meetings with Russians and Europeans to discuss the transatlantic security agenda we have coming up. We have planned for November in Lisbon a NATO summit, a U.S-EU summit, and then in Kazakhstan in December an OSCE summit. So there's a big transatlantic security agenda.

"...Yesterday, the Secretary met with the EU-27 foreign ministers, also to do a full range of issues. They mostly focused on, again, Middle East peace, in which the Europeans are very much engaged, and we welcome and value their support, but also Pakistan, Iran, and the Balkans. Following that EU-27 meeting with the Secretary, she hosted a -- what we call the Transatlantic Dinner, which is the foreign ministers of the EU who stayed on, and then those of NATO, those who aren't in the EU, as well as the foreign ministers of Macedonia and Switzerland, plus the NATO Secretary General and High Representative Ashton.

"...And then this morning's meeting was the NATO-Russia Council ministerial. As you know, NATO allies, as they look toward the Lisbon summit, are preparing a new strategic concept. They also hope to see Russia at the summit level in Lisbon. The NATO Secretary General issued an invitation to President Medvedev last week. We see this as an opportunity. At the meeting this morning, the Secretary was able to give our view of NATO-Russia cooperation, which is that we don't see NATO -- we don't see Russia as an adversary; we see Russia as a partner." Assistant Secretary Gordon's full remarks are available here.

Jeffrey Feltman, Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, provided a briefing on a range of Middle East issues. Assistant Secretary Feltman said, "...there's also been discussion on the need for the institution-building, capacity-building, bottom-up approach of Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. For example, [Secretary Clinton] had breakfast with various Arab ministers and Salam Fayyad on Monday, where we talked about progress made towards the state-building exercise from the ground up, where Prime Minister Fayyad was able to highlight for Secretary Clinton and for the assembled Arab ministers some of the accomplishments that they have done on that essential part of getting to a Palestinian state.

"She also, of course, met with the Libyan Foreign Minister Mousa Kousa, and among other topics there she talked about the upcoming Arab summit. There's an extraordinary Arab summit on October 9th, and we believe it's important for the Arab League, the Arab leaders, to continue to support the negotiating process, as they have so far and within the Arab Peace Initiative.

"Of course, part of our efforts on peace is aimed at a comprehensive peace, not simply the two-state solution, so she met today with the Lebanese President Michel Suleiman. She reaffirmed U.S. support for Lebanon and its state institutions, Lebanon's unity, Lebanon's stability, as well as to the special tribunal for Lebanon. But she also assured President Suleiman that we are committed to coming up with a peace that will include peace between Lebanon and Syria that's to the benefit of both peoples." You can read the full transcript of his remarks here.

For the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Assistant Secretary Robert Blake briefed on general regional developments as well as on the Secretary's meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Krishna. Assistant Secretary Blake said, "Over the past year, we have held annual bilateral consultations with four of the five Central Asian countries, the fifth being Kyrgyzstan. And they've provided a good mechanism to engage constructively on some of the most difficult issues that we face....Our ability to engage these Central Asian countries has partly been facilitated by the improved cooperation with Russia since President Obama and Secretary Clinton reset U.S. relations with Russia last year."

"In Kyrgyzstan, the United States has several priorities at the moment. First, the United States is focused on helping the Government of Kyrgyzstan to prepare for the October 10th parliamentary elections....Second, we want to help the government respond to the humanitarian needs of all those who were displaced by the June violence and provide shelter and help, mostly to the ethnic Uzbeks whose homes were destroyed in Osh and Jalalabad, so that these homes can be rebuilt before the onset of winter."

"We also attach a great deal of importance to improving the security situation in Kyrgyzstan, and we have supported the OSCE's plan to deploy a police advisory group, which we think provides a very valuable opportunity to both train and mentor some of the police forces in Kyrgyzstan. The police advisory group also can bring a measure of reassurance to the ethnic Uzbeks who still live in some fear as the people who are responsible for the June violence have not been identified or brought to justice." Assistant Secretary Blake's remarks on Central Asia are available here; on the meeting between Secretary Clinton and Indian External Affairs Minister Krishna, here.

Speaking at the United Nations' Security Council meeting on "Threats to International Peace and Security" on September 27 in New York, Secretary Clinton described progress on counterterrorism and talked about the need to address the political, economic, and social conditions that foster terrorist recruitment.

The Secretary said, "I want to speak briefly about the progress made with one critical counterterrorism tool, the 1267 al-Qaida Taliban Sanctions List. This list must evolve as the threat posed by these groups evolves, so we are pleased that the 1267 Committee actively updates the list. So far this year, 45 names have been removed and 17 have been added. And we commend the committee for creating an ombudsperson -- that's maybe a new word, but it's ombudsperson -- to receive petitions from individuals and entities that want to be de-listed. We applaud the inclusion of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula and its leaders on the list, and we encourage member-states to provide regular updates to the committee to ensure that the list remains accurate.

"...Counterterrorism demands a comprehensive approach, as reflected in the presidential statement that will be adopted at the conclusion of today's meeting. Therefore, we need intelligence operations capable of discovering terror plots, military and law enforcement officers trained and ready to stop them, border patrol officials who can spot potential dangers, justice systems that can fairly and effectively prosecute criminals, corrections systems that can then detain those who have been arrested and/or convicted. So we have to do more to develop these institutions and capacities and help each other by mobilizing expertise and resources.

"But at the same time, beyond these measures we have to realize that countering terrorism means more than stopping terrorists. It means stopping people from becoming terrorists in the first place. And that requires addressing the political, economic, and social conditions that make people vulnerable to exploitation by extremists. For people whose lives are characterized by frustration or desperation, for people who believe that their governments are unresponsive or repressive, al-Qaida and other groups may offer an appealing view. But it is a view rooted in destruction, and we have to provide an alternative view that is rooted in hope, opportunity, and possibility.

"So that means enacting policies that do create new opportunities for people to build a better future for themselves, strengthening our commitment to core values, particularly human rights and the rule of law. We cannot sacrifice those values in our zeal to stop terrorists. Our values are what makes us different from those who are trying to tear down so much of the progress that has been made over the course of history, and I have to add, especially for women and girls."

You can read the full transcript of her remarks here.

About the Author: Cynthia Day serves as a Desk Officer in the Bureau of African Affairs.

Ten thousand students in Uganda received backpacks for Ramadan, thanks to a donation from Africom. U.S. Embassy Kampala representatives traveled to Muslim-majority secondary schools to distribute the backpacks and talk about the United States with the students. The embassy volunteers also brought with them books in both English and Arabic for the schools' libraries.

The U.S. Embassy community worked together to document the donations and captured the reactions around the country and smiles of students as they received the backpacks. One person on the team was designated to use a flip cam to record parts of the events and interview students. The result is this engaging video, which you can watch here on YouTube.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is an independent U.S. foreign aid agency that is helping to lead the fight against global poverty. The Secretary of State is the Chair of the MCC Board, and Daniel W. Yohannes serves as MCC's Chief Executive Officer. As Mr. Yohannes writes on the MCC's CEO Blog this week, MCC's mission and work took center stage at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). His blog entry provides reflections on events at UNGA, which included an MCC compact signing with the Philippines. Mr. Yohannes writes:

"I listened to President Obama unveil the first-ever development policy issued by a U.S. president. His groundbreaking MDG Summit speech outlined development's heightened role in U.S. global engagement as a strategic, economic, and moral imperative. The President emphasized that economic growth is the centerpiece of his new development policy, because growth is the fundamental force that will transform the developing world and eradicate poverty. He talked about empowering and partnering with countries committed to taking responsibility for their own development. And, he stressed that America's development investments can have maximum impact in partner countries that set in place high standards of transparency, good governance, and accountability.

"I am proud that MCC is already putting the President's core development principles into practice, like investing in economic growth, promoting country-led development, demanding accountability, and focusing on transparency and results. MCC's experiences have informed many aspects of the President's new policy. We are integral to the policy moving forward by sharing what we have learned, including our leadership on rigorous evidence-based evaluations to drive policy decisions and ensure aid effectiveness.

"The principles of effective development outlined in President Obama's policy were repeated by the presidents and prime ministers from a number of partner countries I met with this week to discuss progress on the implementation of their MCC compacts. They spoke about reforming their policies, building homegrown capacity and more responsive institutions, and delivering the results their citizens expect. These themes were also featured at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting. I was particularly struck by CGI's emphasis on strengthening market-based solutions and empowering girls and women, which are also clear priorities for MCC's work in partner countries worldwide and for achieving the economic growth underpinning the Obama Administration's global development policy.

"Moreover, the President's development policy embraces partnership as essential to success, and each MCC event in New York sought ways to mobilize the power of partnerships. I met President Benigno Aquino to sign a $434 million MCC compact with the Philippines. This compact will fight corruption by streamlining processes at the Bureau of Internal Review; strengthen local accountability through the Kalahi-CIDSS rural development program; and improve access to markets and community services through the construction and repair of 220 kilometers of Samar Road. The Philippines's MCC compact is another example of how we partner with countries committed to sound political, economic, and social policies vital for sustainable development to deliver the progress and results the poor expect."

Read Mr. Yohannes' full blog posting here, and Secretary Clinton's remarks at the MCC compact signing with the Philippines here.

About the Author: Luke Forgerson serves as DipNote's Managing Editor.

Today, we introduce a new feature on DipNote: a synopsis of entries posted during the previous week. This past week, President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton joined leaders from around the world for an annual meeting at the United Nations, an "institution built from the rubble of war, designed to unite the world in pursuit of peace."

To that end, we saw American diplomats engaged on a broad range of issues at this year's United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. Secretary Clinton joined partners in signing two Memoranda of Understanding on Haiti recovery projects. Ambassador Ivo Daalder provided a read-out of the Secretary's participation in the NATO Russia Council meeting.

With Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin, Secretary Clinton hosted the “1,000 Days: Change a Life, Change the Future” event to address a far-reaching issue that steals the potential of 200 million children around the world: under-nutrition.

Secretary Clinton announced the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, a public-private partnership which aims to eliminate the nearly 2 million premature deaths a year from smoke-related diseases caused by old and polluting stoves and open-fire cooking.

Public-private partnerships were also a central focus of Special Representative Farah Pandith's update on an initiative inspired by President Obama's June 2009 Cairo speech. Secretary Clinton spoke about a partnership among USAID, U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the Inter-American Development Bank to bring people -- many them women, rural farmers, small business owners, people with disabilities, and ethnic minorities -- into the financial system.

In remarks before the United Nations, President Obama described the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as a set of "concrete goals to free our fellow men, women and children from the injustice of extreme poverty." The President announced the new U.S. Global Development Policy -- the first of its kind by an American administration. For a quick primer on the MDGs, click here; for the U.S. strategy in meeting the goals, click here.

We heard from several others this week about the MDGs, including Assistant Secretary Esther Brimmer, who discussed the President's new development strategy during a digital conversation at a fully-wired gathering spot for journalists, NGO representatives, and bloggers at the 92nd Street Y. Assistant Secretary Jose Fernandez wrote about how U.S. research and innovation is helping countries to meet their food security needs, improve the environment, and increase rural incomes. Senior Advisor Jack Bobo wrote about biotechnology's ability to increase agricultural productivity and farmer incomes while reducing the negative impact of agriculture on the environment. And Daniel Garrett, a program officer, addressed the fact that access to safe drinking water and sanitation is key to meeting the MDGs. At UNGA, Under Secretary Maria Otero joined a high-level group of leaders to focus attention on this critical issue.

We are seeing the urgency of access to clean drinking water in Pakistan, where flooding has left millions without it, and the threat of widespread waterborne disease outbreak is mounting. This week, the United States announced a $2 million effort to provide water purification kits to Pakistan flood victims.

U.S Embassy Islamabad Assistant Information Officer Courtney Beale, who will be blogging regularly for DipNote in the months ahead, described Ambassador Holbrooke's recent visit to Pakistan to review U.S. humanitarian assistance. At a ministerial meeting on Pakistan at the United Nations, Secretary Clinton underscored the U.S. commitment and described U.S. relief efforts, which total approximately $345 million.

President Obama participated in a high-level meeting on Sudan, and U.S. officials met with members of Zimbabwe's coalition government. The United Nations Security Council Summit hosted a meeting on peacekeeping this week, at which Secretary Clinton praised the "dedicated men and women who work under the blue flag in troubled lands very far from their homes." She also noted the need for improvement -- for "clear, credible and achievable mandates for all UN missions," which prompted DipNote Bloggers to ask: "With these criteria in mind, where should the UN focus its peacekeeping resources, and why?"

Rounding out the Ministerial meetings, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Esther Brimmer took part in a meeting co-hosted by the Foreign Ministers of Denmark and Ghana on "Fulfilling the Responsibility to Protect." The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) is an emerging international norm that outlines a state's responsibility to protect its citizens from genocide and other crimes against humanity, and the international community's responsibility to intervene when a state is unable or unwilling to do so.

And while we all remained focused on UNGA, our colleagues in Seoul took time out to join their Korean counterparts in celebrating the Chuseok festival, and the DipNote team marked the blog's third birthday.

For anyone interested in a career in foreign affairs, this week offered an overview of the broad scope of issues an American diplomat might address. Diplomat-in-training Erica King described working at the State Department as a "career opportunity of a lifetime." I couldn't agree with her more, and look forward to another full week ahead.

Today, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs P.J. Crowley provided a readout of Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Johnnie Carson, and Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Afrairs Michelle Gavin September 23 meeting with senior members of Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF/MDC transition government, including Minister of Energy and Power Elton Mangoma, Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs Patrick Chinamasa and Minister of Regional and International Cooperation Priscilla Misihairabwe-Mushonga. Assistant Secretary Crowley said:

"The Zimbabwean delegation reviewed in detail the economic and political progress that has occurred over the past 18 months since the conclusion of the Global Political Agreement (GPA). The United States recognized and applauded the economic advances that have occurred in Zimbabwe but remains concerned that political progress has not been as successful. The discussions were cordial and both sides agreed on the need to seek opportunities to continue an open dialogue.

"The United States pointed out that the current political and human rights environment in Zimbabwe remained troublesome, pointing to the recent harassment of WOZA and the disruption of constitutional reform meetings in Harare. The United States said that Zimbabwe must make further progress for the removal of targeted sanctions. Political progress comes with strong institutions, not strong individuals, and developing strong and transparent institutions will sustain economic growth.

"The United States remains a major contributor and continues to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Zimbabwe. Our sanctions are under regular review, but as long as human rights violations, land seizures, and intimidation of those participating in the political process continue, the sanctioned individuals and entities on the list who continue to perpetrate and benefit from these acts are unlikely to be removed. Significant improvements in the political environment, greater respect for human rights and political freedoms will result in change in U.S. posture. The United States welcomes engagement with the transition government, and we are committed to keeping the door open to further dialogue."

Read Assistant Secretary Crowley's full statement here.

Related Content: Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson briefs the press on the Obama Administration's focus on Africa during the United Nations General Assembly.

About the Author: Luke Forgerson serves as DipNote's Managing Editor.

While I was completing errands this morning, I ran into one of DipNote's founders outside a coffee shop in my neighborhood. Our unexpected meeting seemed fitting, as DipNote turns three today. As we spoke briefly, I had an opportunity to bring him up to speed on DipNote's latest developments and reflect on what we have achieved.

This past year ushered in a blog redesign and expanded coverage of a range of foreign policy topics, particularly Secretary Clinton's overseas travel, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, and global women's issues.

Almost 30 million total page views after its launch, DipNote embraces the practices of 21st Century Statecraft: to educate, listen, learn and engage in this increasingly interconnected world.

One of the things that I have been most pleased to see is a dedicated and informed community developing around the blog. I have been encouraged to watch individual readers all around the world -- separated by geography, language, culture, and religion -- join together in conversation.

I'd like to take this moment to thank all of our readers for their support and feedback. The DipNote community has helped us apply lessons learned when branching out to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, iTunes, and other platforms. I invite DipNote readers to join these communities, and also check out DipNote for the iPhone and Blackberry.

We continue to learn from our community and take readers' input into account when introducing new features. Recently, we launched a "Photo of the Week" feature. Tomorrow, we'll introduce weekly synopses of DipNote's content. We hope these entries will make it easier for readers to stay up to date on all the many issues on which the State Department engages.

DipNote could not have achieved what it has to date without the ongoing commitment of our State Department colleagues. I am always grateful to our State Department co-workers who share their observations with DipNote's readers.

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About the Author: Ambassador Ivo Daalder is the U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO.

The fabled Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York -- tucked in among towering skyscrapers in this truly international city -- served as a symbolic setting for the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) foreign ministerial meeting. On September 22, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton joined foreign ministers from the other 27 NATO member states and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov for an intense two hours of discussion about the future of NATO-Russia relations.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, as chair of the meeting, opened proceedings by saying, “We have gathered here to reconfirm our commitment to strengthening NATO-Russia cooperation and to working together towards a true NATO-Russia strategic partnership.” Secretary Clinton then spoke about some of the major themes of the meeting, including a focus on areas where we can better cooperate with Russia, where we have common interests, and where we can take concrete actions that will make people feel safer and more secure, both in Europe and throughout the world. Secretary Clinton specifically identified four such common areas for action: missile defense, military transparency, counter-narcotics, and a modernized conventional arms control regime.

The meeting in New York was convened ahead of the NATO Summit to be held in November in Lisbon, Portugal. Secretary-General Rasmussen reiterated his invitation for a NRC Summit to coincide with the November meeting, which would afford an excellent opportunity for NATO Allies and Russia to agree on a substantive agenda, including consideration of the four action areas identified by Secretary Clinton as well as other critical issues. Our overarching goal in all these meetings is to move the NATO-Russia Council in a new, more cooperative direction. During the New York gathering, it was clear there was solid support for building a stronger partnership and for using the NRC to foster pragmatic cooperation.

While all those speaking at the meeting strongly supported efforts to intensify cooperation, no one shied away from talking about areas where we also disagree -- including on Georgia. But that only goes to show that the NRC can be -- and is -- a forum where we engage both on issues of mutual interest and on issues where we diverge.

In the end, what the United States is seeking is that all our partners in the NRC see the Council as a place where we can do business. It must become a place where we can find common solutions to common challenges, where we can hold dialogues about those issues where we disagree, and a place where we can ultimately work together to resolve vital issues of common concern.

About the Author: Mark Schlachter serves as Deputy Director for Public Affairs in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs.

On Friday, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Esther Brimmer participated in a high-level Ministerial Meeting in New York in parallel with the UN General Assembly entitled "Fulfilling the Responsibility to Protect." The meeting was co-hosted by the Foreign Ministers of Denmark and Ghana in cooperation with the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect. The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) is an emerging international norm that outlines a state's responsibility to protect its citizens from genocide and other crimes against humanity. It further stipulates that when a state is unable or unwilling to do this, the responsibility to act falls to the broader international community.

Assistant Secretary Brimmer's remarks at the meeting underscored the U.S. commitment to the ideals and concepts framed by the Responsibility to Protect -- a commitment made clear in the President's National Security Strategy: "The United States is committed to working with our allies, and to strengthening our own internal capabilities, in order to ensure that the United States and the international community are proactively engaged in a strategic effort to prevent mass atrocities and genocide."

Assistant Secretary Brimmer noted that the United States is "…working with the United Nations to bring concerted international pressure to bear against perpetrators of atrocities, providing humanitarian assistance and protection to victims, and supporting in appropriate cases international and hybrid tribunals to bring perpetrators to justice."

This meeting, which featured voices from governments and civil society, was an important opportunity to focus attention on the need for global consensus on the meaning and implications of R2P. As repeated by more than one participant, advancing the goals embedded in R2P will require redoubled efforts to mobilize political will and public understanding.

What do you think about the R2P concept? Does the international community have a responsibility to protect when governments do not?

Fact Sheet: The United States in UN Peacekeeping -- Strengthening UN Peacekeeping and Conflict Prevention Efforts

Today, the United Nations Security Council Summit hosted a meeting on peacekeeping as a part of the 65th UN General Assembly. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton represented the United States at the session and delivered remarks. This important meeting provided a unique opportunity to underscore longstanding U.S. support for UN and regional peacekeeping and to update the world on efforts to operationalize the commitments that President Obama outlined last September in a meeting with the leaders of the top troop-contributing nations.

Over the past year, the United States has contributed immensely to worldwide peacekeeping operations, making assessed contributions of $2.6 billion to the UN peacekeeping budget and more than $3.6 billion in humanitarian and development assistance to eight countries where UN peacekeepers serve. We have also helped to train and equip over 136,000 peacekeepers, and supported deployment of more than 110,000 personnel from 29 countries. Increasing the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping is one of the highest priorities for the United States at the United Nations. Multilateral peacekeeping shares the risks and responsibilities of maintaining international peace and security, and is a cost-effective way to help achieve U.S. strategic and humanitarian interests.

Secretary Clinton has attached great importance to women, peace, and security. Last year she led the UN Security Council in adopting unanimously Resolution 1888 on Women, Peace, and Security, which condemns conflict-related sexual violence and calls on all parties to immediately end acts of rape and sexual violence during armed conflict. This resolution strengthened the international response to sexual violence in conflict by establishing a dedicated UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence, creating of a team of experts to investigate crimes and assist victims, and tracking data on sexual violence in UN reports. We will support this effort in a number of ways, including by providing nearly $2 million to help start up the new office led by Special Representative Margot Wallstrom.

As President Obama noted in today's address to the UN General Assembly, "It's time to reinvigorate UN peacekeeping, so that missions have the resources necessary to succeed, and so atrocities like sexual violence are prevented and justice is enforced -- because neither dignity nor democracy can thrive without basic security."

President Barack Obama addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 23, 2010. The President covered a number of issues in his speech, including the goal to defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies, the withdrawal from Iraq, and the refocus on Afghanistan. To ensure a future of peace and prosperity, President Obama spoke of reforming the system of global finance by joining with nations around the world to spur growth, and the importance of human rights.

The President said, "We know this is no ordinary time for our people. Each of us comes here with our own problems and priorities. But there are also challenges that we share in common as leaders and as nations."

"We meet within an institution built from the rubble of war, designed to unite the world in pursuit of peace. And we meet within a city that for centuries has welcomed people from across the globe, demonstrating that individuals of every color, faith and station can come together to pursue opportunity, build a community, and live with the blessing of human liberty."

Addressing the drawdown from Iraq, the President said, "In Iraq, we are responsibly ending a war. We have removed American combat brigades from Iraqi cities, and set a deadline of next August to remove all our combat brigades from Iraqi territory. And I have made clear that we will help Iraqis transition to full responsibility for their future, and keep our commitment to remove all American troops by the end of 2011."

The president also sought to emphasize efforts on non-proliferation. He said, "Earlier this year, 47 nations embraced a work-plan to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials within four years. We have joined with Russia to sign the most comprehensive arms control treaty in decades. We have reduced the role of nuclear weapons in our security strategy. And here, at the United Nations, we came together to strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

"As part of our effort on non-proliferation, I offered the Islamic Republic of Iran an extended hand last year, and underscored that it has both rights and responsibilities as a member of the international community. I also said -- in this hall -- that Iran must be held accountable if it failed to meet those responsibilities. And that is what we have done."

He continued, "Now let me be clear once more: The United States and the international community seek a resolution to our differences with Iran, and the door remains open to diplomacy should Iran choose to walk through it. But the Iranian government must demonstrate a clear and credible commitment and confirm to the world the peaceful intent of its nuclear program."

President Obama also addressed the priority of ending the Middle East conflict. The president said, "If an agreement is not reached, Palestinians will never know the pride and dignity that comes with their own state. Israelis will never know the certainty and security that comes with sovereign and stable neighbors who are committed to coexistence. The hard realities of demography will take hold. More blood will be shed. This Holy Land will remain a symbol of our differences, instead of our common humanity.

"I refuse to accept that future. And we all have a choice to make. Each of us must choose the path of peace. Of course, that responsibility begins with the parties themselves, who must answer the call of history. Earlier this month at the White House, I was struck by the words of both the Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “I came here today to find a historic compromise that will enable both people to live in peace, security, and dignity.” And President Abbas said, “We will spare no effort and we will work diligently and tirelessly to ensure these negotiations achieve their cause.”"

He continued, "Now, peace must be made by Israelis and Palestinians, but each of us has a responsibility to do our part as well. Those of us who are friends of Israel must understand that true security for the Jewish state requires an independent Palestine -- one that allows the Palestinian people to live with dignity and opportunity. And those of us who are friends of the Palestinians must understand that the rights of the Palestinian people will be won only through peaceful means -- including genuine reconciliation with a secure Israel."

President Obama also addressed the importance of human rights. He said, " One of the first actions of this General Assembly was to adopt a Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. That Declaration begins by stating that, “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world."

"The idea is a simple one -- that freedom, justice and peace for the world must begin with freedom, justice, and peace in the lives of individual human beings. And for the United States, this is a matter of moral and pragmatic necessity. As Robert Kennedy said, “the individual man, the child of God, is the touchstone of value, and all society, groups, the state, exist for his benefit.” So we stand up for universal values because it's the right thing to do. But we also know from experience that those who defend these values for their people have been our closest friends and allies, while those who have denied those rights -- whether terrorist groups or tyrannical governments -- have chosen to be our adversaries."

He continued, "Civil society is the conscience of our communities and America will always extend our engagement abroad with citizens beyond the halls of government. And we will call out those who suppress ideas and serve as a voice for those who are voiceless. We will promote new tools of communication so people are empowered to connect with one another and, in repressive societies, to do so with security. We will support a free and open Internet, so individuals have the information to make up their own minds. And it is time to embrace and effectively monitor norms that advance the rights of civil society and guarantee its expansion within and across borders.

"Open society supports open government, but it cannot substitute for it. There is no right more fundamental than the ability to choose your leaders and determine your destiny. Now, make no mistake: The ultimate success of democracy in the world won't come because the United States dictates it; it will come because individual citizens demand a say in how they are governed."

In closing, President Obama said, "This future will not be easy to reach. It will not come without setbacks, nor will it be quickly claimed. But the founding of the United Nations itself is a testament to human progress. Remember, in times that were far more trying than our own, our predecessors chose the hope of unity over the ease of division and made a promise to future generations that the dignity and equality of human beings would be our common cause.

"It falls to us to fulfill that promise. And though we will be met by dark forces that will test our resolve, Americans have always had cause to believe that we can choose a better history; that we need only to look outside the walls around us. For through the citizens of every conceivable ancestry who make this city their own, we see living proof that opportunity can be accessed by all, that what unites us as human beings is far greater than what divides us, and that people from every part of this world can live together in peace."

You can read the President Obama's full remarks here.

More photos: U.S. Department of State's Flickr photostream | State@Work

Yesterday afternoon, President Obama delivered a speech at the United Nations in New York on international development. In that speech, he said "I suspect that some in wealthier countries may ask, with our economies struggling, so many people out of work, and so many families barely getting by, why a summit on development? And the answer is simple. In our global economy, progress in even the poorest countries can advance the prosperity and security of people far beyond their borders, including my fellow Americans.

"When a child dies from a preventable disease, it shocks all of our consciences. When a girl is deprived of an education or her mother is denied equal rights, it undermines the prosperity of their nation. When a young entrepreneur can't start a new business, it stymies the creation of new jobs and markets in that entrepreneur's country, but also in our own. When millions of fathers cannot provide for their families, it feeds the despair that can fuel instability and violent extremism. When a disease goes unchecked, it can endanger the health of millions around the world."

The preventable tragedies the President listed largely sum up the Millennium Development Goals, the world's shared commitment to alleviating enduring problems such as extreme poverty and hunger, infectious diseases, lack of education, child and maternal mortality, and gender inequality. World leaders have been meeting this week to assess global progress toward these goals and how we can accelerate progress toward meeting the 2015 deadline for addressing them.

Today's Photo of the Week is an image by Democracy Photo Challenge winner Dino Peric, who writes that "Democracy is... to have a dream about better future."

To allow more children to make this dream a reality, the United States co-hosted an event this week called "1,000 Days: Change a Life, Change the Future: Partnering to Reduce Child Undernutrition.” Adequate nutrition is key to child development, particularly in the critical thousand-day window that includes the mother's pregnancy through a child's second birthday. As Secretary Clinton said at the event, “while we have life-saving solutions, they remain out of reach for hundreds of millions of people worldwide." Globally, 200 million children suffer from chronic under-nutrition; in some countries, as many as half of all children are affected.

You can learn more about the effort to bring life-saving solutions to more children -- and how you can participate -- at thousanddays.org and by watching and sharing this video.

Today, President Obama addressed the Millennium Development Goals Summit at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The President said, "In the Charter of this United Nations, our countries pledged to work for 'the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples.' In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we recognized the inherent dignity and rights of every individual, including the right to a decent standard of living. And a decade ago, at the dawn of a new millennium, we set concrete goals to free our fellow men, women and children from the injustice of extreme poverty.

"These are the standards that we set. And today, we must ask: Are we living up to our mutual responsibilities?

"I suspect that some in wealthier countries may ask, with our economies struggling, so many people out of work, and so many families barely getting by, why a summit on development? And the answer is simple. In our global economy, progress in even the poorest countries can advance the prosperity and security of people far beyond their borders, including my fellow Americans.

"When a child dies from a preventable disease, it shocks all of our consciences. When a girl is deprived of an education or her mother is denied equal rights, it undermines the prosperity of their nation. When a young entrepreneur can't start a new business, it stymies the creation of new jobs and markets in that entrepreneur's country, but also in our own. When millions of fathers cannot provide for their families, it feeds the despair that can fuel instability and violent extremism. When a disease goes unchecked, it can endanger the health of millions around the world.

"So let's put to rest the old myth that development is mere charity that does not serve our interests. And let's reject the cynicism that says certain countries are condemned to perpetual poverty, for the past half century has witnessed more gains in human development than at any time in history. A disease that had ravaged the generations, smallpox, was eradicated. Health care has reached the far corners of the world, saving the lives of millions. From Latin America to Africa to Asia, developing nations have transformed into leaders in the global economy.

"Nor can anyone deny the progress that has been made toward achieving certain Millennium Development Goals. The doors of education have been opened to tens of millions of children, boys and girls. New cases of HIV/AIDS and malaria and tuberculosis are down. Access to clean drinking water is up. Around the world, hundreds of millions of people have been lifted from extreme poverty. That is all for the good, and it's a testimony to the extraordinary work that's been done both within countries and by the international community.

"Yet we must also face the fact that progress towards other goals that were set has not come nearly fast enough. Not for the hundreds of thousands of women who lose their lives every year simply giving birth. Not for the millions of children who die from agony of malnutrition. Not for the nearly one billion people who endure the misery of chronic hunger.

"This is the reality we must face -- that if the international community just keeps doing the same things the same way, we may make some modest progress here and there, but we will miss many development goals. That is the truth. With 10 years down and just five years before our development targets come due, we must do better.

"...As President, I have made it clear that the United States will do our part. My national security strategy recognizes development not only as a moral imperative, but a strategic and economic imperative. Secretary of State Clinton is leading a review to strengthen and better coordinate our diplomacy and our development efforts. We've reengaged with multilateral development institutions. And we are rebuilding the United States Agency for International Development as the world's premier development agency. In short, we're making sure that the United States will be a global leader in international development in the 21st century.

"We also recognize, though, that the old ways will not suffice. That's why in Ghana last year I called for a new approach to development that unleashes transformational change and allows more people to take control of their own destiny. After all, no country wants to be dependent on another. No proud leader in this room wants to ask for aid. No family wants to be beholden to the assistance of others.

"To pursue this vision, my administration conducted a comprehensive review of America's development programs. We listened to leaders in government, NGOs and civil society, the private sector and philanthropy, Congress and our many international partners.

"And today, I'm announcing our new U.S. Global Development Policy -- the first of its kind by an American administration. It's rooted in America's enduring commitment to the dignity and potential of every human being. And it outlines our new approach and the new thinking that will guide our overall development efforts, including the plan that I promised last year and that my administration has delivered to pursue the Millennium Development Goals. Put simply, the United States is changing the way we do business."

You can read President Obama's full remarks here.

About the Author: Caitlin Klevorick serves in the Office of the Counselor of the Department.

If you have a child, take a moment to think back on everything that happened up until he or she turned two: think about all that growing, changing, exploring, learning. Adequate nutrition is key to child development. When expectant mothers and their children don't receive the nutrients they need, they are more likely to face hardships throughout their lives. Globally, 200 million children suffer from chronic under-nutrition; in some countries, as many as half of all children are affected.

There are some problems in the world to which we don't yet have solutions. There's another class of problems, though, for which the solutions are both clear and achievable. Preventing childhood under-nutrition falls in that second category. But, as Secretary Clinton said in her remarks today, “while we have life-saving solutions, they remain out of reach for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. And it also is a problem that even when we have such solutions, when it comes to delivering them -- particularly to rural communities -- the last mile is the longest.”

Yesterday, at the United Nations in New York, Secretary Clinton and Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin hosted "1,000 Days: Change a Life, Change the Future: Partnering to Reduce Child Undernutrition.” The event focused on interventions that can be made during that critical thousand-day window: the period that includes the mother's pregnancy up to the child's second birthday.

Last year, in Aquila, Italy, global leaders at the G8 Summit pledged to reverse a lack of investment in food security, including child nutrition. President Obama pledged at least USD $3.5 billion over three years, which helped to leverage and align more than USD $18.5 billion in support of a common approach.

In recent months, more than 100 donors, governments, non-governmental organizations, development agencies and businesses have come together in partnership to create Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN): A Framework for Action, which outlines specific priorities to improve infant and child nutrition.

At yesterday's meeting, world ministers discussed their collective commitment to spend the next thousand days moving forward on a roadmap to implement SUN -- attempting to close that final mile -- building on the success of Ireland's Hunger Task Force and the U.S. programs “Feed the Future” and the Global Health Initiative.

Healthy child development creates healthy, educated, productive adults and underpins national prosperity and success. It is a prerequisite for the achievement of each of the Millennium Development Goals. The problem is serious, but the evidence is strong that our interventions will offer exceptionally high development returns. As Secretary Clinton said today, “We know we can save lives, we can strengthen health, we can improve education, decrease poverty, increase prosperity, even create jobs, as well as giving every child the chance he or she deserves to make the most of his or her God-given potential.”

Please take a moment to watch this short video, narrated by Matt Damon, about the importance of nutrition for children and expectant mothers, and share it with your friends. Together we can better the future for millions of children. Visit thousanddays.org to learn more.

You can read a transcript of the Secretary's remarks here.

Related Entry: Behind the Scenes: “1,000 Days: Change a Life, Change the Future.”

Secretary Clinton spoke today in New York at a luncheon meeting on "Inclusive Finance: A Path to the MDGs."

The Secretary said, "...I see in my travels across the world that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. And we are here at this very important event to highlight one of the biggest obstacles to making the most of everyone's talents and their hard work; namely, a financial system that leaves out some 3 billion people, many of them women, rural farmers, small business owners, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities. Most of us in the developed world take the financial system for granted, whether it's easy access to credit or a safe place to deposit our money. But without a bank account, parents can't save for a child's education. Without loans, small farmers can't buy fertilizer for the start of the growing season, and entrepreneurs can't expand and grow their businesses. And when people cannot participate in the formal economy, they often are taken advantage of, they are often left without recourse, and the effects of that undermine their own ambitions and hopes for families, communities, and even countries.

"...Now, we in the Obama Administration have made financial inclusion a priority. Last year, President Obama announced a new Microfinance Growth Fund, which has committed more than $100 million to provide credit to individuals and small businesses, especially those run by women. Beyond that, we are encouraging partnerships to open up new opportunities for mobile banking. We are supporting innovations like secured-transaction reform, so that small businesses can use movable assets, like the tailor his sewing machine, or the farmer her tractor, as collateral for loans -- something that is not permitted by a lot of formal banks throughout this hemisphere and elsewhere. We are also supporting consumer-protection efforts, so that we can protect the newly banked from becoming victims of predatory lending practices.

"The initiative that we are launching today is called BRIDGE, which stands for Building Remittance Investment for Development, Growth, and Entrepreneurship. BRIDGE is a partner between our development agency, USAID, our U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation, OPIC, and the Inter-American Development Bank. It demonstrates one of the benefits of actually bringing more people into the financial system. And it reflects the vision of President Lobo and President Funes of their countries and governments. In partnering with us on BRIDGE today, both leaders in Honduras and El Salvador have shown a commitment to advancing financial inclusion.

"And here's how it works. Every year, millions -- actually, tens of millions -- of people around the world leave home to find work. They settle in countries where they think they have a better economic future, then they begin sending money back home. And they send it to their families for all kinds of purposes. Now, if they send these remittances through the formal financial system, they create huge funding flows that are orders of magnitude larger than any development assistance we can dream of. By harnessing the potential of remittances, BRIDGE will make it easier for communities in El Salvador and Honduras to get the financing they need to build roads and bridges, for example, to support entrepreneurs, to make loans, to bring more people into the financial system."

You can read a transcript of the Secretary's remarks here.

About the Author: Daniel Garrett serves in the Office of Environmental Policy in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.

“Filthy water cannot be washed.” -- African Proverb

And yet somehow, we must find a way to do so. Every 15 seconds, a child dies due to a water-related disease. And that is why they have come together this morning, the Presidents of Tajikistan, Liberia, and Senegal; the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, the Foreign Minister of Japan, the Former Prime Minister Republic of Korea, the Secretary of State for Development of the United Kingdom, the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, the Administrator of U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator, the Executive Director of UNICEF, the UN Secretary-General, and several other important stakeholders.

They have come together because of the essential element, bar none, strategically placed on the tables in the bottles to their left, just above the knife and fork: water. This group of powerful people have gathered to raise awareness that water is a critical contributor to the realization of all of the Millennium Development Goals; as policymakers and opinion shapers they are trying to define what policy changes are needed and to find a way to best target aid resources, so that the goal is met. The goal is clear: fewer sick and dying children, and more smiling, thirst-quenched, water-cleansed faces.

Some, in fact, call access to water and sanitation the "orphan" MDG. Although there are specific water-related goals in the MDGs, water is special, in that it is, more than anything else, the common thread -- the connecting rivulet -- that runs as a necessity through all of the MDGs. Access to safe drinking water and sanitation is critical for human health, fundamental to gender equality and education, essential for economic growth and food security, and underlies peace and security in many regions throughout the world.

It is estimated that by 2025, nearly two-thirds of the world's population will be living under water-stressed conditions. Water scarcity and degraded water quality will increase disease, undermine economic growth, limit food production, and become an increasing threat to peace and security. We are seeing these effects today. Unsafe water and poor sanitation are now the single largest cause of illness worldwide. Nearly two million people, mostly children under five, die each year from preventable diarrheal diseases; droughts and floods now affect more people than all other natural disasters combined; and competition over water resources is an increasing source of tension and conflict in many regions of the world. Climate change will only exacerbate these challenges.

Moreover, water is essential to sustainable development. For every $1 invested in sanitation, $9 is returned in increased economic development. It is estimated that meeting the sanitation and drinking water targets by 2015 would have an annual economic benefit of $38 billion in developing countries. Yet recent analyses of investment flows show that aid and budget allocations in the sector are not well targeted. Only 42 percent of sector aid goes to low income countries, and only 16 percent is invested in "basic" systems that primarily serve the poor.

In recognition of the enormous water crisis the world is facing, the United States is actively partnering with other nations, international NGOs, multilateral development banks, international organizations, and the private sector to bring our collective resources to meet this challenge. By coordinating, targeting, and harmonizing all of our efforts we can greatly magnify our impact and reach those who are suffering most. Today's breakfast, "Addressing the Global Water Challenge: The Key to the MDGs" is the start of an ambitious effort to ensure that we can jointly meet the needs of the nine billion people who will populate the world just 40 years from now. The United States is ready and open to partnering with all others who share this goal.

"Drop by drop, it becomes a river." -- Afghan proverb

More from UNGA: Secretary Clinton's Travel to New York for the United Nations 65th General Assembly | U.S. Strategy for Meeting the Millennium Development Goals

About the Author: Virginia Shore serves as Chief Curator for ART in EMBASSIES.

As South Korea celebrates the Chuseok holiday, it's worth noting one man whose celebration of tradition is reflected in his work. Do Ho Suh is a renowned sculptor who represented Korea at the 2001 Venice Biennale. Today, his work also includes photography. “High School Uni-Face: Boy”, 1997, currently appears in the Ambassador's residence in Seoul as part of the ART in EMBASSIES exhibition focusing on Korean-American Connections.

Suh's work is exhibited worldwide. The artist describes this image as “…sixty high-school uniforms together in one…It's a jacket of a high-school uniforms, all in black with gold buttons and a priest-like collar. It's a funny thing. Koreans have this nostalgia about the uniform [even though] we hated to wear the uniform…But we tried our best to differentiate our uniforms from one another…It's the individual versus collectivity.”

“High School Uni-Face: Boy” also serves as an homage to a particular moment in the artist's life, addressing the inevitability of loss and separation by transforming memory-time into a materiality that envelops the present.

Suh studied art in the United States at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine, the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, and Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. While he has invested years of his life in the U.S., he is part of an artistic family that values Korean traditions. He divides his time between New York and Seoul. His work often portrays his experiences living between differing cultures.

About the Author: Jack Bobo serves as Senior Advisor for Biotechnology in the Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization announced this week that the number of chronically malnourished people around the world dropped slightly to less than one billion. However, with more than 900 million people still going to bed hungry every night and with a global population expected to reach nine billion by 2050, the challenge of ensuring that everyone has access to affordable, safe and nutritious food, produced in a more sustainable manner, has never been greater.

The Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs is working to feed a hungry and growing world in a variety of ways. We reduce barriers to trade, increase agricultural investments, and develop and adopt new agricultural technologies. The United States is a leader in agricultural production and technology, creating jobs and raising rural incomes. The value of U.S. agricultural exports doubled between 2000 and 2010, so maintaining and expanding these exports requires transparent, predictable, and science-based regulations overseas in order to access international markets. Such regulations would also benefit the host country by creating opportunities for agricultural investment and technology transfer between U.S. businesses and companies abroad.

Agricultural biotech -- aka "ag biotech" -- is one of many new technologies that offer the promise of increasing productivity and farmer incomes, while reducing the negative impact of agriculture on the environment. American farmers have benefited greatly by the adoption of this technology, and now foreign farmers are also seeking access to this technology. For example, in the short span of seven years, 2002 to 2008, Bt cotton in India has generated economic benefits for farmers valued at $5.1 billion and contributed to the doubling of yield, transforming India from a cotton importer to a major exporter. Over the next five years the global acreage of biotech crops will continue to expand, including drought tolerant varieties that require less water to thrive. As the number of biotech products grows, countries will need regulations in place in order to make use of the technology. How a country regulates these products will determine whether outside companies will invest in that country's markets and impact the cost of agricultural trade.

I will travel to Thailand and Indonesia this week to participate in workshops organized by the International Life Sciences Institute to examine international standards for biotechnology regulation. We are working toward standards that will ensure the safety of products and the environment, while at the same time promoting safe and fair trade and access to the technology for all farmers.

About the Author: Ashli L. Ferguson serves as a Public Affairs Specialist in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs.

This week, while in New York for the 65th session of the UN General Assembly, Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs Esther Brimmer participated in a digital conversation at the UN Week Digital Media Lounge -- a fully-wired gathering spot for digital journalists, NGO representatives, and bloggers at the 92nd Street Y. During the discussion, Mark Goldberg of the UN Dispatch and Robb Skinner of the UN Foundation posed questions on the Millennium Development Goals and President Obama's new development strategy, which will be unveiled in his remarks at the MDG Plenary Session later today. Assistant Secretary Brimmer underscored the need to make more progress in the areas of women and children's health and the need to decrease maternal and child mortality. She also discussed the Obama Administration's renewed emphasis on multilateral diplomacy. You can watch the video here.

About the Author: Farah Pandith is the Special Representative to Muslim Communities.

In response to President Obama's Cairo speech in June 2009, prominent Americans from the private sector have joined with the State Department to form Partners for a New Beginning (PNB). Led by Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Vice-Chairs Walter Isaacson (CEO, Aspen Institute) and Muhtar Kent (Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO), PNB brings together a dozen eminent Americans to engage Muslim communities globally on the basis of mutual interest, mutual respect, and mutual responsibility. This morning in New York, Partners for a New Beginning inaugurated its full Steering Committee. The members are:

• Mr. Tarek Abdel-Meguid, Founding Partner, Perella Weinberg Partners
• Ms. Cathleen Black, President, Hearst Magazines
• Ms. Jean Case, Chief Executive Officer, The Case Foundation
• Mr. John Chambers, Chairman and CEO, Cisco Systems, Inc.
• Mr. Kenneth Cohen, Chairman, ExxonMobil Foundation; VP of Public Affairs, Exxon Mobil Corporation
• Dr. Helene Gayle, President and CEO, CARE USA
• Mr. Stephen Heintz, President, Rockefeller Brothers Fund
• Mr. Andrew Liveris, Chairman, and CEO, The Dow Chemical Company
• Mr. John Mack, Chairman, Morgan Stanley
• Mr. Paul Otellini, President and CEO, Intel Corporation
• Dr. Eboo Patel, Founder and President, Interfaith Youth Core
• Dr. Ruth Simmons, President, Brown University

These leaders will be developing new partnerships to deepen U.S. ties with Muslim communities around the world in four key areas -- economic opportunity, science and technology, education, and exchange -- by using their expertise, relationships, and access to resources to build public-private partnerships and private-private partnerships.

This morning at the Clinton Global Initiative, PNB announced commitments to improve the lives of up to 500,000 people by providing increased access to finance, improved business capacity and development services, greater educational opportunities for students and teachers, enhanced physical and virtual exchange programs, and new science and technology solutions across the PNB priority geographical areas of Egypt, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan and West Bank/Gaza.

Backed by the full support of the Secretary, PNB is exactly the kind of innovative, cross-sector, collaborative partnership that the United States is known for, and we are excited to work in partnership with some of America's most eminent leaders to fulfill the promise of a new beginning and translate it into positive benefits on the ground. As Secretary Clinton said when she first announced PNB on April 27th, “I think that this is one of those occasions in the diplomatic history of our country that we will look back on and say that that made a difference...This is a key element of our national strategy, and I am very grateful to the leadership of this effort and all who will participate in it.”

Please watch the welcome remarks from the Secretary to the PNB Steering Committee, and if you are interested, please reach out to us to get involved, because we are eager to work with any new partners interested in joining the effort. To connect with PNB leadership, you can reach Rob Lalka in the Office of Global Partnership Initiatives (S/GPI) via e-mail.

About the Author: Maria Otero serves as Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs. Under Secretary Otero has worked for the last year responding to the Secretary's call to elevate water issues in the U.S. foreign policy agenda and on the global stage.

Water is everywhere -- covering almost three-quarters of the earth's surface -- yet nearly one billion people in the world do not have safe water. Today, I had the opportunity to open a meeting on water issues co-organized by UNICEF, the United States, Tajikistan, and others at the Millennium Development Goals Summit. It was energizing to engage with such a dynamic group of leaders from the UN, government, NGOs, and civil society who were part of this event -- leaders like UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, USAID Administrator Raj Shah, and UNICEF's Executive Director Anthony Lake, to name just a few.

Through my travels across the world, from the Arctic Circle to the hills of Pakistan and the headwaters of the Nile, I have seen how water issues affect every part of society. From the woman who spends five hours a day walking to fetch water for dinner to the entire city that runs on hydropower, water can be a challenge but also a blessing, when harnessed effectively.

Bringing together a high-level group of leaders to focus attention on these critical issues is an important step, but we must do more. Over the coming months the Department of State and USAID will be looking closely at how we are working on water and sanitation with the goal of identifying concrete steps we can take to both focus and strengthen our efforts.

Last year, the United States invested about $774 million for all water sector and sanitation-related activities in developing countries, and as a result, some 5.7 million people received improved access to safe drinking water and 1.3 million received improved access to sanitation. We want to continue to build on these efforts and those of our partner countries, because quite simply, this is an issue we cannot afford to ignore.

Water scarcity, lack of access to clean drinking water, and inadequate sanitation increase disease, undermine economic growth, limit food production, and threaten peace and security. By investing in improved water and sanitation, maternal and child health significantly improves, children are better able to attend school, and women have greater economic opportunity.

We must make water and sanitation a global priority and work to ensure that disagreements over water do not escalate to violent conflicts. We must also ensure that these water and sanitation challenges do not undermine development. A key part of this is achieving water security.

Simply put, this means ensuring people have the water they need, where they need it, when they need it; while at the same time mitigating the impacts of water-related disasters to both people and infrastructure. I will continue to make this a top priority in my work in the months ahead.

More from UNGA: Secretary Clinton's Travel to New York for the United Nations 65th General Assembly | U.S. Strategy for Meeting the Millennium Development Goals

Today, Secretary Clinton announced the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, a new public-private partnership led by the United Nations Foundation (UNF) to create a thriving global market for clean and efficient household cooking solutions that will save lives, improve livelihoods, empower women, and combat climate change.

Around the world, nearly 3 billion people use traditional cook stoves and open fires for heating and meal preparation, resulting in nearly 2 million premature deaths annually -- especially among women and children -- from diseases caused by exposure to smoke. The World Health Organization estimates cookstove smoke to be the fifth-worst overall health risk factor in developing countries. Reliance on biomass (e.g. wood, dung, coal) for cooking fuel and heating also forces women and children to spend many hours each week collecting these items. They face severe personal security risks as they collect this fuel, particularly in refugee camps, conflict zones, and other areas of instability. Additionally, inefficient, polluting cookstoves can contribute to climate change through emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and aerosols such as black carbon.

The U.S. Department of State, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Centers for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), all of whom are founding partners of the Global Alliance, have forged an unprecedented government effort to mobilize financial resources, U.S. experts, and research and development tools to achieve a target of "100 by 20": 100 million homes to adopt clean and efficient stoves and fuels by 2020. The initial U.S. financial commitment to the Alliance is $50.82 million over the next 5 years.

The United States is not alone in this effort. The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves will work in cooperation with other leading international non-profit organizations, foundations, academic institutions, corporate leaders, governments, UN agencies, and local NGO's, women's self-help groups, and community members to help overcome the market barriers that currently impede the production, deployment, and use of clean cookstoves in the developing world.

You can read more about the Global Alliance here and here.

The video and transcript of the Secretary's remarks is available here.

More from UNGA: Secretary Clinton's Travel to New York for the United Nations 65th General Assembly | U.S. Strategy for Meeting the Millennium Development Goals

About the Author: Jose W. Fernandez serves as Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Business Affairs.

Hundreds of invitations have been sent. Press releases and fact sheets have been drafted. Volunteers have been coordinated. It's time for the big event. Today, Secretary Clinton and Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin are hosting "1,000 Days: Change a Life, Change the Future: Partnering to Reduce Child Undernutrition." The "1,000 Days" event addresses the problem of child undernutrition, focusing on programs targeted at the 1,000 day "window of opportunity" -- the critical developmental period from pregnancy to two years of age.

As the guests, speakers, and dignitaries from around the world stream in, it's exciting to see this important event come together. The State Department, including the Bureau of Economics, Energy, and Business Affairs, our colleagues at USAID, the United Nations, and across the U.S. and Irish governments have been working around the clock to bring attention to this crisis. As 200 million children around the world suffer from chronic undernutrition, we are bringing the international community together to meet this challenge. Evidence shows that a child who is well nourished for the critical 1,000 days will have a healthier and more prosperous future. "1,000 Days" is more than one event. It includes commitments to follow-up actions and aims to support a broad-based movement to improve child nutrition.

The event reflects the larger U.S. government commitment to enhancing food security and supporting the Feed the Future initiative. In the Bureau of Economics, for example, we are part of a collaborative global effort centered on country-led processes to improve food security, and the U.S. government will be investing more than $3.5 billion over three years to support country-led plans to combat hunger. We are working to promote research and innovation that offer the potential to help countries meet their food security needs, improve the environment, and increase rural incomes. These goals have enormous potential for contributing to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of reducing poverty by 50 percent by 2015.

As my team works behind the scenes to support this event today, I'm proud to say that we're working hard every day to combat the root causes of chronic hunger and poverty around the world. This is an effort that I will be a part of next month when I hit the road to Chicago and Des Moines for the World Food Prize, so please stay tuned.

Related Content: Secretary Clinton and Irish Foreign Minister Martin to Host "1,000 Days: Change a Life, Change the Future" Event on Reducing Child Undernutrition | 1,000 Days: Change a Life, Change the Future website

More from UNGA: Secretary Clinton's Travel to New York for the United Nations 65th General Assembly | U.S. Strategy for Meeting the Millennium Development Goals

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton joined partners in signing two Memoranda of Understanding on Haiti recovery projects. The first memorandum commemorates the partnership with the Government of Haiti to invest in an industrial park in the Port-au-Prince region, and the second memorandum commemorates the partnership with the Government of Haiti, the United States, and France in the rebuilding of the General University Hospital in Port-au-Prince.

Secretary Clinton said, "In the wake of the terrible quake, many spoke about the need, not only to rebuild what was lost, but to fundamentally re-imagine the Haitian landscape by building a stronger economy, better infrastructure, and a sturdier social system, not just in Port-au-Prince but nationwide.

"And the two MOUs that have been signed today will support that effort. They will encourage progress in two areas that are key to Haiti's long-term recovery: creating jobs and providing a foundation for rebuilding the country's health system."

Regarding the first Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Haiti, the United States Government, the Inter-American Development Bank, the International Finance Corporation, and Sae-A Trading Company, the Secretary said, "[It] is designed to establish an industrial park and a garment manufacturing operation in Haiti with the potential to create more than 10,000 permanent jobs. And these are not just any jobs; these are good jobs with fair pay that adhere to international labor standards. And the impact on Haiti's economy has enormous potential for being significant and sending a message that Haiti is open for business again.

"And we look forward to working with our partners in the private sector to leverage capital and create these jobs, and with them, the better lives that Haitians are seeking for themselves and their families."

With Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive and the French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Secretary Clinton signed the second Memorandum of Understanding that commits each government to help rebuilding the central public hospital for Port-au-Prince. She said, "Since January 12th, it has been serving thousands of people, even though it is crippled by physical damage, limited equipment, limited electrical and other critical services. The United States and France will each invest $25 million to rebuild this hospital, to create a facility that meets the needs of the Haitian people, and the Haitian Government will contribute $3.2 million in funding.

"This work is important and there is no time to waste. As we saw on the front page of the New York Times today, people are suffering. They need jobs, they need health care, they need us -- their own government and the international community -- to follow through on our promises and translate our good intentions to real concrete progress on the ground.

"I'm looking forward to the upcoming session of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission. It is very important to keep in mind what both the prime minister and the foreign minister said, that the extent of the devastation was enormous, and those who expect progress immediately are unrealistic and doing a disservice to the many people who are working so hard. But to expect less than concerted effort every day that produces results would be a great tragedy."

In closing, Secretary Clinton said, "So we will work hard with all of you, and we especially thank our private sector partners and the financing teams that have put together the first memorandum. And we look forward to seeing the progress that can come with the second memorandum in a tangible demonstration of our commitment to the Haitian people."

Read the Secretary's full remarks here.

More from UNGA: Secretary Clinton's Travel to New York for the United Nations 65th General Assembly

Learn more: United States' Strategy for Meeting the Millennium Development Goals

World leaders are gathering in New York over the next two days to assess progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and discuss ways to meet the 2015 deadline for reaching them. What do they hope to achieve in the next five years?

For MDG 1, "Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger," the concrete goals are to:

• Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than $1 a day.
• Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people.
• Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger.

This UN fact sheet suggests that the world is on track for meeting this goal. U.S. programs such as Feed the Future and other food security initiatives are committed to ensuring continued progress.

For MDG 2, "Achieve Universal Primary Education," the goal is to:

• Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling.

According to this UN fact sheet, current enrollment numbers are not high enough to meet the goal, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, although primary school enrollment in developing nations has increased since 2000. You can read more about the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)'s literacy programs here.

For MDG 3, "Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women," the goal is to:

• Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education no later than 2015.

As reported in this UN fact sheet, efforts are currently falling short of this goal. Girls and women are making gains in education, but men still outnumber women in paid employment, and -- to a large degree -- in politics. In 2010, women made up only 19 percent of the world's parliamentary positions. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer has suggested that achieving MDG 3 is a prerequisite for meeting the other Millennium Goals. You can read her remarks here. USAID's "Women in Development" program information is available here.

For MDG 4, "Reduce Child Mortality," the goal is to:

• Reduce by two thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate.

This UN fact sheet reports that a few countries defined as having high child mortality rates are on track to meet the goal, but others still face challenges. Almost nine million children each year die before their fifth birthday, with half those deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. Information about some U.S. programs that are making a difference is available here.

For MDG 5, "Improve Maternal Health," the goals are to:

• Reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio.
• Achieve universal access to reproductive health.

This UN fact sheet describes progress toward maternal health as significant, but slow. Nearly all the deaths are occurring in developing countries, and most would be preventable if there were access to adequate reproductive health services, equipment, supplies and skilled healthcare workers. USAID reports on recent progress here. Information on the President's Global Health Initiative is available here.

For MDG 6, "Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Other Diseases," the goals are to:

• Have halted by 2015, and begun to reverse, the spread of HIV/AIDS.
• Achieve, by 2010, universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS for all those who need it.
• Have halted by 2015, and begun to reverse, the incidence of malaria and other major diseases.

According to this UN fact sheet, there has been tangible progress toward this goal. The number of new HIV infections fell steadily from 1996 to 2008, and deaths from AIDS-related illnesses have dropped. However, more than 7,400 people around the world are infected with HIV each day, and 5,500 die daily from AIDS- related illnesses. HIV remains the leading cause of death among reproductive-age women worldwide. USAID reports on progress against infectious diseases at this site; additional information from the State Department is available here; and information from the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is available here.

For MDG 7, "Ensure Environmental Sustainability," the goals are to:

• Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources.
• Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving, by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss.
• Halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.
• By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers.

This UN fact sheet claims a mixed record of achievement: the world is on track to meet the targets for access to drinking water and has already met the goal of improving life for slum-dwellers. The benchmarks for improving sanitation and preserving biodiversity, however, may remain out of reach in the next five years. USAID presents its environmental programs here; State Department programs are here.

For MDG 8, "Develop a Global Partnership for Development," the goals are to:

• Address the special needs of least developed countries, landlocked countries and small island developing states.
• Develop further an open, rule-based, predictable, non-discriminatory trading and financial system.
• Deal comprehensively with developing countries' debt.
• In cooperation with pharmaceutical companies, provide access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries.
• In cooperation with the private sector, make available benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications.

As reported in this UN fact sheet, there's good news to report in terms of rising aid levels, increasing access to markets, tarriff reductions, lower debt burdens, and better access to information and communication technology. In terms of aid volume, the largest donors in 2009 were the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan. USAID discusses global partnerships here; the State Department, here.

As the United States has set forward in its stated strategy for meeting the Millennium Development Goals, "Enormous progress has been made toward meeting the MDGs, and we must recognize, celebrate, and support these achievements. Above all, credit belongs to the citizens and governments of countries that have prioritized development and invested in their people. These achievements are also testimony to the power of successful development partnerships, and the efforts of the United Nations and other multilateral agencies, donor governments, private business, and individuals from around the world."

Going forward, the United States is promoting four principles for further progress on the MDGs. Those are to:

• Leverage innovation.
• Invest in sustainability.
• Track development outcomes, not just dollars.
• Enhance the principle and the practice of mutual accountability.

You can read more about each of these principles, and how they can advance the specific benchmarks described above, in the United States strategy document for meeting the MDGs, which is available here.

Over the next few days, Ambassador Susan Rice, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, will be focusing on the MDGs: working with international partners to advance their implementation, and moving towards a framework that will translate the world's highest ideals into concrete action. You can track the latest news from these meetings on her Twitter account, and don't forget to weigh in with your opinions here on DipNote.

More from UNGA: Secretary Clinton's Travel to New York for the United Nations 65th General Assembly

About the Author: Erica King (second row, far right, above) is a member of the 2008 Thomas R. Pickering Fellowship cohort and served as DipNote's 2010 summer editorial assistant.

I was supposed to be packing my belongings and driving home for the summer, but I decided to take a break. I opened my laptop and refreshed my e-mail inbox, and there was the e-mail that changed everything: I was chosen as a Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellow. I was 19 years old and was just offered the career opportunity of a lifetime. I would travel, learn new languages and new cultures, and represent the United States abroad.

According to the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship program's mission, “The Pickering Undergraduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship seeks to recruit talented students in academic programs relevant to international affairs, political and economic analysis, administration, management, and science policy. The goal is to attract outstanding students from all ethnic, racial, and social backgrounds who have an interest in pursuing a Foreign Service career in the U.S. Department of State. The Program develops a source of trained men and women from academic disciplines representing the skill needs of the Department, who are dedicated to representing America's interests abroad.”

One of the program's components is a summer internship at the Department of State. I recently completed my internship in the Bureau of Public Affairs, and I worked with the DipNote team on State's social media platforms. I enjoyed my time at State and with the DipNote team. My team allowed me to take the lead on the Department's YouTube channel, develop a tag taxonomy, and research all the world leaders who use Twitter. I really appreciate the fact that the Pickering program includes an internship component, as I learned valuable lessons about teamwork, professionalism, and communication.

The Thomas R. Pickering program has equipped me with the skills and resources to become a diplomat in the future. I value the program's purpose and commitment to the success of all its students, and I am proud to be part of a program that brings together so many talented students -- my future colleagues.

Undergraduate students may apply for the Pickering program in the spring semester of their junior year in college -- eligibility and selection requirements are here. The 2011 Pickering Undergraduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship application deadline is February 9, 2011. Fellowships are also available for prospective graduate students. Please visit careers.state.gov for more information about student internships and fellowships at the U.S. Department of State.

Esther Brimmer, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, delivered remarks to the press on the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that will take place in New York next week. Assistant Secretary Brimmer outlined the Administration's goals and priorities, and highlighted some of the key activities the Secretary will be participating in during her time in New York.

She said, "Our goals and priorities for the UN General Assembly can be broadly described as deepening, strengthening, and extending many of the actions already taken. We have four overall objectives that can be described; first, really focusing on the Millennium Development Goals and making progress on our development priorities. Secondly, on improving the UN's tools related to peace and security, to promoting human rights, and tackling environmental changes."

Assistant Secretary Brimmer continued, "[T]he next week's session begins with a high-level plenary meeting on the MDGs, the Millennium Development Goals, which will occur during the first three days of next week. This will be an important opportunity for the United States to elaborate the President's development agenda as well as our approach to the Millennium Development Goals. We will focus on core principles of leveraging innovation, investing in sustainability, tracking development outcomes, and enhancing mutual accountability."

She also shared some of the key elements of the Secretary's schedule. She said, "[F]irst, to note that the Secretary, of course, will be doing a number of Middle East-related events during the week.

"Her first event, after arriving in New York on Sunday, the 19th, will be a senior-level gathering to discuss the ongoing international flood relief for Pakistan. This is a follow-up to a similar gathering that was held in August and it was designed to encourage and rally support for humanitarian relief in that country.

"On Monday, the 20th of September, the Secretary's day will include participation in a special session of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission. Now, that meeting is slated to be co-chaired by Haitian Prime Minister Bellerive and former President Clinton. And much of the Secretary's Monday, as with much of the rest of the week, will then be filled with bilateral and multilateral meetings.

On Tuesday, the 21st of September, the Secretary will make remarks at a special side event related to the Millennium Development Goals. She will co-host with Irish Foreign Minister Martin an event that features leaders from governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector. This event is entitled "1,000 Days: Change a Life, Change the Future," and will highlight action to reduce child undernutrition, focusing on what's called the 1,000-day window of opportunity, beginning from a woman's pregnancy and continuing until the child is two years old. Significant evidence shows that a child who is well-nourished during this critical period will have a healthier and more prosperous future.

"That afternoon, the Secretary will speak at an event hosted by the Clinton Global Initiative, and that evening, the Secretary will participate in the traditional transatlantic dinner with foreign ministers of the European Union and NATO countries.

"Wednesday will feature a series of bilateral and multilateral engagements, including the NATO-Russia Council ministerial and a meeting of the P-5+1. That afternoon, the Secretary will join the U.S. delegation to the high-level plenary on the Millennium Development Goals, where President Obama will address the enduring U.S. commitment to reaching the goals by 2015.

"Now, Thursday, of course, is framed by the formal opening of the General Assembly and the President's speech that morning. On Thursday afternoon, in addition to joining many of the President's meetings, the Secretary will represent the United States at the Security Council for a special meeting on peace and security issues.

"On Friday, we anticipate the Secretary will accompany the President for much of the day. I will note that the Secretary will be resuming her schedule on Monday the 27th with a number of diplomatic meetings in New York. At this juncture, Monday is slated to be the Secretary's last day in New York."

You can read Assistant Secretary Brimmer's full remarks here.

More from UNGA: Secretary Clinton's Travel to New York for the United Nations 65th General Assembly

About the Author: Camille Benton serves as a Curator for ART in EMBASSIES.

This week Mexico celebrated 200 years of independence. In recognition of the occasion and in honor of the vibrant exchange of cultures between our two countries, we note Connecting Lines, the ART in EMBASSIES exhibition currently installed in the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Mexico City. Central among the works in the exhibition are 10 granite sculptures by renowned artist, Jesús Moroles. Ranging from monumental to small-scale, each work offers a tactile experience and invites the participation of the viewer; some can even be played as musical instruments. In Spiral Arc, the slender half-moon form defies its weight and density while being enlivened by a textured surface that radiates energy. Moroles states, "My work is a discussion of how man exists in nature and touches nature and uses nature. Each of my pieces has about fifty percent of its surfaces untouched and raw -- those are parts of the stone that were torn. The rest of the work is smoothed and polished. The effect, which I want people to not only look at but touch, is a harmonious coexistence of the two."

Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, Jesús Moroles earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1978 at North Texas State University, Denton. He apprenticed under Luis Jimenez in El Paso, Texas, 1978-79, and lived and worked in Pietrasanta, Italy, 1979-80. Among many honors, he received a 2008 National Medal of Arts Award, The White House, Washington, DC. His work is in the collections of the Dallas Museum of Art, Texas; the Mint Museum, Charlotte, North Carolina; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Osaka, Japan; and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC. Moroles lives and works in Rockport, Texas.

Related Content: Secretary Clinton pays tribute to Mexico's Bicentennial.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton held a bilateral meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd in the Treaty Room on September 17, 2010. The Secretary welcomed her colleague and friend back to the Department of State in his new capacity as foreign minister, and highlighted the long and deep relationship between the United States and Australia. Secretary Clinton emphasized that their meeting was a continuation of the extraordinary partnership between the countries.

The Secretary announced that she will be traveling to Australia for the first time as Secretary of State in November. She will travel with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to participate in the Australia-U.S. ministerial, where they will meet with their Australian counterparts, Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Defense Minister Stephen Smith. This year will mark the 25th anniversary of the first such meeting between the United States and Australia.

Secretary Clinton thanked the foreign minister for Australia's continuing sacrifice and contributions in Afghanistan. She said that they discussed a wide variety of issues, including the dire humanitarian crisis occurring in Pakistan. Secretary Clinton said, "The minister arrived here from Pakistan, where he surveyed the damage from the devastating floods. And he and I will both be attending a meeting about Pakistan at the beginning of the United Nations General Assembly week on Sunday night. What Australia has done in terms of its commitment to Pakistan is exemplary, and now we have to make sure that the money gets to the people and alleviates the suffering that they are experiencing and helps with the reconstruction."

She continued, "There are so many matters that are of mutual interest, from developing new technologies for clean energy to addressing climate change, halting nuclear proliferation, countering the threat of terrorism, and so much else. So I am delighted to have renewed my partnership and friendship with Kevin."

You can read the Secretary's full remarks here.

Secretary Clinton spoke today at the launch of the U.S.-Indonesian Joint Commission Meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa. The Joint Commission is a key component of President Obama and Indonesia's President Yudhoyono's long-term commitment to broadening, deepening, and elevating bilateral relations between Indonesia and the United States to confront the challenges of the 21st century. Chaired by Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister Natalegawa, this framework within the Comprehensive Partnership strengthens bilateral collaboration on a broad range of issues in order to promote peace, stability, and economic prosperity, not only for the United States and Indonesia, but also regionally and globally. The Comprehensive Partnership allows our two countries to fully explore and build upon our shared national interests, maximizes cooperation on our mutual priorities, and strengthens the already rich relationship between the people of Indonesia and the United States.

Speaking at the start of the meeting, the Secretary said, "Last year, our two presidents agreed to elevate and broaden the relationship between our two countries, and to forge a comprehensive partnership that is really built on our shared values and interests. I think it is remarkable that the United States and Indonesia are the second and third largest democracies in the history of the world. That's quite a tribute. We may be older, but I think the recent history of Indonesia and the extraordinary commitment that you have made to a future built on democracy is inspiring to us as well.

"We are both diverse societies with traditions of pluralism, tolerance, respect for the rights of women and minorities. We share an abiding interest in a more prosperous Southeast Asia and a more peaceful world. And we applaud the role that Indonesia is playing, not only as an advocate for democracy around the world, but on the environment, on climate change, on so many other critical issues.

"So today, we inaugurate the Joint U.S.-Indonesian Commission. And later this afternoon, we will release a Plan of Action that will guide our cooperation on a wide range of issues. Our six working groups began meeting yesterday. Three are new, and they will shepherd new initiatives in education, climate and the environment, and democracy.

"I especially am pleased to highlight the work we do together to promote democracy because Indonesia's free and fair elections, press freedoms, and vibrant civil society are setting an example for so many other nations. Thirty-six countries, including the United States, attended the second Bali Democracy Forum this year. And I applaud your government, Minister, for the leadership that has been shown."

You can read the full text of her remarks here. The joint statement released at the conclusion of the meeting is available here.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh today in Amman, Jordan. Fpllowing their meeting, Secretary Clinton said:

"...The United States values our strong, close relationship, our very important partnership with Jordan. It is rooted in respect and common purpose. And today, I am very pleased to announce that yesterday a new Millennium Challenge Corporation compact was voted on that will invest more than $275 million in sustainable development here in Jordan. We worked very hard on this, and it was in partnership with the Jordanian Government that we looked at the needs that the people of Jordan have. We consulted broadly, outside even the Jordanian Government, with the private sector, with academics, experts, and others. And constantly, we heard, 'Help Jordan deal with the water and waste water issues that affect people across the country.'

"So this compact will help rehabilitate the water supply network, improve waste water collection and irrigation, and expand a key waste water treatment plant. This investment will create jobs for the people of Jordan, so it has the added benefit of not only building infrastructure that will help people in their homes, in their businesses, and provide a base for further economic development, but put people to work right now. And at the end, more than one million Jordanians will be supplied with safe and reliable access to clean drinking water for the very first time."

The Secretary continued, "...There's a saying that Jordan punches above its weight. It may not be a huge population, but it has a commitment to excellence in so many areas.

"Jordan has continued to help build a stable, sovereign, and self-reliant Iraq, and I want to thank the government and people of Jordan for the assistance that you give to Iraqi refugees. I know that that was a difficult responsibility to accept, but I thank you for carrying it forward.

"I also thank the government and people of Jordan for your efforts on behalf of peacekeeping missions around the world, where Jordan has proven time and time again to be a force for peace and progress.

"And of course, as Nasser said, Jordan is a crucial partner working to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and bring a comprehensive peace to the Middle East. We were honored to host King Abdullah II in Washington as these talks got underway, and I want to publicly thank him, as I privately have, for his contributions both to the resumption of direct negotiations and to the constructive beginning that has occurred. Jordan's steadfast support for this process is essential. And today, His Majesty and I discussed ongoing negotiations and I expressed my confidence that Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas can make the difficult decisions necessary to resolve all of the core issues within one year."

Secretary Clinton concluded, "...We believe that not only is it important to pursue the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, but a comprehensive regional peace, the vision that is at the heart of the Arab Peace Initiative. And Nasser and I have spent a lot of time talking about the remarkable document that the Arab Peace Initiative is. I'm not sure many Arabs nor many Israelis have read it, and I would commend to you, particularly those of you in the media, read this document that was begun as a wholly Arab initiative. It was led by, it was written by, it was promulgated by Arab leaders. And it holds out the very promise that we seek.

"And also, we are seeking to determine what direction we can head in order to pursue peace between Israel and Syria, and Israel and Lebanon. To this end, Senator Mitchell is on his way for consultations in Damascus and Beirut. We believe that progress toward regional peace will support and give confidence to the direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and also bring peace to those countries as well.

"Now, I hope that we keep in mind what is possible, because I think peace is possible. And I also think peace is necessary. I will always remember watching the late King Hussein as he signed a treaty that ended decades of war with Israel. That was a historic achievement that continues to inspire me. And under the leadership of King Abdullah II, Jordan has continued to demonstrate its willingness to make difficult decisions in the name of peace that will lead to stability and security.

"So with the commitment of an Israeli prime minister and a Palestinian president who both embrace the goal of a two-state solution, peace is once again within our reach. But it is really going to be up to all of us. The leaders may meet in the room and discuss these issues, the negotiators may debate around the table, but peace only comes from the people themselves. And I would ask that all of the people of this region do what you can to promote the possibility and then the reality of peace.

"So again, let me thank Jordan and particularly my friend, the Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, for your leadership and your active involvement in the pursuit of this important goal -- important for Jordan, for the Palestinian people, Israel, the United States, and all the world who cares about what we are achieving and attempting to accomplish here today."

Read the Secretary's full remarks with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh here.

Assistant Secretary Esther Brimmer spoke yesterday at Johns Hopkins University Nitze School of Advanced International Studies to describe and discuss U.S. goals and priorities for the upcoming UN General Assembly. The Assistant Secretary's comments were delivered in the context of the commitments outlined by President Obama in his speech to the Assembly in September 2009, and the progress made toward those commitments in the subsequent year. Themes highlighted by the Assistant Secretary included non-proliferation and disarmament, the promotion of peace and security, human rights, improving the global economy, advancing global development, and improving the management of the UN so that the institution can live up to the ideals of its founding.

More photos: U.S. Department of State's Flickr photostream | State@Work

Our "Photo of the Week" feature had an embarassment of riches this week, as the 12 winners of the Democracy Photo Challenge were unveiled. The Challenge, established by the State Department as a unique public-private partnership, celebrates the International Day of Democracy (September 15) by asking people the world over to send in images that complete the phrase "Democracy is..."

Nearly 3,000 entries from 131 countries participated in this global visual discussion of democracy. A high-level independent jury narrowed the field of entries to 36 finalist photos, representing each region of the world, which were posted online. The public -- more than 500,000 people -- voted for their favorite 12. The 12 winning photos are currently on display in the South Lobby of the United Nations Headquarters building in New York.

Our photo of the week is one of the Challenge winners, and is by Ian M. Cunningham, from the United States. In the text that accompanies his image of this June 2009 Iranian election protest in Washington, DC, Ian writes: "Democracy is... many and it is one. It is large and it is small. It is standing under harsh, beating sun and joining together to make shelter."

Although we're highlighting this image, we here at DipNote thought they were all winners. Be sure to check them out at this link. You can also learn more about the Democracy Challenge on Facebook.

Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt M. Campbell testified today before the Senate Armed Services Committee. In his statement, Assistant Secretary Campbell said:

"America's future is intimately tied to that of the Asia-Pacific, and our economic and strategic interests in the region are among the most important in the world. The region is home to almost one-third of the Earth's population and accounts for almost one-third of global GDP. Strong coordination between the U.S. and key Asian economies was instrumental for the global economic recovery. Currently, more than 60 percent of our exports go to the Asia-Pacific. American and Asian companies are among the most dynamic in the world, and our economies are growing increasingly interdependent. The region is also home to critical strategic chokepoints for global commerce, emerging power centers that will have profound implications for U.S. and international interests, and a foundation for American power projection in the greater Asia-Pacific."

Assistant Secretary Campbell underscored the importance of the U.S. alliances with Japan and South Korea, which have "evolved from strategic bulwarks against Soviet expansionism to truly global partnerships." The U.S. alliance with Japan is a cornerstone of our strategic engagement in Asia, and South Korea continues to be an increasingly active partner in global affairs. U.S. bilateral and multilateral cooperation with South Korea transcends the Asia-Pacific region.

Assistant Secretary Campbell said, "South Korea's successful and positive role as a regional power is in stark contrast with North Korea. North Korea poses the most immediate risks to both South Korea and the stability of East Asia. North Korea's unprovoked attack on the Republic of Korea naval ship Cheonan on March 26, 2010, claimed the lives of 46 South Korean sailors. This attack gave the international community yet another reminder of the unpredictable and enduring threat posed by North Korea.

"The United States has responded to a number of provocative actions by the DPRK -- diplomatically, militarily, and economically. Let there be no doubt about U.S. conviction here. In the case of the Cheonan sinking, the United States worked closely with member states in the UN to craft a strong response. As a result, on July 9, the UN Security Council issued a Presidential Statement condemning the attack on the Cheonan and demonstrating the Council's unity in confronting threats to international peace and security. The United States and the ROK have also coordinated closely on a series of combined military exercises to ensure readiness and to deter future aggression."

He continued, "The Republic of Korea is a key partner and contributor to regional and global peace and stability. The Obama Administration is unwavering in its resolve to uphold its treaty commitments to defend its allies. We highly value our broad relationships with the ROK and Japan and are deepening our security relationships with both countries as well as with our other partners in the region to ensure peace and stability on the peninsula. The U.S. position on the DPRK has remained constant: we will not accept North Korea as a nuclear weapons power. The United States has underscored numerous times that North Korea can only achieve the security and international respect it seeks by ceasing its provocative behavior, improving its relations with its neighbors, complying with international law, and taking irreversible steps toward fulfilling its denuclearization commitments under the September 2005 Joint Statement."

Read Assistant Secretary Campbell's full statement here.

About the Author: Dawn Anderson is the Coordinator of the Ambassador's Special Self-Help Program at the U.S. Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe.

September 11, 2001. I was sitting at my desk in Capitol Hill, watching the TV in shock as planes flew into the World Trade Center towers. Then, like others on the Hill that day, I moved quickly out of my office building, got into my car and made my way through the crowded and chaotic streets of Washington, DC to a friend's apartment where many of us gathered to watch and wait. And watch. And wait.

September 11, 2010. I cooked saudza and covo muriwo. I wiped tables. And I fed and cleaned disabled children. I was -- am -- in Harare, Zimbabwe. In remembrance of 9/11, I volunteered my time.

I am the Coordinator for the Ambassador's Special Self-Help Program, a small grants program designed to improve basic economic and social conditions at the grassroots level in local communities and villages. All our program's recipients rest uncomfortably below anyone's definition of the poverty line. An assistant and I have managed the program for just three months, but in that short time I have seen a startling and disturbing amount of need.

When Ambassador Ray decided to create a volunteer program involving Embassy staff, it seemed natural to focus on Self-Help Program awardees. All our grantees have little in the way of material items, but have an abundance of hope, spirit, and the will to move beyond their circumstances. For our 9/11 remembrance service, we selected Tose Respite Care Home, a residence for severely disabled children, mostly orphans or children from marginalized families. We wanted to do more than just give money. We wanted to give our time and talents to Zimbabwean families as a means of remembering all the American families who lost so much on that sunny September day in 2001. We wanted to show that we are people who care about people in need.

On 9/11/2010, approximately 35 diplomats and their families, along with locally-engaged staff, tended the Home's out-of-control garden, assisted in grinding grains, hand-washed residents' clothes, and cooked for, cleaned, and read to the children. We toured the Home's facilities and learned that it is the only home in the country that has the capacity to accept severely physically and mentally disabled children. We saw the love and care that the staff at the Home, many of whom have worked there for most of the nearly 20 years it has been in operation, lavished on their wards.

More than one volunteer approached me to say how good they felt to have spent time helping an organization that helps so many Zimbabwean families in need. And many indicated an interest in participating in one of the nine additional volunteer activities slated through Veterans' Day, November 11.

It was not until later in the evening that I realized I had not replayed in my head what I'd seen on the television screen nine years ago. It was then that I realized that, while I will never forget what happened on 9/11, I had begun to create a new set of images around that day: The smiles on kids' faces. Chats with women who enjoy their work. Me being proud to work for an Ambassador and an organization that cares for the people in the countries we serve.

Secretary Clinton met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today in Ramallah. Secretary Clinton said:

"Thank you very much, Mr. President, for not only receiving me here again in Ramallah with such warmth among now friends, but for your leadership and your commitment to peace for the Palestinian people. And as President Abbas said, the United States and all of us, led by President Obama, are very committed and determined to work toward a peace agreement through direct negotiations that leads to an independent, sovereign, viable Palestinian state that realizes the aspirations of the Palestinian people."

About the Author: Mohammed Motiwala serves as an Economic Officer in the Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs.

On September 15, the State Department's Economics and Energy Bureau (EEB) welcomed author and journalist Robert Bryce to speak on helping Africa meet its energy needs. Currently hundreds of millions of Africans have no access to electricity. And without this access, Africans are without the key prerequisite for economic development and poverty alleviation.

What's the answer to this problem? Wind farms in Angola? Solar panels in the Sahara?

Bryce doesn't think so. To him, fossil fuels remain the most realistic short- to medium-term source of steady power to a continent that is hungry for it. The problems with popular renewable energies like wind and solar is that they are intermittent, says Bryce: There is no power when the wind is not blowing or when the sun is not shining. There is also the issue of scale. Bryce noted that for a nuclear power plant to generate 2,700 MW of electricity, a land footprint the size of Manhattan would be required. To generate the same amount of power from wind would need a footprint the size of Rhode Island, and a bio-fuels plant would require an even larger one.

For longer term needs, Bryce favors nuclear power. He is particularly excited about new, small modular reactors (SMRs), which the Secretary of Energy has described as "plug and play" reactors. These SMRs, compared to traditional reactors, would have lower upfront capital costs and would potentially have few proliferation concerns.

As for the impact of fossil fuel use on climate change, Bryce says he's still undecided about the data. But he has accused developed countries of "carbon dioxide colonialism" for demanding that developing countries reduce their carbon footprint before industrializing. He says it is wrong for a country like the United States, which in many cases produces 50 times more CO2 per capita than many Africa countries, to object to funding fossil fuel projects in Africa (as it did earlier this year when South Africa applied for a loan through the World Bank).

So what do DipNote readers think? How do we work with our African partners to help them balance environmental considerations with obtaining the energy they need and deserve?

About the Author: Sarah Nolan serves as Assistant Chief of Protocol for Diplomatic Partnerships.

September is a special month for many -- the end of summer, the changing colors of fall, and the return to school -- but for many around the State Department, September brings with it one of the most significant events on the diplomatic calendar: the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). With the 65th UNGA session beginning this week, people from all corners of the world are arriving in New York City for this gathering of global leaders.

In honor of the United Nations General Assembly, the Office of the Chief of Protocol held its latest "State of the Administration" briefing with two experienced and distinguished individuals. Ambassador Marshall opened the event and introduced the first speaker -- a person she called "a pillar in the history of American foreign policy," former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Also a former U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Secretary Alright talked about her time working on various issues during past UNGAs and her experiences as both the Permanent Representative and as Secretary of State. The next speaker was Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations Esther Brimmer, who is leading the United States' efforts at UNGA. Picking up right where Secretary Albright left off, Assistant Secretary Brimmer talked about this year's UNGA and what many of the Ambassadors can expect over the course of the next few weeks. With over 100 foreign ambassadors in attendance, the event garnered great interest from the Diplomatic Corps.

The "State of the Administration" Speaker Series was created to give the Diplomatic Corps the opportunity to hear an insiders' briefing on relevant topics by some of Washington's most influential policy makers, allow the ambassadors learn more about the institutions of the United States and hopefully assist them in completing their duties while posted here in Washington, DC. This UNGA briefing succeeded at achieving those goals. Prior speakers have included White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Deputy Secretary of State Jack Lew and Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council Larry Summers.

USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah will hold a conversation with David Lane, President and CEO of ONE, on global development opportunities and challenges on the eve of the Millennium Development Goals summit. The discussion will be moderated by Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip J. Crowley and streamed live here on DipNote and www.state.gov at 10:15 a.m. on September 16, 2010. (EDT).

Members of the public have submitted questions, some of which will be selected for response during the live broadcast. You can read their questions here on DipNote. You can read more information about the U.S. government's strategy for achieving the Millennium Development Goals here.

This evening, Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell provided a readout of the second day of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in Jerusalem. Special Envoy Mitchell said:

"...[A] serious and substantive discussion is well underway. The trilateral discussion this evening lasted for about two hours. Present were Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Abbas, Secretary Clinton, and myself. We're grateful to the prime minister and to the Government of Israel for hosting the meeting.

"Prior to the trilateral, Secretary Clinton and Prime Minister Netanyahu met bilaterally. She will have a separate bilateral meeting with President Abbas tomorrow in Ramallah. Earlier today, the Secretary also met with Israeli President Peres, Foreign Minister Lieberman, Defense Minister Barak, and Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad. Her discussions were productive and focused on ways to support the complementary political and institution-building tracks that are both necessary to achieve a just and lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace.

"In this evening's meeting, President Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu resumed yesterday's discussion of core issues and key challenges to this process. While today, as in the past, what I'm able to share with you is limited, I will say that the two leaders are not leaving the tough issues to the end of their discussions. They are tackling upfront and did so this evening the issues that are at the center of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We take this as a strong indicator of their belief that peace is possible and of their desire to conclude an agreement.

"The president and the prime minister again reiterated their condemnation of violence that targets innocent civilians and reaffirmed their conviction that the goal of two states for two peoples can be achieved only through negotiations. They pledged to continue working together, to maintain security, while steadfastly pursuing this goal. The Secretary and I pledged our full support for their efforts. We reconfirmed that the United States will play a sustained and active role in these negotiations and in the implementation of an agreement. We will stand by the parties as they make the tough choices that are required to secure a better future for their people and for the entire region.

"The two parties agreed that their negotiators will continue these discussions next week to lay the groundwork for the next round of talks at the leadership level. These face-to-face talks are critical for both sides as they work to build trust and confidence.

"Tomorrow, Secretary Clinton will travel to Jordan for a meeting with King Abdullah, whose support has been critical to the resumptions of these negotiations. That will be following her meeting with President Abbas in Ramallah. I will travel tomorrow to Damascus for a meeting with President Asad and Foreign Minister Mualem. I will then go on to Beirut for meetings tomorrow evening and Friday with President Suleiman, Prime Minister Hariri, Speaker Berri, and also with senior United Nations officials. I will brief the Syrian and Lebanese leaders and seek to elicit their support for our shared goal of a comprehensive regional peace and will do the same in the next few days with many other leaders from this region."

Read the transcript of Special Envoy Mitchell's press briefing here.

Full coverage of Secretary Clinton's travel to Sharm el-Sheikh, Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Amman is available here.

Meeting today in Jerusalem with President Shimon Peres of Israel, Secretary Clinton said, "I see the future that can deliver on the aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians for this city, and which safeguards its meaning forever. And that is why we are here today, because we are convinced that the legitimate aspirations of these two peoples are not incompatible. We are also convinced that peace is both necessary and possible, and that this is a moment of opportunity that must be seized.

"President Peres referred to the challenges that confront the people of this region. Those challenges make our task even more urgent. Now, I appreciate the skepticism that many Israelis feel, the doubt and the disappointment over so many failed efforts and continuing conflict. But Shimon has lived long enough to see more than his share of frustrated hopes and dreams deferred, yet he remains an eternal optimist, with his feet firmly planted in the real world. And I take great inspiration from your example.

"He understands better than most the fundamental reality facing the State of Israel, that the status quo is unsustainable -- now, that doesn't mean that it can't be sustained for a year or a decade, or two or three, but fundamentally, the status quo is unsustainable -- and that the only path to ensure Israel's future as a secure and democratic Jewish state is through a negotiated two-state solution, and a comprehensive regional peace.

"Shimon also understands the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for dignity, self-determination, and a state of their own. And he knows very well, through hard experience, that this effort takes patience, persistence, and leadership. That there will always be obstacles and setbacks is a given. It is always easier to defer or criticize tough decisions than to make them. It is always easier to sit on the sidelines than to roll up your sleeves. It is always easier to doubt than to trust.

"President Peres has never been one to sit on the sidelines. And, thankfully, we now have, with Prime Minister Netanyahu, a leader who understands how important it is to move forward. And as he has said, we also have a Palestinian president who shares that determination. I have sat with these two men, individually and together. I have listened to them talk candidly and forcefully. They are getting down to business, and they have begun to grapple with the core issues that can only be resolved through face-to-face negotiations.

"I believe they are serious about reaching an agreement that results in two states living side by side in peace and security. That outcome is not only in the interests of both Israelis and Palestinians, it is in the interests of the United States and people everywhere. This is the time and these are the leaders. And the United States will stand by them as they make difficult decisions. We will be an active and sustained partner throughout this effort, and I look forward to continuing our talks today, here in Jerusalem."

You can read the full remarks here.

Full coverage of Secretary Clinton's travel to Sharm el-Sheikh, Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Amman is available here.

About the Author: Cheryl Benton serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs.

I will never forget my visit to Zanzibar. The city is visually stunning -- some buildings there are ancient, possibly more than a thousand years old -- but what really sets it apart is the palpable spirit of harmony. My time in Zanzibar was made even more special by three individuals.

The U.S. Embassy's David Scott took me with him around town. As we walked down the street, people smiled, waved, and shouted, "Hello, David Scott!" And I thought to myself: this is what public affairs is all about! David drew upon his network of contacts to connect me with some incredible people in the city.

One woman I met was an American from Minnesota. Although she's lived in Zanzibar for some time now, her Minnesota accent is still very much with her. As a Midwesterner, I was pleased to hear her familiar accent. She works with a program called "The Radio Instruction to Strengthen Education" project, or RISE, which teaches Tanzanian children literacy, numeracy, HIV/AIDS prevention, and life skills via radio instruction that's interactive -- lessons are broadcast over Tanzania's national radio station network, and trained teachers also guide students through lessons. Wind-up and solar-powered radios allow participation in these daily radio education programs even in remote locations.

One of the most memorable people I met on all of my travels was Kaiza Mohammed. She has started an artists' cooperative, which allows women in Zanzibar to display and sell their artwork. Kaiza specializes in acrylic paintings, and intricate henna designs. To me, she embodied the spirit of Zanzibar, embracing me and welcoming me into the community. I will always remember the moment she handed me her business card, and said to me: "I feel so good to be a woman artist, and I want other women to see what other women can do."

I want others to hear about what Kaiza is doing, and what women like her are accomplishing around the world, and so that is why I share her story. Kaiza is strengthening her community by helping women around her build better lives for themselves and their families through economic opportunity. Kaiza truly embodies what Secretary Clinton has said, when you empower a woman, you empower a nation.

About the Author: Cassandra Welch is the Assistance Coordinator at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Editor's Note: With the 2010 U.S. National Security Strategy's emphasis on preventing conflicts before they emerge and conflict and instability watch lists consistently identifying nearly one third of the world's countries as in danger of falling into conflict and instability within the next two years, there is a pressing need for the U.S. to engage in conflict prevention activities. Section 1207 funding managed by the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization seeks to do just that. To date, $350 million in 1207 funding has supported 25 conflict prevention projects in 23 at-risk or post-conflict countries. The following text has been excerpted from Ms. Welch's video remarks.

Hello. I'm Cassandra Welch. I'm the Assistance Coordinator at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia.

After the August [2008] conflict in Georgia with Russia, the U.S. Government pledged $1 billion to help reconstruct Georgia. Of that, a hundred million came from the 1207 funds, and that funding is actually the largest amount of money that 1207 funds have given to a particular country.

The conflict ended in August, and we got the first funding in October of 2008, and that funding allowed the Embassy, and particularly USAID, to start right away with a program that helped farmers who had fled from the conflict to go back to their fields. That helped in two ways: one, to stabilize the situation, because farmers had fled the administrative boundary line and we wanted to get them back into their homes and into their fields as soon as possible to make sure that that boundary line didn't encroach further into Georgia. And secondly, the August conflict was in the height of the planting season. So these farmers lost not only their crops for that season, but also the money to buy seed in the future.

The 1207 funding and the support from the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization allowed us to get on the ground almost immediately and help these farmers. And within the first two months, they planted a new crop for winter wheat and that meant that the farmers would not only be able to feed themselves and their families during the winter, but also would make enough money to plant in the summer. And, as I said, the funding helped to make sure that they got back to their homes and their families.

It's been about 18 months since this $19.5 million project was underway and it was a huge success. Not only did every farmer and farmer family that was affected by the conflict get assistance, but they also had a bumper crop of over $44 million. This is a crop that they never had in Georgia before and will help in years to come. The Georgian Government actually hailed this 1207 funded project as the most successful post-conflict assistance that the government received.

Wednesday, September 15, Assistant Secretary Brimmer will speak at the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) on “The United States at the U.N. and Beyond: A World of Transnational Challenges.” Her remarks will include discussion of U.S. goals and objectives for the 65th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The speech will take place at 12:30 p.m. EDT. SAIS will host a live webcast, which you can view at www.sais-jhu.edu.

About the Author: Cheryl Benton serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs.

Recently, I traveled to Uganda in support of Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson's trip to the African Union. I later took a side trip to Tanzania, where I visited Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.

While in Kampala, I had the opportunity to meet with civil society representatives. I believe civil society will be a major determinant in driving change on this vast continent, and that civil society is where Africa's future lies.

An astonishing sixty percent or more of Africa's population is 25 years old or younger, so I was particularly interested to meet with this segment of civil society. In Kampala, I met with a group young leaders at the U.S. Embassy. These young people, brimming with enthusiasm and thinking about their future, wanted to talk about education, about women's rights, and about what they could do -- what practical, immediate steps were available to them -- to make the future brighter for themselves and their families. These are the topics on the hearts and minds of the young people in Kampala.

When I spoke about the Secretary Clinton's commitment to women's empowerment, and underscored her statement that when you empower women, you empower families, and you empower a nation, I noticed their eyes grew bigger and their heads nodded.

My experience talking with them and with other civil society groups was an enlightening moment for me, and suggested a vision of hope for these countries. There was one young man from Zanzibar who had created a movement of "Youth for Obama," which became the "Zanzibar Youth Forum." This young man's goal was to bring people together to focus on improving their community, and he has made plans to launch a Zanzibar Youth Clean-Up Day. His inspiration was an American leader, but he translated it to his own experience, and applied it to his own community, and made it his own. The following week, this same young man was in attendance at the President's Forum with Young African Leaders. Both of us were delighted to see one another again.

When I spoke with the young people at the American Corner in Zanzibar, and about President Obama's speech in Ghana, I reiterated what the President said: The future of Africa is in Africa's hands. I saw light bulbs go off -- we do have the power to make our future what we would like it to be.

About the Author: Robert O. Blake serves as Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.

I traveled to Dushanbe last week for a two-day visit. After having recovered from a devastating civil war in the 1990s, Tajikistan remains fragile, as shown by the August 23 prison break of opposition figures and foreign fighters and the September 3 IED blast. Tajikistan also shares a 1,400 kilometer border with Afghanistan.

One of the poorest countries in the world, Tajikistan lacks economic opportunities, which has prompted over one million Tajik men to work in Russia, Kazakhstan, and other countries. Many families rely on their remittances for survival. Despite the delicate post-conflict situation, many multinational and bilateral donors have overlooked Tajikistan, which receives less assistance than African countries at similar post-conflict stages. USAID conducts a wide-ranging, $44.5 million program, including a teacher training program that I watched in action on the first day of school, which students commemorated by wearing their best suits and dresses. We hope to continue to help President Rahmon deal with these many challenges. My meetings with him, Foreign Minister Zarifi, and Deputy Foreign Minister Rahmanova took us a step in the right direction.

Expanding the space for political opportunities also helps stabilize Tajikistan. I met with Muhiddin Kabiri, chairman of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan, the only Islam-based political party in all of Central Asia, and the primary opposition party in Dushanbe. Kabiri stressed to me the importance of putting forward a moderate Muslim platform that allows both religious and political expression. NGO representatives told me that while they encounter many obstacles, they can still work productively at a local level to promote more active civil society involvement. For our part, I frequently cite USAID's support for 41 water users associations spread throughout the country, a successful grassroots effort to self-govern water management.

Related Content: Assistant Secretary Robert O. Blake, Jr. Travels to Tajikistan and the Russian Federation

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