Remarks with Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa
Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateTreaty RoomWashington, DCMarch 18, 2009
SECRETARY CLINTON: Good afternoon. I am pleased to welcome the foreign minister of Bahrain here today. We had the opportunity to meet when I was in Sharm el-Sheikh and I am so delighted that he could accept an invitation to meet with me here at the State Department. As you know, we have a very good relationship and working partnership on a number of important issues, and we look forward to talking about our areas of mutual concern. Mr. Minister?
FOREIGN MINISTER AL KHALIFA: Thank you very much. As you said, Madame Secretary, it’s an honor for me and a pleasure to be here in the United States to renew our friendship that started long time ago, and especially in Sharm el-Sheikh. And we look forward to build on this partnership, as you say rightly, between our two countries. Our relationship goes over two centuries. We have a lot to do together. We have a lot of prospects of taking our relationship forward into new horizons. And we are very optimistic we can work together.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Good. Thank you all.
FOREIGN MINISTER AL KHALIFA: Thank you.
Remarks With British Foreign Secretary David Miliband
Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateTreaty RoomWashington, DCMarch 18, 2009
SECRETARY CLINTON: Hello. Well, I am pleased that the foreign secretary has come for another visit to further our cooperative working relationship in preparation for the March 31 meeting in The Hague and in preparation for the G-20 meeting, the NATO summit, the EU-U.S. meeting. We have a lot on our agenda. Welcome, David.
FOREIGN SECRETARY MILIBAND: Thank you very much. It’s really good to be here. We’re looking forward to our discussions and hearing how you’re building on the very strong, positive impression that the Administration and you, in particular, have made right across Europe. So, glad to be here.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. Thank you all very much.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) do you think NATO will put forward more troops in Afghanistan if President Obama asks?
FOREIGN SECRETARY MILIBAND: I think that we have discussed this in the European community, European Union and in NATO as well. We’re very struck that the Obama Administration wants to have a discussion of objectives, of strategy, and better resources, and they want to do it in that order. Obviously in the UK, we have about 12 percent of (inaudible) forces in Afghanistan.
I think what I would say is that the greatest increase in troops over the next few years is going to come from Afghans, because it’s the Afghan National Army that is the focus of development. But some European countries are increasing their troop numbers, but I think there’s a real sense that the Administration is serious about consultation and collaboration about all aspects of the objectives of the strategy as well as the resources, and that’s greatly appreciated.
SECRETARY CLINTON: And I would only add, Arshad, that what we have is an integrated strategy to achieve the objectives so that the civilian capacity that is going to be important for assisting in the training of the Afghan National Army as well as the police in supporting governance, rule of law, judicial systems, economic opportunities is also on the table. So we’re going to have a thorough discussion leading up to the March 31st meeting because we believe that the objectives and the strategic review should lead in making clear what the resources will be, and we’ll get into the specifics as we move forward. Thank you all very much.
Remarks With South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
RemarksHillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateTreaty RoomWashington, DCMarch 19, 2009
SECRETARY CLINTON: Good afternoon. And it’s a special treat to welcome not only the foreign minister, but someone who I’ve had the privilege of meeting before, and looking forward now to work together in our new capacity. And we have so many important issues to discuss with South Africa. And the opportunities for us to have a comprehensive relationship that touches on all of these important matters is very exciting to me, Madame Minister.
FOREIGN MINISTER DLAMINI-ZUMA: Thank you. A pleasure for South Africa to be able to meet the Secretary of State in a new capacity. Because as she says, we’ve known each from other engagements. But also to have this opportunity to really look at our bilateral relations and to see how to strengthen it and how to broaden it and how to cooperate in many other areas of mutual interest. So we are delighted to be here and to have this opportunity.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. Thank you so much.
