Not much leaking out of Canada today save some remarks from P.J. Crowley at the press briefing. I am sad that Secretary Clinton arrives on the day the seal hunt has been allowed to begin. I have signed numerous petitions to Stephen Harper about this, (you can too, click here to see how mean this is and to sign the petition), but Canada persists in permitting the cruel clubbing of baby seals right in front of their mothers.
Prime Minister Harper, if you call it off I promise I will resume buying Canadian sea food.
As for news from Canada about the Secretary off State, just what follows from P.J. Crowley's briefing. We see her below with her Canadian counterpart Lawrence Cannon.
Philip J. Crowley
Assistant Secretary
Daily Press Briefing
Washington, DC
March 29, 2010
The Secretary has arrived in Ottawa early this afternoon, where she’ll have a number of meetings throughout the rest of the day. She’s beginning with a meeting of the Arctic Five to focus on long-term trends in the Arctic and pursue discussion of potential cooperation in the area of science, natural resource development, public safety, and extended continental shelves. And Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has joined her for that meeting.
Later on this afternoon, then she’ll have a so-called Quint meeting focused on regional security issues, particularly the Balkans, with her counterparts from France, the UK, Germany, Italy, and the European Union, before beginning a G8 working dinner later tonight. And on the – as the foreign ministers tee-up discussion for the – ultimately for the G-8 Leaders Summit that will take place in June in Muskoka, Ontario, their focus will be on terrorism, nuclear nonproliferation, and regional security issues.
This evening, the Secretary will have a bilateral with Foreign Minister Okada to discuss our alliance issues, and including the base realignment involving Futenma.
Secretary Clinton will be with Foreign Minister Lavrov this afternoon in Canada, where she will have a chance personally to express the condolences of the American people for the tragic bombings in Moscow this morning. But, she also released a statement a short time ago where she said our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this morning’s bombings in Moscow, their families, and all the people of Russia. This brutal assault on innocent civilians is another reminder that terrorism is a threat of – threat to peace-loving people everywhere and must be met with unwavering resolve. And she will offer her personal condolences.
But together with our G8 partners, we will discuss how to further strengthen international counterterrorism coordination and cooperation. I was in Moscow earlier this month, and I know the resilience and determination of the Russian people. The United States stands with them today and every day in solidarity against violent extremism in all of its forms.
And finally, the Secretary yesterday had a – about 35-minute call with Foreign Minister Davutoglu of Turkey. They talked about the Minsk Group process, an updating on the – our efforts to resolve the situation involving Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as updating the – Foreign Minister Davutoglu on the Secretary’s recent trip to Moscow, Turkish-Armenian relations, and developments in the Middle East. It was a warm and constructive conversation, and both the minister and the Secretary underscored the importance of our strategic partnership between Turkey and the United States.
Here is the Secretary's message to the Russian people in the wake of the terrorist attacks this morning.
Bombings in Moscow
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
March 29, 2010Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this morning's bombings in Moscow, their families, and all the people of Russia. This brutal assault on innocent civilians is another reminder that terrorism is a threat to peace-loving people everywhere and must be met with unwavering resolve. I will offer my personal condolences to Foreign Minister Lavrov later today in Ottawa. Together with our G8 partners, we will discuss how to further strengthen international counterterrorism coordination and cooperation. I was in Moscow earlier this month, and I know the resilience and determination of the Russian people. The United States stands with them today and everyday in solidarity against violent extremism in all its forms.
I found this in a newsfeed, and I am glad to hear our SOS speak on this issue:
Arctic coast nations agree to boost cooperation
AFP March 30, 2010, 6:01 amUS Secretary of State Hillary Clinton earlier suggested that indigenous peoples, as well as Iceland, Sweden and Finland, "who have legitimate interests in the region" should have been invited to the conference.
"We need all hands on deck because there is a huge amount to do, and not much time to do it," the top US diplomat warned.
"What happens in the Arctic will have broad consequences for the earth and its climate. The melting of sea ice, glaciers, and permafrost will affect people and ecosystems around the world," she said.
Some critics had expressed concerns that the five Arctic coastal states were forming an "inner core" outside the main intergovernmental group of Arctic states and Inuit groups that meet biannually.
"This meeting was not made to replace or undermine the Arctic Council," Cannon told reporters.
But the five nations have "certain responsibilities," such as search and rescue, that are outside of this framework which needed to be addressed, he explained.
Cannon said delegates agreed on the need for search and rescue protocols to be adopted by the 2011 Arctic Council ministerial meeting.
That is so Hillary Rodham Clinton! "We need all hands on deck."
