There had been some question even through late last week as to whether this Quartet meeting would occur. The State Department originally held the position that the talks would not be worthwhile unless the parties were prepared to return to the table.
Mideast Quartet meets to avoid looming crisis
(AFP)
10 July 2011
WASHINGTON — Envoys from the Middle East diplomatic Quartet meet on Monday in Washington in one of the final attempts to avoid a major confrontation at the United Nations between the Israelis and the Palestinians.The senior diplomats — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov — will “compare notes about where we are and plot a course forward” on the peace process, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said on Friday.
Hillary Clinton Signs Plutonium Disposition Protocol With Russian FM
Lavrov to meet Obama, Clinton in Washington
12:39 07/07/2011Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet with U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington next week, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet with U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington next week, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
“Sergei Lavrov will visit the United States on July 11-13. He is scheduled to meet with Barack Obama and hold talks with Hillary Clinton,” the ministry said in a Twitter feed, adding that the sides will discuss the schedule of bilateral top-level contacts for 2011.
Secretary Clinton to Address the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition on July 12
Notice to the Press
Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DCJuly 8, 2011Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will deliver remarks on “The Impact of Development and Diplomacy on Economic Prosperity” to the 2011 U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) Conference on July 12, 2011 at approximately 11:30 a.m. in Washington, DC. Secretary Clinton's remarks will be webcast live on state.gov.
The U.S. business leaders are meeting in Washington to highlight the essential link between America’s international affairs programs and U.S. job creation and economic growth. During the conference, the USGLC will also release a new policy paper on the benefits of and returns on America’s investments abroad.
For additional conference details, visit: http://www.usglc.org/2011-usglc-washington-conference/.
Secretary Clinton and Brazilian Foreign Minister to Launch Open Government Partnership on July 12
Media Note
Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DCJuly 7, 2011Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota will announce the Open Government Partnership (OGP) at a high-level meeting of governments and civil society at the Department of State on July 12, 2011. The Open Government Partnership is a new, multilateral initiative that aims to secure concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to strengthen governance.
In the spirit of multi-stakeholder collaboration, OGP will be overseen by a steering committee that includes a diverse coalition of governments and civil society organizations and will be co-chaired by Brazil and the United States in its inaugural year.
Last September at the United Nations General Assembly, President Obama challenged countries to embrace open government saying, “When we gather back here next year, we should bring specific commitments to promote transparency; to fight corruption; to energize civic engagement; and to leverage new technologies so that we strengthen the foundation of freedom in our own countries, while living up to ideals that can light the world.” OGP aims to do that by engaging a large and diverse group of countries in a fresh conversation about governance challenges.
The July 12 event will convene government and civil society representatives to discuss best practices through interactive panels, issue framing sessions, and idea sprints. Another feature, “Innovation Alley,” will demonstrate technologies and other tools and methodologies available from private and non-profit companies and organizations that enhance open government. Representatives from over 50 countries and more than 40 civil society organizations are expected at the day-long event.
This event will set the stage for the formal launch of the Open Government Partnership in September 2011, when the governments on the steering committee will embrace an Open Government Declaration, announce their country action plans to promote OGP principles, and welcome the commitment of additional countries to join the Partnership
SCHEDULE
OPENING SESSION
8:30 a.m. Secretary Clinton and Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota deliver remarks at the Opening Session, in the Loy Henderson Auditorium at the Department of State.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)
.
Watch live on www.state.gov.PLENARY PANEL
9:00 a.m. A plenary panel discussion highlights key innovations in open government from around the world, in the Loy Henderson Auditorium at the Department of State.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)
Watch live on www.state.gov.The panel will include the following speakers:
- Tim Kelsey, Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister (United Kingdom)
- Helena Hofbauer, International Budget Project (Mexico)
- Nikhil Dey, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) (India)
- Andrew McLaughlin, Civic Commons (United States)
INNOVATION ALLEY
10:15 a.m. Senior Advisor for Innovation Alec Ross leads a media tour of “Innovation Alley,” in the Exhibit Hall at the Department of State. The “Innovation Alley” exhibit includes a set of interactive displays demonstrating technology and other tools and methodologies available from private and non-profit companies and organizations to enhance open government.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)
CLOSING RECEPTION7:00 p.m. Secretary Clinton hosts a closing reception for the inaugural Open Government Partnership meetings, at the Department of State.
(POOLED PRESS COVERAGE)The official State Department announcement does not mention the ASEAN Bali leg referred to in the subsequent article.
Secretary Clinton to Travel to Turkey, Greece, and India
Press Statement
Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DCJuly 8, 2011Secretary Clinton will travel to Turkey July 15-16, 2011, to participate in meetings of the Contact Group on Libya and conduct bilateral meetings with Turkish officials. The Contact Group meetings allow the international community to come together and coordinate views on our next steps with respect to Libya. They also allow us to further assess international progress in implementing UNSCRs 1970 and 1973 as part of our efforts to protect civilians and to facilitate the start of an inclusive Libyan national dialogue that will lead to the country’s reconciliation and reconstruction. While in Turkey the Secretary will also meet with President Gul, Prime Minister Erdogan, Foreign Minister Davutoglu and other political leaders to discuss Libya, Syria, and a full range of shared bilateral and multilateral issues.
Secretary Clinton will travel to Greece July 17-18, 2011. She will meet with President Papoulias, Prime Minister Papandreou, Foreign Minister Lambrinidis, and other political leaders to discuss issues of mutual interest.
Secretary Clinton will then travel to India for the second round of the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue, which will take place in New Delhi on July 19, 2011. The Secretary will lead the U.S. delegation, accompanied by a high-level group of senior administration officials. This will be Secretary Clinton’s second visit to India as Secretary of State.
The depth of the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue demonstrates the United States’ strong support for India as an important actor on the world stage and is representative of the broad and multifaceted U.S.-India relationship. The partnership between the world’s two largest democracies covers issues ranging from counterterrorism and defense cooperation to climate change, high-tech trade, and scientific innovation. Together, the United States and India are working to face the most important and pressing challenges of our time.
During her trip to India, Secretary Clinton will also visit Chennai, marking the first visit by a serving U.S. Secretary of State to the city, which has emerged as a hub for the trade, investment, and people-to-people engagement that is driving the U.S.-India relationship.
- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) shakes hands with India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh before their meeting on the sidelines of the 17th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi October 30, 2010. REUTERS/Kham (VIETNAM - Tags: POLITICS)
Hillary to visit India on July 19; AfPak, NSG talks on platter
July 07, 2011 1:11:29 AMSandhya Sharma | New Delhi
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be in New Delhi on July 19 to attend the second round of US-India strategic dialogue. Sources told The Pioneer that Clinton will be in New Delhi for two days and then head for the ASEAN Regional Forum in Bali. The dialogue will be co-chaired by External Affairs Minister SM Krishna.
Sources said a host of bilateral and international issues will come up for discussion but focus will be on the evolving situation in India’s neighbourhood —Afghanistan and Pakistan — alongside the recent NSG decision on ban on supplying ENR technology to non-NPT countries.
RESIST, INSIST, PERSIST, ENLIST.” - HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Upcoming: On Hillary Clinton's Agenda
