This Week: On Hillary Cinton's Busy Agenda

It was at the Wednesday press briefing last week that Victoria Nuland announced Secretary Clinton's participation in a special U.N. Security Council session.

"... on March 12, on Monday. I just wanted to advise you she is going to attend a session of the UN Security Council at the ministerial level that has been called by British Foreign Minister Hague to talk about the broader impact and ramifications of the Arab Spring. Foreign Secretary Hague will host the meeting. The Brits are in the chair of the president of the Security Council this month. And the Security Council foreign ministers will also be joined by the foreign minister of Tunisia, of Libya, and of Egypt. The Secretary will also take the opportunity to have a bilateral meeting, as she said, with Foreign Minister Lavrov of Russia when she’s up in New York."

The Jerusalem Post, notes that also on Monday, there will be a Quartet meeting while some principals are in New York.  Others will participate via conference call.

Mideast Quartet to meet amid stalled peace talks

By REUTERS

03/10/2012 02:40

UN secretary-general, Clinton, Russian FM to meet at UN headquarters; Ashton, Blair to participate via video link.

By Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

UNITED NATIONS - The Quartet of Middle East negotiators - the United States, Russia, the United Nations and European Union - will meet on Monday to discuss the long-stalled peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, the United Nations said Friday.
The UN press office said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would meet at UN headquarters ahead of a special UN Security Council session on the Arab Spring uprisings.
Read more >>>>

Then, as if that is not enough history for one woman to deal with in a single day, she zooms back to Washington to host a reception for her second annual conference of heads of missions. Last year at this time, she called all heads of missions home for the inaugural conference, the first secretary of state ever to do so. Here is the schedule for the conference.

Secretary Clinton Convenes the 2nd Global Chiefs of Mission Conference in Washington D.C.

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

March 9, 2012

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On March 12, Secretary Clinton will convene the 2nd Global Chiefs of Mission Conference. The Conference, which runs through March 13, presents an opportunity to mobilize and coordinate the work of America’s Ambassadors around the world.
Monday, March 12
5:00 p.m. Welcome reception for the Global Chiefs of Mission Conference, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)
Tuesday, March 13
8:30 a.m. Secretary Clinton delivers remarks at the opening session of the Global Chiefs of Mission Conference. Deputy Secretaries Bill Burns and Tom Nides, and Counselor and Chief of Staff Cheryl Mills, will also deliver remarks. In the Dean Acheson Auditorium at the Department of State.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE FOR SECRETARY CLINTON’S REMARKS)
12:30 p.m. Secretary Clinton hosts the Global Chiefs of Mission Conference luncheon with guest speaker Senator John Kerry, in the Ben Franklin Room at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)
4:30 p.m. Secretary Clinton hosts a town hall for participants in the Global Chiefs of Mission Conference, in the Dean Acheson Auditorium at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

What a busy lady! Through it all she still manages to look like this, and yes, as Meryl Streep pointed out yesterday, we do watch and notice.   Women know what it takes, and she pulls herself together so beautifully, makes us so proud, and, as my subheader says, makes femininity presidential.

Video: Secretary Clinton's Remarks on Middle East Peace

Remarks on Middle East Peace

Remarks

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

New York City, New York

September 23, 2011

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Hello, everyone. The United States is very pleased that the Quartet was able to issue a statement today with a concrete and detailed proposal to begin negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians without delay or preconditions.

The Quartet proposal represents the firm conviction of the international community that a just and lasting peace can only come through negotiations between the parties. Therefore, we urge both parties to take advantage of this opportunity to get back to talks, and the United States pledges our support as the parties themselves take the important next steps for a two-state solution, which is what all of us are hoping to achieve.

Thank you very much.

Statement of the Middle East Quartet

Statement of the Middle East Quartet

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

September 23, 2011

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Following is the text of a statement issued after the meeting of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union Catherine Ashton in New York on September 23, 2011.

Begin text:

The Quartet takes note of the application submitted by President Abbas on 23rd September 2011 which is now before the Security Council.

The Quartet reaffirmed its statement of 20th May 2011, including its strong support for the vision of Israeli-Palestinian peace outlined by United States President Barack Obama.

The Quartet recalled its previous statements, and affirmed its determination to actively and vigorously seek a comprehensive resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, 1397, 1515, 1850, the Madrid principles including land for peace, the Roadmap, and the agreements previously reached between the parties.

The Quartet reiterated its commitment to a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East and to seek a comprehensive resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and reaffirms the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative.

The Quartet reiterated its urgent appeal to the parties to overcome the current obstacles and resume direct bilateral Israeli-Palestinian negotiations without delay or preconditions. But it accepts that meeting, in itself, will not reestablish the trust necessary for such a negotiation to succeed. It therefore proposes the following steps:

1. Within a month there will be a preparatory meeting between the parties to agree an agenda and method of proceeding in the negotiation.

2. At that meeting there will be a commitment by both sides that the objective of any negotiation is to reach an agreement within a timeframe agreed to by the parties but not longer than the end of 2012. The Quartet expects the parties to come forward with comprehensive proposals within three months on territory and security, and to have made substantial progress within six months. To that end, the Quartet will convene an international conference in Moscow, in consultation with the parties, at the appropriate time.

3. There will be a Donors Conference at which the international community will give full and sustained support to the Palestinian Authority state-building actions developed by Prime Minister Fayyad under the leadership of President Abbas.

4. The Quartet recognizes the achievements of the Palestinian Authority in preparing institutions for statehood as evidenced in reports to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, and stresses the need to preserve and build on them. In this regard, the members of the Quartet will consult to identify additional steps they can actively support towards Palestinian statehood individually and together, to secure in accordance with existing procedures significantly greater independence and sovereignty for the Palestinian Authority over its affairs.

5. The Quartet calls upon the parties to refrain from provocative actions if negotiations are to be effective. The Quartet reiterated the obligations of both parties under the Roadmap.

6. The Quartet committed to remain actively involved and to encourage and review progress. The Quartet agreed to meet regularly and to task the envoys and the Quartet Representative to intensify their cooperation, including by meeting prior to the parties’ preparatory meeting, and to formulate recommendations for Quartet action.