PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Good morning, everybody.  It is my privilege to welcome you to Washington and to formally convene our fourth Nuclear Security Summit.  I convened our first summit — six years ago, in this same room — because the danger of a terrorist group obtaining and using a nuclear weapon is one of the greatest …

Statement by John Kerry, Secretary of State Good morning, everybody, and welcome. And Cathy, thank you so much for the spectacular job that you are doing. I can’t think of anybody better suited to work on the State Department’s top priorities, and Cathy is really offering extraordinary leadership, encouraging every embassy, every consulate, every bureau, …

Statement by John Kirby, Assistant Secretary and Department Spokesperson, Bureau of Public Affairs The United States condemns in the strongest terms today’s appalling terrorist attack in Lahore, Pakistan. This cowardly act, which targeted innocent civilians in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, has killed dozens and left scores injured. The United States stands with the people and Government …

In a special interview with VOA’s Navbahor Imamova, US Ambassador to Uzbekistan Pamela Spratlen reflected on her first year in Tashkent and discussed several critical issues, including Congressional restrictions on Uzbekistan, forced labor and the Cotton Campaign, business and economy, educational opportunities, and the critical role media play. Navbahor Imamova, VOA Uzbek: Madame Ambassador, it …

I am delighted to join President Obama in wishing a happy, healthy, and prosperous Nowruz to all our friends around the world who celebrate this holiday. As Americans, we rejoice along with all those from the Islamic Republic of Iran to Central Asia to the Caucasus to communities here in the United States, who come …

Today, on International Women’s Day, we recommit ourselves to achieving a world in which every woman and girl enjoys the full range of rights and freedoms that is her birthright. Women and girls make extraordinary contributions every day across all fields of human endeavor, including in business, education, sports, art, science, agriculture, parenting, and governance.  …

On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the world’s women—past, present, and future—and recognize their many contributions and reflect on what more needs to be done to empower over half of the world’s population. We remember the extraordinary achievements of women throughout history, and we applaud the women of today who lead, inspire, and work to …

THE PRESIDENT:  Good evening, everybody.  I just met with my National Security Council as part of our regular effort to review and intensify our campaign to destroy ISIL.  I want to thank Secretary Kerry for hosting us and for his leadership of American diplomacy, not only in the Middle East but around the world.  Secretary …

MR. EARNEST:  Good afternoon, everybody.  Before we get started here, I wanted to introduce Brett McGurk.  He is the President’s Special Envoy to our Global Counter-ISIL Coalition.  And he has prepared some materials to discuss with you today some of the progress that we’re seeing on the ground against ISIL in Iraq and in Syria.  …

Press Statement by John Kerry I am gratified to see the final arrangements concluded today for a cessation of hostilities in Syria and call on all parties to accept and fully comply with its terms. If implemented and adhered to, this cessation will not only lead to a decline in violence, but also continue to …

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Good evening, everybody.  For almost 30 years, Justice Antonin “Nino” Scalia was a larger-than-life presence on the bench — a brilliant legal mind with an energetic style, incisive wit, and colorful opinions. He influenced a generation of judges, lawyers, and students, and profoundly shaped the legal landscape.  He will no doubt be remembered …

First of all, I would just like to say – thank you all for coming today.  It is my pleasure to welcome you to the first press event of 2016. We have several different press outlets here and I will try to address some of the questions that you raised with us, and if you …

SECRETARY KERRY: For almost five years, the world has watched in horror as Syria has disintegrated into a brutal conflict, killing hundreds of thousands and displacing millions both within and outside the country. Syria today is an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe, unmatched since World War II. In recent months, a new and broad-based diplomatic initiative was …

SECRETARY KERRY: Good evening, everybody. Thank you very much for your patience. And I apologize for the fact that I can’t stay to take questions, which I would like to do. But we are operating under some very tight constraints on the rest period the law allows for our pilots, because of some of the …

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans: Tonight marks the eighth year I’ve come here to report on the State of the Union.  And for this final one, I’m going to try to make it shorter.  I know some of you are antsy to get back to Iowa. I also understand …

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was forged in the aftermath of World War II to protect freedom and prevent future atrocities. As we commemorate it today, we recall President Franklin Roosevelt’s 1941 Four Freedoms address, which inspired the Universal Declaration, and which the United Nations selected as this year’s theme for International Human Rights …

On World AIDS Day, we recognize the millions of people impacted by HIV/AIDS – the lives lost and the families forever torn apart by this disease. We also acknowledge the heroic and life-saving work of partners from governments, the private sector, civil society, and faith-based organizations across the world. I have been involved in the …

On behalf of the American people, I congratulate Tunisia’s National Dialogue Quartet on winning the Nobel Peace Prize.  This brave coalition of workers, industry, lawyers and human rights advocates is an inspiring reminder that lasting peace and security can only be achieved when citizens are empowered to forge their own future and that democracy is …

Remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Kerry and His Afghan and Chinese Counterparts FOREIGN MINISTER RABBANI:  In the name of God, the most compassionate, the most merciful, Your Excellency Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Excellencies Secretary Kerry, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, distinguished foreign ministers and heads of delegations, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. First of …

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Mr. President, Mr. Secretary General, fellow delegates, ladies and gentlemen:  Seventy years after the founding of the United Nations, it is worth reflecting on what, together, the members of this body have helped to achieve. Out of the ashes of the Second World War, having witnessed the unthinkable power of the atomic age, …

Michelle and I would like to extend our warmest wishes to Muslims in the United States and around the world celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr. As Muslims mark the end of the month, they are reminded that Ramadan is a time to reflect spiritually, build communally, and aid those in need. While Eid marks the end of Ramadan, …

By Samantha Power, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Thank you, Foreign Minister Linkevicius, for chairing this session and for Lithuania’s consistent effort to integrate the issue of press freedom – and threats to it – across the work we do at the Council. I also want to thank our guest briefers, Mr. Deloire …

DEPUTY SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, good afternoon.  And Fiona, thank you very, very much for those very kind words of introduction. I think there are few people in Washington with a better feel for the sometimes Byzantine regional politics of Eurasia and Central Asia, not to mention the sometimes Byzantine policy-making process here in Washington.  It’s …

Remarks by Richard E. Hoagland, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs 5th Annual Turkic American Convention Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. First, I want to say thank you to Dr. Faruk Taban and the Turkic-American Alliance for hosting this event and inviting me to say a few words – it’s …

Every day, we read about women and girls around the world who are victims of heinous violence. From Iraqi women abducted and enslaved by ISIL to Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped and forced into marriage, these tragedies seem to belong to medieval times. Too often, women bear the burden of war. All of us have an obligation …

In an exclusive interview with BBC’s Uzbek Service, U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Hoagland said that the presidential elections on March 29 are Uzbekistan’s internal affair.  According to Mr. Hoagland, the elections in Uzbekistan may not meet the U.S. and European standards, but Washington will continue …

The United States condemns the brutal murder of Boris Nemtsov, and we call upon the Russian government to conduct a prompt, impartial, and transparent investigation into the circumstances of his murder and ensure that those responsible for this vicious killing are brought to justice.  Nemtsov was a tireless advocate for his country, seeking for his …

In a January 21 interview with Voice of America, the State Department’s Dan Rosenblum discusses U.S. military assistance to Uzbekistan, the ongoing transfer of mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles, the United States’ dedication to human rights and democracy and upcoming elections in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Rosenblum is the State Department deputy assistant secretary for Central Asia. …

Michelle and I would like to extend our best wishes to Muslims in the United States and around the world who are celebrating Eid al-Adha, and to congratulate those performing the Hajj this year. As our Muslim neighbors and friends gather for Eid celebrations, Muslim Americans are among the millions of pilgrims joining one of …

Good afternoon.  I’m very pleased to be back in Tashkent at an important moment for Uzbekistan and Central Asia. I look forward to seeing President Karimov again later today, and I had a productive meeting with Foreign Minister Kamilov this morning.  We continued the very useful exchange we began in Washington last December during our …