Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–December 21, 2010.  Today’s vote in the Council of Representatives is a significant moment in Iraq’s history and a major step forward in advancing national unity.  I congratulate Iraq’s political leaders, the members of the Council of Representatives, and the Iraqi people on the formation of a new government[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–December 20, 2010.  INDEX: DEPARTMENT UNSC Renews UN Operations in Cote d’Ivoire / Sanctions against President Gbagbo Withdrawing the Agreement of Larry Palmer to be Ambassador to Venezuela Secretary Clinton Travel to Brazil Death of Kristine Luken in Israel Special Tribunal for Lebanon / Iran Policy Election Day Violence[Read More…]

NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–20 December 2010 – The mediation team involving the United Nations that is working to advance the Darfur peace process has called on the Sudanese Government and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) to conclude a ceasefire before the end of this year. In a statement issued on[Read More…]

NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–20 December 2010 – Rebuffing a demand by Côte d’Ivoire’s president that the United Nations mission leave after it certified his electoral defeat, the Security Council today renewed the nearly 9,000-strong force for another six months, foreshadowed a possible increase and threatened sanctions against those imperilling peace. At the[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–December 20, 2010 – 12:44 P.M. EST MR. GIBBS:  Mr. Feller. Q    Thanks, Robert.  A few questions on START.  Can you give us your updated sense of where we stand?  Does the White House feel that it has — still has the votes? MR. GIBBS:  The White House believes that[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 20, 2010. The Vice President announced today that his longtime aide and Deputy Press Secretary Annie Tomasini will be leaving at the end of the year, returning to her hometown of Boston, Massachusetts, for a position at Harvard University.  She will be succeeded by Amy Dudley, who most[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–December 20, 2010.  The United States strongly condemns the actions that the Government of Belarus has taken to undermine the democratic process and use disproportionate force against political activists, civil society representatives and journalists, and we call for the immediate release of all presidential candidates and the hundreds of[Read More…]

NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–19 December 2010 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon emphasized his warning against attacks on the United Nations peacekeeping force in Côte d’Ivoire or attempts to obstruct their work, saying there will consequences for those responsible, as the UN human rights arm reported “massive violations.” “Any attack on UN forces will[Read More…]

NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–18 December 2010 – Armed men in military uniform fired shots in the direction of a patrol vehicle of the United Nations peacekeeping troops in Côte d’Ivoire overnight, the mission said today, reiterating its call for calm in the West African country where a tense standoff over the outcome[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–December 18, 2010.  This week, Congress passed – and I signed into law – an essential economic package that will help grow our economy, spur businesses, and jumpstart job creation. Instead of a New Years Day tax hike on the vast majority of Americans, two million Americans who’ve lost[Read More…]