Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–December 14, 2010 – 2:15 P.M. EST MR. GIBBS:  Good afternoon.  Let’s — let me do a quick readout from the President’s Afghanistan meeting — Pakistan meeting this morning. President Obama met for nearly two hours with his national security team on Afghanistan and Pakistan.  At the beginning of[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–December 14, 2010.  Today, President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order establishing the White House Council for Community Solutions.  The Council will provide advice to the President on the best ways to mobilize citizens, nonprofits, businesses and government to work more effectively together to solve specific community needs.   The[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–December 14, 2010.  INDEX: DEPARTMENT Secretary Clinton will meet with South African Minister Nkoana-Mashabane / Discussion of Regional Issues / Signing of PEPFAR Partnership Framework Secretary Clinton will host Annual “Diplomacy at Home for the Holidays” Event Secretary Clinton Tomorrow Morning will host a Town Hall / Release and[Read More…]

NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–December 14, 2010.  “In a lifetime of passionate, brilliant service on the front lines of war and peace, freedom and oppression, Richard Holbrooke saved lives, secured peace, and restored hope for countless people around the world. Tomorrow marks the 15-year anniversary of the signing of the Dayton Accords —[Read More…]

NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–14 December 2010 – The head of the United Nations refugee agency today urged the international community to come up with ways of responding to the displacement of people as a result of evolving circumstances that did not exist when the organization was founded or when treaties on refugees[Read More…]

NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–14 December 2010 – The Security Council today voiced serious concern over the security situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) as the country prepares for already delayed presidential and legislative elections next month. In a presidential statement, the 15-member body condemned “all attacks by local and foreign armed[Read More…]

NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–14 December 2010 – Senior United Nations officials today mourned the passing of veteran United States diplomat Richard Holbrooke, praising his skills as a top negotiator, peacemaker and champion of global causes. Mr. Holbrooke, who died following heart surgery on Monday at the age of 69, helped broker the[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–December 13, 2010.  INDEX: DEPARTMENT North American Foreign Ministers Meeting / Mexican and Canadian Counterparts / Trilateral Cooperation Secretary Clinton’s Call to Swedish Foreign Minister Bildt / Condemnation of Bombing in Stockholm Update on Ambassador Holbrooke’s Health Kosovo Elections MIDDLE EAST PEACE Senator Mitchell in Region / Advancing the[Read More…]

WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–December 14, 2010.  Marijuana use by 8th, 10th and 12th grade students increased in 2010, with more American teenagers now using marijuana than cigarettes for the second year in a row, according to numbers released today by the National Institute of Drug Abuse and the University of Michigan as[Read More…]

BELGIUM–(ENEWSPF)–14 December 2010.  I am deeply saddened by the death of ambassador Richard Holbrooke, the US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, the US government and the American people. I pay tribute to his diplomatic skills, strategic vision and legendary determination. As[Read More…]