The Hague, The Netherlands–(ENEWSPF)–March 24, 2014. 1. We, the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission met in The Hague to reaffirm our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.[Read More…]

NETHERLANDS–(ENEWSPF)–March 24, 2014 – 3:52 P.M. CET MR. CARNEY:  Thank you for being here.  Thank you for joining us on this trip.  Ben Rhodes, the President’s Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, is joining me today.  He can go over the meetings the President has had today thus far[Read More…]

Unprecedented Momentum for Drug Policy Reform Continues to Spread Throughout Latin America NEW YORK—(ENEWSPF)—March 24, 2014. This week, legislators from the Mexican Congress and the Mexico City Assembly will be in DC and NY to discuss the bills they introduced to decriminalize the consumption and purchase of marijuana for personal[Read More…]

ACLU, Demos, and Project Vote threatened legal action if state failed to act SACRAMENTO–(ENEWSPF)–March 24, 2014.  In a victory for voting rights, the state of California has agreed to mail voter registration cards to nearly 4 million Californians who have signed up for health insurance through the state health exchange,[Read More…]

PHILIPPINE SEA—(ENEWSPF)–MMarch 24, 2014 – U.S. Pacific Command has ordered U.S. Pacific Fleet to move a black box locator into the region where searchers are continuing efforts to locate Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared March 8 shortly after leaving Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, bound for Beijing. Officials said the order[Read More…]

The Hague, The Netherlands–(ENEWSPF)–March 24, 2014. DIRECTOR GENERAL UZUMCU: Mr. Secretary, we are very pleased to receive you here at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. This is the first visit by a Secretary of State from the United States to our organization. We are, of course, very[Read More…]

The Hague, The Netherlands–(ENEWSPF)–March 24, 2014 – 12:48 P.M. CET PRESIDENT OBAMA:  (In progress)– We have made incredible strides over these past several decades, and I know that President Xi and I are both committed to continuing to strengthen and build a new model of relations between our countries.  I[Read More…]

Amsterdam, The Netherlands–(ENEWSPF)–March 24, 2014 – 10:49 A.M. CET PRIME MINISTER RUTTE:  Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Netherlands.  Welcome to Amsterdam.  And, Barack, welcome to this very special location.  We are standing here on historic grounds, surrounded by the finest paintings that Holland has produced and only a stone’s[Read More…]

CHINA–(ENEWSPF)–March 24, 2014.  This weekend, Caixin Online published a Q+A with First Lady Michelle Obama about her visit to China from March 19-26, 2014.  View Mrs. Obama’s Q+A in English HERE; view Mrs. Obama’s Q+A in Chinese HERE. Excerpts below: Caixin: Why is the main focus of your trip “the[Read More…]

NETHERLANDS–(ENEWSPF)–March 24, 2014.  Today, twelve nations agreed upon a joint statement marking the elimination of highly enriched uranium from within their borders. We welcome this statement and the leadership role these nations are playing in a  growing global trend away from highly enriched uranium in civilian uses. Statement by Leaders[Read More…]