Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 25, 2013. Vice President Biden called Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) President Moaz al-Khatib today to discuss the February 28 Friends of the Syrian People (FOSP)  ministerial in Rome.  Vice President Biden welcomed President Khatib’s confirmation that Coalition members would attend the gathering and meet with Secretary of State[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 25, 2013 – 1:21 P.M. EST MR. CARNEY:  Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.  Thanks for being here.  As you can see, I have a guest with me today for the daily briefing.  Secretary Janet Napolitano is here to speak with you about the effects of sequester — sequestration[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 25, 2013. Index for Today’s Briefing CYPRUS / ARMENIA / ITALY Elections SYRIA Diplomacy / Violence in Aleppo Meeting in Rome with Opposition Spillover into Neighboring States / Hezbollah CUBA Change in Leadership MISCELLANEOUS Academy Awards / ‘Argo’ ISRAEL / PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES Peace Process Situation in West Bank[Read More…]

LONDON–(ENEWSPF)–February 25, 2013. FOREIGN SECRETARY HAGUE: Ladies and gentlemen, it’s a great honor to welcome the 68th Secretary of State of the United States of America, John Kerry, to London today and to the Foreign Commonwealth Office. Secretary Kerry, we are delighted that you chose the United Kingdom as your[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 25, 2013 – 11:18 A.M. EST THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you all.  I tell you what, I didn’t know Jack was as good as he is until I heard that rhyme last night.  (Laughter.)  Jack, if you had done that, I’d be introducing you here.  (Laughter.) Thank you[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 24, 2013. THE PRESIDENT:  Welcome, everybody.  It is wonderful for us to have you here at the White House.  Michelle and I are so happy to host you, and I want to start by acknowledging your outstanding chair, Jack Markell — (applause) — and your vice chair, Mary[Read More…]

Reiterate call for UN, US and EU to appoint Special Envoys and greater regional involvement Goma/Washington/Kinshasa–(ENEWSPF)–February 24, 2013. A group of prominent Congolese and international NGOs today called on countries in the Great Lakes region, along with their international partners, to ensure that the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework Agreement[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 23, 2013. Hi, everybody. Our top priority as a country right now should be doing everything we can to grow our economy and create good, middle class jobs. And yet, less than one week from now, Congress is poised to allow a series of arbitrary, automatic budget cuts[Read More…]

London–(ENEWSPF)–22 February 2013 — Moody’s Investors Service has today downgraded the domestic- and foreign-currency government bond ratings of the United Kingdom by one notch to Aa1 from Aaa. The outlook on the ratings is now stable. The key interrelated drivers of today’s action are: 1. The continuing weakness in the[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 22, 2013. SECRETARY KERRY: Good afternoon, everybody. It’s my great pleasure to welcome the Foreign Minister of Japan, His Excellency Fumio Kishida. We’ve just come from an excellent meeting of the President and the Prime Minister of Japan, and I think it’s fair to say that almost every[Read More…]