"Viva Mexico!" Secretary Clinton says in her bicentennial message to the United States' southern neighbor, which today celebrates the 200th anniversary of its independence from Spain on Sept. 16, 1810. Times have been tough lately in Mexico, with drug violence and flooding (as shown in a recent FP slide show), but that hasn't kept Mexicans from celebrating. Yesterday, hundreds of thousands of people flooded the streets of Mexico City in festivities. (In the file photo above from last year -- Sept. 15, 2009 -- Mexican President Felipe Calderón waves the flag to start off that year's Independence Day celebrations. I don't yet have access to good photos from this year's festivities.)

The video of Clinton's message, with Spanish subtitles, is below, followed by a transcript. (Also, not to be forgotten, Papua New Guinea also celebrates its Independence Day today -- 35 years! Clinton's message for the Pacific country is posted at the very bottom.)

Happy Bicentennial, Mexico. This September 16th, we honor the heroes of Mexico who first declared their independence from the Spanish Crown 200 years ago, and to all those who rose up to defend Mexico's ideals of democracy, liberty, and justice during the revolution 100 years later. Thanks to their sacrifice, Mexico today is a strong, modern country with a thriving economy, and one of the world's most admired cultures.Our nations are connected by the busiest border in the world, by a rich economic partnership, by a vibrant exchange of cultures, and by the millions of Mexican Americans who have contributed so much to our own nation. Our common history and our common future gives us the courage and the foundation to build an even stronger base for our work together.

Mexico and the United States share so much. With confidence in our democratic institutions, our shared values, and our unwavering friendship, we will continue working together to confront the challenges in the 21st century, and to build prosperity and peace for all of our people.

As we celebrate 200 years of your independence, we look forward to a long future of friendship and close cooperation. Viva Mexico!

Clinton's message for Papua New Guinea:

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the citizens of Papua New Guinea on your 35th Independence Day this September 16. The United States and Papua New Guinea work closely together on many issues of mutual interest, from fostering economic growth and advancing opportunities for women and girls, to combating climate change and protecting the environment. We are committed to deepening our partnership with Papua New Guinea both bilaterally and through our involvement in regional institutions including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Pacific Islands Forum Post-Forum Dialogue. Today, we join in celebrating your history and reaffirm the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our nations. I wish all citizens of Papua New Guinea a safe and happy celebration, and continued peace and prosperity in the coming year.

Today, on the six-month anniversary of the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake that hit Haiti, Secretary Clinton has just issued the following statement, in which she concludes, "Six months later, our resolve to stand with the people of Haiti for the long term remains undiminished."

It has been six months since a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti and claimed the lives of 230,000 people. Hundreds of thousands more were injured and left homeless. In Haiti's hour of greatest need the international community responded. The United States and more than 140 nations provided humanitarian support, mounting one of the largest rescue and relief efforts in history. On this six month commemoration, we pause to remember all those who lost their lives or loved ones in this tragedy.

Members of the State Department and USAID family were among the dead, and today we honor their service and sacrifice. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends and colleagues. I also salute everyone -- diplomats, development workers and private citizens -- who continue to serve in Haiti, helping the country build back better.

Over the last six months, the Haitian people have again shown their resilience and strength. Their efforts continue to inspire us all. Together we have worked to help children return to school, to ensure that the 1.5 million people who were left homeless have emergency shelter materials while we stand-up transitional and permanent houses, and to make certain that those in need of medical care receive it.

The United States is committed to aligning our investments with the needs of the people and Government of Haiti. We have joined international partners, private sector actors, and NGOs in working together through the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission to help empower the Haitian people and support their efforts.

Six months later, our resolve to stand with the people of Haiti for the long term remains undiminished. We are committed to helping them realize the Haitian vision for a better nation. 

(In the photo above, Haitian students help clear the rubble from the Cathédrale Sainte Trinité in Port-au-Prince on July 10.)

Turns out that Secretary Clinton wasn't the only Clinton in Colombia yesterday. Husband Bill Clinton, a former U.S. president, was also in the country for work related to his charitable activities, including a meeting with President Alvaro Uribe on reconstruction of earthquake-devastated Haiti. (Above, Bill Clinton views some handicrafts that are part of a program supported by the Clinton Foundation.)

For dinner yesterday, the Clintons and some friends dined at a steakhouse in Bogotá that would have been too risky to eat at just a few years ago because of the possibility of violence or kidnapping. Secretary Clinton, in a news conference with Uribe, said  the meal was "wonderful," and added, "We talked about how remarkable it was that such a common event could take place."

Uribe said the dining experience was great PR for his country, which is trying to overcome a reputation of being filled with drug violence: "The best PR for confidence in Colombia is that last night Madame Secretary of State of the United States and President Bill Clinton were in a restaurant enjoying complete piece of mind, enjoying this beautiful city."

Secretary Clinton said that the United States supports the return of Honduras to the Organization of American States (OAS) after its membership was suspended last year following the June ouster of then-President Manuel Zelaya in a coup. Elections last November made Porfirio Lobo president, and the United States thinks his administration has taken the right steps to get the country back on track to merit a return to the OAS. Clinton told reporters traveling with her to the OAS meeting in Lima, Peru, as reported by Voice of America:

"President Lobo has done everything he said he would do.… He was elected through a free and fair, legitimate election. He provided political amnesty. He set up a truth commission. He has been very committed to pursuing a policy of reintegration."

Some countries such as Brazil and Venezuela don't recognize Lobo as the true Honduran president because the interim government that came before him never restored Zelaya back to power after the coup. Clinton said that though the coup was wrong, Honduras has gotten itself together:

"We all stood together in condemning the coup that removed Zelaya from office, and I was very pleased that the United States was a strong voice in condemning that.… But then we worked with the neighbors and we worked with the electoral system, because this election which had long been scheduled was, to our view, the surest way forward." 

(In the photo above, Clinton speaks to the media in Lima on June 7.)

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who is U.N. special envoy for Haiti, was in the earthquake-devastated country on June 1, as seen in the photo above, in which he visits a construction project of small houses in Léogâne, about 18 miles from the capital city of Port-au-Prince. In the photo below, Haitians excitedly greet Clinton in Léogâne.

Yesterday, Clinton attended a summit in the Dominican Republic at which donor countries met to discuss rebuilding efforts for Haiti, still struggling to recover after Jan. 12's quake.

Both Clintons -- Hillary and Bill -- are at the United Nations today! They're attending an international donors conference on Haiti. (As you may know, Bill Clinton is U.N. special envoy for Haiti.) They are not sitting next to another, though. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Haitian President René Préval are seated between them.

The Clintons looking more studious:

Secretary Clinton met today with Haitian President René Préval (above) in Washington. Referring to Haiti's devastating Jan. 12 earthquake, she said:

The United States and the international community mounted the largest ever rescue and relief effort. Progress has been made, but not nearly enough, and therefore, we are holding these meetings with President Préval today and tomorrow and the next day to discuss in depth what we need to do still to alleviate suffering and what we will do together to help build back Haiti better."

After attending yesterday's inauguration of new Uruguayan President José Mujica (seen below shortly before his inauguration), Clinton went on to Argentina, where she met with President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (seen above, appearing to share a laugh).

Clinton said yesterday that she was willing to assist Argentina and Britain in resolving their dispute over the Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas. Kirchner asked Clinton to be a mediator on the issue, but it appears Clinton doesn't want to take her involvement that far. Instead, she said she would be publicly urging the two countries to talk and said, "We would like to see Argentina and the U.K. sit down and resolve the issues between them in a peaceful and productive way."

The Associated Press reported that direct U.S. intervention might miff Britain, one of the United States' closest allies. (Britain is against third-party mediation.)

On another note, yesterday FP Editor in Chief Moisés Naím spoke about Clinton's trip on National Public Radio's Tell Me More.

Here are a couple of quick links about how Secretary Clinton's meeting about Haiti earthquake relief went yesterday in Montreal:

•"Clinton Says Plan for Haiti Exists" (Washington Times). A couple of excerpts:

The Obama administration wants to use a plan for rebuilding Haiti it had before this month's earthquake, rather than "start from scratch," Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday as top diplomats from around the world gathered to map out the country's recovery.

and

"So we have a plan," she said. "It was a legitimate plan, it was done in conjunction with other international donors, with the United Nations. And I don't want to start from scratch, but we have to recognize the changed challenges we are now confronting."

•"Haiti: 10 Years and $10 Billion in Aid?" (Toronto Star). An excerpt:

Clinton called it "novel" to do a needs assessment first, followed by planning, then the pledging of cash.

"It might seem different from what you're used to," Clinton said, "where people come together and make all kinds of promises, many of which never get realized because the follow-up work is never done."

Wow! Everyone in the Clinton family, including daughter Chelsea, has been to Haiti! Due to the family's strong emotional ties to Haiti, Hillary Clinton once said her family is a "Haiti-obsessed family." Bill Clinton told the Washington Post recently that when Hillary learned about the damage from the earthquake, she became "physically sick."

Above, Chelsea helps unload water from a U.N. truck yesterday at the Port-au-Prince General Hospital. Below, Bill Clinton takes bottled water out of his plane yesterday.

A concerned Secretary Clinton returned from warm Hawaii to chilly Washington this morning (as seen above at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland) after canceling the rest of her Pacific trip to deal with the devastation from the Haiti earthquake. Before leaving Hawaii, she said:

[W]e are facing a disaster of as yet unknown magnitude. And the problems that we're going to confront over the next days in particular as we try to launch successful search-and-rescue missions, followed up by the immediate pressing need for food and water in particular, are just of unimaginable extent. Therefore, I've decided to cancel the remainder of my trip and return to Washington this afternoon."

This morning on CNN, Clinton encouraged Americans to  text "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10 for Red Cross relief efforts (the donation will automatically be added to your cell-phone bill).

A few links to recent Clinton commentary on Foreign Policy:

•"Digging out of a hole" is how Shadow Government's David J. Kramer described Secretary Clinton's human rights speech Monday.

•In support of multilateral sanctions against Iran, Clinton said on Monday, "Sanctions can work," The Cable reports.

•An interview with Clinton on Pakistan policy is posted over at the AfPak Channel. The interview was conducted by Hassan Abbas of the Asia Society and Harvard Kennedy School.

•Clinton's "unappreciated warnings to Latin America" are discussed on Passport.

Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

A briefing of Clinton news:

•Afghanistan: U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said Secretary Clinton has "zero tolerance" for the lewd, disgusting behavior of private security guards at the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan.

•Honduras: Today in Washington Clinton meets with Manuel Zelaya, the ousted Honduran president seen at left a few weeks before he was removed from office. If the State Department formally declares that his ouster was a coup, then U.S. foreign aid to Honduras will be suspended.

•Chelsea: August passed, and contrary to rumors, daughter Chelsea did not get married, even though the Washington Post provided instructions on how to have a secret wedding.

•Bill: No. 7 on Politico's list of "21 Things You Can't Say to the President on His Summer Vacation": "President [Bill] Clinton called and says he is willing to fly to Afghanistan to investigate allegations of wild parties in Kabul. He’s called four times, in fact."

•Op-ed: A fan of Madam Secretary has written an op-ed, "Clinton Has Her Own Problems," that discusses, among other things, the secretary of state's difficulties in filling vacant State Department positions due to the onerous security-clearance process.

Photo: ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP/Getty Images

Cuban President Raúl Castro delivered a defiant message to Secretary Clinton Saturday in a speech to the Cuban National Assembly. Annoyed that Clinton has said on multiple occasions that Cuba must make changes in order to have better relations with the United States, Castro declared:

I have to say, with all due respect to Mrs. Clinton … they didn't elect me president to restore capitalism in Cuba, nor to hand over the revolution. I was elected to defend, maintain and continue perfecting socialism, not destroy it."

Castro also reminded Clinton that the only torture in Cuba was in the United States' Guantánamo Bay detention center:

Yes, there was torture, and it is on a part of the Cuban territory even though it was not made by us. … That is why we said with all respect, to Ms Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State of that country, that if she wants to discuss about everything, we will discuss on everything, about here, but about there too."

Clinton is working hard to improve U.S. policies toward Cuba. Last April, she announced that the United States was lifting travel and gift restrictions on Americans who have relatives in Cuba. She also announced a review of U.S. policy toward Cuba. But you don't get something for nothing; understandably, Clinton wants changes from Cuba in exchange for improved relations. (And if Cuba really wants those tourists, it should seriously consider change.)

Meanwhile, Fidel Castro says Clinton should get a Nobel Prize.

Photo: ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP/Getty Images