Clinton to Uruguay: Happy Independence Day!

Posted By P.J. Aroon Wednesday, August 25, 2010 - 10:32 AM

Today is the 185th anniversary of Uruguay's independence from Brazil in 1825, and in honor of the occasion, Secretary Clinton has issued the following statement, calling Uruguay a "leader in advancing peace and social justice":

Happy Independence Day, Uruguay. On August 25th, the United States joins you in celebrating your many accomplishments this past year, and in honoring your leadership in our region and across the world.

During my visit to Montevideo in March, I had the privilege of meeting with your President and discussing the many ways in which our nations are working together to address common challenges. And I certainly got a taste of Uruguayan warmth and hospitality, and of the friendship that exists between our peoples. The United States is proud of our partnership with Uruguay - a partnership deeply rooted in our common commitment to democratic ideals and individual freedoms. Uruguay's elections earlier this year, and your success in forming a unified government, are models of democratic pluralism that can and should be emulated around the world.

Your country is a leader in advancing peace and social justice, both at home and abroad. And you have made important contributions to the ongoing recovery efforts in Haiti, and to peacekeeping missions all across the globe.

I wish all of you a safe and happy Independence Day celebration. We look forward to continuing the close relationship between our countries in the coming years, and expanding our cooperation into new areas as we work together toward a safer, more peaceful, more prosperous world.

The video of her statement is here:

(In the photo above, Clinton meets with José Mujica on March 1, the day he assumed the presidency of Uruguay.)

PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS/AFP/Getty Images

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Clinton delivers 25 satellite phones to Chile and pledges more aid

Posted By P.J. Aroon Wednesday, March 3, 2010 - 4:10 PM

Secretary Clinton arrived in quake-struck Chile yesterday for a brief visit and delivered 25 satellite phones, including one she gave directly to President Michelle Bachelet, whom she greeted with a hug.

Clinton said additional U.S. aid was "ready to go": a field hospital with surgical capabilities, eight water-purification units, temporary bridges, and medical supplies.

She also said, "We'll be here to help when others leave because we are committed to this partnership and this friendship with Chile."

Clinton spent most of her visit at an undamaged section of Santiago's airport and did not venture close to any heavily damaged areas. That's actually a good thing, as explained in the recent FP article, "Celebrities, Stay Home," because coordinating the logisitics of a visit by a high-profile person uses up tons of staff time and resources that are better directed toward disaster relief. Clinton was smart to keep her visit short and simple.

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Blooper: Clinton photo caption gone wrong

Posted By P.J. Aroon Wednesday, March 3, 2010 - 3:24 PM

As you might have already seen on FP's Passport, the New York Times had a blooper, mismatching a photo and a caption:

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Clinton urges Argentina and Britain to talk it out on the Falkland Islands

Posted By P.J. Aroon Tuesday, March 2, 2010 - 3:46 PM

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.

PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS/AFP/Getty Images

Photos, top to bottom: ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP/Getty Images, PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS/AFP/Getty Images

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Clinton in South America, will visit quake-struck Chile

Posted By P.J. Aroon Monday, March 1, 2010 - 4:51 PM

Secretary Clinton arrived in Uruguay today for her weeklong visit to South America and Central America.

Her itinerary:

Uruguay: Today, Clinton will attend the inauguration of José Mujica, Latin America's newest leftist leader.

Argentina: Later today in Buenos Aires, she'll meet with Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Earlier, Clinton said she's willing to assist Argentina and Britain resolve their dispute over the Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas.

Chile: On Tuesday morning, Clinton is bringing communications equipment for the quake-hit country.

Brazil: Next she heads to Brazil, which presently has a rotating seat on the U.N. Security Council. She's going to use her diplomacy skills to try to persuade the Brazilian government to support tougher sanctions against Iran in order to check its nuclear ambitions. Brazil currently opposes further sanctions.

Costa Rica: Clinton will move on to Central America on Thursday, where she'll attend the Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas ministerial meeting, a gathering of the region's foreign ministers that will center on improving the hemisphere's economy.

Guatemala: On Friday, Clinton will conclude her trip by meeting a group of regional leaders, including Honduran President Porfirio Lobo, who became leader in January, succeeding an interim government that outsed former President Manuel Zelaya last June.

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Hillary goes east; Bill goes south

Posted By P.J. Aroon Monday, March 30, 2009 - 1:54 PM

Once again, Secretary Clinton is headed abroad. This time to The Hague, in the Netherlands, to attend a conference about Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Her official schedule:

ON FOREIGN TRAVEL

Meanwhile, husband Bill was in Colombia this weekend, attending the annual meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank (and apparently enjoying watermelon and bananas while he was at it).

Bill Clinton in Colombia for IDB meeting, March 28, 2009

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton poses with traditional Colombian fruit vendors in the framework of the 50th Inter-American Development Bank annual meeting on March 28 in Medellín, Colombia. The March 28 assembly was on the international economic crisis and its impact in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Photo: STR/AFP/Getty Images

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Madam Secretary is an obsessive blog about all things Hillary Clinton. From her policies to her pantsuits, Madam Secretary delivers up-to-the-minute news, analysis, and gossip about America's top diplomat.