Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered this statement in Washington, DC

Secretary Clinton. With President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of the Republic of Cyprus on their 50th Independence Day this October 1.

Cyprus has been a crossroads between east and west, and for people and cultures dating back thousands of years. The United States values the long-standing friendship between our countries. Throughout 50 years of bilateral relations, we have built a strong partnership, and we look forward to working together to expand our relationship in the future.

As we recognize this important milestone, we also reiterate our resolute support for the ongoing negotiations to reunify the island as a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. We commend efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement.

I wish all the people of the Republic of Cyprus a safe and happy celebration as you mark this historic Independence Day.

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered these remarks with Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov in Washington, DC

Secretary Clinton. Well, good afternoon and it's a great pleasure for me to welcome the foreign minister of Bulgaria. Bulgaria is not only a NATO ally and a member of the European Union, but a close partner on a range of—on the important challenges and opportunities that we face together. And I have been impressed in my work with the foreign minister to just observe how—what a comprehensive understanding he has on behalf of his government as we sort out some of the very difficult threats, challenges, and opportunities that we face together.

So, Foreign Minister, welcome.

Foreign Minister Mladenov. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Hello from me as well, and it's—I'm very happy to be here at the State Department. This is not our first opportunity to talk. I hope that today will cover the full range of our partnership, both in terms of our domestic agenda in Bulgaria for which we received full support from the U.S. Administration on judicial reform, fight against crime and corruption, and a number of other issues, but also to talk about our partnership in the Balkans where we have a lot of unfinished business to do. And the work that our brave men and women are doing in Afghanistan, a mission that is vital to the security not just to our two countries.

And I would like to finish with a more personal note by thanking Secretary Clinton for your excellent work in pushing through the Membership Action Plan for Bosnia, something that we worked very closely with in Tallinn, and I think it opens up great opportunities for the rest of the region.

Secretary Clinton. Thank you so much.

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered these remarks with Prime Minister Nikoloz Gilauri in Washington, DC

Secretary Clinton. Thank you very much, Secretary Gordon. And let me welcome warmly the prime minister and this very distinguished delegation here for the second annual omnibus meeting under the U.S.-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership.

One of my goals as Secretary of State was to deepen and broaden our relationship and to look for the opportunity that comes with a Strategic Partnership dialogue that gets beyond the heads of state and the heads of government and into the actual working parts of the government, because I know very well, as I look around the room at my colleagues from across our government, that the prime minister and I will make the speeches, but the hard work will be done by the people from both of our delegations.

I was very pleased to have a chance to meet the prime minister during my visit to Georgia in July. And I saw President Saakashvili in New York where we continued our excellent discussion. Those earlier talks and our meeting today have all affirmed the vital friendship between our countries.

The relationship between Georgia and the United States stands on a foundation of shared values and common interests. The Charter that our countries signed in January 2009 has given us a framework for further developing our cooperation. And today, I want to reiterate our commitment to working together to advance Georgia's security and democracy.

The United States will not waver in its support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. That support is a core principle of our Charter on Strategic Partnership, and it is fundamental to our bilateral relationship.

The United States remains committed to Georgia's aspirations for membership in NATO, as reflected in the Alliance's decisions in Bucharest and Strasbourg-Kehl. We strongly support Georgia's efforts related to its Annual National Program, which promotes defense reform and guides cooperation with NATO. And we continue to support Georgia's efforts on defense reform and improving defense capabilities, including NATO interoperability and Georgia's contributions to ISAF operations in Afghanistan.

We are extremely grateful for Georgia's contributions to NATO's efforts in Afghanistan. Seven hundred and fifty Georgian soldiers in ISAF are serving shoulder-to-shoulder with U.S. Marines in Helmand Province, with another 200 serving with French troops. They are helping Afghans build a more secure, stable, and prosperous future, and working to safeguard our common security against the threat of terrorism. And we were deeply saddened by your loss last week of the four Georgian soldiers and by the casualties that you endured earlier. I want to express our condolences and solidarity with the Georgian people in the face of our shared sacrifice and loss.

We continue to call on Russia to end its occupation of Georgian territory, withdraw its forces, and abide by its other commitments under the 2008 ceasefire agreements. Georgia has taken a constructive approach in our common efforts to address this challenge through the talks in Geneva. We support the objectives of Georgia's State Strategy on Occupied Territories, and we are prepared to undertake activities that reinforce these important objectives.

As part of our commitment to enhancing Georgia's future as a prosperous and secure member of the Western family of nations, we will continue to work with you to strengthen Georgian democracy. Free elections, sound institutions, and a vibrant civil society are prerequisites for the long-term stability and legitimacy of any government. That's true in the United States and it's true in Georgia.

Now democracy in Georgia has made great strides over the last seven years. The conduct of the municipal elections this May represented real tangible progress. But there is still a lot of work ahead to address issues of political competition, fundraising, and accountability, including a thorough investigation of any alleged irregularities in May's elections.

Georgia's parliamentary elections in 2012 and the presidential elections in 2013 should showcase a Georgian democracy that not only meets, but exceeds international standards. It will be important for Georgia's people and for the international community. The progress that Georgia has made against corruption is already serving as a role model for many other countries seeking to replicate the success that Georgia has had. We look forward to working with you toward these goals and encourage you to keep working with a cross section of Georgia's civil society and opposition groups as you bolster Georgia's democracy.

Constitutional reform is the most obvious and most important reform challenge facing Georgia today. It represents the opportunity for Georgians to build on everything you have accomplished since the Rose Revolution. And I hope the parliament will recognize that opportunity as it concludes its consideration of the constitutional reform package. The United States supports the recommendations that the Venice Commission has put forward for strengthening Georgia's system of checks and balances. And we stand ready to assist in this process however we can.

So, let me again thank the prime minister for being here today. Let me reiterate, and end where I started, we are deeply committed to this partnership. We care about Georgia's security and Georgia's democracy. We support the Georgian people in your aspirations to build a better future. And we appreciate this opportunity to strengthen that close relationship at many levels in both of our governments to build relationships among people, not just between governments, and to support the kind of changes that are occurring in Georgia that we, in turn, can then trumpet to our own people here, including investors who we would urge to take a close look at Georgia and others in our country who are standing by and urging on and cheering for the changes that Georgia is making and the role model that you are becoming.

Thank you, Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Gilauri. First of all, thank you very much, Madam Secretary, for your kind words. It is an honor for me to be here and to co-chair this commission with Madam Secretary. First of all, I would like to thank you personally for supporting Georgia throughout these very difficult times, supporting Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity everywhere in international arena.

Also, I would like to thank U.S. Government, you personally, for support—financial and economic support that U.S. has with Georgia. I have to say that the last two years were quite difficult for Georgian economy, but it proved to be very, very resilient. Recovery is there and when we analyze the recovery, the reasons of recovery, there are two main things behind it. One is international financial institutions and U.S. support, financial support, in—especially in infrastructure projects, which gives Georgia the additional impetus for becoming a logistical center in the region. And second is the reforms that actually were undertaken by Government of Georgia in the past four, five years.

I have to say that with those reforms, Georgia has become kind of a role model in the region, in the region which is—still thinks in post-Soviet manner, in the region where corruption is still part of everyday life. Georgia has become a role model of fighting corruption, of having a market economy, and being successful in doing so. And this model can be actually expanded and exported in the wider region of that part of the world.

However, in order to do that, we need some additional steps forward. We know what we are doing and we need—we will need your additional support, which we are actually seeing to be here—support in economic, education, and as well as in security aspects. First of all, in economic aspect, we are hoping for additional next year's projects in infrastructure and in educational areas. We're talking about possible U.S. university which can be established in Georgia, which will be actually educational and scientifical center of the region, not only for Georgia.

By the way, I have to tell you that we are—right now, for example, we are bringing up to a thousand English language teachers from U.S., from Canada, to come to Georgia, to be in the villages of Georgia for them to actually adopt to this thinking of—Western-type thinking, as well as, of course, learning the English language, which I think is very, very important. Infrastructure projects are quite important for us. Georgia has become energy hub of the region. There are many pipelines that cross Georgia from east to west, from north to south. We are main hub for gas exports from Caspian base to Turkey and so on to Europe. We are one of the main hub in terms of oil transit, and as well as we are net electricity exporters to Russia, to Azerbaijan, to Turkey, to all neighboring countries.

Additional infrastructure projects like that can be very profitable for private sector as well as can be very strategic for Europe, for the Western world—for example, oil refinery on the Black Sea area of Georgia or liquefied natural gas and compressed natural gas stations on the Black Sea shore of Georgia, which can be—actually provide—can provide additional energy security to Europe and for the rest of the world through Georgia. It can be a very interesting project for private sector as well as for state-to-state projects.

Another area that I have to mention is definitely security and defense, and Georgia and U.S. have been very good allies and—as—definitely Afghanistan is very good example of that. Unfortunately, we had the first losses a few days ago and thanks for your kind words for that. NATO is another issue and everybody knows about aspirations of Georgia towards NATO, and thank you very much for supporting our aspirations. Next summit will be taken in Lisbon and we are hoping for your extended support there as well.

Another important area is definitely action plan of Georgia's strategy on occupied territories. This is something that have been developed by Government of Georgia, that have been introduced to everyone internationally, that has been supported from everyone internationally. We are going to pursue these steps. Georgia is committed to create a society—free society based on democratic values. We are doing most of the reforms that—towards that area. There is an excellent example of joint cooperation in the new criminal procedures court and the introduction of jury trial, by the way, which is done just now. Actually, just—we are talking—it's introduced only in the autumn of this year, and which we think will have a very significant impetus in the future development of justice system in Georgia. It was actually done with the cooperation with—and—within this commission, which we'd like to thank you very much.

We have a quite ambitious agenda together and we think that this commission is a very good instrument for achieving new goals that we have together. I'm wishing that and I'm thinking that these teams that will be working afterwards will have a fruitful discussion and I'm hoping for another positive steps forward in relations between Georgia and U.S.

Thank you very much one more time, Madam Secretary.

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered these remarks with Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg in Washington, DC

Secretary Clinton. Well, let me warmly, warmly welcome back someone with whom I've had the opportunity to work for in my tenure as Secretary of State. It is a great pleasure to once again be working—now, I think you're a first deputy prime minister—

Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg. Yes.

Secretary Clinton.—Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg. So I'm looking forward to our conversation. Obviously, the Czech Republic is a valued partner and ally through NATO on so many important issues. And we have a lot of work ahead of us, but welcome back.

Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg. Thank you so much. And thank you for the warm welcome. Actually, I'm very happy indeed to be here again. And I believe what has happened (inaudible) is good news, because my government today in the morning decided to send more troops to Afghanistan to help the common effort which we consider important not only for Afghanistan, not only for the United States, but for the whole of Europe, too. And therefore we share a joint process and work together here. So we deploy some soldiers more and that I'm happy to announce it.

Besides of that, of course, with a change of administration, the whole situation has changed in Washington and it's interesting for me to hear the new views of the Administration, the vision they have for Europe and for the world. And I'm very glad to see again Secretary of State Clinton and looking very much forward to our conversation.

Secretary Clinton. Thank you. Thank you, my friend. Thank you. Thank you all very much.

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered these remarks at a town hall at the National Theater in Sarajevo with Students and Civil Society Representatives in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered this statement in Belgrade, Serbia

Secretary Clinton. Thank you so much, Ambassador. Well, first let me apologize for running late. We had very comprehensive discussions just now with the leadership as Ambassador Warlick listed, and it was a very productive afternoon and early evening. But I am especially looking forward to hearing from all of you. I want to spend my time listening instead of talking, so I will keep these remarks brief.

But I want to share just a few thoughts. As our ambassador said and as I mentioned to President Tadic earlier, it's been ten years since the people of Serbia came together to reclaim and rebuild your democracy. I know that the last decade has not been easy, particularly for those who fought the hardest for change in Serbia. And Sunday's events are a reminder that in this society, as in most societies, there is still a lot of work to be done.

But when you compare the Serbia of 2000 to the Serbia of 2010, it is clear that your country has made significant progress. Serbia today is more open, more democratic, and more respected in the world. And much of that progress has come through the work of people like you, including all of you. Journalists and activists, religious leaders, and civil society leaders have pushed your country to embrace a different future.

But I know that over the years some critics have questioned the motives and even the patriotism of those who have spoken out on behalf of change in Serbia. So let me, on behalf of the United States, say very clearly tonight: Your courage, your sacrifice, and your commitment to make Serbia a better place are a tribute not just to you but to your country. There is no higher or more important form of patriotism than working so hard to make your country a better place.

Civil society is playing a critical role in consolidating the democratic gains that we have seen here the last decade. NGOs and activists are engaged across the full spectrum of issues, and I was encouraged to hear that the Serbian Government is creating a new office to facilitate dialogue between civil society and the government. The United States is committed to the work you are doing. Our Civil Society Advocacy Initiative that I announced in my speech in Krakow this summer to the Community of Democracies is a core element of our assistance efforts here and an important part of the $1 million that the American people invest each week to help strengthen democracy here in Serbia and fuel economic growth and inclusive prosperity.

This program has provided training to more than 500 civil society representatives. It has helped support more than 70 advocacy campaigns to address issues ranging from illegal dumping to human rights. Our partnership here in Serbia represents one piece of a much broader effort to strengthen civil society in countries around the world. This work is part of our daily agenda at the State Department and USAID, and it was a major focus of President Obama's recent speech to the United Nations General Assembly.

Our commitment to this issue reflects our own experience. Throughout America's history, civil society activists have worked to expand rights to more citizens, improve working conditions for workers, protect our environment, and strengthen our country in so many ways. And here in Serbia, your efforts to promote human rights, religious tolerance, media freedom, regional reconciliation, and Euro-Atlantic integration will help write a similar story of progress.

Now, I know that the work of civil society is never finished. Before I was ever in politics or government, I was one of you. I was involved in civil society and advocacy, particularly on behalf of children, families, and women. And the work that you are engaged in may take generations to see it finally through. But as you keep at it, the space for those who hold diverse opinions will open up. Society will become more tolerant. The media will be empowered to pursue the truth. And I am confident that one day Serbia will become a full partner in the Euro-Atlantic community.

Now, although the United States does not have a vote in the European Union, we are strongly championing your membership in the EU. And we intend to be a partner for you in civil society and for your country as you advance toward that goal.

So I thank you for being here this evening and for sharing this time with me. I'm looking forward to speaking with you in these small groups because I want to hear from everyone to give everyone a chance to express yourselves and to give us additional ideas about how we can be a better partner for civil society in Serbia. Because we see Serbia's future aligned with Europe and aligned with the West and part of the Euro-Atlantic community. Serbia's values, Serbia's traditions, Serbia's aspirations and goals are very much in keeping with what I know will bring a better opportunity and a better future for not only you but, most importantly, the next generation. Thank you all very much.

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered this statement in Belgrade, Serbia

Secretary Clinton. Thank you very much, Mr. President. And thank you for the warm welcome that you have extended and the opportunity we've had to discuss in depth and at length a number of issues, many of which you mentioned in your statement.

For me personally, it is a great honor to be here in Serbia ten years after the people of this country began to reclaim their own future. That victory of the people's will was a milestone in the long struggle to build Serbia's democracy. And in the decade that has followed, Serbia has made great progress, and we, speaking on behalf of the United States, owe a debt of gratitude to all of those who helped create that progress: members of Serbia's civil society; its political leaders, Mr. President; and of course, the citizens themselves.

It is not any mystery why democracy is the preferred political system in the 21^st century, because it does give individuals the opportunity to pursue their own dreams within a political system that recognizes the need for supporting the individual and yet moving forward with determination of a nation.

Serbia, of course, like any country, still faces challenges today, but it is very clear to me that Serbia is on a path toward greater partnership with the Euro-Atlantic community and stronger relations with its neighbors. The United States is committed to working with Serbia as you advance toward these goals.

When President Tadic and I have spoken on previous occasions—by telephone, in person, and particularly today—I have underscored that we have an interest in the peace and prosperity of this region. And we are encouraged that many countries are moving toward greater integration with the European Union. But no country has more to gain than Serbia. EU membership could help transform Serbia's economy and anchor the entire region in Europe.

Achieving the goal of EU integration requires leadership. And Mr. President, you have been providing that leadership. Now, there are areas where, as the President said, we will not agree, and foremost among them is Kosovo. But we believe that the September 9th United Nations General Assembly resolution provides a good basis for a meaningful, forward-looking dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. That dialogue can and will benefit people in Kosovo and Serbia by addressing practical, day-to-day issues and the long-term relationship between you. It will also have a positive impact on the relationship between Serbia, your neighbors, Europe, and the United States.

I also want publicly to thank Serbia for your strong cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. I appreciate all that has been done by your government, particularly your law enforcement officials, and I appreciate again hearing from President Tadic the high priority that Serbia places on fulfilling its remaining obligations to the Tribunal. I have stated publicly and I will state again that Serbia is making a good-faith effort on behalf of arresting (inaudible) fugitive, and that effort should be recognized by others.

I also thank President Tadic and your government for your commitment to protect the human rights of all the citizens of your country. I especially want to commend the bravery of the police who provided security for the event for last Sunday's pride parade. It was not easy, and yet we watched as the official law enforcement forces demonstrated unequivocally your support for the rights of all.

Let me close by reaffirming our admiration for the progress that has taken place here in Serbia over the last decade. As Vice President Biden said when he was here, the United States values Serbia as a country with not only a tremendous history, but more importantly a vast potential. We believe in the potential of Serbia. Serbian Americans have made many contributions to the growth and development of the United States, and we are absolutely convinced that Serbia can become not only a member of the European Union but a leader in Europe, an example in Europe. And the United States is committed to working with you to help you build a better future for this country, for your people, and for this region.

Mr. President, thank you for not only your words today, but more importantly, your vision and your leadership and your actions in pursuit of that vision over the past years; and know that you will have a partner as you continue down this path toward European integration and toward building the kind of Serbia that the children of Serbia deserve to have. Thank you very much.

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered these remarks in Pristina, Kosovo

Ms. Repic. Well, Madam Secretary, finally, it's very glad to have you here. For the beginning, I would really like to hear from you your opinion, your thought about the biggest challenges that Kosovo actually is facing right now, having in mind that we will have very soon dialogue with Belgrade, then we will let—regional cooperation is necessary, and as well, European integration. So how are those processes actually important for every citizen, no matter of ethnicity?

Secretary Clinton. That's an excellent question. And I want to start by saying how excited I am to be here in Pristina, to have a chance to come back to Kosovo as Secretary of State and to have this opportunity to have this conversation with all of you, particularly with the young people of this country who represent the future and who are, in your numbers, the youngest country in Europe. And so that's exciting to me.

And I think that I see the way that Kosovo is moving forward to be very encouraging. You are building up your democratic institutions, which is very important. You're about to have another election which needs to be as strong and transparent and free as possible with as much participation. You are working on economic development, privatizing some of the inefficient state enterprises like electricity and telecommunications. So on the democratic, constitutional, economic front, you're making progress and the United States stands ready to help you continue that progress.

I think there needs to be improvements in services, education, healthcare, other kinds of services that the people of Kosovo are looking for, and again, we will be there to help you. I am very pleased at how there is a commitment to integration and pluralism within Kosovo. I just met with the elected Serb mayors in municipalities here and talked through with them what they're doing to make a difference in the lives of the people that they represent. And as you said, there will be an important dialogue, starting with Serbia, that will begin to solve some of the remaining problems that still exist, which is very important for both countries so that both countries can move toward European integration.

And then in the broader region, I think that all of the countries in the Balkans have an opportunity to set a real example for the rest of Europe of how you can have integrated societies where ethnic or religious differences are tolerated and permitted to live side-by-side with people making a contribution, no matter who their parents are or what their history might be. And I hope that we will see Kosovo moving toward European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

The United States does not have a vote in the European Union, but we believe strongly that all the countries of the Balkans should be starting on a path toward European integration, beginning with visa liberalization for people in Kosovo, particularly young people, so that you can travel, study, work, really tell the story of Kosovo beyond your own boundaries.

So although I know the road ahead is challenging, you've come such a long way. And what you have overcome and what your parents and your grandparents have had to deal with really puts you in a strong position to build your own country to be a model for yourselves and for others in the region, and then to play an active role in the future in Europe. And that's what I'm going to commit myself to help you to achieve.

Mr. Repic. Well, the Kosovars would say that they are prepared. They did whatever Europe, Brussels told them, and the Western world told them. At the same time, they see Serbia moving closer to Brussels despite not fulfilling the criteria, despite not handing in war criminals. So they—do you think that they're right in feeling that they've been neglected?

Secretary Clinton. No, I don't. I think that until the International Court of Justice advisory opinion was rendered just a few weeks ago, there were those—not us in the United States—but you know there were those who had some questions about Kosovo's independence. So I think the clock starts ticking—even though you may feel the pressure to move more quickly, I think the clock starts ticking now. And many of the reforms that you are undertaking—this upcoming election, how it's conducted—and the chairwoman of the election commission, one of your supreme court judges, is here with us today—everything that you're doing now will get a lot of attention. And I think that's really the opportunity for Kosovo to step up and claim your place among nations.

I will continue to work for even more nations to recognize Kosovo. I think we're up to 70 now, but we want many more. This is a process. I guess my strongest advice is stay the course. Stay on this path that you are on now. Make the changes that you know you must make. Reconcile with one another. Let's deal with the continuing problems in the north so that your Serbian citizens in the north feel fully integrated. Let's have the dialogue with Serbia. There's a list, and I keep checking these things off the list that Kosovo has accomplished. And that strengthens the argument that someone like me can make to the European Union.

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered these remarks in an interview with Bojan Brkic of RTS in Belgrade, Serbia

Q. Your Excellency, your meeting yesterday with Serbian officials looked very cordial and upbeat. Do you leave Serbia with an impression that we finally are ready to move on in the new direction?

Secretary Clinton. Absolutely. I have had that impression from a distance, but it was confirmed in all of my meetings and interactions yesterday. I think that the Government of Serbia led by your president is very committed to moving toward European integration membership in the EU, working closely with neighbors to stabilize and improve conditions in the region. So in my discussions with the president, the prime minister, the foreign minister, and the defense minister, I came away very convinced of the commitment and the extraordinary results of this government.

Q. And you said yesterday that Serbia deserved a place in the Euro-Atlantic community of nations. How active America intends to be in relating that message to those European allies who might—may still be in doubt?

Secretary Clinton. I'm going to be very active. I will be going to Brussels this evening. I will be meeting with EU leaders as well as officials from member states. I'm going to be very clear in what I think is the right course to take, and that is to begin the process for EU accession for Serbia.

Q. And how coordinated, how synchronized are policies of the United States and the European Union when it comes to integration of the Western Balkans?

Secretary Clinton. Well, I think they're coordinated, but they are not yet as focused as I think we need to be. I believe that there has to be a lot of work done and attention paid, particularly to Bosnia-Herzegovina and to this dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo. But I'm very optimistic. I really am absolutely convinced that he people here in this part of Europe want to be in the flow of the Euro-Atlantic alliance and fully integrated into Europe. And that makes sense because Serbia has so much to offer the rest of Europe, and your experience in so many areas is going to be very beneficial. We have some important American companies like U.S. Steel that have big operations here in Serbia. Your military has become so professionalized and is really drawing the admiration of our own military. We have this unique relationship between the Serbian military and the Ohio National Guard, which is a real model. So on many fronts, what we see is very significant progress and we think it speaks well for the Serbian people.

Q. And how long do you think that we will be able to leave Kosovo as one issue on which we agree to disagree? Will there come the time when we discuss with the EU our relations with the neighbors which are important for integration that—when the United States may actually demand that Serbia recognizes the independence?

Secretary Clinton. Well, we would obviously like that. And as President Tadic made very clear, that is not going to happen. But I think that there are many other steps that can be taken that will improve the daily lives of Serbs in Kosovo, and that's the main concern of your president and your government.

Eventually, obviously, we'd like to see integration and recognition. We would like to see the entire region working together, trade relations, other kinds of commercial business and academic and other ties. But that's down the road. I think this has to be taken step by step. And there was a very positive reaction in the international community beyond Europe and the United States to the really statesmanlike way that Serbia handled the International Court of Justice decision. I know it was at least a disappointment, if not a shock, to many people in Serbia. But it demonstrated a real sense of statesmanship. And then the way Serbia worked with the EU on the United Nations General Assembly resolution drew a lot of notice and praise.

So none of this is easy. These are hard issues. And as I said yesterday in Sarajevo and as President Tadic and I talked yesterday here in Belgrade, my view is that the world is moving so fast, and integration or disintegration—you have to choose. And integration carries so many benefits. We saw the effects of disintegration on Sunday with the violent protests—the kind of disregard for human rights and physical safety and the authority of the state and everything that was on display there. And I think most people, they want a good job, they want to raise a family, they want to read the books and listen to the music that they care about, to travel, expand their circle of experience. Giving people that chance, improving the economy, having more connections with the rest of the world is the vision that President Tadic has, and I think it's the right one for the 21^st century.

Q. All of these things come as the result of economic development, which is not very easy for Serbia these days in the—under the circumstances of the global crisis, but America is one of the first to be seen to be getting out of the crisis. Will you encourage—after the improvement of the political relations, will you encourage the business community of the United States to invest more here, which will make our integration goes more possible?

Secretary Clinton. We talked about that yesterday, and I certainly will. I think that you're right that the political changes, the face that Serbia is showing to the world, is a very attractive magnet for people to come and look and see. We talked about some of the additional economic reforms to make the business and investment climate even more welcoming.

But I think there's a tremendous opportunity for the economic side to grow. And I'm also reminded, as I was yesterday by your defense minister, that there are more Serbs in the United States than anywhere else in the world besides Serbia. And there is also a very active and successful Serbian American community, and I'm going to be reaching out to them because I think there may be some interest there as well. So we will try to be good partners on the economic front.

Q. Madam Secretary, thank you very much for this interview.

Secretary Clinton. Thank you. My pleasure.

Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Clinton delivered these remarks in Brussels, Belgium

Secretary Clinton. Well, good afternoon.

I'm pleased to be here with my colleague, Secretary Bob Gates, for today's joint meeting of NATO foreign and defense ministers. The meeting was productive and far-ranging. I'm going to give you a very brief readout, and then Secretary Gates and I will be happy to take your questions.

The focal point for today's ministerial was NATO's new strategic concept, which now exists in draft form. This document, and the conversation it has sparked among member states, serves an important function, which is to ensure that NATO evolves as the world evolves. And to be a security alliance in the 21st century, to remain relevant and effective, NATO must have the capacity to anticipate and protect against shifting security challenges, from terrorism to ballistic missiles, from cyber-attacks to the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Relying on the strategies of the past simply will not suffice. NATO began as a regional alliance, but the threats we now face are global, and our perspective must therefore be global as well.

In—it was in recognition of this fact that NATO launched the Strategic Concept Review, and I'd like to thank Secretary-General Rasmussen for leading it, and the panel of experts who did an enormous amount of work, led by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Today's meeting brings us closer to a final product, and the member states will continue to discuss and revise as we prepare for the summit next month in Lisbon. Defense ministers met earlier today to discuss NATO reform and strengthening NATO's capability. We will be meeting as foreign ministers right after this, on other aspects of the reform agenda.

One critical element will be an emphasis on improving coordination between civilian and military operations, because today's security challenges are rarely just military. Usually they are political, and always they are both. They call for the contributions of a wide range of people, from military strategists and weapons specialists to diplomats and development experts.

And we believe NATO must harmonize and integrate its military and civilian capacities. That's something that Secretary Gates and I are working on in our own government.

One item not on the formal agenda was Afghanistan, but naturally, as NATO's largest ongoing operation, there was much discussion, and two key elements of our strategy were discussed: first, in the shorter term, helping Afghanistan make the transition to taking the lead on its own security; and second, in the longer term, creating a strategic partnership with Afghanistan that will foster lasting stability and progress. Both objectives are critical to NATO's mission in Afghanistan.

In addition to the NATO ministerial meeting, Secretary Gates and I met together and separately with a number of our counterparts to discuss a range of regional and global issues.

The United States remains absolutely committed to NATO, which has safeguarded our freedom for over 60 years. And we will continue to offer whatever support we can to help finalize the Strategic Concept and to implement it, to ensure that NATO will always stand as an effective and forceful alliance for its members’ security.

Now with that, Secretary Gates and I will be glad to take your questions.

Q. I'd stand up, but I can't, because I have a computer on my lap. Sorry about that.

There's been a lot of—I'd like to ask you about the Afghan mission. There's been a lot of talk recently, over the past couple of weeks and most recently even today, about the peace talks, the reconciliation and reintegration program that President Karzai wants.

We know what your red lines are, and we know—for these talks, and we know that—we've been constantly reminded, over and over again, that this is an Afghan process, it's Afghan-led. We know all that.

But at what point does the U.S. have to step in and take a seat at the table in order to protect the equities that the American people have earned over nine years in—with—at tremendous cost of blood and treasure, as you all like to say?

Secretary Gates. Well, first of all, we have always acknowledged that reconciliation has to be a part of the solution, ultimately, in Afghanistan, and we will do whatever we can to support that process.

I think one of the principles that we have established with President Karzai is transparency with one another as this process goes forward. So we are in very close consultations with president Karzai and the Afghan government. So we know what they're doing, they know what we're doing, and they understand what our requirements are. And frankly, we share with them what we think will be in their own best interest as the process goes along.

But it—it's basically a partnership as we go forward with this, with clearly the Afghans in the lead. But I think we're confident that we have access into this process and plenty of opportunities to make our concerns as well as our suggestions known.

Q. Yes. Thank you. Just to follow up on that, why help with high-level reconciliation now? It wasn't too long ago when the U.S. government was arguing that it was premature, that you had to weaken the Taliban more before going into reconciliation at a high level. What's changed with the U.S. calculation on this?

Secretary Gates. Well, I'm not going to get into the details of it. I would just say that whenever opportunities arise that are worth exploring, I think we ought to take advantage of that. And whether they lead to something concrete in the short term or establish a predicate for something that may develop months or a year from now I think really doesn't matter. We just—you know, we need to be open to opportunities that arise.

Secretary Clinton. Well, I would also add that both Bob and I and a lot of our counterparts here in Brussels have both seen and received reports of progress that we are—we are making on the ground.

General Petraeus was here in Brussels yesterday and last evening. He briefed a number of the ministers as well as NATO-ISAF officials. And his report reinforces a lot of the other information and evidence that we're seeing about the increasing effectiveness on the ground of our joint efforts.

I also think it's something of a perhaps exaggeration to read too much into these early reports that are appearing in the press. This is a long process. There are two aspects to it. The reintegration aspect is accelerating. More and more of the fighters on the field are seeking a way out. Many of them found themselves employed by the Taliban or related insurgents because it was a way to make a living. And our reports are that more of them are seeking to leave the battlefield behind.

And our red lines for them are the same as our red lines for reconciliation. They have to, you know, renounce violence, give up their weapons, renounce al Qaeda and the insurgency and abide by the laws and constitution of Afghanistan.

On the reconciliation front, this is a much more complex effort that is just beginning. There are a lot of different strains to it that may or may not be legitimate or borne out as producing any bona fide reconciliation.

So I think that, as Bob said, we support what the Afghans are doing. We obviously have sought and obtained transparency. And we have an understanding of their goals and objectives, and they have a very clear understanding of our red lines. So this will play out over a period of time.

And obviously we have for more than a year supported this kind of effort. But the timing is everything, and the sincerity of the outreach is everything. And so we're not yet ready to make any judgments about whether or not any of this will bear fruit on the reconciliation front while we continue to see fighters coming off the battlefield on the reintegration front.

Secretary Gates. I would just add one sentence to the effect that—Secretary Clinton mentioned General Petraeus’ briefings here at NATO yesterday. He briefed me last night. And I had several defense ministers come up to me today who have just been in Afghanistan in the last few days or the last week or so, and to a person, they said they were heartened by what they saw on the ground.

Q. From the German Press Agency. Two questions, if I might, both on missile defense.

There is now a broad expectation of an agreement on NATO-level territorial missile defense at the Lisbon summit. Would you expect a decision on that to be linked to some kind of debate on the U.S. substrategic nukes in Europe or a decision on the withdrawal thereof?

And today we've heard reports from Istanbul quoting Turkish diplomats saying that the U.S. is, and I quote—(inaudible)—putting pressure on Turkey to host elements of the missile defense—the planned missile defense screen. So can you give us some vision of where you are now at with where you would expect to deploy elements of the screen in Europe?

Thank you.

Secretary Gates. First of all, based on everything I heard today, I didn't hear anything about linkage in terms of missile defense and nuclear reductions. Indeed, a number of speakers today talked about, as long as we live in a world of nuclear weapons, that it is important that NATO remain a nuclear-armed alliance.

With respect to Turkey, we talked about many subjects with the Turks. Obviously, the approach to an alliance-wide territorial and population missile defense was one of those subjects today that was broadly discussed. I would say that we are not putting pressure on the Turks, but we are having continuing conversations with them as one of our allies.

Q. Hi. This is regarding the death of the British aid worker. Will the Navy SEAL who is suspected of having thrown the grenade that killed the aid worker face disciplinary action? And has the way this death been handled shown some kind of failure in NATO about being open about what happened in this rescue?

Secretary Gates. Well, the investigation of this tragedy is still under way, so I don't know the answers to those questions. Clearly, the death of this aid worker is a—is a tragedy, and we offer condolences to her family and friends. But I think there's also an important point to be made here. Let's not forget who put her in harm's way, who kidnapped her and who kept her on a mountainside at 8,000 feet.

So this is a terrible tragedy, but the Taliban bear the principal responsibility here.

Secretary Clinton. I would just echo that last point. It's the point that my colleague William Hague made, as well as Prime Minister Cameron.

We join in expressing our deepest sympathy and condolence for the loss of this intrepid young woman, and we regret deeply that the Taliban is increasingly targeting aid workers. Our aid workers, who go out to help deliver medical services and educational opportunities, or seed and fertilizer to farmers, or help set up local government and court systems—you know, they are vulnerable because they're there working with people on the ground. They don't carry arms. They are there on a different mission. It is one that has been much more integrated between our military and civilian capacity than ever before. And we're very proud of the partnership that exists all the way through NATO ISAF, between our military on the front lines and our development workers on the front lines.

But you know, just recently the Taliban made clear that aid workers should be targeted. We know what happened to the medical team that was kidnapped and killed just several months ago. And it is—it's just tragic that people who are trying to give a better life to Afghans—men, women and children—are now considered fair game by the Taliban.

So our sympathy goes out to the family and friends of this young woman, and our admiration goes out to the thousands of international and Afghan aid workers who every single day put themselves at risk. And I would hope that the international community would resoundingly condemn this targeting of civilians, of people who are bringing much-needed help to local communities, who are trying to provide support where there has been none, and that the Taliban would, you know, not continue to kidnap and kill people who are there to help the Afghan people. So that's a message we'd like very clearly to send out.

Thank you.

Secretary Hillary Clinton and Minister Mikulas Dzurinda delivered these remarks in Washington, DC

Secretary Clinton. Well, good afternoon, everyone. It's a pleasure to welcome Foreign Minister Dzurinda to the State Department today. He is not a stranger to Washington and neither is our relationship and friendship with the Slovak Republic. They are a close friend and ally who shares our commitment to freedom and democracy. And in less than 20 years, Slovakia has made an extraordinary transition from a land locked behind the iron curtain to a vibrant democracy. It is a pillar of regional stability and cooperation, with some of the highest growth rates in Europe. And in the European economic context, it is still very much a beacon of economic development. Slovakia is essential to the integration of the Western Balkans and its eastern neighbors into Europe and Euro-Atlantic institutions and a prime example of how greater integration benefits the broader European community.

The foreign minister and I just concluded a very productive meeting where we discussed the region. I appreciated his insight and views on a number of the issues ranging from energy security to protection for minorities. The upcoming summit in Lisbon, where we hope to finalize NATO's new Strategic Concept and address U.S.-EU cooperation is another area where we will work together.

And I'd like to thank the foreign minister and the government and people of the Slovak Republic for their continued commitment to promoting and defending our shared values around the world. Your contributions to the NATO mission in Afghanistan are helping the people of Afghanistan build a more secure and prosperous future, and we are greatly impressed by and honor the service of Slovak soldiers serving alongside American troops. And I very much want to express our gratitude for the affirmation of your commitment to the ISAF mission during Deputy Secretary Steinberg's recent visit to Bratislava.

We're very proud of our friendship. I have known the foreign minister in his earlier incarnations in various positions and I'm delighted to have this opportunity to work with him on behalf of our two countries.

Foreign Minister Dzurinda. Thank you very much, Madam Secretary of State, ladies and gentlemen. I am very happy being here in Washington. I used time, which was created by Madam Secretary, to describe our cooperation in three areas. The first, which is the most important, is the area of political dialogue. I mentioned or I reminded that Slovakia holds the presidency of the V4, Visegrad Four cooperation. We want to contribute also in regional cooperation. There are many specific priorities in this cooperation—there's energy security cooperation in the area of Roma inclusion into society and many others.

On Friday, we organized the meeting of Foreign Minister of V4 plus Western Balkans Foreign Minister. Beginning of next year, we will organize ministerial meeting with the partners from the East, expression of our intention about and interest about Eastern partnership. I told Madam Secretary that we are not so big country, but we want to be concentrated in two main areas to the east and to the Western Balkans, and we want to contribute.

The second area is Syria defense and military cooperation. I am proud and very happy that in November we will increase the number of soldiers and trainers in Afghanistan as a part of our ISAF contribution. We are very thankful to the U.S. because they train and they educate our soldiers—National Guard, Guards of Indiana, is our traditional partners. The cooperation has been taking place since 1994. It is continuing and this is very helpful for us.

And last but not least, we spoke about economic dimension of our cooperation. We have more than 120 U.S. companies in Slovakia, and now we want more to cooperate in the area of research and development and innovations.

So thank you very much. I am very happy because I can imagine how busy are you, how often you travel to many countries, and I am very happy that you could create the space for our (inaudible).

Secretary Clinton. Thank you.

Q. Hi, Madam Secretary, Mr. Foreign Minister. Madam Secretary, there were reports today that the remaining two hikers will be put on trial on November 6^th. I was curious if you had particular reaction that and if you've heard that through any of the channels like the Swiss. Thank you.

Secretary Clinton. We are aware that their lawyer has reported this date. We continue to express our hope that the Iranian authorities will exercise the humanitarian option of releasing these two young men. We do not believe there is any basis, whatsoever, for them to be put on trial. And we regret that they and their families are being subjected to a criminal system that we do not think, in any way, reflects their actions.

So it's our continuing request to the Iranian Government that just as they released the young woman, that they release these two young men. There are many areas where we need to be discussing matters between the United States and Iran that are of great significance to not only our two countries, but the world. And it's unfortunate that Iran would be holding, for now more than a year, two young men who should be released and returned to their families.

Q. Madam Secretary, also I would like to ask the question of prime minister—the Slovak prime minister.

Moderator. (Inaudible) foreign minister.

Q. I'm sorry.

Secretary Clinton. It's a habit hard to break.

Q. I left Slovakia—I left Slovakia five years ago. I don't go anyplace.

You talk about the cooperation between both countries, which is really, really good. I would like to ask about the issue that you disagree on. For example, over Kosovo. Do you expect that our government is going to change attitude towards Kosovo independence? And for prime minister, do you feel the pressure from the U.S. changed position?

Secretary Clinton. Well, we discussed the foreign minister's opinions about what is happening in the Balkans. They coincide with mine, having just been there last week. We think that there is a great opportunity for Serbia to make progress in its ambition to be integrated into Europe. We think that Serbia and Kosovo have an opportunity now under EU sponsorship to engage in a dialogue to begin to solve the practical problems that are still between them. Certainly, the United States thinks that the issue of independence and sovereignty is decided by the International Court of Justice.

I understand the position of the minister and his government, but what's most important is the positive role that the minister and Slovakia is playing in trying to limit the differences and create a different reality in the Western Balkans and in the entire region. The unfinished business of integrating the Western Balkans and the Eastern countries into the European Union and the Euro-Atlantic institutions is something we totally agree on. And I think we both have the same goals.

Obviously, we would like to see more countries recognize Kosovo, now that the International Court of Justice decision has been determined. But we also know that it's important to keep working to bridge the historical divisions so that we can have a region that is peaceful and stable and moving toward Europe.

Foreign Minister Dzurinda. First of all, I want to tell that I admire a lot the last engagement of her Madam Secretary of State when she visited the countries of the Western Balkans. It was very helpful also before European Council next Monday. I appreciated a strong signal, an appreciation that Serbia cooperates with (inaudible) and it decided properly to go to the West, I would say. It was very, very, very, very important.

And also, I followed the statement of Madam Secretary when she visited (inaudible), when she told that the (inaudible) of Kosovo will depend on the level of standard of the Serbs living there—very, very encouraging.

And to your question directly, no, I didn't feel any pressure. I tell you why. It is not a goal to recognize Kosovo. And I did my best to express what is a goal in my head. The goal is to help or to facilitate, to establish relations between Belgrade and Pristina which will be good, smooth, and what is essential, sustainable. This is the goal. And I believe that Slovakia is a country not recognizing Kosovo, is—can help a lot. I want—I will do my best.

Secretary Clinton. Thank you so much, Minister.

Foreign Minister Dzurinda. Thank you, Madam.

Secretary Clinton. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Secretary Hillary Clinton and Secretary Owen Paterson delivered these remarks in Washington, DC

Secretary Clinton. Well, it's a great pleasure for the State Department to be hosting an investment conference on behalf of Northern Ireland and to have Secretary Paterson here. He is responsible for Northern Ireland in Prime Minister Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Clegg's government. And it shows a real sign of support and concern that he would be here with me. And I'm looking forward to our conversation about his observations and ideas about the way forward.

Secretary Paterson. Well, thank you very much, Secretary. It is absolutely tremendous that Secretary of State Clinton has organized this conference today. We got a wonderful opportunity in Northern Ireland to build on the process, which is being delivered by successive British, American, and Irish governments, and building up the private sector, helping private business is absolutely part of our program. So I'm really grateful to her and I think it's a tremendous sign of the continuing interest of Secretary Clinton that we're all here today. And I'm looking forward to getting on with our talks.

Thank you very much.

Secretary Clinton. Thank you. Thank you, Secretary.

Q. Secretary Clinton, have you heard at all about the dissident activity in Northern Ireland?

Secretary Clinton. Well, we're going to talk about it with Secretary Paterson. Unfortunately, there will always be a small minority that is not willing to take another direction, and I know that the leadership in Northern Ireland, in Ireland, and certainly in the UK are very focused on that, because there's such a positive story to tell, and we cannot permit a very few to undermine the efforts of so many. Thank you.

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered these remarks with Minister Peter Robinson and Minister Martin McGuinness in Washington, DC

Secretary Clinton. Good afternoon. We are so delighted to host this important investment and business conference for Northern Ireland. And I'm delighted to be, once again, able to meet with and catch up with both Peter and Martin. I call them that because we've known each other for a very long time. And it's encouraging to see the progress that has occurred in the last several years under their leadership and stewardship, and I'm looking forward to continuing to support your efforts.

Do you want to say something, Peter?

First Minister Robinson. Well, first, again, to welcome the fact that the U.S. Administration has been so helpful to Northern Ireland and providing us with the facility here, and through Declan to be able to get the key decision-takers a number of very substantial U.S., indeed international, companies.

I don't always say this, but I really do wish the press had been in there this morning. Obviously, this (inaudible), but I think you would have been very encouraged to hear the statements, the testimony given by the companies that are already in Northern Ireland. I think unanimously, one after the other, indicating that the key element of their decision to come to Northern Ireland and the key reason why they've expanded their businesses is the people of Northern Ireland themselves, the young, well-educated workforce, the loyalty that they give to the company that employs them, the low (inaudible) rate that results in keeping down the costs, trading costs down because they pick it up quickly.

And not because we have a low-cost environment; we have a cost-competitive environment in Northern Ireland. So we have a package that I think is very clearly what is attractive, and as we move out of a recession, people start to look to expand and extend their businesses, I believe we have the proper (inaudible) that could attract anyone from anywhere around the world to Northern Ireland.

Secretary Clinton. Martin.

Deputy First Minister McGuinness. Well, I too want to express my deepest thanks and gratitude to Secretary of State Clinton and to her husband for a very long engagement with us on what is undoubtedly one of the most successful peace processes in the world today, a peace process that would not have succeeded were it not for the efforts of the Clintons. And we, the people of Ireland, will always be in their debt.

(Inaudible) we now have a situation where as we move forward with very stable institutions, we have a situation where the next big challenge for us is the economic challenge (inaudible), and to see the Clintons still involved in that. The visit to Derry just a couple of weeks ago by President Clinton, the organization of this wonderful event here at the State Department, the very magnificent turnout there are to see you, many multinational companies, all of them very engaged and all of them extolling the virtues, as Peter has rightly said, of our people—a dedicated people, a loyal people, people that do want to work. And people here are anxious to build stable and better futures for themselves and for their communities.

I remember over two years ago people said—they all said at the time of what was the beginning of the world recession, “There's no point in going to the United States of America. How can you expect to get jobs into North America?” Yet Peter and I did come here with the support of Secretary of State Clinton, the support of her husband. We went to the west coast. Universal came to Belfast, HBO came to Belfast, employing hundreds of people. They're still there at this moment in time. New York Stock Exchange have come to the north. And we've now seen two more important announcements today and we believe, absolutely confident to say, further, even bigger announcements in the time ahead.

So, as I say, we will always be indebted to the Clintons, and in particular today to Secretary of State Clinton for this massive lift-up that we've got in terms of putting before the U.S. business administration all of the propositions that we have to offer and the great hope that we will see further investment which will continue to see us move forward in a very stable way, (inaudible) in peace but also building on economic prosperity.

Secretary Clinton. Great. Thank you. Thank you all very much.

Secretary Hillary Clinton and Minister Michael Spindelegger delivered these remarks in Washington, DC

Q. Madam Secretary, are you going to—can we ask you a question or two?

Secretary Clinton. Well, let—I think both Michael and I have a short statement to make.

And first, let me thank the foreign minister for his crucial help in getting this event organized. I believe very strongly that Austria's leadership on behalf of this issue is essential because we need to form a strong global partnership to make clear that we are committed to bringing about peace, but in doing so, we want to empower women to not be victims, but agents of peace and ending conflict.

And I also want to wish Austria a very happy National Day. I'm sorry that this Security Council meeting coincided with National Day and that the foreign minister had to be here, but from our perspective, we're very glad he is, and his leadership and the excellent commitment that were—commitments that were made by the Austrian Government in the intervention by the foreign minister. So I thank you very much for your leadership.

And I also want to say how pleased we are to have a strong, growing, even deeper relationship between the United States and Austria. The foreign minister and I have worked closely together on several key issues, from the Balkans to Iran and so much else. And we have a shared commitment to human rights and the rule of law and to nonproliferation. And I am very grateful that I will be having a bilateral, thorough discussion with the foreign minister in Washington, D.C. on November 17^th.

Foreign Minister Spindelegger. Thank you very much, Madam Secretary, ladies and gentlemen. For us, it's a great pleasure to see how engaged Hillary Clinton is in this field—framework of 1325. And this gives us hope and this inspires us to be more active in this way. And of course, I think if you have a look, after all the events, we have to notice there is a lot of space for more engagement. We have to double our efforts to make, for the future, a better world for women and, of course, if you have a more close look to all these areas of conflict, we should now have these indicators, these 26 indicators, that gives us more tools and more information about that—what we have to do in all these areas.

And I think it's wonderful to cooperate. Thank you very much for that. And of course, as I said, we are now celebrating the 10^th anniversary, but we also are celebrating the birthday of Hillary Clinton here today.

Secretary Clinton. Oh, dear.

Foreign Minister Spindelegger. Twenty-fifth birthday.

Secretary Clinton. Coincides with National Austria Day. I'm very excited about that.

Foreign Minister Spindelegger. So it's really a wonderful story and I would like to thank you also for this cooperation between the United States and Austria. We are very much happy with that and we would like to continue it in the future. Thank you very much.

Secretary Clinton. Thank you very much.

Q. Madam Secretary, you've talked very passionately about the women of Afghanistan and not leaving them behind. I wonder if you had any comment on the comments by the president of Afghanistan, President Karzai, about the United States and it's giving cash to him to run his office?

Secretary Clinton. I do not. I have a very strong opinion about the work that we're doing, which I think is critical for our national security, the national security of Europe. I work closely with our representatives in Afghanistan and with the Government of Afghanistan. It's a very challenging and quite complicated situation, but I think we're making progress, and I am very, very pleased to have the opportunity to try to support the women of Afghanistan while we do so.

Q. Mrs. Secretary of State, the situation of women and also girls in many countries of the world, especially in Africa, but I would like to mention also Afghanistan, Iran, et cetera is very serious. Do you really think that resolution discussed today can make a difference, can change something? Or does this—it could be only done on the level of the government and the—on the politics?

Secretary Clinton. I think it's both. I think in my own lifetime—since it is my birthday, I can look back on it and see so much progress that has occurred. It has occurred both on the international level in beginning to look at women's rights as human rights and to create coalitions around change on behalf of women, and of course, it's happened in my own country.

So the progress that women have made in the last 50 years is remarkable when you consider it against the backdrop of the prior history of humanity. But as Michael and I have said, there is still much more to be done. And certainly, those of us who are fortunate enough to live in countries like the United States and Austria where there have been great advances on behalf of women's rights and opportunities, I believe have an obligation to try to do more to help women and girls in countries where those rights and opportunities are not respected.

So yes, we've made progress and shining a bright light of international concern on these issues gives heart to women and men working on behalf of this cause all over the world and helps to move the progress, the trajectory, a little bit further along. So it's all worth doing.

Q. Madam Secretary, you have mentioned the special and growing relationship with Austria, and could you be more specific what has brought about this renewed friendship with Austria? And could you specify the areas of cooperation where the friendship with a small country like Austria could really make a difference?

Secretary Clinton. Well, I can give you two examples based on my own experience with the foreign minister. He and I spoke several times in depth on the necessity for sanctions on Iran's nuclear weapons program. He was very helpful in conveying the concerns not only of the United States but of the international community directly to representatives of the Iranian Government. And certainly, with the IAEA headquartered in Vienna, I've spoken with the foreign minister on nonproliferation, which is a key goal of President Obama. So those are two areas where Austria's commitment and values, combined with its very strategic location, has been of benefit to our common cause.

Do you want to add anything to that, Michael?

Foreign Minister Spindelegger. Yes, I think, of course, it was an area where we had to be in a close contact. It was a very sensitive moment, I think. And I only can give you back this was very good to have this close contact to inform each other what's the next step forward, and I think we have reached a lot. If you have looked today, maybe Iran is ready to come to the table back, this is one of the results of our (inaudible).

Q. You both mentioned Iran, though, and today the Iranians announced that they were going to restart refueling the reactor. Is this something that—

Secretary Clinton. But that—let's not confuse—Iran is entitled to the peaceful use of civilian nuclear power. They are not entitled to a nuclear weapons program. What they are doing is starting a reactor that is, based on everything we know about it and everything that the Russians have informed us about it since they have worked with the Iranians over many years to build this reactor, strictly for peaceful purposes. Our problem is not with their reactor at Bushehr. Our problem is with their facilities at places like Natanz and their secret facility at Qom and other places where we believe they are conducting their weapons program.

So I know—I heard some of the news coverage that oh my goodness, the Iranians are starting the reactor. That is not the issue. They are entitled to peaceful civilian nuclear power. They are not entitled to nuclear weapons. There's two different processes. And so I'm glad you asked the question because I think it's important to distinguish that. And as Michael said, we're hoping that the Iranians will come back to the table soon with the—what we call the P-5+1 or the E-3+3, headed by Cathy Ashton, to begin an in-depth negotiation over their nuclear arms program.

President Barack Obama and President Dmitry Medvedev delivered these remarks in Yokohama, Japan

President Obama. Let me just say it is wonderful once again to meet with my friend, Dmitri. I think we've built up an excellent relationship over the past two years, working on a whole range of issues. We had a very productive discussion here.

Obviously the focus of APEC and our previous meeting in Seoul at the G20 has been on international economic issues. And we stressed our interest in working with Russia on a range of bilateral and multilateral economic issues. I think that President Medvedev is doing an outstanding job trying to reform and move Russia forward on a whole range of economic issues, and we're working closely with them on Russia's interest in potentially joining the WTO.

In addition, we spoke about a range of security issues. I reiterated my commitment to get the START Treaty done during the lame duck session, and I've communicated to Congress that it is a top priority. We also discussed the fact that President Medvedev is personally going to be attending the NATO summit in Lisbon, and it allows us to restart the NATO-Russia Council and a host of consultations so that we can reduce tensions and increase cooperation on various security matters in the European theater.

I want to again thank President Medvedev on his cooperation with respect to Afghanistan. There has been excellent transit cooperation in recent months and we think we can build on that in our discussions next week. And on a range of international issues and hotspots from Sudan to the Middle East, we think that Russia has been a excellent partner.

So we appreciate all the good work that President Medvedev and his team are doing, and I look forward to seeing him next week. Both he and I are racking up a lot of miles on our airplanes these days. But there's a lot of work to do. And I'm glad to have him as an excellent partner on a whole range of these issues.

President Medvedev. I would like also to say that it has been very pleasant for me to have this meeting and to discuss a whole range of bilateral and multilateral issues with my colleague, President of the United States of America Barack Obama.

Indeed, we have built on a very good relationship. We understand each other very well. It's very important to attain agreement on a whole range of issues. Those issues are always quite a few. We started with bilateral relations here. Of late, we have seriously moved forward the question of Russia WTO accession. And I perceive this as a tribute to the team in effect in the U.S. of America, which has fulfilled all the agreements reached during my visit to Washington, D.C. And I hope this process will continue and promptly Russia will join WTO.

Now, as regards other issues at hand, indeed, we certainly discussed regional matters, international issues. One of the important topics for the coming days will be the meeting in Lisbon, which will take place very shortly, and where the Russia-NATO summit will be held. We stated the improvement of relations between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. And this is useful both to our countries and all parties involved.

And now we're discussing a whole range of issues involved, including the so-called European ABM. We have exchanged views as to what could be done here and we have agreed to give instructions to our aides and ministers to pursue this work further. At the summit certainly we'll discuss this matter, too.

Besides, we have been fruitfully cooperating in various regional fora such as G20, which was to address international issues and to attain goals even if the situation in the economy of our countries still remains quite difficult. And I know that my friend Barack Obama has been involved in this 24 hours per day. I would like to wish him success in this area since the status of a U.S. economy greatly affects the general state of the international economy.

And finally, we touched upon various international challenges which remain the same, and we agreed to coordinate our work in this field and we'll work very actively and closely like we did recently.

Thank you.

President Obama. Okay. Thank you, everybody.

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered these remarks with Minister Audronius Azubalis in Washington, DC

Secretary Clinton. Good morning.

Foreign Minister Azubalis. Good morning.

Secretary Clinton. It's wonderful to have my counterpart, the foreign minister of Lithuania, here today. And I am delighted for many reasons, including the fact that Lithuania and the United States are close partners working together on a number of important and mutual interests, ranging from our shared defense to economic growth.

It's hard to believe that has been just 20 years—it seems like just a short period of time that Lithuania has been fully and completely independent. But in that relatively short historic period, the people of Lithuania have made impressive progress. Lithuania has become a real leader in Euro-Atlantic institutions, has developed a vibrant democracy with open markets, free press, and the other attributes of a true democracy, and in the last two years has made difficult but important decisions necessary to put its economy back on track. And through it all, Lithuania has pursued an active presence on the world stage through vigorous diplomacy, international development, and relief efforts.

So today, the Foreign Minister and I had a very productive discussion covering many areas of engagement. As allies in NATO, we are committed to the principle of collective security. That is absolute and unwavering. Lithuanian and American troops serve side by side in Afghanistan every day, supporting the ISAF mission to help Afghans secure their own country's future. In fact, Lithuania is leading one of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams, and it recently sent its first team of trainers to help prepare the Afghan National Police to provide security at home.

The foreign minister and I discussed the upcoming NATO summit in Lisbon at the end of this week, and we will continue to look for ways to further strengthen our critical alliance.

We also discussed our mutual commitment to pursuing energy security, which is imperative for continued growth and for the development of the larger Baltic-Euro region. The United States supports Lithuania's new Energy Independence Strategy as a balanced, systemic approach. Our Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy, Ambassador Richard Morningstar, was recently in Lithuania to learn more about the plans that Lithuania has to pursue energy independence, increase investment in the energy sector, promote competition, and introduce a more sustainable mix of energy resources, including renewables. So we look forward to continuing our work together on this issue, both bilaterally, multilaterally, and through organizations like the EU and OSCE.

And I also want to commend Lithuania for the fine job it has done as Chair of the Community of Democracies. It has helped establish and co-chair an important new working group on Gender Equality and Women's Rights, and worked to emphasize the connection between alleviating poverty, and promoting a culture of democracy and sustainable development. Lithuania has also helped focus the Community of Democracy's efforts on supporting transitional democracies and civil society groups. And we look forward to Lithuania bringing this same leadership to the meeting that will be held this summer, as it continues the work of the Community of Democracies in Lithuania and as Lithuania assumes the Chair of the OSCE for 2011.

Now, there's much to do, and it's not only government to government, but people to people that we are focused on. So we're excited about a new set of opportunities that has just begun.

Our Embassy in Vilnius is sponsoring a high school exchange program for Lithuanian students to come to the United States. We look forward to expanding it to send American students to begin studying and living with Lithuanian families soon. We hope that these connections will not only develop into lifelong friendships for the students involved but deepen and broaden the connections between our two countries.

So again, thank you, Foreign Minister, for joining me today, for the steadfast friendship between our countries, and for the very strong partnership that we have between us and as a part of so many organizations to help chart the future. Thank you, sir.

Foreign Minister Azubalis. Thank you, Madam Secretary. From our side, what I've got here during the meeting with you, the full confirmation of our strategic partnership, full understanding of our needs in energy security, which we very value. And I just want to thank you and your special envoy ambassador and because your attention to this region's security programs, including energy security, helps us a lot and giving some kind, I would say, assurances for those investors who would like to come and build important energy sites in Lithuania. Thank you once again.

Also we've discussed about OSCE priorities, and I am happy that I got full support for our main priorities, among one I would like to mention here, because I'm talking to the press, because it will be the freedom of media and safety of journalists. And as a former journalist, I am happy to promote these very and very important questions during our OSCE chairmanship.

The second thing which also discussed it's about NATO future, and here we also found a common ground. Because we are—Lithuania think that the nuclear presence in Europe is a crucial, and we always agreeing for that and I think that we will find the right balance between the conventional and nuclear arms in Europe.

The second thing I just expressed also to Madam Secretary for our admiration how smoothly went to that time—the new concept, new NATO concept. There are some disagreements, but we see this document as a very balanced, short, but with deep, deep meaning.

That's it what I would like to say. Thank you for your kind attention.

Secretary Clinton. Thank you, sir.

Q. Two quick questions for the Secretary.

Secretary Clinton. Mm-hmm.

Q. Over the weekend, President Karzai called for the U.S. to—quote—reduce military operations, particularly in southern Afghanistan where most of the fighting is happening. The Washington Post reported General Petraeus said these statements undermine the war effort. Is Karzai—President Karzai undermining the war effort or do you see it as him playing more to his base? And could this disrupt efforts in Lisbon to sell the 2014 withdraw strategy?

And on Mideast peace—

Q.—sorry, just one quick one. Is a one-time 90-day moratorium on settlements too narrow a window to achieve success in the peace process? Thank you.

Secretary Clinton. You're welcome. First, on President Karzai's concerns, we share these concerns. We've discussed them on a number of occasions. But we believe that the use of intelligence-driven, precision-targeted operations against high-value insurgents and their networks is a key component of our comprehensive civilian-military operations. And these operations are conducted in full partnership with the Government of Afghanistan. They include Afghan forces on each operation. There is no question that they are having a significant impact on the insurgent leadership and the networks that they operate.

And we remain very sensitive to the concerns, so there have been revisions in the tactical directives that recognize the sensitivity of conducting night operations. But we believe that these operations are in the best interest of the Afghan people, the Afghan Government, and the ISAF troops who are working with their Afghan counterparts to secure the country.

We do not believe that there is any concern or issue that will be disruptive at all at the Lisbon summit. We think that based on conditions on the ground, we support President Karzai's stated goal of transitioning responsibility for all security to an Afghan lead by the end of 2014. The pace of transition of security and responsibility obviously depends on the ability of the Afghan National Security Forces and the Afghan National Police Forces to be able to take charge. That's why it's a conditions-based, gradual transition process, not some one-time event. And we are working closely with our Afghan counterparts and with partners like Lithuania, which not only, as I said, runs a PRT but is helping to train the Afghan police forces.

With respect to the Middle East, this is a very promising development and a serious effort by Prime Minister Netanyahu. I don't want to go into the details today, but I will say that we're in very close touch with both the Israelis and the Palestinians, working intensively to create the conditions for the resumption of negotiations that can lead to a two-state solution and a comprehensive peace in the region. Over the past week, I personally have been involved on a number of tracks. I had a good discussion with Prime Minister Fayyad about building the institutions of a future Palestinian state. The United States supports the efforts of the Palestinian Authority to do so. I met with senior officials from Egypt to discuss our shared commitment to the peace process and how to move forward and Prime Minister Netanyahu and I had a very productive and quite extensive set of discussions on Thursday in New York.

So we're going to keep working every single day to bring about the swift resumption of negotiations on all the final status issues and we believe that it is only through negotiations that the final status issues can be resolved, that the conflict can be ended, that all claims can be addressed and ended, and the status quo is unacceptable. So we're going to continue to do everything we possibly can to get the parties to begin the kind of serious end-game negotiations that are necessary.

Q. Good morning, Secretary. The United States has been trying to reset the relationships with Russia for a while now. Do you think Lithuania should reset them, too? And how might the new NATO's Baltic defense plan affect that.

Secretary Clinton. Well, first we have been working to—quote—reset our relations. We think it is in everyone's interests, including our friends in the Baltics to have a more constructive, cooperative relationship with Russia. And I think we've seen a number of positive steps. The New START Treaty is clearly one such step and we're working very hard to get it ratified by the United States Senate. It sends a strong message not only to Russia, but to countries that live right next to Russia who want to see the continuing reduction of strategic arms. And I'm particularly grateful to the foreign minister and the Government of Lithuania for their strong support of the New START Treaty. We've seen enhanced cooperation with NATO ISAF troops in Afghanistan, including transit and other support for our efforts. We work with Russia and the foreign minister and I discussed this, on counternarcotics and we're increasing what we think of as useful efforts there. We think the resumption of the U.S. or with the NATO-Russia Council that will be meeting in Lisbon is a good sign. So there are a number of other steps that we think are positive.

At the same time, we stick to our principles. We continue to raise concerns about territorial integrity of a country like Georgia. We continue to work toward energy security so that there are more sources of energy and more competition in the energy market and other areas as well. But on balance, we think that the relationship between the U.S., between NATO, and between Europe and Russia today is on a stronger foundation, which we think is in everyone's best interest.

Foreign Minister Azubalis. Just one word more: Of course, we value very much Russia's cooperation in such issues which is a burning issue for the world, like Iran, Afghanistan, but I'm very happy that we agreed with Madam Secretary. That there are certain issues which we couldn't sacrifice for any, any help—this is a democracy, human rights, territorial integrity. I think this is a crucial for any democratic state. And I think that we would have—in the middle of the next summer, we will have Community of Democracies Summit in Vilnius where we will discuss these issues and I'm happy that Madam Secretary accepted the invitation. And we hope to see her in Vilnius.

Secretary Clinton. Thank you. Thank you all very much.

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered these remarks Minister Michael Spindelegger in Washington, DC

Secretary Clinton. I am delighted to welcome my colleague, the foreign minister of Austria, here to the State Department—he just told me—for the first time. And I am especially pleased that we've had this opportunity to reaffirm the bonds of friendship between our two countries, and I've already had an excellent working relationship with him.

U.S.-Austria relations are strong. They're based on mutual interests and shared ideals. Today we discussed numerous areas of cooperation, from nonproliferation and global security, to the mission in Afghanistan, to peacekeeping in the Balkans and the Golan Heights.

I also want to thank the minister for his active participation on behalf of Austria in the United Nations Security Council. He and I have worked closely together on sanctions regarding Iran, and I appreciate his excellent work on that. We've worked together on Resolution 1325's implementation regarding women's participation in peace and security issues, and again today, where the minister spoke out strongly about the need for the parties in Sudan to move forward on implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

I was also pleased to see Austria's cabinet extend the peacekeeping mission in the Balkans and on the Golan Heights. The 1,700 Austrian military police and civilian personnel serving in these missions have a profound global impact. I know that these men and women are far from their families and friends, but their work goes a long way to ensure a better and more stable future in the Western Balkans, in Kosovo, and in the Middle East and the Golan Heights.

I also want to thank Austria for the vital customs and police training to help Afghans assume greater control of their own peace and security efforts. There is so much we have to talk about and work on, and the minister mentioned a number of other issues that Austria is taking the lead on, including an important anticorruption effort, a new commitment to disarmament and nonproliferation, and so much else.

So thank you very much for being here, Michael.

Foreign Minister Spindelegger. Thank you very much, Madam Secretary. It's a great pleasure for me having spent the whole day with you, the morning in New York and the afternoon in Washington.

Of course, this was a wonderful meeting, just having a focus on the cooperation between the United States and Austria. And I think, as you mentioned, there are a lot of different issues where we can also cooperate in the future.

We had the experience for two years in the Security Council dealing with the United Nations and, of course, having a partner in United States of America. And for us, it was a very good experience to be with you in protecting civilians in armed conflicts, in the Resolution 1325 about women, peace, and security, and also in the case of Sudan. Today, we had a meeting in the Security Council where I think the outcome was the right one, just to have a good ground of cooperating between the South and the North.

And of course, we have been talking today about further engagement in the Balkans. I think we, as Austrians, will keep the United States informed about all of the developments in Kosovo, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and all the other issues we have to face. These are challenges where we are much more close to this area, and we would like to keep you informed and to cooperate with you in this field.

And we had a lot of other opportunities and plans we presented today to you, and I think this a very good reason for you to come to Austria and to deepen our relations also in the future. Thank you very much.

Secretary Clinton. Thank you very much, Michael.

Foreign Minister Spindelegger. Great pleasure.

Secretary Clinton. Thank you.

Q. Madam Secretary, in your—during your recent visit to Bosnia, you pretty much criticized Bosnian authorities for not pushing hard enough in their efforts to join the European Union. In your opinion, do you think we need something like a Dayton Treaty number two after 15 years?

And in the same line of questioning, joining the European Union, there is considerable opposition towards Turkey joining the European Union amongst many member states. America is heavily in favor of such a introduction into the European Union. Do you consider changing your stance on this in the light of the European people, many of them not really being in favor for it? Thank you.

Secretary Clinton. Well, first with respect to Bosnia-Herzegovina, I very much appreciate the strong partnership that the United States and the European Union and individual countries such as Austria have with us in continuing our efforts to help bring about changes for the benefit of the people in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

We all believe that there needs to be constitutional reform in order for the government to function more effectively. I made it clear when I was in Sarajevo that we support the continuation of the Office of High Representative until there is such time when we believe that the government is willing to address the issues that are still unresolved amongst the various communities.

But I was delighted when the European Union offered visa liberalization to Bosnia-Herzegovina. I thought that was a very strong vote of confidence in the people and what the people, particularly the young people, need and are able to contribute to Europe. I met with about 400 young people in one of the theaters there, and I was very impressed. Whether they were Bosniac, Serbian, or Croat, they were very committed to a better future. And so we're going to continue to work together. The minister will be co-sponsoring a conference on reconstruction and stabilization in December on the Balkans. So we're going to keep at it because we think it's very important.

With respect to Turkey, the United States, along with many other countries in Europe, support the membership of Turkey inside the EU. I know that it is an issue that divides the European Union. We don't have a vote, but if we were a member, we would be strongly in favor of it.

Do you want to say something about what you're doing on the Balkans?

Foreign Minister Spindelegger. Of course. Maybe I can add something. You have been mentioning that we are organizing a conference in Berlin in the beginning of December, and I think this is the right moment. We have been agreeing to that during our meeting that we should pay more attention to all that what is happening now, especially in Bosnia-Herzegovina. They are forming a new government, and this is the right moment just to give them advice that we are expecting constitutional reforms in Bosnia-Herzegovina. And we agreed about that. There is also the time to give some pressure to them to do so.

Q. Thank you, Madam Secretary. As you mentioned before, you have met the minister quite often in last couple of months. Is there anything special the U.S. is expecting from Austria, let's say concerning letting in Guantanamo detainees or doing more in Afghanistan, let's say with policemen, or is it enough for Vienna to give away a chocolate cake from time to time?

Secretary Clinton. Well, I think that the leadership that Austria is showing on a range of issues is very important and welcome, not only to Europe but to the United States. And the success of the training mission that Austria is running with the customs officials in Afghanistan certainly suggests that it would be most helpful if Austria could extend that, add more civilian trainers, because the faster we can train up the Afghan military, police, and governmental officers, the faster they can take charge of their own security. We also welcome a lot of the leadership initiatives like the one I mentioned on anticorruption, which is important.

We were very gratified that Austria added to its mission in Kosovo because we think that is essential now that we're working hard and, as Michael said, focused on the Balkans together. We want to make progress together, but we have to stay alert and help create the conditions for the mediation that the EU will run between Serbia and Kosovo. So there's an important role that Austria is playing, and it's one that we're very happy to see because we admire the capacity that they bring to these endeavors.

Thank you all.

Secretary Hillary Clinton and Secretary William Hague delivered these remarks in Washington, DC

Secretary Clinton. Well, I'm delighted to welcome Foreign Secretary Hague back for his second visit to the State Department this year. Of course, we've been in close and seemingly constant contact since he became foreign secretary. We were together in New York yesterday for a session of the UN Security Council which William chaired and we'll be together again in Lisbon for the NATO summit at the end of this week.

We have discussed a range of important issues—our shared mission in Afghanistan, the difficult choices that the United Kingdom has made in seeking to rebalance its government expenditures. We are very grateful for the strong commitment that the U.K. has given on so many security issues and particularly for their 10,000 troops, the brave young people serving in Afghanistan. And I appreciate too the trainers that are going to be committed to helping us expedite and improve the training of the Afghan security forces.

We discussed our shared priority of achieving a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. The foreign secretary briefed me on his recent trip to the region, and I briefed him on our intensified efforts along several tracks to encourage the Israelis and Palestinians to resume direct negotiations.

I want to thank the secretary and the United Kingdom for announcing this week an additional 1 million pound contribution to the Independent Special Tribunal for Lebanon in 2011. Both the United States and the United Kingdom strongly support Lebanon's sovereignty and independence, and the work of this tribunal, which is intended to end impunity for political assassinations.

We continue to share a deep concern about Iran's nuclear program. Again, the U.K. has shown great leadership in this area, and the foreign secretary and I are staying in close communication about the way forward. We have said many times we are committed to meeting with Iran to resume P-5+1 discussions. The EU High Representative Catherine Ashton has offered a date for such discussions to the Iranians, and we urge Iran to confirm this meeting so we can move forward.

The foreign secretary and I also discussed at some length the Balkans. We both are committed to helping the countries in the Balkans achieve full integration into the Euro-Atlantic community and we support a direct dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo. And I would like to again thank the U.K. for its leadership and the Security Council and its leadership in NATO and in the EU. There are so many important issues that we are working together on, and I cannot imagine having to face all of these issues without the close collaboration with the foreign secretary and the partnership between our two countries.

Foreign Secretary Hague. Well, thank you very much indeed. It's six months since we last stood here together when I was a new foreign secretary. I'd been the foreign secretary for about 36 hours at that moment, I think. This was the first place that I visited. And six months on, I particularly want to thank Secretary Clinton for the great friendship, for the excellent working relationship, for the constant discussions that we have on all of these issues. And we had an excellent dinner last night talking about so many of these things and have gone over so many more of these issues this morning.

And yesterday, indeed, we were together in New York at the Security Council situation—Security Council session that I chaired on the urgent situation in Sudan, and I want to thank the United States and thank Secretary Clinton for the immense interest shown in that. It is the prime focus of our presidency of the Security Council this month, and we're pleased we can work so closely with the United States in our efforts on Sudan.

This afternoon, I'm going to deliver a speech at Georgetown University and for the first time since I was a student in 1982 (inaudible) particular location on the theme of international security in a networked world and on the unshakable partnership between our two countries. I will say in that speech that there will be no reduction in Britain's global role under this government or in our commitment to working with the United States on the pressing security challenges that we face. As we saw very recently with the al-Qaida cargo plotting its plane flying to the United States, we have a very clear, long-term vision of Britain as an active global power and the closest ally of the United States—as Secretary Clinton herself has put it, the United States partner of choice in mitigating the threats of the 21^st century. And we're determined that our cooperation in diplomacy, defense, counterterrorism, and intelligence continue to be without parallel in the world.

We have indeed talked about the Middle East and the pressing need for Palestinians and Israelis to come back to direct talks to find a just and sustainable two-state solution. And I commend strongly the American Government's tireless efforts in that area, to which we will continue to give full and active support.

We will be at the NATO summit in Lisbon addressing the latest developments and the plans for the future of Afghanistan, of course, adopting a new strategic concept there.

And on Iran, just a word. Our intense concerns about Tehran's nuclear program remain. We worked together to put in place strong sanctions that have put real pressure on the government in Iran. We want to negotiate a peaceful resolution of these issues, but Iran's leaders should know that our resolve is real and that our determination will not slacken on this issue.

It's been very useful to discuss the Western Balkans, in particular the situation in Bosnia. Our progress remains elusive, and real international focus is needed.

So I repeat my thanks again to Secretary Clinton and this Administration and this Secretary of State. I've really seen in the last six months that Britain has a great friend, and it's a huge pleasure to work together. Thank you.

President Barack Obama and President Aníbal Cavaco Silva delivered these remarks in Lisbon, Portugal

President Silva. Good afternoon. I would like to start by thanking President Barack Obama for having accepted my invitation for a working meeting during his first visit to Portugal.

Portugal is honored to welcome President Obama. The meeting we just had and the working lunch which followed enabled a fruitful exchange of viewpoints, thus highlighting the excellent political relationship between Portugal and the U.S.A.—a solid relationship grounded on a strong identity of viewpoints and sharing of values and principles.

The proximity of our relationship is also due to the role of the Portuguese and Luso descendant community in the U.S.—a community which holds on to its roots while, at the same time, is closely linked to its host country; a community which has produced an increasingly number of leading political personalities at the federal and state levels.

Our cooperation with the U.S.A. is growing stronger and more diversified. However, there is still margin to do more, and that is why the common interest in strengthening dialogue and cooperation have been highlighted, of course, based on the defense and cooperation agreement signed in 1995 and which represents the institutional framework of our relationship.

In the economic sector, there has been an increase in our recent commercial trade, as well as an increase in the Portuguese investment in the United States. However, our exports to the U.S. are still far from what they could be, considering the quality and diversification of our products and the U.S. market I mentioned.

Also, the volume of U.S. investments in Portugal is far from what one would expect.

I also had the opportunity to discuss with President Obama the current economic and financial situation in both our countries and at the global level. And I was happy to hear the U.S. authorities reiterate their trust on the Portuguese capability to overcome the challenges it is faced with.

Our meeting also enabled a reflection on NATO Summit's agenda. Portugal, a founding member of the alliance and an Atlantic nation, has always defended transatlantic ties.

Portugal and the United States want a reinvigorated alliance, which will be capable of responding in an efficient manner to the challenges and threats transatlantic security may be faced with. This is the object of the major reform that will be discussed, and I hope approved in the Lisbon summit.

Furthermore, considering the recent election of Portugal to the security sector—to the Security Council, we agreed on the need to strengthen the political dialogue on the United Nations agenda.

I would like to once again thank President Obama for his visit to Portugal.

President Obama. Thank you for your warm welcome. Thank you to the people of Lisbon and Portugal for welcoming us to this beautiful, ancient city.

It is very fitting that we are gathering here in Lisbon. It was from here that the great explorers set out to discover new worlds. It was here, a gateway of Europe, through which generations of immigrants and travelers have passed and bound our countries together. It was here that Europeans came together to sign the landmark treaty that strengthened their union.

Now we've come to Lisbon again to revitalize the NATO alliance for the 21st century and to strengthen the partnership between the United States and the European Union.

Mr. President, I thank you and all the people of Portugal for everything you've done to make these summits a success.

Our meeting was also an opportunity to reaffirm the strong partnership between the United States and Portugal. President Cavaco Silva is commander of Portugal's armed forces, and will be representing Portugal at the NATO Summit.

We pledged to continue the excellent cooperation between our militaries, especially Lajes Field in the Azores, which provides critical support to American and NATO forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I expressed my gratitude to the Portuguese armed forces who are serving alongside us in Afghanistan. And here in Lisbon, I look forward to working with our NATO and our ISAF partners as we move towards a new phase, a transition to Afghan responsibility that begins in 2011, with Afghan forces taking the lead for security across Afghanistan by 2014.

So this summit is an important opportunity for us to align an approach to transition in Afghanistan.

Finally, we discussed ways to expand our bilateral cooperation. On the economic front, we're looking to deepen our partnership in trade and investment, in science and technology. I am very impressed with the outstanding work that Portugal has done in areas like clean energy, and we think that we can collaborate more.

On the security front, Portugal's upcoming seat at the U.N. Security Council will be an opportunity to advance peace and security that both our nations seek around the world.

So, Mr. President, I want to thank you and the Portuguese people for your hospitality. I'm confident that we're going to have two successful summits and that we will continue to deepen an extraordinarily strong partnership between the United States and Portugal—one that's based not just on relations between heads of state, not just on the basis of treaties, but based on an enormous warmth between our two peoples; one that in part is forged by the wonderful contributions that are made by Portuguese Americans each and every day.

So thank you so much, Mr. President.

Europe and America, Aligned for the Future

With this week's NATO and United States-European Union summit meetings in Lisbon, I am proud to have visited Europe a half-dozen times as president. This reflects an enduring truth of American foreign policy—our relationship with our European allies and partners is the cornerstone of our engagement with the world, and a catalyst for global cooperation.

With no other region does the United States have such a close alignment of values, interests, capabilities and goals. With the largest economic relationship in the world, trans-Atlantic trade supports millions of jobs in the United States and Europe and forms a foundation of our efforts to sustain the global economic recovery.

As an alliance of democratic nations, NATO ensures our collective defense and helps strengthen young democracies. Europe and the United States are working together to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote peace in the Middle East and confront climate change. And as we have seen in the recent security alert in Europe and the thwarted plot to detonate explosives on trans-Atlantic cargo flights, we cooperate closely every day to prevent terrorist attacks and keep our citizens safe.

Put simply, we are each other's closest partners. Neither Europe nor the United States can confront the challenges of our time without the other. These summits are thus an opportunity to deepen our cooperation even further and to ensure that NATO—the most successful alliance in human history—remains as relevant in this century as it was in the last. That is why we have a comprehensive agenda at Lisbon.

First, on Afghanistan, we can align our efforts to transition to an Afghan lead, even as we sustain an enduring commitment to the Afghan people.

Our NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan is comprised of 48 nations—including contributions from all 28 NATO allies and 40,000 troops from allied and partner countries, whose service and sacrifice we honor. Our shared effort is essential to denying terrorists a safe haven, just as it is necessary to improve the lives of the Afghan people. With the arrival of additional coalition forces over the last two years, we finally have the strategy and resources to break the Taliban's momentum, deprive insurgents of their strongholds, train more Afghan security forces, and assist the Afghan people.

In Lisbon, we will align our approach so that we can begin a transition to Afghan responsibility early next year, and adopt President Hamid Karzai's goal of Afghan forces taking the lead for security across Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

And even as America's transition and troop reductions will begin this July, NATO—like the United States—can forge a lasting partnership with Afghanistan to make it clear that as Afghans stand up and take the lead, they will not stand alone.

As we move forward in Afghanistan, NATO will also transform itself in Lisbon with a new Strategic Concept that recognizes the capabilities and partners we need to meet the new threats of the 21st century. This must begin by reaffirming the lifeblood of this alliance—our Article 5 commitment that an attack on one is an attack on all.

To ensure that this commitment has meaning, we must strengthen the full range of capabilities that are needed to protect our people today and prepare for the missions of tomorrow. Even as we modernize our conventional forces, we need to reform alliance command structures to make them more effective and efficient, invest in the technologies that allow allied forces to deploy and operate together effectively, and develop new defenses against threats such as cyber attacks.

Another necessary alliance capability is missile defense of NATO territory, which is needed to address the real and growing threat from ballistic missiles. The Phased Adaptive Approach to European missile defense that I announced last year will provide a strong and effective defense of the territory and people of Europe and our deployed American forces. Moreover, it forms the foundation of greater collaboration—with a role for all allies, protection for all allies, and an opportunity for cooperation with Russia, which is also threatened by ballistic missiles.

In addition, we can work to create the conditions for reductions in nuclear arsenals and move toward the vision I outlined in Prague last year—a world without nuclear weapons. Yet so long as these weapons exist, NATO should remain a nuclear alliance, and I've made it clear that the United States will maintain a safe, secure and effective nuclear arsenal to deter any adversary and guarantee the defense of our allies.

Finally, at Lisbon we can continue to forge the partnerships beyond NATO that help make our alliance a pillar of global security. We must keep the door open to European democracies that meet the standards of NATO membership. We must deepen cooperation with organizations that complement NATO strengths, such as the European Union, the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. And with the attendance of President Dmitri Medvedev at the NATO-Russia Council summit, we can resume practical cooperation between NATO and Russia that benefits both.

For just as the United States and Russia have reset our relationship, so too can NATO and Russia. In Lisbon we can make it clear that NATO sees Russia as a partner, not an adversary. We can deepen our cooperation on Afghanistan, counternarcotics and 21st century security challenges—from the spread of nuclear weapons to the spread of violent extremism. And by moving ahead with cooperation on missile defense, we can turn a source of past tension into a source of cooperation against a shared threat.

For more than six decades, Europeans and Americans have stood shoulder to shoulder because our work together advances our interests and protects the freedoms we cherish as democratic societies. As the world has changed, so too has our alliance, and we are stronger, safer and more prosperous as a result. That is our task in Lisbon—to revitalize our alliance once more and ensure our security and prosperity for decades to come.

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered these remarks at the U.S.-EU Energy Council in Lisbon, Portugal

Secretary Hillary Clinton and Minister Luís Amado delivered these remarks in Washington, DC

Foreign Minister Amado. Members of the press, good morning. This is (inaudible) members of the press. Good morning. Just a few words (inaudible) is taking her delegation and her visit with (inaudible). (Inaudible) the U.S. have—the Portugal and the U.S. have very deep bilateral relations. The United States is a strategic partner of Portugal. There are a number of Portuguese citizens who live and work in the United States and that is for many years now. There is, in Portugal, a great liking of the United States. There is admiration for this great nation that is the United States. And that's why, for us, it's always a great pleasure to greet a representative of the country like Secretary Clinton.

That's why I'm pleased to announce here on a joint declaration that the Secretary and myself have just signed. This will improve even more relations between our two countries within the context of the agreement on cooperation in defense plus the bilateral joint commission works. This will give a new momentum to our bilateral relations, and more things can be accomplished thanks to the work of the joint commission. Today and tomorrow we'll have a chance to work together jointly and closely.

There's an international—there are several international events with orderly impact today happening in Lisbon such as the NATO Summit meeting with the forces who are working together in Afghanistan. There are meetings with Russia. There is the U.S.-European Union Summit. So therefore, these are all events that make Lisbon today the political capital of—the capital of political life at an international level. We will have an opportunity to continue our conversations today and tomorrow and to deepen and increase our cooperation together.

In conclusion, I would like to say to Secretary Clinton that the Portuguese Government is willing and available to work even closely with the U.S. Government, among other things, issues pertaining to the Security Council, for instance, because Portugal for the next two years, 2011-2012, will be a nonpermanent member of the Security Council. Therefore, it's important that we be able to coordinate with our allies about all these international questions that will be raised and discussed by the Council. Our dialogue and our political cooperation, political dialogue, must be a constant between the two countries, and that's why I would like to thank Secretary Clinton once more and her delegation for coming to this meeting.

Secretary Clinton. Thank you very much, Minister. And as always, it's a pleasure to see you and to work with you here in the political capital of the world. As you rightly said, we have counted up that there will be five major summits in the space of two days here in Lisbon.

I am particularly pleased that Portugal and the United States have such a long and productive relationship. We cooperate in many areas. The United States is grateful for the 65th Air Force Wing, which has had a presence in the Azores for 60 years. And we are committed to deepening and broadening our partnership through the bilateral commission, which the minister and I have agreed will be reinvigorated, as well as on a range of issues that concern us both.

But we also cooperate with Portugal in multilateral venues as well—certainly in NATO, in ISAF, in the EU-U.S. partnership which will be exemplified by the summit here tomorrow—on a range of regional and global issues that affect us both. And I'm particularly looking forward to Portugal joining once again the United Nations Security Council starting next year, where the agenda is intense and wide-ranging, from Sudan to Iran and so many more critical matters that affect the people of both of our countries.

I am also very pleased to have this chance to express our gratitude for the service and sacrifice of the Portuguese serving in Afghanistan. That is an extraordinary commitment and we are grateful to the people and Government of Portugal.

We are committed to ongoing consultation and cooperation, and we appreciate greatly Portugal hosting the very important meetings. President Obama is looking forward to joining us in just a few hours and to the meetings we will be having with the president and prime minister.

So again, let me express my appreciation and my commitment to continuing to work with you on all of the important matters that we have already been engaged in and that we discussed today.

Thank you.

Secretary Clinton. Well, first let me express again the appreciation for the Portuguese commitment to Afghanistan. It is vital, and the work of training the Afghan national security forces that you have been doing, along with other logistical and operational support, is deeply appreciated.

At the same time, the United States is well aware of the economic challenges facing Portugal. And we are certainly sensitive to the difficult choices that the government and people of Portugal are making.

We believe as NATO allies the mission in Afghanistan is in the vital security interest of both of our people. The challenge posed by radical extremists who utilize terror to promote their agenda is one that threatens the people of Portugal, the people of Europe, the people of the United States, and, indeed, nations around the world.

So although we are very supportive of the difficult decisions that will have to be made concerning the economy (inaudible) back home President Obama is making difficult decisions concerning our own economy. We believe that the mission we are pursuing in Afghanistan must continue.

Q. Hello. Good morning. I'm with the (inaudible). My name is (inaudible). I was wondering if you could give us an idea of what you want to say to President Karzai this weekend, sort of the points you'll be looking to drive home.

Secretary Clinton. Well, I will be meeting with President Karzai in a few hours. I stay in regular communication with him, and he will be addressing not only the NATO ISAF member nations that are assembling here in Lisbon tomorrow, but through that address the entire the world. President Obama will be seeing him as well tomorrow.

Our message remains very consistent, that we recognize and respect the sovereignty of the Afghan people and government, and we are working closely together, both on the military and civilian aspects of the NATO ISAF mission in Afghanistan. We believe that it's important for us to listen closely to the government and people of Afghanistan about their concerns and to try to address them.

And we also believe that our mission in Afghanistan is making progress, which President Karzai has publicly acknowledged, and that we will agree tomorrow on the beginning of a transition to Afghan security starting next year, with the intention and goal of turning over Afghan security to the government and people of Afghanistan in 2014.

At the same time, there will be a continuing commitment of civilian support, of training and other ancillary activities that will enable the security situation in Afghanistan to be sustainable. So I think that our message has been and will remain consistent, and I look forward to seeing him.

President Barack Obama delivered this statement in Lisbon, Portugal

President Barack Obama and President Bronislaw Komorowski delivered these remarks in Washington, DC

President Obama. Good morning, everybody. I want to extend the warmest possible greetings to President Komorowski and his delegation. Poland is one of our strongest and closest allies in the world and is a leader in Europe. And so it is fitting that my first visitor from Central and Eastern Europe is, in fact, the Polish President.

Now, having said that, I just want to say that I first spoke to President Komorowski in the wake of a tragedy that broke the hearts not only of the Polish people but caused the entire world to grieve. The loss of President Kaczynski, the First Lady, the entire planeload full of extraordinary Polish leaders caused extraordinary shock. But I have been so impressed with the steady hand and the leadership that President Komorowski has shown as he stepped in to guide the Polish people forward.

Something that the Polish people and the American people have long shared is not only a love of freedom but also a deep faith and resilience in the face of hardship. And President Komorowski exhibited all those traits as the leader of Poland during this difficult period.

So, given these strong bonds between our two peoples—bonds that I feel very personally given that I'm from Chicago, which has the largest Polish population outside of Poland—this has been a very productive meeting and we discussed a wide range of issues.

We started with the issue that is at the heart of our relationship, and that is our status as allies in NATO. And coming out of the Lisbon summit, we once again reaffirmed the centrality of Article 5 as the central tenet of the NATO Alliance. And I reiterated my determination and the American people's determination to always stand by Poland in its defense and its security needs.

And that commitment is exemplified by the joint adoption at Lisbon by NATO of a NATO-wide missile defense capacity. It's exemplified by the air force detachment that will be placed in Poland as part of our ongoing relationship in the training process. It is indicated by the SM-3s and the interceptors that are going to be located in Poland as part of our phased adoptive approach to missile defense. And most importantly, it's affirmed by the fact that not only are we NATO allies but strong bilateral allies and that bond between our two countries is unbreakable.

I know that was a mouthful, I'm sorry.

We also discussed the tremendous sacrifices that the Polish military are making as part of the ISAF alliance in Afghanistan, and reaffirmed what all of us agreed to in Lisbon, that next year will be a year in which transition begins so that we can start giving Afghans more responsibility for their security and, over time, make sure that our emphasis is more on training rather than direct combat in that nation.

I also thanked the President for the very strong support that the Polish government, as well as the governments throughout Eastern Europe and Central Europe have shown towards the New START treaty. As we embark on a debate of that treaty in the United States Senate, I indicated to him how important it was for U.S. senators to hear from those who are Russia's neighbors that they feel it is very important to make sure that the New START treaty is ratified so that we can continue the verification process that is so important in reducing risks throughout that region.

And finally, because our relationship is not restricted to security, we discussed a range of economic issues, as well, including Polish leadership on energy independence issues in Central and Eastern Europe. And we also discussed Poland's leadership as a key democracy and how it can help its neighbors to continue down a path of greater freedom and greater openness and transparency.

This year we mark the 30th anniversary of Solidarity. And all those around the world remember how inspired we were by the brave Poles who sought their freedom, including a young—or younger—President Komorowski, who, himself, was imprisoned. And we continue to draw inspiration from the tremendous strides that Poland has made. We continue to deeply appreciate the strong friendship between our two countries.

And I'm so grateful to President Komorowski for having come here today because it is one more reaffirmation that our alliance is strong and will continue to be strong for decades to come.

President Komorowski. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to express the absolute same perspective on what happened in Lisbon. This goes both for the full acceptance of the arrangements by NATO as to the future of Afghan operation. And first and above all, this is about the reaffirmation of the significance of Article 5 Washington treaty. And we agreed that what happened in Lisbon was the renewal and the reaffirmation of the internal cohesion of the Alliance and also the sense of the existence of NATO as the Alliance as going to defend the territorial integrity of its member states.

And this is also connected with the reaffirmation of the necessity to implement the language from the contingency plans in the forms of exercises, also NATO infrastructure in the territory of the member states. And an element of this is also the American activity and presence in the form of the military participation both in Europe and in Poland.

NATO now plays new roles, but it does not reject its old role, which continues as fundamental for its future. I allowed myself to illustrate this to President Obama in a very illustrative way, a very picturesque way. I simply said that if we are to go hunting very far away from our house, we have to be absolutely sure that our house, our women and our children are well guarded. And then you hunt better.

And I also wanted to say that this is needed to renew and reaffirm good Polish-American relations. And the fundament of these relations is both American and Polish love for freedom. And we want also to make sure that this reaffirmation is a visible sign that these relations, instead of some difficulties underway, are getting stronger and not weaker.

And thirdly, I wanted to say also that we talked about something that is very important for creating very good texture for the cooperation between the United States and Poland. Poland is economically successful. We are the only country that has kept positive GDP growth in Europe. We want to see the greatest interest and the activity of the American capital in Poland.

However, on the principles of healthy competition, because I am absolutely convinced that as in other areas of our life, in economy, it also stands true good competition is always good.

And the last thing but is also very important is the Polish attitude to the current issues, which are very important from the perspective of the security of our world. Poland supports and fully accepts the aspiration for the ratification of the New START because we believe that this is the investment in a better and safer future. And this is also the investment in the real control over the current situation.

If you live just next door with somebody for 1,000 years, it is not possible to reset all the past relations using just one push of the reset button. We are not able to fully reset and delete 1,000 years of uneasy history with Russians. But we do not want to be an obstacle; we want to be a help in the process of resetting the relations between the Western world with Russia. We want to invest in relations with Russia.

Two days ago in Poland we had a visit of President of the Russian Federation Medvedev. And it is our very open will, our greatest conviction and open heart with which we want to invest in better relations with Russia.

But we also are absolutely sure of this old Russian proverb, “You have to have the confidence but you also have to verify,” because then, perhaps at the end of the process we will also push the reset button after 1,000 years of our history. And this is what we would like to have very much.

Q. This is a question for both Presidents. Have you at all discussed the inclusion of Poland into the visa waiver program? And if so, Mr. President, what has your administration done in order to include Poland into this program?

President Obama. I will—why don't I answer that just very quickly. First of all, I want all Poles and Polish Americans to know that President Komorowski raised this issue very robustly with me. I am well aware that this is a source of irritation between two great friends and allies, and we should resolve it.

The challenge I have right now is, is that there is a congressional law that prevents my administration from taking unilateral executive action. So we're going to have to work with Congress to make some modifications potentially on the law.

In the meantime, what I indicated to President Komorowski is that I am going to make this a priority. And I want to solve this issue before very long. My expectation is, is that this problem will be solved during my presidency.

Q. So it has not been your priority in the past two years?

President Obama. I'm sorry, what I said was that it has been a priority and we've been continuing to work on it, but it hasn't gotten solved yet.

President Komorowski. It's nice for me to hear President Obama reaffirm that we have talked about it. I take these declarations with good faith. I feel simply committed to say that Polish public opinion completely does not understand why all the neighbors of Poland, the neighborhood of Poland, can use that visa waiver program and we can't.

So Poles somehow cope, because we are a member of the European Union and we can travel and we can work in all the member states of the European Union. So I just want to say that I know that it would be quite logical for us to be able also to travel without visas to the United States. But from the perspective of Poland, we have said everything about it. And we also—I'm completely sure that this issue will be reconsidered and revisited by the American party, also from the perspective of the relations between the citizens of Poland and the United States.

Secretary Clinton delivered these remarks in Washington, DC

Secretary Clinton. Today's conviction in the second trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev on charges of embezzlement and money laundering raises serious questions about selective prosecution—and about the rule of law being overshadowed by political considerations. This and similar cases have a negative impact on Russia's reputation for fulfilling its international human rights obligations and improving its investment climate. We welcome President Medvedev's modernization plans, but their fulfillment requires the development of a climate where due process and judicial independence are respected. We will monitor the appeals process.