Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Hillary Clinton's day of bilaterals

After a breakfast with Joe Biden at 7:45 this morning, Hillary got to work at the State Department.

She met with Libyan National Security Adviser Dr. Mutassim Qadhafi. Watch their brief remarks to the press below:

She then hosted a working lunch for His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan at the State Department.

She said that he "is no stranger either to the State Department or to Washington. He has been a partner, an ally and a friend of the United States on behalf of his country and on behalf of the search for peace that would result from a two-state solution in the Middle East. And I am deeply honored and greatly delighted to welcome His Majesty back to the State Department for the series of important meetings."

A question was thrown out by a member of the press asking if human rights were raised with the Libyan national security advisor.

Hillary replied that she would address that question after her later meeting in the afternoon with President Sirleaf.

Watch the brief remarks with the press below:

Secretary Clinton met with Mutassim Gadhafi, son of and national security adviser to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, and said she asked him about a long-held, gravely ill Libyan dissident.

Officially, State Department spokesman Robert Wood said the meeting focused on security cooperation between the United States and the North African country that has been on speaking terms with the United States only recently after four decades as a bitter antagonist.

Hours later, after Clinton emerged from a bilateral meeting with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf she addressed the matter. Specifically, whether she inquired about the status of Fathi el-Jahmi, a provincial official who has spent most of the past seven years in prison because he has pressed for democracy.

Hillary responded,"We did raise human rights issues and specifically the case you referenced, with the security adviser today."

The United States has appealed repeatedly for his release since his first arrest in 2002.

The press also asked another question on her position in favoring a timeline for the Middle East peace process that reportedly has been suggested by King Abdullah?

Her response:

"Well, we had very productive discussions with King Abdullah, both in the Oval Office and then over lunch here at the State Department. And let me say three things.

We are in total agreement that we support a two-state solution; that we have to do more to bring the Israelis and the Palestinians together in a negotiation that will benefit both the Palestinian and the Israeli people; and that we have to enlist the neighbors in the region in support of those efforts. And we are fortunate to have a leader like King Abdullah, who is willing to speak out so forcefully on behalf of the two-state solution and will do what he can to bring the parties together."

Watch their remarks to the press below:

Then she and and Omani Foreign Minister Yusef bin Alawi bin Abdullah deliver remarks after their meeting in the Treaty Room.

"It is a treat for me to see the minister again. We met in Sharm el-Sheikh during the donors’ conference on Gaza. And I’m very pleased that he could be here for a bilateral visit."

Watch their brief remarks to the press below:

1 comment:

Jackie said...

The warmth between these two women, is something you can see obviously,but you can feel it. Hillary is an amazing woman, and so is Pre. Sirleaf.

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