CIAO DATE: 05/2009
Spring 2009
Mexico and the United States: Sharing a Border and a Common Purpose (PDF)
Hillary Rodham Clinton
At the invitation of Mexican Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled to Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico from March 25-26, 2009. While in Mexico, Secretary Clinton discussed a broad range of bilateral and international issues of mutual interest. The following is a transcript of Secretary Clinton’s remarks, reprinted by permission of the Department of State, delivered at TecMilenio University on March 26, 2009.
Positioning the State Department to Achieve the Obama Administration's Foreign Policy Goals (PDF)
Jacob J. Lew
In the face of daunting domestic needs, the Obama Administration has launched an ambitious foreign policy agenda, recognizing, as the President has said, that the challenges of our time will not wait for sequencing. His agenda is supported by a robust request for international affairs resources, reflecting the Administration’s commitment to strengthen diplomatic and assistance tools to address challenges that impact the security of the United States. The request lays the foundation for a tenet of this Administration’s foreign policy—that diplomacy and development return to the fore.
Mexico and the United States: Fighting a Common Enemy (PDF)
Arturo Sarukhán
No two countries are as important to each other’s well-being and security as Mexico and the United States. The passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994 marked the beginning of a strategic partnership between our two nations, and over the past 15 years the relationship has become deeper and wider. However, the atmosphere today is anything but festive, as Mexico is being portrayed by a small but vocal group as a threat to the security of the United States.
Canada-United States: A Strong Partnership President Obama Visits Canada (PDF)
Michael Wilson
President Obama made his first foreign trip to Canada on February 19, 2009. This should not have been that big a surprise. Tradition maybe, as many have talked about the “traditional” first visit of a US President always being to Canada. But more important than that, the visit underscored the extraordinarily deep, close and unparalleled relationship that Canada and the United States share. We are each other’s neighbors, have the world’s largest trading relationship, and we are friends and allies sharing the world’s largest secure border that stretches across our continent.
Zimbabwe: Benchmarks to Recovery (PDF)
James D. McGee
For years analysts have been predicting that Zimbabwe had reached rock bottom and that a turn-around was imminent. For years they have been wrong, and Robert Mugabe and his Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party have maintained political control while simultaneously destroying Zimbabwe’s once thriving economy. The question now is whether the postelection violence and hyper-inflation of 2008 finally marked the turning point for Zimbabwe, and if the new unity government can begin to bring Zimbabwe out of its decade-long collapse.
A Smart-Power Partnership with Indonesia (PDF)
Cameron R. Hume
Indonesia has reached a critical point in its history. Ten years after becoming a democracy it has turned back threats of terrorism and separatism, decentralized power, and achieved economic stability and growth. Now its leaders look to the future, shifting resources toward education and asserting democracy as part of foreign policy. Just before the G-20 meetings in Washington last November, President Yudhoyono called for closer US-Indonesian relations “based on partnership and common interests.”
Setting the Stage for the Next 175 Years: United States and Thai Relations Renewed (PDF)
Eric G. John
While everyone in the world now knows the name Obama, perhaps only about 65 million people are familiar with “Obamark.” Like many Thais, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has a nickname, Mark, given to him by his parents. After Barack Obama won the democratic nomination, Abhisit’s supporters in Thailand began calling their man Obamark to draw attention to the perceived similarities between the two men: both are young, highly educated, well-spoken politicians who each promised their countries change. And as fate would have it, both men have assumed the mantle of leadership at the same time: Abhisit was endorsed by the King of Thailand and became Prime Minister on December 17, 2008, only a few weeks after Barack Obama won the election to become President of the United States.
Between Friends: Weathering the Economic Crisis (PDF)
Donald Tong
More than 2,000 years ago, the Roman politician, statesman and writer Cicero made an astute observation about friendship, profound in its simplicity and universal in its application to relations between governments as well as individuals. “Friendship makes prosperity more brilliant, and lightens adversity by dividing and sharing it,” Cicero said. It may be something of a cold comfort to my American friends reeling from this grinding recession, but the people of Hong Kong, very
Closing Doors, Opening Doors: Fifty Years After the School-Closing in Prince Edward County, Virginia (PDF)
William J. vanden Heuvel
The bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln has given our country an opportunity to remember the brutal conflict that almost destroyed the Republic. In its own way, the event we recall today—the closing of the public schools of Prince Edward County in 1959—was a last battle of the Civil War. History marked this County. On April 7, 1865, Robert E. Lee, knowing that defeat was imminent, rested here briefly before his final retreat. On April 8, the next day, Ulysses Grant, in pursuit, was in Prince Edward County.
Bahrain's Economic Triad: Liberalization, Growth and Stability (PDF)
J. Adam Ereli
The Kingdom of Bahrain is unique. A tiny archipelago only 250 square miles in area, Bahrain has slightly over one million residents, almost half of whom are foreigners. Located along historical trade routes moving goods from east to west, Bahrain has been inhabited by traders for thousands of years. This has resulted in one of the most open societies in the region—both culturally and economically. Openness is not only a hallmark of Bahrain’s past, but is the key to the country’s strategic plans for the future as well.
Jordan and the United States: Building a Lasting Partnership (PDF)
Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the United States. The relationship between the two countries is both strategic and warm, and it has come a long way since the early 1950s.
US-Vatican Relations: 25th Anniversary and a New President (PDF)
Thomas P. Melady
United States-Vatican diplomatic relations have matured to a high point of cordiality since inaugurated 25 years ago. The visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United States in April 2008 was in many ways a stunning success. President Bush made an unprecedented trip to the airport to welcome him upon arrival. The following day over 10,000 Americans crowded the White House grounds and greeted the Pope enthusiastically.
The Young Generation Prepares to Support the United Nations (PDF)
Hans Blix
Today, people throughout the world are experiencing the most severe set of global crises since the United Nations was formed over 60 years ago. They include financial, economic and environmental crises as well as crises of scarcity—of food, fuel and water.