What Is Hillary Doing Her First Month in Office?
Secretary of State Aggressively Pursues Obama Policy Issues
Feb 8, 2009
The new Secretary of State’s agenda includes implementation of new policies on global warming, handling threats posed by nuclear weapons, engaging in dialogue with Asian nations and resurrecting Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.
Clinton Warns Iran
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is urging Iran to cooperate with United Nations nuclear inspectors or else face “consequences”.
“If Tehran does not comply with United Nations Security Council and IAEA mandates, there must be consequences,” she said after meeting with her German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. She also discussed Iran’s nuclear agenda with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
As U. N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency has claimed Iran is not cooperating with its inspections. Iran’s launch of a satellite has heightened concern about its
suspected nuclear weapons program.
Trip to Asia
As top U. S. Diplomat, Hillary Clinton will embark Feb. 15 on a seven-day Asian trip for talks with Japan, South Korea, China and Indonesia on bilateral relations, regional issues and nuclear disarmament negotiations with North Korea. The agenda also includes two top Obama priorities: global financial crisis and climate change.
She will bring renewed focus to the region which has both half the world’s population and gross domestic product. Japan has the world’s second largest economy and China has one of the world’s fastest growing economies.
The Obama administration has already put together a “road map” for U. S.-China cooperation on climate change issues.
Indonesia Seeks Strengthened Ties
Indonesia, thought to be the world’s most populous Muslim country, is seeking a “comprehensive partnership” with the United States in response to Obama’s desire to build better relations with Muslim nations. Obama spent four years in Indonesia after his mother married an Indonesian Muslim as her second husband.
Clinton and Indonesia’s foreign minister are planning an agenda for meeting when she is in Indonesia Feb. 18-19.
Other Clinton Agenda Items
- Among Clinton’s first tasks were the naming of special envoys for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and preparing for an April NATO summit meeting. She also met with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair for talks on reviving the Mideast peace process.
- Clinton and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner have met to push for opening of Gaza crossings so humanitarian aid can flow to needy Palestinians. They also discussed broader issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, violence in Darfur and the Guantanamo prison camp closing.
- Clinton has notified Congress and her staff that she will quickly start talks with Russians on joint nuclear disarmament. Obama is seeking a new treaty that would sharply cut stockpiles of nuclear warheads.
- Secretary of State Clinton expressed concern about release of Abdul Qadeer Khan from house arrest. Khan helped Pakistan develop nuclear weapons and allegedly leaked atomic secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya. Congress may take Pakistan's refusal to allow U.S. officials to interview Khan into account as it reviews U. S. – Pakistan relations and aid funds going there. Cutting funds could damage the fragile U. S. backed Pakistani government and choke off that country’s help fighting extremists along the Afghan-Pakistan border.
- Clinton and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo have met for talks on bilateral relations. Clinton sees the Philippines as a close and important ally.
Sources: “Hillary Clinton” direct feed from New York Times; The Boston Globe (online) and The Washington Post (online).
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