Sec’y Clinton Holds Global Press Conference

Today in Washington, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held a ‘Global Press Conference’ and she also was at the White House earlier in the day where she separately announced a US-sponsored humanitarian aid package to Pakistan. Both videos are below.

Excerpt from Sec’y Clinton’s statement at beginning of the ‘Global Press Conference (the entire text can be found here):

“Well, good afternoon, everyone. It’s a real pleasure to be here with you today. We believe that a free press is an integral part of our democracy. And as I said earlier this month on World Press Freedom Day, President Obama and I are determined to continue the United States’ commitment to media freedom worldwide. And I’m very proud of the State Department’s long tradition of assisting foreign journalists reporting about the United States, and we will continue to support you in your work.

I’ve just come from the White House, where I announced a new United States initiative to support the Pakistani people, their government and military as they respond to the humanitarian challenges that have resulted from their efforts to combat and defeat the extremists who are threatening their country. I am confident that Pakistan’s institutions and citizens will succeed in confronting this challenge if the international community steps up and helps.

So today, I announce that the people of the United States are responding to a request for assistance from the Government of Pakistan with more than $100 million in humanitarian support, and we are prepared to do more as the situation demands. Our assistance is already arriving. But as I said earlier, one of our guiding principles is that this should be more than just the delivery of supplies; it should be an investment in the people of Pakistan. So we will buy locally from the bumper crop of wheat, and we’ll work to help create quick impact job programs that will put Pakistanis to work making goods for their fellow citizens.

As we support Pakistan’s democratically elected government, we’re coordinating closely with United Nations, the Red Cross and Red Crescent, and we are deploying new tools. We’re working to support the Pakistani Government in launching a text messaging system that will alert local communities to assistance efforts and help keep family members in touch. We believe we face a common threat, a common challenge, and a common task. But the Pakistani people and their government have shown resolve, and it is up to us now to show our support.

Before I take your questions, let me give you just a very brief overview of some of our efforts during these first few months of the Obama Administration – how we are trying to exercise what we call smart power in pursuit of our foreign policy goals. I don’t need to tell any of you that today’s world is interconnected. Whatever country we are from, we share urgent challenges that transcend borders – climate change, food security, diseases, energy, terrorism, piracy, and, of course, the global economic crisis.

The State Department is committed to a new diplomacy powered by partnerships, pragmatism, and principle. We are elevating development to its rightful place alongside diplomacy as a key component of our international efforts. And we are working to promote good governance, human rights, and social inclusion so that more people around the world can claim their rightful share in global progress and prosperity.

Now we are using new tools and seeking new partners to broaden the reach of our diplomacy because we understand that 21st century statecraft cannot just be government-to-government; it must be government-to-people and people-to-people. So we want to engage civil society, women, youth, political activists, and others as we pursue our agenda.

Speaking about some of the specific issues that we have been concentrating on, we have been working hard to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan. As you know, we’ve been holding these trilateral meetings among our three countries, and our engagement in that region will continue.

We are seeking constructive solutions in the Middle East, where we have made a major commitment to assist the Palestinian people, and in Iraq, where we are working toward a responsible deployment of American combat forces. And we are taking a new approach to Iran that relies on all the tools of American power, led by diplomacy.

We are reinforcing our relationship with key allies and historic partners in Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and we have engaged vigorously with a number of emerging regional actors. And we’re serious about establishing more candid, constructive relationships with both Russia and China….
Well, good afternoon, everyone. It’s a real pleasure to be here with you today. We believe that a free press is an integral part of our democracy. And as I said earlier this month on World Press Freedom Day, President Obama and I are determined to continue the United States’ commitment to media freedom worldwide. And I’m very proud of the State Department’s long tradition of assisting foreign journalists reporting about the United States, and we will continue to support you in your work.

I’ve just come from the White House, where I announced a new United States initiative to support the Pakistani people, their government and military as they respond to the humanitarian challenges that have resulted from their efforts to combat and defeat the extremists who are threatening their country. I am confident that Pakistan’s institutions and citizens will succeed in confronting this challenge if the international community steps up and helps.

So today, I announce that the people of the United States are responding to a request for assistance from the Government of Pakistan with more than $100 million in humanitarian support, and we are prepared to do more as the situation demands. Our assistance is already arriving. But as I said earlier, one of our guiding principles is that this should be more than just the delivery of supplies; it should be an investment in the people of Pakistan. So we will buy locally from the bumper crop of wheat, and we’ll work to help create quick impact job programs that will put Pakistanis to work making goods for their fellow citizens.

As we support Pakistan’s democratically elected government, we’re coordinating closely with United Nations, the Red Cross and Red Crescent, and we are deploying new tools. We’re working to support the Pakistani Government in launching a text messaging system that will alert local communities to assistance efforts and help keep family members in touch. We believe we face a common threat, a common challenge, and a common task. But the Pakistani people and their government have shown resolve, and it is up to us now to show our support.

Before I take your questions, let me give you just a very brief overview of some of our efforts during these first few months of the Obama Administration – how we are trying to exercise what we call smart power in pursuit of our foreign policy goals. I don’t need to tell any of you that today’s world is interconnected. Whatever country we are from, we share urgent challenges that transcend borders – climate change, food security, diseases, energy, terrorism, piracy, and, of course, the global economic crisis.

The State Department is committed to a new diplomacy powered by partnerships, pragmatism, and principle. We are elevating development to its rightful place alongside diplomacy as a key component of our international efforts. And we are working to promote good governance, human rights, and social inclusion so that more people around the world can claim their rightful share in global progress and prosperity.

Now we are using new tools and seeking new partners to broaden the reach of our diplomacy because we understand that 21st century statecraft cannot just be government-to-government; it must be government-to-people and people-to-people. So we want to engage civil society, women, youth, political activists, and others as we pursue our agenda.

Speaking about some of the specific issues that we have been concentrating on, we have been working hard to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan. As you know, we’ve been holding these trilateral meetings among our three countries, and our engagement in that region will continue.

We are seeking constructive solutions in the Middle East, where we have made a major commitment to assist the Palestinian people, and in Iraq, where we are working toward a responsible deployment of American combat forces. And we are taking a new approach to Iran that relies on all the tools of American power, led by diplomacy.

We are reinforcing our relationship with key allies and historic partners in Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and we have engaged vigorously with a number of emerging regional actors. And we’re serious about establishing more candid, constructive relationships with both Russia and China…”

The entire text of the press briefing, including questions and answers, can be found here.

Video of Secretary Clinton’s White House press briefing on aid to Pakistan:

The text of the press briefing can be found here.

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