Secretary Clinton Meets With Minister from Equador And Swears-In Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Foreign Minister Falconi of Equador:

The text of their remarks:

SECRETARY CLINTON: “Well, it is indeed a treat to welcome the Foreign Minister of Ecuador. Mr. Falconi is here along with a distinguished delegation. We had an excellent meeting with him and President Correa when we were at the Summit of the Americas. We are looking for ways to create a more constructive and productive relationship. So it’s a particular pleasure to have you here, and I look forward to our conversations.

FOREIGN MINISTER FALCONI: (Via interpreter) Well, it’s – I am delighted to be here. And we have a very positive agenda, a very constructive dialogue to be working on. I want to thank you, and I want to say it is a pleasure to be here. Thank you so much.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you, Minister. Thank you all very much.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, what do you think of the Iranian turnout at the Iranian elections today?

SECRETARY CLINTON: It’s a very positive sign that the people of Iran want their voices and their votes to be heard and counted. And like many people inside and outside of Iran, we are going to wait and see what the results are.

Thank you.

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) What are you expecting from this meeting, Minister?

FOREIGN MINISTER FALCONI: (Via interpreter) Well, we have a bilateral agenda that we are consolidating. And as President Correa himself has said, it is one that is based on mutual convenience, it is based on dialogue. There are a number of issues that we’re going to be discussing that are of mutual interest to both countries.

Thank you very much.”

Secy Clinton and FM Fander Falconi Benitez

UPDATE: Below is the video of the swearing-in ceremony for Melanne Verveer, who became the first ever Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues. Congratulations to Ambassador Verveer!

The text of Secretary Clinton’s remarks at the ceremony can be found, here. According to the White House announcement:

Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues

Melanne Verveer is Co-Founder, Chair and Co-CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership, an international nonprofit that invests in emerging women leaders – pioneers of economic, political and social progress in their countries. Prior to founding Vital Voices, Verveer served as Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady in the Clinton Administration and was chief assistant to then First Lady Hillary Clinton in her international activities. Verveer also took the lead in establishing the President’s Interagency Council on Women, which serves as a model for governments to address issues of concern to women.

Previously, Verveer served as Executive Vice President of People for the American Way, a civil rights and constitutional liberties organization where she played a key role in the passage of several landmark civil rights bills. She was Coordinator for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs for the U.S. Catholic Conference, Field Manager of Common Cause and worked in the U.S. House and Senate as Legislative Director and Special Assistant respectively. Verveer is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Women’s Foreign Policy Group, the Washington Institute on Foreign Affairs and Women In International Security.

The President’s decision to nominate an Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues is unprecedented and reflects the elevated importance of global women’s issues to the President and his entire Administration.

Advertisement