Chairman's Press
Kerry Statement Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on Ivory and Insecurity: The Global Implications of Poaching in Africa
Washington, DC - This morning, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered the following statement at a hearing that analyzed the global implications of poaching in Africa. "Yes, we have a lot of urgent, everyday problems that consume our politics-- deficits, unemployment, terror-challenges we know too well and numerous enough to make anyone dizzy," said Sen. Kerry. "But history reminds us we never have the right to turn our backs on the values that define us. It is … Continue Reading
May 24, 2012
Kerry on Conviction, Sentencing of Dr. Shakil Afridi
Washington, DC -Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today issued the following statement in response to the conviction of Dr. Shakil Afridi, a Pakistani doctor who assisted the United States in locating Osama bin Laden. Dr. Afridi was found guilty of treason by a Pakistani court and sentenced to serve 33 years in prison. "Americans will have great difficulty knowing that one year after the United States found and killed the most notorious terrorist in modern history h… Continue Reading
May 23, 2012
Kerry Statement on The Law of the Sea Convention: The U.S. National Security and Strategic Imperatives for Ratification
Washington, DC - This morning, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered the following statement at a hearing that analyzed the U.S. national security and strategic imperatives for ratifying the Law of the Sea Convention (Treaty Doc. 103-39) with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, serving as witnesses. "Some may ask why now, why consider a Treaty that's been untou… Continue Reading
May 10, 2012
Kerry Statement Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on NATO: the Chicago Summit and Beyond
Washington, DC - This morning, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered the following statement at a hearing that assessed the current state of NATO and its long-term objectives following the 2012 NATO Summit. "One thing is pretty clear about NATO - it has already confounded its skeptics," said Sen. Kerry. "From Bosnia to Kosovo, from Afghanistan to Libya, the Alliance has demonstrated an ability to adapt to the post-Cold War security environment. Obviously we'… Continue Reading
April 27, 2012
Chairman Kerry on Former President of Liberia Charles Taylor
Washington, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today issued the following statement: "These events are important because they should send a chilling message to war criminals that they can't operate with impunity. Charles Taylor is at last being punished and held accountable for his role in the murder, rape, and mutilation of untold numbers of men, women, and children in Sierra Leone, and now President Obama's Atrocities Prevention Board will lead the U.S. effort… Continue Reading
April 19, 2012
Bi-Partisan Kerry-Boozman Legislation Would Help Bring Kony, War Criminals to Justice
Washington, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to expand and modernize the existing Department of State Rewards Program. This legislation (S. 2318) would provide the State Department with valuable tools to help bring to justice those accused of committing mass atrocities-such as Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) leader Joseph Kony-or engaging in transnational organized crime, including intellectual property rights piracy,… Continue Reading
April 19, 2012
Chairman Kerry Opening Statement at Hearing on Syria Options
Washington, DC - This morning, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered the following statement at a hearing that assessed the United States' role and policy options in Syria. "Bashar al-Assad has lost all governing legitimacy except what is at the barrel of a gun or tank - both at home and abroad. If he simply maintained the status quo, it would be not just a moral outrage but also a severe blow to the democratic aspirations of the Middle East." The full tex… Continue Reading
April 14, 2012
Chairman Kerry on UN Security Council Vote
Washington, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement after the UN Security Council today unanimously passed a resolution condemning violence by the Syrian Government against its people and authorizing the deployment of monitors to Syria: "If the Assaad government had misled itself into believing that they had an escape hatch in China and Russia, they had better start thinking anew. Passage of this Security Council Resolution puts the Sy… Continue Reading
April 12, 2012
Chairman Kerry on North Korea’s Attempted Rocket Launch
Washington, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) tonight issued the following statement after North Korea attempted to launch a rocket with an attached satellite into space. "Never before has so much been put in jeopardy for so little. This failure to launch should be a moment of reconsideration and introspection for the North Koreans. No one in the world, including North Korea's allies, believed this was just an attempt to launch a satellite and no one will accept… Continue Reading
March 16, 2012
Chairman Kerry on the DPRK Satellite Launch
Washington, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today issued the following statement in response to the DPRK announcement that it plans to launch a satellite to celebrate the Great Leader's 100th birthday: "This wouldn't be a move in the real interests of the DPRK and it's troubling. It certainly violates the spirit of the commitments the DPRK made just last month in Beijing, and would seriously undermine the credibility of its pledge to cooperate with the United… Continue Reading
March 15, 2012
Chairman Kerry on the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement’s Entry-Into-Force
Washington, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today issued the following statement on the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement's Entry-Into-Force: "The KORUS FTA's entry-into-force reflects solid bipartisan support among Americans for balanced trade agreements with strong labor, environmental, and IP protections. I look forward to the Administration building on this momentum to bring a high-standard TPP trade agreement to completion. Now more than ever, our ability… Continue Reading
March 15, 2012
Chairman Kerry Statement at Hearing on Sudan
Chairman Kerry Statement at Hearing on Sudan Washington, DC - This morning, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered the following statement at a hearing to examine the oil dispute between Sudan and South Sudan, humanitarian access in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, the potential for progress in Darfur, and developments in South Sudan since its independence. "We can and must continue to put our shoulder to this wheel, even as we acknowledge that the fate of … Continue Reading
March 01, 2012
Chairman Kerry on the Return of American NGO Workers from Egypt
Washington, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today issued the following statement after it was announced that seven American NGO workers are returning home from Egypt following the Egyptian government's decision to lift their travel restrictions: "The release of these Americans helps defuse a crisis that was jeopardizing America's assistance with Egypt's democratic transition at a particularly volatile moment. Building a vibrant civil society in Egypt is integr… Continue Reading
March 01, 2012
Chairman Kerry Statement at Hearing on Crisis in Syria
Washington, DC - This morning, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered the following statement at a hearing to assess the situation in Syria and all the international options available to address the crisis. "I am convinced the Assad regime is doomed. But the longer the endgame, the messier the aftermath. The prospect of a full-fledged sectarian civil war is a stark reminder that a terrible situation could become still much worse, with potentially devastating co… Continue Reading
February 28, 2012
Chairman Kerry Statement at Hearing on Foreign Affairs Budget
Washington, DC - This afternoon, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered the following statement at a hearing on national security and the foreign policy priorities in President Obama's 2013 international affairs budget. "Our international affairs budget is a smart investment that yields outsized returns and saves us money over the long haul," said Chairman Kerry. "There's nothing conservative about starving our foreign policy budget of a billion dollars today on… Continue Reading
February 16, 2012
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Passes Resolution Condemning Violence by Government of Syria Against the Syrian People
Washington, D.C. - The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today passed by unanimous voice vote a resolution condemning violence by the Government of Syria against its people. Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Committee, will seek to expedite its passage today by the full U.S. Senate. "Today's resolution underscores the strong commitment of the members of our committee to make clear as soon as possible our condemnation of the violence in Syria. Senators Casey and Rubio should be particula… Continue Reading
February 07, 2012
Chairman Kerry Statement at Nomination Hearing for Nancy Powell to be Ambassador to India
Washington, DC - This afternoon, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered the following statement at the nomination hearing for Nancy Powell to be Ambassador to India. Chairman Kerry praised Ambassador Powell's efforts as the former Ambassador to Nepal and Pakistan, calling her one of the foremost South Asia experts in the Foreign Service. He also emphasized the strategic importance of our bilateral relationship with India: "There are few relationships that will b… Continue Reading
December 19, 2011
Foreign Relations Committee Releases Comprehensive Report on Central Asia and the Transition in Afghanistan
Foreign Relations Committee Releases Comprehensive Report on Central Asia and the Transition in Afghanistan Link to report: https://www.foreign.senate.gov/publications/ Washington, DC - As part of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's ongoing oversight of U.S engagement in Afghanistan and the broader region, Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today released a report examining Central Asia's critical role in Afghanistan. "Central Asia matters. Its countries are critical to the outcome in Afghanista… Continue Reading
December 15, 2011
Senator Kerry Delivers a Speech on the Situation in South Sudan
Washington, DC - This afternoon, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered a speech at the International Engagement Conference for South Sudan. "The future that President Kiir envisions depends upon the institutions and practices that are being established in Juba; it depends on transparent and inclusive government. That is why so many welcome that he has mandated disclosure standards for all his officials and undertaken other reforms to help establish the fo… Continue Reading
December 06, 2011
Kerry on Ambassador Ford’s Return to Syria
Washington, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today issued the following statement on the Obama Administration's decision to send Ambassador Robert Ford back to Damascus: "Ambassador Ford's return underscores our solidarity with the Syrian people. He is an Ambassador who has helped expose the crimes of the Assad regime, and he's demonstrated enormous courage. Robert Ford is guts and grit personified, and his voice in Syria at a time of such turmoil has st… Continue Reading
