Chairman's Press
Chairman Kerry On Economic Sanctions Against Syria
Washington, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement after President Obama issued an Executive Order imposing tough economic sanctions against Syrian officials and others responsible for human rights abuses in that country: "We have all grown increasingly alarmed by the violence unleashed against the Syrian people. The world should condemn these actions in the strongest terms possible. Syrians are every bit as deserving of human right… Continue Reading
April 28, 2011
Kerry On President Obama’s National Security Team Nominations
Washington, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement today in response to President Obama's announcement that Robert Gates will retire and that he will nominate Leon Panetta as the next Secretary of Defense and Gen. David Petraeus as the next Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: "While the country will miss the service of Secretary Gates, Leon Panetta and General Petraeus are first-rate public servants whose reputations and reco… Continue Reading
April 14, 2011
Chairman Kerry On The Violence At Camp Ashraf In Iraq
Washington, DC - Last Friday, Iraqi Security Forces forcefully entered Camp Ashraf in Eastern Iraq. Members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq or MEK are housed at the camp. Earlier today, United Nations officials confirmed that the incursion by Iraqi Security Forces had resulted in scores of dead and injured MEK members. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement: "United Nations confirmation of the scope of last week's tragedy at Camp Ashraf is deep… Continue Reading
April 14, 2011
Chairman Kerry Urges President Assad Not To Respond To Protests With Violence
Washington, DC - With the possibility of widespread protests tomorrow in Syria, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement: "Major protests are planned tomorrow in Syria and the world will be watching very closely. President Assad should insist that his police and military refrain from using violence against peaceful demonstrators and instead he should seize the opportunity to open a process of real discussion to address the aspirations of the … Continue Reading
April 13, 2011
Chairman Kerry Highlights Three Key Areas To Help Strengthen World Bank’s Energy Sector Strategy
Washington, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) sent a letter to World Bank President Robert Zoellick outlining three key areas the World Bank must address in order to overhaul its Energy Sector Strategy. Chairman Kerry commended the World Bank for tackling the challenges posed by energy poverty and climate change, but he said he is seeking a more aggressive approach by increasing clean energy funding, promoting sustainable clean technologies, and including the tru… Continue Reading
April 11, 2011
Chairman Kerry On The Detention Of Laurent Gbagbo
Washington, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement in response to today's detention of Laurent Gbagbo: "The detention of Laurent Gbagbo marks a new beginning for the Ivoirian people who have suffered gravely. This is an important step forward, but there will be challenges ahead and I urge President Ouattara to support a peaceful dialogue that will ensure the long term stability and prosperity of Cote d'Ivoire. All citizens of Cote… Continue Reading
April 06, 2011
Senator Kerry Introduces Bill To Encourage Democratization In Belarus
Washington, DC - After introducing legislation to extend and reauthorize the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement: "Over a hundred days have passed since Alexander Lukashenko staged a fraudulent election, arrested candidates who dared to stand against him, and suppressed Belarusians' access to free press and information. While international media attention has moved on to events elsewhere, we have not forgot… Continue Reading
April 06, 2011
Chairman Kerry Opening Statement At Libya Hearing
Washington, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) chaired the Committee's second hearing to examine the situation in Libya. The Honorable Richard N. Haass, President, Council on Foreign Relations, Tom Malinowski, Washington Director, Human Rights Watch, and Dr. Dirk J. Vandewalle, Associate Professor of Government, Dartmouth College, testified. Full text of Chairman Kerry's statement as prepared: Thank you all for coming. We convene today to again examine the evolv… Continue Reading
April 05, 2011
Chairman Kerry Congratulates Haitian President-Elect Martelly
Washington, DC - Last night, Haitian election authorities officially announced that Michel Martelly won the second round presidential election, held on March 20. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement: "I congratulate Mr. Martelly on his election as President of Haiti and applaud his second-round opponent, Mirlande Manigat, the Haitian government, and the Haitian people for the vigorous, peaceful, and fair contest. The landslide victory is… Continue Reading
April 04, 2011
Chairman Kerry On Cote d’Ivoire: Former President Gbagbo Must Step Aside
Washington, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement today in response to the deteriorating situation in Cote d'Ivoire: "I'm gravely concerned about the escalating violence in Cote d'Ivoire, particularly the accounts of alleged atrocities in the western part of the country. The people elected Alassane Ouattara as their next President and the result was certified by the international community, including the African Union and the United N… Continue Reading
April 01, 2011
Chairman Kerry Delays Additional Spending On “Democracy Promotion” Programs In Cuba
Washington, DC - After receiving notification that the U.S. Agency for International Development intends to spend another $20 million for "democracy promotion" programs in Cuba, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) said today that he would oppose the spending until a full review of the programs is completed. He issued the following statement: "We all hope the Cuban people achieve greater freedom and prosperity in the future consistent with their aspirations, and I have… Continue Reading
April 01, 2011
Chairman Kerry On UN Workers Killed In Afghanistan
Washington, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement today in response to the killing of UN workers in Mazar-i-Sharif: "I am saddened and angered by the deaths of the United Nations workers in Afghanistan today. We and the Afghan people owe a debt of gratitude to the people who risk their lives to make Afghanistan a better place. Instead, an angry mob took out its rage on selfless public servants and innocent bystanders who had no conne… Continue Reading
March 31, 2011
Chairman Kerry On The Situation In Syria
Washington, DC - At a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Libya this afternoon, Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) commented on the latest developments in Syria: "Violence against peaceful protesters is unacceptable -- whether in Syria, Bahrain, Yemen or anyplace else -- and betrays the values that we, as Americans, respect and that people everywhere should share. I am particularly concerned about the violence against protesters in Syria. President Bashar al-Assad did not use his speech yes… Continue Reading
March 31, 2011
Chairman Kerry Opening Statement At Libya Hearing
Washington, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) chaired a hearing this afternoon to discuss the way forward on Libya. Full text of Chairman Kerry's statement as prepared: Thank you all for coming this afternoon. We are here today to discuss the situation in Libya and we are pleased to have Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg with us. Jim, I understand that you will be leaving government to return to academia as dean of the Maxwell School at Syracuse Universit… Continue Reading
March 28, 2011
Chairman Kerry On The Disappearance Of Chinese Lawyer Gao Zhisheng
Washington, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement today in response to the judgment by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in the disappearance of Chinese lawyer Gao Zhisheng: "I commend the thorough investigation by the independent UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention into the disappearance of Gao Zhisheng, the Chinese lawyer and human rights advocate. I am deeply concerned for Gao's welfare, and I call on the Chinese gove… Continue Reading
March 26, 2011
Op-ed By Chairman Kerry: Libya And The Just Use Of American Force
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator John Kerry (D-MA), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote an op-ed that appears in today's Wall Street Journal titled "Libya And The Just Use of American Force." The full text of the op-ed is below: Wall Street Journal Libya And The Just Use Of American Force By John Kerry The seas of people who thronged Cairo's Tahrir Square are gone now. But walking across its now-celebrated ground this week, I couldn't help but remember the inspiring scenes o… Continue Reading
March 25, 2011
Chairman Kerry On The President’s Meeting With Members Of Congress On Libya
Washington, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement: "This afternoon, President Obama provided senior policymakers from both parties a very thorough and substantive update on where things stand in Libya. Encouraging progress is being made in enforcing the UN Security Council Resolution and protecting the Libyan people, and the President's briefing was especially instructive for all of us. It was a candid discussion that also covered … Continue Reading
March 24, 2011
Chairman Kerry Urges Resumption Of Carefully Monitored Food Aid For North Korea
Washington, DC - Today, the UN World Food Program (WFP) released an assessment of the food situation in parts of North Korea and the results are dire. The WFP warns that six million North Koreans are in urgent need of food assistance, confirming results of a similar study by five respected U.S. non-governmental organizations conducted last month. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement urging the resumption of carefully monitored United States… Continue Reading
March 22, 2011
Chairman Kerry Honors Archbishop Romero And Notes Democratic Advances In El Salvador
Washington, DC - Marking the occasion of President Obama's visit to El Salvador, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement: "President Obama's visit to the tomb of Archbishop Romero is more than a homage to a Salvadoran national hero who gave his life for democracy and human rights during a period of repression and war. It is a tribute to El Salvador's historic national reconciliation and the consolidation of democracy. President Funes' elec… Continue Reading
March 21, 2011
Chairman Kerry Marks The Celebration Of Nowruz, The Persian New Year
Washington, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement today in celebration of Nowruz: "More than 300 million people around the world celebrate Nowruz today to mark the beginning of spring and the Persian New Year. To all those who observe Nowruz, including those in Afghanistan, Iran, and the United States, I would like to wish you Eid-eh Shoma Mobarak. Nowruz has been celebrated for over 3,000 years as a time of renewal and hope. It is … Continue Reading
