Chairman's Press
Separating Myth from Fact onThe Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009
The United States wants to transform its relationship with Pakistan into a deeper, broader, long-term strategic engagement with the people of Pakistan. The Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act (S.1707), also known as the Kerry-Lugar bill, was designed to help turn the page in our bilateral relationship by moving beyond a military relationship to one where the United States engages directly with the people of Pakistan as a true ally and friend. The heart of this bill gives the people… Continue Reading
October 07, 2009
Chairman Kerry: Empower Pakistanis now
As President Barack Obama urged Muslims to reject violent extremism in Cairo last week, a decisive shift in attitudes was already under way in Pakistan. Over the past month, the Pakistani military has waged an intensive fight against the Taliban and extremist elements in its North-West Frontier Province. This shift could be a major turning point in Pakistan's history and is a critical moment for Congress to support the Pakistani people by passing the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan A… Continue Reading
October 07, 2009
Kerry Opening Statement At Hearing on Confronting Al-Qaeda
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered the following opening statement at the hearing titled "Confronting Al-Qaeda: Understanding the Threat in Afghanistan and Beyond". Full text as delivered is below: We come together today, on -- by happenstance on the exact eighth anniversary of our entry -- ninth anniversary, really. We begin the ninth year of the war in Afghanistan -- ninth year. If my memory serves me right, I think the war in … Continue Reading
October 01, 2009
Kerry On Iran: Diplomacy, Backed By Pressure, Remains The Best Course
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) authored the following op-ed in today's Financial Times titled "Time for Diplomacy to End the Stand-off With Iran." The full text of the op-ed is below: Time for diplomacy to end the stand-off with Iran By John Kerry October 1, 2009 Today the Obama administration begins the most important American diplomatic engagement with Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The public revelation of the Qom enrichment … Continue Reading
October 01, 2009
Kerry Opening Statement At Hearing On Global Violence Against Women
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered the following opening statement at the hearing titled "Violence Against Women: Global Costs and Consequences": We are here today to talk about violence against women, a subject that is too often separated from our larger discussion about global instability, insecurity and violence. We did some research, and this is the first time that violence against women, on a global scale, has been the subject… Continue Reading
September 28, 2009
Chairman Kerry: Testing Afghanistan Assumptions
, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) authored the following op-ed in today's Wall Street Journal titled "Testing Afghanistan Assumptions." The full text of the op-ed is below: Testing Afghanistan Assumptions By John Kerry September 28, 2009 In the coming weeks, President Barack Obama will make the most difficult choice a commander in chief can face: whether to send more troops into harm's way. The challenge of making the right decision was dramatized … Continue Reading
September 28, 2009
Chairman Kerry Applauds Nomination of Robert King, Special Envoy For North Korean Human Rights
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following last week's announcement of President Obama nominating Robert King to be the Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement: "I applaud President Obama's nomination of Robert King to be the Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues. Bob King is exceptionally well qualified for this difficult diplomatic assignment. Congress created this position to un… Continue Reading
September 25, 2009
Chairman Kerry: "Iran Must Comply With International Demands Or Face Consequences"
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement today in response to President Obama, President Sarkozy and Prime Minister Brown statement on Iran's secret nuclear fuel plant: "In light of Iran's continuing deception, the international community must step up its demands that Iran halt its enrichment and reprocessing work, answer the International Atomic Energy Agency's questions, and provide IAEA inspectors with the full … Continue Reading
September 24, 2009
Senate Unanimously Passes Kerry-Lugar Pakistan Aid Package
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-IN) released the following statements following unanimous Senate passage of the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act (S. 962), also known as the Kerry-Lugar Bill. "Pakistan is facing a critical moment, and today the Senate has made a clear bipartisan commitment to replace an atmosphere of mutual distrust and lack of accountability with a broad-based, durable commitment to P… Continue Reading
September 24, 2009
Kerry Applauds Passage Of United Nations' Nuclear Proliferation Resolution
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement commending the United Nations Security Council's unanimous adoption of a nonproliferation and disarmament resolution: "I commend the President for reasserting American leadership on the vital issue of nuclear nonproliferation and for securing unanimous Security Council approval of an important resolution. The world has long looked to our nation to lead in combating nuclear p… Continue Reading
September 24, 2009
Senate Unanimously Passes Legislation To Increase Nonmilitary Aid To Pakistan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-IN) welcomed passage by the United State Senate of a revised version of the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act, which will triple non-military aid Pakistan. The bill, S. 1707, updates and builds uponthe earlier S. 962 passed by the Senate in June. Senator Kerry said, "Today, by unanimous consent, the Senate passed S.1707, the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 20… Continue Reading
September 22, 2009
Kerry Statement On President Obama's Trilateral Meeting With PM Netanyahu And President Abbas
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement today following President's Obama's trilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Abbas: "President Obama has shown a commendable commitment to making Middle East peace a priority. I hope that today's meeting between President Obama, Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas is the first step back to the negotiating table-and … Continue Reading
September 17, 2009
Kerry Opening Statement At Hearing On Countering The Threat Of Failure In Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered the following opening statement at the hearing titled "Countering the Threat of Failure in Afghanistan": Yesterday was the first in a series of hearings on Afghanistan being conducted by this Committee. We heard three compelling cases for how America should proceed. The prescriptions ranged from dramatically reducing our footprint to expanding our commitment of troops and money to a level that wou… Continue Reading
September 16, 2009
Kerry Applauds Passing Of UN Resolution To Create New Women's Agency
Washington, DC-Following three years of negotiations, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement applauding the sixty-third United Nations General Assembly's historic passage of a resolution to create one UN agency for women, which will promote women's equality and rights: "It is high time the UN bring to the forefront gender and women's issues by creating one agency. Creating a strong, consolidated UN Agency for Women headed by an Unde… Continue Reading
September 16, 2009
Kerry Opening Statement At Hearing On Strategy For Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today held a hearing to explore the various scenarios for U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered the following opening remarks: The future course of our mission in Afghanistan has become one of the most important and difficult questions we face. In the weeks ahead, this Committee will hold a series of hearings to study the situation in greater depth and weigh our options going forward. I know tha… Continue Reading
September 15, 2009
Kerry Applauds Phase-down of Dangerous Greenhouse Gases
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded the Obama Administration's proposal to eliminate dangerous emissions known as Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as part of an international treaty to protect the ozone layer. The treaty, known as the Montreal Protocol, currently excludes regulations for HFCs which Kerry has called "significantly more powerful greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide," warning that the emissions' damage "is … Continue Reading
September 10, 2009
Kerry Opening Statement At Hearing On Iraq
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today delivered opening remarks at the hearing titled, "Iraq: Report from the Field." Full text of Chairman Kerry's opening statement as prepared is below: Today we are honored to be joined by America's top diplomat in Baghdad and a longtime friend of this Committee. Welcome back, Chris. I'd also like to recognize the efforts of all our brave and capable diplomats serving in harm's way. Just like our so… Continue Reading
September 03, 2009
Kerry Welcomes Sanctions Against Coup Regime In Honduras
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement today in response to Secretary of State Clinton's announcement that the Administration will suspend aid to Honduras as the result of the June 28th coup that ousted President Zelaya: "Today, Secretary of State Clinton announced that the United States is suspending financial aid to the Honduran government and revoking the U.S. visas of supporters of the coup. I applaud the Adm… Continue Reading
August 24, 2009
Chairman Kerry Statement On Elections In Afghanistan
Washington, D.C.-Ahead of tomorrow's presidential and provincial elections in Afghanistan, Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement: "The Afghan people are demonstrating tremendous courage in defying threats of violence and pursuing democracy in their elections. The fact that dozens of candidates, including two women, are competing for President and thousands of candidates, including about 300 women, are running for provincial council seats i… Continue Reading
August 22, 2009
Chairman Kerry Statement on Ramadan
For Immediate Release: Saturday, August 22, 2009 Washington, D.C.-Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement to Muslim communities in America and around the world marking the start of Ramadan today: "With the onset of Ramadan, the holiest month of the Muslim calendar year where observing Muslims fast for 30 days from sunrise to sunset as a way to increase spirituality and thank God for his blessings, I want to extend my best wishes to Muslim com… Continue Reading
