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Washington, DC – Today the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a resolution of advice and consent to ratification of New START with 3 Republicans joining 11 Democrats, continuing a tradition of bipartisan support for strategic arms agreements that spans four administrations. After the vote, Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the...

Washington, D.C. – This morning, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) held a business meeting to consider the Committee’s resolution of advice and consent to ratification of New START. The full text of his opening statement as prepared is below: Thank you all for coming. This meeting marks the end of the...

Washington, DC–Ahead of next week’s high-level meeting on Sudan at the United Nations, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement about the January 9, 2011 referendum on the independence of southern Sudan: “In less than four months, Southern Sudan is scheduled to vote in a...

Washington, DC–Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement today ahead of tomorrow’s direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians: “This is a moment of both promise and peril for the Middle East. I applaud the resumption of direct peace talks between Prime Minister...

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Following President Obama’s Oval Office address on the end of the U.S. combat mission in Iraq, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement: “The war over the war is over, and regardless of what anyone felt about the invasion and the conduct of the war over the past...

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement today about the illegal abduction of two American children, Noor and Ramsay Bower: “This is a tragic situation and my heart goes out to Colin Bower who has not been able to see his children for over a year. The case is clear:...

Washington, DC – Following a meeting on Friday in Kabul with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John F. Kerry (D-MA), President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan pledged to allow two Afghan anti-corruption units to operate independently and free of political influence. The two organizations, the Major Crimes Task Force and the Sensitive...

Washington, DC –Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement after today’s announcement that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas intend to resume direct talks in September:  “I applaud today’s announcement by Secretary Clinton...

Washington, DC –Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement in response to the arrest of Abu Bakar Bashir, alleged lead role in a terrorist group affiliated with Al Qaeda: “I applaud the work of the Indonesian police, prosecutors, and intelligence agencies for arresting Abu Bakar...

Washington, DC –Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement in response to yesterday’s constitutional referendum in Kenya: “Yesterday’s referendum on the new constitution in Kenya was an important step forward for the nation’s democratic process. Provisional results and...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) introduced the International Professional Exchange Act of 2010, which will establish a two-way professional exchange program between the United States and select Muslim-majority countries to promote career development and cross-cultural understanding for young to...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the follow statement after announcing that a vote on the New START Treaty would be rescheduled: “Today I informed members of the Foreign Relations Committee that a vote on the New START Treaty will be rescheduled for after the August recess. This was...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the worst floods in Pakistan’s history, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today issued the following statement: "I offer my deepest sympathy to the victims of the deadly floods which have afflicted northwest Pakistan this week. Over 1,400 people have died and an estimated...

Washington, D.C.— Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-IN) introduced legislation yesterday, S. 3665, that will lead to the establishment of the “Pakistani-American Enterprise Fund,” to focus on strengthening the private sector in Pakistan using existing funds from the...

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Dick Lugar (R-IN) and John Kerry (D-MA) introduced legislation today, S. 3665, that would lead to the establishment of the “Pakistan-American Enterprise Fund,” to focus on strengthening the private sector in Pakistan using existing funds from the Kerry-Lugar-Berman aid package passed by Congress last...

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement today in response to the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia’s (ECCC) sentencing of Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, to 19 years in prison: “Today’s sentencing helps deliver an important message...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement this evening in response to the New York Times story on the leak of classified documents concerning Afghanistan and Pakistan:  "However illegally these documents came to light, they raise serious questions about the reality...

Washington, D.C.---Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA), East Asia and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Jim Webb (D-VA), Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Mark Begich (D-AK), along with five Democratic senators, today endorsed the President’s call for a prompt resolution of outstanding issues to the...

Washington, DC –Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today announced that the Committee will hold a public hearing on July 29th  on the circumstances surrounding last year’s release of Abdel Basset Mohamed al-Megrahi, the Libyan official who was convicted of orchestrating the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in...

Washington, DC – Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today welcomed a letter co-written by former Secretary of State George Shultz and former Senator Sam Nunn who strongly endorsed the New START Treaty and called for its expeditious ratification. Shultz and Nunn also sent an identical letter to Ranking Member Dick...