| In Focus |
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Kurt Volker (right) |
PDAS Kurt Volker Talks About Climate Change
February 12, 2007. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Kurt Volker visited Berlin for consulations with German counterparts after participating in the International Security Conference in Munich. In Berlin, Volker delivered remarks on climate change and energy at an event hosted by the German Marshall Fund, in which he underscored that the U.S. and Europe share a common objective in the reduction of greenhouse gases. "There are multiple means for getting there. The United States is deeply committed to the objective of cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and we have a set of policies and concrete actions that are producing good, concrete results – now and in the future," he said. Volker also conducted a radio interview with Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) of Cologne, in which he discussed Russian President Vladamir Putin's speech at the Munich Security Conference. Volker said he was "a bit surprised...because the analysis of the world that President Putin gave and the strong language that he used about the United States and about Europe just doesn't correspond to the world that we really see today."
Speech | Interview with WDR (more)
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News from the Embassy |
Ambassador Times Five
February 2007 The Munich Security Conference brought together the current U.S. Ambassador to Germany William R. Timken Jr. along with four of his predecessors. The 43rd annual conference was the largest ever, and the presence of not only the five ambassadors but also a high-level U.S. Congressional delegation, attests to the ongoing high level of interest in maintaining strong U.S.-German and transatlantic ties. Secretary of Defense Gates also attended and spoke at the conference.
The Ambassadors from left to right: Richard Holbrooke (1993-94), John C. Kornblum (1997-2001), Ambassador Timken (2005-present), Robert M. Kimmitt (1991-93) and Richard R. Burt (1985-89). (more)
Treasury Secretary Paulson Meets Media at G-7 Talks in Essen
February 9/10, 2007. The U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Henry M. Paulson, attended the G-7 finance ministers meeting in Essen, on February 9-10. Secretary Paulson was interviewed by ZDF-TV on the important issues being discussed at the G-7, particularly concerns over hedge funds and climate change. He also gave an in-depth interview to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on exchange rates, the current accounts deficit, global trade, hedge funds, the future of the Doha Round, and reforming the IMF. Following the G-7 meetings, Secretary Paulson held a press conference, which was attended by nearly 40 print and electronic journalists.
Text of the FAZ interview (in German) I Secretary Paulson's G7 Statement, February 10, 2007 (more)
Senior U.S. Government Representatives Discuss U.S. Civilian and Military Efforts in Afghanistan
January 30, 2007. Richard A. Boucher, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Ronald E. Neumann, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, and Lt. General Karl Eikenberry, Commanding General, Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan, discussed U.S. civilian and military reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan at a press breakfast with 40 print, TV, and radio journalists in Berlin.
The three officials, who were in Berlin for the "Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board Meeting (JCMB)" taking place in Berlin, addressed the full range of U.S. reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, including counter narcotics, police training, development aid, education, good governance, agriculture, health care and infrastructure.
Transcript | Photo Gallery (more)
Ambassador and Mrs. Timken Extend "Handshake of Understanding" to Muslim Girls in Frankfurt
January 29, 2007. During a visit to Merkez mosque in Frankfurt, Ambassador and Mrs. Timken met with 25 girls and their parents to introduce the "Windows on America" program and prepare a group of girls to participate in the program during this year's Easter vacation. The group will be the first consisting of Muslim girls only between the ages of 15-17. The participants will be selected through an essay contest. Ambassador and Mrs. Timken answered questions about the essay contest, special considerations with regard to the U.S. host families, accomodation, and travel arrangements.
During the visit, Ambassador and Mrs. Timken, who where joined by Frankfurt Consul General Jo Ellen Powell, received a tour of the mosque by Irfan Dinc, president of the Turkish Islamic Union of the Department of Religion (DitiB)Frankfurt, met with Board members of Ditib, and Gonca Aydin, responsible for interreligious dialogue with DitiB, who established the contacts to the girls and their parents.
Photo Gallery | Windows on America (more)
DHS Secretary Chertoff in Berlin for Talks with German Counterpart
January 26, 2007. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff was in Berlin for talks with his German counterpart, Interior Minister Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble. They addressed the status of US-German cooperation in areas of common concern, most notably the war against terrorism. After their meeting, they held a joint press conference. In the afternoon, Secretary Chertoff met with German Minister of Justice Brigitte Zypries.
Photo Gallery (more)
U.S. Secretary of State Rice Visited Berlin
January 17/18, 2007. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the German Foreign Office in Berlin on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 and with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday January 18, 2007. Before her visit to Germany, Secretary Rice was in the Middle East where she consulted with regional leaders and explored ways to help the parties make progress toward resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, continue discussions on the way forward in Iraq, and advance other issues of regional importance. Press Availability with Foreign Minister Steinmeier | Photo Gallery (more)
Exhibitions & Events featuring American Art and Artists in Germany
Find out about the numerous cultural events featuring American artists and art in Germany. In addition to the unique MoMA exhibition that was on show in Berlin in 2004 - U.S. culture is present all over Germany with many diverse projects ranging from film, music and theater to visual arts and design.
This year, the homage of the 57th Berlin International Film Festival in February will be dedicated to the esteemed filmmaker Arthur Penn, who with films such as Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Alice's Restaurant (1969) and Night Moves (1975), belongs to the most important protagonists of American auteur cinema.
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