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UPDATED: 04 Feb 2010 GMT
  • A university student with his mouth covered with a red cloth protests in Caracas, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010. The protest was held after the government of President Hugo Chavez forced the shut down of RCTV, a channel critical of the Chavez government. ©AP U.S. Voices Concern Over Shutdown of RCTV

    Addressing the Permanent Council, Amb. Lomellin underscored: "nothing is more central...to the preservation of democracy than freedom of expression...It is vital that we, the democracies of the Americas, condemn restrictions on freedom of expression wherever they take place and for whatever ideological justification."

     See Also: Remarks on Freedom of Expression (Feb. 3)
  • Ambassador Carmen Lomellin, U.S. Permanent Representative to the OAS, addresses the Permanent Council (January 27, 2010). U.S. Calls for OAS Action on Haiti Reconstruction

    Amb. Lomellin (Jan. 27): “It is critical that the same energy and generosity that is being put into the humanitarian effort is maintained in the long-term…We trust that the OAS will build upon its traditional areas of strength—democracy promotion, human rights, and elections support—by helping the Government of Haiti."

  • Left to right: Jose W. Fernandez, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Business Affairs; Amb. Hugo Llorens; Dr. Arturo Valenzuela, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs; and Porfirio Lobo Sosa, President-elect. Honduras Inaugurates a New President

    On the eve of the inaugural, the U.S. Delegation—led by Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Arturo Valenzuela—met with Honduran President-elect Porfirio Lobo Sosa in Tegucigalpa. The U.S. delegation also included Jose W. Fernandez, Assistant Secretary for Economic, Energy and Business Affairs.

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News & Events: Highlights from the U.S. Mission
Chief of Staff and Counselor Cheryl Mills.

On the Way Forward in Haiti
Counselor Mills (Feb. 2): "We are really looking forward to critical partnerships around the globe in support of the Government of Haiti and the people of Haiti." USAID Administrator Raj Shah and State Department Counselor Cheryl Mills brief on progress in Haiti relief.

Secretary of State Clinton speaking at the Haiti Ministerial Preparatory Conference in Montreal, Canada. (January 25, 2010)

Haiti: Next Steps
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (January 25): "It’s important that we see ourselves as partners with Haiti – not patrons – that we work intensely together to produce results that can be seen and felt by the Haitians themselves."

President Obama,flanked by former Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush, announces the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund at the White House. (January 16, 2010)

White House Announces Clinton - Bush Haiti Fund
President Obama, flanked by former Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush said: "[W]hen the news media starts seeing its attention drift to other things but there’s still enormous needs on the ground, these two gentlemen of extraordinary stature are going to be able to help ensure that these efforts are sustained."

Secretary of State Clinton delivers remarks at the Newseum. (January 21, 2010)

Remarks on Internet Freedom
In remarks at the Newseum, Secretary of State Clinton addressed the situation in Haiti before delivering her address in which she underscored the importance of governments to uphold the right "to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers" as enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

President Obama, flanked by Secretary of State Clinton and Vice President Biden, delivers remarks at the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House © Photo AP Images

Haiti a Top United States Priority
President Barack Obama (January 14): “This is one of those moments that calls for American leadership … To the people of Haiti, we say clearly, and with conviction, you will not be forsaken; you will not be forgotten. In this, your hour of greatest need, America stands with you. The world stands with you.”

Spotlight USA
United States Earthquake Relief In Haiti
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VOA-TV Interviews Amb. Lomellin (Jan. 8, 2009)

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Fifth Summit



The Fifth Summit of the Americas took place on April 17-19, 2009 in Trinidad & Tobago and was attended by President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton.