Foreign Affairs

We are pleased that the Obama Administration vetoed the anti-Israel resolution before the UN Security Council today. Moving forward, we must continue to make it clear that peace cannot be imposed; it must be negotiated directly between Israelis and Palestinians. It is high time that the Palestinians return to the negotiating table, rather than skirt the peace process by bringing biased, unproductive resolutions to the United Nations.
 

We’re here today to recognize an historic moment for the people of Southern Sudan. Last week, we learned the results of the independence referendum in Southern Sudan, which showed that an overwhelming majority voted to secede from the north.

Today, the world witnessed a remarkable display of the power of ordinary people peacefully assembling to demand change. The resignation of Egypt’s President Mubarak is an inspiring and well-deserved victory for the protesters who have stood against his government. But Egypt’s future is still uncertain: the goal of a secular, democratically-elected civilian government, which keeps peace with its neighbors and meets its treaty obligations, will still take hard work and perhaps quite some time to realize in full. From my service as Chair of the Helsinki Commission at the end of the Cold War, I understand that the transition to democracy is an arduous process for any nation. That’s certainly true for Egypt, as well: its people’s work to shape their future is beginning today, not ending.

Today, the results of Southern Sudan’s secession referendum were released: they show that the people of Southern Sudan have overwhelmingly voted to secede from the north. This referendum marks an historic moment: it is an opportunity for the people of Sudan, both north and south, to put to rest the legacy of Africa’s bloodiest civil war. An independent Southern Sudan means the possibility of peace and security for its people; for those who have suffered from decades of civil strife, today is a day of great hope. I am grateful to those in Sudan, the international community, the Obama Administration, and the humanitarian community who helped make this vote possible.

President Obama delivered a compelling vision of how we can work together to address America’s challenges. While our economy is on the road back to health, we know we still have a long way to go—and tonight, the president discussed a strategy for getting us there.

When China’s president, Hu Jintao, visits here next week, the exchange rate between Chinese and American currency will inevitably become a big topic of conversation.

A year ago today, our neighbor Haiti was struck by a devastating earthquake that killed hundreds of thousands and left many more homeless. As we mark this sad anniversary, our thoughts are with the victims and all those still struggling to recover and rebuild. Today is a day to take stock of those recovery efforts, which are still far from finished.

"Today marks the end of the discriminatory 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, with the Defense Department now empowered to implement its repeal. I have long called for the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' and I am proud to have fought to end it, from writing the compromise language that passed the House in May, to serving as the original co-sponsor of Rep. Patrick Murphy's stand alone legislation that passed the House this past week...