26 February 2009

Statement on Secretary Clinton’s Travel to Middle East and Europe

Secretary Clinton to attend donor’s conference for Gaza recovery

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
February 26, 2009

STATEMENT BY ROBERT A. WOOD, ACTING SPOKESMAN

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Travel to the Middle East and Europe

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will travel to Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Belgium, Switzerland, and Turkey from March 1–7, 2009.

Secretary Clinton will attend and participate in the donor’s conference for Gaza recovery hosted by Egypt on March 2.  Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell and other high-level representatives will be in attendance in Sharm el-Sheikh with the Secretary during the conference.  The Secretary also will meet with senior Egyptian officials.

After the conference, Secretary Clinton will travel to Israel and the Palestinian Territories and meet with senior officials.

In Brussels, Secretary Clinton will attend an informal meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers on March 5, where she will consult with Allies and seek consensus on the approach to the upcoming NATO Summit.  The Secretary also will attend a meeting with foreign ministers from all NATO and EU countries, as well as Switzerland, to further boost transatlantic relations.

Also in Brussels, Secretary Clinton will meet separately with EU officials.

In Geneva, Secretary Clinton will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss a number of issues of mutual interest, including possibilities for a follow-on agreement to START, and deepening our cooperation in areas such as Afghanistan.

While in Ankara Secretary Clinton will meet with key Turkish officials.

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