Category: 2015

President Obama will host Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain at the White House on September 15, 2015.  The King and Queen will visit the United States September 14-18.  They are scheduled to visit Miami, Florida and St. Augustine, Florida in addition to Washington, DC.  Their visit reinforces the strong and…

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Richard Capel Howorth, of Mississippi, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2020.  (Reappointment) Harry K. Thomas, Jr., of New York, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, to be Ambassador Extraordinary…

Jill and I were very saddened to hear of the passing of Samuel Pisar, a courageous and remarkable man, and the step-father of our dear friend, Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken. The entire Biden family extend our deepest sympathies to Samuel’s family, including including his wife Judith, his daughters Leah, Alexandra, and Helaina, and…

Sheraton Hotel Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 3:37 P.M. EAT PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, let me just express my appreciation to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Prime Minister Hailemariam, as well as all the leaders represented here.  They have shown extraordinary leadership in trying to address the continuing situation in South Sudan, and this gives me and the…

Sheraton Hotel Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 3:37 P.M. EAT PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, let me just express my appreciation to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Prime Minister Hailemariam, as well as all the leaders represented here.  They have shown extraordinary leadership in trying to address the continuing situation in South Sudan, and this gives me and the…

National Palace Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 1:47 P.M. EAT PRIME MINISTER HAILEMARIAM:  Members of the press, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to once again welcome His Excellency, the President of the United States of America, to Ethiopia.  We are honored to receive a sitting U.S. President for the first time in the history of our…

President Obama has prioritized promoting U.S. trade with and investment in Africa, building Africa’s trade capacity, and extending preferential access to the U.S. market for African products.  U.S. non-petroleum imports from Africa increased by 46 percent and U.S. goods exports to Africa increased by 59 percent since 2009, evidence of growing trade ties between the…

The United States is committed to supporting African countries’ efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, support civil society, advance gender equality, improve governance, and protect human rights.  We view these efforts as priorities not just because they are vital by themselves, but also because good governance and human rights underpin sustainable economic growth and peaceful and…

The United States strongly condemns today’s abhorrent attack in Mogadishu, Somalia, which purposefully and cruelly targeted innocent civilians. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and other loved ones of the victims. Despite the very real progress Somalia has achieved in recent years, this attack is yet another reminder of the unconscionable atrocities that terrorist groups continue to perpetrate against the people…

Today at the White House, Secretary of State John Kerry and senior White House officials will host 13 of the largest companies from across the American economy who are standing with the Obama Administration to launch the American Business Act on Climate Pledge: Alcoa, Apple, Bank of America, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Cargill, Coca-Cola, General Motors,…