For more than 2 years before Ambassador Eisen arrived in Prague, the United States had no Ambassador in the Czech Republic, which spurred doubts and fears among our Czech allies--and as you said, they have really been great allies--about…

This is one of the prouder moments that I have had to introduce a nominee to any of our committees.

The Department underlined the role of an independent press as essential to a vibrant and well-functioning democracy.

All people yearn for certain things--the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed, confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice, government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the…

We have an extraordinary individual that I can commend to this committee because I know him very well.

The United States stands with those who advocate for free religious expression and works to protect the rights of all people to follow their conscience, free from persecution and discrimination.

The administration continues to call on Russia to fulfill its obligations under the 2008 cease-fire agreement.

the most important thing we can do with Turkey is to continue to engage, continue to hold out the advantages for them of integration with the West, while still respecting their own unique qualities.

supporting Georgia's consolidation of liberal democracy is actually a very important part of making Georgia more secure.

The impact on domestic deepwater hydrocarbon production as a result of these regulations is expected to be negative.

People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind and the heart and the soul.

electricity prices will necessarily skyrocket.

The administration has also been clear, both publicly and privately, that it supports Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

a full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all our interests.

The world is more secure and the interests of the United States are best advanced when we act collectively.

For the Palestinians, efforts to delegitimize Israel will end in failure. Symbolic actions to isolate Israel at the United Nations in September won't create an independent state.

In this new world in which we live the Foreign Service becomes all the more important.

I do not see the countries and peoples of Africa as a world apart; I see Africa as a fundamental part of our interconnected world, as partners with America on behalf of a future we want for all of our children. That partnership must be…