Thank you for spending a little bit of time with me earlier this week.

As we are increasingly concerned about security interests, we tend to spend a little bit less time focusing on some of the human rights issues.

Ultimately, obviously, we believe that there is going to be an ability for Ukraine to have a relationship with Europe but also have a significant relationship with Russia.

I think we should continue to stand by our allies.

I believe we have. The challenge is that many of those costs will play out over time.

The fact that Russia is now violating its obligations is another sign that under President Putin Russia is operating in a manner that threatens the security of all European states.

I believe that what Putin has done here has actual, maybe not in the short term, but in the mid to longer term, real consequences for Russia economically.

Many of the questions would be the same: the frozen conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the name issue in Macedonia, the status of Montenegro's NATO accession.

I would just say that if confirmed, one of my top priorities would be full implementation of the KORUS FTA.

ethnic reconciliation is a key element of the lasting regional peace in the Balkans

I am confident that your rich and deep experience and long service here has equipped you better than anyone who could possibly be nominated.

The Communist Party did oppose the association agreement, so it seems that for the time being they have cast their lot against European integration.

Macedonia has contributed significantly to NATO operations in Afghanistan, and they too deserve an opportunity to join the alliance.

I do think that the demonstrations that we have seen in Bosnia and Herzegovina in recent weeks show an increasing frustration from the population with their leaders.

I think if Ukraine is able to address those issues--and it is going to be tough.

Switzerland will benefit from this agreement. Other countries on the edges of the EU will no doubt benefit.

It will be a hard road for them to travel.

I specifically--working with Senator Rubio--looked at what was happening in Venezuela and said to ourselves: This is amazing; here in the Western Hemisphere you have a country that is violating its citizens' human rights simply protesting…

But Ukraine will have to pay its energy bills, and that is part and parcel of the program that is being put forward for the country.

When you go to these parts of the world and say, 'Well, you care about human rights, and you care about democracy, and you care about freedom unless it is some country that is critically important to you in some way.'

We were rebuffed by the administration in pursuing sanctions against the Maduro regime.

I just want to underscore how important this program is, especially for families where English is not the primary language.

most or all of the long-term longitudinal studies of kids who participate in Head Start show that on a host of long-term measures, whether it be how many of them go to college, measures of their physical health, do they end up in trouble…

America of course was a refuge for thousands of Czechs fleeing both Nazi occupation and Soviet control.

It was disappointing to see Armenia cast one of the few votes against condemning Russia's annexation of Crimea.