President Bush Discusses 2008 G8 Summit

State’s Glassman Discusses Public Diplomacy for the 21st Century

James Glassman, Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (July 2): "We want to influence foreign publics in the achievement of our foreign policy goals, the most important of which today being to diminish the threat to Americans' safety from terrorism and weapons of mass destruction and to help people around the world achieve freedom. And those goals are linked. According to our national security strategy, championing freedom advances our interests because the survival of liberty at home increasingly depends on the success of liberty abroad."

Ambassador Cloud Congratulates Vytautas Magnus University School of Law Graduates

Ambassador Cloud presents certificates to Vytautas Magnus University graduates

On June 21, Ambassador Cloud delivered the commencement speech at the graduation ceremony of the Vytautas Magnus University School of Law.  Ambassador Cloud congratulated the graduates and wished them great success as they shape the future of their country and the world.  A select number of the new lawyers also finished a specilized course of study offered through a partnership between Vytautas Magnus University and Michigan State University.  Ambassador Cloud personally presented these students the prestigious Certificate in Transnational Law they earned through this program. 

full text of remarks
view more pictures

Ambassador Cloud Congratulates Lithuanian Cadets

Ambassador Cloud and Defense Cooperation Officer LTC Richard T. Gibbons (right) present commissions to Lithuanian cadets

The U.S. Embassy's Office of Defense Cooperation hosted a ceremony to congratulate Lithuanians selected to attend military service academies in the United States on June 5.  Ambassador John Cloud presented commissions to each of the selectees at a ceremony held at the American Center.  Cadet Vytenis Bucius, currently in his second year at the Lithuanian Military Academy, will attend the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.  Cadet Tadas Goptaitis, also in his second year at the Lithuanian Military Academy, was given a commission for the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Mr. Justinas Zenkevicius, who will graduate from high school this year, was selected to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point in New York state.  The new cadets will not only have the honor of attending these prestigious academies, but will receive complete tuition for attendance from the U.S. government.  Upon graduating in 2012, they will begin serving in the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

Visiting DAS Graffy Surprises Winners of Student Art Competition

Deputy Assistant Secretary Colleen Graffy surrounded by Siauliai region students at the American Center

The American Center hosted an awards ceremony for a group of students who participated in an art competition sponsored by the American Corner in Siauliai.  Thirty young aspiring artists from the northern city created paintings based on their perceptions of the United States as part of a series of events geared towards students.  The American Center recognized all of the participants during the opening of a temporary exhibition of their creations housed at the Center and honored the three students whose artistic renderings best represented the United States and most demonstrated originality.  The winners received their awards from a surprise guest, the visiting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy Colleen Graffy.  Deputy Assistant Secretary Graffy spoke fondly to the students about growing up in the United States and encouraged them to all visit the place that inspired their art.

Trafficking in Persons Report Released

Secretary Rice: "We are pleased that in the seven years since the creation of the Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, the United States and our friends and allies have made important strides in confronting the reality that human beings continue to be bought and sold in the twenty-first century. It has been gratifying to witness the determined governments, human rights and women’s groups, faith-based organizations, and many brave individuals who are dedicated to advancing human dignity worldwide. Trafficking and exploitation plague all nations, and no country, even ours, is immune."

full report 
Text of Special Briefing by Secretary Rice and Ambassador Lagon
country report for Lithuania

Ambassador Cloud Commemorates the Service and Sacrifice of Fallen Military Personnel

Country Reports on Terrorism 2007

U.S. law requires the Secretary of State to provide Congress, by April 30 of each year, a full and complete report on terrorism with regard to those countries and groups meeting criteria set forth in the legislation. This annual report is entitled Country Reports on Terrorism. Beginning with the report for 2004, it replaced the previously published Patterns of Global Terrorism.

see also

2007 Terrorism Report Briefing
Dell L. Dailey
April 30, 2008
Coordinator of the Office for Counterterrorism Dell L. Dailey and Deputy Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Russ Travers brief on the 2007 Country Reports on Terrorism.

Remarks on the State Department's 2007 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

Secretary Rice (Washington DC, Mar. 11, 2008): "I am pleased today [to announce] the publication of the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2007. In every region of the world, men and women are working peacefully, and often at great risk to themselves and their families, to secure human rights and fundamental freedoms, to follow their consciences and speak their minds without fear, to choose those who would govern them and to hold their leaders accountable and to achieve equal justice under the law." Lithuania Report on Human Rights Practices - 2007 English Lithuanian