Clinton Confirmed by Senate; Pledges Active Global Diplomacy, Says UN Reform a Priority for Obama

January 22, 2009

One day after a near unanimous confirmation vote in the Senate, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today visited the State Department and addressed her new employees, vowing to “make it abundantly clear that robust diplomacy and effective development are the best long-term tools for securing America’s future.” Clinton focused on these same themes during her confirmation hearing last week, during which she emphasized the importance of international cooperation in today’s interdependent world. After being approved by the Foreign Relations Committee late last week by a vote of 16-1, Clinton’s nomination as Secretary of State was confirmed yesterday by a full Senate vote of 94-2. Senators Jim DeMint (R-SC) and David Vitter (R-LA) voted against the nomination.

Clinton Stresses Need for Global Cooperation

In her prepared remarks for last week’s hearing, Clinton said the United States cannot solve the most pressing global problems acting alone, while, at the same time, the rest of the world cannot effectively resolve them without U.S. participation. “The best way to advance America’s interest in reducing global threats and seizing global opportunities is to design and implement global solutions,” Clinton noted. “This isn’t a philosophical point,” she said. “This is our reality.”

Says Diplomacy Will be Vanguard of Foreign Policy

To help build and implement effective global solutions, Clinton said the United States should rely on “smart power”, which she defined as using “the full range of tools at our disposal—diplomatic, economic, military, political, legal, and cultural—picking the right tool, or combination of tools, for each situation.” However, she left no doubt that diplomatic tools will play the lead role, stating, “With smart power, diplomacy will be the vanguard of foreign policy.” Clinton promised that, if confirmed, the "State Department will be firing on all cylinders to provide forward-thinking, sustained diplomacy in every part of the world,” including by partnering with international organizations.

U.S. Should Work with UN “Whenever Appropriate and Possible”

Clinton also specifically addressed the topic of U.S. participation in the United Nations. She said the United States should use the UN, as well as other international institutions, “whenever appropriate and possible.” She also observed that Democratic and Republican presidents alike “have understood for decades that these institutions, when they work well, enhance our influence.” When they do not work well, Clinton said the United States should “work with like-minded friends to make sure that these institutions reflect the values that motivated their creation in the first place.”

UN Management Reform Will be Priority for Obama Administration

Later in the hearing, in response to a question from Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) about UN management reform and U.S. financial support of the United Nations, Clinton said the “UN must reform.” She said management reform is a priority for President Obama and stated that the organization “has to be more transparent, more efficient, and we are going to press for those kinds of changes.”

Calls for Two-Track Commitment to UN: Push for Reform and Pay Dues

“At the same time,” Clinton added, “the United States has to be a good partner with the UN so that if we use the UN, as we do, for peacekeeping or other actions…we're going to have to bear our burden.” She said the United States must have a two-track commitment to the United Nations: work with member states and UN officials to make the UN more efficient and transparent, while also meeting U.S. financial obligations to avoid undermining American efforts to promote reform. “We've got to work with our partners at the United Nations,” Clinton said, “as well as the permanent bureaucracy there, to do everything we can to try to streamline the operations, modernize the system, make them more transparent, and then we have to be sure we do our part so we don't lose credibility as we push that reform agenda.”

Administration to Push for Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Ratification

Referring to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as the “cornerstone of the nonproliferation regime,” Clinton said the United States “must exercise the leadership needed to shore up the regime.” To help do so, Clinton said the Obama administration will work with the Committee and the Senate in support of U.S. ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

Clinton: U.S. Must Help Lead Global Climate Change Efforts

Clinton said the United States must provide leadership for international efforts to combat climate change, including at the upcoming UN climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, at the end of 2009. “The world is in need of an urgent, coordinated response to climate change,” Clinton noted, “and…America must be a leader in developing and implementing it.” She said the Administration will appoint a special envoy for climate change negotiations because “we want to elevate it and we want to have one person who will lead our international efforts.” She also agreed with comments by Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) that “our credibility leading internationally will depend, in large measure, on what we're able to accomplish here at home.”

Says U.S. Must be Strong Supporter of Women’s Rights

Clinton stressed that U.S. foreign policy must reflect America’s commitment to human rights. Stating that the plight of women and girls is of particular concern to her, Clinton observed, “If half of the world’s population remains vulnerable to economic, political, legal, and social marginalization, our hope of advancing democracy and prosperity will remain in serious jeopardy.” She said the United States “must remain an unambiguous and unequivocal voice in support of women’s rights in every country, every region, on every continent.”

Law of the Sea Treaty a Priority, Ratification “Long Overdue”

In response to a question from Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Clinton said U.S. ratification of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea would be one of her priorities as Secretary of State. Clinton said ratification is “long overdue,” noting that the treaty is supported by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, environmental, energy and business interests. She said U.S. Navy officials “consider themselves to be somewhat disadvantaged by our not having become a party to the Law of the Sea.”