US Mission Geneva

Two U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters arrived in Pakistan today as part of the continued U.S. humanitarian assistance to Pakistan in support of flood relief from the monsoon floods

Here at the White House, we have a tradition of hosting iftars that goes back several years, just as we host Christmas parties and seders and Diwali celebrations. And these events celebrate the role of faith in the lives of the American people.

As the United States Ambassador to the Human Rights Council, I want to echo Secretary of State Clinton’s deep concern at the Iranian government’s conviction to 20 years of imprisonment of seven leaders of the Iranian Baha’i community.

As Secretary Clinton stated yesterday, “The United States is committed to defending religious freedom around the world, and we have not forgotten the Baha’i community in Iran.” I call on my respected colleagues, fellow Ambassadors to the Human Rights Council, and others to join me in speaking out about Iran continuing to deny its citizens their civil rights and intimidating those Iranians who seek to hold their government accountable.

The United States is deeply concerned with the Iranian government’s continued persecution of Baha’is and other religious minority communities in Iran. This week, seven Baha’i leaders, who were incarcerated and held for nearly two years without due process, were each sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. The United States strongly condemns this sentencing as a violation of Iran’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg recently addressed the importance of religious freedom in America after city officials rebuffed an effort to halt the building of a mosque and community center near the site of the 9/11 attacks in Manhattan. Mayor Bloomberg said the U.S. Constitution guarantees Americans religious freedoms and that “Muslims are as much a part of our City and our country as the people of any faith and they are as welcome to worship in Lower Manhattan as any other group.”

As is the case with Muslim communities around the world, Ramadan for Muslims in America is marked by fasting and charity. But while fasting is observed one month of the year, many Muslim Americans make charity and giving back to their communities year-round activities.

A Blog by the Nine U.S. landscape architecture students who are spending the first two weeks of August studying the grounds surrounding the U.S. Mission and drafting a design to make our gardens greener and more sustainable.

The New START Treaty establishes the Bilateral Consultative Commission (BCC) to discuss issues related to Treaty implementation. The use of treaty-based commissions to agree on limited technical changes to improve or clarify implementation of treaty provisions is a well-established practice in arms control treaties.

As part of the United States’ Global Health Initiative (GHI), up to 20 countries will receive technical and management resources that will help them quickly implement innovative health solutions. The first eight countries have been chosen and work has begun.