Michele Kelemen http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100727&ft=1&f=2100727 A former NPR Moscow bureau chief, Michele Kelemen now covers the State Department. Her reports can be heard on all NPR News programs ? from Morning Edition to All Things Considered. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:14:23 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Michele Kelemen http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100727&ft=1&f=2100727 U.S. To Test The Waters With Iran's New President Rohani Iran's newly elected president is signaling he might take a more pragmatic, moderate approach to nuclear negotiations with major world powers. But there's a lot of debate in Washington policy circles about what Hassan Rohani's election might mean for the U.S. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:14:23 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/19/193346268/u-s-to-test-the-waters-with-irans-new-president-rohani?ft=1&f=2100727 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/19/193346268/u-s-to-test-the-waters-with-irans-new-president-rohani?ft=1&f=2100727 Iran's newly elected president is signaling he might take a more pragmatic, moderate approach to nuclear negotiations with major world powers. But there's a lot of debate in Washington policy circles about what Hassan Rohani's election might mean for the U.S.

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]]> U.S. Supplies For Syrian Rebels May Be Too Little, Too Late After determining that the Syrian government has crossed a red line by using chemical weapons, the White House has agreed to start sending military aid to the rebels. Some analysts think it may be too late to tip the balance in Syria, where Assad's forces backed by Hezbollah, Iran and Russia have been gaining ground. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=191713593&ft=1&f=2100727 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=191713593&ft=1&f=2100727 After determining that the Syrian government has crossed a red line by using chemical weapons, the White House has agreed to start sending military aid to the rebels. Some analysts think it may be too late to tip the balance in Syria, where Assad's forces backed by Hezbollah, Iran and Russia have been gaining ground.

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]]> U.S. To Provide Military Support To Opposition In Syria The Obama administration has decided to send military aid to the rebels in Syria. The decision was announced after the administration said it had concluded, with high confidence, that the Assad regime has used chemical weapons on multiple occasions over the past few months. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/14/191534495/u-s-to-provide-military-support-to-opposition-in-syria?ft=1&f=2100727 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/14/191534495/u-s-to-provide-military-support-to-opposition-in-syria?ft=1&f=2100727 The Obama administration has decided to send military aid to the rebels in Syria. The decision was announced after the administration said it had concluded, with high confidence, that the Assad regime has used chemical weapons on multiple occasions over the past few months.

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]]> Russian Rockers Visit Washington To Lobby For Band Mates Two members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot came to Washington to meet members of the Obama administration and Congress. The feminist activist band is hoping to persuade U.S. officials to visit two of their members in Russian penal colonies to highlight their plight. Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/07/189583919/russian-rockers-visit-washington-to-lobby-for-band-mates?ft=1&f=2100727 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/07/189583919/russian-rockers-visit-washington-to-lobby-for-band-mates?ft=1&f=2100727 Two members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot came to Washington to meet members of the Obama administration and Congress. The feminist activist band is hoping to persuade U.S. officials to visit two of their members in Russian penal colonies to highlight their plight.

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]]> Sen. McCain Urges U.S. To Do More For Syrian Rebels Sen. John McCain, just back from a quick foray to rebel-held territory in Syria, is pushing the Obama administration to do more to help rebels topple Bashar Assad's regime. His call comes as rebels lose ground in their fight, and as skepticism rises about the U.S.-Russian plans for a peace conference. Fri, 07 Jun 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/07/189430561/sen-mccain-urges-u-s-to-do-more-for-syrian-rebels?ft=1&f=2100727 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/07/189430561/sen-mccain-urges-u-s-to-do-more-for-syrian-rebels?ft=1&f=2100727 Sen. John McCain, just back from a quick foray to rebel-held territory in Syria, is pushing the Obama administration to do more to help rebels topple Bashar Assad's regime. His call comes as rebels lose ground in their fight, and as skepticism rises about the U.S.-Russian plans for a peace conference.

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]]> Samantha Power Picked To Take Over For Rice At U.N. President Obama has named a former journalist and activist to represent him at the United Nations. If confirmed, Samantha Power will replace Ambassador Susan Rice, who is returning to the White House to become national security adviser. Power's supporters see her as a voice of conscience in the Obama administration, an advocate for humanitarian interventions. Thu, 06 Jun 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/06/189113962/samantha-power-picked-to-take-over-for-rice-at-the-u-n?ft=1&f=2100727 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/06/189113962/samantha-power-picked-to-take-over-for-rice-at-the-u-n?ft=1&f=2100727 President Obama has named a former journalist and activist to represent him at the United Nations. If confirmed, Samantha Power will replace Ambassador Susan Rice, who is returning to the White House to become national security adviser. Power's supporters see her as a voice of conscience in the Obama administration, an advocate for humanitarian interventions.

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]]> Can U.S. And China Carve Out Peaceful Future In Asia? As President Obama meets his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, many experts hope this will be the start of something new: regular high-level contacts. History shows it is always dangerous when established powers face rising powers. Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=188974157&ft=1&f=2100727 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=188974157&ft=1&f=2100727 As President Obama meets his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, many experts hope this will be the start of something new: regular high-level contacts. History shows it is always dangerous when established powers face rising powers.

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]]> Egyptian Court Verdict Complicates Relations With Washington The State Department and several U.S. pro-democracy organizations have reacted strongly to a Cairo court ruling Tuesday. More than 40 foreign and local NGO workers were sentenced to prison for operating without a license. The ruling will likely spur calls in Congress for retaliation. Wed, 05 Jun 2013 05:33:37 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/05/188809582/egyptian-court-verdict-complicates-relations-with-washington?ft=1&f=2100727 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/05/188809582/egyptian-court-verdict-complicates-relations-with-washington?ft=1&f=2100727 The State Department and several U.S. pro-democracy organizations have reacted strongly to a Cairo court ruling Tuesday. More than 40 foreign and local NGO workers were sentenced to prison for operating without a license. The ruling will likely spur calls in Congress for retaliation.

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]]> Missile Shipment To Syria Complicates Kerry's Push For Peace Syrian President Bashar Assad says his country has received advanced missiles from Russia. The Russians say they are just fulfilling old contracts and argue that the S-300s are a defensive system that can't be used against rebels. But the timing of this shipment complicates Secretary of State John Kerry's work with Moscow on pushing for a peace conference. The U.S. and Russia seem to be working at cross purposes. Fri, 31 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=187586635&ft=1&f=2100727 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=187586635&ft=1&f=2100727 Syrian President Bashar Assad says his country has received advanced missiles from Russia. The Russians say they are just fulfilling old contracts and argue that the S-300s are a defensive system that can't be used against rebels. But the timing of this shipment complicates Secretary of State John Kerry's work with Moscow on pushing for a peace conference. The U.S. and Russia seem to be working at cross purposes.

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]]> Myanmar Leader's Visit To Washington A Historic Occasion The president of Myanmar, Thein Sein, met with President Obama in Washington, D.C., on Monday. Thein Sein's trip is the first state visit to the U.S. by a Burmese official in nearly 47 years. Mon, 20 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185596306&ft=1&f=2100727 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185596306&ft=1&f=2100727 The president of Myanmar, Thein Sein, met with President Obama in Washington, D.C., on Monday. Thein Sein's trip is the first state visit to the U.S. by a Burmese official in nearly 47 years.

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]]> Revisiting U.S. Commitment To The Middle East Two years ago on May 19, President Obama called for a new chapter in American diplomacy, promising to make it a top priority to support democracy and human rights in a changing Middle East. Some experts say that the U.S. has failed to live up to that commitment in places like Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. The conflict in Syria has also opened a darker chapter in the Arab uprisings. Sun, 19 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185247359&ft=1&f=2100727 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185247359&ft=1&f=2100727 Two years ago on May 19, President Obama called for a new chapter in American diplomacy, promising to make it a top priority to support democracy and human rights in a changing Middle East. Some experts say that the U.S. has failed to live up to that commitment in places like Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. The conflict in Syria has also opened a darker chapter in the Arab uprisings.

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]]> Obama, Erdogan To Discuss Syrian Conflict Moving Into Turkey Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets President Obama at the White House on Thursday. Their talks will focus on the Syrian conflict. Erdogan has been pushing the U.S. to do more to resolve a conflict. Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184399450/obama-erdogan-to-discuss-syrias-conflict-spilling-into-turkey?ft=1&f=2100727 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184399450/obama-erdogan-to-discuss-syrias-conflict-spilling-into-turkey?ft=1&f=2100727 Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets President Obama at the White House on Thursday. Their talks will focus on the Syrian conflict. Erdogan has been pushing the U.S. to do more to resolve a conflict.

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]]> Plans Proceed For Another International Meeting On Syria British Prime Minister David Cameron met with President Obama at the White House on Monday with Syria high on their agenda. Cameron came to Washington after talks in Russia with President Vladimir Putin that he described as "extremely positive and good." Tue, 14 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/14/183840276/plans-proceed-for-another-international-meeting-on-syria?ft=1&f=2100727 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/14/183840276/plans-proceed-for-another-international-meeting-on-syria?ft=1&f=2100727 British Prime Minister David Cameron met with President Obama at the White House on Monday with Syria high on their agenda. Cameron came to Washington after talks in Russia with President Vladimir Putin that he described as "extremely positive and good."

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]]> Kerry's Agenda: Priorities Emerge With Travel Secretary of State John Kerry has been in office for less than three months and as he travels the globe, his priorities are becoming clearer. He's trying to find a diplomatic solution to the Syrian crisis, revive Israeli Palestinian talks and convince China to use its influence with North Korea to resolve that issue diplomatically. Sat, 11 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/11/183072417/kerrys-agenda-priorities-emerge-with-travel?ft=1&f=2100727 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/11/183072417/kerrys-agenda-priorities-emerge-with-travel?ft=1&f=2100727 Secretary of State John Kerry has been in office for less than three months and as he travels the globe, his priorities are becoming clearer. He's trying to find a diplomatic solution to the Syrian crisis, revive Israeli Palestinian talks and convince China to use its influence with North Korea to resolve that issue diplomatically.

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]]> Kerry Appeals To Russia To Help End Syrian Civil War Secretary of State Kerry met with Russian leaders in Moscow on Tuesday in another attempt to forge a consensus on Syria. Tue, 07 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/07/182000628/kerry-appeals-to-russia-to-help-end-syrian-civil-war?ft=1&f=2100727 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/07/182000628/kerry-appeals-to-russia-to-help-end-syrian-civil-war?ft=1&f=2100727 Secretary of State Kerry met with Russian leaders in Moscow on Tuesday in another attempt to forge a consensus on Syria.

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