Clinton leaves for Mideast tour
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 02, 2009 00:00
WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was flying to the Middle East and Europe yesterday in an attempt to improve relations with U.S. allies strained under the administration of former president George W. Bush.
A plane carrying Clinton and her aides took off from Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington at about 10:50 p.m. Saturday.
Traveling to both regions for the first time as America's top diplomat, the former first lady could put the best foot forward of the fledgling administration of President Barack Obama, who has vowed a new spirit of global cooperation.
At the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where Clinton is set to attend a donors conference today aimed at rebuilding the Gaza Strip, she will have to respond to the worries of European leaders who want Washington to pressure Israel to improve aid distribution to the Palestinian enclave, which has been beset by Israeli blockades.
"We would like the Israelis to go further," said European External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
Traveling to both regions for the first time as America's top diplomat, the former first lady could put the best foot forward of the fledgling administration of President Barack Obama, who has vowed a new spirit of global cooperation.
At the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where Clinton is set to attend a donors conference today aimed at rebuilding the Gaza Strip, she will have to respond to the worries of European leaders who want Washington to pressure Israel to improve aid distribution to the Palestinian enclave, which has been beset by Israeli blockades.
"We would like the Israelis to go further," said European External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.