>>23727743

Common Ground Awards in Honor of the Late Ambassador Chris Stevens

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Secretary of State

The Carnegie Institution for Science

Washington, DC

November 8, 2012

SECRETARY CLINTON: This is a very moving moment to honor someone whose life and work truly exemplify the meaning of“search for common ground”And I greatly appreciate everyone who has supported this organization and its mission over a number of years, John Marks and Susan Collin Marks, my longtime friend Ambassador George Moose, members of the Diplomatic Corps, and supporters of Search for Common Ground.

When the revolution broke out in Libya, I asked Chris to travel to Benghazi.And he did so on a Greek cargo ship, like a 19th century envoy. It certainly appealed to his romantic side. But his work was very much 21st century hardnosed diplomacy and relationship building. Even when a bomb exploded in the parking lot of the hotel where he was staying, he never wavered.

Chris would have been the first to say that the terrorists who attacked our mission in Benghazi on September 11th did not represent the millions of Libyans who want peace and deplore violence. You saw and you heard the President’s inspired and inspiring words about that. Chris understood that most people, in Libya or anywhere, reject the extremist arguments that violence and death are the only way to reclaim dignity and achieve justice. He understood that’s why he was in Libya, and there was no substitute for going beyond the Embassy walls, building relationships, and finding common ground. He also knew that when America is absent, especially from the dangerous places, there are consequences. Extremism takes root, our interests suffer, and our security at home is threatened.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5KAorKQOeU

https://2009-2017.state.gov/secretary/20092013clinton/rm/2012/11/200357.htm

>>23727785

>>23727743

Town Hall With Search for Common Ground and Congolese University Students

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Secretary of State

St. Joseph's School

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

August 10, 2009

Please be at ease, comrades. Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Mutombo are with us for a frank and open dialogue. Listen – let’s listen to their advice. Let’s take advantage of their experience…

I also want to bring greetings to you from President Obama. He has deep ties to Africa, and he is proud to be a son of Africa.

MR. MUTOMBO: Yes. Thank you, Madame Secretary. One thing I wanted to add is I was a regular student like each one of you in this room and I received a scholarship because of my grade from the USAID here in Kinshasa, but I went to America. You don’t have to just have to wait for the U.S. Government to give you a scholarship. But there’s a way you can look at the scholarship by yourself and search in the computer, look at a bunch of university websites. And again, you can get financial aid or you can get the full scholarship based how you’re doing your school. And there are people in the U.S. Embassy, I believe, who can help you with whatever the information you need to get a scholarship.

STUDENT: I am a little bit concerned at the disappearance of Laurent-Désiré Kabila, which I can attribute there are some origins in the United States. So what – can you reassure us today – us, Congolese students – that is it true that if I become president tomorrow of this country,will I be autonomous and independent and work for the interest of my compatriots, or will I be – will I be killed if I refuse to follow what I am being told?(Applause.)

STUDENT: I’m a student at the University of Kinshasa in law. Earlier, you just mentioned a choice, or an offer.This choice is motivated by what? We are – are we – do we – are we inspiring your pity so much that you say I have to go here and help these people, or what is your motivation?

Secondly, you are here –you finance COJESKI through the Search for Common Ground.What we – the youth, can we expect from your visit here and, in particular, through COJESKI?

https://documents.sfcg.org/articles/hillary-clinton-town-hall-scoop.pdf

>>23727847

COJESKI

Collectif des Organisations des JeunesnSolidaires du Congo-Kinshasa

Collective of Organizations and Youth Associations in Congo-Kinshasa

Unfortunately for Secretary Clinton and for the Congolese who might eventually gain protection from the increased US aid, international media coverage of the Clinton visit was heavily skewed toward her supposed “gaffe.” In Kinshasa, Secretary Clinton took part in a “town meeting” or questionand-answer session at Collège Saint-Joseph (St. Joseph’s School), organized by the NGOs Search for Common Ground and COJESKI (Collectif des Organisations des Jeunes Solidaires du Congo-Kinshasa/Collective of Organizations and Youth Associations in Congo-Kinshasa).

https://www.rahs-open-lid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Congo-PDFDrive