About the State Department A-Z index Secretary of State Colin L. Powell Senior State Department Officials Strategic Plans, Performance Reports Department Organization U.S. Embassies and Consulates State Magazine more... Press and Public Affairs Press Releases (Secretary) Press Releases (Other) Daily Press Briefings (Transcripts) Major State Department Publications Electronic Subscription Service more... Travel and Living Abroad Travel Warnings Emergencies Abroad Passports for U.S. Citizens Visas for Foreign Citizens more... Countries and Regions Haiti Iraq Country Background Notes U.S. Embassies, Consulates, Missions more... International Topics and Issues Human Rights Landmines International Affairs Budget more... History, Education and Culture Educational and Cultural Affairs Diplomatic History Student Page more... Business Center Doing Business in International Markets Contracting Opportunities Small Business Office Foreign Per Diem Rates Federal Regulations more... Other Services Children's Services Employee Services Notarial and Authentication Services more... Employment No FEAR Act Civil Service Foreign Service Student Programs International Organizations more... Monday, March 29, 2004  Seven Nations Join NATO Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia joined NATO on March 29 in Washington, DC. Secretary of State Colin Powell accepted ratification documents, known as instruments of accession, from the nations' prime ministers. The U.S. is the depositary nation for the North Atlantic Treaty, which means that new members submit their accession documents to a U.S. official. [Fact sheet; fact sheet pdf, 407KB]   World Food Prize The World Food Prize recognizes the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity, or availability of food in the world. The announcement of the winner(s) of the 2004 World Food Prize will take place at a Department ceremony today. Women's History Month Senior Coordinator for International Women’s Issues Charlotte Ponticelli travels to Kabul and Iraq to meet with women and to see first hand what the challenges are, so she can better direct resources to needs. Learn more about careers www.careers.state.gov at the State Department. Iraq One Year Later The year since Coalition forces began their campaign to free the Iraqi people has seen advances in many areas. Saddam Hussein’s regime is deposed. Iraqi freedom has been won, democracy is being built, and infrastructure and the quality of life have improved. Assistant Secretary Rocca spoke on Afghanistan reconstruction at an international conference held in Paris, France. The problem with promoting democracy in Burma has never been with a weak Burmese democracy movement, it has been with a recalcitrant junta that refuses to give up power. New "Country Background Notes" released for seven new NATO countries: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. The U.S. Government has released www.regulations.gov to make it easier for U.S. citizens to participate in Federal rulemaking. This site provides federal documents that are open for comment and published in the Federal Register. The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs has released the first edition of "Focus On Western Hemisphere," a newsletter about issues and events in the hemisphere. The first edition highlights the events surrounding the resignation of Haiti's former president Jean Bertrand Aristide.

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