Good evening, and thank you for inviting me to speak to you during Hunger Week.  I understand this is a long-held, honorable tradition at your university and one that you should be proud of: a week of awareness-raising, volunteering and fundraising around hunger issues.  I am honored to be here with you, and eager to …

Thank you Mr. President, and thank you Madame Executive Director for your thoughtful and comprehensive presentations.  Please allow me to join others in welcoming Stephen O’Brien to WFP and to his new role as Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator, although I’m sure he’s not feeling too new at this point after a few intense months …

Good afternoon.  I am happy to be here with you today in recognition of the “International Day of Family Remittances.”   Before I share a few words with you on the importance and impact of remittances, I would like to first thank IFAD both for taking the initiative to draw global attention to the importance of …

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Agencies in Rome, David Lane, participated in the “Road to Expo: Water for Food” conference in Rome, an event organized in cooperation with the National Research Council (CNR) at the American Studies Center and the U.S. Embassy to Italy. The conference promoted the role of science and technology in improving …

This morning I would like to begin by acknowledging the heroic work and sacrifice of WFP staff and contractors across the organization this past year, and likewise for WFP’s implementing partners.  In particular and with great sadness, we acknowledge Mr. Ayman Omar, Mr. Abdul Qader Haj Jneid, Mr. Ahmad Haj Jneid,  and Mr. Housien Hammoud …

Buona Sera!  Honored Guests, Fellow Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives, Friends and Colleagues – Good Evening. On the Fourth of July each year, Americans gather with family and friends to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  On behalf of our team at the U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies I would …

Thank you, Madam President. Madam Executive Director, and Distinguished Colleagues: Please allow me to begin by thanking Commissioner Georgieva for her tireless work to help the world meet humanity’s greatest challenges. Georgieva spoke powerfully of the partnerships.  The United States is grateful for the partnerships you have championed between Europe, the United States, the United …

General Corsini, Vice Admiral Davidson, Commissioner Dorgan, I am greatly honored to be here today. I am particularly grateful to see that we are joined today by two veterans of the fighting here, as well as four family members of soldiers who participated in the Italian campaign. Italy, the United States and indeed the world …

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Agencies in Rome David J. Lane Leads Food Security Focused Media Tour to Tanzania Ambassador David J. Lane, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the Rome-based United Nations Food and Agriculture Agencies, led a media tour to Tanzania from January 7 – 12, 2013.  He visited rural …

Thank you all for joining Ambassador Jeanine Jackson, World Food Programme Deputy Director Baton Osmani, and USAID Mission Director Douglass Arbuckle and me today.  As the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Agencies in Rome, I am very pleased to have this opportunity to share some thoughts with you.  In my position, …

Laws are the instrument by which citizens, through their government, protect themselves from, and regulate their relationships with each other.  But, we rely on the rule of law not only to protect us, but to empowerus, by creating an environment that is fair, equal, consistent, and transparent for people to pursue their lives and reach …

David J. Lane, United States Ambassador to the UN Agencies in Rome (USUN) addressed an audience representing over 20 countries at the XI Annual Worldwide Forum on Education and Culture on November 29th in Rome.  This year’s XI Forum focused on “Learning and Living Around the World:  New Perspectives for New Challenges.” Ambassador Lane stressed …

David J. Lane, the United States Ambassador to the UN Agencies in Rome (USUN) was honored to be a guest speaker at the 50thanniversary of the University of California Education Abroad Programs in Rome.  The anniversary celebration took place in the beautiful Borromini-designed 17th century Vallicelliana  Library in Rome. Ambassador Lane reminded students, faculty and …

Today we celebrate the founding of the World Food Programme (WFP) 50 years ago, and take the occasion to renew our commitment to WFP’s mandate of saving, restoring and rebuilding lives around the world.  The United States played a critical role in the establishment of WFP when, in 1961, George McGovern, then the director of …

Mr. Director-General, Mr. President, distinguished delegates; I am honored to represent the United States Government at this 27th General Assembly of ICCROM, an organization of which the United States has been a proud member since 1971.  For the United States, the conversations we will hold and the decisions we make here on global cooperation in …

Former U.S. Senator and Ambassador to the U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome George McGovern died on Sunday at the age of 90. George McGovern’s dedication to combating global hunger helped drive food and agriculture development around the world.   The loss of this important global champion of the poor is particularly felt …

The Ambassador of the United States of America to the United Nations Agencies in Rome, David J. Lane, presented his diplomatic credentials to the heads of the UN Agencies in Rome this week. On Monday, August 6, 2012 Ambassador Lane presented his credentials to José Graziano da Silva, the Director-General of the UN Food and …

The Ambassador of the United States of America to the United Nations Agencies in Rome, David J. Lane, presented  his diplomatic credentials to Stefano De Caro, the Director-General of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) at the Centre’s headquarters in Rome on Thursday, August 23, 2012 …

Ertharin Cousin, United States Ambassador to the UN Agencies in Rome, spoke about “Women and Multilateralism: Harvesting What We Sow” at an awards ceremony on March 6th that opened a women’s leadership conference in Bern, Switzerland. The three-day bilateral women’s leadership conference: “Sister Republics:  Building Bridges – an action plan for women’s leadership” was organized …

USUN Rome participated in the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s (IFAD) 35th Governing Council held in Rome February 22-23.  The conference theme was,  “Sustainable smallholder agriculture: feeding the world, protecting the planet.”   There were powerful voices who spoke out in support of smallholder farmers:  United States Ambassador to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Agencies, Ertharin …

On September 13, over 100 students, faculty and staff from Loyola University’s campus in Rome listened to Ambassador Ertharin Cousin’s moving remarks to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of September 11th.   Ambassador Cousin poignantly told the students that “the rising democracies of today – like the ones rising up out of the Arab Spring – are …

Thank you, Madame President. The United States thanks the Executive Director for her strong statement today, and the United States welcomes the presence of WFP Hunger Ambassador Peter Bakker. Madame Executive Director, Since the last meeting of the Executive Board in February, we have once again experienced great personal losses. The United States expresses its …

Ambassador Ertharin Cousin served as keynote speaker at the Latin American Food Bank and Food Security Conference in Bogota, Colombia on May 26.  Among other important topics, in her address she discussed her work as U.S. government representative to the UN Food and Agriculture agencies in Rome—the organizations that are at the heart of international …

On May 20th, Ambassador Ertharin Cousin visited the University of Minnesota where she received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree—the highest honor conferred by the university. She spoke to the university about the U.S. government’s important work with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Agencies headquartered in Rome, Italy. The Ambassador also commended the University …

On Wednesday, May 18th Ambassador Ertharin Cousin joined the League of Black Women at their 8th Annual Global Leadership conference, “Black Women 2011: New World Power . . . When Your World Is Not Enough”. The Conference took place in Tampa, Florida. There she joined over 100 African American female professionals and students all present …

Saturday, April 2nd, the three U.S. Ambassadors accredited to the Italian Republic, the Holy See and the United Nations agencies, together with the Mayor of Rome Gianni Alemanno, took part in the “Clean Faces for Our Buildings” event to clean up the tags from the walls of Piazza Annibaliano in the II Municipio. After last …