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American Morning

Ask CNN: What Are the Duties of the U.S. Secretary of State?

Aired May 31, 2001 - 10:26   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: A CNN viewer wants to know: What are the duties of the secretary of state?

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Because the secretary of state is the president's principal adviser in U.S. foreign policy he or she, in the case of Madeleine Albright wear a number of different hats. Not only are they responsible for thousands of employees here at the State Department, but also for hundreds employees, U.S. diplomats who are posted at U.S. embassies and consulates all around the world.

The secretary of state implements or carries out the president's foreign policies, whether it be to take more of a hands-off approach towards mediating a peace deal between the Israelis and the Palestinians, to discourage a particular republic like Montenegro in the Balkans from declaring independence, or to reprimand the Russians for their military campaign in the breakaway republic of Chechnya.

The secretary of state also conducts negotiations relating to U.S. foreign policy, grants and issues passports, advises the president on appointment of ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives. He also works to promote a positive trading relationship between the U.S. and other countries.

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