Hillary declares 'new era' for America

New Secretary of State Hillary Clinton proclaimed a "new era for America" at her first day of work and said President Barack Obama would visit her Thursday to show a new unity of purpose. "I believe with all my heart that this is a new era for America," Clinton told hundreds of diplomats and others upon arrival at the State Department a day after her confirmation by the Senate.
With a daunting set of challenges overseas, Clinton faces unfinished wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the troubled Middle East peace process, conflicts in Africa and efforts to revamp the tarnished US image overseas. The Obama administration is "committed to advancing America's national security, furthering America's interests and respecting and exemplifying America's values around the world," she said.
Clinton welcomed "candor" and a "good debate" in shaping US foreign policy, but vowed an end to the divisions that occurred between the White House and the State Department under Obama's predecessor George W. Bush. "We are expecting the president and the vice president (Joseph Biden) to be here in the State Department this afternoon," Clinton said, drawing massive cheers.
"We want to send a clear and unequivocal message: This is a team, and you are members of that team," she said. Nothing can get done, "unless we make clear we are all on the American team," Clinton said. "We are not any longer going to tolerate the kind of divisivenes that has paralysed and undermined our ability to get things done for America," she declared.
"So the president will be here on his second day in office to let all of you know ... how seriously committed he is to working with us," she said. Arriving about 15 minutes later than scheduled, a beaming Clinton emerged from a limousine and shook hands with many of the hundreds of staff present in the 20,000-strong bureaucracy.
Clinton, a former Obama presidential campaign rival, was confirmed Wednesday as secretary of state in a 94-2 Senate vote and was immediately sworn into office in a ceremony watched by her husband, former president Bill Clinton.
Congratulations came in from allies. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany, an ally which had seen ties fray with its US ally during the Bush presidency, sent a letter offering to work with her on Middle East peace and halting Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Germany is one of six countries working together in a bid to persuade Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Steinmeier has long called on Washington to consider direct talks with the leadership in Tehran.
At her confirmation hearing a week ago, Clinton told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the Obama administration would pursue "an attitude toward engagement (with Iran) that might bear fruit". But she did not mention whether Washington would set conditions for such a change in US policy after nearly 30 years of official silence with Tehran. The former US first lady also pledged to fight climate change and push hard for Arab-Israeli peace.