"It is my hope that the mosque will help to bring our city even closer together, and help repudiate the false and repugnant idea that the attacks of 9/11 were in any ways consistent with Islam."

VOA: standard.2010.08.03

It is going to have ups and downs." Iranians are moving towards a closer relationship with the rest of the world, even against their own government.

VOA: standard.2010.06.15

"This was a very important trip that both President Obama and I wanted to make early in the administration to send a very clear message that the Obama administration is committed to developing an even stronger and closer relationship with, not just the governments, but especially the peoples of Africa,"

VOA: standard.2009.08.16