The Obama administration came into office offering outreach to Tehran, including a direct U.S.role in big-power contacts with Iran on its nuclear program.

VOA: standard.2009.06.24

In an affidavit,U.S.officials said Gwendolyn Myers described her contacts with Cuban agents, such as passing secrets by exchanging shopping carts at the supermarket.

VOA: standard.2009.06.06

An international security analyst with experience in kidnapping and ransom negotiations in Somalia tells VOA that an undisclosed amount of money was raised and subsequently paid through local Somali contacts.

VOA: standard.2009.11.26

But Marceil said it remained to be decided if there would be a five-way meeting on the subject, or just bilateral contacts on implementing the new U.N.sanctions resolution against Pyongyang approved after its latest nuclear test in late May.

VOA: standard.2009.07.15

Reports about the investigation say the alleged gunman, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, had contacts with a militant imam in Yemen and may have transferred money to some individuals or groups in Pakistan, where many militant groups operate.

VOA: standard.2009.11.16

"What is important for our friends and partners here in the Middle East to be assured of is that the United States will be very open and transparent about these contacts, and we will keep our friends informed of what is going on so that nobody gets surprised,".

VOA: standard.2009.05.05