What we are trying to do it break that cycle, regrettably there are missiles and fighter aircraft and guns and other things that have been placed into the South China Sea and this if of great concern to everyone who transits and relies on the South China Sea for peaceful trade.

John Kerry

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We're very outspoken, and we will remain very clear and outspoken on these issues, we had a very direct conversation today about human rights. They're ready to engage on these issues, and let's see what progress can be made. ... If they challenge their own citizens on the issue of human rights, you will hear us loudly and clearly taking them on with respect to that.

We only just finished the negotiation on diplomatic relations a month and a half ago, two months ago. We are just literally months into this after 54 years.

There's a sense of an opening possibility only -- and we're exploring whether or not we can find a series of steps that we agree on.

Obviously down the road at some point Iran could play a role, but we don't know yet whether they're ready to and willing to and capable of it.

I operate on the presumption that Iran is a fundamental danger, that they are engaged in negative activities throughout the [Middle East] region, that they’re destabilizing places, and that they consider Israel a fundamental enemy at this moment in time.

We want to ensure the security of critical sea lanes and fishing grounds and to see that disputes in the area are managed peacefully and on the basis of international law, i hope very much that at this meeting over the course of today and tomorrow we will find a way to move forward, effectively, together, all of us.

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We continue to call on Iran to immediately release the detained U.S. citizens, these Americans have remained in our thoughts throughout this negotiation. And we will continue to work for their safe and their swift return. And we urge Iran to bring our missing Americans home as well.

I urged China through Foreign Minister Wang to take actions that will join everybody in helping to reduce tensions and increase the prospect of a diplomatic solution.

It is not a one-way street, it is a two-way street, with mutual interests and mutual needs that need to be addressed, i am confident that with Camp David those views are going to take shape in a form that will greatly enhance our ability to meet the needs of our people, and the needs of all those people, who want a future that is free of terrorism....

President Obama completely understands the stakes. by John Kerry

President Obama completely understands the stakes.

Neither the United States nor Saudi Arabia are talking with each other or otherwise about sending ground troops into Yemen.

We do have the power to fight back, not only with our military and law enforcements, but also with something that may be more powerful and make a bigger difference in the end, and that is our unity, the only place for al Qaeda, al Shabaab, Boko Haram and others is in the past.

It was a good meeting. by John Kerry

It was a good meeting.

We have two and a half months more to negotiate; that's a serious amount of time with some serious business left to do, we hope Congress listens carefully and ask the questions that it wants. But also give us the space and the time to be able to complete a very difficult task which has high stakes for our country.

A lot of people felt that because of the hard fought election and the nature of the presidential contest that they would never come together and that Afghanistan would literally split wide open as a result, close up that is not what I saw.

This initiative reflects the strategic importance of the U.S.-Afghan relationship and it recognizes a new era of cooperation between our governments, this is a framework that will incentivize the Afghan public and Afghan government to put our house in order, to be able to spend money.

Today's productive meetings underscore both the enduring nature of the U.S.-Afghan friendship and the extent to which we have grown even closer after 14 years of shared sacrifice.

Those discussions remain ongoing. by John Kerry

Those discussions remain ongoing.

He was, of course, a uniquely astute analyst and observer of Asia, and it is largely through his life's work that Singapore became one of the United States' strongest strategic partners in the region.

Let me once again be clear: We don't want just any deal, if we had, we could have announced something a long time ago.