New US Secretary of State is sworn in

Описание: (28 Jan 2005) SHOTLIST
1. Condoleezza Rice taking the oath with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; surrounded by family and President George W. Bush
2. Condoleezza Rice's family
3. George W. Bush and Rice at podium
4. Audience cut-away
5. SOUNDBITE (English) George. W Bush, U.S President
"Colin Powell leaves big Shoes to fill and Condy Rice is the right person to fill them."
6. Cutaway
7. SOUNDBITE (English) George. W Bush, U.S President
"Sunday's election is the first step in a process that allows Iraqis to write and pass a constitution that enshrines self-government and the rule of law."
8. Cutaway
9. SOUNDBITE (English) George. W Bush, U.S President
"This history is changing the world because the advent of democracy in Iraq will serve as a powerful example to reformers throughout the entire Middle East. On Sunday the Iraqi people will be joining millions from other parts of the world who now decide their future through free votes."
10. Audience clapping
11. Rice and Bush at podium cutaway
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Condoleezza Rice, United States Secretary of State
"Now it's time to build on those achievements to make the world safer and even more free. We must use American diplomacy to help create a balance of power that favours freedom. The time for diplomacy is now."
13. George W. Bush and Rice at podium
14. Family clapping
STORYLINE
Condoleezza Rice took the oath as United States secretary of state on Friday - for the second time - with President George W. Bush's assurance that she will lead by "character and conviction and wisdom."
Rice pledged to use diplomacy to spread democracy. "You have given us our mission and we are ready to serve our great country and the cause of freedom for which it stands," she said.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg administered the oath in the State Department's formal dining room on Friday, two days after Bush's national security adviser had been officially sworn in so that she could start her job.
She had taken the oath in a private ceremony on Wednesday night at the White House with Bush's chief of staff, Andrew H. Card Jr., administering it.
Both Bush and Rice paid tribute in their remarks to Colin Powell, who was secretary of state in Bush's first term. "All of us admire and appreciate the service of Colin Powell," the president said.
The second oath-taking was for the president to witness, along with Rice's family, friends - and the media.
Bush catapulted Rice to the role of top U.S. diplomat after she served for four years as his national security adviser. On Thursday she spoke to cheering State Department employees, held meetings on Iraq and the tsunami disaster and telephone conversations with seven foreign leaders as she planned a trip to Europe and the Middle East next week.
Her trip to Europe was widely expected, but not her foray to the Middle East.
It carries out a promise she made to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during her confirmation hearings that she would become personally involved in efforts to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict.
It will be a brief visit, tucked in-between European stops and confined to meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. There are no planned diversions to Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia or Iraq.
The aim is to measure the likelihood of generating momentum to drive Israel and the Palestinians to the peace table.
On Wednesday Rice met Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom at the White House and on Thursday she spoke on the telephone to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

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