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Clinton pledges to use diplomacy Clinton pledges to use diplomacy
(about 3 hours later)
Hillary Clinton has pledged to use a "smart" mix of military and diplomatic power as US secretary of state, in testimony before a US Senate committee.Hillary Clinton has pledged to use a "smart" mix of military and diplomatic power as US secretary of state, in testimony before a US Senate committee.
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee is conducting a hearing to confirm Mrs Clinton's appointment as secretary of state. The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee conducted the hearing to confirm Mrs Clinton's appointment as secretary of state.
The former New York Senator has been greeted warmly by her ex-colleagues. The New York Senator was greeted warmly by her ex-colleagues.
But they may ask tough questions about conflicts of interest triggered by her husband, former President Bill Clinton. But she was also asked questions about conflicts of interest triggered by her husband, former President Bill Clinton.
Mr Clinton's charitable foundation has received a number of donations from foreign governments and multinational corporations.Mr Clinton's charitable foundation has received a number of donations from foreign governments and multinational corporations.
'Smart power''Smart power'
In her opening statement, Mrs Clinton expressed a desire to strengthen America's relationship with its allies.In her opening statement, Mrs Clinton expressed a desire to strengthen America's relationship with its allies.
"America cannot solve the most pressing problems on our own, and the world cannot solve them without America," she said."America cannot solve the most pressing problems on our own, and the world cannot solve them without America," she said.
"We must use what has been called 'smart power', the full range of tools at our disposal," she added."We must use what has been called 'smart power', the full range of tools at our disposal," she added.
"With 'smart power', diplomacy will be the vanguard of foreign policy.""With 'smart power', diplomacy will be the vanguard of foreign policy."
Mrs Clinton will spend a few hours answering questions from lawmakers on the committee. On North Korea, she indicated that she and Mr Obama support the existing six-party framework for negotiating that country's nuclear disarmament.
The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says Mrs Clinton's views on foreign policy appeal to centrists and she will be working for a popular president, so no-one expects a tough grilling. North Korea, South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the US are involved in continuing talks on ending Pyongyang's plutonium enrichment.
Our correspondent says that on Capitol Hill and around Washington, everybody is eager to learn more about what she and her boss are planning on a wide range of foreign policy issues - from Iran to the Middle East, Russia and Afghanistan. "Our goal is to end the North Korean nuclear programmes," she told the hearing.
The vote on the nomination is scheduled for Thursday, a sign that the committee's chairman, Sen John Kerry, does not expect there to be any stumbling blocks, she adds. The six-party framework, she added, "provides an opportunity... for bilateral contact as well between North Korea and the United States".
Two Republican members of the committee brought up her husband's charitable foundation.
Richard Lugar, the most senior Republican on the panel, remarked that the existence of Mr Clinton's foundation represented a "unique complication" that required "great care and transparency".
And Louisiana Senator David Vitter said Mr Clinton's fundraising activities posed "real and perceived conflict issues" for Mrs Clinton.
The BBC's James Coomarasamy in Washington says the atmosphere in the committee room was collegial and that on many issues, Mrs Clinton expressed views that were not dissimilar to those of the Bush administration.
The vote on the nomination is scheduled for Thursday, a sign that the committee's chairman, Senator John Kerry, does not expect there to be any stumbling blocks, correspondents say.