Kerry calls foreign officials in first day on job

WASHINGTON (AP) ? New Secretary of State John Kerry had a busy first full day, calling officials in Israel, Turkey, Canada and Mexico.

The State Department says Kerry spoke with Israeli President Shimon Peres (shee-MOHN' PEHR'-ehs) on Saturday about the formation of the country's new government and the Mideast peace process.

Kerry got an update from Turkey's foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu (AH'-meht dah-voot-OH'-loo), about the investigation into Friday's suicide bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara.

Among the issues that came up during Kerry's conversation with Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird were Iran, Mali and the proposed oil pipeline that would run from Canada to Texas.

Kerry and Mexico's foreign minister, Jose Antonio Meade, discussed the deadly blast at the headquarters of Mexico's state-owned oil company.

Kerry, who was sworn in Friday afternoon, had lunch with George Shultz, secretary of state under President Ronald Reagan.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-02-03-US-Kerry/id-bef2695375454c62bfe9cee35e4eaaa3

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