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            Kerry Shrugs Off Criticism for 'No-show' at France Rally

   by William Gallo

   U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is dismissing criticism that neither
   he nor other top officials attended a solidarity rally in France
   following last week's terror attacks in Paris.

   Some media outlets in the U.S. have questioned why a senior American
   delegation was not sent to the massive Sunday rally, which was attended
   by more than 40 world leaders.

   The U.S. ambassador to France and the State Department's top diplomat
   for Europe, Victoria Nuland, were the highest-level U.S. officials to
   attend the rally.

   ''Speaking to reporters from India on Monday, Kerry called the
   criticism "sort of quibbling" and defended the Obama administration's
   handling of the situation.

   "I don't think the people of France have any doubt about America's
   understanding of what happened, about our personal sense of loss, our
   deep commitment to the people of France in this moment of trial," Kerry
   said.

   Kerry added that the U.S. "has been deeply engaged" and has been
   sharing intelligence with France from the moment the attack took place.

   The top U.S. diplomat is on a long-planned trip to India and Pakistan.
   U.S. officials say he will stop by France on Thursday before returning
   to Washington.

   "As everybody knows, I have been here in India for a prior planned
   event. I would have personally very much wanted to have been there, but
   couldn't do so because of the commitment I had here and it is important
   to keep these kinds of commitments," said Kerry.

   During his visit in France, Kerry will meet with French Foreign
   Minister Laurent Fabius and pay respects to the 17 victims of the
   attack on the French magazine and Kosher supermarket.

   The violence began when two gunmen attacked the office of the Charlie
   Hebdo satirical magazine, which had posted satirical images of the
   Muslim Prophet Muhammad, among other religious figures.

   The attack has prompted an international outpouring of support for the
   magazine and condemnation of the attackers, who pledged allegiance to
   the Islamic State group and al-Qaida.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-shrugs-off-criticism-not-attending-france-rally/2594969.html