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Secretary of State John Kerry Cuts Europe Trip Short After Breaking Leg Secretary of State John Kerry Cuts Europe Trip Short After Breaking Leg
(about 2 hours later)
GENEVA — Secretary of State John Kerry plans to cut short his trip to Europe after breaking a leg while bicycling on Sunday and will return to Boston for medical treatment. GENEVA — Secretary of State John Kerry plans to cut short his trip to Europe after breaking a leg while bicycling on Sunday and will return to Boston for medical treatment.
The State Department said that Mr. Kerry’s bike struck a curb while he was cycling near Scionzier, France. He never lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital in Geneva, where he was staying overnight.The State Department said that Mr. Kerry’s bike struck a curb while he was cycling near Scionzier, France. He never lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital in Geneva, where he was staying overnight.
Mr. Kerry, 71, had been scheduled to fly to Madrid on Sunday afternoon for an official visit there. He was then set to travel to Paris for a meeting on Tuesday of foreign ministers from the coalition the United States has assembled to confront the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL.Mr. Kerry, 71, had been scheduled to fly to Madrid on Sunday afternoon for an official visit there. He was then set to travel to Paris for a meeting on Tuesday of foreign ministers from the coalition the United States has assembled to confront the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL.
Those travel plans have been canceled, but Mr. Kerry expects to participate in the Paris event by videoconference.Those travel plans have been canceled, but Mr. Kerry expects to participate in the Paris event by videoconference.
John Kirby, a State Department spokesman, said that the secretary would return to the United States in “an aircraft outfitted to ensure he remains comfortable and stable throughout the flight.” He added, “Its use is nothing more than a prudent medical step on the advice of physicians.” Aides and reporters traveling with the secretary flew back to Washington on his plane.John Kirby, a State Department spokesman, said that the secretary would return to the United States in “an aircraft outfitted to ensure he remains comfortable and stable throughout the flight.” He added, “Its use is nothing more than a prudent medical step on the advice of physicians.” Aides and reporters traveling with the secretary flew back to Washington on his plane.
Mr. Kerry has kept a grueling pace as the United States’ chief diplomat. According to the State Department, he has visited 63 countries and traveled for 356 days since becoming secretary of state.Mr. Kerry has kept a grueling pace as the United States’ chief diplomat. According to the State Department, he has visited 63 countries and traveled for 356 days since becoming secretary of state.
Mr. Kerry had been planning an active month of diplomacy, including extensive travel to meet with Iranian officials in Europe, to try to conclude an accord limiting Iran’s nuclear program by a June 30 deadline. On Saturday, Mr. Kerry met here for six hours with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif. It was not clear how quickly he would be able to resume his travel schedule. Mr. Kerry had been planning an active month of diplomacy, including extensive travel to meet with Iranian officials in Europe, to try to conclude an accord limiting Iran’s nuclear program by a June 30 deadline. Mr. Kerry met here for six hours on Saturday with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Mr. Kerry’s previous effort to negotiate the outline of that agreement in March and early April involved marathon negotiation sessions in Lausanne that went through the night. It was not clear how quickly Mr. Kerry would be able to resume his travel schedule or what effect his injury might have on the pace of the Iran talks. Mr. Kerry has played the lead role for the United States in the key negotiation rounds. His previous effort to negotiate the outline of that agreement in March and early April involved marathon negotiation sessions in Lausanne that went through the night.
He had left Sunday morning open in case his Saturday talks with the Iranians were extended. But those talks ended Saturday afternoon, and on Sunday morning Mr. Kerry decided to cycle a route that had been part of the Tour de France using a bicycle that he had brought with him. Mr. Kerry had also been expected to travel to Cuba if an agreement was finalized soon to open the U.S. embassy there.
Mr. Kerry had left Sunday morning open in case his Saturday talks with the Iranians were extended. But those talks ended Saturday afternoon, and on Sunday morning Mr. Kerry decided to cycle a route that had been part of the Tour de France using a bicycle that he had brought with him.
Agence France-Presse, quoting French officials, said that Mr. Kerry had coordinated the cycling trip with the local authorities. Mr. Kerry fell as he was riding at a low speed at the start of a challenging climb up the Col de la Colombière, the report said.Agence France-Presse, quoting French officials, said that Mr. Kerry had coordinated the cycling trip with the local authorities. Mr. Kerry fell as he was riding at a low speed at the start of a challenging climb up the Col de la Colombière, the report said.
Reporters traveling with the secretary of state were not with him at the time of the accident. They were informed about it more than 90 minutes later, after Mr. Kerry had been taken to the hospital and was being evaluated there.Reporters traveling with the secretary of state were not with him at the time of the accident. They were informed about it more than 90 minutes later, after Mr. Kerry had been taken to the hospital and was being evaluated there.
“Secretary Kerry broke his right femur in a bicycling accident this morning in Scionzier, France,” Mr. Kirby, the State Department spokesman, said in a statement. “Given the injury is near the site of his prior hip surgery, he will return to Boston today to seek treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital with his doctor who did the prior surgery.”“Secretary Kerry broke his right femur in a bicycling accident this morning in Scionzier, France,” Mr. Kirby, the State Department spokesman, said in a statement. “Given the injury is near the site of his prior hip surgery, he will return to Boston today to seek treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital with his doctor who did the prior surgery.”
The statement added that Mr. Kerry was in good spirits and expected to make a full recovery.The statement added that Mr. Kerry was in good spirits and expected to make a full recovery.
Mr. Kerry, who has led an active athletic life, has been injured before. After a collision in a pickup hockey game, he appeared at the 2012 State of the Union address with two black eyes and broken nose.