Clinton to miss two ministerial meetings

WASHINGTON, June 22 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, on her doctor's advice, will not travel to Europe for two meetings, the State Department said Monday.

Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg will attend the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe meeting in Corfu, Greece, and Undersecretary William Burns will represent the United States at the Group of Eight foreign ministerial meeting in Trieste, Italy, department spokesman Ian Kelly said during a media briefing.

Kelly said Clinton, sidelined last week with a fractured right elbow and an operation to repair the damage, called the foreign ministers of Italy and Greece "to express her regret that she wouldn't be able to attend those two meetings."

"The secretary was in the office this (Monday) morning. She attended her morning staff meetings," Kelly said. "She's already made a few phone calls. She made a bunch of phone calls over the weekend, as well."

Kelly said she has some mobility issues because there's a "big cast" on her arm and it's in a sling.

"And she's a right-hander, so ... she's got some dexterity and mobility issues," the spokesman said. "But she was on top of her game this morning."