On a government website, “Exception: forbidden” is a technical error message that usually corresponds to an HTTP 403 “Forbidden” response. It means the server received your request but is refusing to let you see the page, commonly because of access‑control or configuration settings on the server rather than anything you did wrong as a visitor.
The specific State Department page is likely unavailable because of a server‑side problem on state.gov, such as misconfigured permissions, access restrictions during a site change, or other technical issues. The site itself is responding with a generic “Technical Difficulties… Exception: forbidden” message, which indicates the server is blocking access to that content rather than the page simply not existing or your connection being at fault.
If a specific “Secretary’s Remarks” page is down, you can usually: 1) search the State Department site for the title or key phrases; 2) check the Secretary’s main “Remarks” archive; and 3) look at reputable mirrors or archives.
For this Bhutan National Day message, the text beginning “On behalf of the United States of America, I extend warm wishes to the people of Bhutan as you commemorate your National Day on December 17” has been republished verbatim by independent archivers, which can be used until state.gov is accessible again.
“Secretary’s Remarks” are formal statements made by the U.S. Secretary of State. They typically include speeches, prepared statements, and official comments on foreign policy, bilateral relations, major international events, and ceremonial occasions such as national days and anniversaries. These remarks are part of the Department’s public diplomacy and are published on state.gov in a dedicated archive.
Bhutan National Day is Bhutan’s main national holiday, celebrated on December 17 each year to mark the 1907 coronation of Ugyen Wangchuck as the country’s first king and the start of the hereditary monarchy. The U.S. State Department issues remarks for such national days to extend congratulations, signal respect for the country’s history and sovereignty, and highlight areas of cooperation or shared interests in the bilateral relationship.
Yes. When a specific state.gov page is down, alternative official or near‑official sources can include: 1) the State Department’s searchable archives of releases and remarks; 2) prior or parallel postings on archived State Department domains (e.g., 2017–2021 or 2021–2025 mirrors); and 3) trusted public archives or verbatim reposts that preserve U.S. government statements. For the 2025 Bhutan National Day message, the full text has been captured verbatim by independent archival sites, which can serve as a reference until the official URL is restored.