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U.S. Department of State Weekly Digest Bulletin Inbox x U.S. Department of State <usstatebpa@public.govdelivery.com> Sun, Dec 2, 1:09 PM (1 day ago)  to me Europe and Eurasia: Bosnia and Herzegovina Statehood Day 11/25/2018 You are subscribed to Europe and Eurasia for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Europe and Eurasia: Bosnia and Herzegovina Statehood Day 11/25/2018 07:02 AM EST Press Statement Michael R. Pompeo Washington, DC November 25, 2018 On behalf of the American people and the United States government, I extend our best regards to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina as you celebrate your Statehood Day. The United States is committed to a strong partnership with Bosnia and Herzegovina and to its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We remain dedicated to working with the new government, once formed, as it continues the reforms necessary for Bosnia and Herzegovina to advance its goals of Western integration. We wish you the best as you celebrate this important day and look forward to further strengthening the friendship between our two nations. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Secretary's Remarks: Bosnia and Herzegovina Statehood Day 11/25/2018 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary's Remarks: Bosnia and Herzegovina Statehood Day 11/25/2018 07:02 AM EST Press Statement Michael R. Pompeo Washington, DC November 25, 2018 On behalf of the American people and the United States government, I extend our best regards to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina as you celebrate your Statehood Day. The United States is committed to a strong partnership with Bosnia and Herzegovina and to its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We remain dedicated to working with the new government, once formed, as it continues the reforms necessary for Bosnia and Herzegovina to advance its goals of Western integration. We wish you the best as you celebrate this important day and look forward to further strengthening the friendship between our two nations. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Secretary's Remarks: Interview With George Lawson of KFDI News 11/25/2018 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary's Remarks: Interview With George Lawson of KFDI News 11/25/2018 11:25 AM EST Interview Michael R. Pompeo Via Teleconference November 25, 2018 QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, new Iran sanctions are in place, eight countries exempted and European countries are staying with the original agreement. What impact do you expect the new sanctions to have in the short term and long term? SECRETARY POMPEO: The goal is really very clear, George. It is to make sure that we protect America from the threats that the Islamic Republic of Iran presents to folks all across the country and including in Kansas. So these sanctions are intended to convince the Iranian leadership to change their ways, to stop launching missiles into cities where Americans are, to stop building weapon systems that threaten America. That’s our goal is to get the leadership in Iran to change its behavior, to protect Americans wherever they live and wherever they travel. QUESTION: And these sanctions are targeting the oil production in Iran? SECRETARY POMPEO: Multiple levels of sanctions. Certainly their oil production, but many other elements of their commercial world as well. We’re trying to do this at the same time that we protect the Iranian people. We’re convinced that the Iranian people don’t want what it is their leaders are bringing them. And so we are doing everything we can to make sure that Iran still has the food and medicine and all of the things that the Iranian people need so that they can make good decisions about their leadership and the actions their leadership will take. QUESTION: A lot of discussions this week on Saudi Arabia after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and I know some senators like Lindsey Graham have disagreed with the President’s assessment of the situation. They’re talking about Congress imposing some sanctions against Saudi Arabia. What’s your reaction to that? SECRETARY POMPEO: Look, the mission the President set out for the State Department and for the U.S. Government is very clear. We want to make sure that we do everything we can to hold accountable those who committed the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and do so while still maintaining this incredibly important relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They provide a lot of oil that matters to folks in Kansas. They provide help pushing back against Iran. This matters a lot to the people of Kansas. Senator Graham and I both share that concern about Iran and I’m very confident we will continue to work together to keep America safe from Iran. But different members of the Senate will have different views. We’re happy to consider them, and the President said if they bring legislation, he’d be happy to take a look at it. And if it makes sense, if it furthers the interests of America and keeps folks in Wichita, folks in Kansas City, folks in small towns throughout Kansas safe, then the President will be happy to support it. QUESTION: Have you had any contacts from members of Congress on this? SECRETARY POMPEO: Oh yes, we’ve been talking to Congress about the issues of Saudi Arabia since I became the Secretary of State, not only issues around the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and we’ve – I’ve talked to a number of members about that – but the broader set of issues in our relationship, the good work they do providing support to the young men and women who choose to serve in our armed forces who are from Kansas. The Saudis have been an important partner of the United States, helping us do whatever we can to create stability in the Middle East, which is good for American business and Kansas businesses as well. QUESTION: Can you talk about the working group that has been set up by the U.S. and South Korea on dealings with North Korea? SECRETARY POMPEO: Yes. That – it’s important as we work to denuclearize North Korea, as we work to fulfill the promises that were made between President Trump and Chairman Kim, there are lots of elements to them. One of them is the relationship between South Korea and North Korea, and the working group is designed to make sure that that effort, that effort to restore peace on the peninsula, moves in parallel with the denuclearization discussions. We are in lock step with our Republic of Korea partners and we want to make sure we stay that way. QUESTION: So it’s really two issues that are being discussed here, the working group with South Korea, making sure you’re working together, relations between the North and South, and then also the denuclearization. SECRETARY POMPEO: That’s right. Yes, sir, that’s exactly correct. QUESTION: Of course, some strong statements recently from North Korea, talk about new tactical weapons they have. What are the next steps on that front? SECRETARY POMPEO: So we think we know what it is they’re referring to there; we’re pretty sure. I can’t say much. Know this: We’ve known this was going to be a lengthy process. This administration came in with a very difficult risk from North Korea. The President made the decision to have a summit with Chairman Kim, and I’ve been tasked with negotiating its resolution. It will take time. We are prepared to be patient, but all the while – all the while that we’re working to make sure that North Korea has continued to stop its missile tests, continued to stop its nuclear tests, the economic sanctions which have caused North Korea to engage with us will remain in place. QUESTION: And do you have a special message for the people of Kansas for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend? SECRETARY POMPEO: Just a Happy Thanksgiving. Susan and I wanted to say thanks for all the people of Kansas have done for us. We miss them and we hope to be back there when our time of service is complete. QUESTION: Okay. Mr. Secretary, I think that will cover us. SECRETARY POMPEO: Thank you, sir. QUESTION: Thank you very much. SECRETARY POMPEO: You have a wonderful day and a great Thanksgiving, George. QUESTION: You too, sir. Thanks. SECRETARY POMPEO: So long. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Secretary's Remarks: In Remembrance of the Mumbai Attacks 11/25/2018 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary's Remarks: In Remembrance of the Mumbai Attacks 11/25/2018 04:51 PM EST Press Statement Michael R. Pompeo Washington, DC November 25, 2018 On behalf of the Government of the United States of America and all Americans, I express my solidarity with the people of India and the city of Mumbai on the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terrorist attack. We stand with the families and friends of the victims, whose loved ones were lost in this act of barbarism, including six American citizens. The barbarity of 26/11 shocked the entire world. It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after ten years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement. We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and its affiliates. The United States is committed to seeing that those responsible for this attack face justice. The Department of State Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program is offering a new reward for up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Secretary's Remarks: Russia's Dangerous Escalation in the Kerch Strait 11/26/2018 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary's Remarks: Russia's Dangerous Escalation in the Kerch Strait 11/26/2018 04:00 PM EST Press Statement Michael R. Pompeo Washington, DC November 26, 2018 The United States expresses its deep concern over the incident in the Black Sea that occurred November 25 as Ukrainian vessels attempted to transit through the Kerch Strait. Reports that Russian vessels rammed and fired on the Ukrainian ships, injuring Ukrainian crewmen, before seizing three vessels, represent a dangerous escalation and a violation of international law. The United States condemns this aggressive Russian action. We call on Russia to return to Ukraine its vessels and detained crew members, and to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters. We call on both parties to exercise restraint and abide by their international obligations and commitments. We urge Presidents Poroshenko and Putin to engage directly to resolve this situation. In that regard, we reiterate our support for the Normandy Four format. The United States supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters, as well as the right of its vessels to traverse international waters. As stated in our Crimea Declaration, the United States rejects Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Europe and Eurasia: Russia's Dangerous Escalation in the Kerch Strait 11/26/2018 You are subscribed to Europe and Eurasia for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Europe and Eurasia: Russia's Dangerous Escalation in the Kerch Strait 11/26/2018 04:00 PM EST Press Statement Michael R. Pompeo Washington, DC November 26, 2018 The United States expresses its deep concern over the incident in the Black Sea that occurred November 25 as Ukrainian vessels attempted to transit through the Kerch Strait. Reports that Russian vessels rammed and fired on the Ukrainian ships, injuring Ukrainian crewmen, before seizing three vessels, represent a dangerous escalation and a violation of international law. The United States condemns this aggressive Russian action. We call on Russia to return to Ukraine its vessels and detained crew members, and to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters. We call on both parties to exercise restraint and abide by their international obligations and commitments. We urge Presidents Poroshenko and Putin to engage directly to resolve this situation. In that regard, we reiterate our support for the Normandy Four format. The United States supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters, as well as the right of its vessels to traverse international waters. As stated in our Crimea Declaration, the United States rejects Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Secretary's Remarks: Iran's President Works To Further Isolate Iranian Regime From Both World and Iranian People 11/26/2018 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary's Remarks: Iran's President Works To Further Isolate Iranian Regime From Both World and Iranian People 11/26/2018 07:37 PM EST Press Statement Michael R. Pompeo Washington, DC November 26, 2018 Iranian President Rouhani has once again called for the destruction of Israel. He referred to it as a “cancerous tumor” and a “fake regime.” Such statements inflame tensions in the region by seemingly calling for war. At an international conference on Islamic unity, Rouhani also encouraged Muslims worldwide to unite against the United States. This is a dangerous and irresponsible step that will further deepen Iran’s isolation. The Iranian regime is no friend of America or Israel when they repeatedly call for the death of millions, including Muslims. The Iranian people know better and do not agree with their government, which has badly represented them to the world for 39 years. The people have suffered under this tyranny for far too long. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Secretary's Remarks: Remarks at the PEPFAR Faith Communities and HIV Technical Summit 11/27/2018 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary's Remarks: Remarks at the PEPFAR Faith Communities and HIV Technical Summit 11/27/2018 09:47 AM EST Remarks Michael R. Pompeo Loy Henderson Auditorium Washington, DC November 27, 2018 SECRETARY POMPEO: Well, good morning everyone. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to welcome you all to the State Department. It is wonderful, and I am proud that we have so many partners linking arms with us in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.I want to thank Ambassador Deborah Birx and our entire PEPFAR team. You all do amazing work, and putting the summit together has been amazing too. I know great things will come for the world from the work that you and your team are doing. As the Secretary of State, I know as well as anyone that reading the world news can often be a real downer. If you open the paper or log on to Twitter in the morning, you see a litany of things that make you sad and make you shudder and make you worry and pray. It can seem like not a single good thing is happening. But dig further. As men and women of faith, we know that we do not inhabit a hopeless place. Good things are happening in the world all over. They don’t often generate headlines every day, but when we see things like the massive success of PEPFAR we can have renewed confidence that there is still good news to tell, that the world can be a better place, and that America is still the greatest national force for good in human history. It’s now 15 years ago when President George W. Bush established PEPFAR as a 21st century statement of America’s concern for the most vulnerable. President Trump has remained committed to these efforts to end the AIDS pandemic. Since the launch in 2003 of PEPFAR – thanks to strong support from three presidents, multiple Congresses, and our many partners around the globe – we have saved more than 17 million lives. We have prevented millions of new HIV infections. And AIDS-related deaths globally have been cut in half since their peak in 2004. Quite simply, the HIV/AIDS pandemic has gone from crisis towards control. And at every step of the way, people like you – faith leaders, faith-based organizations, and communities of faith – have been cornerstones of our effort. You were in the communities hardest hit by AIDS long before the pandemic began, and we know you will be there long after the epidemic is controlled. In some parts of the world, in some places, faith-based institutions provide as much as 70 percent of healthcare delivery to people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. That’s a remarkable testimony to your passion, your caring, your commitment, and to your love for your fellow man. Because of the clear value of faith-based organizations in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the United States is proud to invest in you, you who are doing this outstanding work. Our investment to faith-based organizations is institutional, not ideological. We need to keep reaching the populations we are missing in our HIV/AIDS response, accelerate progress in controlling the pandemic, and ensure that our efforts are sustainable as well. This summit is designed to allow each of you to share exciting ideas how to make this happen, to explore what can we – what we can do to expand our efforts, and to ensure that the pandemic is indeed controlled. The 2018 PEPFAR Strategy Progress Report, which I released this past September, shows the strides we have taken – strides we have taken together. Guided by the Trump administration’s PEPFAR Strategy, up to 13 high-HIV-burden countries are poised to achieve epidemic control within the next two years. What I am particularly proud of in this strategy is that PEPFAR and our partners are firmly focused on populations that are often being left behind, including young women, men, and children. I know you as faith leaders will appreciate this analogy when I say this concern for the most vulnerable resembles Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep. He says that a good shepherd goes after that one lost sheep at all costs, even though he already has the other 99 in his flock. Even though our faith-based partners have already helped save millions of lives, we know that we will not get complacent. And thank you for that. You all are driven by a higher motivation, and we will see this work through to its end. Today, I am also pleased to announce PEPFAR’s latest annual program results. As of September 30th of this year, PEPFAR supports over 14.6 million people with lifesaving antiretroviral treatment. This is up from the only 50,000 who were on treatment in Africa when the program began back in 2003. I am also pleased to announce new and exciting progress toward achieving epidemic control in Nigeria and Ethiopia. We aren’t announcing the specific data sets just yet, but Ethiopia is on the verge of achieving HIV epidemic control – a remarkable accomplishment. And Nigeria may be closer to achieving HIV epidemic control than was previously thought, or even previously thought possible. This is remarkable work. The majority of Nigerians who report being on HIV treatment have suppressed their viral replication, allowing them to thrive and not to transmit the virus. There’s one more great story that I want to share with you this morning. It’s a story about PEPFAR mattering to all Americans. By focusing resources where the HIV burden is the greatest – and where the highest impacts can be achieved – PEPFAR demonstrates the power of U.S. foreign assistance when it is tied to accountability, transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness. So many times in Washington, the proposed solution to every problem is simply more money, regardless of whether it actually solves a problem. But the investment we ask taxpayers to make in PEPFAR is clearly paying dividends of life and hope. We can measure it, and we can see the effectiveness. And you all are in good part responsible for that. Today, a generation that could have been lost is instead thriving and building a brighter future. PEPFAR has truly been one of the great American triumphs of the 21st century. And we’re proud to continue this work alongside each of you, our faith-based partners. Thank you all. Thank you all for being here. And may the Good Lord bless each and every one of you. Thank you. (Applause.) The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Secretary's Remarks: Mauritania National Day 11/28/2018 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary's Remarks: Mauritania National Day 11/28/2018 07:27 AM EST Press Statement Michael R. Pompeo Washington, DC November 28, 2018 On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I wish the government and people of Mauritania prosperity, peace, and happiness as you celebrate your Independence Day. The United States enjoys a broad bilateral relationship with Mauritania. In the coming year, we will continue to work together to address issues of mutual concern, including promoting investment and fair labor practices in the country to help spur economic prosperity for all Mauritanians. We also will continue working together to build Mauritania’s democratic institutions and promote human rights to ensure peace and stability and counter the regional terrorist threat so Mauritanians can live free from fear. Congratulations on the 58th anniversary of your independence – the United States looks forward to continuing our partnership in the coming year. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Europe and Eurasia: Albania National Day 11/28/2018 You are subscribed to Europe and Eurasia for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Europe and Eurasia: Albania National Day 11/28/2018 09:57 AM EST Press Statement Michael R. Pompeo Washington, DC November 28, 2018 On behalf of the United States government and the American people, I congratulate the people of Albania as you celebrate your Independence Day. As you commemorate your 106 years of independence, we in America celebrate and recognize our enduring friendship with Albania. The United States values Albania’s commitment to NATO and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, which contribute to stability and peace around the world. We commend the Government of Albania’s continued efforts on justice reform and building strong democratic institutions, and we support Albania’s great strides towards Western integration. The United States is proud of the strong bond between our people and looks forward to many more years of partnership and cooperation between our two countries. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Secretary's Remarks: Albania National Day 11/28/2018 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary's Remarks: Albania National Day 11/28/2018 09:57 AM EST Press Statement Michael R. Pompeo Washington, DC November 28, 2018 On behalf of the United States government and the American people, I congratulate the people of Albania as you celebrate your Independence Day. As you commemorate your 106 years of independence, we in America celebrate and recognize our enduring friendship with Albania. The United States values Albania’s commitment to NATO and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, which contribute to stability and peace around the world. We commend the Government of Albania’s continued efforts on justice reform and building strong democratic institutions, and we support Albania’s great strides towards Western integration. The United States is proud of the strong bond between our people and looks forward to many more years of partnership and cooperation between our two countries. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Secretary's Remarks: Remarks to the Press 11/28/2018 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary's Remarks: Remarks to the Press 11/28/2018 01:22 PM EST Remarks Michael R. Pompeo Senate Subway Stakeout Area Washington, DC November 28, 2018 SECRETARY POMPEO: Well, good morning, everyone. Secretary Mattis and myself just had the opportunity to brief all the senators who wanted to hear from us. We talked about U.S. policy in Yemen, the U.S. policy with respect to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We also, obviously, spoke about the heinous murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and we made clear that they’re considering debating a resolution on the Senate floor which we think is just poorly timed. We are on the cusp of allowing the U.S. envoy, Martin Griffiths, to, in December, gather the parties together and hopefully get a ceasefire in Yemen, something that we have diplomatically been striving for for months, and we think we’re right on the cusp of that. So it is the view of the administration, Secretary Mattis, and myself that passing a resolution at this point undermines that. It would encourage the Houthis, it would encourage the Iranians; it would undermine the fragile agreement for everyone to go to Sweden and have this discussion. So we hope that they’ll consider that, be thoughtful in how they proceed, and we’re happy to give them further information if they should so choose. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, you’re the former CIA director. Why wasn’t the current CIA director here briefing senators as well? SECRETARY POMPEO: I was asked to be here and here I am. QUESTION: (Inaudible.) Senators were very frustrated. Normally, in your past role as CIA director, you would be here briefing these senators on an issue this sensitive. Why isn’t the CIA director herself here today? SECRETARY POMPEO: I was asked to be here, and I’m here. QUESTION: (Off-mike.) QUESTION: Secretary Pompeo (inaudible) you’ve seen all the intelligence, presumably. Do you believe that the crown prince of Saudi Arabia ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s killing? SECRETARY POMPEO: I do believe I’ve read every piece of intelligence. Unless it’s come in in the last few hours, I think I have read it all. There is no direct reporting connecting the crown prince to the order to murder Jamal Khashoggi. And that’s all I can say in an unclassified setting. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, is he responsible -- MS NAUERT: Thank you. We’ve got to go. SECRETARY POMPEO: Yes, ma’am. QUESTION: Are there any scheduled high-level meetings with North Korea? Are there any scheduled high-level meetings with North Korea? SECRETARY POMPEO: I don’t have anything to add on the sequence of events in North Korea. But I’m very hopeful we will have senior-level meetings before too long. QUESTION: (Off-mike.) QUESTION: Is MBS responsible? QUESTION: You say you’re on the precipice of a deal. SECRETARY POMPEO: I didn’t say deal. QUESTION: Or a – a peace agreement. SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah. Of the first opportunity for them to get together, yes. QUESTION: All of Trump’s public statements indicate that Iran is very far from coming to the table for negotiations. How do you rectify the two? Which is true? SECRETARY POMPEO: Well, the parties that will be there will be those who are engaged in the civil war in Yemen, so there will be representatives from the Yemeni Government, from the Houthis, all those interested parties. We hope the Iranians won’t upset the apple cart. They have been funding, arming, providing assistance and support to the Houthis, which have allowed the Houthis to continue to fight well beyond what would have made any sense at all, and we do hope the Iranians won’t upset this opportunity to both resolve the civil war and give everyone the opportunity to resolve a massive humanitarian crisis that’s in Yemen today. MS NAUERT: Thank you. Thank you, everybody. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Europe and Eurasia: On the Occasion of Romania's National Day 11/30/2018 You are subscribed to Europe and Eurasia for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Europe and Eurasia: On the Occasion of Romania's National Day 11/30/2018 08:49 AM EST Press Statement Michael R. Pompeo Washington, DC November 30, 2018 On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I congratulate the Romanian people on your National Day. On this day, we celebrate with all Romanians the 100th anniversary of the creation of modern Romania and we reflect on our friendship and strategic partnership. Romania is a strong Ally of the United States. We appreciate Romania’s contribution to global security through its membership in NATO, including participation in international missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, and we appreciate the sacrifices Romania has made. We salute your leadership in addressing regional issues, such as Black Sea security. The United States will continue to stand with Romania in its efforts to uphold democratic values and the rule of law, which are at the core of our relationship and the foundation of economic growth and prosperity. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Secretary's Remarks: On the Occasion of Romania's National Day 11/30/2018 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary's Remarks: On the Occasion of Romania's National Day 11/30/2018 08:49 AM EST Press Statement Michael R. Pompeo Washington, DC November 30, 2018 On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I congratulate the Romanian people on your National Day. On this day, we celebrate with all Romanians the 100th anniversary of the creation of modern Romania and we reflect on our friendship and strategic partnership. Romania is a strong Ally of the United States. We appreciate Romania’s contribution to global security through its membership in NATO, including participation in international missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, and we appreciate the sacrifices Romania has made. We salute your leadership in addressing regional issues, such as Black Sea security. The United States will continue to stand with Romania in its efforts to uphold democratic values and the rule of law, which are at the core of our relationship and the foundation of economic growth and prosperity. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Arms Control and International Security: Nuclear Technical Cooperation: Benefits from the Nonproliferation Regime for the Developing World 11/30/2018 You are subscribed to Arms Control and International Security for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Arms Control and International Security: Nuclear Technical Cooperation: Benefits from the Nonproliferation Regime for the Developing World 11/30/2018 09:39 AM EST Remarks Dr. Christopher Ashley Ford International Atomic Energy Agency Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology Vienna, Austria November 29, 2018 Distinguished Co-Chairs, Excellencies, and ladies and gentlemen, the United States is pleased to attend this conference, for as we all approach the 50thanniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), it is very important to reaffirm our shared commitment, indeed the shared commitment of all NPT States Party to expanding the benefits available to mankind from the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. I. The Nonproliferation Regime Enables Sharing As we reaffirm our commitment to this goal, however, we must also remember the degree to which these benefits have depended in the past, and the degree to which they will continue to depend in the future, upon the ability of all involved to have confidence that such sharing will not result in the spread of dangerous capabilities to proliferator regimes or to non-state actors. All of the good work done in sharing the benefits of nuclear technology, in other words, is built upon a foundation provided by the global nonproliferation regime – that is, upon the various safeguards and nonproliferation protections, and the standards of nuclear safety and nuclear security, that help ensure that it is safe to share the nuclear materials and the know-how that contribute to economic development, to health, and to human flourishing in so many ways and in so many countries, as you all know. In addition to providing powerful security benefits to all, therefore, the nonproliferation regime is a critical enabler for sharing the benefits of nuclear technology, giving all of us – and particularly those nations that stand to benefit from such sharing – even more reasons to be thankful for that nonproliferation regime and remain dedicated to maintaining it. I know that these points are obvious ones, Distinguished Co-Chairs, but we feel it is important to reaffirm them nonetheless, for in an era of global divisiveness it is vital to remember the degree to which we all still share interests in protecting and advancing the nonproliferation regime and the system of peaceful nuclear sharing that depends upon that regime’s integrity. To that end, I hope you will permit me to say a few words about the United States’ commitment to this system of sharing nuclear technology and about some of the successes that this system has had over the years. II. United States Contributions to Technical Cooperation I’m proud to say that the United States is the single largest contributor to IAEA Technical Cooperation (TC) activities in support of peaceful nuclear uses. Since 2010 alone, we have provided voluntary, extra-budgetary contributions totaling more than $374 million to promote peaceful nuclear activities through the IAEA. In addition, we have also provided significant in-kind contributions, through training and direct technical assistance to the IAEA and to its Member States. We are proud of how our voluntary funding has contributed to TC programs that help people all around the world in arenas as diverse as human and animal health, water resource management, public safety, nuclear power infrastructure development, medical patient and worker radiation safety, agricultural productivity, and food security. Indeed, the United States is not just the largest contributor to such work, but also by far the largest contributor. From 2011 through 2017, for instance, we contributed nearly a third of the IAEA’s total extrabudgetary TC revenue – which was more than the 11 next most generous Member States, not just individually, but combined. In 2018 alone prior to today, the United States made allocations totaling over $2.8 million through the IAEA Peaceful Uses Initiative (PUI) to Nuclear Sciences and Applications (NA) Department projects. These funds are helping the Agency do such things as fight plant pests, eradicate tsetse flies, combat animal diseases, tackle the challenge of marine plastics, improve seafood safety, and study the ways to mitigate the effects of ocean acidification on the marine environment and along coastal communities. At this year’s General Conference, we also announced a $1.1 million extrabudgetary contribution to help the IAEA build a new energy center to power its Nuclear Applications Laboratories that assist Member States in building capacities to reap the benefits of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. So we are very proud of this legacy of generosity and of commitment to peaceful nuclear sharing. But we are not simply resting upon our laurels. We are continuing this legacy of generosity and this commitment. And so, Distinguished Co-Chairs, I am pleased today to announce an additional $1.7 million U.S. voluntary contribution to the Renovation of the Nuclear Applications Laboratories to help the Agency meet its current 3.75 million euro ReNuAL Plus fundraising goal. These funds will help ensure that the renovated labs are completed, fully equipped, and fully operational on schedule and without unnecessary cost increases. Nor is that the only thing I have to announce today. As you may recall, distinguished co-chairs, in 2016, the United States provided nearly $4 million in a grant that has allowed the IAEA to accelerate its Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) research against mosquitoes that transmit diseases such as the Zika virus. All of which makes me very pleased to be able also to announce today that we are giving an additional $1.4 million in U.S. voluntary contributions in order to help the Agency continue its SIT laboratory-based research and to test its SIT findings in the field, as the Agency transitions the overall research effort to its newly constructed Insect Pest Control Laboratory (IPCL) for long-term sustainability. These two new voluntary contributions are additional examples of how the United States promotes sharing the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology in very concrete ways. We are grateful to the other donors to the Agency’s ReNuAL project and to SIT activities, and we urge others to join us in becoming donors. III. Successes over the Years I am sure all of my counterparts present here today know full well the degree to which the TC program depends upon U.S. contributions, so I will not belabor the point. What I would like to do, however, is to point out some of the successes that the program has had over the years in providing benefits to states all around the world. Our shared commitment to the nonproliferation regime, and to the nuclear technology cooperation that depends upon it, is in no way merely a theoretical point. This commitment has provided great benefits to real people in real places for many years, and it is poised to continue doing so for a long time to come. This is something of which we should all be very proud. A. Latin America and the Caribbean So let me offer some lessons from the history of the IAEA’s TC Program, drawn from its own records. Many of these programs draw on the expertise of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, the focus of this week’s conference. In Latin America, for instance, the TC program has provided tremendous benefits: In Panama, helping increase the yield of its rice crop by 50 percent; In Mexico, helping eradicate the moth that was killing cactus crops that generate $100 million annually, and also in eradicating the Mediterranean fruit fly; In the Dominican Republic, which once lost about $40 million in annual fruit and vegetable exports to the Mediterranean fruit fly, in helping entirely eradicate that insect; In Ecuador, in supplying testing equipment for the Zika virus, as well as mobile digital X-ray units to help cope with the earthquake of 2016; In Haiti, in providing mobile X-ray units to help cope with its own devastating earthquake in 2010; In Honduras, in setting up the country’s first public brachytherapy service, which will help on the order of 1,000 patients a year with cancer treatment; In Uruguay, in setting up a similar brachytherapy project that now benefits about 450 cancer patients every year, and improving a food safety laboratory that has facilitated a two-thirds increase in Uruguayan beef production; In Brazil and Peru, in helping develop cervical cancer treatments, and in helping Brazil with an innovative new method of fighting the Zika virus through disseminating sterile mosquitos from aerial drones; In Chile, in helping that country become the first – and for a time, the only – country in Latin America to halt the rise in childhood obesity in pre-school children; In El Salvador, in establishing a laboratory to monitor and help address marine toxin seafood safety dangers from “red tide” algae blooms; In Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela, in mapping the genetic diversity of livestock cattle; and In Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay, in removing disused radioactive sources in order to make those country’s citizens, and the world, safer and less likely to face a terrorist’s radiological dispersal device (or “dirty bomb”). The global nonproliferation regime has benefited people in these countries in such concrete ways. Personally, I find it exciting to remember these examples of the concrete and diverse ways that the TC program exists precisely in order to keep providing such successes. B. Africa But of course the countries of Latin America are not alone in having benefited so greatly from the TC program. As another example, the countries of the African continent have received many benefits as well. In Cameroon, for instance, in helping stem an outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza; In Senegal, in eradicating the tsetse fly and the dangerous disease trypanosomiasis – as well as in Tanzania, by eradicating the fly from Unguja Island, thus ending livestock losses there of about $2 million a year; In Botswana, helping build a reference and confirmatory diagnostic veterinary laboratory that now serves the entire Southern African region; In Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ghana, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo, in mapping groundwater across the Sahel; In Morocco, in helping reduce soil loss in key Moroccan watersheds, and in Sudan by showing how to reduce water use and increase food crop yields dramatically; In Namibia, in developing high-yield, disease-resistant crop varieties, as well as in Nigeria, in helping increase yields of cucumber crops by 70 percent; In Kenya, by helping develop new strains of wheat resistant to stem rust fungus, while also showing how to cut agricultural water use by more than half and improve tomato crop yields nearly threefold; In Tanzania, in showing how to increase its tea crop yields fourfold – as well as in Libya, by allowing a 150 percent increase in its potato yields; In South Africa, in helping develop new cervical cancer treatments, and in freeing key citrus crops from destruction by a voracious moth; In Morocco, in developing ways to dismantle waste equipment in ways that massively reduce the amount of radioactive waste material requiring storage; In Sierra Leone, by rapidly deploying diagnostic equipment to help fight the terrifying Ebola outbreak of 2014; and All around Africa, helping eradicate rinderpest, the first globally eradicated animal disease ever, thus preventing an estimated $1 billion in annual livestock losses. C. Asia and the Pacific Further examples of the benefits of IAEA TC activities can be found in Asia and the Pacific. In Bangladesh, in developing new varieties of rice that have increased rice production three-fold over the last few decades, and in building a nuclear medicine system that has tripled the number of people who can affordably access diagnostic medical care; In Cambodia, by setting up its first national cancer center as part of its national strategy to increase the availability of cancer care; In Malaysia, in establishing and sustaining a national non-destructive testing (NDT) certification process through which over 90 companies are now certified to national NDT standards; In Vietnam, by introducing new rice varieties that have increased yields by as much as 40 percent, shortened growth time, and increased resistance to erratic weather; In Mongolia, in averting a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) crisis in 2010 by providing 200,000 emergency doses of FMD vaccine for the country’s animals at the highest risk; In Pakistan, by establishing its first laboratory for testing residues of chemicals used in animal production so it can now analyze more than 1,000 samples each year in meeting international food safety standards; and In the Mediterranean Basin, in supporting an alliance between Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority to wipe out the Mediterranean fruit fly in the region. D. Europe Finally, let me highlight just a few examples of how European countries have also benefited from IAEA TC activities. In Croatia, by using the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) to control the Mediterranean fruit fly, thereby decreasing mandarin crop damage by 96 percent, reducing larval infestation in export shipments to 0.2 percent, and significantly reducing insecticide use; In Turkey, in introducing fertigation, a combination of drip irrigation and precision fertilizing, to enable potato farmers to reduce their costs by an estimated $2,000 per hectare annually for a total annual savings of $20 million; In southeastern Europe, by providing laboratory support and expertise to battle lumpy skin disease, a highly infectious cowpox virus that had the potential to threaten the European Union’s 87 million heads of cattle and to cause significant economic loss; In Albania, in more than doubling the radiotherapy cancer treatment capacity at the country’s only public radiotherapy center by installing a linear accelerator system and providing intensive training on the technology for the clinical staff; In Malta, by implementing volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) to improve the quality and availability of radiotherapy to combat prostate cancer; In Georgia, in building capacity to process and store radioactive waste, including radioactive sources, and in using isotopic techniques to protect its water supplies and important mineral water springs; and In Uzbekistan, by establishing a national database on terrestrial radioactivity and building the capacity to conduct thousands of radioactive samples each year to monitor toxic elements from uranium production residues in soil, sediment, freshwater, and vegetation. These successes are tangible examples of our shared commitment to the IAEA’s peaceful uses program and to the foundation of safeguards, safety, and security practices that make such sharing possible. IV. Conclusion Distinguished Co-Chairs, I have only scratched the surface of the TC program’s successes over the years. Were there time, there is much more that could be said about excellent results that have been achieved through collaborations in or involving many other countries. As we head toward the Golden Anniversary of the NPT’s entry into force, we need to keep these many successes very much in our minds. For they demonstrate what it is possible to achieve when international partners have assurance that nuclear technology and materials can be safely and freely shared within a framework that protects against diversion, loss, accident, and theft. The TC program builds upon the sound foundation provided by the nonproliferation regime – including not just the NPT itself but also the various nuclear safeguards, export control standards, and nuclear safety and security best practices that constitute that regime. As we meet here today at the IAEA’s Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology, Distinguished Co-Chairs, we obviously thus have a proud legacy to continue. All the countries I have mentioned today have the solidity and integrity of the nonproliferation regime to thank for these TC successes. We should proudly remember all this progress, and we should rededicate ourselves to protecting and enhancing that solidity and integrity, so that all mankind will be able to continue to share in the benefits of nuclear science and technology in the future, as has thankfully been possible in the past. Thank you very much, Distinguished Co-Chairs. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Speeches: Nuclear Technical Cooperation: Benefits from the Nonproliferation Regime for the Developing World 11/30/2018 You are subscribed to Speeches, Remarks, Testimony (other than by the Secretary) for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Speeches: Nuclear Technical Cooperation: Benefits from the Nonproliferation Regime for the Developing World 11/30/2018 09:39 AM EST Remarks Dr. Christopher Ashley Ford International Atomic Energy Agency Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology Vienna, Austria November 29, 2018 Distinguished Co-Chairs, Excellencies, and ladies and gentlemen, the United States is pleased to attend this conference, for as we all approach the 50thanniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), it is very important to reaffirm our shared commitment, indeed the shared commitment of all NPT States Party to expanding the benefits available to mankind from the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. I. The Nonproliferation Regime Enables Sharing As we reaffirm our commitment to this goal, however, we must also remember the degree to which these benefits have depended in the past, and the degree to which they will continue to depend in the future, upon the ability of all involved to have confidence that such sharing will not result in the spread of dangerous capabilities to proliferator regimes or to non-state actors. All of the good work done in sharing the benefits of nuclear technology, in other words, is built upon a foundation provided by the global nonproliferation regime – that is, upon the various safeguards and nonproliferation protections, and the standards of nuclear safety and nuclear security, that help ensure that it is safe to share the nuclear materials and the know-how that contribute to economic development, to health, and to human flourishing in so many ways and in so many countries, as you all know. In addition to providing powerful security benefits to all, therefore, the nonproliferation regime is a critical enabler for sharing the benefits of nuclear technology, giving all of us – and particularly those nations that stand to benefit from such sharing – even more reasons to be thankful for that nonproliferation regime and remain dedicated to maintaining it. I know that these points are obvious ones, Distinguished Co-Chairs, but we feel it is important to reaffirm them nonetheless, for in an era of global divisiveness it is vital to remember the degree to which we all still share interests in protecting and advancing the nonproliferation regime and the system of peaceful nuclear sharing that depends upon that regime’s integrity. To that end, I hope you will permit me to say a few words about the United S