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U.S. Department of State Weekly Digest Bulletin Inbox x U.S. Department of State <usstatebpa@public.govdelivery.com> 7:21 AM (8 hours ago)  to me Luxembourg National Day 06/23/2019 You are subscribed to Europe and Eurasia for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Luxembourg National Day 06/23/2019 09:29 AM EDT On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Luxembourg as you celebrate your national day. The United States and Luxembourg’s steadfast partnership as friends and NATO allies is built on a long history of shared values and sacrifice.  This year, we commemorated the 75th anniversary of D-Day, […] The post Luxembourg National Day appeared first on United States Department of State. Luxembourg National Day 06/23/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Luxembourg National Day 06/23/2019 09:29 AM EDT On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Luxembourg as you celebrate your national day. The United States and Luxembourg’s steadfast partnership as friends and NATO allies is built on a long history of shared values and sacrifice.  This year, we commemorated the 75th anniversary of D-Day, […] The post Luxembourg National Day appeared first on United States Department of State. Statement on Iranian Disinformation 06/23/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Statement on Iranian Disinformation 06/23/2019 10:31 AM EDT Iran’s leaders know the truth is a dangerous thing. It is important to correct the record. First, President Trump did not pass a message through Oman calling for talks with Iran. We have made our position abundantly clear. We are willing to engage when the time is right. It’s telling that the Iranian regime rejected […] The post Statement on Iranian Disinformation appeared first on United States Department of State. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo Remarks to Press 06/23/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo Remarks to Press 06/23/2019 06:03 PM EDT At CENTCOM today, we discussed the Iranian regime’s latest escalation, our continued efforts to defend the freedom of navigation and commerce, as well as ongoing Afghanistan and counter-terrorism operations. The post Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo Remarks to Press appeared first on United States Department of State. Technology and Power in China’s Geopolitical Ambitions 06/24/2019 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. Technology and Power in China’s Geopolitical Ambitions 06/24/2019 09:35 AM EDT Good morning, Commissioners, and thank you for inviting me.  I am pleased to offer some thoughts for you today on the subject of China’s geopolitical technology strategy, and although I will only deliver an abbreviated version to you here in person, I request that the full text of my prepared remarks be entered into the […] The post Technology and Power in China’s Geopolitical Ambitions appeared first on United States Department of State. Houthi Attack on Abha Airport 06/24/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Houthi Attack on Abha Airport 06/24/2019 12:49 PM EDT Yesterday, Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched a drone attack on the Abha airport in Saudi Arabia for the second time in less than two weeks. Initial reports suggest one person was killed and twenty-one were wounded. These Iranian-backed attacks are unacceptable, and all the more reprehensible given that they targeted innocent civilians. They also put Americans […] The post Houthi Attack on Abha Airport appeared first on United States Department of State. Executive Order to Impose Sanctions on the Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran 06/24/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Executive Order to Impose Sanctions on the Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran 06/24/2019 01:01 PM EDT Today, the White House issued an Executive Order sanctioning the Supreme Leaders Office and authorizing further sanctions on those associated with it. This action was taken as part of the Administrations maximum pressure campaign against the Iranian regime, which has engaged in 40 years of terror and aggression against the United States and our allies. […] The post Executive Order to Impose Sanctions on the Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran appeared first on United States Department of State. Slovenia Statehood Day 06/24/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Slovenia Statehood Day 06/24/2019 05:02 PM EDT On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I extend warm congratulations to the people of Slovenia as you celebrate the anniversary of your independence.  Your country has worked hard to foster a thriving economy and vibrant democracy over the past 28 years, and we greatly appreciate Slovenia’s steadfast commitment to our Transatlantic values and international security. Our close cooperation as NATO Allies and trade and investment partners strengthens our bilateral relationship. The United States also applauds Slovenia’s leadership role in hosting the recent summit of the Three Seas Initiative. Best wishes to the people of Slovenia as you celebrate your 28th Statehood Day. The post Slovenia Statehood Day appeared first on United States Department of State. Croatia National Day 06/25/2019 You are subscribed to Europe and Eurasia for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Croatia National Day 06/24/2019 04:16 PM EDT On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Croatia as you celebrate your Statehood Day. The deep ties between our people are bolstered by our shared belief in democracy and the importance of human rights.  Croatia is an important leader in Southeast Europe and beyond, and we stand alongside you as a proud NATO Ally. On this Statehood Day, I wish every citizen of Croatia peace and prosperity. The post Croatia National Day appeared first on United States Department of State. Croatia National Day 06/25/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Croatia National Day 06/24/2019 04:16 PM EDT On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Croatia as you celebrate your Statehood Day. The deep ties between our people are bolstered by our shared belief in democracy and the importance of human rights.  Croatia is an important leader in Southeast Europe and beyond, and we stand alongside you as a proud NATO Ally. On this Statehood Day, I wish every citizen of Croatia peace and prosperity. The post Croatia National Day appeared first on United States Department of State. Mozambique National Day 06/25/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Mozambique National Day 06/24/2019 09:09 PM EDT On behalf of the United States, it is my pleasure to congratulate the people of Mozambique on the occasion of your 44th anniversary of independence. The United States remains a proud partner in your steadfast efforts to realize a long-desired peace and to create the stable and secure environment that will allow economic opportunity to flourish.  We look forward to continuing our work together to advance good governance, combat transnational crime, and promote inclusive development in areas such as health, education, and agriculture and as you address the recent devastating natural disasters. As you celebrate your national day, I offer my very best wishes for peace, health, and prosperity to all Mozambicans in the years ahead. The post Mozambique National Day appeared first on United States Department of State. The Enduring Partnership Between the United States and South Africa 06/25/2019 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. The Enduring Partnership Between the United States and South Africa 06/25/2019 09:48 AM EDT As Prepared Thank you Deputy Vice Chancellor Vilakazi for the introduction.  I’m grateful to you and to everyone at Wits University and the African Centre for the Study of the United States for hosting today’s event. And thanks to all of you here today for this wonderful welcome to South Africa.  I know many of you are still reflecting on yesterday’s State of the Nation Address and that the rest are probably thinking about how today is the last day of exams.  Having served in both government and academia, I can sympathize with you all.  So thank you again for coming today; I’m thrilled to be here. I spent most of my 32-year career as an American diplomat on this continent, and I was fortunate to serve in Ethiopia, Guinea, Nigeria, Cameroon, Togo, Zambia, and the Seychelles. The world, including Africa, has changed dramatically from when I became a diplomat in 1978. When I first set foot on the continent, there were no cellphones, no internet, few television stations, and to call back to America from Lusaka required booking a slot days ahead to reserve one of the few international lines available at that time. Today, modern technology has changed all that.  Mobile messenger apps effortlessly connect people in Africa and around the world; and last year when my grandson was born right here in South Africa, so far from home, I was incredibly grateful for the gift of real time communication! Since I assumed my current role last September, this is my fourth trip to Africa. These trips provide me the opportunity to meet with government officials, business leaders, civil society, and Africa’s dynamic youth to hear a range of views and discuss concrete ways to strengthen cooperation. So today, I am truly excited to speak to you about the enduring relationship between the United States and the countries of Africa, especially South Africa. Specifically, I want to talk about the U.S. government’s policy priorities in Africa and how we are working with partners like South Africa to achieve our common goals. Our engagement in Africa is driven largely by four guiding principles: First, the United States is interested in promoting stronger trade and business ties between Africa and America, to the benefit of the people of both. Second, we must harness the potential of Africa’s tremendous youth population to drive Africa’s economic growth and create real prosperity. Third, we must continue to advance peace and security across the continent. Fourth, I am here today to reinforce that America has an unwavering commitment to Africa. No country in the world can match the depth and breadth of America’s long engagement with the people of Africa. The United States greatly values its partnership with South Africa as the democratic and economic leader on the world’s fastest growing continent. Nevertheless, South Africa faces some tough choices as it seeks to increase economic growth and come to grips with how best to manage and reform struggling state-owned enterprises.  I would be remiss to play down the challenges you face.  At the same time, we do not view these challenges as obstacles but an opportunity for closer cooperation. This U.S. interest in deepening trade and investment ties with South Africa extends throughout the region, as well as the continent. With the strong backing of the Trump Administration, our Congress recently passed legislation called the BUILD Act. This law doubles the U.S. government’s investment capital from $29 billion to $60 billion and offers promising opportunities for more U.S. direct investment in Africa. This new legislation will enable the U.S. government to make equity investments in African companies, and we hope to use these resources to unlock billions in private capital from the United States. Our government also recently unveiled the “Prosper Africa” Initiative.  Prosper Africa is an ambitious effort to significantly increase two-way trade in goods and investment between America and Africa. Prosper Africa will help us expand the number of commercial deals between U.S. and African counterparts and promote better business climates and financial markets on the continent. U.S. companies are investing in President Ramaphosa’s goal of raising 100 billion U.S. dollars in new investments over five years. At last October’s investment conference in Johannesburg, U.S. companies including McDonalds and Procter and Gamble announced large new investments, Microsoft announced it would build three data centers, and Amazon unveiled plans for a cloud-computing hub. Most recently, United Airlines announced a new, non-stop flight to Cape Town from the United States, complementing flights by Delta Air Lines to Johannesburg. Regionally, we are similarly excited to see U.S. energy companies interested in investment opportunities in Namibia, production facilities in Eswatini, and agriculture in Angola.  This is what U.S. commercial engagement in Africa looks like. Our second priority is harnessing the potential of Africa’s youth population.  We have seen time and again that investing in education is the best way to invest in the future. I saw this first-hand as Vice-Provost for International Affairs at Texas Tech University. Africa’s population is projected to double by 2050 to around 2.5 billion people, of which over 60 percent will be under the age of 25. We must find ways to ensure the youth have the education and training that leads to enhanced employment opportunities. Right here at Wits University, we have a great example of the U.S.-South African education partnership in the IBM Research Lab.  Just this year, U.S. Department of State Deputy Secretary Sullivan visited this Lab and was impressed with its capabilities and the potential for private-public partnerships to help solve pressing challenges in South Africa. The Department of State has many programs to promote mentorship, networking, and career development for young people. This includes, of course, the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)/Mandela Washington Fellowship.  This year, 700 young African leaders from all across Sub-Saharan Africa were selected to participate in the program.  They are in the United States at this very moment for training and academic coursework, networking and mentoring at 27 top U.S. universities.  When they return home, they will join approximately 3,700 Fellowship alumni, including 258 South Africans to tackle key issues their countries face today. In South Africa, alumni of U.S. government exchange programs have made great strides in a variety of important areas.  For example, Murendeni Mafumo became a Mandela Washington Fellow in 2014 as a scientist working in water purification and attended a program at Yale University.  Three years ago, he launched a social enterprise, Kusini Water, with a locally designed water purification system.  The system uses an activated carbon filter made from macadamia nut shells. For every liter of water his company sells, they provide 20 liters of safe drinking water to communities that do not have access to clean water.  Murendeni is using his innovative work to bring systemic change in underserved communities.  He attended the Global Entrepreneurship Summit earlier this month to share his expertise with the international business community. Ntsiki Biyela, an alumna of our African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program broke new ground as the country’s first female black winemaker.  Her incredible story from domestic worker to winemaker is even more impressive considering the marketing inroads she has made both here and abroad, including in the United States. But an educated and innovative population is only possible with our third priority: advancing peace and stability.  The United States will continue to help our African allies build secure and resilient communities bolstered by capable and accountable security and defense institutions.  These institutions should help to foster an environment in which businesses can flourish and the aspirations of young Africans can be met. We support South Africa’s contributions to peace and security in Africa.  Of note, with over 1,100 peacekeepers serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and elsewhere, South Africa ranks in the top 20 of force contributors to UN missions.  We greatly appreciate South Africa’s contributions and the participation of forces from other SADC countries, including Zambia and Malawi. We would like to see our long-standing partnership with South Africa extend to other fora, especially multilateral bodies.  South Africa currently plays an important role as a member of the United Nations Security Council and a leader in the African Union. We were also very pleased to see the positive role that SADC, the Southern African Development Community, played when Lesotho faced a security crisis.  SADC sent civilian and security reinforcements to support a neighbor in a time of need.  This is exactly the role we would like to see regional organizations play across Africa. Finally, our fourth priority – our unwavering support of Africa – brings us full circle. The United States offers a different model of engagement in Africa that is based on mutual respect, collaboration, sustainability, and transparency.  We don’t simply invest in Africa, we invest in African people. We have walked side-by side with Africans for decades.  How so? Through our programs like Power Africa, the Peace Corps, the President’s Malaria Initiative, and our signature HIV/AIDS program, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR.  These programs have provided electricity to towns and villages. They have brought enthusiastic American volunteers to rural areas across Africa to focus on community-led health and education projects.  They have also saved lives that could have been lost to malaria and HIV/AIDS. Since 2004, PEPFAR has invested over $6 billion in HIV programs here, partnering with hundreds of South African organizations (including right here at Wits!) and the Government of South Africa. In the region, PEPFAR represents a significant part of our foreign assistance. We are tremendously excited, therefore, that a number of countries in the region are on track to soon reach epidemic control. Through PEPFAR and our National Institutes of Health, the United States supports pioneering biomedical research, including HIV vaccine trials.  Every day, American and South African scientists, researchers, and public health experts are working together to enhance HIV prevention and care and develop innovative approaches to HIV antiretroviral therapy service delivery.  There is no better way to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to Africa than through our investment in its most important resource – its people. There is a Swahili proverb that says, “Unity is strength.  Division is weakness.” That is true within a country, and it is true between countries.  As I said at the top of my remarks, I am visiting to listen, learn, and to find new arenas of cooperation.  On this latter point, I also come to reaffirm the United States’ unwavering commitment to Africa, and to South Africa.  We have and will continue to invest in people and build partnerships that promote better health, jobs, skills, education, opportunity, and security. This is an exciting time to be in Africa.  The dynamism of Africa’s youth is apparent everywhere you look, and if governments, businesses, and educational institutions unite in nurturing this next generation, Africa’s future will be secured.  Africa is the dynamic continent of the future, and South Africa has proven itself a leader for other African nations to follow. “Unity is strength.  Division is weakness.” Let us take this proverb to heart and continue to work together with common vision and purpose to promote shared American and African prosperity and security. Thank you. The post The Enduring Partnership Between the United States and South Africaappeared first on United States Department of State. Remarks at a Press Availability 06/25/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Remarks at a Press Availability 06/25/2019 02:54 PM EDT SECRETARY POMPEO:  Good afternoon, everyone.  With so much going on in the world right now, sometimes it’s easy to forget about America’s commitment here in Afghanistan, but the world should know that the Trump administration hasn’t forgotten and the American people have not forgotten.  We must represent their interests here as ardently as ever.  So it was a critical time for me to make it back to Afghanistan. There have been a number of errant, sometimes different, reports over the past few months about American diplomacy regarding Afghanistan.  I want to make sure today to set the record straight. As President Trump has said, after almost now two decades of war in Afghanistan, the hour has come for peace.  For the last nine months, the United States has facilitated a peace process intent on protecting our national interests while convening all the parties for inter-Afghan negotiations that will allow Afghans to fashion a political settlement and determine the future for their country. In my meeting with President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah, we agreed that peace is our highest priority and that Afghanistan must never again serve as a platform for international terrorism.  I thanked President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah for their long-term partnership and support for Special Representative Khalilzad on these important issues. As you’re aware, the United States and the Taliban reached an agreement in principle in January that any comprehensive peace agreement must address four interconnected issues:  counterterrorism, foreign troop presence, inter-Afghan dialogue leading to inter-Afghan negotiations, as well as a permanent ceasefire. Regarding terrorism, we have made real progress and are nearly ready to conclude a draft text outlining the Taliban’s commitments to join fellow Afghans in ensuring that Afghan soil never again becomes a safe haven for terrorists.  In light of this progress, we’ve begun discussions with the Taliban regarding foreign military presence, which today remains conditions-based.  And while we’ve made clear to the Taliban that we are prepared to remove our forces, I want to be clear we have not yet agreed on a timeline to do so.  This should come as no surprise, but sometimes our adversaries announce things that just aren’t true. I want to reassure you that we hold detailed discussions with the Government of Afghanistan in parallel with our talks with the Taliban.  Ambassador Bass, General Miller, Ambassador Khalilzad have worked diligently to ensure that we are fully aligned in our approach, and it was great to be here today with President Ghani. All sides agree that finalizing a U.S.-Taliban understanding on terrorism and foreign troop presence will open the door to inter-Afghan dialogue and negotiation.  That next step is at the heart of our effort.  We are not and will not negotiate with the Taliban on behalf of the government or people of Afghanistan.  Rather, we’re working to bring Afghans together at the negotiating table to decide the future of their own country collectively.  And when that table is put together, it will be a large table.  It’s crucial to include not just the Taliban and the government but also representatives from opposition parties, civil society, including women and youth. As for our next diplomatic steps, we welcome Germany’s commitment with Qatar to convene an inter-Afghan dialogue next month.  This is an opportunity for Afghans to endorse the urgent need for inter-Afghan negotiations. Simultaneously, the United States is laying the groundwork for inter-Afghan negotiations to begin as soon as possible.  The objective of those negotiations is for Afghans to agree on a timeline and a political roadmap for reaching a comprehensive peace agreement.  It’s not America’s role to dictate the outcome of those negotiations. We have been clear that the success or failure of the bilateral relationship and Afghanistan’s relationship with the international community, including the donor community, will rest in part on what Afghans do to maintain the civil rights of women and minorities and preserve the gains of the last 18 years. I share that, but I’m not just sharing the views of the United States.  Our words today reflect an international consensus for peace.  My thanks go out to neighboring countries who have supported the process, and which stand to benefit tremendously from regional integration that will surely follow from peace. We also appreciate the support of our NATO allies and our partners who serve alongside us in Resolute Support, whose ongoing commitment to the people of Afghanistan will be critical in the post-peace era.  The trilateral consensus that we issued in partnership with China and Russia as well as the principles issued by the United States-Europe Group are further signs of the international community’s support for this peace process. Pakistan has a particularly important role to play in this process and in the promotion of peace and stability in the region.  Progress has been made, and we will continue to look to Pakistan for practical measures, cooperation on peace talks, and the implementation of any agreement. Now I’ve said the word “peace” more than half a dozen times.  It’s our priority.  But the pursuit of peace should not wait until the Afghan presidential election.  Election planning must go forward without delay as we pursue the peace that Afghans deserve.  I urge the Afghan government, the Independent Election Commission, and all political stakeholders to take all necessary steps to ensure that the elections are credible. As we work to facilitate a political settlement to the war in Afghanistan, we are also working with the Afghan government and the international community to lay the groundwork for a stable and prosperous post-settlement future for Afghanistan.  That’s why today, beyond the meetings that I had at the palace, I had a number of internal meetings today to dig into plans for our future robust diplomatic, security, and development presence.  The United States will help Afghans preserve the gains of the past 18 years by supporting state civilian governments and their traditions on self-reliance. More than happy to take a couple of questions. MS ORTAGUS:  Shabeer Ahmadi, Tolo News. QUESTION:  Welcome to Afghanistan.  Shabeer Ahmadi from Tolo News.  Just pretty short questions.  Can you have a peace deal before the September election?  And have you given the timeline to the Taliban, because they claimed that?  And what if the violence continues after a peace deal in the name of ISIS?  Will you keep some troops in Afghanistan to fight Daesh? SECRETARY POMPEO:  So let me see if I can remember you three questions and get them all sequentially.  First, I hope we have a peace deal before September 1st.  That’s certainly our mission set. Second – your last question I want to get to, which was – look, we understand that the terror threat will remain, and President Trump has made clear that ensuring that terrorism, wherever we find it, is something America can address adequately. Your second question again, please? QUESTION:  It was about the withdrawal timeline. SECRETARY POMPEO:  Yeah.  I understand what the Taliban said.  My statement was very clear.  We have not yet provided them with a timeline. MS ORTAGUS:  Charlie Hurt, Washington Times. QUESTION:  Thank you, Mr. Secretary. SECRETARY POMPEO:  Yes, sir. QUESTION:  You talked about this in the past, but can you give us anything concrete about ways in which Iran has increased their involvement in Afghanistan to make the peace process more difficult? And then secondly, I’d like to give you an opportunity to respond to what Iran said today.  They said that – President Rouhani said that the White House is, quote, “afflicted by mental retardation,” end quote, and said that the path for diplomacy is closed because of the sanctions. SECRETARY POMPEO:  Charlie, I’ll answer your first question.  I can’t share a lot more with you about Iran’s involvement here in Afghanistan.  I would say this:  It is not in Iran’s best interest to undermine this peace process.  I would hope that they could see that, that they could see that it is in every regional player’s best interest that this peace process move forward.  After 18 years, this is something that makes no sense for all of the countries in the region. In western Afghanistan there’s a long border with Iran, and to have a reconciliation process move forward here would be in that country’s best interest.  And so we’ll continue to do the security measures that we need to do here in Afghanistan, should Iran seek to further destabilize the on-the-ground activities here.  But I hope that they will not – also choose not to undermine the political process, the reconciliation process in which we are engaged. I’ve been in meetings all day.  I hadn’t seen the statements that you read to me today from the Iranians.  I can only say this:  For 40 years, Iran has engaged in terror all around the world, and they continue to be the largest destabilizing force throughout the Middle East.  So if your representation of what they said today is right, that’s a bit immature and childlike, but know that the United States will remain steadfast in undertaking the actions that the President laid out in his strategy to create stability throughout the Middle East, which includes the campaign that we have – the economic campaign, the pressure campaign that we have – on the Islamic Republic of Iran. MS ORTAGUS:  I think we have Tameem Akhgar. QUESTION:  Thank you, sir. SECRETARY POMPEO:  Yes, sir. QUESTION:  I would like to know that if we come to an understanding for the peace process, as you say, before election you’re going to – United States trying to reach for peace.  If we reach for the peace and have the peace, what will the United States do for the Daesh, which is currently raising in Afghanistan, based on reports?  Will you remain in Afghanistan to take away Daesh also?  Or United States will leave, based on the contract that you are going to have with the Taliban? SECRETARY POMPEO:  Look, the peace process will move forward.  It will take time.  America’s presence here will always – we will always do the right thing to protect American interests.  So whether that’s ISIS here, whether that’s a risk of al-Qaida resurgence, the United States will always take the actions that it needs to take to protect its interests. I don't want to get into – I’ll leave it to the Department of Defense to talk about troop levels, force posture, regional activities on how it is we would guarantee or reduce the risk of that.  But I don't think any terrorist should ever underestimate America’s will and capacity to show that we protect American interests from terrorism. MS ORTAGUS:  Thank you, sir. SECRETARY POMPEO:  Great.  Thank you all very much. The post Remarks at a Press Availability appeared first on United States Department of State. Madagascar National Day 06/26/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Madagascar National Day 06/25/2019 09:23 PM EDT On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Madagascar on your 59th anniversary of independence. The peaceful 2019 Presidential election marked a seminal moment in your country’s democracy.  We value the work our governments have done together from expanding economic opportunities to improving health care, especially in the areas of plague and malaria mitigation and treatment. The United States looks forward to continued cooperation to advance sustainable economic and social development for the Malagasy people, and to strengthening our partnership in the years to come. The post Madagascar National Day appeared first on United States Department of State. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo And Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar At a Press Availability 06/26/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo And Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar At a Press Availability 06/26/2019 11:26 AM EDT FOREIGN MINISTER JAISHANKAR:  Good afternoon.  It’s a great pleasure for me to welcome Secretary Pompeo to India.  As many of you know, he is the first foreign minister I am hosting after assuming charge as external affairs minister, so it’s a particular privilege.  He’s also the first senior figure from the Trump administration to come at the – after this government assumed office.  And as someone who’s been associated over many years with the growth of India’s relations with the United States, I’m particularly pleased to see him today and to welcome him. India and the United States have a strategic partnership, and that is actually based on deep and broad convergences, which have been steadily growing over the last many years.  Obviously, there will be some issues on which we have our individual perspectives. But I think for us today, both as countries and as foreign ministers, harmonizing our interests and our views, that’s really the task of diplomacy and I think Secretary Pompeo would agree with me today that we’ve earned our pay. Now, both of us are guided by the big picture of the relationship.  That vision was – as currently was set out in the many meetings starting with the June 2017 meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump.  Obviously, from time to time in any relationship specific issues will arise, and I think we’ve discussed many of those issues, largely in the framework of that big picture.  Today, our discussions covered trade issues, energy issues, defense issues, investment concerns, and people-to-people contacts between India and the U.S.  As foreign ministers, we both are very conscious of our responsibility to deliver on the vision of our leaders, and in doing so therefore our discussions took a very integrated view of all the domains which the relationship deals with. Now, in greater specifics, I think we discussed a number of bilateral and global issues.  On terrorism, I took the opportunity to express our appreciation for the strong support that we have received from the Trump administration.  What we see is really zero tolerance for cross-border terrorism.  We have, of course, prime minister’s initiative for a global conference on terrorism, and I’m sure that’s something the U.S. would look at positively. We had a discussion on our defense cooperation.  That, again, has been a very encouraging story over the last decade or more.  Today, we operate a number of American-origin platforms and other equipment.  And the key point here is that if that is to continue to grow, it’s important that we display trust and confidence in each other. There’s been a steady appreciation, a steady liberalization of American laws and regulations pertaining to defense and high technology, and that’s something, again, I would thank Secretary Pompeo and the administration. We also discussed energy issues, and I underlined the importance of stability, predictability, and affordability in terms of India’s energy imports.  Again, you all know that we have started sourcing some of our energy from the United States in recent years. On trade and investments, the U.S. is today our largest trade partner.  It’s among our key investment sources as well.  And what has been clear in the last few years is that as both economies have grown strongly, new opportunities have been created by new demands.  And we were both very optimistic about where our economic relationship is going and can go. On some outstanding issues, particularly relating to trade, my urging was that we take a constructive and pragmatic view of that, which is natural – when you have trade, there will be trade issues.  And I think the real test of our intentions is our ability to address them effectively. Where the Government of India is concerned, we are committed to making it easier to do business, to provide a level playing field, and to grow with the world economy.  And striking the right balance between these concerns is what we are trying to do. We spent a little time discussing people-to-people relations.  It’s the natural constituency of our ties.  I think today PIOs, non-resident Indians, students, professionals of business, technology, academics – they all contribute to what makes our ties with the United States unique.  I think Secretary Pompeo in his own previous careers is very conversant with that.  So I’m confident that there will be greater understanding of this particular factor in our ties. On global issues, we discussed Afghanistan.  Secretary Pompeo came in directly from Kabul.  So he briefed me about some of the discussions he had there.  In turn, I spoke of our concerns and our interest there.  We also had a discussion, a fairly detailed discussion of the situation in the Gulf.  I think he knows that we have big stakes there, stakes of energy, of diaspora, of trade, of regional stability. We had also a talk of – over lunch on the Indo-Pacific.  On the Indo-Pacific, the point – the big point I made was that the Indo-Pacific is for something, not against somebody.  And that something is peace, security, stability, prosperity, and rules.  So we’re really looking at a landscape where a number of independent players today work together for what they believe to be global good. So this, from my perspective, is broadly sort of a summary of what we have spent the last few hours on.  Secretary Pompeo met the prime minister in the morning and also with the national security advisor.  We then from here independently journeyed to Japan, so I guess we’re going to see each other there.  So – but I again welcome him.  I look forward to really a close working relationship with him, and I’m very, very confident that together we can really take the relationship between our two countries to a different level.  And may I, Secretary, invite you to make your remarks. SECRETARY POMPEO:  Thank you.  Good afternoon, everyone.  It’s great to be here.  It’s great for me to be able to get in here so quickly after the election, the enormous election that Prime Minister Modi won.  Having run a few campaigns myself, it was incredibly impressive, and the mandate that he’s received I think is incredibly important. Minister Jaishankar, it’s great to be with you.  It’s great to have a chance to spend as much time as we had here today.  I know we’ll get a chance to do that regularly and frequently, and I very much look forward to that.  I’m confident that we have the benefit of building on a strong foundation between two of the world’s great democracies.  We saw this in the election, we saw this incredible democratic vigor lead to a wonderful outcome. In recent decades, our relationship has made real strides, but there’s an awful lot more that we can do together.  And we had a chance to talk about each of those big strategic opportunities between two great countries.  We can in this context see each other not just as bilateral partners but as something much bigger than that: as friends who can help each other all around the world. In addition to conveying President Trump’s best wishes, I also had the chance to discuss with Prime Minister Modi these historic opportunities.  And I’ll elaborate on our potential in the speech at the India International Centre a little bit later this afternoon.  In fact, I can say that the U.S.-India partnership is already beginning to reach new heights.  We’ve bolstered our defense cooperation, we’ve solidified our common vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, and we’ve grown cooperation in energy and in space and in other areas.  I know, too, we’ll have another opportunity to expand these bonds when Acting Secretary of Defense Esper and I welcome the foreign minister and Minister Singh to the United States later this year for the second ever 2+2.  I will have then been a part of 100 percent of the strategic 2+2 dialogues. The United States is committed to ensuring that India has the military capabilities it needs to uphold its territorial integrity and to confront 21st-century challenges.  Completing the various military agreements we have already agreed to will help us hit that goal, and the United States is pursuing a range of efforts to meet President Trump’s commitment to shared defense equipment and technology with India, as we do with our closest partners. India’s own experience with terrorism is very real; we know that.  As the blasts that ripped through the Sri Lankan churches last Easter Sunday have shown, terrorism is a constant in this region, and India’s ability to fight it should be second to none.  Our teams will continue to work together to improve information sharing, intelligence sharing, and strengthen India’s ability to fight terrorism. And on that subject, I just came, as the foreign minister said, from Kabul.  The core of America’s Afghanistan talks is a resolve that terrorists can never again exploit Afghanistan for their evil purposes.  We are intensely grateful for India’s advice and support to ensure that we are successful in this endeavor.  Great friends are bound to have disagreements.  The United States has been clear we seek greater market access and the removal of trade barriers in our economic relationship.  And today, I addressed these differences in the spirit of friendship, and I think that the two of us will be able to see a good outcome for each of our two countries.  And we’ll keep working to resolve any economic disputes – not only those that we have at this moment, but those that with any significant trading relationship inevitably arise. Look, we’ve got to get this piece right, the economic piece right, because there are a myriad of opportunities that lay before us in the Indo-Pacific region.  Countries in this part of the world which have signed on to the Belt and Road projects have found Beijing’s deals come not with strings attached, but with shackles.  Countries are looking to provide infrastructure, digital connectivity, and energy supplies to their people without relinquishing their sovereignty.  We, together, should act quickly to fulfill the ambitious vision for prosperity that’s shared by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi – not just for our own people, but for the good of the region and the world. Know this:  When 1.7 billion people in the world’s two largest democracies come together, we can do great things.  And I look forward to working with you on them.  Thank you. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Mr. Secretary.  We now move to the question-and-answer session.  First up, two questions from the Indian media.  Maha, and then Reza (ph).  Maha, you go first. QUESTION:  Hello, sir.  Maha Siddiqui from CNN-News18.  My question is for Secretary Pompeo.  Sir, on the one hand, America recognizes India as a vital strategic partner and friend.  How do you then explain the threat of a possible sanction on the CAATSA for India if it goes ahead with the S-400 deal with Russia, as well as warnings or notices with regard to trade issues that are periodically issued from the American side? And to the EM:  Sir, this is with regards to the U.S.-Iran tension.  Did Secretary Pompeo explain to you what the situation is like?  And as far as your concern, did you communicate to him exactly what bearing it could have on India and the region specifically with regard to energy security and on the Chabahar Port issue? SECRETARY POMPEO:  Thank you for your question.  You asked in particular about trade disputes and the S-400 challenge that we face.  I want to back up just a level to the importance that you have.  You predicated your question on the fact that we are friends, and that we work together.  That never in any relationship that I’ve been part of as the Secretary of State, I’ve never found a partner and ally, no matter how close, where you didn’t have rubs, you didn’t have places where you had to work through things. On each of those two issues, we had a chance to talk today, to try and plot a path forward so that we can do the right thing for both countries.  When you think about each of those two issues, right, we are endeavoring to make sure that each of our countries can provide security for itself.  We want India to be able to do that as well, and we want to have a flourishing economic relationship, a trade relationship that is free and as each country having the opportunity for foreign direct investment in the other’s country, to grow jobs and create wealth in each country.  When I think about the two issues you raise, I think about them as real opportunities, things that I know that we can work together on, will perform a – provide a foundation for the relationship. It is – I said this in a speech I gave now I guess a week back or so, I talked about that – certainly it’s the case that the United States is an important partner for India.  You should know we all believe – not just in the administration, but on Capitol Hill as well – that India is an important friend and partner for the United States of America as well, that America is an enormous beneficiary of the success that India has and continues to have, and I know with Prime Minister Modi we'll continue to exploit. So when I stare at these issues, they’re issues of the moment, we will find a way to work through them, and I know that when we come out on the other side of each of those, the relationship will be stronger and we’ll have done great things together.  Thank you. FOREIGN MINISTER JAISHANKAR:  Thank you.  Yes, the short answer to your question is we did discuss the situation in the Gulf.  And I obviously shared with Secretary Pompeo what are our interests and our concerns, and energy security is part of it, but I think there are other concerns as well.  As my opening remarks told you, concerns about diaspora, about regional security, about trade.  And you know that when the world looks difficult to some extent, a lot of countries, at least those with capabilities, do deploy those capabilities to look after their interests.  We have deployed some of them in the Gulf to make sure that our interests and sort of there’s a larger sort of stabilizing impact on the region.  So I think we had a very, very frank and very open discussion on that.  Specifically, Chabahar did not come up because at the moment I don’t see an outstanding concern there. But, if Secretary Pompeo doesn’t mind, I want to barge into his question a little bit and give you sort of buy-one-get-one-free answer.  (Laughter.)  Look, if you trade with somebody, and particularly they’re your biggest trading partners, it’s impossible that you don’t have trade issues.  But I think the sign of a mature relationship is that ability to negotiate your way through that and find common ground.  Perhaps that’s not been as effective as it could and should have been in the recent past, but I think both of us are leaving this meeting convinced that we both need to tell our governments that they need to try harder and make sure this happens. On the CAATSA issue, again, I think Secretary Pompeo knows, and I’ve explained to him in some detail – I mean, we have many relationships with many countries.  Many of them are of some standing, they have a history.  So I think we will do what is in our national interest, and again, part of that strategic partnership is the ability of each country to comprehend and appreciate the national interest of the other. MODERATOR:  Reza (ph), please go ahead. QUESTION:  My question is for both the ministers.  And I was wondering, I mean, there’s been a lot of talk about how there’s been a lot of convergence on the strategic partnership in areas such as security, counter-terrorism.  But we keep hearing of the differences that have been cropping up over the last few years, last few months, especially on trade.  Is this something that you feel will detract from the overall positive quality of the partnership?  I mean situations like Iran or even Afghanistan, where India is not very keen on a quick pullout.  And also for both of you, is there enough understanding of India’s concerns in Washington? SECRETARY POMPEO:  (Off-mike.) FOREIGN MINISTER JAISHANKAR:  All right, thank you.  Look, today Secretary Pompeo said something which resonated with me, which was – he said, you know, we – there’s been a lot of noise.  We need to filter through the noise and get down to the basics of the relationship.  I would – look, this has been a great relationship.  Look at where it is now.  Think of it every five years before that. So again, many of – much of that noise wouldn’t be happening if we didn’t have that relationship.  So I want you to appreciate that.  I would urge you not to be carried away by some of that noise.  Instead, look at that – the basics.  Look at our ability in the past to address a lot of that.  I would suggest to you the record’s not – it’s actually quite good.  So I’m very confident, and my confidence has been reaffirmed today of our ability to address some of the outstanding issues.  But at the end of the day, I am actually very reassured of the solidity of this relationship. You had one – a second part.  Yes, should something be done more in Washington.  Well, this is a start.  So yes, of course.  I mean, look, it’s in the nature of the American political system, which is quite different from us – so they’re part of the American system, which is not the administration, the Congress.  So obviously we need to be reaching out to them.  We have been reaching out to them.  So I mean, there’s always more work to be done.  Every relationship, particularly big ones, are always work in progress. SECRETARY POMPEO:  And I don’t have much to add to your first part.  I’ll talk about your second one.  Your question was:  Are Indian interests understood in the United States?  I actually think they are.  I served as a member of Congress for a number of years.  I had a chance to observe firsthand people from my district come in and talk to me, Indian people come in and talk about Indian issues.  I had government officials come visit with me.  I think most elected officials, most government leaders get a chance to see that.  So I do think there’s a deep, keen appreciation. I also think there is even more broadly throughout the United States, there’s a large Indian American community there.  So people have had experience and understand.  Many of those have family members that live here in India.  I do think there’s a deep appreciation for India, and I think they’ve watched as India’s grown and the good things have happened, and I think they welcome that.  I know that the leadership in the administration does, and the senior leadership on Capitol Hill too. Your first question was about the noise.  I’ve been at this long enough – the press is always going to write about the noise.  It’s the story, it’s the moment.  It doesn’t capture the full range and scope of the relationship.  It’s the one half of 1 percent, but it makes a good story, it’s good for 14 print at the top of the page, or the chyron scrolling across the screen.  I get it.  Our task is to do our best to continue to keep the relationship moored and founded and growing, and then work through that, take down each of those pieces of noise, and do so with frankly as little theater as possible.  Just work, work in a sincere way with our friends to get the outcomes that are good for both of our people. MODERATOR:  I now request my counterpart from the U.S. State Department, Morgan Ortagus, to identify the media person from the USA.  Please. MS ORTAGUS:  Thank you, good afternoon.  We’re going to have two questions from the U.S.  First, we’ll start with Chris Ruddy from Newsmax. QUESTION:  Thank you, Morgan.  Mr. Secretary, Minister, you brushed on the subject of Iran.  This has been a pressing issue for the United States right now, almost crisis mode.  And you mentioned India gets about 10 percent of its oil imported from – traditionally from Iran.  How significant was Iran part of your discussions today?  You mentioned the word “common ground” discussing about trade, Minister.  Was there any discussion or areas of common ground in how the West and India confronts Iran?  And maybe you could also discuss some of the areas of disagreement. And I would just have one follow-up on the issue of trade.  Is there – was there any discussion about the U.S. lifting President Trump’s decision to, and the – having India on the GSP and reversing that decision?  Thank you. SECRETARY POMPEO:  I’ll take the second one, you take the first one? We didn’t discuss the lifting of that.  What we agreed we would do was we’d go work through the problem set, that we’d go – there are tariffs and counter-tariffs, and we said we’re going to do our best to make sure that all the right people get in all the right places and work through these problem sets so that we can get out of this and get on with the business of growing each of our two economies. FOREIGN MINISTER JAISHANKAR:  Again, it’s a little bit of a repetition, but really, I mean we have a certain perspective on Iran, obviously, from where we are based.  And the Secretary shared with me the American concerns on Iran.  I would say frankly I guess both of us certainly came out much better informed of each other’s concerns in that regard. In terms of common ground, though I used it for trade, we have common ground on energy as well.  I mean, for us it is important that global energy supplies remain predictable, that they remain affordable.  And I think that’s a concern to which Secretary Pompeo was certainly very, very receptive.  I think he understands that this is today the world’s fifth-largest economy, which imports 85 percent of its energy, a large part of it, from the Gulf.  So I think he certainly gets – I guess I’m speaking for him, but I think looking at his face he certainly gets what our interests are. SECRETARY POMPEO:  I’ll just add on Iran, Chris.  Look, we all know that we need to keep that waterway open for the reasons that were just described.  We also know that Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terror, and we know the Indian people, how they have suffered from terror around the world.  So I think there is a shared understanding of threat and a common purpose to ensure that we can keep energy at the right prices and deter this threat – not only the threat in the narrow confines of the Middle East, but the threat that this terror regime poses to the entire world. MS ORTAGUS:  Thanks.  We’ll now have Jennifer Hansler from CNN. QUESTION:  Thank you.  Secretary Pompeo, earlier today two U.S. servicemembers were killed in Afghanistan.  This comes a day after you were in that country.  Do you have any response?  The Taliban have said this was an ambush on their part.  Is this going to affect the talks this week at all? SECRETARY POMPEO:  I saw the reports of the two U.S. servicemember who were reported to have been killed.  This is tragic.  My condolences certainly go out to them.  I’m praying for them, for their families, and for all the soldiers that were around them.  I think this drives home the need for us to be successful, right.  The mission set that we’ve undertaken in Afghanistan is a reconciliation to reduce the level of violence, to reduce the level of risk to Afghans, broadly, and the risk to American servicemembers.  So I think what you’ll see is a continued push by the United States to achieve the reconciliation and the reduction in risk that the President set out as the mission set for the State Department and for the United States Government. MODERATOR:  Thank you, External Affairs Minister.  Thank you, Secretary of State.  This concludes the press interaction.  Thank you all for joining. The post ... [Message clipped]  View entire message ReplyForward