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U.S. Department of State Weekly Digest Bulletin Inbox x U.S. Department of State <usstatebpa@public.govdelivery.com> 6:47 AM (4 hours ago)  to me Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Alice Wells Travels to Turkey 12/08/2019 You are subscribed to Europe and Eurasia for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Alice Wells Travels to Turkey 12/08/2019 02:11 AM EST Office of the Spokesperson Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells will lead a delegation of U.S. government representatives traveling to Istanbul for the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process from December 8 -10.  Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Molly Phee will also take part in the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process. The Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process is a regional grouping launched in 2011 to foster dialogue and cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbors.  The United States participates as a partner country to provide key support for regional political dialogue and confidence-building measures that encourage regional coordination at the technical level.  In Istanbul, PDAS Wells and DSRAR Phee will participate in a series of meetings and bilateral engagements.  PDAS Wells will deliver remarks on behalf of the United States on December 9. For updates, please follow @State_SCA on Twitter.  For press inquiries, please contact SCA-Press@state.gov. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Alice Wells Travels to Turkey 12/08/2019 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Alice Wells Travels to Turkey 12/08/2019 02:11 AM EST Office of the Spokesperson Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells will lead a delegation of U.S. government representatives traveling to Istanbul for the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process from December 8 -10.  Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Molly Phee will also take part in the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process. The Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process is a regional grouping launched in 2011 to foster dialogue and cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbors.  The United States participates as a partner country to provide key support for regional political dialogue and confidence-building measures that encourage regional coordination at the technical level.  In Istanbul, PDAS Wells and DSRAR Phee will participate in a series of meetings and bilateral engagements.  PDAS Wells will deliver remarks on behalf of the United States on December 9. For updates, please follow @State_SCA on Twitter.  For press inquiries, please contact SCA-Press@state.gov. Ambassador Sales’ Meeting with Sudan Prime Minster Hamdok 12/08/2019 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Ambassador Sales’ Meeting with Sudan Prime Minster Hamdok 12/08/2019 09:25 AM EST Office of the Spokesperson Acting with the authorities of the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Ambassador Nathan A. Sales met Tuesday with the Republic of Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Prime Minister Hamdok outlined the progress Sudan has made on democracy and human rights and expressed confidence that Sudan will succeed with the support of its partners. Ambassador Sales expressed the United States’ support for Sudan’s transition to a civilian-led democracy. He provided a detailed explanation of the statutory process for rescinding a State Sponsor of Terrorism designation, and the steps Sudan would need to take to be delisted. Responding to Sudan’s request for assistance, Ambassador Sales also discussed the United States’ efforts to help countries develop institutions capable of safeguarding human rights and the rule of law. Secretary Michael R. Pompeo At the Kennedy Center Honors Dinner 12/08/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary Michael R. Pompeo At the Kennedy Center Honors Dinner 12/08/2019 10:19 AM EST Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State Washington, D.C. Department of State SECRETARY POMPEO: Good evening, everyone. Welcome. It’s really a joy to be with you all here tonight, so many amazing patriots, great artists, and welcoming you to this beautiful, beautiful space here at the United States Department of State. It’s always a privilege for me to be in these beautiful, gorgeous rooms privately funded at a level of excellence that I’m always so proud to take my foreign counterparts through when they come to visit the United States. There’s a lot of reasons we host this event every year. It doesn’t matter which political party we’re from. Art belongs to no party, no class, no gender, no age. It belongs to each and every one of us. This event’s really important. I regret that I couldn’t make it last year. I was worried in Morocco on Thursday I might not make it this year too. (Laughter.) Actually, I got a note from a couple who says, “You need to get on the plane now.” (Laughter.) It’s important because it celebrates something that we’ve all fought so hard for here in America, our prized value to express our views, our beliefs, our freedoms, our ideas. It’s a remarkable day here. It’s December 7th, of course the anniversary of the events of Pearl Harbor where 2,300 Americans were killed in 1941. It’s the event that, of course, launched us into World War II, which was a valiant fight for freedom all around the world. And it’s important, then, that we get to join together, have a great dinner tonight, and a lot of fun tomorrow too to celebrate those freedoms we have and those people that have sacrificed so much so that we could all be here this evening. Tonight, we do so by encouraging our artists and honoring those who have reached the absolute pinnacle in their field. It was great to meet many of you this evening. The State Department does its part to uphold freedom of expression through the arts in every country where the United States has an embassy, a diplomatic presence, and a consulate. We have visual art, we have live performances, educational collaborations, and much more. We are so proud to share American art with our international partners and friends. And in fact, this year, the Pompeos’ Christmas card will highlight the arts in our embassies. It’s really – it’s a special card that shows all the great contributions that amazing patriots have gifted to the United States so that we can have American art in our facilities around the world. When I think about my role as America’s most senior diplomat, it means not just investing in our policies, but also in the things that we care about here and to show American music and American movies, our art, our books, our stage productions. Indeed, my profession and that of my team’s diplomacy benefits from the very art that we celebrate tonight. Through each of these forms of expression and more, we share with the world just a glimpse, a little piece of what we admire most about our great nation: the freedom to speak, to nurture creativity, the innovation, and the courageous raw talent that we always bring to the world. We tell through this art critical American stories that have transformed societies. So I thought I’d start tonight with a story. It’s a story about a young girl in Afghanistan named Zari. Zari lives in a society where many girls never get to go to school. But young Zari is an assertive young lady. She insists on attending class. She even tried out for the soccer team. And like many young women today, she has her hair dyed multiple colors underneath her hijab. (Laughter.) Zari is, of course, very mature for her age, and often talks about how all young girls should be able to get an education and become anything that they want to be. And of course, Zari’s also unique because she’s a Muppet. She’s a character on a show called Sesame Garden, which is produced by the Sesame Workshop, the same non-profit that produces Sesame Street that I grew up with, and one of our honorees tonight. It was the United States Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan that provided the funding for the first seven seasons of that show. We did it because equal opportunity and respect for the unalienable rights of every person are key to our mission of supporting prosperity, stability, and democracy in Afghanistan, a project that Ambassador Khalilzad is on the ground there working on even as we speak. Sherrie Westin of the Sesame Workshop put it this way. She said, quote, “We’re showing little boys that it’s okay for girls to go to school.” Indeed, it must be so. That’s the power of the arts. (Applause.) All of our other honorees this evening have represented our country well as true cultural ambassadors. Do you remember? Ninety million records sold worldwide. That was Earth, Wind, and Fire. That’s as close as you’re going to see me coming to sing tonight – (laughter) – in case you were all worried. I know Susan is sitting down here frightened. Their music has been the wellspring of positivity and inspiration during a remarkably tumultuous time in American history. And they helped show the world that we could, in fact, bridge gaps of race and of class. It’s one of the reasons that our National Portrait Gallery recently awarded Earth, Wind, and Fire its “Portrait of a Nation” prize, honoring them as change-makers. Band-leader Maurice White is no longer with us, but I think it’s safe to say that his legacy lives on in the music he helped to create. Congratulations to Earth, Wind, and Fire. (Applause.) Then there’s Ms. Sally Field, an ageless actress who has reached multiple generations around the world through an amazing body of TV, screen, and stage work, a list far too long to keep your dinner warm tonight. From TV hits that she was part of – Sybil and ER – to truly timeless films like Norma Rae; my wife’s favorite, Steel Magnolias; and of course, that unique American treasure, Forrest Gump. Forrest Gump taught the world important lessons about American life and about our fundamental humanity. It helped launch programs serving veterans and their families that are still thriving, even today. I was with some of them in the Middle East not too terribly long ago. In 2012, Ms. Field starred as Mary Todd Lincoln in Steven Spielberg’s wonderful movie. This important film about American values, American history, and an American hero wasn’t just big in our country. It was a mega-success all over the world. It grossed over a hundred million dollars internationally. And today, Sally uses her voice to advocate for women’s rights and the rights of people who are struggling wherever it is that they are living. And she created a bone health campaign that encourages early detection of bone checkups for women. And for my part, maybe it’s predictable, but I was a big Smokey and the Bandit fan. (Laughter.) Thank you, Ms. Field, and congratulations to you. (Applause.) It won’t surprise you with my time in Kansas that I’m a big fan of Linda Ronstadt as well, an icon of folk and country music. Thirty albums, ten Grammys, a bestselling memoir. And as a nod to her own ancestry, Ms. Ronstadt released a collection of traditional Mexican songs, which became the best-selling non-English-language album in all of American history. She’s shared her musical gifts in uniquely impactful ways, including teaching music and dance to the children in Mexico. Ms. Ronstadt, thank you and congratulations. (Applause.) And I will say my job, as I travel the world – I just want to know when I will be loved. (Laughter.) I just read them. (Laughter.) Finally tonight, we have the enormous privilege to celebrate Michael Tilson Thomas, the director of the San Francisco Symphony. He has earned 11 Grammys for albums that include music from the classical to the avant-garde. And speaking of the avant-garde, if you haven’t heard the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra play Enter Sandman with Metallica – (laughter) – yes, that Metallica, there’s a treat in store for you. Susan and I spent the last couple nights listening to those concerts. They’re truly amazing. He is also a co-founder of the New World Symphony, an academy based in Miami that prepares students from all over the world to be leaders through music. Since its founding, it’s launched the careers of more than 1,100 amazing artists worldwide, and he’s contributed greatly to the vitality of the global, classical music scene. Thank you very much and congratulations, Mr. Thomas. (Applause.) For the honorees tonight, you are now in elite company: Hepburn, Springsteen, Sinatra, Spielberg, just to name a few. It reminds me of my first day when I walked down the hallway – pictures, portraits of all the previous secretaries. I was walking with my son – Madison, Jefferson – and my son said, “Pompeo.” (Laughter.) Yeah, one cannot hope to replicate, but only be inspired by those who have come before us. I want, too, to thank our co-host for the evening and our Foggy Bottom neighbor, the Kennedy Center I want to congratulate Deborah and David in particular on the opening of the impressive new extension facility called Reach. Reach, if you haven’t heard of it, provides incredible opportunities to reflect on the unique power of art. One of the artists first showcased there goes by the name of George W. Bush. After leaving the presidency, he took up painting and completed 66 portraits of veterans of the War on Terror. Think of the many quiet hours the former commander-in-chief spent in solitude, rendering the faces of these heroes on canvas for all of us to see. It says a lot to me about the power of art, and also about our country. The great American playwright Tennessee Williams once wrote of the characteristics that drive every artist, “the obsessive interest in human affairs, plus a certain amount of compassion and moral conviction.” And I want to thank our honorees tonight for their interest in human affairs, for their compassion, and for their moral conviction representing our country as well. Finally, on a personal note, I am married to a thespian, my mother-in-law was a professional singer, and my niece spends every waking moment she can on stage. I was not particularly artistically gifted, but like so many Americans, I have been surrounded by the arts and the artistic, and it is uplifting and improves my life. I’m grateful for each of you, and for all of you, and for you all joining Susan and me here tonight. May God bless you and congratulations, and may God bless our great country. Thank you. (Applause.) Secretary Michael R. Pompeo At the Kennedy Center Honors Dinner 12/08/2019 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary Michael R. Pompeo At the Kennedy Center Honors Dinner 12/08/2019 10:19 AM EST Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State Washington, D.C. Department of State SECRETARY POMPEO: Good evening, everyone. Welcome. It’s really a joy to be with you all here tonight, so many amazing patriots, great artists, and welcoming you to this beautiful, beautiful space here at the United States Department of State. It’s always a privilege for me to be in these beautiful, gorgeous rooms privately funded at a level of excellence that I’m always so proud to take my foreign counterparts through when they come to visit the United States. There’s a lot of reasons we host this event every year. It doesn’t matter which political party we’re from. Art belongs to no party, no class, no gender, no age. It belongs to each and every one of us. This event’s really important. I regret that I couldn’t make it last year. I was worried in Morocco on Thursday I might not make it this year too. (Laughter.) Actually, I got a note from a couple who says, “You need to get on the plane now.” (Laughter.) It’s important because it celebrates something that we’ve all fought so hard for here in America, our prized value to express our views, our beliefs, our freedoms, our ideas. It’s a remarkable day here. It’s December 7th, of course the anniversary of the events of Pearl Harbor where 2,300 Americans were killed in 1941. It’s the event that, of course, launched us into World War II, which was a valiant fight for freedom all around the world. And it’s important, then, that we get to join together, have a great dinner tonight, and a lot of fun tomorrow too to celebrate those freedoms we have and those people that have sacrificed so much so that we could all be here this evening. Tonight, we do so by encouraging our artists and honoring those who have reached the absolute pinnacle in their field. It was great to meet many of you this evening. The State Department does its part to uphold freedom of expression through the arts in every country where the United States has an embassy, a diplomatic presence, and a consulate. We have visual art, we have live performances, educational collaborations, and much more. We are so proud to share American art with our international partners and friends. And in fact, this year, the Pompeos’ Christmas card will highlight the arts in our embassies. It’s really – it’s a special card that shows all the great contributions that amazing patriots have gifted to the United States so that we can have American art in our facilities around the world. When I think about my role as America’s most senior diplomat, it means not just investing in our policies, but also in the things that we care about here and to show American music and American movies, our art, our books, our stage productions. Indeed, my profession and that of my team’s diplomacy benefits from the very art that we celebrate tonight. Through each of these forms of expression and more, we share with the world just a glimpse, a little piece of what we admire most about our great nation: the freedom to speak, to nurture creativity, the innovation, and the courageous raw talent that we always bring to the world. We tell through this art critical American stories that have transformed societies. So I thought I’d start tonight with a story. It’s a story about a young girl in Afghanistan named Zari. Zari lives in a society where many girls never get to go to school. But young Zari is an assertive young lady. She insists on attending class. She even tried out for the soccer team. And like many young women today, she has her hair dyed multiple colors underneath her hijab. (Laughter.) Zari is, of course, very mature for her age, and often talks about how all young girls should be able to get an education and become anything that they want to be. And of course, Zari’s also unique because she’s a Muppet. She’s a character on a show called Sesame Garden, which is produced by the Sesame Workshop, the same non-profit that produces Sesame Street that I grew up with, and one of our honorees tonight. It was the United States Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan that provided the funding for the first seven seasons of that show. We did it because equal opportunity and respect for the unalienable rights of every person are key to our mission of supporting prosperity, stability, and democracy in Afghanistan, a project that Ambassador Khalilzad is on the ground there working on even as we speak. Sherrie Westin of the Sesame Workshop put it this way. She said, quote, “We’re showing little boys that it’s okay for girls to go to school.” Indeed, it must be so. That’s the power of the arts. (Applause.) All of our other honorees this evening have represented our country well as true cultural ambassadors. Do you remember? Ninety million records sold worldwide. That was Earth, Wind, and Fire. That’s as close as you’re going to see me coming to sing tonight – (laughter) – in case you were all worried. I know Susan is sitting down here frightened. Their music has been the wellspring of positivity and inspiration during a remarkably tumultuous time in American history. And they helped show the world that we could, in fact, bridge gaps of race and of class. It’s one of the reasons that our National Portrait Gallery recently awarded Earth, Wind, and Fire its “Portrait of a Nation” prize, honoring them as change-makers. Band-leader Maurice White is no longer with us, but I think it’s safe to say that his legacy lives on in the music he helped to create. Congratulations to Earth, Wind, and Fire. (Applause.) Then there’s Ms. Sally Field, an ageless actress who has reached multiple generations around the world through an amazing body of TV, screen, and stage work, a list far too long to keep your dinner warm tonight. From TV hits that she was part of – Sybil and ER – to truly timeless films like Norma Rae; my wife’s favorite, Steel Magnolias; and of course, that unique American treasure, Forrest Gump. Forrest Gump taught the world important lessons about American life and about our fundamental humanity. It helped launch programs serving veterans and their families that are still thriving, even today. I was with some of them in the Middle East not too terribly long ago. In 2012, Ms. Field starred as Mary Todd Lincoln in Steven Spielberg’s wonderful movie. This important film about American values, American history, and an American hero wasn’t just big in our country. It was a mega-success all over the world. It grossed over a hundred million dollars internationally. And today, Sally uses her voice to advocate for women’s rights and the rights of people who are struggling wherever it is that they are living. And she created a bone health campaign that encourages early detection of bone checkups for women. And for my part, maybe it’s predictable, but I was a big Smokey and the Bandit fan. (Laughter.) Thank you, Ms. Field, and congratulations to you. (Applause.) It won’t surprise you with my time in Kansas that I’m a big fan of Linda Ronstadt as well, an icon of folk and country music. Thirty albums, ten Grammys, a bestselling memoir. And as a nod to her own ancestry, Ms. Ronstadt released a collection of traditional Mexican songs, which became the best-selling non-English-language album in all of American history. She’s shared her musical gifts in uniquely impactful ways, including teaching music and dance to the children in Mexico. Ms. Ronstadt, thank you and congratulations. (Applause.) And I will say my job, as I travel the world – I just want to know when I will be loved. (Laughter.) I just read them. (Laughter.) Finally tonight, we have the enormous privilege to celebrate Michael Tilson Thomas, the director of the San Francisco Symphony. He has earned 11 Grammys for albums that include music from the classical to the avant-garde. And speaking of the avant-garde, if you haven’t heard the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra play Enter Sandman with Metallica – (laughter) – yes, that Metallica, there’s a treat in store for you. Susan and I spent the last couple nights listening to those concerts. They’re truly amazing. He is also a co-founder of the New World Symphony, an academy based in Miami that prepares students from all over the world to be leaders through music. Since its founding, it’s launched the careers of more than 1,100 amazing artists worldwide, and he’s contributed greatly to the vitality of the global, classical music scene. Thank you very much and congratulations, Mr. Thomas. (Applause.) For the honorees tonight, you are now in elite company: Hepburn, Springsteen, Sinatra, Spielberg, just to name a few. It reminds me of my first day when I walked down the hallway – pictures, portraits of all the previous secretaries. I was walking with my son – Madison, Jefferson – and my son said, “Pompeo.” (Laughter.) Yeah, one cannot hope to replicate, but only be inspired by those who have come before us. I want, too, to thank our co-host for the evening and our Foggy Bottom neighbor, the Kennedy Center I want to congratulate Deborah and David in particular on the opening of the impressive new extension facility called Reach. Reach, if you haven’t heard of it, provides incredible opportunities to reflect on the unique power of art. One of the artists first showcased there goes by the name of George W. Bush. After leaving the presidency, he took up painting and completed 66 portraits of veterans of the War on Terror. Think of the many quiet hours the former commander-in-chief spent in solitude, rendering the faces of these heroes on canvas for all of us to see. It says a lot to me about the power of art, and also about our country. The great American playwright Tennessee Williams once wrote of the characteristics that drive every artist, “the obsessive interest in human affairs, plus a certain amount of compassion and moral conviction.” And I want to thank our honorees tonight for their interest in human affairs, for their compassion, and for their moral conviction representing our country as well. Finally, on a personal note, I am married to a thespian, my mother-in-law was a professional singer, and my niece spends every waking moment she can on stage. I was not particularly artistically gifted, but like so many Americans, I have been surrounded by the arts and the artistic, and it is uplifting and improves my life. I’m grateful for each of you, and for all of you, and for you all joining Susan and me here tonight. May God bless you and congratulations, and may God bless our great country. Thank you. (Applause.) International Anticorruption Day 12/09/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. International Anticorruption Day 12/09/2019 08:45 AM EST Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State Today, on International Anticorruption Day, we reaffirm our commitment to prevent and combat corruption globally.  Corruption obstructs economic growth and development, facilitates transnational crime, and fuels terrorism, robbing citizens around the world of their basic rights.  Corruption enables and sustains autocratic leaders, weakens faith in democratic systems, creates opportunities for predatory actors to take advantage of our partners. It also creates political crises and governance challenges that endanger our national security. The United States, through a number of agencies, including the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development, takes a comprehensive approach to fighting corruption.  We work to hold the corrupt accountable through robust diplomatic engagement, by supporting multi-stakeholder initiatives and civil society, through foreign assistance to build stronger partners and transparent, trustworthy institutions, and by levying targeted sanctions and visa restrictions.  We can only tackle corruption effectively with a strategy that includes these many tools and has buy-in from all stakeholders. In 2019, the State Department publicly designated almost 40 public officials and their immediate family members due to their involvement in significant corruption, pursuant to Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2019.  We will continue to use this authority globally to prevent corrupt officials of foreign governments and their immediate family members from traveling to and spending their ill-gotten gains in the United States. On this day, we renew our call to all countries to address the scourge of corruption; effectively implement their international anticorruption commitments, including those under the UN Convention against Corruption; support civil society and journalists; and take measures to promote open and accountable governance. International Anticorruption Day 12/09/2019 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. International Anticorruption Day 12/09/2019 08:45 AM EST Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State Today, on International Anticorruption Day, we reaffirm our commitment to prevent and combat corruption globally.  Corruption obstructs economic growth and development, facilitates transnational crime, and fuels terrorism, robbing citizens around the world of their basic rights.  Corruption enables and sustains autocratic leaders, weakens faith in democratic systems, creates opportunities for predatory actors to take advantage of our partners. It also creates political crises and governance challenges that endanger our national security. The United States, through a number of agencies, including the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development, takes a comprehensive approach to fighting corruption.  We work to hold the corrupt accountable through robust diplomatic engagement, by supporting multi-stakeholder initiatives and civil society, through foreign assistance to build stronger partners and transparent, trustworthy institutions, and by levying targeted sanctions and visa restrictions.  We can only tackle corruption effectively with a strategy that includes these many tools and has buy-in from all stakeholders. In 2019, the State Department publicly designated almost 40 public officials and their immediate family members due to their involvement in significant corruption, pursuant to Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2019.  We will continue to use this authority globally to prevent corrupt officials of foreign governments and their immediate family members from traveling to and spending their ill-gotten gains in the United States. On this day, we renew our call to all countries to address the scourge of corruption; effectively implement their international anticorruption commitments, including those under the UN Convention against Corruption; support civil society and journalists; and take measures to promote open and accountable governance. United States and Japan to Hold Session of Extended Deterrence Dialogue 12/09/2019 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. United States and Japan to Hold Session of Extended Deterrence Dialogue 12/09/2019 11:15 AM EST Office of the Spokesperson The United States and Japan will hold a bilateral Extended Deterrence Dialogue (EDD) from December 9-11, in Tokyo, Japan.  The EDD provides an opportunity for the two allies to hold in-depth discussions on how to maintain and strengthen deterrence as part of their security and defense cooperation. On the U.S. side, the talks will be co-led by the Department of State’s Thomas G. DiNanno, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defense Policy, Emerging Threats, and Outreach in the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, and Robert Soofer, Department of Defense Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear and Missile Defense Policy.  The Japanese side will be represented by Mr. Yutaka Arima, Deputy Director-General, North American Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Takeshi Ishikawa, Deputy Director-General, Defense Policy Bureau, Ministry of Defense. As part of the U.S.-Japan Alliance, the two governments engage in broad and detailed discussions on deterrence issues and have held the EDD on a regular basis since 2010. For more information on the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, visit www.state.gov/t/avc. United States Congratulates Dominica on Successful Elections 12/09/2019 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. United States Congratulates Dominica on Successful Elections 12/09/2019 11:05 AM EST Morgan Ortagus, Department Spokesperson The United States congratulates the people of Dominica on their election and stands ready to continue working with Prime Minister Skerrit.  The United States and Dominica enjoy a long-standing partnership, based on respect and trust, which benefits both nations. We will continue to work with the Skerrit Administration to promote regional security, economic prosperity, and electoral reform that ensures free, fair, and transparent elections and the right of citizens to peacefully exercise their civic duty. We thank the Organization of American States, the Caribbean Community, and the Commonwealth, whose electoral observation missions helped provide transparency to Dominica’s democratic process. The United States Signs Protocol to Amend the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas Convention 12/09/2019 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. The United States Signs Protocol to Amend the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas Convention 12/09/2019 11:45 AM EST Office of the Spokesperson On November 20, the United States signed the newly adopted Protocol to Amend the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Convention.  During the ICCAT annual meeting in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, November 18-25, ICCAT adopted a Protocol containing amendments that bring the organization in line with modern fisheries management standards, clarify ICCAT’s mandate to manage certain species of sharks and rays, protect other species caught as bycatch in ICCAT fisheries, and protect the broader marine ecosystem.  The amendments will also streamline the Commission’s decision-making processes and ensure that all key fleets targeting ICCAT species, including Taiwan, can participate in and be bound by Commission decisions.  Together, these amendments will strengthen U.S. efforts to ensure the science-based, sustainable management of fisheries resources that generate hundreds of millions of dollars in annual U.S. economic activity. The International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas established ICCAT in 1969.  The United States has been a Party to ICCAT from the beginning.  Since 2012, the United States has chaired negotiations to comprehensively update and modernize the ICCAT Convention. For press inquiries, contact OES-PA-DG@state.gov. U.S. 2019 APEC Outcomes 12/09/2019 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. U.S. 2019 APEC Outcomes 12/09/2019 11:35 AM EST Office of the Spokesperson On the occasion of the closing meeting of Chile’s APEC host year, the United States applauds Chile’s leadership throughout 2019.  This year marks the 30th anniversary of APEC’s founding, and we remain committed to working through APEC to open markets, promote high standards, and achieve free, fair, and reciprocal trade. APEC is the premier platform for the United States to engage our regional partners on trade and investment issues in the Asia-Pacific region.  Taken together, APEC’s 21 economies account for approximately 38 percent of the world’s population, approximately 60 percent of global GDP, and about 47 percent of world trade.  APEC members are already seven of the top 15 markets in the world for U.S. goods exports.  Our work in APEC advances our vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.  By opening markets and advancing fair trade initiatives across the APEC region, we make it easier for U.S. businesses to succeed abroad, and generate strong economic growth in the United States and the region.  Over 6.1 million American jobs are supported by U.S. exports of goods and services to the APEC region. The United States values APEC as a forum for public-private collaboration, including through engagement with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), and welcomes the appointment of Peggy Johnson from Microsoft to ABAC.  She will represent U.S. industry alongside Nate Gatten from American Airlines in 2020.  We thank outgoing U.S. ABAC members Scott Price of UPS and Marija Zivanovic-Smith of NCR for their commitment and service over the last three years. We have worked closely across the U.S. government with Chile and our APEC partners to advance the efforts below in the areas of trade, improving the business environment, digital economy, women’s economic empowerment, and sustainable economic growth: Free, Fair, and Reciprocal Trade The United States works with partners in APEC to advance free, fair, and reciprocal trade and investment in the region while delivering meaningful results for U.S. businesses.  U.S. priorities in APEC include advancing services trade, preparing other economies for participation in high-standard trade agreements, and supporting implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, estimated to reduce global trade costs by ten to eighteen percent when fully implemented.  The United States is a leader in services trade, with a 2018 global services trade surplus of $260 billion, accounting for a third of all U.S. exports, and is a dominant contributor to foreign direct investment flows.  The consensus APEC 2019 Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement calls for continued progress on U.S. priorities such as services, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), digital trade, and trade facilitation.  We continue to work in APEC to lower barriers to U.S. exports and open markets for U.S. businesses by: Increasing services competitiveness through increased transparency and predictability of domestic regulatory requirements and procedures; Increasing APEC economies’ understanding of the safe and sustainable benefits of genetically engineered and genome edited agricultural products to improve farmers’ livelihoods, increase food security, and expand the trade of products from agricultural biotechnologies; Facilitating trade in safe food and decreasing costs of regulation by reducing the use of burdensome and unnecessary export certificate requirements for food trade and streamlining science-based certificate requirements and through partnerships with governments, industry, academia, and development banks; Advancing trade facilitation to reduce the cost of exporting by supporting U.S. industry and other stakeholder priorities through the convening of the U.S.–led APEC Alliance for Supply Chain Connectivity (A2C2); and Improving efficiency in supply chains and lowering costs for trade by improving the publication of customs requirements and streamlining expedited shipments. Better Business Environment Leveling the playing field and opening markets for U.S. companies is central to our efforts in APEC and in the broader Indo-Pacific region.  We do this by working with member economies to improve implementation of economic policies, business regulation, and fair competition.  We also work with economies to implement good regulatory practices, break down barriers to doing business, and institute anti-corruption measures.  APEC promotes quality infrastructure investment, including through advocating for transparent procurement processes and partnering with the private sector.  Our work in APEC makes it easier to do business in the region for U.S. companies by: Identifying economies’ challenges as outlined in the World Bank’s Doing Business indicators and sharing best practices; Helping businesses, particularly SMEs, engage in cross-border trade by lowering transaction costs, co-establishing the APEC Online Dispute Resolution Framework, and connecting businesses with Framework-compliant online dispute resolution providers; Building and sustaining ethical business practices in the healthcare sector including supporting the launch of the Chile Consensus Framework for Ethical Collaboration that supports SMEs across the region; Enabling investments in new technologies and U.S. biotechnology exports by reducing regulatory burdens through enhanced cooperation and coherence for agricultural biotechnologies’ regulatory frameworks among APEC economies; Leveling the playing field for APEC businesses by doubling down on combating corruption in the region for the past 15 years, including preventing and combating foreign bribery; Promoting good business practices to attract investors to the small-scale mining sectors through the development of a publicly-available business training curriculum; Preventing unnecessary regulatory barriers and supporting U.S. companies’ exports to the region by aligning standards and conformance measures across the Asia-Pacific through the 12th APEC Conference on Good Regulatory Practices; and Helping U.S. medical device and pharmaceutical companies do business in the region through harmonizing regulatory environments. Innovation and the Growth of the Digital Economy The digital economy is growing rapidly in APEC economies and is a high priority for the United States.  Through APEC we are promoting policies that facilitate digital trade and promote a free and open internet.  The U.S. digital economy accounts for an estimated 6.9 percent of GDP with the potential to boost annual GDP by $2.2 trillion by 2025.  We work in APEC to support U.S. businesses and innovators in the digital economy by: Strengthening consumer privacy protections, protecting American jobs, and enhancing market access for U.S. companies across the Asia-Pacific with nine APEC economies through the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) system, which reduces data localization restrictions and barriers to cross-border data flows; Promoting high-standard approaches to digital trade through the adoption of principles on prohibition of data localization requirements and upholding the free flow of data; Strengthening trade in digital products through increased member economy participation in the APEC Pathfinder on a Permanent Customs Duty Moratorium on Electronic Transmissions, including Content Transmitted Electronically; Building consensus on the benefits of using globally-recognized cybersecurity standards and finalizing the APEC Framework for Securing the Digital Economy to promote interoperability, alignment, and economic growth; Bridging digital workforce needs through partnerships with employers and academia and the development of an APEC Roadmap on Closing the Digital Skills Gap by 2030; Fostering innovation for U.S. inventors seeking patent protection in foreign markets through increasing awareness on the benefits of patent grace period harmonization in the APEC region; and Shaping the APEC Economic Policy Report 2019: Structural Reform and the Digital Economy and sharing best practices in areas such as cross-border data flow and competition policy. Women’s Economic Empowerment Women’s full participation in the economy is a top priority for the United States, including through the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative, and we support Chile’s leadership in elevating this issue as a central priority for the first time in APEC’s history.  We are using data to promote women’s participation in high-growth and higher-wage sectors, including transportation, science, and technology; addressing legal and regulatory barriers to women’s economic empowerment; and supporting women entrepreneurs (read more).  We work in APEC to expand opportunities for women to participate in the economy by: Supporting efforts across APEC to increase women’s economic participation on key metrics through the APEC-wide ministerial-level La Serena Roadmap on Women and Inclusive Growth (2019-2030); Promoting education and career opportunities for women and girls in STEM by launching the APEC Women in STEM Principles and Actions; and Improving the legal, policy, and regulatory environment for women to enter, remain, and advance in the workforce through new policy research, found in the APEC Women@Work brief. Resilient and Sustainable Economic Growth The United States works with partners in APEC to address external factors that affect economic participation, such as health, secure trade and travel, and environmental issues.  In particular, working to maintain healthy populations, build resilience, and promote the sustainable use of environmental resources are all necessary to maintain long-term economic growth.  We work in APEC to mitigate the economic impacts of health, environmental, and security challenges by: Finding solutions for marine debris and its effects on our economies and ecosystems by funding an APEC Sub-fund for Marine Debris Management and Innovation and developing a ministerial-level APEC Roadmap on Marine Debris; Reducing and preventing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the APEC region through an APEC Roadmap to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing; Combating illegal logging and facilitating trade in legal forest products in the APEC region through focused engagement with frontline industry and international organizations; Promoting the security and resilience of regional supply chains, travel, finance, and critical infrastructure, as well as soft targets, from terrorism by encouraging economies to take collective and individual actions according to the APEC Consolidated Counter-Terrorism and Secure Trade Strategy; and Supporting healthy populations and promoting the active participation of older persons in the economy. For further information, please contact the Office of Economic Policy, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at DOSAPEC@state.gov. The United States Takes Action Against Maduro-Aligned Individuals 12/09/2019 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. The United States Takes Action Against Maduro-Aligned Individuals 12/09/2019 11:53 AM EST Office of the Spokesperson On December 9, 2019, the United States sanctioned two officials aligned with the former Maduro regime pursuant to Executive Order 13692, as amended, which authorizes the designation of any person determined to be a current or former official of the Government of Venezuela.  Gustavo Adolfo Vizcaino Gil and Juan Carlos Dugarte Padron used their position as Director General of the Government of Venezuela’s Administrative Service of Identification, Migration, and Immigration (SAIME) to corruptly enrich themselves at the expense of Venezuelans seeking passport services.  Vizcaino was Director General from April 2016 until June 2018, when Dugarte replaced him. During Vizcaino’s tenure, SAIME charged exorbitant fees from passport applicants, from which he personally profited.  Some passports were sold to non-Venezuelan citizens and other applicants never received passports, even after illicitly being charged thousands of dollars.  Dugarte also received kickbacks and was publicly implicated in corrupt dealings for the sale of passports. It is unconscionable that Venezuelans may be unable to obtain a passport or have to pay excessive fees due to corruption, as they continue to flee the devastating conditions in Venezuela that Maduro and his corrupt associates have created.  This is yet another cause of the misery that millions of Venezuelans now suffer. With our democratic partners in the region and around the world, the United States will continue to support the people of Venezuela, interim President Guaido, and the National Assembly. Strengthening U.S. Open Skies Civil Aviation Partnerships 12/09/2019 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Strengthening U.S. Open Skies Civil Aviation Partnerships 12/09/2019 12:40 PM EST Office of the Spokesperson U.S. delegates to the twelfth ICAO Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN 2019) expanded the network of U.S. Open Skies partners by negotiating new agreements with The Bahamas, Belarus, and Kenya.  ICAN 2019, which took place in Aqaba, Jordan, on December 2-6, was the year’s largest gathering of civil aviation negotiators.  The event, organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), drew attendees from more than 60 nations.  Open Skies agreements establish rules to facilitate growth of an efficient, market-based international civil aviation system. The agreements with the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the Republic of Belarus, initialed on December 3, are the first bilateral air transport agreements negotiated with these countries. Both agreements are now being applied on the basis of comity and reciprocity, creating new opportunities for travelers and businesses. The agreement with Kenya, initialed on December 4, adds seventh-freedom traffic rights for all-cargo operations.  Such rights facilitate the movement of goods throughout the world by giving carriers greater flexibility to meet their cargo and express delivery customers’ needs more efficiently. The U.S. delegation also met with counterparts from host country Jordan and 20 other nations to ensure fair competition for U.S. carriers, to explore possibilities for new Open Skies agreements, and to further modernize existing agreements with civil aviation partners.  U.S. Department of State Office of Aviation Negotiations Director Aaron Forsberg led the U.S. delegation, which included other representatives from the Departments of State, Transportation, and Commerce. Information on U.S. aviation policy and Open Skies agreements is available on the Department of State’s website here: https://www.state.gov/civil-air-transport-agreements/. The Organization of American States’ Final Report of the Audit of the Elections in Bolivia 12/09/2019 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. The Organization of American States’ Final Report of the Audit of the Elections in Bolivia 12/09/2019 01:43 PM EST Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State The United States commends the professional work of the Organization of American States (OAS) electoral audit mission in Bolivia.  The thorough investigation presented by the 36 experts of 18 nationalities underscores that ‘deliberate’ and ‘malicious’ actions were taken to rig Bolivia’s election in favor of former President Evo Morales.  This report offers 96 pages of evidence and over 500 pages of annexes to support its initial OAS findings after the October 20 election, including details on: Two hidden servers used to process results that were not controlled by personnel of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), which made it possible to manipulate data and falsify tally sheets. Instances of two or more tally sheets filled out by the same person in hundreds of voting centers, as determined by calligraphy experts. Mathematical analysis demonstrating the overwhelming improbability that former President Morales achieved a victory over his opponents by the required margin without having manipulated the results. Based on the rigor of the independent report, the United States ultimately concurs with the report’s conclusion that “based on the overwhelming evidence found, what can be affirmed is that there has been a series of intentional operations aimed at altering the will expressed at the polls.” We encourage Bolivia’s transitional government to continue its efforts to prepare for free, fair and transparent elections that reflect the will of the Bolivian people as quickly as possible. The Organization of American States’ Final Report of the Audit of the Elections in Bolivia 12/09/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. The Organization of American States’ Final Report of the Audit of the Elections in Bolivia 12/09/2019 01:43 PM EST Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State The United States commends the professional work of the Organization of American States (OAS) electoral audit mission in Bolivia.  The thorough investigation presented by the 36 experts of 18 nationalities underscores that ‘deliberate’ and ‘malicious’ actions were taken to rig Bolivia’s election in favor of former President Evo Morales.  This report offers 96 pages of evidence and over 500 pages of annexes to support its initial OAS findings after the October 20 election, including details on: Two hidden servers used to process results that were not controlled by personnel of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), which made it possible to manipulate data and falsify tally sheets. Instances of two or more tally sheets filled out by the same person in hundreds of voting centers, as determined by calligraphy experts. Mathematical analysis demonstrating the overwhelming improbability that former President Morales achieved a victory over his opponents by the required margin without having manipulated the results. Based on the rigor of the independent report, the United States ultimately concurs with the report’s conclusion that “based on the overwhelming evidence found, what can be affirmed is that there has been a series of intentional operations aimed at altering the will expressed at the polls.” We encourage Bolivia’s transitional government to continue its efforts to prepare for free, fair and transparent elections that reflect the will of the Bolivian people as quickly as possible. Acting Assistant Secretary Michael Kozak Travels to Buenos Aires 12/09/2019 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. ... [Message clipped]  View entire message ReplyForward