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U.S. Department of State Weekly Digest Bulletin Inbox x U.S. Department of State <usstatebpa@public.govdelivery.com> 8:25 AM (2 hours ago) to me Public Schedule – July 20, 2020 07/20/2020 You are subscribed to Public Schedule for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Public Schedule – July 20, 2020 07/20/2020 08:00 AM EDT Office of the Spokesperson ***THE DAILY PUBLIC SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*** SECRETARY MICHAEL R. POMPEO Secretary Pompeo is on travel to London, United Kingdom  Copenhagen, Denmark from July 20-22, 2020. Please click here for more information. DEPUTY SECRETARY STEPHEN E. BIEGUN Deputy Secretary Biegun attends meetings and briefings, at the Department of State. UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS DAVID HALE Under Secretary Hale attends meetings and briefings, at the Department of State. UNDER SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT KEITH KRACH Under Secretary Krach attends meetings and briefings, at the Department of State. Public Schedule – July 20, 2020 07/20/2020 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Public Schedule – July 20, 2020 07/20/2020 08:00 AM EDT Office of the Spokesperson ***THE DAILY PUBLIC SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*** SECRETARY MICHAEL R. POMPEO Secretary Pompeo is on travel to London, United Kingdom  Copenhagen, Denmark from July 20-22, 2020. Please click here for more information. DEPUTY SECRETARY STEPHEN E. BIEGUN Deputy Secretary Biegun attends meetings and briefings, at the Department of State. UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS DAVID HALE Under Secretary Hale attends meetings and briefings, at the Department of State. UNDER SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT KEITH KRACH Under Secretary Krach attends meetings and briefings, at the Department of State. Department of State Named 2020 Public Sector Employer of the Year 07/20/2020 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Department of State Named 2020 Public Sector Employer of the Year 07/20/2020 09:42 AM EDT Office of the Spokesperson The Department of State was recognized for its commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in its workforce of over 76,000 employees by Careers and the DisABLED Magazine. The Department received the magazine’s 2020 Public Sector Employer of the Year Award as a result of its dedication to advancing workforce diversity, including through supporting employees with disabilities. Careers and the DisABLED indicated this honor is based on the Department’s long-term commitment to ensuring its workforce represents the diversity of America. To view the article, visit: https://bt.e-ditionsbyfry.com/publication/?i=666647&ver=html5&p=16   U.S. Support for Democracy, Good Governance, and Human Rights in the Global Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic 07/20/2020 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. U.S. Support for Democracy, Good Governance, and Human Rights in the Global Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic 07/20/2020 09:38 AM EDT Office of the Spokesperson “Authoritarian regimes are poorly designed to deal with the kind of crisis that this pandemic has engendered.  Democracies, where we are free to critique and comment … these are the kinds of places where scientists and freedom and thought and journalists can all operate freely.  These are the societies that will deliver the right outcome … This is where we see the true benefit of freedom and liberty, and in the days and weeks and months ahead I am confident that the world will see that as well.”  — Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, April 29, 2020 The United States is committed to the protection of democracy, good governance, and human rights in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Societies that respect and defend human rights, fundamental freedoms, democratic institutions, and the rule of law are best equipped to respond transparently and effectively to crises.  A robust respect for human rights, as well as whole-of-society action, are necessary parts of the solution to public health crises.  Government responses to the COVID-19 epidemic must not use the disease as a pretext for repression of persons or ideas. The United States Champions Democratic Responses to the COVID Crisis The U.S. Government leverages bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, foreign assistance, and other foreign policy tools and resources to advance democratic norms and combat authoritarian responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.  At the State Department, the Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) has launched a COVID-19 Working Group to coordinate policy and programming on government transparency and accountability, full participation of civil society, and access to information.  The U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG Center) has created a cross-cutting DRG Issues and COVID-19 Working Group.  The State Department and USAID have undertaken the following actions to date to advance democratic values during the pandemic: In Azerbaijan, the State Department has urged authorities to ensure that actions taken in response to COVID-19 are not used to silence civil society advocacy, opposition voices, or public discussion.  Azerbaijani authorities have harassed and arrested — and in one case institutionalized in a psychiatric hospital — opposition members and others who have criticized the government. In Bangladesh, the State Department has emphasized the need for a free and independent media, as the government uses the Digital Security Act to charge and arrest journalists, cartoonists, doctors, academics, and other individuals who have critiqued the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also in Bangladesh, Ambassador At Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback has publicly pressed the government to lift the internet and phone restrictions at the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. In Bolivia, USAID is working to help safeguard electoral integrity by providing support for local stakeholders to determine new election date timing on scientific evidence and trends regarding the virus’ advance in Bolivia and the region. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, USAID has supported community radio in order to disseminate information on COVID -19 and counter misinformation, including production of the song “Toko Longa Corona” (“We will beat the Coronavirus”) by leading Congolese artists. In El Salvador, the United States has urged the government to avoid rhetoric that could encourage extra-judicial killings after its president authorized police to use deadly force against gang members, claiming they could exploit a security vacuum caused by COVID-19 to engage in criminal activities while the attention of security forces is shifted to the pandemic response. In Guinea, USAID is working with radio and TV studios in Conakry and N’Zérékoré and an extensive network of institutional, community, civil society and media partners to disseminate key COVID-19 prevention messaging and fight misinformation. In Hong Kong, Secretary Pompeo has warned against Beijing’s increasing efforts under cover of COVID-19 to interfere with Hong Kong governance, which includes enacting a national security law that restricts Hong Kong residents’ rights and eviscerates the rule of law. In Indonesia, USAID’s National Accountability Program is upgrading and enhancing the national complaint system to support an effective COVID-19 response. The program will also expand its procurement transparency work to cover COVID-19 related procurement, and will be conducting rapid corruption risk assessments and online procurement training for the Ministry of Health’s Inspector General. In Iran and Syria, the State Department, in coordination with international partners, has consistently shed light on the lies of the Iranian and Syrian regimes and called for accountability for their actions at the UN Security Council.  These brutal regimes continue to focus on violently cracking down on dissent and sowing disinformation on the impact of U.S. and EU sanctions instead of committing to take critical actions to mitigate the danger of COVID-19, such as the release of arbitrarily held detainees from overcrowded prisons. In Kosovo, the USAID Justice System Strengthening Program (JSSP) facilitated the drafting of an Emergency Preparedness Plan for the Kosovo Judicial Council to guide the Council’s decisions and work during COVID-19 and when responding to other emergencies in the future.  JSSP is also supporting the development of individual court action plans that among other matters will address how to deal with future backlogs resulting from the limitation of hearings during the pandemic. In Mali, USAID supported efforts to strengthen protective health measures for legislative elections (March 29 and April 19), providing soap and handwashing stations across more than 22,000 polling stations that reached nearly 2.7 million voters. In the lead up to the elections, USAID also supported the production of public service announcements to use masks, maintain social distancing, and wash hands at the voting centers. In Moldova, U.S. assistance has enabled partners to purchase protective masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer for five independent local media outlets, so that they can continue to report in a safe manner. In Russia, the State Department has condemned threats of violence made by the head of Russia’s Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, against two journalists over their coverage of the pandemic, as well as Russian federal authorities’ decisions to censor articles unfavorably covering the government’s pandemic response. In Ukraine, the State Department has spoken out against the scapegoating of vulnerable groups.  Kyiv’s mayor called for the expulsion of Roma from the city alleging that Roma were violating quarantine restrictions.  Also, U.S assistance in Ukraine has provided a series of ad hoc consultations and legal assistance to media professionals, journalists, and activists on the impact of emergency laws and quarantine restrictions on freedom of expression. In Uzbekistan,the State Department has promoted the rights of journalists to express themselves freely, including to criticize Uzbekistan’s amended criminal code, which applies hefty fines or up to three years in prison for the distribution of false information on COVID-19. As a member of the Freedom Online Coalition, Media Freedom Coalition, Global Action on Disability network, Community of Democracies, and Open Government Partnership, the United States has been an active partner in calling on governments to respect democratic values and human rights in their responses to COVID-19. In the face of an alarming global increase of gender-based violence (GBV) during the pandemic, U.S. assistance — such as the Voices Against Violence Initiative— funds hotlines and psychosocial support services for survivors and those at risk of GBV. S. programs continues to provide significant resources for LGBTI persons through emergency assistance, security trainings, and short-term urgent programmatic interventions that advocate for inclusive COVID-19 relief efforts and provide legal support to human rights defenders. For further information, please contact DRL-Press@state.gov, drg-covid-core@usaid.gov, or visit State.gov or USAID.gov/coronavirus.   Public Designation of Russian National Ramzan Kadyrov Due to Involvement in Gross Violations of Human Rights 07/20/2020 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Public Designation of Russian National Ramzan Kadyrov Due to Involvement in Gross Violations of Human Rights 07/20/2020 10:41 AM EDT Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State Today, the Department of State is publicly designating Ramzan Kadyrov, head of the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation, under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2020.  This designation is due to Kadyrov’s involvement in gross violations of human rights in the Chechen Republic.  The Department has extensive credible information that Kadyrov is responsible for numerous gross violations of human rights dating back more than a decade, including torture and extrajudicial killings. We note that today’s action also applies to Mr. Kadyrov’s spouse, Medni Kadyrova, and his daughters Aishat Kadyrova and Karina (aka Khadizhat) Kadyrova.  We will encourage likeminded countries to take similar measures. Along with many other likeminded nations, the United States has repeatedly raised concerns about reports of Mr. Kadyrov’s violations publicly and privately.  We have already imposed economic sanctions on Mr. Kadyrov and several of his associates, using multiple authorities.  In 2018, the United States and fifteen other nations took the extraordinary step of invoking the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism to create a fact-finding mission into horrific reports of abuses against LGBTI persons, human rights defenders, members of the independent media, and other citizens who ran afoul of Mr. Kadyrov.  The Moscow Mechanism rapporteur found that “harassment and persecution, arbitrary or unlawful arrests or detentions, torture, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial executions” had taken place and that “a climate of impunity” surrounded these events.  We are concerned that Mr. Kadyrov is now using the excuse of the coronavirus pandemic to inflict further human rights abuses on the people of the Chechen Republic. Today’s action serves to notify Mr. Kadyrov that his involvement in gross violations of human rights has consequences, both for him and his family, and that the United States is committed to using all the tools at our disposal to ensure accountability for those who engage in this abhorrent behavior.   Colombia’s Independence Day 07/20/2020 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Colombia’s Independence Day 07/20/2020 10:37 AM EDT Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State On behalf of the Government of the United States and the American people, I send best wishes to the people of Colombia as you celebrate your Independence Day. As the world confronts the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are proud to provide assistance and technical support to the Government of Colombia as it cares for its people.  Colombia has not only taken care of its citizens, but has also cared for refugees from Venezuela, demonstrating Colombia’s leadership in the region and the world. Colombia’s dedication to peace, democracy, and the rule of law during this uncertain time is inspiring, and we value our partnership in fighting against transnational criminal organizations, countering terrorism, generating economic opportunity, and promoting human rights.  We applaud the dedication and sacrifice of the Colombian police and military in reducing coca cultivation and cocaine production which fuel both transnational crime and terrorism.  The United States welcomes Colombia’s commitment to joint programs that increase prosperity for all of its citizens – including women, Afro-Colombians, and the indigenous – through entrepreneurship mentoring, development assistance, and the implementation of educational and cultural exchanges. We congratulation all Colombians on 210 years of independence. Public Designation of Russian National Ramzan Kadyrov Due to Involvement in Gross Violations of Human Rights 07/20/2020 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Public Designation of Russian National Ramzan Kadyrov Due to Involvement in Gross Violations of Human Rights 07/20/2020 10:41 AM EDT Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State Today, the Department of State is publicly designating Ramzan Kadyrov, head of the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation, under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2020.  This designation is due to Kadyrov’s involvement in gross violations of human rights in the Chechen Republic.  The Department has extensive credible information that Kadyrov is responsible for numerous gross violations of human rights dating back more than a decade, including torture and extrajudicial killings. We note that today’s action also applies to Mr. Kadyrov’s spouse, Medni Kadyrova, and his daughters Aishat Kadyrova and Karina (aka Khadizhat) Kadyrova.  We will encourage likeminded countries to take similar measures. Along with many other likeminded nations, the United States has repeatedly raised concerns about reports of Mr. Kadyrov’s violations publicly and privately.  We have already imposed economic sanctions on Mr. Kadyrov and several of his associates, using multiple authorities.  In 2018, the United States and fifteen other nations took the extraordinary step of invoking the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism to create a fact-finding mission into horrific reports of abuses against LGBTI persons, human rights defenders, members of the independent media, and other citizens who ran afoul of Mr. Kadyrov.  The Moscow Mechanism rapporteur found that “harassment and persecution, arbitrary or unlawful arrests or detentions, torture, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial executions” had taken place and that “a climate of impunity” surrounded these events.  We are concerned that Mr. Kadyrov is now using the excuse of the coronavirus pandemic to inflict further human rights abuses on the people of the Chechen Republic. Today’s action serves to notify Mr. Kadyrov that his involvement in gross violations of human rights has consequences, both for him and his family, and that the United States is committed to using all the tools at our disposal to ensure accountability for those who engage in this abhorrent behavior.   Colombia’s Independence Day 07/20/2020 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Colombia’s Independence Day 07/20/2020 10:37 AM EDT Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State On behalf of the Government of the United States and the American people, I send best wishes to the people of Colombia as you celebrate your Independence Day. As the world confronts the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are proud to provide assistance and technical support to the Government of Colombia as it cares for its people.  Colombia has not only taken care of its citizens, but has also cared for refugees from Venezuela, demonstrating Colombia’s leadership in the region and the world. Colombia’s dedication to peace, democracy, and the rule of law during this uncertain time is inspiring, and we value our partnership in fighting against transnational criminal organizations, countering terrorism, generating economic opportunity, and promoting human rights.  We applaud the dedication and sacrifice of the Colombian police and military in reducing coca cultivation and cocaine production which fuel both transnational crime and terrorism.  The United States welcomes Colombia’s commitment to joint programs that increase prosperity for all of its citizens – including women, Afro-Colombians, and the indigenous – through entrepreneurship mentoring, development assistance, and the implementation of educational and cultural exchanges. We congratulation all Colombians on 210 years of independence. Secretary Pompeo to Deliver a Speech at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library 07/20/2020 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary Pompeo to Deliver a Speech at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library 07/20/2020 01:11 PM EDT Office of the Spokesperson Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will deliver a speech on Communist China and the future of the free world at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California, at 1:40 p.m. PDT / 4:40 p.m. EDT on Thursday, July 23, 2020. Secretary Pompeo’s remarks will be streamed live on www.state.gov. This event is open for press coverage.  Media who plan to cover in person must RSVP to Joe Lopez at joe@nixonfoundation.org by 3:00 p.m. PDT / 6:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday July 22, 2020. For more information, please contact Joe Lopez at joe@nixonfoundation.org or the Department of State’s Office of Press Operations at PAPressDuty@state.gov.   21st Anniversary of the PRC Government’s Persecution of Falun Gong 07/20/2020 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. 21st Anniversary of the PRC Government’s Persecution of Falun Gong 07/20/2020 01:38 PM EDT Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State Since 1999, the Communist Party of China (CCP) has sought to eradicate Falun Gong, a spiritual practice originating in China, and its peaceful practitioners and human rights defenders who have fought for their right to practice their beliefs.  Extensive evidence shows the PRC government continues to repress and abuse this community to this day, including reported torture of Falun Gong practitioners and detention of thousands. Last year, I welcomed Dr. Yuhua Zhang, one among many Falun Gong survivors of the CCP’s campaign of persecution, to the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom.  After surviving what she described as torture while in a labor camp and a prison in China, she advocates on behalf of her imprisoned husband, Ma Zhenyu, who has endured months of torture because he refuses to renounce his Falun Gong beliefs. We call on the PRC government to immediately end its depraved abuse and mistreatment of Falun Gong practitioners, release those imprisoned due to their beliefs, such as Ma Zhenyu, and address the whereabouts of missing practitioners.  Twenty-one years of persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is far too long, and it must end.   21st Anniversary of the PRC Government’s Persecution of Falun Gong 07/20/2020 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. 21st Anniversary of the PRC Government’s Persecution of Falun Gong 07/20/2020 01:38 PM EDT Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State Since 1999, the Communist Party of China (CCP) has sought to eradicate Falun Gong, a spiritual practice originating in China, and its peaceful practitioners and human rights defenders who have fought for their right to practice their beliefs.  Extensive evidence shows the PRC government continues to repress and abuse this community to this day, including reported torture of Falun Gong practitioners and detention of thousands. Last year, I welcomed Dr. Yuhua Zhang, one among many Falun Gong survivors of the CCP’s campaign of persecution, to the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom.  After surviving what she described as torture while in a labor camp and a prison in China, she advocates on behalf of her imprisoned husband, Ma Zhenyu, who has endured months of torture because he refuses to renounce his Falun Gong beliefs. We call on the PRC government to immediately end its depraved abuse and mistreatment of Falun Gong practitioners, release those imprisoned due to their beliefs, such as Ma Zhenyu, and address the whereabouts of missing practitioners.  Twenty-one years of persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is far too long, and it must end.   Assad Regime’s Parliamentary Elections 07/20/2020 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Assad Regime’s Parliamentary Elections 07/20/2020 04:23 PM EDT Morgan Ortagus, Department Spokesperson Yesterday, the Assad regime held so-called Parliamentary Elections in Syria. Bashar Al Assad is seeking to present this dubious election as a success against alleged Western plotting, but in reality it is simply another in a long line of Assad’s stage-managed, unfree votes in which the Syrian people have no real choice. Syria has seen no free and fair elections since Assad’s Ba’ath party came to power, and this year was no exception. We have seen credible reports of polling staff handing out ballots already filled in with Ba’ath party candidates. Reports of citizens being pressured to vote were common, and voter privacy was not guaranteed.  In addition, Syrians residing outside the country – comprising nearly one quarter of Syria’s pre-revolution population – were not permitted to vote. This disenfranchised population includes the more than 5 million refugees driven out of the country by the regime’s relentless war against its own citizens. Per UN Security Council Resolution 2254, elections in Syria should be “free and fair,” “under the supervision of the United Nations,” and “with all Syrians,” including those in the diaspora, eligible to participate. Until the Assad regime and its government allow and adhere to these conditions the international community will view these rigged elections for what they are:  another attempt by the regime to confer false legitimacy on itself and to avoid implementing the political process that UN Security Council Resolution 2254 requires.     Terrorist Attack near Azaz, Syria 07/20/2020 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Terrorist Attack near Azaz, Syria 07/20/2020 05:15 PM EDT Morgan Ortagus, Department Spokesperson The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack near a marketplace in Sudju, near Azaz and the Bab al Salam crossing. Initial reports indicate the attack killed eight and injured over 80, some of whom are in critical condition. We extend our deepest sympathies to all those harmed in this senseless tragedy. As we have stated in the past, such acts are unacceptable by any side in this conflict, and attacks against civilians are never justified. We again remind all parties that violence impedes the hope for a lasting political resolution to the conflict in Syria in line with UN Security Council resolution 2254. We also reiterate our support for a nationwide ceasefire in Syria, as called for by UN Special Representative Geir Pedersen.   Public Schedule – July 21, 2020 07/20/2020 You are subscribed to Public Schedule for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Public Schedule – July 21, 2020 07/20/2020 08:30 PM EDT Office of the Spokesperson                                      ***THE DAILY PUBLIC SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*** SECRETARY MICHAEL R. POMPEO Secretary Pompeo is on travel to London, United Kingdom and Copenhagen, Denmark from July 20-22, 2020. Please click here for more information. 10:45 a.m. LOCAL Secretary Pompeo participates in a roundtable discussion with the Henry Jackson Society, in London, United Kingdom. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE) 12:00 p.m. LOCAL Secretary Pompeo meets with United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in London, United Kingdom. (POOLED CAMERA SPRAY AT TOP) 12:45 p.m. LOCAL Secretary Pompeo meets with United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, in London, United Kingdom. (POOLED CAMERA SPRAY AT TOP) 2:00 p.m. LOCAL Secretary Pompeo attends a working lunch with United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, in London, United Kingdom. (POOLED CAMERA SPRAY ON ARRIVAL) 3:30 p.m. LOCAL Secretary Pompeo holds a joint press availability with United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, in London, United Kingdom. (POOLED PRESS COVERAGE) 3:45 p.m. LOCAL Secretary Pompeo participates in a roundtable discussion with the British American Business Council, in London, United Kingdom. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE) 6:45 p.m. LOCAL Secretary Pompeo attends a small group dinner hosted by U.S. Ambassador to United Kingdom Johnson, in London, United Kingdom. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE) DEPUTY SECRETARY STEPHEN E. BIEGUN Deputy Secretary Biegun attends meetings and briefings, at the Department of State. UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS DAVID HALE Under Secretary Hale attends meetings and briefings, at the Department of State. UNDER SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT KEITH KRACH Under Secretary Krach attends meetings and briefings, at the Department of State. PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRTARY FOR OCEANS AND INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS JONATHAN MOORE 2:00 p.m. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Moore testifies before the Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, on U.S. Government Efforts to Address Ocean Plastic Pollution in Room SD-124 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.  Please click here for more information. (MEDIA DETERMINED BY HOST) Secretary Pompeo Travels to the United Kingdome to Discuss Transatlantic Partnership on Global Priorities 07/20/2020 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary Pompeo Travels to the United Kingdome to Discuss Transatlantic Partnership on Global Priorities 07/20/2020 08:32 PM EDT Office of the Spokesperson “Our two nations are twin pillars for the security of our people, for economic freedom, and for liberal values, the rule of law; all of the things that our two nations hold dear…our commitment to these time-honored principles is unchanging.” — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, August 7, 2019 Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will travel to London, UK, from July 20-22, 2020.  During his time in London, Secretary Pompeo will meet with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to discuss global priorities, including coordination on COVID-19 recovery and issues related to the People’s Republic of China (PRC).  He will also discuss the ongoing negotiations for a U.S.-UK Free Trade Agreement. THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED KINGDOM HAVE LONG PARTNERED TO PROMOTE DEMOCRATIC VALUES AND MUTUAL PROSPERITY The United States has no closer partner than the United Kingdom. The strong relationship between our two countries reflects our common democratic ideals and values, which are reinforced through cooperation on political, security, and economic issues.  We truly enjoy a “special relationship.” Our partnership promotes mutual prosperity. S.-UK trade totals more than $300 billion a year.  Eighty-six percent of British companies that export goods and services to the United States are small- and medium-sized enterprises.  Nearly 20 percent of British exports go to the United States – more than twice as much as any other country. Our people enjoy a special bond, linked together by a common language and an enormous number of cultural, educational, and economic exchanges.  Nearly four million Americans travel to the UK annually. IT IS INSPIRATIONAL TO WITNESS THE COLLECTIVE SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN AND BRITISH PEOPLE IN THE GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19. There can be no doubt about the impact COVID-19 has had on the world.  But our countries have overcome tough challenges before, and together, we will do it again.  This is a team effort, and American companies are in the vanguard of creating crucial solutions. In the early days of the pandemic, Google helped No. 10 deploy a critical message, “Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives,” across all of its digital services, and  helped NHS workers quickly triage COVID-19 patients using big data and artificial intelligence, undoubtedly saving lives.  Amazon shipped more than 500,000 COVID-19 testing kits to NHS staff, many of which were developed by ThermoFisher, helping the UK quickly reach its testing goals.  Microsoft transitioned 1.3 million NHS frontline healthcare workers to the cloud in just four days, one of the largest – and fastest – workforce digitization efforts in history. THE UNITED STATES LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE UK GOVERNMENT ON THE EXCLUSION OF UNTRUSTED, HIGH-RISK VENDOR COMPONENTS FROM 5G NETWORKS  We welcome news that the UK will prohibit new purchases of 5G equipment from Huawei and phase out existing Huawei equipment from its 5G telecommunications networks.  The UK made this important decision to protect its national security interests, just as countries around the world are doing. Allowing untrusted, high-risk vendors, such as Huawei, into any part of 5G networks makes critical systems vulnerable to disruption, manipulation, and espionage, and puts sensitive government, commercial, and personal information at risk.  We will continue to work with the UK on fostering a secure and vibrant 5G ecosystem, which is critical to Transatlantic prosperity and security. THE UK IS A GLOBAL LEADER AND OUR CLOSE PARTNER IN PROMOTING AND PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS  If the PRC wants to regain the trust of Hong Kongers and the international community, it should honor the promises it made to the Hong Kong people and to the United Kingdom in the U.N.-registered 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. We welcome the UK’s recent decision to grant British Nationals Overseas the right to work and eventually apply for citizenship in the UK. The United States commends the UK’s continued global leadership on the promotion and protection of human rights and the establishment of a Global Human Rights sanctions regime.   Belgium National Day 07/21/2020 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Belgium National Day 07/21/2020 12:01 AM EDT Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State On behalf of the Government of the United States and the American people, I send my congratulations to the citizens of Belgium on your national day. The United States and Belgium share a deep and longstanding friendship, which continues to thrive based on close people-to-people ties and shared values of freedom and democracy. Belgium’s scientific contributions to counter the global COVID-19 pandemic have supported our shared goals of health and economic prosperity.  We commend the Belgian people for their resolve and resilience during this challenging time. We also appreciate Belgium’s support for international security operations, including your participation in the NATO Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, the EU Training Mission in Mali, and the Defeat-ISIS Coalition, as well as your significant contributions to Transatlantic diplomacy as the host of NATO headquarters. I wish the people of Belgium a happy national day and a year of continued success. Belgium National Day 07/21/2020 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Belgium National Day 07/21/2020 12:01 AM EDT Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State On behalf of the Government of the United States and the American people, I send my congratulations to the citizens of Belgium on your national day. The United States and Belgium share a deep and longstanding friendship, which continues to thrive based on close people-to-people ties and shared values of freedom and democracy. Belgium’s scientific contributions to counter the global COVID-19 pandemic have supported our shared goals of health and economic prosperity.  We commend the Belgian people for their resolve and resilience during this challenging time. We also appreciate Belgium’s support for international security operations, including your participation in the NATO Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, the EU Training Mission in Mali, and the Defeat-ISIS Coalition, as well as your significant contributions to Transatlantic diplomacy as the host of NATO headquarters. I wish the people of Belgium a happy national day and a year of continued success. Secretary Pompeo’s Meeting with UK Prime Minister Johnson 07/21/2020 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary Pompeo’s Meeting with UK Prime Minister Johnson 07/21/2020 11:02 AM EDT Office of the Spokesperson The below is attributable to Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus:‎ Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo met with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson today in London, England. Secretary Pompeo and Prime Minister Johnson discussed key global priorities, including secure 5G telecommunications and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Secretary and the Prime Minister also discussed ongoing negotiations on a U.S.-UK free trade agreement.   Secretary Michael R. Pompeo And British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab At a Press Availability 07/21/2020 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 And British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab At a Press Availability 07/21/2020 01:00 PM EDT Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State London, United Kingdom Lancaster House FOREIGN SECRETARY RAAB:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Really delighted to welcome Secretary Pompeo back to London.  We’ve been discussing the full range of issues today.  We’re going through a whole range of challenges in the world, I think it’s fair to say, but there are also great opportunities, and Britain and the United States are absolutely keen and focused on making sure that we grasp them. We’ve spoken today about our serious concerns about the situation in Hong Kong, particularly in relation to the national security legislation.  We talked a bit about our – the UK offer to BNOs, what we’re doing in suspending the extradition treaty, extending the arms embargo to Hong Kong.  Mike gave me his perspective on it as well.  We’re coordinating together with the Five Eyes, and we also discussed next steps including at G7 level.  We also talked about ongoing discussions in relation to 5G, and crucially how we can diversify our supply chains in relation to telecoms in the 5G network, and also more broadly learning some of the lessons from coronavirus around PPE and other things and the work that we can do together in order to facilitate that. That, I think, brought us on to talk about the free trade negotiations.  We’re looking forward to meeting British and American businesses shortly, given we’re each other’s biggest investors.  Our annual trade relationship is worth over $300 billion.  We think we can do even better than that.  There are, every morning, just under one half million Americans who go to work for British companies, around the same Brits going to work for American companies.  And I think that illustrates the kind of win-win free trade deal that we’re committed and determined to achieve between our two countries – good for jobs, good for consumers as well. The UK is really clear that we need to work with our American friends and also with other partners together in the international system to protect our freedoms and interests and stand up – as we’ve shown, I think, on Hong Kong – stand up for our values.  We’re more influential, we have more impact when we work together.  We also discussed Iran, Russia, the Middle East peace process, the broader challenges of COVID-19, and the need to strengthen, reinforce, and keep the team together in relation to NATO. We discussed bilateral issues, and I think across the full range of international challenges we – of which there are many – we recognized that we’re always a lot stronger and more effective when we work together, and that’s what we’re going to continue to do in the weeks and months ahead. Mike, over to you. SECRETARY POMPEO:  Thank you, and good afternoon.  I want to thank Foreign Secretary Raab for the invitation to be here today.  I know it’s not easy to host events, especially at these times, so I want to thank you and your staff for putting this all together and making it work.  It was a very productive conversation.  We of course began with the challenge presented by the Chinese Communist Party and the COVID-19 virus that originated in Wuhan, China.  On behalf of the American people I want to extend my condolences to the British people from your losses from this preventable pandemic.  The CCP’s exploitation of this disaster to further its own interests has been disgraceful.  Rather than helping the world, General Secretary Xi has shown the world the party’s true face.  We talked about how we’ve seen Hong Kong’s freedoms crushed.  We’ve watched the CCP bully its neighbors, militarize features in the South China Sea, and instigate a deadly confrontation with India. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the British Government for its principled responses to these challenges.  You made a sovereign decision to ban Huawei from future 5G networks.  You’ve joined other free nations to condemn China’s broken promises on the Sino-British treaty.  You generously opened your doors to Hong Kongers who seek nothing more and fleeing just for some freedom.  And yesterday you suspended your extradition treaty and extended your arms embargo on China to Hong Kong itself.  We support those sovereign choices; we think well done.  I’ll meet later today with Hong Kong democracy advocate Nathan Law and Sir Chris Patten, the last governor of Hong Kong.  I’m sure those will be eye-opening and important discussions too. Dominic mentioned free trade discussions.  We’ve completed two rounds, more work to do; a third round scheduled for later this month.  It is a primary focus of the United States to see if we can make progress on this and bring this to a closure just as quickly as possible.  I spoke with the prime minister this morning about this and I hope that we can get it finalized before too long.  When we leave, Dominic and I will sit down with the British-American Business Council to hear about how we can get to the right place, which is reducing trade barriers, and hear more about how we can get opportunities for small businesses and create real wealth and opportunity, good jobs for working people here in the United Kingdom and for Americans too. And finally, I discussed with both the prime minister and with the foreign secretary the importance of extending the UN arms embargo on the Islamic Republic of Iran.  We welcome the recent statement from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany recognizing that allowing the embargo to expire would have major implications for regional and security stability.  And I want to thank the British people too and the UK Government for its role in helping lead the international maritime security construct in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.  That’s important leadership from a true ally. As Dom and I were talking about the Special Relationship, you can see it on days like today, where it translates into the ability to have candid, frank discussions on important matters which really cut to the heart of how we can work together to secure freedom for our peoples and each of our two countries, and both of our countries be forces for good together around the world.  So thanks for the chance to be with you here today. FOREIGN SECRETARY RAAB:  Great.  Thanks, Mike.  So we’ll take a couple of questions.  Vicki Young from the BBC. QUESTION:  First of all, Foreign Secretary, the Russia report today has two central accusations – one, that the present government’s ignored the threat that Russia poses to our democracy, more specifically that your government actively avoided looking for evidence of Russian interference in the Brexit referendum.  On both points, why have you turned a blind eye? And to the Secretary of State, do you want Britain to take more robust action against China?  You have praised the UK Government for what it’s done so far.  Do you think it ought to go further, maybe targeted sanctions of Chinese individuals, for example, banning TikTok, maybe?  Are you happy with China’s investment in the nuclear industry (inaudible)? FOREIGN SECRETARY RAAB:  Vicki, thanks very much.  First of all, you mentioned the suggestion that the UK actively avoided investigating Russia – I think in fairness you’ll find that wasn’t in the ISC report.  It was the comment of one MP, Stewart Hosie, and we categorically reject that. I think if you look, we’ve got a long period recognizing the enduring and significant threat posed by Russia to the UK, including in relation to cyber, Russia’s top national security priority.  We call out Russia when it’s necessary.  We’ve shown that in relation to the cyber attacks on research and development facilities in the U.S., the UK, and Canada.  We’ve done that together with our partners, and we are not for a second complacent about the threat Russia poses when it comes to cyber. Mike. SECRETARY POMPEO:  Your question was about whether we would like the United Kingdom to do more to confront China.  I don’t think about it that way; we don’t think about it that way.  We think that the entire world needs to work together to ensure that every country, including China, behaves in the international system in ways that are appropriate and consistent with the international order.  You can’t go make claims for maritime regions that you have no lawful claim to.  You can’t threaten countries and bully them in the Himalayas.  You can’t engage in cover-ups and co-opt international institutions like the World Health Organization. We want to see every nation who understands freedom and democracy and values that and knows that it’s important to their own people, their own sovereign country to be successful, to understand this threat that the Chinese Communist Party is posing to them and to work both themselves and collectively to restore what is rightfully ours. We – look at President Trump on trade.  All he simply asked for was a fair and reciprocal trading relationship with China.  We just no longer wanted them to steal intellectual property, denying citizens of the United States who’d worked hard to create something, to invent something, to get a patent or a trademark, and then the Chinese Communist Party directed its state-owned enterprises to steal that property from Americans. We want every nation to work against that kind of activity.  It’s those actions.  It’s not about language.  It’s not about words.  It’s about we want every nation to work together to push back against the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts in every dimension that I described to you today.  That certainly includes the United Kingdom.  It includes every country.  We hope we can build out a coalition that understands this threat, will work collectively to convince the Chinese Communist Party it’s not in their best interest to engage in this kind of behavior. FOREIGN SECRETARY RAAB:  John Hudson from The Washington Post. QUESTION:  Thank you very much.  Mr. Secretary, Secretary Pompeo, what is the ultimate goal of U.S. actions against Huawei?  Does the U.S. want to crush the company, or does it want it to make certain reforms in order to continue to do business with it? And Secretary Raab, how do you respond to critics who say the UK is being strong-armed into its — into its China position by U.S. officials, including Secretary Pompeo, who met this morning with MPs who are China hawks? SECRETARY POMPEO:  Would you like to go first? FOREIGN SECRETARY RAAB:  I’m relaxed. SECRETARY POMPEO:  I’ll take your question, too.  (Laughter.) FOREIGN SECRETARY RAAB:  Look, we – when I go to Washington, I meet with folks on the Hill in all parties, all sides – quite right.  Look, we – the reality is as a result of U.S. sanctions, we’ve, of course, got to look with a clear-sighted perspective at what that means and we’ve taken a decision based on that, but I don’t think there’s any question of strong-arming.  Mike and I always have constructive discussions, and actually a vast majority of the times our views overlap and we work together very well, as we have with our Five Eyes partners on Hong Kong, and I think you can see that in the various measures we’ve taken. SECRETARY POMPEO:  Yeah, look, the prime minister’s decision was reflective of what he believed was in the best interests of the people of the United Kingdom.  I have absolutely no doubt about that.  We’ve had a number of conversations about a broad range of issues, not all of which we agree on, not all of which we’ve come to the same conclusion about.  I think the United Kingdom made a good decision, but I think that decision was made not because the United States said it was a good decision but because leadership here in the United Kingdom concluded the right thing to do was to make that decision for the people of the United Kingdom. As respect to Huawei, we don’t have an end state that we seek from Huawei.  We have an end state for the people of the United States, which is to make sure that the data sets – the private data that belongs to Americans – doesn’t end up in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.  So our efforts aren’t aimed at any one particular company or one particular business; they are aimed at protecting American national security.  And we will continue to take actions against every entity that engages in trade behaviors that are inconsistent with American national security or uses telecommunications infrastructure in ways that pose threats to the United States of America, whether that’s to our military information and our high-end national security information or the average citizen’s private information that ought not be in the hands of the Chinese national security apparatus.  No American should engage in ordinary activity on their cell phone or on their laptop computer or talking on their phone – no American should have the risk that that data set is going to be in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.  We’re determined to make sure that doesn’t happen.  So the actions you have seen us take against multiple companies, including Huawei, are reflective of that security mission that we have. QUESTION:  Is Huawei savable?  Is it salvageable? SECRETARY POMPEO:  We’re going to protect American national security. FOREIGN SECRETARY RAAB:  Great, thanks very much, folks. SECRETARY POMPEO:  Thanks, everyone.   Secretary Michael R. Pompeo And British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab At a Press Availability 07/21/2020 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 And British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab At a Press Availability 07/21/2020 01:00 PM EDT Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State London, United Kingdom Lancaster House FOREIGN SECRETARY RAAB:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Really delighted to welcome Secretary Pompeo back to London.  We’ve been discussing the full range of issues today.  We’re going through a whole range of challenges in the world, I think it’s fair to say, but there are also great opportunities, and Britain and the United States are absolutely keen and focused on making sure that we grasp them. We’ve spoken today about our serious concerns about the situation in Hong Kong, particularly in relation to the national security legislation.  We talked a bit about our – the UK offer to BNOs, what we’re doing in suspending the extradition treaty, extending the arms embargo to Hong Kong.  Mike gave me his perspective on it as well.  We’re coordinating together with the Five Eyes, and we also discussed next steps including at G7 level.  We also talked about ongoing discussions in relation to 5G, and crucially how we can diversify our supply chains in relation to telecoms in the 5G network, and also more broadly learning some of the lessons from coronavirus around PPE and other things and the work that we can do together in order to facilitate that. That, I think, brought us on to talk about the free trade negotiations.  We’re looking forward to meeting British and American businesses shortly, given we’re each other’s biggest investors.  Our annual trade relationship is worth over $300 billion.  We think we can do even better than that.  There are, every morning, just under one half million Americans who go to work for British companies, around the same Brits going to work for American companies.  And I think that illustrates the kind of win-win free trade deal that we’re committed and determined to achieve between our two countries – good for jobs, good for consumers as well. The UK is really clear that we need to work with our American friends and also with other partners together in the international system to protect our freedoms and interests and stand up – as we’ve shown, I think, on Hong Kong – stand up for our values.  We’re more influential, we have more impact when we work together.  We also discussed Iran, Russia, the Middle East peace process, the broader challenges of COVID-19, and the need to strengthen, reinforce, and keep the team together in relation to NATO. We discussed bilateral issues, and I think across the full range of international challenges we – of which there are many – we recognized that we’re always a lot stronger and more effective when we work together, and that’s what we’re going to continue to do in the weeks and months ahead. Mike, over to you. SECRETARY POMPEO:  Thank you, and good afternoon.  I want to thank Foreign Secretary Raab for the invitation to be here today.  I know it’s not easy to host events, especially at these times, so I want to thank you and your staff for putting this all together and making it work.  It was a very productive conversation.  We of course began with the challenge presented by the Chinese Communist Party and the COVID-19 virus that originated in Wuhan, China.  On behalf of the American people I want to extend my condolences to the British people from your losses from this preventable pandemic.  The CCP’s exploitation of this disaster to further its own interests has been disgraceful.  Rather than helping the world, General Secretary Xi has shown the world the party’s true face.  We talked about how we’ve seen Hong Kong’s freedoms crushed.  We’ve watched the CCP bully its neighbors, militarize features in the South China Sea, and instigate a deadly confrontation with India. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the British Government for its principled responses to these challenges.  Yo ... [Message clipped]  View entire message ReplyForward