U.S. Department of State Weekly Digest Bulletin

 

Μετάβαση απευθείας στο περιεχόμενο
Χρήση του Gmail με αναγνώστες οθόνης

Αναζήτηση

Σύνταξη

Ετικέτες

Εισερχόμενα

7

Με αστέρι

Σε αναβολή

Σημαντικά

Απεσταλμένα

Πρόχειρα

408

Κατηγορίες

INBOX/old

Personal

7

ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ

ΠΡΟΣΩΠΙΚΟΣ

3

ΦΑΝΗ

12

Περισσότερα

 

Meet

Νέα σύσκεψη

Συμμετοχή

Hangouts

Hangouts

 

 

 

Περισσότερα

1 από 10

U.S. Department of State Weekly Digest Bulletin Εισερχόμενα U.S. Department of State <usstatebpa@public.govdelivery.com> 7:39 π.μ. (πριν από 3 ώρες) προς εγώ Zimbabwe Independence Day 04/18/2021 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Zimbabwe Independence Day 04/18/2021 12:01 AM EDT Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State On behalf of the Government of the United States, I offer congratulations to the Zimbabwean people on the 41st anniversary of your country’s independence. The United States supports all Zimbabweans who aspire to a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous future.  To that end, we will join with the Zimbabwean people to strengthen democratic institutions, promote equitable economic growth, boost public health, and improve food security. As the people of Zimbabwe celebrate their Independence Day, we recognize their continued struggle to secure the rights and freedoms enshrined in their constitution.  We encourage the Government of Zimbabwe to support reforms to advance these constitutional rights and embrace an inclusive national dialogue that upholds the universal values Zimbabweans have fought so hard to gain. Please accept my best wishes on this auspicious day. # # #         Zimbabwe Independence Day 04/18/2021 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Zimbabwe Independence Day 04/18/2021 12:01 AM EDT Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State On behalf of the Government of the United States, I offer congratulations to the Zimbabwean people on the 41st anniversary of your country’s independence. The United States supports all Zimbabweans who aspire to a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous future.  To that end, we will join with the Zimbabwean people to strengthen democratic institutions, promote equitable economic growth, boost public health, and improve food security. As the people of Zimbabwe celebrate their Independence Day, we recognize their continued struggle to secure the rights and freedoms enshrined in their constitution.  We encourage the Government of Zimbabwe to support reforms to advance these constitutional rights and embrace an inclusive national dialogue that upholds the universal values Zimbabweans have fought so hard to gain. Please accept my best wishes on this auspicious day. # # #         Statement on Georgia’s Political Impasse 04/18/2021 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Statement on Georgia’s Political Impasse 04/18/2021 07:09 AM EDT Office of the Spokesperson The text of the following statement was released by the Spokesperson of the U.S. Department of State and the Spokesperson for External Affairs of the European Union. Begin Text: After nearly six months of negotiations, the citizens of Georgia have made clear that they want the political crisis to end, and for all elected Members to work together in Parliament and address the serious challenges facing the country, including the regional challenges, COVID, and the economic crisis. With this in mind, the European Union and the United States call on all Members of Georgia’s Parliament to sign the agreement that European Council President Michel will propose today. This is an agreement all Members can sign in good faith rather than a unilateral action that undermines the goal of a broad-based agreement. The institutional reforms in the agreement represent important progress for Georgia’s democratic development and are of significant benefit for its citizens, helping to create a more independent judiciary, stronger electoral processes, and a Parliament that can better reflect the voices of all people of Georgia. Accepting this compromise demonstrates courage and a commitment by all parties to put the needs of the citizens of Georgia first, ahead of the interests of any one political party. End text. ### Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Martha Raddatz of ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos 04/18/2021 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Martha Raddatz of ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos 04/18/2021 11:57 AM EDT Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Washington, D.C. QUESTION:  Let’s take all of this to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.  Thanks for being with us.  Mr. Secretary, you’ve heard the reaction from the generals who’ve commanded troops in Afghanistan, including the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs and David Petraeus, who went on to become CIA director, who say this will leave America more vulnerable to terrorist threats, with Joe Dunford saying it would also have a catastrophic effect in Afghanistan itself.  Your reaction? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Look, Martha, I just got back from Kabul.  I met with President Ghani.  I met with other leaders there.  That was just after coming from NATO, meeting with all of our allies.  And across the board I heard support for the President’s decision and the path ahead. Here’s the reality – and by the way, I have great respect for General Petraeus, General Dunford, and others.  But we had a very deliberate and fully informed process leading up to the decision by the President, and the fact is this: We went to Afghanistan 20 years ago, and we went because we were attacked on 9/11, and we went to take on those who had attacked us on 9/11 and to make sure that Afghanistan would not again become a haven for terrorism directed at the United States or any of our allies and partners.  And we achieved the objectives that we set out to achieve.  Al-Qaida has been significantly degraded.  Its capacity to conduct an attack against the United States now from Afghanistan is not there.  And of course, Osama bin Laden was brought to justice 10 years ago.  So the President felt that as we’re looking at the world now, we have to look at it through the prism of 2021, not 2001.  The terrorism threat has moved to other places, and we have other very important items on our agenda, including the relationship with China, including dealing with everything from climate change to COVID, and that’s where we have to focus our energy and resources. QUESTION:  To that point, I’ve heard for decades the military talk about how hard it was to train Afghan forces, asking for more time and more time.  But there’s also the argument that clearing out all of our forces leaves us with intelligence gaps.  You had the new CIA director saying that it was simply a fact that our intelligence capability will diminish.  Do you agree with that?  And what do you do about it? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, I think if you look at the full statement, including from the CIA Director Bill Burns and also what you’ve heard from the National Security Advisor and others, we will have the means to see if there is a resurgence, a re-emergence of a terrorist threat from Afghanistan.  We’ll be able to see that in real time with time to take action.  And we’re going to be repositioning our forces and our assets to make sure that we guard against the potential re-emergence. By the way, the Taliban in the agreement reached by the Trump administration with the Taliban is also committed not to allow al-Qaida or other terrorist groups that might target the United States to re-emerge.  We’re going to hold them to that commitment. QUESTION:  But you yourself have said you don’t really trust the Taliban. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, that’s exactly why we’re going to make sure that we have assets appropriately in place to see this coming if it comes again, to see it and to be able to deal with it.  This is, again, a very different world than the one we had in 2001.  We have different capabilities, different assets, and I think a greater ability to see something coming with time to do something about it.  But look, the other thing is this: We are very much invested in trying to pursue the peace process for Afghanistan, to bring the parties together to see if they can come to some kind of political settlement.  Ultimately, it is in no one’s interest in Afghanistan, whether it’s the Taliban or anyone else and certainly not the people of Afghanistan, for the country to descend once again into civil war, into a long war.  And if the Taliban is going to participate in some fashion in governance, if it wants to be internationally recognized, if it doesn’t want to be a pariah, it’s going to have to engage in a political process.  And our goal ultimately is an Afghanistan that finds a just and durable settlement to this conflict that has been going on for four decades.  And in that situation and that environment, terrorism is less likely to emerge. QUESTION:  I want to go back to the Taliban again and talk about women and girls in Afghanistan.  We’ve talked to many people about that.  The Director of National Intelligence says the Taliban is likely to attempt to retake power by force if we leave.  And right now, in some of the Taliban-held areas you have young women, you have girls who are beaten; there’s no chance for an education.  Why is that acceptable? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  It’s not acceptable.  And when I was in Kabul, I met with some extraordinary women who are leading as a mayor, a member of parliament, a youth activist, and doing other things.  And what they’ve done with our support is quite remarkable.  And I think Afghanistan in many ways is a transformed society.  But again, here is the thing: No one, starting with the Taliban, has an interest in going back to a civil war, because I think what everyone recognizes is there’s no military resolution to the conflict.  So if they start something up again, they’re going to be in a long war.  That’s not in their interest either. Second, we’re going to be continuing to support the Afghan Security Forces.  We’ve trained more than 300,000 over the years, and it’s a strong force.  It’s going to continue to have international support, including ours.  We’re going to be engaged in the peace process to see if we can move this in a better direction. And the final thing is this, and I want to repeat it: If the Taliban has any expectation of getting any international acceptance, of not being treated as a pariah, it’s going to have to respect the rights of women and girls.  Any country that moves backwards on that, that tries to repress them, will not have that international recognition, will not have that international status, and indeed, we will take action to make sure to the best of our ability that they can’t do that. QUESTION:  And I want to move on to refugees.  The Biden administration is poised to break a major promise to increase the number of refugee admissions to 62,000, calling it unlikely; instead signing an emergency presidential determination that keeps the cap at 15,000, which was President Trump’s historic low number.  Refugees International President Eric Schwartz said the President’s decision to reaffirm the refugee admissions calling – ceiling of his predecessor is deeply disappointing.  Now, I know on Friday the White House said there was some confusion with that, and we’ll talk about it again in May.  Can you please clear that up?  Is the cap on?  And how far could it go? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  So, Martha, one of the biggest problems we faced was inheriting a broken system.  And the refugee system that we found was not in a place, did not have the resources, the means, to effectively process as many people as we hoped.  But what we’ve done now, what the President has done now in signing the initial directive, is to make sure we can start the process of actually bringing – bringing people in, and beyond that lifting restraints and – that the previous administration had imposed so that no one, for example, from Africa or the Middle East could come in.  That has now been eliminated. QUESTION:  I know what you’ve done in that.  But how many refugees do you think will be let in this year?  And if you don’t make that 62,000, will there be 125,000 next year, which was your goal? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  I think what the President has – and the White House have said today is that based on what we’ve now seen from – in terms of the inheritance and being able to look at what was in place, what we could put in place, how quickly we could put it in place, it’s going to be very hard to meet the 62,000 this fiscal year.  But we’re going to be revisiting this over the coming weeks.  I think there’ll be an additional directive coming out in the middle of May and – but the good news is we’re now starting, and we’re able to start to bring people in who’ve been in the pipeline and who weren’t able to come in.  That is starting today.  And we’re going to revisit it in the middle of May. QUESTION:  A hundred and twenty-five thousand next year, is that your goal? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, look, the President has been clear about where he wants to go, but we have to be focused on what we’re able to do when we’re able to do it.  QUESTION:  Okay, thanks so much for joining us this morning, Mr. Secretary.  SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thanks, Martha.  Thanks for having us. QUESTION:  You bet. Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Martha Raddatz of ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos 04/18/2021 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Martha Raddatz of ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos 04/18/2021 11:57 AM EDT Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Washington, D.C. QUESTION:  Let’s take all of this to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.  Thanks for being with us.  Mr. Secretary, you’ve heard the reaction from the generals who’ve commanded troops in Afghanistan, including the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs and David Petraeus, who went on to become CIA director, who say this will leave America more vulnerable to terrorist threats, with Joe Dunford saying it would also have a catastrophic effect in Afghanistan itself.  Your reaction? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Look, Martha, I just got back from Kabul.  I met with President Ghani.  I met with other leaders there.  That was just after coming from NATO, meeting with all of our allies.  And across the board I heard support for the President’s decision and the path ahead. Here’s the reality – and by the way, I have great respect for General Petraeus, General Dunford, and others.  But we had a very deliberate and fully informed process leading up to the decision by the President, and the fact is this: We went to Afghanistan 20 years ago, and we went because we were attacked on 9/11, and we went to take on those who had attacked us on 9/11 and to make sure that Afghanistan would not again become a haven for terrorism directed at the United States or any of our allies and partners.  And we achieved the objectives that we set out to achieve.  Al-Qaida has been significantly degraded.  Its capacity to conduct an attack against the United States now from Afghanistan is not there.  And of course, Osama bin Laden was brought to justice 10 years ago.  So the President felt that as we’re looking at the world now, we have to look at it through the prism of 2021, not 2001.  The terrorism threat has moved to other places, and we have other very important items on our agenda, including the relationship with China, including dealing with everything from climate change to COVID, and that’s where we have to focus our energy and resources. QUESTION:  To that point, I’ve heard for decades the military talk about how hard it was to train Afghan forces, asking for more time and more time.  But there’s also the argument that clearing out all of our forces leaves us with intelligence gaps.  You had the new CIA director saying that it was simply a fact that our intelligence capability will diminish.  Do you agree with that?  And what do you do about it? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, I think if you look at the full statement, including from the CIA Director Bill Burns and also what you’ve heard from the National Security Advisor and others, we will have the means to see if there is a resurgence, a re-emergence of a terrorist threat from Afghanistan.  We’ll be able to see that in real time with time to take action.  And we’re going to be repositioning our forces and our assets to make sure that we guard against the potential re-emergence. By the way, the Taliban in the agreement reached by the Trump administration with the Taliban is also committed not to allow al-Qaida or other terrorist groups that might target the United States to re-emerge.  We’re going to hold them to that commitment. QUESTION:  But you yourself have said you don’t really trust the Taliban. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, that’s exactly why we’re going to make sure that we have assets appropriately in place to see this coming if it comes again, to see it and to be able to deal with it.  This is, again, a very different world than the one we had in 2001.  We have different capabilities, different assets, and I think a greater ability to see something coming with time to do something about it.  But look, the other thing is this: We are very much invested in trying to pursue the peace process for Afghanistan, to bring the parties together to see if they can come to some kind of political settlement.  Ultimately, it is in no one’s interest in Afghanistan, whether it’s the Taliban or anyone else and certainly not the people of Afghanistan, for the country to descend once again into civil war, into a long war.  And if the Taliban is going to participate in some fashion in governance, if it wants to be internationally recognized, if it doesn’t want to be a pariah, it’s going to have to engage in a political process.  And our goal ultimately is an Afghanistan that finds a just and durable settlement to this conflict that has been going on for four decades.  And in that situation and that environment, terrorism is less likely to emerge. QUESTION:  I want to go back to the Taliban again and talk about women and girls in Afghanistan.  We’ve talked to many people about that.  The Director of National Intelligence says the Taliban is likely to attempt to retake power by force if we leave.  And right now, in some of the Taliban-held areas you have young women, you have girls who are beaten; there’s no chance for an education.  Why is that acceptable? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  It’s not acceptable.  And when I was in Kabul, I met with some extraordinary women who are leading as a mayor, a member of parliament, a youth activist, and doing other things.  And what they’ve done with our support is quite remarkable.  And I think Afghanistan in many ways is a transformed society.  But again, here is the thing: No one, starting with the Taliban, has an interest in going back to a civil war, because I think what everyone recognizes is there’s no military resolution to the conflict.  So if they start something up again, they’re going to be in a long war.  That’s not in their interest either. Second, we’re going to be continuing to support the Afghan Security Forces.  We’ve trained more than 300,000 over the years, and it’s a strong force.  It’s going to continue to have international support, including ours.  We’re going to be engaged in the peace process to see if we can move this in a better direction. And the final thing is this, and I want to repeat it: If the Taliban has any expectation of getting any international acceptance, of not being treated as a pariah, it’s going to have to respect the rights of women and girls.  Any country that moves backwards on that, that tries to repress them, will not have that international recognition, will not have that international status, and indeed, we will take action to make sure to the best of our ability that they can’t do that. QUESTION:  And I want to move on to refugees.  The Biden administration is poised to break a major promise to increase the number of refugee admissions to 62,000, calling it unlikely; instead signing an emergency presidential determination that keeps the cap at 15,000, which was President Trump’s historic low number.  Refugees International President Eric Schwartz said the President’s decision to reaffirm the refugee admissions calling – ceiling of his predecessor is deeply disappointing.  Now, I know on Friday the White House said there was some confusion with that, and we’ll talk about it again in May.  Can you please clear that up?  Is the cap on?  And how far could it go? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  So, Martha, one of the biggest problems we faced was inheriting a broken system.  And the refugee system that we found was not in a place, did not have the resources, the means, to effectively process as many people as we hoped.  But what we’ve done now, what the President has done now in signing the initial directive, is to make sure we can start the process of actually bringing – bringing people in, and beyond that lifting restraints and – that the previous administration had imposed so that no one, for example, from Africa or the Middle East could come in.  That has now been eliminated. QUESTION:  I know what you’ve done in that.  But how many refugees do you think will be let in this year?  And if you don’t make that 62,000, will there be 125,000 next year, which was your goal? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  I think what the President has – and the White House have said today is that based on what we’ve now seen from – in terms of the inheritance and being able to look at what was in place, what we could put in place, how quickly we could put it in place, it’s going to be very hard to meet the 62,000 this fiscal year.  But we’re going to be revisiting this over the coming weeks.  I think there’ll be an additional directive coming out in the middle of May and – but the good news is we’re now starting, and we’re able to start to bring people in who’ve been in the pipeline and who weren’t able to come in.  That is starting today.  And we’re going to revisit it in the middle of May. QUESTION:  A hundred and twenty-five thousand next year, is that your goal? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, look, the President has been clear about where he wants to go, but we have to be focused on what we’re able to do when we’re able to do it.  QUESTION:  Okay, thanks so much for joining us this morning, Mr. Secretary.  SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thanks, Martha.  Thanks for having us. QUESTION:  You bet. Public Schedule – April 19, 2021 04/18/2021 You are subscribed to Public Schedule for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Public Schedule – April 19, 2021 04/18/2021 08:53 PM EDT Office of the Spokesperson                                  ***THE DAILY PUBLIC SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*** SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN 4:15 p.m. Secretary Blinken delivers a speech on American Leadership on Climate, in Annapolis, Maryland.  Please click here for more information. (POOLED PRESS COVERAGE) The Secretary’s speech will be live streamed on www.state.gov. DEPUTY SECRETARY WENDY R. SHERMAN Deputy Secretary Sherman attends meetings and briefings, from the Department of State. DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES BRIAN P. MCKEON Deputy Secretary McKeon attends meetings and briefings, from the Department of State. UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS DAVID HALE Under Secretary Hale attends meetings and briefings, from the Department of State. ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EUROPEAN AND EURASIAN AFFAIRS PHILIP T. REEKER  1:30 p.m. Acting Assistant Secretary Reeker delivers remarks at the “Diplomacy at the Center of Foreign Policy: Opportunities and Challenges to Restoring American Engagement with the World” webinar, hosted by the University of Texas at Austin’s Strauss Center, from Washington, D.C. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE) BRIEFING SCHEDULE  No Department Press Briefing. The United States and the Republic of the Congo Open Skies Air Transport Agreement Enters Into Force 04/19/2021 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 and the Republic of the Congo Open Skies Air Transport Agreement Enters Into Force 04/19/2021 08:29 AM EDT Office of the Spokesperson On April 19, the Air Transport Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of the Congo entered into force. The Agreement establishes a modern civil aviation relationship with Congo consistent with the U.S. Open Skies international aviation policy.  This includes unrestricted capacity and frequency of services, open route rights, a liberal charter regime, and code-sharing opportunities. The Agreement with Congo further expands our economic relationship; promotes people-to-people ties; and creates new opportunities for airlines, travel companies, and customers.  Air carriers can now provide more affordable, convenient, and efficient air services to travelers between the United States and Congo.  The Agreement commits both governments to high standards of aviation safety and security.  It also represents United States commitment to the diversification of Congo’s economy and leadership to liberalize the civil aviation sector. Revocation of the Authorization of Belarus General License 2G Due to Human Rights Violations and Abuses 04/19/2021 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Revocation of the Authorization of Belarus General License 2G Due to Human Rights Violations and Abuses 04/19/2021 11:11 AM EDT Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State The U.S. Department of State fully supports the Department of the Treasury’s announcement today on the revocation of the Belarus-related General License (GL) and implementation of a 45-day wind down of transactions. This action is a further consequence of the Belarusian authorities’ flagrant disregard for human rights and Belarus’ failure to comply with its obligations under international human rights law. In 2015, the Department of the Treasury – in consultation with the Department of State – issued the GL authorizing U.S. persons to engage in certain transactions with nine sanctioned Belarusian state-owned enterprises. The GL had been renewed annually through 2020 due to notable progress by Belarusian authorities on human rights, particularly the release of all political prisoners during this time. However, as a result of government suppression surrounding the fraudulent August 2020 Presidential elections in Belarus and its aftermath, there are more than 340 political prisoners detained in Belarus today. Given the sharply deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus, the U.S. Government determined a further extension would be inconsistent with the Belarus Democracy Act and incompatible with American values. The nine state-owned enterprises affected by this action finance and support the Lukashenka regime, facilitating its violent repression of the Belarusian people and repeated rejection of the rule of law. Belarus’ regression is exemplified by the detention of political hopefuls like Syarhey Tsikhanouski, courageous activist leaders like Maria Kalesnikava, and independent media experts like Ihar Losik – who are but three among the hundreds of Belarusians unjustly imprisoned by the Lukashenka regime for exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms. The United States calls on the Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all those unjustly detained or imprisoned. Moreover, we commit to working together with the international community to further promote accountability for those responsible for human rights violations and abuses in Belarus. Respect for human rights, the rule of law and Belarus’ commitments to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe remain central to improving bilateral relations. To learn more about the GL 2H, visit https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20210419 . Revocation of the Authorization of Belarus General License 2G Due to Human Rights Violations and Abuses 04/19/2021 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Revocation of the Authorization of Belarus General License 2G Due to Human Rights Violations and Abuses 04/19/2021 11:11 AM EDT Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State The U.S. Department of State fully supports the Department of the Treasury’s announcement today on the revocation of the Belarus-related General License (GL) and implementation of a 45-day wind down of transactions. This action is a further consequence of the Belarusian authorities’ flagrant disregard for human rights and Belarus’ failure to comply with its obligations under international human rights law. In 2015, the Department of the Treasury – in consultation with the Department of State – issued the GL authorizing U.S. persons to engage in certain transactions with nine sanctioned Belarusian state-owned enterprises. The GL had been renewed annually through 2020 due to notable progress by Belarusian authorities on human rights, particularly the release of all political prisoners during this time. However, as a result of government suppression surrounding the fraudulent August 2020 Presidential elections in Belarus and its aftermath, there are more than 340 political prisoners detained in Belarus today. Given the sharply deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus, the U.S. Government determined a further extension would be inconsistent with the Belarus Democracy Act and incompatible with American values. The nine state-owned enterprises affected by this action finance and support the Lukashenka regime, facilitating its violent repression of the Belarusian people and repeated rejection of the rule of law. Belarus’ regression is exemplified by the detention of political hopefuls like Syarhey Tsikhanouski, courageous activist leaders like Maria Kalesnikava, and independent media experts like Ihar Losik – who are but three among the hundreds of Belarusians unjustly imprisoned by the Lukashenka regime for exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms. The United States calls on the Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all those unjustly detained or imprisoned. Moreover, we commit to working together with the international community to further promote accountability for those responsible for human rights violations and abuses in Belarus. Respect for human rights, the rule of law and Belarus’ commitments to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe remain central to improving bilateral relations. To learn more about the GL 2H, visit https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20210419 . DRL Syrian Women’s Participation in Transitional Justice Processes 04/19/2021 You are subscribed to Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. DRL Syrian Women’s Participation in Transitional Justice Processes 04/19/2021 11:39 AM EDT Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor United States Department of State  Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO):   DRL Syrian Women’s Participation in Transitional Justice Processes This is the announcement of funding opportunity number SFOP0007883 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number:  19.345 Type of Solicitation:  Open Competition Application Deadline:  11:59 PM EST on Monday, June 14, 2021 Funding Floor:  $500,000 Funding Ceiling:  $987,654 Anticipated Number of Awards:  1-2 Type of Award:  Grant or Cooperative Agreement Period of Performance:  18-36 months Anticipated Time to Award, Pending Availability of Funds:  3-5 months A. Project Description The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for a project that promotes transitional justice and accountability processes related to the Syrian conflict that are inclusive of the experiences and perspectives of Syrian women and girls, in line with the U.S. Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security. DRL’s goal is to ensure truth, justice and accountability processes addressing gross and systematic human rights violations committed in Syria account for and address the gendered dimensions of the Syrian conflict and gendered experiences and impacts of human rights violations, especially those committed against women and girls. DRL’s objectives are to: Advance Syrian women’s meaningful engagement in and leadership of efforts to pursue truth, justice, and accountability for human rights violations and abuses committed in Syria; Amplify and integrate the voices, perspectives and experiences of human rights violations of Syrian women in current and future, formal and informal truth, justice and accountability efforts and the political process; Improve collaboration, coordination, and cooperation amongst women and women-led organizations pursuing truth, justice, and accountability, as well as between women’s-based networks and broader justice and accountability efforts; and Strengthen institutional capacity of women-led organizations engaged in the pursuit of truth, justice and accountability, including learning through comparative lessons and sharing of experiences through peer-to-peer dialogue. DRL’s expected outcomes are that: Women activists and women-led initiatives are strengthened, more directly engaged in and inform the design and implementation of current and future truth, justice and accountability initiatives for human rights violations committed in Syria, including but not limited to investigations and prosecutions of atrocity crimes, as well as the political process; Syrians and the international community recognize broader and diverse patterns of harms for redress and their gendered impacts, including those that disproportionately affect women and girls directly and indirectly such as socio-economic violations; Syrians and the international community are more equipped to identify and respond to the underlying factors that enabled these violations to occur and gendered interpretations of justice specific to the Syrian context; Women and girls’ experiences and stories of the conflict are preserved and acknowledged alongside more dominant narratives of the conflict; and Effective use of innovative and creative, gender-sensitive and trauma-informed approaches to a range of formal and informal transitional justice measures. All programs should aim to have impact that leads to reforms and should have the potential for sustainability beyond DRL resources.  DRL’s preference is to avoid duplicating past efforts by supporting new and creative approaches.  This does not exclude from consideration projects that improve upon or expand existing successful projects in a new and complementary way.  Successful programs may seek to engage and build upon multiple, ongoing national and international Syrian-led processes to ensure gendered experiences and impacts of human rights violations are meaningfully incorporated into these existing processes and mechanisms. Programs should seek to include groups that can bring perspectives based on their religion, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, and/or sexual orientation and gender identity.  Programs should be demand-driven and locally led to the extent possible.  DRL requires all programs to be non-discriminatory and expects implementers to include strategies for integration of individuals/organizations regardless of religion, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, and/or sexual orientation and gender identity. Competitive proposals may also include a summary budget and budget narrative for 12 additional months following the proposed period of performance, indicated above.  This information should indicate what objective(s) and/or activities could be accomplished with additional time and/or funds beyond the proposed period of performance. Where appropriate, competitive proposals may include: Opportunities for beneficiaries to apply their new knowledge and skills in practical efforts; Solicitation of feedback and suggestions from beneficiaries when developing activities in order to strengthen the sustainability of programs and participant ownership of project outcomes; Input from participants on sustainability plans and systematic review of the plans throughout the life of the project, with adjustments made as necessary; Inclusion of vulnerable populations; Joint identification and definition of key concepts with relevant stakeholders and stakeholder input into project activities; Systematic follow up with beneficiaries at specific intervals after the completion of activities to track how beneficiaries are retaining new knowledge as well as applying their new skills. Activities that are not typically allowed include, but are not limited to: The provision of humanitarian assistance; English language instruction; Development of high-tech computer or communications software and/or hardware; Purely academic exchanges or fellowships; External exchanges or fellowships lasting longer than six months; Off-shore activities that are not clearly linked to in-country initiatives and impact or are not necessary per security concerns; Theoretical explorations of human rights or democracy issues, including projects aimed primarily at research and evaluation that do not incorporate training or capacity-building for local civil society; Micro-loans or similar small business development initiatives; Initiatives directed towards a diaspora community rather than current residents of targeted countries. This notice is subject to availability of funding. B. Federal Award Information Primary organizations can submit one application in response to the NOFO.  The U.S. government may:  (a) reject any or all applications, (b) accept other than the lowest cost application, (c) accept more than one application, and (d) waive irregularities in applications received. The U.S. government may make award(s) on the basis of initial applications received, without discussions or negotiations.  Therefore, each initial application should contain the applicant’s best terms from a cost and technical standpoint.  The U.S. government reserves the right (though it is under no obligation to do so), however, to enter into discussions with one or more applicants in order to obtain clarifications, additional detail, or to suggest refinements in the project description, budget, or other aspects of an application. DRL anticipates awarding either a grant or cooperative agreement depending on the needs and risk factors of the program.  The final determination on award mechanism will be made by the Grants Officer.  The distinction between grants and cooperative agreements revolves around the existence of “substantial involvement.”  Cooperative agreements require greater Federal government participation in the project.  If a cooperative agreement is awarded, DRL will undertake reasonable and programmatically necessary substantial involvement.  Examples of substantial involvement can include, but are not limited to: Active participation or collaboration with the recipient in the implementation of the award; Review and approval of one stage of work before another can begin; Review and approval of substantive provisions of proposed sub-awards or contracts beyond existing Federal policy; Approval of the recipient’s budget or plan of work prior to the award. The authority for this funding opportunity is found in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (FAA). To maximize the impact and sustainability of the award(s) that result from this NOFO, DRL retains the right to execute non-competitive continuation amendment(s).  The total duration of any award, including potential non-competitive continuation amendments, shall not exceed 60 months, or five years.  Any non-competitive continuation is contingent on performance and pending availability of funds.  A non-competitive continuation is not guaranteed and the Department of State reserves the right to exercise or not to exercise this option. C. Eligibility Information For application information, please see the proposal submission instructions (PSI), updated March 2021 on our website. C.1 Eligible Applicants DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO) and public international organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations or businesses.  DRL’s preference is to work with non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a for-profit entity is best suited. Applications submitted by for-profit entities may be subject to additional review following the panel selection process.  Additionally, the Department of State prohibits profit to for-profit or commercial organizations under its assistance awards.  Profit is defined as any amount in excess of allowable direct and indirect costs.  The allowability of costs incurred by commercial organizations is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR 30, Cost Accounting Standards Administration, and 48 CFR 31 Contract Cost Principles and Procedures. Please see 2 CFR 200.307 for regulations regarding program income. C.2 Cost Sharing or Matching Providing cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not an eligibility factor or requirement for this NOFO, and providing cost share will not result in a more favorable competitive ranking. C.3 Other Applicants should have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships with thematic or in-country partners, entities, and relevant stakeholders, including private sector partners and NGOs, and have demonstrable experience in administering successful and preferably similar projects.  DRL encourages applications from foreign-based NGOs headquartered in the geographic regions/countries relevant to this NOFO.  Applicants may form consortia in order to bring together organizations with varied expertise to propose a comprehensive program in one proposal.  However, one organization should be designated in the proposal as the lead applicant, with the other members designated as sub-award partners.  DRL reserves the right to request additional background information on applicants that do not have previous experience administering federal grant awards, and these applicants may be subject to limited funding on a pilot basis. DRL is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its projects and activities.  DRL welcomes applications irrespective of race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other status. Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) (www.sam.gov) and/or has a current debt to the U.S. government is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR,1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR,1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.”  Additionally, no entity or person listed on the Excluded Parties List System in SAM.gov can participate in any activities under an award.  All applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Excluded Parties List System in SAM.gov to ensure that no ineligible entity or person is included in their application. D. Application and Submission Information D.1 Address to Request Application Package Applicants can find application forms, kits, or other materials needed to apply on www.grants.gov and SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com) under the announcement title “DRL Syrian Women’s Participation in Transitional Justice Processes,” funding opportunity number “SFOP0007883.”  Please contact the DRL point of contact listed in Section G if requesting reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or for security reasons.  Please note that reasonable accommodations do not include deadline extensions. D.2 Content and Form of Application Submission For all application documents, please ensure: All documents are in English and all costs are in U.S. Dollars.  If an original document within the application is in another language, an English translation must be provided (please note the Department of State, as indicated in 2 CFR 200.111, requires that English is the official language of all award documents).  If any document is provided in both English and a foreign language, the English language version is the controlling version; All pages are numbered, including budgets and attachments; All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper; and, All documents are single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, with 1-inch margins.  Captions and footnotes may be 10-point Times New Roman font.  Font sizes in charts and tables, including the budget, can be reformatted to fit within 1 page width. D.2.1 Application Requirements Complete applications must include the following: Completed and signed SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B forms.  Please see SF-424 instructions in Section 2B of the PSI. Organizations that engage in lobbying the U.S. government including Congress, or pay for another entity to lobby on their behalf, are also required to complete the SF-LLL “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities” form (only if applicable).  Please see SF-LLL guidance in Section 2B of the PSI. Cover Page (not to exceed one (1) page, preferably as a Word Document) that includes a table with the organization name, project title, target country/countries, project synopsis, and name and contact information for the application’s main point of contact.  Please see Cover Page Section 2C of the PSI for a template and more details. Executive Summary (not to exceed one (1) page, preferably as a Word Document) that outlines project goals, objectives, activities, etc. The Executive Summary should include a brief section that explicitly states:  (1) the problem statement addressed by the project, (2) research-based evidence justifying the unique project approach, and (3) quantifiable project outcomes and impacts. Table of Contents (not to exceed one (1) page, preferably as a Word Document) listing all documents and attachments with page numbers. Proposal Narrative (not to exceed ten (10) pages, preferably as a Word Document).  Please note the ten-page limit does not include the Cover Page, Executive Summary, Table of Contents, Attachments, Detailed Budget, Budget Narrative, Audit, or NICRA.  Applicants are encouraged to combine multiple documents into a single Word Document or PDF (i.e. Cover Page, Table of Contents, Executive Summary, and Proposal Narrative in one file).  Please see Proposal Narrative Guidelines in Section 2F of the PSI for more details. The Proposal Narrative should demonstrate the applicant’s commitment to ensuring the participation of all people as a strategy for implementation.  Please integrate inclusion strategies in all sections of the Proposal Narrative to enhance programmatic impact. Budget (preferably as an Excel workbook) that includes three (3) columns containing the request to DRL, any cost sharing contribution, and the total budget.  A summary budget should also be included using the OMB-approved budget categories (see SF-424A as a sample) in a separate tab.  Costs must be in U.S. Dollars.  Detailed line-item budgets for sub-grantees should be included as additional tabs within the Excel workbook (if available at the time of submission).  Please see Budget Guidelines Section 2G of the PSI for more information. The programming approach should be dedicated to strengthening inclusive societies as a necessary pillar of strong democracies.  Please include costs associated with this commitment in the Budget and Budget Narrative. Competitive proposals may include a summary budget for 12 additional months following the proposed period of performance. Budget Narrative (preferably as a Word Document) that includes substantive explanations and justifications for each line item in the detailed budget spreadsheet, as well as the source and a description of all cost-share offered.  Please see Budget Guidelines Section 2G of the PSI for more information. Competitive proposals may include a summary budget narrative for 12 additional months following the proposed period of performance. The organization’s most recent audit, if applicable.  This should be a single audit, program-specific audit, or other audit in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS).  Please see Audit Section 2H of the PSI for more information. Logic Model (preferably as a Word Document).  Please see Logic Model Section 2I of the PSI for more information. Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative (not to exceed four (4) pages, preferably as a Word Document).  Please see Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative Section 2J of the PSI for more information. As stated within the DRL Guide to Program Monitoring and Evaluation (p. 6): DRL strongly encourages applicants to consider whether their monitoring and evaluation systems are utilizing human rights-based approaches, applying a gender and equity lens, or include the participation of sub-grantees and project participants.  Within the Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative, applicants should demonstrate their commitment to inclusive strategies and consider whether evaluation design, data collection, analysis, reporting and learning are conducted in an ethical and responsible way with all project participants (e.g. direct beneficiaries, sub-grantees).  Applicants should still make adequate provisions to protect the privacy of human subjects when collecting data from individuals. For instance, when collecting data from project participants, consider whether your organization will have the necessary informed consent forms, confidentiality agreements, and data security protocols. Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (preferably as a Word Document or Excel Sheet).  Please see Monitoring and Evaluation Plan Section 2J of the PSI for more information. Risk Analysis (preferably as a Word Document).  Please see Risk Analysis Section 2K of the PSI for more information on this requirement, including Do No Harm principles and Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) policies/plans. Key Personnel (not to exceed two (2) pages, preferably as a Word Document).  Please include short bios that highlight relevant professional experience.  Given the limited space, CVs are not recommended for submission. Timeline (not to exceed one (1) page, preferably as a Word Document or Excel Sheet).  The timeline of the overall proposal should include activities, evaluation efforts, and program closeout. Gender Analysis (not to exceed three (3) pages, preferably as a Word Document) that provides a concise analysis of relevant gender norms, power relations, and conflict dynamics in target countries.  Potential domains of analysis include institutional practices and barriers, cultural norms, gender roles, access to and control over assets and resources, and patterns of decision-making.  Applicants should briefly explain how they have integrated findings from their analysis into project design and/or other proposal documents, including a plan for regularly reviewing and updating the gender analysis with local partners/beneficiaries, and making any necessary adjustments to program implementation.  A set of guiding questions can be found in Section 2L of the PSI. Security Plan addressing any issues involving in-person events and recruitment for said events, and safety for any online programs or communications, including independent IT security audits (to include a vulnerability assessment) of any proposed web application or platform.  Organization’s security plan should demonstrate consideration of the risks identified in the submitted risk assessment.  Costs may also be identified within the budget and budget narrative.  Applicants are also encouraged to include contingency plans for in-person or online activities. Contingency Plan for proposed activities should the originally planned activities not be able to be implemented.  The contingency plan should be submitted as an additional annex.  Applicants should demonstrate consideration of the risks identified in the submitted risk assessment and include specific alternative activities or locations as part of the contingency plan.  Any proposed “plan” must comply with 2CFR200.433 – Contingency provisions.  Plans must not include unallocable or unallowable expenses, and must not result in a larger Total Award Value than the identified as the “competition ceiling.”  DRL requires prior approval by the Grants Officer of the “plan” before any activities can take place, or costs can be incurred against the “plan.” Lessons Learned (not to exceed one (1) page, preferably as a Word Document) from past programs that demonstrate how the implementer has safely operated and responded to programmatic challenges, learning from both successes and failures, in the operating environment.  To be incorporated into the ten (10) pages allowed for “Proposal Narrative.” Psychosocial Assistance (to be incorporated into the ten (10) pages allowed for “Proposal Narrative,” and into “Budget” and “Budget Narrative”).  A section in the proposal, budget, and budget narrative to reflect appropriate resources and support for the psychosocial health of staff (i.e., activities can range from access to educational materials and training opportunities to counseling services to other contextually-relevant support). References:  For reference to international guidance, please see the following: Core Humanitarian Standard Commitment 8.9 (https://corehumanitarianstandard.org/files/files/CHS-Guidance-Notes-and-Indicators.pdf); and IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings Action Sheet 4.4 (http://www.who.int/mental_health/emergencies/guidelines_iasc_mental_health_psychosocial_june_2007.pdf). Applications that do not include the elements listed above will be deemed technically ineligible.   D.2.2 Additional Application Documents Strong applications will also contain the following: Individual Letters of Support and/or Memorandum of Understanding.  Letters of support and MOUs must be specific to the project implementation (e.g. from proposed partners or sub-award recipients) and will not count towards the page limit. Please refer to the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI), updated March 2021, on DRL’s website for detailed guidance on the documents above:  https://www.state.gov/bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/programs-and-grants/.  For an application checklist and sample templates please see the Resources page on DRL’s website:  https://www.state.gov/resources-for-programs-and-grants/.  The sample templates provided on the DRL website are suggested, but not mandatory. DRL reserves the right to request additional documents not included in this NOFO.  Additionally, to ensure that all applications receive a balanced evaluation, the DRL review panel will review from the first page of each section up to the page limit and no further. Note:  If ultimately provided with a notification of non-binding intent to make a Federal award, applicants typically have two to three weeks to provide additional information and documents requested in the notification of intent.  The deadlines may vary in each notification of intent and applicants must adhere to the stated deadline in the notification of intent.   D.2.3 Additional Information Requested For Those Receiving Notification of Intent Successful applicants must submit, after notification of intent to make a Federal award, but prior to issuance of a Federal award: Written responses and revised application documents addressing conditions and recommendations from the DRL review panel; A copy of the applicant’s latest NICRA as a PDF file, if the applicant has a NICRA and includes NICRA charges in the budget; A completed copy of the Department’s Financial Management Survey, if receiving DRL funding for the first time; Submission of required documents to register in the Payment Management System managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, if receiving DRL funding for the first time (unless an exemption is provided); Other requested information or documents included in the notification of intent to make a Federal award or subsequent communications prior to issuance of a Federal award; Applicants who submit their applications through Grants.gov will be required to create a SAMS Domestic account in order to accept the final award.  Accounts must be logged into to every 60 days in order to maintain an active account. D.3 Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) All prime organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), formerly referred to as DUNS, and an active registration with the SAM.gov before submitting an application.  DRL may not review applications from or make awards to applicants that have not completed all applicable UEI and SAM.gov requirements.  A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards. The 2 CFR 200 requires that sub-grantees obtain a UEI number.  Please note the UEI for sub-grantees is not required at the time of application, but will be required before the award is processed and/or directed to a sub-grantee.  Note:  The process of obtaining a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks.  Please begin your registration as early as possible. Organizations based in the United States or that pay employees within the United States will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code, and a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov. Organizations based outside of the United States and that do not pay employees within the United States do not need an EIN from the IRS, but do need a NATO CAGE (NCAGE) code and UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov. All prime organizations must also continue to maintain active SAM.gov registration with current information at all times during which they have an active Federal award or application under consideration by a Federal award agency.  SAM.gov requires all entities to renew their registration once a year in order to maintain an active registration status in SAM.  It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure it has an active registration in SAM.gov and to maintain that active registration.  If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements at the time of application, the applicant may be deemed technically ineligible to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant. For further guidance on the registration process, please see the SAM.gov Registration Guide on DRL’s website:  https://www.state.gov/resources-for-programs-and-grants/.  Please refer to 2 CFR 25.200 for additional information.  Also, please refer to Section D.5 – Funding Restriction of the NOFO. Note:  SAM.gov is not the same as SAMS Domestic.  It is free to register in both systems, but the registration processes are different. Information is included on the SAM.gov website to help international registrations, including “Quick Start Guide for International Registrations” and “Helpful Hints.”  Navigate to www.SAM.gov, click “HELP” in the top navigation bar, then click “International Registrants” in the left navigation panel.  Please note, guidance on SAM.gov and the guidance on GSA’s website about requirement for registering in SAM.gov is subject to change.  Applicants should review the website for the most up-to-date guidance. D.3.1 Exemptions An exemption from these requirements may be permitted on a case-by-case basis if: An applicant’s identity must be protected due to potential endangerment of their mission, their organization’s status, their employees, or individuals being served by the applicant.  Organizations requesting exemption from UEI or SAM.gov requirements must email the point of contact listed in the NOFO at least two weeks prior to the deadline in the NOFO providing a justification of their request.  Approval for a SAM.gov exemption must come from the warranted Grants Officer before the application can be deemed eligible for review. Note:  Foreign organizations will be required to register with the NATO Support Agency (NSPA) to receive a NCAGE code in order to register in SAM.gov.  NSPA will forward your registration request to the applicable National Codification Bureau (NCB) if your organization is located in a NATO or Tier 2 Sponsored Non-NATO Nation.  As of March 2021, NATO nations included Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.  As of March 2021, Tier 2 nations included Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Finland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Serbia, Singapore, Sweden, Ukraine, and United Arab Emirates.   NSPA and/or the appropriate NCB forwards all NCAGE code information to all Allied Committee 135 (AC/135) nations, which as of March 2021 also included Afghanistan, Algeria, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Egypt, Georgia, Jordan, Oman, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Thailand.  All organizations are strongly advised to take this into consideration when assessing whether registration may result in possible endangerment. D.4 Submission Dates and Times Applications are due no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST), on Monday, June 14, 2021 on https://www.grants.gov/ or SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com) under the announcement title “DRL Syrian Women’s Participation in Transitional Justice Processes,” funding opportunity number “SFOP0007883.” Grants.gov and SAMS Domestic automatically log the date and time an application submission is made, and the Department of State will use this information to determine whether an application has been submitted on time.  Late applications are neither reviewed nor considered.  Known system errors caused by Grants.gov or SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.com) that are outside of the applicant’s control will be reviewed on a case by case basis.  Applicants should not expect a notification upon DRL receiving their application. D.5 Funding Restrictions DRL will not consider applications that reflect any type of support for any member, affiliate, or representative of a designated terrorist organization. Please refer the link for Foreign Terrorist Organizations:  https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/ Project activities whose direct beneficiaries are foreign militaries or paramilitary groups or individuals will not be considered for DRL funding given purpose limitations on funding. In accordance with Department of State policy for terrorism, applicants are advised that successful passing of vetting to evaluate the risk that funds may benefit terrorists or their supporters is a condition of award.  If chosen for an award, applicants will be asked to submit information required by DS Form 4184, Risk Analysis Information (attached to this solicitation) about their company and its principal personnel.  Vetting information is also required for all sub-award performance on assistance awards identified by the Department of State as presenting a risk of terrorist financing.  Vetting information may also be requested for project beneficiaries and participants.  Failure to submit information when requested, or failure to pass vetting, may be grounds for rejecting your proposal prior to award. The Leahy Law prohibits Department foreign assistance funds from supporting foreign security force units if the Secretary of State has credible information that the unit has committed a gross violation of human rights.  Per 22 USC §2378d(a) (2017), “No assistance shall be furnished under this chapter or the Arms Export Control Act to any unit of the security forces of a foreign country if the Secretary of State has credible information that such unit has committed a gross violatio ΑπάντησηΠροώθηση