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U.S. Department of State Weekly Digest Bulletin Εισερχόμενα U.S. Department of State <usstatebpa@public.govdelivery.com> 6:16 π.μ. (πριν από 4 ώρες) προς εγώ Αγγλικά Ελληνικά     Μετάφραση μηνύματος Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman’s Remarks at the Aspen Ministers Forum 12/10/2022 You are subscribed to Europe and Eurasia for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman’s Remarks at the Aspen Ministers Forum 12/10/2022 07:01 PM EST Office of the Spokesperson Prague, Czech Republic As Prepared  Good evening, and thank you, Foreign Minister Avila, for that kind introduction. What a privilege to speak before so many titans of foreign affairs—keepers of the flame of diplomacy and democracy in so many parts of our planet. All of you know how decisions are forged, because you’ve made them. All of you understand how deals are negotiated, because you’ve had a seat at the table. All of you appreciate the stakes of our present moment, because you’ve faced similar challenges before. So I join you with deep humility, honored to be able to share a few thoughts with you on the state of democracy and the legacy of one of its greatest champions—a friend, mentor, role model, business partner, and colleague to everyone here: Madeleine Albright. It is fitting that we meet in the city of Madeleine’s birth—and that we gather as part of the Aspen Ministers Forum, a group she affectionately called “Madeleine and her exes.” I truly believe she would love nothing more than to be sitting by our sides today, discussing how to make real the promise of democracy—how to be what she forever was: a preeminent defender of freedom. Last month, on election night in the United States, I was in Mexico City for an official visit. I stayed up in my hotel room until about 1am watching the results, then woke up a few hours later to start a 14-hour workday, as one does when one is traveling as Deputy Secretary of State. But honestly, that was probably the best preparation I could have for the next day. Because everyone, from Mexican officials to the press, wanted to know what I thought of the initial results. They sought insights into what divided government might mean for America’s global leadership, what could change if the House or Senate changed hands, and what it said about the future of American democracy. People were curious and concerned, exasperated and excited, interested and intrigued. What I told them—and what I’ll echo here—had little to do with individual races or congressional majorities or the ins and outs of different polls. Because in that moment, what mattered most wasn’t who won or lost. What mattered was that democracy won. Democracy proved itself a little more resilient and secure than the day before. More than any candidate, democracy was the victor. It was a tremendous relief to see, given what transpired in the aftermath of the 2020 campaign, that election denialism was a losing cause in race after race, in state after state. Instead, we found solace in the strength of our system—a sense of stability in the proper functioning of an election. We saw further proof of the resilience of democratic movements worldwide, coming on the heels of peaceful and fair elections in Kenya and Zambia, in Honduras and the Philippines, all of which might have turned out otherwise. And while we should never bear any illusions about the very real threats to democracy, we should celebrate when that system works as intended: when the votes of the people are cast and counted; when the voices of the people are heard and heeded; when the will of the people prevails. This was the cause of Madeleine’s life and career, up to the very end. I mean that literally: her final article in Foreign Affairs focused squarely on how democracies can counter the rise of authoritarianism worldwide, a theme which features prominently in the Biden Administration’s National Security Strategy. Madeleine was always realistic about the vast challenges to our way of life, but eternally optimistic about our prospects for success. Why else would she title that piece “The Coming Democratic Revival”? That faith, that belief in our collective ability to extend the reach of freedom, was founded in a journey that started here in Prague; that saw her mother rebuild her family’s lives time and again in strange lands; that saw her father’s dreams of a democratic Czechoslovakia dashed not once, but twice. That saw her arrive in America as a refugee, chart her course as a journalist and academic, enter the universe of foreign policy and make it to the tallest heights of public service – all while raising three extraordinary daughters and mentoring and inspiring so many. Her voice was vital, and we have ample reason to miss her diplomatic mind, her insights into authoritarianism, her unwavering dedication to the advance of freedom. Now, her cause remains our own. It is incumbent upon us to keep carrying the flame she ignited. To keep fighting against the gathering storm clouds of polarization and disinformation. To keep reinforcing the bedrocks of democracy: promotion of fair and open elections; protection of a free and independent press; preservation of free expression and assembly; adherence to the rule of law—all tied together by a robust civil society and governments that are transparent in their actions and accountable to all their citizens, including women and girls, LGBTQI+ persons, and marginalized groups. Solidifying these values is essential, because democratically governed nations are best equipped to realize the vision of a secure, stable, healthy, and prosperous world. Democracies are more likely to maintain peace, expand economic opportunity, uphold human rights, respond to humanitarian crises, defend the environment and public health, among other imperatives. Democratic governments are also more apt to remain united in the face of the most immediate issues of our time – thwarting Russia’s aggression; supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty; confronting the People’s Republic of China’s attempts to reshape the international order in its repressive image; addressing political corruption; fortifying the Transatlantic alliance; advancing freedom in the Indo-Pacific, in the Americas, everywhere. Democratic governments, in short, are central to answering the critical questions before us. But none of it will matter unless we heed another of Madeleine’s favorite mottoes: “Democracy has to deliver.” She understood, from her own experiences, research, and engagements from the Soviet Union to the Balkans to our own country, that elections, the rule of law, and the tools of democracies only matter if they yield tangible improvements in our citizens’ circumstances. People want to make their voices heard, but they also want to live a life. As Madeleine put it, “people not only want to vote, but they want to eat.” That means democracy has to prove itself beyond the ballot box. Its adherents and officials have to help families put money in their pocketbooks, put food on the table, and put a roof over their heads. We have to maintain safe streets and strong schools. We have to ensure access to medical care, clean air, and clean water. We must draw contrasts with authoritarian competitors, a task that is sadly all too easy at the moment—from Russia’s human rights abuses in Ukraine, to the PRC’s saber rattling around Taiwan, to Iran’s violent suppression of peaceful, women-led protests, to the DPRK’s destabilizing missile launches. None of that will produce the kind of economic or physical security families need and deserve. We must demonstrate the opposite – that openness, good governance, and accountability translate into broadly-shared prosperity and a better quality of life. This is vital for a simple reason: conducting a first election is important. But if democracy doesn’t deliver, we may never get to the second election. Citizens may prefer the predictability of what was over the uncertainty of what might be. So we have work to do, and in the United States, we are putting our best foot forward. Building on Madeleine’s work through the Community of Democracies, the National Democratic Institute, and this forum, the Biden Administration has placed the promotion of democratic values at the heart of our diplomacy. We released the first-ever U.S. Strategy on Countering Corruption, because corruption saps confidence in democracy, undermines faith in accountable government, erodes governance, and leaves too little room for hope. At the Summit for Democracy, we rallied world leaders, civil society, and the private sector around an affirmative agenda and collective action, as more than 100 governments produced over 750 commitments to advance women’s equality, whistleblower protection, and press freedom. We continue to strengthen alliances and work through multilateral institutions to hold governments accountable for human rights abuses. Looking ahead, we remain focused on broadening the chorus of democratic champions by shoring up our existing alliances, embracing emerging partners, and working with non-governmental actors. We remain determined to defend civic space, combat corruption, counter authoritarianism, and demonstrate how open systems lead to prosperous societies. None of this will be easy. Ensuring an enduring democratic movement will not happen overnight, nor will it be possible to achieve unless passionate leaders, effective advocates, and courageous citizens are ready to fight for it. The way Ukrainians are fighting for their freedom. The way Iranian women are demonstrating for their dignity. The way activists are calling for the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah in Egypt. The way citizens of the PRC are marching for their basic rights. This is going to require the individuals in this room and our successors to take their cue—to always step forward and to remain persistent even when progress is slow and winding. It’s going to demand our unyielding optimism, the kind that defined Madeleine’s life. As usual, her words can carry us through. As she wrote in her final essay: “After too many years of handwringing, the time is right for democratic forces to regain the initiative. Democracy is fragile, but it is also resilient. In every region, the generation coming of age is smart, outspoken, and fearless. Worldwide, people are demanding more, while authoritarian leaders are tiring and running out of answers… Although tattered and torn, freedom’s flag is ready to rise.” Let us be the ones who help raise that flag again. Let us deliver a democracy that delivers for our people. Let us make certain that the next generation, and those to follow, know democracy’s victory, its blessings, its possibilities – and see it as a source of hope. Let us carry forward this call as Madeleine would have wanted – together. Thank you. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman’s Remarks at the Aspen Ministers Forum 12/10/2022 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman’s Remarks at the Aspen Ministers Forum 12/10/2022 07:01 PM EST Office of the Spokesperson Prague, Czech Republic As Prepared  Good evening, and thank you, Foreign Minister Avila, for that kind introduction. What a privilege to speak before so many titans of foreign affairs—keepers of the flame of diplomacy and democracy in so many parts of our planet. All of you know how decisions are forged, because you’ve made them. All of you understand how deals are negotiated, because you’ve had a seat at the table. All of you appreciate the stakes of our present moment, because you’ve faced similar challenges before. So I join you with deep humility, honored to be able to share a few thoughts with you on the state of democracy and the legacy of one of its greatest champions—a friend, mentor, role model, business partner, and colleague to everyone here: Madeleine Albright. It is fitting that we meet in the city of Madeleine’s birth—and that we gather as part of the Aspen Ministers Forum, a group she affectionately called “Madeleine and her exes.” I truly believe she would love nothing more than to be sitting by our sides today, discussing how to make real the promise of democracy—how to be what she forever was: a preeminent defender of freedom. Last month, on election night in the United States, I was in Mexico City for an official visit. I stayed up in my hotel room until about 1am watching the results, then woke up a few hours later to start a 14-hour workday, as one does when one is traveling as Deputy Secretary of State. But honestly, that was probably the best preparation I could have for the next day. Because everyone, from Mexican officials to the press, wanted to know what I thought of the initial results. They sought insights into what divided government might mean for America’s global leadership, what could change if the House or Senate changed hands, and what it said about the future of American democracy. People were curious and concerned, exasperated and excited, interested and intrigued. What I told them—and what I’ll echo here—had little to do with individual races or congressional majorities or the ins and outs of different polls. Because in that moment, what mattered most wasn’t who won or lost. What mattered was that democracy won. Democracy proved itself a little more resilient and secure than the day before. More than any candidate, democracy was the victor. It was a tremendous relief to see, given what transpired in the aftermath of the 2020 campaign, that election denialism was a losing cause in race after race, in state after state. Instead, we found solace in the strength of our system—a sense of stability in the proper functioning of an election. We saw further proof of the resilience of democratic movements worldwide, coming on the heels of peaceful and fair elections in Kenya and Zambia, in Honduras and the Philippines, all of which might have turned out otherwise. And while we should never bear any illusions about the very real threats to democracy, we should celebrate when that system works as intended: when the votes of the people are cast and counted; when the voices of the people are heard and heeded; when the will of the people prevails. This was the cause of Madeleine’s life and career, up to the very end. I mean that literally: her final article in Foreign Affairs focused squarely on how democracies can counter the rise of authoritarianism worldwide, a theme which features prominently in the Biden Administration’s National Security Strategy. Madeleine was always realistic about the vast challenges to our way of life, but eternally optimistic about our prospects for success. Why else would she title that piece “The Coming Democratic Revival”? That faith, that belief in our collective ability to extend the reach of freedom, was founded in a journey that started here in Prague; that saw her mother rebuild her family’s lives time and again in strange lands; that saw her father’s dreams of a democratic Czechoslovakia dashed not once, but twice. That saw her arrive in America as a refugee, chart her course as a journalist and academic, enter the universe of foreign policy and make it to the tallest heights of public service – all while raising three extraordinary daughters and mentoring and inspiring so many. Her voice was vital, and we have ample reason to miss her diplomatic mind, her insights into authoritarianism, her unwavering dedication to the advance of freedom. Now, her cause remains our own. It is incumbent upon us to keep carrying the flame she ignited. To keep fighting against the gathering storm clouds of polarization and disinformation. To keep reinforcing the bedrocks of democracy: promotion of fair and open elections; protection of a free and independent press; preservation of free expression and assembly; adherence to the rule of law—all tied together by a robust civil society and governments that are transparent in their actions and accountable to all their citizens, including women and girls, LGBTQI+ persons, and marginalized groups. Solidifying these values is essential, because democratically governed nations are best equipped to realize the vision of a secure, stable, healthy, and prosperous world. Democracies are more likely to maintain peace, expand economic opportunity, uphold human rights, respond to humanitarian crises, defend the environment and public health, among other imperatives. Democratic governments are also more apt to remain united in the face of the most immediate issues of our time – thwarting Russia’s aggression; supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty; confronting the People’s Republic of China’s attempts to reshape the international order in its repressive image; addressing political corruption; fortifying the Transatlantic alliance; advancing freedom in the Indo-Pacific, in the Americas, everywhere. Democratic governments, in short, are central to answering the critical questions before us. But none of it will matter unless we heed another of Madeleine’s favorite mottoes: “Democracy has to deliver.” She understood, from her own experiences, research, and engagements from the Soviet Union to the Balkans to our own country, that elections, the rule of law, and the tools of democracies only matter if they yield tangible improvements in our citizens’ circumstances. People want to make their voices heard, but they also want to live a life. As Madeleine put it, “people not only want to vote, but they want to eat.” That means democracy has to prove itself beyond the ballot box. Its adherents and officials have to help families put money in their pocketbooks, put food on the table, and put a roof over their heads. We have to maintain safe streets and strong schools. We have to ensure access to medical care, clean air, and clean water. We must draw contrasts with authoritarian competitors, a task that is sadly all too easy at the moment—from Russia’s human rights abuses in Ukraine, to the PRC’s saber rattling around Taiwan, to Iran’s violent suppression of peaceful, women-led protests, to the DPRK’s destabilizing missile launches. None of that will produce the kind of economic or physical security families need and deserve. We must demonstrate the opposite – that openness, good governance, and accountability translate into broadly-shared prosperity and a better quality of life. This is vital for a simple reason: conducting a first election is important. But if democracy doesn’t deliver, we may never get to the second election. Citizens may prefer the predictability of what was over the uncertainty of what might be. So we have work to do, and in the United States, we are putting our best foot forward. Building on Madeleine’s work through the Community of Democracies, the National Democratic Institute, and this forum, the Biden Administration has placed the promotion of democratic values at the heart of our diplomacy. We released the first-ever U.S. Strategy on Countering Corruption, because corruption saps confidence in democracy, undermines faith in accountable government, erodes governance, and leaves too little room for hope. At the Summit for Democracy, we rallied world leaders, civil society, and the private sector around an affirmative agenda and collective action, as more than 100 governments produced over 750 commitments to advance women’s equality, whistleblower protection, and press freedom. We continue to strengthen alliances and work through multilateral institutions to hold governments accountable for human rights abuses. Looking ahead, we remain focused on broadening the chorus of democratic champions by shoring up our existing alliances, embracing emerging partners, and working with non-governmental actors. We remain determined to defend civic space, combat corruption, counter authoritarianism, and demonstrate how open systems lead to prosperous societies. None of this will be easy. Ensuring an enduring democratic movement will not happen overnight, nor will it be possible to achieve unless passionate leaders, effective advocates, and courageous citizens are ready to fight for it. The way Ukrainians are fighting for their freedom. The way Iranian women are demonstrating for their dignity. The way activists are calling for the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah in Egypt. The way citizens of the PRC are marching for their basic rights. This is going to require the individuals in this room and our successors to take their cue—to always step forward and to remain persistent even when progress is slow and winding. It’s going to demand our unyielding optimism, the kind that defined Madeleine’s life. As usual, her words can carry us through. As she wrote in her final essay: “After too many years of handwringing, the time is right for democratic forces to regain the initiative. Democracy is fragile, but it is also resilient. In every region, the generation coming of age is smart, outspoken, and fearless. Worldwide, people are demanding more, while authoritarian leaders are tiring and running out of answers… Although tattered and torn, freedom’s flag is ready to rise.” Let us be the ones who help raise that flag again. Let us deliver a democracy that delivers for our people. Let us make certain that the next generation, and those to follow, know democracy’s victory, its blessings, its possibilities – and see it as a source of hope. Let us carry forward this call as Madeleine would have wanted – together. Thank you. Burkina Faso National Day 12/11/2022 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Burkina Faso National Day 12/11/2022 12:01 AM EST Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State On behalf of the Government of the United States and the American people, I congratulate the people of Burkina Faso as you celebrate your 62nd National Day. This past year has been a trying time for Burkina Faso as the nation has faced unprecedented security challenges.  The United States witnessed first-hand the resilience and fortitude of the Burkinabe people when a high-level American delegation visited in October.  The United States remains dedicated to working with you to make the shared vision of a secure, prosperous, and democratic Burkina Faso a reality through support for territorial sovereignty, education, democracy, human rights, health, food security, and economic growth. Burkina Faso National Day 12/11/2022 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Burkina Faso National Day 12/11/2022 12:01 AM EST Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State On behalf of the Government of the United States and the American people, I congratulate the people of Burkina Faso as you celebrate your 62nd National Day. This past year has been a trying time for Burkina Faso as the nation has faced unprecedented security challenges.  The United States witnessed first-hand the resilience and fortitude of the Burkinabe people when a high-level American delegation visited in October.  The United States remains dedicated to working with you to make the shared vision of a secure, prosperous, and democratic Burkina Faso a reality through support for territorial sovereignty, education, democracy, human rights, health, food security, and economic growth. Special Presidential Advisor for the Americas Dodd’s Travel to Mexico, Ecuador, and Costa Rica December 11-14 12/11/2022 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Special Presidential Advisor for the Americas Dodd’s Travel to Mexico, Ecuador, and Costa Rica December 11-14 12/11/2022 05:31 PM EST Office of the Spokesperson Special Presidential Advisor for the Americas Christopher J. Dodd will travel to Mexico, Ecuador, and Costa Rica December 11-14.  On December 12, in Mexico City, Special Presidential Advisor Dodd will meet with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and with Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard and attend celebrations of the 200 years of U.S.-Mexico relations. On December 13, in Quito, Ecuador, Special Presidential Advisor Dodd will meet with President Guillermo Lasso to discuss issues of shared interest, including promoting economic growth, collaboration on regional migration challenges, and combatting drug trafficking. On December 14, Special Presidential Advisor Dodd will travel on to San José to meet with President Chaves to build on the strong relationship between Costa Rica and the United States.  During the meeting, they will address issues of mutual interest such as Costa Rica’s participation in the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity to build regional resilience on supply chains and migration cooperation under the Los Angeles Declaration. and the deteriorating situation in Nicaragua. The 7th United States-Republic of Korea (ROK) Senior Economic Dialogue 12/11/2022 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. The 7th United States-Republic of Korea (ROK) Senior Economic Dialogue 12/11/2022 07:44 PM EST Office of the Spokesperson Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez will lead the U.S delegation to the seventh U.S.-ROK Senior Economic Dialogue (SED).  The ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2nd Vice Foreign Minister Lee Dohoon will lead the delegation from the ROK.  The SED will be hosted by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on December 12, 2022. To stay updated, follow Under Secretary Fernandez on Twitter @State_E, Facebook @StateDeptE , and LinkedIn @State-E . For press inquiries, please contact: E_Communications@state.gov. PUBLIC SCHEDULE – DECEMBER 12, 2022 12/11/2022 You are subscribed to Public Schedule for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. PUBLIC SCHEDULE – DECEMBER 12, 2022 12/11/2022 09:15 PM EST Office of the Spokesperson ***THE DAILY PUBLIC SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***   SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN 1:30 p.m. Secretary Blinken meets with Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov, at the Department State. (POOLED CAMERA SPRAY AT TOP) 2:30 p.m. Secretary Blinken participates in a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony with the Tent Partnership for Refugees, at the Department of State. (POOLED PRESS COVERAGE) This event will be livestreamed on www.state.gov and www.youtube.com/statedept. 6:30 p.m. Secretary Blinken delivers remarks at a reception for African innovators as part of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, at the Department of State. (POOLED PRESS COVERAGE) This event will be livestreamed on www.state.gov and www.youtube.com/statedept. DEPUTY SECRETARY WENDY R. SHERMAN 11:00 a.m. Deputy Secretary Sherman meets with Republic of the Congo President Sasso N’Guesso in Washington, DC. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE) DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES BRIAN P. MCKEON Deputy Secretary McKeon attends meetings and briefings, at the Department of State. UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS VICTORIA J. NULAND Under Secretary Nuland attends meetings and briefings, at the Department of State. UNDER SECRETARY FOR CIVILIAN SECURITY, DEMOCRACY, AND HUMAN RIGHTS UZRA ZEYA Under Secretary Zeya attends meetings and briefings, at the Department of State. BRIEFING SCHEDULE 2:00 p.m. Department Press Briefing with Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel. (OPEN PRESS COVERAGE) The Department Press Briefing will be livestreamed on www.state.gov and www.youtube.com/statedept. Kenya National Day 12/12/2022 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Kenya National Day 12/12/2022 12:01 AM EST Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State I join President Ruto and all Kenyans in celebrating 59 years of Kenyan independence.  The close cooperation between Kenya and the United States on a wide range of shared priorities is a testament to the depth of our friendship and shared values.  We greatly appreciate Kenya’s leadership in promoting peace and security as a contributor to UN and African missions and as a member of the UN Security Council.  We look forward to forging an even closer economic relationship through our strategic trade and investment partnership, which will boost sustainable and inclusive economic growth to the benefit of workers, consumers, and businesses in both countries. On behalf of the Government of the United States and the American people, I wish you a happy Jamhuri Day.  We greatly value our partnership and friendship and look forward to strengthening it further. Kenya National Day 12/12/2022 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Kenya National Day 12/12/2022 12:01 AM EST Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State I join President Ruto and all Kenyans in celebrating 59 years of Kenyan independence.  The close cooperation between Kenya and the United States on a wide range of shared priorities is a testament to the depth of our friendship and shared values.  We greatly appreciate Kenya’s leadership in promoting peace and security as a contributor to UN and African missions and as a member of the UN Security Council.  We look forward to forging an even closer economic relationship through our strategic trade and investment partnership, which will boost sustainable and inclusive economic growth to the benefit of workers, consumers, and businesses in both countries. On behalf of the Government of the United States and the American people, I wish you a happy Jamhuri Day.  We greatly value our partnership and friendship and look forward to strengthening it further. Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Aticharn Cherngchavano of spin9 on Youtube 12/12/2022 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 Aticharn Cherngchavano of spin9 on Youtube 12/12/2022 09:24 AM EST Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Bangkok, Thailand Queen Sirikit National Convention Center QUESTION:  Welcome to Thailand again. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thank you.  It’s wonderful to be here. QUESTION:  I think this is the second visit, official visit in Thailand this year. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Second – second visit this year.  I’ve had the opportunity to be here many times before and in previous jobs, with my family.  It’s always wonderful to be here. QUESTION:  I hope this is not the only visit that you have in Bangkok, not (inaudible). SECRETARY BLINKEN:  I always wish we had more time to do more things, to see more people.  But every time we come, we try to find ways to connect with folks. QUESTION:  I really do, yeah.  I would like to ask you, because of our audience – younger generation, and they’re probably not related to APEC.  So what is the U.S. role at this time, if you would like to tell us as the younger generation? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, I think the first thing to understand about APEC is it’s the way we bring together government, private sector, as well as NGOs, to try to make sure that throughout this big region we’re connected, we have trade and commerce and innovation that’s moving forward.  All of that is so important to growing our economies, to creating opportunities.  And we want to do it in an inclusive way that brings everyone in, and that’s what APEC is all about. This is the first time we’ve had an opportunity since COVID to actually meet — QUESTION:  In person, yeah. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  And that makes a big difference, because when you’re able to do things face to face, you usually get a lot more done. QUESTION:  Yeah, right, connecting each other is very important.  Yeah. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Yes, exactly. QUESTION:  And I think technology is also a big issue here. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  It is. QUESTION:  I remember on photo back in 2016, the ex-Secretary John Kerry, too much interest in the self-driving.  I don’t know if you remember this photo. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Let’s see.  Oh, yes.  Yes.  Yes.  Yeah. QUESTION:  He was (inaudible) in the Google self-driving car back then, which was quite new at the moment, right?  And as the current Secretary of State, if you can pick one U.S. technology that you would (inaudible) interesting the most for you right now, which would it be? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, look, I think electric vehicles are the future, and in fact, increasingly, they’re the present.  We’re making in the United States a major investment in this.  We just – as you probably know, we have just passed legislation, a law, that is historic.  It puts more money into trying to deal with climate change than we ever have before – hundreds of billions of dollars.  A lot of that’s going to go to electric vehicles, to making sure that we have the manufacturing, the buyers, the charging stations – President Biden is committed to having 500,000 charging stations along our highways.  This is the future and it’s a critical part to addressing the climate challenge and it’s something that we’re committed.  So I think it’s the most exciting technology. But this is again where APEC also comes in, making sure that our countries and economies are connected.  For example, on the supply chains that produce the things that you need for electric vehicles.  That’s more important than it’s even been, and that’s some of the work that we do at APEC. QUESTION:  I heard many things about U.S. – American EVs, such as the Ford F-150 Lightning. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Yes. QUESTION:  The electric pickup. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Yes. QUESTION:  For the first time, people really – you have a good feedback with. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  So I think people, including people in my own family who have had that particular car before, I think at first may be a little bit skeptical about the electric vehicle, but now I have a cousin who’s actually on the list to buy one.  He drove one – he loved it.  And it’s incredibly exciting to see this happening.  It’s literally – it’s changing our economies, but it’s also changing our capacity to deal effectively with climate change. QUESTION:  Yeah, very interesting story.  And I don’t know if you are aware that this is the first time that the official vehicle for leaders in APEC is an all-electric. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  See, I didn’t realize that.  You just told me something I didn’t know. QUESTION:  So you have to try it out.  (Laughter.) SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, we haven’t been here long enough, but we’ll see if we can. QUESTION:  Yeah.  So this time, like, every leader is like – they are provided with a BMW i7, which is the all-electric 7 series, for the first time, right?  And I know that when the U.S. Government travels to official visit to this country, you bring your own cars sometimes. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  We do. QUESTION:  So such as VP Kamala is coming. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  That’s right. QUESTION:  You have your own car. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  That’s right. QUESTION:  (Inaudible.) SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Oh, yes. QUESTION:  Yeah, and everything.  Do you have any plan to change your cars to electric? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, I have to tell you that is one of my ambitions.  Now, one of our Cabinet officials actually has as her official car an electric vehicle, our Secretary of Energy.  We have some work to do.  Now, part of the challenge is some of us travel in secure vehicles, armored vehicles.  I’m not sure if they yet make an electric vehicle that’s armored as well, but hopefully that’s something that can happen.  But I was very jealous of the Secretary of Energy because we were together some months ago and her car pulled in to pick her up and I said, “Wait a minute, you have an electric vehicle.  What about me?” QUESTION:  (Laughter.)  Yeah, it’s the right department to start with. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  It is. QUESTION:  Yeah.  Another issue that I want to discuss with you is APEC under Thailand, this year it will be transferred, the chairmanship, to the U.S. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Yes, we’re getting the baton. QUESTION:  So what will be your main theme hosting the APEC next year, and why? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, first of all, Thailand has done a wonderful job both leading APEC this year and organizing all of us to come together, including the leaders who are coming together over the next couple of days.  So I hope we can just continue the momentum that Thailand has built leading APEC. We’re really focusing on three things.  We’re focusing on interconnections among the region, we are focusing on innovation, and we’re focusing on inclusivity.  And these three things actually complement each other.  The way to have a genuinely interconnected region also goes with innovation.  That can advance interconnectedness.  And it has to be inclusive – we don’t want to leave anyone behind.  And in fact, if we’re actually going to have the most effective innovation possible, we want to make sure that everyone is participating – for example, women as full participants.  And in turn, all of that supports greater interconnectedness. So these are the three themes that themselves are interconnected, and in very practical ways what we’ll be trying to do is advancing the interconnectedness of our region, advancing innovation in our region, advancing inclusivity so that everyone is part of the future that we’re trying to build. QUESTION:  Fantastic.  We are looking forward.  Thank you for your time. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  It’s great to be with you.  Thank you. Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Aticharn Cherngchavano of spin9 on Youtube 12/12/2022 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 Aticharn Cherngchavano of spin9 on Youtube 12/12/2022 09:24 AM EST Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Bangkok, Thailand Queen Sirikit National Convention Center QUESTION:  Welcome to Thailand again. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thank you.  It’s wonderful to be here. QUESTION:  I think this is the second visit, official visit in Thailand this year. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Second – second visit this year.  I’ve had the opportunity to be here many times before and in previous jobs, with my family.  It’s always wonderful to be here. QUESTION:  I hope this is not the only visit that you have in Bangkok, not (inaudible). SECRETARY BLINKEN:  I always wish we had more time to do more things, to see more people.  But every time we come, we try to find ways to connect with folks. QUESTION:  I really do, yeah.  I would like to ask you, because of our audience – younger generation, and they’re probably not related to APEC.  So what is the U.S. role at this time, if you would like to tell us as the younger generation? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, I think the first thing to understand about APEC is it’s the way we bring together government, private sector, as well as NGOs, to try to make sure that throughout this big region we’re connected, we have trade and commerce and innovation that’s moving forward.  All of that is so important to growing our economies, to creating opportunities.  And we want to do it in an inclusive way that brings everyone in, and that’s what APEC is all about. This is the first time we’ve had an opportunity since COVID to actually meet — QUESTION:  In person, yeah. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  And that makes a big difference, because when you’re able to do things face to face, you usually get a lot more done. QUESTION:  Yeah, right, connecting each other is very important.  Yeah. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Yes, exactly. QUESTION:  And I think technology is also a big issue here. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  It is. QUESTION:  I remember on photo back in 2016, the ex-Secretary John Kerry, too much interest in the self-driving.  I don’t know if you remember this photo. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Let’s see.  Oh, yes.  Yes.  Yes.  Yeah. QUESTION:  He was (inaudible) in the Google self-driving car back then, which was quite new at the moment, right?  And as the current Secretary of State, if you can pick one U.S. technology that you would (inaudible) interesting the most for you right now, which would it be? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, look, I think electric vehicles are the future, and in fact, increasingly, they’re the present.  We’re making in the United States a major investment in this.  We just – as you probably know, we have just passed legislation, a law, that is historic.  It puts more money into trying to deal with climate change than we ever have before – hundreds of billions of dollars.  A lot of that’s going to go to electric vehicles, to making sure that we have the manufacturing, the buyers, the charging stations – President Biden is committed to having 500,000 charging stations along our highways.  This is the future and it’s a critical part to addressing the climate challenge and it’s something that we’re committed.  So I think it’s the most exciting technology. But this is again where APEC also comes in, making sure that our countries and economies are connected.  For example, on the supply chains that produce the things that you need for electric vehicles.  That’s more important than it’s even been, and that’s some of the work that we do at APEC. QUESTION:  I heard many things about U.S. – American EVs, such as the Ford F-150 Lightning. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Yes. QUESTION:  The electric pickup. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Yes. QUESTION:  For the first time, people really – you have a good feedback with. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  So I think people, including people in my own family who have had that particular car before, I think at first may be a little bit skeptical about the electric vehicle, but now I have a cousin who’s actually on the list to buy one.  He drove one – he loved it.  And it’s incredibly exciting to see this happening.  It’s literally – it’s changing our economies, but it’s also changing our capacity to deal effectively with climate change. QUESTION:  Yeah, very interesting story.  And I don’t know if you are aware that this is the first time that the official vehicle for leaders in APEC is an all-electric. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  See, I didn’t realize that.  You just told me something I didn’t know. QUESTION:  So you have to try it out.  (Laughter.) SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, we haven’t been here long enough, but we’ll see if we can. QUESTION:  Yeah.  So this time, like, every leader is like – they are provided with a BMW i7, which is the all-electric 7 series, for the first time, right?  And I know that when the U.S. Government travels to official visit to this country, you bring your own cars sometimes. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  We do. QUESTION:  So such as VP Kamala is coming. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  That’s right. QUESTION:  You have your own car. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  That’s right. QUESTION:  (Inaudible.) SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Oh, yes. QUESTION:  Yeah, and everything.  Do you have any plan to change your cars to electric? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, I have to tell you that is one of my ambitions.  Now, one of our Cabinet officials actually has as her official car an electric vehicle, our Secretary of Energy.  We have some work to do.  Now, part of the challenge is some of us travel in secure vehicles, armored vehicles.  I’m not sure if they yet make an electric vehicle that’s armored as well, but hopefully that’s something that can happen.  But I was very jealous of the Secretary of Energy because we were together some months ago and her car pulled in to pick her up and I said, “Wait a minute, you have an electric vehicle.  What about me?” QUESTION:  (Laughter.)  Yeah, it’s the right department to start with. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  It is. QUESTION:  Yeah.  Another issue that I want to discuss with you is APEC under Thailand, this year it will be transferred, the chairmanship, to the U.S. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Yes, we’re getting the baton. QUESTION:  So what will be your main theme hosting the APEC next year, and why? SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, first of all, Thailand has done a wonderful job both leading APEC this year and organizing all of us to come together, including the leaders who are coming together over the next couple of days.  So I hope we can just continue the momentum that Thailand has built leading APEC. We’re really focusing on three things.  We’re focusing on interconnections among the region, we are focusing on innovation, and we’re focusing on inclusivity.  And these three things actually complement each other.  The way to have a genuinely interconnected region also goes with innovation.  That can advance interconnectedness.  And it has to be inclusive – we don’t want to leave anyone behind.  And in fact, if we’re actually going to have the most effective innovation possible, we want to make sure that everyone is participating – for example, women as full participants.  And in turn, all of that supports greater interconnectedness. So these are the three themes that themselves are interconnected, and in very practical ways what we’ll be trying to do is advancing the interconnectedness of our region, advancing innovation in our region, advancing inclusivity so that everyone is part of the future that we’re trying to build. QUESTION:  Fantastic.  We are looking forward.  Thank you for your time. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  It’s great to be with you.  Thank you. Upcoming Travel to the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Montreal 12/12/2022 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Upcoming Travel to the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Montreal 12/12/2022 01:49 PM EST Monica Medina, Assistant SecretaryBureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson MR PATEL: Hey, everybody, I’m going to jump in real quick and just lay out some ground rules.  This is Vedant Patel.  Thanks so much for joining us today on this preview call to preview Special Envoy for Biodiversity and Water Resources Monica Medina’s travel to COP15, where she will head the U.S. delegation.  We will do this call on the record, embargoed until the call’s conclusion.  We of course will have some time for questions at the end.  But with that, I’m going to turn it over to Special Envoy Medina to kick us off. ASSISTANT SECRETARY MEDINA:  Thank you, Vedant.  I really appreciate everyone being on the call today. So the world is facing a biodiversity crisis, and nature is under threat all across the globe.  More than one million species are at risk of extinction, many within decades, and more than ever before.  This drop in biodiversity endangers all life on our planet, including our own.  COP15 in Montreal presents an important opportunity to bend the curve on biodiversity loss.  We must seize this moment to create an international framework that can begin to reverse and restore this unprecedented loss of biodiversity globally and protect nature for generations to come. The U.S. delegation is seeking a strong and ambitious global biodiversity framework that will conserve or protect at least 30 percent of global lands and waters and 30 percent of the global ocean by 2030.  Science has clearly spoken.  That goal, known as 30 by 30, is absolutely essential to support ecosystem health and viability, and arrest the catastrophic decline in nature worldwide. I want to emphasize that 30 by 30 must be both a global target and an effort made by individual nations.  Every country must do its part by committing to conserve or protect at least 30 percent of its own national lands and waters.  The United States is already demonstrating our commitment to conserving biodiversity.  One of President Biden’s first executive orders was the “America the Beautiful” Initiative, a commitment to conserve at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.  We believe 30 by 30 must start at home, involving all of society, including indigenous peoples, local communities, and young people – and we are putting it into practice right now. I’m looking forward to joining the COP in Montreal for the high-level sessions this week.  We already have an interagency team on the ground as part of efforts to secure a strong, positive outcome.  COP15 is nature’s moment.  We now have the opportunity to conserve and protect nature for this and future generations.  And with courage and initiative, we need to seize this moment. So with that, thank you very much and I’m happy to take questions. OPERATOR:  Ladies and gentlemen on the phone lines, if you do wish to ask a question today, please press 1 followed by the 0 – please press 1 followed by the 0.  You can take yourself out of the queue by simply pressing the 1, 0 command again.  And we’ll begin today with a question from Issam Ahmad representing AFP.  Please go ahead. QUESTION:  Hi, thank you for doing this call, and thank you, Envoy Medina.  Just a – maybe a couple of questions, if I may.  The first is:  With the U.S. not being a signatory to the CBD, how does that impact your voice at the table?  And are you aware of if the administration had plans to take that matter back to Congress in – at any point in the near term? And the second thing was:  I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about U.S. leadership on indigenous stewardship because obviously, I think, that’s something that has grown markedly under this administration with regards to cooperative management of national parks.  And if you could perhaps talk about why that’s key and why that’s a major plank of policy.  Thank you. ASSISTANT SECRETARY MEDINA:  Thank you.  Those are great questions.  Let me start with the first one.  Though the U.S. is not a member of CBD, we believe that we can have a very positive impact on the negotiations.  We’re working closely with our allies, governments that see these issues the way we do.  And we hope to help them resolve differences – close down some of the open text and just use our expertise.  And we’re bringing a broad group of interagency experts, so we want to use our expertise to help narrow and close the deal on the 30 by 30 framework.  And, of course, I hope someday that the U.S. will become a member of the CBD, and I think that would be a great step, but right now we’re just focused on getting this deal over the finish line. And when it comes to indigenous communities, we know that they are the best stewards out there when it comes to conserving lands and waters.  And we have a lot we can learn from them, and that’s why the Biden administration has been very much engaged in bringing in indigenous communities and engaging them in the 30 by 30 framework discussion and in our own “America the Beautiful” Initiative.  And I think you’ve seen that over and over again.  We just a couple of weeks ago had a Tribal Leaders Summit at the White House, where this was very much a topic of conversation.  We know that there’s so much that we can do when we work with indigenous communities and we learn from their traditional knowledge about conservation. So, we are very excited about all the work we’re doing to bring them to the table. QUESTION:  Thank you. MR PATEL:  Thanks so much.  Let’s go to the next question from Natasha Gilbert of Nature magazine. QUESTION:  Hi, thank you very much.  One of the key issues at the conference is going to be overfunding, how nations will be able to afford to protect 30 percent of their land and sea by 2030.  Will the U.S. contribute additional new funds to help other nations around the world to achieve that goal? ASSISTANT SECRETARY MEDINA:  Thanks for the question, and it is an important one.  We think that all sources of funding need to come to the table when it comes to biodiversity, and we have already made strong commitments.  We believe that the things that we’re doing with respect to forests and trees and addressing climate change also have a significant benefit for biodiversity.  We also recognize the funding gap, and it’s a big one.  And I hope that if we achieve this 30 by 30 framework that gives us more impetus to try and do more fundraising, if you will, to bring more funding to this effort. I also think it’s important for us to recognize the costs that we already are imposing on society by using nature and not accounting for its benefits.  So, we’re also working in the U.S. Government on a very ambitious project that looks at accounting for nature and trying to understand how to better incorporate or – how to better internalize the costs of nature loss that we see happening all the time with development.  So there are lots of ways that we can bring more resources to this challenge, and we in the U.S. Government are looking for many avenues to address that funding gap. MR PATEL:  Thanks so much.  Operator, could you repeat our instructions to ask questions again? OPERATOR:  Absolutely.  If you would like to ask a question today, please press 1 followed by the 0.  You’ll hear an acknowledgment you’ve been placed in queue.  You can take yourself out of the queue by simply pressing the 1, 0 command again – 1, 0 for questions.  Thank you. MR PATEL:  Let’s next go to the line of Rosiland Jordan with Al Jazeera English. QUESTION:  Hi, thanks so much for doing the call.  I wanted to ask Monica if she could spell out what some of the largest challenges are here in the U.S. to achieving these biodiversity goals, and how the U.S. is able to justify its work at a global forum such as COP15.  Thank you. ASSISTANT SECRETARY MEDINA:  Well, I think that we see this work as important for everyone across the globe.  We understand that without a healthy environment our economy and other economies around the world won’t be able to actually be successful in the long run. There are 821 million people in Asia and Africa that face food insecurity, and we know that 40 percent of the global population lacks access to clean and safe drinking water.  And while those may not be domestic problems per se, they do impact us in that they make the world more insecure.  They cause migrations to happen.  They drive up instability in those locations that then impacts our own security here at home and everywhere.  Things like illegal fishing drive our inability to feed people all around the world, and that’s of real importance to the U.S. Government. On top of that, I think we do have a lot that we can show for all our conservation work at home.  We do spend a tremendous amount of our funding on conservation for national parks – that’s something that’s a point of pride for the U.S. – and we have protected almost 27 percent of our ocean waters.  So I think we are working very hard to meet that goal at home as well as wanting to help other countries meet that very ambitious 30 by 30 target. MR PATEL:  Thanks so much.  Let’s next go to the line of Dino Grandoni with The Washington Post. QUESTION:  Hi, thanks for arranging this call.  I wanted to ask about the role of fresh water when it comes to the 30 by 30 goal and what the U.S. is asking for with that. ASSISTANT SECRETARY MEDINA:  I think we are very concerned about water security in general.  We, the U.S. Government, have been working hard to increase our understanding of water security issues and to be able to play an important role globally on water security.  We know, here at home, we’ve faced tremendous water shortages in places like the Colorado River system; and that has an international or cross-border impact, and the Mississippi River, which is unprecedented. So, we understand that fresh water is a key part of a healthy environment and that’s why we’re excited about the UN’s water conference next year in New York City, and why we have developed our own Global Water Strategy here in the State Department and why the White House has developed a Global Water Action Plan that I would refer you to on the White House website.  We see water as a key issue in environmental health and in global security. MR PATEL:  Let’s next go to the line of Emanuele Bompan with La Repubblica. QUESTION:  Hello, hi, can you hear me?  Yeah, on (inaudible) I have two question.  The first one is:  What is the position of U.S. on digital sequence information?  And the second one is:  What is the U.S. position on the so-called harmful subsidies, given the – there’s one target to slash at least $500 billion on these harmful subsidies.  Thank you. ASSISTANT SECRETARY MEDINA:  So I’m so sorry, I didn’t hear the first you question broke up.  Could you restate the first one? QUESTION:  Yeah, sorry.  Yeah.  What is the position of U.S. on digital sequence information, which one of the – is one of the elements in the negotiations at COP? ASSISTANT SECRETARY MEDINA:  Okay, got it.  Thank you.  Okay.  So the U.S. is working hard on finding the right balance in this negotiation and others on genetic information and the use of genetic resources.  There’s also a negotiation around that in the ocean.  And we think that’s an important issue for this COP to address, because many of the most important breakthroughs in medicine or in, say, clean energy or who knows could be coming from things that we find in nature.  So we understand the significance of biodiversity for our future economic and health in general. When it comes to subsidies, I think we’ve been very pleased that the WTO this year decided to eliminate harmful fishing subsidies.  And we think that there’s more work to be done in this regard and it needs a careful look, because we also want to make sure that we can feed people around the world at a time of great food insecurity. QUESTION:  Thank you. MR PATEL:  Let’s next go to the line of Julie Reimer with German Radio. QUESTION:  Yes, hello.  Thank you very much for the briefing.  Could you define, please, to me a little bit more where the United States are able to influence the international situation on biodiversity?  I mean, there is the global – the GEF, global environmental fund, who probably plays a role.  Are there other fundings where you, let’s say, influence – can take influence?  Also, you didn’t sign the CBD. ASSISTANT SECRETARY MEDINA:  Yes, thank you for that question.  I think the U.S. has a good role, an important role to play in various different mechanisms or fora.  We did replenish the Global Environment Facility this year.  The U.S. contribution was bigger than it had ever been.  We’re very excited about that, very pleased about that.  We think it’s important to think about these issues, and try and achieve triple wins – wins for biodiversity loss, wins for climate, and wins, in fact, for ending something called zoonotic spillover, which is what causes diseases like COVID-19 to potentially be tremendously harmful across the globe.  So, we’re looking to conserve the most important parts of the planet – the places where we can get those kinds of triple wins – and to do so using the funds that are out there already like the Global Environment Facility, like the Green Climate Fund, like working with our own – the World Bank and the DFC for leveraging as much as we can, in terms of private and mixed public-private funding to benefit nature.  And the DFC – sorry – is the Development Finance Corporation.  Sorry to use the acronym. MR PATEL:  Next let’s go to the line of Lindsey Botts with PR magazine. OPERATOR:  Ms. Botts, your line is open. QUESTION:  Oh, sorry.  I had a question about the number of delegates that would be attending the convention.  Do we know how many of the delegates are going to be joining Assistant Secretary Medina at the convention?  And then what will their advisory role be? ASSISTANT SECRETARY MEDINA:  I’ll have to get back to you on the exact number, but I can tell you we have a really good cross section of agencies, including our Interior Department and our Commerce Department, which is actually bringing someone from the business side of the house – not just NOAA, which typically handles oceans and environmental issues within the Department of Commerce.  We have folks coming from the Executive Branch.  The White House, even, will be there in attendance;  the Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Science and Technology Policy.  So we’re trying to bring our A team to this COP so that we can help however we are needed to fill in and be a constructive force, even though we’re not sitting right at the table, the negotiating table. QUESTION:  Thank you. MR PATEL:  All right, thanks so much for joining today, everybody, for this preview call for the delegation’s visit to COP15.  As a reminder, this call was on the record and embargoed until the call’s conclusion, which will be concluding shortly.  Thanks again and we’ll be talking to you all again very soon. Secretary Blinken And Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov Before Their Meeting 12/12/2022 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary Blinken And Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov Before Their Meeting 12/12/2022 03:10 PM EST Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Washington, D.C. Treaty Room SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Very pleased to have Foreign Minister Norov here from Uzbekistan.  It’s good to have you at the State Department.  We are pursuing our Strategic Partnership Dialogue, which I’m very pleased about.  That’ll take place tomorrow.  But a very good and important opportunity for the two of us to compare notes on the many challenges that we’re facing together. I reiterate, as always, the commitment of the United States to the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Uzbekistan.  I really want to applaud Uzbekistan for reaching a border demarcation agreement with Kyrgyzstan.  I think this sends a powerful signal to many in the region, and beyond, about the importance of possibilities with diplomacy for resolving these issues.  And I also appreciate the work that’s being done on reforms, including on religious freedom, on forced labor – and, of course, we have much to discuss, including with regard to Afghanistan. But Vladimir, it’s wonderful to have you here. FOREIGN MINISTER NOROV:  Well, thank you.  Good afternoon, everyone.  First of all, I’d like to thank you, Secretary Blinken, for your warm welcome of our delegation at State Department.  This year, Uzbekistan and the United States are celebrating 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations and 20 years of our strategic partnership. Over the years, our cooperation has grown substantially across all areas of our bilateral and regional cooperation within C5+1.  We appreciating the United States administration continued support for president of Uzbekistan reforms agenda, aimed at ensuring good governance;  rule of law; human rights;  as well as maintaining peace and advancing sustainable development in Central Asia. We are looking forward to continue our productive discussion today and Strategic Partnership Dialogue tomorrow over our shared priorities for expanding bilateral relations in areas trade and investment, science and technology, education, and human capacity-building.  Thank you. SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thanks very much. Thanks, everyone. Secretary Blinken And Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov Before Their Meeting 12/12/2022 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary Blinken And Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov Before Their Meeting 12/12/2022 03:10 PM EST Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Washington, D.C. Treaty Room SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Very pleased to have Foreign Minister Norov here from Uzbekistan.  It’s good to have you at the State Department.  We are pursuing our Strategic Partnership Dialogue, which I’m very pleased about.  That’ll take place tomorrow.  But a very good and important opportunity for the two of us to compare notes on the many challenges that we’re facing together. I reiterate, as always, the commitment of the United States to the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Uzbekistan.  I really want to applaud Uzbekistan for reaching a border demarcation agreement with Kyrgyzstan.  I think this sends a powerful sig ΑπάντησηΠροώθηση

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