Arrest of Sylvere Ahorugeze

The United States welcomes the July 16 arrest in Stockholm of Sylvere Ahorugeze, indicted by the Government of Rwanda for genocide and would welcome further steps to bring Ahorugeze to justice that are consistent with Swedish law. The arrest of Ahorugeze follows the July 7 arrest of Callixte Mbarusimana in Frankfurt, also indicted by the Government of Rwanda for genocide. The arrests of Sylvere Ahotugeze and Callixte Mbarusimana send a powerful signal that there is no refuge for the perpetrators of crimes against humanity.

UN Announcement on Cyprus

We applaud the United Nations’ announcement today that Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have agreed to start direct negotiations on September 3 under UN auspices aimed at the reunification of Cyprus. We strongly support the stated goal of these negotiations to find a mutually-acceptable solution to the Cyprus problem that will safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The two leaders also approved 16 confidence-building measures that will assist the process of finding a solution. The United States stands ready to support the two leaders and the UN in this process. We look forward to rapid progress over the coming months and hope that these negotiations will result in an agreement on the reunification of the island.

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Courageous Voices: Speaking Out for Prisoners of Conscience

On July 24, U.S. Representative to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations Ambassador T. Vance McMahan will moderate a panel discussion at the United Nations in New York to underscore commitments made in the Declaration on Prisoners of Conscience.

Joint Announcement from the U.S. Departments of State And Homeland Security on Passport Card Production

The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that the new U.S. Passport Card is in full production and is now being distributed. The Passport Card is a convenient, wallet-sized document for land and sea travel between the United States and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. It is not valid for international travel by air.

Reports on Comments by President Abbas to Families of Released Prisoners (Taken Question)

Question: Does the Department of State have any reaction to reports that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas congratulated the families of recently released prisoners, including the family of Samir Kuntar?

Caribbean Seminars on Sustainable Energy

On July 23, the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) will host a meeting of Caribbean energy officials, energy producers, and major donors in Nassau, Bahamas to discuss strengthening regional mechanisms for the promotion and implementation of renewable energy projects. On July 24, the U.S. Embassy Nassau will sponsor a business roundtable bringing together participants from the OAS-IADB event, officials from the U.S. Departments of State, Energy, and Commerce, and private sector representatives to discuss public-private partnerships for energy development, financing, and technology.

MEPI Announces $1.8 Million Program to Support Women Leaders in the Middle East

The Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) of the U.S. Department of State released on June 17 a request for applications (RFA) for the Women Leaders Program. This program will award up to $1.8 million over the span of two years, continuing MEPI’s commitment to support the prosperity and advancement of women in the Middle East and North Africa. This MEPI program seeks to strengthen women leaders as they advance their human rights, legal status, political participation, and economic empowerment.

Secretary Rice to Travel to the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will travel to the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Samoa July 20-28.

Friends of Georgia (Taken Question)

Question:  When will Bill Burns meet again with the Friends of Georgia to resolve the Abkhazia issue?

Launch of the Civilian Response Corps of the United States of America

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice formally launched the interagency Civilian Response Corps in a ceremony held at the Department of State today.

Breakfast Briefing on Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate

Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula J. Dobriansky will be the featured speaker at the first of a series of briefings on the programmatic activities and results of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP) on Thursday, July 17, at 9:00 a.m. at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, hosted by the State Department and the United States Energy Association. At the briefing, Under Secretary Dobriansky will launch the new U.S. Government APP website, www.app.gov.

The Civilian Response Corps of the United States of America

The Civilian Response Corps is a group of civilian federal employees and, eventually, volunteers from the private sector and state and local governments, who will be trained and equipped to deploy rapidly to countries in crisis or emerging from conflict, in order to provide reconstruction and stabilization assistance.

Arrest of Anwar Ibrahim

We believe the detention today of prominent Malaysian opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim raises serious questions and concerns. We urge Malaysian authorities to resolve this matter in a manner that builds confidence in the impartial rule of law in Malaysia.

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Two Students Arrested in Iran

The United States is concerned by reports that Iranian authorities have stepped up their repression of student activists in the wake of the ninth anniversary of the July 9, 1999 student uprising. Two prominent student activists, Mohammad Hashemi and Bahareh Hedayet, were arrested on July 13, the latest in a series of arrests of members of the Office for Consolidating Unity.

South Asian Seeds of Peace Participants Visit Department of State

Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher will welcome South Asian participants of the Seeds of Peace program to the Harry S. Truman building on July 16, 2008. This group consists of 32 young leaders from Pakistan and India who have just completed a three-week conflict resolution program in Maine.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Launching Civilian Response Corps of the United States of America

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will launch the interagency Civilian Response Corps at a ceremony on Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at 1:30 p.m., in the East Auditorium at the Department of State.

Department of State Welcomes South Asian Seeds of Peace Participants

Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and South and Central Asian Affairs Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher will welcome South Asian participants of Seeds of Peace on Wednesday, July 16, at 4:30 p.m. in the Delegates Lounge at the Department of State. This group consists of 32 teenage leaders from Pakistan and India who have just completed a three-week conflict resolution program in Maine. This event is POOL press coverage for cameras and OPEN press coverage for writers and still photographers. All remarks will be on the record.

Final access time for writers and stills: 4:15 p.m. from the 23rd Street entrance

Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) a U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification (driver's license or passport).

Seventh U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum

Commemoration of Open Skies Treaty 500th Flight

The Department announces an Open Skies Treaty commemoration ceremony held today in Vienna, Austria, to recognize the conduct of 500 observation flights carried out under the Treaty since it entered into force in January 2002. Today’s ceremony includes remarks by the U.S. Chief Arms Control Delegate Hugh Neighbour, who is serving as the Chairman of the Open Skies Consultative Commission (OSCC) from April through September. The Commission is the implementing body for the Treaty.

The Treaty allows its 34 members to carry out unarmed observation flights over each other’s territories. It is designed to enhance mutual understanding and confidence by giving all participants the possibility to obtain information on military and other activities of concern to them. Open Skies is a wide-ranging international effort to promote openness and transparency of military forces and their activities.

The successful conduct of these observation flights demonstrates the positive gains of confidence-building among the parties, and provides significant stability in the Euro-Atlantic relationship. For more information about the Open Skies Treaty, the OSCC, and the observation flights please see: http://www.osce.org/about/13516.html

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U.S.-Armenian Joint Action Plan on Combating Nuclear Smuggling

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian signed on July 14, 2008, the “Joint Action Plan between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Armenia on Combating Smuggling of Nuclear and Radioactive Materials.”

Georgia: Escalation of Violence in South Ossetia and Abkhazia

The United States is concerned by the recent escalation in violence in the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and calls upon all sides to return to direct negotiations and resolve their differences peacefully. We are deeply troubled by Russia’s statement that its military aircraft deliberately violated Georgia’s internationally recognized borders by flying over Georgia’s region of South Ossetia. Such actions raise questions about Russia's role as peacekeeper and facilitator of the negotiations and threaten stability throughout the entire region.

Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Government of Burkina Faso to Sign $480.9 Million Millennium Challenge Compact

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Chair of the Board of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), will give remarks at the signing of the Millennium Challenge Compact between the United States and Burkina Faso on Monday, July 14, 2008, at 10:30 a.m., in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the Department of State.