Travel Travel Travel: 2015

mercredi 6 mai 2015

In Transit: You’re Never Too Young to Build a Castle

By JILL WERMAN HARRIS

Sand-castle lessons and competitions have popped up at beaches and resorts across the country.

Source: New York Times

In Transit: You’re Never Too Young to Build a Castle

Collected Department Releases: U.S. Department of State Announces Partnership with the San Diego Unified Port District

U.S. Department of State Announces Partnership with the San Diego Unified Port District

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

May 6, 2015

Ambassador William R. Brownfield, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding with the Port of San Diego to launch a partnership that will enhance the Department’s maritime security assistance to Asia and Latin America.

Under this partnership, the vast expertise and experience of the Port’s Harbor Police Department will be put to work helping partner nations improve border security in the face of increased criminal threats. The Harbor Police Department is the law enforcement agency that patrols San Diego Bay, surrounding waterfront areas, and San Diego International Airport. Its 120 sworn officers are highly trained, with a range of expertise in a variety of subjects including maritime firefighting, counter smuggling, human trafficking, K-9 detection of explosives/narcotics, aviation security, vessel operations, maritime tactical training and dive operations. By providing training and mentorship, the Harbor Police will assist in efforts to combat transnational crime and build partner nations’ capacity to establish effective port and maritime security. The Harbor Police will be a unique partner for INL in addressing those challenges in addition to providing partner nations a regional perspective on port and maritime security.

This new relationship with the Port of San Diego is INL’s second port partnership and builds on the Bureau’s existing work with PortMiami to provide security assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean.

To receive updates on INL’s partnerships follow the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs on Twitter @StateINL and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/StateINL.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

Source: Dept. Of State – Releases

Collected Department Releases: U.S. Department of State Announces Partnership with the San Diego Unified Port District

In Transit: A Place for Breast-Feeding Mothers at New York Area Airports

Pumping and nursing pods will be available at Kennedy Airport, La Guardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport.

Source: New York Times

In Transit: A Place for Breast-Feeding Mothers at New York Area Airports

Collected Department Releases: The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations Announces Final Selections for Worldwide Architecture and Engineering Support Services

The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations Announces Final Selections for Worldwide Architecture and Engineering Support Services

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

May 6, 2015

The Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) announces the final selection of design and engineering teams for the worldwide Architecture/Engineering (A/E) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Support Services contract.

The final firms selectedare:

AECOM

Caples Jefferson Architects

Davis Brody Bond

EYP, Inc.

Jacobs Government Services

Moore Ruble Yudell Architects/Planners

They will support the Department’s planning, construction, and facility rehabilitation efforts at U.S. missions worldwide.

Since 1999, as part of the Department’s Capital Security Construction Program, OBO has completed 121 new diplomatic facilities and has an additional 39 projects in design or under construction.

OBO’s mission is to provide safe, secure, and functional facilities that represent the U.S. Government to the host nation and support our staff in the achievement of U.S. foreign policy objectives. These facilities should represent American values and the best in American architecture, engineering, technology, sustainability, art, culture, and construction execution.

For further information, please contact Christine Foushee at FousheeCT@state.gov or (703) 875-4131, or visit www.state.gov/obo.

Source: Dept. Of State – Releases

Collected Department Releases: The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations Announces Final Selections for Worldwide Architecture and Engineering Support Services

Business Travel: Business Travelers Want to Be Left to Their Own Devices

By JAD MOUAWAD

Smartphones have already transformed vacation planning, but business travelers looking to use Uber, Airbnb and other tech tools find they must take on sometimes unyielding corporate travel policies.

Source: New York Times

Business Travel: Business Travelers Want to Be Left to Their Own Devices

Q&A: Ian Schrager Unveils the New York Edition

By JULIE EARLE-LEVINE The hotelier’s newest property opens in the landmark Metropolitan Life Tower on Madison Avenue on May 11.

Source: New York Times

Q&A: Ian Schrager Unveils the New York Edition

Daily Press Briefings : Daily Press Briefing - May 6, 2015

Jeff Rathke

Acting Deputy Spokesperson
Daily Press Briefing

Washington, DC

May 6, 2015

Index for Today’s Briefing

SECRETARY TRAVEL

NEPAL

CANADA/DEPARTMENT

GERMANY

YEMEN/REGION

RUSSIA/NORTH KOREA/CHINA

SYRIA/REGION

DEPARTMENT

TRANSCRIPT:

11:59 a.m. EDT

MR RATHKE: Good morning.

QUESTION: Good morning.

QUESTION: Afternoon.

MR RATHKE: I don’t know. We may need to synchronize our watches, Matt.

I just have two things to mention at the start. First of all, the Secretary is on his way to Riyadh right now. This morning he traveled from Nairobi to Djibouti, where he held a bilateral meeting with President Guelleh and a press availability with Foreign Minister Youssouf. The Secretary also participated in a youth engagement event at a mosque, where a group of Djibouti young men and women talked about their efforts to combat violent extremism. And finally, he participated in a consular event at our Embassy in Djibouti, where he personally provided consular services to American citizens and their family members who have fled Yemen for Djibouti. He also did a tour of Camp Lemonnier and a town hall event with U.S. military personnel stationed there.

And the second item before we get started, Nepal, a brief update. Yesterday, an Air Force contingency response group arrived in Nepal to work with the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team and the Government of Nepal to improve efficiency at the international airport. The CRG will help streamline airfield operations and speed up cargo flow so that relief supplies can be delivered more quickly to places in need. Also yesterday, May 5th, the U.S. military deployed one additional helicopter to Nepal, bringing total U.S. military air assets to four V-22 Ospreys and two UH-1 Huey helicopters.

And with that, Matt, we will turn it over to you.

QUESTION: I just have one very brief one. It’s a follow-up from yesterday, and it’s just to find out if you have decided that you have an opinion one way or the other on the Omar Khadr case, which we – was delayed yesterday.

MR RATHKE: Right. So on that case, we are aware that the Government of Canada is appealing the Canadian court’s April decision to grant bail. Our line remains the same as yesterday: We refer you to the Government of Canada to comment on the decision that will be made by Canadian courts. We, of course, have a strong and cooperative relationship with the Government of Canada on security and law enforcement issues, but I don’t have a comment to make on the case that’s before the Canadian courts.

QUESTION: Okay. But I just want to make sure you understand the question. I am not asking for the Canadian –

MR RATHKE: Right.

QUESTION: — version of – for the Canadians’ opinion on this. I’m asking for the U.S. opinion on this, to which – are you suggesting that I ask the Canadians to find out what the U.S. position is on this?

MR RATHKE: Well, I’m simply saying that we respect the independent processes of the Canadian judiciary, and we respect Canada’s sovereignty. I’m not going to make a comment about the case that’s before the Canadian courts.

QUESTION: Does that mean that you’re okay with anything that the court decides? Because there are many cases in many countries where you’re not okay with what a court decides.

MR RATHKE: I simply have nothing further to offer on this one.

QUESTION: All right.

MR RATHKE: Okay.

QUESTION: That’s it for me.

MR RATHKE: That’s it from you. Okay.

Collected Department Releases: Keynote Remarks at the Bioeconomy and Climate Change Forum

Keynote Remarks at the Bioeconomy and Climate Change Forum

Remarks

Charles H. Rivkin
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs

Washington, DC

May 6, 2015

As prepared

Thank you, Eric, for that introduction.

Good morning everyone, and a special welcome to our ambassadors and others from the foreign diplomatic corps here today.

Before I continue, I’d like to thank the many people responsible for today’s event, including our partner, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, or BIO. I look forward to hearing from Jim Greenwood, President and CEO, in just a few minutes.

I also want to thank all the people in the State Department who worked on this event for their outstanding support and participation in making this event happen. That includes, in particular, the Foreign Service Institute, as well as the Office of Global Food Security, the Office of the Science and Technology Advisor, the Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Scientific Affairs, and of course our own Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs.

With that, I am delighted to kick off today’s event which will explore some of the innovative and exciting things this extended community is doing to address climate change. This is really one of the most challenging issues of our time but it is truly bringing out the best and brightest among us to respond.

As I thought about climate change and how far we have come, I thought about Homer’s Iliad, the ancient story of Helen of Troy – whose face launched a thousand ships to bring her back to Greece.

But before those ships could launch, they needed a favorable wind. So they consulted a prophet named Calchas, a man who examined animal entrails and observed the flight of birds to make his prognostications. He told the Greeks they would get their wind if their leader sacrificed his only daughter to the gods.

Back then, that’s what passed for climate science. Today, every Greek warrior would simply pull out a smartphone and check his weather app!

Of course, the Iliad’s a myth, set more than 3,000 years ago. But I use it to show just how far science has come and how technology is literally in our hands, letting us do things previous generations would have considered beyond the power of mere mortals. Most importantly, we are using the great discoveries of biotechnology to address climate change in more effective, sustainable and widely applicable ways.

Last fall, I went to Des Moines, Iowa, to attend the World Food Prize, and to speak about biotechnology as a tool for hunger alleviation and job creation. While there, I had the opportunity to join a farmer in central Iowa, sit in the buddy seat of his John Deere S670 combine harvester, and watch him work.

As we moved through the cornfields, his combine gathered, husked and shelled 12 rows of corn at a time, turning them into bushels of instant grain. He checked his progress with onboard computers and GPS technology. These helped him deposit seed and fertilizer precisely, and even showed if he had missed a single ear of corn!

While he was doing this, he spoke about the importance of international markets for American agriculture, and how he had once hosted President Xi Jinping of China at his farm.

In just one ride on a combine, I saw a farmer using technology to enhance his livelihood and engage fully within the global economy. I also saw how biotechnology was helping farmers to use sustainable techniques that reduce our carbon footprint and address climate change.

Of course, climate change cuts across all sectors of the bioeconomy, which not only include agriculture but health, industry and energy. It is one of the biggest threats of our time with a decisive role in everything from pandemic diseases to crop damage, and from famine to widespread destruction of homes and habitats.

One question for our time is this: Can we direct the kind of innovation that has already built the bioeconomy towards addressing these enormous challenges?

The answer is “yes,” if we continue to build on the incredible innovative progress we have made so far – and are making right now – in the biosciences.

It’s “yes,” as long as we share the same consensus mission: to provide for humanity’s ever growing needs while reducing our carbon footprint.

Finally, it’s “yes,” if we ensure that our breakthroughs not only create benefits for society but are sustainable in the global market.

Right now, in the United States, the bioeconomy is worth more than $300 billion dollars and already supports 1.6 million jobs. It can, and it should, grow more because, quite simply, we have no choice: We have to invent our way to solutions or face the consequences.

The good news is, innovation is central to our DNA. That’s clearly evident in the bioeconomy. We are finding ways to transform our waste into valuable resources. We are making our production processes more efficient and sustainable. Instead of addressing disease with chemically derived medicines that respond to symptoms, we are using biologically derived vaccines that work on the causes. And we are creating sustainable biofuels to drive our cars, warm our homes, and light up our workplaces.

But innovation needs support from many corners, from the funding of research to the protection of intellectual property rights; from a free and open internet to the imaginative partnerships that government and the private sector can create so that more people are free to make those powerful discoveries that benefit us all.

From the government corner, we need to address macro policies that respond to climate change. We need to agree on global commitments that count, metrics that matter, and standards that improve conditions.

The Obama administration has already shown its ongoing commitment in this space. It recently announced a target of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent in 2025 compared with 2005.

Last November, President Obama and President Xi Jinping of China made an historic Joint Announcement of our intended targets, with China agreeing for the first time to a peak year for its CO2 emissions of around 2030 and to an ambitious target of 20 percent clean energy in its energy mix by 2030.

This December in Paris, we are looking to establish, for the first time, an ambitious, durable climate regime that applies to all countries, is fair, and focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building resilience.

Our commitment to address climate change is as widespread as it is focused.

We launched the Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture, which works to produce more food, adapt to a changing climate, and reduce greenhouse gases.

We support the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Climate Technology Center and Network, and the Green Climate Fund, both of which support the efforts of developing countries in different ways to adapt to climate change.

That includes work to protect forests, support resilient agricultural sectors, and reduce greenhouse gases, while generating economic opportunities for their citizens.

We also invest billions in research and development of low carbon technologies and energy efficiency.

On other fronts, my Bureau has a leading role in making sure investors, entrepreneurs, researchers and the entire bio-economic extended community can be more connected, integrated, efficient and profitable.

For example, we advocate in world forums for a free internet to keep open channels of information, commerce and trade. We are integral to the negotiations in two ongoing multilateral trade deals that will not only break down barriers to trade and investment but set new environmental standards for member nations.

We also foster innovation by establishing legal frameworks that protect intellectual property rights, minimize corruption, and reward entrepreneurship.

The government has unique assets in at least two other ways. First of all, we have convening authority: We can assemble political leaders, scientists, economists, university leaders, business leaders and multilateral bodies to pursue mutually agreed upon goals.

Secondly, we have 270 embassies and posts around the world – our shoes on the ground, you might say – to extend our messages and outreach with citizens, political leaders and civil society organizations everywhere.

While the U.S. Government works to play its part, there are roles for a wide array of other actors in the bioeconomy, including other governments, multilateral bodies, businesses, universities, entrepreneurs, and scientists.

As I glance around this room, I can see a good representation of that global community. I look forward to hearing more about the stories you have to tell.

We have so much to build on; so many success stories in biotechnology, as we work to combat the effects of climate change. As I mentioned, one of the consequences of climate change is the increased risk of insect-borne disease exposure, such as dengue and malaria, in places such as Florida and Texas. The National Science Foundation has supported research that reengineers microorganisms to produce an anti-malarial drug. It’s called artemisinin and new companies are already putting it on the market.

That’s a perfect illustration of the bioeconomy at its best: Funded innovative research addresses a serious problem, using cross-disciplinary biosciences. The private sector brings it to market and makes it available globally. The problem is addressed.

As I learned on my trip to Iowa, the agricultural sector continues to benefit from innovation. We are making more sustainable use of land and water. We are developing drought tolerant varieties of corn, nutritionally enhanced rice, and disease resistant oranges. These are crucial breakthroughs as we also try to feed a global population that will reach an estimated 9 billion by the year 2050.

These and other stories prove to me that, despite the size and scale of our challenges, we are rising to meet them head on. I believe it’s because, throughout human history, we have made productive use of innovation since we first learned to rub two sticks together.

Back then it was sticks. Now we’re creating genetically modified mosquitos that don’t carry malaria. We are turning algae into jet fuel. We are making apples that don’t brown and potatoes that produce fewer carcinogens when fried.

Of course, with innovation comes change – and inevitably resistance. Charles Kettering, an American inventor and former head of research at General Motors, who owned 186 patents, once said: “The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress.”

The bioeconomy is all about progress, from the cellular level to the macro-economic level, as we work to grow an ecosystem of invention and reinvention that creates the products and processes for a more sustainable future. We may not seem as powerful and impressive as those ancient Greek warriors, waiting for their favorable wind. But if you compare the stakes we face, we can make the case that we’re more modern heroes. By creating a viable, sustainable bioeconomy, we are not only enhancing and sustaining society; we are contributing to a more ecologically balanced planet. For my money, that beats getting Helen back from Troy any time!

Thank you.

Source: Dept. Of State – Releases

Collected Department Releases: Keynote Remarks at the Bioeconomy and Climate Change Forum

Weekend Guide: 36 Hours in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

By FREDA MOON

For a refreshing outdoor weekend, head for this coastal stretch of wildflower-strewn hills, beaches, vineyards and open-air cafes.

Source: New York Times

Weekend Guide: 36 Hours in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Africa: Meets With Embassy Djibouti Staff and Families

Meets With Embassy Djibouti Staff and Families

Remarks

John Kerry
Secretary of State

U.S. Embassy Djibouti

Djibouti, Djibouti

May 6, 2015

SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you very much. Subax wanaagsan. (Laughter.) Except that it’s now afternoon. I don’t know what we’re going to do about that. Anyway, assalam aleikoum. Thank you very much. And I’m really happy to be here with everybody. Bonjour. Bon apres-midi. I’m so proud to be here with this embassy in particular because you’re really at the crossroads and all of you are doing such amazing work – from building a relationship with Djibouti to standing at the crossroads of a region that is filled with too much terror, and you get some of the consequences of that. And when people come here you welcome them with open arms. You’ve done all kinds of extra work and you’re building the future.

So I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to be able to be here today. And I understand we have a whole bunch of folks. How many total are working – how many local hires are there here?

AMBASSADOR KELLY: Three hundred.

SECRETARY KERRY: Three hundred. Can all of you who are local Djiboutians who are working with us raise your hands, everybody who’s here? (Applause.) Wow, amazing. That’s most of the embassy. Well, we can’t work without you. (In French.) I mean that. And so we thank you very, very much. (Applause.)

And kids – I have a couple of folks here. Is Farah Farah here? Farah Farah?

STAFF: Yes.

SECRETARY KERRY: You are Farah Farah. And Abdi Djama Moussa. Both of you come up here a moment. You guys got to come up here. (Cheers and applause.) Abdi and Farah, these guys have worked here, each of them, for more than 30 years. (In French.) Merci.

So we really thank you for your loyalty. Thank you for being very special to the embassy. Thank you. Merci. Merci beaucoup. Alors. Merci. Merci beaucoup. (In French.)

So let me – hi kids. How are you? I love your crown. (Laughter.) Is that – are you a princess? Is that something – you are? You are? That’s great. I love it. It’s really beautiful. Thank you all for coming out here. What day is it of the week – I don’t even know what day it is – Wednesday, right? What? No school today, though, right? Did you have school?

PARTICIPANT: (Inaudible.)

SECRETARY KERRY: No school? Okay. Well, thank you very, very much for coming out here and thank you for – journey. I guess you didn’t have any choice but journeying along with your parents. I was there once. I remember what it was like to not have any choice. (Laughter.) And it was fun.

Can I say to everybody here, those of you who are local employees, we are very grateful to you because you take on the burdens of the embassy and the burdens of our country in your own country. And I know sometimes that can be difficult. So I simply want to say to you that I hope that what we do to make life better, to help refugees, to try to stop terrorism, to provide opportunity, to open doors to the future, provide scholarships, to work with young leaders and young people, and so many other things – I hope that you feel the same pride that we do every day when we go to work.

And to all those of you who come from the United States who have dedicated your lives either to the Foreign Service or the Civil Service or the military or one of the agencies of our government, and you’re here on duty of one kind or another, you are lucky enough to be able to be part of a great family and a great enterprise that every day goes to work to try to bring peace, to try to make life better for people, to try to go into conflicted areas, bring people together and find tolerance, find, hopefully, possibilities of democracy. It’s really a blessing in many ways. Lots of people never get to work in as an exciting and as rewarding a way as you do.

And at this particular moment in the world, the world needs leadership. The world needs people to stand up for values that don’t exploit and steal and hijack a very beautiful and legitimate religion and try to turn it into a killing machine. The world needs people who are going to stand up for decency and for rule of law and for opportunity and fight for a set of values that a lot of people have given their lives for through history. If you think of the history of the last century, world wars and other conflicts and all that the League of Nations and then the United Nations and all the efforts of countries to come together and build a system by which we actually work to help other people and to live with civility and rule of law, it’s an extraordinary legacy that you are part of.

And we’re at the dawn of the 21st century now when countries are bursting out with a whole lot of new energy – some of them in chaos because of the absence of governance and the absence of some of the opportunities that have guided other nations through the years. They’ll find their way, ultimately, and they’ll find their way because people like you and a lot of other people will stand up for virtues like a justice system, an education system, for democracy, for a parliament, for presidents who don’t stay for life and who aren’t engaged in large-scale criminal enterprises as they are in certain countries in certain parts of the world. Those are the differences that are worth fighting for. So I just want to come here today to say to every single one of you, thank you. President Obama is so proud; he talks constantly about the sacrifices people make, who go abroad, who have to live under very constrained circumstances in certain places and who, nevertheless, are joyful in the enterprise and who give back not only to our country but to the countries that they are visiting. That’s all of you.

So thank you for being at the crossroads of one of the most strategic locations in the world today. The only place we have a military base in all of Africa – right here. And the place that, as we all know, a deep-water port, a place that is at the gateway to the Horn of Africa, critical to what will happen in Somalia, critical to what will happen maybe even in South Sudan, and certainly to a host of other challenges that we face in this region.

I’m proud to be here. I wish I could be here longer. But thank you so much for a generous welcome and thank you especially for everything you do. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you very much. And a big thank you to your Ambassador Tom Kelly who does a fantastic job. And Christine Higgins – where’s Christine? There she is. Come on up here.

Source: Dept. Of State – Africa

Africa: Meets With Embassy Djibouti Staff and Families

Africa: Remarks at the Embassy Djibouti Consular Section

Remarks at the Embassy Djibouti Consular Section

Remarks

John Kerry
Secretary of State

U.S. Embassy Djibouti

Djibouti, Djibouti

May 6, 2015

SECRETARY KERRY: All right. Well, I’m delighted to see you all here. You guys can’t see. Can you see over there? I’m doing my own press operation here today. (Laughter.) There you go. Wow, we don’t want that to happen.

PARTICIPANT: (Inaudible.)

SECRETARY KERRY: There you go. All right. So as these people know better than anybody, and as you know as well as they do, I guess, you have been doing an amazing job under very, very difficult circumstances over the course of these past weeks, and we’re very, very proud of you. In fact, at the State Department I will tell you we’ve been hearing the stories of all of you down at the docks greeting every citizen; there isn’t anybody who’s come in who hasn’t been warmly received. And you’ve done an amazing job not only of protecting American citizens but of working with the community here in order to make this a seamless transition under the most difficult circumstances.

And I know that it’s always a little bit chaotic. I wanted to personally come here really just to tell the world about the story of what’s behind the news headlines when they read “Refugees trapped in Yemen,” or “trapped in Aden, people trying to get out.” And people have no sense of all the machinery that has to come together to work to find a way to get out, a safe way, get onto a boat, the harrowing nature of traveling across water under those kinds of circumstances; your family huddled on a deck or down below, or if you’re lucky, on a larger military ship where you have greater protection and comfort; and then to come into a port in another country and you don’t know what’s waiting for you, you don’t know where you’re going, you don’t know if you’re going to eat, you don’t know what’s going to happen to you. And a – friendly faces on the dock waiting to say, “It’s going to be okay,” makes all the difference in the world.

And the entire State Department family contributed to this effort from – literally, from Madrid to Jerusalem to Casablanca, people have come together in order to work to provide not only additional people, but to provide the connections so people know who’s real, who’s what, how do you connect them to family, make those critical phone calls. And the entire embassy here in Djibouti and the entire embassy community – American and local staff – have all joined together to provide – they’ve donated food, they’ve donated clothing, they’ve donated water to some of the most needy U.S. citizens. And I will tell you everybody appreciates it, but particularly every American back home says thank you to you for doing beyond your jobs.

The – let me tell you a little bit about a few of the people so this gives you a real human being to attach to this. Saleh Mohsen Nasser arrived here from Yemen on April 11th with his wife, Arwa, and their two children, Sharifa and Mohammed. And the family fled together with Saleh’s stepmother from the port of Aden, and they arrived with some 60 other U.S. citizens on the Indian naval ship Tarkash.

Saddam Lashuel arrived here from Yemen. Did I pronounce that – mispronounce it?

PARTICIPANT: Yeah, Saddam. Saddam Lashuel.

SECRETARY KERRY: Saddam Lashuel – all right – came from Yemen on April 16th on the Indian naval ship Sumitra with his wife, their two children, who I see here – Hadeel and Zuha. And he was already documented – they were documented as a U.S. citizen at birth, but Zuha had not yet received her first U.S. passport, so there was a hurdle you have to cross. And through consular officers at the port, Saddam was able to pass a message to his brother in the United States through Ambassador Kelly to let him know that the family had arrived here safely.

Amar Motahar Zabarah arrived here from Yemen on April 16th on the Indian naval ship Sumitra with his U.S. citizen brothers, Hamzah, and Hamzah’s wife, Eman; his U.S. citizen sisters, Nasiebah and Nafiesah and Ala’a and his Yemen-born sister, Aya. And the family was in contact with the department before they left Yemen. Several officers helped them to find the transportation they needed and laid the groundwork for further assistance on arrival here in Djibouti. And actually, members of Congress had reached out to the United States – to the State Department and the embassy on the family’s behalf expressing their concern in trying to help break through the red tape.

So what you have all done and what we do, frankly, every day here – but this is special because it’s been so intense – is to change a catastrophic and daunting situation for individual human beings, American citizens, into something manageable and something less traumatic and something that ultimately can reunite them with family and with country. And so it means an enormous amount to President Obama, to me, and to every American to know that people are over here working like that to represent our country and to take care of American citizens no matter where they may be living and no matter what their circumstances may be.

This is not the easiest time, as we all know, for diplomacy in the Middle East. Four United States embassies have been closed because of the security situations in one part of this world or another, and there is extra pressure on the posts, therefore, that are open. And because of the location, Djibouti is carrying a large part of this burden, so that is a major reason why I wanted to come here today. This country, as small as it is, and its mission are extremely important, and everybody here can now begin to see more realistically why that is.

So thank you for carrying the flag, thank you for working the extra hours, for going to such great lengths to represent us as well as you have all done. We are very, very proud of you. Thank you so much. (Applause.)

Source: Dept. Of State – Africa

Africa: Remarks at the Embassy Djibouti Consular Section

Collected Department Releases: Joint Statement of the U.S.-Georgia Economic, Trade, and Energy Working Group

Joint Statement of the U.S.-Georgia Economic, Trade, and Energy Working Group

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

May 6, 2015

The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and Georgia on the occasion of the U.S.-Georgia Economic, Trade, and Energy Working Group.

Begin Text:

The U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership Commission’s Economic, Trade, and Energy Working Group met in Washington, DC, on May 4, 2015. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Kurt Tong, USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia Jonathan Katz, and Executive Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Europe, Middle East & Africa Michael Lally represented the United States. First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs David Dondua and Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mikheil Janelidze represented Georgia.

The Economic Working Group reaffirmed the strong bilateral relationship between the United States and Georgia. The United States congratulated Georgia for its significant progress in implementing reforms required by the Association Agreement with the European Union, noting this demonstrated Georgia’s continued achievements in realizing its Euro-Atlantic integration goals. The United States also expressed continued readiness to assist Georgia as it implements the Association Agreement and its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area.

The Working Group discussed the “Georgia 2020” economic strategy, which the United States encouraged Georgia to implement with continued private sector consultation. The Working Group also discussed bilateral cooperation in agriculture, intellectual property rights, public-private sector engagement, energy security and supply diversification, infrastructure development, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The United States welcomed Georgia’s progress in strengthening intellectual property rights enforcement, labor rights protection and inspection mechanisms, development of the competition law, and establishment of an independent competition agency.

The United States underscored its support of Georgia’s growing economic role as a regional business, trade, and logistics hub, and its contribution to the revitalization of east-west trade routes along the Silk Road to connect European and Asian markets through the South Caucasus. The participants stressed the importance of continued improvements to transportation infrastructure and increased regional cooperation to remove regulatory bottlenecks through the trade corridor. The United States confirmed its support and intent to participate in Georgia’s Silk Road Forum in October.

The United States and Georgia commended each other for progress in expert level trade discussions and agreed to continue discussing various options to strengthen trade and investment between the countries, including the possibility in the future of a free trade agreement. They welcomed announcement of the June 29 meeting of the bilateral High Level Trade and Investment Dialogue (HLTD) in Washington. The Working Group also welcomed the successful U.S. trade mission to Georgia in March of this year and noted the utility of a Georgian trade mission in parallel with the HLTD. To further the U.S.-Georgia economic partnership, the Working Group committed to take practical steps and exchange ideas on economic reforms and opportunities for cooperation in particular sectors.

The Strategic Partnership Commission is the primary mechanism for organizing and prioritizing the broad and deepening cooperation between the United States and Georgia. The Commission includes four bilateral working groups on priority areas identified in the Charter on Strategic Partnership: democracy and governance; defense and security; economics, trade, and energy; and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. For more information, please visit: http://www.state.gov/p/eur/ci/gg/usgeorgiacommission/index.htm.

Source: Dept. Of State – Releases

Collected Department Releases: Joint Statement of the U.S.-Georgia Economic, Trade, and Energy Working Group

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Adavegas travel agency has been operating since 1993. We have a sound knowledge base and firm foundations in Kusadasi, Istanbul and Cappadocia. Historically our expertise has been in providing services to small groups.

Source: RealAdventures

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T Magazine: My Man in Japan

By RAFIL KROLL-ZAIDI

For those bored with the one we have, there is a whole other Internet out there. And people ready to help you shop it.

Source: New York Times

T Magazine: My Man in Japan