U.S. Department of State
Public Designation of Former Officials of the Republic of North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina Due to Involvement in Significant Corruption
04/11/2022+
Public Designation of Former Officials of the Republic of North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina Due to Involvement in Significant Corruption
04/11/2022 10:49 AM EDT
Ned Price, Department Spokesperson
The U.S. Department of State has publicly designated former Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia Nikola Gruevski and former Director of the Department for Security and Counterintelligence (UBK) Sasho Mijalkov as well as Gordana Tadić of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the chief prosecutor’s office. We have taken these actions in response to these former officials’ involvement in significant corruption. Their actions undermined the rule of law, democratic institutions, and public processes in both countries and eroded the public’s faith in their governments.
In his official capacity as prime minister, Gruevski was involved in corrupt acts that included using his political influence and official power for personal benefit. Specifically, there is credible information that Gruevski abused the power of his office to solicit and accept bribes in return for government contracts, misappropriated public funds, and interfered in electoral processes to benefit himself and his party politically.
In his official capacity as Director of the UBK, Mijalkov was involved in corrupt acts that included using his political influence and official power for personal benefit. Specifically, there is credible information that Mijalkov abused the power of his office to solicit bribes in return for government contracts and interfered in electoral processes to benefit himself and his party politically.
In her official capacity as chief prosecutor of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Gordana Tadić used her influence to interfere with judicial processes. Specifically, there is credible information that Tadić manipulated cases to protect political patrons from prosecution and failed to assign cases to prosecutors through an automated case distribution system designed to prevent prosecutor assignment decisions based on personal or political reasons.
These designations are made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2022. In addition to Gruevski, Mijalkov and Tadić, the Department of State is also designating their immediate family members under 7031(c). This action renders Gruevski, Mijalkov, Tadić and their immediate family members ineligible for entry into the United States.
In addition, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed economic sanctions pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14033 on seven individuals and one entity across four countries in the Western Balkans. As a result of today’s action under E.O. 14033, all property and interests in property of those sanctioned that are in or come within the United States or that are in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC. Link here: Balkans-related Designations and Designations Removals | U.S. Department of the Treasury
Together, these designations reaffirm the U.S. commitment to supporting the rule of law and strengthening democratic institutions of the Republic of North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Department will continue to use authorities like this to promote accountability for corrupt actors in this region and globally.
For more information, please contact INL-PAPD@state.gov.
Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with UK Minister for Europe and North America Cleverly
04/11/2022
Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with UK Minister for Europe and North America Cleverly
04/11/2022 01:28 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met with UK Minister of State for Europe and North America James Cleverly today in Washington. Deputy Secretary Sherman and Minister Cleverly continued close U.S.-UK coordination to hold the Kremlin accountable for its brutal atrocities in Putin’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine. The Deputy Secretary and Minister Cleverly also discussed bilateral cooperation to support South Caucasus peace and reconciliation efforts.
Assistant Secretary Noyes Travel to Moldova and Poland
04/11/2022
Assistant Secretary Noyes Travel to Moldova and Poland
04/11/2022 03:07 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) Julieta Valls Noyes will travel to Chisinau, Moldova and Warsaw, Poland April 12-15.
In Chisinau, Assistant Secretary Noyes will meet with government officials to recognize Moldova’s role in hosting tens of thousands of refugees who have fled Ukraine due to Russia’s unprovoked invasion. She will also visit a refugee hosting center to meet with refugees as well as humanitarian organization staff and volunteers assisting them.
In Warsaw, she will meet with Polish and UN officials to discuss the ongoing humanitarian crisis response. Assistant Secretary Noyes will also meet with NGOs delivering critical humanitarian assistance for refugees in Poland.
Deputy Secretary McKeon’s Meeting with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Grandi
04/11/2022
Deputy Secretary McKeon’s Meeting with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Grandi
04/11/2022 06:19 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Brain McKeon met today with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi in Washington. Deputy Secretary McKeon highlighted the United States’ commitment to rebuilding and expanding the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and the shared goal to increase global refugee resettlement. They discussed the importance of finding solutions for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. They also discussed the High Commissioner’s recent travel to Ukraine and Afghanistan, including the international community’s humanitarian response in Ukraine and neighboring countries to assist Ukrainians and other nationals fleeing the conflict. The Deputy Secretary expressed appreciation for UNHCR’s efforts in Afghanistan to provide life-saving assistance to Afghans in need and noted UNHCR’s important role in responding to the crisis in Ethiopia. The leaders reaffirmed our mutual commitment to protecting and securing durable solutions for vulnerable populations worldwide.
Department of State Offers Reward for Information to Bring Three Irish Transnational Criminals to Justice
04/12/2022
Department of State Offers Reward for Information to Bring Three Irish Transnational Criminals to Justice
04/12/2022 08:27 AM EDT
Ned Price, Department Spokesperson
The U.S. Department of State is announcing rewards of up to $5 million for information leading to each of the arrests and/or convictions of Irish transnational organized criminal Christopher Vincent Kinahan and his two sons, Daniel Joseph Kinahan and Christopher Kinahan, Jr., for participating in, or conspiring to participate in, transnational organized crime. After initially distributing South American cocaine and heroin in Ireland, the Kinahans later expanded their narcotics trafficking organization to include the United Kingdom and then throughout mainland Europe. In addition to narcotics trafficking, the Kinahans have engaged in money laundering, firearms trafficking, and murder.
Today’s reward offer announcement complements the Department of Treasury’s announcement of sanctions against the Kinahans pursuant to Executive Order 14059, Imposing Sanctions on Foreign Persons Involved in the Global Illicit Drug Trade. The reward is offered jointly with the An Garda Síochana (AGS) in Ireland and the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the United Kingdom. Together with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), these agencies will work to combat drug trafficking and transnational crime by the Kinahan Transnational Criminal Organization wherever it exists.
This reward is offered under the Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP). The TOCRP and Narcotics Rewards Program (NRP) have helped bring more than 75 transnational criminals and major narcotics traffickers to justice since the inception of the NRP in 1986. The Department has paid more than $135 million in rewards under these programs for information leading to apprehensions and convictions.
The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs manages the TOCRP in close coordination with federal law enforcement partners and other U.S. government agencies. These actions demonstrate the Department’s commitment to supporting law enforcement efforts to bring transnational criminals to justice.
For more information on the individuals listed above and the NRP and TOCRP, please see https://www.state.gov/bureau-of-international-narcotics-and-law-enforcement-affairs/inl-rewards-program/.
Secretary Antony J. Blinken And UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi Before Their Meeting
04/12/2022
Secretary Antony J. Blinken And UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi Before Their Meeting
04/12/2022 01:28 PM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
Thomas Jefferson Room
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good morning, everyone. I am very pleased for this opportunity to meet with the High Commissioner for Refugees at the UN Filippo Grandi. It’s safe to say that this is a time of extraordinary challenge for everything that you’re doing and everything that we’re so indebted to you and your team for doing.
I believe, as you said, the number of displaced people around the world now is somewhere in the vicinity of 95 million people. And within that huge number of refugees, I think if you added up all of the refugees and tried to put them in one country, it would be larger than the population of Spain, South Korea, any number of countries. This is a challenge that has been with us for well over the past decade. When I was last in government, we were dealing with particularly acute challenges – of course, Syria, Iraq, but also in many other parts of the world from Africa to Southeast Asia to our own hemisphere.
We’ve only seen that challenge increase, and of course, Ukraine has now added to the mix with Russian aggression displacing within Ukraine or outside of Ukraine two thirds of the children in that country, as well as of, course, many, many adults.
So we are simply grateful for the work that you’re doing every single day to try to meet the needs of those who have been forced in one way or another from their homes.
The partnership that we have between the United States and UNHCR, working together to find ways to resettle people, to care for them, and I think as well the work that we need to do together not only to resettle, ultimately end conflicts so that people can go home, but also to find more effective ways in helping those communities support the refugees that are with them.
So in all of these ways, there is a lot of work to be done, a lot of work we’re doing every single day between us. But mostly this is an opportunity as well just to say thank you, because what you’re doing is an invaluable service to humanity at a time when it’s more needed than ever. So welcome.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, how will the U.S. expedite getting Ukrainians —
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Please.
MR GRANDI: Bear with me, just a few words also on my side to thank Secretary Blinken and his colleagues for welcoming us here at the State Department. And I just want – he said it all, really. I just want to add, this figure that he mentioned, 95 million – maybe 96 by the way, who knows – has gone up by 12 million in less than two months with the crisis in Ukraine, with the Russian offensive against Ukraine and the flight of so many people. So that will be a priority for us to discuss and already I’ve been here a couple of days in Washington and had very good discussions on how to respond to this crisis both in neighboring countries and inside Ukraine.
But then, of course, an important message that I’m sure everybody will agree here around the table is that that crisis should not make us forget everything else. We’ve been dealing intensely together with the Afghanistan situation for the past few months, but there are many, unfortunately many, crises in Africa, in the Western Hemisphere, that involve a huge displacement component, and therefore I look forward to continuing our cooperation.
The United States is UNHCR’s by far largest donor. It is the largest resettlement country and with our partnership with the United States in these areas has been extremely strong. And I want to take this opportunity to thank this administration. Without the United States, we could not be as effective as you kindly recognized us to be, and we look forward to even strengthening even further this partnership, which is globally and domestically extremely important. So thank you very much.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you very much.
$800 Million in Additional U.S. Security Assistance for Ukraine
04/13/2022
$800 Million in Additional U.S. Security Assistance for Ukraine
04/13/2022 08:01 PM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
Against tremendous odds, with extraordinary courage, and in the face of Russia’s relentless brutality against civilians, Ukraine’s forces are regaining ground, as Russian forces retreat from Kyiv and the surrounding region. Still, Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked, unjustified, and brutal war against Ukraine is far from over. Russia is repositioning its forces for renewed attacks in eastern and southern Ukraine. The United States, its Allies and partners must take action now to surge additional military assistance as Ukraine prepares for the next phase in the fight for its freedom and its very future.
I have authorized, pursuant to a delegation from the President earlier today, a drawdown to provide immediate military assistance to Ukraine valued at up to $800 million. This authorization is the seventh drawdown of arms, equipment, and supplies from Department of Defense inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. This new package features a host of additional capabilities in response to the Ukrainian Government’s requests, including artillery, armored vehicles, helicopters, and Unmanned Coastal Defense Vessels, as well as engineering and field support equipment, in addition to supplementing anti-armor and anti-personnel capabilities, counter artillery, and air defense radars, tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, body armor, and combat medical equipment.
Today’s authorization will bring the total U.S. security assistance commitment to Ukraine to more than $3.2 billion since the beginning of this Administration, and more than $2.5 billion since the beginning of Russia’s brutal assault against Ukraine began on February 24. In addition to what we have provided, more than 30 countries have joined us to deliver security assistance to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion began. Together, we are working around the clock to deliver security assistance every day, and we are expediting shipments of even more of the arms and defense equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself.
We remain in close contact with Ukraine and are supportive of President Zelenskyy’s commitment to engage in diplomacy that leads to Russia stopping its attacks and withdrawing its forces. We are focused on putting Ukraine in the strongest possible negotiating position by continuing to provide security assistance to help Ukraine defend itself and by increasing pressure on Putin by imposing severe costs on Russia. We and our Allies and partners will continue to provide security assistance, humanitarian aid, and economic support to Ukraine.
Russia has failed in its initial objective of capturing Kyiv and failed to subjugate Ukraine, but we cannot become complacent. The United States and the international community will make Putin’s war of choice a long-term strategic failure for the Kremlin.
Secretary Blinken’s Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba
04/14/2022
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Secretary Blinken’s Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba
04/14/2022 12:49 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to reinforce the United States’ steadfast commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We are resolved to continue to provide security, economic, and humanitarian support to the government and people of Ukraine as they defend against President Putin’s brutal and unprovoked war. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Kuleba discussed the most recent Presidential Drawdown for an additional $800 million for weapons, ammunition, and other security assistance for Ukraine’s defense. They noted that the steady supply of materiel from the United States and its Allies and partners has been instrumental in Ukraine’s successful fight against Russia’s forces. The Secretary provided an update on the most recent U.S. and global efforts to hold the Kremlin and its enablers accountable. The Secretary commended the bravery of the Ukrainian people, noting in particular those defending Mariupol.
Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra Before Their Meeting
04/14/2022
Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra Before Their Meeting
04/14/2022 02:02 PM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
Washington, D.C.
Thomas Jefferson Room
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good morning, everyone. It is a great pleasure to have my colleague and friend Foreign Minister Hoekstra here. We’ve been seeing each other at NATO it seems on a now almost regular basis, on the phone, but it’s especially good to have you here in Washington.
And it’s simply evidence of the fact that the partnership between the United States and the Netherlands couldn’t be stronger and also couldn’t be more important. At a time of tremendous challenge in Europe and around the world, we are standing strongly, resolutely together in support of Ukraine, against Russia’s aggression, in defense of the rules-based order that both of our countries are united in our determination to defend. We could not be more grateful for this partnership. It’s a longstanding one, one that we place tremendous value on, and particularly in challenging times it always demonstrates its great value.
So we’re grateful for the leadership that the Netherlands is showing throughout Europe and indeed around the world. The voice is strong, the voice is important, the voice is valued, and so is the partnership.
We’ve got lots of other things to talk about, but I’m really grateful for the opportunity to actually have you here in Washington and to continue the conversations we’ve been having these many weeks. So welcome.
FOREIGN MINISTER HOEKSTRA: Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary, Dear Tony. Thank you very much for having us in what is truly an unprecedented era in history. And it’s also a time where we see more than ever the tremendous importance of the transatlantic bonds.
Thank you very much for your leadership, for making sure that you and NATO work seamlessly together, for making sure the excellent bond between our two countries is as strong as ever. And we will make sure that we continue to work together on all the challenging events – currently Ukraine, but there is much more to do, much more geopolitical challenges that we will face, and we value very much the bilateral bonds but also the excellent relationship between the U.S. and the European Union.
Thank you.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you, all.
Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister Hoekstra
04/14/2022
Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister Hoekstra
04/14/2022 02:21 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra in Washington, D.C. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Hoekstra condemned the atrocities committed by Russia in Bucha and elsewhere in Ukraine, and underscored their support for holding accountable those behind them. They agreed on the need to continue providing security and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and to increase pressure on Russia. The Secretary expressed support for stronger European defense compatible with NATO, and they discussed ways to strengthen European security. The Secretary thanked Foreign Minister Hoekstra for his country’s exemplary cooperation in addressing semiconductor supply chain shortages and energy volatility and emphasized the positive role of U.S.-Netherlands relations in forging a stronger Transatlantic partnership. In anticipation of Dutch-American Friendship Day next week, the Secretary highlighted our shared values, strong economic relations, and outstanding political cooperation.
