Arrival of Wheat-Carrying Brave Commander to East Africa from Ukraine
08/30/2022
Arrival of Wheat-Carrying Brave Commander to East Africa from Ukraine
08/30/2022 03:02 PM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
The United States welcomes the arrival in Djibouti of 23,300 metric tons of Ukrainian grain aboard the ship Brave Commander. This grain will be distributed within Ethiopia and Somalia, countries that are dangerously food insecure after four years of drought. The United States is grateful for the important role Djibouti has played facilitating the flow of humanitarian goods to the region.
As part of a more than $68 million recent contribution by the United States to the World Food Program (WFP), this grain is among the first shipments of Ukrainian agricultural products exported from the Black Sea to reach some of the world’s most food insecure countries since the beginning of Russia’s unjustified, full-scale attack on Ukraine on February 24. The United States is the largest contributor to the WFP, having provided $5.7 billion to the organization since October 2021. Since February, the United States has provided over $5.4 billion in humanitarian assistance to scale up emergency food security operations in food insecure countries globally.
Ukrainian agricultural products are critical to global food security. The United States supports the Turkey and UN-brokered deal between Ukraine and Russia to resume Ukrainian agricultural exports via the Black Sea, and we are closely monitoring Russia’s adherence to the deal’s terms. We call on Russia to immediately cease its war on Ukraine, which would do much to address the recent spike in global food insecurity.
G7 Non-Proliferation Directors’ Group on Nuclear Safety and Security at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant
08/30/2022
G7 Non-Proliferation Directors’ Group on Nuclear Safety and Security at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant
08/30/2022 06:01 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The text of the following statement was released by the G7 Non-Proliferation Directors Group of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union.
Begin Text:
The G7 Non-Proliferation Directors Group recalls the Statement of the G7 Foreign Ministers of August 10, 2022, in support of the IAEA´s efforts to promote nuclear safety and security at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.
The G7 Non-Proliferation Directors Group remains profoundly concerned by the serious threat the continued control of Ukrainian nuclear facilities by Russian armed forces pose to the safety and security of these facilities. These actions significantly raise the risk of a nuclear accident or incident and endanger the population of Ukraine, neighboring states, and the international community. The Russian Federation must immediately withdraw its troops from within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and respect Ukraine’s territory and sovereignty. We reaffirm that the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant and the electricity that it produces rightly belong to Ukraine and stress that attempts by Russia to disconnect the plant from the Ukrainian power grid would be unacceptable. We underline that Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant should not be used for military activities or the storage of military material.
The G7 Non-Proliferation Directors Group welcomes the IAEA-led mission announced by Director General Grossi for August 29, 2022, to address nuclear safety, security and safeguards concerns around the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. We also welcome UN Secretary General Guterres’ efforts to provide necessary support to this mission. We continue to emphasize this visit must be conducted in a manner that respects full Ukrainian sovereignty over its territory.
We reiterate our full and continued support for the IAEA. IAEA staff must be able to access all nuclear facilities in Ukraine timely, safely and without impediment, and engage directly, and without interference, with the Ukrainian personnel responsible for operating these facilities, which must be allowed to carry out its duties without threats or pressure and must be able to acquire information relevant to all the necessary technical elements pertaining to nuclear safety and security at the installations. The safety of all individuals implementing these efforts must be addressed to strengthen nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine.
We reaffirm the importance of the Seven Pillars of Nuclear Safety and Security as outlined by Director General Grossi as being of particular importance and urgency to Ukraine’s nuclear power plants and support the IAEA in helping facilitate the implementation of these pillars in Ukraine to uphold the safety and security of their nuclear facilities.
We intend to continue to support the IAEA financially and technically, including through its technical assistance plan for Ukraine, in its efforts to ensure the nuclear safety and security of, and the application of safeguards to, Ukraine’s nuclear power plants.
We express our grave concern about recent malicious cyber activity against Ukraine’s nuclear power company. We also intend to continue to support cyber security in Ukraine.
As founders of the G7-led Global Partnership, we have worked together with Ukraine for more than 20 years to increase the safety and security of its nuclear facilities. We therefore have a particular responsibility to support international efforts aimed at sustaining these facilities and assisting Ukraine in countering the serious risks Russia’s war of aggression poses to the safety and security of Ukrainian nuclear installations.
We intend to make use of the G7 Global Partnership initiative and the Global Partnership meeting in Berlin in October 2022 to invite IAEA representatives to outline possible areas of support to the IAEA’s efforts. We also intend to continue to raise the issue of nuclear safety and security in Ukraine within IAEA fora, including at the upcoming IAEA Board of Governors and IAEA General Conference meetings.
We deeply regret that Russia blocked consensus at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference because it refused to accept responsibility for the grave situation around the safeguards, safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities. This cannot be seen as an act of good faith. Every other NPT state supported the draft outcome. Even though it was not adopted, it provides a solid blueprint for progress on all three NPT pillars.
End Text
Special Advisor on International Disability Rights Minkara’s Travel to Germany, Thailand, and Malaysia
08/31/2022
Special Advisor on International Disability Rights Minkara’s Travel to Germany, Thailand, and Malaysia
08/31/2022 04:32 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
Special Advisor on International Disability Rights Sara Minkara will travel to Berlin, Germany August 31 to attend the G7 Global Inclusion Summit September 1-2. The summit, hosted by Germany’s Federal Government Commissioner for Matters relating to Persons with Disabilities, will cover the topics of health, artificial intelligence and digitalization, and disability and climate action. As the U.S. representative at the summit, Special Advisor Minkara will deliver statements on these topics and take part in meetings on disability-inclusive democracy. Special Advisor Minkara will then travel to Thailand September 4-10 to attend the APEC Women’s Economic Forum in Bangkok and engage disabled persons organizations and provincial government on disability rights issues in Chiang Mai. Special Advisor Minkara will then travel to Malaysia September 11-17 to meet with civil society, government, and international organization representatives for discussions on addressing challenges facing persons with disabilities.
In each country Special Advisor Minkara will underscore the importance of respect for the rights of persons with disabilities and the value they bring to all sectors of society when fully included.
Follow Special Advisor Minkara on the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor’s Facebook and Twitter @StateDRL and Instagram @usa_humanrights.
For media inquiries, please contact DRL-Press@state.gov.
Slovakia’s National Day
09/01/2022
Slovakia’s National Day
09/01/2022 12:01 AM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
On behalf of the United States of America, I wish the people of Slovakia a happy Constitution Day as you celebrate 30 years since the passage of the document that is at the heart of your democracy.
As we look ahead to the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Slovakia next year, we recognize our shared commitment as NATO Allies to democratic values, collective security, and the rule of law. There may be no better demonstration of Slovakia’s leadership than your steadfast support of Ukraine in the face of Russia’s brutal and unprovoked war.
Congratulations on your Constitution Day. We look forward to continuing to advance our friendship and partnership in the years ahead.
Secretary Blinken’s Call with European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Borrell
09/01/2022
Secretary Blinken’s Call with European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Borrell
09/01/2022 12:39 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell today to reaffirm the importance of a successful Seventh Replenishment Conference for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. President Biden will host the Replenishment Conference September 19, 2022, during the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The United States is committed to helping the Global Fund reach its goal in order to get the world back on track toward ending HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria and to building resilient and sustainable systems for health. President Biden has signaled that the United States will make a contribution of $2 billion and an intended pledge of $6 billion for the Seventh Replenishment period, demonstrating the United States’ readiness to match $1 for every $2 contributed by other donors.
Secretary Blinken and High Representative Borrell also discussed their shared commitment to support the Afghan people through Afghanistan’s ongoing economic and humanitarian crises as well as the importance of working with the broader international community, to support the education of Afghan girls.
Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Kerry’s Travel to Egypt, United Kingdom
09/02/2022
Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Kerry’s Travel to Egypt, United Kingdom
09/02/2022 03:31 PM EDT
Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will travel to Cairo, Egypt, September 7-8 to continue ongoing discussions with government and private sector counterparts on accelerating global climate cooperation ahead of the 27th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, November 6-18. Secretary Kerry will also participate in the Egypt-International Cooperation Forum and Meeting of the African Ministers of Finance and Environment.
Secretary Kerry will also travel to Glasgow, United Kingdom on September 9 to engage business and NGO leaders on efforts to enhance global climate action and accelerate the clean energy transition.
For media inquiries, please contact ClimateComms@state.gov.
San Marino National Day
09/03/2022
San Marino National Day
09/03/2022 12:01 AM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
On behalf of the United States of America, I send my warm wishes to the people of San Marino as they celebrate the Feast of Saint Marinus, and with it, the founding of the world’s oldest republic.
The United States values its relationship with San Marino, defined by shared values and principles ever since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 1861. This year marks the 161st anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s letter to the Regent Captains accepting an offer of honorary citizenship on May 7, 1861. The United States looks forward to continuing our work with San Marino on international trade and the promotion of democracy and human rights.
The United States is proud to count San Marino as a friend and partner and wishes the people of San Marino a joyous Feast of Saint Marinus and a successful year ahead.
