Secretary Blinken with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov Before Their Meeting
09/19/2022
Secretary Blinken with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov Before Their Meeting
09/19/2022 06:30 PM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
New York, New York
Palace Hotel
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good afternoon, everyone. I want to thank my colleagues from Armenia and Azerbaijan for being here today. I want to start by just offering our sincere condolences to the families and the friends of those who died or were wounded in the recent fighting last week. We’re encouraged by the fact that the fighting has ceased and there have not been any additional military actions over the last – the last few days.
In my latest calls with both Prime Minister Pashinyan and President Aliyev, both leaders told me that they are ready for peace. Strong, sustained diplomatic engagement is the best path for everyone. There is no military solution to the differences between Armenia and Azerbaijan. But there is, I think, a path to a durable peace that resolves the differences through diplomacy. The United States is prepared to do whatever it can to support these efforts. And I’m grateful to both of my colleagues for being here today to pursue this conversation. Thank you very much.
Secretary Blinken’s Trilateral Meeting with Azerbaijan and Armenia
09/19/2022
Secretary Blinken’s Trilateral Meeting with Azerbaijan and Armenia
09/19/2022 07:55 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken hosted Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov for the first direct talks since recent fighting. Secretary Blinken conveyed condolences for the lives lost and emphasized the need to prevent further hostilities, underscoring the importance of returning to the peace process. They discussed next steps, and the Secretary encouraged the sides to meet again before the end of the month.
Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu
09/20/2022
Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu
09/20/2022 10:36 AM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in New York City. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Cavusoglu discussed tensions in the South Caucasus, and the Secretary noted that the United States continues to engage to facilitate dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia and help achieve a long-term political settlement to the conflict. They also discussed ways to advance coordination and NATO unity in response to Russia’s war against Ukraine. The Secretary commended Turkish diplomatic efforts to ensure continued shipment of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea and emphasized the importance of maintaining UN brokered agreements and holding Moscow accountable for the commitments it has made.
Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu Before Their Meeting
09/20/2022
Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu Before Their Meeting
09/20/2022 11:50 AM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
The Palace Hotel
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good morning, everyone. It’s a pleasure to welcome my friend and colleague Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, the Turkish foreign minister. We have, as always, a lot to talk about. I’m grateful for the work we’re doing together as NATO Allies and partners, many security challenges that we’re facing together.
I want to particularly praise the work that Turkey has done to help establish the grain port on the Black Sea that is allowing desperately needed food to get out of Ukraine and to the people who need it, particularly in the Global South, and we’ll be working together to extend the mechanism that Turkey and the United Nations put into place to make sure that this could happen.
Lots more on our agenda. But Mevlüt, it’s always great to see you. Welcome.
FOREIGN MINISTER ÇAVUŞOĞLU: Thank you very much, Secretary Blinken, my dear friend Tony. I’m very happy to see you again, and I agree with you that each time we meet, we discuss many issues from bilateral to regional issues and global ones as well. And today I will – I look forward to discussing aspects of bilateral relations and our good cooperation in many areas, and also the regional issues, the war in Ukraine and also the situation in the South Caucasus.
And let me commend your efforts, and yesterday you brought two foreign ministers – foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia – together, and the situation in Syria in our region as well. And I’m very happy that strategic mechanism has been working very well. And my deputy and my colleagues (inaudible) consultations, and I will hold all those meetings and consultations. I’m very much looking forward our discussions today.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you.
Secretary Antony J. Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly before Their Meeting
09/20/2022
Secretary Antony J. Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly before Their Meeting
09/20/2022 07:07 PM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
New York City, New York
Palace Hotel
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good afternoon, everyone. It’s a great pleasure to be with the foreign secretary. But before I talk about our meeting, let me say a few words about some of the reports that we’ve seen coming out of Ukraine and Russia today.
We’ve seen reports that Russia is now considering proceeding with the sham referenda in Ukraine – something we said that they were going to do for many months, having put – installed puppet representatives in the parts of Ukraine that they’ve seized, and now looking to proceed referenda that would be a sham and that would then lead to them claiming the annexation of Ukrainian territory.
At the same time, we’re seeing reports that President Putin is contemplating mobilizing more of Russia’s reserves, throwing more young Russians into his desperate quest to seize another country. That both of these things are happening this week as we’re at the United Nations shows his utter contempt and disdain for the United Nations, for the General Assembly, for the United Nations Charter. The very principles that we’re here to uphold this week in the charter – sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity – are what are being violently aggressed by Russia, including through the attempts to proceed with these referenda and putting even more forces into the effort to seize Ukrainian sovereign territory.
I think it’s also not a surprise that this is happening now. We’ve seen in the last weeks significant gains by Ukraine in taking back the land, its land, seized by Russian forces since the aggression began February 24th. It’s also a time when Russia itself is seeing serious reverses on the battlefield and even some of its closest partners are clearly raising their deep concerns about what Russia is doing and the consequences this is having for countries around the world.
And I’d also say none of this – the sham referenda, the potential mobilization of additional forces – is a sign of strength. On the contrary, it’s a sign of weakness. It’s the sign of Russian failure.
Let me be very clear. If these referenda proceed, and if Russia purports to annex Ukrainian territory, the United States will never, never recognize it. And here this week at the United Nations it would be important for other countries – anyone who supports and purports to defend the UN Charter – to make that clear as well.
Having said that, it’s also fitting that I’m here with the foreign secretary. We’ve been able to work together over the past year and change in his previous capacity, but I am thrilled to have James Cleverly as my new colleague because our two countries are working together, more closely together than anyone, on virtually every issue of concern around the world, to our people and to many of the countries here this week at the United Nations.
Of course, virtually the entire world was riveted in recent days watching the extraordinary services for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. It was I think to so many of us incredibly moving, incredibly powerful, and I know how much President Biden and the First Lady appreciated the opportunity to be there to pay respects.
This afternoon, we have a lot to talk about, not just Russia and Ukraine but so many other challenges that bring us together as always. And from my perspective, from the perspective of the United States and President Biden, having the UK as our partner of first resort is a tremendous comfort in these turbulent times.
James.
FOREIGN SECRETARY CLEVERLY: Thank you, Tony. It is a – it’s a real privilege to be able to work with you directly in my new role, and firstly can I say a huge thank you to President Biden and to the people of the United States of America for the incredibly kind words that have been expressed to us in response to the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It means a huge amount to all of us.
You’re right, today we see reports of further aggressive action by Russia. And I remember the last time I was here in New York at the United Nations with you in February, the United States of America and the United Kingdom stood shoulder to shoulder in highlighting what we knew to be the imminent aggressive actions of Russia. And not everyone believed us at the time, and nevertheless those tanks crossed the border. So I would implore all of those people listening to reports that you’ve just discussed to remember that the aggressive actions of Vladimir Putin against the people of Ukraine have got to be called out. We have got to highlight the deep injustice of what he’s doing and we have to remain resolute in support of the Ukrainians as they defend their homeland.
The UK is very proud of the work that we have done supporting Ukraine. And indeed, the United States of America has been an unbelievably important friend and ally to the Ukrainians defending their homeland. It is a genuine pleasure to be able to work with you directly, and I look forward to discussing, of course, the situation in Ukraine, the situation of global food insecurity – which I know the United States is very much taking a lead on – and of course our incredibly important bilateral relationship, one of which we are very, very proud and one that I am determined to continue reinforcing.
Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly
09/20/2022
tary James Cleverly
09/20/2022 07:48 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in New York City. The Secretary highlighted the importance of continued close U.S.-UK cooperation to hold Russia accountable for its brutal war against Ukraine. The Secretary and Foreign Secretary also discussed the fuller set of shared interests and concerns, including the challenges posed by the People’s Republic of China, cooperation on public health, and the status of efforts toward a mutual return to full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and to counter Iran’s malign activity. The Secretary and Foreign Secretary discussed the importance of reaching a negotiated resolution with the EU regarding the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Malta National Day
09/21/2022
Malta National Day
09/21/2022 12:01 AM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Malta as you celebrate 58 years of independence. We look forward to deepening our cooperation and working closely to promote global security, prosperity, and our shared democratic values as Malta prepares to join the UN Security Council in 2023.
The United States and Malta work together to advance peace and prosperity in the Mediterranean region and beyond. It is now more important than ever for countries with shared democratic values to stand strong in the face of global challenges. The United States will continue to stand with Malta in its efforts to challenge authoritarianism, combat corruption, promote the rule of law, foster sustainable economic growth, and advocate for human rights. Malta remains a key international partner in addressing these issues of global importance.
Best wishes on this special day.
Armenian Independence Day
09/21/2022
Armenian Independence Day
09/21/2022 12:01 AM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
On behalf of the United States of America, I send best wishes to the people of Armenia on your Independence Day. Since Armenia declared independence from the Soviet Union more than 30 years ago, we have seen your commitment to democratic values as well as to developing and strengthening your country’s human rights, rule of law, economy, and justice sector. We are proud to partner with Armenia in these areas as a reflection of our shared values. We will continue to support the Armenian people’s democratic aspirations, sovereignty, and security.
We appreciate your willingness to support efforts to bring greater stability to the region. We offer our condolences for the lives lost in recent attacks and we remain committed to working with you and other parties to promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
We look forward to continuing to grow our bilateral relationship and economic ties. I wish the Armenian people a prosperous and peaceful year ahead.
Welcoming Prisoner Exchanges in Ukraine
09/21/2022
Welcoming Prisoner Exchanges in Ukraine
09/21/2022 06:25 PM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
The United States welcomes the negotiated prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia, which includes two U.S. citizens captured while serving in Ukraine’s military. The United States is appreciative of Ukraine including all prisoners of war, regardless of nationality, in its negotiations, and we look forward to these U.S. citizens being reunited with their families. We also thank our Saudi partners for helping to spearhead this humanitarian initiative and facilitating the return of ten foreign nationals, including the two U.S. citizens greeted earlier today by our embassy team in Riyadh. I conveyed my gratitude to Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan in a call this morning.
We once again reiterate that U.S. citizens should not travel to Ukraine due to the active armed conflict and the singling out of U.S. citizens in Ukraine by Russian government security officials. U.S. citizens in Ukraine should depart immediately if it is safe to do so using any commercial or other privately available ground transportation options. Americans who travel to Ukraine to participate in the fighting there face significant risks and the United States cannot guarantee their safety. We encourage U.S. citizens to devote their energies towards the many other opportunities that exist to help the country of Ukraine and its people.
The Kremlin’s Troop Mobilization
09/21/2022
The Kremlin’s Troop Mobilization
09/21/2022 07:55 PM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
President Putin’s call to partially mobilize Russian citizens, directing them to fight in Ukraine, reflects the Kremlin’s struggles on the battlefield, the unpopularity of the war, and Russians’ unwillingness to fight in it. President Putin is not operating from a position of strength; rather, this is another sign of his failing mission. We have every confidence that the people of Ukraine will continue to demonstrate resolve and bravery on the battlefield in support of their sovereignty and independence.
The United States, our allies, and partners in the international community condemn Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine, and we continue to stand with Ukraine and its people. Together, we have provided Ukraine consistent, significant support for its defense, and we will continue that steadfast support for the Ukrainian people for as long as it takes.
Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the United Nations Security Council Ministerial Meeting on Ukrainian Sovereignty and Russian Accountability
09/22/2022
Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the United Nations Security Council Ministerial Meeting on Ukrainian Sovereignty and Russian Accountability
09/22/2022 01:48 PM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
New York, New York
United Nations Headquarters
SECRETARY BLINKEN: (Via interpreter) Thank you very much, Madam President, for having brought this council together at this very grave moment of the crisis of the war of Russia on Ukraine.
(In English) Mr. Secretary General, thank you for your determination and the moral clarity that you’ve brought to ending this brutal war and defending the UN’s core principles, and also for your personal engagement in securing the vital Black Sea route for grain to flow once again from Ukraine.
Mr. Khan, we’re grateful for the efforts of the Office of the Prosecutor to investigate objectively and professionally the atrocities being committed in Ukraine by Russian forces, and for its support for – and coordination with – Ukrainian investigators and prosecutors.
We hear a lot about the divisions among countries at the United Nations. But recently, what is striking is the remarkable unity among member-states when it comes to Russia’s war on Ukraine. Leaders from countries developing and developed, big and small, north and south have spoken in the General Assembly about the consequences of this war and the need to end it. And they’ve called on all of us to reaffirm our commitment to the UN Charter and its core principles, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, human rights.
Even a number of nations that maintain close ties with Moscow have said publicly that they have serious questions and concerns about President Putin’s ongoing invasion.
Rather than change course, however, President Putin has doubled down – choosing not to end the war but to expand it; not to pull troops back but to call 300,000 additional troops up; not to ease tensions but to escalate them through the threat of nuclear weapons; not to work toward a diplomatic solution but to render such a solution impossible by seeking to annex more Ukrainian territory through sham referenda.
That President Putin picked this week, as most of the world gathers at the United Nations, to add fuel to the fire that he started, shows his utter contempt for the UN Charter, for the General Assembly, and for this council.
The very international order that we have gathered here to uphold is being shredded before our eyes. We cannot – we will not – allow President Putin to get away with it.
Defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is about much more than standing up for one nation’s right to choose its own path, fundamental as that right is. It’s also about protecting an international order where no nation can redraw the borders of another by force.
If we fail to defend this principle when the Kremlin is so flagrantly violating it, we send a message to aggressors everywhere that they can ignore it, too. We put every country at risk. We open the door to a less secure, a less peaceful world.
We see what that world looks like in the parts of Ukraine controlled by Russian forces. Wherever the Russian tide recedes, we discover the horror that’s left in its wake.
I had a window into that horror myself when I traveled to Irpin just a few weeks ago to meet with the Ukrainian investigators who are compiling evidence of war crimes committed there. I saw up close the gaping holes left in residential buildings by Russian shelling – indiscriminate at best, intentional at worst.
As we assemble here, Ukrainian and international investigators continue to exhume bodies outside of Izyum, a city Russian forces controlled for six months before they were driven out by a Ukrainian counteroffensive. One site contains some 440 unmarked graves. A number of the bodies unearthed there so far reportedly show signs of torture, including one victim with broken arms and a rope around his neck.
Survivors’ accounts are also emerging, including a man who described being tortured by Russian forces for a dozen days, during which his interrogators repeatedly electrocuted him and, in his words, and I quote, “beat me to the point where I didn’t feel anything,” end quote.
These are not the acts of rogue units. They fit a clear pattern across the territory controlled by Russian forces.
This is one of the many reasons that we support a range of national and international efforts to collect and examine the mounting evidence of war crimes in Ukraine. We must hold the perpetrators accountable for these crimes.
It’s also one of the reasons why more than 40 nations have come together to help the Ukrainian people defend themselves, a right that is enshrined in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
The more setbacks Russian forces endure on the battlefield, the greater the pain they are inflicting on Ukrainian civilians. Russian attacks on dams, on bridges, on power stations, on hospitals, on other civilian infrastructure are increasing, constituting a brazen violation of international humanitarian law.
This week, President Putin said that Russia would not hesitate to use, and I quote, “all weapons systems available,” end quote, in response to a threat to its territorial integrity, a threat that is all the more menacing given Russia’s intention to annex large swaths of Ukraine in the days ahead. When that’s complete, we can expect President Putin will claim any Ukrainian effort to liberate this land as an attack on so-called “Russian territory.”
This from a country that in January of this year, in this place, joined other permanent members of the Security Council in signing a statement affirming that, and I quote, “nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought.” Yet another example of how Russia violates the commitments it’s made before this body, and yet another reason why nobody should take Russia at its word today.
Every council member should send a clear message that these reckless nuclear threats must stop immediately.
Russia’s effort to annex more Ukrainian territory is another dangerous escalation, as well as a repudiation of diplomacy.
It is even more alarming when coupled with the filtration operation that Russian forces have been carrying out across parts of Ukraine that they control. Now, this is a diabolical strategy, violently uprooting thousands of Ukrainians, bus in Russians to replace them, call a vote, manipulate the results to show near unanimous support for joining the Russian Federation. This is right out of the Crimea playbook.
As with Crimea, it’s imperative that every member of this council, and for that matter, every member of the United Nations reject the sham referenda and unequivocally declare that all Ukrainian territory is and will remain part of Ukraine, and no Russian claim to annex territory can take away Ukraine’s right to defend its own land.
Putin’s invasion is also distracting this council – in fact, the entire UN system – from working on the serious issues that we all want to focus on. Like preventing a climate catastrophe, aiding tens of millions of people on the brink of famine, fulfilling the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, shoring up our interconnected health security – all issues that make a tangible difference in the lives of the citizens that we are here to represent, and that they are looking to us – looking to us to deliver on.
The overwhelming majority of UN member-states are committed to working together on these issues, and our actions show that.
Yet while more than a hundred countries have signed on to a roadmap to provide food aid to those who need it, and partners across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe are working together to increase the resilience of global food systems, Russia for months blocked the export of Ukrainian grain to the world, until the United Nations and Turkey secured a deal to let the grain go. And Russia continues to bomb and seize Ukrainian farms and silos, line its wheat fields with landmines, raising the cost of food for people everywhere.
And while governments around the world are teaming up with international organizations, with the private sector, with philanthropies to end this pandemic and make sure that we’re better prepared for the next one, Russia is spreading misinformation and disinformation about WHO-approved vaccines – fueling vaccine hesitancy that puts people in all our countries at greater risk.
Here is the reality: None of us chose this war. Not the Ukrainians, who knew the crushing toll it would take. Not the United States, which warned that it was coming and worked to prevent it. Not the vast majority of countries at the United Nations.
And neither did our people, or the people of virtually every UN member-state, who are feeling the war’s consequences in greater food insecurity and higher energy prices.
Nor did the Russian mothers and fathers whose children are being sent off to fight and die in this war, or the Russian citizens who continue to risk their freedom to protest against it, including those who came out into the streets of Moscow after President Putin announced his mobilization to chant, “Let our children live!”
Indeed, it must be asked: How has this aggression against Ukraine by President Putin improved the lives or prospects of a single Russian citizen?
One man chose this war. One man can end it.
Because if Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends.
That’s why we will continue to support Ukraine as it defends itself, and strengthen its hand to achieve a diplomatic solution on just terms at a negotiating table. As President Zelenskyy has said repeatedly, diplomacy is the only way to end this war. But diplomacy cannot and must not be used as a cudgel to impose on Ukraine a settlement that cuts against the UN Charter, or rewards Russia for violating it.
President Putin is making his choice. Now it’s up to all of our countries to make ours.
Tell President Putin to stop the horror that he started. Tell him to stop putting his interests above the interests of the rest of the world, including his own people. Tell him to stop debasing this council and everything it stands for.
“We the people of the United Nations determined…” That is how the preamble of the UN Charter starts. Let’s not forget that “we the peoples” still get to choose the fate of this institution and our world. The stakes are clear. The choice is ours. Let’s make the right choice for the world that we want and that our people so desperately deserve. Thank you.
The Moscow Mechanism Report on Russia’s Failure to Fulfill its Human Dimension Commitments
09/22/2022
The Moscow Mechanism Report on Russia’s Failure to Fulfill its Human Dimension Commitments
09/22/2022 02:35 PM EDT
Ned Price, Department Spokesperson
The United States and 37 other countries invoked the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Moscow Mechanism on July 28 to examine the Russia’s adherence to its OSCE Human Dimension commitments on human rights and fundamental freedoms. In the report released today in Vienna, the expert mission found that a decade of legislation in Russia “has completely changed the scope of Russian civil society, cutting it off from foreign and international partners, suppressing independent initiatives, stifling critical attitudes towards the authorities, silencing the media, and suppressing political opposition.”
Specifically, this report documents that the Kremlin has centralized all federal and regional law enforcement authorities under Kremlin control; used so-called “foreign agent” laws to impose draconian penalties and fines on individuals and civil society organizations with any foreign contacts; effectively silenced freedom of expression, including independent media and criticism of the government through harsh censorship laws; and “created a climate of fear and intimidation…that is not in line with OSCE standards based on pluralism and a strong and independent civil society.” The report also makes clear that Russia’s “(r)epression on the inside and war on the outside are connected to each other as if in a communicating tube.”
The United States and our Allies and partners will continue to hold Russia accountable for its sweeping failure to fulfill its OSCE commitments and obligations under international law to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of its people and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states.
High-level FSO Safer Side Event Co-hosted by the Netherlands, the United States and Germany: Funding Gap Closed for First Stage of Salvage Operation
09/22/2022
High-level FSO Safer Side Event Co-hosted by the Netherlands, the United States and Germany: Funding Gap Closed for First Stage of Salvage Operation
09/22/2022 09:03 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The high-level side event at the United Nations General Assembly Week, co-hosted by the Netherlands, the United States and Germany, honoured the joint effort with the UN to prevent a looming environmental disaster with severe humanitarian and economic costs. To prevent this catastrophe the UN has coordinated – in close consultation with Yemeni parties – an operational plan. The estimated budget for the two-track plan is $113 million, of which $75 million is required to start the first phase of the operation (emergency operation). The United States, the UN, and the Netherlands partnered in April 2022 to launch an intensive awareness-raising campaign. Since the pledging conference in May 2022 – jointly organized by the Government of the Netherlands and the UN – many donors have pledged generously. At the high-level side event, we reached an important milestone as we have closed the funding gap for the emergency operation. The co-hosts are the biggest donors backing the UN-led plan, with 15 million Euros from the Netherlands, 12 million Euros from Germany and $10 million from the United States, followed by Saudi-Arabia ($10 million) and the United Kingdom ($7.5 million). The co-hosts will continue their outreach to mobilize the funding needed to finalize the operation.
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands Liesje Schreinemacher: “Normally, as minister, it is my job to deal with the repercussions of disasters. But in this instance, we have a chance to prevent a disaster. The Safer is a ticking timebomb. We need swift action. It is encouraging that so many countries have pledged their financial support. Thanks in part to the Netherlands’ contribution we now have the necessary funds to start salvaging the vessel.”
U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking: “We are proud that the United States pledged $10 million for the UN Safer project. Our contribution stands alongside contributions from a range of countries, organizations, and individuals across the globe, representing a broad coalition of partners that understands the importance of preventing an economic and environmental catastrophe in the Red Sea.”
Director General for Crisis Prevention, Stabilisation, Peace Building and Humanitarian Assistance of the German Federal Foreign Office Deike Potzel: “Thanks to our continued joint efforts, we have a rare opportunity here, to tell a story not often told: the story of how we prevented a catastrophe! With its contribution of 12 million, Germany significantly contributes to this accomplishment. If all parties to the conflict stick to the agreement made to rescue the FSO Safer and the operation is successful, the FSO Safer can go from being a symbol of impending disaster to a beacon of hope for Yemen!”
Thanks to the mobilization and financial support of donor countries from the region and from all over the world, the operation is expected to start soon. It is now crucial that the donors swiftly disburse their contributions to allow UNDP, the UN organization coordinating the implementation, to sign all necessary contracts.
In New York, the UN gave insights into the operational plan: first transferring the oil into a safe vessel (Phase I), before installing a permanent storage solution and scrapping the Safer (Phase II). Phase II requires an additional $38 million. The co-hosts will continue their efforts and urge additional pledges in particular from the private sector to fulfil Phase II.
Joint Statement on the High-Level Meeting on the Safety and Security of Civil Nuclear Facilities in Armed Conflicts
09/23/2022
Joint Statement on the High-Level Meeting on the Safety and Security of Civil Nuclear Facilities in Armed Conflicts
09/23/2022 04:35 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
We, the ministers of Foreign Affairs of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, Ukraine and the United States of America, and senior officials from the Republic of Korea and Switzerland, as well as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, wish to express our grave concern regarding the threats posed to the safety and security of nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes in Ukraine and their personnel, significantly raising the risk of a nuclear accident.
We wish to note the 2009 IAEA General Conference unanimous decision GC(53)/DEC/13 entitled “Prohibition of armed attack or threat of attack against nuclear installations, during operation or under construction,” which recognised the importance attached to safety, security and physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes as well as IAEA General Conference resolutions GC(XXIX)/RES/444 and GC(XXXIV)/RES/533 regarding armed attacks or threats against nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes.
We underscore the importance of the IAEA Director General’s ”Seven Indispensable Pillars of Nuclear Safety and Security,” outlined in his statement to the IAEA Board of Governors meeting on March 2-3, 2022.
These “Seven Indispensable Pillars of Nuclear Safety and Security,” derived from existing IAEA nuclear safety standards and nuclear security guidance, are as follows:The physical integrity of the nuclear facilities, whether it is reactors, fuel ponds, or radioactive waste stores, must be maintained;
All safety and security systems and equipment must be fully functional at all times;
The operating staff must be able to fulfil their respective safety and security duties, and have the capacity to make decisions free of undue pressure;
There must be secure off-site power supply from the grid for all nuclear sites;
There must be uninterrupted logistical supply chains and transportation to and from the sites;
There must be effective on-site and off-site radiation monitoring systems and emergency preparedness and response measures;
And finally, there must be reliable communications with the regulator and others.
We intend to continue to support the IAEA action in helping facilitate the implementation of these principles in Ukraine while fully respecting Ukraine’s sovereignty, including through the IAEA nuclear safety and security assistance plan for Ukraine.
We welcome the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhya (ISAMZ) and commend the Director General and his team for their courage and determination in performing this important mission. We support efforts to maintain a continued IAEA presence at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in order to support Ukraine, and stand ready to support the nuclear safety, security and safeguards objectives of the IAEA mission, as needed.
We emphasize that Russia’s seizure and militarization of the ZNPP is the root cause of the current threats in the field of nuclear safety and security. We recall that the heightened risks of a nuclear incident will remain dangerously high as long as Russia remains present on the site of ZNPP. The Russian Federation must immediately withdraw its troops from within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Should the Russian Federation conduct any sham referenda within occupied territories of Ukraine, we reiterate that these would have no legal and political effect, including on the status of the ZNPP.
We welcome the Director General’s work to follow up on his visit of September 1st and the proposals contained in his report. We reaffirm our support for resolution GOV/2022/58 adopted on September 15 by the IAEA Board of Governors.
We underline the importance of complying with international humanitarian law and renewing efforts aimed at the prompt reinforcing of the international framework relating to the protection of nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes including in armed conflicts.
As a first step, we stand ready to reaffirm the importance of these “Seven Indispensable Pillars of Nuclear Safety and Security” in appropriate fora, in particular at the IAEA and at the United Nations as appropriate.
In due time, we are also ready to review the lessons learned in Ukraine in order to help the IAEA and the international community to prepare for and respond to future events and anticipate new threats, such as cyber-attacks.
Under Secretary Jenkins to Participate in the IAEA General Conference in Vienna, Austria, September 25-28
09/24/2022
09/20/2022 07:48 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in New York City. The Secretary highlighted the importance of continued close U.S.-UK cooperation to hold Russia accountable for its brutal war against Ukraine. The Secretary and Foreign Secretary also discussed the fuller set of shared interests and concerns, including the challenges posed by the People’s Republic of China, cooperation on public health, and the status of efforts toward a mutual return to full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and to counter Iran’s malign activity. The Secretary and Foreign Secretary discussed the importance of reaching a negotiated resolution with the EU regarding the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Malta National Day
09/21/2022
Malta National Day
09/21/2022 12:01 AM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Malta as you celebrate 58 years of independence. We look forward to deepening our cooperation and working closely to promote global security, prosperity, and our shared democratic values as Malta prepares to join the UN Security Council in 2023.
The United States and Malta work together to advance peace and prosperity in the Mediterranean region and beyond. It is now more important than ever for countries with shared democratic values to stand strong in the face of global challenges. The United States will continue to stand with Malta in its efforts to challenge authoritarianism, combat corruption, promote the rule of law, foster sustainable economic growth, and advocate for human rights. Malta remains a key international partner in addressing these issues of global importance.
Best wishes on this special day.
Armenian Independence Day
09/21/2022
Armenian Independence Day
09/21/2022 12:01 AM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
On behalf of the United States of America, I send best wishes to the people of Armenia on your Independence Day. Since Armenia declared independence from the Soviet Union more than 30 years ago, we have seen your commitment to democratic values as well as to developing and strengthening your country’s human rights, rule of law, economy, and justice sector. We are proud to partner with Armenia in these areas as a reflection of our shared values. We will continue to support the Armenian people’s democratic aspirations, sovereignty, and security.
We appreciate your willingness to support efforts to bring greater stability to the region. We offer our condolences for the lives lost in recent attacks and we remain committed to working with you and other parties to promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
We look forward to continuing to grow our bilateral relationship and economic ties. I wish the Armenian people a prosperous and peaceful year ahead.
Welcoming Prisoner Exchanges in Ukraine
09/21/2022
Welcoming Prisoner Exchanges in Ukraine
09/21/2022 06:25 PM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
The United States welcomes the negotiated prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia, which includes two U.S. citizens captured while serving in Ukraine’s military. The United States is appreciative of Ukraine including all prisoners of war, regardless of nationality, in its negotiations, and we look forward to these U.S. citizens being reunited with their families. We also thank our Saudi partners for helping to spearhead this humanitarian initiative and facilitating the return of ten foreign nationals, including the two U.S. citizens greeted earlier today by our embassy team in Riyadh. I conveyed my gratitude to Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan in a call this morning.
We once again reiterate that U.S. citizens should not travel to Ukraine due to the active armed conflict and the singling out of U.S. citizens in Ukraine by Russian government security officials. U.S. citizens in Ukraine should depart immediately if it is safe to do so using any commercial or other privately available ground transportation options. Americans who travel to Ukraine to participate in the fighting there face significant risks and the United States cannot guarantee their safety. We encourage U.S. citizens to devote their energies towards the many other opportunities that exist to help the country of Ukraine and its people.
The Kremlin’s Troop Mobilization
09/21/2022
The Kremlin’s Troop Mobilization
09/21/2022 07:55 PM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
President Putin’s call to partially mobilize Russian citizens, directing them to fight in Ukraine, reflects the Kremlin’s struggles on the battlefield, the unpopularity of the war, and Russians’ unwillingness to fight in it. President Putin is not operating from a position of strength; rather, this is another sign of his failing mission. We have every confidence that the people of Ukraine will continue to demonstrate resolve and bravery on the battlefield in support of their sovereignty and independence.
The United States, our allies, and partners in the international community condemn Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine, and we continue to stand with Ukraine and its people. Together, we have provided Ukraine consistent, significant support for its defense, and we will continue that steadfast support for the Ukrainian people for as long as it takes.
Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the United Nations Security Council Ministerial Meeting on Ukrainian Sovereignty and Russian Accountability
09/22/2022
Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the United Nations Security Council Ministerial Meeting on Ukrainian Sovereignty and Russian Accountability
09/22/2022 01:48 PM EDT
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
New York, New York
United Nations Headquarters
SECRETARY BLINKEN: (Via interpreter) Thank you very much, Madam President, for having brought this council together at this very grave moment of the crisis of the war of Russia on Ukraine.
(In English) Mr. Secretary General, thank you for your determination and the moral clarity that you’ve brought to ending this brutal war and defending the UN’s core principles, and also for your personal engagement in securing the vital Black Sea route for grain to flow once again from Ukraine.
Mr. Khan, we’re grateful for the efforts of the Office of the Prosecutor to investigate objectively and professionally the atrocities being committed in Ukraine by Russian forces, and for its support for – and coordination with – Ukrainian investigators and prosecutors.
We hear a lot about the divisions among countries at the United Nations. But recently, what is striking is the remarkable unity among member-states when it comes to Russia’s war on Ukraine. Leaders from countries developing and developed, big and small, north and south have spoken in the General Assembly about the consequences of this war and the need to end it. And they’ve called on all of us to reaffirm our commitment to the UN Charter and its core principles, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, human rights.
Even a number of nations that maintain close ties with Moscow have said publicly that they have serious questions and concerns about President Putin’s ongoing invasion.
Rather than change course, however, President Putin has doubled down – choosing not to end the war but to expand it; not to pull troops back but to call 300,000 additional troops up; not to ease tensions but to escalate them through the threat of nuclear weapons; not to work toward a diplomatic solution but to render such a solution impossible by seeking to annex more Ukrainian territory through sham referenda.
That President Putin picked this week, as most of the world gathers at the United Nations, to add fuel to the fire that he started, shows his utter contempt for the UN Charter, for the General Assembly, and for this council.
The very international order that we have gathered here to uphold is being shredded before our eyes. We cannot – we will not – allow President Putin to get away with it.
Defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is about much more than standing up for one nation’s right to choose its own path, fundamental as that right is. It’s also about protecting an international order where no nation can redraw the borders of another by force.
If we fail to defend this principle when the Kremlin is so flagrantly violating it, we send a message to aggressors everywhere that they can ignore it, too. We put every country at risk. We open the door to a less secure, a less peaceful world.
We see what that world looks like in the parts of Ukraine controlled by Russian forces. Wherever the Russian tide recedes, we discover the horror that’s left in its wake.
I had a window into that horror myself when I traveled to Irpin just a few weeks ago to meet with the Ukrainian investigators who are compiling evidence of war crimes committed there. I saw up close the gaping holes left in residential buildings by Russian shelling – indiscriminate at best, intentional at worst.
As we assemble here, Ukrainian and international investigators continue to exhume bodies outside of Izyum, a city Russian forces controlled for six months before they were driven out by a Ukrainian counteroffensive. One site contains some 440 unmarked graves. A number of the bodies unearthed there so far reportedly show signs of torture, including one victim with broken arms and a rope around his neck.
Survivors’ accounts are also emerging, including a man who described being tortured by Russian forces for a dozen days, during which his interrogators repeatedly electrocuted him and, in his words, and I quote, “beat me to the point where I didn’t feel anything,” end quote.
These are not the acts of rogue units. They fit a clear pattern across the territory controlled by Russian forces.
This is one of the many reasons that we support a range of national and international efforts to collect and examine the mounting evidence of war crimes in Ukraine. We must hold the perpetrators accountable for these crimes.
It’s also one of the reasons why more than 40 nations have come together to help the Ukrainian people defend themselves, a right that is enshrined in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
The more setbacks Russian forces endure on the battlefield, the greater the pain they are inflicting on Ukrainian civilians. Russian attacks on dams, on bridges, on power stations, on hospitals, on other civilian infrastructure are increasing, constituting a brazen violation of international humanitarian law.
This week, President Putin said that Russia would not hesitate to use, and I quote, “all weapons systems available,” end quote, in response to a threat to its territorial integrity, a threat that is all the more menacing given Russia’s intention to annex large swaths of Ukraine in the days ahead. When that’s complete, we can expect President Putin will claim any Ukrainian effort to liberate this land as an attack on so-called “Russian territory.”
This from a country that in January of this year, in this place, joined other permanent members of the Security Council in signing a statement affirming that, and I quote, “nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought.” Yet another example of how Russia violates the commitments it’s made before this body, and yet another reason why nobody should take Russia at its word today.
Every council member should send a clear message that these reckless nuclear threats must stop immediately.
Russia’s effort to annex more Ukrainian territory is another dangerous escalation, as well as a repudiation of diplomacy.
It is even more alarming when coupled with the filtration operation that Russian forces have been carrying out across parts of Ukraine that they control. Now, this is a diabolical strategy, violently uprooting thousands of Ukrainians, bus in Russians to replace them, call a vote, manipulate the results to show near unanimous support for joining the Russian Federation. This is right out of the Crimea playbook.
As with Crimea, it’s imperative that every member of this council, and for that matter, every member of the United Nations reject the sham referenda and unequivocally declare that all Ukrainian territory is and will remain part of Ukraine, and no Russian claim to annex territory can take away Ukraine’s right to defend its own land.
Putin’s invasion is also distracting this council – in fact, the entire UN system – from working on the serious issues that we all want to focus on. Like preventing a climate catastrophe, aiding tens of millions of people on the brink of famine, fulfilling the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, shoring up our interconnected health security – all issues that make a tangible difference in the lives of the citizens that we are here to represent, and that they are looking to us – looking to us to deliver on.
The overwhelming majority of UN member-states are committed to working together on these issues, and our actions show that.
Yet while more than a hundred countries have signed on to a roadmap to provide food aid to those who need it, and partners across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe are working together to increase the resilience of global food systems, Russia for months blocked the export of Ukrainian grain to the world, until the United Nations and Turkey secured a deal to let the grain go. And Russia continues to bomb and seize Ukrainian farms and silos, line its wheat fields with landmines, raising the cost of food for people everywhere.
And while governments around the world are teaming up with international organizations, with the private sector, with philanthropies to end this pandemic and make sure that we’re better prepared for the next one, Russia is spreading misinformation and disinformation about WHO-approved vaccines – fueling vaccine hesitancy that puts people in all our countries at greater risk.
Here is the reality: None of us chose this war. Not the Ukrainians, who knew the crushing toll it would take. Not the United States, which warned that it was coming and worked to prevent it. Not the vast majority of countries at the United Nations.
And neither did our people, or the people of virtually every UN member-state, who are feeling the war’s consequences in greater food insecurity and higher energy prices.
Nor did the Russian mothers and fathers whose children are being sent off to fight and die in this war, or the Russian citizens who continue to risk their freedom to protest against it, including those who came out into the streets of Moscow after President Putin announced his mobilization to chant, “Let our children live!”
Indeed, it must be asked: How has this aggression against Ukraine by President Putin improved the lives or prospects of a single Russian citizen?
One man chose this war. One man can end it.
Because if Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends.
That’s why we will continue to support Ukraine as it defends itself, and strengthen its hand to achieve a diplomatic solution on just terms at a negotiating table. As President Zelenskyy has said repeatedly, diplomacy is the only way to end this war. But diplomacy cannot and must not be used as a cudgel to impose on Ukraine a settlement that cuts against the UN Charter, or rewards Russia for violating it.
President Putin is making his choice. Now it’s up to all of our countries to make ours.
Tell President Putin to stop the horror that he started. Tell him to stop putting his interests above the interests of the rest of the world, including his own people. Tell him to stop debasing this council and everything it stands for.
“We the people of the United Nations determined…” That is how the preamble of the UN Charter starts. Let’s not forget that “we the peoples” still get to choose the fate of this institution and our world. The stakes are clear. The choice is ours. Let’s make the right choice for the world that we want and that our people so desperately deserve. Thank you.
The Moscow Mechanism Report on Russia’s Failure to Fulfill its Human Dimension Commitments
09/22/2022
The Moscow Mechanism Report on Russia’s Failure to Fulfill its Human Dimension Commitments
09/22/2022 02:35 PM EDT
Ned Price, Department Spokesperson
The United States and 37 other countries invoked the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Moscow Mechanism on July 28 to examine the Russia’s adherence to its OSCE Human Dimension commitments on human rights and fundamental freedoms. In the report released today in Vienna, the expert mission found that a decade of legislation in Russia “has completely changed the scope of Russian civil society, cutting it off from foreign and international partners, suppressing independent initiatives, stifling critical attitudes towards the authorities, silencing the media, and suppressing political opposition.”
Specifically, this report documents that the Kremlin has centralized all federal and regional law enforcement authorities under Kremlin control; used so-called “foreign agent” laws to impose draconian penalties and fines on individuals and civil society organizations with any foreign contacts; effectively silenced freedom of expression, including independent media and criticism of the government through harsh censorship laws; and “created a climate of fear and intimidation…that is not in line with OSCE standards based on pluralism and a strong and independent civil society.” The report also makes clear that Russia’s “(r)epression on the inside and war on the outside are connected to each other as if in a communicating tube.”
The United States and our Allies and partners will continue to hold Russia accountable for its sweeping failure to fulfill its OSCE commitments and obligations under international law to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of its people and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states.
High-level FSO Safer Side Event Co-hosted by the Netherlands, the United States and Germany: Funding Gap Closed for First Stage of Salvage Operation
09/22/2022
High-level FSO Safer Side Event Co-hosted by the Netherlands, the United States and Germany: Funding Gap Closed for First Stage of Salvage Operation
09/22/2022 09:03 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The high-level side event at the United Nations General Assembly Week, co-hosted by the Netherlands, the United States and Germany, honoured the joint effort with the UN to prevent a looming environmental disaster with severe humanitarian and economic costs. To prevent this catastrophe the UN has coordinated – in close consultation with Yemeni parties – an operational plan. The estimated budget for the two-track plan is $113 million, of which $75 million is required to start the first phase of the operation (emergency operation). The United States, the UN, and the Netherlands partnered in April 2022 to launch an intensive awareness-raising campaign. Since the pledging conference in May 2022 – jointly organized by the Government of the Netherlands and the UN – many donors have pledged generously. At the high-level side event, we reached an important milestone as we have closed the funding gap for the emergency operation. The co-hosts are the biggest donors backing the UN-led plan, with 15 million Euros from the Netherlands, 12 million Euros from Germany and $10 million from the United States, followed by Saudi-Arabia ($10 million) and the United Kingdom ($7.5 million). The co-hosts will continue their outreach to mobilize the funding needed to finalize the operation.
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands Liesje Schreinemacher: “Normally, as minister, it is my job to deal with the repercussions of disasters. But in this instance, we have a chance to prevent a disaster. The Safer is a ticking timebomb. We need swift action. It is encouraging that so many countries have pledged their financial support. Thanks in part to the Netherlands’ contribution we now have the necessary funds to start salvaging the vessel.”
U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking: “We are proud that the United States pledged $10 million for the UN Safer project. Our contribution stands alongside contributions from a range of countries, organizations, and individuals across the globe, representing a broad coalition of partners that understands the importance of preventing an economic and environmental catastrophe in the Red Sea.”
Director General for Crisis Prevention, Stabilisation, Peace Building and Humanitarian Assistance of the German Federal Foreign Office Deike Potzel: “Thanks to our continued joint efforts, we have a rare opportunity here, to tell a story not often told: the story of how we prevented a catastrophe! With its contribution of 12 million, Germany significantly contributes to this accomplishment. If all parties to the conflict stick to the agreement made to rescue the FSO Safer and the operation is successful, the FSO Safer can go from being a symbol of impending disaster to a beacon of hope for Yemen!”
Thanks to the mobilization and financial support of donor countries from the region and from all over the world, the operation is expected to start soon. It is now crucial that the donors swiftly disburse their contributions to allow UNDP, the UN organization coordinating the implementation, to sign all necessary contracts.
In New York, the UN gave insights into the operational plan: first transferring the oil into a safe vessel (Phase I), before installing a permanent storage solution and scrapping the Safer (Phase II). Phase II requires an additional $38 million. The co-hosts will continue their efforts and urge additional pledges in particular from the private sector to fulfil Phase II.
Joint Statement on the High-Level Meeting on the Safety and Security of Civil Nuclear Facilities in Armed Conflicts
09/23/2022
Joint Statement on the High-Level Meeting on the Safety and Security of Civil Nuclear Facilities in Armed Conflicts
09/23/2022 04:35 PM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
We, the ministers of Foreign Affairs of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, Ukraine and the United States of America, and senior officials from the Republic of Korea and Switzerland, as well as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, wish to express our grave concern regarding the threats posed to the safety and security of nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes in Ukraine and their personnel, significantly raising the risk of a nuclear accident.
We wish to note the 2009 IAEA General Conference unanimous decision GC(53)/DEC/13 entitled “Prohibition of armed attack or threat of attack against nuclear installations, during operation or under construction,” which recognised the importance attached to safety, security and physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes as well as IAEA General Conference resolutions GC(XXIX)/RES/444 and GC(XXXIV)/RES/533 regarding armed attacks or threats against nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes.
We underscore the importance of the IAEA Director General’s ”Seven Indispensable Pillars of Nuclear Safety and Security,” outlined in his statement to the IAEA Board of Governors meeting on March 2-3, 2022.
These “Seven Indispensable Pillars of Nuclear Safety and Security,” derived from existing IAEA nuclear safety standards and nuclear security guidance, are as follows:The physical integrity of the nuclear facilities, whether it is reactors, fuel ponds, or radioactive waste stores, must be maintained;
All safety and security systems and equipment must be fully functional at all times;
The operating staff must be able to fulfil their respective safety and security duties, and have the capacity to make decisions free of undue pressure;
There must be secure off-site power supply from the grid for all nuclear sites;
There must be uninterrupted logistical supply chains and transportation to and from the sites;
There must be effective on-site and off-site radiation monitoring systems and emergency preparedness and response measures;
And finally, there must be reliable communications with the regulator and others.
We intend to continue to support the IAEA action in helping facilitate the implementation of these principles in Ukraine while fully respecting Ukraine’s sovereignty, including through the IAEA nuclear safety and security assistance plan for Ukraine.
We welcome the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhya (ISAMZ) and commend the Director General and his team for their courage and determination in performing this important mission. We support efforts to maintain a continued IAEA presence at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in order to support Ukraine, and stand ready to support the nuclear safety, security and safeguards objectives of the IAEA mission, as needed.
We emphasize that Russia’s seizure and militarization of the ZNPP is the root cause of the current threats in the field of nuclear safety and security. We recall that the heightened risks of a nuclear incident will remain dangerously high as long as Russia remains present on the site of ZNPP. The Russian Federation must immediately withdraw its troops from within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Should the Russian Federation conduct any sham referenda within occupied territories of Ukraine, we reiterate that these would have no legal and political effect, including on the status of the ZNPP.
We welcome the Director General’s work to follow up on his visit of September 1st and the proposals contained in his report. We reaffirm our support for resolution GOV/2022/58 adopted on September 15 by the IAEA Board of Governors.
We underline the importance of complying with international humanitarian law and renewing efforts aimed at the prompt reinforcing of the international framework relating to the protection of nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes including in armed conflicts.
As a first step, we stand ready to reaffirm the importance of these “Seven Indispensable Pillars of Nuclear Safety and Security” in appropriate fora, in particular at the IAEA and at the United Nations as appropriate.
In due time, we are also ready to review the lessons learned in Ukraine in order to help the IAEA and the international community to prepare for and respond to future events and anticipate new threats, such as cyber-attacks.
Under Secretary Jenkins to Participate in the IAEA General Conference in Vienna, Austria, September 25-28
09/24/2022
AEA General Conference in Vienna, Austria, September 25-28
09/24/2022 10:13 AM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Ambassador Bonnie D. Jenkins will travel to Vienna, Austria on September 25-28 to attend the 66th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). She will accompany Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, head of the U.S. delegation, and Jill Hruby, Administrator of the Nuclear National Security Administration (NNSA) and the Department of Energy’s Under Secretary for Nuclear Security.
While in Vienna, she will attend bilateral meetings, side events, and outreach engagements on nuclear-related issues to emphasize U.S. commitment to nonproliferation, reiterate U.S. steadfast support of Ukraine, continue to support the IAEA’s efforts in Ukraine, and promote civil-nuclear partnerships and the peaceful uses of nuclear technology. The Under Secretary, together with Under Secretary Hruby and Laura Holgate, U.S. Ambassador to the Vienna Office of the United Nations and to the IAEA, will also participate in a press event to discuss the United States’ goals and priorities for the IAEA General Conference.
The Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation’s Deputy Assistant Secretary Anthony Wier will accompany Under Secretary Jenkins.
Follow @UnderSecT and @StateISN on Twitter for the latest updates. For media inquiries, please email ISN-CPA-DL@state.gov.
Assistant Secretary Stewart Travels to Vienna, September 27-29
09/24/2022
Assistant Secretary Stewart Travels to Vienna, September 27-29
09/24/2022 10:34 AM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
Assistant Secretary for Arms Control, Verification and Compliance Mallory Stewart will travel to Vienna, Austria from September 27-29. She will deliver remarks to the Plenary Session of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Forum for Security Cooperation on Women, Peace, and Security, have bilateral meetings with delegations to the OSCE, and meet with the staff of the U.S. Mission to the OSCE. Assistant Secretary Stewart will also meet with the Executive Secretary and key staff of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization’s Preparatory Commission highlighting strong U.S. support for the CTBT.
09/24/2022 10:13 AM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Ambassador Bonnie D. Jenkins will travel to Vienna, Austria on September 25-28 to attend the 66th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). She will accompany Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, head of the U.S. delegation, and Jill Hruby, Administrator of the Nuclear National Security Administration (NNSA) and the Department of Energy’s Under Secretary for Nuclear Security.
While in Vienna, she will attend bilateral meetings, side events, and outreach engagements on nuclear-related issues to emphasize U.S. commitment to nonproliferation, reiterate U.S. steadfast support of Ukraine, continue to support the IAEA’s efforts in Ukraine, and promote civil-nuclear partnerships and the peaceful uses of nuclear technology. The Under Secretary, together with Under Secretary Hruby and Laura Holgate, U.S. Ambassador to the Vienna Office of the United Nations and to the IAEA, will also participate in a press event to discuss the United States’ goals and priorities for the IAEA General Conference.
The Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation’s Deputy Assistant Secretary Anthony Wier will accompany Under Secretary Jenkins.
Follow @UnderSecT and @StateISN on Twitter for the latest updates. For media inquiries, please email ISN-CPA-DL@state.gov.
Assistant Secretary Stewart Travels to Vienna, September 27-29
09/24/2022
Assistant Secretary Stewart Travels to Vienna, September 27-29
09/24/2022 10:34 AM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
Assistant Secretary for Arms Control, Verification and Compliance Mallory Stewart will travel to Vienna, Austria from September 27-29. She will deliver remarks to the Plenary Session of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Forum for Security Cooperation on Women, Peace, and Security, have bilateral meetings with delegations to the OSCE, and meet with the staff of the U.S. Mission to the OSCE. Assistant Secretary Stewart will also meet with the Executive Secretary and key staff of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization’s Preparatory Commission highlighting strong U.S. support for the CTBT.
