The Chinese Communist Party’s human rights abuses in Xinjiang, China against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities rank as the stain of the century. The Trump Administration has led the world’s effort to impose tangible costs on the PRC’s continuous campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, intrusive surveillance, forced labor, forced population control, involuntary collection of biometric data, and genetic analyses targeted at these groups. Today, we are continuing that record of principled action.
On the occasion of Eid al-Adha, we wish Muslims in the United States and around the world Eid Mubarak. Eid al-Adha is a time for compassion, generosity, and sacrifice – values demonstrated by Abraham’s commitment to God.
On behalf of the Government of the United States and the American people, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the people of the Swiss Confederation on the occasion of your National Day.
MR BROWN: Hey. Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining us for this on-the-record briefing with Acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Ambassador Michael Kozak. Ambassador Kozak will discuss the administration’s actions that have deepened democracy in the Western Hemisphere with a particular focus on efforts in Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Guyana, and Haiti in coordination with our partners in the Organization for American States and other regional groupings.
The United States welcomes today’s announcement from the European Union’s High Representative Josep Borrell regarding the body’s first designations under its cyber sanctions framework.
QUESTION: We’re across the nation on some amazing radio stations. Of course, we’re on your iHeartRadio app, and we’re at joepags.com. I’m Simon Conway, I’m in for Joe, and it is an absolute honor to welcome our Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to the show. How are you, sir?
SECRETARY POMPEO: Thank you very much. Today I’m here to present the – and testify about the President’s 2021 Budget. It requests nearly $41 billion for the State Department and USAID, enabling both agencies to protect U.S. citizens, increase American prosperity, and advance the development of democratic societies.
Today, at President Donald J. Trump’s direction, the Department of the Treasury and the Department of State announced designations on four individuals and ten entities actively supporting the murderous and barbaric Assad regime in Syria. Today’s designations employ a range of sanctions authorities to target the Assad regime, including the Caesar Act provision of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, which authorizes sanctions on individuals providing support to the Syrian government.
Today, the State Department and Treasury Department continued the United States’ sanctions campaign against the Assad regime by releasing 14 new designations under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act and other authorities. This campaign began last month with the first round of Caesar Act designations.
Washington – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned one individual and nine entities for enriching the Syrian regime through construction of luxury real estate. This action is the Treasury Department’s second sanctions action pursuant to the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (Caesar Act).
