Good morning, everybody. Very glad to be able to introduce you today to – or reintroduce you, if you’ve met him before – our USAID administrator, Ambassador Mark Green. He’s here to speak to you about the U.S. response to some truly unprecedented humanitarian needs worldwide, from the earthquake in Mexico this week, and of course the near famine in South Sudan.
President Donald J. Trump and President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority met yesterday in New York to continue working toward an enduring Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.
There is only a political solution to the Syria crisis to be arrived at through full implementation of UNSCR 2254. The ministers reiterated strong support for UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura, UN-led efforts in Geneva, and strong and effective participation in meaningful negotiations by credible representatives of the Syrian opposition.
Maintaining its steadfast commitment to getting lifesaving support to the people of Syria impacted by conflict wherever they are, the United States today announced more than $697 million in additional humanitarian assistance. State Department Bureau of Population, Migration, and Refugees Acting Assistant Secretary Simon Henshaw made this announcement at the UN General Assembly. It brings U.S. humanitarian assistance to nearly $7.4 billion since the start of the Syria crisis in 2011. This assistance reflects the continued generosity of the American people and demonstrates steadfast U.S. commitment to helping address the unprecedented magnitude of suffering and urgent humanitarian needs.
Strong Financial Sanctions: President Trump today issued a new Executive Order (E.O.) imposing additional sanctions with respect to North Korea.
MR HOOK: I think the Secretary’s participation in the Joint Commission Ministerial I think was a highlight of the UN General Assembly because it allowed the Secretary to – for the first time in this administration at the ministerial level – meet with the signatories of the Iran nuclear deal and present the comprehensive threat that the Iranian regime poses to international peace and security.
The State Department plays a leading role in the United States effort to defeat ISIS, al-Qaida, and other terrorist groups around the world. Our country’s fundamental objective is to degrade the terrorist threat to a level where it’s capable of being countered by civilian authorities. That’s why we’re partnering with civilian authorities from justice and interior ministers to border and aviation security officers to police departments around the world to develop whole-of-government responses to terrorism.
The State Department announced today that we would be providing nearly $32 million in additional humanitarian assistance to address the urgent needs of Rohingya fleeing violence from the Rakhine State in Burma.
The United States is providing an additional nearly $32 million in humanitarian assistance to address the urgent needs of Rohingya fleeing violence from Rakhine State, Burma to Bangladesh, as well as internally displaced persons in Rakhine State, and host communities in Bangladesh. The United States is pleased to have announced this support during the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Among other priorities, one of the primary themes of this year’s General Assembly is bolstering support for humanitarian assistance to ongoing emergencies, in particular for refugees and the communities that host them.
SECRETARY TILLERSON: Well, good evening, all. I want to begin, first, by extending our condolences to all those who have suffered, continue to suffer, from the devastation from the natural disasters that we are witnessing around the Western Hemisphere. Obviously, this succession of massive hurricanes in the Caribbean are really testing, I think, the will and the spirit of the people that live in that area, and it’s also testing our response capabilities.