SECRETARY TILLERSON: Prime Minister, welcome to the State Department.
Today, the United States announced that it is providing more than $140 million in additional humanitarian assistance in Lebanon to address the urgent needs of refugees from Syria and those of Lebanese host communities. This announcement was made during the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s visit to Washington, DC.
To mark this month’s gathering of our 73-member Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS here in Washington, I again congratulate the Government of Iraq, Iraqi Security Forces, Kurdish Peshmerga, and the entire Global Coalition on the liberation of Mosul. Prime Minister Abadi’s announcement of Iraq’s victory in Mosul was a significant milestone in the global fight against ISIS. Together, we have come a very long way – but there is more to do.
The United States and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic held their 8th annual Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue on July 25 in Washington. Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Susan Thornton led the U.S delegation, which included representatives from the U.S. Departments of State, Defense, and Commerce; Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; and the United States Agency for International Development.
The United States shares everyone’s concern about the heightened tensions in Jerusalem. All parties should work to reduce these tensions, and we offer whatever assistance we can in helping to do this.
Groundbreaking data from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) show that the HIV epidemic is coming under control across all age groups in Swaziland, the country with the highest HIV prevalence in the world.
The Envoys of the Middle East Quartet from the Russian Federation, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations are deeply concerned by the escalating tensions and violent clashes taking place in and around the Old City of Jerusalem.
The Department of State has amended the designation of Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224 to change the group’s primary name to Khalid bin Al-Walid Army and to add new aliases.
SECRETARY TILLERSON: Good morning, all. Your Excellency, welcome to the State Department. It’s a pleasure to have you here.
President Donald J. Trump and his Administration are redoubling efforts to bring home all Americans unjustly detained abroad. The United States condemns hostage takers and nations that continue to take hostages and detain our citizens without just cause or due process.