Ladies and gentlemen, it is a distinct honor to join you for another virtual plenary meeting of the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction (GP), and a pleasure to join my friends and colleagues, Susanne Bauman from Germany and Sarah Price from the United Kingdom, in addressing this important topic.
Today, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) declared an end to the epidemic of Ebola in Northwestern Équateur Province, which began on June 1, 2020. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) congratulates the Government of the DRC, its international and local partners, and the Congolese people for having stopped two outbreaks of the deadly disease in one year. National authorities declared that a previous outbreak of Ebola in the Eastern DRC – the second-largest in history – ended on June 25, 2020, after nearly two years.
MR ICE: Thank you very much and good afternoon, everyone. I’m glad you could join us for this on-the-record briefing to discuss the 2020 Ministerial to Advance Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Ministers’ Forum of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance.
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale spoke today with Moldovan President-elect Maia Sandu.
The United States welcomes the cessation of active hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan. From the start of the recent hostilities, the United States called for an end to the violence and condemned the military escalation that resulted in significant casualties, including civilians. We once again extend our condolences to the families of those killed and injured and call on all parties to respect their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law.
The United States strongly condemns the attack carried out by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) on the airport in Asmara, Eritrea, on November 14. We are deeply concerned by this blatant attempt by the TPLF to cause regional instability by expanding its conflict with Ethiopian authorities to neighboring countries.
On Wednesday, November 18, at 11:00 a.m., the Department of State will honor Hella and Badye Ladhari as Heroes of U.S. Diplomacy live on YouTube.
“The United States and Georgia have a strong strategic partnership built upon shared values and a deep love of freedom, independence, and unity. The United States remains steadfast in its commitment to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, and we support the Georgian people’s clear choice to embrace Euro-Atlantic integration.”
– Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, May 25, 2020
MR ICE: Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for joining us today for this briefing. Today, the State Department has announced the designation of al-Shabaab leaders Abdullahi Osman Mohamed and Maalim Ayman as Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
Thank you to my friends and colleagues for their thoughts, and for the opportunity to speak on U.S. views of the political and security situation in the Sahel and how to deepen and widen efforts to support the G5 Sahel as well as the individual countries of the region.