On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I offer congratulations to the people of Slovenia as you celebrate your 27^th Statehood Day.

Our strategic partnership with Slovenia, as a NATO Ally and member of the European Union, is founded on shared values and history, and a common pursuit of collective security. In Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo, our security forces stand shoulder to shoulder to advance global counterterrorism initiatives and affirm our common commitment through NATO’s presence in front-line states.

The United States values Slovenia’s contributions and friendship, and looks forward to deepening our bilateral relationship over the coming year as we work to expand bilateral trade and investment and ensure that Europe remains strong and free.

I extend my best wishes to the Slovenian people and congratulate you on your Statehood Day.

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On behalf of the President and all American people, I send best wishes and congratulations on your Statehood Day. We value Croatia as our NATO Ally and partner and admire your many achievements since independence.

Croatia is a close friend, and our shared belief in democracy strengthens our bond immeasurably. We deeply appreciate Croatia’s commitment to transatlantic and global security. Nowhere is this more evident than in your many contributions to NATO operations, such as in training Afghan national forces. We are proud to have you as a partner as we work together to support human rights, promote democracy, and fight corruption and global violence.

We are confident that our friendship will deepen and broaden in the future, and I wish the Croatian people a happy Dan Drzavnosti.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

The United States strongly condemns yesterday’s Houthi missile launch directed at Riyadh. These actions only exacerbate the conflict in Yemen and deepen mistrust. We stand firmly with our Saudi partners in defending their borders against these continued threats. We continue to urge all parties to work with UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths toward a political settlement and an end to the conflict in Yemen.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

The United States and the Kingdom of Morocco, under the auspices of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) – and in partnership with the International Institute for Justice and Rule of Law (IIJ) – held a final coordination meeting to review the good practices document developed as part of the Initiative to Address Homegrown Terrorism in Rabat, Morocco on June 25, 2018.

Homegrown terrorists who have never set foot in Syria or Iraq are carrying out attacks at increased levels while being inspired, directed, or enabled by ISIS, al-Qa’ida, and other terrorist groups. The Homegrown Terrorism Initiative is one of many GCTF efforts to address the terrorist threat. The yearlong initiative brought together government officials, criminal justice practitioners, academics, and non-governmental representatives from around the world. Participants discussed the trends and issues associated with homegrown terrorism and the available tools and programs to address it.

A launch event was held in Malta on November 15-16, 2017, followed by two IIJ-led practitioner workshops. The findings from these workshops laid the foundation for a set of non-binding good practices for policymakers and practitioners on preventing, detecting, intervening, and responding to homegrown terrorists. Participants in Morocco reviewed and discussed the draft good practices to identify and address any remaining gaps in the document. The good practices document will be put forward for endorsement at the 2018 GCTF Ministerial Meeting in September 2018.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

In partnership with U.S. Soccer, former U.S. national soccer team members Tony Sanneh and Lorrie Fair Allen will be traveling to Pakistan from June 24-July 1 (during the FIFA World Cup) as the State Department’s first Sports Envoys to Pakistan. Their U.S.-government sponsored trip is part of continuing American efforts to help youth in Pakistan develop skills to contribute positively to their communities.

The Sports Envoys will work with youth and coaches in Islamabad, Karachi, and surrounding areas, hosting daily clinics and motivational sessions for Pakistan’s diverse communities, including girls from underserved parts of Peshawar. Sanneh and Fair Allen will also connect with Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN) members via a Facebook Live program.

In Karachi, the Sports Envoys will provide soccer skills training and convey messages of leadership, teamwork, and inclusion to multiple soccer clubs and academies, including several organizations dedicated to increasing sports inclusivity for girls and women. They will also join World Cup 2018 watch parties and engage with the media and fans in Pakistan.

The World Cup is an opportunity to showcase U.S. sports diplomacy while also providing people with an opportunity to learn about different cultures and connect with fellow soccer fans around the world. Since 2002, the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has been harnessing the global passion for soccer, among the full spectrum of sports, to build bridges, reach out to new audiences, and promote inclusivity through its Sports Diplomacy office.

For press inquiries in the United States, contact ECA-Press@state.gov. You can follow the Pakistan soccer outreach program on Twitter (@USEmbIslamabad and @USConsulateKhi) and Facebook (@pakistan.usembassy and @karachi.usconsulate). To learn more about State Department sports diplomacy, follow the program on Twitter @SportsDiplomacy.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.