U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Francisco Palmieri will travel this week to Spokane, WA, where he will deliver the keynote address at the Lake Roosevelt Forum Conference on the importance of modernizing the Columbia River Treaty Regime. The speech will take place at The Historic Davenport Hotel on April 24, at 10:00 a.m. PST.

During his trip, Acting Assistant Secretary Palmieri will also engage with tribal, Congressional, state, and local government representatives from throughout the Columbia River Basin.

Acting Assistant Secretary Palmieri’s keynote address is open to the press. All interested press should contact info@lrf.org for further information.

To receive regular updates on Columbia River Treaty developments and upcoming public events, email ColumbiaRiverTreaty@state.gov. For press inquiries, please email WHAPress@state.gov.

For more information on the Treaty, see https://www.state.gov/p/wha/ci/ca/topics/c78892.htm.

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Today, Acting Secretary of State John J. Sullivan announced $50 million in additional humanitarian assistance for vulnerable people fleeing the Rakhine State crisis. This brings the United States’ response to the crisis in Burma and Bangladesh to more than $163 million since August 2017, and total humanitarian assistance for displaced people in and from Burma to more than $255 million since the start of FY 2017. The Acting Secretary of State announced this new funding at the G7 Summit in Toronto, where he stood united with other G7 members to denounce human rights violations and abuses, including atrocities, committed in Rakhine State.

Nearly 700,000 people, mostly Rohingya women and children, have fled violence in Rakhine State, Burma since August. The total number of refugees hosted in Bangladesh is now approximately one million.

The United States continues to provide life-saving assistance that will support refugees and Bangladeshi host communities to provide protection, emergency shelter, water, sanitation, health care, and psychosocial support for people affected by the crisis, as well as to prepare for the impending monsoon and cyclone seasons, in order to help prevent loss of life, shelter, and access to critical services.

We applaud the Government of Bangladesh’s generosity in responding to this humanitarian crisis and appreciate its continued efforts to ensure assistance reaches people in need. We continue to urge all actors to play a constructive role in resolving this crisis – ending violence in Burma and restoring the rule of law, immediately granting humanitarian and media access, guaranteeing those who want to voluntarily return to their homes are able to do so in a safe and dignified manner, and addressing the root causes of the crisis in Rakhine State. To this end, we call for the Burmese Government to immediately implement the recommendations of the 2017 Advisory Commission on Rakhine State.

This $50 million contribution reflects strong bipartisan support for this urgent crisis by the U.S. Congress, for which we are grateful. We urge other donors to join in providing the additional humanitarian assistance still needed for those affected by the crisis.

For further information, please contact PRM Press at PRMPress@state.gov.

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External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert:‎

Acting Secretary of State John J. Sullivan met with Japanese Foreign Minister Kono on April 23, on the margins of the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Toronto, Canada to discuss issues of regional and global concern.

During the meeting, Acting Secretary Sullivan and Foreign Minister Kono affirmed their strong determination to bolster the U.S.-Japan Alliance and maintain international unity for diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea until it denuclearizes.

The Acting Secretary and Foreign Minister expressed their joint commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and enhancing a free, fair, and reciprocal U.S.-Japan economic relationship.

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We congratulate Mario Abdo Benitez on his election as the next president of Paraguay, based on the results from the elections of April 22. We congratulate the Paraguayan people on their participation in a successful election, and on this demonstration of their commitment to democratic values.

The strong bilateral relationship between the United States and Paraguay is founded on shared commitment to democratic principles and the promotion of human rights and economic opportunity for all. We are confident the United States and Paraguay will continue to work together to promote security, prosperity, and good governance in the Americas and across the globe. We value the collaboration we had with President Cartes’s administration and look forward to working with President-elect Abdo Benitez.

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On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I am honored to send my best wishes to the people of Australia and New Zealand this Anzac Day on April 25, 2018.

On the 103rd anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign, we remember the selfless sacrifices made by Australian and New Zealand armed forces on the shores of the Dardanelles. The heroic actions of brave men and women from our three nations throughout the Great War protected democracy and freedom around the world. Our shared dedication to these values continues to inspire people of all countries.

Our close friendship with Australia and New Zealand remains steadfast, as we partner around the globe to maintain peace and security and improve livelihoods. We stand together once again with you all on this Anzac Day to reflect on the momentous events of 1915 and remember the brave servicemen and women who paid the ultimate price to secure our freedom. Lest we forget

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External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.