The United States congratulates Panama for its vigorous defense of democracy and human rights and for promoting stability in the hemisphere.

We applaud Panama’s March 27 announcement that it will tighten financial oversight of 55 Venezuelans and 16 Venezuelan entities, and support other efforts in the region to fight the abuse of financial systems by corrupt actors.

The United States urges others in the hemisphere to stand with Panama and to take action in support of the Venezuelan people and their right to have their voices heard in free, fair, and transparent elections.

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 Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has shortlisted ten design firms for the Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) solicitation for Architecture/Engineering (A/E) services for special new construction and modernization projects at U.S. diplomatic facilities worldwide. The shortlisted firms are:

AECOM
Beyer Blinder Belle
Ennead Architects
EYP
HOK
KCCT
The Miller Hull Partnership
Moore Ruble Yudell
Morphosis Architects
Richard+Bauer Architecture

OBO received 19 qualified submissions for this IDIQ solicitation and only A/E firms possessing a final Secret Facility Clearance were eligible to respond. The shortlisted firms demonstrated an appropriate range of portfolio complexity, provided notable design solutions that responded to the solicitation, expertly managed client expectations and relations, and asserted a high level of industry recognition.

The shortlisted firms will present their capabilities in an interview with OBO. Scores from the initial qualifications submissions will be combined with the interview phase and firms with the highest combined scores will be recommended for contract award.

OBO’s mission is to provide safe, secure, and functional facilities that represent the U.S. government to host nations and support our staff in the achievement of U.S. foreign policy objectives. These facilities represent American values and the best in American architecture, engineering, technology, sustainability, art, culture, and construction execution.

For further information please contact Christine Foushee at FousheeCT@state.gov, or visit https://overseasbuildings.state.gov/.

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 U.S. Department of State commemorates the 30th Anniversary of the creation of the Nuclear Risk Reduction Center (NRRC). Established in 1987 with the purpose of opening a communications channel to the USSR to reduce the risk of nuclear conflict, today the U.S. NRRC exchanges thousands of time-sensitive notifications a year with foreign counterparts that cover nuclear, conventional, chemical, and cyber issues.

Housed at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., the NRRC operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week in 6 different languages (English, Italian, Russian, German, French, and Spanish), and is equipped with secure and private lines of direct communication. The NRRC is a key resource for the promotion of transparency and stability that enhances confidence and directly contributes to our national security interests.

As we meet the security challenges of the 21st century and seek to advance U.S., allied, and partner security, we will continue to support future arms control measures that are verifiable and enforceable and explore new ways at strengthening modern confidence building through technical and innovative means.

For further information, visit https://www.state.gov/t/avc/nrrc/

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 Department of State is pleased to once again participate in Flintlock, U.S. Africa Command’s (AFRICOM) annual and largest Special Operations Forces exercise. Flintlock exercises have taken place regularly since 2005 with partner nations from the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) and are planned by African partner nation special operations forces; Special Operations Command, Africa (SOCAFRICA); and the U.S. Department of State. Approximately 1,900 service members from 20 African and Western partner nations will participate in Flintlock at multiple locations in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Senegal from April 9-20, 2018.

The largest civilian component to Flintlock 2018 is the law enforcement training and equipment provided under the Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) program. Through a partnership with the ATA program, this year’s exercise marks the most thorough integration of civilian equities into Flintlock yet. The law enforcement component will build upon the cross-border counterterrorism communication, coordination, and response at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels between military and civilian law enforcement to counter terrorist threats and attacks. In general, the law enforcement integration into Flintlock provides a series of training sessions focusing on tactical rural patrol and crisis response capabilities, counterterrorism investigations, command and communication management, post blast and crime scene investigations, community engagement, and human rights. The State Department will also integrate rule of law engagement and humanitarian border management training into components of the exercise.

The State Department is proud to be part of this exercise and values this opportunity for information sharing and integration of civilian law enforcement with the military to increase security sector and multinational interoperability and cooperation in the fight against terrorism and terrorist organizations.

Participating African nations include Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal. Western partners include Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

For further information, contact the Bureau of African Affairs at AF-Press@state.gov.

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.

On behalf of the United States, I wish all Roma everywhere a happy International Roma Day.

On April 8, we celebrate the Romani people, their rich cultural heritage, and worldwide societal contributions. We are proud to recognize the over one million Americans of Romani descent who have helped to shape our great nation.

To commemorate this day, the United States reaffirms our commitment to the equal treatment of all Roma people so they can be free to build the best future for themselves and their families, in dignity, wherever they call home.

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.