Today, a senior-level Chinese delegation is beginning a first-of-its-kind study visit to observe drug prevention and treatment practices in the United States. This U.S.-China effort to reduce demand for narcotics complements recent productive cooperation to reduce supply, most notably by placing restrictive controls on synthetic opioids.

The study tour, featuring stops in the Washington D.C. area and New York City, will highlight the roles that U.S. federal agencies, private treatment centers, and non-government community coalitions play in helping Americans to fight substance use. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) worked with the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) in arranging the Chinese visit.

As addiction knows no national borders, and illicit drug use anywhere enriches transnational criminal drug traffickers, State Department efforts aim to reduce demand for illicit drugs around the world. The United States looks forward to sharing best practices in the areas of prevention and treatment, and further advancing productive U.S.-China counternarcotics cooperation.

For further information, please contact INL-PAPD@state.gov, and follow the INL Bureau @StateINL on Twitter and Facebook.

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On behalf of the Government of the United States and the American people, it is my pleasure to congratulate the Government and people of Azerbaijan on their Republic Day.

2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which was the first Muslim-majority parliamentary republic, and one of the first countries in the world to grant women the right to vote.

Since the restoration of Azerbaijan’s independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has been a valued partner of the United States. We look forward to continuing our longstanding cooperation and deepening our work together on security, energy, and democratic governance and to further strengthen ties between our countries.

We also remain committed to finding a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and urge the parties to resume intensive negotiations as soon as possible.

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The following is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert:

On May 25, Deputy Secretary Sullivan and USAID Administrator Green met with representatives of international and non-governmental organizations on the conflict in Yemen.

The organizations described obstacles to crucial humanitarian and commercial shipments to Yemen, and identified urgent needs of civilians, including those internally displaced by the conflict. They observed that levels of food and fuel imports remained insufficient, as did incomes needed to support the purchase of food where available. They also expressed concern about escalating military activity that could derail the peace initiatives of UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths.

The Deputy Secretary and the Administrator underscored the Administration’s deep concern about the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. They also highlighted the Administration’s commitment to pushing all parties to facilitate access by humanitarians and engage actively with UN Special Envoy Griffiths on a renewed political process.

The Deputy Secretary expressed strong U.S. support for the efforts of Special Envoy Griffiths to reach a political resolution to this conflict, which is the only sustainable path toward ending the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Yemen. “No party should obstruct the delivery of food, fuel and assistance to any part of Yemen,” stressed Deputy Sullivan.

The United States continues to assert that a political solution is the only way to advance long-term stability in Yemen.

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The United States is concerned by reports of an impending Assad regime operation in southwest Syria within the boundaries of the de-escalation zone negotiated between the United States, Jordan, and the Russian Federation last year and reaffirmed between Presidents Trump and Putin in Da Nang, Vietnam in November. The United States remains committed to maintaining the stability of the southwest de-escalation zone and to the ceasefire underpinning it. We also caution the Syrian regime against any actions that risk broadening the conflict or jeopardize the ceasefire. As a guarantor of this de-escalation area with Russia and Jordan, the United States will take firm and appropriate measures in response to Assad regime violations.

The Presidents of the United States and Russia agreed in Da Nang to de-escalate the conflict. This agreement must be enforced and respected. Russia has declared to the world and to the UNSC that it will “guarantee” ceasefires in its self-declared de-escalation zones. Unfortunately, the Assad regime, with the support of Russia and Iran, has repeatedly violated these de-escalation zones, most recently in its brutal assault on East Ghouta. The Assad regime and its allies continue to prolong the conflict by ignoring their own de-escalation agreements and stonewalling the Geneva process.

Russia is duly responsible as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to use its diplomatic and military advantage over the Assad regime to stop attacks and compel the Assad regime to cease further military offensives. Russia has blocked UN Security Council actions that would have held Assad accountable for the use of chemical weapons and possibly saved innocent lives in Syria 11 times so far in this conflict. Six of those vetoes related to the use of chemical weapons, and others were providing humanitarian access and aid, and ceasing attacks against civilians. Russia should live up to its self-professed commitments in accordance with UNSCR 2254 and the southwest ceasefire, embodied in the Da Nang Statement issued by Presidents Trump and Putin.

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The United States congratulates Colombia on its accession and completion of the process to become a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The United States commends Colombia’s significant efforts over the past five years to meet the OECD’s technical standards.

Membership will bring benefits to the economy and people of Colombia, along with important responsibilities to level the playing field on trade and to enhance protections for investors. The United States looks forward to working with Colombia through the OECD to promote the economic and social well-being of people around the world.

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.