As part of the U.S. commitment to counter Hizballah’s terrorist and criminal activities around the world, the United States and Peru partnered to hold a two-day workshop in Lima on September 20-21, on using law enforcement and counterterrorism finance tools to counter Hizballah’s destabilizing activities.

Counterterrorism practitioners from both countries discussed best practices to disrupt Hizballah’s terrorist plotting, military procurement activities, and its members’ and supporters’ involvement in large scale criminal schemes. U.S. participating agencies included the U.S. Departments of State, Justice, Treasury, Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the National Counterterrorism Center. Peru was represented by the Peruvian Judiciary, the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office on Terrorism, the Specialized Public Solicitor’s Office on Terrorism, the Financial Intelligence Unit, and the Peruvian National Police’s Anti-Drug and Anti-Money Laundering Directorates. Peru is a regular member of the U.S.-Europol Law Enforcement Coordination Group, which harnesses the expertise of more than 25 countries across the globe to counter the threat posed by Hizballah. Both countries agreed to continue working together to take measures to counter Hizballah’s destabilizing activities.

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On behalf of President Trump and the people of the United States of America, we send our best wishes to the people of Mali as you celebrate your Independence Day on September 22.

The United States values our partnership with Mali. We will continue to grow our longstanding relationship to counter terrorist threats, strengthen Mali’s security institutions, assist with inclusive development, and support the full implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali.

On the 57th anniversary of your independence, the United States supports all Malians as they work to build a country that is peaceful, prosperous, and united.

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 is concerned by reports of airstrikes in Idlib province and northern Hama province on September 19 and 20 that killed at least three medical personnel and damaged a number of medical facilities, emergency equipment, and civil defense centers.

These attacks fit an all-too-familiar pattern in which medical facilities and personnel – and the civilians they serve – are victims of strikes by the Syrian regime and its Russian allies.

There is no military solution to this conflict. We reiterate our call for de-escalation and a political settlement through an inclusive process, owned and led by the Syrian people, as called for in UN Security Council resolution 2254 and the Geneva Communique.

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.

Ministers of Canada, Denmark, Egypt, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States met September 18 to discuss Syria and related issues. They agreed on the following points, which will guide their united efforts:

1) There is only a political solution to the Syria crisis to be arrived at through full implementation of UNSCR 2254. The ministers reiterated strong support for UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura, UN-led efforts in Geneva, and strong and effective participation in meaningful negotiations by credible ‎representatives of the Syrian opposition.

2) Recovery and reconstruction support for Syria hinges on a credible political process leading to a genuine political transition that can be supported by a majority of the Syrian people.

3) De-escalation zones and other ceasefire initiatives contribute to setting the foundation for a political solution. The ministers welcomed the progress achieved through the Astana process and in the separate process for southwest Syria negotiated by the United States, Jordan, and Russia, and in the process for eastern Ghouta and Northern Homs facilitated by Egypt and Russia. The progress achieved must also translate to rapid, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access throughout the country. The ministers also reiterated their commitment to the territorial integrity of Syria.

4) The campaign against ISIS and efforts to defeat Jabhat al-Nusra must be completed to ensure that these terrorist organizations retain no safe haven in Syria from which they can threaten the Syrian people, Syria’s neighbors, and all of our homelands. This, alongside de-escalation, the provision of unimpeded humanitarian aid, and a credible political process are our current priorities.

5) The situation in Iraq is integral to the stability of Syria. Accordingly, the ministers welcomed the enormous progress in Iraq and called on the Kurdish Regional Government not to move forward with the scheduled September 25 referendum and embrace a process of genuine dialogue with Baghdad.

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The U.S. Department of State will host the second annual Zoohackathon on September 22-24 at the San Diego Zoo and on October 6-8 at the Zoological Society of London and the World Wildlife Fund in New Delhi.

Wildlife trafficking – the poaching, illegal transit, trade and sale of wildlife – is the world’s fourth largest transnational crime. In addition to decimating populations of Earth’s most iconic species, wildlife trafficking enriches transnational criminal networks that profit from the illicit sales of exotic pets, delicacies, jewelry, and traditional medicines all over the world. According to the Environmental Crime Crisis report produced by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and INTERPOL, the illegal trade in fauna and flora (other than fisheries and timber) has been estimated by different sources to be worth as much as $23 billion annually.

Zoohackathon is an event organized by the Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, in partnership with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, that challenges the public to develop solutions that will help stop wildlife trafficking. Over two different weekends this fall, coders, designers, and conservation enthusiasts from around the world will gather to develop new technological applications and tools that will help address the challenges of wildlife trafficking.

At each Zoohackathon site, participants will have 24-48 hours to hack their way toward solutions to challenge statements solicited from conservation experts around the world. At the end of the hackathons, teams will present their ideas and a panel of judges will nominate a winner for each site. All of the winners from the three host sites will be eligible for a global prize.

For further information about Zoohackathon, please visit www.zoohackathon.com/. Follow Zoohackathon on social media at @StateDeptOES, #Zoohackathon, and #EndWildlifeTrafficking.

For media inquiries, please contact Zoohackathon@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.