The Department is announcing the designation of several senior DRC officials, under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2018, due to these officials’ involvement in significant corruption related to the DRC’s electoral process. Further, the Department is taking steps to prevent entry into the United States of certain DRC officials involved in human rights violations.

Section 7031(c) provides that, in cases where the Secretary of State has credible information that foreign officials have been involved in significant corruption or gross violations of human rights, those individuals are ineligible for entry into the United States.

Credible, transparent, and timely elections in December 2018, in which the Congolese people are free to express their views without fear of violence or intimidation, are essential for ensuring a more peaceful and prosperous future for DRC and the region.

Today’s actions send a strong signal that the U.S. government is committed to fighting corruption, to supporting credible elections that lead to DRC’s first peaceful and democratic transfer of power, and to holding accountable those who are responsible for significant corruption or serious violations of human rights.

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On July 17, the U.S. Department of State and espnW Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP) will be recognized as this year’s recipient of the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award at ESPN’s annual Sports Humanitarian Awards dinner in Los Angeles. In its seventh year, the GSMP is the flagship professional development exchange supporting the State Department’s ongoing efforts to advance the rights and status of women and girls around the world through sports. Tapping into the power of public-private partnerships, the GSMP positively impacts communities at home and abroad to create a more secure global playing field for all.

Three past GSMP participants from Kenya, Jordan, and the Philippines will accept the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award on behalf of the GSMP. These alumni are community leaders that use boxing, badminton, basketball, and other sports to create opportunities for marginalized girls and women to participate in society from the grassroots to the professional levels. Alumnae pave progress in their home countries as well as enrich their American mentors with an expanded global network and new perspectives.

Given in honor of legendary ESPN sportscaster Stuart Scott, the ENSPIRE Award celebrates individuals and organizations that use innovative approaches to support underserved communities through sports. The GSMP’s dedication to empowering women and focus on sports as a tool for social change exemplifies that mission. The Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award will be presented in conjunction with the ESPY (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly) Awards show and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA Summit, sponsored by ESPN.

Established in 2012, the GSMP is a public-private collaboration between the U.S. Department of State and espnW, in cooperation with the University of Tennessee’s Center for Sport, Peace, and Society. Since 2012, the 99 graduates of the program have launched NGO’s, affected public policy, and transformed communities by providing access and opportunity to girls. Collectively, the emerging leaders have directly impacted more than 225,000 individuals through their work. For more information, please contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at ECA-Press@state.gov or Tara Chozet, ESPN at Tara.c.chozet@ESPN.com, or visit globalsportsmentoring.org/empower-women-through-sports.

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The United States remains deeply troubled by reports of increasing Syrian regime operations 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. Syrian regime military and militia units, according to our reports, have violated the southwest de-escalation zone and initiated airstrikes, artillery, and rocket attacks.

The United States continues to warn both the Russian government and the Assad regime of the serious repercussions of these violations and demands that Russia restrain pro-regime forces from further actions within the southwest de-escalation zone. During their call this weekend, Secretary Pompeo stressed to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov the critical nature of mutual adherence to this arrangement and the unacceptable nature of any unilateral activity by the Assad regime or Russia. The United States expects all parties to respect the ceasefire, protect civilian populations, and avoid broadening of the conflict. We remain committed to maintaining the stability of the southwest de-escalation zone and to the ceasefire underpinning it.

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Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan will travel to the Netherlands, Denmark, Algeria, and Morocco, from June 25 to 29, to discuss a range of U.S. priorities, including joint efforts to maintain an enduring defeat of ISIS and promote cooperation on regional and global security challenges.

In The Hague, the Deputy Secretary will lead the U.S. delegation to a special session of the Conference of the States Parties of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to address the ongoing use of chemical weapons worldwide and to reinforce the global norm against such use. Deputy Secretary Sullivan will reiterate the United States’ commitment to ensuring that all those responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Syria, and elsewhere, are held to account.

He will then lead the U.S. delegation to Copenhagen to participate in the Ukraine Reform Conference: “A Driver for Change,” hosted by the governments of Denmark and Ukraine. There, the Deputy Secretary will reaffirm the United States’ support for Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity while reiterating our conviction that Ukraine’s future and democratic development depend on the implementation of serious, structural reforms. Deputy Secretary Sullivan will also meet with Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Anders Samuelsen, to discuss a range of bilateral and regional matters.

In Algeria, Deputy Secretary Sullivan will meet with a range of senior government officials. He will participate in the fifth annual bilateral dialogue between the United States and Algeria on security and the fight against terrorism, and will reaffirm our strong bilateral cooperation against terrorism and shared efforts to promote regional stability. He will also discuss with Algerian leaders the efforts to expand the U.S.-Algeria economic partnership.

Finally, the Deputy Secretary will travel to Morocco where he will meet with senior government officials to discuss a range of political, economic, and security issues, including Morocco’s important contributions to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. He will also meet with a group of Moroccan youth in Casablanca.

During his trip, the Deputy Secretary will engage with U.S. Embassy staff, as well as representatives and leaders from civil society.

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SECRETARY POMPEO: Good morning. Welcome.

FOREIGN MINISTER SILVA: Thank you.

SECRETARY POMPEO: It’s great to see you again.

FOREIGN MINISTER SILVA: It’s an honor to be here. Thank you.

SECRETARY POMPEO: Thank you. Looking forward to our meetings.

FOREIGN MINISTER SILVA: Thank you.

SECRETARY POMPEO: Thank you. Thank you all.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, are you preparing for a President Trump-President Putin summit?

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