Press Releases: Assistant Secretary Christopher A. Ford Travels to Canada


Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

January 30, 2018


Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation Christopher A. Ford travels to Ottawa, Canada, January 30-31, to participate in the G7 Nonproliferation Directors Group (NPDG) meeting and in joint sessions with the G7 Nuclear Safety and Security Group (NSSG) and the Global Partnership Against Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction (GP). While there he will discuss a range of nonproliferation issues.

For updates, follow the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) on Twitter, at @StateISN.

For more information about ISN, please visit our website: http://www.state.gov/t/isn/.






Press Releases: Special Representative for North Korea Policy Joseph Yun Travels to Tokyo and Seoul


Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

January 29, 2018


Special Representative for North Korea Policy and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Korea and Japan Joseph Yun will travel to Japan and the Republic of Korea February 1-6. In Tokyo he will participate in the International Colloquium on Building Stable Peace in Northeast Asia organized by the Toda Peace Institute, The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, and The National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies University of Otago. While in Tokyo and Seoul, Ambassador Yun will also meet with senior government officials to discuss coordination on the DPRK and other alliance and bilateral issues.






Press Releases: Remarks With Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen Before Their Meeting


Remarks

Rex W. Tillerson

Secretary of State

Treaty Room

Washington, DC

January 29, 2018


SECRETARY TILLERSON: Good afternoon, all. I want to welcome Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen from Denmark to the State Department. It’s a pleasure to have you, Anders.

FOREIGN MINISTER SAMUELSEN: Thank you, and likewise. I’ve really been looking forward to this meeting.

SECRETARY TILLERSON: Thank you. We’ve – we were just commenting we’ve been spending a lot of time together, between Vancouver and the chemical weapons accord, and now Washington. So clearly, a lot of common interest between Denmark and the United States, and we appreciate the strong support that Denmark’s given us on the campaign to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula as well as the chemical weapons accord last week in Paris. So delighted to have you here, Anders. Thanks for coming over.

FOREIGN MINISTER SAMUELSEN: Thank you once again. Thank you so much.

SECRETARY TILLERSON: Thank you.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, what does a small country like Denmark mean to the U.S.?

SECRETARY TILLERSON: Well, Denmark’s an important partner in the Nordic countries. Obviously, they are very close to Russia, and so they are important to the security network and architecture. But they also play an important role at the UN. They bring a lot to our discussions in terms of considering alternative means to engage in difficult problems like North Korea. So Denmark brings a lot to our conversations. Thank you.






Press Releases: Attacks in Colombia and Ecuador


Press Statement

Heather Nauert

Department Spokesperson

Washington, DC

January 29, 2018


The United States strongly condemns the attacks against police that took place in Colombia and Ecuador this past weekend. We ‎mourn all those who lost their lives in these cowardly acts and our thoughts are with the families of the deceased and those injured.

The United States stands with the people of Colombia and Ecuador and will help both countries in any way we can in response to these attacks.






Press Releases: Unsafe Russian Military Practices


Press Statement

Heather Nauert

Department Spokesperson

Washington, DC

January 29, 2018


The United States notes with the highest level of concern the latest incident of unsafe Russian military practices, over the Black Sea on January 29. As confirmed by U.S. Naval Forces Europe, a Russian SU-27 engaged in an unsafe interaction with a U.S. EP-3 in international airspace, with the Russia pilot closing to within 5 feet and crossing directly in front of the EP-3’s flight path. While the U.S. aircraft was operating under international law, the Russian side was flagrantly violating existing agreements and international law, in this case the 1972 Agreement for the Prevention of Incidents On and Over the High Seas (INCSEA). This is but the latest example of Russian military activities disregarding international norms and agreements. We call on Russia to cease these unsafe actions that increase the risk of miscalculation, danger to aircrew on both sides, and midair collisions.