On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I offer my best wishes to the people of Northern Ireland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom as they celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement this week.

Twenty years ago, the Good Friday Agreement brought an end to thirty years of violence in which more than 3,500 lives were lost. It offered a framework for a new beginning to build peace, prosperity, and reconciliation in the region. The Good Friday Agreement, endorsed widely by the people of the region, remains an inspiration around the world.

As we reflect on this important anniversary, let us remind ourselves – and the generations since the signing in 1998 – of how far the people of the region have traveled, as well as the challenges that persist. We encourage all parties in Northern Ireland to work together to form a regional, power-sharing government that benefits all the people of the region.

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On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I offer congratulations to the people of Cambodia on the occasion of Khmer New Year on April 13.

The relationship between our peoples is strong and built on our mutual desire for peace, prosperity, and freedom. May our bonds of friendship be strengthened in the year to come.

Please accept our best wishes for a Happy New Year

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On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I extend best wishes to the people of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic as they celebrate “Pi Mai Lao” on April 14.

Our bilateral Comprehensive Partnership continues to grow, as exemplified recently by the first-ever visit to Laos by a U.S. Secretary of Commerce and visits by three delegations from the U.S. House of Representatives.  The strong and growing people-to-people ties between our two countries, and our continued support for the Lao government’s development goals, in particular assistance in clearing unexploded ordnance, further demonstrates our commitment to a lasting and productive friendship with Laos.

I wish all Lao people a prosperous and joyful Lao New Year.

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On behalf of the Government of the United States, I extend best wishes to the people of the Kingdom of Thailand as they celebrate Songkran and welcome a new year on April 13, 2018.

This year marks 200 years of friendship between the United States and Thailand. The Great and Good Friends exhibition of royal gifts and letters exchanged over these two centuries between Thai Kings and U.S. Presidents, now on display at the Grand Palace, is a tangible reminder of the legacy and enduring strength of our relationship. As we celebrate this bicentennial, we think of how our friendship became an alliance that remains one of our oldest and most important in Asia. We look forward to further nurturing cooperation and partnership with the people of Thailand as we enter a third century of friendship during the reign of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

I wish all Thais a joyous festival with family and friends, and a healthy and prosperous New Year. Happy Songkran!

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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.

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert:

Acting Secretary of State John J. Sullivan met today with His Highness Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Washington, DC. During the meeting, the Acting Secretary and the Emir discussed a range of important bilateral and regional issues, including Syria. The leaders addressed the urgent need to resolve the Gulf dispute to enable the U.S. to work together with a united GCC to promote regional security and stability, and stand against Iran’s dangerous activities. On counterterrorism, the Acting Secretary commended Qatar’s recent public announcement of terrorist designations and affirmed the U.S. commitment to working with all GCC partners to ensure designations are fully enforced. Finally, Acting Secretary Sullivan extended the United States’ appreciation to the Emir for Qatar’s longtime friendship and strategic partnership with the U.S.

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