On behalf of the United States of America, congratulations to the people of Vanuatu as you celebrate 37 years of independence on July 30th.

The United States commends Vanuatu’s commitment to a strong and stable democracy and values our cooperation across many areas of mutual endeavor. The successful conclusion of joint exercise Koa Moana was a highlight of our work together over the past year, as was the signing of the shiprider agreement, which will enhance our joint efforts to safeguard precious ocean resources. We look forward to expanding our effective bilateral cooperation and deepening our ties of friendship as we work together to enhance peace and prosperity.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
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On behalf of the United States, congratulations to the people of Peru on the 196th anniversary of your independence.

The United States and Peru enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship based on the shared values of democracy, security, and human rights. We share an agenda to promote economic prosperity, and strengthening the ties between our two countries increases opportunities for both our peoples.

The United States wishes all Peruvians a happy Independence Day celebration.

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 remains committed to working with Libya and our international partners to help resolve the political conflict and advance peace and long-term stability in Libya.

While the Libyan people must lead the process of achieving political reconciliation in their country, the international community plays an important role in supporting those efforts.

In this regard, we welcome the Joint Declaration from the July 25, meeting between Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and General Khalifa Haftar, hosted outside of Paris by French President Emmanuel Macron. We call on all Libyans to support political dialogue and adhere to a cease-fire, as stated in the Joint Declaration.

The United States also welcomes new UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Ghassan Salamé as the head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, UNSMIL, which plays a critical role in advancing lasting peace and stability. We look forward to working with him to help Libyans reach a political solution.

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 student application period for the Virtual Student Foreign Service (VSFS) has been extended. Applications for the 2017-2018 VSFS program are now open between July 2 and August 2 on USAJOBS.gov. Meaningful work is waiting for U.S. college students across the federal government, including NASA, the Smithsonian, State Department, CIA, National Parks Service, and others. You can see the projects offered at http://vsfs.state.gov/ by clicking on “See All Projects” at the top. Students must follow the instructions on USAJOBS to apply.

VSFS is the largest virtual internship program in the world. Managed by the U.S. Department of State, VSFS offers all federal agencies the opportunity to host remote interns. This year there are more than 1,000 vacancies with more than 30 federal agencies. VSFS offers unique mentoring and exposure to job opportunities within the United States, all without having to travel and physically report to an office.

Students play an important role in moving the government forward. There is something for everyone: graphic design, research, mapping, videography, history, analysis, marketing, community management, writing, calculation, policy planning, app development, and more. eInterns spend 10 hours a week from September through May working remotely on their projects. This is unpaid, volunteer work, but eInterns gain a lot – they make a difference in government work, gain valuable experience and connections, and sometimes get course credit. VSFS is open to U.S.-citizen undergraduates through PhD degree candidates taking classes full or part-time, in-person or on-line, at a university anywhere in the world.

Learn more at our website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Have questions? Post them on our VSFS forum. Also, sign up to receive notifications about VSFS and other internship opportunities under Keep Me Informed, and check in with your regional Diplomat in Residence at your university.

For specific questions about the VSFS Program, please tweet us @VSFSatState (https://twitter.com/vsfsatstate) or visit vsfs.state.gov.

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.

Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs and Acting Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Alice Wells will travel to New Delhi, India and Islamabad, Pakistan on her introductory trip to the region, July 30-August 8. She will meet with government officials, thought leaders, and business executives to discuss U.S. relations with the region. She will also meet with Embassy staff to learn more about their efforts to advance U.S. prosperity and security across the region.

Follow her activity on twitter: @State_SCA.

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.