Press Releases: Assistant Secretary Giuda Travel to Singapore and Vietnam


Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

June 25, 2018


Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Michelle S. Giuda is visiting Singapore and Vietnam from June 24 to 28.

On June 25-26, she will be in Singapore to participate in the sixth East-West Center (EWC) International Media Conference, which also coincides with the 50th anniversary of EWC international media programs. She will meet American, Asian, and Pacific Island journalists and communications professionals, and she will deliver remarks at the Conference.

Assistant Secretary Giuda will then travel to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on June 26, where she will visit Fulbright University Vietnam, meet with Vietnam’s Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) members, give a public presentation at the American Center, and give remarks at a Media Literacy event.

Finally, on June 28, Assistant Secretary Giuda will visit Hanoi, Vietnam where she will give a presentation at the American Center, meet with embassy staff, and meet with YSEALI volunteers.






Press Releases: Rural Herder-Farmer Violence in Nigeria


Press Statement

Heather Nauert

Department Spokesperson

Washington, DC

June 25, 2018


The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the killing of civilians and destruction of property in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region over the weekend. We are concerned by the recent increase in armed violence against civilians and call on all political and community leaders to lend their voices to peace and to work together to find lasting solutions to these rural conflicts. We join President Buhari and others in sending our deepest condolences to the affected communities, and in the desire to see the perpetrators brought to justice and to prevent further violence.






Press Releases: Acting Assistant Secretary Susan Thornton to Travel to London


Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

June 25, 2018


Acting Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Susan Thornton, will travel to London, United Kingdom, to meet with European counterparts June 27, 2018, to discuss issues of mutual interest in the East Asian and Pacific region.

For updates, please follow the East Asian and Pacific Bureau on Twitter at @USAsiaPacific.

For press inquiries please contact EAP-P-Office-DL@state.gov.






Press Releases: Support for Canada and European Union Sanctions Regarding Burma


Press Statement

Heather Nauert

Department Spokesperson

Washington, DC

June 25, 2018


Canada and our European Union partners took action this week to continue the promotion of accountability for the atrocities in Burma. We strongly support these actions.

The Department of State is working closely with our allies and partners to promote accountability for those responsible for the ethnic cleansing in Rakhine State, and for serious human rights abuses against members of other minority groups, including in Kachin and Shan States. To that end, we have taken a number of steps, including: ceasing issuance of visas to current and former senior leaders of the Burmese military; assessing that there is credible information implicating all military units and officers involved in operations in northern Rakhine State, as well as their full chain of command, in the commission of gross violations of human rights, such that those units and individuals are ineligible to receive U.S. assistance; and supporting the mandate of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Burma. In December of 2017, the President sanctioned former Western Command Major General Maung Maung Soe for his role in the events related to the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, and publicly discussed the possibility of further targeted sanctions, among other actions, against those responsible for human rights abuses.

The United States has been and will continue to be engaged in a whole-of-government response to the humanitarian and human rights aspects of the crisis in Rakhine State.






Press Releases: Slovenia National Day


Press Statement

Michael R. Pompeo

Secretary of State

Washington, DC

June 25, 2018


On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I offer congratulations to the people of Slovenia as you celebrate your 27th Statehood Day.

Our strategic partnership with Slovenia, as a NATO Ally and member of the European Union, is founded on shared values and history, and a common pursuit of collective security. In Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo, our security forces stand shoulder to shoulder to advance global counterterrorism initiatives and affirm our common commitment through NATO’s presence in front-line states.

The United States values Slovenia’s contributions and friendship, and looks forward to deepening our bilateral relationship over the coming year as we work to expand bilateral trade and investment and ensure that Europe remains strong and free.

I extend my best wishes to the Slovenian people and congratulate you on your Statehood Day.