The United States welcomes the Colombian government’s efforts to ensure the law implementing the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) complies with the 2016 Peace Accord and the Colombian Constitution. The United States also welcomes actions that ensure that those who commit serious crimes after the signing of the Peace Accord, in violation of the accord’s stated aims to promote non-recurrence, are held accountable to the full extent of the law and are subject to extradition as appropriate and foreseen under the 2016 agreement. The United States reaffirms the importance of Colombia’s expeditiously passing a statute to implement the JEP to ensure it has a solid legal framework to operate effectively and independently.

For over three decades, cooperation between our two governments has proven to be one of the most powerful and effective mechanisms for ensuring the rule of law, pursuing justice, protecting the interests of victims, promoting peace and prosperity, and safeguarding democracy in Colombia. A significant component of this has been one of the world’s most effective extradition relationships, allowing hundreds of dangerous criminals to face justice.

The United States has provided strong support to Colombia’s journey toward peace. We welcome efforts to strengthen accountability for war crimes and violations and abuses of human rights and to ensure that those responsible receive sentences proportionate to the crimes committed, whether by the FARC, paramilitaries, or state agents, including the military in Colombia. The United States views the JEP as an important mechanism for peace and justice in Colombia.

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Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Kent D. Logsdon will travel to Brussels and Berlin from March 17 to 21, 2019.

In Brussels, PDAS Logsdon will participate in the NATO North Atlantic Council on Energy Security meeting and conduct meetings with local interlocutors. While in Berlin, he will participate in the U.S.-Germany Bilateral Energy Security Dialogue and conduct a series of bilateral meetings with government officials. Throughout his trip, PDAS Logsdon will highlight the importance of a strong, growing, integrated, diversified, and resilient global energy market that promotes transatlantic energy security for the United States, its allies, and partners.

For further information, contact Vincent Campos, Spokesperson for the Bureau of Energy Resources, at CamposVM@state.gov or visit www.state.gov/e/enr. Additional information is available on Twitter at @EnergyAtState.

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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 text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and Germany on the occasion of the U.S.-Germany Strategic Dialogue.

Begin Text:

The governments of the United States and Germany held the inaugural U.S.-Germany Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C., on March 15, 2019. U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale co-chaired the meeting with German State Secretary Andreas Michaelis, who led a high-level delegation from Berlin.

The delegations discussed a wide range of global foreign and security policy issues of mutual interest. They identified key priorities for addressing threats to transatlantic security, crises in the Middle East, and strengthening U.S.-German strategic cooperation in the years ahead amid reemerging great power competition.

The two sides also reaffirmed their ongoing commitment to deepen the U.S.-German partnership.

End text.

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Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale will travel to Tampa, March 18–19, to deliver remarks at the U.S. Central Command GCC+2 Chiefs of Defense Conference. The Under Secretary will address military leaders from the GCC member states, Egypt, and Jordan, highlighting U.S. policy objectives in the Middle East. Among a broad range of topics, the Under Secretary will discuss the challenges in Syria, Yemen, and Libya, as well as countering the Iranian regime’s destabilizing activities and shaping the Middle East Strategic Alliance.

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The below is attributable to Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino:‎

On March 14, Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan met with young South Africans who have participated in U.S.-funded professional and academic exchange programs including the Mandela Washington Fellowship, the International Visitors Leadership Program, and the Community College Initiative program. Deputy Secretary Sullivan was delighted to engage directly with these current and future leaders in politics, business, and entrepreneurship on the issues that affect their lives and the significance of their U.S. experience.

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