The United States congratulates the people of Moldova, the Central Electoral Commission, and the winners in the February 24 parliamentary elections. We welcome the assessment by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights that Moldova’s parliamentary elections were competitive and generally respected fundamental rights.

We share OSCE concerns, however, including allegations of bribing voters and misuse of administration resources, and we call on Moldovan authorities to investigate these claims. Authorities should also give serious consideration to OSCE, Venice Commission, and other international recommendations for future elections, including clarifying elements of the electoral code.

The United States urges Moldova’s leaders to move quickly to form a new government that respects the will of Moldovan voters and serves the Moldovan people by fighting corruption, promoting judiciary reforms, and securing Moldova’s progress on its democratic trajectory. Moldova’s future belongs to its people.

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 Nations established March 3 as World Wildlife Day to raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants. This year will mark the sixth anniversary of World Wildlife Day, and for the first time will highlight marine species and the unique threats they face. Wildlife has ecological, social, economic, and cultural value, and its conservation is important to sustainable development and human well-being.

The U.S. Department of State is proud to work closely with interagency partners, foreign governments, NGOs, and the private sector around the world to protect wildlife and ensure these species continue to thrive in the wild for generations to come. Recognizing the strong ties between wildlife trafficking and other forms of transnational crime, Kirsten Madison, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), will host a roundtable February 28 to discuss next steps for making an impact on global wildlife crime. Later that day, Marcia S. Bernicat, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), will host a showcase of speakers featuring innovative solutions to conservation challenges. The U.S. Department of State (through INL and OES) plays an important role in the development and implementation of programs, partnerships, and policies around the world that counter wildlife trafficking.

For press inquiries, please contact OES-PA-DG@state.gov. For more on the U.S. Department of State’s signature program to produce innovative solutions to wildlife trafficking, visit http://www.zoohackathon.com/.

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.

In recognition of African American History Month, the United States Diplomacy Center at the
U.S. Department of State will host a special program exploring the diplomatic careers of five African American trailblazers in diplomacy: Ebenezer Bassett, Ralph Bunche, Edward Dudley, Patricia Roberts Harris, and Mabel Murphy Smythe.

The event will feature presentations by a panel of distinguished scholars and diplomats, including Dr. Michael Krenn, Ambassador Ruth A. Davis, James T. L. Dandridge II, and Foreign Service Officer Christopher Teal. Dr. Krenn, Professor of History at Appalachian State University and author of Black Diplomacy: African Americans and the State Department, 1945-1969, will moderate. The panel will also explore the lasting contributions of these trailblazers to the Department of State and the practice of diplomacy.

This event is made possible with support from The Thursday Luncheon Group, Appalachian State University, and Mr. James Dandridge of the Diplomacy Center Foundation. Other partners include The Carl T. Rowan Chapter of Blacks in Government and the Association of Black American Ambassadors.

The event will take place at the Diplomacy Center Pavilion, located at the Department of State’s 21st Street entrance on February 28th from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. The event is open to the press. At the conclusion of the program, there will be a private reception closed to the press.

Final pre-set time for cameras is 3:30 p.m. from the 21st Street entrance.

Final access time for writers and stills is 3:15 p.m. from the 21st Street entrance.

Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) a U.S. government-issued photo media credential (e.g., Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center); or (2) an official photo identification card issued by their news organization; or (3) a letter from their employer on official letterhead verifying their current employment as a journalist.

Additionally, they must present an official government photo identification card (i.e., U.S. driver’s license or passport).

For further information, please contact DiplomacyCenter@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.

On March 1, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale will travel to Port-au-Prince, Haiti where he will meet with Haitian President Jovenel Moise, Prime Minister Jean-Henry Ceant, and other political, economic, and civic leaders.

Under Secretary Hale will encourage an inclusive national dialogue that addresses the current economic and political challenges facing Haiti. His visit will reaffirm the United States’ commitment to working with all Haitians towards a more secure, prosperous, and democratic future.

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.

U.S. Columbia River Treaty Negotiator Jill Smail will lead a town hall March 20, 2019, in Kalispell, Montana on the modernization of the Columbia River Treaty regime. The town hall, which is co-hosted by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, is free of charge, open to the public, and will take place at the Red Lion Hotel from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. This town hall will follow the February 27-28 round of negotiations on the treaty regime in Washington, DC. At the town hall, U.S. government representatives will provide an overview of the negotiations and take questions from the public; feel free to send questions in advance to ColumbiaRiverTreaty@state.gov. For more information on the town hall, including call-in details, please see the Federal Register Notice.

The Columbia River Treaty is an international model for transboundary water cooperation. The 1964 treaty’s flood risk and hydropower operations have provided substantial benefits to millions of people on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border. The treaty has also facilitated additional benefits such as supporting the river’s ecosystem, irrigation, municipal water use, industrial use, navigation, and recreation. More information can be found on the Department’s Treaty website.

As the United States continues bilateral negotiations with Canada, key objectives are guided by the U.S. Entity Regional Recommendation for the Future of the Columbia River Treaty after 2024, a consensus document published in 2013 after five years of consultations among the Tribes, states, stakeholders, public, and federal agencies. The U.S. negotiating team is led by the U.S. Department of State and comprises the Bonneville Power Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division, the Department of the Interior, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

To receive periodic updates on events and developments related to the modernization of the Columbia River Treaty regime, please contact ColumbiaRiverTreaty@state.gov. For press inquiries, please contact WHAPress@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.