International Press Release Submissions

To African Diaspora Youth and Exchange Alumni

Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Swahili Village Restaurant Washington, D.C. August 15, 2022 MR MASSINGA: I’m Erv Massinga from the Department of State, Africa Bureau, and thanks to each of you for joining us today. It’s always my pleasure and honor to introduce Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Today he’s going to focus on issues that are important to him personally, to all of us: U.S.-Africa relations and his recent trip to South Africa, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s his second in-person visit to Sub-Saharan Africa as Secretary of State. Before I turn the mic over to the Secretary to share some more specifics about his visit, I’d like to say a few words to all of you here today. At the Department of State, we often mention the important role that you play in making positive change in their communities and countries. We often cite Africa’s demographics by 2025, more than half the population in Africa will be age – under the age of 25. By the year 2050, one in four people on Earth will be African. These figures remind us how important it is for young people to be engaged and prepared to lead, and how important Africa is to the rest of the world and to the United States. We’ve invited you all here today because the work you do embodies the ideals we all share. We wanted to hear from you as participants in the Young African Leaders Initiative, Mandela’s Washington Fellowship, or other U.S. Government-funded exchanges building professional capacity – as well as those of you from the diaspora with deep connections to Africa – and encourage a productive and an interactive exchange. What are your priorities for our shared future? What should we be focused on? What can – what are we doing well? What can we do better? We need to hear those questions to (inaudible). It’s my pleasure to introduce the 71st Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, who has helped to shape U.S. foreign policy for over three decades and in three …


Source: MyPR International

Secretary Antony J. Blinken At the Kigali Genocide Memorial

Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Kigali Genocide Memorial Kigali, Rwanda August 11, 2022 SECRETARY BLINKEN: I just want to express appreciation for visiting the Rwandan Genocide Memorial. This is an incredibly powerful reminder of man’s inhumanity to man, and also a very, very powerful incentive to do everything in our power (inaudible) this can’t happen again anywhere. It’s so important to be reminded of that on a regular basis because we continue to see conflict, major conflict, in parts of the world and the potential for the past to be prologue. But what I find so powerful about this memorial is how it has taken something that’s very hard to get your hands around – a million people in such a short period of time – and it takes it down to the individuals, the men, the women, and the children whose lives were cut short, eradicated, their stories ended, all because of hatred and genocide. It makes it real. It makes it palpable. It makes it human. And in so doing, I think this is not just a memorial, as vital and as important as that is; it is living history because it inspires us in the present and for the future – any of us to make sure that we do our part so that man’s inhumanity to man does not come to the fore and carry the day. So I’m grateful for this opportunity to be here and to see this memorial. It resonates strongly with me as well because of my own family background. My late stepfather was a survivor of the Holocaust. We see how profoundly connected these two events in our history are, and we can only hope that as people visit and as they come here, they’re able to fully appreciate the human dimension of this horror and fully resolve not to let it happen again. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za International/. Secretary Antony J. Blinken At the Kigali Genocide Memorial Submission Details Author: Africa Media from The Africa Regional Media Hub. More Info link: Images: For a high …


Source: MyPR International

Secretary Antony J. Blinken Following his Meeting with Civil Society Representatives from Rwanda

Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State U.S. Embassy Kigali Kigali, Rwanda August 11, 2022 SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome. It’s a pleasure to me and enlightening to hear from some leaders in civil society, from independent journalism here, gender equality advocates, to hear about their work, to hear about some of the challenges they face but also some of the opportunities, and as well how the work that the United States is doing and can do even more of to support their efforts. As we say everywhere we go, civil society, independent media are at the heart of any democracy, and it’s always instructive for me and enlightening for me to hear directly from leaders in these fields and the work that they’re doing. So I’m grateful for all of you sharing your time today and also grateful for our team here at the embassy for the work that they’re doing every day to support the efforts of civil society and independent media here in Rwanda as well as around the world. So thank you very much. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za International/. Secretary Antony J. Blinken Following his Meeting with Civil Society Representatives from Rwanda Submission Details Author: Africa Media from The Africa Regional Media Hub. More Info link: Images: For a high res version of THIS image please contact The Africa Regional Media Hub Facebook: Twitter: …


Source: MyPR International

Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta at a Joint Press Availability

Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Kigali, Rwanda August 11, 2022 FOREIGN MINISTER BIRUTA:  Secretary Blinken, members of the press, good morning.  I would like to start by welcoming Secretary Blinken and his delegation to Kigali.  And this visit is an opportunity to enhance bilateral cooperation between the U.S. and Rwanda and discuss matters of mutual interest. Earlier today, His Excellency the President of Rwanda received Secretary Blinken and his delegation.  We had productive discussions about the partnership between our two countries.  At the bilateral level, we appreciated our substantial cooperation in various sectors, including defense and security, trade and investment, peacekeeping, and health.  The Government of Rwanda appreciates the significant support of the U.S. Government in the fight against COVID-19 in Rwanda, where the U.S. Government contributed more than 5 million doses of vaccines and 100 medical ventilators to Rwanda.  The U.S. continues to be, indeed, a strong partner in Rwanda’s efforts to build a strong and resilient health system. We are also very pleased with our cooperation in the defense sector.  Our military cooperation has continued to grow, and we were happy to co-host with the U.S. the 11th Annual African Air Chiefs Symposium earlier this year in Kigali. We also discussed the security in eastern DRC, the very real consequences for Rwanda, and reaffirmed our support to regional efforts, including the Nairobi and the Luanda initiatives toward peace and stability in our region.  We agreed on the need to eradicate all illegal armed groups operating in eastern DRC, including the FDLR and its factions.  We noted the resurgence of hate speech, public incitement, and genocidal ideology in DRC, and the need to address this issue.  We also reaffirmed the importance of respect of territorial integrity by all the countries in the region. At the global level, this …


Source: MyPR International

The United States and Rwanda: Strategic Partners

Fact Sheet Office of the Spokesperson August 10, 2022 Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will visit Rwanda on August 11, where he will meet with senior officials and civil society.  The United States and Rwanda cooperate on global and regional priorities, including ending the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and investing in health systems, addressing the climate crisis including support for clean energy, food security and production, building back to more inclusive global economic growth and development, and strengthening democracy, security, and respect for human rights. U.S. – Rwanda Relations The United States established diplomatic relations with Rwanda in 1962, following its independence from a Belgian-administered trusteeship. From 1990 to 1994, the country experienced civil war and genocide.  The United States seeks to help Rwanda meet the needs of its population, including increased social cohesion in a peaceful, democratic, and inclusive country that provides good governance and an enabling environment for private sector-led growth. The United States assists Rwanda in improving the quality and sustainability of its health system; expanding economic opportunities in rural areas, particularly through a strengthened agricultural production and food security program; strengthening engagement between civil society and government; expanding access to electricity; and improving the foundational educational system and skills (literacy, numeracy, and workforce readiness) that prepare Rwandan youth for a modern service-based economy. These goals are carried out through a range of programs, including various presidential initiatives such as Feed the Future; Power Africa; Prosper Africa; the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI); and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). U.S. humanitarian assistance supports over 127,000 refugees hosted in Rwanda with lifesaving health, protection, and livelihood programs. U.S …


Source: MyPR International

East Asian and Pacific Affairs Assistant Secretary Daniel J. Kritenbrink and African Affairs Assistant Secretary Molly Phee on the Secretary’s Upcoming Travel to Cambodia, the Philippines, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda

Special Briefing Daniel J. Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Molly Phee, Assistant Secretary Bureau of African Affairs Via Teleconference July 29, 2022 MR PRICE: Thanks very much and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining this call. We’re very pleased to have the opportunity to preview the Secretary’s upcoming travel to Cambodia, the Philippines, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda. We’ll be departing on Tuesday. The Secretary will be on travel from August 2nd through August 12th. We have two briefers for you today. We have Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee. Just a reminder, this call is on the record, but it is embargoed until the conclusion of the call. With that, I’ll turn it over to Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink for some opening comments. ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK: Thank you, Ned, and good afternoon everyone. It’s great to be with you again. I met with many of you earlier this month ahead of the Secretary’s trip to Indonesia, Thailand, and Japan and of course traveled with many of you on that trip. And at that time, I noted that this level of senior-level engagement in the Indo-Pacific reflects just how profoundly important the region is to America’s long-term security and prosperity. And now we’re here just a few weeks later to announce yet another visit to the Indo-Pacific. Secretary Blinken will first head to Phnom Penh, Cambodia on August 3rd to participate in three separate ministerials hosted by Cambodia as ASEAN chair this year. This is a profoundly important time in our relationship with ASEAN. At May’s U.S.-ASEAN Summit here in Washington, D.C., we agreed to elevate our relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Secretary will discuss that matter with our ASEAN friends in Phnom Penh, which will lead up to the November …


Source: MyPR International

Secretary Blinken’s Travel to Cambodia, the Philippines, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda

Press Statement Ned Price, Department Spokesperson July 29, 2022 Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Cambodia, the Philippines, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda August 2-11, 2022. Secretary Blinken will first travel to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, August 3-5 to participate in the U.S.-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the ASEAN Regional Forum.  At each ministerial, the Secretary will emphasize the United States’ commitment to ASEAN centrality and successful implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.  He will also address the COVID-19 pandemic, economic cooperation, the fight against climate change, the crisis in Burma, and Russia’s war in Ukraine.  The Secretary will meet bilaterally with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn to discuss U.S. support for ASEAN and efforts to strengthen our bilateral relationship with Cambodia.  Secretary Blinken will also engage with alumni of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative. In Manila, the Philippines, on August 6, the Secretary will meet with President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo to discuss bilateral efforts to strengthen the U.S.-Philippines alliance, including through increased cooperation on energy, trade, and investment, advancing our shared democratic values, and pandemic recovery. Then, Secretary Blinken will travel to South Africa August 7-9.  The Secretary will launch the U.S. Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa, which reinforces the U.S. view that African countries are geostrategic players and critical partners on the most pressing issues of our day, from promoting an open and stable international system, to tackling the effects of climate change, food insecurity and global pandemics, to shaping our technological and economic futures. In Pretoria, he will lead the U.S. delegation to the U.S.-South Africa …


Source: MyPR International

Department Press Briefing – June 14, 2022

[Excerpted ...] QUESTION: M23 rebels in the DRC have seized an eastern border town. Congo has repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing the M23. What is the State Department’s assessment of Rwandan support for the M23? MR PRICE: Well, we spoke to this the other week, but we are alarmed by reports of cross-border violence between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, and the increasing tensions between those two countries. We’re deeply concerned by reports of Rwandan military personnel participating in this fighting. We urge both sides to exercise restraint and to engage in immediate dialogue to de-escalate tensions and end hostilities. We – as we’ve said before, we support the continuation of the Nairobi Process and mediation efforts by the African Union. And we encourage countries in the region to exercise responsible, constructive leadership and work together to advance peace and security in the eastern DRC. We call on both sides to meet soon to reach a lasting resolution to this regionally destabilizing situation and to avoid rhetoric that could inflame ethnic tensions and hate speech and/or put UN peacekeepers at risk. And we’re saddened by reports of injuries and deaths caused by this cross-border artillery strikes in both directions, both this month and last month as well. We appreciate MONUSCO’s efforts in support of the armed forces of the DRC to protect civilians. We’re saddened to learn of injuries to UN peacekeepers in recent fighting. M23 must terminate their offensive and immediately cease these attacks, which cause suffering, especially to vulnerable populations. And we continue to urge M23 and all non-state armed groups operating in this region, in the eastern DRC, to cease violence against civilians, to disband, and to lay down their arms. We know that the people of eastern Congo have suffered violence and displacement for far too long, and we’ll continue to do what we can, together with our partners, including those at the UN, to bring a …


Source: MyPR International

Remarks at a UN Security Council Debate on the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals

June 14, 2022: AS DELIVERED Thank you, Mr. President. President Agius, Prosecutor Brammertz, thank you for your briefings on the efforts of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals to bring perpetrators to justice for the atrocities that were committed in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. We heard from the President this morning some of the challenges that the mechanism has faced – operational, morale, COVID, and so we are particularly grateful for the commitment and the hard work of the judges, the attorneys, the staff in Arusha and in the Hague, as well as in the field offices in Sarajevo and Kigali, despite these challenges over the past year. And in particular, my delegation wants to thank President Agius for his dedicated years of service as President of the Mechanism and for all of the contributions, Mr. President, that you’ve made to the institution, which we have no doubt will continue as you transition from President to Judge. Due to commendable efforts by the Mechanism, we continue to see it achieve significant success despite the challenges of operating during a pandemic. Over the next year, like many others, we look forward to the advancement of the proceedings in the trial against Felicien Kabuga, the alleged financier of the Rwandan genocide. We also look forward to the conclusion of the appeal in the case against Stanisic and Simatovic, the two former members of the Serbian State Security Service. The United States joins others in continuing to urge Serbia to turn over those indicted by the Mechanism. Additionally, we note the importance of the ongoing investigations and proceedings related to contempt charges against individuals from both Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. These proceedings are a critical part of the Mechanism’s work, as the integrity of court proceedings is fundamental to the delivery of justice. We look forward to the pronouncement of the appeal judgment in the contempt case against Fatuma et al. later this …


Source: MyPR International

U.S. Delegation to the World Telecommunication Development Conference

June 3, 2022: From June 6-16, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) member states will gather in Kigali, Rwanda, for the 2022 ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC). The United States delegation to the Conference will be led by Ambassador Erica Barks-Ruggles, U.S. Senior Representative for 2022 Conferences of the ITU and the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission. Other senior members of the U.S. delegation include Ambassador Lisa Carty, U.S. Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC); U.S. Embassy Kigali Chargé d’Affaires Deb MacLean; National Security Council Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs Curtis Ried; and U.S. industry leaders. At WTDC, under the theme of “connecting the unconnected to achieve sustainable development,” the United States will highlight its leadership on key information and communications technology issues and will announce a pledge to the ITU’s Partner2Connect (P2C) Digital Coalition – a multi-stakeholder alliance launched by the ITU to focus on closing the digital divide and fostering digital transformation globally. The U.S. pledge will include new resources, partnerships, and commitments to achieve universal and meaningful connectivity in each of the P2C focus areas. Nearly three billion people around the world remain unconnected to the digital economy, with little or no access to education and health benefits and economic opportunities. During the Conference, the U.S. delegation will host a reception underscoring U.S. support for the candidacy of Doreen Bogdan-Martin for ITU Secretary-General. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za International/. U.S. Delegation to the World Telecommunication Development Conference Submission Details Author: Africa Media from The Africa Regional Media Hub. More Info link: Images: For a high res version of THIS image please contact The Africa Regional Media Hub Facebook: Twitter: …


Source: MyPR International