Category: APO-OPA

WASHINGTON, June 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Remarks

Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley

U.S. Ambassador to Malta

Valletta, Malta

June 20, 2014

Thank you, Minister Vella. It’s wonderful to be here today in the beautiful city of Valletta to celebrate the historic opening of the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law. Malta provides an ideal home for the Institute – quite literally linking the European and African continents – and with deep historical ties in both directions. I want to thank the Government of Malta for its hospitality and generosity in hosting this new center. I’m delighted to represent the United States here today. We pledge our unwavering support for the Institute, including through financial contributions to support its programs and development over the coming years.

With its emphasis on civilian security, the Institute offers us all a unique platform to develop and deliver the comprehensive, integrated, and sustainable training required to address 21st century transnational threats most effectively. It will play a central role in our collective efforts to support countries in North, West, and East Africa and the Middle East as they turn the page on old approaches, approaches that sometimes were defined by an extreme focus on regime security and repression. Instead, the Institute will teach adherence to the rule of law and protecting the security and liberty of the people that governments are meant to serve.

It was almost two years ago to the day when the United States and Turkey, as the co-chairs of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), announced this initiative at the GCTF’s second ministerial meeting in Istanbul. We were pleased then with the strong political support the project received. Since then, we’ve been heartened by the range of partners – including governments, the UN, national training academies, and non-governmental organizations – that have contributed in concrete ways to the development of this center. All of this underscores the international dimension of the center and the notion that this is an idea whose time has come.

The United States thanks the other international partners here today who worked tirelessly to develop this innovative multilateral training center. We’re pleased that support for the Institute continues to grow, and we welcome our fellow founding members – Algeria, France, Italy, Jordan, Morocco, The Netherlands, Nigeria, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom. They agreed to join Malta, Turkey, and the United States, and soon the European Union, as founders and members of the Institute’s board of administrators. We’re also delighted to see senior representatives from the United Nations here, and we welcome the UN’s contributions to the Institute’s development.

We’re very much looking forward to working with all of you. Together, we will ensure that the Institute becomes a hub for the delivery of justice sector training, training that allows governments in Africa and the Middle East to deal with the very real threats posed by terrorism and other transnational criminal activity in a responsible manner – in both the short and long-term.

We envisage the Institute being more than a training center, however. We believe it can and must contribute to the wider rule of law institutional development and reform efforts in the regions it targets. Its mission must include educating a new generation of criminal justice officials. It will help influence a change in mindset that is critical to ensuring that the training and tools are fully utilized and the reforms are implemented. Although it has become a truism, it is nevertheless worth emphasizing that strong and effective counterterrorism policies are not incompatible with adherence to the rule of law and respect for human rights. There is growing consensus that counterterrorism efforts are most effective when grounded in human rights obligations and the rule of law.

We’re delighted that the Institute will offer its first training activity starting tomorrow at the University of Malta, which agreed to host the Institute until the center’s permanent home is ready in the armory.

This two-day event will focus on using the Global Counterterrorism Forum’s criminal justice good practices to stymie terrorist facilitation networks in the Sahel and Maghreb. Next week, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime will bring to the Institute some two dozen Libyan and regional criminal justice and law enforcement officials in charge of cross-border cooperation on terrorist cases. In the fall, the Institute will host the kick-off of a GCTF-UN initiative aimed at building informal judicial cooperation in CT cases among countries in the Sahel and Maghreb, and then hold the first in a series of seminars on what it means in concrete terms to prevent and respond to terrorism within a rule of law framework. Ensuring the long-term success of this Institute is a priority of both the White House and Secretary Kerry. Success requires the sustained contributions – both financial and in-kind – from a wide range of countries and organizations. The United States stands ready to do its part. We look forward to working with our fellow founders, board members, and other partners to provide the Institute with the guidance, expertise, and resources it needs to thrive for years to come.

Thank you.

HARARE, Zimbabwe, June 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On June 18, 2014, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation1 with Zimbabwe.

In July 2013, Zimbabwe held its first general elections under the new constitution approved by referendum in March 2013 and ended the four-year coalition government. The new government has expressed its commitment to continue implementing the policies and reforms agreed with the Fund under the staff-monitored program (SMP) and to stay engaged with the international financial institutions. To achieve sustainable development and social equity, the government has launched a new five-year development plan, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZIM ASSET).

The economic rebound experienced since the end of hyperinflation in 2009 has ended. After averaging 10 percent from 2009-2012, growth fell to an estimated 3.3 percent in 2013, reflecting tight liquidity conditions, election-year uncertainty, weak demand for key exports, competitiveness pressures, and the impact of adverse weather. Inflation continued its downward trend from 2.9 percent (year-on-year) at end-2012 to -0.3 percent in April 2014, mainly reflecting the appreciation of the US dollar against the South African rand and weak domestic demand.

Zimbabwe’s external position remains precarious, with usable international reserves covering less than two weeks of imports. The current account deficit widened to 28.7 percent of GDP in 2013, as the trade deficit deteriorated, reflecting lower mineral exports. The main financing item in the capital account was private loans.

Financial sector vulnerabilities persist, stemming from the high levels of nonperforming loans (16.6 percent on average for banks in March 2014), low capitalization and low liquidity, with wide differentiation across banks. The banking sector experienced liquidity crunches in 2013, amid political and policy uncertainty. Deposits have been slowly returning to the banking system, but liquidity conditions remain tight. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has taken steps to enhance the legal and regulatory framework. In January 2014 banks were instructed to immediately end new insider lending, and their boards are now required to ensure adequate provisioning and submit regular reports. In addition, the deadline for meeting the minimum capital requirement of US$100 million was extended to December 2020. Banks are required to submit their recapitalization plans by end-June 2014, with interim milestones to ensure compliance with the US$100 million requirement by December 2020. The authorities, with assistance from Afreximbank, are taking steps to revitalize the interbank market. They have also started to recapitalize the RBZ to allow it to resume some of its core functions.

Election-related spending and the public sector wage bill were the main factors behind expenditure overruns in 2013. Despite taking several tax and nontax revenue measures to fund election expenses, total revenue fell short of budgeted amounts, with an exceptionally low performance in the fourth quarter, reflecting weak economic activity and tight liquidity conditions. As a result, the budget deficit reached 2.2 percent of GDP in 2013. Fiscal pressures continued into 2014, with the budget targets in doubt in the context of sluggish growth and a 14- percent increase in the wage bill relative to 2013. To offset these pressures, the government has identified various revenue and expenditure measures valued at some 4.6 percent of GDP in 2014. If fully implemented, these measures could result in a reduction in the 2014 budget deficit to 0.6 percent of GDP, consistent with the available financing.

The SMP provided a useful anchor for Zimbabwe in a difficult election year. However, progress in implementing the SMP approved by Fund management in June 2013 and extended through June 2014 has been mixed, reflecting in part a long electoral process and a protracted post-election transition. Discussions of the first and second reviews under the SMP are nearing conclusion. The Zimbabwean authorities have indicated interest in a successor SMP to build on their achievements and to support a stronger policy framework.

The medium-term outlook, under the baseline scenario, is for growth to average some 4 percent, as large mining sector investments reach full capacity. The current account deficit is expected to improve but will remain high, averaging 15 percent of GDP. In addition, planned fiscal consolidation should facilitate a modest rebuilding of fiscal and external buffers, including international reserves. Zimbabwe faces serious medium-term challenges and achieving sustainable, inclusive growth will require strong macroeconomic and financial policies, an enabling business environment, and normalized relations with creditors.

The main near-term risks relate to further fiscal underperformance and uncertainty in the external environment that could see lower commodity prices, particularly for key mineral exports. Other risks relate to policy inconsistencies that could affect investment and financial sector vulnerabilities—specifically, liquidity shortages and disorderly unwinding of troubled banks.

Executive Board Assessment2

Executive Directors noted Zimbabwe’s fragile economic situation characterized by a growth slowdown, a large external deficit, and low international reserves. With risks on the downside, they highlighted the need to restore fiscal and external sustainability and reduce financial vulnerabilities. They emphasized that achieving sustainable and inclusive growth requires determined and comprehensive reforms. In this regard, they welcomed the authorities’ renewed commitment to implementing the staff-monitored program, which has provided a useful anchor for policies during the past year notwithstanding policy delays.

Directors encouraged the authorities to fully implement their revised fiscal plan for 2014 and be ready to take additional actions if needed, while protecting priority infrastructure and social spending. They highlighted the need to mobilize revenue, including from the diamond sector. Directors also stressed the importance of rebalancing the expenditure mix away from employment costs in order to free up resources for development. Strengthening public financial management is also crucial to prevent accumulation of new arrears.

Directors expressed concern that Zimbabwe’s external position remains precarious. They welcomed the authorities’ commitment to rebuild external buffers. They underscored the need to improve debt management and supported the strategy to seek mainly grants and highly concessional resources, while limiting non-concessional financing to critical development projects with high economic returns. They noted that strong macroeconomic policies and a comprehensive arrears clearance framework supported by development partners are essential to addressing Zimbabwe’s debt problems. They encouraged the authorities to engage in coordinated discussions with the World Bank and other international financial institutions (IFIs) and called on them to respect the preferred creditor status of IFIs, avoid selective debt service, and increase payments to the Fund’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust as capacity to repay improves.

Directors stressed that enhancing financial sector stability remains a priority. They recommended continued vigilance in monitoring weak banks and a proactive approach to ensure an orderly resolution of insolvent non-systemic banks. They noted that restructuring and recapitalizing the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe would help mitigate vulnerabilities. Directors supported the authorities’ plans to preserve the multicurrency system for the time being.

Directors took note of the staff’s assessment that the real exchange rate is overvalued. They underscored the importance of addressing structural bottlenecks to boost competitiveness and promote a sustainable external position, and highlighted the need to improve the business environment and basic infrastructure. Directors also saw a need to reduce uncertainty regarding the indigenization policy, including in the financial sector, to avoid deterring investment. Directors urged the authorities to fully implement the recent measures to boost transparency in the diamond sector and to modernize mining legislation.

Zimbabwe: Selected Economic Indicators, 2011–14

Actual Est. Proj.

2011 2012 2013 2014

Real GDP growth (annual percentage change) 1/

11.9 10.6 3.3 3.1

Nominal GDP (US$ millions) 2/

10,956 12,472 12,974 13,483

GDP deflator (annual percentage change)

3.7 3.0 0.7 0.8

Inflation (annual percentage change)

Consumer price inflation (annual average)

3.5 3.7 1.6 0.3

Consumer price inflation (end-of-period)

4.9 2.9 0.3 1.2

Central government (percent of GDP) 2/

Revenue and grants

26.7 28.0 28.8 29.8

Expenditure and net lending

29.0 29.3 31.4 31.9

Of which: cash expenditure and net lending

27.1 28.6 31.0 30.4

Of which: employment costs (incl. grants & transfers)

16.7 20.1 21.3 23.4

Overall balance (commitment basis)

-2.4 -1.3 -2.5 -2.2

Overall balance (cash basis)

-0.5 -0.6 -2.2 -0.6

Primary balance (cash basis)

-0.2 -0.4 -2.0 -0.3

Money and credit (US$ millions)

Broad money (M3)

3,100 3,694 3,888 4,011

Net foreign assets

-290 -435 -809 -744

Net domestic assets

3,391 4,129 4,697 4,754

Domestic credit (net)

2,754 3,559 3,993 3,993

Of which: credit to the private sector

2,711 3,524 3,618 3,551

Reserve money

123 273 272 280

Velocity (M3)

3.5 3.4 3.3 3.4

Balance of payments (US$ millions; unless otherwise indicated)

Merchandise exports 3/

4,421 3,808 3,572 3,812

Value growth (annual percentage change) 3/

36.1 -13.9 -6.2 6.7

Merchandise imports 3/

-7,562 -6,710 -6,952 -7,105

Value growth (annual percentage change) 3/

46.5 -11.3 3.6 2.2

Current account balance (excluding official transfers)

-3,269 -3,048 -3,613 -3,796

(percent of GDP) 2/

-29.8 -24.4 -27.8 -28.2

Overall balance 4/

123 -184 -244 -676

Official reserves (end-of-period)

Usable international reserves (US$ millions)5/

366 398 284 464

(months of imports of goods and services)

0.5 0.6 0.4 0.7

Debt (end-of-period)

Total external debt (US$ millions, e.o.p.) 6/ 7/ 8/

8,207 9,031 10,632 12,700

Percent of GDP 2/

74.9 72.4 81.9 94.2

PPG external debt (US$ millions, e.o.p.) 6/

6,243 6,680 6,834 7,101

Percent of GDP 2/

57.0 53.6 52.7 52.7

Of which: Arrears

5,076 5,286 5,420 5,575

Percent of GDP 2/

46.3 42.4 41.8 41.3

Other external debt (US$ millions, e.o.p.) 6/ 7/ 8/

1,964 2,351 3,798 5,599

Percent of GDP 2/

17.9 18.8 29.3 41.5

Sources: Zimbabwean authorities; IMF staff estimates and projections.

1/ At constant 2009 prices.

2/ Zimbabwe’s statistical agency (ZIMSTAT) recently revised the GDP series since 2009. The new GDP series are 25-30 percent higher than the old ones.

3/ Structural break in trade data in 2010. Trade data based on information from exchange control data in 2009 and customs data starting in 2010.

4/ Includes errors and omissions through 2012.

5/ Defined as the higher of Zimbabwe’s SDR holdings and gross international reserves less amounts deposited in banks’ current/RTGS accounts and statutory reserves, and amounts in SDR escrow account.

6/ Includes arrears.

7/ Debt stocks are estimates, except for the 2011 debt stock which is based on preliminary results of the authorities’ external debt reconciliation exercise concluded in January 2013.

8/ The revisions are due to new information provided by the authorities about their previous projections of withdrawn amounts

from approved foreign banks’ overdrafts.

1 Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

2 At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chairman of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country’s authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summings up can be found here: http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm.

LONDON, United-Kingdom, June 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Secretary appalled by an Egyptian court returning guilty verdicts against Egyptian and international journalists.

Reacting to the verdict, Foreign Secretary William Hague said:

“I am appalled by the guilty verdicts handed down today against Egyptian and international journalists in Egypt. Amongst those found guilty were two British journalists, Sue Turton and Dominic Kane, who were being tried in absentia. I am particularly concerned by unacceptable procedural shortcomings during the trial process, including that key prosecution evidence was not made available to the defence team. Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of a stable and prosperous society.

“We have repeatedly raised this case and the restrictions on freedom of expression in Egypt with President Al Sisi, the Egyptian Foreign Minister and wider authorities in Egypt. British Ministers and diplomats will continue to urge the Egyptian Government to demonstrate its commitment to freedom of expression by reviewing this case as a matter of urgency and I have instructed officials to summon the Egyptian Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office today.”

GENEVA, Switzerland, June 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Television coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ broke a whole host of viewing records during the first round of group matches in Brazil, highlighting the growing popularity of the competition and football around the world.

Opening matches set new audience highs for 2014 all over the world as fans watched in record numbers in countries such as Brazil, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Argentina, France, the Netherlands, Croatia and Italy. An all-time high was set in the French-speaking part of Belgium.

The viewing figures also revealed an impressive increase in the United States, Canada and Australia, where the World Cup is helping to drive interest in the game to new levels.

ESPN’s coverage broke audience records for men’s World Cup matches in the United States.

Some of the key figures include:

• 42.9 million watched Brazil and Croatia on Brazilian channel TV Globo, the highest sports broadcast of 2014

• England and Italy’s opener attracted 14.2 million on BBC1 in the UK and 12.8 million on RAI 1, the highest TV audiences in both countries in 2014

• 34.1 million watched Japan play Côte d’Ivoire on Japanese channel NHK, twice the size of the next biggest sports broadcast of 2014

• Germany’s win over Portugal reached 26.4 million on ARD in Germany, the biggest 2014 TV sports audience

• 11.1 million watched the USA v. Ghana match on ESPN in the United States – a record high for ESPN’s coverage of men’s FIFA World Cup matches

“These record-breaking figures show just how popular football and the FIFA World Cup are across the world, from Japan to Argentina,” said Niclas Ericson, Director of FIFA TV. “We are seeing highly encouraging growth in interest in markets such as the United States and Australia.”

“The FIFA broadcast production of all World Cup matches makes this competition truly global and accessible for fans all over the world. It therefore plays a crucial role in supporting FIFA’s core mission to develop football everywhere, and for all.”

FIFA, which had a net cost of about USD 150 million on the broadcast production at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, is investing heavily again this year to ensure that football fans everywhere receive the very best viewing experience of 2014 World Cup matches in Brazil.

FIFA has agreed arrangements with more than 160 main Media Rights Licensees for TV around the world, meaning all global territories are able to access the 2014 World Cup. In total, FIFA has approximately 700 licensees across TV, mobile and broadband, and radio for the World Cup.

Further impressive figures from the first round of matches are available at FIFA.com.

WASHINGTON, June 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Remarks

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Cairo, Egypt

June 22, 2014

FOREIGN MINISTER SHOUKRY: (Via interpreter) I would like to welcome U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in his current visit to Cairo. And this visit (inaudible) time. Egypt is taking steady steps to (inaudible) the implementation of the roadmap, and after having fulfilled the second election (inaudible) elections, and the assumption of power of President Fattah – Abdel Fattah al-Sisi after having won a majority that reflects the wide spectrum of voters. These elections (inaudible) closely followed by several international observers, including the United States, (inaudible). I trust that Secretary Kerry, whom I’ve known personally when I was ambassador to Washington and he was head of the Foreign Relations Committee in the Senate – we both agree that the working relationship that we’ve had in the past in which we were used to having candid conversations and very (inaudible) will continue. We will work together to broaden these meetings and cooperation between both countries. This is the same spirit that prevailed once again during this visit.

Secretary Kerry met President Adbel Fattah al-Sisi today and they discussed (inaudible) meetings with him also were all held in a positive atmosphere, and we addressed several regional and international issues of shared concern. And we also agreed that we should mobilize our efforts to confront these challenges and threats threatening the region, and also to address some of the repercussions on international peace and security, and especially the situation in Syria and Iraq and Libya, and the faltering efforts on the peace front between the Israelis and the Palestinians. All these require close cooperation and continued cooperation between the U.S. and Egypt.

Our discussions also addressed bilateral issues on several fronts. And I can say that we have reached an agreement over the need to expend more effort in order to push our strategic relations between our two countries forward, to reflect the longstanding history. And this relationship has been based on shared and common interests and mutual respect in order to enhance the chances for building on the very strong relations between the two countries, and also reflecting the size – the important role of the U.S. and Egypt as a regional power.

We also agreed that we should work at the highest level to push our mutual relationship forward based on solid grounds and to clear it of any misunderstanding, in order to reflect the strategic nature. And we also agreed on the need to work sincerely towards removing any obstacles to its further development in the interests of both countries and both people.

I am certain that Secretary Kerry believes in the importance of the relationship between the two countries and the strategic depth, and I would like to reiterate that he personally is concerned to improve them even further. Once again, I welcome the Secretary John Kerry in Cairo and give him the chance to speak.

SECRETARY KERRY: Well, thank you very much, Minister Shoukry. I’m delighted to be back in Cairo. And I want to congratulate Sameh on his assuming the role of foreign minister of Egypt. And indeed, we have worked together previously, and I look forward to continuing that and working with him as both of us perform these functions as the ministers for foreign affairs of our countries.

I came here today to reaffirm the strength of the important partnership, the historic partnership between the United States and Egypt, and also to consult on the critical situations that we face in the region – obviously, particularly Iraq, Syria and Libya. After three difficult years of transition, the United States remains deeply committed to seeing Egypt succeed. We want to see the people of Egypt succeed, and we want to contribute to the success of the region.

As President Obama told President al-Sisi after his inauguration, we are committed to working together to fulfill the full promise of Egypt’s 2011 revolution, and to support the political and economic and social aspirations of the Egyptian people as well as their universal human rights. I reiterated that message in each of my meetings today as part of a broad and a very constructive discussion of the issues, including Israeli-Palestinian relations, Egypt’s return to the African Union, and confronting the shared threats of terrorism and extremism.

I want to thank President al-Sisi for a very candid and comprehensive discussion in which we both expressed our deep concerns about a number of issues, but most importantly our mutual determination for our countries to work together in partnership in order to deal with the challenges that we face.

I emphasized also our strong support for upholding the universal rights and freedoms of all Egyptians, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. We also discussed the essential role of a vibrant civil society, a free press, and rule of law, and due process in a democracy. There is no question that Egyptian society is stronger when all of its citizens have a say and a stake in its success. And I welcome the recent statements from President al-Sisi and his call for review of human rights legislation.

We discussed the economic challenges of Egypt and I made clear President Obama’s and the United States’s commitment to be helpful in that regard.

We also discussed, as I said earlier, the grave security situation in Iraq. Over the next week, I will make the same case with other leaders that I made to President al-Sisi today. ISIL, or DASH as many people call it here, its ideology of violence and repression is a threat not only to Iraq but to the entire region. This is a critical moment where together we must urge Iraq’s leaders to rise above sectarian motivations and form a government that is united in its determination to meet the needs and speak to the demands of all of their people.

For Egypt, this is also a moment of high stakes as well as a moment of great opportunity. Perhaps the greatest challenge that the new government faces is providing economic opportunity for Egyptians who seek and deserve a better life, including the millions of young people who have played an instrumental role in their country’s historic political change. Together with our international partners, including friends in the region like the Saudis, the Emiratis, the United States will contribute and work towards the economic support and transformation of Egypt, and work to help provide stability and an economic transformation for all Egyptians.

Egypt and its people have made clear their demands for dignity, justice and for political and economic opportunity. They just had a historic election for president, and there will be further elections for the parliament. And the United States fully supports these aspirations and the efforts of the government to help fulfill its obligations in that regard. And we will stand with the Egyptian people as they fight for the future that they want and that they deserve.

So we have a lot of work to do together. We know that. We talked about that today. And I think we really found ourselves on a similar page of changes that have yet to be made, promises that have yet to be fulfilled, but of a serious sense of purpose and commitment by both of us to try to help achieve those goals.

All of the things that are happening here are happening at a moment of extraordinary change in many parts of this region, and it is imperative for all of us to work cooperatively to try to address these concerns. Likewise, we talked about the challenges of Libya and the challenge that many countries face in this region of the spillover effect of terrorism, extremism that is playing out in various countries. That is true in Libya and that is true in Iraq. And both Egypt and the United States share deep concerns and a deep opposition to the challenge that these threats of radical ideology and extremism and what they present to everybody.

So we will continue to work. We will work hard to augment what is a longstanding and deep partnership between the United States and Egypt, recognizing that we both have things to do that we can do better and that we both will work to do so. But we will do so with a common understanding of the mutual interests that we share in standing up to the greatest threat of all to this region, which is the threat of these terrorists who want to tear apart rule of law and tear away an existing governance. And neither of us have an interest in allowing that to happen.

I’d be happy to answer a few questions.

FOREIGN MINISTER SHOUKRY: (Via interpreter) (Inaudible.)

QUESTION: Thank you. A question from (inaudible) Al Arabiya magazine. And my question is for you, Secretary of State. First of all, you said that the Egyptian relation with the Americans are strategic. And yet, there is maybe a decision to decrease the aid by 26 percent. Don’t you think this give (inaudible) message to the Egyptians that the United States is trying to dictate Egypt, trying to pressure Egypt in a certain way which takes the level of the Egyptian-American relations away from being strategic? Your comment about this.

And the second point, you mentioned terrorism as the main actually threat to the United States and to the region, the Middle East. And yet, although you – the United States is saying that they are claiming that they are having efforts to combat terrorism, they are refusing to give Egypt the (inaudible) that the Egyptian are going to use to combat terrorism in Sinai. Don’t you think there is a contradiction here between words and actually actions when it comes to Egypt, and why? Thank you.

SECRETARY KERRY: Well, thank you for the question, and I’ll – I’m happy to answer both parts of it. On the first part of the question, President Obama and the Administration have proposed providing the full amount of aid, the $650 billion, that comes with the first certification, and the House of Representatives has passed that, and now it’s the Senate that had a slight reduction and a different formula. We will work that out, and I am confident that we will be able to ultimately get the full amount of aid for precisely the reasons that I describe – because it is strategic and it is important for us to be able to work together.

So I’m absolutely confident we will get on track there, as I am confident, to answer the second part of your question, that the Apaches will come and that they will come very, very soon. I had a conversation this morning even with Senator Leahy from here in Cairo, based on the conversations that we have had. I am very confident that we’ll be able to move forward and there are strong reasons for doing so. Those Apaches are focused on the issue of terrorism, and they will be used in a place where Egypt has been working very, very hard in concert with Israel and others, and with us, in order to push back against these terrorist activities.

So I think that the interests of American legislators – and I can speak to this having been one for many years – are to try and guarantee that the dollars, the taxpayer dollars of the American people that are being spent are being spent on things that Americans will feel is appropriate and meets their needs. It’s not an effort to dictate. It’s simply an effort to guarantee that that hard-earned taxpayer dollar is going to a purpose that the American people will support, and it’s really an issue of protecting that interest, not of trying to dictate to any particular country.

MODERATOR: The next question is from Margaret Brennan of CBS News.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, Iran’s Supreme Leader this morning accused the U.S. of trying to put yes men in power in Iraq, and said he’s opposed to U.S. intervention there. How is Iranian influence and backing of Maliki affecting the efforts to try to create a more inclusive government there? And what will your message be to Gulf leaders who do have influence on the ground in Iraq and may be able to stop some of the funding that is also flowing through to ISIS?

And following that, Minister, if you could tell us – U.S. officials say there are a lot of concerns about this country’s mass jailing of journalists, of those associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, and of an epidemic of sexual violence. Can you tell us if there are any assurances that you can provide that your country will prevent those?

SECRETARY KERRY: Well, with respect to the question of Iran and the Ayatollah’s comments, let me just say that the United States is not engaged in picking or choosing or advocating for any one individual or series of individuals to assume the leadership of Iraq. That is up to the Iraqi people. We have made that clear since day one. It is up to the people of Iraq to choose their future leadership. But we do note that the Kurds have expressed dissatisfaction with the current situation, the Sunni have expressed dissatisfaction with the current situation, and some Shia have expressed dissatisfaction. And Ayatollah Sistani very recently issued a statement in which he said that it was vital for the leadership of Iraq to be a leadership that did not have – did not continue the mistakes of the past and that was going to represent all of the Iraqi people.

So I think we are completely in sync with the people of Iraq, certainly with the expressed comments of various leaders. The United States would like to see the Iraqi people find leadership that is prepared to represent all of the people of Iraq, that is prepared to be inclusive and share power in a way that will maximize the ability of Iraq to focus on the real danger at this moment from an external source, which is ISIL. ISIL is a threat to all of the countries in the region. Even today in our conversation with President al-Sisi and with the foreign minister, both expressed deep concerns about the impact of a group like ISIL and what it means to the region. No country is safe from that kind of spread of terror, and none of us can afford to leave that entity with a safe haven which would become a base for terror against anyone and all, not only in the region but outside of the region as well.

So that’s what we’re focused on, and I think that’s – that really is a fair summary of not only our position but the position of other people in the region that I’ve heard.

You had a second part?

QUESTION: (Inaudible) to the Gulf countries (inaudible)?

SECRETARY KERRY: Well, the – thank you, yeah. The message to any country from anywhere or any individual from anywhere is that there is no safety margin whatsoever in funding a group like ISIL. And we particularly discourage individuals in the region who may have been sending money through some innocent charity or through various backchannel initiatives under the guise that it’s for the general welfare and benefit of people who’ve been displaced, but then that money finds its way into the hands of terrorists. So we are obviously discouraging any kind of support to entities where it is unsure where the money is going or where it is specifically going to an entity like ISIL. And that goes to any government, any charity, any individual. We must not allow that kind of funding to be made part of the – part of this equation.

FOREIGN MINISTER SHOUKRY: (Via interpreter.) (Inaudible) that the Egyptian people, which has come through three years of transition and launched two revolutions in order to fulfill its own aspirations for a democratic state that takes into consideration the interests of its own people and achieve justice and prosperity.

Now it’s important that after having completed the second point on the roadmap and the approval or ratification of the constitution and the election of the president, it’s important now that we move forward to establish a state of – that respects the rule of law. And the Egyptian people fully respect and trust its own judicial system and its ability also to deal with transparency and full neutrality to deal with all the issues and make things right, and also to preserve rights. Therefore, anybody who’s being accused has the opportunity to have fair trial and a strong defense to prove his or her innocence. And we are moving within the framework of upholding the laws that would give people the sense of stability that they need in this regard.

With respect to violence against women, we believe this phenomenon has attracted great attention here in Egypt. And following some of the most painful events that have taken place recently, there has been a law that has particularly targeted this issue. There’s also been – civil society has strongly also opposed it and the government is working in order to preserve the place of women in society and to protect them against harassment. Women are an important part of society and it’s important for them to enjoy full protection.

MODERATOR: (Via interpreter.) This is Mohammed Madov from (inaudible).

QUESTION: Thank you. This is Mohammad Madov from October Weekly Magazine and the (inaudible) website.

Mr. Secretary, I’d like to ask you about what’s your comment on the disastrous situation in Iraq and Libya that have led many people to accuse the American administration of being responsible for this situation through its role in exchanging old regimes in the region. People think that led to division of the Arab armies, terrorism, and sectarian disputes and may lead to division of the Arab countries on sectarian basis.

(Via interpreter.) With respect to the American – U.S.-Egyptian Strategic Dialogue, is there any intention to further activate it?

FOREIGN MINISTER SHOUKRY: I should go first?

SECRETARY KERRY: Go ahead.

FOREIGN MINISTER SHOUKRY: (Via interpreter) With respect to the Strategic Dialogue, this is very important initiative supported that further enhance U.S.-Egyptian relations, and we have discussed this issue during our negotiations. And we are in the process of making special arrangements to activate this initiative. This initiative will definitely positively contribute to (inaudible) the appropriate framework for this relationships in the interest of both countries in various fields. This dialogue covers all areas of cooperation between the two countries and the economic and social and also political front in the interest of the Egyptian people, and also will further enhance understanding and deepen shared interest between the two countries and get it to a point which – according to which our relations can move forward, and it also allows for the exchange of opinions on issues which require further dialogue.

MS. PSAKI: The final question —

SECRETARY KERRY: No, let me answer that if I may.

MS. PSAKI: Sorry.

SECRETARY KERRY: Let me make this as clear as I know how to make this clear. The United States of America was not responsible for what happened in Libya and nor is it responsible for what is happening in Iraq today.

What happened in Libya was that a dictator was attacking his own people and was threatening to go door to door to kill them like dogs. And the United Nations joined together in a resolution that they would have a mission to try to protect those people. And the people rose up and the people marched all the way from Benghazi, all the way to Tripoli, and they, in their own voices, in their own actions, decided they wanted a different life. And today, the United States is working with Egypt, with Tunisia, with Algeria, with Morocco, with Europe, with other countries in order to try to help Libya to be able to pushback against extremists who don’t want them to have that rule of law and that kind of life.

Let me be also clear about Iraq. What’s happening in Iraq is not happening because of the United States, in terms of this current crisis. The United States shed blood and worked hard for years to provide Iraqis the opportunity to have their own governance and have their own government. And they chose a government in several elections, and they just had another election recently. But ISIL – DASH – crossed the line from Syria, began plotting internally, and they have attacked communities and they’re the ones who are marching through to disturb this ability of the people of Iraq to continue to form their government and have the future that they want. This is about ISIL’s terrorist designs on the state of Iraq. And no one should mistake what is happening or why.

And the United States is prepared, as we have been in the past, to help Iraq be able to stand up against that. The President has made the determination, which is an accurate reflection of the American people who feel that we’ve shed our blood and we’ve done what we can to provide that opportunity, so we’re not going to put additional combat soldiers there. But we will help Iraqis to complete this transition if they choose it. If they want, they have an opportunity to choose leadership that could represent all of Iraq, a unity government that brings people together, and focus on ISIL. And I am convinced that they will do so, not just with our help, but with the help of almost every country in the region as well as others in the world who will always stand up against the tyranny of this kind of terrorist activity. That’s what’s happening in Iraq, and nobody should lose sight of it.

MS. PSAKI: The final question is from Jay Solomon of Wall Street Journal.

QUESTION: Thank you very much. Secretary Kerry, I was hoping if you could give us a sense of your meeting with President Sisi today. And did you obtain any assurances from the Egyptian leader that he’s committed to building a more inclusive government and providing more political space for Egyptian journalists, political activists, and the Muslim Brotherhood? As you probably know, more than 100 members of the Brotherhood were sentenced to death in recent days, and the trail of the Al Jazeera journalist is expected tomorrow, I believe.

And for Foreign Minister Shoukry, I was hoping you could describe in some bit your meeting with the Secretary on the situation in Iraq today. And is it the Egyptian Government’s position that Prime Minister Maliki in Iraq should resign because of his inability to reach out to the Sunni minority in that country? Thank you.

SECRETARY KERRY: Well, I had a very comprehensive discussion, Jay, with President al-Sisi about precisely those issues you’ve just raised and about many others. We talked specifically about Al Jazeera journalists. We talked specifically about the court system and death sentences. And I think it’s more appropriate for President al-Sisi to speak to those at such time as he deems fit and as is appropriate within the Egyptian process and system over the course of the next days and weeks.

But I will say to you that he gave me a very strong sense of his commitment to make certain that the process he has put in place, a reevaluation of human rights legislation, a reevaluation of the judicial process, and other choices that are available are very much on his mind, and that he’s only been in office for ten days, but he indicated to me that we should work closely, as we will, and stay tuned to what he is going to try to implement over the course of these next days, weeks, and months.

And as you know, that we think it’s important for the president to be given the opportunity – only ten days in office – to begin to get his cabinet moving and begin to focus on these issues. We have time to make that measurement and we will in the days ahead.

FOREIGN MINISTER SHOUKRY: (In Arabic.)

MODERATOR: (In Arabic.)

JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, June 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, meets with 26 delegates from 19 organizations accompanying him on a Canadian trade mission to South Africa and Tanz…

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press Briefing on Crisis in Central African Republic with MSF Head of Mission Sylvain Groulx

WHO: Sylvain Groulx, outgoing MSF head of mission, Central African Republic

WHAT: Off the record press briefing on crisis in Central African Republic;

On the record interviews will follow as desired

WHEN: 10:30 a.m., Monday, June 23, 2014

WHERE: MSF East Africa Unit office, Mayfair Centre, 4th floor; Ralph Bunche Road, Nairobi

RSVP: Please confirm your attendance to Tim Shenk, interim MSF regional

information officer, at msf-nairobi-press@msf.org or +254 722 513 981.

After more than a year and a half of armed conflict, the Central African Republic (CAR) is divided. Anti-Balaka forces dominate the west, where Muslim enclaves still exist, threatened and surrounded by armed men. Séléka forces dominate the northeast. Despite the presence of international forces, the conflict is raging on, and a front line is now established near the middle of the country, where belligerents are again targeting the civilian population — killing, burning homes and entire villages and forcing people into displacement. More than half a million people are now internally displaced, and nearly a quarter million have fled the country since December 2013 according to the UN.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is one of the largest medical and humanitarian aid providers in CAR with more than 300 international and 2,000 national staff in 21 locations across the country, plus six projects serving refugees in Chad, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Sylvain Groulx served as MSF head of mission from May 2012 to June 2014, witnessing every stage of the current crisis and meeting many of the key players in the conflict. Sylvain also worked with MSF in CAR during earlier emergencies in 2003, 2006 and 2007.

Sylvain will share his personal perspective on the complexity of the conflict, the enormous medical needs in the country, the international community’s massive neglect of the displaced population and the worrying trend of further violence as CAR prepares for elections planned in February 2015.

Sylvain will be available for interviews in English and French. Refreshments will be provided.

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar, June 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, today was in Antananarivo, Madagascar, as Canada is following the transition of the new government, a critical step in the country’s return to constitutional order and greater democratic governance grounded in the rule of law.

During a meeting with Madagascar’s Prime Minister Roger Kolo, Minister Fast underlined the sustained efforts needed to foster a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future for Madagascar.

Minister Fast welcomed the commitment to move toward the signing and ratification of the Canada-Madagascar Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement. Canada and Madagascar are also in negotiations toward a Double Taxation Agreement.

Quick Facts

• Canada’s Global Markets Action Plan identifies Madagascar as an emerging market with specific opportunities for Canadian businesses.

• Two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Madagascar reached $119 million in 2013. Canada imports mainly ores, coffee, and clothing and accessories. Top Canadian merchandise exports to Madagascar include machinery (mainly taps and valves), miscellaneous textile articles, electric machinery and equipment, and coins.

• In 2013, Madagascar’s GDP was estimated at $11.5 billion, an increase of 16.9 percent over the previous year.

• Minister Fast is visiting four sub-Saharan African countries over a 10-day period: Burkina Faso, Madagascar, South Africa and Tanzania.

Quotes

“A Canada-Madagascar investment agreement will help attract more Canadian investment to Madagascar while strengthening commercial ties between our two countries. Canada is committed to supporting the rule of law in Madagascar through the creation of a stable, transparent investment climate.”

– Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade

LONDON, United-Kingdom, June 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Secretary William Hague expresses his concern at Egyptian Court’s confirmation of 183 death sentences

Foreign Secretary William Hague said:

“I am deeply concerned by reports that an Egyptian court has confirmed death sentences for 183 people. The United Kingdom opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. These sentences damage the reputation of Egypt’s judicial system and undermine international confidence in the prospects for political stability in Egypt.

“I urge the Egyptian authorities to review these sentences and to ensure that human and legal rights are fully upheld in this case, and in the country as a whole.”

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Over 1300 High Level Participants, Ministers, Chief Justices, Economists and Civil Society Leaders from Around the World

Daily Press Events, Launches and Symposia

The UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) – the highest-level UN body ever convened on the environment – gets into gear on Monday with a busy week of plenary sessions, press conferences and media roundtables.

UNEA’s opening session will be an historic high-level event with the participation of numerous Ministers of Environment and Development. Hundreds of high-level government representatives and leaders from business, industry and civil society are also expected to attend.

UNEA enjoys universal membership of all 193 UN member states as well as other stakeholder groups. Major issues on its agenda include the illegal trade in wildlife; environmental rule of law; financing the Green Economy; and the Sustainable Development Goals and the Post-2015 Development Agenda, including sustainable consumption and production.

The first UNEA session is expected to deliver a series of outcomes that would spell out concrete actions to address the key environmental challenges discussed at UNEA.

(Watch the opening session, high-level segments and press conferences streamed live at http://www.unep.org/)

PRESS EVENTS

Press events continue throughout the week with report launches, partnership announcements and high-level speakers (see a full list of press events below). Media roundtables will also take place each day.

Monday, 23 June

10:00 – 13:00 Opening Session (Conference Rooms 2, 3, 4)

13:00 – 13:45 Opening Press Conference and Launch of UNEP Year Book

Tuesday, 24 June

13:00 – 13:45 Launch of UNEP South-South Trade and Green Economy Report

13:45 – 14:30 Launch of the UN Conference on Trade and Development World Investment Report

Wednesday, 25 June

13:00 – 13:45 Launch of the Rapid Response Assessment on Wildlife Trade

14:00 – 14:20 Signing of European Union-UNEP Memorandum of Understanding

Thursday, 26 June

08:30 – 08:45 UNDP/PAGE Partnership Agreement

09:00 – 09:45 Announcement of Regional Initiative on Illegal Timber Trade

13:00 – 13:45 Press Conference on Oceans and 40th Anniversary of UNEP Regional Seas Programme

13:45 – 14:30 Announcement of the 7th Cycle of the Zayed International Prize for the Environment

Friday, 27 June

13:00 – 13:45 Closing Press Conference

14:30 – 15:15 Group of 77 and China Press Conference

TBC Closing Session of UNEA (Conference Rooms 2,3,4)