U.S. STATEMENT ON "WORLD REFUGEE DAY"

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

World Refugee Day
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
June 20, 2013　


Today, the United States joins the international community in honoring the resilience, courage, and determination of refugees all over the world, and the work of many countries in providing refuge, both temporary and permanent.

This year, the crisis in Syria has led to more than 4.25 million Syrians being displaced internally, more than 1.5 million becoming refugees, and millions more caught up in the unspeakable violence. Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey have opened their borders to those fleeing the bloodshed. We appreciate their generosity in hosting uprooted people and families, whether in refugee camps or local communities, and are proud that the United States is at the forefront of international efforts to provide humanitarian assistance.

The United States is the single largest donor to refugee relief efforts around the world, working to care for refugees displaced by other conflicts, including in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, and Sudan, and we have helped address protracted refugee situations around the world, including those affecting Afghans, Burmese, Colombians, and Somalis.

We have seen some progress this year, thanks to the hard work and commitment of diplomats and aid workers everywhere, including staff of the organizations we support, such as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and many nongovernmental organizations. In 2012, two of the most protracted refugee situations in Africa came to a close, with Liberia and Angola now stable after bitter civil wars. We have also taken extra steps to ensure greater protection for refugees against sexual violence and exploitation.

The United States has a proud tradition of welcoming those fleeing violence and persecution, including more than 58,000 refugees from 66 countries who were resettled to the United States in fiscal year 2012 and the nearly 70,000 refugees who are expected to arrive in the United States in the coming fiscal year to rebuild their lives. Their presence makes our country more diverse, our culture richer, and our national character stronger.

SOCOM COMMANDER SAYS U.S TRIES TEACHING FOREIGN NATION FORCES ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Special Operations Commander, Congress Evaluate Human Rights Law
By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 6, 2013 - The commander of U.S. Special Operations Command responded to lawmakers' questions about the Leahy Amendment, which prohibits U.S. military assistance to foreign military units that violate human rights and restricts U.S. aid to abusive security forces overseas.

Navy Adm. William H. McRaven told the House Armed Services Committee that the "poison person, poison unit" policy mandates human rights vetting and applies to all U.S. military and law enforcement assistance worldwide.

Committee members referred to recent incidents in Mali, where some of that nation's soldiers allegedly engaged in torture, summary executions, and kidnapping since fighting in northern Mali resumed in January 2013.

"We try to teach [foreign nation forces] what we think right looks like [from] good order and discipline, to civilian rules of the military to human rights," McRaven said.

Socom units face the ongoing challenge of working with international partners to strengthen accountability efforts and civilian protection to help prevent further abuses.

But the law, the admiral acknowledged, inherently restricts special operations from offering assistance to units that may require U.S. assistance to practice ethical behavior.

"If the individual has committed a human rights violation, then by default we have to go back, relook the entire unit [and] potentially step away from that unit ... at a time when we probably need to engage them more than ever before," McRaven said.

McRaven assured legislators that U.S. forces conduct appropriate human rights vetting in accordance to the law and policy.

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT ON UN RESOLUTION REGARDING MALI

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Situation in Mali

Press Statement

Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

July 6, 2012

The United States welcomes the unanimous adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2056 on Mali, which registers the international community's grave concern about the serious threat to the stability posed by the situation there.

The United States calls on the interim government to issue its roadmap for elections without delay so that preparations can begin in earnest to restore democratically elected civilian governance to Mali prior to May 2013, as set forth by the Economic Community of West African States’ Communiqué on April 26 (ECOWAS). We reiterate our call for the military-led National Committee for the Restoration of Democracy (CNRD) to be dissolved and for its members to refrain from any interference in political matters and in the work of the transitional authorities. We call on the rebel groups in northern Mali to renounce any connection with terrorist groups and enter into legitimate political negotiations.

MILITARY TAKES OVER MALI

The following excerpt is from a Department of State e-mail:
Situation in Mali
Press StatementVictoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DC
March 22, 2012

The United States condemns the military seizure of power in Mali. We echo the statements of the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States and other international partners denouncing these actions. We call for calm and the restoration of the civilian government under constitutional rule without delay, so that elections can proceed as scheduled.
We stand with the legitimately elected government of President Amadou Toumani Touré. Mali is a leading democracy in West Africa and its institutions must be respected.