U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASES: WEST BANK ATTACK, SUDAN'S RELEASE OF PROTESTORS, INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS AGREEMENT

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Firebomb Attack in West Bank
Press Statement
Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
August 17, 2012
The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms yesterday’s attack on a Palestinian taxi in the West Bank. We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims, among them children, and we hope for their speedy recovery. We note that the Government of Israel has also condemned this heinous attack and pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice. We look to Israeli law enforcement officials to do so expeditiously. We urge all parties to avoid any actions that could lead to an escalation of violence.
　

Government of Sudan's Release of Detained ProtestersPress Statement
Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
August 17, 2012
On August 15, the Government of Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Service announced that it will release from custody all persons detained by it during political protests in June and July. The United States welcomes this announcement, and calls upon the Government of Sudan to respect its citizens’ rights, including freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. We hope that this can be the first step in a necessary process of dialogue and reconciliation between the Government of Sudan and advocates for peaceful, democratic reform.

In particular, we welcome the release of U.S. legal permanent resident Rudwan Dawod, whose case attracted significant attention across America. Earlier this week, we expressed our concern about Mr. Dawod’s case when he was detained after being released by a judge who had found him "not guilty" of the most serious charges leveled against him. We appreciate that the Government of Sudan complied with the decision by its court to release him.
　

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Signs Cooperative Agreements with Several U.S. State Corrections Departments
Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
August 16, 2012
The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) is entering into cooperative agreements with the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, New Mexico Corrections Department, Rhode Island Department of Corrections, and Wisconsin Department of Corrections. Under these cooperative agreements, the agencies will work in close collaboration with the INL team of corrections subject matter experts and country program officers to develop and deliver training and technical assistance high-quality, effective training, and technical assistance to foreign partners in the United States and overseas in corrections systems and operations. The cooperative agreements will work towards establishing relationships with partner nations that will facilitate future interactions with the same or new partner nations and capture information that can be used to evaluate and improve training and technical assistance programs.

These cooperative agreements will establish the mechanisms by which INL will be able to solicit and award cooperative agreements for specific projects under these partnerships.