FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Release of the 2012 International Religious Freedom Report
Special Briefing
Suzan Johnson Cook
Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
Washington, DC
May 20, 2013
AMBASSADOR COOK: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. It’s an honor to serve you.
Good morning. The 2012 International Religious Freedom Report provides a factual rendering of the status of religious freedom around the world. Religious freedom is essential for a stable, peaceful, and thriving society. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrines the freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. This is the standard against which we assess religious freedom and the International Religious Freedom Report. This report seeks to advance religious freedom by shining a spotlight on abuses and violations. As Secretary Kerry said, when a country fails to provide equal protection of religious freedom for all, the groundwork is laid for political instability and sectarian violence. When a government favors one group or set of beliefs and restricts the rights of others, some in society may take that as tacit approval to further target marginalized groups.
As this report makes clear, much work remains to be done. Secretary Kerry just described some of the most troubling trends, and please let me note some others. Thousands of people around the world are jailed because of what they believe or don’t believe. In Iran, more than 116 Baha’is are in prison for teaching and expressing their faith, and many Christians, Sufis, and Sunnis are facing similar treatment. Additionally, a Christian pastor named Saeed Abedini, who is an American and Iranian citizen, was sentenced to eight years in prison just for his beliefs. In Eritrea, people are detained on account of their religious beliefs. Some have reportedly died due to torture or lack of medical treatment. We seek the release of all individuals detained or imprisoned because of their beliefs.
Many governments fail to prosecute the perpetrators of crimes motivated by religious animosity, creating a climate of impunity that fueled further discrimination and violence. In Egypt, the government failed to appropriately investigate and prosecute perpetrators and often did not effectively intervene when sectarian violence arose. In Pakistan, religious minorities continue to encounter societal discrimination and violence, and authorities frequently fail to arrest the perpetrators. As sectarian violence claims more lives each year in Pakistan, over 200 Shia were killed in the first two months of this year alone. In Nigeria, elements of the extremist sect Boko Haram claimed the lives of both Christians and Muslims. The government response has involved gross violations of human rights of a civilian population and deepened impunity.
Governments must fulfill their responsibility to condemn religious intolerance and bring to justice perpetrators of abuses. Just last month, I traveled to China where I pressed government officials to uphold the right to religious freedom for all and to stop abusing this universal right. The government restricts the practices of many groups, including Tibetan Buddhists, Uighur Muslims, unregistered Christian congregations, and Falun Gong practitioners. In 2012, 83 Tibetans chose to self-immolate to protest Chinese policies. The total number now is over 100. We urge governments to protect the rights of all to hold, express, or change their faith without fear.
In Syria, the government targeted faith groups it deemed a threat, including members of the country’s Sunni majority and religious minorities. Such targeting included killing, detention, and harassment. Syria – excuse me – Syria Orthodox Archbishop Yohanna Ibrahim and Greek Orthodox Archbishop Paul Yazigi were kidnapped April 22nd by persons unknown, and still remain missing.
Societal intolerance against religious minorities is on the rise. Too often this intolerance finds expression in acts of violence, vandalism, and desecration. In Iraq, extremists target religious ceremonies, leading people not to attend services out of fear for their safety. And sectarian violence directed at Muslims spread to central Burma in March 2013, resulting in casualties, displacement, and the destruction of places of worship.
Anti-Semitic rhetoric persists in some Middle Eastern media and too often appears in public discourse in some countries in Europe, especially where anti-Semitic parties have gained seats in parliaments. We continue to see violent attacks against Jews in Europe, and I look forward now to working with my new colleague Ira Forman, who was introduced to you by Secretary Kerry. I look forward to working with him to combat this pernicious problem.
Anti-Muslim sentiment and discrimination are evident in places as diverse as Europe and Asia. We call on societies and governments to foster tolerance and hold perpetrators of violence accountable.
We also partner with members of international communities to support religious freedom, to protect religious minorities, and to safeguard freedom of expression. We particularly advocate engaging women and youth on religious freedom as their voices are a positive force for change.
Violations of religious freedom easily capture the world’s attention, so I therefore want to highlight some positive developments that tend to fly under the media radar. Although governments’ restrictions on religious freedom remain in Vietnam, the government took a step forward by allowing large-scale worship services with more than 100,000 participants.
Turkey – they loosened its restrictions on religious attire, allowing female students to wear headscarves in certain religious classes and in certain Islamic schools. As you will see and read, the challenges are daunting. But we remain committed to working tirelessly to ensure religious freedom for all.
I thank you and I will be happy to take your questions.
MR. HENSMAN: Ambassador Johnson Cook has a few minutes for a couple questions. Why don’t we start with --
QUESTION: Thank you, Ambassador. The State Department has been issuing these reports for a long time. Apart from shaming publicly these countries, if they can be shamed, have you detected any change in their behavior over the years? And how does the State Department deal with allies like the Secretary mentioned, like Turkey, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, for being practiced in religious intolerance in varied degrees?
AMBASSADOR COOK: Well, for the first part of the question, in some cases there is change and progress. As I noted in the closing, there was progress in certain countries. Specifically, there was also places where the trends are not increasing and not doing well, and they’re going downward. So we look at the countries that – of particular concern that you’re talking about, that continue to have egregious, ongoing, systematic acts. And so we use different tools. Sometimes they’re sanctioned; sometimes they’re put on the CPC list. It depends on what happens. But we hope that people will take small steps for progress, because what we ultimately want is religious freedom for all in every country.
MR. HENSMAN: Lalit.
QUESTION: Thank you for doing this. The Secretary’s opening remarks mentioned about Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists increasingly facing protest and their religious freedom are being attacked in the various countries of the world. Do you know which are the countries? Have you identified the countries where Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists are facing problems in exercising their right to religious freedom?
AMBASSADOR COOK: Well, there are several countries. I think – I will refer you to the report, because there are several countries. We don’t want to highlight one particular one. Is there a country that you have a particular concern about?
QUESTION: I have seen some media reports about Pakistan, Afghanistan, about Hindus in Fiji. Do you know any other country where –
AMBASSADOR COOK: Well, in those particular countries, we certainly are concerned about religious minorities, Hindus as well as others. And so we press the governments – we urge the governments to allow religious freedom for all.
MR. HENSMAN: Samir.
QUESTION: Can you tell us what’s new, what’s different from the previous report? And is there any countries you consider sanctioning them?
AMBASSADOR COOK: Well, this is the report for 2012. So every year – I refer you to the report in terms of how they progress. I would say there are certain countries that we’re looking at, as I cited in the end of my remarks, like Vietnam, who have made progress in terms of having – allowing large places of worship. I think each country has its situations, and there are countries that are doing very well.
I had the opportunity, the fortunate opportunity, to visit Saudi Arabia and China, who have been on the Countries of Particular Concern List, as well as Uzbekistan. And so we’ve tried to make small steps. There are some governments that are not moving whatsoever, and particularly in Saudi Arabia they don’t allow non-Islamic persons to have freedom of religion.
So each year is situational, and we progress and we look at all 199 countries, and I think the report will speak for itself.
QUESTION: So do you see progress by the Saudis?
AMBASSADOR COOK: They don’t allow any non-Islamic persons to have religious freedom, so I don’t see progress there.
QUESTION: Like last report.
AMBASSADOR COOK: Their report is very close to where it was last year, very much so. What happened was, though, I was allowed a visit, and so that’s a beginning. We want to continue to be engaged with them.
QUESTION: Yes, please. Ambassador, the Secretary raised the issue of blasphemy. As a matter of fact, become an issue even in a place like Egypt, for example, when like Coptic Egyptian – beside Coptic Egyptian, even Muslims sometimes face this charge of blasphemy. How we are going to handle this issue or record it or even make a report about it?
AMBASSADOR COOK: Well, at all high levels our government has been involved in Egypt, since you cited that, at all high levels across government. We are very concerned. We want to hold accountability for those who are perpetrators of violence. We want to make sure that there’s protection of religious minorities, including Coptic Christians – especially Coptic Christians. And where there’s possibility of reform of laws, we want that to happen. Egypt, as you know, is dealing with a new constitution. As we see it right now, there’s not much room for religious freedom. But we continue to press the government, and as I said, at all levels – high levels – our government has been intervening there.
MR. HENSMAN: Goyal.
QUESTION: Madam, thank you. Burma’s President is here today in the White House, and so in Pakistan new Prime Minister will be there tomorrow. My question is on these two countries before I will one question. That – do you see any change in Burma? Or what message you think this report will have for the President of Burma today while he in U.S.? And also, as far as Pakistan is concerned, as I said, the new Prime Minister Mr. Nawaz Sharif, who is very close to the religious people in Pakistan, do you see any change under his administration since he will be the third-time prime minister of Pakistan?
AMBASSADOR COOK: Okay. Let me just say again, the report is for 2012. On Burma, we didn’t see any improvement in religious freedom. And as long as there’s no improvement of religious freedom, the sanctions will still remain in terms of religious freedom.
In terms of Pakistan, there’s a new government, there’s a new leadership, and I think it remains to be seen how people handle it. As to the question previously, blasphemy is very important to us, and there are many who are being held in prisons still – Asia Bibi and others – about 20 others who are in prison because of their belief. So we have to see what this new government will do. We certainly encourage him and will urge him to again hold accountable the perpetrators of violence and to make sure that there’s protection of religious minorities. And so that’s going to be very important. Human rights is a very high priority for this Administration.
QUESTION: And finally, Madam, on India, how much advice have you taken, as far as this report is concerned, from the international freedom religious commission of the U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom? Because this commission has again – once again – addressed and also is urging the State Department that visas should not be issued to Mr. Narendra Modi, who is the chief minister of the Indian state of Gujarat, who is seeking to come to the U.S. But some of these groups here, including this commission, are still against his arrival in the U.S.
AMBASSADOR COOK: Thank you for your question. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, to whom you referred, is an independent commission, also mandated by Congress but they’re an independent commission. So that their references and suggestions are certainly taken into account when we do our reports, but in terms of what they designate, I refer you to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, or USCIRF.
MR. HENSMAN: Let’s do one last question.
QUESTION: If I could follow-up on Burma, please? The report mentions that there have been these political changes, this sort of opening up of society and the political system somewhat, and yet you see no improvement in the religious restrictions there. And on the contrary, you’ve actually seen a sort of spike of religious violence targeting various groups in that country. And this question might even apply to other countries, in Egypt and so forth, where there have been political transitions that seem to have led to increased religious tension or violence. Is that your sense, and why would that be?
AMBASSADOR COOK: Well, it’s not for me to determine what my sense is. I guess what you’re asking is, why does this continue to happen in these countries? As we said, in Burma particularly, we see societal and economic – some reform there. But as religious freedom, we haven’t seen much reform. At high levels, again, our Secretary went, and our Assistant Secretary and others went there. We continue to try to engage the government on religious freedom, but at this particular time there has not been an improvement there.
We want to look at – I think the immediate cause is looking at what are the root causes, the systemic causes of this, and we will continue as an office to do that for all 199 countries and watch the trends. Again, we take our information from many sources, but we will monitor the situation closely and where possible, where there’s diplomatic engagement possibilities, we will certainly engage.
MR. HENSMAN: Thank you, everyone.
QUESTION: Thank you, Ambassador.
AMBASSADOR COOK: Thank you.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
HHS PROPOSES NEW RULE TO ENHANCE CHILDREN'S SAFTEY
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
May 16, 2013
HHS announces actions to improve safety and quality of child care
Helping to answer President Obama’s call to ensure quality early education for every American child, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed today a new regulation for public comment that will better ensure children’s health and safety in child care and promote school readiness. Under the proposed rule, states, territories and tribes would be required to strengthen their standards to better promote the health, safety and school readiness of children in federally funded child care.
Millions of working parents depend on child care and assume certain safety requirements are already in place for their children, but standards vary widely across the states. Many states do not enforce even basic standards such as fingerprinting, background checks and first aid training for providers. This puts our children at risk.
"Many children already benefit from the excellent care of high-quality child care providers who are meeting or exceeding the proposed requirements," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "However, too many children remain in settings that do not meet minimum standards of health and safety. These basic rules ensure that providers take necessary basic steps to shield children from an avoidable tragedy."
The proposed rule would only apply directly to child care providers who accept Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) funds. More than 500,000 providers serve about 1.6 million low-income children through CCDF. Many more children would benefit, however, because the providers also serve non-CCDF children.
Under the proposed rule, states would require that all CCDF-funded child care providers:
Receive health and safety trainings in specific areas
Comply with applicable state and local fire, health and building codes
Receive comprehensive background checks (including fingerprinting)
Receive on-site monitoring
The rule would also require states to share information with parents through user-friendly websites about provider health, safety and licensing information. While some states already post health and safety reports online, the new rule would bring all states up to this standard.
"Parents know the needs of their own children," said Shannon Rudisill, director of the Office of Child Care. "However, parents don’t always have enough information to help them make the right choice when choosing a child care provider. This proposal would give parents the necessary tools to choose quality care that fully meets their needs."
While the proposed rule establishes new minimum standards, it also recognizes the need for innovation and flexibility and allows states and communities to tailor their specific approaches to best meet the needs of the children and families they serve. The rule would not change or impede a state’s ability to license child care providers as they see fit.
The administration continues to work with Congress to reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant, which was last reauthorized in 1996. This rule does not take the place of reauthorization, but rather proposes long overdue reforms to better ensure that low-income working families have access to safe, high-quality child care that is essential for healthy early childhood development.
HHS is requesting the public’s input on this proposed regulation. The comment process, which lasts for 75 days, allows for feedback on the proposed rule.
May 16, 2013
HHS announces actions to improve safety and quality of child care
Helping to answer President Obama’s call to ensure quality early education for every American child, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed today a new regulation for public comment that will better ensure children’s health and safety in child care and promote school readiness. Under the proposed rule, states, territories and tribes would be required to strengthen their standards to better promote the health, safety and school readiness of children in federally funded child care.
Millions of working parents depend on child care and assume certain safety requirements are already in place for their children, but standards vary widely across the states. Many states do not enforce even basic standards such as fingerprinting, background checks and first aid training for providers. This puts our children at risk.
"Many children already benefit from the excellent care of high-quality child care providers who are meeting or exceeding the proposed requirements," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "However, too many children remain in settings that do not meet minimum standards of health and safety. These basic rules ensure that providers take necessary basic steps to shield children from an avoidable tragedy."
The proposed rule would only apply directly to child care providers who accept Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) funds. More than 500,000 providers serve about 1.6 million low-income children through CCDF. Many more children would benefit, however, because the providers also serve non-CCDF children.
Under the proposed rule, states would require that all CCDF-funded child care providers:
Comply with applicable state and local fire, health and building codes
Receive comprehensive background checks (including fingerprinting)
Receive on-site monitoring
The rule would also require states to share information with parents through user-friendly websites about provider health, safety and licensing information. While some states already post health and safety reports online, the new rule would bring all states up to this standard.
"Parents know the needs of their own children," said Shannon Rudisill, director of the Office of Child Care. "However, parents don’t always have enough information to help them make the right choice when choosing a child care provider. This proposal would give parents the necessary tools to choose quality care that fully meets their needs."
While the proposed rule establishes new minimum standards, it also recognizes the need for innovation and flexibility and allows states and communities to tailor their specific approaches to best meet the needs of the children and families they serve. The rule would not change or impede a state’s ability to license child care providers as they see fit.
The administration continues to work with Congress to reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant, which was last reauthorized in 1996. This rule does not take the place of reauthorization, but rather proposes long overdue reforms to better ensure that low-income working families have access to safe, high-quality child care that is essential for healthy early childhood development.
HHS is requesting the public’s input on this proposed regulation. The comment process, which lasts for 75 days, allows for feedback on the proposed rule.
STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL MAKES REMARKS IN JAPAN ON NORTH KOREAN POLICY
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Remarks at Narita Airport
Remarks
Glyn Davies
Special Representative for North Korea Policy
Tokyo, Japan
May 18, 2013
AMBASSADOR DAVIES: Thanks for coming. Let me say a few things at the beginning, then I’m happy to take a few questions from you. What I would like to do is to report to you on my visit to Tokyo. It was a quick visit, but very productive. I had yesterday seven meetings with various officials. At the Abductions Ministry you know I met with Secretary General Mitani, Chairman Nukaga. I met Chairman Kawai at the Diet, and at the Kantei I had some useful meetings with Special Advisor Isozaki and Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanehara. At the Foreign Ministry, Deputy Minister Saiki made time to see me in his busy schedule, which I very much appreciate. And of course the centerpiece of my visit was my meeting with Director General Sugiyama, to follow up my late Thursday meeting that I had with him at the Foreign Ministry. I thank him very much for his hospitality. I thank all of the officials in Tokyo for their insights and their assurances. I found these meetings to be both useful and timely.
Now, in terms of the context of my visit and of these discussions, let me say this: We in the United States, and indeed I believe many who follow North Korea, expected sooner or later that North Korea would shift from the threats and belligerency of recent months, in some respects an almost unprecedented succession of unacceptable, dangerous acts and pronouncements with which you are all familiar. The December missile test, the February nuclear test, all of the threats not just to the United States, but also to the Republic of Korea, Japan, and China - you know as well as I the long list of recent provocations. We knew that North Korea would eventually shift their strategy to that of seeking engagement, in an effort to split us and to exploit any difference in our respective national positions.
What I would like to report to you about my meetings here is that they helped increase my confidence that the Government of Japan is fully aware of the challenges and pitfalls of engaging North Korea. I received assurances about the centrality of denuclearization to our collective efforts to engage North Korea on the right terms, in other words, to convince North Korea that it has no choice but to live up to its long-standing commitments and obligations to take steps to abandon nuclear weapons and indeed, to abandon its pursuit of missile technologies.
And let me say a word as I always do about the issue of abductions. The United States stands squarely with the families of the abductees and the people of Japan on this issue. It must be addressed by North Korea. We will continue to raise [this issue] at every opportunity with senior North Koreans. There can be no comprehensive resolution to all of the issues relating to North Korea unless the abductions are satisfactorily addressed. And we will indeed, as I have said many times before, never forget the suffering of the families. Let me again extend my thanks to counterparts in the Government of Japan for receiving me so well, and for such useful and timely meetings. And with that I’m happy to take a couple of questions.
QUESTION: Ambassador, are you saying that this visit by Mr. Iijima to Pyongyang is an effort by the North Koreans to split up your coalition, and what assurances did you get from the Japanese government that this won’t be the case?
AMBASSADOR DAVIES: Well, what I don’t want to do is get into commenting directly on this issue of the Iijima visit. And that is because, like the rest of you, I am suffering from a deficit of information. I simply don’t know much at all about the visit, I’ve seen the reporting from North Korea but my understanding is that Mr. Iijima has only just come back from Pyongyang and from Beijing and is now reporting to Japanese authorities. So we look forward to getting a report on what it was he discussed, and I think what we’ll do is we’ll take it from there.
QUESTION: I think you learned more about Mr. Iijima’s visit to North Korea, also in yesterday’s meetings with several Japanese officials. Now how do you understand the reason why Japan has sent Iijima to North Korea, and did you express some concerns to Japanese officials about Iijima’s trip, because it might have a negative impact on your effort to apply pressure on North Korea.
AMBASSADOR DAVIES: I understand the question, and it’s a very legitimate question. But I would suggest that at this stage, this is not so much a question for me. I think that’s a question that you may put to your own authorities. What I do not want to do is get into the business of betraying the confidences that were extended to me by these gentlemen that I met with yesterday. If I were to betray those confidences, then I would be acting like North Korea, and I don’t want to do that.
QUESTION: What kind of consultations will you be having with the Japanese moving forward?
AMBASSADOR DAVIES: I think we’ll continue to have consultations with the Japanese, both through their Embassy in Washington and through our Embassy here, and also at the level of senior officials between capitals. One of the undertakings that I received from my meetings with Japanese officials is that of course they would convey to us in detail information about the Iijima trip. So we expect that it will happen, and I very much look forward to that. How about one more quick question?
QUESTION: What conditions do you think are necessary for the Japanese Government in trying to move this abduction issue forward? Do you expect to see some action from the North Koreans?
AMBASSADOR DAVIES: It would be quite improper for me as an American diplomat to try and interpose myself into this issue from the standpoint of the Japanese Government. The Japanese government, we respect them, we have excellent relations with Japan, a close ally and friend, so we’ll see going forward what might have developed from this visit. But I am not going to suggest strategies and tactics other than simply to say what I have already said, that we in the United States believe that this issue of denuclearization, because it is the foundation issue, the corner issue of the Six-Party Process, is one that we must all continue to work on. Which does not mean that all of the other issues are not also exceedingly important.
There can’t be a comprehensive solution to the North Korea issue, all of these issues, until we find a way collectively to convince North Korea that it has no choice but to live up to its obligations and commitments. You’ve all heard me speak to that many, many times. I want to thank you very much for coming to the airport, I’m sorry it’s such a long trip for you to come out here. I’ve enjoyed my visit to Tokyo, the weather’s been beautiful, and I look forward very much to coming back some point in the near future. Thank you very much.
Remarks at Narita Airport
Remarks
Glyn Davies
Special Representative for North Korea Policy
Tokyo, Japan
May 18, 2013
AMBASSADOR DAVIES: Thanks for coming. Let me say a few things at the beginning, then I’m happy to take a few questions from you. What I would like to do is to report to you on my visit to Tokyo. It was a quick visit, but very productive. I had yesterday seven meetings with various officials. At the Abductions Ministry you know I met with Secretary General Mitani, Chairman Nukaga. I met Chairman Kawai at the Diet, and at the Kantei I had some useful meetings with Special Advisor Isozaki and Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanehara. At the Foreign Ministry, Deputy Minister Saiki made time to see me in his busy schedule, which I very much appreciate. And of course the centerpiece of my visit was my meeting with Director General Sugiyama, to follow up my late Thursday meeting that I had with him at the Foreign Ministry. I thank him very much for his hospitality. I thank all of the officials in Tokyo for their insights and their assurances. I found these meetings to be both useful and timely.
Now, in terms of the context of my visit and of these discussions, let me say this: We in the United States, and indeed I believe many who follow North Korea, expected sooner or later that North Korea would shift from the threats and belligerency of recent months, in some respects an almost unprecedented succession of unacceptable, dangerous acts and pronouncements with which you are all familiar. The December missile test, the February nuclear test, all of the threats not just to the United States, but also to the Republic of Korea, Japan, and China - you know as well as I the long list of recent provocations. We knew that North Korea would eventually shift their strategy to that of seeking engagement, in an effort to split us and to exploit any difference in our respective national positions.
What I would like to report to you about my meetings here is that they helped increase my confidence that the Government of Japan is fully aware of the challenges and pitfalls of engaging North Korea. I received assurances about the centrality of denuclearization to our collective efforts to engage North Korea on the right terms, in other words, to convince North Korea that it has no choice but to live up to its long-standing commitments and obligations to take steps to abandon nuclear weapons and indeed, to abandon its pursuit of missile technologies.
And let me say a word as I always do about the issue of abductions. The United States stands squarely with the families of the abductees and the people of Japan on this issue. It must be addressed by North Korea. We will continue to raise [this issue] at every opportunity with senior North Koreans. There can be no comprehensive resolution to all of the issues relating to North Korea unless the abductions are satisfactorily addressed. And we will indeed, as I have said many times before, never forget the suffering of the families. Let me again extend my thanks to counterparts in the Government of Japan for receiving me so well, and for such useful and timely meetings. And with that I’m happy to take a couple of questions.
QUESTION: Ambassador, are you saying that this visit by Mr. Iijima to Pyongyang is an effort by the North Koreans to split up your coalition, and what assurances did you get from the Japanese government that this won’t be the case?
AMBASSADOR DAVIES: Well, what I don’t want to do is get into commenting directly on this issue of the Iijima visit. And that is because, like the rest of you, I am suffering from a deficit of information. I simply don’t know much at all about the visit, I’ve seen the reporting from North Korea but my understanding is that Mr. Iijima has only just come back from Pyongyang and from Beijing and is now reporting to Japanese authorities. So we look forward to getting a report on what it was he discussed, and I think what we’ll do is we’ll take it from there.
QUESTION: I think you learned more about Mr. Iijima’s visit to North Korea, also in yesterday’s meetings with several Japanese officials. Now how do you understand the reason why Japan has sent Iijima to North Korea, and did you express some concerns to Japanese officials about Iijima’s trip, because it might have a negative impact on your effort to apply pressure on North Korea.
AMBASSADOR DAVIES: I understand the question, and it’s a very legitimate question. But I would suggest that at this stage, this is not so much a question for me. I think that’s a question that you may put to your own authorities. What I do not want to do is get into the business of betraying the confidences that were extended to me by these gentlemen that I met with yesterday. If I were to betray those confidences, then I would be acting like North Korea, and I don’t want to do that.
QUESTION: What kind of consultations will you be having with the Japanese moving forward?
AMBASSADOR DAVIES: I think we’ll continue to have consultations with the Japanese, both through their Embassy in Washington and through our Embassy here, and also at the level of senior officials between capitals. One of the undertakings that I received from my meetings with Japanese officials is that of course they would convey to us in detail information about the Iijima trip. So we expect that it will happen, and I very much look forward to that. How about one more quick question?
QUESTION: What conditions do you think are necessary for the Japanese Government in trying to move this abduction issue forward? Do you expect to see some action from the North Koreans?
AMBASSADOR DAVIES: It would be quite improper for me as an American diplomat to try and interpose myself into this issue from the standpoint of the Japanese Government. The Japanese government, we respect them, we have excellent relations with Japan, a close ally and friend, so we’ll see going forward what might have developed from this visit. But I am not going to suggest strategies and tactics other than simply to say what I have already said, that we in the United States believe that this issue of denuclearization, because it is the foundation issue, the corner issue of the Six-Party Process, is one that we must all continue to work on. Which does not mean that all of the other issues are not also exceedingly important.
There can’t be a comprehensive solution to the North Korea issue, all of these issues, until we find a way collectively to convince North Korea that it has no choice but to live up to its obligations and commitments. You’ve all heard me speak to that many, many times. I want to thank you very much for coming to the airport, I’m sorry it’s such a long trip for you to come out here. I’ve enjoyed my visit to Tokyo, the weather’s been beautiful, and I look forward very much to coming back some point in the near future. Thank you very much.
Monday, May 20, 2013
SWIMMING POOL OR TOILET? YOU DECIDE
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| Photo Credit: Wikimedia. |
CDC study finds fecal contamination in pools
A study of public pools done during last summer’s swim season found that feces are frequently introduced into pool water by swimmers. Through the study, released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), researchers found germs in samples of pool filter water collected from public pools.
CDC collected samples of water from pool filters from public pools and tested the samples for genetic material (for example, DNA) of multiple microbes. The study found that 58 percent of the pool filter samples tested were positive for E. coli, bacteria normally found in the human gut and feces. The E. coli is a marker for fecal contamination.
Finding a high percentage of E. coli-positive filters indicates swimmers frequently contaminate pool water when they have a fecal incident in the water or when feces rinse off of their bodies because they do not shower thoroughly before getting into the water. No samples tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, a toxin-producing E. coli strain that causes illness.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, whichcan cause skin rashes and ear infections, was detected in 59 percent of samples. Finding Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the water indicates natural environmental contamination or contamination introduced by swimmers. Cryptosporidium and Giardia, germs that are spread through feces and cause diarrhea, were found in less than 2 percent of samples. The tests used in the study do not indicate whether the detected germs were alive or able to cause infections. Indoor and outdoor public pools were sampled.
The study did not address water parks, residential pools or other types of recreational water. The study does not allow CDC to make conclusions about all pools in the United States. However, it is unlikely that swimmer-introduced contamination, or swimmer hygiene practices, differ between pools in the study and those in the rest of the country.
"Swimming is an excellent way to get the physical activity needed to stay healthy," said Michele Hlavsa, chief of CDC’s Healthy Swimming Program. "However, pool users should be aware of how to prevent infections while swimming. Remember, chlorine and other disinfectants don’t kill germs instantly. That’s why it’s important for swimmers to protect themselves by not swallowing the water they swim in and to protect others by keeping feces and germs out of the pool by taking a pre-swim shower and not swimming when ill with diarrhea."
This study is presented in recognition of Recreational Water Illness and Injury Prevention Week, May 20–26, 2013. The goal of the prevention week is to raise awareness about healthy swimming, including ways to prevent recreational water illnesses (RWIs). Germs that cause RWIs are spread by swallowing, breathing in the mists or aerosols from, or having contact with contaminated water in swimming pools, water parks, hot tubs, interactive fountains, water play areas, lakes, rivers, or oceans.
ISAF NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR MAY 20, 2013
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| U.S. Army 1st Lt. Robert Wolfe, left, and U.S. Army Spc. Matt Cullen, right, use the optic lens on their weapons to scan for security threats from the fourth floor of a building during a meeting with the Farah City mayor at his office in Farah City, Afghanistan, May 14, 2013. Wolfe, a platoon leader, and Cullen are assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Josh Ives |
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Afghan, Coalition Forces Arrest Insurgents in Khost Province
Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases
WASHINGTON, May 20, 2013 - A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested three insurgents today during a search for an insurgent leader with ties to the Taliban and Haqqani terrorist networks in the Sabari district of Afghanistan's Khost province, military officials reported.
The leader finances insurgent networks, plans and executes assassinations of Afghan civilians, uses his home as a staging point for insurgent operations, and obtains weapons and equipment for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.
The security force also seized ammunition in the operation.
In Afghanistan operations yesterday:
-- A combined force in Jowzjan province's Khanaqa district killed two insurgents during a search for a senior Taliban leader who is responsible for illegal tax collection in Jowzjan and Balkh provinces to fund Taliban operations and has assassinated village elders who resisted. He also facilitates the movement of weapons and equipment for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.
-- Afghan special forces soldiers and coalition forces killed two insurgents and detained another in Herat province's Shindand district after they were fired upon while en route to a meeting with religious leaders.
-- A combined force in Paktia province's Gardez district arrested a Haqqani network improvised explosive device expert who directs and executes attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The security force also arrested four other insurgents and seized three rifles.
-- In Nangarhar province's Khugyani district, a combined force arrested five insurgents during a search for a senior Taliban leader who oversees a group involved in ambushes, IED operations and attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also facilitates the movement of weapons and serves as an intelligence operative for more senior Taliban officials.
-- A combined force in Logar province's Pul-e Alam district arrested a Taliban leader who controls a group responsible for attacks on Afghan and coalition forces, facilitates the movement of insurgent weapons and manages personnel decisions for the local Taliban network. The security force also arrested another insurgent.
In a May 18 operation, a combined force in Wardak province's Sayyidabad district killed an insurgent during a search for a senior Taliban leader who is responsible for attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces. He also makes and plants IEDs, procures and distributes weapons and equipment and oversees kidnappings of Afghan civilians.
In May 17 operations:
-- Afghan special forces soldiers and coalition forces killed 12 insurgents in Ghazni province's Qara Bagh district after insurgents fired on them near a local police checkpoint.
-- Afghan local and uniformed police secured a weapons cache that included 107 mm artillery shells and five rockets and coordinated for its controlled detonation in Ghazni province's Deh Yak district. Local police received intelligence concerning the cache's location and called for an Afghan army explosive ordnance disposal team.
MARIENS TAKE HOME MOST MEDALS AT WARRIOR GAMES 2013
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| Team captains Cpl. Jorge Salazar of Delano, Calif., Cpl. Travis Greene of Boise, Idaho, accept the Chairman's Cup on behalf of the Marine Corps team, coaches and wounded warrior regiment staff in the closing ceremony for the 2013 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 16, 2013. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Corey Dabney |
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE,
Marines Earn Fourth Warrior Games Title With 93 Medals
By Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Heidi Agostini
Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., May 17, 2013 - The Marine Corps has established a dynasty at the Warrior Games, taking top honors for the fourth year in a row at this year's competition, which ended here yesterday.
The 50 Marines who competed took home 93 medals: 34 gold, 33 silver and 26 bronze. The Army placed second with 81 medals.
"Congratulations to all of the 2013 Warrior Games competitors," said Charlie Huebner, chief of Paralympics for the U.S. Olympic Committee during the closing ceremony. "While we celebrate medals, this competition is really an example of how sport can change lives. We hope these service members and veterans don't stop here. The goal is for them to return home and get involved in sport programs in their communities."
The Warrior Games, hosted by the U.S. Olympic Committee and Deloitte, are a Paralympic-style competition for wounded, ill, or injured service members and veterans from the U.S. and British armed forces. The athletes compete in cycling, shooting, track and field, archery, wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball and swimming. The competitions were held at the Olympic Training Center and the U.S. Air Force Academy here.
The competition kicked off to a good start for the Marine team as they established their presence at the cycling competition, scoring four medals. Sgt. Lori Yrigoyen from Huntington Beach, Calif., and currently assigned to Wounded Warrior Battalion West, took first place in the women's recumbent 10k. Staff Sgt. Ronnie Jimenez from Tempe, Ariz., and assigned to Wounded Warrior Battalion West, boosted morale for the team and its fans by being the first athlete of all services to win a gold medal. Jimenez took first in the 10-kilometer handcycle race. But after the first day, the Marines had fallen behind to the Army by five medals.
The Marines took 20 out of 24 possible medals in shooting competition last year. This year, the team scored 13 medals, edging out the Army by five. Gold medalists included Gunnery Sgt. Pedro Aquino from Hawthorne, Calif., and currently assigned to Wounded Warrior Battalion West, who tied for first with veteran Cpl. Angel Gomez of Visalia, Calif., resulting in a shoot-off.
Veteran Lance Cpl. Richard Stalder, from Muenster, Texas, took first in the standing competition-SH2 and veteran Master Sgt. Dionisios Nicholas of Mililani Town, Hawaii, took gold in Pistol-SH1. Staff Sgt. Phillip Shockley of Jackson, Fla., currently assigned to Wounded Warrior Battalion East, won the pistol-open competition.
Going into Day 3 of the competition, the Marines medaled in nearly all track and field events, taking home 36 medals while the Army took 33. Cpl. Kyle Reid of Chinook, Mont., currently assigned to Wounded Warrior Battalion West, outran his Army competitor by .01 seconds in the men's 100-meter open. Marine veteran Derek Liu of Fullerton, Calif., won the 100-meter visually impaired, and veteran Sgt. Anthony McDaniel of Pascagoula, Miss., and Ivan Sears of San Antonio took first and second in the 100-meter wheelchair race.
The Army also took home a third consecutive gold in the much-anticipated wheelchair basketball rivalry between the Army and Marines, but not before the Marine team gave them a run for their medals. The final score was 34-32.
Last year, the Marine team lost the gold match in sitting volleyball to the Army. This year, the Marines quickly put out the Army by defeating them 2-0. In the final event of swimming, the Marines took a larger lead, with Sgt. Kirstie Ennis of Milton, Fla., currently assigned to Wounded Warrior Battalion West, taking home gold in the women's 50-meter freestyle-SLA, 100-meter freestyle-SLA, and 50-meter backstroke-SLA.
Team captains Cpl. Jorge Salazar of Delano, Calif., and Wounded Warrior Battalion West and veteran Cpl. Travis Greene of Boise, Idaho, accepted the Chairman's Cup on behalf of the team, coaches and regiment staff.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
FEMA PHOTOS OF THE RECENT FLOODS IN ILLINOIS
Albany Park, Ill., April 29, 2013 --Layers of sand bags lay stagnant along North Branch of the Chicago River in Cook County Illinois. Efforts were made to combat the rising flood waters from the river that flowed above 3 feet into homes, basements and down streets. More than seven inches of rain fell in parts of northeast and central Illinois. FEMA conducted Preliminary Damage Assessments to determine whether a disaster declaration was needed for Illinois. Bryan Adams- FEMA Corps.
Des Plaines, Ill., April 30, 2013 --Covered in mud and silt, appliances in a flooded basement await to be removed. Many homes, businesses and roads were damaged and compromised due to severe flash flooding on April 18 andmore than 7 inches of rain fell in parts of northeast and central Illinois. Bryan Adams-FEMA Corps.
CDC FACTSHEET ON WEST NILE VIRUS
FROM: CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
West Nile Virus: What You Need To Know
CDC Fact Sheet
What Is West Nile Virus?
West Nile virus (WNV) is a potentially serious illness. Experts believe WNV is established as a seasonal epidemic in North America that flares up in the summer and continues into the fall. This fact sheet contains important information that can help you recognize and prevent West Nile virus.
What Can I Do to Prevent WNV?
Prevention measures consist of community-based mosquito control programs that are able to reduce vector populations, personal protection measures to reduce the likelihood of being bitten by infected mosquitoes, and the underlying surveillance programs that characterize spatial/temporal patterns in risk that allow health and vector control agencies to target their interventions and resources.
The easiest and best way to avoid WNV is to prevent mosquito bites.
When you are outdoors, use insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient. Follow the directions on the package.
Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Be sure to use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants at these times or consider staying indoors during these hours.
Make sure you have good screens on your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children's wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren't being used.
What Are the Symptoms of WNV?
Serious Symptoms in a Few People . About one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop severe illness. The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.
Milder Symptoms in Some People. Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected have symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have become sick for several weeks.
No Symptoms in Most People. Approximately 80 percent of people (about 4 out of 5) who are infected with WNV will not show any symptoms at all.
How Does West Nile Virus Spread?
Infected Mosquitoes. Most often, WNV is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then spread WNV to humans and other animals when they bite.
Transfusions, Transplants, and Mother-to-Child. In a very small number of cases, WNV also has been spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants, breastfeeding and even during pregnancy from mother to baby.
Not through touching. WNV is not spread through casual contact such as touching or kissing a person with the virus.
How Soon Do Infected People Get Sick?
People typically develop symptoms between 3 and 14 days after they are bitten by the infected mosquito.
How Is WNV Infection Treated?
There is no specific treatment for WNV infection. In cases with milder symptoms, people experience symptoms such as fever and aches that pass on their own, although even healthy people have become sick for several weeks. In more severe cases, people usually need to go to the hospital where they can receive supportive treatment including intravenous fluids, help with breathing and nursing care.
What Should I Do if I Think I Have WNV?
Milder WNV illness improves on its own, and people do not necessarily need to seek medical attention for this infection though they may choose to do so. If you develop symptoms of severe WNV illness, such as unusually severe headaches or confusion, seek medical attention immediately. Severe WNV illness usually requires hospitalization. Pregnant women and nursing mothers are encouraged to talk to their doctor if they develop symptoms that could be WNV.
West Nile Virus: What You Need To Know
CDC Fact Sheet
What Is West Nile Virus?
West Nile virus (WNV) is a potentially serious illness. Experts believe WNV is established as a seasonal epidemic in North America that flares up in the summer and continues into the fall. This fact sheet contains important information that can help you recognize and prevent West Nile virus.
What Can I Do to Prevent WNV?
Prevention measures consist of community-based mosquito control programs that are able to reduce vector populations, personal protection measures to reduce the likelihood of being bitten by infected mosquitoes, and the underlying surveillance programs that characterize spatial/temporal patterns in risk that allow health and vector control agencies to target their interventions and resources.
The easiest and best way to avoid WNV is to prevent mosquito bites.
Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Be sure to use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants at these times or consider staying indoors during these hours.
Make sure you have good screens on your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children's wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren't being used.
What Are the Symptoms of WNV?
Milder Symptoms in Some People. Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected have symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have become sick for several weeks.
How Does West Nile Virus Spread?
Transfusions, Transplants, and Mother-to-Child. In a very small number of cases, WNV also has been spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants, breastfeeding and even during pregnancy from mother to baby.
Not through touching. WNV is not spread through casual contact such as touching or kissing a person with the virus.
How Soon Do Infected People Get Sick?
People typically develop symptoms between 3 and 14 days after they are bitten by the infected mosquito.
How Is WNV Infection Treated?
There is no specific treatment for WNV infection. In cases with milder symptoms, people experience symptoms such as fever and aches that pass on their own, although even healthy people have become sick for several weeks. In more severe cases, people usually need to go to the hospital where they can receive supportive treatment including intravenous fluids, help with breathing and nursing care.
What Should I Do if I Think I Have WNV?
Milder WNV illness improves on its own, and people do not necessarily need to seek medical attention for this infection though they may choose to do so. If you develop symptoms of severe WNV illness, such as unusually severe headaches or confusion, seek medical attention immediately. Severe WNV illness usually requires hospitalization. Pregnant women and nursing mothers are encouraged to talk to their doctor if they develop symptoms that could be WNV.
DOD SAYS STRATCOM STRIVES FOR COALITIONS IN SPACE OPERATIONS
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Stratcom Strives to Build Coalitions for Space Operations
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb., May 14, 2013 - Recognizing the value of multinational coalitions for operations in the land, maritime and air domains, officials at U.S. Strategic Command here hope to forge a coalition that shares assets and capabilities in space.
The United States and its allies are discussing details for the first agreement of its kind promoting combined space operations, Air Force Brig. Gen. David D. Thompson, Stratcom's deputy director of global operations, told American Forces Press Service.
The agreement could spell out specific areas in which the participating nations will work together, and what each will contribute to those efforts, Thompson said.
The agreement will formalize an arrangement tested last year during a period discovery. Based on the findings, the U.S. and its allies agreed in September to continue working toward closer combined space operations.
Thompson said he hopes the agreement will be the first step in forging international military-to-military cooperation in space that is essential to all. The Stratcom staff already is promoting the concept with what is hoped to be the next wave of nations to join the coalition.
"Our intent with combined space operations is to mirror some of the partnerships we have in other mission areas that are long-term and enduring," Thompson said.
Space is vital to military operations, providing an array of capabilities that give space-faring nations' forces a military advantage, he said. These include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities that enhance warfighters' situational awareness, space-based communications that provide them instant, global communications, and global positioning systems that deliver highly accurate navigation and targeting positions.
"This gives them an awareness and understanding that enhances their capabilities to conduct operations the way no other armed forces can today," Thompson said. "That's why it's vitally important to our military forces."
However, as more nations, organizations and commercial companies vie to take advantage of space-based capabilities, the once-pristine space domain is becoming increasingly congested and competitive, Thompson said.
And of particular concern to military leaders, space is an increasingly contested domain, with potential adversaries hoping to level the playing field by denying access to space and space-based capabilities, he said. The response, Thompson said, must be the same unity in numbers that has proven itself out in every other domain. Coalitions provide more capability than any one nation can provide alone, while also sending an important deterrent message to potential adversaries, he said.
Unlike recent coalitions, formed for specific periods to accomplish specific objectives, Thompson said he hopes those formed for operations in space endure.
"We have enduring requirements and enduring interests that are common among ourselves. So we see this as a longer-standing coalition with these nations," he said.
Working together to support their shared interests and objectives, Thompson said, the coalition members will help ensure that space remains a global common open to all.
"Joining together in a coalition is a statement of assurance that each nation is committed to effective, mutually supportive conduct of operations in space," he said. "We are united in a coalition sense when it comes to operations in space and providing those capabilities for each nation."
Stratcom Strives to Build Coalitions for Space Operations
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb., May 14, 2013 - Recognizing the value of multinational coalitions for operations in the land, maritime and air domains, officials at U.S. Strategic Command here hope to forge a coalition that shares assets and capabilities in space.
The United States and its allies are discussing details for the first agreement of its kind promoting combined space operations, Air Force Brig. Gen. David D. Thompson, Stratcom's deputy director of global operations, told American Forces Press Service.
The agreement could spell out specific areas in which the participating nations will work together, and what each will contribute to those efforts, Thompson said.
The agreement will formalize an arrangement tested last year during a period discovery. Based on the findings, the U.S. and its allies agreed in September to continue working toward closer combined space operations.
Thompson said he hopes the agreement will be the first step in forging international military-to-military cooperation in space that is essential to all. The Stratcom staff already is promoting the concept with what is hoped to be the next wave of nations to join the coalition.
"Our intent with combined space operations is to mirror some of the partnerships we have in other mission areas that are long-term and enduring," Thompson said.
Space is vital to military operations, providing an array of capabilities that give space-faring nations' forces a military advantage, he said. These include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities that enhance warfighters' situational awareness, space-based communications that provide them instant, global communications, and global positioning systems that deliver highly accurate navigation and targeting positions.
"This gives them an awareness and understanding that enhances their capabilities to conduct operations the way no other armed forces can today," Thompson said. "That's why it's vitally important to our military forces."
However, as more nations, organizations and commercial companies vie to take advantage of space-based capabilities, the once-pristine space domain is becoming increasingly congested and competitive, Thompson said.
And of particular concern to military leaders, space is an increasingly contested domain, with potential adversaries hoping to level the playing field by denying access to space and space-based capabilities, he said. The response, Thompson said, must be the same unity in numbers that has proven itself out in every other domain. Coalitions provide more capability than any one nation can provide alone, while also sending an important deterrent message to potential adversaries, he said.
Unlike recent coalitions, formed for specific periods to accomplish specific objectives, Thompson said he hopes those formed for operations in space endure.
"We have enduring requirements and enduring interests that are common among ourselves. So we see this as a longer-standing coalition with these nations," he said.
Working together to support their shared interests and objectives, Thompson said, the coalition members will help ensure that space remains a global common open to all.
"Joining together in a coalition is a statement of assurance that each nation is committed to effective, mutually supportive conduct of operations in space," he said. "We are united in a coalition sense when it comes to operations in space and providing those capabilities for each nation."
MAN AND COMPANY CHARGED BY SEC IN PRIME BANK SCHEME
FROM: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SEC Charges Resident in the Atlanta Area and His Firm with Fraud in Connection with Prime Bank Scheme
On May 16, 2013, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed an emergency action in federal court in the federal district in Atlanta, charging Robert Fowler (Fowler), a Duluth, Georgia resident, and his company, US Capital Funding Series II Trust 1 (US Capital), with violations of the federal securities laws for defrauding investors in a "prime bank" investment scheme.
The Commission's complaint alleges that, since at least August 2012, Fowler and US Capital have raised at least $350,000 from investors by falsely promising high profits for investing in standby letters of credit or bank guarantees that would purportedly grant the investors loans, the proceeds of which would be invested for a significant profit. Fowler and US Capital instead misappropriated investor funds for personal and business uses. Fowler was actively soliciting additional investors for his scheme, the complaint alleged.
According to the complaint, Fowler targeted foreign-born small business owners with little or no experience in finance or investing. In exchange for investors' initial "down payment" for a stand-by letter of credit (SBLC) or bank guarantee to be issued by US Capital, Fowler offered to assist in the procurement of commercial loans to companies owned or operated by the investors, and to control the investment of at least a portion of the eventual (fictitious) loan proceeds, sometimes using affiliated "traders" and "trading platforms" in unspecified "instruments," in order to derive substantial profits. Fowler and US Capital did not use the investor proceeds as represented; rather, shortly after US Capital's bank accounts received investors' funds, Fowler spent the funds at restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and clothing stores, and also withdrew thousands of dollars through ATM transactions.
In its complaint, the Commission alleges that US Capital's website misrepresented that it has assets "valued in the Trillions," and had a "triple A" credit rating by Standard and Poor's . The complaint alleges that, in fact, US Capital had minimal assets and that the S&P rating was for an unaffiliated entity with the same name. The Commission's complaint further alleges that, in an effort to entice additional investors, Fowler misrepresented that the Commission had blessed US Capital's offering.
In its complaint, the Commission alleges that US Capital's website misrepresented that it has assets "valued in the Trillions," and had a "triple A" credit rating by Standard and Poor's . The complaint alleges that, in fact, US Capital had minimal assets and that the S&P rating was for an unaffiliated entity with the same name. The Commission's complaint further alleges that, in an effort to entice additional investors, Fowler misrepresented that the Commission had blessed US Capital's offering.
In its complaint, the Commission alleges that US Capital's website misrepresented that it has assets "valued in the Trillions," and had a "triple A" credit rating by Standard and Poor's . The complaint alleges that, in fact, US Capital had minimal assets and that the S&P rating was for an unaffiliated entity with the same name. The Commission's complaint further alleges that, in an effort to entice additional investors, Fowler misrepresented that the Commission had blessed US Capital's offering.
SEC Complaint
SEC Charges Resident in the Atlanta Area and His Firm with Fraud in Connection with Prime Bank Scheme
On May 16, 2013, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed an emergency action in federal court in the federal district in Atlanta, charging Robert Fowler (Fowler), a Duluth, Georgia resident, and his company, US Capital Funding Series II Trust 1 (US Capital), with violations of the federal securities laws for defrauding investors in a "prime bank" investment scheme.
The Commission's complaint alleges that, since at least August 2012, Fowler and US Capital have raised at least $350,000 from investors by falsely promising high profits for investing in standby letters of credit or bank guarantees that would purportedly grant the investors loans, the proceeds of which would be invested for a significant profit. Fowler and US Capital instead misappropriated investor funds for personal and business uses. Fowler was actively soliciting additional investors for his scheme, the complaint alleged.
According to the complaint, Fowler targeted foreign-born small business owners with little or no experience in finance or investing. In exchange for investors' initial "down payment" for a stand-by letter of credit (SBLC) or bank guarantee to be issued by US Capital, Fowler offered to assist in the procurement of commercial loans to companies owned or operated by the investors, and to control the investment of at least a portion of the eventual (fictitious) loan proceeds, sometimes using affiliated "traders" and "trading platforms" in unspecified "instruments," in order to derive substantial profits. Fowler and US Capital did not use the investor proceeds as represented; rather, shortly after US Capital's bank accounts received investors' funds, Fowler spent the funds at restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and clothing stores, and also withdrew thousands of dollars through ATM transactions.
In its complaint, the Commission alleges that US Capital's website misrepresented that it has assets "valued in the Trillions," and had a "triple A" credit rating by Standard and Poor's . The complaint alleges that, in fact, US Capital had minimal assets and that the S&P rating was for an unaffiliated entity with the same name. The Commission's complaint further alleges that, in an effort to entice additional investors, Fowler misrepresented that the Commission had blessed US Capital's offering.
In its complaint, the Commission alleges that US Capital's website misrepresented that it has assets "valued in the Trillions," and had a "triple A" credit rating by Standard and Poor's . The complaint alleges that, in fact, US Capital had minimal assets and that the S&P rating was for an unaffiliated entity with the same name. The Commission's complaint further alleges that, in an effort to entice additional investors, Fowler misrepresented that the Commission had blessed US Capital's offering.
In its complaint, the Commission alleges that US Capital's website misrepresented that it has assets "valued in the Trillions," and had a "triple A" credit rating by Standard and Poor's . The complaint alleges that, in fact, US Capital had minimal assets and that the S&P rating was for an unaffiliated entity with the same name. The Commission's complaint further alleges that, in an effort to entice additional investors, Fowler misrepresented that the Commission had blessed US Capital's offering.
SEC Complaint
PHYSICIAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MAKING FRAUDULENT REFERRALS
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT JUSTICE
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Michigan Physician Pleads Guilty for Role in Medicare Fraud Scheme
A Detroit-area physician pleaded guilty today to making fraudulent referrals for home health care as part of a $1.6 million home health care fraud scheme, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Barbara L. McQuade, Special Agent in Charge Robert D. Foley III of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Chicago Regional Office.
Dr. Sonjai Poonpanij, 82, of Rochester, Mich., pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Tarnow in the Eastern District of Michigan to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
According to court documents, Dr. Poonpanij admitted that beginning in approximately July 2010, he conspired with others to commit health care fraud by referring Medicare beneficiaries for home health care that was not medically necessary and causing false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medicare.
Dr. Poonpanij admitted that he saw patients at a psychotherapy center in Flint, Mich., known as New Century Adult Day Program Services LLC, and referred Medicare beneficiaries at New Century to home health care companies – including a home health care company known as Angle’s Touch Home Health Care LLC – even though he knew that those beneficiaries did not qualify for home health care. According to court documents, Dr. Poonpanij wrote prescriptions for narcotics requested by the beneficiaries in exchange for their enrollment with Angle’s Touch for home health care that they did not need or receive. In addition to referring patients that he saw at New Century, Dr. Poonpanij also referred beneficiaries whom he had never seen or treated to Angle’s Touch and other home health agencies. Dr. Poonpanij signed plans of care for these beneficiaries that were used to bill Medicare for services that were either never actually performed or were not performed in the beneficiaries’ homes as required.
Court documents allege that between September 2008 and September 2012, Dr. Poonpanij caused Angle’s Touch and two other home health agencies to submit claims to Medicare for services that were not medically necessary and/or not provided, which caused Medicare to pay these companies approximately $1,318,954.
At sentencing, scheduled for Aug. 14, 2013, Dr. Poonpanij faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Niall M. O’Donnell of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. It was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG, and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged more than 1,480 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $4.8 billion. In addition, HHS’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, is taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Michigan Physician Pleads Guilty for Role in Medicare Fraud Scheme
A Detroit-area physician pleaded guilty today to making fraudulent referrals for home health care as part of a $1.6 million home health care fraud scheme, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Barbara L. McQuade, Special Agent in Charge Robert D. Foley III of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Chicago Regional Office.
Dr. Sonjai Poonpanij, 82, of Rochester, Mich., pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Tarnow in the Eastern District of Michigan to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
According to court documents, Dr. Poonpanij admitted that beginning in approximately July 2010, he conspired with others to commit health care fraud by referring Medicare beneficiaries for home health care that was not medically necessary and causing false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medicare.
Dr. Poonpanij admitted that he saw patients at a psychotherapy center in Flint, Mich., known as New Century Adult Day Program Services LLC, and referred Medicare beneficiaries at New Century to home health care companies – including a home health care company known as Angle’s Touch Home Health Care LLC – even though he knew that those beneficiaries did not qualify for home health care. According to court documents, Dr. Poonpanij wrote prescriptions for narcotics requested by the beneficiaries in exchange for their enrollment with Angle’s Touch for home health care that they did not need or receive. In addition to referring patients that he saw at New Century, Dr. Poonpanij also referred beneficiaries whom he had never seen or treated to Angle’s Touch and other home health agencies. Dr. Poonpanij signed plans of care for these beneficiaries that were used to bill Medicare for services that were either never actually performed or were not performed in the beneficiaries’ homes as required.
Court documents allege that between September 2008 and September 2012, Dr. Poonpanij caused Angle’s Touch and two other home health agencies to submit claims to Medicare for services that were not medically necessary and/or not provided, which caused Medicare to pay these companies approximately $1,318,954.
At sentencing, scheduled for Aug. 14, 2013, Dr. Poonpanij faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Niall M. O’Donnell of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. It was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG, and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged more than 1,480 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $4.8 billion. In addition, HHS’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, is taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
JUMPING TO WARP SPEED
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FROM: NASA
The Jump to Warp SpeedThis cockpit view of a hypothetical spacecraft traveling at eight-tenths the speed of light shows the visual distortions that would be experienced at such high speeds. The star field is actually being wrapped toward the front of the craft in addition to being significantly blue-shifted. NASA Glenn leads the Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Project, NASA's primary effort to produce near-term, credible, and measurable progress toward the technology breakthroughs needed to revolutionize space travel and enable interstellar voyages. NASA Lewis (now Glenn) Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
DOD'S ROLE IN GLOBAL HEALTH
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
DOD Plays Supporting Role in U.S. Global Health Efforts
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 16, 2013 - The Defense Department supports U.S. global health activities because such efforts as preventing and containing lethal outbreaks align with DOD's mission to help ensure geopolitical stability and security, a senior defense official said here today.
Kathleen H. Hicks, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, discussed DOD's role in global health here before an audience at the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a private health-policy analysis and research organization.
"DOD performs an important role in supporting the U.S. interagency response to human-made and natural disasters. ... In such situations, our military draws upon its incredible logistical capabilities -- providing air and sea transport for medicines, equipment and personnel," Hicks said.
DOD also serves the public health mission by maintaining an international network of laboratories and technologies, therapies and medical expertise, she added, all of which can be used in support of public-health efforts in the United States and abroad.
In its support of global public health activities, Hicks said, DOD must recognize the roles of federal agencies such as the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, and recognize the importance of helping partner countries take the lead in protecting the health of their own people.
"We at DOD need templates to understand how to best engage with our fellow government agencies and our foreign partners in the complex and vital work of protecting public health in actual and potential crisis situations," Hicks noted.
Four years ago, Hicks and two colleagues published an analysis of DOD's global health engagement activities. It addressed DOD's role in global health, including the effect of the department's health activities on national and regional security, the principal deputy undersecretary said.
"That paper's recommendations included creating a strategy for global health engagement [and] a health-security cooperation plan to guide our efforts to build the public health and medical capacity of partner militaries," she said.
Above all, Hicks added, "our analysis underscored the importance of ensuring that we do a better job of synchronizing our efforts, not only with our fellow government agencies but also among our own commands and components worldwide."
Since the study was published, she said, there have been improvements in DOD coordination with the State Department and USAID, coordination within DOD, and incorporating humanitarian and global health scenarios in military exercises.
Over the past year, Hicks added, the department has made significant strides in establishing measures of effectiveness for its global-health-related activities.
"Already in 2013," she added, "there have been at least two noteworthy examples of how we used global-health engagement to help partner nations address an urgent health need."
The first occurred after a January nightclub fire in Santa Maria, Brazil, that killed 241 people, the principal deputy undersecretary said.
Brazil's Ministry of Health put out an urgent request to the U.S. government for medicine kits that could treat victims suffering from cyanide toxicity due to inhaling fumes from burning acoustic foam.
After determining that no other agency could respond in time to help, she said, U.S. Southern Command coordinated transport of the medication from St. Louis to Brazil via Miami by working with Miami-Dade aviation officials, the Transportation Security Administration and American Airlines, which flew the medicine to Brazil free of charge.
"This was a great example of public and private collaboration," Hicks said, "exactly the kind of collaboration we are likely to need as we continue to respond to urgent crises of all kinds."
In April, another health emergency occurred after a measles outbreak in Georgia. Responding to a request from that nation's Health Ministry to the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, the Defense Department funded 75,000 emergency vaccinations. UNICEF handled the procurement and the Georgian National Center for Disease Control distributed the vaccine, she said.
"While we need to continue to work with our partners to hone our responses to such crises, we also need to plan for future challenges," Hicks said, adding that an excellent example is an upcoming event sponsored by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN.
The Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief/Military Medicine Field Training Exercise will take place in June in Brunei and include 18 countries from Southeast Asia and elsewhere, including the United States.
It also will include an exchange of U.S. and Chinese medical officers, she noted. Hicks said three U.S. officers will spend the exercise aboard a Chinese ship, and three Chinese medical officers will be assigned to a U.S. medical treatment facility, "[working] together in advancing a global good: the health of the world's citizens."
To counter diseases and other threats to public health, Hicks said, the United States teams with countries worldwide.
The Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program, for example, is a military-to-military health-engagement program with a direct effect on security, she said.
Over the past four years, Hicks added, in collaboration with the Naval Medical Center San Diego and partner universities, the program has trained providers in 50 militaries around the world and helped strengthen HIV-prevention programs in the trainees' home countries.
Last summer the program hosted a major international military HIV/AIDS conference, bringing together military representatives from 75 countries, along with many government agencies and international organizations, she said.
The focus on infectious diseases has been a hallmark of DOD international public-health efforts over the past decade, Hicks said, but the department should consider expanding its efforts to include health concerns like malnutrition and disrupted access to clean water.
"The expertise and responsibility for dealing with these conditions obviously falls well outside the Department of Defense," she said. "However, we at the Pentagon do have a legitimate interest in the degree to which these conditions impair the security and stability of key countries."
Hicks said a 2008 National Intelligence Council study found that while noninfectious conditions may not present direct threats to U.S. interests, they can have wide-ranging effects on global health.
According to the study, she said, the United States should expand the focus of its global health program to include noncommunicable diseases, neglected tropical diseases, malnutrition and maternal and child health and mortality.
"Shifting DOD's global health engagement activities more in favor of building the public health capacity of partner nations' militaries, and toward synchronizing our efforts with the State Department and its health diplomacy and USAID's health development efforts," Hicks added, "would create a synergy beneficial to global health and potentially beneficial to global and national security."
DOD Plays Supporting Role in U.S. Global Health Efforts
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 16, 2013 - The Defense Department supports U.S. global health activities because such efforts as preventing and containing lethal outbreaks align with DOD's mission to help ensure geopolitical stability and security, a senior defense official said here today.
Kathleen H. Hicks, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, discussed DOD's role in global health here before an audience at the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a private health-policy analysis and research organization.
"DOD performs an important role in supporting the U.S. interagency response to human-made and natural disasters. ... In such situations, our military draws upon its incredible logistical capabilities -- providing air and sea transport for medicines, equipment and personnel," Hicks said.
DOD also serves the public health mission by maintaining an international network of laboratories and technologies, therapies and medical expertise, she added, all of which can be used in support of public-health efforts in the United States and abroad.
In its support of global public health activities, Hicks said, DOD must recognize the roles of federal agencies such as the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, and recognize the importance of helping partner countries take the lead in protecting the health of their own people.
"We at DOD need templates to understand how to best engage with our fellow government agencies and our foreign partners in the complex and vital work of protecting public health in actual and potential crisis situations," Hicks noted.
Four years ago, Hicks and two colleagues published an analysis of DOD's global health engagement activities. It addressed DOD's role in global health, including the effect of the department's health activities on national and regional security, the principal deputy undersecretary said.
"That paper's recommendations included creating a strategy for global health engagement [and] a health-security cooperation plan to guide our efforts to build the public health and medical capacity of partner militaries," she said.
Above all, Hicks added, "our analysis underscored the importance of ensuring that we do a better job of synchronizing our efforts, not only with our fellow government agencies but also among our own commands and components worldwide."
Since the study was published, she said, there have been improvements in DOD coordination with the State Department and USAID, coordination within DOD, and incorporating humanitarian and global health scenarios in military exercises.
Over the past year, Hicks added, the department has made significant strides in establishing measures of effectiveness for its global-health-related activities.
"Already in 2013," she added, "there have been at least two noteworthy examples of how we used global-health engagement to help partner nations address an urgent health need."
The first occurred after a January nightclub fire in Santa Maria, Brazil, that killed 241 people, the principal deputy undersecretary said.
Brazil's Ministry of Health put out an urgent request to the U.S. government for medicine kits that could treat victims suffering from cyanide toxicity due to inhaling fumes from burning acoustic foam.
After determining that no other agency could respond in time to help, she said, U.S. Southern Command coordinated transport of the medication from St. Louis to Brazil via Miami by working with Miami-Dade aviation officials, the Transportation Security Administration and American Airlines, which flew the medicine to Brazil free of charge.
"This was a great example of public and private collaboration," Hicks said, "exactly the kind of collaboration we are likely to need as we continue to respond to urgent crises of all kinds."
In April, another health emergency occurred after a measles outbreak in Georgia. Responding to a request from that nation's Health Ministry to the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, the Defense Department funded 75,000 emergency vaccinations. UNICEF handled the procurement and the Georgian National Center for Disease Control distributed the vaccine, she said.
"While we need to continue to work with our partners to hone our responses to such crises, we also need to plan for future challenges," Hicks said, adding that an excellent example is an upcoming event sponsored by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN.
The Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief/Military Medicine Field Training Exercise will take place in June in Brunei and include 18 countries from Southeast Asia and elsewhere, including the United States.
It also will include an exchange of U.S. and Chinese medical officers, she noted. Hicks said three U.S. officers will spend the exercise aboard a Chinese ship, and three Chinese medical officers will be assigned to a U.S. medical treatment facility, "[working] together in advancing a global good: the health of the world's citizens."
To counter diseases and other threats to public health, Hicks said, the United States teams with countries worldwide.
The Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program, for example, is a military-to-military health-engagement program with a direct effect on security, she said.
Over the past four years, Hicks added, in collaboration with the Naval Medical Center San Diego and partner universities, the program has trained providers in 50 militaries around the world and helped strengthen HIV-prevention programs in the trainees' home countries.
Last summer the program hosted a major international military HIV/AIDS conference, bringing together military representatives from 75 countries, along with many government agencies and international organizations, she said.
The focus on infectious diseases has been a hallmark of DOD international public-health efforts over the past decade, Hicks said, but the department should consider expanding its efforts to include health concerns like malnutrition and disrupted access to clean water.
"The expertise and responsibility for dealing with these conditions obviously falls well outside the Department of Defense," she said. "However, we at the Pentagon do have a legitimate interest in the degree to which these conditions impair the security and stability of key countries."
Hicks said a 2008 National Intelligence Council study found that while noninfectious conditions may not present direct threats to U.S. interests, they can have wide-ranging effects on global health.
According to the study, she said, the United States should expand the focus of its global health program to include noncommunicable diseases, neglected tropical diseases, malnutrition and maternal and child health and mortality.
"Shifting DOD's global health engagement activities more in favor of building the public health capacity of partner nations' militaries, and toward synchronizing our efforts with the State Department and its health diplomacy and USAID's health development efforts," Hicks added, "would create a synergy beneficial to global health and potentially beneficial to global and national security."
EXPORT-IMPORT BANK FINANCES MONGOLIAN MINE WITH $500 MILLION LOAN
FROM: U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
Ex-Im Approves $500 million to Finance U.S. Exports
for Use in Mongolian Mine
Transaction will support 2,000 Jobs Across Several States
Washington, D.C. – The board of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has voted to authorize an approximately $500 million direct loan to finance the continued development of a Mongolian mine that upon completion will generate approximately 30 percent of the Mongolian GDP.
Additionally, Ex-Im Bank’s financing will support approximately 2,000 U.S. jobs across the United States, according to Bank estimates derived from Departments of Commerce and Labor data and methodology.
"This transaction will not only support good jobs and bolster our economy here in America, it will also provide a lift to the Mongolian economy and directly impact the country’s GDP," said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. "Moreover, by using American-made products in this large project, the financing will support thousands of U.S. jobs in states like Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Texas. This transaction is even more proof of the value of exports in continuing to help the U.S. economy grow."
The Oyu Tolgoi mine, which is located in the South Gobi region approximately 550 kilometers south of the the capital city Ulaanbaatar, is an open-pit and underground copper mine that will produce concentrate containing copper, gold, and silver. Once developed, the mine will rank as one of the largest copper mines in the world. It will also count as one of the most important capital projects in Mongolia.
The mine is operated by Oyu Tolgoi LLC, which is jointly owned by Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. of Canada and Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC of Mongolia. Leading global mining company Rio Tinto holds a majority stake in Turquoise Hill.
Ex-Im Bank has worked closely with the other lenders and sponsors to ensure that the project was planned to minimize the impacts on the local residents and environment in compliance with Ex-Im Bank’s strict Environmental Procedures and Guidelines and Mongolian law.
One U.S. small business that will benefit from the project is CC Solutions LLC, a Yonkers, N.Y.-based company that is a specialist in export credit agency administration. The company’s proprietary software, MTS, has processed nearly $1 billion in Ex-Im Bank disbursements across the world.
"The financing of this and other projects by Ex-Im Bank has allowed our company to provide high-value professional services, leading to permanent and partial employment for five people in the United States," said Valerie Colville, principle of CC Solutions. "The Mongolian economy will benefit tremendously from the development of the Oyu Tolgoi project. Significant mineral deposits will be recovered in a responsible and environmentally-sound manner, and the proceeds will be used for the human and social development of the people of Mongolia."
Ex-Im Approves $500 million to Finance U.S. Exports
for Use in Mongolian Mine
Transaction will support 2,000 Jobs Across Several States
Washington, D.C. – The board of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has voted to authorize an approximately $500 million direct loan to finance the continued development of a Mongolian mine that upon completion will generate approximately 30 percent of the Mongolian GDP.
Additionally, Ex-Im Bank’s financing will support approximately 2,000 U.S. jobs across the United States, according to Bank estimates derived from Departments of Commerce and Labor data and methodology.
"This transaction will not only support good jobs and bolster our economy here in America, it will also provide a lift to the Mongolian economy and directly impact the country’s GDP," said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. "Moreover, by using American-made products in this large project, the financing will support thousands of U.S. jobs in states like Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Texas. This transaction is even more proof of the value of exports in continuing to help the U.S. economy grow."
The Oyu Tolgoi mine, which is located in the South Gobi region approximately 550 kilometers south of the the capital city Ulaanbaatar, is an open-pit and underground copper mine that will produce concentrate containing copper, gold, and silver. Once developed, the mine will rank as one of the largest copper mines in the world. It will also count as one of the most important capital projects in Mongolia.
The mine is operated by Oyu Tolgoi LLC, which is jointly owned by Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. of Canada and Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC of Mongolia. Leading global mining company Rio Tinto holds a majority stake in Turquoise Hill.
Ex-Im Bank has worked closely with the other lenders and sponsors to ensure that the project was planned to minimize the impacts on the local residents and environment in compliance with Ex-Im Bank’s strict Environmental Procedures and Guidelines and Mongolian law.
One U.S. small business that will benefit from the project is CC Solutions LLC, a Yonkers, N.Y.-based company that is a specialist in export credit agency administration. The company’s proprietary software, MTS, has processed nearly $1 billion in Ex-Im Bank disbursements across the world.
"The financing of this and other projects by Ex-Im Bank has allowed our company to provide high-value professional services, leading to permanent and partial employment for five people in the United States," said Valerie Colville, principle of CC Solutions. "The Mongolian economy will benefit tremendously from the development of the Oyu Tolgoi project. Significant mineral deposits will be recovered in a responsible and environmentally-sound manner, and the proceeds will be used for the human and social development of the people of Mongolia."
ISAF NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR MAY 17, 2013
 |
| U.S. Army Capt. Jacob Estrada, left, and U.S. Army Spc. Cristian Loera, right, provide security during a meeting with the Farah City mayor at his office in Farah City, Afghanistan, May 14, 2013. Estrada is commander of Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Josh Ives |
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Combined Force Arrests Taliban Leader in Baghlan Province
From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release
KABUL, Afghanistan, May 17, 2013 - A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a senior Taliban leader in the Baghlan-e Jadid district of Afghanistan's Baghlan province today, military officials reported.
The senior leader oversees insurgent cells responsible for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also collects illegal taxes from local civilians, facilitates the movement of insurgent weapons and equipment and consults with senior insurgent leadership for operational information to pass on to his fighters.
The security force also seized a pistol in the operation.
In Afghanistan operations yesterday:
-- A combined force in Helmand province's Now Zad district arrested an insurgent and seized and destroyed more than 5,500 pounds of opium, two assault rifles and 19 ammunition magazines.
-- Afghan Provincial Response Company Helmand, advised by coalition forces, arrested nine insurgents and seized ammunition in Helmand's Lashkar Gah district.
-- In Farah province's Push-e Rod district, Afghan Provincial Response Company Farah, enabled by coalition forces, arrested seven insurgents and seized a machine gun and more than 100 rounds of ammunition and destroyed a rocket-propelled grenade rocket.
In other news, Afghan local and uniformed police killed seven insurgents in Ghazni province's Deh Tak district May 15 during an operation designed to deny insurgents sanctuary in the district's Rozi Kala and Ali Kala villages.
U.S. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE'S REMARKS AT LUNCHEON IN CHINA
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
2013 U.S.-China Govenors Forum
Remarks
Reta Jo Lewis
Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs
Luncheon Hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship With Foreign Countries (CPAFFC)
Beijing, China
April 15, 2013
Thank you for that kind introduction.
Good afternoon distinguished Madam Li and guests. I would like to express my appreciation to the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) for hosting us today at the 2013 U.S.-China Governors Forum. We look forward to productive exchanges between U.S. governors and Chinese provincial leaders on economic and trade issues and environmental management.
Let me extend a special recognition to Governor Terry Branstad of Iowa, a longtime friend of China, Governor Bob McDonnell of Virginia, and Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin who traveled a long way to be here with us today. I also would like to extend a special welcome to the Governors of Fujian, Guangxi, Hebei and Helongjiang. We are delighted that you are here with us today.
When we speak about our countries, it is easy to fall into the habit of talking about our capital cities. When we say that "Beijing" and "Washington, DC" are working together, we typically mean the countries as a whole.
We all know, however, that the work of nations also takes place at the subnational level – the states, the provinces, and the cities.
As Secretary of State John Kerry’s Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs, I am proud to be here representing both "Washington, DC" and America’s subnational governments, all of whom are interested in fostering better relations with China’s provinces and cities.
One of the real highlights for me during my three years as Special Representative has been the development of the U.S.-China Subnational Initiative. The Memorandum of Understanding creating this initiative was signed in January 2011 by then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and then-Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.
Since then, we have witnessed a historic level of engagement at the subnational level, including dialogues and exchanges like the U.S.-China Governors Forum and this event that provide many opportunities to strengthen bilateral ties and build mutual understanding.
For example, just this week we are witnessing California Governor Jerry Brown’s successful Trade and Investment Mission to China which included stops in Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. This trip followed more than a year of significant diplomatic and business exchanges between the State of California and China. While in China, Governor Brown has met with Chinese central and provincial officials, opened the California-China Office of Trade and Investment in Shanghai, and signed agreements with Jiangsu and Guangdong Provinces.
U.S.-China ties are richer and more extensive than ever before. Bilateral cooperation and dialogue have moved beyond traditional diplomacy into the fields of economic and commercial engagement.
Moreover, our people-to-people ties remain strong. Over 200,000 Chinese students study in U.S. universities each year – the largest number of students from any country. We are proud that Chinese students choose to invest in a U.S. education. The interactions between students and teachers will pay dividends for decades to come, helping Americans and Chinese forge ever closer bonds between individuals, communities, businesses, universities, and even government.
The further we deepen our relationship, the more we need to bring into play the skills and energies of partners beyond our central and federal governments.
I believe that engagement at the local level will continue to offer an exciting and effective method for Americans to discuss issues of mutual concern with Chinese provincial officials.
I look forward to continued collaboration with our Chinese friends to further enhance existing relationships and to foster new relationships to facilitate greater understanding between our two great nations.
2013 U.S.-China Govenors Forum
Remarks
Reta Jo Lewis
Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs
Luncheon Hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship With Foreign Countries (CPAFFC)
Beijing, China
April 15, 2013
Thank you for that kind introduction.
Good afternoon distinguished Madam Li and guests. I would like to express my appreciation to the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) for hosting us today at the 2013 U.S.-China Governors Forum. We look forward to productive exchanges between U.S. governors and Chinese provincial leaders on economic and trade issues and environmental management.
Let me extend a special recognition to Governor Terry Branstad of Iowa, a longtime friend of China, Governor Bob McDonnell of Virginia, and Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin who traveled a long way to be here with us today. I also would like to extend a special welcome to the Governors of Fujian, Guangxi, Hebei and Helongjiang. We are delighted that you are here with us today.
When we speak about our countries, it is easy to fall into the habit of talking about our capital cities. When we say that "Beijing" and "Washington, DC" are working together, we typically mean the countries as a whole.
We all know, however, that the work of nations also takes place at the subnational level – the states, the provinces, and the cities.
As Secretary of State John Kerry’s Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs, I am proud to be here representing both "Washington, DC" and America’s subnational governments, all of whom are interested in fostering better relations with China’s provinces and cities.
One of the real highlights for me during my three years as Special Representative has been the development of the U.S.-China Subnational Initiative. The Memorandum of Understanding creating this initiative was signed in January 2011 by then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and then-Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.
Since then, we have witnessed a historic level of engagement at the subnational level, including dialogues and exchanges like the U.S.-China Governors Forum and this event that provide many opportunities to strengthen bilateral ties and build mutual understanding.
For example, just this week we are witnessing California Governor Jerry Brown’s successful Trade and Investment Mission to China which included stops in Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. This trip followed more than a year of significant diplomatic and business exchanges between the State of California and China. While in China, Governor Brown has met with Chinese central and provincial officials, opened the California-China Office of Trade and Investment in Shanghai, and signed agreements with Jiangsu and Guangdong Provinces.
U.S.-China ties are richer and more extensive than ever before. Bilateral cooperation and dialogue have moved beyond traditional diplomacy into the fields of economic and commercial engagement.
Moreover, our people-to-people ties remain strong. Over 200,000 Chinese students study in U.S. universities each year – the largest number of students from any country. We are proud that Chinese students choose to invest in a U.S. education. The interactions between students and teachers will pay dividends for decades to come, helping Americans and Chinese forge ever closer bonds between individuals, communities, businesses, universities, and even government.
The further we deepen our relationship, the more we need to bring into play the skills and energies of partners beyond our central and federal governments.
I believe that engagement at the local level will continue to offer an exciting and effective method for Americans to discuss issues of mutual concern with Chinese provincial officials.
I look forward to continued collaboration with our Chinese friends to further enhance existing relationships and to foster new relationships to facilitate greater understanding between our two great nations.
YOUNG ARMY SPECIALIST WINS 1,500-METER WHEELCHAIR RACE FOR GOLD
 |
| Army Spc. Elizabeth Wasil wins the gold medal in the 1,500-meter wheelchair race during the 2013 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 14, 2013. DOD photo by E.J. Hersom |
Gold Medalist Embodies Warrior Spirit
By Shannon Collins
Joint Hometown News Service, Defense Media Activity
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., May 17, 2013 - As the young Army specialist sat in the 5-pound speed wheelchair, she took a deep calming breath, buckled her helmet, put her hands on the wheels and raced down the track. Any slight movement of the hips would move the chair outside the lane and would leave the athlete disqualified.
But she went all-out and took the gold in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 1,500-meter race chair races.
For Army Spc. Elizabeth Wasil, this was yet another new experience. She took three gold medals in the race chair, a bronze medal in the shot put and a bronze in the hand cycle/recumbent cycling race during the 2013 Warrior Games, which concluded yesterday at the Olympic Training Center and the U.S. Air Force Academy here.
Throughout the seven-day event, wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans from the Army, Marines, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard, along with a team from U.S. Special Operations Command and a team from the British military, competed in track and field, shooting, swimming, cycling, archery, wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball.
Wasil began her warrior journey at 16, when she decided to focus on her studies and sought out the Army National Guard's Arizona Project Challenge, an intensive five-month program that gave her a glimpse at military life and the ability to graduate from high school before she turned 17.
"It changed my life," Wasil said. "It was the happiest I could remember being. This program gave me structure, discipline and a foundation. I found somewhere I belonged and met mentors who believed in me and changed my life. It was amazing."
Following in the military footsteps of her retired Marine dad, James Marks, she enlisted in the Army at age 17. And just like her father, who served in Vietnam, she deployed, serving in Iraq in 2010. She was in Iraq as a medical assistant when she suffered injuries to her hips.
While recovering from three hip surgeries, Wasil fought with the Army medical board to stay in. She could have received a medical retirement, she said, but she was determined to stay on active duty and serve her country. She proved her capabilities to the medical board by competing in the Warrior Games last year and was found fit for duty in July.
Wasil said her recovery began with swimming.
"I was going to the pool on my own to try rehabilitation when [Army] Master Sgt. [Rhoden] Galloway saw me swimming and suggested I try out," she said of her Warrior Games teammate. "The Warrior Games was my first adult swim competition, and I got a gold, silver and a bronze in women's swimming. It was fun."
Wasil said the Warrior Games changed her life. "They showed me how to adapt in ways I never knew I could," she explained. "They gave me a whole new path in life that I would've never known existed."
Using her fighter instinct, Wasil trained so well in the pool that when she competed in breast stroke races of 50, 100 and 200 meters in an international event, she broke an American record.
"They thought I was going to come in 12th or 14th in all of my races," she said. "I ended up winning all three races. It was very emotional and overwhelming, but great. I just wanted to qualify. It was a great first race."
Wasil not only beat records, but also became too good to compete in swimming events at this year's Warrior Games. She's now a member of the Army's World Class Athlete Program at Fort Carson, Colo., and is working on her swimming times so she can compete in the Paralympics in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
At this year's games, Wasil switched from the upright bikes to the recumbent bikes, which require more arm and leg power. She joked that she was proud that her arms could pull that race off, and that the hills were no joke.
Wasil, always quick to laugh or smile, said she was a little scared but excited when she competed in the speed chair.
"It was my first time in a speed chair competitively. I was scared again," she said with a smile. "The Warrior Games is a time for a lot of new things. I was in the chair for the first time racing, and when I did my first race, I just went all-out. The chair's so hard, but so rewarding. When I was done, it was an adrenaline rush. I just went from one race to the next."
When Wasil received her medal for cycling, she had the chance to meet Britain's Prince Harry and get a photo taken with him. He was a nice guy, she said, but the always-focused soldier added that she was paying more attention to her teammates and their accomplishments.
Wasil said the Warrior Games tapped into her warrior spirit and reassured her that even if she was medically retired, she would still be a part of the military.
"When I was facing the med board, I was scared that when I left the Army, I would lose my military family," she said. "Whether you stay in the military or get out, it's good to know that you never lose that family. Maintain that pride for your service and know that even when you're out, we still accept you and love you as if you're in."
Wasil's husband, Colton, a personal trainer, said his wife always is a positive person who loves the military.
"If she had her way, she would be 80 years old and still serving in the Army," he joked. "She's always positive and motivated. She has a great personality. I'm very happy for her successes. She does well in anything she enters. She's capable of anything she sets her mind to. I'm so proud of her."
Her warrior spirit and love of the military are ever-evident, he said.
"She's legitimately excited to be in the military," he said. "She was inspired by her father, and the military is just who she is. It fits her perfectly. She's military."
U.S RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA DETERIORATES OVER SYRIA
Russian Missiles in Syria will Prolong Suffering, Dempsey Says
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 17, 2013 - Russia's planned delivery of advanced anti-ship missiles and the S-300 air defense system to Syria "is at the very least an unfortunate decision that will embolden the regime and prolong the suffering," said Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey during a Pentagon news conference today.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff went on to call the decision "ill-timed and very unfortunate."
Dempsey and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the United States continues to try to find a way for the United States and Russia to work together to end the Syrian civil war. "One of the primary reasons that Secretary of State John Kerry went to Moscow was to find some ... intersection of interests in the Middle East," Hagel said.
The secretary said there is a real danger that the war could spill over Syria's borders and ignite the entire region. "What we don't want to see happen is for Syria to erupt to a point where we may find a regional war," he said. "We continue to work with the Russians and do everything we can to convince the powers in the region to be careful with escalation of military options and equipment."
Hagel said the United States is leaving all options open. "We are already doing a lot in Syria on the humanitarian side, the non-lethal side," he said. Still, U.S. leaders are trying to work out some consensus on Syria with the players in the region and beyond.
The anti-ship and air defense capabilities are more capable systems, Dempsey said. The S-300, for example, has a higher ceiling, longer range and multiple tracking capability. "It pushes the stand-off distance out a little more, increases risk, but it's not impossible to overcome," he said.
"What I really worry about is that (Syrian leader Bashar) Assad will decide that since he's got these systems he is somehow safer and more prone to a miscalculation," the chairman said.
There are several capabilities that Syria has not used responsibly including chemical weapons, long-range rockets, missiles and high-end air defense, Dempsey said. "The things they have in their control, we have things to deal with," the general said. "We do not have options in any way to prevent the delivery of any military sales to Syria."
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 17, 2013 - Russia's planned delivery of advanced anti-ship missiles and the S-300 air defense system to Syria "is at the very least an unfortunate decision that will embolden the regime and prolong the suffering," said Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey during a Pentagon news conference today.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff went on to call the decision "ill-timed and very unfortunate."
Dempsey and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the United States continues to try to find a way for the United States and Russia to work together to end the Syrian civil war. "One of the primary reasons that Secretary of State John Kerry went to Moscow was to find some ... intersection of interests in the Middle East," Hagel said.
The secretary said there is a real danger that the war could spill over Syria's borders and ignite the entire region. "What we don't want to see happen is for Syria to erupt to a point where we may find a regional war," he said. "We continue to work with the Russians and do everything we can to convince the powers in the region to be careful with escalation of military options and equipment."
Hagel said the United States is leaving all options open. "We are already doing a lot in Syria on the humanitarian side, the non-lethal side," he said. Still, U.S. leaders are trying to work out some consensus on Syria with the players in the region and beyond.
The anti-ship and air defense capabilities are more capable systems, Dempsey said. The S-300, for example, has a higher ceiling, longer range and multiple tracking capability. "It pushes the stand-off distance out a little more, increases risk, but it's not impossible to overcome," he said.
"What I really worry about is that (Syrian leader Bashar) Assad will decide that since he's got these systems he is somehow safer and more prone to a miscalculation," the chairman said.
There are several capabilities that Syria has not used responsibly including chemical weapons, long-range rockets, missiles and high-end air defense, Dempsey said. "The things they have in their control, we have things to deal with," the general said. "We do not have options in any way to prevent the delivery of any military sales to Syria."
Friday, May 17, 2013
SUCCESSFUL MISSILE INTERCEPT TEST COMPLETED OVER PACIFIC
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Missile Defense System Completes Successful Intercept Test
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 16, 2013 – The Missile Defense Agency and Navy sailors aboard the USS Lake Erie conducted a successful flight test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system yesterday, Pentagon officials reported.
In the test, the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense 4.0 weapon system and a Standard Missile 3 Block IB missile intercepted a separating ballistic missile target over the Pacific Ocean.
A separating short-range ballistic missile target was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai, Hawaii, and flew northwest toward a broad ocean area. The USS Lake Erie detected and tracked the missile with its onboard AN/SPY-1 radar. The ship, equipped with the second-generation Aegis BMD weapon system, developed a fire control solution and launched the SM-3 Block IB missile.
The SM-3 maneuvered to a point in space based on guidance from Aegis BMD weapon system and released its kinetic warhead. The warhead acquired the target re-entry vehicle, diverted into its path, and, using only the force of a direct impact, engaged and destroyed the target.
Initial indications are that all components performed as designed, officials said, and program officials will assess and evaluate system performance based upon telemetry and other data obtained during the test.
Last night's event, designated Flight Test Maritime 19, was the third consecutive successful intercept test of the Aegis BMD 4.0 weapon system and the SM-3 Block IB guided missile, and the 25th successful intercept in 31 flight test attempts for the Aegis BMD program since flight testing began in 2002.
Across all Ballistic Missile Defense System programs, this is the 59th successful hit-to-kill intercept in 74 flight tests since 2001, officials said.
Aegis BMD is the naval component of the Missile Defense Agency's Ballistic Missile Defense System. The MDA and the Navy cooperatively manage the Aegis BMD program.
Missile Defense System Completes Successful Intercept Test
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 16, 2013 – The Missile Defense Agency and Navy sailors aboard the USS Lake Erie conducted a successful flight test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system yesterday, Pentagon officials reported.
In the test, the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense 4.0 weapon system and a Standard Missile 3 Block IB missile intercepted a separating ballistic missile target over the Pacific Ocean.
A separating short-range ballistic missile target was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai, Hawaii, and flew northwest toward a broad ocean area. The USS Lake Erie detected and tracked the missile with its onboard AN/SPY-1 radar. The ship, equipped with the second-generation Aegis BMD weapon system, developed a fire control solution and launched the SM-3 Block IB missile.
The SM-3 maneuvered to a point in space based on guidance from Aegis BMD weapon system and released its kinetic warhead. The warhead acquired the target re-entry vehicle, diverted into its path, and, using only the force of a direct impact, engaged and destroyed the target.
Initial indications are that all components performed as designed, officials said, and program officials will assess and evaluate system performance based upon telemetry and other data obtained during the test.
Last night's event, designated Flight Test Maritime 19, was the third consecutive successful intercept test of the Aegis BMD 4.0 weapon system and the SM-3 Block IB guided missile, and the 25th successful intercept in 31 flight test attempts for the Aegis BMD program since flight testing began in 2002.
Across all Ballistic Missile Defense System programs, this is the 59th successful hit-to-kill intercept in 74 flight tests since 2001, officials said.
Aegis BMD is the naval component of the Missile Defense Agency's Ballistic Missile Defense System. The MDA and the Navy cooperatively manage the Aegis BMD program.
SANCTIONS LIFTED AGAINST ELAF ISLAMIC BANK IN IRAQ
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY
Action Follows a Verified Change of Behavior from the Elaf Islamic Bank
WASHINGTON – The Department of the Treasury today lifted sanctions against the Elaf Islamic Bank in Iraq following the bank’s significant and demonstrated change in behavior.
On July 31, 2012 the Treasury Department imposed sanctions under the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (CISADA), against Elaf Islamic Bank, a privately-owned Iraqi financial institution, for knowingly facilitating significant transactions and providing significant financial services for the U.S. and EU-designated Export Development Bank of Iran (EDBI). Following the CISADA finding, Elaf immediately engaged the Treasury Department and began an intensive course of action to stop the conduct that led to the CISADA sanction, including freezing EDBI accounts at Elaf and reducing its overall exposure to the Iranian financial sector. Following today’s action U.S. financial institutions are once again permitted to open or maintain correspondent accounts or payable-through accounts in the United States for Elaf Islamic Bank.
"Today we welcome Elaf Islamic Bank back into the U.S. financial system, and we urge other designated individuals and entities around the world to follow its positive example. As today’s delisting demonstrates, our sanctions are flexible and can be lifted if the conduct that led to the sanction terminates," said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen. "As we increase our sanctions against Iran, we will continue to target any financial institution that works with designated Iranian banks or attempts to assist Iran in evading sanctions."
Sanctions may be, and regularly are, lifted when circumstances warrant, which includes ceasing the sanctionable activity. Any sanctioned party may petition OFAC for sanctions to be lifted. In general, demonstrating changes in circumstances or behavior are essential to the lifting of sanctions.
Treasury will continue to use all tools at its disposal to target entities or individuals engaging in sanctionable activity related to Iran. CISADA was signed into law by President Obama in July 2010. Among other things, CISADA provides the Secretary of the Treasury with the authority to impose strict conditions on, or prohibit the opening or maintaining of, correspondent accounts or payable-through accounts in the United States for foreign financial institutions that knowingly facilitate a significant transaction or provide significant financial services for a person whose property and interests in property are blocked under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in connection with Iran’s proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) or delivery systems for WMD, or for Iran’s support for international terrorism.
Action Follows a Verified Change of Behavior from the Elaf Islamic Bank
WASHINGTON – The Department of the Treasury today lifted sanctions against the Elaf Islamic Bank in Iraq following the bank’s significant and demonstrated change in behavior.
On July 31, 2012 the Treasury Department imposed sanctions under the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (CISADA), against Elaf Islamic Bank, a privately-owned Iraqi financial institution, for knowingly facilitating significant transactions and providing significant financial services for the U.S. and EU-designated Export Development Bank of Iran (EDBI). Following the CISADA finding, Elaf immediately engaged the Treasury Department and began an intensive course of action to stop the conduct that led to the CISADA sanction, including freezing EDBI accounts at Elaf and reducing its overall exposure to the Iranian financial sector. Following today’s action U.S. financial institutions are once again permitted to open or maintain correspondent accounts or payable-through accounts in the United States for Elaf Islamic Bank.
"Today we welcome Elaf Islamic Bank back into the U.S. financial system, and we urge other designated individuals and entities around the world to follow its positive example. As today’s delisting demonstrates, our sanctions are flexible and can be lifted if the conduct that led to the sanction terminates," said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen. "As we increase our sanctions against Iran, we will continue to target any financial institution that works with designated Iranian banks or attempts to assist Iran in evading sanctions."
Sanctions may be, and regularly are, lifted when circumstances warrant, which includes ceasing the sanctionable activity. Any sanctioned party may petition OFAC for sanctions to be lifted. In general, demonstrating changes in circumstances or behavior are essential to the lifting of sanctions.
Treasury will continue to use all tools at its disposal to target entities or individuals engaging in sanctionable activity related to Iran. CISADA was signed into law by President Obama in July 2010. Among other things, CISADA provides the Secretary of the Treasury with the authority to impose strict conditions on, or prohibit the opening or maintaining of, correspondent accounts or payable-through accounts in the United States for foreign financial institutions that knowingly facilitate a significant transaction or provide significant financial services for a person whose property and interests in property are blocked under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in connection with Iran’s proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) or delivery systems for WMD, or for Iran’s support for international terrorism.
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES EXPANDING WATERWAY REVITALIZATION IN WESTERN LAKE ERIE BASIN
FROM: U.S. EVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Federal Agencies Expand Urban Waterway Revitalization Efforts in Western Lake Erie Basin
CHICAGO (May 14, 2013) – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, announced that the Western Lake Erie Basin is one of 11 new locations selected for revitalization efforts by the Urban Waters Federal Partnership. First launched in 2011, the Urban Waters Federal Partnership works to reconnect urban residents with their waterways and open spaces.
EPA Region 5 Administrator/Great Lakes National Program Manager Susan Hedman was joined by Rich Sims, the Northeast Regional Conservationist for the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Lt. Col. Owen J. Beaudoin, Commander of the Buffalo District for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, at a kick-off event today at Middlegrounds Metropark in Toledo, Ohio. U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Toledo Mayor Michael P. Bell and Tim Schetter, Director of Natural Resources for Toledo-area Metroparks joined them for the announcement.
"Restoring waterways in the Toledo area will improve public health, provide recreational opportunities and boost the local economy," said Hedman. "EPA, NRCS and the Corps will work with local partners to transform degraded waterways into assets for Toledo residents and to improve water quality in the Western Lake Erie basin."
"Including Toledo in the Urban Waters Federal Partnership program is a big step forward for us," said Congresswoman Kaptur. "We worked hard to get our region included in this initiative because a healthy Lake Erie is vitally important to a healthy local economy."
With the addition of 11 new locations across the country, the work of the partnership is now in 18 communities. A progress report released last week details the successes and plans for future actions as well as actions taken by each of the 13 federal partners. Through the partnership, agencies are working to revitalize urban waterways and communities that surround them, transforming overlooked assets and driving urban revival. Projects will further the goals of the partnership and address a wide range of issues such as improving water quality, restoring ecosystems and enhancing public access to urban waters.
"The Natural Resources Conservation Service has a long history of working through partnerships to create sustainable environmental benefits, like improved water quality," said Sims. "In 2006, NRCS and many of the partners here today established the Western Lake Erie Basin Watershed Partnership. Projects like the Toledo Rain Garden Initiative began with support from NRCS and the WLEB Partnership. Over 50 rain gardens planted around Toledo retained 200,000 gallons of untreated rainwater to date. The Urban Waters Partnership allows us to expand our efforts in the Western Lake Erie Basin."
"The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Buffalo District looks forward to collaborating with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service on the Urban Waters Partnership," said Lt. Col. Beaudoin. "The partnership will allow USACE to identify synergies between Federal, state and local agencies through our existing authorities, and engage communities on the importance of urban water resources management."
Americans use urban waterways as sources of drinking water and for a variety of activities including boating, fishing and swimming. Revitalizing these urban waterways will reconnect citizens to open spaces and have a positive economic impact on local businesses, tourism and property values, as well as spur private investment and job creation in communities.
Launched in 2011, the Urban Waters Federal Partnership closely aligns with and advances the work of other White House efforts such as the Partnership for Sustainable Communities by revitalizing communities, creating jobs and improving the quality of life in cities and towns. The partnership also supports President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative aimed at making the federal government a better partner with communities that are working to provide safe, healthy and accessible outdoor places.
The participating agencies are:
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Department of Energy
- U.S. Department of Education
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- U.S. Economic Development Administration
- U.S. Forest Service
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- U.S. Department of Interior
- U.S. Department of Transportation
- Corporation for National and Community Service
- National Center for Environmental Health/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Agencies Expand Urban Waterway Revitalization Efforts in Western Lake Erie Basin
CHICAGO (May 14, 2013) – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, announced that the Western Lake Erie Basin is one of 11 new locations selected for revitalization efforts by the Urban Waters Federal Partnership. First launched in 2011, the Urban Waters Federal Partnership works to reconnect urban residents with their waterways and open spaces.
EPA Region 5 Administrator/Great Lakes National Program Manager Susan Hedman was joined by Rich Sims, the Northeast Regional Conservationist for the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Lt. Col. Owen J. Beaudoin, Commander of the Buffalo District for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, at a kick-off event today at Middlegrounds Metropark in Toledo, Ohio. U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Toledo Mayor Michael P. Bell and Tim Schetter, Director of Natural Resources for Toledo-area Metroparks joined them for the announcement.
"Restoring waterways in the Toledo area will improve public health, provide recreational opportunities and boost the local economy," said Hedman. "EPA, NRCS and the Corps will work with local partners to transform degraded waterways into assets for Toledo residents and to improve water quality in the Western Lake Erie basin."
"Including Toledo in the Urban Waters Federal Partnership program is a big step forward for us," said Congresswoman Kaptur. "We worked hard to get our region included in this initiative because a healthy Lake Erie is vitally important to a healthy local economy."
With the addition of 11 new locations across the country, the work of the partnership is now in 18 communities. A progress report released last week details the successes and plans for future actions as well as actions taken by each of the 13 federal partners. Through the partnership, agencies are working to revitalize urban waterways and communities that surround them, transforming overlooked assets and driving urban revival. Projects will further the goals of the partnership and address a wide range of issues such as improving water quality, restoring ecosystems and enhancing public access to urban waters.
"The Natural Resources Conservation Service has a long history of working through partnerships to create sustainable environmental benefits, like improved water quality," said Sims. "In 2006, NRCS and many of the partners here today established the Western Lake Erie Basin Watershed Partnership. Projects like the Toledo Rain Garden Initiative began with support from NRCS and the WLEB Partnership. Over 50 rain gardens planted around Toledo retained 200,000 gallons of untreated rainwater to date. The Urban Waters Partnership allows us to expand our efforts in the Western Lake Erie Basin."
"The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Buffalo District looks forward to collaborating with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service on the Urban Waters Partnership," said Lt. Col. Beaudoin. "The partnership will allow USACE to identify synergies between Federal, state and local agencies through our existing authorities, and engage communities on the importance of urban water resources management."
Americans use urban waterways as sources of drinking water and for a variety of activities including boating, fishing and swimming. Revitalizing these urban waterways will reconnect citizens to open spaces and have a positive economic impact on local businesses, tourism and property values, as well as spur private investment and job creation in communities.
Launched in 2011, the Urban Waters Federal Partnership closely aligns with and advances the work of other White House efforts such as the Partnership for Sustainable Communities by revitalizing communities, creating jobs and improving the quality of life in cities and towns. The partnership also supports President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative aimed at making the federal government a better partner with communities that are working to provide safe, healthy and accessible outdoor places.
The participating agencies are:
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Department of Energy
- U.S. Department of Education
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- U.S. Economic Development Administration
- U.S. Forest Service
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- U.S. Department of Interior
- U.S. Department of Transportation
- Corporation for National and Community Service
- National Center for Environmental Health/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
CDC REPORTS MOST ADULTS SAY THEY HAVE SMOKE-FREE RULES IN HOME
FROM: CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
Large majority of adults have smoke-free rules in homes, vehicles
Millions of non-smokers still exposed to secondhand smoke
Four out of five U.S. adults report having voluntary smoke-free rules in their homes and three out of four report having voluntary smoke-free rules in their vehicles, according to a study published in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease, a publication of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The National Adult Tobacco Survey respondents were classified as having smoke-free rules if they never allow smoking inside their homes or vehicles. The study is the first to present estimates of smoke-free rules and secondhand smoke exposure in vehicles among U.S. adults.
Despite the high prevalence of voluntary smoke-free rules in homes and vehicles, the study found that almost 11 million non-smoking adults continue to be exposed to secondhand smoke in their home, and almost 17 million non-smoking adults continue to be exposed to secondhand smoke in a vehicle. The study also contains state-by-state data showing that the highest prevalence of smoke-free rules in homes and vehicles occurred in many states with comprehensive smoke-free laws and longstanding tobacco control programs.
"We have made tremendous progress in the last 15 years protecting people in public spaces from secondhand smoke," said Tim McAfee, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Office on Smoking and Health at CDC. "The good news is that people are applying the same protection in their homes and vehicles. However, millions of non-smokers, many of whom are children, remain exposed to secondhand smoke in these environments."
Additional study findings include:
Eighty-one percent of U.S. adults report having smoke-free rules in their homes and 74 percent have smoke-free rules in their vehicles
Eighty-nine percent of non-smokers report having smoke-free home rules, while only 48 percent of smokers have them.
Eighty-five percent of non-smokers report having smoke-free vehicle rules, while only 27 percent of smokers have them.
Secondhand smoke exposure among nonsmokers in homes and vehicles was greatest among men, younger adults, non-Hispanic blacks, and those with a lower level of education.
Many of the states with the lowest prevalence of smoke-free rules in homes and vehicles are states with a high prevalence of adult smoking.
"While almost half of all U.S. residents are protected by 100 percent smoke-free policies in worksites, restaurants and bars, overall there are still an estimated 88 million non-smoking Americans over the age of three who are exposed to secondhand smoke," said Brian King, Ph.D., an epidemiologist in the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health and lead author of this study. "It’s important to educate people on the dangers of secondhand smoke exposure and how smoke-free homes and vehicles can reduce that exposure."
Exposure to secondhand smoke causes heart disease and lung cancer in adult non-smokers. In children, secondhand smoke exposure causes more severe and frequent asthma attacks, acute respiratory infections, ear infections and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Secondhand smoke exposure is responsible for an estimated 50,000 deaths each year in the United States. The Surgeon General has concluded there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, and that only 100 percent smoke-free policies can protect non-smokers from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Opening a window does not work, nor does any other ventilation system.
Large majority of adults have smoke-free rules in homes, vehicles
Millions of non-smokers still exposed to secondhand smoke
Four out of five U.S. adults report having voluntary smoke-free rules in their homes and three out of four report having voluntary smoke-free rules in their vehicles, according to a study published in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease, a publication of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The National Adult Tobacco Survey respondents were classified as having smoke-free rules if they never allow smoking inside their homes or vehicles. The study is the first to present estimates of smoke-free rules and secondhand smoke exposure in vehicles among U.S. adults.
Despite the high prevalence of voluntary smoke-free rules in homes and vehicles, the study found that almost 11 million non-smoking adults continue to be exposed to secondhand smoke in their home, and almost 17 million non-smoking adults continue to be exposed to secondhand smoke in a vehicle. The study also contains state-by-state data showing that the highest prevalence of smoke-free rules in homes and vehicles occurred in many states with comprehensive smoke-free laws and longstanding tobacco control programs.
"We have made tremendous progress in the last 15 years protecting people in public spaces from secondhand smoke," said Tim McAfee, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Office on Smoking and Health at CDC. "The good news is that people are applying the same protection in their homes and vehicles. However, millions of non-smokers, many of whom are children, remain exposed to secondhand smoke in these environments."
Additional study findings include:
Eighty-nine percent of non-smokers report having smoke-free home rules, while only 48 percent of smokers have them.
Eighty-five percent of non-smokers report having smoke-free vehicle rules, while only 27 percent of smokers have them.
Secondhand smoke exposure among nonsmokers in homes and vehicles was greatest among men, younger adults, non-Hispanic blacks, and those with a lower level of education.
Many of the states with the lowest prevalence of smoke-free rules in homes and vehicles are states with a high prevalence of adult smoking.
"While almost half of all U.S. residents are protected by 100 percent smoke-free policies in worksites, restaurants and bars, overall there are still an estimated 88 million non-smoking Americans over the age of three who are exposed to secondhand smoke," said Brian King, Ph.D., an epidemiologist in the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health and lead author of this study. "It’s important to educate people on the dangers of secondhand smoke exposure and how smoke-free homes and vehicles can reduce that exposure."
Exposure to secondhand smoke causes heart disease and lung cancer in adult non-smokers. In children, secondhand smoke exposure causes more severe and frequent asthma attacks, acute respiratory infections, ear infections and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Secondhand smoke exposure is responsible for an estimated 50,000 deaths each year in the United States. The Surgeon General has concluded there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, and that only 100 percent smoke-free policies can protect non-smokers from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Opening a window does not work, nor does any other ventilation system.
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