Monday, August 11, 2014
SECRETARY KERRY'S REMARKS AT LOWER MEKONG INITIATIVE MINISTERIAL MEETING
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Remarks at the Lower Mekong Initiative Ministerial Meeting
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Myanmar International Conference Center
Naypyitaw, Burma
August 9, 2014
Thank you very much, Mr. Minister, and again, we all thank you for your hospitality in convening us here and for your leadership. And we particularly are grateful for the efforts of your meeting through ASEAN as well as your efforts with the Lower Mekong Initiative. I also want to thank all of the foreign ministers of the LMI countries and the Secretary General of ASEAN for participating in this meeting.
This is, in my judgment, a very important initiative because this is an extraordinary river, which provides livelihood, movement of goods, commercial traffic, food, sustenance to millions of people. And it's a river that I got to know very well years ago. And I saw not only the natural beauty, but I got to see the remarkable amount of commerce and movement and importance of this river to the entire framework of the region. It is central to the economic lifeblood of the entire region. It sustains the lives of more than 70 million people.
So last winter, I had a chance to revisit the Ca Mau Peninsula, and I've spent some time on the Delta. In small boats, we were traveling around, looking at some of the impacts of the environment. It was very, very clear to me that the communities that I passed through are as connected and tied to that body of water as they ever have been. These are for understandable reasons. Vietnam is among the top rice exporters of the world, and 90 percent of their rice comes straight from the Mekong Delta.
Obviously, the waters of the Mekong Delta also provide a lot of other benefits, some of which like hydropower could even conflict with the other benefits. So you have this tension between the purposes, unless they're approached thoughtfully and correctly. We all know that the short-term economic gains, no matter how promising they are, cannot come at the expense of the long-term economic stability and ecosystem of the river.
I believe that all of us together have a responsibility and the ability to be able to find a way to build on the economic growth that this region is seeing and to increase the access to both energy and food at the same time. But we can only do that if we continue to make ourselves the thoughtful stewards of the Lower Mekong Basin, and it has to be a priority.
The United States sees the Lower Mekong Initiative as one primary means to promote prosperity among all five of the partner countries: Myanmar, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam. And we also see it as a critical means of achieving ASEAN's own goal of narrowing the development gap between ASEAN countries. That's part of the integrated economic zone that ASEAN seeks, or as it has been called, the ASEAN Economic Community.
So as we look to the next five years, we're prepared to pursue a path that is focused on the cross-cutting challenges that face all of the LMI partners, including the intersection of water, energy, and food security. We think we're already on our way with the recent success of signature programs like the Smart Infrastructure for the Mekong Program, the SIM Program, which connects U.S. Government officials to partners who need technical and scientific assistance pursuing sustainable development along the Mekong. We launched them last year, and we've already received a dozen requests for assistance from LMI-member countries. And progress on several of these requests is already underway.
With LMI's newly focused approach, we hope to even pool more resources to achieve clear concrete policy objectives. A big part of that will be the new LMI Eminent and Expert Persons Group, the EEPG, which we're very pleased to announce here today. This group will include government and nongovernment specialists from a wide range of nations. Together, they will serve as a sort of intellectual steering committee. They can help us find new ways to promote a sustainable future for the Mekong.
So we're very optimistic, and I believe we have reason to be. And that's why I'm asking the Counselor of the United States State Department, Tom Shannon, to travel to the region this fall to discuss these issues and to build on the work that we are doing here today.
I very much look forward to the conversation that we're about to have, as well as the meeting a little later on with the friends of the Lower Mekong. And I think it's possible for my co-chair to maybe streamline this a bit because I know we're running behind, and we could probably bring them in sooner. But I don't want to shorten anybody's ability to make the comments we need to make now.
Thank you, sir.
This is, in my judgment, a very important initiative because this is an extraordinary river, which provides livelihood, movement of goods, commercial traffic, food, sustenance to millions of people. And it's a river that I got to know very well years ago. And I saw not only the natural beauty, but I got to see the remarkable amount of commerce and movement and importance of this river to the entire framework of the region. It is central to the economic lifeblood of the entire region. It sustains the lives of more than 70 million people.
So last winter, I had a chance to revisit the Ca Mau Peninsula, and I've spent some time on the Delta. In small boats, we were traveling around, looking at some of the impacts of the environment. It was very, very clear to me that the communities that I passed through are as connected and tied to that body of water as they ever have been. These are for understandable reasons. Vietnam is among the top rice exporters of the world, and 90 percent of their rice comes straight from the Mekong Delta.
Obviously, the waters of the Mekong Delta also provide a lot of other benefits, some of which like hydropower could even conflict with the other benefits. So you have this tension between the purposes, unless they're approached thoughtfully and correctly. We all know that the short-term economic gains, no matter how promising they are, cannot come at the expense of the long-term economic stability and ecosystem of the river.
I believe that all of us together have a responsibility and the ability to be able to find a way to build on the economic growth that this region is seeing and to increase the access to both energy and food at the same time. But we can only do that if we continue to make ourselves the thoughtful stewards of the Lower Mekong Basin, and it has to be a priority.
The United States sees the Lower Mekong Initiative as one primary means to promote prosperity among all five of the partner countries: Myanmar, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam. And we also see it as a critical means of achieving ASEAN's own goal of narrowing the development gap between ASEAN countries. That's part of the integrated economic zone that ASEAN seeks, or as it has been called, the ASEAN Economic Community.
So as we look to the next five years, we're prepared to pursue a path that is focused on the cross-cutting challenges that face all of the LMI partners, including the intersection of water, energy, and food security. We think we're already on our way with the recent success of signature programs like the Smart Infrastructure for the Mekong Program, the SIM Program, which connects U.S. Government officials to partners who need technical and scientific assistance pursuing sustainable development along the Mekong. We launched them last year, and we've already received a dozen requests for assistance from LMI-member countries. And progress on several of these requests is already underway.
With LMI's newly focused approach, we hope to even pool more resources to achieve clear concrete policy objectives. A big part of that will be the new LMI Eminent and Expert Persons Group, the EEPG, which we're very pleased to announce here today. This group will include government and nongovernment specialists from a wide range of nations. Together, they will serve as a sort of intellectual steering committee. They can help us find new ways to promote a sustainable future for the Mekong.
So we're very optimistic, and I believe we have reason to be. And that's why I'm asking the Counselor of the United States State Department, Tom Shannon, to travel to the region this fall to discuss these issues and to build on the work that we are doing here today.
I very much look forward to the conversation that we're about to have, as well as the meeting a little later on with the friends of the Lower Mekong. And I think it's possible for my co-chair to maybe streamline this a bit because I know we're running behind, and we could probably bring them in sooner. But I don't want to shorten anybody's ability to make the comments we need to make now.
Thank you, sir.
Sunday, August 10, 2014
7 DEFENDANTS NOW INDICTED IN MURDER CASE OF BORDER PATROL AGENT BRIAN TERRY
FROM: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Seventh Defendant Indicted in Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry Murder Case
Rosario Rafael Burboa-Alvarez was indicted by a federal grand jury in Tucson yesterday, becoming the seventh man charged in connection with the murder of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, announced Attorney General Eric Holder and U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy of the Southern District of California.
“When Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry lost his life in the line of duty, in 2010, our nation incurred a tremendous debt to this American hero – and his family – that we can never fully repay. But with these charges, we are taking another important step to keep our commitment to bring those responsible for his murder to justice,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “We will continue to be aggressive in our pursuit of anyone – anywhere – who commits an act of violence against an American law enforcement official. And we will do everything in our power to ensure that they will face justice in an American courtroom. This is our solemn obligation.”
Agent Terry was fatally shot on Dec. 14, 2010, when he and other Border Patrol agents encountered armed robbers in a rural area north of Nogales, Arizona. Of the defendants charged so far, two have pleaded guilty, three are awaiting trial and two are fugitives.
Burboa-Alvarez, 30, is described in the indictment as the recruiter who assembled the crew of armed robbers to travel from Mexico to the United States and forcibly take marijuana from smugglers through threats or actual violence.
The crew members were identified in the indictment as Manuel Osorio Arellanes, Jesus Rosario Favela-Astorga, Ivan Soto-Barraza, Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes, Lionel Portillo-Meza and Rito Osorio-Arellanes.
The indictment charges Burboa-Alvarez and others with first degree murder, second degree murder, conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and attempted interference with commerce by robbery. Other crew members are also charged with use and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer. In addition to the murder of Agent Terry, the indictment alleges that the defendants assaulted Border Patrol Agents William Castano, Gabriel Fragoza, and Timothy Keller, who were with Agent Terry during the firefight.
Burboa-Alvarez was already in custody in Tucson for immigration-related crimes. He is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court in Tucson at 1:45 p.m. today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bernardo P. Velasco.
Portillo-Meza was captured in Mexico in September 2012 and extradited to the U.S. on June 17, 2014. Soto-Barraza was captured in Mexico in September 2013 and was extradited to the U.S. on July 31, 2014. Favela-Astorga and Osorio-Arellanes are fugitives.
Another defendant, Manuel Osorio-Arellanes, pleaded guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison in February 2014. Another defendant, Rito Osorio-Arellanes, who was in custody at the time of Agent Terry’s murder, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and was sentenced to eight years in prison in January 2013.
This case is being prosecuted in federal court in Tucson by attorneys from the Southern District of California. They are Special Assistant United States Attorneys Todd W. Robinson, David D. Leshner and Fred Sheppard. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is recused. This case is being investigated by the FBI. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance with the extraditions.
The public is reminded that an indictment is a formal charging document and defendants are presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
REMARKS: SECRETARY KERRY WITH SUDANESE PRESIDENT SALVA KIIR
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Remarks With South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Before Their Meeting
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Treaty Room
Washington, DC
August 5, 2014
SECRETARY KERRY: It’s my pleasure to welcome President Kiir of South Sudan. The president and I have visited many times there and here, and I’ve had the privilege of being with him at the moment that the referendum took place that gave birth to the nation of South Sudan. This is a very timely meeting because right now South Sudan is suffering the fate of being the most food-insecure nation in the world as a consequence of manmade circumstances. There is a struggle going on, which has been going on for some time, in which innocent civilians are caught up. And President Kiir has agreed – along with the former Vice President Riek Machar – to negotiate, and ultimately to engage in the creation of a unity transition government.
That transition government needs to be negotiated, and the neighbor countries – Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia – have been deeply involved together even with Sudan in trying to help bring parties together and see if we can’t resolve this in a peaceful way. So our hope is that we can have a discussion today that helps to clarify the road ahead, to try to minimize the violence. There is a commission of inquiry on what has been happening on the ground. It’s very important for us to figure out how that will also figure into the future here.
The most important thing, and I know President Kiir agrees with this, is to make sure that the people are able to find security, and hopefully that we’re able to get food, medicine, humanitarian assistance to people at a time of huge need. And I look forward to my conversation with the president this morning.
Mr. President, if you want to say anything.
PRESIDENT KIIR: Well, thank you very much, Honorable Secretary, and it’s my pleasure to be in Washington at this moment, and on bilateral issues and for your also involvement in the issues of our country. The situation in South Sudan today, of course, on the ground it is not as been reported in the media. And if the two sides – that is the government and the rebels – were forthcoming, all of them, this thing could have been resolved a long time back. But we get difficulty on the side of the rebels. We signed the cessation of hostilities with the leader of the rebels in May on the 9th, which he did not respect. We again met in June and we signed another recommitment, cessation of hostilities on the 10th of June, but they did not abide with all these agreements.
I always say that Riek Machar is not in control of what he calls his army. And so each commanders in different areas are operating on their own. I want to repeat what I said in that meeting, the last meeting. I told the press that if peace was to be brought to South Sudan today or tomorrow, I will be happy because the people who are dying on both sides are my people. I am an elected president, and the people who elected me were not from my tribe. I was elected by all the people of South Sudan. So other people die in support of Riek Machar or is my support – these are all my people.
Those who are in need of humanitarian assistance can be served anywhere, wherever they are. This is still my position today, that if there is any humanitarian assistance, that ought to be delivered to the people who are affected. This thing has – can go unhindered. And it has been happening that humanitarian assistance has been going to the areas affected by this conflict. I’m hopeful that we are going to find a solution very soon to that conflict. Thank you.
SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you, Mr. President. I just want the record to be clear that it is our judgment – and the former Vice President Mr. Machar needs to understand this – that he has broken – it was his initiative that broke the agreement and took his troops back into a violent status. And he needs to understand the importance of living by the agreements. In my conversations with the prime minister of Ethiopia, who made it clear this is his judgment also, he needs to understand the international community is going to be impatient with those breaches.
So what we’re looking for is the fulfillment of the agreement, which means moving to a transition government that heals the wounds and brings people together. And we have said before and I reiterate now that the president is the duly elected, constitutional president of South Sudan, and this is a rebel group. Nevertheless, it needs to understand the importance of adhering to international agreements and the importance of bringing this to a negotiated conclusion and path forward.
So I hope today we can find a way to get back to these talks in a serious way, Mr. President, and I thank you very, very much for your statement and for being here to join us for this conversation. Thank you all very much.
That transition government needs to be negotiated, and the neighbor countries – Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia – have been deeply involved together even with Sudan in trying to help bring parties together and see if we can’t resolve this in a peaceful way. So our hope is that we can have a discussion today that helps to clarify the road ahead, to try to minimize the violence. There is a commission of inquiry on what has been happening on the ground. It’s very important for us to figure out how that will also figure into the future here.
The most important thing, and I know President Kiir agrees with this, is to make sure that the people are able to find security, and hopefully that we’re able to get food, medicine, humanitarian assistance to people at a time of huge need. And I look forward to my conversation with the president this morning.
Mr. President, if you want to say anything.
PRESIDENT KIIR: Well, thank you very much, Honorable Secretary, and it’s my pleasure to be in Washington at this moment, and on bilateral issues and for your also involvement in the issues of our country. The situation in South Sudan today, of course, on the ground it is not as been reported in the media. And if the two sides – that is the government and the rebels – were forthcoming, all of them, this thing could have been resolved a long time back. But we get difficulty on the side of the rebels. We signed the cessation of hostilities with the leader of the rebels in May on the 9th, which he did not respect. We again met in June and we signed another recommitment, cessation of hostilities on the 10th of June, but they did not abide with all these agreements.
I always say that Riek Machar is not in control of what he calls his army. And so each commanders in different areas are operating on their own. I want to repeat what I said in that meeting, the last meeting. I told the press that if peace was to be brought to South Sudan today or tomorrow, I will be happy because the people who are dying on both sides are my people. I am an elected president, and the people who elected me were not from my tribe. I was elected by all the people of South Sudan. So other people die in support of Riek Machar or is my support – these are all my people.
Those who are in need of humanitarian assistance can be served anywhere, wherever they are. This is still my position today, that if there is any humanitarian assistance, that ought to be delivered to the people who are affected. This thing has – can go unhindered. And it has been happening that humanitarian assistance has been going to the areas affected by this conflict. I’m hopeful that we are going to find a solution very soon to that conflict. Thank you.
SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you, Mr. President. I just want the record to be clear that it is our judgment – and the former Vice President Mr. Machar needs to understand this – that he has broken – it was his initiative that broke the agreement and took his troops back into a violent status. And he needs to understand the importance of living by the agreements. In my conversations with the prime minister of Ethiopia, who made it clear this is his judgment also, he needs to understand the international community is going to be impatient with those breaches.
So what we’re looking for is the fulfillment of the agreement, which means moving to a transition government that heals the wounds and brings people together. And we have said before and I reiterate now that the president is the duly elected, constitutional president of South Sudan, and this is a rebel group. Nevertheless, it needs to understand the importance of adhering to international agreements and the importance of bringing this to a negotiated conclusion and path forward.
So I hope today we can find a way to get back to these talks in a serious way, Mr. President, and I thank you very, very much for your statement and for being here to join us for this conversation. Thank you all very much.
U.S. SENDS BEST WISHES TO PEOPLE OF ECUADOR ON THEIR INDEPENDENCE DAY
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Ecuador's Independence Day
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
August 8, 2014
On behalf of the people of the United States, I send best wishes to the people of Ecuador as you celebrate the 205th anniversary of your country’s independence on August 10.
On this special occasion, we remember that Guayaquil is host to our one of our oldest consulates in Latin America.
As you celebrate this Independence Day from Quito, to the heights of Chimborazo, to the shores of Machalilla National Park, may you take pride in your nation’s breathtaking natural beauty.
I wish the people of Ecuador good health, prosperity, and happiness for the year to come.
On this special occasion, we remember that Guayaquil is host to our one of our oldest consulates in Latin America.
As you celebrate this Independence Day from Quito, to the heights of Chimborazo, to the shores of Machalilla National Park, may you take pride in your nation’s breathtaking natural beauty.
I wish the people of Ecuador good health, prosperity, and happiness for the year to come.
REMARKS: SECRETARY KERRY AND PRESIDENT ABDEL AZIZ OF MAURITANIA
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Remarks With President of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz Before Their Meeting
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Treaty Room
Washington, DC
August 4, 2014
SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you, Mr. President. Good afternoon. My great pleasure to welcome the President of Mauritania, President Aziz. He’s just flown in this afternoon. We’re very happy to welcome him here for the Africa Leaders Summit.
And it’s particularly a pleasure for me to welcome him not only because I can congratulate him on his recent reelection, but he has also been elected to be the leader of the African Union. He’s assuming the chairmanship of the African Union. So we look forward to working with him as a very key leader – (inaudible). We look forward to welcoming him as a key leader in the course of many of the efforts that we’re engaged in.
I also want to thank him for his leadership in helping to negotiate a ceasefire with the Government of Mali and three rebel groups in northern Mali. The United States is deeply engaged with the Government of Mauritania on counterterrorism initiatives, and we are involved through the Mauritanian military, working with them, helping to provide them with air capacity, training, advanced counterterrorism techniques, which enable the military to secure the borders and to react very quickly and decisively for any kinds of terrorist incursions.
We’re also assisting the Mauritanian Government with efforts to establish regional solutions to regional problems, and this is something that President Aziz is particularly focused on as the now chair of the African Union.
So Mr. President, thank you for taking time to come and visit. We’re delighted to have you here. Thank you.
PRESIDENT AZIZ: (Via interpreter) (In progress) between the United States and Africa. Many things will be done together to help our two groups (inaudible) the United States and Africa, especially with respect to bilateral relations between my country, the United States, and Mauritania. We are very satisfied with the state of our relations. The United States is helping us with capacity building. They are helping our armed forces and our security forces, especially in terms of its airborne components. This is producing very good results, and this has allowed us to secure our territory.
It is, indeed, true that we live in a very complex region, the Sahel region. Therefore, this cooperation is productive, beneficial, not only for our own country but also for the entire region, because the United States is also present throughout the region in Niger, in Mali, in order to assure security in the region. Because as you know full well, this is a region which is located in a very difficult situation from a security standpoint. There’s terrorism, which has been there for about a decade now. There’s a country, Mali, which has suffered from terrorism. We are in a region which has great difficulties due to terrorism, due to drug trafficking, due to hostage taking. And this has a deeply destabilized this region.
So yes, indeed today we are fighting against this and the support that we are getting from the United States is help that is quite timely and it impelled us to reinforce our capabilities. We are very thankful for this. And I do hope that as a result of this summit we’ll be able to work together on other issues that will allow Africa to develop itself further to fight against poverty in all of its forms, because unfortunately it’s poverty which is somewhat the cause of all the problems that we’re experiencing from a security standpoint.
Thank you.
And it’s particularly a pleasure for me to welcome him not only because I can congratulate him on his recent reelection, but he has also been elected to be the leader of the African Union. He’s assuming the chairmanship of the African Union. So we look forward to working with him as a very key leader – (inaudible). We look forward to welcoming him as a key leader in the course of many of the efforts that we’re engaged in.
I also want to thank him for his leadership in helping to negotiate a ceasefire with the Government of Mali and three rebel groups in northern Mali. The United States is deeply engaged with the Government of Mauritania on counterterrorism initiatives, and we are involved through the Mauritanian military, working with them, helping to provide them with air capacity, training, advanced counterterrorism techniques, which enable the military to secure the borders and to react very quickly and decisively for any kinds of terrorist incursions.
We’re also assisting the Mauritanian Government with efforts to establish regional solutions to regional problems, and this is something that President Aziz is particularly focused on as the now chair of the African Union.
So Mr. President, thank you for taking time to come and visit. We’re delighted to have you here. Thank you.
PRESIDENT AZIZ: (Via interpreter) (In progress) between the United States and Africa. Many things will be done together to help our two groups (inaudible) the United States and Africa, especially with respect to bilateral relations between my country, the United States, and Mauritania. We are very satisfied with the state of our relations. The United States is helping us with capacity building. They are helping our armed forces and our security forces, especially in terms of its airborne components. This is producing very good results, and this has allowed us to secure our territory.
It is, indeed, true that we live in a very complex region, the Sahel region. Therefore, this cooperation is productive, beneficial, not only for our own country but also for the entire region, because the United States is also present throughout the region in Niger, in Mali, in order to assure security in the region. Because as you know full well, this is a region which is located in a very difficult situation from a security standpoint. There’s terrorism, which has been there for about a decade now. There’s a country, Mali, which has suffered from terrorism. We are in a region which has great difficulties due to terrorism, due to drug trafficking, due to hostage taking. And this has a deeply destabilized this region.
So yes, indeed today we are fighting against this and the support that we are getting from the United States is help that is quite timely and it impelled us to reinforce our capabilities. We are very thankful for this. And I do hope that as a result of this summit we’ll be able to work together on other issues that will allow Africa to develop itself further to fight against poverty in all of its forms, because unfortunately it’s poverty which is somewhat the cause of all the problems that we’re experiencing from a security standpoint.
Thank you.
Saturday, August 9, 2014
WHITE HOUSE READOUTS: PRESIDENT OBAMA'S CALLS WITH PRESIDENT HOLLANDE OF FRANCE AND CHANCELLOR MERKEL OF GERMANY
FROM: THE WHITE HOUSE
Readout of the President's Call with President Hollande of France
The President spoke this morning with President Hollande of France about the latest developments in Iraq. The two leaders agreed on the need for an urgent, coordinated international response to the humanitarian disaster unfolding on Mount Sinjar. They underscored the serious threat that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant poses to all Iraqi communities throughout the country, and discussed the need to support the Iraqis by increasing their ability to counter these extremists. The two Presidents also discussed the targeted strikes that the Unites States is undertaking to protect U.S. personnel and prevent ISIL's advance on Erbil, and agreed to work together on a longer term strategy to counter ISIL.
Readout of the President’s Call with Chancellor Merkel of Germany
The President spoke today with Chancellor Merkel of Germany regarding the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. The two leaders agreed that any Russian intervention in Ukraine, even under purported "humanitarian" auspices, without the formal, express consent and authorization of the Government of Ukraine is unacceptable, violates international law, and will provoke additional consequences. They reiterated that we continue to urge Russia to engage with the international community and the Ukrainian government to find a political solution to the crisis.
U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT MARKS 47TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF ASEAN
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Marking the Anniversary of the Founding of ASEAN
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
August 7, 2014
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I join the 620 million people of the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in marking the 47th anniversary of the founding of ASEAN on August 8.
So much of the history of the 21st century will be written in Asia, and the longest chapters of that history will be driven by what happens in Southeast Asia. That’s why our engagement in this strategically vital region is constant and comprehensive.
In the coming days, I’ll be joining ASEAN ministers in Naypyidaw for in-depth discussions on economic integration, environmental cooperation, and regional security. ASEAN plays a central role in supporting peace and prosperity in Asia, and the ASEAN Way has come to represent strength, resilience, harmony, and unity. It’s a reminder that ASEAN’s transformation from regional organization to global leader isn’t just possible. It’s powerful, and it’s real.
Since the United States began its dialogue with ASEAN almost 37 years ago, our relationship has developed into a mature partnership. We’re taking on big challenges and seizing even bigger opportunities – from maritime security and transnational crime, to humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, economic engagement, clean energy, education, people-to-people exchanges, rule of law, and development in the Lower Mekong sub-region. And that’s just some of what makes our partnership one of the most exciting and promising on the planet.
The United States celebrates the anniversary of the founding of ASEAN, and we look forward to strengthening our partnership in the region and across the globe.
So much of the history of the 21st century will be written in Asia, and the longest chapters of that history will be driven by what happens in Southeast Asia. That’s why our engagement in this strategically vital region is constant and comprehensive.
In the coming days, I’ll be joining ASEAN ministers in Naypyidaw for in-depth discussions on economic integration, environmental cooperation, and regional security. ASEAN plays a central role in supporting peace and prosperity in Asia, and the ASEAN Way has come to represent strength, resilience, harmony, and unity. It’s a reminder that ASEAN’s transformation from regional organization to global leader isn’t just possible. It’s powerful, and it’s real.
Since the United States began its dialogue with ASEAN almost 37 years ago, our relationship has developed into a mature partnership. We’re taking on big challenges and seizing even bigger opportunities – from maritime security and transnational crime, to humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, economic engagement, clean energy, education, people-to-people exchanges, rule of law, and development in the Lower Mekong sub-region. And that’s just some of what makes our partnership one of the most exciting and promising on the planet.
The United States celebrates the anniversary of the founding of ASEAN, and we look forward to strengthening our partnership in the region and across the globe.
U.S. OBTAINS $480 MILLION OF STOLEN MONEY, LARGEST FORFEITURE EVER OBTAINED THROUGH KLEPTOCRACY ACTION
FROM: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Thursday, August 7, 2014
U.S. Forfeits Over $480 Million Stolen by Former Nigerian Dictator in Largest Forfeiture Ever Obtained Through a Kleptocracy Action
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Assistant Director in Charge Valerie Parlave of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement after a judgment was entered on Aug. 6, 2014, by U.S. District Judge John D. Bates of the District of Columbia.
“Rather than serve his county, General Abacha used his public office in Nigeria to loot millions of dollars, engaging in brazen acts of kleptocracy,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. “With this judgment, we have forfeited $480 million in corruption proceeds that can be used for the benefit of the Nigerian people. Through the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division denies kleptocrats like Abacha the fruits of their crimes, and protects the U.S. financial system from money laundering. In coordination with our partners in Jersey, France and the United Kingdom, we are helping to end this chapter of corruption and flagrant abuse of office.”
“We remain steadfast in protecting the U.S. banking system from becoming a tool for dictators to hide their criminal proceeds,” said Assistant Director in Charge Parlave. “This court order bolsters the FBI’s ability to combat international corruption and money laundering by seizing the assets of those involved. I want to thank the special agents, financial analysts and prosecutors whose hard work over the years resulted in today’s announcement.”
The forfeited assets represent the proceeds of corruption during and after the military regime of General Abacha, who assumed the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through a military coup on Nov. 17, 1993, and held that position until his death on June 8, 1998. The complaint alleges that General Abacha, his son Mohammed Sani Abacha, their associate Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and others embezzled, misappropriated and extorted billions of dollars from the government of Nigeria and others, then laundered their criminal proceeds through U.S. financial institutions and the purchase of bonds backed by the United States.
The judgment is the result of a civil forfeiture complaint the department filed in November 2013 against more than $625 million in the largest kleptocracy forfeiture action brought in the department’s history. The forfeiture judgment includes approximately $303 million in two bank accounts in the Bailiwick of Jersey, $144 million in two bank accounts in France, and three bank accounts in the United Kingdom and Ireland with an expected value of at least $27 million. The ultimate disposition of the funds will follow the execution of the judgment in each of these jurisdictions. Claims to an additional approximately $148 million in four investment portfolios in the United Kingdom are pending.
As alleged in the complaint, General Abacha and others systematically embezzled billions of dollars in public funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria on the false pretense that the funds were necessary for national security. The conspirators withdrew the funds in cash and then moved the money overseas through U.S. financial institutions. General Abacha and his finance minister also allegedly caused the government of Nigeria to purchase Nigerian government bonds at vastly inflated prices from a company controlled by Bagudu and Mohammed Abacha, generating an illegal windfall of more than $282 million. In addition, General Abacha and his associates allegedly extorted more than $11 million from a French company and its Nigerian affiliate in connection with payments on government contracts. Funds involved in each of these schemes were allegedly laundered through the United States.
This case was brought under the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative by a team of dedicated prosecutors in the Criminal Division’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, working in partnership with federal law enforcement agencies to forfeit the proceeds of foreign official corruption and, where appropriate, to use those recovered assets to benefit the people harmed by these acts of corruption and abuse of office. Individuals with information about possible proceeds of foreign corruption located in or laundered through the United States should contact federal law enforcement or send an email to kleptocracy@usdoj.gov.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Elizabeth Aloi and Assistant Deputy Chief Daniel Claman of the Criminal Division’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, with substantial support from the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs. The department appreciates the extensive assistance provided by the governments of Jersey, France and the United Kingdom in this investigation.
FORMER ATTORNEY SENTENCED TO 70 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR ROLE IN $28.3 MILLION MEDICARE FRAUD
Thursday, August 7, 2014
FROM: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Disbarred Attorney Sentenced to Prison for Her Role in $28.3 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
A disbarred Florida attorney was sentenced in federal court in Tampa, Florida today to serve 70 months in prison in connection with her role in a $28.3 million Medicare fraud scheme involving false claims for physical and occupational therapy services.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley III for the Middle District of Florida, Acting Special Agent in Charge Reginald France of the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) region including all of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Paul Wysopal of the FBI’s Tampa Field Office made the announcement. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew of the Middle District of Florida.
Margarita Grishkoff, 60, of Charlotte, North Carolina, formerly of southwest Florida, pleaded guilty on Jan. 24, 2014, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. In addition to serving a prison term of 70 months, Grishkoff was sentenced to serve three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $14,424,856 in restitution, jointly and severally with her co-conspirators.
Grishkoff admitted as part of her guilty plea that she and her co-conspirators submitted approximately $28.3 million in fraudulent reimbursement claims to Medicare through physical therapy clinics throughout Florida from 2005 through 2009. Medicare paid approximately $14.4 million on those claims.
According to court documents, Grishkoff, a former attorney who was disbarred in Florida in 1997, was vice president and director for a Delaware holding company known as Ulysses Acquisitions Inc. Through Ulysses Acquisitions, Grishkoff purchased comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities and outpatient physical therapy providers, including West Coast Rehab Inc. in Fort Myers, Florida; Rehab Dynamics Inc. in Venice, Florida; Polk Rehabilitation Inc. in Lake Wales, Florida and Renew Therapy Center of Port St. Lucie LLC in Port St. Lucie, Florida, to gain control of these clinics’ Medicare provider numbers.
Grishkoff and her co-conspirators paid kickbacks to patient recruiters and clinic owners to obtain identifying information of Medicare beneficiaries and physicians. Grishkoff and her co-conspirators then used this information to create and submit false claims to Medicare through the clinics Ulysses Acquisitions purchased. These claims sought reimbursement for therapy services that were not legitimately prescribed and not actually provided.
Also according to court documents, Grishkoff and her co-conspirators used the clinics they controlled to submit false reimbursement claims to Medicare on behalf of clinics owned by others, in exchange for a percentage of the Medicare reimbursement received. These Miami-based therapy clinics included Hallandale Rehabilitation Inc., Tropical Physical Therapy Corporation, American Wellness Centers Inc. and West Regional Center Inc. Grishkoff and her co-conspirators kept approximately 20 percent of the money Medicare paid on these claims and paid the other 80 percent of the fraud proceeds to the co-conspirator clinic owners.
Grishkoff further admitted that after falsely billing Medicare through Ulysses Acquisitions, and in order to disassociate herself from the clinics, Grishkoff and her co-conspirators arranged sham sales of the clinics to nominee or straw owners, all of whom were recent immigrants to the United States with no background or experience in the health care industry.
The case is being investigated by HHS-OIG and the FBI and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, under the supervision of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Christopher J. Hunter and Andrew H. Warren of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Simon A. Gaugush of the Middle District of Florida.
Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged nearly 1,900 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $6 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
SECRETARY KERRY MAKES REMARKS AT U.S.-AFRICA CLEAN ENERGY FINANCE INITIATIVE SIGNING CEREMONY
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Remarks at the U.S.-Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative Signing Ceremony
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Mandarin Oriental Hotel
Washington, DC
August 5, 2014
Thank you for being with us. All of us in this room understand that the challenges we face today increasingly present a sort of blurred line between economic policy and foreign policy. I’ve said frequently foreign policy is economic policy, and economic policy is foreign policy. And our shared prosperity globally depends on how well we work together to be able to promote trade, attract investment, facilitate commercial activity, and especially innovation.
So it’s not just a privilege for me to be able to be here with the OPIC President Elizabeth Littlefield and USTDA Director Lee Zak, it’s a responsibility. And I am enormously grateful for their partnership, and you’ll understand why as we describe what we’re going to be doing.
We all know that climate change is a crisis that waits for no one and it respects no border. It’s not a challenge of the future; it’s here now. We are witnessing it in country after country in various ways whether it’s water supplies, drought, food agriculture, food security, fisheries, you name it. There isn’t a part of the world where they aren’t having some consequence as a result of what is happening. And it’s also happening at a pace that is particularly alarming to people. We also know that focusing only on sort of that reality without providing some alternatives is not adequate. And we’re not going to do that, particularly when there are remarkable opportunities that are staring us in the face.
The fact is that good energy solutions are climate solutions. The solution to climate change is energy policy – the choices that we make with respect to our energy polices of the future. And nowhere is that more true than in Africa. Africa can be a clean energy beacon for the world, and energy prosperity can actually replace energy poverty. This morning I met with the chair of the African Union, and she was talking to me as I did – in fact, with several presidents of countries, all of whom talked to me about their desire to leapfrog the mistakes, to go quickly into clean and alternative and renewable energy rather than the exploitation of fossil fuel and carbon and all of the problems that come with it.
The United States wants to support countries across Africa that make that transition to the clean energy future more rapidly. And that’s why we launched the U.S.-Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative. And that’s why I am proud to announce today that we are planning to commit an additional $10 million to this effort.
More than 600 million Africans, nearly twice the population of the United States of America, live without access to electricity today. And our challenge is clear: We need to change those numbers and replace them with a partnership that benefits all sides by making sure that African companies, African cities, African towns, African families have access to clean and renewable energy. Through President Obama’s Power Africa initiative and the agreements that OPIC and TDA are signing today, we are doing exactly that.
And I’m very proud that U.S.-ACEF is elevating our efforts in very tangible ways. Our partners are using U.S.-ACEF funding to develop the first utility-scale wind power project in Senegal. They’re developing Rwanda’s first large-scale, grid-connected solar PV project. And they’re developing plans for hydro-plants in Rwanda that will supply power to Shyira Hospital and villages in the north, bringing electricity to thousands of households for the very first time.
Now I want to emphasize the work that we are doing here is not hypothetical, it’s not future, it’s not a theory; it’s real and it’s now. And it’s real lives that we are improving as a consequence.
I’ll never forget just a few months ago I walked into the Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Addis Ababa. And as I walked into the front gate, on the back I saw this big sign on the wall saying “Ethiopia and the United States of America investing in a healthy future together.” That sign tells it all, my friends. Together we’re not just investing in a healthier future today; we’re investing in a cleaner, more sustainable future for all Africans. And that is the challenge that we face, and it’s one that we believe will be made easier as people everywhere begin to realize that the 21st century, the challenge of developing clean and renewable sources of energy in this century isn’t a break on economic growth. It’s not something that holds you back. It is, in fact, the definition of possibilities. It is the engine of economic growth. And we intend to prove that with this initiative and with these projects and with so much more of what will happen with respect to the energy choices of Africa.
Thank you. (Applause.)
So it’s not just a privilege for me to be able to be here with the OPIC President Elizabeth Littlefield and USTDA Director Lee Zak, it’s a responsibility. And I am enormously grateful for their partnership, and you’ll understand why as we describe what we’re going to be doing.
We all know that climate change is a crisis that waits for no one and it respects no border. It’s not a challenge of the future; it’s here now. We are witnessing it in country after country in various ways whether it’s water supplies, drought, food agriculture, food security, fisheries, you name it. There isn’t a part of the world where they aren’t having some consequence as a result of what is happening. And it’s also happening at a pace that is particularly alarming to people. We also know that focusing only on sort of that reality without providing some alternatives is not adequate. And we’re not going to do that, particularly when there are remarkable opportunities that are staring us in the face.
The fact is that good energy solutions are climate solutions. The solution to climate change is energy policy – the choices that we make with respect to our energy polices of the future. And nowhere is that more true than in Africa. Africa can be a clean energy beacon for the world, and energy prosperity can actually replace energy poverty. This morning I met with the chair of the African Union, and she was talking to me as I did – in fact, with several presidents of countries, all of whom talked to me about their desire to leapfrog the mistakes, to go quickly into clean and alternative and renewable energy rather than the exploitation of fossil fuel and carbon and all of the problems that come with it.
The United States wants to support countries across Africa that make that transition to the clean energy future more rapidly. And that’s why we launched the U.S.-Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative. And that’s why I am proud to announce today that we are planning to commit an additional $10 million to this effort.
More than 600 million Africans, nearly twice the population of the United States of America, live without access to electricity today. And our challenge is clear: We need to change those numbers and replace them with a partnership that benefits all sides by making sure that African companies, African cities, African towns, African families have access to clean and renewable energy. Through President Obama’s Power Africa initiative and the agreements that OPIC and TDA are signing today, we are doing exactly that.
And I’m very proud that U.S.-ACEF is elevating our efforts in very tangible ways. Our partners are using U.S.-ACEF funding to develop the first utility-scale wind power project in Senegal. They’re developing Rwanda’s first large-scale, grid-connected solar PV project. And they’re developing plans for hydro-plants in Rwanda that will supply power to Shyira Hospital and villages in the north, bringing electricity to thousands of households for the very first time.
Now I want to emphasize the work that we are doing here is not hypothetical, it’s not future, it’s not a theory; it’s real and it’s now. And it’s real lives that we are improving as a consequence.
I’ll never forget just a few months ago I walked into the Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Addis Ababa. And as I walked into the front gate, on the back I saw this big sign on the wall saying “Ethiopia and the United States of America investing in a healthy future together.” That sign tells it all, my friends. Together we’re not just investing in a healthier future today; we’re investing in a cleaner, more sustainable future for all Africans. And that is the challenge that we face, and it’s one that we believe will be made easier as people everywhere begin to realize that the 21st century, the challenge of developing clean and renewable sources of energy in this century isn’t a break on economic growth. It’s not something that holds you back. It is, in fact, the definition of possibilities. It is the engine of economic growth. And we intend to prove that with this initiative and with these projects and with so much more of what will happen with respect to the energy choices of Africa.
Thank you. (Applause.)
FTC ACCUSES 'YELLOW PAGES' BUSINESS WITH SCAMMING SMALL BUSINESSES AND OTHERS
FROM: U.S. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
FTC Sues Online ‘Yellow Pages’ Operation for Scamming Small Businesses, Doctors’ Offices, Retirement Homes, and Religious Schools
At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a federal court has halted, pending litigation, an Oklahoma City-based operation that allegedly bilked hundreds of thousands of dollars from small businesses, doctors’ offices, retirement homes, and religious schools throughout the country by charging them for unwanted listings in an online “yellow pages” directory. The FTC seeks to permanently stop the illegal practices, which generated a large number of complaints to the FTC and the Better Business Bureau of Central Oklahoma.
According to a complaint filed by the FTC, Your Yellow Book (YYB) faxed documents that resembled invoices with the well-known “walking fingers” image to consumers with whom they had no preexisting relationship, asking them to “verify” or “update” their current listing information in their actual listing in YYB’s Internet business directory. The documents requested payment of up to $487 from consumers. Many consumers paid, believing YYB’s claims that their organization had agreed to be listed in the directory. Some consumers were told they would have to pay a fee to cancel.
The complaint names Brandie Michelle Law, Dustin R. Law, Robert Ray Law, and Your Yellow Book Inc, also doing business as Your Yellow Book. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service had issued cease-and-desist orders to Brandie Law and Robert Law, in 2011 and 2012, for similar misconduct.
The defendants are charged with misrepresenting that consumers had a preexisting business relationship with them and that consumers agreed to buy a directory listing and thus owed the defendants money, in violation of the FTC Act.
The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Division, was 5-0. The court entered a temporary restraining order against the defendants on July 25, 2014.
The FTC would like to thank the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General, and the Oklahoma City Better Business Bureau for their assistance in this matter.
FTC Sues Online ‘Yellow Pages’ Operation for Scamming Small Businesses, Doctors’ Offices, Retirement Homes, and Religious Schools
At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a federal court has halted, pending litigation, an Oklahoma City-based operation that allegedly bilked hundreds of thousands of dollars from small businesses, doctors’ offices, retirement homes, and religious schools throughout the country by charging them for unwanted listings in an online “yellow pages” directory. The FTC seeks to permanently stop the illegal practices, which generated a large number of complaints to the FTC and the Better Business Bureau of Central Oklahoma.
According to a complaint filed by the FTC, Your Yellow Book (YYB) faxed documents that resembled invoices with the well-known “walking fingers” image to consumers with whom they had no preexisting relationship, asking them to “verify” or “update” their current listing information in their actual listing in YYB’s Internet business directory. The documents requested payment of up to $487 from consumers. Many consumers paid, believing YYB’s claims that their organization had agreed to be listed in the directory. Some consumers were told they would have to pay a fee to cancel.
The complaint names Brandie Michelle Law, Dustin R. Law, Robert Ray Law, and Your Yellow Book Inc, also doing business as Your Yellow Book. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service had issued cease-and-desist orders to Brandie Law and Robert Law, in 2011 and 2012, for similar misconduct.
The defendants are charged with misrepresenting that consumers had a preexisting business relationship with them and that consumers agreed to buy a directory listing and thus owed the defendants money, in violation of the FTC Act.
The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Division, was 5-0. The court entered a temporary restraining order against the defendants on July 25, 2014.
The FTC would like to thank the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General, and the Oklahoma City Better Business Bureau for their assistance in this matter.
Friday, August 8, 2014
U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR AUGUST 8, 2014
FROM: U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
CONTRACTS
MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY
Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training, Moorestown, New Jersey, has been awarded a $193,610,317 modification (P00150) to previously awarded contract number HQ0276-10-C-0001 for procurement of necessary material, equipment, and supplies to conduct the technical engineering to define, develop, integrate and test Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense 4.1 and 5.0 Capability Upgrade baselines through their respective certifications. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $2,002,542,722 from $1,808,932,405. Work will be performed at Moorestown, New Jersey, with an expected completion date of May 31, 2016. fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $19,500,000 are being obligated at time of award. The Missile Defense Agency, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity.
AIR FORCE
J.K. Hill & Associates Inc.,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (FA8224-14-D-5001); Sunrise Beach Corp.,* doing business as: M2 Services, McKinney, Texas (FA8224-14-D-5002); Affordable Engineering Services LLC,* Coronado, California (FA8224-14-D-5003); Aerospace Engineering & Support Inc.,* Ogden, Utah (FA8224-14-D-5004); M1 Support Services LP,* Denton, Texas (FA8224-14-D-5005); Precision Turbines Inc.,* Boca Raton, Florida (FA8224-14-D-5006); and Zenetex LLC,* Herndon, Virginia (FA8224-14-D-5007), have each been awarded a $96,500,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for depot on-site contractor augmentee teams (DOCAT). DOCATs are needed to augment government personnel who perform maintenance and related tasks, including modification, maintenance, inspection, corrosion control, overhaul, and repair of various weapon systems to include, but not limited to F-16, A-10, F-22, C-130, F-35, F-4, related components, missiles, ground support equipment and vehicles. Work will be performed at the Ogden Air Logistics Complex, Utah, and satellite operating locations to include Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, Arizona; Aircraft Maintenance Group, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas; Missile Maintenance Group, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming; Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana; and Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. The work is expected to be completed by Aug. 8, 2019. This award is the result of a 100 percent small business set-aside competitive acquisition. An unlimited number of small business offers were solicited and eight offers were received. Depot Maintenance Activity Group, no-year, non-expiring funds in the amount of $2,500 are being obligated for each contractor at time of award. Air Force Sustainment Center/OL:H/PZIEB, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity.
Jacobs Technology Inc., Bedford, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $21,143,345 cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-reimbursable contract modification (P00009) for FA8721-14-C-0018 to provide engineering and technology acquisition support services which consist of disciplined systems/specialty engineering and technical/information assurance services, support, and products using established government, contractor, and industry processes. Work will be performed at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts; Washington, District of Columbia; Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma; Langley Air Force Base, Virginia; Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; Robins Air Force Base, Georgia; Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; and Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, and is expected to be completed by April 30, 2015. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2014 procurement, aircraft procurement, research and development, and operations and maintenance funds (including both Air Force and Department of Defense) in the amount of $2,464,559 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/PZM, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity.
ARMY
AGEISS Inc.,* Evergreen, Colorado (W9128F14-D-0018); Cti-Urs Environmental Services LLC,* Wixom, Michigan (W9128F14-D-0019); Stell Environmental Enterprises Inc.,* Elverson, Pennsylvania (W9128F14-D-0020); Trieco Environmental JV,* Louisville, Kentucky (W9128F14-D-0021); Trinity Analysis and Development Corp.,* Shalimar, Florida (W9128F-14-D-0022); and PB&A/ECATS/Dial Cordy Joint Venture LLC,* Austin, Texas (W9128F-14-D-0029), were awarded a $60,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for environmental consulting services. These contracts include providing assistance to the government on environmental issues, such as the control of environmental contamination from pollutants, toxic substances and hazardous materials; identifying problems (e.g., inspect buildings for hazardous materials); measuring and evaluating risks; and recommending solutions. Funding and work location will be determined with each order with an estimated completion date of Aug. 7, 2019. Bids were solicited via the Internet with 22 received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Nebraska, is the contracting activity.
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Kongsberg, Norway, was awarded a $13,202,364 modification (P00069) to contract W15QKN-12-C-0103 for post-production conversion of Common Remotely Operated Weapons Systems M153A1 to Common Remotely Operated Weapons Systems M153. Other procurement funds for fiscal 2012 ($1,363,962), fiscal 2013 ($6,391,164) and fiscal 2014 ($5,447,238) were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Aug. 16, 2017. Work will be performed at Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.
NAVY
CACI Inc., Chantilly, Virginia, is being awarded a $7,399,219 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract with firm-fixed-price task orders for worldwide logistics service. Work will include support requirements for fleet logistics operations; enterprise-wide facilities and Global Shore Infrastructure Plan management; acquisition logistics; sustainment logistics; logistics systems and data management; Combat Logistics Force load management; ordnance management; and supply chain management. This contract includes four one-year options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $36,996,096. Work will be performed worldwide, and is expected to be completed by August 2015. If all options are exercised, work will continue through August 2019. Working capital contract funds in the amount of $7,500 will be obligated to cover the minimum guarantee of the contract, and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. Contract funds will be obligated as future task orders are awarded. This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received. The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00033-14-D-6506).
Professional Analysis Inc., Washington, District of Columbia, is being awarded a $6,740,525 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract with firm-fixed-price task orders for worldwide logistics service. Work will include support requirements for fleet logistics operations; enterprise-wide facilities and Global Shore Infrastructure Plan management; acquisition logistics; sustainment logistics; logistics systems and data management; Combat Logistics Force load management; ordnance management; and supply chain management. This contract includes four one-year options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $33,702,624. Work will be performed worldwide, and is expected to be completed by August 2015. If all options are exercised, work will continue through August 2019. Working capital contract funds in the amount of $7,500 will be obligated to cover the minimum guarantee of the contract, and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. Contract funds will be obligated as future task orders are awarded. This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received. The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00033-14-D-6505).
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
BioUrja Trading LLC,* Houston, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $72,705,120 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for aviation turbine fuel. This contract was a competitive acquisition with eight offers received. This is a one-year base contract with a 30-day carryover and no option periods. Location of performance is Texas with an Oct. 30, 2015, performance completion date. Using service is Defense Logistics Agency Energy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SP0600-14-D-0500).
DNO Inc.,* Columbus, Ohio, has been awarded a maximum $18,974,716 modification (P00203) exercising the second option period on an 18-month base contract (SPM300-11-D-S101) with two 18-month option periods. This is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-quantity contract to provide fresh fruit and vegetable support. Location of performance is Ohio with a Feb. 9, 2016, performance completion date. Using service is Department of Agriculture school customers. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2015 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
US Foods Inc., Salem Division, Salem, Missouri, has been awarded a maximum $16,450,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-quantity contract for prime vendor full-line food distribution. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. This is a bridge contract and will be in effect from Aug. 10, 2014, through Nov. 29, 2014. Locations of performance are Missouri and Kansas with a Nov. 29, 2014, performance completion date. Using services are Army, Air Force, and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2015 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE300-14-D-3032).
US Foods Inc., North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, has been awarded a maximum $9,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-quantity contract for prime vendor full-line food distribution. This contract was a competitive acquisition with two offers received. This is a two-year base contract with one one-year option and one two-year option periods. Location of performance is North Dakota with an Aug. 3, 2019, performance completion date. Using service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE300-14-D-3027).
*Small business
READOUT: PRESIDENT OBAMA'S CALL WITH KING ABDULLAH II OF JORDAN
FROM: THE WHITE HOUSE
Readout of the President’s Call with His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
President Obama spoke with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan today. They discussed the urgency of providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Iraq, the risks to the region from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and other extremist groups, and the importance of supporting an inclusive Iraqi political process. The two leaders discussed the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a durable cease-fire in Gaza, as well as increased support to civilians in Gaza who have suffered tremendously during the conflict. The President and King Abdullah II reaffirmed the strong friendship and strategic partnership between the United States and Jordan.
SECRETARY KERRY'S REMARKS WITH AFGHAN OFFICIALS AFTER THEIR MEETING
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Remarks With Afghan Officials After Their Meeting
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
UNAMA Special Representative Jan Kubis; Afghan Presidential Candidate Abdullah Abdullah; Afghan Presidential Candidate Ashraf Ghani
United Nations Assistance Mission
Kabul, Afghanistan
August 8, 2014
MR. ABDULLAH: Ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased to inform our people at this very critical moment of our history that today myself, our teams, and Dr. Ashraf Ghani and his team – we are taking another step forward in the interests of start strengthening national unity in the country, strengthening the rule of law in the country, and also bringing a hope for the future – a better future for the people of Afghanistan.
Today’s joint statement is the result of efforts by both teams – Dr. Arshaf Ghani at the top of his own team and our own team work together. And we are also delighted to have the support of the international community here, and I would like to thank Secretary Kerry for his effort in supporting our joint efforts for the better future for Afghanistan, as well as Ambassador Kubis who has facilitated part of these efforts earlier.
As a result of today’s joint statement, which gives better hopes for the people of Afghanistan, we are committed to the audit process which is underway, and we will be cooperative in pursuing and pushing it in order to complete it, hopefully, at such a time that it will help Afghanistan also to attain its own international (inaudible), which are important for us. Legitimacy of the process will be restored as a result of this comprehensive internationally supervised audit.
In regards to the political agreement, once again, I reiterate that today was another step forward for the affirmation of both sides’ interests and commitment to the previous agreement – political framework agreement, and also further developing it and also moving forward in the implementation of it. So from now on, I hope that the atmosphere of campaigning is behind us, hopefully completely to a large extent, and then a new phase in the political life of the people of Afghanistan will start, and we are committed to working together on the basis of our common vision for the future of the country in order to utilize the opportunities which are ahead of us and to be able to deal with the challenges which we are faced with.
And we thank once again the commitment of the international partners, not only in support of our effort, which today’s event is another example, but also their reaffirmation, reaffirmation of their commitment, that a legitimate outcome of the elections will help them, enable them, to fulfill their commitments to all the people of Afghanistan, in support of the people of Afghanistan, in strengthening the rule of law, in helping the economy of the country, and helping security in Afghanistan and also the strengthening of our institutions.
So I would like to thank Secretary Kerry, Ambassador Kubis, but more than anything else, Dr. Ashraf Ghani, for his spirit of cooperation throughout the talks, and his colleagues. And hopefully from now on the people of Afghanistan will be witness to a new phase in the political life of the country.
Thank you.
MR. GHANI: Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to share with you as my dear colleague Dr. Abdullah has shared with you that he and I have reached agreement and signed a communique on defining our future cooperation. This communique reflects our sense of national obligation and our duty to put the interests of Afghanistan – every child, every woman, every man – above everything else.
The country cannot take uncertainty; uncertainty is a threat. Our action today and in following weeks should create an environment of certainty and trust. We trust each other. We will work with each other to fulfill this national duty and obligation to every Afghan.
The basis of our cooperation is defined by our mutual commitment to the constitution of Afghanistan. The constitution reflects our supreme values, because our constitution is a reflection of our Islamic values and national values and our sense of aspirations for being a society that we deserve. We therefore are committed to make sure that every article of the constitution acquires embodiment in practice in our relationships, our sense of reforms that every Afghan will proudly claim that she or he is a citizen of this country, and therefore enjoys equal rights and obligations.
Because of our commitments, previous commitments that, again, we thank Secretary Kerry for having facilitated, we’ve moved now to direct intra-Afghan discussions and obligations. We thank Secretary Kerry and, of course, Ambassador Kubis and all the international community for having performed a facilitating role. But we the leaders of the two teams, the candidates that the people of – the people – the two candidates that the people of Afghanistan voted for overwhelmingly bear the sole responsibility for peace, stability and democratic values in this country. And I hope that our commitment today honors back the commitment of our people who participated, braved all elements to ensure that democratic values were not just theoretical statements but actions of millions of individuals.
To honor those individuals, we have committed ourselves to one of the most comprehensive audits imaginable in history. And we affirm today again both our support for this process of audit and our commitment to abide by its results. But to underline our sense of unity of purpose, we are affirming that we will form a government of national unity to implement what we promised during the campaign.
What unites us is far greater than what divided us during the campaign, because each one of us and both of us are committed to the well-being of every Afghan child, every woman, every man – particularly the poor, the disabled, the displaced, those who cannot live in dignity and are in search of food on an everyday basis.
Political agreement, political consensus is key to coming out of a vicious circle to a virtuous circle. We live in a dangerous world and in a dangerous neighborhood, the Islamic world – countries that did not practice consensus and tolerance of each other or in full, in bringing unbelievable hardship to their people. We just need to recall Syria and Iraq today. Because of this we are determined that our beloved Afghanistan will be the first country that will start a virtuous circle of unity, reform commitment, and full tolerance.
We hope that by end of August the results of the audit will be completed and the next president of Afghanistan will be inaugurated, that Afghanistan takes its rightful place again in the community of nations and we bring an end to the sense of uncertainty. Our teams have started work in earnest to prepare work on transition, how to address the daily lives of our people, their daily concerns for food, for milk, for security, for well-being, but more than anything else, for a sense of certainty. So there will no longer be election crisis, the crisis of uncertainty. The crisis of uncertainty must end, and we hope that together we can achieve what the people of Afghanistan expect us to achieve.
I am honored again by the nature of the dialogues that I’ve had with my brother and colleague, Dr. Abdullah, and we will continue. Every dialogue does not mean that immediately we agree on everything, but it’s remarkable how much we agree on. So we have an enormous foundation to go forward, and today I was delighted that Dr. Abdullah and I, like in the past when he was foreign minister and I was finance minister, could complete each other’s sentences in front of Secretary Kerry. That I take as a very good omen.
And I’d like to thank Secretary Kerry for his selfless help, for facilitating the agreement, but for particularly understanding that a nation and its leaders need to find their own way to stability, independence.
We thank you, Mr. Secretary, for your stewardship of the global well-being and for being such a friend of our country. And we hope to be working with you – both of us – and we look very much forward to continuing working, Ambassador Kubis, with you and with the international community.
MR. ABDULLAH: Here I realize that Mr. Rohshad, which is a famous longtime journalist in Afghanistan which has covered Afghanistan for many, many years and Afghans are familiar with his voice, he lost several members of his family in a terrorist attack last week, just a few days ago. He’s here. I express my deepest condolences to him, to his family, and to the people of Afghanistan. And I pray that the (inaudible) of sadness and tragedy is out of Afghanistan and Afghanistan is not witness to such tragic incidents. I wish you strength in the wake of this – after this tragic event.
MR. GHANI: I’d like to also take this opportunity to express my deepest condolences to Secretary Kerry for the cowardly murder of General Greene and for the attack on our military academy. Our military academy is the pride of our cooperation with the international community, particularly with the United States, U.K., and other members of ISAF.
General Greene was an engineer, never participated in combat. He was here to help us build one of the finest schools of engineering within our military academy. This sad event again reminds us why we must redouble our efforts to create peace, security, prosperity, and stability, which all of us need. And we thank again the United States for its cooperation in this area, and again, please Mr. Secretary, we express our deepest sympathies to the members of your armed forces, to the President of the United States, and to the families of General Greene.
SECRETARY KERRY: As-salaam alaykum. Good afternoon. Before I say some words about the statements that you’ve just heard from Afghanistan’s future leaders – and I mean leaders plural – one of these men is going to be president, but both of these men are going to be critical to the future of Afghanistan no matter what. And to my right and left, you see their supporters here in great strength, all of them supporting the very eloquent, very precise, and very important statements that were made here today. And I will say more about that in a minute.
But first, I want to say a brief word about the situation in Iraq. President Obama acted expeditiously and appropriately to authorize targeted military action and to provide significant humanitarian assistance to the people of Iraq at this very difficult time when it is vitally needed. The stakes for Iraq’s future could also not be more clear, and today’s crisis underscores them significantly. ISIL’s campaign of terror against the innocent, including the Yezedi and Christian minorities, and its grotesque targeted acts of violence show all the warning signs of genocide. For anyone who needed a wakeup call, this is it. ISIL is not fighting on behalf of Sunnis. ISIL is not fighting for a stronger Iraq. ISIL is fighting to divide and destroy Iraq, and it’s fighting to create a state of its own brutal oppression, a place where chaos and brutality – ruthless brutality – governs.
Now with a gut-wrenching humanitarian crisis unfolding before our eyes and the roles of the starving and the sick growing daily and the potential of further executions – cold blooded executions – taking place because people are a minority huddled for safety on a mountaintop – because of that the United States, with President Obama’s decision, has made its decision that it must save these lives, and the world needs to join us in a condemnation of ISIL’s actions. President Obama has been unequivocal that he will do what is necessary and what is in our national interest to confront ISIL and its threat to the security of the region and to our own security in the long run.
It has been equally clear, as I have said in each of my visits to Iraq, in all my conversations with Iraqi and with regional leaders, that the only durable way to stop ISIL is for Iraq’s leaders themselves to unite and form a government that represents all of the people as rapidly as possible within their constitutional framework. They have moved very effectively so far to elect a speaker, to elect a president, and now the next step is to provide a prime minister, and we urge them to do so quickly.
I want to emphasize that in the President’s decision the safety and security of the men and women serving overseas for the United States is also a fundamental consideration, and I will remain very closely engaged with our Ambassador Stephen Beecroft, with our Assistant Secretary of State Brett McGurk, and our team on the ground as we work to ensure that our personnel who are in Erbil and Baghdad and across Iraq are secure.
Now that brings me quickly back to here and Afghanistan and to this important moment. We all know the risks to our personnel and particularly the risks to Afghans every single day. Mr. Rohshad, our heart goes out to you and to your family. You are one of many who have suffered over the course of these 13 years. And I believe that the words today of these two leaders, Dr. Ghani and Dr. Abdullah – more importantly the actions of these two leaders today – to unite for Afghanistan, to bring themselves together in the interest of their country, to define an Afghan roadmap for the way ahead is a very important transitional moment for Afghanistan.
Now, obviously – and I appreciate enormously their words with respect to the shooting of U.S. Army Major General Harold Greene three days ago. I want to say to General Greene’s family that universally in my visit here the first words out of the mouth of every Afghan has been to say how sorry they are, how much they regret what happened to this general who was here helping the people of this country, and they express to America and particularly to his family their deepest condolences.
General Greene, for all those who met him – I did not have the privilege of meeting him, but I’ve heard about him, and I’ve heard about him from General Dunford when I was here in the last two days – was a soldier’s soldier, even though he wasn’t in combat. He knew his people, he knew what he stood for, and for three decades, he loyally served his country in the United States Army. He was a humble man, a quiet man, and he earned the respect of military leaders for his singular ability to display wisdom. He was a thinker and an innovator who earned a doctorate from the University of Southern California and who used new technologies in order to try to help the young recruits that he was trying to teach at this school. Above all, he was a family man and a loyal mentor of his community. One of his Army colleagues summed it up this way just by saying, “He was a good guy. Harry was loved.” So we wish his loved ones the strength and the compassion that they need in order to be able to mourn the loss of a special man and themselves find the comfort of the days ahead.
Now I came here today at the direction of the president that I work for, President Obama, to continue the work of General Greene and so many other brave men and women, Afghans and Americans and many others from many other countries, more than 50, who have come together under ISAF in order to work for the future of Afghanistan. These are all people who have dedicated their lives to building a stable, united, sovereign Afghanistan.
During my last visit here, we stood right here in this room after several days of very intensive negotiations, and both candidates took a very important step towards that goal of a sovereign, unified, stable Afghanistan. They shook hands – they raised them high right here in front of all the people of Afghanistan and the world – to express their enthusiasm for the agreement, which began to set forth the road ahead.
But during recent weeks, as is often the case, a number of questions arose, both about the technical aspects of the audit process as well as the political questions about the political road ahead. So today, I’m very pleased to join them in a different kind of moment. I’m here to support them and to commend them on their leadership, on their initiative to be able to come together and work through some of these difficult issues. And it’s been our privilege to be able to facilitate, but this is really an Afghan solution to an Afghan problem. And that’s very important for the road ahead.
We now have in place the largest audit that the United Nations has ever conducted in any country in history, the deepest audit that they have ever conducted. And that’s why we have a big man here to do the job. (Laughter.) Ambassador Kubis is really dedicated to this, and we have in place the ability with both parties now agreeing to the rules of the road. Both parties have agreed to stay at it and both parties have agreed to live by the outcome. And they have understood that the United Nations will pour even additional energy into the effort to make this happen as competently and as rapidly as is humanly possible.
But in addition to the candidates coming together to define the audit road ahead with clarity, they have also come together to define the political road ahead. And as you’ve heard them, they’ve just described to you the ways in which they are going to work together from this moment forward in order to change the dialogue, change the rhetoric, begin to map out the future, work towards the transition, begin to figure out how to fix the economy, how to move the country forward – all of those issues which people have been working for 13 years, but because of the nature of an election and a transition have been stalled for a period of time. So both candidates have defined a road to a unity government, and they will begin now to meet together and to map out that transition ahead.
I don’t think anybody here would doubt that this is a major step for the road ahead for Afghanistan. It is coming almost singularly because both of these candidates are transforming themselves now into the statesmen that will be required to be the president of the country. And they are both focused on Afghanistan, not on themselves. Their supporters, who are passionate in support of their candidate, as they should be, are shifting their focus to the future and to Afghanistan.
The United States and the United Nations and the international community are deeply engaged in the post-election process solely to help the Afghan election institutions restore credibility to the voting process. We want every vote that was legitimately cast to be honored appropriately, and both candidates have agreed that that is their goal.
I want to commend the dedication of ISAF, the UN, particularly the efforts of Jan Kubis and Jeff Fischer and the others, all the people who’ve come from other countries in order to help this. ISAF has delivered every single ballot box from everywhere in the country to here in Kabul, and they are currently under lock and key and under security and will remain so to preserve the integrity of the election outcome. The UN has brought in specialists from around the world, and dozens more are on the way even as we speak today.
And I urge now to all countries invested in the effort, who have been part of this journey over the last years, and to others who may not have signed up to ISAF but can care about the future of Afghanistan – we need more election experts to come here as rapidly as possible to help to finish this on time. Their job is to ensure that the audit meets the laws of Afghanistan, the highest international standards, and most importantly the expectations of the people of Afghanistan. And the Afghan Independent Election Commission, the UN, and dozens of international observers are going to work together, hand in hand, in order to try to provide the outcome that the people of Afghanistan expect.
So let me be clear – this audit is not about winning and losing. It’s about achieving the credible result that the people of Afghanistan demand and deserve. The audit is only one part of the challenge. Equally important, if not more important, will be the actions of these two candidates in the days ahead. Dr. Abdullah and Dr. Ghani and their campaigns have made a profound decision today about that future. They’ve agreed to continue to translate the political agreement that they’ve reached – that they have reached, that they have worked on, that they have defined, the Afghan approach. They have committed to continue, no matter who becomes president, in order to find a government that can help Afghanistan move forward.
I want to make clear that this agreement respects the Afghan constitution, which the United States of America strongly supports. It does not establish a parliamentary system, it doesn’t change the role of the president as head of government, but it does create a new position of the chief executive, who will help to manage and work together to bring people onto the same path and to create efficiency and modernity in the governance. The agreement is a critical opportunity for both candidates to do what they’ve just said, which is move beyond the campaign and into the process of governing.
It’s a pivotal moment for Afghanistan. The stakes are high. It will depend on them and the United Nations to help move this forward appropriately. And I think there are high expectations from the world. It is our hope, obviously, that when this job is done NATO partners would very much look forward to welcoming President Karzai’s successor with his unity government partner in Wales at the NATO summit in September so that we can all come together, embrace their vision, and begin to put in place the government that Afghanistan wants and deserves. Thank you.
MODERATOR: Ladies and gents, we now have time for roughly two questions. Please wait for the microphone. Is the microphone ready? No microphone? Okay, you may have to speak up in that case.
The first question, please. Rativ Nudi from TOLOnews. Rativ, yes. Please stand up. Speak up, please.
QUESTION: (Off-mike.)
MODERATOR: Maybe not.
QUESTION: I would like to ask a question about the framework agreement. After (inaudible) Afghanistan (inaudible), there have been some arguments among – before the election campaigns, among both the candidates on the matter of the new government. As you say, (inaudible) change the (inaudible), and also it doesn’t change the responsibility of the president. But exactly, what would be the responsibilities of the (inaudible)?
SECRETARY KERRY: Well, let me let the next president speak to that. (Laughter.)
MR. GHANI: (Off-mike.)
SECRETARY KERRY: I didn’t mean to create a news (inaudible), but go ahead.
MR. GHANI: Thank you for your question. We’re committed to giving this post specific functions and the work ahead of us is precisely definition, of course. But what I want to emphasize is not what is going to be in the decree. What I want to emphasize is our commitment to cooperation, to unity in all spheres of government, life, and responsibilities. A decree is a piece of paper if it is not embodied in a bed of impasses. So we will begin with the problem to which we will commit ourselves and then agree on the best division of labor that will enable (inaudible).
MR. ABDULLAH: Thank you. And in the same spirit that was mutually accepted that we work together towards the formation of national unity government in every eventuality, because there will not be two people with the same number of votes as a result of the audit. One will have more votes; one will have a little bit more – less votes. And then in order to help create, establish a sort of win-win situation not only for our two camps, but more importantly for the people of Afghanistan we have agreed on this mutual program. And there are some details attached to it. We are committed to work together to develop it further and our teams will start working on this, on the details of it, of a few days, leaving the outcome of the elections aside or what has happened in the past, but rather looking towards the future for the interest of the national unity of the government in the effectiveness and competence of future government of Afghanistan, with every eventuality which might come up as a result of the audit process.
QUESTION: Sir, can I --
MODERATOR: No. Sorry, folks, but we’re doing this in order. Sorry. We have --
QUESTION: I have two questions.
MODERATOR: -- very, very short time. Ladies and gents, we are very short for time. We have time for one more question, I’m sorry to say, just one more question. Please don’t stand up, but do speak up. Michael Gordon, New York Times.
QUESTION: I’ll speak up, can’t stand up. First, to Secretary Kerry: Secretary Kerry, last month you brokered an important agreement here which – for the audit of ballots and power-sharing arrangements. And no sooner did you leave than problems arose here in Kabul on carrying forward this agreement. Beyond the enunciation of these broad principles about the value of the unity government, were there any concrete accomplishments during your day and a half of talks here, any concrete agreement on specific items of how the unity government will be structured? And if so, what were they?
And a second question for Secretary Kerry: You just mentioned the situation in Iraq and how President Obama authorized targeted airstrikes to stop an ISIL advance on Erbil or Baghdad, but it would appear from the statements that are made by senior officials that the Obama Administration’s strategy is to contain the ISIL threat, not necessarily roll it back. If the Iraqis were to form a multi-sectarian government, would the Obama Administration be prepared to use air power to help the Iraqis retake Fallujah, Mosul, and these territories that are under ISIS control? And will the Obama Administration now send arms to the Kurds, as they’ve been asking for?
And next, I want to state a question to the candidates, Dr. Abdullah and Dr. Ghani. (Laughter.) Can you cite any --
MR. ABDULLAH: (Off-mike.) (Laughter.)
QUESTION: No, one question for you. Can you each state without equivocation that you are confident you can achieve the inauguration of a new president before the NATO summit? What concrete accomplishments can you state were achieved here over the last day and a half?
SECRETARY KERRY: Well, let me begin, Michael, by first – I want to answer the question on the – and I’m only going to answer part of it, because I believe it’s up to the two candidates to articulate the accomplishments, not me. But I will say to you that within the agreement that they have put together, there are very specific set of agreements that they’ve laid down, and they should describe it. So yes, there are specific accomplishments.
Secondly, your judgment about very quickly it sort of began to fray after we were here is not actually accurate. I think both candidates will tell you that for several days – five or six days, a week – there was a sense of energy and enthusiasm and euphoria, and people felt like they had come together. But then there was a lack of clarity about some of the steps to be taken within the audit process itself, and there were a couple of questions about terminology regarding the political framework agreement. Those have now been worked through, both of them. And that’s what brings everybody back here with a greater clarity about the steps that we’ve taken. That is why both candidates are here today to say they are not asking for further criteria or changes, they have agreed to what has been laid down by Jan Kubis and the UN, and they’ve agreed on the process, they will stay with the process, and they will abide by the process. That’s an accomplishment.
With respect to Iraq, President Obama has made it clear initially that his immediate response is to the crisis of a minority group that has been chased up into a mountain, that has been threatened with extinction, told that they will be executed, and who are seeking refuge in a mountain where they are dying because of their exposure in the elements. So he is immediately responding to that need to provide humanitarian assistance and also, because of the advance of ISIL, to make it clear that American personnel who are at risk are going to be protected by the United States of America and that those strikes were authorized in the event that they begin to move in any direction, either towards those people on the mountain or towards personnel that may be in danger.
With respect to the formation of government in the future, the President has taken no option off the table. And there are current discussions taking place, and they will continue to take place with respect to those options.
MR. ABDULLAH: On the date, 31st of August, we are committed to work with a cooperative experts to achieve that goal and to make sure that we are there by the end of August, the audit process is completed, without sacrificing the credibility and legitimacy of the audit process, because that’s the goal. But the goal – the time is also very important because of our international commitments, and also more important because of the Afghan people’s expectation. They want to see an outcome. And from now on, I hope that the people of Afghanistan will be more hopeful, will have much better sense of certainty now that we have gone beyond talking about an agreement, a framework, but rather starting – started stepping in the road – on the road towards formation of national unity government whatever the outcome of the audit process was. And there is a joint statement attached to that, is that framework – political framework agreement, which is very clear, and it’s – the joint statement has elaborated the vision, common vision of both candidates, both teams towards the future of Afghanistan and also the (inaudible). Thank you.
QUESTION: (Off-mike.)
MR. GHANI: Questions are over, I think.
PARTICIPANT: (Off-mike.)
QUESTION: (Off-mike.)
MR. GHANI: First, we’ve brought clarity to the audit process in that it is going to end as soon as feasible. We are categorically committed to accepting the results of the audit and the date for the inauguration of the next president of Afghanistan. I hope that this date can become very firm within a week to ten days, pending on – but we do not want to commit ourselves to a fixed date today because that date will then drive the process and people will (inaudible). So our flexibility on this very issue is the cornerstone of our consensus, and this should be grasped as a very important process. We have committed that the audit process now is going to pick up speed. Yesterday we accomplished 720 boxes, which was a benchmark, and we hope that they can speed this up and credibly reach a higher level that, again, needs to be determined by our technical people.
On the political side, a concrete achievement is that now we’re seeking a comprehensive agreement in our own languages, in our own categories of reference, with full embodiment of the constitution as the cornerstone of everything we do, because questions ahead of us. We’ve put those ambiguities behind us. The constitutional framework is the cornerstone. The authorities of the president as defined in the constitution are going to be exercised. We are seeking a government of national unity on the basis of a common platform that is going to deliver the necessary reforms. I think these are very significant achievements, and most significantly of all, we are putting the past behind us, we’re looking to the future.
The communique is signed by us, by both of us, and it will be issued to you, because this is a community. The full agreement, as we described, is going to require immense amounts of work from our teams and from ourselves. We as the leaders have committed to intensive dialogue to be – to create a shared understanding of challenges and opportunities. And let me underline: Afghanistan is not just challenges. It is enormous (inaudible). And one of the most significant is that the next president of Afghanistan will have the full legitimacy that has come from an audited process that does not have any parallel anywhere. And a sense of commitment and maturity of the Afghan political elite that understands that solving the problems of our country cannot happen on the basis of the winner-take-all approach. Our mutual – the mutual acknowledgment of our dependence for the good of the country is an enormous accomplishment, and that’s the foundation on the basis of which we hope to build and continue. Thank you.
MODERATOR: Ladies --
QUESTION: (Inaudible) question.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) question.
MODERATOR: Ladies and gents, we are pushed for time. I’m sorry, but we are pushed for time, so --
QUESTION: (Off-mike.)
MODERATOR: The two candidates must leave, and Secretary Kerry as well. Sorry.
QUESTION: Do you think in Gaza it’s genocide? Would you use the two words genocide --
MODERATOR: We are pushed for time. Thank you very much for your attention and your patience, folks. Thank you very much, everyone.
DOD VIDEOS REGARDING TODAY'S AIRSTRIKES AGAINST ISIL IN IRAQ
DOD VIDEO: U.S. AIRSTRIKES HIT ISIL TARGETS
DOD VIDEO: GEN. KIRBY: ISIL AIRSTRIKES NEEDED TO PROTECT U.S. PERSONNEL IN IRAQ
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