FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Remarks With EU High Representative Federica Mogherini Following Their Working Lunch
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
European External Action Service
Brussels, Belgium
December 3, 2014
HIGH REPRESENTATIVE MOGHERINI: John, thank you for your visit here. We had a first bilateral in my new capacity, and I’m particularly happy this takes place in Brussels, so thank you for visiting and thank you for having a bilateral meeting here. I’m looking forward to come and visit you in Washington if we find you in Washington sometime, which might be a challenge.
We’ve had a good discussion as always on all issues open on the agenda, which are many. And we are concentrating more on the area around Europe, Ukraine, although we have discussed the further measures that European Union has decided to take in the last weeks, and also the way forward to push for full implementation of the Minsk agreement.
And we discussed a lot also this morning in a very good session with other states, other nations, our situation in Syria and in Iraq, the fight against Daesh and the common effort against terrorists in the area, and to stabilize the region.
And we also had a discussion on the Middle East peace process, where we are looking forward to work together. All the work that John has done in the last months needs to be resumed, and the European Union is more than ready to support the continuation of this work. We know that your dedication personally we appreciate very much, and we are ready to support your efforts.
We also discussed Libya – extremely worrying situation where we also will cooperate.
And we will now unfortunately leave you soon without questions because we are starting a EU-U.S. Energy Council, which is also going to be important for our cooperation not only on the energy policies and security but also on climate. This is also something we owe you a lot. The link between energy and climate and all the efforts that foreign ministers and the foreign policy community can do on energy and climate in view of the Paris conference next year and the Lima conference that is taking place in these days. We know that U.S. leadership on that is something we owe you and your inspiration very much, and we appreciate very much your (inaudible). I think no other moment in history where on this particular issue the EU and U.S. have exactly the same position, and I think we should build on it.
Other point we talked and reviewed, TTIP. We are ready to work closely together and hard to make the negotiations proceed. It’s going to be a strategic goal, not only an economic one but also political, and so we are ready to work together for that.
John.
SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you, thank you. Well, let me say that for me it’s a great pleasure to be here and to meet bilaterally with the new EU High Representative, and I’m delighted to be working with Federica. We began to build a strong foreign minister-to-foreign minister relationship when she represented Italy, and now we have a chance to work with her as the EU High Rep taking on a much larger role representing all 28 countries that are part of the EU.
It is safe to say that the U.S.-EU transatlantic partnership is as important a relationship as there is. We work so closely on all of the issues of concern that we face today. Federica just ran through a list of them. But obviously, at the top of the list right now is the challenge of dealing with Ukraine and the question of upholding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The EU has played a critical role in that. My original meetings in Geneva really were U.S., EU, Russia, and Ukraine, and now we have to try to see the Minsk agreement enforced and we have very, very strong energy-related, trade-related, security-related interests with respect to the outcome of that conflict.
We did have a very serious discussion this morning about Libya. We agree that Libya is at a particular moment of challenge for all of us, and we are very much seized by the issue and focused on it. We are supportive of Bernadino Leon’s initiative, but beyond that we are looking at other alternatives so that there’s not just one plan on the table. And I think we agreed today on a number of things that we can do and will do in order to try to minimize the violence, to end the violence, and find a constitutional process that will produce a government that has an ability to represent the people and can be sustainable.
In addition to that, we talked about ISIL/Daesh. Obviously, that was a large part of our conversation this morning in the session that we had, and we have significant interests there.
We also talked about the Mideast peace process, which may at this particular moment be a misnomer but nevertheless something that we are deeply committed to, and we will work on it. The United States believes that any solution that is ultimately going to be achieved, if there can be one, is going to achieved on a multilateral basis; it needs the support of the EU, it needs the support of the Arab community, it needs the support of the global community in order to take effect. And we will continue to work, and I will continue to consult with and work closely with Federica with respect to that.
There are many other issues, obviously. Federica mentioned the Transatlantic Trade Investment Partnership, and I just want to say a quick word about that. There is a misunderstanding to some degree which we need to address, and we will address in the coming months, that this somehow is a challenge to European standards or Europeans’ regulatory structure. And it is anything but. This is an agreement which seeks to raise practices in trade to the highest common denominator, not the lowest. And we have great respect for the integrity of the European regulatory system. We are confident of the ability of this agreement to be done in a way which doesn’t pull down any standard or any expectation that Europeans have, but rather raises everybody to a common standard but opens up new opportunities for trade, investment, and for job creation. And we’re convinced that over the course of time we will be able to show people that the positive benefits are enormous.
So let me just summarize by saying that I am absolutely confident that given the nature of the challenges we face with Bosnia to Serbia to Ukraine to Egypt, throughout the Horn of Africa, the Maghreb, the Sahel, the Levant, the Arabian Peninsula, we all have interests that are shared. And the EU-U.S. relationship began strong and it’s going to get stronger in the days ahead as we work together. And I’m delighted that Federica has been willing to take on this important responsibility. We wish her well.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
OWNER MULTIPLE PHYSICAL THERAPY REHAB FACILITIES SENTENCED TO 11 YEAR PRISON TERM FOR MEDICARE FRAUD
FROM: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Principal in $28.3 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison
A Florida owner and operator of multiple physical therapy rehabilitation facilities was sentenced in federal court in Tampa today to serve 11 years in prison for his role in organizing a $28.3 million Medicare fraud scheme involving 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 of the Middle District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Derrick Jackson of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Miami Regional Office and Special Agent in Charge Paul Wysopal of the FBI’s Tampa Field Office made the announcement.
Luis Duluc, 54, of Tampa, pleaded guilty on Feb. 3, 2014, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud as well as making a false statement relating to health care matters. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew of the Middle District of Florida ordered Duluc to pay $14,424,856 in restitution.
According to Duluc’s admissions in connection with his guilty plea, he and his co-conspirators used various physical therapy clinics and other businesses throughout Florida to submit approximately $28,347,065 in fraudulent reimbursement claims to Medicare between 2005 and 2009. Medicare paid approximately $14,424,865 on those claims.
Duluc was chairman and president of a Delaware holding company known as Ulysses Acquisitions Inc., which was used to purchase 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. This gave Duluc and his co-conspirators control of those clinics’ Medicare provider numbers, which allowed them to bill Medicare for services.
Duluc admitted that he and his co-conspirators paid kickbacks to obtain, and stole, the personal identifying information of Medicare beneficiaries, and that he and his co-conspirators also obtained unique identifying information of physicians. They then used this information to create and submit false claims to Medicare through the clinics owned by Ulysses Acquisitions. These claims sought reimbursement for therapy services that were not legitimately prescribed and not actually provided. Duluc admitted that he and his co-conspirators created and used false and forged patient records in an effort to conceal the fact that services had not actually been provided.
Duluc also admitted that he developed and marketed the “80/20 deal.” In these deals, Duluc and his co-conspirators submitted false reimbursement claims to Medicare on behalf of Miami-based therapy clinics, such as Hallandale Rehabilitation Inc., Tropical Physical Therapy Corporation, American Wellness Centers Inc. and West Regional Center Inc. Duluc and co-conspirators retained approximately 20 percent of the money Medicare paid on these claims and paid the other 80 percent to the co-conspirator clinic owners.
When Duluc and his co-conspirators were done using the clinics they acquired through Ulysses Acquisitions, they engaged in sham sales 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. Duluc admitted that he did this in an effort to disassociate from the fraudulent operations of the rehabilitation facilities.
This 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 U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. This case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Christopher J. Hunter and Trial Attorney 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 2,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $6 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Principal in $28.3 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison
A Florida owner and operator of multiple physical therapy rehabilitation facilities was sentenced in federal court in Tampa today to serve 11 years in prison for his role in organizing a $28.3 million Medicare fraud scheme involving 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 of the Middle District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Derrick Jackson of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Miami Regional Office and Special Agent in Charge Paul Wysopal of the FBI’s Tampa Field Office made the announcement.
Luis Duluc, 54, of Tampa, pleaded guilty on Feb. 3, 2014, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud as well as making a false statement relating to health care matters. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew of the Middle District of Florida ordered Duluc to pay $14,424,856 in restitution.
According to Duluc’s admissions in connection with his guilty plea, he and his co-conspirators used various physical therapy clinics and other businesses throughout Florida to submit approximately $28,347,065 in fraudulent reimbursement claims to Medicare between 2005 and 2009. Medicare paid approximately $14,424,865 on those claims.
Duluc was chairman and president of a Delaware holding company known as Ulysses Acquisitions Inc., which was used to purchase 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. This gave Duluc and his co-conspirators control of those clinics’ Medicare provider numbers, which allowed them to bill Medicare for services.
Duluc admitted that he and his co-conspirators paid kickbacks to obtain, and stole, the personal identifying information of Medicare beneficiaries, and that he and his co-conspirators also obtained unique identifying information of physicians. They then used this information to create and submit false claims to Medicare through the clinics owned by Ulysses Acquisitions. These claims sought reimbursement for therapy services that were not legitimately prescribed and not actually provided. Duluc admitted that he and his co-conspirators created and used false and forged patient records in an effort to conceal the fact that services had not actually been provided.
Duluc also admitted that he developed and marketed the “80/20 deal.” In these deals, Duluc and his co-conspirators submitted false reimbursement claims to Medicare on behalf of Miami-based therapy clinics, such as Hallandale Rehabilitation Inc., Tropical Physical Therapy Corporation, American Wellness Centers Inc. and West Regional Center Inc. Duluc and co-conspirators retained approximately 20 percent of the money Medicare paid on these claims and paid the other 80 percent to the co-conspirator clinic owners.
When Duluc and his co-conspirators were done using the clinics they acquired through Ulysses Acquisitions, they engaged in sham sales 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. Duluc admitted that he did this in an effort to disassociate from the fraudulent operations of the rehabilitation facilities.
This 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 U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. This case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Christopher J. Hunter and Trial Attorney 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 2,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $6 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
FORMER MITSUBA EXECUTIVE TO SERVE 13 MONTHS IN U.S. PRISON FOR ROLE IN PRICE FIXING SCHEME
FROM: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
FORMER MITSUBA EXECUTIVE AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY TO BID RIGGING
AND PRICE FIXING ON AUTOMOBILE PARTS INSTALLED IN U.S. CARS
Executive Agrees to Serve 13 Months in U.S. Prison
WASHINGTON — A former executive of Japan-based Mitsuba Corporation has agreed to plead guilty and serve 13 months in a U.S. prison for conspiring to fix the prices of products installed in cars sold in the United States and elsewhere, the Department of Justice announced today.
A one-count felony charge was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit against Kazumi Umahashi, a Japanese national and former General Manager of Mitsuba. Umahashi conspired from in or about June 2005 to in or about December 2009 by agreeing upon bids and prices for, and allocating the supply of, windshield wiper systems and starter motors sold to Honda Motor Co. Ltd. and its subsidiaries and affiliates in the United States and elsewhere, according to the charge. Umahashi also has agreed to pay a $20,000 criminal fine and cooperate with the department’s ongoing investigation. The plea agreement is subject to court approval.
“The Antitrust Division has uncovered dozens of conspiracies to fix prices in the automotive industry,” said Brent Snyder, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division’s criminal enforcement program. “The impact of these schemes has affected nearly every American. We will continue our efforts to hold culpable companies and individuals accountable for their illegal actions.”
Mitsuba manufactures and sells a variety of automotive parts, including starter motors, which are small electric motors used in internal combustion engines, and windshield wiper systems. On Nov. 6, 2013, Mitsuba pleaded guilty for its involvement in the conspiracy and agreed to pay $135 million in criminal fines.
Umahashi is charged with price fixing and bid rigging in violation of the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum sentence for individuals of 10 years and a fine of $1 million. The maximum fine for an individual may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.
Including today’s charges, 48 individuals have been charged in the department’s ongoing investigation into price fixing and bid rigging in the auto parts industry. Additionally, 32 companies have pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty and have agreed to pay a total of more than $2.4 billion in fines.
This prosecution arose from an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into price fixing, bid rigging, and other anticompetitive conduct in the automotive parts industry, which is being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s criminal enforcement sections and the FBI. Today’s charge was brought by the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal I Section with the assistance of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office and the FBI headquarters’ International Corruption Unit.
FORMER MITSUBA EXECUTIVE AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY TO BID RIGGING
AND PRICE FIXING ON AUTOMOBILE PARTS INSTALLED IN U.S. CARS
Executive Agrees to Serve 13 Months in U.S. Prison
WASHINGTON — A former executive of Japan-based Mitsuba Corporation has agreed to plead guilty and serve 13 months in a U.S. prison for conspiring to fix the prices of products installed in cars sold in the United States and elsewhere, the Department of Justice announced today.
A one-count felony charge was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit against Kazumi Umahashi, a Japanese national and former General Manager of Mitsuba. Umahashi conspired from in or about June 2005 to in or about December 2009 by agreeing upon bids and prices for, and allocating the supply of, windshield wiper systems and starter motors sold to Honda Motor Co. Ltd. and its subsidiaries and affiliates in the United States and elsewhere, according to the charge. Umahashi also has agreed to pay a $20,000 criminal fine and cooperate with the department’s ongoing investigation. The plea agreement is subject to court approval.
“The Antitrust Division has uncovered dozens of conspiracies to fix prices in the automotive industry,” said Brent Snyder, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division’s criminal enforcement program. “The impact of these schemes has affected nearly every American. We will continue our efforts to hold culpable companies and individuals accountable for their illegal actions.”
Mitsuba manufactures and sells a variety of automotive parts, including starter motors, which are small electric motors used in internal combustion engines, and windshield wiper systems. On Nov. 6, 2013, Mitsuba pleaded guilty for its involvement in the conspiracy and agreed to pay $135 million in criminal fines.
Umahashi is charged with price fixing and bid rigging in violation of the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum sentence for individuals of 10 years and a fine of $1 million. The maximum fine for an individual may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.
Including today’s charges, 48 individuals have been charged in the department’s ongoing investigation into price fixing and bid rigging in the auto parts industry. Additionally, 32 companies have pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty and have agreed to pay a total of more than $2.4 billion in fines.
This prosecution arose from an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into price fixing, bid rigging, and other anticompetitive conduct in the automotive parts industry, which is being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s criminal enforcement sections and the FBI. Today’s charge was brought by the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal I Section with the assistance of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office and the FBI headquarters’ International Corruption Unit.
JAPANESE AUTO PARTS EXECUTIVE TO SERVE A PRISON SENTENCE FOR BID RIGGING AND PRICE FIXING
FROM: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
T.RAD EXECUTIVE AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY TO BID RIGGING AND PRICE FIXING ON AUTOMOBILE PARTS INSTALLED IN U.S. CARS
Executive Agrees to Serve One Year and One Day in U.S. Prison
WASHINGTON — An executive of Japan-based T.RAD Co. Ltd. has agreed to plead guilty and to serve one year and one day in a U.S. prison for participating in a conspiracy to fix prices of radiators installed in cars sold in the United States and elsewhere, the Department of Justice announced today.
A one-count felony charge was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit against Kosei Tamura, a general manager for T.RAD. According to the charge, Tamura, a Japanese national, conspired from as early as November 2002 until at least February 2010, by agreeing to allocate bids for, and prices of, radiators sold to Honda Motor Co. Ltd. and certain of its subsidiaries in the United States and elsewhere. In addition to the prison sentence, Tamura has agreed to pay a $20,000 criminal fine and to cooperate with the department’s ongoing investigation. The plea agreement is subject to court approval.
“Companies and their executives should do their part to ensure American consumers are guaranteed a fair marketplace within the automotive industry,” said Brent Snyder, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division’s criminal enforcement program. “The Antitrust Division will continue to hold accountable the companies and executives who ignore these laws in order to make this a reality.”
T.RAD is a manufacturer of radiators and was engaged in the sale of radiators in the United States and elsewhere. Radiators are devices located in the engine compartment of a vehicle that cool the engine.
In November 2013, T.RAD pleaded guilty and was sentenced to pay a $13.75 million criminal fine for its role in a conspiracy to fix the prices of radiators and automatic transmission fluid warmers.
Including today’s charges, 48 individuals have been charged in the department’s ongoing investigation into price fixing and bid rigging in the auto parts industry. Additionally, 32 companies have pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty and have agreed to pay a total of more than $2.4 billion in fines.
Tamura is charged with price fixing in violation of the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine for individuals. The maximum fine for an individual may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.
The current prosecution arose from an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into price fixing, bid rigging, and other anticompetitive conduct in the automotive parts industry, which is being conducted by each of the Antitrust Division’s criminal sections and the FBI. This case was brought by the Washington Criminal I Section of the Antitrust Division with the assistance of the Detroit Field Office of the FBI.
T.RAD EXECUTIVE AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY TO BID RIGGING AND PRICE FIXING ON AUTOMOBILE PARTS INSTALLED IN U.S. CARS
Executive Agrees to Serve One Year and One Day in U.S. Prison
WASHINGTON — An executive of Japan-based T.RAD Co. Ltd. has agreed to plead guilty and to serve one year and one day in a U.S. prison for participating in a conspiracy to fix prices of radiators installed in cars sold in the United States and elsewhere, the Department of Justice announced today.
A one-count felony charge was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit against Kosei Tamura, a general manager for T.RAD. According to the charge, Tamura, a Japanese national, conspired from as early as November 2002 until at least February 2010, by agreeing to allocate bids for, and prices of, radiators sold to Honda Motor Co. Ltd. and certain of its subsidiaries in the United States and elsewhere. In addition to the prison sentence, Tamura has agreed to pay a $20,000 criminal fine and to cooperate with the department’s ongoing investigation. The plea agreement is subject to court approval.
“Companies and their executives should do their part to ensure American consumers are guaranteed a fair marketplace within the automotive industry,” said Brent Snyder, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division’s criminal enforcement program. “The Antitrust Division will continue to hold accountable the companies and executives who ignore these laws in order to make this a reality.”
T.RAD is a manufacturer of radiators and was engaged in the sale of radiators in the United States and elsewhere. Radiators are devices located in the engine compartment of a vehicle that cool the engine.
In November 2013, T.RAD pleaded guilty and was sentenced to pay a $13.75 million criminal fine for its role in a conspiracy to fix the prices of radiators and automatic transmission fluid warmers.
Including today’s charges, 48 individuals have been charged in the department’s ongoing investigation into price fixing and bid rigging in the auto parts industry. Additionally, 32 companies have pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty and have agreed to pay a total of more than $2.4 billion in fines.
Tamura is charged with price fixing in violation of the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine for individuals. The maximum fine for an individual may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.
The current prosecution arose from an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into price fixing, bid rigging, and other anticompetitive conduct in the automotive parts industry, which is being conducted by each of the Antitrust Division’s criminal sections and the FBI. This case was brought by the Washington Criminal I Section of the Antitrust Division with the assistance of the Detroit Field Office of the FBI.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
SECRETARY KERRY'S PRESS AVAILABILITY IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Press Availability in Brussels, Belgium
Press Availability
John Kerry
Secretary of State
NATO Headquarters
Brussels, Belgium
December 3, 2014
SECRETARY KERRY: Good afternoon and thanks, everybody, for being here. And thanks for your patience.
In less than three months, the international community has come together to form a coalition that is already taking important steps to degrade and defeat ISIL, or Daesh. And today was an opportunity for representatives from about 60 members of the anti-ISIL coalition to come together, share their views, receive updates on coalition efforts, make suggestions about the roadmap ahead, and discuss as carefully as possible the pluses and minuses of the strategy engaged and what needs to be done to accomplish our goals going forward.
It was absolutely clear in the comments of everybody, particularly the prime minister of Iraq and his team, that we have made already significant progress in two and a half months. But we also acknowledge there is a lot more work yet to be done. Daesh is still perpetrating terrible crimes, but there was a consensus that the momentum which it had exhibited two and a half months ago has been halted, that it has been forced to modify its tactics – and some of those modifications severely hampering their ability to operate in the way that they were, certainly – that their hold on territory has been challenged already, and their finances have been strained, and in almost every media market that exists, and certainly within the region, their message is being denounced. Their message of hate is being challenged in public meeting places, in mosques across the globe. This clearly represents a multifaceted effort, which is precisely what we defined in the earliest days of suggesting that we would build a coalition and the coalition would take on Daesh.
Now, while airstrikes may capture the headlines – and there have been more than 1,000 of them thus far – this is far more than simply a military coalition. And it will not be successful, we all agree, if it were to rely on military alone, which it does not. Destroying Daesh is going to require defeating the ideology – the funding, the recruitment, and the devastation that they’ve been able to inflict on people in the region. And these are the areas that were really the primary focus of today’s discussion.
During this morning’s meeting, we reviewed the progress in each of our five lines of effort and came together in issuing a joint statement, all countries signing on, that underscores our unity and our firm support for our partners and our absolute determination to succeed. Participants noted the gains that we have made across all of the lines of effort – defeating ISIL on the battlefield, restricting its finances, enacting laws to restrict the flow of foreign fighters, and countering its toxic ideology.
The long-term success of the effort in Iraq is key to the success of the coalition. And today we heard directly from Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi, whose government yesterday revealed and reached a long-sought agreement, a landmark oil deal with the Kurdistan Regional Government. The prime minister also provided an update on the fight against Daesh in Iraq and on his broader reform agenda, including an executive order that he just issued to begin important changes in the criminal justice system of Iraq. Nothing will do more to defeat Daesh than an Iraq that is united and has more representative and effective security forces.
Now, obviously there’s a lot more work ahead. But the prime minister has taken steps to unite the country, including outreach to Sunni tribes. He has taken steps to root out corruption and to reform the Iraqi Security Forces and to take on the threat that Daesh represents. I think it’s fair to say that all of the foreign ministers, ambassadors, representatives who were there today came away impressed by Prime Minister Abadi and by what he has accomplished today, which is the down payment on the roadmap that he laid out for the future.
Earlier today, I participated in a meeting on the complex situation in Libya. And later we – I had a bilateral wide-ranging discussion at lunch with EU High Representative Federica Mogherini. And we talked about all of the key issues in the transatlantic agenda – trade, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; the energy security challenges; the opportunities presented by these energy challenges, which really represent game-changing set of possibilities with respect to the movement of liquefied natural gas, also alternative and renewable energy possibilities. We also talked about support for Ukraine, the Middle East, Libya, Syria, Iraq, and the challenge of Ebola.
And I ended the day just now by attending a meeting of the EU-U.S. Energy Council, where we talked about the major possibilities for realignment with respect to energy security, environment issues, climate change, all of the possibilities that the energy agenda provide us in terms of a new marketplace with new job opportunities, new technologies, an enormous kick to the economy, as well as increases in security – environment security, energy security, health security, and the economy itself.
We reviewed progress in facilitating the reverse gas flows and the EU effort to reach an accord on natural gas supplies with Ukraine and Russia, which was a very important step which we congratulate the EU on taking. And second, we talked about the overall challenge of European energy security, which requires regulatory cooperation, investments in infrastructure, and an intensive commitment to sustainable technology.
And finally, we talked about the urgency of further breakthroughs on climate change itself. The EU took the important step earlier in the fall of putting out publicly its targets for 2015 at the Paris conference. We recently came back, President Obama and myself and our team, from a bilateral series of meetings in China where we were able to agree with China on setting certain kinds of goals. We’re continuing that work not only with China, but with other countries with the hopes of having an impact on the meeting in Peru, which I will attend later next week, and which will be the lead-in to a year of important focus on climate change and high hopes for success in Paris next December.
With the ongoing meetings in Peru and what will follow over the course of the next year and the U.S. President, President Obama’s, pledge of a contribution of $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund and the EU’s early commitments, we believe that we are making clear that the Obama Administration and the United States are all in on this issue and committed to try to take steps that are long overdue. We intend to continue to try to build momentum moving into next year, and we believe that not only is there obviously the practical advantage of responding to the events, to the transformation taking place in the climate that is contributing to very severe weather events, to major flooding, major fires, major drought, to shifts in agriculture and other impacts that have huge cost, but we believe it is becoming more and more evident that it is cheaper to invest in the new technologies and move to the clean energy economy. And we are going to continue to work for that.
So with that, I’d be pleased to respond to your questions with respect to any of the topics that I touched on.
MS. PSAKI: The first question will be from Lara Jakes of the Associated Press.
QUESTION: Actually, I’m not asking a question today.
MS. PSAKI: Oh, I’m sorry. Oh, I’m sorry. Michael Gordon of The New York Times. All right.
QUESTION: On behalf of Lara Jakes. (Laughter.)
MS. PSAKI: Okay.
QUESTION: He’s prettier than I am.
QUESTION: If – sir, if Iraqi forces are successful with U.S. and allied air support in retaking Mosul, Fallujah, and other populated areas in what could be block-to-block fighting, Iraq will likely confront the need for a major reconstruction effort, and Iraq may also face pressing humanitarian needs as civilians will need to get through the winter in newly reclaimed areas.
What assistance did Prime Minister Abadi seek during his meetings with you and other partners in terms of help with reconstruction, humanitarian assistance, and also additional military training and equipment? What is this likely to cost? Hundreds of millions of dollars, billions? And is the United States and the international community prepared to meet those needs? Will there be another donor conference or another international meeting? How do you plan to proceed?
SECRETARY KERRY: Well, Michael, it’s a really good question, and very important to the road ahead. The subject absolutely came up. Prime Minister Abadi himself put the topic of reconstruction on the table. And I’m happy to say that a number of Gulf states which have capacity on their own have engaged in this discussion with Prime Minister Abadi and the Iraqis. I think it’s up to them to identify themselves, but we are particularly excited about the prospect of having the region engage in a significant way across sectarian lines, I might add, in order to be able to address this reconstruction notion.
So I don’t think this is something where Americans or Europeans or others have to recoil and say, “Oh my God, we’re going to be facing this monumental task of rebuilding yet another place when we have our own challenges.” Might we have to contribute to it? Sure, we ought to. It’s part of our foreign policy and it’s part of our engagement. But I’m excited by the prospect that already, for instance, Saudi Arabia has made half a billion dollars available before we even fully engaged in this effort as a sign of good faith in an effort to try to say to the people of Iraq that they could cross the sectarian divide and offer humanitarian assistance.
Now there were a number of countries in the region that are talking about a further reconstruction fund that would specifically help to rebuild as the country is taken back from the clasp – the unwanted clasp of the terrorists who are controlling a significant portion of Anbar and other parts of Iraq at this moment. So I’m very, very hopeful that that will take place and it will be a natural outgrowth of this coalition as it meets in the days ahead, and as we plan for the roadmap.
It won’t do any good, obviously, if you simply reclaim a town and the folks in that town have worse or less opportunities than they may have had before and life is even harder. So part of winning this back – and this is what we’ve been saying from day one – is not just the task of the military campaign; it’s the campaign that goes on every day thereafter in providing a government that is responsive, that is inclusive, that is pluralistic, that is freeing itself from any clutches of corruption that may or may not exist. That’s what we want to see, and that effort is very much part of the planning stage at this early moment.
MS. PSAKI: The next question will be from Sangwon Yoon of Bloomberg News.
QUESTION: U.S. – the Pentagon said that it believes that Iran carried out several airstrikes in Iraq’s Diyala province in the past couple of days. Are you aware of these strikes? Do you welcome such Iranian air missions in Iraq? Do you think they’re helpful to the fight against ISIL or do you think that it’d be better if Iran avoids these actions?
And also, in your opening remarks today in the meeting, you talked about the importance of having a dialogue to share best thoughts, about ways to do things better and plan carefully. Now, notwithstanding these Iranian airstrikes in Diyala, Iran’s role in fighting ISIS in Iraq has been growing. Has the time come now for the U.S. and the coalition to start directly coordinating efforts in order to maximize the global campaign to defeat and degrade ISIL?
SECRETARY KERRY: Let me answer that – both parts of that question. First of all, I’m not going to make any announcements or confirm or deny the reported military action of another country in Iraq. It’s up to them or up to the Iraqis to do that, if it indeed took place. We are obviously flying our missions over Iraq and we coordinate those missions with the Iraqi Government. And we rely on the Iraqi Government to deconflict whatever control of their airspace may in fact need that deconfliction.
So nothing has changed in our fundamental policy of not coordinating our military activity or other activities at this moment with Iranians. We’re not doing that. And we are not – not only not coordinating militarily right now, but there are no plans at this time to coordinate militarily. I think it’s self-evident that if Iran is taking on ISIL in some particular place and it’s confined to taking on ISIL and it has an impact, it’s going to be – the net effect is positive. But that’s not something that we’re coordinating. The Iraqis have the overall responsibility for their own ground and air operations, and what they choose to do is up to them.
MS. PSAKI: The next question will be from Noureddine Fridhi of Al-Arabiya.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, I have a couple of questions, if you don’t mind. In these meetings, there – are they new commitments regarding the moderate opposition, Syrian moderate opposition, in terms of supporting them by equipment, training, on political level?
And my second question is about the issue of there is no-fly zone until now, as the Turkish are asking. But do you see yourself alternatives for the Turkish side to protect its border of the country from these borders, thousand foreign fighters entered into Syria, sir?
SECRETARY KERRY: Yeah. Well, regarding the issue of new commitments with respect to the Syrian opposition, the answer is simply that this meeting was about ISIL/ISIS/Daesh. This meeting was not about the Syrian opposition and the other parts of that struggle. Did it come up? Was it discussed? Yes. Did some countries talk about their concerns about the regime? Absolutely, but it was not with any sense of division. This was a united group here to deal with the challenge of Daesh. And while people expressed an opinion regarding the regime, as you saw, there was a completely unified communique, which understood clearly what the mission was that brought people here today.
Now in the course of – even the communique mentions the opposition and talks about the continued support for the opposition – moderate opposition, that is – and that will continue, and everybody understands who’s committed to that and who’s engaged in that direct effort. But there was no specific plus-up with respect to that.
On the issue of no-fly zone and so forth, the United States remains extremely engaged in its discussions with Turkey. Turkey, as everybody knows, is a NATO ally. It is a very important coalition partner. It is an absolute – it has a border with Syria, it has critical impacts because of what is happening in Syria, and a deep stake in the outcome of what is going on there. And therefore, we are having a very serious discussion with Turkey.
Vice President Biden was just there. He had a long discussion with President Erdogan; long discussion with Prime Minister Davutoglu. Prime Minister Davutoglu just visited Iraq. There’s a lot of discussion going on about the way we will go forward. But it is premature to suggest at this moment of time that we are close to making a decision or moving forward with any form of a safe zone or a buffer zone at this moment in time. But we are continuing our discussions with our Turkish allies in order to have conversations about how we best bolster security in the region and deal with the problem of Syria.
And it is no secret that the United States continues to believe that President Assad has lost all legitimacy, that the regime will not be able to find peace in Iraq as long as – in Syria as long as Assad remains in power. There needs to be some kind of transition. We know it’s not going to happen through a military, direct process, so there has to be a political solution. And we’re looking still for the way to engage all of the countries in the region in an effort to achieve what was originally laid out in Geneva. That remains the operative objective.
MS. PSAKI: Thank you, everyone.
SECRETARY KERRY: That’s it. Thank you all. Appreciate it. Thank you.
Press Availability in Brussels, Belgium
Press Availability
John Kerry
Secretary of State
NATO Headquarters
Brussels, Belgium
December 3, 2014
SECRETARY KERRY: Good afternoon and thanks, everybody, for being here. And thanks for your patience.
In less than three months, the international community has come together to form a coalition that is already taking important steps to degrade and defeat ISIL, or Daesh. And today was an opportunity for representatives from about 60 members of the anti-ISIL coalition to come together, share their views, receive updates on coalition efforts, make suggestions about the roadmap ahead, and discuss as carefully as possible the pluses and minuses of the strategy engaged and what needs to be done to accomplish our goals going forward.
It was absolutely clear in the comments of everybody, particularly the prime minister of Iraq and his team, that we have made already significant progress in two and a half months. But we also acknowledge there is a lot more work yet to be done. Daesh is still perpetrating terrible crimes, but there was a consensus that the momentum which it had exhibited two and a half months ago has been halted, that it has been forced to modify its tactics – and some of those modifications severely hampering their ability to operate in the way that they were, certainly – that their hold on territory has been challenged already, and their finances have been strained, and in almost every media market that exists, and certainly within the region, their message is being denounced. Their message of hate is being challenged in public meeting places, in mosques across the globe. This clearly represents a multifaceted effort, which is precisely what we defined in the earliest days of suggesting that we would build a coalition and the coalition would take on Daesh.
Now, while airstrikes may capture the headlines – and there have been more than 1,000 of them thus far – this is far more than simply a military coalition. And it will not be successful, we all agree, if it were to rely on military alone, which it does not. Destroying Daesh is going to require defeating the ideology – the funding, the recruitment, and the devastation that they’ve been able to inflict on people in the region. And these are the areas that were really the primary focus of today’s discussion.
During this morning’s meeting, we reviewed the progress in each of our five lines of effort and came together in issuing a joint statement, all countries signing on, that underscores our unity and our firm support for our partners and our absolute determination to succeed. Participants noted the gains that we have made across all of the lines of effort – defeating ISIL on the battlefield, restricting its finances, enacting laws to restrict the flow of foreign fighters, and countering its toxic ideology.
The long-term success of the effort in Iraq is key to the success of the coalition. And today we heard directly from Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi, whose government yesterday revealed and reached a long-sought agreement, a landmark oil deal with the Kurdistan Regional Government. The prime minister also provided an update on the fight against Daesh in Iraq and on his broader reform agenda, including an executive order that he just issued to begin important changes in the criminal justice system of Iraq. Nothing will do more to defeat Daesh than an Iraq that is united and has more representative and effective security forces.
Now, obviously there’s a lot more work ahead. But the prime minister has taken steps to unite the country, including outreach to Sunni tribes. He has taken steps to root out corruption and to reform the Iraqi Security Forces and to take on the threat that Daesh represents. I think it’s fair to say that all of the foreign ministers, ambassadors, representatives who were there today came away impressed by Prime Minister Abadi and by what he has accomplished today, which is the down payment on the roadmap that he laid out for the future.
Earlier today, I participated in a meeting on the complex situation in Libya. And later we – I had a bilateral wide-ranging discussion at lunch with EU High Representative Federica Mogherini. And we talked about all of the key issues in the transatlantic agenda – trade, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; the energy security challenges; the opportunities presented by these energy challenges, which really represent game-changing set of possibilities with respect to the movement of liquefied natural gas, also alternative and renewable energy possibilities. We also talked about support for Ukraine, the Middle East, Libya, Syria, Iraq, and the challenge of Ebola.
And I ended the day just now by attending a meeting of the EU-U.S. Energy Council, where we talked about the major possibilities for realignment with respect to energy security, environment issues, climate change, all of the possibilities that the energy agenda provide us in terms of a new marketplace with new job opportunities, new technologies, an enormous kick to the economy, as well as increases in security – environment security, energy security, health security, and the economy itself.
We reviewed progress in facilitating the reverse gas flows and the EU effort to reach an accord on natural gas supplies with Ukraine and Russia, which was a very important step which we congratulate the EU on taking. And second, we talked about the overall challenge of European energy security, which requires regulatory cooperation, investments in infrastructure, and an intensive commitment to sustainable technology.
And finally, we talked about the urgency of further breakthroughs on climate change itself. The EU took the important step earlier in the fall of putting out publicly its targets for 2015 at the Paris conference. We recently came back, President Obama and myself and our team, from a bilateral series of meetings in China where we were able to agree with China on setting certain kinds of goals. We’re continuing that work not only with China, but with other countries with the hopes of having an impact on the meeting in Peru, which I will attend later next week, and which will be the lead-in to a year of important focus on climate change and high hopes for success in Paris next December.
With the ongoing meetings in Peru and what will follow over the course of the next year and the U.S. President, President Obama’s, pledge of a contribution of $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund and the EU’s early commitments, we believe that we are making clear that the Obama Administration and the United States are all in on this issue and committed to try to take steps that are long overdue. We intend to continue to try to build momentum moving into next year, and we believe that not only is there obviously the practical advantage of responding to the events, to the transformation taking place in the climate that is contributing to very severe weather events, to major flooding, major fires, major drought, to shifts in agriculture and other impacts that have huge cost, but we believe it is becoming more and more evident that it is cheaper to invest in the new technologies and move to the clean energy economy. And we are going to continue to work for that.
So with that, I’d be pleased to respond to your questions with respect to any of the topics that I touched on.
MS. PSAKI: The first question will be from Lara Jakes of the Associated Press.
QUESTION: Actually, I’m not asking a question today.
MS. PSAKI: Oh, I’m sorry. Oh, I’m sorry. Michael Gordon of The New York Times. All right.
QUESTION: On behalf of Lara Jakes. (Laughter.)
MS. PSAKI: Okay.
QUESTION: He’s prettier than I am.
QUESTION: If – sir, if Iraqi forces are successful with U.S. and allied air support in retaking Mosul, Fallujah, and other populated areas in what could be block-to-block fighting, Iraq will likely confront the need for a major reconstruction effort, and Iraq may also face pressing humanitarian needs as civilians will need to get through the winter in newly reclaimed areas.
What assistance did Prime Minister Abadi seek during his meetings with you and other partners in terms of help with reconstruction, humanitarian assistance, and also additional military training and equipment? What is this likely to cost? Hundreds of millions of dollars, billions? And is the United States and the international community prepared to meet those needs? Will there be another donor conference or another international meeting? How do you plan to proceed?
SECRETARY KERRY: Well, Michael, it’s a really good question, and very important to the road ahead. The subject absolutely came up. Prime Minister Abadi himself put the topic of reconstruction on the table. And I’m happy to say that a number of Gulf states which have capacity on their own have engaged in this discussion with Prime Minister Abadi and the Iraqis. I think it’s up to them to identify themselves, but we are particularly excited about the prospect of having the region engage in a significant way across sectarian lines, I might add, in order to be able to address this reconstruction notion.
So I don’t think this is something where Americans or Europeans or others have to recoil and say, “Oh my God, we’re going to be facing this monumental task of rebuilding yet another place when we have our own challenges.” Might we have to contribute to it? Sure, we ought to. It’s part of our foreign policy and it’s part of our engagement. But I’m excited by the prospect that already, for instance, Saudi Arabia has made half a billion dollars available before we even fully engaged in this effort as a sign of good faith in an effort to try to say to the people of Iraq that they could cross the sectarian divide and offer humanitarian assistance.
Now there were a number of countries in the region that are talking about a further reconstruction fund that would specifically help to rebuild as the country is taken back from the clasp – the unwanted clasp of the terrorists who are controlling a significant portion of Anbar and other parts of Iraq at this moment. So I’m very, very hopeful that that will take place and it will be a natural outgrowth of this coalition as it meets in the days ahead, and as we plan for the roadmap.
It won’t do any good, obviously, if you simply reclaim a town and the folks in that town have worse or less opportunities than they may have had before and life is even harder. So part of winning this back – and this is what we’ve been saying from day one – is not just the task of the military campaign; it’s the campaign that goes on every day thereafter in providing a government that is responsive, that is inclusive, that is pluralistic, that is freeing itself from any clutches of corruption that may or may not exist. That’s what we want to see, and that effort is very much part of the planning stage at this early moment.
MS. PSAKI: The next question will be from Sangwon Yoon of Bloomberg News.
QUESTION: U.S. – the Pentagon said that it believes that Iran carried out several airstrikes in Iraq’s Diyala province in the past couple of days. Are you aware of these strikes? Do you welcome such Iranian air missions in Iraq? Do you think they’re helpful to the fight against ISIL or do you think that it’d be better if Iran avoids these actions?
And also, in your opening remarks today in the meeting, you talked about the importance of having a dialogue to share best thoughts, about ways to do things better and plan carefully. Now, notwithstanding these Iranian airstrikes in Diyala, Iran’s role in fighting ISIS in Iraq has been growing. Has the time come now for the U.S. and the coalition to start directly coordinating efforts in order to maximize the global campaign to defeat and degrade ISIL?
SECRETARY KERRY: Let me answer that – both parts of that question. First of all, I’m not going to make any announcements or confirm or deny the reported military action of another country in Iraq. It’s up to them or up to the Iraqis to do that, if it indeed took place. We are obviously flying our missions over Iraq and we coordinate those missions with the Iraqi Government. And we rely on the Iraqi Government to deconflict whatever control of their airspace may in fact need that deconfliction.
So nothing has changed in our fundamental policy of not coordinating our military activity or other activities at this moment with Iranians. We’re not doing that. And we are not – not only not coordinating militarily right now, but there are no plans at this time to coordinate militarily. I think it’s self-evident that if Iran is taking on ISIL in some particular place and it’s confined to taking on ISIL and it has an impact, it’s going to be – the net effect is positive. But that’s not something that we’re coordinating. The Iraqis have the overall responsibility for their own ground and air operations, and what they choose to do is up to them.
MS. PSAKI: The next question will be from Noureddine Fridhi of Al-Arabiya.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, I have a couple of questions, if you don’t mind. In these meetings, there – are they new commitments regarding the moderate opposition, Syrian moderate opposition, in terms of supporting them by equipment, training, on political level?
And my second question is about the issue of there is no-fly zone until now, as the Turkish are asking. But do you see yourself alternatives for the Turkish side to protect its border of the country from these borders, thousand foreign fighters entered into Syria, sir?
SECRETARY KERRY: Yeah. Well, regarding the issue of new commitments with respect to the Syrian opposition, the answer is simply that this meeting was about ISIL/ISIS/Daesh. This meeting was not about the Syrian opposition and the other parts of that struggle. Did it come up? Was it discussed? Yes. Did some countries talk about their concerns about the regime? Absolutely, but it was not with any sense of division. This was a united group here to deal with the challenge of Daesh. And while people expressed an opinion regarding the regime, as you saw, there was a completely unified communique, which understood clearly what the mission was that brought people here today.
Now in the course of – even the communique mentions the opposition and talks about the continued support for the opposition – moderate opposition, that is – and that will continue, and everybody understands who’s committed to that and who’s engaged in that direct effort. But there was no specific plus-up with respect to that.
On the issue of no-fly zone and so forth, the United States remains extremely engaged in its discussions with Turkey. Turkey, as everybody knows, is a NATO ally. It is a very important coalition partner. It is an absolute – it has a border with Syria, it has critical impacts because of what is happening in Syria, and a deep stake in the outcome of what is going on there. And therefore, we are having a very serious discussion with Turkey.
Vice President Biden was just there. He had a long discussion with President Erdogan; long discussion with Prime Minister Davutoglu. Prime Minister Davutoglu just visited Iraq. There’s a lot of discussion going on about the way we will go forward. But it is premature to suggest at this moment of time that we are close to making a decision or moving forward with any form of a safe zone or a buffer zone at this moment in time. But we are continuing our discussions with our Turkish allies in order to have conversations about how we best bolster security in the region and deal with the problem of Syria.
And it is no secret that the United States continues to believe that President Assad has lost all legitimacy, that the regime will not be able to find peace in Iraq as long as – in Syria as long as Assad remains in power. There needs to be some kind of transition. We know it’s not going to happen through a military, direct process, so there has to be a political solution. And we’re looking still for the way to engage all of the countries in the region in an effort to achieve what was originally laid out in Geneva. That remains the operative objective.
MS. PSAKI: Thank you, everyone.
SECRETARY KERRY: That’s it. Thank you all. Appreciate it. Thank you.
SECRETARY KERRY'S STATEMENT REGARDING INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 2014
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
International Day of Persons With Disabilities 2014
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
December 3, 2014
In too many countries, what we take for granted here in the United States has never been granted at all.
Just a couple years ago, I met Dan Berschinski, a retired U.S. Army captain, Afghanistan War veteran, and double amputee. Dan shared that when he travels overseas, he has to worry about questions most of us never think to ask: Will my wheelchair fit through the hotel doorway? Will the bathrooms be accessible? Will the buildings have ramps?
In too many countries, what we did here at home through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – whose 25th anniversary we celebrate next year – still hasn’t been remotely realized. We need to change that – and we can. But it requires American leadership at home to make that difference in the world.
It wasn’t easy to get where we are today in the United States. I remember the early days of the fight to make our country more accessible, whether it was in Massachusetts where it took great effort to help open the path for the Wheelchair Division of the Boston Marathon, or nationally to open up Little League opportunities for kids with disabilities. I will never forget the impact it had when President Bush signed the ADA into law.
That historic, bipartisan legislation has played a huge role in making our country more accessible. It raised the expectations of people with disabilities about what they can hope to achieve at work and in life. It inspired the world to view disability issues through the lens of equality and opportunity. And thanks to the ADA and other laws, nearly one in five Americans are now protected from disability-based discrimination.
Having traveled to a great number of countries as Secretary of State, I’ve seen firsthand that disability rights are not abstract concepts. They are about things you can see and touch that make a difference. They are about sidewalks with curb cuts; public buildings with accessible bathrooms; restaurants, stores, hotels, and universities with ramps and elevator access; buses with lifts; and train platforms with tactile strips.
The way we treat people of all backgrounds demonstrates our values and defines who we are. That’s our greatest export, and on this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we renew our determination to make sure that we leave no one behind -- anywhere.
International Day of Persons With Disabilities 2014
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
December 3, 2014
In too many countries, what we take for granted here in the United States has never been granted at all.
Just a couple years ago, I met Dan Berschinski, a retired U.S. Army captain, Afghanistan War veteran, and double amputee. Dan shared that when he travels overseas, he has to worry about questions most of us never think to ask: Will my wheelchair fit through the hotel doorway? Will the bathrooms be accessible? Will the buildings have ramps?
In too many countries, what we did here at home through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – whose 25th anniversary we celebrate next year – still hasn’t been remotely realized. We need to change that – and we can. But it requires American leadership at home to make that difference in the world.
It wasn’t easy to get where we are today in the United States. I remember the early days of the fight to make our country more accessible, whether it was in Massachusetts where it took great effort to help open the path for the Wheelchair Division of the Boston Marathon, or nationally to open up Little League opportunities for kids with disabilities. I will never forget the impact it had when President Bush signed the ADA into law.
That historic, bipartisan legislation has played a huge role in making our country more accessible. It raised the expectations of people with disabilities about what they can hope to achieve at work and in life. It inspired the world to view disability issues through the lens of equality and opportunity. And thanks to the ADA and other laws, nearly one in five Americans are now protected from disability-based discrimination.
Having traveled to a great number of countries as Secretary of State, I’ve seen firsthand that disability rights are not abstract concepts. They are about things you can see and touch that make a difference. They are about sidewalks with curb cuts; public buildings with accessible bathrooms; restaurants, stores, hotels, and universities with ramps and elevator access; buses with lifts; and train platforms with tactile strips.
The way we treat people of all backgrounds demonstrates our values and defines who we are. That’s our greatest export, and on this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we renew our determination to make sure that we leave no one behind -- anywhere.
SECRETARY KERRY'S REMARKS WITH IRAQI PRIME MINISTER AL-ABADI
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Remarks With Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi Before Their Meeting
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
NATO Headquarter
Brussels, Belgium
December 3, 2014
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, were you notified of the Iranian airstrikes in Iraq?
SECRETARY KERRY: We’re not really having Q&A right now, but we’ll have a chance a little later.
QUESTION: Okay.
MODERATOR: Thanks, everyone.
QUESTION: Thank you.
SECRETARY KERRY: Let just say very quickly how significant the efforts of the prime minister have been in the last days particularly, and the oil agreement which they have reached is something that has been sought for years now. And in a matter of months, the prime minister has spearheaded and moved forward. It’s a terrific sign of a change in Iraq and a sign of strong leadership, and we’re very excited by the news.
PRIME MINISTER AL-ABADI: Well, thank you very much. I think that beside that, of course, we are achieving a lot of progress on the ground in fighting of Daesh. We have moved to the north and we are very much closing reaching (inaudible) which is in the north. I hope developments on the ground will succeed very, very quickly.
I know there are a lot of challenges, but yesterday I have signed another decree about human rights and abuse against prisoners which will not – we have zero tolerance with this in Iraq. We are working very hard on this. We don’t want any excuses. Of course, Daesh is number one in atrocities and they’re committing huge atrocities against the Iraqi people. We expect some probably backlash on this, but we are very eager to stop all abuses from all sides.
SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you.
MODERATOR: Great. Thanks, everyone.
Remarks With Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi Before Their Meeting
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
NATO Headquarter
Brussels, Belgium
December 3, 2014
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, were you notified of the Iranian airstrikes in Iraq?
SECRETARY KERRY: We’re not really having Q&A right now, but we’ll have a chance a little later.
QUESTION: Okay.
MODERATOR: Thanks, everyone.
QUESTION: Thank you.
SECRETARY KERRY: Let just say very quickly how significant the efforts of the prime minister have been in the last days particularly, and the oil agreement which they have reached is something that has been sought for years now. And in a matter of months, the prime minister has spearheaded and moved forward. It’s a terrific sign of a change in Iraq and a sign of strong leadership, and we’re very excited by the news.
PRIME MINISTER AL-ABADI: Well, thank you very much. I think that beside that, of course, we are achieving a lot of progress on the ground in fighting of Daesh. We have moved to the north and we are very much closing reaching (inaudible) which is in the north. I hope developments on the ground will succeed very, very quickly.
I know there are a lot of challenges, but yesterday I have signed another decree about human rights and abuse against prisoners which will not – we have zero tolerance with this in Iraq. We are working very hard on this. We don’t want any excuses. Of course, Daesh is number one in atrocities and they’re committing huge atrocities against the Iraqi people. We expect some probably backlash on this, but we are very eager to stop all abuses from all sides.
SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you.
MODERATOR: Great. Thanks, everyone.
DOD OFFICIAL EXPRESSES CONFIDENCE IN AFGHAN SECURITY FORCES
FROM: U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Kirby Confident Afghans Can Take Full Security Control Next Month
By Nick Simeone
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2014 – With less than a month to go before the U.S-led NATO combat mission ends in Afghanistan, a senior Defense Department official said today Afghan security forces will be ready to take over the job of securing their country come January first.
“We believe that we have achieved the mission of getting Afghan national security forces to that level,” Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters. “They are in the lead right now and by the end of this month they will have full responsibility.”
Some 9,800 U.S. troops are set to remain in Afghanistan next year, as part of Operation Resolute Support. That NATO mission follows 13 years of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, and will no longer include a combat role but will instead focus on training, advising and assisting Afghan forces.
“There’s still some enabling capabilities that they may need going forward and we’re talking about that. That’s part of the Resolute Support NATO mission,” Kirby added.
In recent days, there has been an increase in attacks claimed by the Taliban on key sites around the country, including in the capital, Kabul. Kirby said the attacks did not signal a Taliban resurgence but were to be expected during periods of transition.
“Those attacks have had no strategic effect and I might add that the Afghan national security forces and police reacted bravely and quickly to each one,” he said.
Kirby Confident Afghans Can Take Full Security Control Next Month
By Nick Simeone
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2014 – With less than a month to go before the U.S-led NATO combat mission ends in Afghanistan, a senior Defense Department official said today Afghan security forces will be ready to take over the job of securing their country come January first.
“We believe that we have achieved the mission of getting Afghan national security forces to that level,” Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters. “They are in the lead right now and by the end of this month they will have full responsibility.”
Some 9,800 U.S. troops are set to remain in Afghanistan next year, as part of Operation Resolute Support. That NATO mission follows 13 years of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, and will no longer include a combat role but will instead focus on training, advising and assisting Afghan forces.
“There’s still some enabling capabilities that they may need going forward and we’re talking about that. That’s part of the Resolute Support NATO mission,” Kirby added.
In recent days, there has been an increase in attacks claimed by the Taliban on key sites around the country, including in the capital, Kabul. Kirby said the attacks did not signal a Taliban resurgence but were to be expected during periods of transition.
“Those attacks have had no strategic effect and I might add that the Afghan national security forces and police reacted bravely and quickly to each one,” he said.
SPACE LAUNCH COMPLEX 37: SPACECRAFT AND HEAVY STACK
With access doors at Space Launch Complex 37 opened on Nov. 24, 2014, the Orion spacecraft and Delta IV Heavy stack is visible in its entirety inside the Mobile Service Tower where the vehicle is undergoing launch preparations. Orion will make its first flight test on Dec. 4 with a morning launch atop the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket. Orion’s crew module is underneath the Launch Abort System and nose fairing, both of which will jettison about six minutes, 20 seconds after launch. The tower will be rolled away from the rocket and spacecraft 8 hours, 15 minutes before launch to allow the rocket to be fueled and for other launch operations to proceed. The spacecraft will orbit the Earth twice, including one loop that will reach 3,600 miles above Earth. No one will be aboard Orion for this flight test, but the spacecraft is being designed and built to carry astronauts on exploration missions into deep space. Launch is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 4 at 7:05 a.m. EST, the opening of a 2 hour, 39-minute window for the day. Image Credit-NASA-Kim Shiflett.
U.S. WISHES HIS MAJESTY KING ADULYADEJ OF THAILAND A JOYOUS BIRTHDAY
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's Birthday and Thailand's National Day
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
December 2, 2014
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, it is a great pleasure to wish His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej a joyous 87th birthday and congratulate the people of Thailand on your National Day this December 5.
The people of the United States and Thailand have been friends for over eighteen decades, and today we continue to cooperate on areas of mutual interest. Both our friendship and our partnership have weathered the storms of many challenges faced by each of our countries. This year, as every year, we take this auspicious occasion to express our support for the people and nation of Thailand.
On this day of celebration, I wish King Bhumibol and the people of Thailand peace, health, prosperity, and happiness in the coming year.
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's Birthday and Thailand's National Day
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
December 2, 2014
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, it is a great pleasure to wish His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej a joyous 87th birthday and congratulate the people of Thailand on your National Day this December 5.
The people of the United States and Thailand have been friends for over eighteen decades, and today we continue to cooperate on areas of mutual interest. Both our friendship and our partnership have weathered the storms of many challenges faced by each of our countries. This year, as every year, we take this auspicious occasion to express our support for the people and nation of Thailand.
On this day of celebration, I wish King Bhumibol and the people of Thailand peace, health, prosperity, and happiness in the coming year.
U.S. CONGRATULATES PEOPLE OF MOLDOVA ON THEIR PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Moldova's Parliamentary Elections
Press Statement
Marie Harf
Deputy Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
December 1, 2014
The United States congratulates the people of Moldova on the November 30 parliamentary elections, another milestone in their nation’s democratic development. The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) found that the technical conduct of the elections yesterday was in line with international standards and norms. We share ODIHR’s concern with the decision of Moldova’s Central Election Commission to remove one party from the ballot only a few days before the elections.
The United States urges Moldova’s leaders to move quickly to form a new government that will serve the Moldovan people, by fighting corruption, promoting reforms that spread the benefits of European integration, and finding a comprehensive and peaceful settlement for its Transnistria region. The future of Moldova belongs to the Moldovan people, and we look forward to working with the new government.
Moldova's Parliamentary Elections
Press Statement
Marie Harf
Deputy Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
December 1, 2014
The United States congratulates the people of Moldova on the November 30 parliamentary elections, another milestone in their nation’s democratic development. The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) found that the technical conduct of the elections yesterday was in line with international standards and norms. We share ODIHR’s concern with the decision of Moldova’s Central Election Commission to remove one party from the ballot only a few days before the elections.
The United States urges Moldova’s leaders to move quickly to form a new government that will serve the Moldovan people, by fighting corruption, promoting reforms that spread the benefits of European integration, and finding a comprehensive and peaceful settlement for its Transnistria region. The future of Moldova belongs to the Moldovan people, and we look forward to working with the new government.
READOUT: PRESIDENT OBAMA'S CALL WITH EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT TUSK
FROM: THE WHITE HOUSE
December 01, 2014
Readout of the President's Call with European Council President Donald Tusk
President Obama called President Donald Tusk today to congratulate him on his first day as President of the European Council. President Obama underscored the importance of continued U.S.-EU cooperation and noted the need for policy action to strengthen European economic growth. The two leaders affirmed their determination to achieve an ambitious and comprehensive Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) agreement. They also reiterated the U.S. and EU commitment to work with international financial institutions to provide the financial support Ukraine needs as it stabilizes its economy, implements necessary reforms, and seeks to resolve the conflict in the eastern part of the country. They agreed that sanctions against Russia cannot be eased until Russia meets its commitments under the Minsk agreements, and reiterated the joint U.S. and EU condemnation of Russia’s occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea. The leaders assessed what further actions may be necessary in response to Russia’s destabilizing actions in eastern Ukraine and Crimea. They also discussed combined efforts to support governments in western Africa as they seek to arrest the spread of Ebola, provide treatment to those infected, and partner on global health security.
December 01, 2014
Readout of the President's Call with European Council President Donald Tusk
President Obama called President Donald Tusk today to congratulate him on his first day as President of the European Council. President Obama underscored the importance of continued U.S.-EU cooperation and noted the need for policy action to strengthen European economic growth. The two leaders affirmed their determination to achieve an ambitious and comprehensive Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) agreement. They also reiterated the U.S. and EU commitment to work with international financial institutions to provide the financial support Ukraine needs as it stabilizes its economy, implements necessary reforms, and seeks to resolve the conflict in the eastern part of the country. They agreed that sanctions against Russia cannot be eased until Russia meets its commitments under the Minsk agreements, and reiterated the joint U.S. and EU condemnation of Russia’s occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea. The leaders assessed what further actions may be necessary in response to Russia’s destabilizing actions in eastern Ukraine and Crimea. They also discussed combined efforts to support governments in western Africa as they seek to arrest the spread of Ebola, provide treatment to those infected, and partner on global health security.
FORMER OHIO DEPUTY TREASUER SENTNECED IN BRIBERY/MONEY LAUNDERING CASE
FROM: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Monday, December 1, 2014
Former Ohio Deputy Treasurer and Friend Sentenced for Roles in Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme
Ohio’s
former deputy treasurer and a Chicago businessman were sentenced to
federal prison today for their roles in a bribery and money laundering
scheme involving the Ohio Treasurer’s Office.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark T. D’Alessandro of the Southern District of Ohio, Acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Barrios of the FBI’s Cincinnati Division and Attorney General Mike DeWine of Ohio made the announcement.
Amer Ahmad, 40, and Joseph Chiavaroli, 34, both of Chicago, were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson of the Southern District of Ohio to serve 15 years in prison and 18 months in prison, respectively. Ahmad was ordered to forfeit $3.2 million, and Chiavroli was ordered to forfeit $400,000. Last year, Ahmad pleaded guilty to federal program bribery and conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, federal program bribery and money laundering, and Chiavaroli pleaded guilty to money laundering. Following his guilty plea, former Deputy Treasurer Ahmad fled to Pakistan and was sentenced today in absentia. He is currently in Pakistani custody pending an extradition request from the United States government.
According to the defendants’ admissions in connection with their guilty pleas, from January 2009 through January 2011, Ahmad used his position as deputy treasurer to direct official state of Ohio business to securities broker Douglas E. Hampton in return for bribes. Ahmad and Chiavaroli concealed the payments received from Hampton by passing them through the accounts of their landscaping business. Hampton also funneled more than $123,000 to Mohammed Noure Alo, an attorney and lobbyist who was Ahmad’s close personal friend and business associate. Over the course of the scheme, Hampton paid in excess of $500,000 in bribes and received, in exchange, approximately $3.2 million in commissions for 360 securities trades on behalf of the Ohio Treasurer’s Office.
Hampton and Alo were sentenced on Nov. 12, 2014, and Nov. 13, 2014, to 45 months in prison and 48 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in the scheme.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Central Ohio Public Corruption Task Force, which includes special agents from the FBI and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Eric L. Gibson and Menaka Kalaskar of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas W. Squires of the Southern District of Ohio.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark T. D’Alessandro of the Southern District of Ohio, Acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Barrios of the FBI’s Cincinnati Division and Attorney General Mike DeWine of Ohio made the announcement.
Amer Ahmad, 40, and Joseph Chiavaroli, 34, both of Chicago, were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson of the Southern District of Ohio to serve 15 years in prison and 18 months in prison, respectively. Ahmad was ordered to forfeit $3.2 million, and Chiavroli was ordered to forfeit $400,000. Last year, Ahmad pleaded guilty to federal program bribery and conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, federal program bribery and money laundering, and Chiavaroli pleaded guilty to money laundering. Following his guilty plea, former Deputy Treasurer Ahmad fled to Pakistan and was sentenced today in absentia. He is currently in Pakistani custody pending an extradition request from the United States government.
According to the defendants’ admissions in connection with their guilty pleas, from January 2009 through January 2011, Ahmad used his position as deputy treasurer to direct official state of Ohio business to securities broker Douglas E. Hampton in return for bribes. Ahmad and Chiavaroli concealed the payments received from Hampton by passing them through the accounts of their landscaping business. Hampton also funneled more than $123,000 to Mohammed Noure Alo, an attorney and lobbyist who was Ahmad’s close personal friend and business associate. Over the course of the scheme, Hampton paid in excess of $500,000 in bribes and received, in exchange, approximately $3.2 million in commissions for 360 securities trades on behalf of the Ohio Treasurer’s Office.
Hampton and Alo were sentenced on Nov. 12, 2014, and Nov. 13, 2014, to 45 months in prison and 48 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in the scheme.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Central Ohio Public Corruption Task Force, which includes special agents from the FBI and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Eric L. Gibson and Menaka Kalaskar of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas W. Squires of the Southern District of Ohio.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
STATE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES GOOD NEWS IN HUANG CASE
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
On the Case of Matthew and Grace Huang
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
December 2, 2014
The Attorney General of the State of Qatar has informed the U.S. Embassy in Qatar that no further appeal will be filed in the case of Matthew and Grace Huang. At the opening of business on Wednesday December 3, the travel ban will be lifted and Mr. and Mrs. Huang will be free to travel. The United States applauds this decision, and we look forward to seeing the Huangs reunited with their children at home.
On the Case of Matthew and Grace Huang
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
December 2, 2014
The Attorney General of the State of Qatar has informed the U.S. Embassy in Qatar that no further appeal will be filed in the case of Matthew and Grace Huang. At the opening of business on Wednesday December 3, the travel ban will be lifted and Mr. and Mrs. Huang will be free to travel. The United States applauds this decision, and we look forward to seeing the Huangs reunited with their children at home.
AIRSTRIKES ONGOING AGAINST ISIL
FROM: U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq
From a U.S. Central Command News Release
TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 1, 2014 – U.S. military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria using fighter, bomber and remotely-piloted aircraft to conduct 27 airstrikes Nov. 28 through today, U.S. Central Command officials reported today.
Separately, officials said, U.S. and partner-nation military forces conducted 28 airstrikes against ISIL terrorists in Iraq Nov. 28 through today using attack, fighter, and remotely-piloted aircraft.
Airstrikes in Syria
In Syria, 17 airstrikes near Kobani destroyed two ISIL-occupied buildings, three ISIL tanks, three ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL armored personnel carrier, three ISIL vehicles and two ISIL staging areas, and also struck seven tactical ISIL units. The airstrikes also targeted six ISIL fighting positions and damaged an ISIL-occupied building. Near Ar Raqqah, nine airstrikes struck an ISIL electronic warfare garrison, an ISIL military garrison, an ISIL headquarters, an ISIL jamming system, an ISIL tank and 14 ISIL vehicles. Near Aleppo, a U.S. airstrike struck a target associated with a network of veteran al Qaeda operatives, sometimes called the "Khorasan Group."
Airstrikes in Iraq
In Iraq, 13 airstrikes near Mosul destroyed four tactical ISIL units, two large ISIL units, two fighting positions, three armored vehicles, seven vehicles, two ISIL trucks and a bulldozer. Additionally, these airstrikes destroyed heavy weapons to include two heavy machine guns, a mortar position and an anti-aircraft artillery emplacement as well as an ISIL-occupied building and a tunnel entrance. Near Sinjar, an airstrike destroyed two ISIL-occupied buildings.
Near Tal Afar, five airstrikes destroyed 19 ISIL vehicles, two ISIL bunkers, an ISIL compound and struck a tactical ISIL unit. Near Hit, three airstrikes destroyed an ISIL checkpoint, an ISIL bunker, and an excavator and struck a tactical ISIL unit and also damaged another ISIL checkpoint. Near Tal Talab, two airstrikes destroyed three ISIL fighting positions and struck a tactical ISIL unit. Near Tirkrit, two airstrikes destroyed three ISIL vehicles and struck two large ISIL units. Near Kirkuk, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle. Near Ramadi, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle and struck a tactical ISIL unit.
All aircraft returned to base safely. Airstrike assessments are based on initial reports.
The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the terrorist group ISIL and the threat they pose to Iraq, the region and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project power and conduct operations.
Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq include the U.S., Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the U.S., Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq
From a U.S. Central Command News Release
TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 1, 2014 – U.S. military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria using fighter, bomber and remotely-piloted aircraft to conduct 27 airstrikes Nov. 28 through today, U.S. Central Command officials reported today.
Separately, officials said, U.S. and partner-nation military forces conducted 28 airstrikes against ISIL terrorists in Iraq Nov. 28 through today using attack, fighter, and remotely-piloted aircraft.
Airstrikes in Syria
In Syria, 17 airstrikes near Kobani destroyed two ISIL-occupied buildings, three ISIL tanks, three ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL armored personnel carrier, three ISIL vehicles and two ISIL staging areas, and also struck seven tactical ISIL units. The airstrikes also targeted six ISIL fighting positions and damaged an ISIL-occupied building. Near Ar Raqqah, nine airstrikes struck an ISIL electronic warfare garrison, an ISIL military garrison, an ISIL headquarters, an ISIL jamming system, an ISIL tank and 14 ISIL vehicles. Near Aleppo, a U.S. airstrike struck a target associated with a network of veteran al Qaeda operatives, sometimes called the "Khorasan Group."
Airstrikes in Iraq
In Iraq, 13 airstrikes near Mosul destroyed four tactical ISIL units, two large ISIL units, two fighting positions, three armored vehicles, seven vehicles, two ISIL trucks and a bulldozer. Additionally, these airstrikes destroyed heavy weapons to include two heavy machine guns, a mortar position and an anti-aircraft artillery emplacement as well as an ISIL-occupied building and a tunnel entrance. Near Sinjar, an airstrike destroyed two ISIL-occupied buildings.
Near Tal Afar, five airstrikes destroyed 19 ISIL vehicles, two ISIL bunkers, an ISIL compound and struck a tactical ISIL unit. Near Hit, three airstrikes destroyed an ISIL checkpoint, an ISIL bunker, and an excavator and struck a tactical ISIL unit and also damaged another ISIL checkpoint. Near Tal Talab, two airstrikes destroyed three ISIL fighting positions and struck a tactical ISIL unit. Near Tirkrit, two airstrikes destroyed three ISIL vehicles and struck two large ISIL units. Near Kirkuk, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle. Near Ramadi, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle and struck a tactical ISIL unit.
All aircraft returned to base safely. Airstrike assessments are based on initial reports.
The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the terrorist group ISIL and the threat they pose to Iraq, the region and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project power and conduct operations.
Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq include the U.S., Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the U.S., Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
SECRETARY KERRY'S REMARKS AT WORLD AIDS DAY EVENT
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Remarks at a World AIDS Day Event
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
Washington, DC
December 1, 2014
Susan, thank you. Thank you for a wonderfully generous introduction and thank you most importantly for your extremely important comments this morning. And I was really sitting there thinking, as I was listening to you, the thought was occurring to me as we think of the challenges that we face in today’s world, and you were talking about both the moral compulsion of doing this as well as making the important new announcements that you were making. And as I think about the things we do in the world, whether it’s the fact that we are the largest contributor to refugees with respect to the problem of Syria, or whether we are leading a charge to try to deal with Ebola now in addition to other things, but of all the things in the world that the United States can take pride in, this has to be one of the single biggest and most important. This is such an incredible statement about America’s values, about our commitment, about our willingness to take on tough challenges. And for all the nations who push back, the fact is we are making a difference and we are getting it done.
And I thank you personally, Susan, because your commitment to fighting this epidemic goes back decades. I know that when you were head of African Affairs in the State Department, you were way ahead of the curve, not just defining this as a health crisis but also as a human rights crisis. And I thank you for that. You’ve wrestled with many of the real-time challenges that we face here for a long time, from expanding treatment capacity to access to building a long-term delivery system, and we are very grateful for your leadership and for the President’s leadership. It continues.
I want to thank Secretary Burwell. And I think it’s fair to say that the AIDS outreach led by the Secretary and HHS literally sets the gold standard globally, and we’re very proud of that. I’m also grateful to Valerie Jarrett, to Tony Fauci, to Rajiv Shah, to Debbi Birx sitting here. Debbi, thanks for your great job. Mark Dybul, thank you for what you’re doing. Dana Hyde, Gayle Smith, everybody – it’s such a team effort. And I think we all can take pride in what the Peace Corps is doing, the MCC, DOD. This is an all-hands-on-deck initiative.
There are so many AIDS warriors here in this room, and those of you tuned in who are livestreaming – scientists and public servants, and Republicans and Democrats, across all ideologies and lines – all of whom have put ideology and partisanship aside in order to embrace a universal vision. And it’s a vision that is much bigger than any of us individually and bigger than any country.
As this gathering knows better than anybody, the fight against HIV/AIDS, as Susan just underscored, does remain an enduring challenge. But thanks to landmark scientific advances, and frankly, thanks to the grit and determination of so many of you here in this room, the fact is we do have, as the President said, an AIDS-free generation in sight. That is, in and of itself, an absolutely remarkable accomplishment.
And I will tell you, Susan referred to the days in the Senate – back in 1991, when Bill Frist and I had the privilege of chairing a Center for Strategic and International Studies first-ever task force on this subject that we knew precious little about, it was even difficult politically for some people to talk about it publicly. The barrier was enormous. And back then, the primary response to HIV/AIDS was fear – fear of contracting it, fear of those who had it, fear that in some cases even learning about it or taking steps to contain or to stop it might somehow be dangerous.
As recently as 10 years ago, as Susan said – she mentioned also a five-year demarcation point which is quite critical with respect to President Obama’s commitment to take this to a new level – it seemed like this would be a death sentence for an entire continent. That’s how we looked at it. And many predicted that the virus was beyond our control and that there was no way that we could possibly turn the tide.
Well, the tide is turning. And it’s not a done deal, we know that. This morning at our meeting in the State Department, Raj Shah cautioned all of us, and so did Debbi, about the challenges that are ahead. But make no mistake, because of your efforts we are now reaching more people and saving more lives than ever before.
And when the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief first was launched in 2003, there were then some 10,000 infections daily. Today, new HIV infections are down by nearly 40 percent, though still higher, obviously, than we want them to be. Back then, more than 2 million people died from AIDS-related causes on a worldwide basis. Today, we’ve cut those numbers by 34 percent. Back then, AIDS threatened to wipe out a whole generation, leaving behind 14 million orphans and vulnerable children. Today, we’ve slashed new infections among children in half.
So it is fair to say that we have achieved much of this because President Obama, when he came into office, was determined to set a higher standard. And as you’ve heard directly from the President, PEPFAR is now supporting lifesaving anti-retroviral drug treatment for 7.7 million men, women, and children. We’re providing HIV testing and counseling to more than 14 million pregnant women. We’ve supported more than 6.5 million voluntary medical male circumcisions. We’re training more than 140,000 new health care workers to deliver HIV and other health-related services in AIDS-affected countries, and we are mobilizing resources strategically to support UNAIDS’s 90-90-90 global targets.
So it is clear that we are at a real turning point, but emphasis today – battle not yet won. There are major challenges ahead and they will require major commitments if we’re going to control the HIV/AIDS pandemic and achieve this AIDS-free generation that is our dream.
So first, we need to continue to make creative and strategic investments that are based on the latest science. Only by sharing and using data efficiently are we going to be able to improve interventions and hold ourselves accountable. That’s why I’m pleased to announce a new partnership between PEPFAR and the Millennium Challenge Corporation to promote even greater data transparency and use as part of our Country Health Partnerships. We’re going to work with countries to create local data hubs, and these hubs are going to include key data to help countries control the disease – health, poverty, gender, you name it – and we will work with countries to set clear benchmarks and improve strategic planning, budget transparency, and decision making for better programming and sustainable results.
Second, we need to focus on the impact of HIV/AIDS on children, young women, and vulnerable populations. And Susan was mentioning this incredible statistic about young women. And that is why the United States announcement of a new partnership this summer between PEPFAR and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation called Accelerating Children’s HIV/AIDS Treatment, or ACT, is so important.
Today, I am pleased to share the names of the ACT participating countries, and it’s a reflection of the hard work that everybody has done: Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These countries will lead the way in an effort to double the total number of children on lifesaving anti-retroviral therapy over the next two years.
We are also announcing a new global pediatric anti-retroviral commitment to action with our partners to accelerate the development of new anti-retroviral drugs for the children who need them most. And this is a vital transformation.
Finally, we need to build sustainable health systems. I don’t think that’s come home to us more than in the past months with respect to Ebola. We all know that a central pillar of an effective health system is capable and experienced health care workforce. Over the past 11 years, PEPFAR investments have strengthened health systems in developing countries, but we need to build on these results and we still have a long way to go.
And so today I am announcing PEPFAR’s new human resources for health strategy. What we’re talking about here is a multi-million dollar effort that will strengthen the capacity of healthcare workers to deliver lifesaving HIV services. This strategy will mark the next phase of the medical and nursing education partnership with Health and Human Services, and it will build on the global health service partnership with Peace Corps and Seed Global Health. Our investment will improve clinical education, expand training for physicians and nurses, and build healthcare capacity. It will also pay dividends for our engagement with some of the world’s most fragile states that are already grappling with Ebola and other health threats. And if everybody steps up – bless you – we can do even more to meet these challenges.
Now every one of us who’ve traveled overseas in Africa knows what it’s like to walk into a hospital and see the operating room and see the facilities and the unbelievably complicated, difficult circumstances under which doctors and nurses are trying to operate and work. I was stunned when I most recently was in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Angola, and Ethiopia, and saw these facilities. And I want to emphasize that the United States commitment to combatting HIV/AIDS through PEPFAR and our longstanding support of the Global Fund is as undiminished as our work is unfinished.
Our commitment has only been strengthened by the progress that we’ve made and the lives that we have saved. That is a story worth telling and is also a story that compels all of us to continue this work. On my last trip to Ethiopia, I visited the Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Addis Ababa, and I heard their story of the – from these remarkable people who were working in the AIDS component, the AIDS clinic in the hospital, and they told me about a woman named Abeba.
Abeba is the mother of two daughters. She’s also HIV-positive. And soon after her diagnosis, she found herself alone. I mean literally alone – alone in the street wandering in the pouring rain. She was trying to find the local health center, and she was literally too weak and too sick to be able to finish her journey. She collapsed in the street. And when a group of community workers spotted her, they didn’t drive by or look away. They stopped and they picked her up and they brought her to this health center, and they found housing for her and they helped raise money to put a roof over her head and to nurse her back to health.
Abeba is not just a survivor, my friends. She is working now to become a volunteer herself and a mentor to young women across Ethiopia. And her story, I believe, underscores that all of our fates are inextricably linked together in this fight. It’s not an inappropriate reminder to turn to the scriptures to remember that this responsibility is clearly declared for us: “For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
On that day in the rain, strangers welcomed Abeba and it made all the difference. And now Abeba is determined to welcome others in return. That is the kind of courage and compassion and caring that has brought all of us this far in this fight – a long distance from where we were back in the beginning of the 1990s. And that is what is most inspiring, and it needs to be inspiring here today on World AIDS Day.
We’re not done yet. That’s the message that comes out of here from the President and from everyone in this Administration. With the commitment of every person in this room, we can achieve an AIDS-free generation, and we can silence the armies of pessimism and cynicism and the indifference who said it could never be done. We can and we will defeat this horrific disease, and I’ll tell you, that is a charge worth fighting to keep. Thank you. (Applause.)
Remarks at a World AIDS Day Event
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
Washington, DC
December 1, 2014
Susan, thank you. Thank you for a wonderfully generous introduction and thank you most importantly for your extremely important comments this morning. And I was really sitting there thinking, as I was listening to you, the thought was occurring to me as we think of the challenges that we face in today’s world, and you were talking about both the moral compulsion of doing this as well as making the important new announcements that you were making. And as I think about the things we do in the world, whether it’s the fact that we are the largest contributor to refugees with respect to the problem of Syria, or whether we are leading a charge to try to deal with Ebola now in addition to other things, but of all the things in the world that the United States can take pride in, this has to be one of the single biggest and most important. This is such an incredible statement about America’s values, about our commitment, about our willingness to take on tough challenges. And for all the nations who push back, the fact is we are making a difference and we are getting it done.
And I thank you personally, Susan, because your commitment to fighting this epidemic goes back decades. I know that when you were head of African Affairs in the State Department, you were way ahead of the curve, not just defining this as a health crisis but also as a human rights crisis. And I thank you for that. You’ve wrestled with many of the real-time challenges that we face here for a long time, from expanding treatment capacity to access to building a long-term delivery system, and we are very grateful for your leadership and for the President’s leadership. It continues.
I want to thank Secretary Burwell. And I think it’s fair to say that the AIDS outreach led by the Secretary and HHS literally sets the gold standard globally, and we’re very proud of that. I’m also grateful to Valerie Jarrett, to Tony Fauci, to Rajiv Shah, to Debbi Birx sitting here. Debbi, thanks for your great job. Mark Dybul, thank you for what you’re doing. Dana Hyde, Gayle Smith, everybody – it’s such a team effort. And I think we all can take pride in what the Peace Corps is doing, the MCC, DOD. This is an all-hands-on-deck initiative.
There are so many AIDS warriors here in this room, and those of you tuned in who are livestreaming – scientists and public servants, and Republicans and Democrats, across all ideologies and lines – all of whom have put ideology and partisanship aside in order to embrace a universal vision. And it’s a vision that is much bigger than any of us individually and bigger than any country.
As this gathering knows better than anybody, the fight against HIV/AIDS, as Susan just underscored, does remain an enduring challenge. But thanks to landmark scientific advances, and frankly, thanks to the grit and determination of so many of you here in this room, the fact is we do have, as the President said, an AIDS-free generation in sight. That is, in and of itself, an absolutely remarkable accomplishment.
And I will tell you, Susan referred to the days in the Senate – back in 1991, when Bill Frist and I had the privilege of chairing a Center for Strategic and International Studies first-ever task force on this subject that we knew precious little about, it was even difficult politically for some people to talk about it publicly. The barrier was enormous. And back then, the primary response to HIV/AIDS was fear – fear of contracting it, fear of those who had it, fear that in some cases even learning about it or taking steps to contain or to stop it might somehow be dangerous.
As recently as 10 years ago, as Susan said – she mentioned also a five-year demarcation point which is quite critical with respect to President Obama’s commitment to take this to a new level – it seemed like this would be a death sentence for an entire continent. That’s how we looked at it. And many predicted that the virus was beyond our control and that there was no way that we could possibly turn the tide.
Well, the tide is turning. And it’s not a done deal, we know that. This morning at our meeting in the State Department, Raj Shah cautioned all of us, and so did Debbi, about the challenges that are ahead. But make no mistake, because of your efforts we are now reaching more people and saving more lives than ever before.
And when the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief first was launched in 2003, there were then some 10,000 infections daily. Today, new HIV infections are down by nearly 40 percent, though still higher, obviously, than we want them to be. Back then, more than 2 million people died from AIDS-related causes on a worldwide basis. Today, we’ve cut those numbers by 34 percent. Back then, AIDS threatened to wipe out a whole generation, leaving behind 14 million orphans and vulnerable children. Today, we’ve slashed new infections among children in half.
So it is fair to say that we have achieved much of this because President Obama, when he came into office, was determined to set a higher standard. And as you’ve heard directly from the President, PEPFAR is now supporting lifesaving anti-retroviral drug treatment for 7.7 million men, women, and children. We’re providing HIV testing and counseling to more than 14 million pregnant women. We’ve supported more than 6.5 million voluntary medical male circumcisions. We’re training more than 140,000 new health care workers to deliver HIV and other health-related services in AIDS-affected countries, and we are mobilizing resources strategically to support UNAIDS’s 90-90-90 global targets.
So it is clear that we are at a real turning point, but emphasis today – battle not yet won. There are major challenges ahead and they will require major commitments if we’re going to control the HIV/AIDS pandemic and achieve this AIDS-free generation that is our dream.
So first, we need to continue to make creative and strategic investments that are based on the latest science. Only by sharing and using data efficiently are we going to be able to improve interventions and hold ourselves accountable. That’s why I’m pleased to announce a new partnership between PEPFAR and the Millennium Challenge Corporation to promote even greater data transparency and use as part of our Country Health Partnerships. We’re going to work with countries to create local data hubs, and these hubs are going to include key data to help countries control the disease – health, poverty, gender, you name it – and we will work with countries to set clear benchmarks and improve strategic planning, budget transparency, and decision making for better programming and sustainable results.
Second, we need to focus on the impact of HIV/AIDS on children, young women, and vulnerable populations. And Susan was mentioning this incredible statistic about young women. And that is why the United States announcement of a new partnership this summer between PEPFAR and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation called Accelerating Children’s HIV/AIDS Treatment, or ACT, is so important.
Today, I am pleased to share the names of the ACT participating countries, and it’s a reflection of the hard work that everybody has done: Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These countries will lead the way in an effort to double the total number of children on lifesaving anti-retroviral therapy over the next two years.
We are also announcing a new global pediatric anti-retroviral commitment to action with our partners to accelerate the development of new anti-retroviral drugs for the children who need them most. And this is a vital transformation.
Finally, we need to build sustainable health systems. I don’t think that’s come home to us more than in the past months with respect to Ebola. We all know that a central pillar of an effective health system is capable and experienced health care workforce. Over the past 11 years, PEPFAR investments have strengthened health systems in developing countries, but we need to build on these results and we still have a long way to go.
And so today I am announcing PEPFAR’s new human resources for health strategy. What we’re talking about here is a multi-million dollar effort that will strengthen the capacity of healthcare workers to deliver lifesaving HIV services. This strategy will mark the next phase of the medical and nursing education partnership with Health and Human Services, and it will build on the global health service partnership with Peace Corps and Seed Global Health. Our investment will improve clinical education, expand training for physicians and nurses, and build healthcare capacity. It will also pay dividends for our engagement with some of the world’s most fragile states that are already grappling with Ebola and other health threats. And if everybody steps up – bless you – we can do even more to meet these challenges.
Now every one of us who’ve traveled overseas in Africa knows what it’s like to walk into a hospital and see the operating room and see the facilities and the unbelievably complicated, difficult circumstances under which doctors and nurses are trying to operate and work. I was stunned when I most recently was in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Angola, and Ethiopia, and saw these facilities. And I want to emphasize that the United States commitment to combatting HIV/AIDS through PEPFAR and our longstanding support of the Global Fund is as undiminished as our work is unfinished.
Our commitment has only been strengthened by the progress that we’ve made and the lives that we have saved. That is a story worth telling and is also a story that compels all of us to continue this work. On my last trip to Ethiopia, I visited the Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Addis Ababa, and I heard their story of the – from these remarkable people who were working in the AIDS component, the AIDS clinic in the hospital, and they told me about a woman named Abeba.
Abeba is the mother of two daughters. She’s also HIV-positive. And soon after her diagnosis, she found herself alone. I mean literally alone – alone in the street wandering in the pouring rain. She was trying to find the local health center, and she was literally too weak and too sick to be able to finish her journey. She collapsed in the street. And when a group of community workers spotted her, they didn’t drive by or look away. They stopped and they picked her up and they brought her to this health center, and they found housing for her and they helped raise money to put a roof over her head and to nurse her back to health.
Abeba is not just a survivor, my friends. She is working now to become a volunteer herself and a mentor to young women across Ethiopia. And her story, I believe, underscores that all of our fates are inextricably linked together in this fight. It’s not an inappropriate reminder to turn to the scriptures to remember that this responsibility is clearly declared for us: “For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
On that day in the rain, strangers welcomed Abeba and it made all the difference. And now Abeba is determined to welcome others in return. That is the kind of courage and compassion and caring that has brought all of us this far in this fight – a long distance from where we were back in the beginning of the 1990s. And that is what is most inspiring, and it needs to be inspiring here today on World AIDS Day.
We’re not done yet. That’s the message that comes out of here from the President and from everyone in this Administration. With the commitment of every person in this room, we can achieve an AIDS-free generation, and we can silence the armies of pessimism and cynicism and the indifference who said it could never be done. We can and we will defeat this horrific disease, and I’ll tell you, that is a charge worth fighting to keep. Thank you. (Applause.)
SLEEP THERAPY CO. SETTLES ALLEGATIONS OF VIOLATING FALSE CLAIMS ACT
FROM: THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Monday, December 1, 2014
Government Settles False Claims Act Allegations Against Oxygen and Sleep Therapy Company
North Atlantic Medical Services Inc. (NAMS), doing business as Regional Home Care Inc., has agreed to pay $852,378 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicare and Medicaid for respiratory therapy services provided by unlicensed personnel, the Department of Justice announced today. NAMS is a medical device company based in Massachusetts that provides equipment and services for the treatment of respiratory ailments, such as oxygen deficiency and sleep apnea.
“Respiratory care services should be performed by properly licensed personnel,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Joyce R. Branda for the Civil Division. “We will not tolerate companies prioritizing their own profits and convenience at the expense of patient safeguards.”
Medicare and Medicaid require suppliers of respiratory therapy equipment and services to comply with state licensing standards. In Massachusetts, the Department of Public Health requires respiratory therapists to apply for and obtain a license. Applicants can do so by passing the National Board for Respiratory Care’s “Certification Examination for Entry-Level Respiratory Therapy Practitioners” or obtaining a reciprocal license from a different jurisdiction. This settlement resolves allegations that, from September 2010 to January 2013, NAMS used unlicensed employees to set up sleep apnea masks and oxygen therapy equipment for patients in Massachusetts. The government alleged that, even after the Massachusetts Department of Public Health informed the company that the practice was illegal, NAMS continued to use unlicensed personnel and bill Medicare and Medicaid for these services.
“This respiratory care company flouted important licensure requirements, failed to provide patients the standard of care that they deserve and fraudulently billed the federal government for improperly rendered services,” said U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz for the District of Massachusetts. “With the important assistance of whistleblowers, our health care fraud team seeks to ensure patient safety and protect the public fisc.”
“To safeguard patient health and ensure that taxpayer money is spent well, Medicare and Medicaid require providers of respiratory care services to follow state licensure rules,” said Special Agent in Charge Phillip M. Coyne for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Companies seeking to boost profits by using unlicensed personnel will be held accountable for their actions.”
Medicaid is jointly funded by the states and federal government. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which paid in part for the Medicaid claims at issue, will receive $229,210 of the settlement amount.
The government’s investigation was initiated by a qui tam, or whistleblower, lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act by former NAMS employees Konstantinos Gakis and Demetri Papageorgiou. The False Claims Act allows private citizens to file suit for false claims on behalf of the government and to share in the government’s recovery. Gakis and Papageorgiou will receive $153,428.
This settlement illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud and marks another achievement for the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) initiative, which was announced in May 2009 by the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The partnership between the two departments has focused efforts to reduce and prevent Medicare and Medicaid financial fraud through enhanced cooperation. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Since January 2009, the Justice Department has recovered a total of more than $23.2 billion through False Claims Act cases, with more than $14.9 billion of that amount recovered in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs.
This settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Civil Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, FBI, HHS-OIG, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Government Settles False Claims Act Allegations Against Oxygen and Sleep Therapy Company
North Atlantic Medical Services Inc. (NAMS), doing business as Regional Home Care Inc., has agreed to pay $852,378 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicare and Medicaid for respiratory therapy services provided by unlicensed personnel, the Department of Justice announced today. NAMS is a medical device company based in Massachusetts that provides equipment and services for the treatment of respiratory ailments, such as oxygen deficiency and sleep apnea.
“Respiratory care services should be performed by properly licensed personnel,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Joyce R. Branda for the Civil Division. “We will not tolerate companies prioritizing their own profits and convenience at the expense of patient safeguards.”
Medicare and Medicaid require suppliers of respiratory therapy equipment and services to comply with state licensing standards. In Massachusetts, the Department of Public Health requires respiratory therapists to apply for and obtain a license. Applicants can do so by passing the National Board for Respiratory Care’s “Certification Examination for Entry-Level Respiratory Therapy Practitioners” or obtaining a reciprocal license from a different jurisdiction. This settlement resolves allegations that, from September 2010 to January 2013, NAMS used unlicensed employees to set up sleep apnea masks and oxygen therapy equipment for patients in Massachusetts. The government alleged that, even after the Massachusetts Department of Public Health informed the company that the practice was illegal, NAMS continued to use unlicensed personnel and bill Medicare and Medicaid for these services.
“This respiratory care company flouted important licensure requirements, failed to provide patients the standard of care that they deserve and fraudulently billed the federal government for improperly rendered services,” said U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz for the District of Massachusetts. “With the important assistance of whistleblowers, our health care fraud team seeks to ensure patient safety and protect the public fisc.”
“To safeguard patient health and ensure that taxpayer money is spent well, Medicare and Medicaid require providers of respiratory care services to follow state licensure rules,” said Special Agent in Charge Phillip M. Coyne for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Companies seeking to boost profits by using unlicensed personnel will be held accountable for their actions.”
Medicaid is jointly funded by the states and federal government. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which paid in part for the Medicaid claims at issue, will receive $229,210 of the settlement amount.
The government’s investigation was initiated by a qui tam, or whistleblower, lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act by former NAMS employees Konstantinos Gakis and Demetri Papageorgiou. The False Claims Act allows private citizens to file suit for false claims on behalf of the government and to share in the government’s recovery. Gakis and Papageorgiou will receive $153,428.
This settlement illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud and marks another achievement for the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) initiative, which was announced in May 2009 by the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The partnership between the two departments has focused efforts to reduce and prevent Medicare and Medicaid financial fraud through enhanced cooperation. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Since January 2009, the Justice Department has recovered a total of more than $23.2 billion through False Claims Act cases, with more than $14.9 billion of that amount recovered in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs.
This settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Civil Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, FBI, HHS-OIG, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
U.S. CONGRATULATES PEOPLE OF URUGUAY ON THEIR "PEACEFUL AND ORDERLY ELECTION"
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
December 1, 2014
We congratulate the Uruguayan people and electoral officials on a peaceful and orderly election. We look forward to working with President-elect Vazquez and his administration to advance our bilateral relationship. We are grateful for the vibrant relationship we have had with Uruguay under the leadership of President Mujica and congratulate him on winning a seat in the Senate.
The United States and Uruguay share a long history of successful partnership, anchored by a commitment to democracy and the rule of law, peace and citizen security, respect for human rights, social inclusion, and economic opportunity for all. Our longstanding cooperation and commitment to Uruguay and the Uruguayan people will continue to thrive with the next administration.
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
December 1, 2014
We congratulate the Uruguayan people and electoral officials on a peaceful and orderly election. We look forward to working with President-elect Vazquez and his administration to advance our bilateral relationship. We are grateful for the vibrant relationship we have had with Uruguay under the leadership of President Mujica and congratulate him on winning a seat in the Senate.
The United States and Uruguay share a long history of successful partnership, anchored by a commitment to democracy and the rule of law, peace and citizen security, respect for human rights, social inclusion, and economic opportunity for all. Our longstanding cooperation and commitment to Uruguay and the Uruguayan people will continue to thrive with the next administration.
U.S. CONGRATULATES PEOPLE OF LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC ON THEIR NATINAL DAY
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Lao People's Democratic Republic Day
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
November 28, 2014
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I would like to congratulate President Choummaly Sayasone and the people of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic as you celebrate your National Day on December 2.
This year marks 64 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Laos, and our longstanding cooperation continues to deepen.
The United States remains committed to working with the Lao Government to achieve its development goals in areas such as health and nutrition, education, and economic growth. We will continue to work in partnership with Laos to address the legacy of the Indochinese conflict by reducing the impact of unexploded ordnance and accounting for U.S. personnel missing in action. Looking ahead, the United States welcomes new opportunities to enhance the close partnership between our two nations.
I wish the Lao people peace, prosperity, and happiness in the coming year.
Lao People's Democratic Republic Day
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
November 28, 2014
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I would like to congratulate President Choummaly Sayasone and the people of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic as you celebrate your National Day on December 2.
This year marks 64 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Laos, and our longstanding cooperation continues to deepen.
The United States remains committed to working with the Lao Government to achieve its development goals in areas such as health and nutrition, education, and economic growth. We will continue to work in partnership with Laos to address the legacy of the Indochinese conflict by reducing the impact of unexploded ordnance and accounting for U.S. personnel missing in action. Looking ahead, the United States welcomes new opportunities to enhance the close partnership between our two nations.
I wish the Lao people peace, prosperity, and happiness in the coming year.
Monday, December 1, 2014
U.S. CONGRATULATES PEOPLE OF CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC ON THEIR NATINAL DAY
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
December 1, 2014
Central African Republic National Day Message
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of the Central African Republic as you celebrate your independence on December 1.
The United States is proud to stand with the courageous people of the Central African Republic. I commend all of you who are working to promote peace, advance the democratic transition, and promote national reconciliation. The United States shares your vision for a future rooted in security, justice, and prosperity for everyone.
The resumption of operations at our embassy in Bangui this past September is a testament to our commitment. We will continue to support your country as you seek the peace and unity that you so richly deserve.
I wish all people of the Central African Republic a joyous National Day.
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
December 1, 2014
Central African Republic National Day Message
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of the Central African Republic as you celebrate your independence on December 1.
The United States is proud to stand with the courageous people of the Central African Republic. I commend all of you who are working to promote peace, advance the democratic transition, and promote national reconciliation. The United States shares your vision for a future rooted in security, justice, and prosperity for everyone.
The resumption of operations at our embassy in Bangui this past September is a testament to our commitment. We will continue to support your country as you seek the peace and unity that you so richly deserve.
I wish all people of the Central African Republic a joyous National Day.
U.S. CONGRATULATES PEOPLE OF ROMANIA ON THEIR NATIONAL DAY
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Romania's National Day
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
November 28, 2014
On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate all Romanians as you celebrate your Unification Day on December 1.
Ninety-six years ago, the people of Romania created a democracy that guaranteed equality for all nationalities and religions and protected the freedoms of press, association, and speech. We pay tribute to those visionary leaders and applaud all those who continue to defend those fundamental rights and strengthen your democracy, rule of law, and national diversity.
The United States is grateful for Romania’s strong partnership on regional and global security challenges. As NATO allies, our soldiers serve side-by-side in Afghanistan. They carry out joint military training exercises. And they collaborate at military bases in your country like Deveselu and Mihail Kogalniceanu.
As you celebrate with family and friends, I look forward to building on our strategic partnership for many years to come.
Romania's National Day
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
November 28, 2014
On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate all Romanians as you celebrate your Unification Day on December 1.
Ninety-six years ago, the people of Romania created a democracy that guaranteed equality for all nationalities and religions and protected the freedoms of press, association, and speech. We pay tribute to those visionary leaders and applaud all those who continue to defend those fundamental rights and strengthen your democracy, rule of law, and national diversity.
The United States is grateful for Romania’s strong partnership on regional and global security challenges. As NATO allies, our soldiers serve side-by-side in Afghanistan. They carry out joint military training exercises. And they collaborate at military bases in your country like Deveselu and Mihail Kogalniceanu.
As you celebrate with family and friends, I look forward to building on our strategic partnership for many years to come.
OCEANS SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI TO PAY $437,000 TO RESOLVE DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION CASE
FROM: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
City of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Agrees to Reforms and $437,500 Payment to Resolve Disability Discrimination Lawsuit
The Justice Department today announced a settlement resolving a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, for alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under the proposed consent decree, the city will pay $437,500 in damages to an outpatient psychiatric treatment facility that was discriminated against by the city based on unsupported myths and stereotypes about prospective patients at the facility. The decree requires the city to reform its land use and zoning practices to eliminate discriminatory barriers for providers of mental health services to people with disabilities and combat the stigma of mental illness.
The documents filed in federal court today allege that the city discriminated against Psycamore LLC when it denied a certificate of occupancy and a use permit because Psycamore treats patients with mental illness. Psycamore sought to operate in an area allowing medical clinics and should have been allowed to operate by the city. But the city would not allow it to open. At public hearings called by the city a flier that depicted Psycamore as the psychiatric ward in the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was circulated to city officials.
The department found that the city based its decision on discriminatory beliefs, myths and stereotypes about Psycamore’s patients and their mental disabilities. As a result, the city perpetuated the stigma surrounding mental illness, interfered with Psycamore’s ability to treat individuals with mental disabilities in Ocean Springs and forced Psycamore to delay opening its clinic and to move it to Biloxi, Mississippi. Psycamore also suffered economic losses, including lost profits and out of pocket expenses.
“The Americans with Disabilities Act protects people with mental illness from discrimination and mental health facilities are protected from discrimination based on the disabilities of the people they serve. ” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta for the Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to combating the stigma of mental illness, promoting greater community awareness and protecting the rights of persons living with mental illness as well as the persons and entities who serve them.”
“The participation of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in this important litigation sends a strong message that we will not tolerate discrimination of any kind in this district,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis for the Southern District of Mississippi. “Discrimination based upon myths, fears and stereotypes is never appropriate. We are fully committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities and those who provide services to them have a full and equal opportunity to participate in all facets of their communities.”
Under the consent decree, the city will adopt and implement policies to ensure nondiscriminatory zoning practices that will not limit access to needed services and treatment for people with mental disabilities. City officials involved in zoning decisions will be trained on the ADA. The city will also report to the Justice Department on future land use decisions involving individuals with disabilities and hire an ADA coordinator to oversee the city’s compliance with the ADA and the consent decree. In addition to paying damages to Psycamore, the consent decree requires the city to grant Psycamore a certificate of occupancy and use permit, if necessary, to return to Ocean Springs in the future in the same or similar zone where it previously sought to locate.
The ADA protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in all activities of state and local government entities, including zoning and land use decisions.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
City of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Agrees to Reforms and $437,500 Payment to Resolve Disability Discrimination Lawsuit
The Justice Department today announced a settlement resolving a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, for alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under the proposed consent decree, the city will pay $437,500 in damages to an outpatient psychiatric treatment facility that was discriminated against by the city based on unsupported myths and stereotypes about prospective patients at the facility. The decree requires the city to reform its land use and zoning practices to eliminate discriminatory barriers for providers of mental health services to people with disabilities and combat the stigma of mental illness.
The documents filed in federal court today allege that the city discriminated against Psycamore LLC when it denied a certificate of occupancy and a use permit because Psycamore treats patients with mental illness. Psycamore sought to operate in an area allowing medical clinics and should have been allowed to operate by the city. But the city would not allow it to open. At public hearings called by the city a flier that depicted Psycamore as the psychiatric ward in the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was circulated to city officials.
The department found that the city based its decision on discriminatory beliefs, myths and stereotypes about Psycamore’s patients and their mental disabilities. As a result, the city perpetuated the stigma surrounding mental illness, interfered with Psycamore’s ability to treat individuals with mental disabilities in Ocean Springs and forced Psycamore to delay opening its clinic and to move it to Biloxi, Mississippi. Psycamore also suffered economic losses, including lost profits and out of pocket expenses.
“The Americans with Disabilities Act protects people with mental illness from discrimination and mental health facilities are protected from discrimination based on the disabilities of the people they serve. ” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta for the Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to combating the stigma of mental illness, promoting greater community awareness and protecting the rights of persons living with mental illness as well as the persons and entities who serve them.”
“The participation of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in this important litigation sends a strong message that we will not tolerate discrimination of any kind in this district,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis for the Southern District of Mississippi. “Discrimination based upon myths, fears and stereotypes is never appropriate. We are fully committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities and those who provide services to them have a full and equal opportunity to participate in all facets of their communities.”
Under the consent decree, the city will adopt and implement policies to ensure nondiscriminatory zoning practices that will not limit access to needed services and treatment for people with mental disabilities. City officials involved in zoning decisions will be trained on the ADA. The city will also report to the Justice Department on future land use decisions involving individuals with disabilities and hire an ADA coordinator to oversee the city’s compliance with the ADA and the consent decree. In addition to paying damages to Psycamore, the consent decree requires the city to grant Psycamore a certificate of occupancy and use permit, if necessary, to return to Ocean Springs in the future in the same or similar zone where it previously sought to locate.
The ADA protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in all activities of state and local government entities, including zoning and land use decisions.
SEC CHARGES HSBC SWISS-BASED PRIVATE BANK WITH FAILING TO REGISTER WITH SEC
FROM: U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
1/25/2014 12:40 PM EST
The Securities and Exchange Commission charged HSBC’s Swiss-based private banking arm with violating federal securities laws by failing to register with the SEC before providing cross-border brokerage and investment advisory services to U.S. clients.
HSBC Private Bank (Suisse) agreed to admit wrongdoing and pay $12.5 million to settle the SEC’s charges.
“HSBC’s Swiss private banking unit illegally conducted advisory or brokerage business with U.S. customers,” said Andrew J. Ceresney, Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. “HSBC Private Bank’s efforts to prevent registration violations ultimately failed because their compliance initiatives were not effectively implemented or monitored.”
According to the SEC’s order instituting settled administrative proceedings, HSBC Private Bank and its predecessors began providing cross-border advisory and brokerage services in the U.S. more than 10 years ago, amassing as many as 368 U.S. client accounts and collecting fees totaling approximately $5.7 million. Personnel traveled to the U.S. on at least 40 occasions to solicit clients, provide investment advice, and induce securities transactions. These relationship managers were not registered to provide such services nor were they affiliated with a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer. The relationship managers also communicated directly with clients in the U.S. through overseas mail and e-mails. In 2010, HSBC Private Bank decided to exit the U.S. cross-border business, and nearly all of its U.S. client accounts were closed or transferred by the end of 2011.
According to the SEC’s order, HSBC Private Bank understood there was a risk of violating the federal securities laws by providing unregistered broker-dealer and investment advisory services to U.S. clients, and the firm undertook certain compliance initiatives in an effort to manage and mitigate the risk. The firm created a dedicated North American desk to consolidate U.S. client accounts among a smaller number of relationship managers and service them in a compliant manner that would not violate U.S. registration requirements. However, relationship managers were reluctant to lose clients by transferring them to the North American desk. HSBC Private Bank’s internal reviews revealed multiple occasions when U.S. accounts that were expected to be closed under certain compliance initiatives remained open.
The SEC’s order finds that HSBC Private Bank willfully violated Section 15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 203(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. HSBC Private Bank agreed to admit the facts in the SEC’s order, acknowledge that its conduct violated the federal securities laws, and accept a censure and a cease-and-desist order. The firm agreed to pay $5,723,193 in disgorgement, $4,215,543 in prejudgment interest, and a $2.6 million penalty.
The SEC’s investigation was conducted by Matthew R. Estabrook and David S. Karp, and the case was supervised by Laura B. Josephs. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority.
1/25/2014 12:40 PM EST
The Securities and Exchange Commission charged HSBC’s Swiss-based private banking arm with violating federal securities laws by failing to register with the SEC before providing cross-border brokerage and investment advisory services to U.S. clients.
HSBC Private Bank (Suisse) agreed to admit wrongdoing and pay $12.5 million to settle the SEC’s charges.
“HSBC’s Swiss private banking unit illegally conducted advisory or brokerage business with U.S. customers,” said Andrew J. Ceresney, Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. “HSBC Private Bank’s efforts to prevent registration violations ultimately failed because their compliance initiatives were not effectively implemented or monitored.”
According to the SEC’s order instituting settled administrative proceedings, HSBC Private Bank and its predecessors began providing cross-border advisory and brokerage services in the U.S. more than 10 years ago, amassing as many as 368 U.S. client accounts and collecting fees totaling approximately $5.7 million. Personnel traveled to the U.S. on at least 40 occasions to solicit clients, provide investment advice, and induce securities transactions. These relationship managers were not registered to provide such services nor were they affiliated with a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer. The relationship managers also communicated directly with clients in the U.S. through overseas mail and e-mails. In 2010, HSBC Private Bank decided to exit the U.S. cross-border business, and nearly all of its U.S. client accounts were closed or transferred by the end of 2011.
According to the SEC’s order, HSBC Private Bank understood there was a risk of violating the federal securities laws by providing unregistered broker-dealer and investment advisory services to U.S. clients, and the firm undertook certain compliance initiatives in an effort to manage and mitigate the risk. The firm created a dedicated North American desk to consolidate U.S. client accounts among a smaller number of relationship managers and service them in a compliant manner that would not violate U.S. registration requirements. However, relationship managers were reluctant to lose clients by transferring them to the North American desk. HSBC Private Bank’s internal reviews revealed multiple occasions when U.S. accounts that were expected to be closed under certain compliance initiatives remained open.
The SEC’s order finds that HSBC Private Bank willfully violated Section 15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 203(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. HSBC Private Bank agreed to admit the facts in the SEC’s order, acknowledge that its conduct violated the federal securities laws, and accept a censure and a cease-and-desist order. The firm agreed to pay $5,723,193 in disgorgement, $4,215,543 in prejudgment interest, and a $2.6 million penalty.
The SEC’s investigation was conducted by Matthew R. Estabrook and David S. Karp, and the case was supervised by Laura B. Josephs. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
U.S. CONGRATULATES PEOPLE OF NAMIBIA ON ELECTIONS
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
November 30, 2014
The United States congratulates the people of Namibia for exercising their democratic right to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections on November 28.
Namibia has once again demonstrated its commitment to an open electoral process and respect for presidential term limits. We applaud the active participation of Namibia’s political parties, civil society, and citizens in shaping an inclusive discussion throughout the campaign. The extraordinary participation among first-time voters and women candidates reflects the progress that Namibia has made and the commitment of the Namibian people to a democratic future.
The United States and Namibia share a strong partnership. We work together to strengthen health care systems, counter threats to Namibia’s unique ecosystems, promote peace and security in the region, and protect human rights for all of Namibia’s citizens, particularly the most vulnerable in society.
The United States looks forward to continuing our partnership with the new Namibian Government and the people of Namibia in support of Namibia’s development and the welfare of its people.
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
November 30, 2014
The United States congratulates the people of Namibia for exercising their democratic right to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections on November 28.
Namibia has once again demonstrated its commitment to an open electoral process and respect for presidential term limits. We applaud the active participation of Namibia’s political parties, civil society, and citizens in shaping an inclusive discussion throughout the campaign. The extraordinary participation among first-time voters and women candidates reflects the progress that Namibia has made and the commitment of the Namibian people to a democratic future.
The United States and Namibia share a strong partnership. We work together to strengthen health care systems, counter threats to Namibia’s unique ecosystems, promote peace and security in the region, and protect human rights for all of Namibia’s citizens, particularly the most vulnerable in society.
The United States looks forward to continuing our partnership with the new Namibian Government and the people of Namibia in support of Namibia’s development and the welfare of its people.
QATARI COURT OVERRUNS CONVICTIONS OF MATHEW AND GRACE HUANG
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
November 30, 2014
I welcome the decision of the Qatari Court of Appeals to overturn the conviction of Matthew and Grace Huang. The thoroughly documented findings of the court clearly establish the Huang's innocence. The 22 long months of court proceedings following their daughter's tragic death have compounded the tragedy for the Huang family, and it is time now, as the Appeals Court stated, to let the Huangs return home. We are deeply concerned about new delays that have prevented their departure. I spoke with Qatari Foreign Minister Attiya today and called on the government to immediately implement the court’s decision and permit their return to the United States without further delay.
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
November 30, 2014
I welcome the decision of the Qatari Court of Appeals to overturn the conviction of Matthew and Grace Huang. The thoroughly documented findings of the court clearly establish the Huang's innocence. The 22 long months of court proceedings following their daughter's tragic death have compounded the tragedy for the Huang family, and it is time now, as the Appeals Court stated, to let the Huangs return home. We are deeply concerned about new delays that have prevented their departure. I spoke with Qatari Foreign Minister Attiya today and called on the government to immediately implement the court’s decision and permit their return to the United States without further delay.
U.S. CONGRATULATES PEOPLE OF BARBADOS' ON THEIR INDEPENDENCE DAY
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Barbados' Independence Day
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
November 28, 2014
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Barbados on the occasion of your 48th year of independence on November 30.
The United States and Barbados share a long history of friendship and cooperation based on common interests and values.
We are working together to advance citizen safety through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.
We are deepening our economic ties through the Caribbean Basin Initiative, which grants duty-free entry into the United States for many goods.
And we are expanding opportunities for our students through the EducationUSA college fair organized by our Embassy in Bridgetown. We are proud that more than 30 American universities participated in this fair. Educational exchange programs can have a transformative impact, which is exactly why they are such a high priority for me as Secretary of State.
On behalf of the American people, I wish you a happy and fulfilling Independence Day.
Barbados' Independence Day
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
November 28, 2014
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Barbados on the occasion of your 48th year of independence on November 30.
The United States and Barbados share a long history of friendship and cooperation based on common interests and values.
We are working together to advance citizen safety through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.
We are deepening our economic ties through the Caribbean Basin Initiative, which grants duty-free entry into the United States for many goods.
And we are expanding opportunities for our students through the EducationUSA college fair organized by our Embassy in Bridgetown. We are proud that more than 30 American universities participated in this fair. Educational exchange programs can have a transformative impact, which is exactly why they are such a high priority for me as Secretary of State.
On behalf of the American people, I wish you a happy and fulfilling Independence Day.
FRANK A. ROSE MAKES REMARKS ON SPACE SECURITY AND OUTER SPACE EXPLORATION
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
11/25/2014 09:22 AM EST
Promoting Space Security and Sustainability
Remarks
Frank A. Rose
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance
International Institute for Strategic Studies
London, United Kingdom
November 21, 2014
As prepared
Introduction
Thank you for that kind introduction, and thanks to the International Institute of Strategic Studies for having me back here today to discuss an issue of vital interest: ensuring the long-term sustainability, stability, safety, and security of the space environment.
For decades, we have been inspired by humanity’s space endeavors and reaped the benefits of the use and exploration of outer space. While some take these benefits for granted, let me be clear: space assets are essential to U.S. national security as well as the security of our allies and coalition partners. This shared interest is recognized here in the United Kingdom, where HM Government’s National Space Security Policy establishes the promotion of a safe and more secure space environment as a key objective.
Outer space is a domain that no nation owns but on which all rely. Yet today, space is becoming increasingly congested from orbital debris, including man-made threats—such as the testing of debris-generating anti-satellite, or ASAT, systems. Left unchecked, such debris could result in access to some space services being seriously degraded or even lost – creating a direct threat to international security.
The world’s growing dependence on the globe-spanning and interconnected nature of space capabilities mean that it is more important than ever for all citizens to understand that irresponsible acts in space by one entity can have damaging consequences for all. Therefore, all nations must work together to adopt a responsible approach to activities in outer space in order to preserve this domain for future generations.
Today, I would like to cover two aspects in regard to ensuring the security and sustainability of the space environment: first, the risks and dangers to space systems from debris generating ASAT tests; second, the role of international diplomatic initiatives in protecting the long-term sustainability and security of the space environment.
Threats to Outer Space
Let me start with the risks and dangers. On July 23 of this year, the Chinese Government conducted a non-destructive test of a missile designed to destroy satellites in low Earth orbit. Despite China’s claims that this was a missile defense test, let me assure you the United States has high confidence in its assessment, that the event was indeed an ASAT test.
And China is not the only one pursuing these capabilities. As Director of National Intelligence James Clapper noted in his January 2014 congressional testimony, “Russian leaders openly maintain that the Russian armed forces have antisatellite weapons and conduct antisatellite research.”
The United States believes that these threats, which include the continued development and testing of destructive anti-satellite systems, are both destabilizing and threaten the long-term security and sustainability of the outer space environment. Moreover, these threats affect all who benefit from outer space including the scientific, commercial, and civil space communities. Indeed, thousands of pieces of debris about 10 cm and larger from the 2007 Chinese ASAT test continue to endanger space systems from all nations, including China.
On the security side, ASAT weapons directly threaten satellites and the strategic and tactical information and services those satellites provide, and their use could be escalatory in a crisis or conflict. They also pose a direct threat to key assets used in arms control verification monitoring, command and control and communication, and warning and attack assessment. A debris generating test or attack may only be minutes in duration, but the consequences can last decades and indiscriminately threaten the space-based assets of all space-faring nations, and the information from space upon which all nations depend.
On the civil space side, between 2007 and 2014, NASA has had to perform eight debris avoidance maneuvers of its robotic spacecraft due to possible collisions with debris from the 2007 Chinese ASAT test. Two of these spacecraft maneuvers were conducted in 2014. Just as these systems threaten our national security space systems, they can threaten the civil satellites that are so essential to our everyday lives.
Multilateral Efforts toward a Stable and Sustainable Space Environment
Given these threats and the current era where many States and nongovernmental organizations are harnessing the benefits of outer space, we have no choice but to work with our allies and partners around the world to ensure the long-term sustainability of the space environment. We also must speak clearly and publicly about what behavior the international community should find both acceptable and unacceptable. Over the past few years, the United States has worked to support a number of multilateral initiatives that seek to establish consensus guidelines for space activities that are both in the national security interests of the United States, and will further the long-term stability and sustainability of the space environment.
Just last year, I served as the United States expert on a United Nations Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) study of outer space transparency and confidence-building measures (TCBMs). The consensus GGE report which was published in July of last year endorsed voluntary, non-legally binding TCBMs to strengthen sustainability and security in space. The GGE benefited immensely from the contributions of Professor Richard Crowther of the U.K. Space Agency, who worked with several other experts to define a rigorous set of criteria for considering space TCBMs. This work contributed to the GGE’s recommendation that States implement measures to promote coordination to enhance safety and predictability in the uses of outer space. The report also endorsed “efforts to pursue political commitments, for example, a multilateral code of conduct, to encourage responsible actions in, and the peaceful use of, outer space.”
This International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities is another important multilateral initiative. Among the Code’s commitments for signatories is to refrain from any action which brings about, directly or indirectly, damage, or destruction, of space objects and to minimize, to the greatest extent possible, the creation of space debris, in particular, the creation of long-lived space debris. The Code could also help solidify safe operational practices, reduce the chance of collisions or other harmful interference with nations’ activities, contribute to our awareness of the space environment through notifications, and strengthen stability in space by helping establish norms for responsible behavior in space.
Lastly, the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) is also doing important work to move forward in the development of new international long-term sustainability guidelines. U.S. and U.K. experts from the private sector as well the federal government have played a leading role in the COPUOS Working Group on the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities. These efforts contribute to the development of multilateral and bilateral space TCBMs. Exchanges of information between space operations centers also can serve as useful confidence building measures.
Multilateral diplomatic initiatives contribute greatly to defining acceptable and unacceptable behaviors in space and therefore are key components of the United States deterrence strategy. In addition, if we are serious about maintaining the space environment for future generations, we must support such measures that promote positive activities in space and further the creation of norms which dissuade countries from taking destabilizing actions such as the testing of debris-generating ASAT systems. By working with the international community, we can, and must, advance the long-term sustainability and security of the outer space environment for all nations and future generations
With that, I would like to thank you for your time and stop here in order to leave time for questions.
11/25/2014 09:22 AM EST
Promoting Space Security and Sustainability
Remarks
Frank A. Rose
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance
International Institute for Strategic Studies
London, United Kingdom
November 21, 2014
As prepared
Introduction
Thank you for that kind introduction, and thanks to the International Institute of Strategic Studies for having me back here today to discuss an issue of vital interest: ensuring the long-term sustainability, stability, safety, and security of the space environment.
For decades, we have been inspired by humanity’s space endeavors and reaped the benefits of the use and exploration of outer space. While some take these benefits for granted, let me be clear: space assets are essential to U.S. national security as well as the security of our allies and coalition partners. This shared interest is recognized here in the United Kingdom, where HM Government’s National Space Security Policy establishes the promotion of a safe and more secure space environment as a key objective.
Outer space is a domain that no nation owns but on which all rely. Yet today, space is becoming increasingly congested from orbital debris, including man-made threats—such as the testing of debris-generating anti-satellite, or ASAT, systems. Left unchecked, such debris could result in access to some space services being seriously degraded or even lost – creating a direct threat to international security.
The world’s growing dependence on the globe-spanning and interconnected nature of space capabilities mean that it is more important than ever for all citizens to understand that irresponsible acts in space by one entity can have damaging consequences for all. Therefore, all nations must work together to adopt a responsible approach to activities in outer space in order to preserve this domain for future generations.
Today, I would like to cover two aspects in regard to ensuring the security and sustainability of the space environment: first, the risks and dangers to space systems from debris generating ASAT tests; second, the role of international diplomatic initiatives in protecting the long-term sustainability and security of the space environment.
Threats to Outer Space
Let me start with the risks and dangers. On July 23 of this year, the Chinese Government conducted a non-destructive test of a missile designed to destroy satellites in low Earth orbit. Despite China’s claims that this was a missile defense test, let me assure you the United States has high confidence in its assessment, that the event was indeed an ASAT test.
And China is not the only one pursuing these capabilities. As Director of National Intelligence James Clapper noted in his January 2014 congressional testimony, “Russian leaders openly maintain that the Russian armed forces have antisatellite weapons and conduct antisatellite research.”
The United States believes that these threats, which include the continued development and testing of destructive anti-satellite systems, are both destabilizing and threaten the long-term security and sustainability of the outer space environment. Moreover, these threats affect all who benefit from outer space including the scientific, commercial, and civil space communities. Indeed, thousands of pieces of debris about 10 cm and larger from the 2007 Chinese ASAT test continue to endanger space systems from all nations, including China.
On the security side, ASAT weapons directly threaten satellites and the strategic and tactical information and services those satellites provide, and their use could be escalatory in a crisis or conflict. They also pose a direct threat to key assets used in arms control verification monitoring, command and control and communication, and warning and attack assessment. A debris generating test or attack may only be minutes in duration, but the consequences can last decades and indiscriminately threaten the space-based assets of all space-faring nations, and the information from space upon which all nations depend.
On the civil space side, between 2007 and 2014, NASA has had to perform eight debris avoidance maneuvers of its robotic spacecraft due to possible collisions with debris from the 2007 Chinese ASAT test. Two of these spacecraft maneuvers were conducted in 2014. Just as these systems threaten our national security space systems, they can threaten the civil satellites that are so essential to our everyday lives.
Multilateral Efforts toward a Stable and Sustainable Space Environment
Given these threats and the current era where many States and nongovernmental organizations are harnessing the benefits of outer space, we have no choice but to work with our allies and partners around the world to ensure the long-term sustainability of the space environment. We also must speak clearly and publicly about what behavior the international community should find both acceptable and unacceptable. Over the past few years, the United States has worked to support a number of multilateral initiatives that seek to establish consensus guidelines for space activities that are both in the national security interests of the United States, and will further the long-term stability and sustainability of the space environment.
Just last year, I served as the United States expert on a United Nations Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) study of outer space transparency and confidence-building measures (TCBMs). The consensus GGE report which was published in July of last year endorsed voluntary, non-legally binding TCBMs to strengthen sustainability and security in space. The GGE benefited immensely from the contributions of Professor Richard Crowther of the U.K. Space Agency, who worked with several other experts to define a rigorous set of criteria for considering space TCBMs. This work contributed to the GGE’s recommendation that States implement measures to promote coordination to enhance safety and predictability in the uses of outer space. The report also endorsed “efforts to pursue political commitments, for example, a multilateral code of conduct, to encourage responsible actions in, and the peaceful use of, outer space.”
This International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities is another important multilateral initiative. Among the Code’s commitments for signatories is to refrain from any action which brings about, directly or indirectly, damage, or destruction, of space objects and to minimize, to the greatest extent possible, the creation of space debris, in particular, the creation of long-lived space debris. The Code could also help solidify safe operational practices, reduce the chance of collisions or other harmful interference with nations’ activities, contribute to our awareness of the space environment through notifications, and strengthen stability in space by helping establish norms for responsible behavior in space.
Lastly, the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) is also doing important work to move forward in the development of new international long-term sustainability guidelines. U.S. and U.K. experts from the private sector as well the federal government have played a leading role in the COPUOS Working Group on the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities. These efforts contribute to the development of multilateral and bilateral space TCBMs. Exchanges of information between space operations centers also can serve as useful confidence building measures.
Multilateral diplomatic initiatives contribute greatly to defining acceptable and unacceptable behaviors in space and therefore are key components of the United States deterrence strategy. In addition, if we are serious about maintaining the space environment for future generations, we must support such measures that promote positive activities in space and further the creation of norms which dissuade countries from taking destabilizing actions such as the testing of debris-generating ASAT systems. By working with the international community, we can, and must, advance the long-term sustainability and security of the outer space environment for all nations and future generations
With that, I would like to thank you for your time and stop here in order to leave time for questions.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
COLOR HIGHLIGHTS URANUS
Cption Credit: NASA. The false colors in this image indicate altitude. The green and blue regions show where the atmosphere is clear, allowing sunlight to penetrate deep into Uranus. In the yellow and gray regions, a haze or cloud layer is reflecting sunlight away. Orange and red colors indicate very high clouds, like cirrus clouds on Earth. Credit: Erich Karkoschka (University of Arizona) and NASA
U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE ISSUES UPDATE ON ACCUSED ARMED CASINO TAKEOVER FUGITIVES
FROM: U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE
November 21, 2014
Robert M. Alexander, Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal
District of Nevada, Reno Office
Update on the Status of Three Individuals Accused of Armed Casino Takeover
Reno, NV – Northern Nevada’s U.S. Marshals led fugitive taskforce is actively seeking the whereabouts of Timothy Tofaute and David Dixon. The two men are accused of an armed takeover of the Chukchansi Indian Resort and Casino in Coarsegold, California on October 9, 2014. Brian Auchenbach, who was also named on an arrest warrant related to this event, turned himself in to the Madera County Sheriff yesterday, November 20, and was subsequently released on $800,000 bail.
Tofaute, 46, Dixon, 35, and Auchenbach, 38, along with other private security contractors, are facing multiple felony charges including kidnapping, false imprisonment, and assault with a deadly weapon stemming from the events at the casino that day. Tofaute and Dixon remain outstanding and are still being pursued. Both men have extensive military and private security training. Tofaute is a former Navy SEAL. Due to their background and the nature of the charges, they should be considered armed and dangerous. The Madera County Sheriff’s Department is the lead investigative agency for this case.
The U.S. Marshals Office in Reno would like to thank the public and local media outlets for their efforts in this important matter. The results achieved so far would not have been possible without the assistance of both. Anyone with information about the fugitives being sought in this case is encouraged to call the U.S. Marshals led Fugitive Taskforce at 775-686-5780, Secret Witness, or local police. All callers may remain anonymous.
Original News Release
November 21, 2014
Robert M. Alexander, Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal
District of Nevada, Reno Office
Update on the Status of Three Individuals Accused of Armed Casino Takeover
Reno, NV – Northern Nevada’s U.S. Marshals led fugitive taskforce is actively seeking the whereabouts of Timothy Tofaute and David Dixon. The two men are accused of an armed takeover of the Chukchansi Indian Resort and Casino in Coarsegold, California on October 9, 2014. Brian Auchenbach, who was also named on an arrest warrant related to this event, turned himself in to the Madera County Sheriff yesterday, November 20, and was subsequently released on $800,000 bail.
Tofaute, 46, Dixon, 35, and Auchenbach, 38, along with other private security contractors, are facing multiple felony charges including kidnapping, false imprisonment, and assault with a deadly weapon stemming from the events at the casino that day. Tofaute and Dixon remain outstanding and are still being pursued. Both men have extensive military and private security training. Tofaute is a former Navy SEAL. Due to their background and the nature of the charges, they should be considered armed and dangerous. The Madera County Sheriff’s Department is the lead investigative agency for this case.
The U.S. Marshals Office in Reno would like to thank the public and local media outlets for their efforts in this important matter. The results achieved so far would not have been possible without the assistance of both. Anyone with information about the fugitives being sought in this case is encouraged to call the U.S. Marshals led Fugitive Taskforce at 775-686-5780, Secret Witness, or local police. All callers may remain anonymous.
Original News Release
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