Category: Jun2014

The United States strongly condemns the verdicts rendered against three Al-Jazeera journalists and 15 other defendants today in Egypt.  The prosecution of journalists for reporting information that does not coincide with the Government of Egypt’s narrative flouts the most basic standards of media freedom and represents a blow to democratic progress in Egypt.   As we…

NOTICE – – – – – – – CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO THE WESTERN BALKANS On June 26, 2001, by Executive Order (E.O.) 13219, the President declared a national emergency with respect to the Western Balkans, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706), to deal with the…

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:  Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the…

NOMINATION SENT TO THE SENATE: Carolyn Watts Colvin, of Maryland, to be Commissioner of Social Security for the term expiring January 19, 2019, vice Michael J. Astrue, resigned.

On July 21, 2014, President Barack Obama will award Ryan M. Pitts, a former active duty Army Staff Sergeant, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry.  Staff Sergeant Pitts will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as a Forward Observer with 2nd Platoon, Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry…

President Obama spoke with Russian President Putin today about the situation in Ukraine.  President Obama welcomed President Poroshenko’s peace plan and urged that Russia and separatist leaders work closely with the Ukrainian government to take concrete steps to implement it.  The President called upon President Putin to press the separatists to recognize and abide by the…

Vice President Biden spoke today with King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa of Bahrain. The Vice President underscored America’s commitment to a partnership with Bahrain that has spanned seven decades, as well as America’s enduring and overlapping interests in Bahrain’s security, stability, and reform. The Vice President and the King also discussed the situation in Iraq.…

Vice President Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko today to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine.  The Vice President commended President Poroshenko’s leadership in achieving a halt to hostilities and noted the United States would continue to strongly support the additional elements of President Poroshenko’s peace plan, including the disarmament of all illegally armed…

Vice President Joe Biden spoke with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan today to discuss the situation in Iraq and Syria. The two leaders agreed that the advance of Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) extremists in Iraq poses a grave threat. The Vice President underscored that the United States deplores the actions taken…

Vice President Joe Biden spoke today with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to discuss the implementation of President Poroshenko’s peace plan.  The Vice President welcomed Ukraine’s unilateral declaration of a ceasefire on June 20 and expressed concern that separatist leaders have refused to reciprocate.  He also commended President Poroshenko’s continued commitment to holding round-table discussions with…