Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Susan Thornton will lead a high-level U.S. government delegation to the 29th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Session with Forum Dialogue Partners (PIF FDP) on September 7, 2017 in Apia, Samoa. Her visit will demonstrate U.S. commitment to our continuing close partnership with the Pacific Islands in promoting sustainable growth and prosperity, ensuring regional stability, and addressing environmental concerns.

The U.S. delegation will include senior officials from the U.S. Department of State, Department of Defense, U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. The PIF FDP will provide a forum for U.S. and Pacific Islands leaders to discuss issues of regional and global importance including security, climate change, marine conservation, sustainable development, and health. Acting Assistant Secretary Thornton will conduct bilateral consultations with heads of state of Pacific Islands Forum members and other senior foreign officials.

Acting Assistant Secretary Thornton will host a roundtable with Pacific Islands leaders. While in Samoa, she will also tour a U.S. Department of Defense’s Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid (OHDACA) funded school renovation project at Safata College and speak at a reception honoring recipients of U.S. Embassy Apia’s public diplomacy grant funding.

Follow the Bureau of East Asia Pacific Affairs on Twitter @USAsiaPacific for updates on Acting Assistant Secretary Thornton’s trip.

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The United States has fully implemented the decision by the Government of the Russian Federation to reduce the size of our mission in Russia. We believe this action was unwarranted and detrimental to the overall relationship between our countries.

In the spirit of parity invoked by the Russians, we are requiring the Russian Government to close its Consulate General in San Francisco, a chancery annex in Washington, D.C., and a consular annex in New York City. These closures will need to be accomplished by September 2.

With this action both countries will remain with three consulates each. While there will continue to be a disparity in the number of diplomatic and consular annexes, we have chosen to allow the Russian Government to maintain some of its annexes in an effort to arrest the downward spiral in our relationship.

The United States hopes that, having moved toward the Russian Federation’s desire for parity, we can avoid further retaliatory actions by both sides and move forward to achieve the stated goal of both of our presidents: improved relations between our two countries and increased cooperation on areas of mutual concern. The United States is prepared to take further action as necessary and as warranted.

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On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I offer congratulations to the people of Vietnam as you celebrate your National Day on September 2nd.

Since the normalization of bilateral ties 22 years ago, relations between our two countries have grown in ways many would have never predicted. We have moved past conflict and division, towards a flourishing partnership that spans political, security, economic, and people-to-people ties.

The recent visits of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, and Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich to the United States have reinforced this positive momentum between our two nations, and President Trump’s commitment to travel to Vietnam for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting promises to elevate our partnership to new heights.

On this occasion, I wish all Vietnamese people peace and prosperity in the coming year.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations’ Industry Advisory Group (IAG) charter has been renewed for an additional 2-year period. The IAG serves in an advisory capacity with respect to industry and academia’s latest concepts, methods, best practices, innovations and ideas related to property management that are applicable to OBO’s vital mission to provide safe, secure and functional facilities that represent the U.S. Government to the host nation and support our staff in the achievement of U.S. foreign policy objectives.

The group meets annually in the spring at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC. Procedures for registration are included with each meeting announcement, no later than 15 business days before each meeting.

OBO’s mission is to provide safe, secure and functional facilities that represent the U.S. Government to the host nation and support our staff in the achievement of U.S. foreign policy objectives. These facilities represent American values and the best in American architecture, engineering, technology, sustainability, art, culture, and construction execution.

For further information, please visit the OBO website at https://overseasbuildings.state.gov/, or contact Christine Foushee at FousheeCT@state.gov.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, congratulations to the people of the Slovak Republic on your Constitution Day September 1st.

The United States and the Slovak Republic have enjoyed a strong bilateral relationship since the founding of Slovakia. Our friendship is a strong one, based on close ties between our people, a shared commitment to human rights, and the pursuit of economic prosperity in both of our countries.

As a close NATO ally, we are proud to cooperate with Slovakia to ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens, and to pursue our mutual commitment to Euro-Atlantic integration and the promotion of democratic values.

As you celebrate this special day, I extend our best wishes to the people of the Slovak Republic for the upcoming year.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.