The United States strongly condemns today’s attacks in the Sinai that resulted in the deaths of at least twenty-three Egyptian soldiers. We express our condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. We continue to stand with Egypt as it confronts terrorism.
At the invitation of the Emir of Kuwait, the Secretary will travel to Kuwait July 10 where he will meet with senior Kuwaiti officials to discuss ongoing efforts to resolve the Gulf dispute.
Follow Secretary Tillerson’s travel via @StateDept on Twitter and visit the State Department’s Flickr account for the latest trip photos. Stay connected at https://blogs.state.gov/engage and keep track of all of the Secretary’s travels at https://www.state.gov/secretary/2017travel.
On behalf of President Trump and the American people, best wishes to you and the people of the Solomon Islands as you celebrate your nation’s independence day on July 7th.
For many years, the Solomon Islands and the United States have shared strong bonds of friendship based on our shared commitment to promote peace, freedom, and economic development. As we mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal and other pivotal WWII battles, we reflect on our long history of partnership, and look forward to future cooperation.
The United States welcomes the unanimous decision of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) granting jurisdiction for the prosecution of those responsible for the downing of flight MH17 to the Dutch courts. We have full confidence in the ability of the Dutch criminal justice system to arrive at a just and impartial decision.
As we approach the third anniversary of this tragic loss of life, we again offer our deepest condolences to the families.
The United States will continue to work with the Joint Investigation Team in its investigation. We call on other states that are in a position to assist to cooperate fully so those responsible are held accountable. We again urge all states to take steps to ensure full compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2166, which called for a “full, thorough and independent international investigation into the incident.”
The United States is deeply concerned by the July 5, detention of prominent human rights defenders from Amnesty International Turkey and other respected institutions. As with past arrests of prominent human rights defenders, journalists, academics, and activists, we underscore the importance of respecting due process and individual rights, as enshrined in the Turkish Constitution, and consistent with Turkey’s own international commitments.
As we have expressed on numerous occasions, persistent curbs on freedom of expression erode the foundations of democratic society. More voices, not fewer, are necessary in challenging times.