Press Releases: Temporary Closure of the Miami Passport Agency


Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

April 24, 2017


On Sunday, April 23, the Omni Center, which houses the Miami Passport Agency, experienced significant water damage. As a result, the Miami Passport Agency is closed until further notice for damage assessment and repairs.

Customers who were scheduled to pick up a passport, have a pending appointment, or need urgent passport services within two weeks should call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 or 1-888-874-7793 (TTY/TTD) for assistance. Customers with existing appointments will be rescheduled at a different passport agency.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience to our customers. We will work with customers who have applications pending to ensure their applications are processed before their international travel.

We will inform the public when we are able to reopen the Miami Passport Agency. In the interim, we are working to find alternate locations in southern Florida to accept urgent passport applications.

To stay up-to-date regarding developments, please visit The Miami Passport Agency webpage on www.travel.state.gov or follow us on Twitter, @TravelGov.

For media inquiries, please contact CAPressRequests@state.gov or 202-485-6150.






Press Releases: Australian and New Zealand Army Corps Day


Press Statement

Rex W. Tillerson

Secretary of State

Washington, DC

April 24, 2017


On behalf of the people of the United States of America, I am honored to send my thoughts, prayers, and best wishes to the people of Australia and New Zealand on Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac) Day this April 25.

While this year marks the 100th anniversary of U.S. participation in the Great War, we will not forget that by the time the American Expeditionary Forces were organized in 1917, the Anzac had already been fighting for over two years, from the shores of Gallipoli to the Western Front. Your courage against all odds inspired news stories that spread across the United States, exposing the American people to your steadfastness and deeply-held sense of mateship. The tenacity and sacrifice of your brave service men and women represent to this day the determination of the people of Australia and New Zealand to defend democracy and freedom.

Australia and New Zealand continue their dedication to these ideals by working side by side with the United States in global humanitarian and disaster relief efforts and in peacekeeping missions worldwide.

This Anzac Day we are honored to stand with New Zealand and Australia to remember the past, reflect on the present, and, most solemnly, honor your fallen.






Press Releases: Death of Special Monitoring Mission Member in Eastern Ukraine


Press Statement

Mark C. Toner

Acting Spokesperson

Washington, DC

April 23, 2017


The United States is shocked and deeply saddened by the death of a U.S. citizen serving as a paramedic with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission (SMM), when his vehicle struck an explosive in separatist controlled territory in eastern Ukraine. We extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones, and we wish a quick recovery for those injured in the blast. This death underscores the increasingly dangerous conditions under which these courageous monitors work, including access restrictions, threats, and harassment. The United States urges Russia to use its influence with the separatists to allow the OSCE to conduct a full, transparent, and timely investigation.

Since its establishment in 2014, the OSCE SMM has played a vital role in its role of monitoring the Minsk agreements designed to bring peace to eastern Ukraine. This incident makes clear the need for all sides- and particularly the Russian-led separatist forces-to implement their commitments under the Minsk Agreements immediately. This includes a real and durable ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons, and disengagement from the line of contact. The brave monitors of the SMM have the full support of the United States, and we condemn in the strongest terms all acts of hostility and intimidation toward SMM monitors. They must also have safe, full, and unfettered access throughout the conflict zone.

The United States again calls upon Russia to use its influence with the separatists to take the first step toward peace to eastern Ukraine and ensure a visible, verifiable, and irreversible improvement in the security situation.






Press Releases: Secretary Tillerson’s Call with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko


Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

April 23, 2017


The following is attributable to Acting Spokesperson Mark Toner,:

Secretary Tillerson phoned Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko today to discuss his recent trip to Moscow and his message to the Russian leadership that, although the United States is interested in improving relations with Russia, Russia’s actions in eastern Ukraine remain an obstacle. The Secretary emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s continued progress on reform and combating corruption.

The Secretary accepted condolences from President Poroshenko on the death today of a U.S. member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission (SMM). The leaders agreed that the OSCE SMM has played a vital role in its role of monitoring the Minsk agreements designed to bring peace to eastern Ukraine, and that this tragic incident makes clear the need for all sides- and particularly the Russian-led separatist forces-to implement their commitments under the Minsk Agreements immediately.

Secretary Tillerson reiterated the United States’ firm commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and confirmed that sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns control of the Crimean peninsula to Ukraine and fully implements its commitments in the Minsk agreements.






Press Releases: Secretary Tillerson’s Call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov


Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

April 21, 2017


The following is attributable to Acting Spokesperson Mark Toner:

Secretary Tillerson spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today to follow up on bilateral issues discussed during his April 11-12 visit to Moscow.

The Secretary and Foreign Minister also discussed a range of other topics, including the OPCW investigation into Syria’s use of chemical weapons on April 4. The Secretary reiterated his support for the OPCW’s existing investigative mechanism.