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Regional Affairs

Secretary Blinken’s Call with Dutch Foreign Minister Hoekstra

Release: The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller.


Regional Affairs

United States and Moldova Sign Open Skies Agreement

Release: On May 18 in Chisinau, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma and Moldova Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Lilia Dabija, with Prime Minister Dorin Recean, signed an Open Skies Air Transport Agreement (“Agreement") between the Government of the United States and the Government of the Republic of Moldova - the first bilateral air transport agreement negotiated by the two countries.


Regional Affairs

Release of Aggregate Numbers of Strategic Offensive Weapons

Release: Continuing with its tradition of transparency despite Russia’s purported suspension of New START, the United States has voluntarily released aggregate numbers of U.S. strategic offensive arms under the New START Treaty’s central limits on nuclear weapons.


Regional Affairs

Condemning the Arrest of Robert Shonov

Release: The United States strongly condemns the reported arrest of Robert Shonov, a former employee of U.S. Mission Russia. The allegations against Mr. Shonov are wholly without merit. Mr. Shonov is a Russian national who was employed by the U.S. Consulate General in Vladivostok for more than 25 years. Following ...


Regional Affairs

The Department of State Announces Reward Offer Against Russian Ransomware Actor

Release: The impacts of ransomware attacks are significant and far-reaching, with victims suffering loss and disclosure of sensitive information and disruption of critical services.  Russia is a safe haven for cybercriminals, an environment in which ransomware actors are free to conduct malicious cyber operations against the United States and our partners and allies.


Regional Affairs

Justice for Underserved Disabled Youth Initiative (JUDY Initiative)

Release: United States Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): Justice for Underserved Disabled Youth Initiative (JUDY Initiative). This is the announcement of funding opportunity number SFOP0009803. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: ...


Regional Affairs

Justice for Underserved Disabled Youth Initiative (JUDY Initiative)

Release: United States Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): Justice for Underserved Disabled Youth Initiative (JUDY Initiative). This is the announcement of funding opportunity number SFOP0009803. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number:...


Regional Affairs

Norway National Day

Release: On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Norway in celebration of Constitution Day.


Regional Affairs

Joint Statement on the U.S.-Egypt Joint Economic Commission

Release: The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and the Arab Republic of Egypt on the occasion of the inaugural meeting of the high-level Joint Economic Commission (JEC) between the United States and Egypt May 17.


Regional Affairs

Attack on U.S. Convoy in Nigeria

Release: Unknown assailants yesterday attacked a convoy of two U.S. government vehicles in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra state, Nigeria. The convoy was carrying nine Nigerian nationals: five employees of the U.S. Mission to Nigeria and four members of the Nigeria Police Force. They were traveling in advance of a planned visit by U.S. Mission personnel to a U.S.-funded flood response project in Anambra.



Regional Affairs

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Kyrgyzstan

Release: Executive Summary Title. The constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and religion and bans religious groups from undertaking actions inciting religious hatred. It establishes the separation of religion and state and prohibits pursuit of political goals by religious groups. The law requires all...


Regional Affairs

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom:Tajikistan

Release: Executive Summary Title. The constitution provides for the right, individually or jointly with others, to adhere to any religion or to no religion and to participate in religious customs and ceremonies. The constitution states, “Religious associations shall be separate from the state and shall not interfere...



Regional Affairs

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Pakistan

Release: The constitution establishes Islam as the state religion and requires all provisions of the law to be consistent with Islam. The constitution states, “Subject to law, public order, and morality, every citizen shall have the right to profess, practice, and propagate his religion." The penal code sets...


Regional Affairs

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Kazakhstan

Release: The constitution defines the country as a secular state and provides for freedom of religion and belief as well as the freedom to decline religious affiliation. The Committee for Religious Affairs (CRA), part of the Ministry of Information and Social Development (MISD), is responsible for religious issues.


Regional Affairs

Assistant Secretary of State Satterfield to Travel to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Release: Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Lee Satterfield will travel to Jordan from May 17-20, 2023. While in Jordan, Assistant Secretary Satterfield will advance key bilateral U.S.-Jordan public diplomacy efforts- such as promoting inclusive economic growth and education and...


Regional Affairs

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Uzbekistan

Release: Executive Summary Title. The constitution provides for freedom of religion or belief and separation of government and religion. The law allows for restricting religious activities when necessary to maintain national security, the social order, or morality. The freedom of conscience and religion law further...


Regional Affairs

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Sri Lanka

Release: The constitution provides for freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including the freedom to change religion. The law recognizes four religions: Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity. The constitution and other laws accord Buddhism the “foremost place" among the country’s religious faiths and commit the government to protecting it while respecting the rights of religious minorities.


Regional Affairs

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Maldives

Release: The constitution designates Islam as the state religion, requires citizens to be Muslim, and requires public office holders, including the President, to be followers of Sunni Islam. The constitution provides for limitations on rights and freedoms “to protect and maintain the tenets of Islam" and does...