Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 3, 2014 – 12:19 P.M. EDT MR. CARNEY:  Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.  Thanks for being here.  I apologize for the delay; had some last-minute updates.  As you know, the President is hosting the U.S. Winter Olympic team today, and I think some members are going to be[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 3, 2014. Index for Today’s Briefing DEPARTMENT Secretary Kerry’s Travel CUBA USAID Social Media Program to Advance Freedom of Expression Congressional Notification of Program / Congressional Support of Programs in Cuba Continued Call to Release Alan Gross Government Accountability Office Review of USAID Program U.S. Policy on Democracy[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–April 3, 2014.  U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement after the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence voted to begin the process of declassifying the committee’s 6,200 page report on CIA interrogations: “I believe the American people will be profoundly disturbed by the contents of this report. [Read More…]

April is recognized as a month of remembrance of the Armenian Genocide WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–April 3, 2014.  U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today introduced a Senate resolution commemorating the Armenian Genocide. “Next year will mark the 100th anniversary of[Read More…]

Hamid Abutalebi is Iran’s Announced Choice to be Ambassador to the United Nations; Abutalebi Was Part of the Hostage Takers Who Held Americans for 444 Days in 1979 WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–April 3, 2014.  U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), along with 27 of their Senate colleagues, sent a letter to[Read More…]

GENEVA–(ENEWSPF)–3 April 2014. With no political solution to the conflict that has torn South Sudan apart in sight, senior United Nations officials working in the country stressed today that they are in a “race against time” ahead of the rainy season to help prevent a health and hunger catastrophe. Hilde[Read More…]

Upcoming Declassification Review Will Be Key Test for President Obama WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–April 3, 2014.  The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence voted today, by a bipartisan majority, to submit to the White House for declassification review and public release the executive summary, findings, and conclusions of the panel’s report on the CIA’s[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 3, 2014.  The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of traveling to Burundi.  This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning for Burundi dated October 11, 2013, to reiterate existing security concerns and to note updated security restrictions on travel for Embassy personnel. Because Burundi participates[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 3, 2014. As the African Union convenes talks with the Sudanese government and rebel leaders, a new Enough Project report advocates a more comprehensive and inclusive  humanitarian ceasefire and an overall peace process that addresses urgent needs across Sudan’s periphery in a coordinated way. The report, “Sudan’s Tortured[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 3, 2014. Four years ago, some four million South Sudanese voted to break with the past and usher in a new period of peace and prosperity.  They expected their leaders to act with courage and conviction, to put the interests of the people first, and to be statesmen,[Read More…]