Foreign Affairs

International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (Nov. 2, 2021)

On this International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, France reaffirms its commitment to defending the freedom of the press and freedom of speech. It pays tribute to all those who work to share reliable information - necessary to the exercise of democracy - sometimes risking their lives to do so. In light of growing restrictions on the freedom of speech and freedom of the press, as well as infodemics and the manipulation of information, France intends to continue working (...)

Updated: Wed Nov 03 2021

Iran - Q&A - (29 October 2021)

Q: The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister said that negotiations on the JCPoA would resume at the end of November. Has a specific date already been set? Have all the parties confirmed their desire to continue these discussions? A: We are not aware of a date to resume negotiations in Vienna on the return of the United States and Iran to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). In any case, it would be up to the European External Action Service, as coordinator of the JCPoA, to announce (...)

Updated: Wed Nov 03 2021

Netherlands - Visit by Clément Beaune (Oct. 28-29, 2021)

Clément Beaune, Minister of State for European Affairs, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, visited the Netherlands on October 28 and 29 with Barbara Pompili, Minister for the Ecological Transition. The ministers met with Ben Knapen, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Tom de Bruijn, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation; Stef Blok, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy; Dilan Yesilgöz-Zegerius, State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate; and (...)

Updated: Wed Nov 03 2021

Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Kendra Davis Briggs, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years, vice Judith Bartnoff, retired. Georgette Castner, of New Jersey, to be United States District Judge for the District of New...

Updated: Wed Nov 03 2021

Portugal - Visit by Franck Riester (02 November 2021)

Franck Riester, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Trade, is traveling to Portugal today. He will be hosted by Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs Augusto Santos Silva. The two ministers will discuss European trade policy issues ahead of the French presidency of the Council of the EU, which will begin on January 1, 2022. Mr. Riester will reaffirm France's support for the new trade policy presented by the (...)

Updated: Wed Nov 03 2021

President Biden Announces Key Nominations

WASHINGTON - Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to serve in key roles: N. Nick Perry, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Jamaica Kurt DelBene, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology and Chief Information Officer at the Department of Veterans Affairs Mike Gerber, Nominee for Member...

Updated: Wed Nov 03 2021

President Biden Names Ninth Round of Judicial Nominees

The President is announcing ten judicial nominees, including nine new candidates for the federal bench. All of the nominees are extraordinarily qualified, experienced, and devoted to the rule of law and our Constitution. These choices also continue to fulfill the President's promise to ensure that the nation's courts reflect the diversity that is one of our...

Updated: Wed Nov 03 2021

Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials

Via Teleconference 1:25 P.M. EDT MR. ZIENTS: Good afternoon, and thanks for joining us. Today, we will focus on yesterday's exciting development: CDC's recommendation of a vaccine for kids ages 5 through 11, following FDA's authorization last week. Vaccines for kids ages 5 through 11 is a landmark moment in our vaccination campaign. The first...

Updated: Wed Nov 03 2021

Remarks by President Biden in Press Conference

Scottish Event CampusGlasgow, Scotland 7:13 P.M. GMT THE PRESIDENT: Good evening, everyone. Well, we're preparing to wrap up another busy day in Scotland. I think we got a lot done. We've had a lot of good, substantive meetings, and - with my fellow leaders. And most of all, it was critically important for the United...

Updated: Wed Nov 03 2021

Remarks by President Biden on the Authorization of the COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5 to 11

South Court Auditorium 4:06 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, folks. Get my mask here. Today is a great day for American parents, American families, and American children. We've taken a giant step forward to further accelerate our path out of this pandemic. After months of rigorous and independent scientific review, the Food and Drug Administration -...

Updated: Wed Nov 03 2021

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on Continued International Counter Ransomware Efforts

Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology Anne Neuberger and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland briefed ambassadors and representatives of 35 countries yesterday on the Counter-Ransomware Initiative (CRI) and U.S. government efforts to accelerate cooperation to counter ransomware. Under Secretary Nuland discussed the Department of State's efforts to counter...

Updated: Wed Nov 03 2021

Statement by President Biden on the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

Today, Senate Republicans blocked debate on the bipartisan John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Provisions in the bill have passed the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support five times, most recently 98-0 in 2006. Let there be a debate and let there be a vote. The right to vote is sacred and constitutional. It's fundamental to...

Updated: Wed Nov 03 2021

Statement of President Joe Biden on Vaccinations for Children Age Five to 11

Today, we have reached a turning point in our battle against COVID-19: authorization of a safe, effective vaccine for children age 5 to 11. It will allow parents to end months of anxious worrying about their kids, and reduce the extent to which children spread the virus to others. It is a major step forward...

Updated: Wed Nov 03 2021

Ukraine - Q&A - (02 November 2021)

Q: The Russian foreign minister presented proposals for a Normandy Format meeting. What is France's reaction to these proposals? A: During the meeting between President Macron and the German Chancellor with their Russian counterpart on October 11, it was agreed that a ministerial meeting would be held in the Normandy Format in the coming weeks. We repeatedly proposed dates for this meeting. We are still waiting for an answer from the Russians in order to hold this meeting as soon as (...)

Updated: Wed Nov 03 2021

UN - Appointment of Noeleen Heyzer as the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Myanmar (Oct. 26, 2021)

France welcomes the appointment of Dr. Noeleen Heyzer as the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Myanmar. It offers her its best wishes for success and assures her of its full support. It underscores the importance of guaranteeing her safe, unrestricted countrywide access as well as her ability to speak to all parties as part of her important mission. France reiterates its calls for a halt to the violence perpetrated by Burmese security forces following the coup d'état on February 1. It (...)

Updated: Wed Nov 03 2021

United Kingdom - Q&A - (29 October 2021)

Q: Do you have any reaction to the British government's summoning of the French ambassador to London? Are there direct talks between the two countries? A: In conjunction with the European Union, we have clearly expressed our demands to the British authorities regarding fishing licenses. We await answers from the British government.

Updated: Wed Nov 03 2021

COVID-19 - France donates 67 million vaccine doses - Communique issued by M. Jean-Yves Le Drian (29 October 2021)

"With the signing on 27 October of an agreement between France, the Moderna pharmaceutical company and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in charge of COVAX, I welcome the fact that France is honouring and exceeding the commitment President Macron made at the Cardis Bay G7 in June 2021 to provide the most vulnerable countries with over 60 million vaccine doses by the end of 2021. Back in April, France was the first country to donate vaccine doses to the COVAX mechanism. Since the mechanism's (...)

Updated: Tue Nov 02 2021

Nomination Sent to the Senate

NOMINATION SENT TO THE SENATE: Saule T. Omarova, of New York, to be Comptroller of the Currency for a term of five years, vice Joseph Otting.

Updated: Tue Nov 02 2021