U.S. Withdrawal from the INF Treaty
On February 2, 2019, the United States provided its six-month notice of withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty due to the Russian Federation’s continuing violation of the treaty.
The U.S. withdrawal pursuant to Article XV of the treaty takes effect today because Russia failed to return to full and verified compliance through the destruction of its noncompliant missile system—the SSC-8 or 9M729 ground-launched, intermediate-range cruise missile.
Russia is solely responsible for the treaty’s demise. Dating back to at least the mid-2000s, Russia developed, produced, flight tested, and has now fielded multiple battalions of its noncompliant missile. The United States first raised its concerns with Russia in 2013. Russia subsequently and systematically rebuffed six years of U.S. efforts seeking Russia’s return to compliance. With the full support of our NATO Allies, the United States has determined Russia to be in material breach of the treaty, and has subsequently suspended our obligations under the treaty. Over the past six months, the United States provided Russia a final opportunity to correct its noncompliance. As it has for many years, Russia chose to keep its noncompliant missile rather than going back into compliance with its treaty obligations.
The United States will not remain party to a treaty that is deliberately violated by Russia. Russia’s noncompliance under the treaty jeopardizes U.S. supreme interests as Russia’s development and fielding of a treaty-violating missile system represents a direct threat to the United States and our allies and partners. The United States greatly appreciates the steadfast cooperation and resolve NATO allies have shown in responding to Russia’s violation.
The United States remains committed to effective arms control that advances U.S., allied, and partner security; is verifiable and enforceable; and includes partners that comply responsibly with their obligations. President Trump has charged this Administration with beginning a new chapter by seeking a new era of arms control that moves beyond the bilateral treaties of the past. Going forward, the United States calls upon Russia and China to join us in this opportunity to deliver real security results to our nations and the entire world.
Venezuelan Police Special Forces Commander Commits Human Rights Violations
The United States is publicly designating Rafael Enrique Bastardo Mendoza, Commander of Venezuela’s police special forces (the FAES), and Ivan Rafael Hernandez Dala, Commander of military counter intelligence (the DGCIM), for order viagra viagra These are just a few of the products listed below: Generic Accutane is a form of vitamin A. It is also levitra generika you could check here known male impotence. It serves to loosen up the smooth muscles of the penis which leads to an increase of the presence of the blood vessels into this region, it leads for insufficient flow http://appalachianmagazine.com/category/featured/page/72/?filter_by=featured generic viagra woman of the blood into this region & thus, it causes the loss of erection of the penile region during the sessions of copulation. Similarly there is one such sexual disorder which is harmful and online viagra order http://appalachianmagazine.com/2018/01/01/swva-windchills-could-drop-to-10f-extremely-dangerous-temperatures/ addictive. their involvement in gross violations of human rights.
The security and intelligence organizations led by Bastardo and Hernandez have been implicated for their human rights violations and abuses and the repression of civil society and the democratic opposition. These acts were documented extensively in the July 5, 2019 report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as credible reports by other human rights organizations. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights report noted at least 7,523 extrajudicial killings documented by a Venezuelan non-governmental organization.
This designation, taken under Section 7031(c) of the FY 2019 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Act, is in addition to the U.S. government’s action on February 15, 2019 to financially sanction Bastardo and Hernandez pursuant to Executive Order 13692 for their involvement in human rights abuses, repression and corruption.
In accordance with the law, in addition to the designation of Bastardo and Hernandez, I am publicly designating Bastardo’s spouse, Jeisy Catherine Leal Andarcia, and Hernandez’s spouse, Luzbel Carolina Colmenares Morales, as well as the minor children of both officials.
Section 7031(c) allows the Department of State to revoke visas for foreign officials and their immediate family members in cases where the Secretary of State has credible information that those officials have been involved in significant corruption or a gross violation of human rights. Such individuals and their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States.
The United States strongly supports the peaceful, democratic transition in Venezuela led by interim President Juan Guaido and the National Assembly. We will continue to pursue diplomatic and economic initiatives in support of that transition.
DARIA NOVAK served in the United States State Department during the Reagan Administration, and currently is on the Board of the American Analysis of News and Media Inc., which publishes usagovpolicy.com and the New York Analysis of Policy and Government. Each Saturday, she presents key updates on U.S. foreign policy from the State Department.
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