SYRIA
The United States was able to push Syria into accepting a constitutional committee under UN Resolution 2254, according to Jim Jeffrey, US Special Representative for Syria Engagement and for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. He said that it is to be launched in the “coming weeks” and that “there may be a glimmer of hope that this conflict can be ended the right way.” ISIS is still around and “it contributes to the insecurity and the problems in Syria,” Jeffrey added.
The United States plans to provide an additional 4.5 million to support the OPCW (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) mandate to investigate chemical weapons use in Syria. The funds will support two core functions: help OPCW determine if chemical weapons were used; and to identify who did it. Ambassador Jeffrey noted that the United States still fears that “the regime, which has very weak infantry forces, will try to use chemical weapons once again to make up for its inability to seize ground by combat power.”
The second area of concern around the recent chemical weapons attack, according to Jeffrey, is that “Russia has its advisory teams throughout the entire command and staff of the Syrian army at all levels. These are the best soldiers Russia has. They are extremely experienced, we deal with them every day on deconfliction and other things. They are first-class – we see their first-class work, staff work, their first-class professionalism. It is very hard for me to think that professionals as good as that, the way they are spread out, would not have known something like this, which is a very unique event. It’s the first time it’s happened in over a year.”
CHINA
On Thursday a senior State Department official said “the US is going to stand firm on our position [on China], especially where it regards things like human rights.” He pointed out that Washington has raised Xinjiang before without a response from Beijing. The State Department plans to continue “elevating the level of visibility until not just the PRC but the world and others take notice.” But, the official warned, the US wants to give China time to respond.
On Hong Kong the official pointed out that as “the President has said before, as the Secretary has said, the Hong Kong people are just asking for what they already had. They want the Basic Law to remain as agreed.” In recent years there has been a distinct trend in China whereby the government says one thing and then takes an opposing action. In 2015 there was a Rose Garden statement about non-militarization of the South China Sea features by the Chinese. That quickly disappeared as China increasing its militarization of the region. Hong Kong currently is experiencing a similar squeeze, according to the State Department official.
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The Department of State, along with the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Health and Human Services, submitted the President’s annual Report to Congress on Proposed Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. According to the State Department, the official Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions Numbers for FY 2020 will be issued following consultation with Congress.
The US anticipates receiving more than 368,000 new refugees and asylum claims in FY 2020. Of them, 18,000 would be refugees that the government proposes to resettle under the new refugee ceiling. In addition, the government also anticipates processing more than 350,000 individuals in new asylum cases. As of 2019 it is estimated there are 71 million people displaced around the world. The US is concentrating its efforts on rebuilding communities and improving security so families can return to their homes in places such as Bangladesh, Colombia, and Turkey.
NORTH KOREA
The North Koreans have proposed working-level meetings by the end of September, according to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo. But, he added, “We have not been able to make those happen, and we don’t have a date yet when we’ll be able to get together.” He said the United States is prepared to meet with North Korean officials and that engaging in conversations that can advance the agenda set out in Singapore about 18 months ago are important.
The Secretary said he looks forward to and hopes “the phone rings and that we get that call and we get that chance to find a place and a time that work for the North Koreans and that we can deliver on the commitments that Chairman Kim and President Trump made. But I don’t have that in hand yet.”
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.
Illustration: Pixabay