What Government Did Today

At the Camp David Summit, G-8 and African leaders will commit to the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition , the next phase of our shared commitment to achieving global food security.  In partnership with Africa’s people and leaders, our goals are to increase responsible domestic and foreign private investments in African agriculture, take innovations that can enhance agricultural productivity to scale, and reduce the risk borne by vulnerable economies and communities.  We recognize and will act upon the critical role played by smallholder farmers, especially women, in transforming agriculture and building thriving economies. The New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition is a shared commitment to achieve sustained and inclusive agricultural growth and raise 50 million people out of poverty over the next 10 years by aligning the commitments of Africa’s leadership to drive effective country plans and policies for food security; the commitments of private sector partners to increase investments where the conditions are right; and the commitments of the G-8 to expand Africa’s potential for rapid and sustainable agricultural growth.  We welcome the support of the World Bank and African Development Bank, and of the United Nations’ World Food Program, International Fund for Agricultural Development, and Food and Agriculture Organization for the New Alliance .  We also welcome the successful conclusion of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the context of National Food Security and support the broad-based consultation process and pilot use of the Principles of Responsible Agricultural Investment.  The New Alliance Will Build on and Help Realize the Promise of L’Aquila Since the L’Aquila Summit, where we committed to “act with the scale and urgency needed to achieve sustainable global food security,” we have increased our bilateral and multilateral investments in food security and changed the way we do business, consistent with core principles of aid effectiveness.  Based on the findings of the 2012 G-8 Accountability Report and consistent with the Rome Principles on Sustainable Global Food Security, the G-8 will agree to:  Promptly fulfill outstanding L’Aquila financial pledges and seek to maintain strong support to address current and future global food security challenges, including through bilateral and multilateral assistance; Ensure that our assistance is directly aligned behind country plans;  Strengthen the coordination of G-8 strategies, assistance and programs in-country and with partner countries to increase efficiencies, reduce transaction burdens, and eliminate redundancies and gaps

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Fact Sheet: G-8 Action on Food Security and Nutrition

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES: Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), I hereby report that I have issued an Executive Order (the "order") declaring a national emergency with respect to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Yemen and others to threaten Yemen's peace, security, and stability

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Message to Congress — Blocking Property of Persons Threatening the Peace, Security, or Stability of Yemen

Today, President Obama signed an Executive Order authorizing sanctions to be imposed on individuals and entities who threaten the peace, security, and stability of Yemen by disrupting the political transition. This Executive Order will allow the United States to take action against those who seek to undermine Yemen’s transition and the Yemeni peoples’ clear desire for change. The President took this step because he believes that the legitimate aspirations of the Yemeni people, along with the urgent humanitarian and security challenges, cannot be addressed if political progress stalls

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Statement by the Press Secretary on Today’s Executive Order on Yemen’s Peace, Security, and Stability

The President spoke on the phone with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard late last evening, to continue their regular consultations on Afghanistan ahead of the May 21 ISAF Summit in Chicago.  The President updated Prime Minister Gillard on recent key developments in the U.S. relationship with Afghanistan, including his recent trip to Afghanistan and the signing of the U.S.-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement.  During their discussion, the President and Prime Minister confirmed their shared goals for the ISAF meeting, to include moving forward with our effort to transition to Afghan lead responsibility, and agreeing on sufficient and sustainable Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) that can continue the progress the international community has already made.  The President noted that Australia is one of our closest partners in Afghanistan, and expressed appreciation for Australia’s significant contributions and Prime Minister Gillard’s leadership.

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Readout of the President’s Call with Prime Minister Gillard of Australia

The United States congratulates the Government of Uganda on the capture of one of the senior commanders of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) by the Ugandan military.  The capture of Maj.

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Statement by the Press Secretary on Uganda’s Capture of a Senior Commander in the Lord’s Resistance Army

Westin Perimeter North Atlanta, Georgia  11:12 A.M.

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Remarks by the Vice President to the Rabbinical Assembly Leadership

TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE May 1, 2012 Dear Mr.

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Letter — Prohibiting Certain Transactions with and Suspending Entry into the United States of Foreign Sanctions Evaders with Respect to Iran and Syria

The United States applauds today’s verdict of the Special Court for Sierra Leone in the case of Charles Taylor.   The conviction of Mr. Taylor for war crimes and crimes against humanity during Sierra Leone’s civil war in the 1990s sends a powerful message about accountability.   Through the apprehension and successful trial of Mr.

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Statement by the Press Secretary on the Verdict in the Charles Taylor Trial at the Special Court for Sierra Leone

The United States applauds today’s verdict of the Special Court for Sierra Leone in the case of Charles Taylor.   The conviction of Mr. Taylor for war crimes and crimes against humanity during Sierra Leone’s civil war in the 1990s sends a powerful message about accountability.   Through the apprehension and successful trial of Mr. Taylor, the international community has kept faith with a signal that President Obama underscored in his remarks at the U.S.

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Statement by the Press Secretary on the Verdict in the Charles Taylor Trial at the Special Court for Sierra Leone

Dear Mr.

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Letter — Blocking the Property and Suspending Entry into the United States of Certain Persons with Respect to Grave Human Rights Abuses by the Governments of Iran and Syria via Information Technology