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The original message has been attached to this so you can view it or label similar future email. If you have any questions, see root\@localhost for details. Content preview: You are subscribed to Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor: Remarks at the International Advisory Council's Closing Luncheon [ http://www.state.gov/s/d/2018/279467.htm ] 03/22/2018 02:38 PM EDT Remarks John J. Sullivan Deputy Secretary of State United States Institute of Peace Washington, DC March 22, 2018 [...] Content analysis details: (-10.7 points, 3.0 required) pts rule name description ---- ---------------------- -------------------------------------------------- 0.0 URIBL_BLOCKED ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE: The query to URIBL was blocked. See http://wiki.apache.org/spamassassin/DnsBlocklists#dnsbl-block for more information. 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This information has recently been updated, and is now avai= lable. Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor: Remarks at the International Advisory= Council's Closing Luncheon [ http://www.state.gov/s/d/2018/279467.htm ] = 03/22/2018 02:38 PM EDT=20 Remarks John J. Sullivan=20 Deputy Secretary of State United States Institute of Peace Washington, DC March 22, 2018=20 ________________________________________________________________________ *DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN:* Good afternoon, and thank you, Nancy, for th= at kind introduction and for your leadership. Thank you to the United Sta= tes Institute of Peace and to the International Advisory Council for invi= ting me here today. As Nancy mentioned, Im honored to have been selected = to serve on the board as the representative of the State Department.=20 Before I begin my remarks on humanitarian assistance, I wanted to just no= te that today is a bittersweet day for me because Secretary Tillerson is = actually returning to his home in Texas today. Hell remain as Secretary o= f State through the end of the month, but hes departing the building toda= y, and well have a ceremony for him in the lobby as he departs. But I wan= ted to take this opportunity to tell you how much hes meant to the depart= ment and to me personally. His work for our country, leading the departme= nt, his voice for peace, for humanitarian assistance has been an inspirat= ion for me. And I was honored have been honored to work for him, to have= been selected by him to serve as deputy secretary of state. And I think = if its all right with you, if we could offer him a round of applause in t= ribute to his service. (Applause.)=20 He is moving back to a more familiar climate in Texas, which I know suits= him well.=20 But Im delighted to be here at the U.S. Institute of Peace. For three dec= ades, the institute has been a strong partner of the State Department and= USAID as we work to promote greater prosperity and peace throughout the = world. As a new member of the board, its a particular honor for me to add= ress the International Advisory Council.=20 Today, as Nancy mentioned, I want to provide a few thoughts on the U.S. = United States role as a global leader in providing humanitarian assistanc= e. I know we dont hear a lot about that topic in the news today, the U.S.= role in providing humanitarian assistance; but as we know, all of us in = this room know, helping those in need is and always has been one of our c= ountrys core values and very much in our national interest. How we assist= people in times of conflict, distress, and natural disasters reflects ho= w we see the world and is integral to how we execute our foreign policy.=20= The United States is committed to its role as a global leader on humanita= rian issues. We understand the importance and necessity of humanitarian a= ssistance, even as we work to preclude the crises that spawn the need for= assistance. By helping those who bear the brunt of war, natural disaster= , or the failure of good governance and policy, we preserve that chance f= or a more prosperous and more peaceful world for generations to come.=20 Today, the United States remains the single largest donor of internationa= l humanitarian assistance. Last year, we delivered more than $8 billion i= n life-saving aid around the world. This includes assistance for basic ne= cessities food, education, health, and protection against violence.=20 But its no secret that humanitarian challenges are multiplying around the= world, including in countries that once flourished. Im sorry to say that= we have a tragic example in the Southern Hemisphere, in Latin America, i= n the crisis in Venezuela, which is entirely man-made, created by a corru= pt regime that denies its people not only ability to choose their leaders= , but also the ability to meet their basic needs. UNHCR estimates that 1.= 7 million Venezuelans have fled their country since 2014 increasingly in= search of basic needs such as food and medicine. Whats even more strikin= g is that over 1.5 million Venezuelans are expected to flee that country = in this calendar year.=20 To help the people of Venezuela and those refugees who are crossing borde= rs into Colombia and Brazil, and all those others affected by the regimes= malfeasance, we are supporting regional humanitarian operations that pro= vide vulnerable people in impacted border areas with life-saving health a= nd nutrition, shelter, livelihoods, and protection. Venezuelan President = Maduro could help his people by opening his country to humanitarian aid, = but instead chooses to tightly limit and control that flow of assistance.= We will continue our diplomatic pressure on his regime, but until he dec= ides to make the right choices, we will support the region through humani= tarian assistance, including through our announcement on Tuesday that we = are providing an additional $2.5 million for aid to Venezuelans who have = crossed into Colombia.=20 We also continue to support areas where conflict and terrorism have long = uprooted families and taken lives. Just a few weeks ago, we announced ove= r $500 million in additional humanitarian assistance for affected populat= ions in Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Nigeria, as well as other cou= ntries in the Lake Chad region. This announcement, along with our program= ming in South Sudan, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, w= ill continue to help millions of people in Africa who are facing life-thr= eatening food insecurity and malnutrition as a result of ongoing conflict= s and prolonged drought.=20 Earlier this year I had the opportunity to visit Iraq for the fifth U.S.-= Iraq Higher Coordinating Committee. Our military has made great progress = at rooting out ISIS, and today 4.5 million Iraqis have been freed from th= at tyranny, but 3.5 million internally displaced persons excuse me 2.5 = million internally displaced persons are still seeking to return to their= homes. Effective reconstruction is critical to ensuring ISIS can never r= eturn, and we are committed to working with our partners in the region to= help the government in Iraq rebuild. Since 2014, the United States has p= rovided more than $1.7 billion in humanitarian assistance for Iraq, and w= e continue to provide support to promote a safe, voluntary, and dignified= return of Iraqis still displaced by the conflict. This assistance also s= upports the rehabilitation of schools, legal aid to restore housing and p= roperty rights, and help millions of Iraqis re-establish their livelihood= s.=20 The United States is the largest single country humanitarian donor for th= e Syrian response as well, providing nearly $7.7 billion since the start = of the crisis in that country. Each month, this assistance helps Syrians = in every governorate, in addition to the over five and a half million Syr= ians in neighboring countries.=20 And in Yemen, the U.S. has provided nearly $768 million in humanitarian o= ver the humanitarian assistance over the past two years. That includes f= ood, water, emergency medical care, hygiene kits, treatment for malnouris= hed children, and other aid. At the same time, we have repeatedly called = on all parties to ensure rapid, safe, and unhindered access for humanitar= ian and commercial goods, including food, fuel, and medicine, as well as = aid workers, into and throughout Yemen.=20 Turning to Asia the United States has provided more than $177 million to= help those affected by conflict in Burma, including as many as one milli= on refugees displaced to Bangladesh. This assistance provides protection,= emergency shelter, food, and nutritional assistance, as well as medical = care and psychosocial support for so many who have suffered from ethnic c= leansing.=20 Well, thats a long list, and I wish that list was shorter. But its really= just a fraction of the humanitarian needs that exist across the globe. A= nd despite our best efforts, most of these crises, conflicts, and natural= disasters are not going to stop anytime soon. Most will ultimately requi= re a diplomatic solution results that we are working toward each and eve= ry day. But until those solutions arrive, you can count on the United Sta= tes to help everyone where we can to alleviate suffering and save lives.=20= But one government or one entity cant tackle these issues alone.=20 We all know that the urgency of the crises we face demands a global respo= nse. And as we continue this humanitarian leadership, we will also contin= ue to emphasize the importance of coordinated, effective, and efficient i= nternational responses, as well as the need for other governments and oth= er actors in the private sector to step in to contribute to humanitarian = efforts.=20 This multifaceted advocacy including through our engagement with the Uni= ted Nations and directly with partner nations around the world focuses o= n expanding the number of donors, increasing the global contributions to = humanitarian appeals and responses, as well as advocating for humanitaria= n access wherever necessary.=20 We need other governments, NGOs, and the private sector to work together = to respond to humanitarian crises at every phase.=20 The United States is working with international partners to provide fundi= ng, technical assistance, and other forms of support that help leverage h= umanitarian and development investments.=20 And most importantly for this audience, we need USIP to highlight these i= ssues wherever they arise and promote preventative diplomacy and peaceful= resolutions.=20 We also believe the private sector has great potential to provide meaning= ful support and engagement in humanitarian responses. We hope that organi= zations like USIP can help us partner with the private sector to help the= vast number of people around the world who are affected by crises and to= address long-term sustainability challenges.=20 A global response, with increasing financial support of multiple nations = and groups, is essential to effectively moving more help to the many who = are in need and to ensure a greater regional stability across the globe.=20= Those are some preliminary thoughts from me. I know Ive thrown out a lot = of numbers and countries, but its important for me to come here and empha= size the importance to the Department of State of our humanitarian missio= n through our colleagues with USAID and working through our own bureaus.=20= So I think theres an opportunity now for questions. Id like to turn it ba= ck over to Nancy. If there are topics youd like to talk about, Id like to= continue our discussion. (Applause.)=20 *MS LINDBORG:* Thank you, Deputy Secretary Sullivan. And we especially ap= preciate your taking the time to come over during such a busy day and suc= h an important day, and I know this will greatly increase your responsibi= lities. Thank you also for a rather sobering tour globally and for the le= adership that the United States continues to provide on humanitarian assi= stance.=20 So you just described an overwhelming number of crises with increased flo= ws, increased needs. How does this make you at the and colleagues at Sta= te and the administration think about what the U.S. should be doing to th= ink about tackling the causes of these crises and of these outflows of re= fugees? How do we begin to get more upstream on these issues?=20 *DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN:* Well, as I suggested in my remarks, just loo= king at humanitarian assistance, which is once the crisis has already de= veloped and people are in danger or hungry, just meeting those immediate = needs is something that the U.S. Government and certainly not just the De= partment of State can do. Getting at the deeper root of the problem requi= res an even greater, broader support.=20 Looking at what we do in the U.S. Government, Id focus, for example, in = on Africa, particularly in countries like Nigeria, the countries in the S= ahel and Northern Africa, the tragic scenes that we have seen of refugees= and migrants leaving Libya, Tunisia, Algeria for southern Europe. And th= ose people are coming from countries farther south in Africa, where there= is conflict, poverty, et cetera. So weve got to have from the U.S. Gove= rnments perspective, it requires an integrated strategy with our colleagu= es at the Department of Defense to partner with host governments. For exa= mple, the countries in the Sahel, the so-called G5 working with them to = address the terrorism problems that are presented in the region, to estab= lish a baseline of security so that humanitarian assistance, development = assistance can flow into the region, and remove the causes of people who = are fleeing those countries, risking their lives to cross the Mediterrane= an to get to hope for a better future in Europe.=20 So its a whole-of-government effort. It sounds trite to say, but its cert= ainly true. We work closely with our colleagues at the Department of Defe= nse, USAID, the State Department. I was in Abuja, Nigeria a few months ag= o, and the challenges are enormous. The threat from Boko Haram and ISIS W= est Africa, particularly in northwestern Nigeria, is very serious, as wev= e seen just in the last few weeks with the kidnapping of another 110 scho= olgirls, most of whom have been released, but only on the condition that = they not be allowed to go back to school, which is astounding on its face= . But were thankful that at least most of those young girls have been rel= eased, but weve got to address the security situation.=20 But there are deeper problems, economic and social, that require not just= U.S. Government assistance but assistance from a wide array of private o= rganizations, other countries, the United Nations. So thats what were loo= king to mobilize to address the causes of the refugee flows out of that a= rea and prevent these crises from developing.=20 *MS LINDBORG:* So just building on that a little bit, you mentioned in yo= ur remarks the entirely man-made causes of whats going on in Venezuela. S= adly, you could say that about any number of places around the world. And= Im very taken by the statistic that notes a decade ago, 80 percent of ou= r humanitarian assistance went to victims of natural disaster. A decade l= ater, thats flipped. You alluded to it in some of your previous answer, b= ut if we could just go a little further in terms of: How does that, there= fore, change how we think about the response? Its not only humanitarian a= ssistance, but necessarily thinking differently about how some of our oth= er assistance and activities work together, not just to meet the sufferin= g but to resolve the sources of the conflict.=20 *DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN: *Sure. I think one of the sources of one of = the reasons why those numbers flipped was the persistence of the security= not just security threat, but the actual manifestation of the carnage i= nflicted by organizations like ISIS and al-Qaida in Syria, Iraq, Libya, y= ou name it. This conflict with these terror organizations actually starte= d before September 11th, but for most of us in our consciousness was real= ly crystallized on September 11th. But that conflict has continued for th= e last 17 years, and I don't know that we see an end in sight.=20 We may have defeated the so-called caliphate, removed almost all of their= territorial ambitions in Iraq and in Syria, but theyve dispersed. Theyve= moved to other countries. There are still pockets of ISIS left in Syria,= particularly in eastern Syria, that are remain a threat. Our mission in= Syria, in northern Syria, remains the complete eradication of ISIS. But = as we move down just using Syria as an example, as the U.S. military mov= es down the Euphrates River Valley, supporting providing support to our = partner forces in the SDF when we liberate when we remove ISIS from tho= se areas, theres an enormous need for assistance for just stabilization, = demining, removing all of the booby traps, mines, and so forth that ISIS = has left behind in places like Raqqa and elsewhere in Syria and Mosul in = Iraq.=20 Beginning the resumption of basic services like water and electricity we= re not really talking about nation-building here. Were talking about the = resumption of basic stabilization operations so that people can return to= their homes, be safe removing rubble from streets; for buildings that h= ave been damaged and are dangerous to return to, knocking them down and c= learing away dangerous obstacles; demining as I mentioned that type of = those types of assistance and stability operations is something thats ver= y necessary for us to provide. As soon as our military moves out, were lo= oking to move in USAID, State Department, other U.S. Government entities = to provide that type of stabilization assistance so that refugees can ret= urn to their homes as soon as possible, not before theyre ready to but wh= en theyre ready to. We dont want to force people back into situations tha= t are still dangerous. Refugees should return home when its safe for them= to do so. And its incumbent upon us and partner countries and nations an= d organizations to do all we can to repair that damage thats been done, o= nce our military and partner forces have eliminated the security threat.=20= So its a huge challenge for us, just in Iraq and Syria enormous challeng= e. Number of internally displaced persons is in the millions in Iraq and = in Syria. So just in that region alone, we have a huge challenge.=20 You mentioned Venezuela, a different situation but one thats been persist= ent over a number of years with first the current Maduro administration, = but its predecessor administration really governing in ways that have dri= ven what was once a vibrant economy over the brink into an economic disas= ter, at this point a country so rich in natural resources, but now its pe= ople are suffering. Theyre fleeing by the fleeing in enormous numbers ac= ross the borders of Brazil and Colombia, creating straining the resource= s of those countries. Also the outbreak of disease in Venezuela now you = may have seen that the incidence of tuberculosis in Venezuela has spiked.= Its really a very tragic situation, and were not able to get humanitaria= n assistance in because the Maduro government wont allow it.=20 *MS LINDBORG: *You mentioned the number of Venezuelans who are fleeing ac= ross the border into Colombia. And Colombia, of course, is itself in a pr= ecarious place struggling to implement a peace accord that ended 50 years= of its own very bloody civil war. And we have other examples of that. Yo= u talked about Syria, and of course the number of Syrian refugees who hav= e fled to Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon far outweighs the numbers that are = hosted by anywhere else in the world.=20 What are the obligations and the opportunities for the U.S. and our inter= national partners to help ensure that those neighbors arent pushed into t= heir own new cycles of crises because of the burden of the refugees? And = of course, were seeing that this has even affected our allies in Europe, = these outflows.=20 *DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN:* Well, we see in our media stories about the = refugee crises in Europe, for example, and in the Mediterranean, but ther= e are any number of examples I could cite. For example, Pakistan, which h= osts an enormous number of Afghans who have fled violence in Afghanistan,= and its a strain for the Pakistani Government. Its something they cite t= o us as a burden on them in what they are doing in trying to support reco= nciliation in Afghanistan. There are any number of examples in this hemis= phere and around the world of refugees crossing borders, straining the re= sources both of partner countries and NGOs, and the numbers are staggerin= g millions of people displaced.=20 And this administration is focused on the President has made it a point = of the medias focused on defense spending, but were also pushing at the = State Department for other countries and organizations to do more to supp= ort humanitarian relief and assistance. Well remain the leader in humanit= arian assistance we the United States but we want to see other countrie= s stepping up and addressing that problem which is global in scope and st= aggering in the numbers of people affected.=20 *MS LINDBORG:* And you mentioned several times the importance of working = with partners, and I think weve seen U.S. leadership has always been impo= rtant in mobilizing that kind of joint effort to address needs. Are you s= eeing that theres a willingness to join together not just on the provisio= n of humanitarian assistance but on really tackling those root causes as = well?=20 *DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN:* Yes, in certain areas. We had a very good co= nference a few weeks ago in Brussels to address the situation in the Sahe= l. The G5 conference in Brussels attracted, I think it was 70 governments= , many heads of state. It was sponsored by the EU.=20 But as an example of the United States working with partners, including t= he French have been great leaders in this, to address that crisis in the = Sahel and surrounding areas the Lake Chad Basin is an example of work b= y a large number of countries from around the world, not just the region,= not just European countries, but countries from around the world to addr= ess the security situation, supporting the G5 nations as they try to buil= d their security services to protect themselves, but also providing human= itarian assistance, stabilization assistance, and development assistance = for that region. And I just like that as an example of where the world co= mmunity has come together to address a serious problem.=20 *MS LINDBORG:* And I want to go back to Iraq. You noted some of the effor= ts that are underway. I actually just was there recently with our board c= hair Steve Hadley and we were struck by what a pivotal moment this is for= Iraq. And there have been three million internally displaced who have al= ready returned home, and of course, as you noted, two million more, espec= ially from some of the hardest-hit areas like Mosul. We have elections co= ming up in May. There are a lot of challenges left in Iraq.=20 What do you see as the critical, most important issues alongside humanita= rian assistance that have to be addressed and the most important role tha= t the U.S. can play in helping those two million displaced Iraqis still g= o home, and also to keep Iraq from falling into yet another cycle of conf= lict?=20 *DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN:* Certainly. Well, we have weve worked very c= losely with the government in Baghdad, with the Abadi government and thei= r military and security forces in defeating ISIS, moving through Anbar pr= ovince up to Mosul and the liberation of Mosul. But that was really just = the it was just the start of what is a much larger undertaking which is = now going to require long-term efforts for, first, stabilization, as Ive = mentioned; demining large swaths of urban areas; making places habitable = again for internally displaced persons to return. And we the Emir of Kuw= ait hosted a reconstruction conference at the end of January seeking supp= ort from other countries for development in Iraq. We were pleased that th= ere were commitments of over $30 billion, but thats probably a third of w= hats needed to rebuild by what has been destroyed by war and terror in Ir= aq.=20 Our most immediate focus in Iraq is seeking a peaceful election in May, a= s you mentioned. We have been working with Prime Minister Abadi and the g= overnment in Erbil to reconcile the government of the KRG with the nation= al government in Baghdad. I was actually in Baghdad and Erbil about a mon= th ago six weeks ago now to encourage a rapprochement between the Kurds= and the national government.=20 Weve seen some progress recently. Steps have been made to reopen the inte= rnational airports in Iraqi Kurdistan. It was very sad to go back to Iraq= . I had traveled there a number of times when I served in the Bush admini= stration to Erbil. And to the when I was last there in 2008, which was t= he to travel there, I arrived at the new international airport, which ha= d just, just opened. But because of the dispute between Baghdad and Erbil= , the airport had shut down. So when I flew in in late January, my plane = was the only plane on the tarmac, with all of these gates emptied, no int= ernational flights in.=20 Weve worked hard to get the government in Baghdad to work with the govern= ment in Erbil. The airports being reopened. The government in Baghdad is = going to be paying salaries for KRG employees, which is important. Many o= f many hospital workers, teachers, et cetera, havent been paid in months= , so trying to develop improve that relationship and assist the Iraqis i= n conducting a free, fair, and credible election in May to continue the d= evelopment of democracy in Iraq.=20 *MS LINDBORG: *Yeah, we were struck by the shared understanding that with= out a more inclusive, more accountable government, then Iraq will surely = not be able to stay on a positive pathway. So I know that all eyes are on= this election, with hopes that theyll be able to forge that kind of a go= vernment.=20 *DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN: *Its going to be difficult for Prime Minister= Abadi to form a new government, if he were to get enough votes to be in = a position to form a new government, if there isnt more inclusivity, part= icularly with the Kurds and others. So its absolutely necessary for the d= emocracy in Iraq to develop. Weve seen very hopeful signs, and weve been = working closely on a daily basis with the prime minister and his staff. T= heyve come for I had meetings last week with his deputy chief of staff o= n this issue, and we have worked very closely with them on it. So were w= ere hopeful that the election will proceed in a free and peaceful way in = May and lead to a secure government that will lead to greater prosperity = for Iraq.=20 *MS LINDBORG: *And of course, were seeing in all the countries that youve= mentioned corruption is one of the most corrosive aspects of contributin= g to the kind of conflict that leads to humanitarian needs. Do you see th= is as an area where we have effective tools for beginning to address that= ?=20 *DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN: *Well its certainly a pervasive subject. We c= an shift geographically to to Ukraine. I was in Kyiv last month. Corrupt= ion is an enormous problem in Ukraine, and the Poroshenko government is t= rying to address it. Its very difficult; its a difficult challenge for th= e government there, with the security problems that Russia and Russian-su= pported organizations pose, occupying territory in the Donbas, and of cou= rse, Russias annexation of Crimea.=20 But for Ukraine to survive and to prosper, corruption has to be rooted ou= t. And its really a legacy of the transition from the Soviet Union to a = to an independent Ukraine. Corruption was allowed to flourish. Its a very= difficult system to purge of that of that scourge. But its something th= ats absolutely essential for that democracy also focused on upcoming ele= ctions for its parliament and president. But corruption diminishes popula= r support and confidence in government, and that ultimately undermines de= mocracy. So its a priority for us around the world promoting free and fai= r elections and eliminating corruption.=20 *MS LINDBORG:* So I know we dont have a lot more of your time. What keeps= you up at night more than anything else? (Laughter.)=20 *DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN:* I could channel my inner Marine four-star ge= neral and quote Secretary Mattis and say nothing keeps me up at night; I = keep other people up at night. (Laughter.) But I dont have the wherewitha= l to back up that boast.=20 What keeps me up at night is and Ive said this at town halls when Ive vi= sited embassies, our embassies around the world its not any of these cri= ses that weve discussed. Its managing the Department of State and our per= sonnel issues, personnel and people of our department. Its the heart of o= ur department. We dont have tanks. We dont have carrier strike groups. We= have people, men and women in the Civil Service and Foreign Service, and= making sure that they are supported, treated fairly, inspired thats wha= t keeps me up at night, making sure that they are supported and given the= respect they deserve, theyve earned women and men who have served for d= ecades in many of them in very, very difficult places, and acknowledging= their service, supporting them, and keeping the department on a solid fo= oting.=20 Thats my greatest its not a worry. Its my priority. So thats what in an= swer to your question, thats my highest priority.=20 *MS LINDBORG:* Again, I want to thank you for joining us during such a ve= ry, very busy time. I know we asked you long before some of the recent ch= anges, so we very much appreciate your coming over. Thank you for your le= adership during this critical moment. We look forward to having you on ou= r board. Were quite appreciative of your agreeing to do that. And please = join me in thanking Deputy Secretary Sullivan for being with us today.=20= *DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN:* Thank you, Nancy. (Applause.)=20 "The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this= site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. 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Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor: R= emarks at the International Advisory Council's Closing Luncheon
=
03/22/2018 02:38 PM EDT
Remarks
John J. Sullivan
Deputy Secretary of State
United States Institute of Peace
Washington, DC
March 22, 2018

=09

DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN: Good afternoon, and thank you, Nancy, f= or that kind introduction and for your leadership. Thank you to the Unite= d States Institute of Peace and to the International Advisory Council for= inviting me here today. As Nancy mentioned, I=92m honored to have been s= elected to serve on the board as the representative of the State Departme= nt.

=09Before I begin my remarks on humanitarian assistance, I wa= nted to just note that today is a bittersweet day for me because Secretar= y Tillerson is actually returning to his home in Texas today. He=92ll rem= ain as Secretary of State through the end of the month, but he=92s depart= ing the building today, and we=92ll have a ceremony for him in the lobby = as he departs. But I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you how much= he=92s meant to the department and to me personally. His work for our co= untry, leading the department, his voice for peace, for humanitarian assi= stance has been an inspiration for me. And I was honored =96 have been ho= nored to work for him, to have been selected by him to serve as deputy se= cretary of state. And I think if it=92s all right with you, if we could o= ffer him a round of applause in tribute to his service. (Applause.)

=09He is moving back to a more familiar climate in Texas, whi= ch I know suits him well.

=09But I=92m delighted to be here at the U.S. Institute of Pe= ace. For three decades, the institute has been a strong partner of the St= ate Department and USAID as we work to promote greater prosperity and pea= ce throughout the world. As a new member of the board, it=92s a particula= r honor for me to address the International Advisory Council.

=09Today, as Nancy mentioned, I want to provide a few thought= s on the U.S. =96 United States role as a global leader in providing huma= nitarian assistance. I know we don=92t hear a lot about that topic in the= news today, the U.S. role in providing humanitarian assistance; but as w= e know, all of us in this room know, helping those in need is and always = has been one of our country=92s core values and very much in our national= interest. How we assist people in times of conflict, distress, and natur= al disasters reflects how we see the world and is integral to how we exec= ute our foreign policy.

=09The United States is committed to its role as a global lea= der on humanitarian issues. We understand the importance and necessity of= humanitarian assistance, even as we work to preclude the crises that spa= wn the need for assistance. By helping those who bear the brunt of war, n= atural disaster, or the failure of good governance and policy, we preserv= e that chance for a more prosperous and more peaceful world for generatio= ns to come.

=09Today, the United States remains the single largest donor = of international humanitarian assistance. Last year, we delivered more th= an $8 billion in life-saving aid around the world. This includes assistan= ce for basic necessities =96 food, education, health, and protection agai= nst violence.

=09But it=92s no secret that humanitarian challenges are mult= iplying around the world, including in countries that once flourished. I=92= m sorry to say that we have a tragic example in the Southern Hemisphere, = in Latin America, in the crisis in Venezuela, which is entirely man-made,= created by a corrupt regime that denies its people not only ability to c= hoose their leaders, but also the ability to meet their basic needs. UNHC= R estimates that 1.7 million Venezuelans have fled their country since 20= 14 =96 increasingly in search of basic needs such as food and medicine. W= hat=92s even more striking is that over 1.5 million Venezuelans are expec= ted to flee that country in this calendar year.

=09To help the people of Venezuela and those refugees who are= crossing borders into Colombia and Brazil, and all those others affected= by the regime=92s malfeasance, we are supporting regional humanitarian o= perations that provide vulnerable people in impacted border areas with li= fe-saving health and nutrition, shelter, livelihoods, and protection. Ven= ezuelan President Maduro could help his people by opening his country to = humanitarian aid, but instead chooses to tightly limit and control that f= low of assistance. We will continue our diplomatic pressure on his regime= , but until he decides to make the right choices, we will support the reg= ion through humanitarian assistance, including through our announcement o= n Tuesday that we are providing an additional $2.5 million for aid to Ven= ezuelans who have crossed into Colombia.

=09We also continue to support areas where conflict and terro= rism have long uprooted families and taken lives. Just a few weeks ago, w= e announced over $500 million in additional humanitarian assistance for a= ffected populations in Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Nigeria, as we= ll as other countries in the Lake Chad region. This announcement, along w= ith our programming in South Sudan, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic = of the Congo, will continue to help millions of people in Africa who are = facing life-threatening food insecurity and malnutrition as a result of o= ngoing conflicts and prolonged drought.

=09Earlier this year I had the opportunity to visit Iraq for = the fifth U.S.-Iraq Higher Coordinating Committee. Our military has made = great progress at rooting out ISIS, and today 4.5 million Iraqis have bee= n freed from that tyranny, but 3.5 million internally displaced persons =96= excuse me =96 2.5 million internally displaced persons are still seeking= to return to their homes. Effective reconstruction is critical to ensuri= ng ISIS can never return, and we are committed to working with our partne= rs in the region to help the government in Iraq rebuild. Since 2014, the = United States has provided more than $1.7 billion in humanitarian assista= nce for Iraq, and we continue to provide support to promote a safe, volun= tary, and dignified return of Iraqis still displaced by the conflict. Thi= s assistance also supports the rehabilitation of schools, legal aid to re= store housing and property rights, and help millions of Iraqis re-establi= sh their livelihoods.

=09The United States is the largest single country humanitari= an donor for the Syrian response as well, providing nearly $7.7 billion s= ince the start of the crisis in that country. Each month, this assistance= helps Syrians in every governorate, in addition to the over five and a h= alf million Syrians in neighboring countries.

=09And in Yemen, the U.S. has provided nearly $768 million in= humanitarian over the =96 humanitarian assistance over the past two year= s. That includes food, water, emergency medical care, hygiene kits, treat= ment for malnourished children, and other aid. At the same time, we have = repeatedly called on all parties to ensure rapid, safe, and unhindered ac= cess for humanitarian and commercial goods, including food, fuel, and med= icine, as well as aid workers, into and throughout Yemen.

=09Turning to Asia =96 the United States has provided more th= an $177 million to help those affected by conflict in Burma, including as= many as one million refugees displaced to Bangladesh. This assistance pr= ovides protection, emergency shelter, food, and nutritional assistance, a= s well as medical care and psychosocial support for so many who have suff= ered from ethnic cleansing.

=09Well, that=92s a long list, and I wish that list was short= er. But it=92s really just a fraction of the humanitarian needs that exis= t across the globe. And despite our best efforts, most of these crises, c= onflicts, and natural disasters are not going to stop anytime soon. Most = will ultimately require a diplomatic solution =96 results that we are wor= king toward each and every day. But until those solutions arrive, you can= count on the United States to help everyone where we can to alleviate su= ffering and save lives.

=09But one government or one entity can=92t tackle these issu= es alone.

=09We all know that the urgency of the crises we face demands= a global response. And as we continue this humanitarian leadership, we w= ill also continue to emphasize the importance of coordinated, effective, = and efficient international responses, as well as the need for other gove= rnments and other actors in the private sector to step in to contribute t= o humanitarian efforts.

=09This multifaceted advocacy =96 including through our engag= ement with the United Nations and directly with partner nations around th= e world =96 focuses on expanding the number of donors, increasing the glo= bal contributions to humanitarian appeals and responses, as well as advoc= ating for humanitarian access wherever necessary.

=09We need other governments, NGOs, and the private sector to= work together to respond to humanitarian crises at every phase. <= /span>

=09The United States is working with international partners t= o provide funding, technical assistance, and other forms of support that = help leverage humanitarian and development investments.

=09And most importantly for this audience, we need USIP to hi= ghlight these issues wherever they arise and promote preventative diploma= cy and peaceful resolutions.

=09We also believe the private sector has great potential to = provide meaningful support and engagement in humanitarian responses. We h= ope that organizations like USIP can help us partner with the private sec= tor to help the vast number of people around the world who are affected b= y crises and to address long-term sustainability challenges.

=09A global response, with increasing financial support of mu= ltiple nations and groups, is essential to effectively moving more help t= o the many who are in need and to ensure a greater regional stability acr= oss the globe.

=09Those are some preliminary thoughts from me. I know I=92ve= thrown out a lot of numbers and countries, but it=92s important for me t= o come here and emphasize the importance to the Department of State of ou= r humanitarian mission through our colleagues with USAID and working thro= ugh our own bureaus.

=09So I think there=92s an opportunity now for questions. I=92= d like to turn it back over to Nancy. If there are topics you=92d like to= talk about, I=92d like to continue our discussion. (Applause.)

=09MS LINDBORG: Thank you, Deputy Secretary Sullivan. = And we especially appreciate your taking the time to come over during suc= h a busy day and such an important day, and I know this will greatly incr= ease your responsibilities. Thank you also for a rather sobering tour glo= bally and for the leadership that the United States continues to provide = on humanitarian assistance.

=09So you just described an overwhelming number of crises wit= h increased flows, increased needs. How does this make you at the =96 and= colleagues at State and the administration think about what the U.S. sho= uld be doing to think about tackling the causes of these crises and of th= ese outflows of refugees? How do we begin to get more upstream on these i= ssues?

=09DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN: Well, as I suggested in = my remarks, just looking at humanitarian assistance, which is =96 once th= e crisis has already developed and people are in danger or hungry, just m= eeting those immediate needs is something that the U.S. Government and ce= rtainly not just the Department of State can do. Getting at the deeper ro= ot of the problem requires an even greater, broader support.

=09Looking at what we do in the U.S. Government, I=92d focus,= for example, in =96 on Africa, particularly in countries like Nigeria, t= he countries in the Sahel and Northern Africa, the tragic scenes that we = have seen of refugees and migrants leaving Libya, Tunisia, Algeria for so= uthern Europe. And those people are coming from countries farther south i= n Africa, where there is conflict, poverty, et cetera. So we=92ve got to = have =96 from the U.S. Government=92s perspective, it requires an integra= ted strategy with our colleagues at the Department of Defense to partner = with host governments. For example, the countries in the Sahel, the so-ca= lled G5 =96 working with them to address the terrorism problems that are = presented in the region, to establish a baseline of security so that huma= nitarian assistance, development assistance can flow into the region, and= remove the causes of people who are fleeing those countries, risking the= ir lives to cross the Mediterranean to get to hope for a better future in= Europe.

=09So it=92s a whole-of-government effort. It sounds trite to= say, but it=92s certainly true. We work closely with our colleagues at t= he Department of Defense, USAID, the State Department. I was in Abuja, Ni= geria a few months ago, and the challenges are enormous. The threat from = Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa, particularly in northwestern Nigeria, is= very serious, as we=92ve seen just in the last few weeks with the kidnap= ping of another 110 schoolgirls, most of whom have been released, but onl= y on the condition that they not be allowed to go back to school, which i= s astounding on its face. But we=92re thankful that at least most of thos= e young girls have been released, but we=92ve got to address the security= situation.

=09But there are deeper problems, economic and social, that r= equire not just U.S. Government assistance but assistance from a wide arr= ay of private organizations, other countries, the United Nations. So that= =92s what we=92re looking to mobilize to address the causes of the refuge= e flows out of that area and prevent these crises from developing.=

=09MS LINDBORG: So just building on that a little bit,= you mentioned in your remarks the entirely man-made causes of what=92s g= oing on in Venezuela. Sadly, you could say that about any number of place= s around the world. And I=92m very taken by the statistic that notes a de= cade ago, 80 percent of our humanitarian assistance went to victims of na= tural disaster. A decade later, that=92s flipped. You alluded to it in so= me of your previous answer, but if we could just go a little further in t= erms of: How does that, therefore, change how we think about the response= ? It=92s not only humanitarian assistance, but necessarily thinking diffe= rently about how some of our other assistance and activities work togethe= r, not just to meet the suffering but to resolve the sources of the confl= ict.

=09DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN: Sure. I think one of the= sources of =96 one of the reasons why those numbers flipped was the pers= istence of the security =96 not just security threat, but the actual mani= festation of the carnage inflicted by organizations like ISIS and al-Qaid= a in Syria, Iraq, Libya, you name it. This conflict with these terror org= anizations actually started before September 11th, but for most of us in = our consciousness was really crystallized on September 11th. But that con= flict has continued for the last 17 years, and I don't know that we see a= n end in sight.

=09We may have defeated the so-called caliphate, removed almo= st all of their territorial ambitions in Iraq and in Syria, but they=92ve= dispersed. They=92ve moved to other countries. There are still pockets o= f ISIS left in Syria, particularly in eastern Syria, that are =96 remain = a threat. Our mission in Syria, in northern Syria, remains the complete e= radication of ISIS. But as we move down =96 just using Syria as an exampl= e, as the U.S. military moves down the Euphrates River Valley, supporting= =96 providing support to our partner forces in the SDF =96 when we liber= ate =96 when we remove ISIS from those areas, there=92s an enormous need = for assistance for just stabilization, demining, removing all of the boob= y traps, mines, and so forth that ISIS has left behind in places like Raq= qa and elsewhere in Syria and Mosul in Iraq.

=09Beginning the resumption of basic services like water and = electricity =96 we=92re not really talking about nation-building here. We= =92re talking about the resumption of basic stabilization operations so t= hat people can return to their homes, be safe =96 removing rubble from st= reets; for buildings that have been damaged and are dangerous to return t= o, knocking them down and clearing away dangerous obstacles; demining as = I mentioned =96 that type of =96 those types of assistance and stability = operations is something that=92s very necessary for us to provide. As soo= n as our military moves out, we=92re looking to move in USAID, State Depa= rtment, other U.S. Government entities to provide that type of stabilizat= ion assistance so that refugees can return to their homes as soon as poss= ible, not before they=92re ready to but when they=92re ready to. We don=92= t want to force people back into situations that are still dangerous. Ref= ugees should return home when it=92s safe for them to do so. And it=92s i= ncumbent upon us and partner countries and nations and organizations to d= o all we can to repair that damage that=92s been done, once our military = and partner forces have eliminated the security threat.

=09So it=92s a huge challenge for us, just in Iraq and Syria = =96 enormous challenge. Number of internally displaced persons is in the = millions in Iraq and in Syria. So just in that region alone, we have a hu= ge challenge.

=09You mentioned Venezuela, a different situation but one tha= t=92s been persistent over a number of years with first the current Madur= o administration, but its predecessor administration really governing in = ways that have driven what was once a vibrant economy over the brink into= an economic disaster, at this point a country so rich in natural resourc= es, but now its people are suffering. They=92re fleeing by the =96 fleein= g in enormous numbers across the borders of Brazil and Colombia, creating= =96 straining the resources of those countries. Also the outbreak of dis= ease in Venezuela now =96 you may have seen that the incidence of tubercu= losis in Venezuela has spiked. It=92s really a very tragic situation, and= we=92re not able to get humanitarian assistance in because the Maduro go= vernment won=92t allow it.

=09MS LINDBORG: You mentioned the number of Venezuelan= s who are fleeing across the border into Colombia. And Colombia, of cours= e, is itself in a precarious place struggling to implement a peace accord= that ended 50 years of its own very bloody civil war. And we have other = examples of that. You talked about Syria, and of course the number of Syr= ian refugees who have fled to Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon far outweighs t= he numbers that are hosted by anywhere else in the world.

=09What are the obligations and the opportunities for the U.S= . and our international partners to help ensure that those neighbors aren= =92t pushed into their own new cycles of crises because of the burden of = the refugees? And of course, we=92re seeing that this has even affected o= ur allies in Europe, these outflows.

=09DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN: Well, we see in our medi= a stories about the refugee crises in Europe, for example, and in the Med= iterranean, but there are any number of examples I could cite. For exampl= e, Pakistan, which hosts an enormous number of Afghans who have fled viol= ence in Afghanistan, and it=92s a strain for the Pakistani Government. It= =92s something they cite to us as a burden on them in what they are doing= in trying to support reconciliation in Afghanistan. There are any number= of examples in this hemisphere and around the world of refugees crossing= borders, straining the resources both of partner countries and NGOs, and= the numbers are staggering =96 millions of people displaced.

=09And this administration is focused on =96 the President ha= s made it a point of =96 the media=92s focused on defense spending, but w= e=92re also pushing at the State Department for other countries and organ= izations to do more to support humanitarian relief and assistance. We=92l= l remain the leader in humanitarian assistance =96 we the United States =96= but we want to see other countries stepping up and addressing that probl= em which is global in scope and staggering in the numbers of people affec= ted.

=09MS LINDBORG: And you mentioned several times the im= portance of working with partners, and I think we=92ve seen U.S. leadersh= ip has always been important in mobilizing that kind of joint effort to a= ddress needs. Are you seeing that there=92s a willingness to join togethe= r not just on the provision of humanitarian assistance but on really tack= ling those root causes as well?

=09DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN: Yes, in certain areas. W= e had a very good conference a few weeks ago in Brussels to address the s= ituation in the Sahel. The G5 conference in Brussels attracted, I think i= t was 70 governments, many heads of state. It was sponsored by the EU.

=09But as an example of the United States working with partne= rs, including the French have been great leaders in this, to address that= crisis in the Sahel and surrounding areas =96 the Lake Chad Basin =96 is= an example of work by a large number of countries from around the world,= not just the region, not just European countries, but countries from aro= und the world to address the security situation, supporting the G5 nation= s as they try to build their security services to protect themselves, but= also providing humanitarian assistance, stabilization assistance, and de= velopment assistance for that region. And I just like that as an example = of where the world community has come together to address a serious probl= em.

=09MS LINDBORG: And I want to go back to Iraq. You not= ed some of the efforts that are underway. I actually just was there recen= tly with our board chair Steve Hadley and we were struck by what a pivota= l moment this is for Iraq. And there have been three million internally d= isplaced who have already returned home, and of course, as you noted, two= million more, especially from some of the hardest-hit areas like Mosul. = We have elections coming up in May. There are a lot of challenges left in= Iraq.

=09What do you see as the critical, most important issues alo= ngside humanitarian assistance that have to be addressed and the most imp= ortant role that the U.S. can play in helping those two million displaced= Iraqis still go home, and also to keep Iraq from falling into yet anothe= r cycle of conflict?

=09DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN: Certainly. Well, we have= =96 we=92ve worked very closely with the government in Baghdad, with the= Abadi government and their military and security forces in defeating ISI= S, moving through Anbar province up to Mosul and the liberation of Mosul.= But that was really just the =96 it was just the start of what is a much= larger undertaking which is now going to require long-term efforts for, = first, stabilization, as I=92ve mentioned; demining large swaths of urban= areas; making places habitable again for internally displaced persons to= return. And we =96 the Emir of Kuwait hosted a reconstruction conference= at the end of January seeking support from other countries for developme= nt in Iraq. We were pleased that there were commitments of over $30 billi= on, but that=92s probably a third of what=92s needed to rebuild by what h= as been destroyed by war and terror in Iraq.

=09Our most immediate focus in Iraq is seeking a peaceful ele= ction in May, as you mentioned. We have been working with Prime Minister = Abadi and the government in Erbil to reconcile the government of the KRG = with the national government in Baghdad. I was actually in Baghdad and Er= bil about a month ago =96 six weeks ago now =96 to encourage a rapprochem= ent between the Kurds and the national government.

=09We=92ve seen some progress recently. Steps have been made = to reopen the international airports in Iraqi Kurdistan. It was very sad = to go back to Iraq. I had traveled there a number of times when I served = in the Bush administration to Erbil. And to the =96 when I was last there= in 2008, which was the =96 to travel there, I arrived at the new interna= tional airport, which had just, just opened. But because of the dispute b= etween Baghdad and Erbil, the airport had shut down. So when I flew in in= late January, my plane was the only plane on the tarmac, with all of the= se gates emptied, no international flights in.

=09We=92ve worked hard to get the government in Baghdad to wo= rk with the government in Erbil. The airport=92s being reopened. The gove= rnment in Baghdad is going to be paying salaries for KRG employees, which= is important. Many of =96 many hospital workers, teachers, et cetera, ha= ven=92t been paid in months, so trying to develop =96 improve that relati= onship and assist the Iraqis in conducting a free, fair, and credible ele= ction in May to continue the development of democracy in Iraq.

=09MS LINDBORG: Yeah, we were struck by the shared und= erstanding that without a more inclusive, more accountable government, th= en Iraq will surely not be able to stay on a positive pathway. So I know = that all eyes are on this election, with hopes that they=92ll be able to = forge that kind of a government.

=09DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN: It=92s going to be diffi= cult for Prime Minister Abadi to form a new government, if he were to get= enough votes to be in a position to form a new government, if there isn=92= t more inclusivity, particularly with the Kurds and others. So it=92s abs= olutely necessary for the democracy in Iraq to develop. We=92ve seen very= hopeful signs, and we=92ve been working closely on a daily basis with th= e prime minister and his staff. They=92ve come for =96 I had meetings las= t week with his deputy chief of staff on this issue, and we have worked v= ery closely with them on it. So we=92re =96 we=92re hopeful that the elec= tion will proceed in a free and peaceful way in May and lead to a secure = government that will lead to greater prosperity for Iraq.

=09MS LINDBORG: And of course, we=92re seeing in all t= he countries that you=92ve mentioned corruption is one of the most corros= ive aspects of contributing to the kind of conflict that leads to humanit= arian needs. Do you see this as an area where we have effective tools for= beginning to address that?

=09DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN: Well it=92s certainly a = pervasive subject. We can shift geographically to =96 to Ukraine. I was i= n Kyiv last month. Corruption is an enormous problem in Ukraine, and the = Poroshenko government is trying to address it. It=92s very difficult; it=92= s a difficult challenge for the government there, with the security probl= ems that Russia and Russian-supported organizations pose, occupying terri= tory in the Donbas, and of course, Russia=92s annexation of Crimea.

=09But for Ukraine to survive and to prosper, corruption has = to be rooted out. And it=92s really a legacy of the transition from the S= oviet Union to a =96 to an independent Ukraine. Corruption was allowed to= flourish. It=92s a very difficult system to purge of that =96 of that sc= ourge. But it=92s something that=92s absolutely essential for that democr= acy =96 also focused on upcoming elections for its parliament and preside= nt. But corruption diminishes popular support and confidence in governmen= t, and that ultimately undermines democracy. So it=92s a priority for us = around the world promoting free and fair elections and eliminating corrup= tion.

=09MS LINDBORG: So I know we don=92t have a lot more o= f your time. What keeps you up at night more than anything else? (Laughte= r.)

=09DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN: I could channel my inner= Marine four-star general and quote Secretary Mattis and say nothing keep= s me up at night; I keep other people up at night. (Laughter.) But I don=92= t have the wherewithal to back up that boast.

=09What keeps me up at night is =96 and I=92ve said this at t= own halls when I=92ve visited embassies, our embassies around the world =96= it=92s not any of these crises that we=92ve discussed. It=92s managing t= he Department of State and our personnel issues, personnel and people of = our department. It=92s the heart of our department. We don=92t have tanks= . We don=92t have carrier strike groups. We have people, men and women in= the Civil Service and Foreign Service, and making sure that they are sup= ported, treated fairly, inspired =96 that=92s what keeps me up at night, = making sure that they are supported and given the respect they deserve, t= hey=92ve earned =96 women and men who have served for decades in =96 many= of them in very, very difficult places, and acknowledging their service,= supporting them, and keeping the department on a solid footing. <= /span>

=09That=92s my greatest =96 it=92s not a worry. It=92s my pri= ority. So that=92s what =96 in answer to your question, that=92s my highe= st priority.

=09MS LINDBORG: Again, I want to thank you for joining= us during such a very, very busy time. I know we asked you long before s= ome of the recent changes, so we very much appreciate your coming over. T= hank you for your leadership during this critical moment. We look forward= to having you on our board. We=92re quite appreciative of your agreeing = to do that. And please join me in thanking Deputy Secretary Sullivan for = being with us today.

=09DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN: Thank you, Nancy. (Applause.)


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