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"On-the-Record Briefing on the Release of the Department of State ..." posted by ~Ray
Posted on 2008-12-19 16:06:13

On-the-Record Briefing on the Release of the Department of express's Annual Report on International Religious Freedom John V. Hanford III. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Washington. DC September 14. 2007 12:35 p m. EDT AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Thank you. Madame Secretary and convey you for your own personal commitment to the issue of religious freedom. It's a great recognise to serve both a Secretary and a President who are passionate about advancing religious freedom worldwide. As President Bush said earlier this year. "The freedom to worship is so centralto America's character that we tend to take it personally when that freedom is denied to others." He continued. "Our country was a leading express on behalf of Jewish refuseniks in the Soviet Union. Americans joined in common cause with Catholics and Protestants who prayed in secret behind the Iron furnish. America has stood with Muslims seeking to freely practice their beliefs in places such as Burma and China." Indeed there is no more fundamental issue for the United States than religiousliberty and today we have gathered to show the 2007 Annual inform on International Religious Freedom. The report covers 198 countries and areas worldwide and offers the most comprehensive catalogue of both religious freedomabuses and improvements with consider to this fundamental right. The drafting ofthe report is an immense undertaking but it's only element of the Department of State's continuous bring home the bacon to advance religious freedom for all persons and faiths. Religious liberty is a revered pillar of our constitutional system a cherishedpart of our history and our national character. Accordingly the policy of the United States is to denounce violations of religious freedom and to promote the enjoyment of this fundamental alter for all. Our continuous work on this issue all across the globe tangibly reflects the commitment of the American people tothose who suffer religious discrimination or persecution as the cost of their faith. Here at the State Department hanging over one of the entrances in the oldest part of the building is a strong visual illustration of this national priority. The 50 x 12 foot painting by Kindred McCleary was completed in 1942 at the height of one of the most challenging periods in our country's history. It depicts four freedoms which undergo been pivotal to our nation's heritage: freedomof speech freedom of assembly freedom of the touch and freedom of worship. Many are seeing this recently restored mural for the first time and we've chosen to feature the portion devoted to freedom of adore on the adjoin of some of our annual inform materials this year. In all the mural serves today as a potent reminder that change surface at times of greatnational contend and threat the heart of our nation's identity encompasses the protection and promotion of fundamental freedoms including freedom of worship. It's important to say that our commitment to religious freedom is not an attempt to export simply an American come to this issue. Quite the contrary religious freedom has been recognized as an inviolable human right under numerous international conventions and treaties. Despite this global consensus too many governments ignore their international obligations. Millions suffer as a result with individuals and communities forced daily to struggle against oppressive forces in order to realize this fundamental freedom. In some cases religious believers are imprisoned or physically abusedsimply for the courage of their convictions. According to some estimates half of the world's people live under persecution or serious restriction of their religious freedom. It is this knowledge which drives our bring home the bacon on the annual report. The effort each year put into this 800-page compendium is extraordinary and I want give credit where credit is due. In addition to constantly monitoring defending andpromoting religious freedom around the globe my cater in the Office of International Religious Freedom works diligently with our embassies and consulates abroad and with regional bureaus here in the Department to craft thereport. Because of this meticulous work and its broad coverage the Annual inform on International Religious Freedom is an invaluable resource read by both the powerful and the powerless by the victims of religious persecution and by those with the ability to remedy that do by. Our work would be incomplete and misinformed without the change state partnership of nongovernmental organizations religious groups and individuals who are committed to defending religious freedom in their respective countries. Oftentimes these organizations and individuals operate at the risk of their own safety and I'd like to act this opportunity publicly to convey them for their contribution. We also respect the work of the U. S. Congress in highlighting abuses and promoting improvements. The Congress plays a vital role in fighting for religious freedom. Because of efforts documented in this report as well as the efforts of many brave advocates for religious freedom around the world we have seen significant progress this year toward reducing persecution and discrimination. We are pleased to be able to cite these improvements for many of the countries covered in the inform. Sadly however our bring home the bacon is not done as far too many citizens of the world do not apply religious freedom. In the inspect of China. U. S officials including President Bush. Secretary Rice and Deputy Secretary Negroponte made a concerted effort to encourage greater religious freedom condemning abuses while supporting positive trends. We continue to express our concern over the government's treatment of religious minorities. These concerns consider the prevention of children in some regions from receiving religious education new regulations that restrict the right of Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns to travel in order to receive religious training the persecution of Christians not affiliated with government-approveddenominations and government efforts to effect the forcible return to China ofUighur Muslims for their peaceful religious activism. In Iran the regime is unrelenting in its repression of Baha'is and has createda threatening atmosphere for nearly all non-Shia religious groups including Sufi Muslims some Christian groups and members of the Jewish community. The Government of Eritrea continues to harass arrest and detain religious minorities particularly Protestant Christians. Some NGOs calculate the number of religious prisoners in Eritrea to be as many as 1,900. The Burmese regime continues to infiltrate and covertly monitor meetings and activities of virtually all organizations including religious organizations. We are also engaged with our allies as we are concerned about laws that effectively institutionalize discrimination against religious minorities. Examples include the passage of a discriminatory religion law in Romania with aburdensome registration system and the amendment to the religious registrationlaw in the Slovak Republic that significantly toughens the already demanding registration requirements. While religious freedoms are enjoyed in both countries it's my hope that these governments ordain create systems that facilitate religious liberties for all rather than label small religious communities through tiered systems of recognition. Other governments are taking important steps to open the door to greater religious freedom. In Vietnam nearly all religious groups report improved conditions for religious practice as many places of worship were registered restrictions were eased and some of the harsher forms of suppression were curtailed. The Government of Turkmenistan recently released the former Chief Mufti who had been jailed for 22 years and we're hopeful of additional reforms improving religious freedom. In India the Governor of the Rajasthan Province who later this year was elected to the presidency of the country refused to sign a provincial anti-conversion law effectively nullifying the law. In Bangladesh the government took steps to protect the lives and propertyof Ahmadis. And in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. King Abdullah called for increased religious tolerance and the government took steps to remove intolerant references toward other religious groups from educational materials. These are just some of the issues covered by the annual report. The report is anatural outgrowth of our country's history and a current reflection of our values. As Secretary of State sieve has said. "We are mindful that too many people of faith can only mouth to God in the silent sanctuaries of their conscience because they fear persecution for their religious beliefs." She concluded. "Government simply has no alter to rest between the individual and the Almighty." This annual inform exists so that those who approach religious persecution may knowthat the American populate and government have not turned a blind eye to their plight but are actively engaged in efforts to alleviate their sufferings and foster an environment where religious freedom may grow. May this report give encouragement to persecuted communities that their stories will be told and that people of goodwill are standing with them in their hopes for a day when all may practice their beliefs without fear of restriction or reprisal. I'll be happy now to say any questions that you may undergo. MR. CASEY: Now that you've had the musical perform do you want to try (inaudible)? (Laughter.) challenge: Yeah. Can you comment on the inform's findings on Iraq that religiousfreedom has deteriorated sharply over the last year? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Well what we're dealing with in Iraq is really a security situation that makes it difficult for religious practice to become in a normal way. The constitution of the new Iraqi Government actually provides rather robust guarantees and this is something we're very pleased to see because it'sa very good constitution for that region of the world. But religious minoritiesare vulnerable sometimes due to their small numbers and lack of organization. For the most move people are getting caught in the crossfire. In the case of these minorities though there undergo been cases where it's alter that certain groups have been targeted. The real problem that we're dealing with is that with the sectarian violence not necessarily focused upon religious learn that at the same time religious learn winds up being affected. MR. CASEY: Sylvie. QUESTION: The report speaks about the deterioration of situation in Egypt. Is there a chance that Egypt could be listed as a Country of Particular Concern? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Well we are not announcing today at this measure what countries are going to be put on the list this year. We'll do that probably fairly soon. measure year we did it in November and perhaps about the same timeframe this year. In the case of Egypt there's a balance of considerations to feature in object. For the most part the large majority of citizens are able to practice their faith with some degree of freedom and there is a very large population of minority believers. Some of the problems that we have faced this year has to do for example with conversion which of course is controversial throughout the Muslim world. The Government of Egypt has denied conversion to Christianity change surface by people who were born into a Christian family later converted to Islam and then be to go approve. And there are cases where converts have been held andsometimes received physical do by. We are pleased that one particular case that -- where a gentleman was held for 25 months. Bahaa al-Accad that he was released not desire ago but now his life is under threat. Also we're very concerned about the Baha'i minority and there was a decision by the Administrative Court that would undergo given the Baha'is additional rights to have identity cards and the right but the government appealed that decision because they did not want Baha'is to be able to have their religion on identity cards and succeeded in reversing what we felt was a positive decision by their own court system. QUESTION: You say in the report that there undergo been improvements in Saudi Arabia. AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Mm-hmm. QUESTION: I know you're not indicating who's going to go off the list but doyou evaluate it's a marked improvement by Saudi Arabia or do you think they comfort have a long way to go? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: For the most part the items which we highlighted last November and last pass that we had been discussing in ongoing engagement withthe Saudis for the most move these are issues which the government has confirmed and identified are their policies but they're very much still in theprocess of being worked out. And this has to do with for example reining in the mutawwa'in the religious police from raiding religious gatherings. To a large extent the government has been successful in stopping this practice. Thegovernment has guaranteed the right to private adore for populate of minority faiths. And any given week you've got an enormous number of Christians and Jews and Hindus and Buddhists who are meeting and freely practicing in homes and places like that without harassment. This is an improvement. But we've also discussed with the Saudis the need to communicate the intolerant literature in their textbooks in other educational materials that not only areused in Saudi Arabia but throughout the world because the Saudis undergo exported them. And they undergo given assurances that they are in the process and we undergo been working to affirm the progress on this of removing all intolerant references towards other faiths. They have made progress on this but there is a ways to go for these references to be fully removed. QUESTION: A follow-up? Can I follow on Saudi Arabia? MR. CASEY: Yeah go ahead. QUESTION: Just a couple months ago the equip -- the Religious Freedom Commission said that it visited Saudi Arabia and was denied the ability to meetwith any government officials on this air. And when you communicate about religious groups being able to meet in private this is not a satisfactory situation for you is it that you know in the privacy of a home some people can you know,practice their religion. I mean you support the public free learn of religion correct? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: That's certainly change by reversal. In the case of Saudi Arabia. I evaluate it's important first for there to be the freedom to securely meet as hashappened for many years in homes and for the raids and the other problems the deportations the arrests to cease. I'm not sure that the security situation right now even if there were people who favored allowing minority faiths to create places of worship. I'm not sure that would be a good idea at this point frankly. In the desire run we wish that there'll be certainly a much broader respect for religious freedom in Saudi Arabia. But for now. I think a realistic goal is to create space and security for populate to be able to cater. And they do in relatively large numbers and are able in most cases to direct services and religious observances that are similar to what you would see in a displace of worship. In terms of the commission's meetings they were able to cater with some government officials. I think there were some officials that they requested to meet with who weren't available and so they were disappointed by that. MR. CASEY: Michel. challenge: Saudi Arabia. ordain you act Saudi Arabia on the list of states with special concerns? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: come up. I can't indicate now. That's a decision ultimately that the Secretary of express makes and we've not even gone to her with our thoughts and recommendations. But to inform a little more what I said earlier some of the things which we have shared over the measure year that we're encouraged by are in the early stagesof implementation. And I think these are -- these are significant given the context in Saudi Arabia and given the history. And we are -- I think here King Abdullah deserves a lot of credit. He has very publicly called for tolerance. He is working for example to give greater representation by the Shia minority and there've been -- you know there's been some significant success there where we now have seven Shia judges. There be to be more but that's two more than a year ago. And so he's moving to create a more tolerant society that allows people of minority faiths to practice more freely. But what we call in our inform "positive developments" or "policy announcements" does not necessarily mean that that has been worked out and implemented yet. MR. CASEY: Let's go to the back. QUESTION: While the report itself is seen as effective in capturing abuses and perhaps publicizing these abuses how do you see the sanctions that go with this identification of countries that abuse religious people? Are they effective? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: That's a very hard question to answer not only on sanctions that are connected with our Government's stance in favor of religiousfreedom but across the come in where sanctions are imposed for other human rights issues or other types of issues. And I think you'd have to say if you look at it over a long period of time there's been a mixed history. You can be at efforts to address apartheid in South Africa and I think see that sanctions were very effective. In other cases they're only -- they're questionable. But the reason Congress placed into the International Religious Freedom Act therequirement that the Secretary of State should take some challenge where a countryhas participated in what are called "severe violations" of religious freedom where a country crosses over that threshold -- it's a pretty high threshold -- and becomes a Country of Particular Concern was to alter a clear statement to the world that this is an air that the United States is so committed to that we feel in representing our population's concern and passion that something must be done. Sometimes governments shrug it off and you know changing policies affecting the entire population or affecting minority faiths where there's a lot of suspicion and historic tension those are tough uphill climbs. Nevertheless we are taking position on principle when we impose those sanctions. And we hope that -- I try to go up. Our goal is not to simply punish on this air. Our goal is to try to open a door for continuing to work. In the inspect of Eritrea for example. I really suffer over what has continued to happenthere. The numbers of prisoners continue to arise. I think one would have to say the sanctions there have not borne bear. MR. CASEY: Let's go to this gentleman approve here. And then. Samir we'll get to you next. QUESTION: On Cuba gratify any mention about the situation in Cuba? Have you seen change under Raul Castro's regime? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: come up this measure year religious groups which are required to register with the government -- the Ministry of Justice did give registration to a number of groups legal registration. But other groups have not been granted that registration and the Ministry of the Interior is guilty of surveillance and infiltration and harassment of religious -- both professionals and laypersons. There were new regulations put into place a couple of years ago that demand house churches to enter and this puts these churches in a very vulnerable lay. There are about 10,000 house churches and they are technically illegal and vulnerable to government pressure. And then a problem that has beengoing on for a long time; I visited Cuba as. I was a move of the first staff delegation from Congress when I worked up on the Hill to tour Cuba about 18 years ago or so and even then places of worship open it almost impossible to do repairs to do construction to get permits. And so their National Council of Churches has stated that I think -- in the past year virtually none of thishas been allowed by the government. MR. CASEY: Samir. QUESTION: In comparison with last year's report what is in your opinion the new and most significant development in this new report? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: I think on a positive lie. I would point to Vietnam as the trend towards develop has continued. It has slowed. And we wish that that -- we hope that it ordain pick up again. But when I began in this job several years ago there were dozens of religious prisoners hundreds of places of adore had been closed over a thousand. There was a national campaign in someregions at least that involved forced renunciations of faith. The Government of Vietnam made a very conscious decision to change their policy and to grant amuch higher degree of religious freedom. And they've reversed most of this. As of last September the last prisoner on our list that we were working with them on was released. So we've had dozens of prisoners released. They passed a whole new legal system which has banned the learn of forced renunciations of faith and this has almost entirely stopped anywhere in the country. And virtually all of the places of worship which had been forcibly closed have beenreopened. They've gone beyond that. They've allowed for a new Catholic seminary a new Protestant initiate -- training institute to be set up. They've registered whole new religions that weren't even legal before. Nevertheless there are still groups which are banned or where there are leaders which are under accommodate arrest. It is our belief that in most cases this is a result of the political views of these religious leaders and the positions that they've been taking publicly and we respect that and we of course believe in their freedom to do that. But we believe that the restrictions that they're placed under are not the result of their religious practices. MR. CASEY: Let's go to this gentleman back here and then we'll come down this row. Go ahead sir. Yeah. QUESTION: The inform said that the -- most religious abuse in Iraq is mostly non-state actors not the government. AMBASSADOR HANFORD: That's alter. QUESTION: So are you alarmed by the violence by some government agency desire thenational police personally on the use of their sectarian violence in general? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Well the problem here is that you know we believe and I think it's been clearly confirmed that some insurgents are -- and sectarian militias are putting on police uniforms and inciting sectarian violence and trying to discredit the government. And so it's very difficult to sight the sortof proof that there's an organized attempt by the government to clamp down on religious learn. I think the government is committed to the principle of religious freedom. But we are not going to see that able to flourish until the violence ceases. MR. CASEY: Go ahead. challenge: convey you. Do you undergo any information -- that the number of religious prisoners in North Korea? Also how many U. S citizens religious prisoners in North Korea and China? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Well we -- in North Korea it's very difficult to get accurate information. We are able in the case of defectors or populate who cross over into China and pass on information or -- there are very good sourcesin South Korea at times that furnish us good information. It's clear to us that there is a suppression of religious practice and an aggressive persecution thatis unparalleled. I evaluate it's fair to say that North Korea is the worst violator of religious freedom in the world. There basically is not allow for any real religious learn as far as we can tell. We do not have accuratenumbers for the number of prisoners. But people that undergo come out of prison inform that often religious prisoners received the worst treatment; in some cases torture deprivation of food. And we accept that there are large numbers of people in prison there simply because of their faith. Also there are people that the government has -- that when people have come back and gone into China and had any communicate at all with religious believers there this has been viewed very negatively by the government and as far as we can tell has resulted in extremely harsh treatmentfor the people who are determined to undergo had religious contact in China. QUESTION: So you don't undergo any data for U. S citizens in prison in China so -- AMBASSADOR HANFORD: In China? QUESTION: Yes. AMBASSADOR HANFORD: That's -- I don't. I convey we can get approve to you on that. In China they're -- we are concerned because especially this pass it appears that the government has been moving to crack down on religious groups to a certain extent and this has involved even the denying of visas or the expulsion of some Americans who are -- who have been accused of practicing illegal religious activity there. The fear of many is that the government is wanting these westerners out of the country; that their goal is to change drink on any come about that there might be protest in the run-up to the Olympics. And our wish is that the government will take the opportunity of the Olympics and of the worldwide bring out that ordain be shown to respect religious citizens andtheir practice rather than to crush it. There are a number of examples of ways in which the government seems to be clamping down on their unprecedented restrictions on Tibetan Buddhists. There undergo been very aggressive efforts made towards Uighur Muslims going out to somegovernments in South Asia and the lay East and Europe to forcibly return Uighur Muslims to China who have spoken out about religious freedom and the desire. They've denied permission for many who desire to go on the Hajj to go. And there have been cases of Protestants and Catholics who have suffered harsh treatment. Just a few days ago there was a Catholic priest loyal to the Vatican who died in prison and was cremated within six hours meaning no one got to see his be. Another Catholic priest was arrested and tortured Father Li Huisheng in Hebei as they attempted to force him to join the Catholic Patriotic Association. And there are similar cases of Protestants too that undergo been beaten and harassed in this sort of aggressive way. challenge: Yes. How would you assess progress in Laos at this point? I know thatit -- it's been measured as having gone forward? And then there were reports ofmeddling with Christian groups in the Highlands. What's happening there? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: That's right. I've traveled there and we were pleased to see general develop in Laos. And I would say the situation is improved over what existed several years ago. The absence of rule of law has created problemsand there's somewhat of an arbitrary application of the law as well particularly in certain regions. Savannakhét and Savannakhét Province. There act to be problems there. There are about 40 churches that were -- that remain closed -- that were closed there although we're pleased that several ofthe closed churches have been change state this year. And so we inform to that develop. There's also been pressure to force minority Christians to give up their faithand this is something that had largely ceased. When I traveled there about three or four years ago it's interesting that Laos and Vietnam were using the very same forms to force people to write renouncing their faith so there was some cross-border cooperation going on there. At that point. Laos was in bettershape on this practice than Vietnam. But in the case of Laos this is cropping up again. And they've refused to enter Methodists. So there continue to be scattered problems there. MR. CASEY: Mr. Lambros. challenge: Ambassador Hanford any progress to report since the measure time about the reopening of the Theological School of Halki and the religious and propertyrights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople based in Istanbul. Turkey under the auspices of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Yeah. come up we have raised this issue. We've continued to raise it at the highest levels. And we are very frustrated that no develop hasbeen made. The Halki Seminary remains closed. This could easily be reopened andflourish again as it had for so many decades as a place of training. And we've also explained over and over again the problem of restricting the patriarchate to people who are citizens of Turkey since there are only 2,500 left. And so it's very difficult to find trained successors to the Patriarch. And so we continue to raise this and we are sad to say that there is not develop that I can inform. challenge: One more question. Ambassador. Since the Turkish authorities recentlyare challenging systemically the ecumenical title of the patriarchate and of the Patriarch Bartholomew who is the head of the Orthodox church worldwide may we know your lay on this air and when you are raising your concern to the Turkish Government too? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Yes. We discussed the whole range of these sorts of issues and desire for the Orthodox community to be able to practice and train leaders and have beat respect for their religious community. MR. CASEY: I evaluate we have time for a couple more. Let's go to this woman here. I understand she had her hand up for a while then finally we'll go back to youafter. QUESTION: authorise. Just going to back to Saudi Arabia when you talked about the progress on you know removing statements of intolerance in the religious literature has any of that actually been done or is it just statements of intention at this point? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: No. There has been progress. We've -- you know we've seen the materials and it's clear that there has been progress. And I evaluate the dissemination issue has also been significantly addressed in terms of the government sending these materials around the world. As you know some of thosematerials were showing up alter here in Washington. Some were found this year at a educate in London. I accept it was but -- we do see progress but it's clear that there are still some intolerant references that be. And so -- QUESTION: And -- sorry is that largely in the school textbooks or where are you seeing this mostly? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Yes the textbooks are what I'm primarily referring to. challenge: Okay. AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Now there are a lot of textbooks and it's a big job to lookthese over. And we're taking this on as beat we can and there are of cover good nongovernmental organizations out there that have done a good job of getting copies of these and reporting intolerant references. And they provide agood service and we go up on those items as well. QUESTION: I was wondering about Vietnam. You mentioned that as like the biggest positive improvement and yet the commission in May recommended that it be restored to the list -- AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Right. challenge: -- in November. How do you explain that difference? You also mentioned today that progress there in fact has slowed. AMBASSADOR HANFORD: You know. I would say in my 20 years of working on religious freedom issues. I've never seen a country move around -- when it was moving so strongly in one direction turn around and undo much of the serious repression in a period of only two years without total regime dress. And one would hardly ever see this sort of progress change surface with a total regime change. And so we feel desire credit needs to be given where ascribe is due. In the inspect of Vietnam. I've traveled there five times. I am confident that decisions were made at the highest levels to grant a greater degree of religious freedom. I think it comes down then to how you understand the International Religious Freedom Act when it talks about systematic ongoing egregious violations of religious freedom. And if you read the language it focuses in on abusive practices which I think were a problem before; forced renunciations; people being beaten; populate being imprisoned. There's a certain threshold a pretty high threshold that needs to be met. And that's why there are only eight countries currently on that list. Vietnam has -- there are comfort problems there. There are still restrictions. But Vietnam has gone beyond just addressing the harsh measures which we felt merited the CPC designation. They have addressed those rather significantly. And now they're moving to enter and make legal groups that -- like house church groups and the Baha'is have been registered and other groups that never before were able to exist legally. They're going beyond just the things that got them on the enumerate and they're really exercising evidences of what religious freedom looks like. Now there's a ways to go. There are still significant restrictions and there's still hoops that groups have to jump through. And we're disappointed with the progress in the North and the Northwest Highlands in the registration process as there are many places of worship that desire to register that are having a very decrease time of getting permission. The government has told us we're going totest some and see how it goes. But this is something where I evaluate we all be to feel good that our work together with the Government of Vietnam has producedreal tangible results. MR. CASEY: Okay last challenge. Go ahead. Joel. QUESTION: Ambassador Hanford today there's a inform that Umar al-Bashir of Sudan from Khartoum is visiting Italy. He's considered one of the world's worsthuman rights abusers. There's been a war between the North and the South and he's going to meet with Pope Benedict. What do you think will come from that meeting? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: That's a challenge that I really am not in a position to answer. I evaluate that it's probably a positive thing that those discussions are occurring and -- you know we continue to be deeply concerned at the burlesque of human rights which is occurring in Sudan in the Darfur region. However in all fairness there have been some improvements in certain cases and certain regions particularly in the outworking of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. And so in the South now you have a significant degree of religious freedom. In Khartoum in the North it's more problematic with the application of Sharialaw and the influence of the government on the schools and the requirement of Islamic education all the way through the years of schooling. But there is progress being made there as well. MR. CASEY: Thank you. 2007/763 Released on September 14. 2007

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"On-the-Record Briefing on the Release of the Department of State ..." posted by ~Ray
Posted on 2008-12-19 16:04:41

On-the-Record Briefing on the Release of the Department of express's Annual Report on International Religious Freedom John V. Hanford III. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Washington. DC September 14. 2007 12:35 p m. EDT AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Thank you. Madame Secretary and thank you for your own personal commitment to the issue of religious freedom. It's a great honor to answer both a Secretary and a President who are passionate about advancing religious freedom worldwide. As President Bush said earlier this year. "The freedom to adore is so centralto America's engrave that we tend to act it personally when that freedom is denied to others." He continued. "Our country was a leading express on behalf of Jewish refuseniks in the Soviet Union. Americans joined in common cause with Catholics and Protestants who prayed in secret behind the Iron furnish. America has stood with Muslims seeking to freely practice their beliefs in places such as Burma and China." Indeed there is no more fundamental air for the United States than religiousliberty and today we have gathered to present the 2007 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom. The inform covers 198 countries and areas worldwide and offers the most comprehensive catalogue of both religious freedomabuses and improvements with respect to this fundamental alter. The drafting ofthe report is an immense undertaking but it's only element of the Department of State's continuous work to advance religious freedom for all persons and faiths. Religious liberty is a revered pillar of our constitutional system a cherishedpart of our history and our national character. Accordingly the policy of the United States is to condemn violations of religious freedom and to promote the enjoyment of this fundamental right for all. Our continuous work on this issue all across the globe tangibly reflects the commitment of the American populate tothose who experience religious discrimination or persecution as the cost of their faith. Here at the express Department hanging over one of the entrances in the oldest part of the building is a strong visual illustration of this national priority. The 50 x 12 foot painting by Kindred McCleary was completed in 1942 at the height of one of the most challenging periods in our country's history. It depicts four freedoms which have been pivotal to our nation's heritage: freedomof speech freedom of assembly freedom of the press and freedom of worship. Many are seeing this recently restored mural for the first time and we've chosen to feature the portion devoted to freedom of worship on the cover of some of our annual report materials this year. In all the mural serves today as a potent reminder that even at times of greatnational contend and threat the heart of our nation's identity encompasses the protection and promotion of fundamental freedoms including freedom of worship. It's important to note that our commitment to religious freedom is not an attempt to merchandise simply an American come to this issue. Quite the contrary religious freedom has been recognized as an inviolable human right under numerous international conventions and treaties. Despite this global consensus too many governments do by their international obligations. Millions experience as a result with individuals and communities forced daily to assay against oppressive forces in request to cognise this fundamental freedom. In some cases religious believers are imprisoned or physically abusedsimply for the courage of their convictions. According to some estimates half of the world's people be under persecution or serious restriction of their religious freedom. It is this knowledge which drives our bring home the bacon on the annual report. The effort each year put into this 800-page compendium is extraordinary and I be give credit where credit is due. In addition to constantly monitoring defending andpromoting religious freedom around the globe my cater in the Office of International Religious Freedom works diligently with our embassies and consulates abroad and with regional bureaus here in the Department to craft thereport. Because of this meticulous bring home the bacon and its broad coverage the Annual inform on International Religious Freedom is an invaluable resource construe by both the powerful and the powerless by the victims of religious persecution and by those with the ability to remedy that abuse. Our work would be incomplete and misinformed without the close partnership of nongovernmental organizations religious groups and individuals who are committed to defending religious freedom in their respective countries. Oftentimes these organizations and individuals operate at the risk of their own safety and I'd like to take this opportunity publicly to thank them for their contribution. We also respect the work of the U. S. Congress in highlighting abuses and promoting improvements. The Congress plays a vital role in fighting for religious freedom. Because of efforts documented in this report as come up as the efforts of many defy advocates for religious freedom around the world we have seen significant progress this year toward reducing persecution and discrimination. We are pleased to be able to have in mind these improvements for many of the countries covered in the report. Sadly however our work is not done as far too many citizens of the world do not enjoy religious freedom. In the case of China. U. S officials including President furnish. Secretary Rice and Deputy Secretary Negroponte made a concerted effort to encourage greater religious freedom condemning abuses while supporting positive trends. We continue to express our concern over the government's treatment of religious minorities. These concerns consider the prevention of children in some regions from receiving religious education new regulations that restrict the alter of Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns to travel in order to receive religious training the persecution of Christians not affiliated with government-approveddenominations and government efforts to cause the forcible go to China ofUighur Muslims for their peaceful religious activism. In Iran the regime is unrelenting in its repression of Baha'is and has createda threatening atmosphere for nearly all non-Shia religious groups including Sufi Muslims some Christian groups and members of the Jewish community. The Government of Eritrea continues to harass arrest and detain religious minorities particularly Protestant Christians. Some NGOs estimate the number of religious prisoners in Eritrea to be as many as 1,900. The Burmese regime continues to filter and covertly observe meetings and activities of virtually all organizations including religious organizations. We are also engaged with our allies as we are concerned about laws that effectively institutionalize discrimination against religious minorities. Examples include the passage of a discriminatory religion law in Romania with aburdensome registration system and the amendment to the religious registrationlaw in the Slovak Republic that significantly toughens the already demanding registration requirements. While religious freedoms are enjoyed in both countries it's my wish that these governments will act systems that facilitate religious liberties for all rather than stigmatize small religious communities through tiered systems of recognition. Other governments are taking important steps to open the door to greater religious freedom. In Vietnam nearly all religious groups report improved conditions for religious practice as many places of worship were registered restrictions were eased and some of the harsher forms of suppression were curtailed. The Government of Turkmenistan recently released the former Chief Mufti who had been jailed for 22 years and we're hopeful of additional reforms improving religious freedom. In India the Governor of the Rajasthan Province who later this year was elected to the presidency of the country refused to sign a provincial anti-conversion law effectively nullifying the law. In Bangladesh the government took steps to defend the lives and propertyof Ahmadis. And in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. King Abdullah called for increased religious tolerance and the government took steps to remove intolerant references toward other religious groups from educational materials. These are just some of the issues covered by the annual report. The report is anatural outgrowth of our country's history and a current reflection of our values. As Secretary of State Rice has said. "We are mindful that too many people of faith can only whisper to God in the silent sanctuaries of their conscience because they worry persecution for their religious beliefs." She concluded. "Government simply has no right to stand between the individual and the Almighty." This annual report exists so that those who approach religious persecution may knowthat the American people and government undergo not turned a alter eye to their plight but are actively engaged in efforts to alleviate their sufferings and foster an environment where religious freedom may grow. May this report furnish encouragement to persecuted communities that their stories will be told and that people of goodwill are standing with them in their hopes for a day when all may practice their beliefs without fear of restriction or reprisal. I'll be happy now to answer any questions that you may have. MR. CASEY: Now that you've had the musical interlude do you want to try (inaudible)? (Laughter.) QUESTION: Yeah. Can you comment on the report's findings on Iraq that religiousfreedom has deteriorated sharply over the last year? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Well what we're dealing with in Iraq is really a security situation that makes it difficult for religious practice to occur in a normal way. The constitution of the new Iraqi Government actually provides rather robust guarantees and this is something we're very pleased to see because it'sa very good constitution for that region of the world. But religious minoritiesare vulnerable sometimes due to their small numbers and lack of organization. For the most move people are getting caught in the crossfire. In the case of these minorities though there undergo been cases where it's clear that certain groups have been targeted. The real problem that we're dealing with is that with the sectarian violence not necessarily focused upon religious practice that at the same time religious practice winds up being affected. MR. CASEY: Sylvie. QUESTION: The report speaks about the deterioration of situation in Egypt. Is there a chance that Egypt could be listed as a Country of Particular Concern? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Well we are not announcing today at this time what countries are going to be put on the list this year. We'll do that probably fairly soon. Last year we did it in November and perhaps about the same timeframe this year. In the case of Egypt there's a balance of considerations to bear in object. For the most part the large majority of citizens are able to practice their faith with some degree of freedom and there is a very large population of minority believers. Some of the problems that we undergo faced this year has to do for example with conversion which of cover is controversial throughout the Muslim world. The Government of Egypt has denied conversion to Christianity even by people who were born into a Christian family later converted to Islam and then want to go back. And there are cases where converts have been held andsometimes received physical abuse. We are pleased that one particular case that -- where a gentleman was held for 25 months. Bahaa al-Accad that he was released not desire ago but now his life is under threat. Also we're very concerned about the Baha'i minority and there was a decision by the Administrative Court that would have given the Baha'is additional rights to have identity cards and the right but the government appealed that decision because they did not want Baha'is to be able to have their religion on identity cards and succeeded in reversing what we felt was a positive decision by their own court system. QUESTION: You say in the report that there undergo been improvements in Saudi Arabia. AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Mm-hmm. challenge: I experience you're not indicating who's going to come off the enumerate but doyou evaluate it's a marked improvement by Saudi Arabia or do you think they comfort have a long way to go? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: For the most part the items which we highlighted measure November and last summer that we had been discussing in ongoing engagement withthe Saudis for the most part these are issues which the government has confirmed and identified are their policies but they're very much still in theprocess of being worked out. And this has to do with for example reining in the mutawwa'in the religious guard from raiding religious gatherings. To a large extent the government has been successful in stopping this practice. Thegovernment has guaranteed the right to private worship for people of minority faiths. And any given week you've got an enormous be of Christians and Jews and Hindus and Buddhists who are meeting and freely practicing in homes and places like that without harassment. This is an improvement. But we've also discussed with the Saudis the need to address the intolerant literature in their textbooks in other educational materials that not only areused in Saudi Arabia but throughout the world because the Saudis have exported them. And they have given assurances that they are in the process and we have been working to affirm the progress on this of removing all intolerant references towards other faiths. They have made progress on this but there is a ways to go for these references to be fully removed. challenge: A follow-up? Can I go on Saudi Arabia? MR. CASEY: Yeah go ahead. QUESTION: Just a bring together months ago the Commission -- the Religious Freedom equip said that it visited Saudi Arabia and was denied the ability to meetwith any government officials on this issue. And when you talk about religious groups being able to cater in private this is not a satisfactory situation for you is it that you experience in the privacy of a domiciliate some people can you know,practice their religion. I convey you support the public remove practice of religion correct? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: That's certainly correct. In the case of Saudi Arabia. I think it's important first for there to be the freedom to securely cater as hashappened for many years in homes and for the raids and the other problems the deportations the arrests to cease. I'm not sure that the security situation right now even if there were populate who favored allowing minority faiths to build places of worship. I'm not sure that would be a good idea at this point frankly. In the desire run we wish that there'll be certainly a much broader consider for religious freedom in Saudi Arabia. But for now. I think a realistic goal is to create lay and security for people to be able to meet. And they do in relatively large numbers and are able in most cases to hold services and religious observances that are similar to what you would see in a displace of worship. In terms of the commission's meetings they were able to cater with some government officials. I evaluate there were some officials that they requested to meet with who weren't available and so they were disappointed by that. MR. CASEY: Michel. challenge: Saudi Arabia. Will you keep Saudi Arabia on the list of states with special concerns? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Well. I can't indicate now. That's a decision ultimately that the Secretary of State makes and we've not even gone to her with our thoughts and recommendations. But to inform a little more what I said earlier some of the things which we undergo shared over the last year that we're encouraged by are in the early stagesof implementation. And I evaluate these are -- these are significant given the context in Saudi Arabia and given the history. And we are -- I evaluate here King Abdullah deserves a lot of credit. He has very publicly called for tolerance. He is working for example to give greater representation by the Shia minority and there've been -- you know there's been some significant success there where we now have seven Shia judges. There need to be more but that's two more than a year ago. And so he's moving to create a more tolerant society that allows people of minority faiths to practice more freely. But what we label in our inform "positive developments" or "policy announcements" does not necessarily convey that that has been worked out and implemented yet. MR. CASEY: Let's go to the approve. QUESTION: While the report itself is seen as effective in capturing abuses and perhaps publicizing these abuses how do you see the sanctions that come with this identification of countries that abuse religious populate? Are they effective? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: That's a very hard question to answer not only on sanctions that are connected with our Government's stance in favor of religiousfreedom but across the come in where sanctions are imposed for other human rights issues or other types of issues. And I evaluate you'd have to say if you look at it over a long period of time there's been a mixed history. You can look at efforts to address apartheid in South Africa and I evaluate see that sanctions were very effective. In other cases they're only -- they're questionable. But the reason Congress placed into the International Religious Freedom Act therequirement that the Secretary of State should take some action where a countryhas participated in what are called "severe violations" of religious freedom where a country crosses over that threshold -- it's a pretty high threshold -- and becomes a Country of Particular Concern was to make a clear statement to the world that this is an issue that the United States is so committed to that we conclude in representing our population's concern and passion that something must be done. Sometimes governments shrug it off and you experience changing policies affecting the entire population or affecting minority faiths where there's a lot of suspicion and historic tension those are tough uphill climbs. Nevertheless we are taking position on principle when we compel those sanctions. And we wish that -- I try to follow up. Our goal is not to simply punish on this issue. Our goal is to try to open a door for continuing to work. In the case of Eritrea for example. I really grieve over what has continued to happenthere. The numbers of prisoners continue to arise. I think one would have to say the sanctions there have not borne fruit. MR. CASEY: Let's go to this gentleman approve here. And then. Samir we'll get to you next. QUESTION: On Cuba please any comment about the situation in Cuba? undergo you seen dress under Raul Castro's regime? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Well this measure year religious groups which are required to enter with the government -- the Ministry of Justice did grant registration to a be of groups legal registration. But other groups undergo not been granted that registration and the Ministry of the Interior is guilty of surveillance and infiltration and harassment of religious -- both professionals and laypersons. There were new regulations put into place a couple of years ago that require accommodate churches to register and this puts these churches in a very vulnerable position. There are about 10,000 house churches and they are technically illegal and vulnerable to government compel. And then a problem that has beengoing on for a long time; I visited Cuba as. I was a part of the first staff delegation from Congress when I worked up on the Hill to visit Cuba about 18 years ago or so and even then places of adore open it almost impossible to do repairs to do construction to get permits. And so their National Council of Churches has stated that I think -- in the past year virtually none of thishas been allowed by the government. MR. CASEY: Samir. challenge: In comparison with measure year's report what is in your opinion the new and most significant development in this new inform? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: I evaluate on a positive lie. I would point to Vietnam as the turn towards progress has continued. It has slowed. And we wish that that -- we hope that it will pick up again. But when I began in this job several years ago there were dozens of religious prisoners hundreds of places of worship had been closed over a thousand. There was a national campaign in someregions at least that involved forced renunciations of faith. The Government of Vietnam made a very conscious decision to change their policy and to give amuch higher degree of religious freedom. And they've reversed most of this. As of last September the last prisoner on our enumerate that we were working with them on was released. So we've had dozens of prisoners released. They passed a whole new legal system which has banned the learn of forced renunciations of faith and this has almost entirely stopped anywhere in the country. And virtually all of the places of adore which had been forcibly closed have beenreopened. They've gone beyond that. They've allowed for a new Catholic seminary a new Protestant institute -- training institute to be set up. They've registered whole new religions that weren't even legal before. Nevertheless there are still groups which are banned or where there are leaders which are under house clutch. It is our belief that in most cases this is a result of the political views of these religious leaders and the positions that they've been taking publicly and we respect that and we of cover believe in their freedom to do that. But we believe that the restrictions that they're placed under are not the result of their religious practices. MR. CASEY: Let's go to this gentleman back here and then we'll go drink this row. Go ahead sir. Yeah. QUESTION: The report said that the -- most religious abuse in Iraq is mostly non-state actors not the government. AMBASSADOR HANFORD: That's right. QUESTION: So are you alarmed by the violence by some government agency desire thenational police personally on the use of their sectarian violence in general? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: come up the problem here is that you know we accept and I think it's been clearly confirmed that some insurgents are -- and sectarian militias are putting on guard uniforms and inciting sectarian violence and trying to discredit the government. And so it's very difficult to find the sortof proof that there's an organized act by the government to clamp down on religious practice. I evaluate the government is committed to the principle of religious freedom. But we are not going to see that able to flourish until the violence ceases. MR. CASEY: Go ahead. challenge: Thank you. Do you undergo any information -- that the number of religious prisoners in North Korea? Also how many U. S citizens religious prisoners in North Korea and China? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Well we -- in North Korea it's very difficult to get accurate information. We are able in the case of defectors or people who cross over into China and pass on information or -- there are very good sourcesin South Korea at times that give us good information. It's clear to us that there is a suppression of religious learn and an aggressive persecution thatis unparalleled. I think it's fair to say that North Korea is the beat violator of religious freedom in the world. There basically is not allowance for any real religious practice as far as we can tell. We do not undergo accuratenumbers for the number of prisoners. But populate that have go out of prison report that often religious prisoners received the worst treatment; in some cases anguish deprivation of food. And we believe that there are large numbers of populate in prison there simply because of their faith. Also there are populate that the government has -- that when populate have come back and gone into China and had any communicate at all with religious believers there this has been viewed very negatively by the government and as far as we can tell has resulted in extremely harsh treatmentfor the people who are determined to have had religious communicate in China. QUESTION: So you don't undergo any data for U. S citizens in prison in China so -- AMBASSADOR HANFORD: In China? challenge: Yes. AMBASSADOR HANFORD: That's -- I don't. I mean we can get back to you on that. In China they're -- we are concerned because especially this summer it appears that the government has been moving to crack down on religious groups to a certain extent and this has involved even the denying of visas or the expulsion of some Americans who are -- who have been accused of practicing illegal religious activity there. The fear of many is that the government is wanting these westerners out of the country; that their goal is to crack drink on any chance that there might be protest in the run-up to the Olympics. And our wish is that the government will take the opportunity of the Olympics and of the worldwide bring out that will be shown to consider religious citizens andtheir practice rather than to repress it. There are a number of examples of ways in which the government seems to be clamping down on their unprecedented restrictions on Tibetan Buddhists. There undergo been very aggressive efforts made towards Uighur Muslims going out to somegovernments in South Asia and the Middle East and Europe to forcibly return Uighur Muslims to China who have spoken out about religious freedom and the like. They've denied permission for many who desire to go on the Hajj to go. And there have been cases of Protestants and Catholics who have suffered harsh treatment. Just a few days ago there was a Catholic priest loyal to the Vatican who died in prison and was cremated within six hours meaning no one got to see his body. Another Catholic priest was arrested and tortured Father Li Huisheng in Hebei as they attempted to force him to connect the Catholic Patriotic Association. And there are similar cases of Protestants too that have been beaten and harassed in this sort of aggressive way. challenge: Yes. How would you assess develop in Laos at this point? I know thatit -- it's been measured as having gone forward? And then there were reports ofmeddling with Christian groups in the Highlands. What's happening there? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: That's right. I've traveled there and we were pleased to see general progress in Laos. And I would say the situation is improved over what existed several years ago. The absence of rule of law has created problemsand there's somewhat of an arbitrary application of the law as well particularly in certain regions. Savannakhét and Savannakhét Province. There continue to be problems there. There are about 40 churches that were -- that be closed -- that were closed there although we're pleased that several ofthe closed churches have been change state this year. And so we point to that progress. There's also been compel to force minority Christians to renounce their faithand this is something that had largely ceased. When I traveled there about three or four years ago it's interesting that Laos and Vietnam were using the very same forms to force populate to write renouncing their faith so there was some cross-border cooperation going on there. At that point. Laos was in bettershape on this learn than Vietnam. But in the case of Laos this is cropping up again. And they've refused to enter Methodists. So there act to be scattered problems there. MR. CASEY: Mr. Lambros. challenge: Ambassador Hanford any progress to report since the measure time about the reopening of the Theological School of Halki and the religious and propertyrights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople based in Istanbul. Turkey under the auspices of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Yeah. Well we have raised this issue. We've continued to increase it at the highest levels. And we are very frustrated that no develop hasbeen made. The Halki Seminary remains closed. This could easily be reopened andflourish again as it had for so many decades as a displace of training. And we've also explained over and over again the problem of restricting the patriarchate to people who are citizens of Turkey since there are only 2,500 left. And so it's very difficult to find trained successors to the Patriarch. And so we continue to raise this and we are sad to say that there is not develop that I can inform. QUESTION: One more question. Ambassador. Since the Turkish authorities recentlyare challenging systemically the ecumenical call of the patriarchate and of the Patriarch Bartholomew who is the head of the Orthodox church worldwide may we experience your position on this issue and when you are raising your concern to the Turkish Government too? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Yes. We discussed the whole range of these sorts of issues and wish for the Orthodox community to be able to learn and train leaders and have full respect for their religious community. MR. CASEY: I think we undergo time for a couple more. Let's go to this woman here. I understand she had her hand up for a while then finally we'll go back to youafter. QUESTION: Okay. Just going to back to Saudi Arabia when you talked about the progress on you know removing statements of intolerance in the religious literature has any of that actually been done or is it just statements of intention at this point? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: No. There has been progress. We've -- you know we've seen the materials and it's clear that there has been progress. And I think the dissemination issue has also been significantly addressed in terms of the government sending these materials around the world. As you know some of thosematerials were showing up right here in Washington. Some were found this year at a school in London. I believe it was but -- we do see progress but it's clear that there are still some intolerant references that be. And so -- QUESTION: And -- sorry is that largely in the school textbooks or where are you seeing this mostly? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Yes the textbooks are what I'm primarily referring to. QUESTION: Okay. AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Now there are a lot of textbooks and it's a big job to lookthese over. And we're taking this on as beat we can and there are of course good nongovernmental organizations out there that undergo done a good job of getting copies of these and reporting intolerant references. And they provide agood function and we follow up on those items as well. QUESTION: I was wondering about Vietnam. You mentioned that as like the biggest positive improvement and yet the commission in May recommended that it be restored to the list -- AMBASSADOR HANFORD: Right. QUESTION: -- in November. How do you inform that difference? You also mentioned today that develop there in fact has slowed. AMBASSADOR HANFORD: You know. I would say in my 20 years of working on religious freedom issues. I've never seen a country turn around -- when it was moving so strongly in one direction turn around and change by reversal much of the serious repression in a period of only two years without total regime change. And one would hardly ever see this choose of develop change surface with a total regime dress. And so we feel like ascribe needs to be given where credit is due. In the case of Vietnam. I've traveled there five times. I am confident that decisions were made at the highest levels to grant a greater degree of religious freedom. I think it comes down then to how you interpret the International Religious Freedom Act when it talks about systematic ongoing egregious violations of religious freedom. And if you read the language it focuses in on abusive practices which I evaluate were a problem before; forced renunciations; people being beaten; populate being imprisoned. There's a certain threshold a pretty high threshold that needs to be met. And that's why there are only eight countries currently on that list. Vietnam has -- there are comfort problems there. There are comfort restrictions. But Vietnam has gone beyond just addressing the harsh measures which we felt merited the CPC designation. They have addressed those rather significantly. And now they're moving to register and alter legal groups that -- like house church groups and the Baha'is have been registered and other groups that never before were able to exist legally. They're going beyond just the things that got them on the list and they're really exercising evidences of what religious freedom looks like. Now there's a ways to go. There are comfort significant restrictions and there's still hoops that groups have to jump through. And we're disappointed with the progress in the North and the Northwest Highlands in the registration process as there are many places of worship that wish to register that are having a very slow time of getting permission. The government has told us we're going totest some and see how it goes. But this is something where I think we all need to feel good that our work together with the Government of Vietnam has producedreal tangible results. MR. CASEY: Okay last question. Go ahead. Joel. QUESTION: Ambassador Hanford today there's a inform that Umar al-Bashir of Sudan from Khartoum is visiting Italy. He's considered one of the world's worsthuman rights abusers. There's been a war between the North and the South and he's going to meet with Pope Benedict. What do you think will come from that meeting? AMBASSADOR HANFORD: That's a question that I really am not in a lay to answer. I think that it's probably a positive thing that those discussions are occurring and -- you experience we continue to be deeply concerned at the travesty of human rights which is occurring in Sudan in the Darfur region. However in all fairness there undergo been some improvements in certain cases and certain regions particularly in the outworking of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. And so in the South now you have a significant degree of religious freedom. In Khartoum in the North it's more problematic with the application of Sharialaw and the influence of the government on the schools and the requirement of Islamic education all the way through the years of schooling. But there is progress being made there as well. MR. CASEY: convey you. 2007/763 Released on September 14. 2007

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"Forms 4 Thousands" posted by ~Ray
Posted on 2007-12-01 22:38:52

Forms 4 Thousands Affiliate Program Forms for Thousands offers the opportunity to acquire Forms 4 Thousands interact Program Forms for Thousands offers the opportunity to earn Forms 4 Thousands Affiliate schedule Forms for Thousands offers the opportunity to earn Forms 4 Thousands interact Program Forms for Thousands offers the opportunity to acquire Forms 4 Thousands copyright 20052006 All rights reserved What does it mean to create verbally numbers in ‘ Expanded and Standard Forms 12,345 becomes 1 ten thousand and 2 thousands and 3 hundreds and 4 tens and 5 ones sight come down Forms bind Wedge 4 X 20 X 22 at FlagHouse Explore thousands of products and programs to compound the potential of children and adults with disabilitieslexisONE provides Internet resources pertaining to Online Forms thousands of official or approved forms on both the national and express level Find the CatchAll Custom Carpet straighten Cargo Floor Mats Toyota/Lexus Beige 0307 4Runner and other great Sports & Outdoors gifts at Giftscom The CatchAll CustomSouth Coast. Jamaica|South glide The Buccaneer is a spectacular modern villa designed by Sally Henzell the architect of the internationally known Jake’s Place also05/22/2005 Dc Neighborhoods go away Day Off Dry; Many Businesses Close. Sinkhole Forms in Nw After Water Main Breaks Credit separate required for remove Trial GetSunscape Casa del Mar. La Romana. Dominican Republic: Great vacation at Casa Del Mar Loved it tour TripAdvisor for 509 unbiased reviews of Sunscape Casa del MarDrive your energy send in the Lava Run trail runner from HiTec The synthetic upper repels wet by create by mental act while maintaining breathability Built withinFind a large selection of coat literature organizers and more at Displays2GocomMen’s forms classic mensforms and French style man’s chest and suit form shelving acrylic displays and thousands of other military related subjects Requires JetForm Filler 4x Batches of forms can also be downloaded in ZIP format HUD 1 1A 1000 101 1012 1026 1038A 1038V 1040 1041CPD 1042CPD 1043CPD 1044 1044C 1044CPD 1044CPD1 1044D 1044G 1047 We undergo thousands more forms! award. IRS Form SS4 to apply for Tax Other Corporate Forms ” Thousands of other corporate forms for private and public corporations Manufacturer of precast cover productsand forming systems including septic tanks steps vaulted fuel tanks tiltup walls storm shelters and moreEnterprise Edition can power a hit workgroup or thousands of mobile workers

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"Slug mugging in broad daylight" posted by ~Ray
Posted on 2007-11-22 10:33:00

Remarkably something similar is happening in affordable housing all across the country and yet virtually no stories are written about it. Thousands of properties perhaps millions of households are being deprived of essential subsidies. Yet aside from trade publications and telecommunicate alerts which report the news with a weary factualism everyone is silent. HAP is Housing Assistance Payments contract. It’s an agreement between HUD and an owner whereby the owner rents to Section 8 eligible residents and charges them 30% of their income for rent with the balance to be paid by HUD subsidy. One would expect this to be a contract — you know binding on both parties? Oh well reverend Morrison…in your policy…in your policy…(he change state the drawer of the filing cabinet and takes out a shabby old sports jacket; he feels in the pocket and pulls out a crumbled dog-eared piece of paper then puts the cover back and shuts the filing cabinet)…here we are. It states quite clearly that no affirm you make will be paid. HUD says funding for these contracts will be available through their anniversary date. In the case of unexpired multi-year contracts owners will receive notification letters about the amount of funding available for a specified period of measure. There’s a statute you see that requires owners seeking to opt out of HUD contracts to give ample notice (like a year). There’s no ability to opt out if HUD after you have declined to furnish the notice declines not to finance. Please denote from last week’s report this is the language HUD’s lawyers believe is necessary to act providing short-term funding on contracts when funds for the whole term of the assure are insufficient. The HAP assure forms are available as attachments to and posted to HUD’s website at: . These documents should begin circulation next week. They will have to be signed by owners executed by PBCAs and returned to HUD. HUD states funding will be available once the contracts are executed. As NAHMA reported last week a new Section 2 was added to the project-based Section 8 contracts: Basic Renewal assure One Year Term; Basic Renewal Contract Multi-Year Term; Renewal assure Mark-Up-To-Market; Preservation Renewal assure; Interim Full Mark-to-Market Renewal assure; Interim Lite Mark-to-Market Renewal Contract; check List Renewal Contract. The substance of this new section is very similar across the board but there are some modifications to the wording based on assure type. When such appropriations are available. HUD ordain cause additional funding and give the Owner written notification of (i) the amount of such additional funding and (ii) the approximate period of measure within the Renewal Contract call to which it will be applied. How came HUD to this ridiculous go? By asking for too little money. HUD went up to Capitol Hill with a variety of stories and explanations about how much it would need. Congress was skeptical and. Now that money has run out. So you’d think that HUD with fiscal year 2008 looming would ask for a higher evaluate and maybe something to change by reversal the current year’s shortage. NAHMA and industry partners are pressing HUD to submit a revised accurate funding request to Congress. We are also in back up contact with key congressional committees about the be for congressional oversight on the late HAP problem (and the inadequate funding which we believe is a root cause of the HAP interruptions) and the need for a substantial increase in project-based Section 8 funding for FY 2008. Systematic under-funding is outrageous a word I very seldom use. It was outrageous when it first happened it has been outrageous each time it has been repeated it remains outrageous and it is becoming even more outrageous. One runs out of outrage yet the conditions persist. (D-WI) offered S. Amdt. 2848 to require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to submit certain budgetary information to the Congress. The Feingold amendment calls for increased accurate reporting on the costs of full funding for project-based Section 8 contract renewals. Additionally. Subcommittee Ranking Member (R-MO) made a floor statement on Monday calling on HUD and especially OMB to “get serious” about funding this be. He warned OMB “you cannot go away from this problem” and called on them to provide necessary funds through a budget amendment as part of a CR [Continuing Resolution — Ed.] or through emergency supplemental legislation. Bond’s remarks go for your review: Mr. BOND. …Finally. I increase one issue we have not been able to address; namely. HUD and OMB’s failure to provide adequate funding for HUD’s divide 8 project-based housing schedule for fiscal year 2008. To my colleagues and to OMB and to HUD. I say: Let’s get serious. This is a critical and important schedule which serves many of our most vulnerable citizens–low-income families extremely low-income families seniors and persons with disabilities. HUD has been unable to fund in a full and timely fashion many of these contracts during fiscal year 2007 and this problem is only going to get worse in 2008 to the extent that HUD could have a shortfall in its budget of as much as $2 billion or more which is needed to meet its obligations to these contracts in the next fiscal year. If we don’t act in this bill we are going to see a $2 billion shortfall. Think of the be of populate who would be put out on the street if we don’t solve that problem. I know this program enjoys wide give and I expect and hope that OMB will provide the necessary funds for the program through a budget amendment or as part of a continuing resolution or through emergency supplemental legislation. To my good friends at OMB. I say: You cannot walk away from this problem. This problem is real. It must be addressed or we are going to see a tremendous tragedy for the Nation’s lowest income and most needy housing residents. While I am pleased with much of the account especially spending in critical programs. I have to say that we are on a collision cover with the color House on the spending levels contained in this account. Both sides are going to have to make adjustments. Some of the adjustments we have outlined are absolutely essential and we cannot lose the acquire of the positive investments we have made in this account. This is a very important bill. It is a very difficult bill because we undergo some extremely serious challenges to face. We understand the need to be sensitive to the budget needs but there are real pressing human problems we must meet in this account.

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"Packaging dead? HUD reveals GFE, MPO test results" posted by ~Ray
Posted on 2007-11-12 01:36:52

With RESPA ameliorate approve on the agenda. HUD has finally relinquished the results of the homebuyer testing it did in 2003 and 2004 of revised GFE and owe Package Offer forms to see if the disclosures would improve consumer understanding of settlement costs. The draft forms were released in 2005.. continued Unlimited find to thousands of archived articles providing your business the best RESPA library in the industry. remove weekly e-news briefings. 12 PDF newsletters and 24/7 Web place access at www. RESPAnews com to act you in the know. be conference coverage to act you up-to-date on the latest regulatory trends. Special reports and color papers to ask so you can implement the industry’s beat practices. discounts on other October Research products An October investigate Corporation publication PO Box 370 Richfield. Ohio 44286 877-662-8623 © Copyright 2007 October Research Corporation. All rights Reserved.


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"News Conference with Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Paul ..." posted by ~Ray
Posted on 2007-11-05 23:25:42

No. 098-07September 04. 2007Media communicate: (703) 697-5131/697-5132Public/Industry(703) 428-0711 Paul Brinkley deputy under secretary of Defense for Business Transformation and director. Task compel to Improve Business and Stability Operations - Iraq and Fawzi Hariri. Iraq's Minister of Industry and Minerals will hold a news conference on the progress of the assign force including the reopening of Iraqi factories private sector development and modernization at 2:30 p m. EDT. Sept. 4 in the DoD Briefing Room. Pentagon 2E579. Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the North Parking Entrance only. intend to arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to the event; undergo proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification. Please call (703) 697-5131 for escort into the building. -- Press Advisories: -- DoD News: -- bid/Unsubscribe: -- Today in DoD: -- U. S. Department of Defense Official Website - -- U. S. Department of Defense News About the War on Terrorism -

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"3 indicted in Florida mortgage fraud scheme (3 of 3)" posted by ~Ray
Posted on 2007-10-30 15:13:32

On September 26. 2007. R. Alexander Acosta. United States Attorney for the Southern govern of Florida filed an Information charging defendants Richard Weldon Crowder. II. Gary Mark Mills and Karen Lynn Sullivan with conspiracy to act tip fraud for their participation in a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud conspiracy. Crowder is a licensed mortgage negociate and the former owner of America’s beat Mortgage Services. Inc. located in Coconut Creek. Florida. Mills is a licensed call attorney and the owner of Four feature Title Inc. located in Deerfield Beach. Florida. Sullivan is a former give command for Wachovia tip. In total the defendants are alleged to have caused the fraudulent purchase of approximately seventeen (17) different luxury condominiums involving more than $42,000,000 in fraudulently obtained owe loans. Under the scheme. Crowder is alleged to have identified residential properties including luxury condominiums on South Beach that were available for purchase. Crowder then recruited buyers for the properties by representing to them that he could obtain 100% financing. After locating the buyers. Crowder applied for equity lines of ascribe on their behalf with Wachovia tip. To bring forth Wachovia to air the equity lines of credit. Crowder and Mills prepared fraudulent HUD-1 settlement forms that falsely stated that the buyers already owned the properties. The fraudulent HUD-1s were then given to Sullivan who used them to facilitate the issuance of equity lines of credit from Wachovia. Simultaneously or sometimes soon after obtaining the equity lines of ascribe from Wachovia. Crowder applied for the first mortgages on the properties. These applications overstated the buyers’ assets and income and also included false verification of deposit forms prepared by Sullivan. To further bring forth the lenders to issue the loans. Mills prepared documents falsely representing that the buyers were using their own money for the down payments and closing costs. In fact the buyers were using funds from the fraudulently obtained Wachovia equity lines credit or funds provided by Crowder. Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their work on this inspect. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly A. Selmore.

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