Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda

President to Welcome President of Rwanda to White House

President Bush will welcome President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda to the White House on Friday, April 15, 2005. President Bush looks forward to discussing Rwanda's peacekeeping efforts in Sudan, stability in the African Great Lakes region, democracy and reconciliation issues, and bilateral trade and other developmental efforts.

# # # For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary April 8, 2005 Statement by the Press Secretary

bush radio address 04/09/05 full audio, text transcript

bush radio address 04/09/05 full audio, text transcript

President's Radio Address

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week I have been in Rome to attend the funeral mass of Pope John Paul II. The ceremonies were a powerful and moving reminder of the profound impact this Pope had on our world. And on behalf of America, Laura and I were honored to pay tribute to this good and holy man.

During nearly three decades on the Chair of St. Peter, this Pope brought the gospel's message of hope and love and freedom to the far corners of the Earth. And over this past week, millions of people across the world returned the Pope's gift with a tremendous outpouring of affection that transcended differences of nationality, language and religion.

The call to freedom that defined his papacy was forged in the experiences of Pope John Paul's own life. He came to manhood during the Nazi occupation of his beloved Poland, when he eluded the Gestapo to attend an underground seminary. Later, when he was named Poland's youngest bishop, he came face to face with the other great totalitarianism of the 20th century: Communism. And soon he taught the communist rulers in Warsaw and Moscow that moral truth had legions of its own and a force greater than their armies and secret police.

That moral conviction gave the man from Krakow a confidence that inspired millions. In 1978, when he looked out at the crowd in front of St. Peter's as their new Pope, the square rang with his words "Be Not Afraid."

Everywhere he went, the Pope preached that the call of freedom is for every member of the human family because the Author of Life wrote it into our common human nature.

Many in the West underestimated the Pope's influence. But those behind the Iron Curtain knew better, and ultimately even the Berlin Wall could not withstand the gale force of this Polish Pope.

The Pope held a special affection for America. During his many visits to our country, he spoke of our providential Constitution, the self-evident truths about human dignity enshrined in our Declaration, and the blessings of liberty that followed from them. It is these timeless truths about man, enshrined in our founding, the Pope said, that have led freedom-loving people around the world to look to America with hope and respect. And he challenged America always to live up to its lofty calling. The Pope taught us that the foundation for human freedom is a universal respect for human dignity. On all his travels, John Paul preached that even the least among us bears the image of our Creator, so we must work for a society where the most vulnerable among us have the greatest claim on our protection.

And by his own courageous example in the face of illness and suffering, he showed us the path to a culture of life where the dignity of every human person is respected, and human life at all its stages is revered and treasured.

As the Pope grew physically weaker, his spiritual bond with young people grew stronger. They flocked to him in his final moments, gathering outside his window to pray and sing hymns and light candles. With them, we honor this son of Poland who became the Bishop of Rome, and a hero for the ages.

Thank you for listening.

END For Immediate Release April 9, 2005

Rwanda Genocide

Statement on 1994 Rwanda Genocide

On this day eleven years ago the world witnessed the beginning of one of the most horrific episodes of the twentieth century, the 1994 Rwanda Genocide. A 100-day campaign waged by Hutu extremists tore Rwanda apart and resulted in the murder of at least 800,000 Tutsi men, women, and children, as well as many moderate Hutus.

We urge the international community to continue to work with Rwanda and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda to bring to justice those responsible for the genocide. We also urge the international community to continue to assist the survivors of the genocide.

The United States joins Rwanda and the international community in this day of reflection.

# # # For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary April 7, 2005

Robert B. Zoellick to Travel to Norway and Sudan

Deputy Secretary Robert B. Zoellick to Travel to Norway and Sudan

Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick will travel to Oslo, Norway and Sudan during the week of April 11th. While in Oslo, Deputy Secretary Zoellick will participate in the International Donors Conference for Sudan, where he will focus on the implementation of the North-South Comprehensive Peace Accord, curbing the violence in Darfur, and the international assistance needed to support these efforts. He is expected to announce the United States’ significant financial commitment to support full implementation of the Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Following the conference, the Deputy Secretary is expected to travel to Sudan.

Through his participation in the Donors Conference and visit to Sudan, the Deputy Secretary will emphasize the need for the Sudanese parties to move ahead with implementation of the peace accord, as well as to end violence in Darfur. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed last January in Nairobi provides a unique opportunity to end the violence in Darfur; we urge the Sudanese parties to grasp this opportunity to achieve peace and democracy in a unified country.

The United States has been a long and consistent leader in trying to bring peace and reconciliation to Sudan. Over the past three years, the United States has committed over $1.6 billion to Sudan for humanitarian assistance, conflict resolution in Darfur, reconstruction and development, and support for implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

SOURCE: state.gov 2005/394 Press Statement Richard Boucher, Spokesman Washington, DC April 8, 2005

Pakistani Passports

Pakistani Passports

Question: What is your reaction to the decision of Pakistan’s government to continue to require passports of its citizens to list their religion?

Answer: The information contained in a Pakistani passport is a matter for the Pakistani Government to decide, but as a rule, the United States does not favor the inclusion of religious status in passports, because such information can lead to religious discrimination and restrictions on travel.

2005/393 Released on April 8, 2005

Taken Question Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC April 8, 2005 Question Taken at April 7, 2005 Daily Press Briefing

Secretary Rice to Moscow, Vilnius, Lithuania

Secretary Rice Travel to Europe (more Secretary Rice)

Secretary Rice will visit Moscow April 19-20. The Secretary will meet with President Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and other Russian officials.. The focus of the Moscow visit will be on preparing for President Bush’s visit to Russia during the May 9 observances commemorating the end of World War II.

From there she travels to Vilnius, Lithuania for a regular meeting of NATO foreign ministers, as well as the NATO-Russia Council and the NATO-Ukraine Commission.

The Secretary will also meet Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus and Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis to discuss efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq and promotion of democracy.

Secretary Rice will return to Washington, D.C. on April 21.

SOURCE: state.gov 2005/395 Press Statement Richard Boucher, Spokesman Washington, DC April 8, 2005

RELATED: Secretary Rice Travel to Europe 04/19/05 to 04/21/05 - Secretary Rice visited Moscow, From there she traveled to Vilnius, Lithuania, for a regular meeting of NATO foreign ministers, as well as the NATO-Russia Council and the NATO-Ukraine Commission. The Secretary also met Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus and Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis.

Secretary Rice’s Travel to Latin America

Secretary Rice’s Travel to Latin America

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will travel to Latin America, April 26-30, 2005. During this time, she will visit Brazil, Colombia, Chile and El Salvador. The Secretary will highlight support for democracy, free trade and sustainable development in the region and beyond. As we support democracy with our Latin American partners in the hemisphere and beyond, we all recognize the need for democracy to deliver the opportunity, safety and freedom that people deserve. Within this context, the Secretary will discuss how to enhance our cooperation on such issues as drug trafficking and crime, poverty reduction, education and environmental protection. On her visit to Chile, she will also head the U.S. delegation to the Community of Democracies Ministerial Meeting.

SOURCE: state.gov 2005/396 Press Statement Richard Boucher, Spokesman Washington, DC April 8, 2005

Secretary Rice announces Zalmay Khalilzad, Ambassador to Iraq

Remarks on President Bush's Intention to Nominate Zalmay Khalilzad as Ambassador to Iraq

Secretary Condoleezza Rice Benjamin Franklin Room Washington, DC April 5, 2005 (4:00 p.m. EDT)

Rice, Khalilzad

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you. Good afternoon. Just a little more than two years ago, Saddam Hussein was still in power in Iraq. Rape, murder and torture were daily facts of life for the Iraqi people. There was no free press or freedom of expression. Mass graves were brimming with tyranny's innocent victims.

Two years ago, the United States led a coalition to bring down the Saddam Hussein regime and liberate the people of Iraq. And now, the entire world is watching as the Iraqi people liberate themselves from their tragic past and embark on the noble path of democracy.

In January, millions of Iraqis voted in their first free elections. In Baghdad today, new leaders, blessed with the consent of the governed, are now debating their future.

Just like our own first debates as a free nation, the debates in Iraq today are sometimes quite lively. We celebrate this debate because this lively debate is the healthy sound of democracy, and that sound is resonating far and wide.

Indeed, today, we are seeing a growing chorus of voices in the broader Middle East, voices demanding liberty and democratic reform. In all that lies ahead in Iraq, the Iraqi people can know that they will have a strong and committed partner in the United States of America.

We have been inspired by their courage and we will stand with the people of Iraq because a free Iraq serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration to the world.

To continue our close partnership, today I am pleased to announce the President's intention to nominate Ambassador Zal Khalilzad to be our next Ambassador to Iraq. At this moment of challenge and opportunity for Iraq and the Middle East, it is essential that the United States have one of our best diplomats leading our mission in Baghdad. Zal will, of course, follow Ambassador John Negroponte, who has served with honor and distinction in that post.

The President and I have chosen Zal for this important job because he has a proven record of building consensus and achieving results in very tough situations. For over a year now, Zal has been our Ambassador to Afghanistan. Zal helped lead America's efforts to help millions of Afghan refugees return to their country and rebuild their lives in freedom. He worked tirelessly to secure the rights of Afghan women who were brutalized and oppressed under the Taliban. And Zal helped lead our government's efforts to support the Afghan Government as they managed their first free and open elections in their entire history.

Zal has certainly been effective and now he will turn to the unique situation in Iraq. Soon, the new Iraqi Transitional National Assembly will begin work on Iraq's new constitution, the next steps toward the next round of elections in Iraq later this year. As this political process continues, Zal will be a valuable representative for the United States and a wise counselor to the new Iraqi Government.

But the political process is only a small part of our partnership with Iraq. Zal will also work with all institutions of our government and those of other nations to continue our efforts to help Iraq build the institutions of freedom, from training Iraqi security forces to training Iraqi teachers, from improving power plants to improving schools, from increasing access to health care to increasing the efficiency of Iraq's food delivery systems.

The President and I know Zal very well. Zal has served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director at the National Security Council, where he worked to define America's forward strategy for freedom in the broader Middle East and North Africa. Before the liberation of Iraq, Zal also served as Special Envoy and Ambassador-at-Large for Free Iraqis.

Zal, President Bush and I know that you will dedicate every measure of your talents to the goal of liberty and democracy in Iraq. You've helped the people of Afghanistan begin their rapid progress toward a life of freedom, and the President and I will now look to you to bring that same sense of hope and optimism to your work in Iraq.

To Zal's wife, Cheryl and their sons, Max and Alex, all of America is grateful for the love and support that you give to Zal as he does this important work for our country. And, Zal, I look forward to working closely with you to support the advance of liberty in Iraq and throughout the wider world.

AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD: I want to thank you, Madame Secretary, Condi, for your kind words. I also want to thank President Bush for again giving me the opportunity to serve our nation. Just as winning the Cold War was the focal point of our foreign policy in the latter half of the past century, winning the war against terrorism and extremism and advancing the cause of freedom and prosperity for the people of the greater Middle East is the defining challenge of our time.

I have been privileged to help meet this challenge as Ambassador and Special Presidential Envoy to Afghanistan during the past 16 months. In partnership with the Afghan people and their leaders, particularly President Karzai, we have made great strides. Success in Afghanistan will lead to the political, economic, commercial and ultimately the geopolitical transformation of Central Asia and South Asia.

I want to note my appreciation to President Karzai for his graciousness during my tenure in Kabul. I wish the Afghan people well as they continue to take the needed steps toward joining the community of democratic nations. I shall not forget them.

I also want to thank everyone who has served at the U.S. Mission and Combined Forces Command in Kabul during my tenure as Ambassador. They have all made major contributions to our success.

If confirmed by the Senate as Ambassador, I will work with all Iraqis, all sects, all ethnic groups, men and women, to accelerate success in Iraq. By success, we mean an Iraq that can stand on its own feet in terms of providing security for its people, controlling its borders, delivering basic services such as education and health care, and creating the framework for a prosperous private sector.

Iraq, which is at the heart of a great civilization, has experienced great heights across the centuries and can rise to new heights by continuing the hard work of embracing the universal ideals of freedom, representative government, individual rights and the rule of law in a manner consistent with Iraqi traditions.

Iraq's own history has involved periods of great achievement and, unfortunately, periods of darkness as well. Iraq knew periods of glory and great flourishing of culture for centuries. Baghdad was a city that attracted great scholars, such as Farabi, and innovators in every field. Najaf, too, was a great seat of learning for centuries, giving rise to one of the world's first universities more than 1,000 years ago.

In the 20th century, as an Iraqi state reemerged, Iraq began recapturing its heritage. In the 1930s and '40s it enjoyed several successful multiparty elections for parliament. It had a free press and an independent judiciary and women were active in the professions, in the work force as well.

Then, in the late 1960s, this progress was cut short by the brutal regime of Saddam Hussein. I understand that there has been great suffering and hardship since the end of Saddam's regime. We are working hard to improve the situation, yet the liberation of Iraq by the coalition has given the Iraqi people the opportunity to renew their nation's greatness. The inspiring response of the Iraqi people on January 30th, when 8 million voted despite the threat of violence, shows that the Iraqis are ready to grasp this opportunity. We must build on this.

If confirmed, I will lead the implementation of an integrated strategy to defeat the insurgency by working with the Iraqi Government to field effective Iraqi security forces, to engage politically with all elements in Iraq that wish to enact an enlightened constitution and build the new democratic political order, to increase the effectiveness of all Iraqi institutions and to improve the lives of the Iraqi people through reconstruction. We will also seek to broaden effective international and regional participation in support of these goals.

It is for the Iraqis to seize this historic moment by building an Iraq in which all Iraqis are vital and active participants and everyone's rights are respected. It will take time. It will not be easy. However, when the Iraqis succeed, they will become an example of a thriving democratic state and a prosperous society for the wider region.

If confirmed, I will make every effort to support and assist the Iraqi people in this historic project. We have a lot at stake in Iraq: A successful Iraq is in our own vital national interest. Helping Iraqis achieve this success is also the right thing to do. I'll be result-oriented and I will give this new assignment my all.

Madame Secretary, thank you again for the confidence that President Bush and you have expressed in me through this nomination. Thank you very much.

SOURCE: state.gov 2005/383 Released on April 5, 2005

Korea/China – Japanese School Textbooks

Japan/Republic of Korea/China – Japanese School Textbooks

Question: The government of Japan has reportedly approved a new public school textbook that both China and South Korea have protested, saying it inaccurately minimizes Japan's role in World War II. Has the U.S. taken a position on the approval of this textbook?

Answer: We are aware of concerns raised by other countries. It is unfortunate that such controversies continue to persist. We hope that these nations will find a mutually satisfactory and amicable solution to this issue.

Taken Question Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC April 7, 2005 Question Taken at the April 7, 2005 Press Briefing 2005/391

NHTSA Releases Final Tire Pressure Monitoring Rule

NHTSA Releases Final Tire Pressure Monitoring Rule

All passenger cars will have tire pressure monitoring systems beginning with the 2006 model year according to a new motor vehicle safety standard by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA.)

The regulation will require that manufacturers install a system that can detect when one or more of the vehicle’s tires are 25 percent or more below the recommended inflation pressure.

Phase-in of the new regulation will begin Sept. 1, 2005. All new 4-wheeled vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less must be equipped with the monitoring system by the 2008 model year.

According to NHTSA, under-inflated tires can adversely affect fuel economy, lead to skidding and loss of control and hydroplaning on wet surfaces. It can also increase stopping distance and the likelihood of tire failures.

NHTSA estimates that about 120 lives a year will be saved when all new vehicles are equipped with the tire pressure monitoring systems. In addition, consumers should see improved fuel economy and increased tire life. The manufacturers’ average cost per vehicle is estimated to be between $48.44 and $69.89, depending on the technology used.

The tire pressure monitoring system was required by Congress when it enacted the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act in 2000. The new regulation can be found at:

The tire pressure monitoring system was required by Congress when it enacted the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act in 2000. The new regulation can be found at: nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/rulings

# # # SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation NHTSA 08-05 Thursday, April 7, 2005 Contact: Rae Tyson Tel.: (202) 366-9550

National Veterans Wheelchair Games

National Veterans Wheelchair Games Come to Minneapolis

WASHINGTON – More than 500 disabled veterans will compete in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games from June 27 to July 1, 2005, in Minneapolis. This year marks the 25th year of the event, which has grown to become the largest annual wheelchair sports event in the world.

“We are proud of these talented athletes, our volunteers who make these Games possible, and the communities that open their doors and their hearts to these heroes,' said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson.

The Wheelchair Games, presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), are open to all U.S. military veterans who use wheelchairs for sports competition due to spinal cord injuries, certain neurological conditions, amputations or other mobility impairments. The Minneapolis VA Medical Center and the PVA Minnesota Chapter are hosting the 2005 games.

PVA National President Randy L. Pleva, Sr., said, “Year after year, the rehabilitative nature of the Games provides endless opportunities for our wheelchair athletes to pursue their athletic goals and dreams. The Games also serve as a stage where we can show the world what we can do – to soar far beyond any physical limitations we might have and reach previously unimagined levels of success.”

Sports are important in the therapy used to treat many disabilities. VA is a recognized leader in rehabilitation, with therapy programs available at VA health care facilities across the nation. For many injured veterans, the Wheelchair Games provide their first exposure to wheelchair athletics.

At the Games, veterans will compete in track and field, swimming, basketball, weightlifting, softball, air guns, quad-rugby, 9-ball, bowling, table tennis, archery, hand cycling, a motorized rally, wheelchair slalom and power soccer. Trap shooting, golf and a power wheelchair relay will be exhibition events this year.

The 25th National Veterans Wheelchair Games begin June 27 with a wheelchair basketball exhibition at Peavey Plaza on Nicolette Mall in Minneapolis, as well as the 2005 Disabled Sports, Recreation and Fitness Expo. The Expo is among the largest exhibitions of products and services related to the health, well-being, sports and recreational needs of people with disabilities.

On June 29, a wheelchair sports demonstration will take place at the Mall of America, allowing the public to preview some of the sports taking place during the week. “Kids Day at the Games” is on June 30, when local children with disabilities can meet the wheelchair athletes, watch them compete and participate in their own wheelchair sporting events.

Many of the events will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center, also the site for the opening and closing ceremonies. Other venues include South Town Bowl, Eden Prarie Bowl, McMurry Field, Metro Gun Club, Braemar Golf Course, the University of Minnesota, the University of St. Thomas, Lake Harriett, the Ft. Snelling soccer fields and Como Park.

SOURCE: Department of Veterans Affairs For more information about the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, or to follow events as they happen, visit the Games Web site at wheelchairgames.org

The 25th National Veterans Wheelchair Games would not be possible without the support of many local and national corporations, foundations and organizations that generously support this event through donations to PVA and VA. PVA wishes to recognize host sponsors Invacare Corporation, Veterans Canteen Service and 3M, and the nearly 40 other sponsors of the Games.

Media Inquiries: April 7, 2005

· Kim Byers, VA Public Affairs (734) 761-7824

· Bob Ensinger, PVA Director of Communication (202) 416-7681

Treasury and IRS Issue New Regulations

Treasury and IRS Issue New Regulations Relating to U.S Possessions

WASHINGTON, DC – Today the Treasury Department and IRS announced temporary and proposed regulations to provide guidance relating to U.S. possessions under section 937 and other Code sections to reflect amendments made by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (AJCA) and the Tax Reform Act of 1986. The income tax laws of the United States have long contained special provisions for the taxation of individuals residing in U.S. possessions and corporations created or organized in U.S. possessions. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 substantially revised these provisions. AJCA further revised certain aspects of these provisions to prevent individuals who live and work in the United States from taking advantage of these provisions to inappropriately reduce their combined U.S. and possessions tax.

The regulations update the existing regulations to conform with the new laws and provide additional guidance on the proper application of the statutory provisions. The regulations provide guidance under section 937(a) for determining whether an individual is a bona fide resident of the following U.S. possessions: American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The regulations also provide rules under section 937(b) for determining whether income is derived from sources within the above-mentioned U.S. possessions, and whether income is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within such a U.S. possession. Lastly, the regulations provide updated guidance under various other Code sections to reflect changes made by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and AJCA. SOURCE: United States Department of the Treasury

REPORTS in PDF format

• Final Possession Fact Sheet 46
• RIN 1545-BC86
• RIN 1545-BE22

April 6, 2005 JS-2361

Pretoria Agreement on the Peace Process in Cote d’Ivoire

Pretoria Agreement on the Peace Process in Cote d’Ivoire

The United States welcomes the Agreement reached on April 6 in Pretoria establishing a new plan for achieving a peaceful solution to the ongoing crisis in Cote d’Ivoire. We commend the mediation efforts of South African President Mbeki on behalf of the African Union. We call upon all the parties to the agreement to fully honor these new commitments, as well as meet their continuing responsibilities under the Linas-Marcoussis and Accra III Accords. A rededication of effort toward disarmament, reunification of the country, and genuine reconciliation will enable Ivoirians to move forward to free and fair elections with the oversight and participation of the international community.
2005/390

SOURCE: state.gov Released on April 7, 2005 Press Statement Richard Boucher, Spokesman Washington, DC April 7, 2005

Secretary Condoleezza Rice, Death of Prince of Monaco Rainier III

Death of Prince of Monaco Rainier III Secretary Condoleezza Rice Washington, DC April 6, 2005

I wish to express my sincere condolences to the people of Monaco, and to the Royal family, upon the death of His Serene Highness Prince Rainier III. Prince Rainier gave exemplary service to the people of Monaco. He had a deep and lasting friendship with the United States and promoted our shared values of freedom and human rights. Under Prince Rainier’s leadership Monaco accomplished great things, especially in the global war on terror, in which Monaco has played a decisive role by combating terrorist financing. His marriage to Her Serene Highness Grace Kelly further endeared the Prince and Monaco to the American people. He was a great leader, a great man, and he will be greatly missed.

2005/389 Released on April 6, 2005

Gordon England, Deputy Secretary of Defense

Gordon England, of Texas, to be Deputy Secretary of Defense, Vice Paul DC Wolfowitz.

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary April 7, 2005 Nomination Sent to the Senate # # #

President's Statement on Death of Prince Rainier II of Monaco

President's Statement on Death of Prince Rainier II of Monaco

Laura and I join Americans across the country in mourning the loss of His Serene Highness Prince Rainier III of Monaco. He will be remembered as a respected leader who secured the prosperity of Monaco's people. Monaco and the United States have long had a special bond of friendship. We extend our deepest condolences to His Serene Highness Prince Albert, to the Grimaldi family, and to all the people of Monaco.

# # # For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary April 6, 2005

Timothy DC Adams, Under Secretary of The Treasury

Timothy DC Adams, of Virginia, to be An Under Secretary of The Treasury, Vice John B. Taylor.

# # # For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary April 6, 2005 Nomination Sent to the Senate

Maria Cino, Deputy Secretary of Transportation

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate one individual to serve in his Administration: The President intends to nominate Maria Cino, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation. Ms. Cino currently serves as Deputy Chairman of the Republican National Committee. She previously served as Assistant Secretary and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service at the Department of Commerce. Prior to that, Ms. Cino was Deputy Chairman for Political and Congressional Relations at the Republican National Committee. She also served as National Political Director for Bush for President. Earlier in her career, Ms. Cino was a public policy and government affairs consultant for the Washington, D.C. law firm of Wiley, Rein & Fielding. She received her bachelor's degree from St. John Fisher College.

# # # For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary April 6, 2005 Personnel Announcement

Maria Cino, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary Of Transportation, Vice Kirk Van Tine.

# # # For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary April 6, 2005 Nomination Sent to the Senate

Public Announcement: Mexico

Public Announcement: Mexico

This Public Announcement is being issued to alert U.S. citizens to the deterioration in recent weeks of local law enforcement in Cancun caused by a persistent shortage of municipal funds to pay for police and public services. Police responsiveness to emergency calls and investigation of crimes has been severely impaired, and the U.S. Consulate in Merida has received several reports of petty corruption and extortion aimed at U.S. travelers. This Public Announcement supplements the Announcement issued on January 26 and it expires on May 31.

The U.S. Consular Agency in Cancun has received numerous allegations of tourists being extorted for money by taxi drivers and malfeasant police or individuals posing as police officers. In some cases, tourists have been taken to ATM machines for immediate payment of alleged infractions. In other cases, extortion attempts occur after a motorist (typically in a rental car) is stopped for an alleged moving violation. The motorist is threatened with imprisonment if a "fine" is not immediately paid, even though there is no proof that any infraction has been committed.

Visitors to Cancun should be aware that a written citation should be received before the payment of any fine. No money should be paid directly to a police officer. If you believe you are the victim of an extortion attempt, you should make a note of the officer's name and badge number, the time and location of the incident, and the number of the patrol car if applicable, and immediately call the U.S. Consular Agency in Cancun or the U.S. Consulate in Merida.

The U.S. Consular Agency is located on the second floor of Plaza Caracol, Boulevard Kukulcan, km. 8.5 Zona Hotelera, Cancun, and can be reached by telephone at (52) (998) 883-0272. The U.S. Consulate in Merida is located at Paseo Montejo No. 453, Col. Centro, Merida, Yucatan. The U.S. Consulate in Merida can be reached by e-mail at consularmerida@state.gov or by telephone at (52)(999) 925-5011 during working hours or (52)(999) 947-2285 after hours or on weekends.

Current information on travel and security in Mexico can be obtained from the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet, which can found at the Internet website of the Bureau of Consular Affairs, travel.state.gov. U.S. citizens living or traveling in Mexico are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Consulate or through the Department of State's travel registration website: travelregistration.state.gov. For further information, U.S. citizens may also contact the Department of State toll-free at 1-888-407-4747. From outside the United States and Canada, call 202-501-4444. This is a toll call.

Released on April 6, 2005 Notice to the Press Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC April 6, 2005

Gerry Adams Sinn Fein Statement

U.S. Response to Sinn Fein Statement

We welcome today’s statement issued by Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams. We are strongly encouraged by his call for the Irish Republican Army (IRA) to renounce violence and rely on purely political and democratic means. We await concrete actions by the IRA to support the policy advocated by Mr. Adams. Respect for the rule of law is an essential element of the democratic society that Mr. Adams has outlined. We strongly endorse this vision and once again call for all paramilitary activity and criminality to cease. The United States remains steadfast in its support for the peace process.

SOURCE: state.gov 2005/388 Released on April 6, 2005Press Statement Richard Boucher, Spokesman Washington, DC April 6, 2005