Arrest of U.S. Citizen in Sudan

Arrest of U.S. Citizen in Sudan (Taken Question)

Question: Has the U.S. Embassy or other officials spoken to the Government of Sudan regarding the arrest of U.S. journalist Bradley Clift? If so, what was discussed?

Answer: The U.S. Embassy in Khartoum learned of the arrest of U.S. citizen Bradley Clift late in the evening of April 26. Embassy staff immediately contacted Mr. Clift in Nyala, which is located in southern Darfur, and has subsequently been providing him with consular services. The U.S. Embassy has contacted the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs about this case and will continue to monitor it closely. Mr. Clift has confirmed to U.S. Embassy Consular Officials that he is well.

2005/449 Released on April 27, 2005

Taken Question Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC April 27, 2005 Question Taken at Briefing of April 27, 2005

Ethiopia Democracy Demonstrations

Ethiopia Democracy Demonstrations (Taken Question)

Question: What is the U.S. response to today’s demonstration outside the Department of State for free and fair elections, the restoration of democracy, and return of various NGOs and election monitors to Ethiopia?

Answer: The United States continues to urge the Government of Ethiopia to hold free and fair elections with full participation by the opposition. It is vital that members of the opposition be given the opportunity to campaign without reprisal. We are aware that the Government of Ethiopia has increased access to radio and television ads to members of the opposition. The Government has also issued invitations to international observers. These are important steps and we urge the Government to continue to create a transparent electoral process.

The United States places democracy and human rights in the forefront of its engagement with all governments.

2005/448 Released on April 27, 2005

Taken Question Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC April 27, 2005 Question Taken at Daily Briefing of April 27, 2005

Provisional Results of Togo Presidential Election

Provisional Results of Togo’s Presidential Election

The legitimacy of Togo’s presidential elections fell short of the aspirations of the Togolese people and the expectations of Togo’s friends in the international community. Irregularities in voter registration and voter card distribution prior to the election and flaws in voting procedures on Election Day raise serious questions about the accuracy of the provisional vote totals, announced April 26.

The United States joins the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union in calling for formation of a national reconciliation government in Togo, with the participation of the principal political forces in the country. Such a government could heal political divisions and should prioritize reforms of the constitution and the electoral code to allow for fully credible, transparent and free elections as soon as possible, in the spirit of the 22 commitments that the Government of Togo undertook with the European Union last year.

Violence is not the answer to this problem. All Togolese political leaders have a responsibility to ensure that their supporters remain calm and avoid violent confrontations.

SOURCE: state.gov 2005/446 Released on April 27, 2005 Press Statement Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman Washington, DC April 27, 2005

Angolan Repatriation

United States Support for Angolan Repatriation

The United States is pleased to announce contributions totaling $6.3 million in support of Angolan refugee repatriation during 2005. These contributions include $3.2 million for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); $2 million for the International Organization for Migration; and $1.1 million for the World Food Program.

Since 2002, more than 300,000 of Angola's original 450,000 refugees have returned home. This year, UNHCR and its partner organizations anticipate assisting another 53,000 refugees through the organized return program, in addition to providing in-country assistance to refugees who return home on their own.

As 2005 is anticipated to be the final year for UNHCR's organized return program, the United States congratulates UNHCR and its partner organizations on their success to date. We also express our gratitude to neighboring states, including Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Namibia, for their generosity in hosting Angolan refugees over many years of civil conflict. We expect the Government of Angola will continue to facilitate the work of UNHCR as well as other international organizations and will invest the necessary resources to meet the long-term development needs of its citizens.

SOURCE: state.gov 2005/447 Released on April 27, 2005 Press Statement Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman Washington, DC April 27, 2005

Ibrahim Ja'afari Iraqi Transitional Government

President Congratulates New Iraqi Leaders

Iraq's Transitional National Assembly has voted by an overwhelming margin to confirm Ibrahim Ja'afari as Iraq's next Prime Minister. They also have approved a list of Cabinet Ministers who will represent the unity and diversity of Iraq in the months ahead. I join with all Americans in congratulating Iraq's new leaders and in wishing them well as they begin to serve their country in this new government. I appreciate the dedicated work of the outgoing interim government, which has governed Iraq for the last ten months.

The Iraqi Transitional Government will confront important challenges in fighting terrorists and enemies of democracy, training the Iraqi Security Forces, and providing basic services to its citizens. It will also lead the difficult and essential work of drafting a new constitution for a free and democratic Iraq. The United States is confident that the new government will meet these challenges in the months ahead, and America will stand by Iraq, its leaders, and the Iraqi people as they continue their work to establish a stable, peaceful, and democratic Iraq.

# # # For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary April 28, 2005

National Charter Schools Week, 2005

National Charter Schools Week, 2005, A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

Strong schools are the building blocks of a prosperous and hopeful country. To ensure that all our children receive the education they need to succeed, schools must be innovative, accountable, and committed to student achievement. The charter school movement was founded on these principles and has played an important role in expanding educational choices in America. This week, we highlight the importance of charter schools and recognize their contributions to American education.

Charter schools are unique because they are public schools operating under a contract from a public agency. In exchange for increased flexibility in teaching methods and curricula, these schools promise to meet strict accountability standards designed to improve student performance. Four hundred new charter schools opened in 32 states for the 2004-2005 school year, and there are nearly 3,400 charter schools serving almost one million children in America. These institutions have provided a valuable alternative to families throughout the country.

My Administration is committed to advancing public education in America. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is bringing increased accountability to our schools. Test scores are rising, and the achievement gap for minority students is closing. Our continued strong commitment to this legislation is ensuring that parents have greater flexibility when deciding on how best to educate their children. To support and enhance school choice, I have proposed $219 million for Charter School Grants and $37 million for Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities. I have also called for $50 million in new funding for the Choice Incentive Fund to support development of innovative school-choice programs.

We must continue to demand better results from our schools so that every high school diploma represents a significant level of educational achievement and all graduates are armed with the tools to succeed in the 21st Century. I commend the teachers and administrators of charter schools and all educators who are providing innovative alternatives that prepare our children for a bright and successful future.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 1 through 7, 2005, as National Charter Schools Week. I call on parents of charter school students and all those involved with charter schools to share their success stories and help Americans learn more about the important work of these institutions.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty ninth.

GEORGE W. BUSH

# # # For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary April 28, 2005

H.R.748 Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act

President's Statement on House Passing Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act

I commend the House for its bipartisan vote to protect the health and safety of minors by ensuring that state parental involvement laws are not circumvented. The parents of pregnant minors can provide counsel, guidance, and support to their children, and should be involved in these decisions. I urge the Senate to pass this important legislation and help continue to build a culture of life in America.

# # # For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary April 27, 2005

H.R.748 Title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to prevent the transportation of minors in circumvention of certain laws relating to abortion, and for other purposes. Bill Summary & Status for the 109th Congress H R 748 RECORDED VOTE, FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 144

Nominations Sent to the Senate 04/28/05

Nominations Sent to the Senate

Shara L. Aranoff, of Maryland, to be a Member of the United States International Trade Commission for a term expiring December 16, 2012, vice Marcia E. Miller, term expired.

Ben S. Bernanke, of New Jersey, to be Member of the Council of Economic Advisers, vice Harvey S. Rosen.

Dennis P. Walsh, of Maryland, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board for the term of five years expiring December 16, 2009. (Reappointment)

David Horton Wilkins, of South Carolina, to be Ambassador to Canada, vice Argeo Paul Cellucci.

# # # For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary April 27, 2005

President to nominate eight, designate one.

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate eight individuals and designate one individual to serve in his Administration:

The President intends to nominate Molly Hering Bordonaro, of Oregon, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Malta. Ms. Bordonaro currently serves as a Principal of The Gallatin Group in Portland, Oregon. She previously served as an Associate with Norris, Beggs & Simpson. Earlier in her career, Ms. Bordonaro served as Senior Legislative Director for the American Legislative Exchange Council. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado.

The President intends to nominate Donald E. Booth, of Virginia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Liberia. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Mr. Booth currently serves as Director of the Office of Technical and Specialized Agencies at the Department of State's Bureau of International Organization Affairs. He previously served as Director of the Office of West African Affairs. Prior to this position, Mr. Booth served as Deputy Director of the Office of Southern African Affairs. He earned his bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and his master's degrees from Boston University and the National War College .

The President intends to nominate Joseph A. Mussomeli, of Virginia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Cambodia. Mr. Mussomeli, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, currently serves as Deputy Chief of Mission in Manila, Philippines. He previously served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Manama, Bahrain and as Political Counselor in Rabat, Morocco. Earlier in his career, Mr. Mussomeli worked as a Senior Watch Officer in the Operations Center at the Department of State. He received his bachelor's degree from Trenton State College and his J.D. from Rutgers University.

The President intends to nominate David Horton Wilkins, of South Carolina, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to Canada. Mr. Wilkins currently serves as Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives. He began his legislative career in 1980, serving six years as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and two years as Speaker Pro Tem pore. He is also a Senior Partner in the law firm of Wilkins & Madden, in Greenville, South Carolina. He received his bachelor's degree from Clemson University and his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

The President intends to nominate Julie Finley, of the District of Columbia, for the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service as the Representative of the United States to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Ms. Finley currently serves as a Trustee and Treasurer for the National Endowment for Democracy. She previously served as a Founder and Board Member of the U.S. Committee on NATO. The President intends to nominate Shara L. Aranoff, of Maryland, to be Commissioner of the United States International Trade Commission, for the remainder of a nine-year term expiring December 16, 2012. Ms. Aranoff currently serves as the Senior International Trade Counsel on the Democratic Staff of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. She previously served as Attorney-Adviser in the Office of General Counsel at the U.S. International Trade Commission. Earlier in her career, Ms. Aranoff clerked for the Honorable Herbert P. Wilkins, Associate Justice, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. She received her bachelor's degree from Princeton University and her J.D. from Harvard Law School. She was also attended the University of Geneva, Switzerland as a Fulbright Scholar.

The President intends to nominate Richard J. Griffin, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of State (Diplomatic Security). Mr. Griffin currently serves as Inspector General at the Department of Veterans Affairs. He previously served in the U.S. Secret Service for 26 years, retiring in 1997 as Deputy Director. During his career, Mr. Griffin served in the Office of Protective Operations, the Office of Investigations, the Los Angeles Field Office, and the Presidential Protective Division. He received his bachelor's degree from Xavier University and his master's degree from Marymount University.

The President intends to designate Deborah A. Price, of Missouri, to be Acting Assistant Secretary of Education (Legislative and Congressional Affairs). Ms. Price currently serves as Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools at the Department of Education. She previously served as Chief of Staff of the Office of Federal Student Aid. Prior to her work at the Department of Education, Ms. Price was a policy adviser to U.S. Senator Don Nickles. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

The President intends to nominate Dennis P. Walsh, of Maryland, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board, for the remainder of a five-year term expiring December 16, 2009. Mr. Walsh currently serves as Special Assistant to the National Labor Relations Board. He previously served as a Member of the National Labor Relations Board. Earlier in his career, Mr. Walsh served as an Associate with Spear, Wilderman, Borish, Endy, Browning & Spear. He earned his bachelor's degree from Hamilton College and his J.D. from Cornell Law School.

# # # For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary April 27, 2005 Personnel Announcement

Cassini, Saturn, Epimetheus

Cassini captures swiss-cheese look of Saturn moon, An image of Saturn's small moon, Epimetheus (epp-ee-MEE-thee-uss), was captured by the Cassini spacecraft in the closest view ever taken of the pockmarked body.

Epimetheus is irregularly shaped and dotted with soft-edged craters. The many large, softened craters on Epimetheus indicate a surface that is several billion years old. The moon shares an orbit with another of Saturn's small moons, Janus. The two dance in a planetary tango as they move in almost identical orbits, exchanging orbits every four years, instead of colliding. Both play a role in creating intricate waves in Saturn's rings; both have densities significantly lower than that of solid ice, suggesting they may be "rubble piles" held together by gravity.

At 116 kilometers (72 miles) across, Epimetheus is slightly smaller than Janus at 181 kilometers (113 miles) across. Spectra of Epimetheus from the Cassini visual infrared mapping spectrometer indicate that the moon is mostly water ice.

The new Epimetheus image is available at ciclops.org, saturn.jpl.nasa.gov and nasa.gov/cassini.

The images for this false color composite were obtained with the Cassini spacecraft narrow angle camera on March 30, 2005, at a distance of approximately 74,600 kilometers (46,350 miles) from Epimetheus.

The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Cassini-Huygens mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. The Cassini orbiter and its two onboard cameras were designed, developed and assembled at JPL. The imaging team is based at the Space Science Institute, Boulder, Colo.

### Contact: Preston Dychesmedia@ciclops.org 720-974-5859 Space Science Institute

Jazz Appreciation Month

Jazz Appreciation Month Culminates with Discussion on “The International Impact of Jazz” at National Museum of American History

As a culminating event in celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs will host a panel discussion, “The International Impact of Jazz,” featuring members of the diplomatic and musical communities who will share their experiences in presenting American jazz to international audiences. The event, which is open to the public, will take place Thursday, April 28, 2005, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, Presidential Reception Suite, at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. The panelists include Freddie Bryant, jazz and classical guitarist, composer and recording artist; Leonard Triyono, broadcaster of the Indonesian News Service from the Voice of America; and Robert LaGamma, the Executive Director for the non-profit organization Council for a Community of Democracy.

Every April, Jazz Appreciation Month trumpets the extraordinary history of jazz and its importance to America, providing a platform for U.S. embassies to showcase American musical talent and to broaden foreign audiences’ exposure to the best of American culture. U.S. Department of State cultural and arts programs demonstrate the vitality and excellence of American artistic traditions and highlight the values of democracy, diversity, freedom of expression, volunteerism, and America's free-market, entrepreneurial culture. Managed by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the American Music Abroad Program (formerly known as Jazz Ambassadors) comprises concert tours by selected professional American jazz and urban music performers in countries where exposure to American culture is limited. Tours include workshops and master classes in addition to concerts in order to promote mutual understanding and cross-cultural awareness. Participating musicians must demonstrate high artistic ability and be conversant with broader aspects of contemporary American society and culture. More information is available at exchanges.state.gov/education/citizens/culture.

For more information about this program please contact Stephanie Montgomery, Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, 202-633-3129, or Adam Meier, Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, (202) 203-7026. Further information about Jazz Appreciation Month is available at smithsonianjazz.org.

2005/445 Released on April 27, 2005 Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC April 27, 2005

S. 167, Family Entertainment and Copyright Act of 2005,

Statement on S. 167, the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act of 2005, On Wednesday, April 27 2005, the President signed into law:

S. 167, the "Family Entertainment and Copyright Act of 2005," which criminalizes the use of recording equipment to make copies of movies in movie theaters and the unauthorized release of certain material being prepared for commercial distribution; authorizes the use of technology that allows viewers to skip portions of a movie viewed at home; and contains miscellaneous provisions related to film preservation.

# # # For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary April 27, 2005 STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

Bill Summary & Status for the 109th Congress, A bill to provide for the protection of intellectual property rights, and for other purposes. CRS Summary

Exercise Slows Development of Alzheimer

Exercise Slows Development of Alzheimer’s-Like Brain Changes in Mice, New Study Finds
Physical activity appears to inhibit Alzheimer's-like brain changes in mice, slowing the development of a key feature of the disease, according to a new study. The research demonstrated that long-term physical activity enhanced the learning ability of mice and decreased the level of plaque-forming beta-amyloid protein fragments — a hallmark characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) — in their brains.

A number of population-based studies suggest that lifestyle interventions may help to slow the onset and progression of AD. Because of these studies, scientists are seeking to find out if and how physically or cognitively stimulating activity might delay the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. In this study, scientists have now shown in an animal model system that one simple behavioral intervention — exercise — could delay, or even prevent, development of AD-like pathology by decreasing beta-amyloid levels.

Results of this study, conducted by Paul A. Adlard, Ph.D., Carl W. Cotman, Ph.D., and colleagues at the University of California, Irvine, are published in the April 27, 2005, issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. The research was funded in part by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Additional funding was provided by the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.

To directly test the possibility that exercise (in the form of voluntary running) may reduce the cognitive decline and brain pathology that characterizes AD, the study utilized a transgenic mouse model of AD rather than normal mice. The transgenic mice begin to develop AD-like amyloid plaques at around 3 months of age. Initially, young mice (6 weeks or 1 month of age) were placed in cages with or without running wheels for periods of either 1 month or 5 months, respectively. Mice with access to running wheels had the opportunity to exercise any time, while those without the wheels were classified as "sedentary."

On 6 consecutive days after the exercise phase, the researchers placed each mouse in a Morris water maze to examine how fast it could learn the location of a hidden platform and how long it retained this information. (This water maze task involves a small pool of water with a submerged platform that the mouse must learn how to find.) The animals that exercised learned the task faster. Thus the mice that used the running wheels for 5 months took less time than the sedentary animals to find the escape platform. The exercised mice acquired maximal performance after only 2 days on the task, while it took more than 4 days for the sedentary mice to reach that same level of performance. This suggests that exercise may help to offset learning/cognitive deficits present in AD patients.

Next, the investigators examined tissues from the brains of mice that had exercised for 5 months. They compared the levels of plaques, beta-amyloid fragments, and amyloid precursor protein, a protein found throughout the body and from which the beta-amyloid peptide is derived. In AD, beta-amyloid fragments clump together to form plaques in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, the brain regions used in memory, thinking, and decision making.

Compared to the sedentary animals, mice that had exercised for 5 months on the running wheels had significantly fewer plaques and fewer beta-amyloid fragments (peptides) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, approximately by 50 percent. Additional studies, of exercised animals at 10 weeks old, showed that the mechanism underlying this difference began within the first month of exercise.

"These results suggest that exercise — a simple behavioral strategy — in these mice may bring about a change in the way that amyloid precursor protein is metabolized," says D. Stephen Snyder, Ph.D., director of the etiology of Alzheimer's program in the NIA's Neuroscience and Neuropsychology of Aging Program. "From other research, it is known that in the aging human brain, deposits of beta-amyloid normally increase. This study tells us that development of those deposits can be reduced and possibly eliminated through exercise, at least in this mouse model."

These findings follow another recent report of a link between an enriched environment and Alzheimer's-like brain changes. That study, published Orly Lazarov, Ph.D., and colleagues in the March 11, 2005, issue of the journal Cell, found that beta-amyloid levels decreased in the brains of another kind of transgenic mice when they were housed in groups and in environments that were enriched with running wheels, colored tunnels, and toys.

"Both of these studies are exciting because they offer insight into one of the pathways through which exercise and environment might promote resistance to development of cognitive changes that come with aging and AD," Snyder notes. "It is as though exercise or environmental enrichment forces the metabolism of amyloid precursor protein through a pathway that is less harmful and might even be beneficial. Further research will help us to understand those mechanisms, to learn how much and what kind of exercise is best, and to see if these same effects occur in humans."

SOURCE: National Institutes of Health (NIH) For more information on participation in an AD clinical trial, visit clinicaltrials.gov/ (search for Alzheimer's disease trials), or the Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center website at alzheimers.org. ADEAR may also be contacted toll free at 1-800-438-4380. The ADEAR Center is sponsored by the NIA to provide information to the public and health professionals about AD and age-related cognitive change and may be contacted at the website and phone number above for a variety of publications and fact sheets, as well as information on clinical trials.

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE Tuesday, April 26, 2005 5:00 p.m. ET CONTACT: Vicky Cahan 301-496-1752

AoA Provides $3 Million in Additional Hurricane Relief

WASHINGTON, DC – Assistant Secretary Josefina Carbonell announced today that two states will receive an additional $3 million in supplemental hurricane relief funds. The state of Alabama will receive $500,000 and the state of Florida will receive $2.5 million which will be used for ongoing assistance to frail elders affected by hurricanes last year.

“More than six months after the devastating hurricane season of 2004, there are elders in Alabama and Florida who continue receiving hurricane related assistance from local community-based aging organizations,” said Assistant Secretary Carbonell. “This grant of an additional $3 million in hurricane relief funds to Alabama and Florida’s aging network will help in providing our seniors with the supportive assistance they need to continue rebuilding their lives.”

The supplemental funds will continue to provide hurricane victims with case management and counseling assistance; home repair; chore services; and relocation assistance.

AoA has continued to work closely with these two states along with other Federal Agencies, to assist in the recovery in those communities hardest hit by the hurricanes. Given the widespread devastation, extensive long-term recovery efforts are needed to help restore safe and livable environments for older persons.

### The AoA is a Federal agency dedicated to policy development, planning and the delivery of supportive home and community-based services to older persons and their caregivers through the national aging network of state and local agencies on aging, tribal organizations, service providers and volunteers.

SOURCE: The U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA)Monday, April 25, 2005 For Immediate Release Contact: AoA Press Office 202-401-4541

Death of Ambassador Morris Draper

Death of Ambassador Morris Draper, It is with great sadness that we learned of the death of Ambassador Morris Draper, a career diplomat and member of the State Department's Foreign Service for over 35 years. Ambassador Draper served the Department of State and the American people faithfully in diplomatic postings in the Near East, Europe, and East Asia, including as Consul General in Jerusalem and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs. He was a key player in the Camp David Peace Accords and the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty of 1979. From 1981-1983, he served as President Reagan's Special Middle East Envoy in negotiations regarding the withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon. In many ways our current efforts on behalf of a peaceful, sovereign, independent Lebanon build upon the work Ambassador Draper began over two decades ago.

Ambassador Draper was known to his friends in the Department of State as a warm and passionate colleague dedicated to the pursuit of peace. He will be missed. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends.

SOURCE: state.gov 2005/444 Press Statement Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman Washington, DC April 26, 2005

Joint Statement by the United States and Brazil

Joint Statement by the United States and Brazil, In June of 2003 President Lula and President Bush met in Washington and signed a joint statement committing the countries to a closer and stronger relationship.

Today, in Secretary of State Rice's meeting with Foreign Minister Amorim and her visit with President Lula, our two governments' representatives discussed our commitment to working together to further enhance our bilateral relationship, and also to reach out to other nations, particularly in our region, guided by their shared vision of freedom and democracy and social justice. In this regard, with our meetings today and in this joint statement:

We reaffirm our commitment to our shared view that representative democracy and the rule of law are indispensable to building modern societies and political systems that promote growth, social development, accountability, transparency, and stability.

We reaffirm that countries should embrace policies that promote growth and social inclusion, which are the key to increasing incomes, improving standards of living and ending poverty and hunger. We also reaffirm our conviction that governments should work to empower their people through good governance, fighting corruption, ensuring personal security, encouraging enterprise, and providing all citizens with access to high-quality education, adequate health, and nutritional care. We jointly support the creation of a UN Democracy Fund and pledge support for this important effort.

We undertake to continue to engage in regular consultations, working together for prosperity, democratic governance and peace in the hemisphere and beyond. In this regard, Secretary Rice and Foreign Minister Amorim reaffirmed their commitment to biannual consultations at the level of Under Secretary to review on a regular basis the broad scope of issues, both regional and global, on which our two governments cooperate and coordinate.

We reiterate our support for the April 22, 2005 Resolution of the Organization of American States which encouraged all political, social, and economic sectors in Ecuador to strengthen governance and ensure full respect for democratic order, the constitutional framework, and the rule of law, through dialogue and constructive participation, and which called for creation of an atmosphere of understanding that will foster peace.

In our bilateral relationship, and in the spirit of the June 2003 Presidential Summit Initiatives, we undertake to enhance and invigorate the efforts of the working groups established by the summit to address issues and coordinate cooperation in science, technology, environment, health, energy, agriculture, poverty alleviation, economic growth and small and medium business development.

We agree that the international community should remain engaged in Haiti, noting that the contribution being made by the United Nations peacekeeping mission (MINUSTAH) is indispensable. We agree that free elections should be held this year, with a view to the formation of a democratically elected government. In order to advance stability, international donors must hasten the delivery of assistance already pledged to Haiti.
2005/T6-04

SOURCE: state.gov Released on April 26, 2005 Joint Statement Office of the Spokesman Brasilia, Brazil April 26, 2005

President, to nominate five, designate three, 04/27/05

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate five individuals and designate three individuals to serve in his Administration:

The President intends to nominate Sandra L. Pack, of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Management) and upon appointment designate Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Pack recently served as Chief Financial Officer of the Bush Cheney 2004 campaign. She previously served as Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management & Comptroller). Prior to that, Ms. Pack was Director of Treasury for the Bush Cheney 2000 campaign. Earlier in her career, she worked for Ernst & Young as Director of Small Business Consulting and Accounting Services. Ms. Pack received a bachelor's degree Notre Dame College of Maryland and is a Certified Public Accountant for the State of Maryland.

The President intends to nominate Randal Quarles, of Utah, to be an Under Secretary of the Treasury (Domestic Finance). Mr. Quarles currently serves as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (International Affairs). He previously served as the United States Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund. During President George H. W. Bush's Administration, Mr. Quarles served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Institutions Policy. In the private sector, he was Co-Head of Davis Polk & Wardwell's Financial Institutions Group, advising domestic and international banks and bank holding companies. Mr. Quarles received a bachelor's degree from Columbia College and a J.D. from Yale Law School.

The President intends to nominate John J. Sullivan, of Maryland, to be General Counsel of the Department of Commerce. Mr. Sullivan currently serves as Deputy General Counsel of the Department of Defense. Prior to that, he was a Partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, LLP. During President George H. W. Bush's Administration, Mr. Sullivan worked in the Office of Legal Counsel at the Department of Justice. Earlier in his career, he was a Law Clerk for Justice David H. Souter, Supreme Court of the United States. Mr. Sullivan received a bachelor's degree from Brown University and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.

The President intends to nominate James Philip Terry, of Virginia, to be Chairman of the Board of Veterans' Appeals, for a term of six years. Mr. Terry currently serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs. He previously served at the Department of Interior as an Administrative Judge on the Board of Land Appeals. Prior to that, Mr. Terry served in the United States Marine Corps for 27 years, retiring in 1995 at the rank of Colonel. His final four years were served as Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During his military career, Mr. Terry also served as a Marine Corps Staff Judge Advocate and as an infantry officer in Vietnam. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia; a J.D. from Mercer University; a master's degree from the University of Virginia; a master's degree from The George Washington University; a SJD from The George Washington University; and a master's degree from the Naval War College.

The President intends to nominate John M. Reich, of Virginia, to be Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision at the Department of the Treasury. Mr. Reich currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Board of Directors. He previously served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Connie Mack. Prior to that, he worked in the banking industry serving as President and CEO of the National Bank of Sarasota, in Sarasota, Florida. Mr. Reich received a bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University and a master's degree from the University of South Florida. He is also a graduate of the Louisiana State University's School of Banking of the South.

The President intends to designate F. Duane Ackerman, of Georgia, to be Chairman of the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee, for a one-year term.

The President intends to re-designate Patricia F. Russo, of New Jersey, to be Vice Chairman of the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee, for a one-year term.

The President intends to re-designate Steven J. Law, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.

# # # For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary April 26, 2005

Pi seems a good random number generator – but not always the best

Pi seems a good random number generator – but not always the best

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – If you wanted a random number, historically you could do worse than to pick a sequence from the string of digits in pi. But Purdue University scientists now say other sources might be better.

Physicists including Purdue's Ephraim Fischbach have completed a study comparing the "randomness" in pi to that produced by 30 software random number generators and one chaos-generating physical machine. After conducting several tests, they have found that while sequences of digits from pi are indeed an acceptable source of randomness – often an important factor in data encryption and in solving certain physics problems – pi's digit string does not always produce randomness as effectively as manufactured generators do.

"We do not believe these results imply anything about a pattern existing in pi's number set," said Fischbach, who is a professor of physics in Purdue's College of Science. "However, it may imply that if your livelihood depends on a reliable source of random numbers, as a cryptographer's might, then some commercially available random number generators might serve you better."

Fischbach conducted the study with Shu-Ju Tu, a former graduate student who has since moved to a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Their research paper appears in the International Journal of Modern Physics C, vol. 16, no. 2.

Pi, the ratio between a circle's diameter and circumference, has fascinated mathematicians for centuries. A bit larger than the number 3, pi cannot be expressed as a ratio of two whole numbers, and its apparently endless string of digits is sometimes expressed as 3.14159… Modern computers have enabled mathematicians to calculate the value of pi to more than 200 billion digits to the right of the decimal point. But no one has ever found evidence that calculating finer and finer values of pi will ever reveal an end to the string or that there is any regular pattern to be found within it.

Tu and Fischbach decided to test pi's randomness against the outputs of 31 commercially available random number generators (RNGs) that are frequently used for encrypting confidential information before it is stored or sent electronically. To produce numbers, many of these RNGs use an algorithm – a short set of instructions that can be repeated quickly – and it is the quality of the algorithm that makes one RNG more valuable than another.

"Strictly speaking, an algorithm does not produce a truly random number," Fischbach said. "Because its instructions are fixed, an RNG's output could, in theory, be predicted, if you knew what the algorithm was. Of course, anyone using a particular RNG will want to keep its algorithm secret, and for the most part RNGs are cleverly designed enough that they produce numbers that are 'sufficiently random' for encryption purposes."

The scientists took approximately the first 100 million digits of pi, broke the string up into 10-digit segments, and gave the segments a form that defines a point somewhere within a cube with sides one unit long. To specify each point, three such segments are necessary – one for each dimension. For example, the sequence 1415926535 was given the form 0.1415926535, which specifies the point's distance along the x-axis. Similarly, the two subsequent sequences give the point's y and z coordinates. All of the sequences thus became coordinates between zero and one, giving millions of points that lay within the imaginary cube.

"Each point within a cube lies at some distance from the cube's center – some are close, some farther away," Fischbach said. "If you graph their distribution from the center, what you get resembles a familiar bell-shaped probability curve. What we wanted to find out, in essence, was whether the points derived from pi's digits generate an identical curve, and also whether the commercially available RNGs do."

In addition to checking these curves against the predicted ideal, the scientists created a computer program that was able to test randomness even further. It also took groups of points, formed angles from the lines between them, and compared the measure of those angles. The program even took groups of coordinates and tested their randomness within imaginary cubes of six dimensions.

"This was our attempt to leave fewer stones unturned," Tu said. "We hoped additional tests might reveal hidden correlations between number sets that a single test might not have shown."

From the tests Tu and Fischbach ran, each RNG was given a letter grade according to how great its standard deviation, or sigma, was from the expected value. Pi's scores were consistently high across all the experiments, but what surprised them was that some of the RNGs performed even better in some situations.

"Our work showed no correlations or patterns in pi's number set – in short, pi is indeed a good source of randomness," Fischbach said. "However, there were times when pi's performance was outdone by the RNGs."

Pi never scored less than a B on the tests, and in one case outperformed all the RNGs, which in addition to mathematical algorithms included a device that uses turbulence in a fluid as its source of randomness. But in most cases, pi lost out to at least one RNG, and in several it finished decidedly in the middle of the pack. Fischbach emphasized that the results do not imply the existence of any patterns in pi's digit string, though he said would like to see more tests done.

"This study probably says more about our commercially available random number generators than the nature of pi," Fischbach said. "Some of them failed our tests outright. But they, and pi as well, might perform differently if the tests were run under different circumstances."

Fischbach mentioned that less than 1 percent of pi's known digits were used in the tests, and that cubes of dimensions other than 3 and 6 could be imagined.

"These tests are simple to reproduce with a desktop computer. All you need is time," he said. "It took us almost a year of work to crunch these numbers. We have included the program we used in the paper if anyone would like to try doing the analysis with a larger number set. I hope someone will because pi shows up in security systems, cryptography and other places that have nothing to do with circles. That's part of what gives it a fascination that will not go away."

This research was funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy.April 26, 2005

SOURCE: Purdue News Service
Writer: Chad Boutin, (765) 494-2081, cboutin@purdue.edu
Source: Ephraim Fischbach, (765) 494-5506, ephraim@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


ABSTRACT

A study on the randomness of the digits of ¼


Shu-Ju Tu and Ephraim Fischbach

We apply a newly developed computational method, Geometric Random Inner Products (GRIP), to quantify the randomness of number sequences obtained from the decimal digits of ¼. Several members from the GRIP family of tests are used, and the results from ¼ are compared to those calculated from other random number generators. These include a recent hardware generator based on an actual physical process, turbulent electroconvection. We find that the decimal digits of ¼ are in fact good candidates for random number generators and can be used for practical scientific and engineering computations.

House Floor Report 04/26/05

Floor Report Daily for Tuesday, April 26, 2005
*last updated: Tuesday, April 26 at 10:35 AM

Tuesday, April 26, 2005
On Tuesday, the House will convene at 12:30 PM for morning hour and 2:00 PM for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 PM.

Suspensions (10 bills):

1) H.R. 1158 – To reauthorize the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988 (Rep. Hart – Science).

2) H.R. 28 – High-Performance Computing Revitalization Act of 2005 (Rep. Biggert – Science).

3) H.Con.Res. 96 – Recognizing the significance of African American women in the United States scientific community (Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson – Science).

4) H.Con.Res. 41 – Recognizing the second century of Big Brothers Big Sisters, and supporting the mission and goals of that organization (Rep. Schiff – Government Reform).

5) H.R. 1236 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 750 4th Street in Sparks, Nevada, as the "Mayor Tony Armstrong Memorial Post Office" (Rep. Gibbons – Government Reform).

6) H.R. 1524 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 12433 Antioch Road in Overland Park, Kansas, as the "Ed Eilert Post Office Building" (Rep. Moore {KS} – Government Reform).

7) H.Res. 227 – Recognizing and honoring the contributions of Indian Americans to economic innovation and society generally (Rep. Tom Davis – Government Reform).

8) H.R. 902 – Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 (Rep. Castle – Financial Services).

9) H.R. 749 – Expanded Access to Financial Services Act of 2005 (Rep. Gerlach – Financial Services).

10) H.Con.Res. 81 – Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the two-year anniversary of the human rights crackdown in Cuba (Rep. Menendez – International Relations).

SOURCE: Majority Leader Tom DeLay

Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environmental Development (Seed)

Under Secretary of State Dobriansky Lauds Winners of Seed Award

Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky lauded the winners of the Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environmental Development (Seed) Initiative Award at a ceremony Wednesday, April 20 held in conjunction with the 13th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development in New York City. Under Secretary Dobriansky praised the winners for their efforts to improve the quality of peoplefs lives in the developing world by delivering needed services such as clean water and teaching environmentally friendly farming techniques.

The winners included: Environmentally-Friendly Rice, Berries into Business, Indian Ocean Wonderland, Water for All and Cows to Kilowatts. They were selected from a pool of more than 260 entries from 66 countries for their potential to advance sustainable development in their communities and contribute to the internationally agreed goals contained in the Millennium Declaration.

The Seed Initiative, announced at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, is a voluntary, public-private partnership that encourages local partnerships to devise new development solutions to community challenges. Its three objectives are:

to recognize innovative approaches to development challenges through a biennial award program; to showcase the selected partnerships at seedinit.org and to provide a lessons-learned and best practice resource for other partnerships.

Seed partners include international organizations, civil society groups, six governments (including the United States), other partnerships and the private sector.

For more information on the Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environmental Development Initiative, please visit seedinit.org. For a copy of Under Secretary Dobriansky's remarks, please visit state.gov/g/rls/rm/.

2005/443 Released on April 26, 2005 Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC April 26, 2005