Office of the Spokesperson

The United States is pleased to announce a partnership with the Government of Guinea to strengthen transparency and good governance in Guinea’s extractive industries sector. Guinea is blessed with significant mineral resources, many of which remain undiscovered or undeveloped. It is the world’s largest producer of bauxite (used to make aluminum), and is set to become the third largest source of iron ore. Additional mineral resources include: gold, diamonds, graphite, manganese, nickel, and uranium. Guinea’s mining sector alone generates a significant percentage of all export earnings, and 17 percent of GDP, making transparency and good governance of the mining sector a critical goal to ensure these resources are used to develop the country, strengthen the economy, and lift its citizens out of poverty.

Ambassador Stephen J. Rapp of the Office of Global Criminal Justice, U.S. Department of State, will visit the Mass Crime Scene Investigations Training in Gaborone, Botswana. The two-week training, hosted by the Department of State-sponsored International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA), began today and will focus on critical skill building in the area of rapid law enforcement responses to mass crimes scenes. Ambassador Rapp will visit during the final days of the training.

Secretary Kerry and President Pinera agreed to create a new High Level Bilateral Political Consultative Mechanism, with the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs representing the United States.

Pursuant to the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA), a determination was made to impose sanctions on: one Venezuelan entity [Venezuelan Military Industry Company (CAVIM)].