Picture Of Chad

Applicants should be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The Directorate of Border and Transportation Security in the Department of Homeland Security has authority to deny admission. Also, the period for which the bearer of a temporary work visa is authorized to remain in the United States is determined by the Directorate of Border and Transportation Security, not the consular officer. At the port of entry, a Directorate of Border and Transportation Security official validates Form I-94, Record of Arrival-Departure, which notes the length of stay permitted. Those temporary workers who wish to stay beyond the time indicated on their Form I-94 must contact the Directorate of Border and Transportation Security to request Form I-539, Application to Extend Status. The decision to grant or deny a request for extension of stay is made solely by the Directorate of Border and Transportation Security. ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

The Community Liaison Office (CLO) maintains a selection of mail order catalogs. MenLast Updated:  12/8/2003 1:18 PM Summerweight suits, short sleeved sport shirts and slacks, and similar wear are suitable for the office and most social events. Business suits are worn for official calls and for some social events. Formal occasions do not occur often. Once or twice a year a tuxedo is appropriate, although a dark suit is generally acceptable. All types of shoes and sandals are worn. Bring an adequate supply, since good shoes are not available, and gravelly, dusty walkways cause rapid deterioration. Bring a good supply of socks, underwear, and other needed clothing. As much as possible, bring all cotton or largely cotton blends for coolness and ease of laundering. If you are sensitive ... [Read More]

Role of West Africa in our Energy Security

Sao Tome and Principe, though it currently has no oil and gas production, has great promise as a producer in the Gulf of Guinea. Sao Tome's petroleum reserves span both its own Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and a Joint Development Zone (JDZ) with Nigeria. ChevronTexaco and ExxonMobil will lead the exploration and development of the most sought after concession in the JDZ. We are reassured by the continued public commitment of officials at the highest levels in Sao Tome and Nigeria to maintain a high standard of transparency in the oversight of the JDZ. This commitment was demonstrated by the Abuja Joint Declaration, signed on June 26 by Presidents Menezes and Obasanjo, which deals with their Joint Development Zone. In this Declaration, they pledged that "(a)ll payments to the Joint Development Authority by oil companies shall be made public on an individual company basis, quarterly and annually, by the Joint Development Zone and by the companies." Among additional commitments, they agr ... [Read More]

Department of State Washington File: Transcript: State Department Noon Briefing, July 20

So we're getting a variety of these kinds of reports and the reason we want the government to take firm action is to prevent these kind of -- this kind of violence, to prevent this kind of insecurity that plagues people there. And to do that, they need to do the steps that we laid out for them, that the Secretary General laid out for them: provide a sense of security for people in the region; stop the activities of the Arab militias, the Jingaweit, and stop -- prevent their leaders. These kind of things that we laid out when we were there need to be done if we are to achieve a real sense of security for people in the region. ... [Read More]

Remarks with Serbian President Boris Tadic

One of the principal issues, of course, before us has to do with some individuals who are still subject to the rule of law and justice before the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia in the Hague, and we spoke about the case of Mr. Mladic. And I also indicated to the President that we had to try to do everything we could collectively to bring him to justice, and we want to work with Serbia as it pursues its goals toward achieving a Partnership for Peace status on the way to NATO membership, and as it seeks it proper place in the European community as a member of the European Union. ... [Read More]

Department of State Washington File: Text: Mixed Picture Emerges on Global Human Rights Practices

"The survival of liberty in our land depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world..So it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world. This is not primarily the task of arms, though we will defend ourselves and our friends by force of arms when necessary. Freedom, by its nature, must be chosen, and defended by citizens, and sustained by the rule of law and the protection of minorities. And when the soul of a nation finally speaks, the institutions that arise may reflect customs and traditions very different from our own. America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling. Our goal instead is to help others find their own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way." ... [Read More]

Department of State Washington File: Knowledge of AIDS High But Awareness of Risks Low, Study Finds

The report, "HIV/AIDS: Awareness and Behavior," was released by the U.N. Population Division on the first anniversary of the General Assembly's special session on HIV/AIDS which was held June 25 to 27, 2001. It provides a picture of HIV and AIDS-related awareness and behavior of men and women in all age groups in 39 African, Asian, and Latin American countries. U.N. officials note that the data were collected in the late 1990s and that data dealing with this type of issue are generally sensitive and require careful interpretation. ... [Read More]

Alan Larson, "GEOPOLITICS OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS," Economic Perspectives, May 2004

Promoting transparency and good governance is a key part of the U.S. strategy of encouraging diversification. Oil and gas projects are controversial in many developing countries because revenue flows are hidden, or diverted, and average citizens feel they receive no benefit from their country's natural wealth. The United States wants oil-producing countries to invest energy revenue in solid and sustainable economic development for their populations, not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because it builds political support for the further development of energy projects. Democratic processes and the development of responsive governing institutions promote political and economic stability, the use of mineral wealth for poverty reduction and economic development, and the reduction of oil-related conflicts in energy-producing countries around the world. ... [Read More]

Department of State Washington File: Transcript: State Department Noon Briefing, June 9

We have made clear to the Government of Sudan that we will not normalize relations with Sudan until the situation in Darfur is satisfactorily resolved. Our embassy discusses this situation in Darfur regularly with officials of the Government of Sudan. ...

QUESTION: What is the status of access via ground transportation? Is it a matter of lack of access or is it a matter of logistics? ...

MR. BOUCHER: Part of that will depend on how we come out in the Security Council, how we -- what kind of UN effort we support. But I think the nations that have been concerned about Darfur, including, and especially the United States, are looking for every possible means to convince the government to allow humanitarian access and to rein in the activities of the militias. We need somebody who can help coordinate the different kinds of assistance that might be available through UN agencies there, things like that. But I think that will be defined more by the Secretary General and, to some extent, the Security Council. ... [Read More]

Reliable Supplies of Energy for a Growing World Economy

We knew that two-thirds of the world's known oil reserves were in the Middle East. We knew that imports were supplying roughly half of our oil needs, and an even greater share of the needs of some of our most important allies and economic partners. We knew that OPEC nations were providing roughly one third of the total oil exports, but also controlled two-thirds of world reserves. And we knew that oil supply shocks in any region of the world would have an impact on our economy through the instantaneous operation of international oil markets. ... [Read More]