Statement by the President on the 100th Anniversary of Albania’s Independence

On behalf of the people of the United States, I would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to the people of Albania on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of your country’s independence.  At this historic milestone, Albania – already a close ally – stands poised to further consolidate its democracy, grow its economy, and to continue the reforms necessary to take its rightful place in Europe. 

The strong ties between the United States and Albania date from Albania’s first years of independence. They were restored and reinvigorated as Albania emerged from communism and committed itself to building a modern, democratic state, firmly anchored in the Euro-Atlantic community.  The partnership between our countries has been strengthened by the close connection between our peoples, and American society has been enriched by the contributions of generations of Albanian-Americans.  As Secretary Clinton said in her historic remarks before the Albanian parliament, the United States stood with the people of Albania for the first 100 years of their country’s independence and will stand with you for the next hundred years, and the hundred years that follow.  On this important occasion, we join you in celebrating your country’s bright future.

FACT SHEET: The White House Homeland Security Partnership Council

“Just as no nation can wall itself off from the world, no one nation—no matter how large, no matter how powerful—can meet these challenges alone. Nor can governments alone. Today’s threats demand new partnerships across sectors and across societies—creative collaborations to achieve what no one can accomplish alone. In short, we need a new spirit of global partnership.” -- President Barack Obama, September 22, 2009

Executive Order 13629: The President established the White House Homeland Security Partnership Council on October 26, 2012 to maximize the Federal Government's ability to develop local partnerships in the United States to support homeland security priorities.  The Council will provide advice and information to the White House and Federal departments and agencies in support of the development of homeland security partnerships.    

Why an Executive Order? Executive Orders have been used for a number of different goals, such as setting foreign policy, protecting infrastructure and trade, and recovering from domestic disasters. Broadly speaking, Presidential orders give focus and energy to efforts they address, and Executive Order 13629 reinforces the importance of partnership and collaboration in achieving homeland security objectives.

Existing Efforts: The Council represents a new, across-government mechanism for tapping into local partnership expertise from a variety of Federal agencies and highlights the importance of partnerships as a tool for achieving objectives. The Council will not direct or coordinate Federal Government partnership activities, nor will it direct, supersede, or command any Federal, state, or local official. This Council is an advisory body and will operate strictly within the mission and function outlined in Executive Order 13629. Nothing in this Executive Order will affect the authority granted by law to any executive department or agency. 

Council:  This Council is different from other Federal advisory bodies and information sharing entities in that it draws upon field-based Federal employees from across the United States who are recognized for their expertise in building robust partnerships. The Council will provide an opportunity to recognize individuals who already have excelled in building partnerships, raise the visibility of their efforts and the model of partnership building, and establish a forum to share best practices. By focusing on efforts and expertise outside Washington, D.C., the establishment of the Council will provide new perspectives to support homeland security priorities.

Local Networks: The best partnerships often are conceived and created in local communities. By serving as a local network of Federal Government partnership specialists, the members of the Council will help capture best practices and insights that are not always visible to Washington, D.C. It will assist the Federal Government in learning from these partnerships, replicating successes across the country, and taking partnerships to scale. Council members will constitute a national network of partnership experts who can exchange ideas, build upon their expertise, and create new innovative partnerships. 

National Leadership: The Federal Government has established a community of interest on homeland security partnerships at the national level through a White House-led Interagency Policy Committee, which is responsible for developing national policy for homeland security partnerships and enabling departments and agencies to more effectively build cross-sector collaboration. 

President Obama Signs Virginia Disaster Declaration

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Virginia and ordered Federal aid to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area affected by Hurricane Sandy during the period of October 26 to November 8, 2012. 

Federal funding is available to commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Sandy in the counties of Accomack, Arlington, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Essex, Fauquier, Frederick, Greene, Highland, King and Queen, Lancaster, Loudoun, Madison, Mathews, Middlesex, Nelson, Northampton, Northumberland, Prince William, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, Surry, Warren, and Westmoreland and the independent cities of Fairfax, Falls Church, and Manassas.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Donald L. Keldsen as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. 

FEMA said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the commonwealth and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Statement of the President on the Final Approval of the Cobell Settlement

I welcome the final approval of the Cobell settlement agreement, clearing the way for reconciliation between the trust beneficiaries and the federal government.  While Elouise Cobell, the named plaintiff in this case is no longer with us, her legacy will be a renewed commitment to our trust relationship with Indian Country.   I thank her for her honorable work, and also want to thank the leaders at the Departments of the Interior, Justice and Treasury who helped reach this conclusion.