The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 18, 2014

Presidential Memorandum -- Proposed Amendment to the 1958 Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY

SUBJECT: Proposed Amendment to the 1958 Agreement Between
the Government of the United States of America
and the Government of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland for
Cooperation on the Uses of Atomic Energy for
Mutual Defense Purposes

I have reviewed and concur with the positions taken in your joint letter to me of July 9, 2014, recommending approval of a proposed Amendment to the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for Cooperation on the Uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defense Purposes of July 3, 1958, as amended (the "1958 Agreement").

I note from your joint recommendation and concur with your assessment that the United Kingdom, by participating with the United States pursuant to an international agreement, is making substantial and material contributions to the mutual defense and security. The proposed Amendment to the 1958 Agreement will permit cooperation that will further improve our mutual defense posture and support our interests under NATO. I hereby: approve the proposed Amendment to the 1958 Agreement; determine that performance under the proposed Amendment will promote and will not constitute an unreasonable risk to the common defense and security; approve the program outlined in this Amendment and determine that such program will promote and will not constitute an unreasonable risk to the common defense and security; and authorize the execution of the proposed Amendment for the Government of the United States in a manner specified by the Secretary of State.

BARACK OBAMA

 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 18, 2014

Remarks by the President and the First Lady at the Kids State Dinner

East Room

12:17 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Okay, Braeden.  (Laughter.)  All right, it’s going to be hard.  All right, mister, you’re not supposed to make the First Lady cry.  (Laughter.) 

Thanks so much.  You guys, let’s give Braeden a big round of applause.  (Applause.)  Well done, young man.  Well done.  And thank you so much, Christy.  Thank you. 

Okay, this is cool, right?  You guys having a good time? 

AUDIENCE:  Yes.

MRS. OBAMA:  Yes?  Has it been exciting from beginning to end?

AUDIENCE:  Yes.

MRS. OBAMA:  What’s been the best part so far?

AUDIENCE:  You. 

MRS. OBAMA:  This?  All right, I didn't cue them on that one.  (Laughter.)  That was a natural response. 

Well, I am just delighted to have you guys.  You guys look amazing.  You have dressed so appropriately for the event.  Doesn't the room look beautiful?  They do such a great job.  And all this stuff was picked out especially for you guys.  It is really an honor to be here.

And I want to start by thanking Tanya and all the folks from Epicurious, the entire team, for, year after year, making this event possible.  It is truly the highlight of our lives, and I know that everyone involved really, really gets inspired from this event. 

And I’m also thrilled about the new Kids and Chefs Cook for Success program that you guys are launching.  And with this effort, you guys are going to take this whole thing to another level.  So I love the fact that, Epicurious, you’re finding ways to step this up every single year.  So thank you, guys, and a big round of applause.  (Applause.)

And, of course, to our Delta Airlines team for flying everybody here.  Oh, let’s all go!  Yay!  (Applause.)

How many people was it your first trip on an airplane?  Or is everybody old flying pros?  You’ve been flown before, huh?  You haven’t flown before?  Well, that's awesome.  So did Delta Airlines treat you well?

AUDIENCE:  Yes.  (Applause.)

MRS. OBAMA:  All right, there you go.  Bob was a little nervous on that question.  (Laughter.) 

And I want to join Tanya in also thanking all of the family members, the parents, the moms, the dads.  I know we have an aunt or two here, as well.  Thank you all so much for supporting your kids in this passion, and for cooking with them and for putting up with those endless messes in the kitchen.  Who’s a messy cook here?  (Laughter.)  Me, too.  Me, too.  (Laughter.)

But I hope you all know that their success is because of your love and your constant encouragement for their creativity.  So we’re just so grateful to all of you grownups who are here with us today, and I hope you’re having a good time, too.

But, of course, most of all, I want to recognize our guest of honor, our 54 Healthy Lunchtime Challenge winners!  (Applause.)  Congratulations.  (Applause.)  Yes, whoop it up.  Party in the White House.  It’s exciting.  I am so proud of you. The President is so proud of you.  Oh, look at the room out there.  I missed the balloons.  (Laughter.)  We have been working so hard to make this event special for you.

But these kids have been selected.  There were more than 1,500 kids that submitted their recipes for this year’s challenge, and it was not easy to choose just one winner from each state, so this was a competitive experience.  You had to claw your way to the finish line.  (Laughter.)  I hope you didn't push and shove anyone on the way up to the top.  But you made it. But you’re all here because a panel of distinguished judges agreed that your recipes were the very best.

And I want to thank all the judges.  Sam was one of those judges.  (Applause.)  There’s a lot of eating.  Did you taste all 1,500 recipes?

MR. KASS:  110 dishes.

MRS. OBAMA:  110 dishes. 

MR. KASS:  That's a lot. 

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you, Sam.  (Laughter.)  Well done.

But yours were the most nutritious and the most delicious, all right?  So healthy and good, too, right?  And you guys took very different paths to get here.  Some of you started cooking as a way to bond with your families -- and that was true for Genene Wedd.  Hey, Genene, how are you?  From California.  He said, “I love cooking with my mom.  It is fun spending time with her and talking about my day.”

And for some of you, cooking is how you celebrate your culture or other cultures you’re interested in.  Lucy Hickerson  -- where’s Lucy?  I know I saw Lucy.  Where are you, Lucy?  Lucy is from Kentucky, and she made a pocket with sweet potatoes and kale.  And she describes her dish as a combination of an Indian samosa, a Spanish empanada and an Asian spring roll.  And what Lucy says, “It’s like going around the world in one bite.”  (Laughter.)

And some of you like to cook because you’re good at it and hope to make it a career.  That’s why Hannah Foley from Pennsylvania right here -– as she said -- she said, “I love to cook and hope to one day be a chef with my own show on the Food Network.”  (Laughter.)  Wait, she’s got a title.  (Laughter.)  It’s called, “H to the F to the Hannah Foley Chef.”   (Laughter.) Yes, that's been in my head for many days.  (Laughter.)  That's why I knew it.  H to the F -- okay. 

But no matter how you got to the White House today, you’re all here for one simple reason.  And I think Adrianna Nelson from West Virginia -- Adrianna, where are you?  Hi, you.  This is what she said.  She said, “I love to create healthy recipes because I feel great when I eat healthy.”  That's why you’re here.  Like Adrianna, you all know that what you eat affects how you feel, and how much energy you have, and how well you do at school.

And that’s really why I started Let's Move.  I did it because I care deeply about the kids in this country.  I really do.  Not just as First Lady, but I’m a mom, I’ve got two kids.  I love them, and I love you all just as much.  So it’s important for me to make sure that the things I do for my girls are the same things that every kid in this country has access to.   

And that’s why we’ve been working so hard to help families cook healthy meals at home, and to get more grocery stores into our communities, and to get companies to market healthier foods to kids. 

And most of all, that’s why we’ve been fighting so hard for our new healthy school lunches.  And I have to tell you, and I said this to some of you in the photo line that you all are my inspiration.  Kids like you really do inspire me.  You all represent 54 reasons why we know that we can do so much better by our kids when it comes to eating healthy because the truth is, is that if 8-, 9- and 10-year-old kids can cook and happily eat a healthy, tasty meal, then there is absolutely no reason why we can’t get nutritious food into every school in this country that kids will actually enjoy.  You guys remind me of that every single day.

Now, I know that some of you might have friends who want to bring back the junk food in the schools, right?  Because there’s always those kids.  They're like, give me my junk food back.  (Laughter.)  And I know that in recent months, we’ve even seen grownups, including folks in Congress, trying to undo some of the progress that we’ve made to get healthier food into our schools. And while the vast majority of the schools are doing just fine with these new standards, those few complaining voices happen to be the loudest voices and they’re getting the most attention right now.

So here’s what I’m going to ask you to do for this year.  I need you guys to make your voices heard, too.  It’s important.  And don’t be shy.  I want you to speak up, talk to your classmates and your teachers.  Share with them what you’ve learned about healthy eating and cooking, about how to craft interesting things.  Like, Braeden, you might even get your school to test your recipe in the lunchroom for other kids.  Teach them what you know about healthy eating.

And also, to the parents, parents play a really important role in what happens on the ground.  And in many instances, parents are way more powerful than people like us in the White House.  So I urge you guys to speak up as well, and to continue speaking up.  Go to those PTA meetings and those school board meetings and tell them what you know and what you’re learning, to make sure that they're listening to all the voices on this issue.

There’s a lot of money involved in feeding our kids at school.  We are currently spending $10 billion a year -- did you hear that, $10 billion a year -- on our school lunch programs.  So it’s not surprising that there are certain interests that are resisting change and trying to take us back to the old ways of doing business, because for them there’s a lot of money is on the line.  But you all have a right to expect that your hard-earned tax dollars will be spent on food that meets basic nutrition standards. 

It’s as simple as that.  Because when you are working so hard to prepare nutritious foods at home, I know that you don’t want all that work undone when you send your kids off to school and they’re eating in the lunchroom.  So we can’t afford to stay silent on this issue, because if we do we’re going to wind up right back where we started.  And that’s not acceptable.  Because I know that everyone in this room, at least, and many people around the country know that the food our kids are eating today will affect their health for decades.  We are laying an imprint on our kids with everything they put into their bodies today.  We know so much more about how nutrition and exercise impacts our children’s ability to focus and succeed both in school and in life.

And that’s why you guys, as parents, are so passionately supporting your kids on this issue -- you know that this is real, this isn’t a joke.  So what I don’t want to have happen is that 20 years from now I don’t want us to be looking back and saying to ourselves, man, we were almost there, we were right on the brink of transforming our kids’ health, but then things got tough and expensive, and then we didn’t stand up and we didn’t speak up, and we gave up too soon. 

Our kids deserve better than that.  And they don’t know, but we know -- we know better.  All of you kids, like kids across this country, deserve everything that we adults can muster up for you.  I have to tell my kids that every day -- I still know more than they do.  (Laughter.)  So when we know better, we have to do better for you.

So I hope that you all will serve as ambassadors, okay?  And think about, as Braeden did, how you will pay this forward.  And there are many, many ways you’re going to pay it forward.  There’s no one right answer on how you’re going to do it.  But when you get a chance to do something this special and to come to the White House, and have all this press and all these special things going on, I know for me when I think about my advantages, I think, I have to give that back to somebody else.  That is my obligation.  That’s the price I pay for standing here and hanging out. 

So I want you to think about what you’re going to do.  I want you to keep talking to other kids about eating healthy.  Help them learn.  Help them try new things.  And you’re going to run into bumps and bruises -- I know, Braeden, it must have been hard work starting your new non-profit organization.  I’m sure it wasn’t easy every step of the way, but it was so worth it, right, for the thanks that you get and knowing that you impact the lives of others. 

So I know each of you can do that in your own special way. And we’re going to do this again next year, so I hope that one of you will be standing here like Braeden, being able to share all the great things that you’ve done over the course of the year.  I can’t wait to see what you guys accomplish.  You all are pretty amazing young people. 

So I think with that, it’s time to eat, don’t you think?  I’m a little hungry.  I just had fruit for breakfast so I’m really ready to try all these dishes.  (Applause.)  You guys, have a great time.  And I will see you after lunch.  Enjoy.  (Applause.)

Wait, wait.  We have a special guest -- Braeden knew about this -- but another person who likes this event just as much as me, who never gets invited to sit down is the President of the United States.  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody!  I am not going to hold up the meal -- everybody sit down.  (Laughter.)  I just wanted to come by because I love the event.  First of all, we have a lot of state dinners around here.

MRS. OBAMA:  We do.

THE PRESIDENT:  They’re not always as cheerful and fun as this.  (Laughter.)  First of all, everybody is older and a little stodgier.  But this is a much hipper crowd.  More colorful outfits -- so I like that.  But I also just love seeing young people who are doing wonderful things.  We are so proud of you.  To see the kind of leadership you’re taking and the way that you’ve really thrown yourselves into these projects is just really inspiring. 

And sometimes people ask me, you know, Mr. President, you have this really tough job and there is always stuff happening all around the world, and how do you keep up with all of it and how do you keep your spirits up?  And my answer is, because I meet young people every day who I know are energetic and are full of great ideas and are going to be continuing to make this country better.  This is one way to do it.  You guys are leaders in your schools and in your communities, and you’re helping to teach folks the importance of good nutrition, the importance of putting good fuel in your bodies so that you’re living healthy, active lives.

And by the way, one thing -- maybe I shouldn’t say this, but it’s not like our family -- including me -- don’t have some snacks once in a while -- (laughter) -- that may not be on the perfect nutrition chart.

MRS. OBAMA:  It’s true.  (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Each of us have our weaknesses, so I’m going to reveal some right now.  Malia, ice cream.  I mean, basically, it’s very hard for her to turn down ice cream.  But she has learned to kind of control herself when it comes to ice cream.

MRS. OBAMA:  It’s hard.

THE PRESIDENT:  It’s hard, but she still has fun when she does have ice cream.  In fact, the fact that she doesn’t have ice cream every day means when she has it --

MRS. OBAMA:  It’s very special.

THE PRESIDENT: -- it’s like, hallelujah.  She starts -- she is so happy.  (Laughter.)  Sasha -- what would you say is Sasha’s pig-out indulgence food?

MRS. OBAMA:  She likes sushi.

THE PRESIDENT:  Oh, no.  (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA:  It’s what she’s into.

THE PRESIDENT:  She is kind of into sushi right now.  She’s a little -- I love sushi, so maybe I had some influence there.  But let’s say -- her pies.  She pretty much takes dessert whenever she can.

MRS. OBAMA:  Pie.

THE PRESIDENT:  Pie.  She’s like me.  My big thing -- chips and guacamole.  (Laughter.)  Basically, if there is a bowl of good chips and guacamole --

MRS. OBAMA:  He loses it.

THE PRESIDENT:  -- I lose my mind.  (Laughter.)  I lose my mind.  And the First Lady -- French fries.  (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA:  But I’m going to say this.  I’m making a vow -- I’m going to take a break from French fries.

THE PRESIDENT:  Really?

MRS. OBAMA:  Yes.

THE PRESIDENT:  Wow, that’s big.  (Laughter and applause.) 

Now, the reason I make this point is that the question is not can you never have anything -- it’s, on a day-to-day basis, at lunches, at breakfast, at dinner, is your basic nutrition something that’s going to make you strong and make you healthy?  And if it is, then having fun food that may not be perfect for you, that’s okay, too. 

But we’re just all trying to develop good habits.  And the one thing I know about all these young people is they’ve got great work habits, because, otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to do everything that they’ve done.  They’ve got great habits of caring about other people, because they’re out there spreading the word about what they’re doing.  And as a consequence, I’m really optimistic about what all these great young leaders are going to achieve in the future. 

So good luck.  Have a great Kids State Dinner -- even though it’s technically lunch.  (Laughter.)  Calling it a state lunch -- there was a debate about this and we thought --

MRS. OBAMA:  It doesn’t work.

THE PRESIDENT:  -- it doesn’t make sense, because we have state dinners.  So it’s a Kids State Dinner, even though it’s noon. 

And parents, good job, everybody.  You’ve got great kids.  (Applause.)

END
12:35 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 18, 2014

Statement by the President on Ukraine

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

11:52 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Good morning, everybody. 

Yesterday, Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 took off from Amsterdam and was shot down over Ukraine near the Russian border.  Nearly 300 innocent lives were taken -- men, women, children, infants -- who had nothing to do with the crisis in Ukraine.  Their deaths are an outrage of unspeakable proportions.

We know at least one American citizen, Quinn Lucas Schansman, was killed.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his family for this terrible loss.

Yesterday, I spoke with the leaders of Ukraine, Malaysia, and the Netherlands.  I told them that our thoughts and prayers are with all the families and that the American people stand with them during this difficult time.  Later today, I’ll be speaking to Prime Minister Abbott of Australia, which also suffered a terrible loss.

By far, the country that lost the most people on board the plane was the Netherlands.  From the days of our founding, the Dutch have been close friends and stalwart allies of the United States of America.  And today, I want the Dutch people to know that we stand with you, shoulder to shoulder, in our grief and in our absolute determination to get to the bottom of what happened.

Here’s what we know so far.  Evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile that was launched from an area that is controlled by Russian-backed separatists inside of Ukraine.  We also know that this is not the first time a plane has been shot down in eastern Ukraine.  Over the last several weeks, Russian-backed separatists have shot down a Ukrainian transport plane and a Ukrainian helicopter, and they claimed responsibility for shooting down a Ukrainian fighter jet. Moreover, we know that these separatists have received a steady flow of support from Russia.  This includes arms and training.  It includes heavy weapons, and it includes anti-aircraft weapons. 

Here’s what must happen now.  This was a global tragedy.  An Asian airliner was destroyed in European skies, filled with citizens from many countries.  So there has to be a credible international investigation into what happened.  The U.N. Security Council has endorsed this investigation, and we will hold all its members -- including Russia -- to their word.  In order to facilitate that investigation, Russia, pro-Russian separatists, and Ukraine must adhere to an immediate cease-fire.  Evidence must not be tampered with.  Investigators need to access the crash site.  And the solemn task of returning those who were lost on board the plane to their loved ones needs to go forward immediately.

The United States stands ready to provide any assistance that is necessary.  We’ve already offered the support of the FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board, which has experience in working with international partners on these types of investigations.  They are on their way, personnel from the FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board. 

In the coming hours and days, I’ll continue to be in close contact with leaders from around the world as we respond to this catastrophe.  Our immediate focus will be on recovering those who were lost, investigating exactly what happened, and putting forward the facts. 

I want to point out there will likely be misinformation as well.  I think it's very important for folks to sift through what is factually based and what is simply speculation.  No one can deny the truth that is revealed in the awful images that we all have seen.  And the eyes of the world are on eastern Ukraine, and we are going to make sure that the truth is out.

More broadly, I think it's important for us to recognize that this outrageous event underscores that it is time for peace and security to be restored in Ukraine.  For months, we’ve supported a pathway to peace, and the Ukrainian government has reached out to all Ukrainians, put forward a peace plan, and lived up to a cease-fire, despite repeated violations by the separatists -- violations that took the lives of Ukrainian soldiers and personnel.

Moreover, time and again, Russia has refused to take the concrete steps necessary to deescalate the situation.  I spoke to President Putin yesterday in the wake of additional sanctions that we had imposed.  He said he wasn’t happy with them, and I told him that we have been very clear from the outset that we want Russia to take the path that would result in peace in Ukraine, but so far at least, Russia has failed to take that path.  Instead, it has continued to violate Ukrainian sovereignty and to support violent separatists.  It has also failed to use its influence to press the separatists to abide by a cease-fire.  That’s why, together with our allies, we’ve imposed growing costs on Russia.

So now is, I think, a somber and appropriate time for all of us to step back and take a hard look at what has happened.  Violence and conflict inevitably lead to unforeseen consequences.  Russia, these separatists, and Ukraine all have the capacity to put an end to the fighting.  Meanwhile, the United States is going to continue to lead efforts within the world community to de-escalate the situation; to stand up for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine; and to support the people of Ukraine as they courageously work to strengthen their democracy and make their own decisions about how they should move forward.

Before I take just a couple of questions let me remark on one other issue.  This morning, I spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel about the situation in Gaza.  We discussed Israel’s military operation in Gaza, including its efforts to stop the threat of terrorist infiltration through tunnels into Israel.  I reaffirmed my strong support for Israel’s right to defend itself.  No nation should accept rockets being fired into its borders, or terrorists tunneling into its territory.  In fact, while I was having the conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu, sirens went off in Tel Aviv.

I also made clear that the United States, and our friends and allies, are deeply concerned about the risks of further escalation and the loss of more innocent life.  And that’s why we’ve indicated, although we support military efforts by the Israelis to make sure that rockets are not being fired into their territory, we also have said that our understanding is the current military ground operations are designed to deal with the tunnels, and we are hopeful that Israel will continue to approach this process in a way that minimizes civilian casualties and that all of us are working hard to return to the cease-fire that was reached in November of 2012. 

Secretary Kerry is working to support Egypt’s initiative to pursue that outcome.  I told Prime Minister Netanyahu that John is prepared to travel to the region following additional consultations.

Let me close by making one additional comment.  On board Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17, there were apparently nearly 100 researchers and advocates traveling to an international conference in Australia dedicated to combating AIDS/HIV.  These were men and women who had dedicated their own lives to saving the lives of others and they were taken from us in a senseless act of violence.

In this world today, we shouldn’t forget that in the midst of conflict and killing, there are people like these -- people who are focused on what can be built rather than what can be destroyed; people who are focused on how they can help people that they’ve never met; people who define themselves not by what makes them different from other people but by the humanity that we hold in common.  It’s important for us to lift them up and to affirm their lives.  And it’s time for us to heed their example. 

The United States of America is going to continue to stand for the basic principle that people have the right to live as they choose; that nations have the right to determine their own destiny; and that when terrible events like this occur, the international community stands on the side of justice and on the side of truth. 

So with that, let me take just a couple questions.  I’ll start with you, Julie.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  Just on a technical matter, does the U.S. believe that this passenger jet was targeted, or that those people who shot it down may have been going after a military -- thought they were going after a military aircraft?  And more broadly, this incident does seem to escalate the crisis in Ukraine to a level we haven’t seen before.  Does that change your calculus in terms of what the U.S. and perhaps Europe should be doing in terms of a response?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I think it’s too early for us to be able to guess what the intentions of those who might have launched this surface-to-air missile might have had.  The investigation is going to be ongoing, and I think what we’ll see is additional information surfacing over the next 24 hours, 72 hours, the next week, the next month.

What we know right now, what we have confidence in saying right now is that a surface-to-air missile was fired and that's what brought the jet down.  We know -- or we have confidence in saying that that shot was taken within a territory that is controlled by the Russian separatists. 

But I think it’s very important for us to make sure that we don't get out ahead of the facts.  And at this point, in terms of identifying specifically what individual or group of individuals or personnel ordered the strike, how it came about, those are things that I think are still going to be subject to additional information that we’re going to be gathering.  And we’re working with the entire international community to make sure that the focus is on getting to the bottom of this thing and being truthful.

And my concern is obviously that there’s been a lot of misinformation generated in eastern Ukraine generally.  This should snap everybody’s heads to attention and make sure that we don't have time for propaganda, we don't have time for games.  We need to know exactly what happened.  And everybody needs to make sure that we’re holding accountable those who committed this outrage.

With respect to the second question, as you’re aware, before this terrible incident happened we had already ratcheted up sanctions against Russia.  And I think the concern not just of Russian officials but of the markets about the impact that this could have on the Russian economy is there for all to see.

I made clear to President Putin that our preferred path is to resolve this diplomatically.  But that means that he and the Russian government have to make a strategic decision:  Are they going to continue to support violent separatists whose intent is to undermine the government of Ukraine?  Or are they prepared to work with the government of Ukraine to arrive at a cease-fire and a peace that takes into account the interests of all Ukrainians?

There has been some improved language at times over the last month coming from the Kremlin and coming from President Putin, but what we have not seen is an actual transition and different actions that would give us confidence that that's the direction that they want to take.

And we will continue to make clear that as Russia engages in efforts that are supporting the separatists, that we have the capacity to increase the costs that we impose on them.  And we will do so.  Not because we’re interested in hurting Russia for the sake of hurting Russia, but because we believe in standing up for the basic principle that a country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity has to be respected, and it is not the United States or Russia or Germany or any other country that should be deciding what happens in that country.

Q    At this point do you see any U.S. military role that could be effective?

THE PRESIDENT:  We don't see a U.S. military role beyond what we’ve already been doing in working with our NATO partners and some of the Baltic States, giving them reassurances that we are prepared to do whatever is required to meet our alliance obligations.

Steve Holland.

Q    Sir, thank you.  How much blame for this do you put on President Putin?  And will you use this incident now to push the Europeans for stronger action?

THE PRESIDENT:  We don't exactly know what happened yet, and I don't want to, as I said before, get out ahead of the facts.  But what I do know is, is that we have seen a ticking up of violence in eastern Ukraine that, despite the efforts of the Ukrainian government to abide by a cease-fire and to reach out and agree to negotiations, including with the separatists, that has been rebuffed by these separatists.  We know that they are heavily armed and that they are trained.  And we know that that’s not an accident.  That is happening because of Russian support.

So it is not possible for these separatists to function the way they’re functioning, to have the equipment that they have -- set aside what’s happened with respect to the Malaysian Airlines -- a group of separatists can’t shoot down military transport planes or, they claim, shoot down fighter jets without sophisticated equipment and sophisticated training.  And that is coming from Russia.

So we don’t yet know exactly what happened with respect to the Malaysian Airlines, although obviously we’re beginning to draw some conclusions given the nature of the shot that was fired.  There are only certain types of anti-aircraft missiles that can reach up 30,000 feet and shoot down a passenger jet.  We have increasing confidence that it came from areas controlled by the separatists.  But without having a definitive judgment on those issues yet, what we do know is, is that the violence that’s taking place there is facilitated in part -- in large part -- because of Russian support.  And they have the ability to move those separatists in a different direction.

If Mr. Putin makes a decision that we are not going to allow heavy armaments and the flow of fighters into Ukraine across the Ukrainian-Russian border, then it will stop.  And if it stops, then the separatists will still have the capacity to enter into negotiations and try to arrive at the sort of political accommodations that Mr. Putin himself says he wants to see.  He has the most control over that situation, and so far, at least, he has not exercised it.

Q    Tougher sanctions in Europe -- will you push for them?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I think that this certainly will be a wake-up call for Europe and the world that there are consequences to an escalating conflict in eastern Ukraine; that it is not going to be localized, it is not going to be contained.  What we’ve seen here is -- just in one country alone, our great allies, the Dutch, 150 or more of their citizens being killed.  And that, I think, sadly brings home the degree to which the stakes are high for Europe, not simply for the Ukrainian people, and that we have to be firm in our resolve in making sure that we are supporting Ukraine in its efforts to bring about a just cease-fire and that we can move towards a political solution to this.

I’m going to make this the last question.  Lisa Lerer, Bloomberg.

Q    Do we know yet if there were other Americans on board beyond the person you mentioned?  And how do you prevent stricter restrictions, economic sanctions from shocking the global economy and -- 

THE PRESIDENT:  We have been pretty methodical over the last 24 hours in working through the flight manifest and identifying which passengers might have had a U.S. passport.  At this point, the individual that I mentioned is the sole person that we can definitively say was a U.S. or dual citizen. 

Because events are moving so quickly, I don’t want to say with absolute certainty that there might not be additional Americans, but at this stage, having worked through the list, been in contact with the Malaysian government, which processed the passports as folks were boarding, this is our best assessment of the number of Americans that were killed.  Obviously that does nothing to lessen our outrage about all those families.  Regardless of nationality, it is a heartbreaking event.

With respect to the effect of sanctions on the economy, we have consistently tried to tailor these sanctions in ways that would have an impact on Russia, on their economy, on their institutions or individuals that are aiding and abetting in the activities that are taking place in eastern Ukraine, while minimizing the impacts on not only the U.S. economy but the global economy. 

It is a relevant consideration that we have to keep in mind.  The world economy is integrated; Russia is a large economy; there’s a lot of financial flows between Russia and the rest of the world.  But we feel confident that at this point the sanctions that we’ve put in place are imposing a cost on Russia, that their overall impact on the global economy is minimal.  It is something that we have to obviously pay close attention to, but I think Treasury, in consultation with our European partners, have done a good job so far on that issue.

Thank you very much, everybody.

END
12:15 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 17, 2014

Statement by the Press Secretary on Malaysian Airlines Flight 17

The United States is shocked by the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17, and we offer our deep condolences to all those who lost loved ones on board. We continue to seek information to determine whether there were any American citizens on board.

It is critical that there be a full, credible, and unimpeded international investigation as quickly as possible. We urge all concerned – Russia, the pro-Russian separatists, and Ukraine – to support an immediate cease-fire in order to ensure safe and unfettered access to the crash site for international investigators and in order to facilitate the recovery of remains. The role of international organizations – such as the United Nations and the OSCE in Ukraine – may be particularly relevant for this effort, and we will be in touch with affected nations and our partners in these organizations in the coming hours and days to determine the best path forward. In the meantime, it is vital that no evidence be tampered with in any way and that all potential evidence and remains at the crash site are undisturbed. The United States remains prepared to contribute immediate assistance to any international investigation, including through resources provided by the NTSB and the FBI.

While we do not yet have all the facts, we do know that this incident occurred in the context of a crisis in Ukraine that is fueled by Russian support for the separatists, including through arms, materiel, and training. This incident only highlights the urgency with which we continue to urge Russia to immediately take concrete steps to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine and to support a sustainable cease-fire and path toward peace that the Ukrainian government has consistently put forward.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 17, 2014

Readout of the President’s Call with Prime Minister Rutte of the Netherlands

President Obama called Prime Minister Rutte of the Netherlands this evening to express condolences to the people of the Netherlands for the tragic death of Dutch citizens traveling on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.  The President told the Prime Minister the United States was prepared to contribute immediate assistance to support a prompt, full, credible, and unimpeded international investigation.  The President and Prime Minister agreed on the need to assure immediate access to the site of the incident to international investigators in order to facilitate the recovery of remains and to carry out a thorough investigation.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 17, 2014

Readout of the President’s Call with Prime Minister Najib of Malaysia

President Obama called Malaysian Prime Minister Najib today to express condolences to the people of Malaysia for the terrible loss of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in Ukraine, as well as all the families who lost loved ones in this tragic event. The President told the Prime Minister that United States has offered immediate assistance to support a prompt international investigation. President Obama reaffirmed the strength of the friendship between the United States and Malaysia and underscored that the United States stands ready to provide any assistance or support necessary.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 17, 2014

Readout of the President’s Call with President Poroshenko of Ukraine

President Obama spoke with Ukrainian President Poroshenko this afternoon to discuss the tragic crash of flight Malaysian Airlines 17. President Poroshenko welcomed the assistance of international investigators to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation of the crash site. President Obama assured him that U.S. experts will offer all possible assistance immediately. The Presidents emphasized that all evidence from the crash site must remain in place on the territory of Ukraine until international investigators are able to examine all aspects of the tragedy.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 17, 2014

Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Charles C. Adams, Jr., of Maryland, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Finland.

Matthew Vincent Masterson, of Ohio, to be a Member of the Election Assistance Commission for a term expiring December 12, 2017, vice Gineen Bresso Beach, term expired.

Christy A. McCormick, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Election Assistance Commission for a term expiring December 12, 2015, vice Donetta Davidson, term expired.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 17, 2014

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

  • Mickey D. Barnett – Governor, Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service
  • James L. Huffman – Member, Board of Trustees of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation
  • Matthew V. Masterson – Commissioner, Election Assistance Commission  
  • Christy McCormick – Commissioner, Election Assistance Commission

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Mickey D. Barnett, Nominee for Governor, Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service

Mickey D. Barnett is Managing Partner of the Barnett Law Firm.  Previously, he served in the New Mexico State Senate from 1980 to 1984.   Earlier in his career, he served as a Legislative Assistant to Senator Pete Domenici from 1972 to 1976.  Mr. Barnett was first appointed to the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service in 2006.  He was a member of the Republican National Committee from 2000 to 2004 and a member of the Appellate Nominating Committee for the New Mexico Supreme Court of Appeals from 1995 to 2002.  He has been a member of both the Federalist Society and the Christian Legal Society for more than 20 years.  Mr. Barnett received a B.A. from Eastern New Mexico University and a J.D. from The George Washington University National Law Center.

James L. Huffman, Nominee for Member, Board of Trustees of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation

James L. Huffman is a Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution, a position he has held since 2013.  Previously, he was a member of the Hoover Institution Task Force on Property Rights, Freedom, and Prosperity from 2008 to 2013.  He joined Lewis and Clark Law School as a Professor of Law in 1978 and served as Dean from 1994 to 2006.  Mr. Huffman served on the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council from 2004 to 2005.  He was the Bradley Resident Scholar at the Heritage Foundation in 1993 and a Fulbright Scholar in Athens, Greece in 1988.  Mr. Huffman received a B.S. from Montana State University, an M.A. from Tufts University, and a J.D. from The University of Chicago Law School. 

Matthew V. Masterson, Nominee for Commissioner, Election Assistance Commission

Matthew V. Masterson is Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief Information Officer for the Ohio Secretary of State, positions he has held since 2013.  He previously served as Deputy Director of Elections from 2011 to 2013.  Prior to joining the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, Mr. Masterson held multiple roles at the Election Assistance Commission from 2006 to 2011, including Deputy Director for the Testing and Certification Division, Attorney and Advisor, and Special Assistant and Counsel to Chair Paul DeGregorio.  Mr. Masterson received a B.S. and a B.A. from Miami University and a J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law.

Christy McCormick, Nominee for Commissioner, Election Assistance Commission

Christy McCormick is a Senior Trial Attorney in the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice, a position she has held since 2006.  She was detailed by the Deputy Attorney General to be Senior Attorney Advisor and Acting Deputy Rule of Law Coordinator in the Office of the Rule of Law Coordinator at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq from 2009 to 2010.  From 2003 to 2006, she served as a Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Elizabeth A. McClanahan in the Court of Appeals of Virginia.  Ms. McCormick was an Assistant Attorney General and Assistant to the Solicitor General in the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia from 2001 to 2003.  She was a Judicial Law Clerk in the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court of Virginia from 1999 to 2001.  Ms. McCormick received a B.A. from the University of Buffalo and a J.D. from the George Mason University School of Law. 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
July 17, 2014

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

  • Charles C. Adams, Jr. – Ambassador to the Republic of Finland, Department of State
  • Chip Fulghum – Chief Financial Officer, Department of Homeland Security  
  • Adri D. Jayaratne – Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, Department of Labor
  • Barbara A. Leaf – Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Department of State
  • Virginia E. Palmer – Ambassador to the Republic of Malawi, Department of State
  • William V. Roebuck – Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Department of State

President Obama also announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

  • Donald J. Butt – Member, Advisory Committee to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation   
  • Ethan Epstein – Member, Board of Visitors to the United States Military Academy
  • Virna L. Winters – Member, Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled

President Obama said, “These men and women have demonstrated knowledge and dedication throughout their careers. I am grateful they have chosen to take on these important roles, and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Charles C. Adams, Jr., Nominee for Ambassador to the Republic of Finland, Department of State

Charles C. Adams, Jr. is Managing Partner at the Geneva office of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP, a position he has held since 2010.  Previously, he served as Managing Partner at the Geneva office of Hogan & Hartson from 2005 to 2010, and he was Managing Partner at the Geneva office of Winston & Strawn from 1993 to 2005.  Mr. Adams was an attorney at the Washington, D.C. and Geneva offices of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue from 1986 to 1993.  From 1973 to 1986, he was an attorney at the Washington, D.C. and Paris, France offices of Surrey & Morse.  He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya from 1968 to 1970.  Mr. Adams received a B.A. from Dartmouth College and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. 

Chip Fulghum, Nominee for Chief Financial Officer, Department of Homeland Security  

Chip Fulghum is the Budget Director in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer at the Department of Homeland Security, a position he has held since 2012.  In addition, he served as Acting Chief Financial Officer from 2013 to 2014.  Mr. Fulghum served for 28 years in the U.S. Air Force from 1984 to 2012, and retired with the rank of Colonel.  From 2010 to 2012, he was Director of Air Force Budget Programs, and from 2008 to 2010 he was Chief Financial Officer for Air Education and Training Command at Randolph Air Force Base.  Previously, he served as Chief of the Air Force Budget Integration Division at the Pentagon from 2006 to 2008, Chief of Budget Operations and Budget at Randolph Air Force Base from 2001 to 2005, and Chief Financial Officer for Anderson Air Force Base from 1999 to 2001.  Mr. Fulghum received a B.A. from The Citadel, an M.B.A. from Golden Gate University, and a Masters in Aerospace Studies from The Air University.

Adri D. Jayaratne, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, Department of Labor

Adri D. Jayaratne is Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Labor (DOL), a position he has held since 2012.  Since March 2014, he has served as Acting Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at DOL.  From 2009 to 2012, Mr. Jayaratne was a Senior Legislative Officer at DOL.  He previously worked for U.S. Congresswoman Betty Sutton as Chief of Staff and Legislative Director from 2007 to 2008.  From 2003 to 2006, he was Senior Legislative Assistant for U.S. Congressman Dale Kildee.  He was Senior Policy Advisor for Congressman David Bonior from 2001 to 2002, Legislative Assistant from 2000 to 2001, and Legislative Correspondent from 1999 to 2000.  Mr. Jayaratne received a B.A. from the University of Michigan and an M.A. from The George Washington University.

Barbara A. Leaf, Nominee for Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Department of State

Barbara A. Leaf, a career member of the Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Arabian Peninsula in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the Department of State (DOS), a position she has held since 2013.  From 2011 to 2013, Ms. Leaf served at DOS as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.  From 2010 to 2011, Ms. Leaf was the Director of the U.S. Provincial Reconstruction Team in Basrah, Iraq.  Ms. Leaf was the Political Minister-Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, Italy from 2008 to 2010.  From 2006 to 2008, Ms. Leaf served as the Director of the Office of Iranian Affairs at DOS, and from 2004 to 2006, she was a Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina.  From 2003 to 2004, Ms. Leaf served as the Director of the Regional Office in the Office of the High Representative in Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and she was an Advisor to the Medical Director of the Office of Medical Services from 2001 to 2003.  Ms. Leaf was the Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France from 1996 to 2000, and a Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt from 1994 to 1996.  Earlier in her career, she served as a Kuwait Desk Officer in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs; Chief of the Visa Section at the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem; a Watch Officer in the Operations Center; and as a Consular/Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.  Prior to joining the Foreign Service, she served as a Legal Library Assistant in the Judge’s Library of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.  Ms. Leaf received a B.A. from the College of William and Mary and an M.A. from the University of Virginia. 

Virginia E. Palmer, Nominee for Ambassador to the Republic of Malawi, Department of State

Virginia E. Palmer, a career member of the Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, is currently the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, a position she has held since 2011.  From 2008 to 2011, she served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam.  Ms. Palmer was the Deputy Coordinator for Counter Terrorism at the Department of State (DOS) from 2005 to 2008, and she was the Director for Economic Policy in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at DOS from 2004 to 2005.  From 2001 to 2004, she served as an Economic Counselor and a Regional Labor Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.  Previously, Ms. Palmer served as Political Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong, China from 1998 to 2001.  From 1993 to 1997, she was a Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe.  In 1992, Ms. Palmer was a Libya Desk Officer in the Bureau for Near Eastern Affairs at DOS, and from 1991 to 1992 she was a Watch Officer in the Operations Center at DOS.  Ms. Palmer served as an Economic Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China from 1989 to 1991, and she was a Consular Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Calgary, Canada from 1987 to 1988.  Ms. Palmer received a B.A. from Georgetown University and an M.A. from the University of Virginia.

William V. Roebuck, Nominee for Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Department of State

William V. Roebuck, a career member of the Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, is currently Deputy Assistant Secretary for Egypt and Maghreb Affairs in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the Department of State (DOS), a position he has held since 2013.  Previously, he served as Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, Libya in 2013.  Mr. Roebuck was Director of the Office of Maghreb Affairs at DOS from 2010 to 2012, and served as Deputy Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq from 2009 to 2010.  From 2007 to 2009, he was Deputy Office Director in the Office of Arabian Peninsula Affairs, and was Political Section Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, Syria from 2004 to 2007.  Mr. Roebuck was a Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel from 2000 to 2003.  Earlier in his career, he taught English in Ta’if, Saudi Arabia and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Sassandra, Côte D’Ivoire.  Mr. Roebuck received a B.A. and an M.A. from Wake Forest University and a J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law. 

President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Donald J. Butt, Appointee for Member, Advisory Committee to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation   

Donald J. Butt served as the Vice President of Operations and Defined Contributions Plans for Qwest Asset Management Company from 2001 until his retirement in 2010.  From 1983 to 2001, Mr. Butt held a number of positions at US West Inc., including Vice President of Operations and Defined Contributions Plans, Manager of Trust Investment, Special Assistant for Economic Development, and Manager of Financial Planning.  He served as a Computer Operations Supervisor and a Staff Administrator with Mountain Bell from 1970 to 1983.  Mr. Butt received a B.S. from Metropolitan State College and an M.B.A. from the University of Denver.

Ethan Epstein, Appointee for Member, Board of Visitors to the United States Military Academy

Ethan Epstein is a founding Principal with Epstein and Company, LLC, a position he has held since 2009.  He is also a Principal with the New Mexico Tax Credit Alliance, a position he has held since 2007.  Previously, he was a member of the Tax Department of Modrall, Sperling, Roehl, Harris, & Sisk, PA, in addition to the Tax Department of Sutin, Thayer, & Browne, PC.  Mr. Epstein is Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for New Mexico and is also the former Honorary Commander of the 58th Special Operations Wing.  He served in the U.S. Army as Chief of Law Enforcement and Physical Security at the Provost Marshal of Red River Army Depot in Texarkana, Texas from 1997 to 1998.  Mr. Epstein was Platoon Leader of Headquarters and 3/557th Military Policy Company, stationed in Pyontaek, South Korea from 1995 to 1996.  Mr. Epstein received a B.S. from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a J.D. from the George Mason School of Law, and an LL.M. (Taxation) from the New York University School of Law.

Virna L. Winters, Appointee for Member, Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled

Virna L. Winters is Director of the Acquisition Policy and Oversight Division at the Department of Commerce (DOC), a position she has held since 2008.  She was a Procurement Analyst at DOC from 2003 to 2008.  From 1992 to 2003, she was a Contract Specialist at the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the Department of Homeland Security.  Ms. Winters received an A.S. in Computer Technology from McLennan Community College and a B.S. in Accounting from the University of North Texas.