Condolences Press Release

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US. Army Gen. John Campbell,then the Commander of USFOR-A, directed an investigation to determine the causeof this incident. The lead investigating officer was Army Maj. Gen.William Hickman. He was assisted by Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert Armfieldand Army Brig. Gen Sean Jenkins. All three generals were brought in fromoutside Afghanistan in order to provide an objective perspective. Theinvestigation team included over a dozen subject matter experts from severalspecialty fields.

The investigative team visitedthe MSF Trauma Center site and several other locations in the city of Kunduz. The team interviewed more than 65 witnesses including personnel at the traumacenter, members of U.S. and Afghan ground forces, members of the aircrew, andrepresentatives at every echelon of command in Afghanistan. The team hadfull access to classified information, and the investigation includes more than3,000 pages of documentary evidence, much of it classified. Gen. Campbellapproved the investigation on Nov. 21, 2015.

The extensive report wassubjected to comprehensive reviews before the public release in order to ensurethat classified information, protected personally identifying information, andother non-releasable information remains protected. The names of theservice members involved were redacted from the released materials to protectthe privacy of the individuals and because some of them remain assigned tooverseas, sensitive, or routinely deployable units.

The investigation concluded thatthe personnel involved did not know that they were striking a medical facility.The intended target was an insurgent-controlled site which was approximately400 meters away from the MSF Trauma Center. The investigation found thatan AC-130U Gunship aircrew, in support of a U.S. Special Forces element thatwas supporting a partnered Afghan ground force, misidentified and struck theMSF Trauma Center. The investigation determined that all members of boththe ground force and the AC-130U aircrew were unaware the aircrew was firing ona medical facility throughout the engagement.

Engagements: Senior U.S. representatives have spoken with MSF officials, including the MSF Executive Director, over two dozen times to express condolences, explain how the tragic incident occurred, and outline future steps.

Medical capability: TheDepartment of Defense has approved $5.7 million in funds to reconstruct the facility that MSF was using and is working closely with the Afghan government, which owns it, to return the building to its previous condition and help restore a medical capability for the residents of Kunduz.

Separately, the Secretary of Defense hasdirected the military services and combatant commands to take steps to mitigate the potential for similar incidents in the future by incorporating lessons learned from the Kunduz strike into leadership development and operational training and by conducting a comprehensive review of relevant policies, tactical directives, and rules of engagement.

All over the world, the European External Action Service, in coordination with the European Union institutions, addresses EU foreign policy priorities, including civilian and military planning and crisis response.

Since the first CSDP missions and operations were launched back in 2003, the EU has undertaken over 37 overseas operations, using civilian and military missions and operations in several countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. As of today, there are 21 ongoing CSDP missions and operations, 12 of which are civilian, and 9 military.

Election observation missions (EOMs) provide a comprehensive, independent and impartial assessment of an electoral process according to international standards for democratic elections. The EU is a worldwide recognised credible actor in international election observation. Since 2000, the EU has deployed over 160 EOMs in more than 60 countries.

All over the world, the EU works to prevent and resolve conflicts, to support resilient democracies, to promote human rights and sustainable development, to fight climate change, and to contribute to a rules-based global order.

Crises can affect EU citizens, staff and interests outside of the EU. To protect them, the EU is strengthening its response to security and consular crises. The EEAS Crisis Response Centre contributes to this work.

In a shifting geopolitical landscape, the EU has remained a strong defender of human rights. New geopolitical rivalries only serve to underline its role as a reliable and stable partner, and a champion of the rules-based international order.

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. The EU promotes the approach of the European Green Deal of a just transition towards sustainable, resource-efficient and climate neutral economies and energy systems.

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The EU prioritises development and stability in the wider region and neighbourhood, working in close partnership with its neighbours to the East and South and supporting the reforms required by countries that want to become EU members.

The Global Gateway is a new European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport sectors and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world.

Digital technologies have brought new opportunities into the lives of people around the world. They have also become key competitive parameters that can shift the balance of power. The goal of EU Digital Diplomacy is to secure the EU global role in the digital world, to protect its strategic interests and to promote its dynamic, human-centric regulatory framework for an inclusive digital transformation.

In its trade relations, the EU promotes a sustainable growth model as defined by the European Green Deal and the European Digital Strategy, which can help the recovery from the COVID-19 economic crisis.

International days are key moments on the global calendar dedicated to celebrating, raising awareness and taking action on pressing issues that affect us all. From honouring human rights to championing environmental sustainability, these days unite organisations, communities, and individuals worldwide for change - one celebration, one cause, one action at a time.

The European Union offers its condolences for the death of President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdollahian and other Iranian officials involved in the tragic helicopter crash on Sunday.

Following the untimely passing of the Right Honorable Prime Minister, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini; the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ms Nathalie Ndongo-Seh, released a statement of condolences on behalf of the United Nations Development System in Eswatini.

It was with great sadness that the United Nations Family in the Kingdom of Eswatini has learned of the untimely passing of His Excellency The Right Honourable Prime Minister, Mr. Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini.

His Excellency was a passionate, kind, inspirational and exceptional leader; a man of the people and a fierce fighter for a great and a greater Kingdom of Eswatini where no one is left behind. His Excellency was a very close partner, a crucial ally, a champion and a valued supporter of the work of the United Nations Development System in Eswatini, for which we will always be grateful. He will be remembered for his jovial personality, his many impressive achievements in his short lifetime and his great sacrifice.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of Mexico, expresses its condolences for the tragic deaths of Australian citizens Jake and Callum Robinson and U.S. citizen Jack Carter Rhoad, who were vacationing in Baja California.

Since their disappearance was reported, the Foreign Ministry has been in constant, direct contact with the Australian Ambassador to Mexico, Rachel Elizabeth Moseley, and her team to support their efforts.

On the instructions of Foreign Secretary Alicia Brcena Ibarra, Mexico's Ambassador to Australia, Ernesto Cspedes Oropeza, traveled to Baja California to provide consular assistance to the Australian embassy staff and to express Mexico's solidarity with the families of the youths.

On behalf of the worldwide USAID team, it is with great sadness that I express my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Madeline Williams, an accomplished Foreign Service Officer who passed away unexpectedly on April 3, 2021 in South Africa.

In her 28 years with USAID, Madeline was known as a dedicated leader and mentor, as well as a passionate advocate for democracy and diversity. Throughout her career, she advocated for marginalized and underserved communities, as exemplified in her most recent role as the Program Office Director for Power Africa in Pretoria, South Africa, where she worked to bring electricity to millions of people.

Condemning the terrorist attacks in Paris, offering condolences to the families of the victims, expressing solidarity with the people of the Republic of France, and reaffirming fundamental freedom of expression.

Whereas, on January 9, 2015, another gunman perpetrated an anti-Semitic attack on Hyper Cacher, a kosher supermarket, killing four of 19 hostages before French police stormed the building and rescued the surviving hostages;

Whereas President of the Republic of France Francois Hollande condemned these events as a terrorist attack on the French Republic as a whole and called for a day of national mourning to honor the lives of the courageous political cartoonists, columnists, police officers, and others who were killed and injured;

Whereas the people of the Republic of France have always expressed solidarity with the people of the United States, including following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, which claimed the lives of thousands of innocent civilians in the United States;

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