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Wednesday 2 august 2017

Tillerson concedes Russia ties are sour US to exempt journalists and aid

By JOSH LEDERMAN He was unable to show that it far harder for Trump to workers from North Korean ban
Associated Press the U.S. has fulfilled Presi- ease the penalties. By MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The dent Donald Trump’s ob- “Neither the president nor WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration will al-
top American diplomat put jective of a new, more co- I are very happy about low American journalists, Red Cross employees and
the onus on Russia Tues- operative relationship be- that,” Tillerson said of the other humanitarian workers to apply for exemptions
day to take steps to repair tween the former Cold War sanctions bill. The diplo- to a ban on travel to North Korea that is set to take
flagging relations with the foes, noting only modest mat had urged lawmakers effect in early September.
United States, even as he efforts in Syria as a sign the not to proceed. “We were In documents posted online Tuesday, the State De-
conceded that congressio- nations share some com- clear that we didn’t think partment said that in addition to journalists and aid
nal sanctions would pose mon goals. While he said that was going to be help- workers, Americans whose travel to North Korea “is
a new obstacle. Holding frustrated Americans want ful to our efforts, but that’s otherwise in the national interest” will be considered
out hope for warmer ties, the U.S. to get along with the decision they made.” for exemptions. The new regulations are to be pub-
Secretary of State Rex Tiller- the nuclear-armed pow- Trump plans to sign the bill lished on Wednesday in the Federal Register, which
son said he’d meet with his er, he did not address the nevertheless, another po- posted the preview documents on its website. The
Russian counterpart within deep suspicions at home tent reminder of the politi- travel ban will take effect on Sept. 1, 30 days after
publication. The exemptions are contained in docu-
ments that will accompany a formal announcement
of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s determination to
ban U.S. citizens from traveling to North Korea. The
State Department announced last month that Tiller-
son had decided to impose a “geographical travel
restriction” on the use of U.S. passports to visit North
Korea following the death in June of American uni-
versity student Otto Warmbier, who fell into a coma
while in North Korean custody. “The Department of
State has determined that the serious risk to United
States nationals of arrest and long-term detention
represents imminent danger to the physical safety
of United States nationals traveling to and within the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK),” says
the Federal Register notice signed by Tillerson. “There-
fore ... all United States passports are declared invalid
for travel to, in or through the DPRK unless specially
validated for such travel.” Violating the ban, which is
authorized under the Passport Act of 1972 and will be
in effect for one year unless revoked earlier, is a felony
and punishable by a fine and up to 10 years in prison
for a first offense. Publication of the exemption rules
opens a 21-day period for the public to offer com-
In this July 21, 2017 photo, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks at the State Department in
Washington. Tillerson says neither he nor President Donald Trump is “very happy” about new ments, although the administration is expected to go
sanctions on Russia that Congress has voted to put in place. ahead with them regardless of opposition.
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Under the proposal, American professional journalists,
representatives of the International Committee of the
days. about the president’s in- cal baggage that has be- Red Cross and American Red Cross, as well as Ameri-
In a wide-ranging assess- tentions. U.S. intelligence set his efforts to mend ties cans whose travel “is justified by compelling humani-
ment of his first six months in agencies have formally to Russia. If Trump were tarian considerations” or is “otherwise in the national
office, Tillerson also: accused Moscow of med- to veto the bill, Congress interest” may apply for a special validation to use
— Revealed the U.S. is dling in the 2016 presiden- would almost surely over- their U.S. passport to visit North Korea. The validation
looking at options to en- tial election to help Trump. ride his veto. would apply to one round trip to the country.
tice Venezuelan President “The situation is bad, but At a time when the FBI and The department said it estimates that about 100
Nicolas Maduro to leave believe me — it can get congressional committees Americans per year would apply for the exemption.
power peacefully. worse,” Tillerson said, re- are investigating possible Applicants would have to submit standard personal
— Insisted the U.S. doesn’t counting his message to Trump campaign collusion identification information along with a statement ex-
blame China for North Ko- Russian President Vladimir with Russia, a veto over- plaining why they meet the exemption criteria sup-
rea’s nuclear behavior de- Putin when they met in ride would make it look like ported by documentary evidence, according to the
spite the American pres- March. “And it just did.” lawmakers were rejecting Federal Register notice.
sure on Beijing. He said the Putin this week ordered a Trump effort to protect The State Department announced on July 21 that Til-
U.S. is open to talks with the U.S. to dramatically Moscow from U.S. punish- lerson had decided to go ahead with the ban amid
Pyongyang. cut its diplomatic presence ment. the fallout over Warmbier’s death as well as height-
— Argued that Iran’s mili- in Russia, solidifying the Though the White House ened U.S. concern about Pyongyang’s recent ad-
tary must leave Syria for conclusion that a Trump- said the bill was still being vancements in its nuclear weapons and ballistic mis-
the U.S. to cooperate with driven detente with Mos- reviewed, press secretary sile programs. The U.S. already strongly warns Ameri-
Russia on ending the Syrian cow hasn’t come to pass. Sarah Huckabee Sanders cans against traveling to North Korea but has not until
civil war. Though ostensibly in retalia- said Trump will sign it. Vice now prohibited trips, despite other sanctions targeting
— Named retired Gen. An- tion for a similar U.S. move President Mike Pence, trav- the country. Americans who venture there typically
thony Zinni as special rep- last year under President eling Tuesday in the former travel from China, where several tour groups market
resentative to try to resolve Barack Obama, the Rus- Soviet republic of Geor- trips to adventure-seekers.
the Persian Gulf diplomatic sian action came just af- gia, sought to reframe the Figures on how many Americans visit North Korea are
crisis over Qatar. ter Congress voted to slap sanctions as a “further sign difficult for even the U.S. government to obtain, but
But on Russia, Tillerson Russia with more economic of our commitment” to organizers of guided tours to the country estimate be-
strained hardest to point to sanctions, and to include counter Russian aggression tween 800 and 1,000 visit annually.q
progress. new requirements making in the region.q