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SPOTLIGHT - CRISIS IN GEORGIA:

United States Pledges $1 Billion to Rebuild Georgia - The United States will deliver a new $1 billion recovery package to help Georgia meet immediate humanitarian needs, enhance its stability and regain its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. “The people of Georgia withstood the assault from the Russian military, and the international community rallied to stand with the people of Georgia and their democratically elected government,” President Bush said in a September 3 statement announcing the new aid effort. “With our full support and with the support of the entire free world, a democratic Georgia will survive, will rebuild and will thrive,” Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters in a State Department briefing on the new aid effort. She was joined by Special Envoy Matt Bryza, Under Secretary of State Reuben Jeffery and Richard L. Greene, deputy director of foreign assistance. (Bush Statement & More)

Latest Statements on Georgia/Russia:

European Missile Defense System Is Limited, No Threat to Russia - The development of a limited ballistic missile defense system in Europe creates an important capability for NATO allies that poses no threat to Russia, says a senior U.S. diplomat. "It can defend against all long-range missile launches" from a rogue state, but for example, the system would not be able to protect against shorter-range missile launches from the same state, John Rood, acting under secretary of state for arms control and international security, said at an August 25 briefing. Poland and the United States signed an agreement August 20 to base 10 missile interceptors in Poland. On July 8, the Czech Republic and the United States signed an agreement to place an advanced radar system in the Czech Republic. That agreement must be approved by the Czech parliament. The system would be fully operational by 2012. More

U.S. Senator Lugar Visits Brussels at End of Multi-Country European Trip: Lugar Endorses Georgia Aid Package | Lugar Calls for European Leaders to Act on Energy Security | Lugar Oversees relief to Georgia
Iraq: Iraqis Reclaim Anbar Province, Says Bush | Iraqis Take Responsibility for Security in Anbar Province | Statement by Gen. Petraeus, Ambassador Crocker on Anbar Province | More
Libya: U.S. Officials Brief on Libya | State’s Welch Briefs on U.S.-Libyan Relationship | Current State of U.S.-Libyan Bilateral Relations | Statement on Rice’s Upcoming Travel to Portugal and North Africa | More
WTO: U.S. Files Request for Establishment of WTO Panel to Consider EU Duty Treatment of ITA Products
Terrorist Financing: Opening Remarks of Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing Patrick O’Brien at Treasury’s Charity Roundtable
Latest Articles and more from America.gov

U.S.-EU Issues: U.S. Plans New Travel Procedures for 27 Countries, Starting August 1 | Electronic System for Travel Authorization FAQ (.doc) | ESTA in brief (.pdf) | ESTA Podcast with Homeland Security's Bednarz | ESTA Website Screen Shots (.ppt) (More) | DHS, Senate Examine International Cargo Scanning Pilot Programs (Customs and Border Protection Report on 100% Scanning Pilot Programs) | U.S.-EU Summit in Brdo, Slovenia | European Leaders Join Bush on More Iranian Sanctions | Transatlantic Perspectives on Black Sea Region | State's Graffy: Trade, Climate Change and Soft Power -- Does America Have Friends in Europe? | Improved Economies Will Lead to More Visa Waiver Agreements (Remarks during Congressional hearing by The Honorable Robert Wexler, The Honorable Richard Barth, Mr. Stephen A. Edson) | U.S. Wins WTO Dispute against EU’s Discriminatory Bananas Preference Program | U.S., EU Discuss Investment, Poultry at Second Transatlantic Economic Council Meeting (More) | State’s Volker’s Remarks on U.S., European Challenges | U.S., EU Officials Meet on Product Safety Issues

Upcoming Webchat Sep 9: Filmmaker Will Discuss Ramadan in America

U.S. Elections 2008: “Ask America.gov” to Focus on U.S. Elections | Videos, news, stories and other information about the U.S. electoral system

Electronic Journals: The Olympic Experience | The Greening of U.S. Corporations | U.S. Food Aid: Reducing World Hunger | Electronic Journal Highlights Personal Diplomacy of Youth Exchanges

CRS Reports: Europe's New Trade Agenda | European Approaches to Homeland Security and Counterterrorism

Beginning January 12, 2009, travelers to the United States from 22 countries in Europe and five in the Asia-Pacific region currently exempt from certain U.S. visa requirements will be using a new online travel authorization process. Under the new Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), all nationals, including children, from the 27 countries under the U.S. visa waiver program will be required to fill out an electronic travel authorization form posted on the Web (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/) prior to boarding a U.S.-bound plane or vessel. Initially, there will be no fee to submit an application. It will require answering questions about criminal records, communicable diseases, past history of visa revocation or deportation, and basic biographical data such as name, birth date and passport information. Changes in address and itinerary can be easily made online after the ESTA form has been first submitted.