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U.S. May Lift Ban on Travelers From Chad, Tillerson Says U.S. May Lift Ban on Travelers From Chad, Tillerson Says
(35 minutes later)
ABUJA, Nigeria — The Trump administration might remove Chad from the list of countries whose citizens face severe restrictions on visiting the United States, Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson said Monday on the last day of his African tour.ABUJA, Nigeria — The Trump administration might remove Chad from the list of countries whose citizens face severe restrictions on visiting the United States, Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson said Monday on the last day of his African tour.
The decision could defuse the outrage and shock that followed the decision in September to include Chad on the travel restrictions list, which includes North Korea, Iran and Venezuela.The decision could defuse the outrage and shock that followed the decision in September to include Chad on the travel restrictions list, which includes North Korea, Iran and Venezuela.
“First, I wanted to ensure that the people of Chad understand that they’re welcome in the United States,” Mr. Tillerson said, although in fact most Chadians now find it almost impossible to visit. “The steps that have been taken are necessary because of all the conflicts that exist on Chad’s borders.” “First, I wanted to ensure that the people of Chad understand that they’re welcome in the United States,” Mr. Tillerson said. “The steps that have been taken are necessary because of all the conflicts that exist on Chad’s borders.”
Chad’s foreign minister, Mahamat Zene Cherif, called the country’s placement on the list “an injustice done to Chad,” and said that Chad’s president, Idriss Déby, had “expressed his incomprehension” to Mr. Tillerson about the restrictions.Chad’s foreign minister, Mahamat Zene Cherif, called the country’s placement on the list “an injustice done to Chad,” and said that Chad’s president, Idriss Déby, had “expressed his incomprehension” to Mr. Tillerson about the restrictions.
In President Trump’s executive order, the White House praised Chad for being an important partner in counterterrorism operations in Africa, but it added that “Chad does not adequately share public safety and terrorism-related information.” In President Trump’s executive order, the White House praised Chad for help on counterterrorism but added that “Chad does not adequately share public safety and terrorism-related information.”
Mr. Tillerson said that Chad’s efforts to strengthen its passport control and improve the sharing of information with the United States about potential terrorist threats might result in Chad’s being removed from the list, adding, “We’re hopeful that we can return things to normalization.”Mr. Tillerson said that Chad’s efforts to strengthen its passport control and improve the sharing of information with the United States about potential terrorist threats might result in Chad’s being removed from the list, adding, “We’re hopeful that we can return things to normalization.”
He did not offer a precise time frame, though, saying that a report would be completed by the end of the month and discussions at the White House would begin in April. He did not specify a time frame, though, saying that a report would be completed by the end of the month and discussions at the White House would begin in April.
The visit to Chad, part of Mr. Tillerson’s five-nation tour of Africa, was underwhelming because he got sick partway through, had a light schedule of events anyway and then decided to head back to Washington a day earlier than expected, cramming visits to Chad and Nigeria into a single day.The visit to Chad, part of Mr. Tillerson’s five-nation tour of Africa, was underwhelming because he got sick partway through, had a light schedule of events anyway and then decided to head back to Washington a day earlier than expected, cramming visits to Chad and Nigeria into a single day.
Mr. Tillerson decided to slice a day off the weeklong trip so that he could help plan a possible meeting between President Trump and the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un.Mr. Tillerson decided to slice a day off the weeklong trip so that he could help plan a possible meeting between President Trump and the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un.
His exhaustion quickly became evident as he tried to keep up his official schedule while participating in crucial phone calls with the White House on Mr. Trump’s decision to negotiate directly with the North Korean leader — a decision that Mr. Trump appears to have made on the spur of the moment, taking both his aides and South Korean diplomats by surprise.His exhaustion quickly became evident as he tried to keep up his official schedule while participating in crucial phone calls with the White House on Mr. Trump’s decision to negotiate directly with the North Korean leader — a decision that Mr. Trump appears to have made on the spur of the moment, taking both his aides and South Korean diplomats by surprise.
With much still unknown about the summit meeting, Mr. Tillerson said Monday during a news conference in Nigeria that planning was in “very early stages.” Mr. Tillerson said Monday during a news conference in Nigeria that planning was in “very early stages” for the meeting.
“We’ve not heard anything directly back from North Korea, although we expect to hear something directly from them,” he said. “So I know those are all question that people are anxious to have answers to. I would say just remain patient and we’ll see what happens.”“We’ve not heard anything directly back from North Korea, although we expect to hear something directly from them,” he said. “So I know those are all question that people are anxious to have answers to. I would say just remain patient and we’ll see what happens.”
Once the two sides begin talking, several steps will be needed to agree on the location and topic of talks, he said. And the administration may not announce the results of such talks too quickly, he said. Once the sides begin talking, steps will be needed to agree on the location and topic of talks, he said, adding: “I think it’s going to be very important that those kinds of conversations are held quietly through the two parties.”
“I think it’s going to be very important that those kinds of conversations are held quietly through the two parties,” he said.