Chairman's Press
Chairman Menendez Statement on Twentieth Anniversary of Rwanda Genocide
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement regarding the Twentieth Anniversary of the Rwanda Genocide: "Today, on the 20th anniversary of the start of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, I join the global community in extending my thoughts and prayers to the Rwandan people as they come together to honor those who survived alongside the memory of those lost. Over the course of 100 horrifying days in 1994, Rwa… Continue Reading
April 07, 2014
Menendez and Kirk Call on President Obama to Reinstate Suspended Sanctions Should Iran and Russia Violate the Joint Plan of Action
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and U.S Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) wrote President Obama today asking him to put Iran on notice should they attempt to evade U.S. sanctions and violate the Joint Plan of Action. In their letter, Menendez and Kirk write: "If Iran moves forward with this effort to evade U.S. sanctions and violate the terms of oil sanctions relief provided for in JPA, the United States should respond by re-insta… Continue Reading
April 06, 2014
Chairman Menendez Statement on Elections in Afghanistan
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement regarding elections in Afghanistan. "In spite of intimidation by the Taliban, the Afghan people demonstrated their desire to shape the destiny of their country by participating in this weekend's historic election. The power of democracy was on display from Kabul to Kandahar to the thousands of villages throughout the country as turnout exceeded expectations. I… Continue Reading
April 04, 2014
Chairman Menendez Praises Senate Passage of Four Treaties to Combat Pirate Fishing
Washington, DC - Yesterday evening, the Senate passed a resolution of ratification for four treaties that will ensure protection for American fishermen, improve marine conservation, and spur more international coordination and communication between coastal countries in controlling illegal or pirate fishing. "Approving these treaties demonstrates that a bipartisan commitment to protecting our oceans and our fishing industry exists in the U.S. Senate. It is not only possible, but necessary to p… Continue Reading
April 03, 2014
Chairman Menendez Statement on Cuba Twitter Program
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement regarding the Cuba Twitter program. "I commend USAID for its commitment to supporting programs that provide uncensored access to information and communications for for the Cuban people and others struggling around the globe against repression, censorship and the denial of basic human rights. Global internet freedom programs, U.S. International broadcasting and… Continue Reading
April 03, 2014
Chairman Menendez Statement on South Sudan
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement regarding South Sudan. "I welcome the Executive Order issued today by the Obama Administration authorizing targeted sanctions against individuals who threaten peace and security, perpetrate human rights abuses, or undermine democracy in South Sudan. This is an important step toward restoring stability in the world's newest nation. Although recent negotiation… Continue Reading
April 03, 2014
Menendez and Kirk Introduce Senate Resolution Commemorating the Armenian Genocide
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and U.S Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) introduced a senate resolution today commemorating the Armenian Genocide. "The Armenian Genocide is a horrifying factual reality that can never be denied," Chairman Menendez said. "This resolution reaffirms in the strongest terms that we will always remember this tragedy and honor the memory of innocent Armenian men, women and children who were killed and ex… Continue Reading
April 03, 2014
Chairman Menendez Statement on President Obama Signing Ukraine Legislation into Law
Washington, DC - US Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after President Obama signed Ukraine legislation into law. "We stand united in our overwhelming support of Ukrainian aspirations to build a prosperous and more secure future, absent Russian interference and involvement. Our democratic values and unshakable commitment to freedom have guided our response throughout this crisis. This aid package, coupled with sanct… Continue Reading
April 02, 2014
Chairman Menendez Statement on Confirmation of Tom Malinowski for Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed Tom Malinowski for Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor: "There are many places around the world where human rights, democracy, and labor rights are under assault - think China, Venezuela, and Bangladesh for starters. To monitor and confront these abuses, U.S. leadership is essential and the confirmation of Tom … Continue Reading
March 27, 2014
Chairman Menendez Statement on Venezuela
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on the deteriorating situation in Venezuela: "I am truly alarmed by the speed at which President Maduro is eliminating the remaining vestiges of democracy in Venezuela. The removal of three elected members of Venezuela's National Assembly - Maria Corina Machado being the most recent - is blatantly unconstitutional and nothing short of authoritarian," said Me… Continue Reading
March 27, 2014
Chairman Menendez Statement on UN Human Rights Council Vote on Sri Lanka Reconciliation
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after the UN Human Rights Council Vote on Sri Lanka Reconciliation: "I applaud today's passage of the U.S. co-sponsored resolution at the UN Human Rights Council which called for an independent international investigation into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka. Accountability is long overdue in Sri Lanka, and I hope that an independent UN investigation will be a… Continue Reading
March 26, 2014
Chairman Menendez Opening Remarks at Hearing on Syria After Geneva
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the below statement, as prepared for delivery, at today's hearing on "Syria After Geneva: Next Steps for U.S. Policy." "We are here today with a distinguished panel of experts to hear their views and to express our concerns - and what Congress can do - about Syria after Geneva. "At the moment, there is clearly a stalemate at the political level. The Geneva 2 process failed to achiev… Continue Reading
March 25, 2014
Chairman Menendez Remarks on Senate Ukraine Legislation and IMF Reform
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the below statement, as prepared for delivery, on the Senate Floor regarding the Support for the Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy, and Economic Stability of Ukraine Act of 2014 and IMF reform. "M. President, I rise to express my robust concern about Russia's actions and the continuing escalation of tensions in Central and Eastern Europe. Even with Ukrainian troops leaving Crimea, … Continue Reading
March 24, 2014
Chairman Menendez Remarks on Senate Ukraine Legislation
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the below statement, as prepared for delivery, on the Senate floor regarding the Support for the Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy, and Economic Stability of Ukraine Act of 2014. "M. President, last week some of my colleagues in this Chamber were sanctioned by Vladimir Putin, for standing up for the Ukrainian people, for standing up for freedom, for standing up for democracy, and fo… Continue Reading
March 23, 2014
Chairman Menendez Returns from Brussels Following High-Level Meetings on Ukraine with European Leaders
Newark, NJ - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, returned from Brussels this afternoon following a series of high-level meetings on Ukraine with European leaders. Menendez met with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, and Estonian President Toomas Ilves, among other leaders. At the Brussels Forum hosted by the German Marshall Fund, Me… Continue Reading
March 22, 2014
Chairman Menendez Remarks at German Marshall Fund’s Brussels Forum
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the German Marshall Fund's Brussels Forum. "Good morning. My name is Bob Menendez and I have just been sanctioned by Vladimir Putin. I suspect for standing up for the Ukrainian people. Standing up for freedom. Standing up for democracy. If that's the case, then I say - by all means, Mr. Putin, sanction me! Sanction all of us who stand for … Continue Reading
March 20, 2014
Chairman Menendez Statement on Being Sanctioned by the Russian Government
Brussels, Belgium - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after being sanctioned by the Russian government. "President Putin's military invasion and annexation of Crimea is brutal, totally unacceptable, and sadly returns us to a period of Cold War aggression and hostility. It doesn't have to be this way, but if standing up for the Ukrainian people, their freedom, their hard earned democracy, and sovereignty means… Continue Reading
March 20, 2014
Chairman Menendez Travels to Brussels to Meet with European Union and NATO Leadership
Brussels, Belgium - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, will travel to Brussels, Belgium for a series of meetings with key European Union and NATO leaders. He will also attend the German Marshall Fund's Brussels Forum where he will deliver a keynote address on Saturday morning. "During this period of truly historic and transformative global developments, we in the United States alongside our allies in Europe have a duty to lead by embracing o… Continue Reading
March 19, 2014
Chairman Menendez Expresses Support for an International Investigation into Sri Lankan War Crime Allegations
WASHINGTON, DC - Chairman Menendez wrote UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay to express his support for a resolution at the current session of the UN Human Rights Council that calls for an international investigation into Sri Lankan war crimes committed during that country's civil war. In the letter, Senator Menendez notes "that the Committee is concerned with the deteriorating environment for the democratic process and human rights in Sri Lanka." He also writes: "Until the Sri … Continue Reading
March 18, 2014
Chairman Menendez Statement on Russian Annexation of Crimea and Seizure of Ukrainian Navy Headquarters
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement regarding Russia's annexation of Crimea and seizure of the Ukrainian Navy headquarters. "President Vladimir Putin's decision to annex Crimea following the illegitimate referendum there is a reckless and unacceptable act that contravenes all international norms and laws. It requires a swift response from the U.S., Europe, and our democratic allies around the wo… Continue Reading
