WEBVTT 00:03.428 --> 00:04.827 - Good afternoon, everybody. 00:04.827 --> 00:05.841 - Good afternoon. - Hello. 00:05.841 --> 00:09.792 - Just a couple of things at the top, if I could. 00:09.792 --> 00:10.709 On Ukraine. 00:11.663 --> 00:12.680 The United States welcomes 00:12.680 --> 00:15.506 the trilateral contact group’s announcement 00:15.506 --> 00:18.906 of an agreement for a holiday ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, 00:18.906 --> 00:23.073 excuse me, set to begin on Christmas Eve at midnight. 00:23.292 --> 00:24.755 We hope that the ceasefire will 00:24.755 --> 00:28.076 mark the beginning of sustained quiet at the line of contact 00:28.076 --> 00:31.399 to allow Ukrainians on both sides of the line 00:31.399 --> 00:32.772 to live in peace and security. 00:32.772 --> 00:34.419 And as we’ve said before, 00:34.419 --> 00:36.661 we’re deeply concerned by the recent spike in violence 00:36.661 --> 00:38.161 in eastern Ukraine 00:38.244 --> 00:40.928 in which combined Russian-separatist forces 00:40.928 --> 00:44.402 have launched daily attacks on Ukrainian positions 00:44.402 --> 00:48.569 using heavy weaponry prohibited by the Minsk agreements. 00:49.323 --> 00:51.785 Once again, we urge Russia to use its influence 00:51.785 --> 00:54.154 with the separatists to turn down the violence, 00:54.154 --> 00:57.107 as it has done successfully numerous times in the past, 00:57.107 --> 01:00.024 and allow access for OSCE monitors. 01:00.042 --> 01:01.523 This will relieve the humanitarian suffering 01:01.523 --> 01:03.960 in eastern Ukraine, and it will create space 01:03.960 --> 01:05.321 for further progress 01:05.321 --> 01:07.947 on the implementation of the Minsk agreements. 01:07.947 --> 01:09.785 The only other thing that I want to note today 01:09.785 --> 01:11.971 is that today, I am given to understand, 01:11.971 --> 01:13.804 is Brad Klapper’s last 01:14.493 --> 01:16.795 daily briefing here at the State Department. 01:16.795 --> 01:17.642 Is that right, Brad? 01:17.642 --> 01:18.703 - That’s right. 01:18.703 --> 01:21.061 - And we know that Brad’s moving on 01:21.061 --> 01:23.894 to cover national security affairs 01:23.913 --> 01:26.577 at a different level inside the Associated Press. 01:26.577 --> 01:28.994 Brad, you’ve been a real pro. 01:29.265 --> 01:31.563 All of us, I think on certainly this side of the podium, 01:31.563 --> 01:33.540 and I know your colleagues also share 01:33.540 --> 01:35.192 a great amount of respect for 01:35.192 --> 01:38.609 the dogged nature that you cover stories, 01:39.642 --> 01:42.587 the accuracy, the fairness in your reporting. 01:42.587 --> 01:45.059 And frankly, even though it gets uncomfortable 01:45.059 --> 01:47.444 for me up here at times, I wouldn’t want it any other way, 01:47.444 --> 01:50.530 because I think that’s a hallmark of your reporting style 01:50.530 --> 01:54.697 and your approach to real, honest, gumshoe journalism. 01:55.712 --> 01:59.712 And all of us here in Public Affairs salute you. 02:00.512 --> 02:01.848 We thank you for your professionalism, 02:01.848 --> 02:03.999 and we obviously wish you very, very well 02:03.999 --> 02:05.523 as you take up new duties. 02:05.523 --> 02:06.382 - [Brad] Well thank you, John. 02:06.382 --> 02:07.644 - [Reporters] Hear, hear. (reporters applaud) 02:07.644 --> 02:09.394 - And with that, yes, 02:11.268 --> 02:12.551 once again, you get the first question. 02:12.551 --> 02:16.718 - [Brad] With that, I have a bag full of softballs for you. 02:16.744 --> 02:19.014 - That was kind of why I did it that way. 02:19.014 --> 02:20.227 - Thank you very much, 02:20.227 --> 02:22.791 and I very much appreciate your 02:22.791 --> 02:24.719 professionalism at all times in here, 02:24.719 --> 02:27.219 and in everything you’ve done. 02:27.417 --> 02:29.130 And I’ve had a great time, thank you. 02:29.130 --> 02:31.386 - [John] We’re going to miss you. 02:31.386 --> 02:35.263 - I wanted to start on the resolution at the United Nations. 02:35.263 --> 02:37.971 The Israeli settlements resolution. 02:37.971 --> 02:39.430 There was a lot of things that happened today. 02:39.430 --> 02:41.904 Do you have a full, can you give us a full accounting 02:41.904 --> 02:46.071 of where the United States sees the process at this point? 02:46.917 --> 02:49.000 - Well, as we understand, 02:51.667 --> 02:55.084 the language that was introduced by Egypt 02:58.264 --> 02:59.847 is still out there, 02:59.927 --> 03:04.094 but that Egypt has asked for a postponement of a vote 03:04.320 --> 03:08.079 that was supposed to happen today on that language. 03:08.079 --> 03:09.477 We are also given to understand 03:09.477 --> 03:12.031 that they are consulting with their Arab League partners 03:12.031 --> 03:13.281 about the text. 03:15.123 --> 03:19.003 And even as coming down here when I checked in, 03:19.003 --> 03:21.817 as I understand it, those discussions are still ongoing. 03:21.817 --> 03:24.249 So we’ll just have to wait and see 03:24.249 --> 03:27.181 what the results of those consultations are 03:27.181 --> 03:28.730 to see if the text moves forward. 03:28.730 --> 03:32.897 I honestly don’t know if or when a vote will be rescheduled. 03:33.472 --> 03:35.972 - [Brad] Was the United States 03:36.153 --> 03:38.270 hoping for the vote to proceed? 03:38.270 --> 03:39.931 - Well, it wasn’t, it wasn’t about hope. 03:39.931 --> 03:43.931 I mean, this was-- - In favor of the vote, yeah. 03:44.892 --> 03:47.304 - What I think, first of all, obviously, 03:47.304 --> 03:51.221 I’m not going to preview, nor would we preview, 03:51.414 --> 03:53.247 our views or our votes 03:53.639 --> 03:57.806 in advance of Security Council resolutions being voted on. 03:58.900 --> 04:02.067 So what we have continued to try to do 04:02.485 --> 04:06.652 is work towards seeing a viable two-state solution realized. 04:08.322 --> 04:11.072 But it wasn’t, so in that regard, 04:11.795 --> 04:14.677 I think we were interested to see how the debate 04:14.677 --> 04:17.344 and the discussion would unfold, 04:18.068 --> 04:19.979 and I think I’d leave it at that. 04:19.979 --> 04:22.695 - [Brad] Did, if you don’t want to say what you, 04:22.695 --> 04:24.531 you don’t want to say what your position was, 04:24.531 --> 04:28.698 whether you were going to veto, abstain, or vote yes. 04:28.901 --> 04:29.734 Is that my understanding? 04:29.734 --> 04:30.820 - Yeah, we never preview our votes. 04:30.820 --> 04:34.152 - Okay, did the United States know what it was going to vote 04:34.152 --> 04:35.598 before the vote was pulled? 04:35.598 --> 04:38.404 Did you internally have a decision? 04:38.404 --> 04:40.755 - I think there, as you might expect, 04:40.755 --> 04:42.422 there were obviously 04:45.173 --> 04:49.340 discussions inside the interagency about this draft text 04:50.751 --> 04:52.964 and views put forward and discussed 04:52.964 --> 04:56.047 about how we would approach the text. 04:59.273 --> 05:00.555 But again, I don’t think I’ll, 05:00.555 --> 05:01.608 I want to go any further than that. 05:01.608 --> 05:03.401 - Yeah, without saying, I’m not, 05:03.401 --> 05:04.957 without saying what you would have voted, 05:04.957 --> 05:07.290 had, it was only hours away. 05:07.753 --> 05:10.060 Had you decided what you were going to vote? 05:10.060 --> 05:10.893 Yes or no? 05:10.893 --> 05:12.290 - I’m not going to go into any more detail 05:12.290 --> 05:13.810 about interagency discussions on this. 05:13.810 --> 05:14.920 - [Brad] And I just have one or two more. 05:14.920 --> 05:15.753 - Sure. 05:17.033 --> 05:18.950 - What in the document, 05:20.036 --> 05:21.808 the draft resolution, I mean, 05:21.808 --> 05:24.004 it was pretty, it was basically 05:24.004 --> 05:26.930 a mirror of U.S. policy on settlements. 05:26.930 --> 05:30.350 What was in there that was potentially objectionable? 05:30.350 --> 05:32.017 - To whom? - To you. 05:32.073 --> 05:34.033 - Well, again, I don’t want to 05:34.033 --> 05:36.529 stake out positions here on draft text. 05:36.529 --> 05:40.217 And, and look, the text, I’m not predicting anything, 05:40.217 --> 05:41.458 but the text could change now 05:41.458 --> 05:43.578 in the wake of discussions with the Arab League. 05:43.578 --> 05:46.161 So I think we all need to just, 05:46.555 --> 05:48.174 the Egyptians have pulled it back. 05:48.174 --> 05:49.458 They’ve asked for a postponement. 05:49.458 --> 05:51.503 They’re having discussions with their Arab League partners. 05:51.503 --> 05:54.202 We need to let that process work its way through. 05:54.202 --> 05:55.479 If there’s changes to the text, 05:55.479 --> 05:57.280 obviously we’ll take a look at that. 05:57.280 --> 06:00.530 But I really don’t want to get ahead of 06:00.617 --> 06:02.994 any votes one way or the other, 06:02.994 --> 06:06.744 and that’s, if, in fact, this comes back for a vote. 06:06.744 --> 06:08.697 - [Lesley] Can I follow up? 06:08.697 --> 06:10.388 Did the U.S. have anything to do 06:10.388 --> 06:12.638 with the postponement of this vote? 06:12.638 --> 06:15.393 - This was an Egyptian decision to postpone, 06:15.393 --> 06:17.586 and I’d refer you to Egyptian authorities 06:17.586 --> 06:19.434 to speak to that further. 06:19.434 --> 06:21.267 - Had the U.S. advised 06:23.248 --> 06:26.180 the Israelis what it was going to vote beforehand? 06:26.180 --> 06:28.597 - We don’t preview our votes. 06:29.142 --> 06:32.059 - Did President-elect Trump’s tweet 06:34.785 --> 06:37.035 have anything or any impact 06:38.024 --> 06:40.524 on what, on, or do you believe 06:41.478 --> 06:44.645 that President-elect Trump’s tweet on, 06:44.682 --> 06:46.230 that he would veto this vote, 06:46.230 --> 06:50.397 that have any effect or bearing on the decision today? 06:50.862 --> 06:52.826 - You really need to talk to Egyptian authorities 06:52.826 --> 06:55.388 about their request for a postponement 06:55.388 --> 06:57.027 after the language was introduced. 06:57.027 --> 06:58.423 That’s really for them to speak to. 06:58.423 --> 07:01.851 - We understand that the President-elect’s team did, 07:01.851 --> 07:04.351 or did speak to U.S. officials 07:04.798 --> 07:07.346 before they actually put out their statement, 07:07.346 --> 07:10.679 so they had to have had discussions with 07:10.976 --> 07:13.026 the Administration on, that they were going to, 07:13.026 --> 07:15.122 what, that they were going to put out the statement. 07:15.122 --> 07:16.265 You’re not aware of anything like that? 07:16.265 --> 07:18.269 - I’m not aware of any discussions 07:18.269 --> 07:20.213 here at the State Department. 07:20.213 --> 07:21.419 - The U.S., this is my last question. 07:21.419 --> 07:23.336 The U.S. has certainly, 07:24.145 --> 07:27.853 since I’ve been covering the last four years, 07:27.853 --> 07:30.597 condoned the settlement expansion by the Israelis. 07:30.597 --> 07:32.955 It’s been a thorny point in the peace discussions 07:32.955 --> 07:35.288 that Kerry was, was leading. 07:37.814 --> 07:40.481 What would your stand be if the, 07:41.160 --> 07:44.660 given that the vote or that the draft text 07:45.697 --> 07:49.697 did condone the settlement expansion as illegal? 07:50.595 --> 07:54.762 - Well, again, you’re asking me to take a position 07:55.049 --> 07:58.216 or to speak to a position on the text, 08:00.663 --> 08:03.165 the draft text, and I, I’m not going to do that. 08:03.165 --> 08:05.444 I’m not going to get ahead of 08:05.444 --> 08:06.537 votes that haven’t happened yet. 08:06.537 --> 08:09.037 We just don’t preview our view 08:09.173 --> 08:12.829 in advance of votes inside the UN Security Council. 08:12.829 --> 08:14.496 Now look, that said, 08:14.799 --> 08:15.695 I think you know, Lesley, 08:15.695 --> 08:18.814 and we’ve been very clear about our position on settlements 08:18.814 --> 08:21.312 and the degree to which we don’t find them 08:21.312 --> 08:25.010 to be constructive to the overall cause of peace. 08:25.010 --> 08:27.026 - [Said] But you said that the settlements were illegal. 08:27.026 --> 08:28.412 Are you backtracking on that? 08:28.412 --> 08:32.161 - I had, I, in an interview the other day, I misspoke. 08:32.161 --> 08:33.265 I referred to them as illegal 08:33.265 --> 08:35.444 and I put out a tweet clarifying it shortly after, 08:35.444 --> 08:37.604 our position is that they’re illegitimate. 08:37.604 --> 08:40.410 - So why are they, why are they not illegal? 08:40.410 --> 08:42.129 Why are they not illegal? 08:42.129 --> 08:44.953 If it’s, in fact, this territory was 08:44.953 --> 08:48.703 acquired by the use of force, military force, 08:48.968 --> 08:51.503 why isn’t it illegal according to the Geneva Conventions? 08:51.503 --> 08:52.781 - Said, I don’t think this is the forum 08:52.781 --> 08:54.167 for a policy debate on this. 08:54.167 --> 08:56.070 Our policy has been consistent 08:56.070 --> 08:57.605 that they’re illegitimate 08:57.605 --> 09:00.212 and that they are not constructive to getting us 09:00.212 --> 09:02.795 closer to a two-state solution. 09:03.232 --> 09:05.877 - Okay, now, I just want, I have a couple more questions. 09:05.877 --> 09:09.044 Now, the draft, the text of the draft, 09:09.549 --> 09:11.034 is really not that much different 09:11.034 --> 09:12.423 than what you said the other day. 09:12.423 --> 09:14.964 I mean, it basically talks about the same issues 09:14.964 --> 09:17.038 and the need for a two-state solution, 09:17.038 --> 09:20.384 that you can, these are illegitimate or illegal, 09:20.384 --> 09:22.245 whatever you want to call them, and so on. 09:22.245 --> 09:24.906 So why would you not, let’s say, 09:24.906 --> 09:27.443 push for such a resolution independent of, 09:27.443 --> 09:29.631 let’s say, Egypt or another group and so on? 09:29.631 --> 09:33.131 Because that does go along with your stated policy, 09:33.131 --> 09:34.938 and your stated policy over a period of, 09:34.938 --> 09:36.740 like, 40 years or 50 years. 09:36.740 --> 09:38.848 - Again, you’re wanting me 09:38.848 --> 09:40.862 to get into a conversation here about 09:40.862 --> 09:43.263 our thinking about this text before there was a vote, 09:43.263 --> 09:44.757 and I’m not going to do that. 09:44.757 --> 09:46.028 - No, I’m not saying about 09:46.028 --> 09:47.447 Egypt’s submitting or withdrawing. 09:47.447 --> 09:48.833 I’m saying that would the United States-- 09:48.833 --> 09:49.813 - No, you’re asking about the text. 09:49.813 --> 09:53.197 - I understand, I want to ask you directly and pointedly. 09:53.197 --> 09:56.355 Would the United States take a draft like this 09:56.355 --> 09:58.765 and take the initiative itself 09:58.765 --> 10:01.348 and call for a Security Council meeting 10:01.348 --> 10:04.228 to talk about this thing to advocate for such a resolution? 10:04.228 --> 10:05.873 - I’m not going to engage in hypotheticals, Said. 10:05.873 --> 10:08.778 - Okay, now, do you see that this thing could 10:08.778 --> 10:12.137 come up for a vote in the next 20 days and so on? 10:12.137 --> 10:13.554 - I have no idea. 10:14.422 --> 10:16.293 Egypt has asked for a postponement. 10:16.293 --> 10:18.760 I don’t know what the timeframe on that postponement is. 10:18.760 --> 10:20.397 I think we’re just going to have to let, 10:20.397 --> 10:21.230 we’re going to have to watch 10:21.230 --> 10:24.147 and see how this process plays out. 10:24.445 --> 10:25.434 - Could you share with us 10:25.434 --> 10:28.851 what the Secretary would have said today? 10:29.153 --> 10:31.070 - So, the Secretary was 10:31.191 --> 10:34.441 preparing to deliver some remarks today 10:35.371 --> 10:38.204 about a vision for the Middle East 10:39.025 --> 10:43.192 and certainly the Middle East peace process itself. 10:43.389 --> 10:45.056 And he decided that, 10:45.835 --> 10:48.176 in light of the postponement of the vote, 10:48.176 --> 10:49.706 that it would be prudent for him 10:49.706 --> 10:51.633 to postpone his remarks as well. 10:51.633 --> 10:55.115 I’m not going to preview the remarks with any specificity, 10:55.115 --> 10:57.211 beyond just saying that it certainly was going to 10:57.211 --> 10:59.798 be about the Middle East and the process. 10:59.798 --> 11:02.114 - So this speech, this vision, 11:02.114 --> 11:04.864 is contingent upon the resolution 11:05.074 --> 11:06.930 being brought up to a vote? 11:06.930 --> 11:08.761 - No, no, I didn’t-- - Or that, or could it happen 11:08.761 --> 11:10.394 independent of it? - I didn’t say that. 11:10.394 --> 11:13.644 I said he was expecting to do it today, 11:15.030 --> 11:17.363 and certainly the timing was 11:18.260 --> 11:22.010 in concert with what we expected to be a vote today. 11:22.010 --> 11:24.420 In fact, and in light of the fact that the vote 11:24.420 --> 11:26.867 has been postponed, he’s decided to postpone his remarks. 11:26.867 --> 11:29.220 It doesn’t mean that it has to be done 11:29.220 --> 11:31.470 on the same particular day, 11:31.749 --> 11:34.578 but that’s the timing that we chose to pursue. 11:34.578 --> 11:38.349 And if and when the Secretary delivers those remarks, 11:38.349 --> 11:40.470 we’ll certainly keep you apprised and let you know. 11:40.470 --> 11:42.065 - Do you believe that you have been 11:42.065 --> 11:43.971 out-maneuvered by the Israelis? 11:43.971 --> 11:46.072 They went directly to the Egyptian president 11:46.072 --> 11:47.113 and they pressured him. 11:47.113 --> 11:51.280 - This is about a vote that the Egyptian Government 11:51.557 --> 11:53.974 has asked for a postponement. 11:55.633 --> 11:57.551 And you’d have to talk to Egyptian authorities 11:57.551 --> 12:00.468 about their reasons for doing that. 12:01.293 --> 12:04.244 For our part, and we’ve been very clear 12:04.244 --> 12:05.451 and consistent about this, Said, 12:05.451 --> 12:07.881 we continue to want to see a viable two-state solution. 12:07.881 --> 12:10.121 And we believe that with strong 12:10.121 --> 12:12.309 cohesive leadership on all sides 12:12.309 --> 12:15.378 there in the region that that solution can be found. 12:15.378 --> 12:16.670 And we’re going to, 12:16.670 --> 12:19.472 for the remainder of time that the Secretary has in office, 12:19.472 --> 12:21.279 I can assure you he’s going to continue to try 12:21.279 --> 12:24.029 to work towards getting us closer 12:24.729 --> 12:27.174 to creating the conditions for a two-state solution 12:27.174 --> 12:29.054 to happen and to succeed. 12:29.054 --> 12:30.054 Okay, Steve. 12:30.557 --> 12:31.627 - [Steve] Different subject, or anybody-- 12:31.627 --> 12:32.877 - Sure. - Okay. 12:34.147 --> 12:37.730 The State Department has informally replied 12:38.622 --> 12:42.705 to the House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats, 12:43.064 --> 12:45.897 assuring them that this department 12:46.511 --> 12:49.254 will not participate in any witch hunt, 12:49.254 --> 12:52.552 turning over names to the Trump transition team 12:52.552 --> 12:55.301 about people who worked on certain policies. 12:55.301 --> 12:58.218 However, there are reports now that 12:59.119 --> 13:03.286 the department has turned over positions and policies 13:04.131 --> 13:07.072 and programs that the transition team has asked for, 13:07.072 --> 13:10.239 specifically related to gender issues. 13:10.725 --> 13:12.912 I know you’ve said before you don’t want to get into 13:12.912 --> 13:15.661 all the details of what you’re handing over to them, 13:15.661 --> 13:18.259 but over at the Energy Department, 13:18.259 --> 13:19.421 when something similar happened, 13:19.421 --> 13:22.302 the Energy Department spokesman came over, 13:22.302 --> 13:26.469 basically publicly reassured employees that they would not, 13:27.537 --> 13:29.876 their jobs wouldn’t be in jeopardy. 13:29.876 --> 13:32.260 Has there been any communication 13:32.260 --> 13:34.843 to department staff about this, 13:37.344 --> 13:38.819 a similar sort of reassurance? 13:38.819 --> 13:42.852 What can you tell us about this sort of communication? 13:42.852 --> 13:45.408 - Look, I’ve seen press reporting on this issue. 13:45.408 --> 13:48.530 As I have in the past, so I will today, 13:48.530 --> 13:52.422 not speak about communications that we’re having 13:52.422 --> 13:54.328 with the president-elect’s transition team 13:54.328 --> 13:56.745 here at the State Department. 13:57.194 --> 13:58.970 What I can tell you is 13:58.970 --> 14:02.327 that we continue to provide them information and context, 14:02.327 --> 14:06.077 at their request, that is appropriate to them 14:11.690 --> 14:14.576 affecting a smooth and seamless transition here 14:14.576 --> 14:18.184 at the State Department and in helping inform them 14:18.184 --> 14:20.625 as they begin to take the reins of leadership. 14:20.625 --> 14:22.328 That was the very clear guidance 14:22.328 --> 14:25.796 issued by Secretary Kerry right after the election, 14:25.796 --> 14:27.273 and that’s what we’re going to continue to do. 14:27.273 --> 14:30.654 But I am simply not going to read out our discussions 14:30.654 --> 14:32.705 and our daily interactions with the transition team. 14:32.705 --> 14:33.932 That wouldn’t be appropriate. 14:33.932 --> 14:36.513 - But can you give reassurance to employees in this building 14:36.513 --> 14:38.184 and in the embassies around the world 14:38.184 --> 14:39.930 that issues that they worked on 14:39.930 --> 14:41.728 under the direction of their bosses 14:41.728 --> 14:45.645 won’t cause them to be in line for retaliation, 14:46.004 --> 14:48.754 demotion, or other treatment by-- 14:49.144 --> 14:50.863 - You’re making a supposition based on 14:50.863 --> 14:54.902 what you think the transition team is asking for. 14:54.902 --> 14:56.755 And again, I’m not going to get into 14:56.755 --> 14:58.640 the specifics of the information 14:58.640 --> 15:00.307 that is being sought 15:01.209 --> 15:04.626 or the information that’s being provided. 15:05.123 --> 15:07.134 The incoming administration 15:07.134 --> 15:10.134 will make their own policy decisions 15:10.342 --> 15:13.175 based on the foreign policy agenda 15:13.499 --> 15:16.499 that President-elect Trump lays out. 15:18.974 --> 15:20.391 That’s their job. 15:20.790 --> 15:24.275 That’s why we have elections in this country. 15:24.275 --> 15:27.857 And the professionals here at the State Department, 15:27.857 --> 15:29.324 and they’re all professionals, 15:29.324 --> 15:30.962 will carry out that foreign policy agenda 15:30.962 --> 15:33.580 and they will support that foreign policy agenda. 15:33.580 --> 15:35.309 Now, as I’ve said before, 15:35.309 --> 15:37.059 we will do our utmost 15:37.125 --> 15:39.374 to provide them the context and the information 15:39.374 --> 15:41.541 that we, that they ask for 15:42.183 --> 15:43.847 and that we think is appropriate 15:43.847 --> 15:46.591 to help them make the most-informed, 15:46.591 --> 15:48.728 best decisions going forward. 15:48.728 --> 15:51.311 But ultimately, those decisions 15:52.112 --> 15:54.349 are squarely on the shoulders of the President-elect, 15:54.349 --> 15:56.400 and we respect that, okay? 15:56.400 --> 15:57.608 - Just a follow-up to that? - Sure. 15:57.608 --> 15:59.236 - The New York Times has this photograph 15:59.236 --> 16:02.378 of the actual memo that was given to the State Department. 16:02.378 --> 16:04.137 - I’ve seen it. - Asking for-- 16:04.137 --> 16:04.970 - [John] Yeah, I’ve seen it. 16:04.970 --> 16:06.494 - Particularly the positions that were dedicated 16:06.494 --> 16:09.282 to gender equality and the budget for the past year. 16:09.282 --> 16:11.528 Is that, do you think, is appropriate information 16:11.528 --> 16:13.099 for a seamless transition? 16:13.099 --> 16:16.081 - I’m not going to speak to leaked documents, Barbara. 16:16.081 --> 16:17.738 I simply won’t do that. 16:17.738 --> 16:21.093 I would point you back to what I said yesterday, 16:21.093 --> 16:24.563 that I won’t speak to specific information 16:24.563 --> 16:28.426 being communicated to or from the transition team. 16:28.426 --> 16:31.259 As I said yesterday, it is normal, 16:33.437 --> 16:35.558 it is usual, it is typical, 16:35.558 --> 16:39.141 it is expected that as a new team comes in, 16:40.682 --> 16:43.111 and I saw this for myself eight years ago 16:43.111 --> 16:44.095 when I was in the Pentagon 16:44.095 --> 16:45.964 for the transition between President Bush 16:45.964 --> 16:48.473 and President, then-President-elect Obama, 16:48.473 --> 16:51.513 for a transition team to want to have 16:51.513 --> 16:54.763 a sense of organization, of resourcing, 16:54.890 --> 16:57.321 and of staffing for the organization 16:57.321 --> 16:59.660 and the sub-units of those, of that organization 16:59.660 --> 17:01.766 that they’re about to lead. 17:01.766 --> 17:02.599 Margaret. 17:02.599 --> 17:04.581 - On that same topic, John, 17:04.581 --> 17:06.405 as you said yesterday, you really characterized 17:06.405 --> 17:09.563 a lot of these questions about staffing and programs, 17:09.563 --> 17:12.425 some of which are viewed as politically charged, 17:12.425 --> 17:13.755 they’re just standard programs here, 17:13.755 --> 17:15.221 but some view them as that. 17:15.221 --> 17:16.617 You were saying all those questions 17:16.617 --> 17:20.481 you really saw as appropriate and standard for a transition. 17:20.481 --> 17:22.398 On this latest question 17:22.556 --> 17:25.345 specific to gender programming and budgeting, 17:25.345 --> 17:28.813 do you also think that specific topic area 17:28.813 --> 17:31.480 is standard to be one of the few 17:31.744 --> 17:35.109 sort of flash memos sent out demanding information on? 17:35.109 --> 17:36.684 - Again, I’m not going to get into the details 17:36.684 --> 17:39.734 of communications with the transition team 17:39.734 --> 17:43.838 and/or confirming the veracity of leaked documents. 17:43.838 --> 17:45.171 I can’t do that. 17:46.135 --> 17:48.885 But, Margaret, I mean, obviously, 17:50.185 --> 17:52.018 gender equality issues 17:52.025 --> 17:54.367 here at the Department of State are a priority. 17:54.367 --> 17:56.777 Secretary Kerry has made them a priority, 17:56.777 --> 18:00.332 Secretary Clinton before him made it a priority, 18:00.332 --> 18:02.734 and it remains one for us here. 18:02.734 --> 18:05.894 And yes, there is staffing and resources being applied 18:05.894 --> 18:07.973 to gender equality issues around the world, 18:07.973 --> 18:09.761 because we believe in that 18:09.761 --> 18:12.048 and we think that gender equality, 18:12.048 --> 18:14.847 like so many other issues of human rights, 18:14.847 --> 18:17.815 are paramount to American foreign policy, 18:17.815 --> 18:20.815 American interests around the world. 18:21.226 --> 18:24.284 And to the degree that there is interest 18:24.284 --> 18:26.701 in the way we have approached 18:27.465 --> 18:30.269 pursuing gender equality and human rights around the world 18:30.269 --> 18:32.016 by the transition team, 18:32.016 --> 18:34.739 we will certainly provide them the context, 18:34.739 --> 18:38.739 the information that is appropriate to help them 18:39.084 --> 18:41.425 make their own decisions about that going forward. 18:41.425 --> 18:43.220 - On a personnel level, though, 18:43.220 --> 18:45.167 have you heard concerns from those who keep 18:45.167 --> 18:47.223 characterizing this as a witch hunt 18:47.223 --> 18:48.397 or a fear of a witch hunt? 18:48.397 --> 18:51.853 Whether or not it’s actually going to be borne out, 18:51.853 --> 18:53.761 there seems to be a level of concern 18:53.761 --> 18:55.057 among some employees here. 18:55.057 --> 18:57.100 - Sure, look, I can’t discount the notion 18:57.100 --> 19:01.267 that in all aspects of a change in leadership here 19:01.834 --> 19:04.212 that there’s going to be anxiety. 19:04.212 --> 19:08.129 Change is difficult for everybody to deal with. 19:09.229 --> 19:10.619 It is particularly difficult, 19:10.619 --> 19:11.918 as those of you who have been covering Washington 19:11.918 --> 19:12.909 for any length of time, 19:12.909 --> 19:16.103 you know it’s particularly difficult for bureaucracies. 19:16.103 --> 19:18.993 So I understand that, and the Secretary understands, 19:18.993 --> 19:21.160 that changes in leadership 19:21.367 --> 19:24.404 and potential changes in policies going forward 19:24.404 --> 19:25.737 can cause angst. 19:26.501 --> 19:28.834 But I think that it would be 19:30.034 --> 19:31.848 appropriate for those who are feeling that 19:31.848 --> 19:33.980 to speak to their, to the level of anxiety, 19:33.980 --> 19:35.788 not for me to speak for them, 19:35.788 --> 19:39.455 and to what degree it’s high or low or mixed 19:39.683 --> 19:42.850 or where it resides in the department. 19:44.363 --> 19:47.766 But here’s the other thing I would say, Margaret, 19:47.766 --> 19:51.766 if you’ll allow me, and I alluded to it earlier. 19:52.447 --> 19:53.956 The people that work here, 19:53.956 --> 19:56.828 now that I’ve had two years to see it, 19:56.828 --> 19:59.161 they are true professionals. 19:59.607 --> 20:01.102 Whether they’re political appointees 20:01.102 --> 20:04.007 or career Foreign Service or civil servants, 20:04.007 --> 20:05.600 they are professionals. 20:05.600 --> 20:08.542 And while I can’t discount that some of them 20:08.542 --> 20:10.053 might have some anxiety, 20:10.053 --> 20:12.399 I can assure you and I can assure the American people 20:12.399 --> 20:15.649 that they will face change squarely on, 20:15.732 --> 20:18.277 that they will respond appropriately, 20:18.277 --> 20:20.006 that they will remain professionals, 20:20.006 --> 20:23.380 and that whatever the foreign policy agenda 20:23.380 --> 20:27.087 that is being pursued by the incoming administration, 20:27.087 --> 20:28.708 they will support it, they will implement it, 20:28.708 --> 20:31.938 they will inform it, and they will help guide it, 20:31.938 --> 20:33.854 because that’s what they do. 20:33.854 --> 20:35.537 And I’m just real proud to have been a part of it 20:35.537 --> 20:37.660 even for these last two years. 20:37.660 --> 20:39.235 And I’m sure that my successor 20:39.235 --> 20:41.251 and that everybody coming in on the new team, 20:41.251 --> 20:42.834 when they get here, 20:43.239 --> 20:46.298 they will too be comforted and confident 20:46.298 --> 20:48.430 in the skill and the talent 20:48.430 --> 20:49.965 that resides here at Foggy Bottom. 20:49.965 --> 20:51.438 - And lastly on this, though, I mean, 20:51.438 --> 20:54.100 you watched the campaign, we all watched the campaign, 20:54.100 --> 20:55.862 it was an extraordinary one. 20:55.862 --> 20:58.165 A lot of the rhetoric was more heated than usual. 20:58.165 --> 20:59.300 - [John] Sure. 20:59.300 --> 21:01.056 - I mean, can you say, 21:01.056 --> 21:03.190 has this risen to the Secretary’s level yet 21:03.190 --> 21:07.357 in terms of the anxiety that some apparently are expressing? 21:07.633 --> 21:09.300 - I’m not aware that 21:11.860 --> 21:15.610 he’s been apprised of any individual anxiety. 21:16.370 --> 21:18.037 I think as a leader, 21:18.071 --> 21:21.365 as a man who’s been in public service for 21:21.365 --> 21:23.496 virtually his entire adult life, 21:23.496 --> 21:26.180 he’s mindful that change is difficult 21:26.180 --> 21:30.347 and that organizations need to be led through change, 21:30.796 --> 21:32.694 and that’s why he has been so vocal 21:32.694 --> 21:34.206 and so clear with the department 21:34.206 --> 21:37.598 that he wants them to embrace this transition process. 21:37.598 --> 21:41.037 So I think he’s obviously wise enough to know 21:41.037 --> 21:43.295 that certainly there’s going to be some trepidation, 21:43.295 --> 21:46.723 just in the, just in change itself there’s going to be some. 21:46.723 --> 21:48.720 And that’s why he is trying to lead 21:48.720 --> 21:50.907 with such a steady hand here in his final few weeks, 21:50.907 --> 21:53.407 and to reassure everybody that 21:54.444 --> 21:56.360 as long as they fall back on their professionalism 21:56.360 --> 21:57.613 and their skills and their talents 21:57.613 --> 21:59.526 and their wisdom and experience, 21:59.526 --> 22:01.039 that they’ll be able to weather the change, 22:01.039 --> 22:03.234 in fact, they’ll be able to lead that change. 22:03.234 --> 22:05.591 - And you’re, it’s still policy not to hand over names. 22:05.591 --> 22:07.008 Is that accurate? 22:07.219 --> 22:08.636 - There is, it’s, 22:10.063 --> 22:12.439 I think you can understand that in 22:12.439 --> 22:16.606 helping any new team get a grip on a new organization, 22:17.990 --> 22:21.157 that as they try to understand bureaus 22:23.742 --> 22:25.038 and how they are manned, 22:25.038 --> 22:26.665 that there’s going to be a discussion, 22:26.665 --> 22:28.439 there needs to be a discussion about 22:28.439 --> 22:31.343 what positions will remain open for them to fill 22:31.343 --> 22:33.135 and what positions they might 22:33.135 --> 22:34.377 not have to worry about filling 22:34.377 --> 22:36.121 because they’re being filled with, say, 22:36.121 --> 22:38.884 career Foreign Service officers or civil servants. 22:38.884 --> 22:40.995 And so in that capacity, in terms of the, 22:40.995 --> 22:44.162 informing them about the organization, 22:44.225 --> 22:45.882 you can see that there might be a logic 22:45.882 --> 22:48.028 in terms of being able to explain to them 22:48.028 --> 22:50.778 who specifically is in what seat. 22:52.486 --> 22:53.557 There is nothing wrong with that. 22:53.557 --> 22:56.057 That’s typical, that’s normal. 22:56.184 --> 22:57.379 I’ve seen it it in the past. 22:57.379 --> 22:59.848 In a military change in command it’s no different. 22:59.848 --> 23:01.150 When a new captain comes aboard a ship, 23:01.150 --> 23:03.508 you tell him who’s on board and what jobs they have 23:03.508 --> 23:05.549 and how the ship operates. 23:05.549 --> 23:07.549 That’s the way it works. 23:07.702 --> 23:11.119 But obviously, we would have concerns if, 23:13.570 --> 23:16.820 for instance, there were issue-specific 23:17.897 --> 23:20.516 lists of names that were being provided. 23:20.516 --> 23:24.015 I mean, clearly that would be something that 23:24.015 --> 23:25.400 would be of concern of us 23:25.400 --> 23:26.636 and would not be the kind of thing 23:26.636 --> 23:27.996 that we would want to engage in, 23:27.996 --> 23:30.866 but in terms of organizationally, where people are, 23:30.866 --> 23:34.199 what jobs they have, who’s in the chair, 23:34.226 --> 23:35.642 and whether that person is going to be here 23:35.642 --> 23:37.517 after the 20th or not, that’s, 23:37.517 --> 23:40.674 those are fair questions to, for us to have to answer. 23:40.674 --> 23:42.928 - John, but you must agree that 23:42.928 --> 23:46.261 there must be a feeling of intimidation, 23:46.296 --> 23:48.750 because there was a time, I mean, it’s, 23:48.750 --> 23:50.372 was several decades back, 23:50.372 --> 23:53.004 when there were lists and people were afraid 23:53.004 --> 23:55.674 and they were intimidated and so on. 23:55.674 --> 23:57.895 What kind of counseling or what kind of reassurance, 23:57.895 --> 24:00.935 as a, other than saying fall back on your professionalism, 24:00.935 --> 24:03.072 what kind of assurances or legal assurances-- 24:03.072 --> 24:04.743 - As I, I think I just said to Margaret, 24:04.743 --> 24:06.910 I mean, should, and I’m not saying there are, again, 24:06.910 --> 24:09.087 I’m not speaking to specific requests for information, 24:09.087 --> 24:11.468 but obviously, in a hypothetical situation, 24:11.468 --> 24:15.072 if there were issue-specific names requested, 24:15.072 --> 24:16.727 obviously that would be of concern to us 24:16.727 --> 24:18.555 and it would not be the kind of information 24:18.555 --> 24:21.382 that we would deem to be appropriate to be passed along. 24:21.382 --> 24:24.652 That said, if it’s organizationally arranged 24:24.652 --> 24:26.790 and asked for in that context, well, 24:26.790 --> 24:28.166 there’s a certain logic there, 24:28.166 --> 24:30.560 without getting into specific requests that have or, 24:30.560 --> 24:33.227 have been made or have been met. 24:34.981 --> 24:37.981 And again, we, everybody understands 24:38.840 --> 24:40.744 that change is difficult, 24:40.744 --> 24:43.445 but Said, you’ve been here longer than me, 24:43.445 --> 24:45.945 and I think you know darn well 24:46.234 --> 24:48.576 how professional the career people here are 24:48.576 --> 24:49.409 at the State Department 24:49.409 --> 24:51.059 and that they’ll weather this just fine. 24:51.059 --> 24:53.496 In fact, they’ll come through with flying colors 24:53.496 --> 24:55.861 because they are such professionals 24:55.861 --> 24:57.748 and because the new team, when they get here, 24:57.748 --> 24:59.581 will see that readily. 25:01.003 --> 25:03.836 And I, it’s not as if there aren’t 25:07.014 --> 25:09.324 experienced people on the transition team as well 25:09.324 --> 25:12.657 who also understand and have a grounding 25:13.842 --> 25:16.342 in what this institution does. 25:16.638 --> 25:17.802 And not just here in Washington, 25:17.802 --> 25:19.591 but what it does around the world. 25:19.591 --> 25:23.591 - As we enter Secretary Kerry’s final time here, 25:23.856 --> 25:25.510 in your assessment, do you believe 25:25.510 --> 25:27.863 he has made us here at home in the U.S. safer 25:27.863 --> 25:31.404 and, more broadly, the world safer during his time? 25:31.404 --> 25:33.080 - Oh, absolutely I do. 25:33.080 --> 25:37.080 And I believe Americans, American foreign policy 25:38.040 --> 25:40.661 and our foreign policy priorities, 25:40.661 --> 25:41.941 our foreign policy achievements 25:41.941 --> 25:44.739 have helped make the American people safer. 25:44.739 --> 25:46.962 Look at the Iran deal, for instance. 25:46.962 --> 25:49.295 We now have a deal in place, 25:50.042 --> 25:53.459 and it is being implemented by all sides, 25:53.749 --> 25:57.082 that will preclude Iran from ever, ever, 25:58.748 --> 26:01.434 achieving nuclear weapons capability. 26:01.434 --> 26:04.334 And there’s an inspection regime in place 26:04.334 --> 26:07.501 that’s the most rigorous ever enacted. 26:07.753 --> 26:10.703 And an Iran without nuclear weapons capability, 26:10.703 --> 26:11.849 I think we can all agree, 26:11.849 --> 26:13.654 no matter what side of the aisle you’re on 26:13.654 --> 26:15.439 or on the issue that you’re on, 26:15.439 --> 26:17.356 is better to deal with, 26:19.017 --> 26:20.352 even an Iran that is still conducting 26:20.352 --> 26:22.843 destabilizing activities, and they are, 26:22.843 --> 26:24.698 than one that is also doing that 26:24.698 --> 26:27.867 with the capability of having nuclear weapons. 26:27.867 --> 26:30.025 Look at the Paris Agreement, 26:30.025 --> 26:33.442 what, more than 140 nations signed up for 26:34.220 --> 26:37.637 a robust, the most, a historically robust 26:38.250 --> 26:40.750 climate change agreement that, 26:40.952 --> 26:43.516 if everybody meets their obligations, 26:43.516 --> 26:46.083 has a real chance at getting us to slow 26:46.083 --> 26:47.780 the global warming rate 26:47.780 --> 26:51.780 and get below that two degrees centigrade level. 26:51.946 --> 26:54.613 And the Pentagon itself has said 26:54.774 --> 26:57.112 and called climate change a national security threat. 26:57.112 --> 26:58.335 That’s not just the State Department. 26:58.335 --> 27:00.033 The Pentagon has said that. 27:00.033 --> 27:03.299 And so, thanks to Secretary Kerry’s leadership 27:03.299 --> 27:06.466 at working through the Paris Agreement 27:06.766 --> 27:08.722 and really helping bring people to the table 27:08.722 --> 27:10.555 and getting it signed, 27:10.564 --> 27:14.182 we’re on a path now to reduce the threat posed 27:14.182 --> 27:17.599 by the rising temperatures on the planet. 27:19.318 --> 27:21.901 Look at what we were able to do 27:23.547 --> 27:25.297 with Ebola in Africa, 27:25.655 --> 27:28.181 where they were predicting a million deaths, 27:28.181 --> 27:29.977 and the President made some courageous decisions 27:29.977 --> 27:33.115 to put military troops on the ground down there 27:33.115 --> 27:35.095 and other experts to try to stem that 27:35.095 --> 27:37.051 because that epidemic could have spread 27:37.051 --> 27:39.089 wildly not just throughout the continent 27:39.089 --> 27:40.431 but perhaps throughout the world, 27:40.431 --> 27:43.931 causing untold instability and insecurity. 27:44.640 --> 27:47.425 Look at Secretary Kerry’s leadership 27:47.425 --> 27:50.842 in mounting a now 67, 68-member coalition 27:52.991 --> 27:55.647 to counter Daesh in Iraq and Syria. 27:55.647 --> 27:59.814 That coalition was fashioned here by the State Department, 28:00.921 --> 28:02.504 by Secretary Kerry. 28:02.845 --> 28:04.381 General Allen, I think you might remember, 28:04.381 --> 28:08.548 was the first presidential special envoy for that coalition. 28:09.823 --> 28:13.990 And he and Brett McGurk, who is now the special envoy, 28:14.184 --> 28:16.416 did, took on the monumental task 28:16.416 --> 28:19.177 of cobbling together this coalition, which still exists. 28:19.177 --> 28:20.989 It’s the largest international coalition 28:20.989 --> 28:22.076 I think that’s ever existed, 28:22.076 --> 28:25.215 and it’s having real success and real progress 28:25.215 --> 28:26.799 on degrading and defeating this group. 28:26.799 --> 28:28.882 So, long answer, but yes, 28:31.047 --> 28:33.991 Secretary Kerry has over the course of his tenure 28:33.991 --> 28:37.473 helped make Americans safer here at home and safer abroad. 28:37.473 --> 28:39.135 And obviously that’s an extension 28:39.135 --> 28:40.513 of the foreign policy agenda 28:40.513 --> 28:42.421 that this Administration has pursued. 28:42.421 --> 28:44.120 - So you’ve just named some things he’s very proud of. 28:44.120 --> 28:46.247 Anything, any areas you, he feels 28:46.247 --> 28:48.114 he could have done better in? 28:48.114 --> 28:50.438 - I think if you were to ask the Secretary, 28:50.438 --> 28:51.814 he would be the first to tell you 28:51.814 --> 28:55.981 that he’s obviously frustrated by where we are in Syria, 28:56.161 --> 28:59.180 and that we, that our diplomatic efforts 28:59.180 --> 29:02.180 have not been successful in terms of 29:02.351 --> 29:04.582 getting us to a political transition 29:04.582 --> 29:06.573 where the voice of the Syrian people 29:06.573 --> 29:10.740 can be heard and can realize a better, safer, unified Syria. 29:12.997 --> 29:15.319 That doesn’t mean that over the next few weeks, 29:15.319 --> 29:19.079 and I’d remind he still has a month in office, 29:19.079 --> 29:20.421 that he’s not going to keep at it 29:20.421 --> 29:22.122 and keep trying to get us there, 29:22.122 --> 29:24.955 but I think he would tell you that 29:25.294 --> 29:27.794 that’s one area that he wishes 29:27.969 --> 29:30.957 we could have been more successful a lot sooner. 29:30.957 --> 29:34.957 - John, can I ask you about the tweet of, sorry, 29:35.542 --> 29:38.207 Mr. Trump’s tweet about wanting to expand and strengthen 29:38.207 --> 29:42.124 the nuclear program or nuclear weapons program? 29:44.161 --> 29:47.810 During the campaign there was a lot of discussion, 29:47.810 --> 29:49.212 especially from the Clinton side, 29:49.212 --> 29:51.254 about how Mr. Trump didn’t have the temperament 29:51.254 --> 29:54.421 to handle the nuclear weapons arsenal, 29:55.798 --> 29:58.238 that he was unpredictable and impulsive. 29:58.238 --> 30:00.988 Is this, does this kind of tweet, 30:01.836 --> 30:03.636 especially coming a few hours after Mr. Putin 30:03.636 --> 30:07.319 said something similar without any kind of policy statement 30:07.319 --> 30:08.856 or thinking to back it up, 30:08.856 --> 30:11.508 does that reinforce concerns that 30:11.508 --> 30:14.008 he might not be a steady hand? 30:14.665 --> 30:16.034 - Not for me to say, Barbara. 30:16.034 --> 30:17.451 I can’t speak for 30:18.698 --> 30:22.115 what, the President-elect’s nuclear views 30:23.306 --> 30:25.187 or his policy going forward. 30:25.187 --> 30:27.389 That’s for him and his team to speak to. 30:27.389 --> 30:29.983 What I can speak to is the approach 30:29.983 --> 30:32.816 that this Administration has taken 30:33.443 --> 30:35.384 to trying to get us on a path 30:35.384 --> 30:38.199 to a world without nuclear weapons. 30:38.199 --> 30:40.616 And we have achieved progress 30:41.409 --> 30:42.743 that we believe on a number of fronts. 30:42.743 --> 30:45.112 First, reducing our stockpile 30:45.112 --> 30:47.213 and our launchers through New START, 30:47.213 --> 30:49.964 number two, diminishing the role of nuclear weapons 30:49.964 --> 30:51.577 in our security strategy, 30:51.577 --> 30:53.726 and number three, securing the Iran deal, 30:53.726 --> 30:55.904 as I just spoke to a few minutes ago with Lauren 30:55.904 --> 30:58.857 about stopping the proliferation of nuclear weapons, 30:58.857 --> 31:01.431 particularly through that deal. 31:01.431 --> 31:02.681 Now, that said, 31:02.915 --> 31:05.075 we’re always looking at additional ways to achieve progress 31:05.075 --> 31:07.176 on the President’s path forward 31:07.176 --> 31:09.387 to maintaining a credible deterrent. 31:09.387 --> 31:10.729 Nobody’s walked away from the fact 31:10.729 --> 31:13.778 that you need a credible deterrent for the United States, 31:13.778 --> 31:15.471 including a credible nuclear deterrent. 31:15.471 --> 31:19.433 As a matter of fact, we have and continue to review 31:19.433 --> 31:22.190 plans for appropriate modernization 31:22.190 --> 31:23.682 of that nuclear deterrent. 31:23.682 --> 31:26.515 So it is absolutely a vital pillar 31:28.266 --> 31:29.839 in our national security strategy, 31:29.839 --> 31:32.205 but again, our Administration has taken 31:32.205 --> 31:34.455 a view of focusing on other 31:36.691 --> 31:39.941 national security implements and tools, 31:40.047 --> 31:42.753 as well reducing the stockpile, and again, 31:42.753 --> 31:45.036 really trying to get after proliferation. 31:45.036 --> 31:47.514 - Can I follow up on that? - Sure. 31:47.514 --> 31:49.668 - Has there been any concerns expressed 31:49.668 --> 31:51.584 since that tweet came out this morning 31:51.584 --> 31:53.617 from the President-elect from other countries 31:53.617 --> 31:57.117 to this building? - Not that I’m aware of. 31:57.991 --> 31:59.408 - John, in Syria, 32:01.879 --> 32:06.046 the Turkish army is besieging the ISIS-held town of al-Bab. 32:07.144 --> 32:08.887 Today, the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights said 32:08.887 --> 32:11.560 they think more than 40 civilians were killed 32:11.560 --> 32:13.200 in Turkish strikes today. 32:13.200 --> 32:14.290 Now, I know in the, 32:14.290 --> 32:16.024 Turkey is a member of the anti-ISIS coalition, 32:16.024 --> 32:17.982 but you’ve also from this podium expressed concern 32:17.982 --> 32:20.523 at uncoordinated actions they’ve carried out. 32:20.523 --> 32:22.940 Is Turkey’s assault on al-Bab 32:23.315 --> 32:25.975 part of the coalition operation, or is that unilateral? 32:25.975 --> 32:27.131 - You know what, Dave? 32:27.131 --> 32:31.298 I am not familiar with the battlefield updates here today, 32:32.170 --> 32:34.218 so rather than spit-balling here, 32:34.218 --> 32:36.990 let me see if I can get you a better answer. 32:36.990 --> 32:38.277 Our policy and our views about 32:38.277 --> 32:41.209 uncoordinated military activity still stand 32:41.209 --> 32:43.434 and that’s not going to change, 32:43.434 --> 32:45.944 but I honestly don’t have an update on al-Bab. 32:45.944 --> 32:48.084 So if you’ll allow me, I’d like to take that question 32:48.084 --> 32:49.256 and we’ll get you an answer. 32:49.256 --> 32:51.190 - Okay, that, that’s, more broadly in Syria, 32:51.190 --> 32:53.950 the Syrian military has declared that they’re now in sole 32:53.950 --> 32:57.117 control of Aleppo, that they see that 32:57.543 --> 32:59.238 that their operation has concluded 32:59.238 --> 33:01.877 successfully in their eyes. - Yeah. 33:01.877 --> 33:05.247 - Might not be the political outcome that you had wanted, 33:05.247 --> 33:06.890 but now at least it’s clear. 33:06.890 --> 33:08.316 - It’s not a political outcome at all. 33:08.316 --> 33:10.862 - Well, okay, it’s not the outcome you may have wanted, 33:10.862 --> 33:14.847 but at least now one body is in sole control of the city. 33:14.847 --> 33:16.902 Are they now responsible for the 33:16.902 --> 33:18.521 safety of the people within it? 33:18.521 --> 33:19.354 - Of course they are. 33:19.354 --> 33:21.004 They’re also responsible for the devastation 33:21.004 --> 33:23.671 and the havoc and the starvation 33:24.387 --> 33:28.554 and the atrocities that they caused in the taking of Aleppo. 33:29.488 --> 33:30.937 Look, for our part, 33:30.937 --> 33:33.436 we understand that evacuations are continuing today 33:33.436 --> 33:34.332 from east Aleppo. 33:34.332 --> 33:37.738 We want them to continue as long as people want to depart. 33:37.738 --> 33:39.655 We’ve seen reports that 33:41.333 --> 33:43.378 the government regime is now claiming 33:43.378 --> 33:46.795 that evacuations are going to soon cease, 33:48.339 --> 33:51.014 so that’s of deep concern, obviously. 33:51.014 --> 33:52.933 We’re also concerned about 33:52.933 --> 33:55.493 reports of increased violence in other parts of Syria, 33:55.493 --> 33:57.052 including airstrikes by the regime 33:57.052 --> 33:59.719 that we’ve heard about in Daraa. 34:02.587 --> 34:03.420 So look, 34:05.990 --> 34:07.072 certainly seeing these reports 34:07.072 --> 34:10.668 that they claim that they have all of Aleppo, 34:10.668 --> 34:13.585 I’m in no position to dispute that. 34:14.285 --> 34:17.938 It comports with the information that we’ve been getting. 34:17.938 --> 34:20.771 But yes, they bear responsibility, 34:20.871 --> 34:25.038 and not just now for the task of rebuilding Aleppo, 34:27.297 --> 34:30.337 but they bear responsibility for what they did to Aleppo 34:30.337 --> 34:32.254 and to Aleppo citizens. 34:32.407 --> 34:35.052 - [Said] So will you help in rebuilding Aleppo at one point? 34:35.052 --> 34:38.235 - I know of no such plans to help rebuild Aleppo, Said 34:38.235 --> 34:39.974 or how that could even be done. 34:39.974 --> 34:41.596 - Okay, so-- - Marshall Plan for Aleppo. 34:41.596 --> 34:43.252 - Exactly, I mean, something like this. 34:43.252 --> 34:44.289 But let me ask you something. 34:44.289 --> 34:46.048 You’re saying that they bear responsibility, 34:46.048 --> 34:49.521 but surely you agree that there are so many other groups 34:49.521 --> 34:52.221 in the thousands, I mean, the last tranche of maybe 34:52.221 --> 34:55.435 3-4,000 fighters who were very hardened fighters 34:55.435 --> 34:57.610 with lethal weapons and so on, they have, 34:57.610 --> 35:00.798 they also bear some responsibility in this destruction, 35:00.798 --> 35:01.631 would you agree? 35:01.631 --> 35:04.135 - We have talked and we’ve been honest and open about 35:04.135 --> 35:05.884 concerns when we’ve seen reports of 35:05.884 --> 35:10.051 opposition fighters causing damage to infrastructure 35:13.170 --> 35:16.941 or violating what little bit of cessations of hostilities 35:16.941 --> 35:18.274 we saw declared. 35:20.469 --> 35:24.052 And when we saw reports of them mistreating 35:25.123 --> 35:28.065 or firing on innocent people, we called it out. 35:28.065 --> 35:29.732 But let’s be honest. 35:30.033 --> 35:31.320 When you look at Aleppo 35:31.320 --> 35:33.883 and you see the devastation and the destruction, 35:33.883 --> 35:37.133 it’s caused almost solely by the regime 35:37.538 --> 35:40.157 and their backers in Moscow and Tehran. 35:40.157 --> 35:41.922 Let there be no mistake. 35:41.922 --> 35:43.549 And that’s who bears the responsibility 35:43.549 --> 35:44.882 for what’s happened in Aleppo. 35:44.882 --> 35:46.444 That’s who bears the responsibility 35:46.444 --> 35:48.318 for the death and destruction, 35:48.318 --> 35:50.901 the maiming of innocent people. 35:51.396 --> 35:53.396 It wasn’t the opposition 35:54.167 --> 35:56.641 who bombed hospitals and schools 35:56.641 --> 36:00.317 and first responders as they rushed to the scene 36:00.317 --> 36:03.701 to try to rescue people out of crumpled buildings. 36:03.701 --> 36:06.073 It was the regime with their backers. 36:06.073 --> 36:08.970 - I want to follow up on something that Brad did a couple, 36:08.970 --> 36:12.469 two or three weeks ago when he asked you that, 36:12.469 --> 36:13.757 I mean, because I want to ask you about 36:13.757 --> 36:14.720 the scheme of things. 36:14.720 --> 36:18.338 You see the war is receding, because at the time Brad said 36:18.338 --> 36:21.255 that the area, the real estate area 36:21.399 --> 36:25.399 under the control of the opposition is shrinking 36:25.905 --> 36:28.713 and that, in a way, lessens the confrontation, 36:28.713 --> 36:29.622 lessens the war. 36:29.622 --> 36:31.969 So how do you see this in the scheme of things, 36:31.969 --> 36:33.715 the control over Aleppo? 36:33.715 --> 36:36.297 - I don’t remember the exact question. 36:36.297 --> 36:39.621 I’m sure that my answer was more eloquent 36:39.621 --> 36:41.269 than it will probably be now, but what I said, 36:41.269 --> 36:43.519 what we have been saying is 36:45.084 --> 36:46.591 that the fall of Aleppo, 36:46.591 --> 36:49.070 and we said this before it fell, 36:49.070 --> 36:50.807 was not going to be end of the war, 36:50.807 --> 36:52.807 that the, that it would, 36:52.994 --> 36:55.460 that the opposition would keep fighting, 36:55.460 --> 36:57.649 that extremists would continue to be 36:57.649 --> 36:59.899 attracted to the, to Syria, 37:01.302 --> 37:05.469 that more people would be flung into refugee status, 37:06.310 --> 37:09.592 and we have no indication that those things 37:09.592 --> 37:12.092 are not going to still happen. 37:12.567 --> 37:15.861 So our view is, and it’s not just the United States, 37:15.861 --> 37:18.194 the international community, 37:19.079 --> 37:21.101 that what’s happened in Aleppo is not going to bring 37:21.101 --> 37:23.268 this war closer to an end. 37:23.504 --> 37:25.171 It’s going to go on. 37:26.651 --> 37:27.484 - If we can go off Syria, 37:27.484 --> 37:28.946 I forgot one question I wanted to ask you 37:28.946 --> 37:32.363 about the Israel resolution that was just 37:32.468 --> 37:35.889 very logistically, did the Secretary make any calls 37:35.889 --> 37:38.389 to foreign leaders in the last 37:38.995 --> 37:42.610 several days or couple weeks about this matter? 37:42.610 --> 37:45.610 - He has routinely had conversations 37:47.342 --> 37:51.509 with foreign leaders about the Middle East peace process 37:52.335 --> 37:54.502 and I think certainly you, 37:57.896 --> 38:01.479 that since the Egyptians submitted the text 38:02.741 --> 38:06.908 that yes, he has had conversations with foreign leaders 38:07.660 --> 38:09.493 about this resolution. 38:09.704 --> 38:13.724 - So did he, do you know when the last time he spoke to 38:13.724 --> 38:16.388 Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu 38:16.388 --> 38:17.819 or anyone else in Israel about this? 38:17.819 --> 38:21.205 - He spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning. 38:21.205 --> 38:24.190 - Did he, do you know and did he speak to 38:24.190 --> 38:27.375 Foreign Minister Shoukry or someone else from Japan? 38:27.375 --> 38:29.057 - He did speak with-- - From Egypt, sorry. 38:29.057 --> 38:31.269 - He did speak with foreign-- - Five letters at least. 38:31.269 --> 38:33.728 - He did speak with Foreign Minister Shoukry 38:33.728 --> 38:34.942 last night, yes. 38:34.942 --> 38:35.830 - Okay, last night. 38:35.830 --> 38:39.997 And then any others in the last pivotal day or so? 38:41.769 --> 38:44.352 - Today he has also spoken with 38:44.457 --> 38:45.975 the Jordanian Foreign Minister Judeh 38:45.975 --> 38:49.475 and the Saudi Foreign Minister al-Jubeir. 38:50.127 --> 38:53.115 - [Reporter] But during his call this morning with Netanyahu 38:53.115 --> 38:55.856 they obviously discussed the vote. 38:55.856 --> 38:56.943 - There wasn’t a vote. 38:56.943 --> 39:00.060 - [Reporter] I mean the possibility of a vote. 39:00.060 --> 39:03.727 - Clearly they talked about this resolution, 39:05.273 --> 39:06.451 this draft resolution. 39:06.451 --> 39:08.034 Obviously they did, 39:08.282 --> 39:11.316 but I’m not going to detail the conversation that they had. 39:11.316 --> 39:12.476 - [Said] Are you disappointed that 39:12.476 --> 39:14.049 this was not brought to a vote? 39:14.049 --> 39:14.882 - I’m sorry? 39:14.882 --> 39:15.715 - Are you disappointed that the resolution 39:15.715 --> 39:17.675 was not brought to a vote? 39:17.675 --> 39:19.797 - This isn’t about disappointment. 39:19.797 --> 39:21.418 - I understand, but are you disappointed? 39:21.418 --> 39:23.032 I mean, you can say yes or no. 39:23.032 --> 39:25.665 Are you disappointed that it was not brought to a vote? 39:25.665 --> 39:29.146 - Said, let’s see what the process bears out 39:29.146 --> 39:32.307 before we start characterizing things one way or the other. 39:32.307 --> 39:34.419 And again, I’m not going to preview 39:34.419 --> 39:37.434 or speculate about where this is going to go. 39:37.434 --> 39:40.017 - And then on a separate topic, 39:40.738 --> 39:43.142 I don’t know if you saw the comments today 39:43.142 --> 39:46.590 about Russia being the world’s best military. 39:46.590 --> 39:48.685 I don’t know if you’re chafed at that 39:48.685 --> 39:51.345 or would like to dispute the notion that 39:51.345 --> 39:53.208 U.S. has slipped to number two 39:53.208 --> 39:54.955 or further in the Russian eyes. 39:54.955 --> 39:57.872 - I saw allusion to those comments. 39:58.945 --> 40:02.362 I think the professionalism and the skill 40:06.936 --> 40:09.280 and the capabilities that are resident 40:09.280 --> 40:11.697 in the United States military 40:13.183 --> 40:15.683 are beyond debate and dispute. 40:16.497 --> 40:18.692 And America has every right to be proud 40:18.692 --> 40:20.701 of the men and women that 40:20.701 --> 40:23.100 are wearing the uniform and protecting their interests 40:23.100 --> 40:26.294 around the world and their ability to do it. 40:26.294 --> 40:28.877 And I think, I’m confident that 40:29.852 --> 40:31.290 my colleagues at the Defense Department 40:31.290 --> 40:32.674 would say the same thing. 40:32.674 --> 40:35.654 - You don’t think the Russian performance in Ukraine 40:35.654 --> 40:39.821 or in Syria raises them to preeminent military status? 40:40.242 --> 40:42.998 - I don’t think that, I don’t think in all of human history 40:42.998 --> 40:45.498 there has ever been a military 40:46.709 --> 40:49.209 as capable and as intelligent, 40:50.069 --> 40:52.721 as strong, as well-led, as well-resourced, 40:52.721 --> 40:54.986 as the United States military is today. 40:54.986 --> 40:56.319 - Can I ask one? 40:57.093 --> 40:59.421 Yeah, this is about the Trump Hotel 40:59.421 --> 41:03.095 and foreign diplomats that are booking receptions 41:03.095 --> 41:05.262 or staying there and such. 41:05.545 --> 41:07.938 And one ambassador in town, the Kuwaiti ambassador, 41:07.938 --> 41:11.854 who’s going to be having a reception there next month, 41:11.854 --> 41:14.888 said that they would, that the diplomatic community 41:14.888 --> 41:17.025 would like some guidelines from the State Department 41:17.025 --> 41:19.385 about how to handle this type of thing, 41:19.385 --> 41:22.989 because there are issues related to the emoluments, 41:22.989 --> 41:25.397 I’m going to say it wrong, emoluments clause. 41:25.397 --> 41:26.230 - [Reporter] Emolument. 41:26.230 --> 41:28.023 - Okay, whatever, the clause. 41:28.023 --> 41:30.190 The clause, that says that 41:31.857 --> 41:35.804 a sitting cabinet official can’t take money from, 41:35.804 --> 41:37.310 or a sitting government official 41:37.310 --> 41:39.010 can’t take money from foreign governments, 41:39.010 --> 41:41.624 so that the diplomatic community is kind of confused 41:41.624 --> 41:43.309 about the rules of the road 41:43.309 --> 41:47.476 in terms of whether it is any violation of any law 41:47.791 --> 41:48.963 or any protocol or anything 41:48.963 --> 41:50.538 to be booking at this hotel. 41:50.538 --> 41:51.861 And they said that they wish they would hear 41:51.861 --> 41:55.593 from the State Department in terms of some guidelines. 41:55.593 --> 41:58.095 - I’m not aware that we have received 41:58.095 --> 42:01.057 any outreach or queries from the diplomatic community 42:01.057 --> 42:04.224 about those kinds of ethical concerns. 42:06.050 --> 42:10.133 Obviously, if there were questions of that regard 42:11.170 --> 42:14.717 and we were in a position to help provide context, 42:14.717 --> 42:16.217 I’m sure we would. 42:17.218 --> 42:21.248 I’m sure there’s other places too that they can go. 42:21.248 --> 42:25.331 And I’m sure the Ethics Office at the White House 42:27.135 --> 42:30.468 also would have expertise here to offer. 42:30.986 --> 42:33.542 I’m afraid I just, I don’t know much about 42:33.542 --> 42:36.292 this issue myself, but obviously, 42:36.462 --> 42:39.113 on this and on so many other issues, 42:39.113 --> 42:41.090 we stand ready to help the diplomatic corps 42:41.090 --> 42:43.842 here in Washington to the degree that we can. 42:43.842 --> 42:44.943 And if we can’t answer the question 42:44.943 --> 42:47.072 or it’s not appropriate to come from us, 42:47.072 --> 42:49.846 we certainly stand by to help direct them 42:49.846 --> 42:50.916 to the right people. 42:50.916 --> 42:53.210 But I just haven’t heard any of these concerns. 42:53.210 --> 42:54.523 I’m not aware that 42:54.523 --> 42:56.765 there’s been any of those concerns expressed to us. 42:56.765 --> 42:58.860 - Well, can you, actually, I think that there have. 42:58.860 --> 43:01.163 So can you take the-- - I’m happy to ask to see if-- 43:01.163 --> 43:02.542 - Can you ask, yeah. - If we have. 43:02.542 --> 43:03.541 I’m not aware of it. 43:03.541 --> 43:05.864 - I can’t believe that this, will all the 43:05.864 --> 43:08.147 embassies and stuff that have been, 43:08.147 --> 43:09.690 there’s been a real aggressive marketing campaign 43:09.690 --> 43:10.773 by the hotel, 43:11.842 --> 43:15.259 not using the President-elect’s position, 43:16.514 --> 43:18.597 but of course, there are, 43:19.393 --> 43:22.759 there is a connection and governments are asking 43:22.759 --> 43:24.035 a lot of questions. 43:24.035 --> 43:26.123 And I’d have to believe that 43:26.123 --> 43:27.966 out of all the embassies that are, 43:27.966 --> 43:29.371 have been looking at the hotel, 43:29.371 --> 43:30.937 that there have to have been some questions. 43:30.937 --> 43:31.871 - There might have been, Elise. 43:31.871 --> 43:33.766 I’m not saying that there’s not. 43:33.766 --> 43:34.914 I’m just saying I’m not aware of any, 43:34.914 --> 43:37.809 and we’ll check to see if there’s something there. 43:37.809 --> 43:38.979 - [Dave] Many other cities around the world 43:38.979 --> 43:41.754 where the State Department operates have Trump hotels. 43:41.754 --> 43:44.179 Do you have any plans to avoid or to use them? 43:44.179 --> 43:45.819 - I don’t have anything on that, Dave. 43:45.819 --> 43:46.792 - [Dave] But when you’re traveling, 43:46.792 --> 43:49.764 do you take into account who owns the hotels you stay in? 43:49.764 --> 43:50.597 - I’m sorry? 43:50.597 --> 43:51.430 - When the Secretary’s traveling 43:51.430 --> 43:54.420 or when ambassadors in other towns are booking events, 43:54.420 --> 43:56.067 if it, a hotel happens to belong 43:56.067 --> 43:58.066 to the son of the president or to-- 43:58.066 --> 43:59.018 - [Steve] Happened in Myanmar. 43:59.018 --> 44:00.979 - [Dave] Is that a factor in your calculations? 44:00.979 --> 44:03.205 - There’s a series of ethics regulations 44:03.205 --> 44:06.205 that govern where on official travel 44:08.265 --> 44:10.598 you can lodge for an evening 44:12.405 --> 44:15.238 and certain rates that we have to, 44:16.159 --> 44:19.642 in terms of nightly rates, that we have to abide by. 44:19.642 --> 44:22.510 There’s a whole set of rules and regulations 44:22.510 --> 44:23.949 that we follow wherever we travel. 44:23.949 --> 44:27.282 I’m not an expert on every item of that, 44:28.496 --> 44:32.579 but we can get somebody in the Office of Protocol 44:33.127 --> 44:35.336 that can help you out with some of that. 44:35.336 --> 44:36.692 I just don’t have all those details. 44:36.692 --> 44:37.662 - [Reporter] He was really just joking. 44:37.662 --> 44:39.727 - I know, I’m kind of trying to establish, 44:39.727 --> 44:41.325 I’m trying to hang tight, 44:41.325 --> 44:43.523 or trying to establish that 44:43.523 --> 44:45.356 your missions have these ethical rules. 44:45.356 --> 44:48.058 Presumably other countries have similar rules, 44:48.058 --> 44:49.038 and they’re here. 44:49.038 --> 44:50.629 Should they apply their own rules 44:50.629 --> 44:51.944 when it comes to staying at a Trump? 44:51.944 --> 44:53.204 - There are rules that, the rules that, 44:53.204 --> 44:55.382 you’re traveling at government expense, 44:55.382 --> 44:58.465 so you have to stay within the bounds 44:59.195 --> 45:00.424 of what your per diem is. 45:00.424 --> 45:02.858 So there’s rules about where you can stay in terms of cost. 45:02.858 --> 45:04.759 - [Dave] But the person who eventually gets the money 45:04.759 --> 45:07.759 when you pay is what I’m getting at, 45:07.946 --> 45:09.186 not the amount you spent. 45:09.186 --> 45:10.110 - There’s rules about security and the security aspects 45:10.110 --> 45:12.873 of certain places of lodging that we have, 45:12.873 --> 45:15.295 that Diplomatic Security has to be able to abide by. 45:15.295 --> 45:18.650 So some of our choices are limited by that. 45:18.650 --> 45:19.947 Some of the choices are limited by 45:19.947 --> 45:21.567 the size of the footprint of the party traveling. 45:21.567 --> 45:24.346 So there’s a whole host of things that are considered. 45:24.346 --> 45:26.368 I’m not an expert on each and every one of those. 45:26.368 --> 45:27.904 But if you really want to know the details, 45:27.904 --> 45:29.451 we’ll get somebody to walk you through that. 45:29.451 --> 45:31.068 - John, very quick on the, 45:31.068 --> 45:33.525 the fact that the Kuwaitis canceled the Four Seasons 45:33.525 --> 45:35.650 and moved to the Trump hotel 45:35.650 --> 45:39.383 by an aggressive campaign by a private entity, 45:39.383 --> 45:41.113 is that blurring the lines between 45:41.113 --> 45:43.637 private enterprise and diplomacy in this case? 45:43.637 --> 45:44.680 - Said, I don’t know anything 45:44.680 --> 45:47.597 about this decision and this issue. 45:47.950 --> 45:48.783 I’ll take one more. 45:48.783 --> 45:50.143 Sir, you can have the last one, go ahead. 45:50.143 --> 45:50.976 - Thanks. 45:53.241 --> 45:55.289 UN Special Envoy de Mistura confirmed, 45:55.289 --> 45:58.872 has confirmed today his intent to reconvene 45:58.912 --> 46:03.079 or just convene a next round of talks February the 8th. 46:04.388 --> 46:08.555 I wanted to know if there is any active discussion 46:08.958 --> 46:13.041 on the way of, about moving the talks from Geneva 46:13.221 --> 46:16.304 to Astana, as Kazakhstan has offered. 46:17.385 --> 46:20.862 - You'd have to talk to the special envoy. 46:20.862 --> 46:22.652 Typically, the last rounds of these talks 46:22.652 --> 46:24.735 have been done in Geneva, 46:25.472 --> 46:27.847 but we believe that this process 46:27.847 --> 46:30.969 should continue to be under UN auspices 46:30.969 --> 46:32.708 and that should be led by and-- 46:32.708 --> 46:33.666 (reporter mumbles) 46:33.666 --> 46:36.290 No, no, let me finish, and should be led by 46:36.290 --> 46:38.577 Staffan de Mistura, the UN Special Envoy. 46:38.577 --> 46:41.244 And it is up to him to determine 46:41.690 --> 46:43.694 where and how and when they will occur, 46:43.694 --> 46:44.527 not to the United States, 46:44.527 --> 46:46.257 we’re not taking a position on that. 46:46.257 --> 46:47.757 Thanks, everybody.