WEBVTT 00:01.984 --> 00:02.901 - Hey Matt. 00:06.127 --> 00:06.960 Hey, guys. 00:07.463 --> 00:08.548 Welcome to the State Department. 00:08.548 --> 00:09.798 Happy Thursday. 00:14.984 --> 00:17.635 I don't have anything at the top, except for one thing. 00:17.635 --> 00:20.467 I did notice, or I'm getting a lot of questions, 00:20.467 --> 00:24.217 and I've seen some commentary on social media 00:25.939 --> 00:28.586 about what may or may not be happening 00:28.586 --> 00:31.620 in the corridor just outside the briefing room. 00:31.620 --> 00:33.953 I just wanted to assuage any 00:34.502 --> 00:38.669 conspiracy-minded folks that the PA Bureau is undergoing 00:39.775 --> 00:41.273 a renovation of its office space. 00:41.273 --> 00:43.148 It's a long-planned project; 00:43.148 --> 00:44.903 it's overseen by the Bureau of Administration's 00:44.903 --> 00:47.094 Real Property Management Office, 00:47.094 --> 00:50.902 which manages all domestic State Department property, 00:50.902 --> 00:52.428 and that includes in this building. 00:52.428 --> 00:55.027 They are taking every necessary precaution 00:55.027 --> 00:58.110 to ensure that the asbestos abatement 00:59.111 --> 01:02.127 is done according to environmental safety standards, 01:02.127 --> 01:05.691 and that does include having to temporarily remove 01:05.691 --> 01:09.858 the portraits of the legions of previous spokespeople 01:10.105 --> 01:12.838 that have graced this podium before me. 01:12.838 --> 01:14.347 But I can assure you that they will be 01:14.347 --> 01:16.467 restored in all their glory. 01:16.467 --> 01:20.634 They're not being consigned to the trash heap of history. 01:21.702 --> 01:24.159 And, look, it's really for you all to lobby, 01:24.159 --> 01:27.747 but, granted I've only been acting spokesman, 01:27.747 --> 01:29.914 but I have briefed up here 01:30.602 --> 01:32.970 more than any other spokesperson in history, 01:32.970 --> 01:36.175 with the possible exception of Boucher. 01:36.175 --> 01:38.454 With that little self-aggrandizement, 01:38.454 --> 01:40.093 I will turn it over to you, Matt Lee. 01:40.093 --> 01:42.760 - Well, I just want to make sure 01:43.577 --> 01:46.474 the asbestos situation is going to be under control. 01:46.474 --> 01:48.053 We're not going to be quarantined or anything? 01:48.053 --> 01:49.810 - No, I can assure you you won't be, 01:49.810 --> 01:51.553 but it's the reason why they have to 01:51.553 --> 01:53.797 put up those scary warnings. 01:53.797 --> 01:55.297 Anyway, what's up? 01:56.451 --> 01:57.284 - All right. 01:57.284 --> 01:58.737 And when the new photos go back, 01:58.737 --> 02:00.369 well, when the old photos go back up, 02:00.369 --> 02:02.369 will there be a new one? 02:03.059 --> 02:05.650 - I have nothing to announce at this time. 02:05.650 --> 02:07.140 - Well, I'm just trying to get a-- 02:07.140 --> 02:08.526 - [Mark] I know you are, I know you are. 02:08.526 --> 02:10.263 - Just get a, and on-the-record response to-- 02:10.263 --> 02:11.341 - And we will keep you informed. 02:11.341 --> 02:14.074 - [Matt] Whether or not this is your last briefing. 02:14.074 --> 02:15.249 - My last briefing? 02:15.249 --> 02:18.916 I never say never, so I'll withhold on that. 02:19.352 --> 02:20.185 - [Matt] Okay. 02:20.185 --> 02:22.294 - And I'll send out commentary later 02:22.294 --> 02:24.462 if it does turn out to be my last briefing. 02:24.462 --> 02:25.639 No, just kidding. 02:25.639 --> 02:26.839 - Well, no, because if, 02:26.839 --> 02:28.464 you're not going to get away with 02:28.464 --> 02:30.646 not having some words said about you-- 02:30.646 --> 02:32.402 - Thank you, appreciate it. - When that does happen. 02:32.402 --> 02:34.222 Anyway, let's start with real news. 02:34.222 --> 02:36.634 - Of course, yeah. - On Russia. 02:36.634 --> 02:37.524 - [Mark] Yes, sir. 02:37.524 --> 02:39.292 - I wanted to clear up one logistical thing 02:39.292 --> 02:42.247 and then ask a policy type of thing. 02:42.247 --> 02:44.497 One, the logistical thing is: 02:44.497 --> 02:45.988 To the best of your knowledge, 02:45.988 --> 02:48.622 was there ever any indication that 02:48.622 --> 02:50.451 over the course of the last week that 02:50.451 --> 02:53.015 the Secretary's meeting with President Putin 02:53.015 --> 02:54.432 would not happen? 02:55.688 --> 02:59.188 - So, (coughs) excuse me. 02:59.547 --> 03:01.366 Was there, sorry, let me make sure I got the question right. 03:01.366 --> 03:03.710 Was there ever any indication that it would not happen? 03:03.710 --> 03:07.791 So routinely, and I think others opined on this yesterday, 03:07.791 --> 03:09.094 it is the case that the president 03:09.094 --> 03:12.032 will see a visiting secretary of state, 03:12.032 --> 03:14.073 and that's been the case in the past. 03:14.073 --> 03:16.619 It's also pretty routine that they're not formally announced 03:16.619 --> 03:19.786 until the day of or even hours before. 03:21.517 --> 03:23.488 And that's ultimately something for the Kremlin 03:23.488 --> 03:25.929 and President Putin himself to announce, 03:25.929 --> 03:29.423 which is part of the reason why we were being mum on it. 03:29.423 --> 03:31.191 I think it's something we expected all along 03:31.191 --> 03:33.089 and were planning on, but-- 03:33.089 --> 03:34.419 - Right, but did you ever get any indication 03:34.419 --> 03:37.207 from the Russians that the meeting might be off? 03:37.207 --> 03:39.105 - We were never given any indication that there 03:39.105 --> 03:40.829 might not be a meeting, yeah. 03:40.829 --> 03:43.344 - And then there seemed to be a line of commentary 03:43.344 --> 03:47.177 that Secretary Tillerson had been kept waiting 03:47.428 --> 03:49.011 by President Putin. 03:50.270 --> 03:52.204 The meeting, I believe, was scheduled 03:52.204 --> 03:56.204 and had been long scheduled for 5:30 local time, 03:56.684 --> 03:58.183 and the way I understood it, 03:58.183 --> 04:00.742 the Secretary was running about half an hour late 04:00.742 --> 04:03.483 after his meetings with the foreign minister. 04:03.483 --> 04:07.438 So the meeting began less than half an hour after it was, 04:07.438 --> 04:09.995 or about half an hour after it was supposed to have been, 04:09.995 --> 04:11.591 is that correct? - I can assure you he was not, 04:11.591 --> 04:13.764 I double-checked on this, and he was not kept waiting. 04:13.764 --> 04:14.597 - All right. - Yeah. 04:14.597 --> 04:15.430 - Okay. Now on the-- - Yeah, sure. 04:15.430 --> 04:17.314 - Onto the substance. - Sure. 04:17.314 --> 04:20.633 - The Secretary and Foreign Minister Lavrov 04:20.633 --> 04:24.800 both announced that they would be creating working groups, 04:26.145 --> 04:28.105 I think Foreign Minister Lavrov 04:28.105 --> 04:29.941 used the word "special envoys," 04:29.941 --> 04:32.017 but I don't know if that was a translation issue or not, 04:32.017 --> 04:33.446 but let's say working groups, 04:33.446 --> 04:37.279 to look at various irritants and see how they, 04:37.857 --> 04:41.200 can you be more specific about what those areas are 04:41.200 --> 04:42.400 that these working groups, 04:42.400 --> 04:45.233 or if it's just one working group, 04:45.233 --> 04:49.400 what it will be looking at and what you hope to achieve? 04:49.961 --> 04:51.060 - So a couple thoughts on that. 04:51.060 --> 04:54.511 And I, if I'm shy on specifics, I apologize. 04:54.511 --> 04:58.186 But first of all, both in his bilateral meeting, 04:58.186 --> 05:01.114 but also in his meeting with, sorry, with his, 05:01.114 --> 05:03.179 in his bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Lavrov, 05:03.179 --> 05:06.762 but also in his bilat with President Putin, 05:09.970 --> 05:12.676 there was, I think, an acknowledgment 05:12.676 --> 05:16.843 that there are almost historical low level of trust, 05:18.873 --> 05:22.233 levels of trust between our two countries. 05:22.233 --> 05:25.241 And I think Secretary Tillerson said right out of the bat 05:25.241 --> 05:29.074 in his press avail yesterday that's a problem. 05:29.998 --> 05:31.674 I think in his, certainly in his meeting 05:31.674 --> 05:33.341 with President Putin 05:34.640 --> 05:38.807 they went over the history of why we're where we're at, 05:42.154 --> 05:44.779 and I think it allowed the two of them to 05:44.779 --> 05:47.559 both appreciate and better understand 05:47.559 --> 05:50.059 why each country is frustrated 05:51.107 --> 05:53.238 with the other on certain issues. 05:53.238 --> 05:54.736 And I think by the end of that, 05:54.736 --> 05:56.681 they were able to acknowledge that 05:56.681 --> 06:00.848 with this understanding in place,there's a way for 06:01.861 --> 06:05.278 the two countries to find ways to rebuild 06:05.779 --> 06:09.029 some of that trust, find opportunities. 06:09.104 --> 06:11.419 And with that respect, I think that's, 06:11.419 --> 06:14.961 the idea of this working group is to look at, 06:14.961 --> 06:17.143 look for those opportunities 06:17.143 --> 06:19.441 or ways to kind of rebuild a trust or-- 06:19.441 --> 06:21.146 - [Matt] So it's singular, it's not multiple? 06:21.146 --> 06:24.071 - It's my understanding it is a singular 06:24.071 --> 06:25.491 group at this point. 06:25.491 --> 06:29.076 And sorry, just in terms of the working group's mandate, 06:29.076 --> 06:33.122 that's still being worked out, the exact details. 06:33.122 --> 06:35.054 There's been some speculation this is kind of a return 06:35.054 --> 06:37.018 to the bilateral presidential commission. 06:37.018 --> 06:38.596 That's not the case. 06:38.596 --> 06:41.447 But I think this is a group that's going to focus on 06:41.447 --> 06:42.764 looking at some of these irritants 06:42.764 --> 06:44.262 and looking at ways that we can possibly 06:44.262 --> 06:45.601 find opportunities to cooperate. 06:45.601 --> 06:46.943 - When you say mandate is being looked at, 06:46.943 --> 06:49.464 does that include the membership of it? 06:49.464 --> 06:50.422 Like, who would be on it? 06:50.422 --> 06:51.255 - I believe so, yeah. 06:51.255 --> 06:52.088 And who will be on it, yes. 06:52.088 --> 06:53.355 - All right, and then you said that they went over 06:53.355 --> 06:55.307 the history of why we're at where we're at? 06:55.307 --> 06:58.466 Was this like the airing of grievances or something? 06:58.466 --> 07:00.491 I don't, I mean, how far back did they go? 07:00.491 --> 07:04.262 - I don't know, I was told a short history, I don't know. 07:04.262 --> 07:08.095 Look, I think, I think it was helpful to hear, 07:08.822 --> 07:10.617 for both sides to hear each other's perspective 07:10.617 --> 07:12.124 on why we're where we're at. 07:12.124 --> 07:14.619 I mean, none of this is going to come as news to anybody 07:14.619 --> 07:16.587 in this room who's followed 07:16.587 --> 07:17.785 how we've gotten to where we are, 07:17.785 --> 07:19.781 but I think it's important in any kind of 07:19.781 --> 07:21.244 bilateral situation like that 07:21.244 --> 07:23.882 to hear the other side's point of view. 07:23.882 --> 07:25.847 He did that, Secretary Tillerson. 07:25.847 --> 07:28.597 And again, it's part of an effort 07:28.857 --> 07:31.363 to appreciate their perspective. 07:31.363 --> 07:33.120 It's not one we agree on, 07:33.120 --> 07:34.615 but it helps us understand so that we can 07:34.615 --> 07:35.711 find a way to work forward. 07:35.711 --> 07:37.352 - Right, but I mean, is the idea that 07:37.352 --> 07:40.405 they would focus on smaller issues of, 07:40.405 --> 07:43.405 and not huge differences like Syria, 07:44.371 --> 07:46.954 or NATO expansion, or missile-- 07:47.345 --> 07:48.178 - I wouldn't even, 07:48.178 --> 07:49.527 I wouldn't necessarily even qualify it that way. 07:49.527 --> 07:53.049 I think they're looking at where we can find common ground. 07:53.049 --> 07:55.993 I mean, look, even out of Syria there was the common ground 07:55.993 --> 07:58.463 that they found that we've all agreed to 07:58.463 --> 08:00.201 what end state we want to see in Syria, 08:00.201 --> 08:02.034 which is a Syria whole 08:06.199 --> 08:10.366 and with all religious groups and minorities represented. 08:10.609 --> 08:12.865 But how we get there, that's a difficult, I get it. 08:12.865 --> 08:13.766 That's a difficult challenge. 08:13.766 --> 08:14.663 - Yeah, but that's been the common, 08:14.663 --> 08:17.829 that's been the common goal since Geneva I. 08:17.829 --> 08:18.662 - You're right. 08:18.662 --> 08:20.537 And, but it's the getting there that's difficult. 08:20.537 --> 08:21.370 But I think it's-- 08:21.370 --> 08:22.417 - So what's the point of agreeing to something 08:22.417 --> 08:24.474 that you previously agreed to and then, 08:24.474 --> 08:26.410 I mean, I just, was there any, 08:26.410 --> 08:29.454 if there's no progress on the means to get to the end, 08:29.454 --> 08:33.621 then I don't understand what, why it's so productive to, 08:34.460 --> 08:37.710 for the two sides to run down a list of 08:38.115 --> 08:40.928 what pisses you off about the other side. 08:40.928 --> 08:42.178 I don't get it. 08:42.185 --> 08:43.974 - Well, I think, again, 08:43.974 --> 08:47.219 I'll just say as part of this effort to find common ground, 08:47.219 --> 08:48.987 find areas of cooperation, not common ground, 08:48.987 --> 08:51.070 but areas of cooperation, 08:51.976 --> 08:55.012 there was a good-faith effort for each other 08:55.012 --> 08:58.012 to listen to the other's grievances. 08:58.870 --> 09:00.256 - Can I follow up, yeah? - Yeah, go ahead, Lesley. 09:00.256 --> 09:02.190 - [Lesley] Just to come back, so you don't know 09:02.190 --> 09:03.570 when the working group is going to start? 09:03.570 --> 09:04.750 - I don't. I don't. 09:04.750 --> 09:06.709 If I get more on that, I will let you know, 09:06.709 --> 09:08.459 but I think it's TBD. 09:08.671 --> 09:12.838 - Okay, and I know this, was there maybe a discussion 09:13.214 --> 09:16.150 about a follow-up meeting between the two, 09:16.150 --> 09:18.702 between Lavrov and the Secretary? 09:18.702 --> 09:20.473 - Lavrov and Secretary Tillerson? 09:20.473 --> 09:21.372 - [Lesley] Are you aware of anything? 09:21.372 --> 09:22.904 - I'm not aware of any physical meeting. 09:22.904 --> 09:25.142 Of course, they'll obviously follow up on, 09:25.142 --> 09:26.725 by phone, I expect. 09:27.274 --> 09:28.675 I have nothing to announce in that regard too, 09:28.675 --> 09:32.842 but I have no expectation yet of a follow-up meeting. 09:33.411 --> 09:35.799 - Do you, you probably saw that the AP 09:35.799 --> 09:38.632 had an interview today with Assad. 09:40.403 --> 09:41.236 - [Mark] Saw that. 09:41.236 --> 09:43.936 - Who called it, who called the accusations 09:43.936 --> 09:46.853 of a chemical attack a fabrication. 09:46.960 --> 09:49.623 You saw earlier this morning the Syrian Army statement, 09:49.623 --> 09:51.641 which the U.S. then put down, 09:51.641 --> 09:55.207 saying that the U.S. airstrikes against ISIS 09:55.207 --> 09:58.707 that hit a chemical weapons depot by ISIS. 10:00.848 --> 10:01.860 What's going on? 10:01.860 --> 10:04.927 A day after these meetings, there seems to be pushback. 10:04.927 --> 10:06.643 This doesn't look like somebody 10:06.643 --> 10:10.084 who looks like he's about to change course. 10:10.084 --> 10:13.417 - Well, it's, sadly, it's vintage Assad. 10:14.869 --> 10:18.869 It is an attempt by him to throw up false flags, 10:19.264 --> 10:20.681 create confusion. 10:23.192 --> 10:24.916 Frankly, it's a tactic we've seen 10:24.916 --> 10:27.999 on Russia's part as well in the past. 10:29.130 --> 10:31.131 There can be little doubt that 10:31.131 --> 10:35.298 the recent attacks and the chemical weapons attack 10:35.305 --> 10:38.472 in Idlib was by the Syrian Government, 10:38.737 --> 10:40.346 by the Syrian regime, 10:40.346 --> 10:43.700 and that it wasn't only a violation of the laws of war 10:43.700 --> 10:46.219 but it was, we believe, a war crime. 10:46.219 --> 10:48.244 - [Said] Mark, I just want to follow up on this. 10:48.244 --> 10:49.077 - Yeah. 10:49.077 --> 10:50.449 - [Said] But before that, I want to ask you about Russia. 10:50.449 --> 10:51.326 - (coughs) Excuse me. 10:51.326 --> 10:52.948 - The President said that, 10:52.948 --> 10:55.379 basically sort of toned down the rhetoric. 10:55.379 --> 10:57.100 And he said that ultimately, 10:57.100 --> 10:58.973 everybody will come, the President-- 10:58.973 --> 10:59.806 - [Mark] Who? President Putin? 10:59.806 --> 11:01.989 - No, the President of the United States, President Trump 11:01.989 --> 11:03.142 - [Mark] Sorry, I apologize. 11:03.142 --> 11:05.515 - Said that everybody will come back to their senses 11:05.515 --> 11:07.956 and they are going to have better relations and so on. 11:07.956 --> 11:10.510 Is that a result of the conversation between 11:10.510 --> 11:13.175 Secretary Tillerson and the president? 11:13.175 --> 11:14.438 Is that the outcome? 11:14.438 --> 11:17.568 Because that up and down, or more hopeful 11:17.568 --> 11:19.813 about the future relations with Russia 11:19.813 --> 11:21.646 than it was yesterday. 11:21.883 --> 11:24.783 - Well, certainly I'll let the President's tweet 11:24.783 --> 11:26.200 stand for itself. 11:26.318 --> 11:29.035 I'd just say that the President also made this point 11:29.035 --> 11:30.952 in his press avail with 11:32.466 --> 11:34.535 the NATO secretary general yesterday, 11:34.535 --> 11:37.127 and it's simply that the world is 11:37.127 --> 11:39.767 a complicated and difficult place, 11:39.767 --> 11:42.889 and there's enough hard challenges out there 11:42.889 --> 11:45.972 that we would like to be able to have 11:48.137 --> 11:51.470 a constructive relationship with Russia. 11:51.964 --> 11:53.578 But we're not there. 11:53.578 --> 11:55.991 And I think, but I think our ultimate goal is to find, 11:55.991 --> 11:58.741 as I said, areas, small at start, 11:59.516 --> 12:02.114 but areas where we can rebuild that trust 12:02.114 --> 12:03.835 that's sorely lacking. 12:03.835 --> 12:05.884 - And on the Assad interview, 12:05.884 --> 12:09.374 now he keeps saying that you have refutable evidence. 12:09.374 --> 12:11.290 I mean, today, the United States is saying 12:11.290 --> 12:13.908 that they intercepted some communications 12:13.908 --> 12:16.835 between the pilot and some chemical scientist 12:16.835 --> 12:18.522 and so on on how to do this. 12:18.522 --> 12:20.617 I mean, that is, that seems to be the evidence. 12:20.617 --> 12:21.975 I find that difficult, I mean, 12:21.975 --> 12:24.655 or isn't it a bit odd that the pilot 12:24.655 --> 12:27.553 would be talking to whoever the scientists are 12:27.553 --> 12:29.314 and so on to drop this bomb? 12:29.314 --> 12:30.217 Is that the only evidence you have? 12:30.217 --> 12:31.194 - I'm not aware of that report. 12:31.194 --> 12:33.523 What I am, sure. - That's what CNN said. 12:33.523 --> 12:34.606 - What I, sure. 12:34.606 --> 12:37.310 - [Said] Because they were told by a high official and so on 12:37.310 --> 12:38.448 - Well, what I am aware of, 12:38.448 --> 12:40.984 and I think there was a backgrounder done on this 12:40.984 --> 12:44.478 by some of the, of our intelligence officials 12:44.478 --> 12:47.561 who looked at and analyzed this data, 12:50.595 --> 12:54.045 what went into our analysis and our ultimate conclusion 12:54.045 --> 12:56.494 that this was a chemical weapons attack 12:56.494 --> 12:58.472 that was carried out by the Syrian regime 12:58.472 --> 13:00.889 and that was laid out, I think, 13:00.889 --> 13:03.472 in some articles the other day. 13:04.161 --> 13:06.172 They briefed on background, 13:06.172 --> 13:08.775 given their status as intelligence officials. 13:08.775 --> 13:10.496 But it's pretty clear-cut in our book. 13:10.496 --> 13:14.215 Look, that said, as I think Secretary Tillerson said, 13:14.215 --> 13:17.132 there are, we have the joint investigative mechanism. 13:17.132 --> 13:19.215 We have other mechanisms. 13:19.405 --> 13:23.155 The OPCW has these mechanisms to investigate, 13:25.352 --> 13:29.485 conduct an impartial investigation into these allegations. 13:29.485 --> 13:30.950 We know what happened. 13:30.950 --> 13:32.202 We have reached our own conclusion. 13:32.202 --> 13:33.773 We carried out the airstrikes. 13:33.773 --> 13:37.446 But by all means, those independent mechanisms 13:37.446 --> 13:39.101 should be allowed to carry out their investigations. 13:39.101 --> 13:42.972 But again, what we saw yesterday was, what did Russia do? 13:42.972 --> 13:45.548 It vetoed a UN Security Council resolution 13:45.548 --> 13:46.381 that would have allowed 13:46.381 --> 13:47.260 those investigations to move forward. 13:47.260 --> 13:48.965 - There is a lot to go through there. 13:48.965 --> 13:52.008 But if, let's say you have an investigation, 13:52.008 --> 13:54.425 and the investigation somehow 13:56.493 --> 14:00.660 concludes that there was no Syria chemical strike. 14:01.422 --> 14:02.690 I mean, you already struck. 14:02.690 --> 14:04.855 You already destroyed that airbase. 14:04.855 --> 14:06.854 So how would that be dealt with? 14:06.854 --> 14:09.271 - I can only say that we are, 14:10.286 --> 14:14.041 we undertook that action with the utmost confidence that it, 14:14.041 --> 14:18.208 this, that we were hitting the airstrip and the airbase, 14:18.254 --> 14:19.878 rather, that carried out that strike. 14:19.878 --> 14:20.724 - And lastly-- - Yeah. 14:20.724 --> 14:21.938 - I just want you to clarify something, 14:21.938 --> 14:23.313 because I don't understand it. 14:23.313 --> 14:25.175 What, isn't it that the U.S. Army, 14:25.175 --> 14:27.287 who was supposed to dispose of these chemical weapons 14:27.287 --> 14:28.841 and, in fact, they did; 14:28.841 --> 14:30.916 they destroyed something like 600 tons, 14:30.916 --> 14:33.065 which is all the chemical weapons 14:33.065 --> 14:35.613 that was at least declared by Syria at the time? 14:35.613 --> 14:37.715 Isn't that true, would you clarify that for us? 14:37.715 --> 14:39.968 Because you keep, or you keep hearing 14:39.968 --> 14:43.503 that Russia was responsible to guarantee that 14:43.503 --> 14:46.892 these weapons are destroyed or accounted for and so on. 14:46.892 --> 14:49.570 - Right, well, they were, in fact, 14:49.570 --> 14:52.320 as signatories to that agreement, 14:52.845 --> 14:56.762 Russia pledged to assure that the Assad regime, 14:58.194 --> 15:02.361 and the Assad regime also pledged to ensure that it would 15:03.002 --> 15:06.169 give up its declared chemical weapons. 15:06.261 --> 15:09.152 There were, I don't have the exact amounts in front of me, 15:09.152 --> 15:11.526 but there was a massive amount of chemical weapons 15:11.526 --> 15:15.614 that were, in fact, taken out of Syria and neutralized. 15:15.614 --> 15:19.019 So you can't say that that effort was in vain, it wasn't. 15:19.019 --> 15:22.338 It got chemical weapons out of that conflict area. 15:22.338 --> 15:25.461 But that said, clearly either they remained their capacity 15:25.461 --> 15:26.926 to produce additional chemical weapons 15:26.926 --> 15:28.886 or they didn't declare all their chemical weapons. 15:28.886 --> 15:29.719 Yes, sir. 15:29.719 --> 15:30.652 - You said the Security Council resolution 15:30.652 --> 15:31.966 the Russians vetoed yesterday 15:31.966 --> 15:34.619 would have allowed an investigation. 15:34.619 --> 15:37.829 My understanding was that the agreement back in, 15:37.829 --> 15:39.640 that you just referred to, 15:39.640 --> 15:42.662 that that allowed for investigations. 15:42.662 --> 15:44.723 So is it actually correct that-- 15:44.723 --> 15:46.016 - Sorry, it sought, I apologize. 15:46.016 --> 15:47.481 It sought to hold the perpetrators of 15:47.481 --> 15:49.087 the chemical weapons attack accountable, 15:49.087 --> 15:50.225 called on the regime to cooperate 15:50.225 --> 15:52.336 with an independent international investigation. 15:52.336 --> 15:53.169 I apologize. 15:53.169 --> 15:56.086 - Right, but an investigation, the, 15:56.916 --> 15:59.445 yesterday's resolution was not required 15:59.445 --> 16:02.195 for there to be an investigation. 16:02.354 --> 16:05.470 - Right, these, my understanding is that these bodies, 16:05.470 --> 16:06.497 I mean, that's what they exist for, 16:06.497 --> 16:08.370 is to carry out these investigations. 16:08.370 --> 16:10.493 - [Matt] So it didn't need, it didn't need-- 16:10.493 --> 16:13.375 - But they, it did not need to pass. 16:13.375 --> 16:15.585 - [Matt] They don't, they didn't need a new authorization 16:15.585 --> 16:18.255 from the Security Council to conduct an investigation. 16:18.255 --> 16:20.521 - That's my understanding, yeah. 16:20.521 --> 16:22.128 Go ahead, sir, and then I'll get to you, Goyal. 16:22.128 --> 16:24.957 - [Reporter] I have a question about 16:24.957 --> 16:26.848 yesterday's meeting with, in Moscow. 16:26.848 --> 16:27.681 - Yeah. Sure. 16:27.681 --> 16:29.943 - But in frame of Ukraine issue. 16:29.943 --> 16:32.784 So yesterday, Secretary of State said 16:32.784 --> 16:35.417 in Moscow that he discussed Ukraine and Minsk agreement 16:35.417 --> 16:37.523 with Foreign Minister Lavrov. 16:37.523 --> 16:40.057 However, there was no acknowledgment 16:40.057 --> 16:44.070 that Mr. Tillerson talked about it with Mr. Putin. 16:44.070 --> 16:46.751 So could you give more detail on that? 16:46.751 --> 16:49.418 And was the Ukraine issue raised 16:49.481 --> 16:52.981 during the meeting with Russian president? 16:53.928 --> 16:55.676 - So I can, as you noted, 16:55.676 --> 16:58.593 I can say that he did raise Ukraine 17:01.454 --> 17:04.239 in his bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Lavrov. 17:04.239 --> 17:07.489 I don't have the details, full details, 17:08.447 --> 17:11.197 of his bilat with President Putin 17:11.515 --> 17:14.213 or his meeting with President Putin. 17:14.213 --> 17:15.516 I can't confirm, I'm sorry, 17:15.516 --> 17:18.695 that Ukraine was raised in that setting. 17:18.695 --> 17:22.695 I think it probably was, since they went through 17:23.450 --> 17:25.783 the range of issues where we 17:25.820 --> 17:28.820 don't see eye to eye with Russia on. 17:33.293 --> 17:36.167 And as Secretary Tillerson was very clear, 17:36.167 --> 17:38.571 that on those issues that we don't see eye to eye on, 17:38.571 --> 17:40.561 he'll continue to raise those 17:40.561 --> 17:42.021 in his meetings with Russian officials. 17:42.021 --> 17:43.413 I just can't confirm absolutely 17:43.413 --> 17:44.490 that it was raised in that meeting. 17:44.490 --> 17:46.275 I just don't have that level of clarity. 17:46.275 --> 17:47.608 - Yeah. - Syria? 17:48.426 --> 17:49.409 - Yeah, go ahead. 17:49.409 --> 17:50.991 - [Reporter] Still on Russia, but kind of a pivot. 17:50.991 --> 17:51.824 - Okay. 17:51.824 --> 17:53.844 - Russia is hosting multination consultations 17:53.844 --> 17:55.968 on Afghanistan tomorrow. - Oh, sure. Yeah. 17:55.968 --> 17:57.085 - What, if any, role will 17:57.085 --> 17:58.798 the U.S. play in those talks? 17:58.798 --> 18:00.825 And is there concern that through those talks, 18:00.825 --> 18:03.007 Russia is trying to expand its role 18:03.007 --> 18:05.165 and influence in Afghanistan? 18:05.165 --> 18:05.998 - Good question. 18:05.998 --> 18:07.619 So first of all, we don't plan to participate 18:07.619 --> 18:09.556 in these regional talks. 18:09.556 --> 18:13.150 I think they're April 14th, which is tomorrow. 18:13.150 --> 18:15.866 They have been organized by the Russian Government. 18:15.866 --> 18:18.685 We do generally support regional efforts 18:18.685 --> 18:21.675 that work with the Afghan Government 18:21.675 --> 18:25.842 to build support for a peaceful outcome in Afghanistan, 18:27.518 --> 18:28.805 and I think we, going forward, 18:28.805 --> 18:31.305 we do plan to work with Russia 18:31.943 --> 18:33.673 and other key regional stakeholders 18:33.673 --> 18:36.590 to enhance dialogue on Afghanistan. 18:39.408 --> 18:42.158 It's been, long been our argument 18:45.297 --> 18:47.101 that all countries in the region 18:47.101 --> 18:50.768 need to form a unified front with respect to 18:51.110 --> 18:52.948 Afghanistan and make it very clear that 18:52.948 --> 18:56.781 the only way to end that conflict definitively 18:57.792 --> 19:00.292 is through peace talks between 19:00.332 --> 19:03.499 the Taliban and the Afghan Government. 19:04.298 --> 19:06.117 And we've said, also made it perfectly clear 19:06.117 --> 19:08.717 that Taliban have no viable alternative 19:08.717 --> 19:10.367 but to enter into direct talks 19:10.367 --> 19:13.034 in order to achieve their goals. 19:13.670 --> 19:15.587 I think just to end it, 19:17.251 --> 19:19.751 we just felt that these talks, 19:21.024 --> 19:24.524 it was unclear to us what the purpose was. 19:26.090 --> 19:28.025 It seemed to be a unilateral Russian attempt 19:28.025 --> 19:29.976 to assert influence in the region 19:29.976 --> 19:32.369 that we felt wasn't constructive at this time. 19:32.369 --> 19:34.162 - Just following up on-- - Staying on Afghanistan. 19:34.162 --> 19:35.020 - Goyal, and then I'll get to you. 19:35.020 --> 19:36.664 - [Goyal] Thank you, follow on Afghanistan. 19:36.664 --> 19:37.497 - Yes, sir. 19:37.497 --> 19:39.337 - [Goyal] As far as, thank you very much, Mark. 19:39.337 --> 19:40.170 - Of course. 19:40.170 --> 19:42.476 - As far as U.S. bombings in Afghanistan is concerned, 19:42.476 --> 19:46.643 it's not a big surprise to the high-level Afghan officials 19:47.411 --> 19:48.980 because they were here, 19:48.980 --> 19:51.756 the advisor to the president of Afghanistan 19:51.756 --> 19:53.790 and also foreign minister of Afghanistan 19:53.790 --> 19:56.440 were here and speaking with the reporters 19:56.440 --> 19:58.080 and also at the think tanks. 19:58.080 --> 20:00.153 What they were saying that 20:00.153 --> 20:02.682 the terrorism problem in Afghanistan 20:02.682 --> 20:05.099 is being created by Pakistan, 20:06.451 --> 20:08.930 and all the terrorists are coming into Afghanistan 20:08.930 --> 20:11.483 and back and forth and back and forth because there is no, 20:11.483 --> 20:15.650 there is no check and balance and they are not holding them. 20:16.366 --> 20:20.283 My question is here that as far as this bombing 20:22.485 --> 20:25.568 to eliminate those ISIS and Talibans, 20:26.119 --> 20:29.472 is this because of those high-level official 20:29.472 --> 20:32.189 who also met somebody here at the State Department? 20:32.189 --> 20:34.770 Also, recently, you just issued 20:34.770 --> 20:37.187 a travel warning to Pakistan. 20:37.744 --> 20:39.849 - When you say "this bombing," you're, 20:39.849 --> 20:42.002 I think you're referring to the bombing that took place 20:42.002 --> 20:43.835 just a few hours ago, is that-- 20:43.835 --> 20:45.072 - [Goyal] That's right, yes, sir. 20:45.072 --> 20:47.174 - The mother of all bombs. - The mother of all bombs. 20:47.174 --> 20:48.701 - [Goyal] Yeah, White House announced just at the briefing. 20:48.701 --> 20:49.935 - No, okay, I just wanted to make sure 20:49.935 --> 20:51.558 I was on the, look, a couple points. 20:51.558 --> 20:54.850 One is I'll refer you to what's already been said about 20:54.850 --> 20:56.691 this airstrike that was taken, 20:56.691 --> 20:59.274 that took place in Afghanistan. 20:59.966 --> 21:03.009 I think it was aimed at a network of tunnels 21:03.009 --> 21:06.926 that was being used by terrorist organizations. 21:08.346 --> 21:10.419 I can't say that this was 21:10.419 --> 21:12.893 an immediate outcome of any conversations we had 21:12.893 --> 21:14.687 with the Afghan Government. 21:14.687 --> 21:16.155 I think it's part of our ongoing efforts 21:16.155 --> 21:18.905 to take the fight to the Taliban, 21:19.187 --> 21:21.626 to take the fight to ISIS affiliates 21:21.626 --> 21:22.930 that are operating in that territory, 21:22.930 --> 21:26.355 al-Qaida affiliates that are operating on Afghan soil, 21:26.355 --> 21:28.627 and that's going to continue. 21:28.627 --> 21:31.235 You spoke about Pakistan and their role in this. 21:31.235 --> 21:32.718 We've been very clear, 21:32.718 --> 21:34.819 while we understand that Pakistan has made efforts 21:34.819 --> 21:37.403 to confront terrorism and terrorist organizations 21:37.403 --> 21:39.486 on its own soil, that there are still 21:39.486 --> 21:42.186 what we call safe havens that exist 21:42.186 --> 21:45.186 for terrorist groups to operate from 21:46.420 --> 21:48.949 and carry strikes out on Afghanistan. 21:48.949 --> 21:50.366 That's a problem. 21:50.714 --> 21:54.229 Again, it's in Pakistan's interest to work with, 21:54.229 --> 21:55.746 constructively with Afghanistan 21:55.746 --> 21:58.212 to address those security concerns. 21:58.212 --> 22:00.512 - I have one on India, please. 22:00.512 --> 22:01.842 - I'll get back to you, I promise. 22:01.842 --> 22:02.719 Michele, go ahead. 22:02.719 --> 22:04.049 - [Michele] I have a question on Turkey, 22:04.049 --> 22:06.267 and the Pastor Brunson case. 22:06.267 --> 22:09.522 - [Reporter] Can we stay on Afghanistan? 22:09.522 --> 22:10.355 - Let me just get to her 22:10.355 --> 22:11.955 and then I promise I'll come back to you, sorry. 22:11.955 --> 22:13.897 - Vice President Pence has written a letter 22:13.897 --> 22:16.177 to the family talking about how this is a top priority 22:16.177 --> 22:17.481 for the Trump administration, 22:17.481 --> 22:21.202 so I'm wondering what specifically the U.S. is doing 22:21.202 --> 22:22.541 to win his release. 22:22.541 --> 22:24.874 And then I have a follow-up. 22:25.562 --> 22:28.145 - Sure, you're talking about... 22:32.075 --> 22:32.908 - [Michele] Andrew Brunson. 22:32.908 --> 22:34.408 - Yeah, of course. 22:40.246 --> 22:43.746 So we can confirm that Turkish authorities 22:44.027 --> 22:47.777 detained Andrew Brunson on October 7th, 2016. 22:51.128 --> 22:54.463 Since his arrest, I can tell you that consular officers 22:54.463 --> 22:56.990 have been able to visit him regularly. 22:56.990 --> 22:59.538 We continue to provide appropriate support, 22:59.538 --> 23:02.575 consular services, to both, to Mr. Brunson 23:02.575 --> 23:04.408 as well as his family. 23:06.162 --> 23:10.314 It goes without saying that we take very seriously 23:10.314 --> 23:13.432 our obligation to assist any U.S. citizen, 23:13.432 --> 23:15.864 but certainly in this case, who is, 23:15.864 --> 23:17.864 who are arrested abroad. 23:19.122 --> 23:21.175 With respect to his legal case, 23:21.175 --> 23:25.175 I'd have to refer you to Mr. Brunson's attorney. 23:26.801 --> 23:29.792 - So the, when Tillerson was in Ankara, 23:29.792 --> 23:32.932 he was asked and Cavusoglu, the foreign minister, 23:32.932 --> 23:34.492 was asked about it, and he said 23:34.492 --> 23:38.018 that we're about to finalize the charges against him. 23:38.018 --> 23:40.590 And I wonder if there's been any movement in that case. 23:40.590 --> 23:44.310 I mean, as you say, he's been held since October. 23:44.310 --> 23:47.477 - (coughs) Excuse me. 23:47.559 --> 23:50.178 Well, we have asked Turkish officials 23:50.178 --> 23:53.793 to consider releasing Mr. Brunson from custody, 23:53.793 --> 23:56.402 subject to whatever judicial conditions or controls 23:56.402 --> 24:00.130 may be appropriate while his legal case is resolved. 24:00.130 --> 24:03.439 Agree he's been in detention far too long, 24:03.439 --> 24:04.389 and this has been done with 24:04.389 --> 24:07.556 other individuals under investigation. 24:08.092 --> 24:09.787 And of course, we call on Turkish authorities 24:09.787 --> 24:13.674 to resolve his case in a timely and fair manner, 24:13.674 --> 24:16.798 respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, 24:16.798 --> 24:20.116 including the protections of a fair trial guarantee 24:20.116 --> 24:23.033 that are necessary for his defense. 24:23.062 --> 24:25.457 So our position in this is we've made clear 24:25.457 --> 24:28.625 our concerns to the Turkish Government; 24:28.625 --> 24:31.623 we're going to continue to offer whatever support we can 24:31.623 --> 24:34.123 to Mr. Brunson and his family; 24:34.624 --> 24:37.374 and again, our desire to see this 24:41.605 --> 24:43.532 resolved as quickly as possible. 24:43.532 --> 24:44.769 - Staying on Turkey? - Turkey? 24:44.769 --> 24:46.054 - Sure thing, let's stay on Turkey, 24:46.054 --> 24:47.358 and then we'll get back to Syria, 24:47.358 --> 24:48.191 because I know Tejinder was looking at me. 24:48.191 --> 24:49.319 - [Reporter] Can I have another one after that? 24:49.319 --> 24:51.015 - Sure. - Afghanistan. 24:51.015 --> 24:53.932 - On Turkey, just today, UN experts 24:55.727 --> 24:59.477 issued report regarding referendum on Sunday, 24:59.877 --> 25:04.044 and they concluded that if the constitution amendments 25:05.541 --> 25:08.624 pass on Sunday, then will be existing 25:10.803 --> 25:13.501 major violations of social and cultural rights 25:13.501 --> 25:15.918 in Turkey will even increase. 25:17.199 --> 25:21.366 Not only UN, but also EU, other international watchdogs, 25:22.949 --> 25:26.091 witness commissions, and many other experts 25:26.091 --> 25:30.258 basically conclude same, if the constitutional changes pass, 25:31.701 --> 25:35.868 Turkey's democratic standards, separation of powers, 25:36.350 --> 25:39.970 and many other values will be basically wiped out. 25:39.970 --> 25:41.903 What is your conclusion? 25:41.903 --> 25:45.570 I am sure you have seen the proposal so far. 25:46.224 --> 25:47.333 - The proposals of, I'm sorry. 25:47.333 --> 25:49.926 - [Reporter] Proposal of the constitutional changes 25:49.926 --> 25:51.319 that will be voted. 25:51.319 --> 25:53.422 - Look, I'd just say we're obviously 25:53.422 --> 25:55.213 following this issue very closely. 25:55.213 --> 25:59.130 As I said the other day, we are concerned about 26:00.842 --> 26:03.675 the quality of Turkey's democracy. 26:05.338 --> 26:07.207 These are discussions that we have 26:07.207 --> 26:11.374 on a somewhat regular basis with the Turkish Government. 26:14.034 --> 26:15.516 Because we're strong allies and partners, 26:15.516 --> 26:18.933 we can have those kinds of conversations. 26:18.967 --> 26:22.967 I don't think I have much to, much to say beyond 26:23.432 --> 26:26.733 what I said the other day, which is that 26:26.733 --> 26:30.650 we're, you spoke about the OSCE's final report. 26:33.184 --> 26:34.931 We're looking at that and studying it very closely, 26:34.931 --> 26:37.949 but we're going to, obviously, watch this very closely 26:37.949 --> 26:40.478 and, as it moves forward, the referendum, 26:40.478 --> 26:44.145 and hope that it's carried out in such a way 26:46.822 --> 26:50.989 that guarantees and strengthens democracy in Turkey. 26:51.242 --> 26:52.802 - Certainly, but so far, 26:52.802 --> 26:56.166 the standards and the conditions already, 26:56.166 --> 26:59.192 don't you think the fairness of the freeness 26:59.192 --> 27:02.847 of the elections already under huge questions, 27:02.847 --> 27:05.930 since we have seen severe limitations 27:05.968 --> 27:08.385 on the campaigning in Turkey? 27:09.308 --> 27:11.447 - Several limitations? - Severe. 27:11.447 --> 27:12.854 - Limitations, okay. - Limitations in Turkey. 27:12.854 --> 27:16.042 - I mean look, we never want to see, in any case, 27:16.042 --> 27:20.053 as part of any kind of free and fair electoral process, 27:20.053 --> 27:22.136 any kind of limitation on 27:24.743 --> 27:28.826 all sides to express their viewpoints peacefully. 27:30.007 --> 27:32.345 So again, we're watching this very closely. 27:32.345 --> 27:34.262 In the back, and then-- 27:34.803 --> 27:38.133 - And aren't you concerned about the environment 27:38.133 --> 27:41.213 in which the referendum is going to be held? 27:41.213 --> 27:45.380 I mean, hundreds, if not thousands, of dissidents, 27:45.509 --> 27:48.176 including the leader of the main 27:48.349 --> 27:50.735 Kurdish opposition party, are in prison. 27:50.735 --> 27:54.068 How can they campaign for the no voters? 27:54.576 --> 27:57.680 I mean, is this referendum not going to be 27:57.680 --> 28:00.452 really a fair referendum, according to the United States? 28:00.452 --> 28:01.869 - Well, again, I, 28:05.749 --> 28:09.332 there are election observers on the ground. 28:12.749 --> 28:15.332 We're going to let them look at 28:15.650 --> 28:18.483 and analyze this referendum as it, 28:19.334 --> 28:22.473 and that's going to include in the lead up to it, 28:22.473 --> 28:25.723 and pronounce their judgment of whether 28:26.432 --> 28:28.182 it was free and fair. 28:28.801 --> 28:31.310 I'm going to withhold comment beyond what I have said 28:31.310 --> 28:33.727 already, which is, of course, 28:35.111 --> 28:36.015 we're watching this. 28:36.015 --> 28:38.443 We're monitoring it very closely. 28:38.443 --> 28:40.563 - [Lesley] Can I change the subject? 28:40.563 --> 28:43.106 - Sure, but let me, I'll get back to you, I promise. 28:43.106 --> 28:45.093 I'm just, in the middle there, sorry, you. 28:45.093 --> 28:45.926 - Right here? - Yep. 28:45.926 --> 28:49.638 - [Reporter] Okay, thank you, so I want to go to Asia. 28:49.638 --> 28:50.528 - We can go. 28:50.528 --> 28:51.945 - Thanks. - Yeah. 28:52.010 --> 28:53.663 - Not too long ago, Prime Minister Abe 28:53.663 --> 28:55.639 said that North Korea may have the capacity 28:55.639 --> 28:59.056 to deliver missiles with sarin nerve gas. 28:59.116 --> 29:01.923 And I know sarin nerve gas is in the news a lot recently, 29:01.923 --> 29:03.270 so first, I want to ask: 29:03.270 --> 29:05.533 Do you agree with that assessment? 29:05.533 --> 29:07.866 And then I have a follow-up. 29:08.044 --> 29:10.386 - You know what, I, to be perfectly honest, 29:10.386 --> 29:12.886 I have not seen those reports. 29:14.949 --> 29:17.616 Obviously, we're concerned about 29:18.448 --> 29:21.408 North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons 29:21.408 --> 29:23.965 and the ability to deliver those nuclear weapons 29:23.965 --> 29:25.880 in the region, and even to the United States. 29:25.880 --> 29:28.250 And that continues to be a major concern 29:28.250 --> 29:32.417 or a primary concern, but, excuse me, (coughs) 29:35.332 --> 29:38.501 it also goes without saying that North Korea 29:38.501 --> 29:41.334 has shown itself willing to pursue 29:42.544 --> 29:45.303 other weapons of mass destruction. 29:45.303 --> 29:49.470 So I can't say whether those reports are valid or not. 29:50.983 --> 29:51.945 I just don't know, 29:51.945 --> 29:54.161 but it's something we would take very seriously. 29:54.161 --> 29:56.780 - And then, so then just the other day as well, 29:56.780 --> 29:58.900 Sean Spicer said that there's no evidence 29:58.900 --> 30:01.028 that North Korea has the capacity 30:01.028 --> 30:03.205 of a nuclear strike at this time. 30:03.205 --> 30:05.057 And, of course, a lot of eyes are on the country 30:05.057 --> 30:08.057 this weekend because of the holiday. 30:08.120 --> 30:10.953 So are you saying that either both 30:11.385 --> 30:14.410 with sarin gas and nuclear weapons, like, 30:14.410 --> 30:17.675 the country doesn't have capacity for either, or both? 30:17.675 --> 30:21.227 - Well, they're clearly pursuing ballistic missile testing. 30:21.227 --> 30:22.555 They're clearly trying to, I mean, 30:22.555 --> 30:24.889 we've seen this multiple times, that they're, 30:24.889 --> 30:26.922 in the past six months alone, 30:26.922 --> 30:29.948 that they're trying to test out systems 30:29.948 --> 30:32.115 that can deliver whatever, 30:33.533 --> 30:37.269 whether it's a nuclear weapon or something else, 30:37.269 --> 30:38.431 in the region. 30:38.431 --> 30:40.630 And that's why, frankly, we are 30:40.630 --> 30:42.451 so utterly seized with the threat 30:42.451 --> 30:44.339 that North Korea now poses. 30:44.339 --> 30:45.700 And it's also one of the reasons why, 30:45.700 --> 30:48.068 and this was made very clear in the President's meetings 30:48.068 --> 30:50.901 with Chinese leadership last week, 30:58.448 --> 31:01.966 that the time for action is now, and by that, 31:01.966 --> 31:04.257 we need to look at ways to put 31:04.257 --> 31:06.922 increased pressure on North Korea 31:06.922 --> 31:10.255 in order for it to recognize the reality 31:10.363 --> 31:13.780 that it needs to pursue denuclearization, 31:14.955 --> 31:17.621 that it needs to answer the international community's 31:17.621 --> 31:20.603 very real concerns about its ongoing efforts 31:20.603 --> 31:22.671 to pursue nuclear weaponry 31:22.671 --> 31:25.288 and the means to deliver those in the region. 31:25.288 --> 31:26.271 - Mark? - Stay on the topic? 31:26.271 --> 31:27.104 - Also on North Korea. - I have a follow-up. 31:27.104 --> 31:28.238 - We'll stay on North Korea, sure. 31:28.238 --> 31:31.226 Let's kill, let's go through all these questions and then-- 31:31.226 --> 31:32.691 - Yes, North Korea. - Kill this topic, sorry. 31:32.691 --> 31:33.524 - Thank you. 31:33.524 --> 31:36.995 The last time Secretary Tillerson said that 31:36.995 --> 31:39.495 the strategic patience is over 31:40.037 --> 31:43.620 and need a new approach to the North Korea. 31:43.942 --> 31:48.109 What is the United States new approach toward North Korea? 31:49.285 --> 31:51.535 What specifically included? 31:52.881 --> 31:54.714 - Well, good question. 31:54.725 --> 31:56.852 I think that, as I just said, 31:56.852 --> 31:58.476 provocations from North Korea have grown, frankly, 31:58.476 --> 32:02.143 too common, too dangerous to ignore anymore. 32:03.649 --> 32:06.304 So we're working with the international community, 32:06.304 --> 32:08.683 and that includes our partners in the region, 32:08.683 --> 32:11.516 certainly Republic of Korea, Japan 32:13.687 --> 32:15.674 are among those stalwart partners and allies 32:15.674 --> 32:19.570 that we're working with to address this concern. 32:19.570 --> 32:21.728 But we're looking at how we hold 32:21.728 --> 32:24.561 the Kim Jong-un regime accountable 32:24.836 --> 32:27.003 for its reckless behavior. 32:29.564 --> 32:30.397 And the way we're doing that 32:30.397 --> 32:33.506 is pursuing right now efforts to isolate, 32:33.506 --> 32:37.151 to cut off North Korea from the rest of the world, 32:37.151 --> 32:39.414 and that's being done through diplomatic efforts, 32:39.414 --> 32:41.072 but it's also through security 32:41.072 --> 32:43.572 and economic measures as well. 32:44.358 --> 32:47.942 All of this is with the aim of persuading North Korea 32:47.942 --> 32:50.805 that its pursuit of nuclear weapons 32:50.805 --> 32:53.133 and the means to deliver them is 32:53.133 --> 32:55.966 only going to take it farther from 32:56.106 --> 32:59.290 what it professes to want, which is a prosperous, 32:59.290 --> 33:01.402 engaged role in the world. 33:01.402 --> 33:03.135 Please. - Another one on North Korea? 33:03.135 --> 33:04.597 - [Reporter] Really, but has it ever said that it wanted 33:04.597 --> 33:06.737 an engaged role in the world? 33:06.737 --> 33:09.664 - Well, I think there's been some, there's been lots of talk 33:09.664 --> 33:11.624 - That North Korea wants to be-- 33:11.624 --> 33:14.979 - Or lots of discussion within the Six-Party Talks that-- 33:14.979 --> 33:16.662 - [Reporter] The Six-Party is done at the working level. 33:16.662 --> 33:17.765 - That they want, sorry, 33:17.765 --> 33:18.722 I'm answering two questions at one time, 33:18.722 --> 33:22.889 that they want prosperity, that they want to be heard. 33:24.337 --> 33:25.233 That's what I'm talking about. 33:25.233 --> 33:26.139 - What do you mean by saying 33:26.139 --> 33:29.199 it's too dangerous to ignore anymore? 33:29.199 --> 33:31.258 Is this administration's position that 33:31.258 --> 33:34.294 the previous administration and the ones before it 33:34.294 --> 33:35.961 ignored North Korea? 33:37.399 --> 33:41.566 - I think it's a, no, but I would say that there's, 33:44.711 --> 33:48.128 look, I think in the past several months, 33:48.892 --> 33:51.892 we have seen only an acceleration of 33:52.279 --> 33:55.279 North Korea's efforts to, as I said, 33:55.360 --> 33:57.610 to pursue nuclear weaponry, 33:58.561 --> 34:00.027 but also the means to deliver it. 34:00.027 --> 34:03.807 So I think there's a realization that the time for talk, 34:03.807 --> 34:07.544 the time for some of this, if I could put it this, 34:07.544 --> 34:10.711 kind of long-term negotiation strategy 34:12.343 --> 34:14.167 and engagement is past. 34:14.167 --> 34:16.840 - Well, it's a crowd-pleasing line, isn't it, to say that, 34:16.840 --> 34:19.468 like, it's too dangerous to ignore anymore. 34:19.468 --> 34:23.557 But, like, it's one thing, as the Secretary has said, 34:23.557 --> 34:27.724 that the policy of strategic patience or such has failed, 34:28.135 --> 34:30.746 but that doesn't mean that previous administrations, 34:30.746 --> 34:32.814 whether it's the Clinton administration, 34:32.814 --> 34:34.377 Bush Administration, or Obama administration, 34:34.377 --> 34:35.566 ignored the problem. 34:35.566 --> 34:37.320 They just didn't deal with it in a way 34:37.320 --> 34:40.665 that has been able to abate it, wouldn't you say? 34:40.665 --> 34:42.665 - I would say that the-- 34:44.288 --> 34:45.280 - [Reporter] Are you saying that strategic patience 34:45.280 --> 34:47.399 is akin to ignoring North Korea? 34:47.399 --> 34:49.385 - No, no, and that's a fair point. 34:49.385 --> 34:53.204 What I would say is that we can no longer, I think, 34:53.204 --> 34:57.288 engage in that kind of longer-range approach to North Korea, 34:57.288 --> 35:00.121 that we need short-term solutions. 35:00.594 --> 35:02.594 And that's not to, look, 35:03.470 --> 35:05.563 the Secretary was also very clear we're not looking to, 35:05.563 --> 35:06.550 for regime change here. 35:06.550 --> 35:07.694 We're looking at denuclearization. 35:07.694 --> 35:08.812 - [Reporter] Well, do you need short-term solutions, 35:08.812 --> 35:10.645 or do you need, I understand, it sounds like 35:10.645 --> 35:12.259 you're mixing your metaphors a little, because yes, 35:12.259 --> 35:15.089 you need, I understand what you're saying about not looking 35:15.089 --> 35:16.236 - That's what we spokespeople do. 35:16.236 --> 35:20.403 - For a long-term, thinking about long-term negotiations, 35:20.469 --> 35:23.371 but a short-term solution is not going to deal with 35:23.371 --> 35:26.145 the North Korean problem in the long term. 35:26.145 --> 35:27.562 Don't you think? 35:27.574 --> 35:28.913 A short-term solution is a short-term solution. 35:28.913 --> 35:29.746 - I understand what you're saying. 35:29.746 --> 35:32.277 - Look, let me try to-- - You don't want to curb the-- 35:32.277 --> 35:34.243 - Right. So-- - That's just-- 35:34.243 --> 35:36.743 - Okay, so there is an urgency 35:37.766 --> 35:40.022 to the situation that wasn't necessarily there 35:40.022 --> 35:44.189 in the past because of the actions that they've taken 35:44.645 --> 35:46.082 over the past six months. 35:46.082 --> 35:48.786 And so I think that's been made very clear 35:48.786 --> 35:52.176 by Secretary Tillerson, by President Trump, 35:52.176 --> 35:55.702 and we've made that clear to the Chinese as well, 35:55.702 --> 35:59.078 as well as our other allies and partners in the region. 35:59.078 --> 36:02.876 - President Trump said that if China is not help 36:02.876 --> 36:06.043 to resolve North Korea nuclear issues, 36:07.924 --> 36:11.591 the United States will take its own actions. 36:12.032 --> 36:15.282 What do you expect from China to do so? 36:17.385 --> 36:19.034 - Well, I think we expect China to, 36:19.034 --> 36:22.784 obviously to assert its leverage that it has. 36:26.657 --> 36:29.177 I think just today it was talking about 36:29.177 --> 36:32.086 even though it's enacted all of the 36:32.086 --> 36:34.753 UN Security Council resolutions, 36:35.234 --> 36:37.891 or UN Security Council sanctions, rather, 36:37.891 --> 36:39.893 regime against North Korea, 36:39.893 --> 36:41.601 it's also got a very robust 36:41.601 --> 36:43.524 trading program with North Korea. 36:43.524 --> 36:47.448 So clearly, it has economic influence over North Korea. 36:47.448 --> 36:50.081 We're looking at it to leverage its unique relationship 36:50.081 --> 36:51.853 with North Korea to persuade 36:51.853 --> 36:55.020 the regime in Pyongyang to reconsider. 36:55.362 --> 36:56.567 - [Lesley] Mark, can I change the subject? 36:56.567 --> 36:57.649 - Yeah, let's change subject, sorry, 36:57.649 --> 36:59.229 I'll get back to you when I have time. 36:59.229 --> 37:00.537 I'll get back to you when I have time. 37:00.537 --> 37:02.529 - There is an internal memo that went around 37:02.529 --> 37:05.490 as well as something that was updated online 37:05.490 --> 37:09.657 that even though the OMB lifted the hiring freeze, 37:10.108 --> 37:14.184 the federal hiring freeze, that the Secretary Tillerson, 37:14.184 --> 37:15.434 that the State Department was going to 37:15.434 --> 37:17.653 maintain its hiring freeze. 37:17.653 --> 37:20.678 Do you know what led to that decision? 37:20.678 --> 37:23.059 - Sure, so OMB-- - And what is it about? 37:23.059 --> 37:26.476 - Okay, so the OMB on Wednesday announced 37:26.661 --> 37:28.834 the lifting of the hiring freeze, as you noted, 37:28.834 --> 37:31.008 and provided also extensive further guidance 37:31.008 --> 37:33.666 to all the various federal agencies 37:33.666 --> 37:37.149 on the implementation of and requirements pursuant to 37:37.149 --> 37:40.033 the OMB memorandum which is called, I think, 37:40.033 --> 37:43.779 Comprehensive Plan for Reforming the Federal Government 37:43.779 --> 37:46.314 and Reducing the Federal Civilian Workforce, 37:46.314 --> 37:47.591 which is a mouthful, I apologize. 37:47.591 --> 37:48.745 - [Lesley] Yeah. 37:48.745 --> 37:51.326 - And this document, this memo, provides guidance 37:51.326 --> 37:55.493 on new requirements on the presidential memorandum 37:56.970 --> 37:59.127 that was initially issued on January 23rd. 37:59.127 --> 37:59.960 - [Lesley] Correct. 37:59.960 --> 38:02.999 - This was the one that issued the hiring freeze, 38:02.999 --> 38:07.124 as well as the executive order issued on March 13th 38:07.124 --> 38:11.124 that required a comprehensive plan to reorganize 38:11.774 --> 38:15.462 all the executive branch departments and agencies. 38:15.462 --> 38:17.644 So as part of that process, 38:17.644 --> 38:20.548 the department and this Secretary are going to be 38:20.548 --> 38:23.933 undertaking a reorganization later in the year, 38:23.933 --> 38:27.725 and the decision was taken that the hiring freeze 38:27.725 --> 38:31.239 will continue until that plan is fully developed 38:31.239 --> 38:34.087 and agreement is reached on its implementation. 38:34.087 --> 38:35.489 And this is just part of prudent planning. 38:35.489 --> 38:37.105 We can't be onboarding people 38:37.105 --> 38:39.331 when we don't know what our reorganization 38:39.331 --> 38:41.329 is ultimately going to look at, look like. 38:41.329 --> 38:43.360 But until then, and this is an important point, 38:43.360 --> 38:45.436 the Secretary does retain authority to waive the ruling, 38:45.436 --> 38:48.310 or the hiring freeze and will do so in instances 38:48.310 --> 38:49.820 where national security interests 38:49.820 --> 38:51.035 and the department's core mission 38:51.035 --> 38:52.934 and responsibilities require, so he does-- 38:52.934 --> 38:54.274 - [Lesley] So it doesn't break any federal law 38:54.274 --> 38:55.809 that he's done this? 38:55.809 --> 38:56.804 - It does not. 38:56.804 --> 38:59.537 It's his decision to maintain this hiring freeze. 38:59.537 --> 39:01.131 - Even though that, even though the Congress has, 39:01.131 --> 39:04.621 the appropriations has approved money for it, 39:04.621 --> 39:07.288 or even if the Congress has said 39:08.614 --> 39:10.176 that that's fine to lift it. 39:10.176 --> 39:12.183 So there is a law, a federal law, 39:12.183 --> 39:15.100 that if appropriations has moved on 39:16.360 --> 39:18.578 some kind of spending or whatever, 39:18.578 --> 39:21.213 and he says, "No, I'm not going to touch that," 39:21.213 --> 39:22.829 isn't that against a law? 39:22.829 --> 39:26.996 - My understanding is that he has the jurisdiction to, 39:27.728 --> 39:29.944 basically to keep this freeze in place 39:29.944 --> 39:34.111 as we go about this presidentially mandated reorganization. 39:35.030 --> 39:36.064 - [Reporter] Are we talking about Civil 39:36.064 --> 39:38.255 and Foreign Service officers, political appointees, what? 39:38.255 --> 39:39.088 - Across the board. 39:39.088 --> 39:41.078 - So he's, wait a minute. 39:41.078 --> 39:45.078 So he's not gonna hire any political appointees, 39:45.381 --> 39:46.770 before the reorg? 39:46.770 --> 39:49.420 - I believe it's a hiring freeze across the board. 39:49.420 --> 39:50.461 I don't know about political appointees. 39:50.461 --> 39:51.694 I'll check on that. - Could you check on that? 39:51.694 --> 39:52.527 - I can check on that. 39:52.527 --> 39:54.443 - Yeah, I mean, that would, essentially, if that's true, 39:54.443 --> 39:56.625 what you're saying, that there's a hiring freeze 39:56.625 --> 39:58.541 across the board, that you would not be 39:58.541 --> 39:59.618 hiring any assistant secretaries, 39:59.618 --> 40:00.451 - I will check on political appointments. 40:00.451 --> 40:01.914 I'm not sure about political appointments. 40:01.914 --> 40:03.936 - Under secretaries, a deputy secretary of state. 40:03.936 --> 40:05.711 That can't be right. - Yeah, I'll check on that. 40:05.711 --> 40:07.506 - So effectively he's put this on, the freeze, 40:07.506 --> 40:09.447 until he's done the reorganization. 40:09.447 --> 40:11.988 Have those plans actually started? 40:11.988 --> 40:15.405 And how are they going to be fleshed out? 40:16.366 --> 40:18.181 - I believe they have started. 40:18.181 --> 40:19.611 As to how they're going to be fleshed out, 40:19.611 --> 40:20.737 I don't have any more details. 40:20.737 --> 40:23.186 - I mean, it's going to go on for the rest of the year? 40:23.186 --> 40:26.436 - I don't know if there's a time, date. 40:27.573 --> 40:29.515 I don't have any kind of timeframe for you. 40:29.515 --> 40:30.396 If I get one, I'll let you know. 40:30.396 --> 40:31.780 - [Lesley] And I gather that he would have got 40:31.780 --> 40:35.334 White House or congressional approval for this? 40:35.334 --> 40:36.787 - Yes, I would imagine he would. 40:36.787 --> 40:37.746 - [Reporter] I just want to point out something that-- 40:37.746 --> 40:39.130 - On the political appointees, though, it's a good question. 40:39.130 --> 40:41.812 - Yeah, no, because I mean Foreign Minister Lavrov 40:41.812 --> 40:44.479 even said yesterday that, I mean, 40:44.479 --> 40:48.333 we can consider the source, but other diplomats from other-- 40:48.333 --> 40:49.737 - No, I'm not responding, I'm just-- 40:49.737 --> 40:51.770 - I understand, but other diplomats from other countries 40:51.770 --> 40:53.990 have also said that the lack of staff 40:53.990 --> 40:57.388 at the State Department has become an impediment 40:57.388 --> 40:59.958 to having interlocutors to deal with, 40:59.958 --> 41:02.709 whether it's long-term foreign policy cooperation, 41:02.709 --> 41:05.301 short-term foreign policy crises. 41:05.301 --> 41:08.541 So I mean, I would really like some clarification on that. 41:08.541 --> 41:10.816 Because if you're saying that there's a hiring freeze 41:10.816 --> 41:14.535 across the board, I really would say that suggests 41:14.535 --> 41:16.688 that that will continue to be a problem. 41:16.688 --> 41:18.157 - It's a fair question. 41:18.157 --> 41:20.247 - Related to this, though, Mark, 41:20.247 --> 41:22.099 you said that he has the, 41:22.099 --> 41:25.380 he retains authority to waive it, right? 41:25.380 --> 41:27.329 - Yeah, authority, thank you. 41:27.329 --> 41:28.301 Yes, he does, yeah. 41:28.301 --> 41:29.875 In instances where national security interests 41:29.875 --> 41:32.182 and the department's core mission responsibilities, 41:32.182 --> 41:34.677 I would assume that political appointees 41:34.677 --> 41:35.948 in high positions would fall under 41:35.948 --> 41:37.666 the department's core mission responsibilities. 41:37.666 --> 41:38.499 - Do you think that would apply 41:38.499 --> 41:40.629 to the newly nominated deputy? 41:40.629 --> 41:41.814 You think he'd get away with it? 41:41.814 --> 41:42.647 - I would think that would apply. 41:42.647 --> 41:43.950 - So, hold on a second, I'm not done. 41:43.950 --> 41:47.450 Back in February, two months ago tomorrow, 41:47.792 --> 41:51.375 the department sought and received a waiver 41:52.051 --> 41:55.551 from the, what was then the hiring freeze. 41:56.567 --> 41:59.745 You were given permission by OMB to bring on 41:59.745 --> 42:02.245 175 new staff, 70 entry level, 42:03.824 --> 42:06.991 80 mid level, and 25 consular fellows. 42:08.290 --> 42:10.853 Did those people actually come on board? 42:10.853 --> 42:14.525 And has the department, did the department seek 42:14.525 --> 42:18.692 additional exemptions between February 14th and Wednesday? 42:20.393 --> 42:22.101 - I'll check on both. 42:22.101 --> 42:24.076 Yeah, I'll check on both, I'll take those questions. 42:24.076 --> 42:26.409 - Can I-- - Another subject? 42:26.534 --> 42:27.367 - Yeah, we can change the subject, 42:27.367 --> 42:28.200 but I haven't gotten to, 42:28.200 --> 42:29.562 I'll get back to you, I swear to Gosh. 42:29.562 --> 42:31.673 - Regarding Venezuela. - Sure. 42:31.673 --> 42:33.493 - Thousands of protesters are 42:33.493 --> 42:35.802 demanding new elections in Venezuela. 42:35.802 --> 42:39.559 And opposition leaders consider that the government 42:39.559 --> 42:41.210 of the President Nicolas Maduro, 42:41.210 --> 42:44.720 it's no longer respecting democratic institutions 42:44.720 --> 42:47.671 and it's sliding toward authoritarian practices. 42:47.671 --> 42:49.739 Can you comment on that, please? 42:49.739 --> 42:50.572 - Sure, 42:53.492 --> 42:55.418 first of all, we're, I want to start with 42:55.418 --> 42:58.524 some of the reports of violence against protesters 42:58.524 --> 43:01.292 during demonstrations in Venezuela. 43:01.292 --> 43:03.077 We're aware of those reports. 43:03.077 --> 43:05.073 We obviously regret any loss of life. 43:05.073 --> 43:08.428 We call, once again, on the Government of Venezuela 43:08.428 --> 43:10.841 to conduct full, fair, and transparent investigations 43:10.841 --> 43:12.424 into this violence. 43:13.823 --> 43:17.783 We also call on the government and security forces 43:17.783 --> 43:21.950 to respect the freedom of assembly, peaceful assembly, 43:23.572 --> 43:25.822 as a universal human right, 43:25.835 --> 43:29.312 which the Venezuelan authorities should respect. 43:29.312 --> 43:31.496 We, as I said, also urge the demonstrators 43:31.496 --> 43:34.413 to express themselves nonviolently. 43:35.309 --> 43:37.371 With respect to your broader question, 43:37.371 --> 43:40.038 we urge the Maduro government to 43:41.472 --> 43:45.519 reconsider its decision this past week, I believe, 43:45.519 --> 43:49.352 or past weekend, to bar Miranda state governor 43:51.097 --> 43:52.930 Henrique Capriles and, 43:56.291 --> 43:58.322 from participating in the country's public life 43:58.322 --> 44:00.489 for I think some 15 years. 44:02.527 --> 44:06.027 It's something we view with grave concern. 44:07.713 --> 44:11.880 It's absolutely vital that Venezuelans have the right 44:13.008 --> 44:17.175 to exercise their, and elect their representatives 44:18.003 --> 44:20.800 in free and fair elections in accordance with 44:20.800 --> 44:22.518 the Venezuelan constitution 44:22.518 --> 44:24.956 and consistent with international instruments. 44:24.956 --> 44:29.123 And that includes the Inter-American Democratic Charter. 44:31.616 --> 44:33.513 We firmly support as well the consensus 44:33.513 --> 44:36.416 of the Organization of American States Permanent Council, 44:36.416 --> 44:38.200 which affirms it is essential that 44:38.200 --> 44:40.231 the Government of Venezuela ensure 44:40.231 --> 44:43.107 the full restoration of democratic order. 44:43.107 --> 44:44.440 Thanks, please. 44:45.170 --> 44:47.996 - [Reporter] You mentioned the need to work with South Korea 44:47.996 --> 44:50.079 and Japan on North Korea. 44:50.623 --> 44:53.409 And Vice President Pence is about to travel to that region 44:53.409 --> 44:56.176 and will be visiting both South Korea and Japan. 44:56.176 --> 44:58.779 I was wondering if you could discuss what message 44:58.779 --> 45:01.634 he'll be sending to leaders in the region 45:01.634 --> 45:03.615 and what he'll be discussing in those meetings, 45:03.615 --> 45:04.448 and then I have a-- 45:04.448 --> 45:07.099 - Well, look, I would have to refer you to the 45:07.099 --> 45:10.306 Vice President and his office to talk about 45:10.306 --> 45:11.742 the specifics about his trip. 45:11.742 --> 45:15.409 But, obviously, I think that it's very clear 45:17.110 --> 45:19.943 given Secretary Tillerson's travel to the region, 45:19.943 --> 45:24.026 given that both leadership from Republic of Korea 45:26.729 --> 45:30.812 and Japan have been here for high-level meetings, 45:32.310 --> 45:34.386 that we are very concerned, 45:34.386 --> 45:37.109 primarily concerned with North Korea 45:37.109 --> 45:40.031 and its actions and how to deal with North Korea. 45:40.031 --> 45:41.595 And in that regard, I think he's going to be sending 45:41.595 --> 45:45.762 a very clear message, certainly in Seoul and elsewhere, 45:46.724 --> 45:49.557 of our steadfast, ironclad support 45:50.801 --> 45:53.685 for our allies and partners in the region. 45:53.685 --> 45:55.768 And that stands absolute. 45:57.556 --> 45:59.553 So I'll let, I'll leave it to him 45:59.553 --> 46:01.843 to speak in greater detail, please. 46:01.843 --> 46:04.182 - [Reporter] Okay, and then also in Japan, he'll-- 46:04.182 --> 46:06.642 - [Reporter] Couple questions about Syria. 46:06.642 --> 46:07.642 - Of course. 46:08.421 --> 46:11.856 - So Foreign Minister Lavrov talked about, 46:11.856 --> 46:16.023 he offered to reinstate this de-confliction channel, 46:16.211 --> 46:19.532 and, but there were terms, and I was wondering, 46:19.532 --> 46:23.451 this thing about the de-confliction in the airs, in the air, 46:23.451 --> 46:26.868 between airplanes in, that was suspended, 46:26.956 --> 46:29.947 and Secretary Tillerson didn't say anything about 46:29.947 --> 46:33.487 whether he accepted the terms that Lavrov set. 46:33.487 --> 46:36.098 So we're wondering, where does that stand, 46:36.098 --> 46:37.499 how important is that channel, 46:37.499 --> 46:39.461 and what's the plan when it comes to preventing 46:39.461 --> 46:42.006 any mishaps in the air over Syria? 46:42.006 --> 46:44.589 - Frankly, my understanding was 46:44.899 --> 46:46.737 that that does remain intact. 46:46.737 --> 46:49.536 There was some question that it was going to be pulled down. 46:49.536 --> 46:52.453 That was a Russian claim, at least. 46:53.773 --> 46:56.717 Look, we consider that de-confliction channel to be 46:56.717 --> 47:00.384 very important, because it helps ensure that 47:01.689 --> 47:05.189 neither our pilots nor Russia's pilots are 47:06.164 --> 47:09.391 unduly or unnecessarily put in harm's way 47:09.391 --> 47:11.308 when we're carrying out 47:13.853 --> 47:16.857 military missions in the, in that region. 47:16.857 --> 47:20.024 So I can't speak to how it may change. 47:23.624 --> 47:25.933 My understanding is that it does remain in effect. 47:25.933 --> 47:27.884 - Because, I mean, was, my understanding is that 47:27.884 --> 47:32.046 that channel was suspended after the missile strike. 47:32.046 --> 47:34.150 - I had heard that, I had seen those same reports, 47:34.150 --> 47:35.436 but my understanding was that, 47:35.436 --> 47:37.592 my understanding is that after that, it was reinstated. 47:37.592 --> 47:39.154 If that's incorrect, I'll let you know. 47:39.154 --> 47:40.402 - Please, yeah, please. - A fact check. 47:40.402 --> 47:41.877 - [Reporter] I have a follow-up question. 47:41.877 --> 47:43.011 - Yeah, of course, finish up, and then-- 47:43.011 --> 47:46.031 - Yeah, so did Secretary Tillerson meet with 47:46.031 --> 47:48.035 any members of civil society when he was, 47:48.035 --> 47:50.785 while he was in Moscow or Russia? 47:51.674 --> 47:53.673 - I don't believe he did. 47:53.673 --> 47:56.423 Frankly, it was an issue of time. 47:56.553 --> 47:59.720 He did, of course, raise our concerns, 47:59.882 --> 48:04.049 as he does in every meeting with our Russian counterparts. 48:09.170 --> 48:13.337 But I don't believe he actually had the time to meet with 48:14.154 --> 48:16.922 any members of civil society while he was on the ground. 48:16.922 --> 48:18.084 - Just a follow-up on that, 48:18.084 --> 48:19.849 and then I have a question on Afghanistan. 48:19.849 --> 48:21.848 Do you anticipate this is something that 48:21.848 --> 48:26.015 he'll make as a kind of regular feature of his travel? 48:26.123 --> 48:30.290 I mean, past secretaries to some extent, some more, 48:30.331 --> 48:34.331 some less, have made that a kind of staple of their-- 48:34.331 --> 48:35.363 - [Mark] Meeting with civil society members? 48:35.363 --> 48:36.280 - Of, yeah. 48:36.512 --> 48:37.345 - You're right. 48:37.345 --> 48:39.112 I mean, it's, it has been, because it's an, 48:39.112 --> 48:41.882 it's a great way to send the message that 48:41.882 --> 48:46.049 it's a matter of concern, it's an issue of concern to us. 48:46.416 --> 48:49.088 Again, I think in any given visit, 48:49.088 --> 48:52.781 given the other demands on the Secretary's schedule, 48:52.781 --> 48:55.744 of course, I can't speak categorically, 48:55.744 --> 48:59.540 but I know for a fact that he does consider human rights, 48:59.540 --> 49:01.678 healthy civil society to be something 49:01.678 --> 49:04.599 that he's gonna press in all of his interactions. 49:04.599 --> 49:06.857 - I have a question. - Yes, sir, ma'am. 49:06.857 --> 49:08.449 - If we could just go back to Afghanistan for a second. 49:08.449 --> 49:09.282 - [Mark] Yeah, sure. 49:09.282 --> 49:11.289 - I know you kind of punted to the Pentagon 49:11.289 --> 49:13.268 on the actual strike itself, 49:13.268 --> 49:16.445 but we haven't really heard a lot about ISIS 49:16.445 --> 49:19.612 in the kind of Afghan-Pakistan region. 49:20.358 --> 49:22.568 And I'm wondering if you could kind of bring us up to date 49:22.568 --> 49:26.004 on your discussions with those governments 49:26.004 --> 49:27.652 about the growth of ISIS. 49:27.652 --> 49:29.624 Because, like I said, we really haven't, I mean, 49:29.624 --> 49:31.893 I know that they had some small presence, 49:31.893 --> 49:36.060 but it kind of was surprising to see the depth of which the 49:37.392 --> 49:38.825 to which you have this concern. 49:38.825 --> 49:40.938 - Well, and it's a fair point to bring up. 49:40.938 --> 49:43.928 I mean, look, we've been very clear that, 49:43.928 --> 49:45.577 just like we've seen elsewhere in the world, 49:45.577 --> 49:46.751 but certainly in Afghanistan, 49:46.751 --> 49:49.001 where ISIS has attempted to 49:50.655 --> 49:54.072 co-opt some existing groups on the ground 49:54.090 --> 49:56.923 in an effort to create affiliates. 49:58.321 --> 49:59.786 And we're going to see this, I think, 49:59.786 --> 50:01.551 and this is something that was discussed 50:01.551 --> 50:04.132 in the ministerial a few weeks ago, 50:04.132 --> 50:08.020 that as ISIS continues to get pressed in Syria and in Iraq, 50:08.020 --> 50:11.554 it's going to seek to do that, I think, more and more. 50:11.554 --> 50:13.228 So it's something we're watching very closely, 50:13.228 --> 50:15.009 and we're working with the Government of Afghanistan 50:15.009 --> 50:16.534 and our partners in the region 50:16.534 --> 50:20.201 in order to deny any terrorist organization, 50:20.717 --> 50:23.058 that includes al-Qaida as well, 50:23.058 --> 50:27.225 safe haven or any kind of material support on the ground. 50:27.512 --> 50:30.445 And as we've also been very clear, we're, 50:30.445 --> 50:34.149 when we see targets of opportunity and leadership, 50:34.149 --> 50:35.773 opportunities to take out key leadership, 50:35.773 --> 50:36.865 we're going to take those opportunities. 50:36.865 --> 50:39.004 - I understand that this was a target of opportunity, 50:39.004 --> 50:42.337 but are you saying that this target was, 50:43.414 --> 50:46.082 were they working with other types of, 50:46.082 --> 50:48.249 like so-called affiliates? 50:48.897 --> 50:51.251 - That's a common practice for ISIS to, yeah. 50:51.251 --> 50:52.349 - [Reporter] No, I understand, 50:52.349 --> 50:53.477 but I'm just saying, this particular-- 50:53.477 --> 50:54.320 - I don't know the specifics. 50:54.320 --> 50:55.464 I don't have enough specifics on this. 50:55.464 --> 50:57.974 - I'm just, as opposed to, like, the actual strike 50:57.974 --> 50:59.493 and the weapon and how it was done, 50:59.493 --> 51:01.756 I'm interested in this particular target 51:01.756 --> 51:05.673 and why it was chosen in terms of their threat. 51:06.423 --> 51:07.726 And given that the State Department has 51:07.726 --> 51:11.592 really been the lead in terms of the coalition against ISIS, 51:11.592 --> 51:13.869 I'd be interested a little bit more in-- 51:13.869 --> 51:15.198 - Sure, I don't have a lot of detail 51:15.198 --> 51:16.850 on this particular strike and why this, 51:16.850 --> 51:20.834 I mean, other than that they were ISIS-affiliated group. 51:20.834 --> 51:23.743 - [Reporter] ISIS-affiliated group or members of ISIS, 51:23.743 --> 51:24.861 like official leadership? 51:24.861 --> 51:25.694 - I'll check, I'll check. 51:25.694 --> 51:27.094 - Thank you. - Yep. 51:27.094 --> 51:28.402 Couple more questions, guys. 51:28.402 --> 51:30.544 Tejinder, I haven't gotten to you yet. 51:30.544 --> 51:32.377 - I have the patience, 51:32.564 --> 51:35.814 and wishing you a quick, fast recovery 51:37.397 --> 51:39.564 because I saw you limping. 51:40.507 --> 51:42.518 - [Mark] I'm limping, I'm coughing. 51:42.518 --> 51:43.351 - Oh, yes. 51:43.351 --> 51:44.187 - [Mark] I need vacation, luckily, it's coming up. 51:44.187 --> 51:46.153 - [Tejinder] Yeah, I have empathy, I'm coughing also. 51:46.153 --> 51:46.986 - Yeah. 51:46.986 --> 51:50.226 - The, one short follow-up on Afghanistan 51:50.226 --> 51:52.489 and then one on India-related. 51:52.489 --> 51:54.629 Afghanistan is that day before yesterday, 51:54.629 --> 51:57.546 after the briefing in the Pentagon, 51:57.611 --> 52:01.258 the Defense Secretary, when I asked him that, 52:01.258 --> 52:03.142 is Afghanistan on back burner, 52:03.142 --> 52:06.475 he said not at all, nothing has changed. 52:08.085 --> 52:10.335 So that's from the Defense. 52:10.361 --> 52:11.672 - [Mark] What he said, yes. 52:11.672 --> 52:13.755 - On the diplomatic side, 52:14.634 --> 52:16.871 with Russia taking that initiative, 52:16.871 --> 52:20.458 has anything changed from this side on the diplomatic front? 52:20.458 --> 52:21.521 - Not at all, and in fact, 52:21.521 --> 52:22.852 I think it was just a couple weeks ago 52:22.852 --> 52:24.937 the Afghan foreign minister, I think it was, 52:24.937 --> 52:28.062 in conjunction with the counter-ISIS ministerial 52:28.062 --> 52:28.992 was here in town, 52:28.992 --> 52:32.127 and they had a very good bilateral discussion, 52:32.127 --> 52:34.434 one of the few bilateral meetings he was able to take 52:34.434 --> 52:36.945 given his schedule, Secretary Tillerson's schedule. 52:36.945 --> 52:38.753 But he made the point of taking that meeting 52:38.753 --> 52:40.856 because he wanted to express our firm support 52:40.856 --> 52:43.776 for the Afghan Government's continued efforts 52:43.776 --> 52:45.776 to confront the Taliban, 52:46.260 --> 52:49.446 to confront other terrorist groups on its territory, 52:49.446 --> 52:52.529 and to solidify and continue to enact 52:53.270 --> 52:56.422 needed political and economic reforms. 52:56.422 --> 52:57.744 - And the other-- - You had another. 52:57.744 --> 52:58.753 Yeah, finish up, and then-- 52:58.753 --> 53:01.320 - I have second one, the second one is about-- 53:01.320 --> 53:02.489 - [Mark] Okay, I'm going to do three more questions. 53:02.489 --> 53:04.177 I got to you, I got to you already. 53:04.177 --> 53:05.073 Three more questions. 53:05.073 --> 53:06.469 - The second one is-- - Please. 53:06.469 --> 53:07.992 - The second one is about 53:07.992 --> 53:10.992 the diplomatic efforts from the U.S. 53:11.810 --> 53:14.639 The Indian media is flush with this 53:14.639 --> 53:18.191 hate crimes against people of Indian origin. 53:18.191 --> 53:22.108 Now, what, a kind of journalistic investigation 53:22.608 --> 53:24.758 revealed that most of these Indians 53:24.758 --> 53:27.869 were either misidentified or misunderstood 53:27.869 --> 53:30.621 because of religious symbols or other things, 53:30.621 --> 53:33.940 but when the Indian ambassador rushes to State Department 53:33.940 --> 53:37.523 and expresses his deep concerns about this, 53:38.102 --> 53:41.551 and then we find out that the Hardish Patel, 53:41.551 --> 53:45.069 the county sheriff says that it was not a hate crime. 53:45.069 --> 53:47.790 So what, how can you clarify that 53:47.790 --> 53:51.040 these incidents are not against Indians 53:52.200 --> 53:54.224 or people from Indian origin? 53:54.224 --> 53:55.724 They're misidentified. 53:55.724 --> 53:58.573 There is, it's not about condoning hate crime, 53:58.573 --> 54:01.208 it's about misrepresenting the facts. 54:01.208 --> 54:02.619 If you can clarify from the podium. 54:02.619 --> 54:03.968 - So a couple of thoughts on this, 54:03.968 --> 54:07.718 first of all is we obviously strongly condemn 54:08.270 --> 54:12.437 any hate crime, any crime carried out against someone 54:12.886 --> 54:14.969 based on their ethnicity, 54:15.432 --> 54:18.349 their sexual orientation, whatever. 54:20.179 --> 54:21.346 We condemn it. 54:21.616 --> 54:25.558 Secondly, though, with respect to these particular crimes, 54:25.558 --> 54:29.725 that's really something for either local, regional, 54:30.702 --> 54:33.216 or federal law enforcement to speak to. 54:33.216 --> 54:36.591 All of these crimes need to be thoroughly investigated, 54:36.591 --> 54:38.867 and that's why I'm very hesitant to comment 54:38.867 --> 54:40.669 on one particular case or not, 54:40.669 --> 54:41.834 because I don't know the facts 54:41.834 --> 54:45.807 and it would be imprudent for me, except to say that, 54:45.807 --> 54:48.033 largely speaking, there are, 54:48.033 --> 54:52.200 there's a strong Indian American community in this country. 54:52.780 --> 54:56.280 They're a vibrant part of American culture 54:57.012 --> 54:59.762 and society and the economy here. 55:01.307 --> 55:05.390 And we, as Americans, welcome their contribution. 55:06.647 --> 55:09.480 And as I said, any crime based on, 55:10.460 --> 55:13.324 that potentially based on someone's ethnicity 55:13.324 --> 55:16.465 or heritage should be heartily condemned. 55:16.465 --> 55:18.336 - I was trying to clarify one - Sure, sure. 55:18.336 --> 55:20.119 - I was just trying to clarify 55:20.119 --> 55:23.619 that this crimes were even ethnicity-based 55:25.136 --> 55:27.903 were not against the Indian ethnicity. 55:27.903 --> 55:29.871 They were mis-- - Identified? 55:29.871 --> 55:31.887 I just don't have the details, I apologize, Tejinder. 55:31.887 --> 55:34.019 - Could we do a quick one-- - Said, yeah, very quick. 55:34.019 --> 55:36.211 - On the Palestinian-Israeli issue. 55:36.211 --> 55:38.528 A couple of days ago, you issued an advisory, 55:38.528 --> 55:42.397 a travel advisory to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. 55:42.397 --> 55:46.483 But you also urged American citizens to leave Gaza. 55:46.483 --> 55:47.316 - [Mark] Yep. 55:47.316 --> 55:50.812 - And this coincided with the escalating tensions, 55:50.812 --> 55:52.833 and the Israelis are amassing troops. 55:52.833 --> 55:54.360 Are you concerned that there may have, 55:54.360 --> 55:56.748 there may be another war that could-- 55:56.748 --> 55:58.643 - No, I, look, sure, I'm aware of-- 55:58.643 --> 55:59.763 - [Said] Which will urge the Israelis-- 55:59.763 --> 56:03.930 - I'm aware the timing was linked or was close to it, 56:04.839 --> 56:06.366 but this was, as my understanding of it, 56:06.366 --> 56:08.283 just a periodic update, 56:10.731 --> 56:12.550 and that the information concerning Gaza 56:12.550 --> 56:16.384 was similar to language from our previous travel warnings. 56:16.384 --> 56:19.074 So as many of you know in this room, 56:19.074 --> 56:22.657 we have to periodically update the language 56:24.008 --> 56:26.508 to ensure they remain valid and up-to-date. 56:26.508 --> 56:28.186 This was a routine update. 56:28.186 --> 56:32.353 I think the previous one was issued on August 23rd, 2016, 56:33.615 --> 56:36.542 but it contained very similar guidance. 56:36.542 --> 56:38.605 Our travel warning warns U.S. citizens 56:38.605 --> 56:40.970 against all travel to the Gaza Strip 56:40.970 --> 56:43.598 and urges those present to depart as soon as possible 56:43.598 --> 56:45.870 when border crossings are open. 56:45.870 --> 56:49.271 And I think the way, by way of explanation, 56:49.271 --> 56:52.438 given the security conditions in Gaza, 56:53.803 --> 56:56.147 U.S. government personnel have 56:56.147 --> 56:59.057 been long restricted from travel to Gaza, 56:59.057 --> 57:01.242 and so that restricts our ability 57:01.242 --> 57:03.556 to provide any assistance or support to 57:03.556 --> 57:05.639 any U.S. citizen in Gaza. 57:07.530 --> 57:11.697 So it's out of that reality, if you will, that we caution. 57:12.488 --> 57:13.407 - Thank you. - And this-- 57:13.407 --> 57:14.646 - John, last question. - Yeah. 57:14.646 --> 57:17.036 And this Russia-hosted conference on Afghanistan, 57:17.036 --> 57:19.502 you said that it seemed to be a unilateral 57:19.502 --> 57:22.832 Russian attempt to assert influence in the region. 57:22.832 --> 57:26.620 This dropping of this massive bomb in Afghanistan 57:26.620 --> 57:30.453 that has a fairly large optical element to it, 57:31.285 --> 57:33.477 could you, could one interpret that as a 57:33.477 --> 57:36.110 unilateral attempt to assert influence in the region? 57:36.110 --> 57:38.027 - No, look, again, I'm, 57:38.549 --> 57:41.246 I'm not going to attempt to speak 57:41.246 --> 57:43.827 way outside my box and talk about, 57:43.827 --> 57:45.630 you know, military matters. 57:45.630 --> 57:48.008 - [John] But it does have, when it's a bomb that large, 57:48.008 --> 57:52.175 there's a diplomatic effect to dropping something like that. 57:52.427 --> 57:53.260 - There is, John. 57:53.260 --> 57:56.206 But, I imagine, but I'm going to stay mum on that. 57:56.206 --> 57:59.019 Thanks, everybody, thanks so much.