WEBVTT 00:04.670 --> 00:06.680 - Good afternoon, everyone. 00:06.680 --> 00:10.370 Today, I am incredibly excited to announce that a seasoned, 00:10.370 --> 00:13.120 principled, and tough-minded foreign policy veteran 00:13.120 --> 00:14.970 is joining our State Department team. 00:15.850 --> 00:17.140 Elliott Abrams is coming aboard 00:17.140 --> 00:19.383 to lead our efforts on Venezuela. 00:20.400 --> 00:22.793 His critical work will get started right away. 00:23.760 --> 00:26.490 Tomorrow, he'll travel with me to the UN Security Council, 00:26.490 --> 00:29.420 where the United States has called a long overdue meeting 00:29.420 --> 00:31.620 to urge other nations to support 00:31.620 --> 00:33.663 Venezuela's democratic transition. 00:35.030 --> 00:36.900 Elliott's long career in foreign affairs includes 00:36.900 --> 00:39.150 a great deal of time as a senior leader 00:39.150 --> 00:41.560 in this very organization. 00:41.560 --> 00:42.960 Under President Reagan, he served 00:42.960 --> 00:44.920 as assistant secretary of state for human rights 00:44.920 --> 00:47.620 and humanitarian affairs and assistant secretary 00:47.620 --> 00:49.483 for inter-American affairs as well. 00:50.500 --> 00:52.300 Under President George W. Bush, he served 00:52.300 --> 00:54.500 on the National Security Council as the senior director 00:54.500 --> 00:57.680 for democracy, human rights, and international affairs, 00:57.680 --> 01:01.280 senior director for North African and Near East affairs, 01:01.280 --> 01:02.770 and deputy national security adviser 01:02.770 --> 01:04.623 for global democracy strategy. 01:05.670 --> 01:07.030 Elliott's passion for the rights 01:07.030 --> 01:09.970 and liberties of all peoples makes him a perfect fit 01:09.970 --> 01:12.203 and a valuable and timely addition. 01:13.120 --> 01:15.650 This week, the Venezuelan people have rejected 01:15.650 --> 01:18.670 former President Maduro's illegitimate rule. 01:18.670 --> 01:20.530 Consistent with Venezuela's constitution 01:20.530 --> 01:22.420 and with the support of the Venezuelan people 01:22.420 --> 01:26.270 and the National Assembly, Juan Guaido has declared himself 01:26.270 --> 01:28.523 the interim president of Venezuela. 01:29.890 --> 01:31.320 These are just the first step 01:31.320 --> 01:33.190 on Venezuela's road to liberty. 01:33.190 --> 01:34.950 Elliott will be a true asset to our mission 01:34.950 --> 01:37.800 to help the Venezuelan people fully restore democracy 01:37.800 --> 01:39.943 and prosperity to their country. 01:41.060 --> 01:43.330 On this issue and all others, he is eager to advance 01:43.330 --> 01:45.810 President Trump's agenda and promote the ideals 01:45.810 --> 01:47.870 and interests of the American people. 01:47.870 --> 01:49.840 And now Elliott would like to say a few words. 01:49.840 --> 01:50.673 - Thank you. 01:51.540 --> 01:55.830 Very briefly, I left this building 01:55.830 --> 01:58.610 30 years ago this week, last time I worked here, 01:58.610 --> 02:01.083 so it's very nice to be back. 02:02.150 --> 02:07.150 This crisis in Venezuela is deep and difficult 02:07.410 --> 02:10.940 and dangerous, and I can't wait to get to work on it. 02:10.940 --> 02:12.242 Thank you. - Thanks. 02:12.242 --> 02:15.042 - All right, guys, we've got time for a question or two. 02:17.000 --> 02:18.920 Nick Wadhams, Bloomberg, please. 02:18.920 --> 02:22.640 - Mr. Secretary, can you talk in a little bit more detail 02:22.640 --> 02:25.610 about what Mr. Abrams will be doing, 02:25.610 --> 02:30.610 what will his first task be, what will his chief focus be? 02:30.920 --> 02:32.630 Will he travel to the region? 02:32.630 --> 02:34.260 And also, can you talk a little bit 02:34.260 --> 02:37.330 about some of what will happen 02:37.330 --> 02:40.270 to Venezuela's overseas assets? 02:40.270 --> 02:44.300 For example, the gold that it has in the Bank of England, 02:44.300 --> 02:46.000 money it has in overseas accounts, 02:46.000 --> 02:48.810 will the expectation be that the interim president 02:48.810 --> 02:51.300 would have control over those funds? 02:51.300 --> 02:53.000 - Well, as to your first question, 02:54.240 --> 02:56.440 Elliott will have responsibility for all things 02:56.440 --> 02:59.910 related to our efforts to restore democracy in Venezuela. 02:59.910 --> 03:01.183 It's a global challenge. 03:02.030 --> 03:05.280 There are multiple dimensions to how we hope to assist 03:05.280 --> 03:07.810 the Venezuelans in achieving democracy there, 03:07.810 --> 03:10.960 and he will be responsible for leading that effort. 03:10.960 --> 03:13.830 We have an enormous team here that's done 03:13.830 --> 03:16.010 truly remarkable work to date to get us 03:16.010 --> 03:19.440 to the point we are at today, and they've done this 03:19.440 --> 03:22.897 over certainly my eight months, 03:22.897 --> 03:24.850 but long preceding that as well. 03:24.850 --> 03:26.060 I'm incredibly proud of the work 03:26.060 --> 03:28.430 that our State Department team has done to date. 03:28.430 --> 03:31.770 Elliott will now lead our effort that relates 03:31.770 --> 03:34.830 directly to our efforts on behalf of the Venezuelan people. 03:34.830 --> 03:36.810 I would expect, though, that his first task will be 03:36.810 --> 03:40.670 to get up to speed and then travel with me to New York 03:40.670 --> 03:43.720 tomorrow morning for the UN Security Council meeting. 03:43.720 --> 03:47.460 And after that, I couldn't tell you where it will take him. 03:47.460 --> 03:50.743 Wouldn't surprise me if he ends up traveling to the region, 03:51.680 --> 03:55.620 but the road ahead will be driven 03:55.620 --> 03:57.140 by the demands of the Venezuelan people 03:57.140 --> 03:58.300 and how we can assist them in achieving 03:58.300 --> 04:00.880 the outcome that America wants them to achieve. 04:00.880 --> 04:02.110 - [Nick] And on overseas assets? 04:02.110 --> 04:04.120 - On the overseas assets, we'll have 04:04.120 --> 04:07.300 announcements from other places later today 04:07.300 --> 04:10.080 talking about how it is that we anticipate 04:11.870 --> 04:14.290 the interim President Juan Guaido will have the resources 04:14.290 --> 04:18.190 he needs to lead the Government of Venezuela forward. 04:18.190 --> 04:21.150 - [Robert] Let's take a question from South America, so NTN. 04:21.150 --> 04:23.440 Gustau, please. - NTN24, Gustau Alegret. 04:23.440 --> 04:26.440 Among the countries that has not recognized Juan Guaido 04:26.440 --> 04:29.930 as president are Mexico and Uruguay, 04:29.930 --> 04:33.470 and both countries has offered their diplomacies 04:33.470 --> 04:35.200 in order to help in the crisis. 04:35.200 --> 04:37.980 Is the U.S. thinking to work with them, 04:37.980 --> 04:41.480 or is the U.S. asking them to recognize Guaido? 04:41.480 --> 04:43.300 What's the position of the State Department 04:43.300 --> 04:44.670 with these two countries? 04:44.670 --> 04:47.380 - Well, we think every country ought to recognize 04:48.720 --> 04:51.900 the constitutional leader of Venezuela, 04:51.900 --> 04:54.680 and that's who the United States has concluded 04:54.680 --> 04:57.330 Juan Guaido is, the interim president of Venezuela. 04:57.330 --> 04:59.600 We think every country ought to recognize 04:59.600 --> 05:00.840 the Venezuelan constitution, 05:00.840 --> 05:03.370 the demands of the Venezuelan people. 05:03.370 --> 05:06.720 So whether it is Mexico or Uruguay or any other country, 05:06.720 --> 05:08.500 we hope to work with them to achieve the sense 05:08.500 --> 05:11.290 that we can ultimately have a free and fair election 05:11.290 --> 05:14.060 in Venezuela, where the voices of the Venezuelan people 05:14.060 --> 05:17.130 who, under the Maduro regime, have been starved. 05:17.130 --> 05:21.380 Enormous medical and humanitarian situation in Colombia, 05:21.380 --> 05:23.500 more than a million refugees have fled 05:23.500 --> 05:25.560 the horrors of the Maduro regime. 05:25.560 --> 05:28.030 We'll work with all nations to try and achieve that outcome. 05:28.030 --> 05:30.430 We think every country ought to take steps 05:30.430 --> 05:32.450 towards achieving that and not side 05:32.450 --> 05:35.750 with this cruel dictator in Venezuela who has caused 05:35.750 --> 05:38.653 so much devastation for the people of Venezuela. 05:39.550 --> 05:40.560 - [Robert] Wrap it up, sir? 05:40.560 --> 05:41.393 - I think one more. 05:41.393 --> 05:43.875 - [Robert] Let's go to Washington Post, Carol Morello. 05:43.875 --> 05:45.720 - Mr. Secretary, I think a lot of people are 05:45.720 --> 05:47.980 concerned about the diplomats who are down there. 05:47.980 --> 05:50.090 Would you tell us what you're prepared to do 05:50.090 --> 05:53.881 if tomorrow, when the 72-hour deadline passes, 05:53.881 --> 05:57.270 the Venezuelans cut off electricity and water, 05:57.270 --> 05:59.680 maybe even surround the building, or even try to go in 05:59.680 --> 06:02.010 to bring out the diplomats by force? 06:02.010 --> 06:04.810 Could you be specific about what you are prepared to do 06:04.810 --> 06:07.798 in the event of any of these scenarios? 06:07.798 --> 06:11.890 And how can you assure people that they are protected? 06:11.890 --> 06:14.040 - I appreciate that question. 06:14.040 --> 06:16.470 There's been no activity that's taken more of our time 06:16.470 --> 06:18.900 over the past days than ensuring the protection 06:18.900 --> 06:19.810 of all those folks that are 06:19.810 --> 06:22.640 under our chief of mission authority there in Venezuela. 06:22.640 --> 06:24.230 We're working diligently to make sure 06:24.230 --> 06:25.063 that they are protected. 06:25.063 --> 06:27.530 There's no higher priority for the Secretary of State, 06:27.530 --> 06:29.550 and you should know no higher priority 06:29.550 --> 06:30.790 for the President of the United States. 06:30.790 --> 06:33.200 We have discussed this at some length. 06:33.200 --> 06:36.050 With respect to the way we will deliver that, 06:36.050 --> 06:39.250 we've made clear to everyone that it is 06:39.250 --> 06:43.380 our expectation that the U.S. officials that are there, 06:43.380 --> 06:44.860 that have now been invited to be there 06:44.860 --> 06:46.780 by interim President Juan Guaido, have a right, 06:46.780 --> 06:49.200 they have the privileges and immunities that accrue 06:49.200 --> 06:51.060 to having been invited to be there 06:51.060 --> 06:54.477 by the duly credentialed leader of Venezuela, 06:56.730 --> 06:59.680 and we have every expectation that those rights 06:59.680 --> 07:01.700 will continue to be protected. 07:01.700 --> 07:06.200 You would have seen today that we have an ordered departure. 07:06.200 --> 07:09.290 We're beginning to move some of our staff out. 07:09.290 --> 07:10.123 This is consistent 07:10.123 --> 07:11.490 with what the State Department does every day. 07:11.490 --> 07:14.100 The first briefing I get every morning is 07:14.100 --> 07:15.380 all around the world. 07:15.380 --> 07:17.180 Every mission, every consulate, 07:17.180 --> 07:19.280 every facility where we have officers, 07:19.280 --> 07:22.360 I receive a briefing on risk and risk analysis. 07:22.360 --> 07:24.440 We'll continue to do that in Venezuela. 07:24.440 --> 07:28.450 It is literally a 24/7, moment-by-moment exercise 07:28.450 --> 07:32.290 to evaluate risk to the people who work for me 07:32.290 --> 07:34.410 in the State Department, and we'll get this right. 07:34.410 --> 07:38.280 We will make sure that we protect our folks on the ground 07:38.280 --> 07:39.880 and take all appropriate measures 07:39.880 --> 07:41.974 to ensure that they're protected. 07:41.974 --> 07:42.880 - And if they're not? - Thank you. 07:42.880 --> 07:44.573 - Thank you, all. - Thank you very much. 07:46.040 --> 07:46.873 - [Woman] Has the meeting tomorrow 07:46.873 --> 07:48.820 been scheduled at the Security Council?