WEBVTT 00:00.400 --> 00:01.860 - Good afternoon, everybody. 00:01.860 --> 00:04.770 The Department of State's 230th anniversary 00:04.770 --> 00:07.150 is this Saturday, and the State Department 00:07.150 --> 00:09.760 will reach an exciting milestone. 00:09.760 --> 00:14.510 A full 230 years ago, on July 27th, 1789, 00:14.510 --> 00:17.130 our founding fathers approved legislation 00:17.130 --> 00:19.040 establishing the Department of State 00:19.040 --> 00:22.570 as our nation's first Executive Branch department. 00:22.570 --> 00:24.260 Today, our great team continues 00:24.260 --> 00:26.960 to work tirelessly to lead American diplomacy 00:26.960 --> 00:29.590 and to protect American citizens worldwide. 00:29.590 --> 00:32.000 Here at the Harry S. Truman Building, 00:32.000 --> 00:35.960 we will celebrate this anniversary on Monday, July 29th. 00:35.960 --> 00:38.200 In addition to remarks by Secretary Pompeo 00:38.200 --> 00:41.680 in the Dean Acheson Auditorium, we are honored to be joined 00:41.680 --> 00:45.120 by former Secretary of State, Dr. Henry Kissinger, 00:45.120 --> 00:47.510 who will share his remembrances and conversation 00:47.510 --> 00:50.940 with his official biographer, Dr. Niall Ferguson. 00:50.940 --> 00:53.340 As we celebrate 230 years since our founding, 00:53.340 --> 00:57.050 we look forward to continuing our proud legacy of service 00:57.050 --> 00:59.603 to this great nation in the centuries ahead. 01:00.550 --> 01:03.050 I am also pleased to announce that the Secretary of State 01:03.050 --> 01:06.160 will travel to Bangkok, Thailand, Australia, 01:06.160 --> 01:08.350 and the Federated States of Micronesia 01:08.350 --> 01:11.010 July 30th through August 6th to deepen 01:11.010 --> 01:14.920 our longstanding alliances and vibrant bilateral relations 01:14.920 --> 01:17.640 with these countries, and to reaffirm 01:17.640 --> 01:20.190 our commitment to ASEAN, which is central 01:20.190 --> 01:23.070 to our vision for the Indo-Pacific region. 01:23.070 --> 01:25.730 On August 1st, Secretary Pompeo will arrive 01:25.730 --> 01:27.530 in Bangkok, where he will co-chair 01:27.530 --> 01:31.780 the U.S. Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, 01:31.780 --> 01:35.530 ministerial at the Lower Mekong Initiative ministerial. 01:35.530 --> 01:37.910 The next day, August 2nd, Secretary Pompeo 01:37.910 --> 01:40.510 will deliver remarks at the Siam Society 01:40.510 --> 01:44.520 on America's economic engagement in the Asia Pacific region. 01:44.520 --> 01:46.610 The Secretary will then participate 01:46.610 --> 01:48.617 in the East Asia Summit ministerial, 01:48.617 --> 01:50.740 the ASEAN Regional Forum ministerial, 01:50.740 --> 01:52.680 and will hold a bilateral meeting 01:52.680 --> 01:55.160 with Thai foreign minister to discuss 01:55.160 --> 01:58.760 ways to further strengthen the U.S.-Thai alliance. 01:58.760 --> 02:00.760 On August 3rd, the Secretary will travel 02:00.760 --> 02:02.700 from Thailand to Australia. 02:02.700 --> 02:04.750 On August 4th, Secretary Pompeo, 02:04.750 --> 02:06.860 along with Secretary of Defense Esper, 02:06.860 --> 02:10.160 will lead the U.S. delegation to the Australia-United States 02:10.160 --> 02:13.040 Ministerial Consultations, AUSMIN. 02:13.040 --> 02:14.950 As a part of his AUSMIN engagement, 02:14.950 --> 02:16.470 the Secretary will participate 02:16.470 --> 02:19.440 in dialogues aimed at strengthening the alliance, 02:19.440 --> 02:22.700 working shoulder to shoulder with Australia to meet global 02:22.700 --> 02:25.890 and transnational challenges, and safeguarding sovereignty 02:25.890 --> 02:30.000 in the Pacific Island countries and in Southeast Asia. 02:30.000 --> 02:32.040 The Secretary will also deliver remarks 02:32.040 --> 02:34.720 on the U.S.-Australia relationship 02:34.720 --> 02:37.210 at the State Library of New South Wales. 02:37.210 --> 02:38.760 Finally, the Secretary will meet 02:38.760 --> 02:40.840 with Prime Minister Morrison to discuss 02:40.840 --> 02:43.940 continued collaboration on advancing our shared set 02:43.940 --> 02:47.160 of values, principles, and overlapping interest. 02:47.160 --> 02:49.600 On August 5th, Secretary Pompeo will meet 02:49.600 --> 02:52.350 with the consulate general staff and family members, 02:52.350 --> 02:55.090 and then depart for the Federated States of Micronesia 02:55.090 --> 02:57.110 to reaffirm our special partnership 02:57.110 --> 02:59.530 with this Pacific Island country 02:59.530 --> 03:01.870 under our Compact of Free Association. 03:01.870 --> 03:05.000 The Secretary's visit to the Federated States of Micronesia 03:05.000 --> 03:06.660 marks the first-ever visit 03:06.660 --> 03:09.500 by a secretary of state to Micronesia. 03:09.500 --> 03:11.930 On this visit, Secretary Pompeo will meet 03:11.930 --> 03:14.550 with leaders of the Federated States of Micronesia, 03:14.550 --> 03:16.260 the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 03:16.260 --> 03:18.040 and the Republic of Palau. 03:18.040 --> 03:20.010 The Secretary will also meet with staff 03:20.010 --> 03:22.200 and family members of the U.S. embassy. 03:22.200 --> 03:24.060 Secretary Pompeo will finish his visit 03:24.060 --> 03:26.990 by paying his respect and laying a wreath 03:26.990 --> 03:28.930 to honor the service of the citizens 03:28.930 --> 03:31.250 of the Federated States of Micronesia 03:31.250 --> 03:33.793 and the U.S. Armed Forces. 03:35.800 --> 03:39.030 New today, the United States congratulates Boris Johnson 03:39.030 --> 03:42.200 on his appointment as the new UK prime minister. 03:42.200 --> 03:45.250 As the President said on his visit to the UK in June, 03:45.250 --> 03:47.067 the U.S.-UK special relationship 03:47.067 --> 03:49.927 "is grounded in common history, values, 03:49.927 --> 03:53.080 "customs, culture, language, and laws." 03:53.080 --> 03:55.840 This foundation gives strength to our enduring partnership 03:55.840 --> 03:59.080 as we face together emerging challenges in the world. 03:59.080 --> 04:01.180 We look forward to continuing this critical work 04:01.180 --> 04:03.130 with Prime Minister Johnson's government, 04:03.130 --> 04:04.310 and we remain committed 04:04.310 --> 04:08.280 to our shared global agenda and special relationship. 04:08.280 --> 04:11.240 On that note, the Secretary actually just got off the phone 04:11.240 --> 04:15.020 with newly appointed UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. 04:15.020 --> 04:16.950 I'm just gonna read this out to all of you, 04:16.950 --> 04:20.117 and of course you'll have a copy in your email as well. 04:20.117 --> 04:22.067 "Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke 04:22.067 --> 04:25.067 "with UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab today 04:25.067 --> 04:26.877 "to discuss key global priorities, 04:26.877 --> 04:29.297 "including countering Iran's attempts to expand 04:29.297 --> 04:33.127 "its nuclear program and strengthening the NATO alliance." 04:34.780 --> 04:35.970 Just a few more things for you, 04:35.970 --> 04:38.330 today, we offer our deepest condolences 04:38.330 --> 04:40.880 to the people of Tunisia on the passing 04:40.880 --> 04:44.250 of President Beji Caid Essebsi. 04:44.250 --> 04:45.620 President Essebsi was 04:45.620 --> 04:48.720 the first democratically elected president of Tunisia 04:48.720 --> 04:51.400 after its 2011 revolution. 04:51.400 --> 04:53.860 Throughout his long career, he distinguished himself 04:53.860 --> 04:55.370 as an advocate for the freedom 04:55.370 --> 04:57.740 and equality of the Tunisian people. 04:57.740 --> 04:59.590 As president, he was a close friend 04:59.590 --> 05:02.060 and valued partner of the United States. 05:02.060 --> 05:03.800 He will be remembered for his efforts 05:03.800 --> 05:05.520 to strengthen Tunisian democracy 05:05.520 --> 05:09.510 and for promoting peace and stability throughout the region. 05:09.510 --> 05:12.410 And finally, in response to the alarming trajectory 05:12.410 --> 05:15.920 of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 05:15.920 --> 05:18.760 USAID announced yesterday that it is providing 05:18.760 --> 05:23.310 more than $38 million in assistance, including 15 million 05:23.310 --> 05:26.730 in new funding for the World Health Organization. 05:26.730 --> 05:28.710 This brings the total USAID funding 05:28.710 --> 05:32.150 for this response to more than 136 million 05:32.150 --> 05:36.170 since the beginning of the outbreak in August 2018. 05:36.170 --> 05:38.920 We appreciate the work of all outbreak responders, 05:38.920 --> 05:43.370 led by the DRC Government with support from the UN, WHO, 05:43.370 --> 05:46.420 and NGOs, to contain this outbreak. 05:46.420 --> 05:49.200 USAID's Disaster Assistance Response Team, 05:49.200 --> 05:52.560 comprising of disaster and health experts from USAID 05:52.560 --> 05:57.070 and the CDC, have been on the ground since September 2018, 05:57.070 --> 06:00.500 working with the U.S. embassy on our response efforts. 06:00.500 --> 06:02.100 Ending this Ebola outbreak remains 06:02.100 --> 06:04.110 a priority for the U.S. Government. 06:04.110 --> 06:05.710 The United States is currently 06:05.710 --> 06:08.840 the largest single country donor to the Ebola response, 06:08.840 --> 06:11.610 and we call on other international donors to provide 06:11.610 --> 06:15.220 robust financial and technical support to the response, 06:15.220 --> 06:20.220 including through the DRC and WHO strategic response plan. 06:20.460 --> 06:22.128 The end, Matt. 06:22.128 --> 06:23.390 - [Matt] The end? (chuckles) 06:23.390 --> 06:24.799 - I could find one more for you, I'm sure. 06:24.799 --> 06:26.490 - I've gotta say, the teleprompter experiment 06:26.490 --> 06:28.170 is interesting, but I've now got a headache 06:28.170 --> 06:30.584 from trying to read upside down and backwards. 06:30.584 --> 06:31.490 - You know I'm going to say it all. 06:31.490 --> 06:32.782 You could just wait. 06:32.782 --> 06:34.210 (people laughing) 06:34.210 --> 06:37.070 - Can I ask you a very minor logistical question 06:37.070 --> 06:38.440 before moving to North Korea? 06:38.440 --> 06:40.470 And this is about the media note 06:40.470 --> 06:41.920 that you guys put out a little while ago 06:41.920 --> 06:44.920 about the call that Secretary Pompeo had 06:44.920 --> 06:47.000 with President Ghani of Afghanistan. 06:47.000 --> 06:48.270 Just two things about it, well, one, 06:48.270 --> 06:49.980 it says it's a joint statement. 06:49.980 --> 06:50.813 Is this a joint-- 06:50.813 --> 06:52.370 - Yeah, this is the call from yesterday, yes. 06:52.370 --> 06:53.988 - Yeah, joint U.S.-Afghan statement. 06:53.988 --> 06:54.821 - Yes sir. 06:54.821 --> 06:55.654 - Okay, and the other thing in it, 06:55.654 --> 06:57.280 it says that President Pompeo informed 06:57.280 --> 06:59.300 President, Secretary Pompeo, sorry-- 06:59.300 --> 07:00.850 - Freudian. - Getting ahead. 07:00.850 --> 07:03.430 Informed President Ghani that he had dispatched 07:04.570 --> 07:08.410 Joint Chiefs Dunford and does that mean 07:08.410 --> 07:10.180 that Secretary Pompeo called up 07:10.180 --> 07:11.810 General Dunford and said, you go, 07:11.810 --> 07:15.760 or does the he in that sentence refer to President Trump? 07:15.760 --> 07:18.850 - I'm pretty sure it does refer to President Trump. 07:18.850 --> 07:20.870 The Secretary has conversations 07:20.870 --> 07:22.590 with his counterparts on a daily basis, 07:22.590 --> 07:24.610 so we can parse that out for you if you need it. 07:24.610 --> 07:26.490 - No, no, I'm just curious because there was 07:26.490 --> 07:27.323 some question about that. 07:27.323 --> 07:30.910 Anyway, on North Korea, what do you guys 07:30.910 --> 07:34.680 make of these latest missile or projectile launches? 07:34.680 --> 07:37.580 Will they have any impact on your efforts 07:37.580 --> 07:40.150 to get things started again? 07:40.150 --> 07:42.850 And what's the North Korea component 07:42.850 --> 07:45.830 of the Secretary's travel that you announced? 07:45.830 --> 07:47.830 Not that he's going there, but-- 07:47.830 --> 07:50.300 - Yeah, there's no component to announce 07:50.300 --> 07:53.317 on the trip as it relates to North Korea. 07:53.317 --> 07:55.480 The White House issued a statement last night 07:55.480 --> 07:56.600 that you all should have a copy of. 07:56.600 --> 07:58.270 If not, our team will be happy 07:58.270 --> 07:59.410 to get it to you, and I don't think 07:59.410 --> 08:01.020 we're really gonna go beyond that statement. 08:01.020 --> 08:02.870 We're of course aware of the reports, 08:02.870 --> 08:06.460 but I think what the President has said 08:06.460 --> 08:07.293 and what the President has stressed, 08:07.293 --> 08:10.910 and the Secretary as well, is that we want to have 08:10.910 --> 08:13.470 diplomatic engagement with the North Koreans, 08:13.470 --> 08:16.390 and we continue to urge the North Koreans 08:16.390 --> 08:19.980 to resolve all of the things that the President 08:19.980 --> 08:23.700 and that Chairman Kim have talked about through diplomacy. 08:23.700 --> 08:26.610 We urge no more provocations and that all parties 08:26.610 --> 08:28.240 should abide by our obligations 08:28.240 --> 08:30.634 under UN Security Council resolutions. 08:30.634 --> 08:31.870 - But does that mean that you regard 08:31.870 --> 08:33.530 these launches as provocations 08:33.530 --> 08:37.470 or are you reserving judgment on what they are? 08:37.470 --> 08:39.540 - I mean, listen, what we're hoping is 08:39.540 --> 08:42.650 that after the historic visit that the President had 08:42.650 --> 08:47.560 at the DMZ with Kim Jong-un and many members of both teams, 08:47.560 --> 08:49.930 including the Secretary and Steve Biegun, 08:49.930 --> 08:51.480 is that we can continue to move forward 08:51.480 --> 08:53.380 on the commitments made in Vietnam. 08:53.380 --> 08:56.270 And this administration is committed 08:56.270 --> 08:58.970 to diplomatic engagement with the North Koreans, 08:58.970 --> 09:01.070 and we continue to press and hope 09:01.070 --> 09:04.500 for these working-level negotiations to move forward. 09:04.500 --> 09:05.870 - I'll drop it after this, but I just want to, 09:05.870 --> 09:07.687 you urge them not to, you said, 09:07.687 --> 09:10.170 "We urge no more provocations," what you said. 09:10.170 --> 09:12.480 But do you consider launches like this 09:12.480 --> 09:14.610 to be provocations or no? 09:14.610 --> 09:18.140 - What would be most productive is for Chairman Kim 09:18.140 --> 09:21.520 and his staff and for President Trump and all of his staff 09:21.520 --> 09:24.530 to continue upon the path that was laid out for us 09:24.530 --> 09:26.450 both in Vietnam and at the DMZ, 09:26.450 --> 09:28.800 and that is a diplomatic resolution 09:28.800 --> 09:31.970 and the end of North Korea's nuclear weapons. 09:31.970 --> 09:33.780 I mean, that's what we have stated 09:33.780 --> 09:37.160 as our goal this entire time, and clearly, 09:37.160 --> 09:38.850 as we often state every time we talk about it, 09:38.850 --> 09:42.260 sanctions will remain in effect until all parties believe 09:42.260 --> 09:44.470 that we have reached that goal, yeah. 09:44.470 --> 09:46.530 - [Reporter] Follow-up on North Korea. 09:46.530 --> 09:51.340 - You were hopeful after the visit to the DMZ to resume 09:51.340 --> 09:56.340 these talking-level negotiations by mid-July or July. 09:57.350 --> 10:01.810 Do you still plan them to start in the upcoming weeks? 10:01.810 --> 10:04.070 And I will follow up. 10:04.070 --> 10:07.970 Is there anything, any meeting on North Korea 10:07.970 --> 10:11.220 planned during the trip in Asia? 10:11.220 --> 10:12.670 - So we don't have any announcements 10:12.670 --> 10:14.450 about meetings with North Koreans, 10:14.450 --> 10:17.680 nor do I ever anticipate to read out 10:17.680 --> 10:20.610 individual talks, meetings, communications. 10:20.610 --> 10:22.430 When there is a status update, 10:22.430 --> 10:24.270 we will be more than happy to give it to you, 10:24.270 --> 10:26.980 but I think that the statement from the NSC 10:26.980 --> 10:28.380 speaks for itself, and I think we've been 10:28.380 --> 10:29.630 pretty consistent on how we-- 10:29.630 --> 10:30.463 - But you're still hopeful 10:30.463 --> 10:34.670 that the working-level talks will resume soon? 10:34.670 --> 10:36.610 - Yeah, diplomacy doesn't happen overnight. 10:36.610 --> 10:38.450 I wish it did, although I might be 10:38.450 --> 10:39.803 out of a job if it did, so maybe not. 10:39.803 --> 10:40.880 - Morgan. - Hi, Lesley. 10:40.880 --> 10:44.260 - Hello, what contacts has the Secretary made here? 10:44.260 --> 10:46.690 What calls has he made today regarding this? 10:46.690 --> 10:51.330 Has he spoken to counterparts in China, in Seoul? 10:51.330 --> 10:54.680 And what do you make of the North Korean foreign minister 10:54.680 --> 10:58.900 canceling his trip to Bangkok, which would've been 10:58.900 --> 11:00.520 the opportunity that Mr. Pompeo 11:00.520 --> 11:02.100 would have had to talk to him? 11:02.100 --> 11:04.440 - Yeah, I saw that media press report, 11:04.440 --> 11:09.027 and I don't comment or speculate on, 11:09.027 --> 11:12.600 as far as I read, an unnamed source saying that. 11:12.600 --> 11:15.820 So that's not something that we would comment on. 11:15.820 --> 11:17.940 And in terms of the Secretary's schedule 11:17.940 --> 11:20.900 of whom he's spoken with today, I have the readout for you 11:20.900 --> 11:23.550 from the new UK foreign minister, of course, 11:23.550 --> 11:25.360 and I don't have anything else beyond that for today. 11:25.360 --> 11:27.430 - [Lesley] And that's included talks on North Korea? 11:27.430 --> 11:28.263 They would-- 11:28.263 --> 11:30.070 - No, no, no, I'm just talking about his public calls, 11:30.070 --> 11:31.860 calls with foreign counterparts today. 11:31.860 --> 11:33.130 - So no calls on-- 11:33.130 --> 11:34.000 - I'm not saying no calls. 11:34.000 --> 11:35.076 I'm just saying that I don't have anything to read out. 11:35.076 --> 11:36.150 - [Lesley] You don't have anything, okay. 11:36.150 --> 11:37.730 - Yeah, hi. 11:37.730 --> 11:38.682 Yeah, go ahead, hi. 11:38.682 --> 11:40.657 - Thank you, Morgan, on North Korea, 11:40.657 --> 11:45.657 recently, Secretary Pompeo interviewed with radio stations. 11:45.750 --> 11:49.750 He said that he will give North Korea 11:49.750 --> 11:54.750 security guarantees if North Korea denuclearizations. 11:55.010 --> 11:59.330 What is the U.S.'s specific security guarantees 11:59.330 --> 12:01.370 for the North Korea? 12:01.370 --> 12:02.950 - Well, I don't want to go beyond 12:02.950 --> 12:05.210 what the Secretary said there, but again, 12:05.210 --> 12:07.700 if you look at this from a 30,000-foot level 12:07.700 --> 12:09.950 and what we continue to stress, 12:09.950 --> 12:14.060 that is our hope and our goal in these negotiations is 12:14.060 --> 12:16.740 a denuclearized North Korea, of course. 12:16.740 --> 12:19.660 But also, something that the Secretary has said often 12:19.660 --> 12:23.190 and the President has said as well is that we do want 12:23.190 --> 12:25.350 Chairman Kim and the people of North Korea 12:25.350 --> 12:27.140 to see a brighter future for them. 12:27.140 --> 12:29.360 It could be a future without sanctions. 12:29.360 --> 12:31.710 It could be a future of economic cooperation 12:31.710 --> 12:33.160 where they could be brought into the fold, 12:33.160 --> 12:34.950 into the international community. 12:34.950 --> 12:38.067 And that is the bright future that we're aiming for here. 12:38.067 --> 12:39.820 But I'm not gonna get into any more. 12:39.820 --> 12:41.850 So we can keep talking about North Korea, guys, 12:41.850 --> 12:43.910 but I'm not gonna have anything else, so. 12:43.910 --> 12:45.740 - Can I have a quick follow-up? 12:45.740 --> 12:48.470 So has the working-level dialogue 12:48.470 --> 12:50.980 been affected at all by North Korea's behavior? 12:50.980 --> 12:53.140 - I think I just asked and answered, next? 12:53.140 --> 12:55.230 - [Nazira] Yeah, me? 12:55.230 --> 12:56.650 - We'll go second row then third. 12:56.650 --> 12:57.598 How 'bout that? - Okay. 12:57.598 --> 12:58.840 Could you explain the status 12:58.840 --> 13:00.530 of the maritime security initiative 13:00.530 --> 13:02.940 that you announced earlier this month? 13:02.940 --> 13:04.350 Have other countries joined it, 13:04.350 --> 13:07.090 and how's it gonna work with the European force? 13:07.090 --> 13:09.590 - So the DOD just released a statement 13:09.590 --> 13:11.167 on a meeting that they had today, 13:11.167 --> 13:12.960 and so I would refer you to their statement. 13:12.960 --> 13:15.210 Again, you could get it from them, or our team will be 13:15.210 --> 13:19.940 more than happy to provide updates on this. 13:19.940 --> 13:22.630 There is not a specific update. 13:22.630 --> 13:24.470 This is something that Brian Hook 13:24.470 --> 13:26.560 and the Secretary are working quite closely 13:26.560 --> 13:29.000 with our partners and allies around the world. 13:29.000 --> 13:31.310 I mean, the goal here is, of course, 13:31.310 --> 13:34.140 for security in the Straits of Hormuz. 13:34.140 --> 13:37.170 We're focused on navigational rights, 13:37.170 --> 13:39.400 freedom of the seas in the straits, 13:39.400 --> 13:42.410 and this is a security initiative that we think, 13:42.410 --> 13:46.370 no matter what your policy position is with the U.S., 13:46.370 --> 13:48.510 we think that our allies and friends can welcome 13:48.510 --> 13:50.580 this initiative as something that's region-wide. 13:50.580 --> 13:52.199 I promised you next, yes. - Follow-up? 13:52.199 --> 13:53.032 Follow-up? 13:53.032 --> 13:54.332 - No, I promised her next, thank you. 13:54.332 --> 13:56.174 - Nazira Karimi, Afghan Independent journalist. 13:56.174 --> 13:57.007 - Yep. 13:57.007 --> 13:59.480 - Morgan, there is two things, so many things, actually. 13:59.480 --> 14:02.560 Prime Minister Imran Khan was in Washington. 14:02.560 --> 14:03.486 Afghan people are-- 14:03.486 --> 14:04.460 - [Morgan] Did you say Prime Minister Khan? 14:04.460 --> 14:06.150 Is that what you said? - Khan, Imran Khan. 14:06.150 --> 14:08.330 Afghan people had a very high expectation 14:08.330 --> 14:09.870 that they will solve the problem 14:09.870 --> 14:12.510 and President Trump will discuss 14:12.510 --> 14:15.313 very seriously Afghanistan issue. 14:16.270 --> 14:19.060 Instead of they get happy, they are unhappy. 14:19.060 --> 14:22.444 The last statement of Donald Trump was-- 14:22.444 --> 14:23.690 - Who's unhappy? 14:23.690 --> 14:27.070 - Afghan people, Afghan people, they are not satisfied. 14:27.070 --> 14:30.910 And also, the last statement of President Trump 14:30.910 --> 14:33.070 make Afghan people unhappy. 14:33.070 --> 14:38.070 They are very disappointed for ending of war in Afghanistan. 14:38.550 --> 14:41.300 And Ambassador Khalilzad also went 14:41.300 --> 14:44.190 to Afghanistan to continue peace process. 14:44.190 --> 14:45.250 Do you have any comment? 14:45.250 --> 14:47.540 Because Afghan people, they are very disappointed 14:47.540 --> 14:50.740 and very unhappy for the latest statement from Donald Trump. 14:50.740 --> 14:52.690 - I would remind the Afghan people 14:52.690 --> 14:55.960 the countless number of thousands, 14:55.960 --> 14:57.663 of tens of thousands of lives, 14:59.020 --> 15:02.260 American lives and lives of our NATO allies 15:02.260 --> 15:06.010 and our European allies, that have been lost fighting 15:06.010 --> 15:08.310 in Afghanistan for the people of Afghanistan 15:08.310 --> 15:11.260 to have a right to choose their own future, 15:11.260 --> 15:13.330 not just the number of lives lost 15:13.330 --> 15:16.270 but the billions of dollars that have spent there. 15:16.270 --> 15:18.760 You could probably look at most of the people in this room 15:18.760 --> 15:20.520 that serve here at the State Department, 15:20.520 --> 15:22.300 and we have either served ourselves 15:22.300 --> 15:24.210 or we've had family members that have served. 15:24.210 --> 15:26.340 I have someone on my staff whose husband 15:26.340 --> 15:27.620 is serving there right now. 15:27.620 --> 15:30.940 So I think that the people of Afghanistan should know 15:30.940 --> 15:35.610 that for almost 20 years, Americans have lost their lives 15:35.610 --> 15:38.470 and have spent their hard-earned taxpayer money 15:38.470 --> 15:40.460 to see the people of Afghanistan have 15:40.460 --> 15:42.250 a choice for their own future. 15:42.250 --> 15:44.820 And that commitment has not been a small commitment. 15:44.820 --> 15:47.090 That has been a vast and sweeping commitment 15:47.090 --> 15:48.260 by the American people. 15:48.260 --> 15:49.450 I promised you next. 15:49.450 --> 15:50.982 Who is your name? 15:50.982 --> 15:51.815 - [Reporter in Black Suit] Yeah, Voice of America. 15:51.815 --> 15:54.460 - If you guys, don't do that. 15:54.460 --> 15:56.010 Go ahead. 15:56.010 --> 15:58.130 - Following up on Laurie's question 15:58.130 --> 16:01.270 regarding the maritime security initiative, 16:01.270 --> 16:04.140 the Islamic Republic of Iran has finally been able to shake 16:04.140 --> 16:08.320 the Europeans with seizing the British tanker 16:08.320 --> 16:10.760 in the Persian Gulf, and now they're thinking 16:10.760 --> 16:14.530 of their own maybe initiative or at least-- 16:14.530 --> 16:15.363 - You're talking about the Brits? 16:15.363 --> 16:16.763 - Yes. - Yeah, okay. 16:18.820 --> 16:21.810 - They're trying to maybe create an alliance 16:21.810 --> 16:25.530 for escorting ships or providing their security anyways. 16:25.530 --> 16:27.500 And it seems like they want to do it 16:27.500 --> 16:29.973 independent of the United States. 16:30.870 --> 16:32.570 Does the administration think that this is 16:32.570 --> 16:35.800 a good idea, to have two separate lines 16:35.800 --> 16:39.460 of initiatives and attempts for that? 16:40.490 --> 16:42.036 - And remind me what publication you're with, I'm sorry. 16:42.036 --> 16:43.090 - [Reporter in Black Suit] Voice of America Persian Service. 16:43.090 --> 16:44.100 - Oh, you're with Voice of America. 16:44.100 --> 16:45.470 That's right, sorry, apologize. 16:45.470 --> 16:47.320 I'm still trying to remember everyone's name. 16:47.320 --> 16:50.700 So, no, we welcome any effort by the Europeans, 16:50.700 --> 16:52.840 by our allies, by our partners. 16:52.840 --> 16:54.640 We started this press conference off 16:55.544 --> 16:59.217 by congratulating the new prime minister. 16:59.217 --> 17:02.053 And as I just said just literally minutes ago, 17:02.950 --> 17:05.010 Secretary Pompeo had a conversation 17:05.010 --> 17:07.957 with the new foreign minister in the UK, 17:07.957 --> 17:10.380 and of course, I've been a part of many conversations 17:10.380 --> 17:12.870 and many meetings that the Secretary has had 17:12.870 --> 17:14.010 with his British counterparts. 17:14.010 --> 17:17.300 So we think that we have a strong, enduring relationship. 17:17.300 --> 17:20.610 We work incredibly closely with the British 17:20.610 --> 17:22.650 and with the Europeans on a number of issues. 17:22.650 --> 17:25.330 We don't see daylight between our two countries, 17:25.330 --> 17:28.180 but I think it's important to note that the prime minister, 17:28.180 --> 17:30.220 the new prime minister, is forming his government, 17:30.220 --> 17:31.800 just named his foreign minister, 17:31.800 --> 17:35.000 and we want to give them the opportunity to articulate 17:35.000 --> 17:37.840 how they feel about any British policies, not just this one. 17:37.840 --> 17:39.931 So I think we'll give them the space to comment further. 17:39.931 --> 17:41.340 - [Reporter in Black Suit] It's the British, the French, 17:41.340 --> 17:43.230 the Danes, they're all thinking about-- 17:43.230 --> 17:45.550 - Yeah, we're very supportive, yeah. 17:45.550 --> 17:46.640 Hi. - On Turkey? 17:46.640 --> 17:49.360 - Sure, can you say your name and who you're with? 17:49.360 --> 17:51.730 - [Namo] Namo Abdulla with Rudaw from Kurdistan. 17:51.730 --> 17:55.390 - Thank you, appreciate it. - Thank you. 17:55.390 --> 17:56.290 - Your question's on Turkey? 17:56.290 --> 18:01.290 - Yes, U.S., after special envoy James Jeffrey's meetings 18:01.887 --> 18:06.870 in Ankara, the U.S. embassy put out a statement 18:06.870 --> 18:10.610 describing it as forthright, positive, and productive. 18:10.610 --> 18:13.460 But the Turkish foreign minister, following that statement, 18:13.460 --> 18:18.460 he said that Turkey was rejecting the U.S. offer on Syria. 18:19.420 --> 18:22.250 We don't really know what was the offer. 18:22.250 --> 18:23.783 If you can give us more detail, 18:23.783 --> 18:24.616 that would be most appreciated. 18:24.616 --> 18:25.534 - Yeah, I don't think that I'm gonna go 18:25.534 --> 18:27.810 beyond the readout that the embassy put out. 18:27.810 --> 18:30.960 I will say that clearly this is not an easy issue. 18:30.960 --> 18:32.760 This is one of the more challenging issues 18:32.760 --> 18:36.580 that Ambassador Jeffrey has in his portfolio. 18:36.580 --> 18:38.300 And the President's goals in Syria, 18:38.300 --> 18:42.670 the Secretary's goals in Syria are, of course, 18:42.670 --> 18:45.800 to prevent a security vacuum that destabilizes the area, 18:45.800 --> 18:47.860 and we want to do that by addressing 18:47.860 --> 18:51.870 Turkey's legitimate security concerns and by also protecting 18:51.870 --> 18:53.840 our partners in the fight against ISIS. 18:53.840 --> 18:56.570 So we certainly appreciate the efforts 18:56.570 --> 19:01.120 of the ambassador, and we believe 19:01.120 --> 19:04.020 these talks will continue, that they did not end. 19:04.020 --> 19:04.853 Hi, Christina. 19:04.853 --> 19:06.150 - [Christina] Hi, do we have 19:06.150 --> 19:10.230 any updates on the S-400 sanctions? 19:10.230 --> 19:12.880 And can you tell us what is taking so long? 19:12.880 --> 19:15.453 Is there a chance that there will be no sanctions? 19:15.453 --> 19:17.740 Will there be sanctions? 19:17.740 --> 19:19.250 What's going on with all the CAATSA? 19:19.250 --> 19:20.650 - I would point you to, first of all, 19:20.650 --> 19:23.440 to the President's statements about the F-35, 19:23.440 --> 19:27.170 and that is certainly not insignificant. 19:27.170 --> 19:30.400 That was something that the President took 19:30.400 --> 19:32.670 and the Department of Defense took very, very seriously. 19:32.670 --> 19:34.610 I mean, that's a very, very heavy action. 19:34.610 --> 19:37.000 As it relates to CAATSA, there is 19:37.000 --> 19:39.640 no timetable in the legislation. 19:39.640 --> 19:43.530 We continue, of course, to talk to the Turks 19:43.530 --> 19:46.740 about this and to reiterate our concern. 19:46.740 --> 19:50.060 And so we don't have anything new to announce today, 19:50.060 --> 19:51.750 but I would certainly point you 19:51.750 --> 19:53.480 to the President's comments last week 19:53.480 --> 19:56.250 about where we are in terms of the F-35 program, 19:56.250 --> 19:58.420 but nothing new to announce today on sanctions. 19:58.420 --> 19:59.860 - Could you give us any guidance, though, 19:59.860 --> 20:01.210 as to why it's taking so long? 20:01.210 --> 20:04.640 Because we've known this was coming for a very long time. 20:04.640 --> 20:06.730 The F-35 announcement was ready to go 20:06.730 --> 20:09.040 as soon as the delivery, well, it was delayed a little bit, 20:09.040 --> 20:13.400 but fairly quickly after the announcement. 20:13.400 --> 20:15.040 I would imagine that your staff 20:15.040 --> 20:16.580 or the staff here was prepared for this, 20:16.580 --> 20:18.750 so why didn't they have this ready to go 20:18.750 --> 20:21.410 when they took delivery of the S-400? 20:21.410 --> 20:23.360 - I think that, again, there's no timetable 20:23.360 --> 20:25.940 on the President making a decision 20:25.940 --> 20:28.262 with the consultation of the Secretary, and I want to give 20:28.262 --> 20:31.200 the President and the Secretary the space to do that. 20:31.200 --> 20:33.700 I think it's important to remember that Turkey is, 20:33.700 --> 20:36.370 of course, a NATO ally, and the actions 20:36.370 --> 20:38.860 that we've taken thus far are significant. 20:38.860 --> 20:41.420 And one of the things that we always do 20:41.420 --> 20:43.150 here at the State Department is 20:43.150 --> 20:45.050 we always try to preserve diplomacy. 20:45.050 --> 20:48.050 We always try to preserve relationships. 20:48.050 --> 20:51.430 Turkey has worked with us incredibly hard 20:51.430 --> 20:56.390 on the fight against ISIS in Syria, and they have 20:56.390 --> 20:59.020 many of their own accomplishments to point to there. 20:59.020 --> 21:03.560 So sanctioning a NATO ally is a very, very serious action, 21:03.560 --> 21:06.910 and when the President and the Secretary are ready to make 21:06.910 --> 21:09.059 a determination under CAATSA, I will be 21:09.059 --> 21:11.870 more than happy to tell you all of that. 21:11.870 --> 21:13.050 So a follow-up? 21:13.050 --> 21:14.140 - Yes. - Mm-hmm. 21:14.140 --> 21:18.330 - On Turkey, today, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar 21:18.330 --> 21:21.200 met with Turkish generals, and he stated, 21:21.200 --> 21:25.927 we expect U.S. to review our proposals and give answers. 21:25.927 --> 21:28.677 "We cannot tolerate a delay, and we will take 21:28.677 --> 21:30.320 "the initiative necessary." 21:30.320 --> 21:32.436 He was talking about-- - Who said this? 21:32.436 --> 21:35.520 - Turkish defense minister, Hulusi Akar, he was talking 21:35.520 --> 21:40.520 about the possible intervention in northeastern Syria. 21:40.660 --> 21:42.380 Turkish forces are massing there. 21:42.380 --> 21:47.380 What is your view about the possible Turkish intervention 21:48.280 --> 21:49.950 in northeastern Syria? 21:49.950 --> 21:53.320 - Yeah, again, this is an issue that Ambassador Jeffrey 21:53.320 --> 21:55.760 is working very, very closely on, 21:55.760 --> 21:58.170 of course, in the discussions with the safe zone 21:58.170 --> 21:59.750 in Turkey that we just talked about. 21:59.750 --> 22:02.260 So I don't think I'm gonna go beyond that readout. 22:02.260 --> 22:05.930 As I said, this is an incredibly sensitive situation. 22:05.930 --> 22:09.050 We have American troops present as well, 22:09.050 --> 22:11.670 and we're gonna continue to work 22:11.670 --> 22:14.450 closely with Turkey on this issue, yeah. 22:14.450 --> 22:17.173 - What is the U.S. reaction to the admission 22:17.173 --> 22:20.620 by the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan 22:20.620 --> 22:24.670 during his visit at an event at the U.S. Institute of Peace 22:24.670 --> 22:29.540 that Pakistan still has around 30,000 to 40,000 militants 22:30.500 --> 22:34.540 who fought and are trained in Afghanistan, Kashmir? 22:34.540 --> 22:37.100 So how do you see the U.S-Pakistan relations 22:37.100 --> 22:39.620 and Indo-Pak relationship progressing 22:39.620 --> 22:42.400 with this kind of an admission? 22:42.400 --> 22:44.740 - Sure, so I mean, this was an initial meeting. 22:44.740 --> 22:46.880 This meeting, of course, gave the chance 22:46.880 --> 22:49.450 for the President and the Secretary 22:50.510 --> 22:52.240 to meet with Prime Minister Khan, 22:52.240 --> 22:55.160 to build a personal connection and rapport. 22:55.160 --> 22:57.550 And now we think it's time to make progress 22:57.550 --> 23:00.220 on the success of this first meeting. 23:00.220 --> 23:03.380 I would note one of the things that the prime minister says 23:03.380 --> 23:05.450 that he vowed to urge the Taliban 23:05.450 --> 23:08.720 to negotiate with the Afghan Government. 23:08.720 --> 23:10.550 We are committed to peace in Afghanistan. 23:10.550 --> 23:12.030 We think that was an important step. 23:12.030 --> 23:14.390 And there was a number of issues that were discussed 23:14.390 --> 23:16.220 not only in the President's meeting 23:16.220 --> 23:17.950 but with the Secretary's meeting as well, 23:17.950 --> 23:20.730 and now is the time to build upon that meeting 23:20.730 --> 23:22.740 and to build upon those commitments. 23:22.740 --> 23:23.743 Said. - Thank you, Morgan. 23:23.743 --> 23:26.680 Very quickly, this week, Israel demolished 23:26.680 --> 23:30.750 about a hundred housing units, Palestinian housing units, 23:30.750 --> 23:32.350 displacing about a thousand people, 23:32.350 --> 23:34.080 but you did not issue any statements. 23:34.080 --> 23:36.610 I mean, your ally, this is, of course, 23:36.610 --> 23:38.360 contrary to international law on-- 23:38.360 --> 23:40.080 - Are you referring to Wadi al-Hummus? 23:40.080 --> 23:44.137 - Yes, yeah, so I wonder if you would comment on that. 23:44.137 --> 23:46.293 You know, it's in East Jerusalem. 23:47.310 --> 23:48.840 You didn't issue any statement. 23:48.840 --> 23:51.339 What is your position on the demolition? 23:51.339 --> 23:53.250 - So we're aware of them, obviously, 23:53.250 --> 23:55.360 as you and I just spoke about, and we understand 23:55.360 --> 23:58.363 that there has been also a very legal, 23:59.200 --> 24:01.720 excuse me, lengthy legal process here. 24:01.720 --> 24:03.850 But we're gonna refer you to the Government of Israel 24:03.850 --> 24:06.720 for more information because this is theirs. 24:06.720 --> 24:10.370 I would just say we talk a lot about, you and I do, Said, 24:10.370 --> 24:12.240 about some of these individual issues, 24:12.240 --> 24:14.080 but what we think is important, 24:14.080 --> 24:18.370 the President has stated that he thinks that it's important 24:18.370 --> 24:20.500 for these two parties to get to the table, 24:20.500 --> 24:22.540 to work, to talk, to negotiate. 24:22.540 --> 24:25.560 And again, as we talked about North Korea earlier, 24:25.560 --> 24:29.690 it's easy to get into the individual discussions 24:29.690 --> 24:31.740 on a daily basis, but again, if we pull back 24:31.740 --> 24:34.540 and we look at this from the 30,000-foot level, 24:34.540 --> 24:37.480 we would urge both sides to come together to talk 24:37.480 --> 24:38.910 and to negotiate, and that's why we have 24:38.910 --> 24:42.010 so many people who are committed to this in our government. 24:42.010 --> 24:44.520 - I understand, but this is on land 24:44.520 --> 24:46.157 in Area A which you helped negotiate. 24:46.157 --> 24:50.730 I mean, this was an agreement that was sponsored 24:50.730 --> 24:52.840 by the U.S., negotiated by the U.S. 24:52.840 --> 24:55.490 So you have no position on the demolition of home 24:55.490 --> 24:57.790 and displacement of Palestinians in their own land? 24:57.790 --> 25:00.880 I mean, they're on their side of the wall that, 25:00.880 --> 25:03.035 to begin with, was taken from that land. 25:03.035 --> 25:03.868 You don't have a position-- 25:03.868 --> 25:05.970 - I think you would be a good negotiator for them, Said. 25:05.970 --> 25:08.430 Listen, we're aware of them, Said, and as we've said, 25:08.430 --> 25:09.600 we've noted that there also has been 25:09.600 --> 25:12.900 a very, very lengthy legal process that you and I 25:12.900 --> 25:14.820 can't get into here from the podium. 25:14.820 --> 25:16.950 But we would refer you to the Government of Israel 25:16.950 --> 25:17.783 for anything further. 25:17.783 --> 25:21.840 - And one last one on Mr. Greenblatt gave a speech 25:21.840 --> 25:24.680 at the UN, Mr. Greenblatt, on Tuesday 25:24.680 --> 25:27.880 in which he dismissed international resolutions and laws 25:27.880 --> 25:30.490 when it comes to resolving the Palestinian-Israeli issue. 25:30.490 --> 25:32.820 And my question to you, are you still committed 25:32.820 --> 25:35.070 to the resolution that you are party to? 25:35.070 --> 25:38.410 Or is that gone to like 242, 336, 487? 25:38.410 --> 25:40.610 I could name many, many resolutions-- 25:40.610 --> 25:42.135 - I need to go back and look at his comments. 25:42.135 --> 25:42.990 I don't know that I agree 25:42.990 --> 25:44.820 with how you're characterizing his comments, 25:44.820 --> 25:47.130 so let me look at them and get back to you. 25:47.130 --> 25:48.658 But go ahead, yeah. - I appreciate that. 25:48.658 --> 25:49.491 - [Reporter Wearing Fleece] Can we just go 25:49.491 --> 25:51.000 back to Afghanistan and Pakistan for a minute? 25:51.000 --> 25:52.116 - Sure. 25:52.116 --> 25:55.360 - So the Pakistani prime minister said that there would be 25:55.360 --> 25:59.550 good news on U.S. hostages in the next 48 hours. 25:59.550 --> 26:03.010 That was Monday night, so it's already past 48 hours. 26:03.010 --> 26:04.880 Do you have any update on that? 26:04.880 --> 26:08.850 - Well, this administration has a very strong record, 26:08.850 --> 26:12.460 actually, on getting American hostages returned. 26:12.460 --> 26:15.950 We take human lives incredibly seriously, 26:15.950 --> 26:18.900 and we will use every means available at our disposal 26:18.900 --> 26:22.590 to secure and to see the secure and safe return 26:22.590 --> 26:25.730 of American citizens who are held hostage abroad. 26:25.730 --> 26:27.420 The prime minister did say that. 26:27.420 --> 26:28.940 We are, of course, working closely 26:28.940 --> 26:30.960 with the Pakistanis on recovering them. 26:30.960 --> 26:32.830 We think his statements were helpful, 26:32.830 --> 26:34.700 and we're, of course, hopeful that there will be 26:34.700 --> 26:36.690 some action proceeding those statements. 26:36.690 --> 26:38.880 - So we didn't fail to deliver on a promise. 26:38.880 --> 26:40.210 It's just still in works? 26:40.210 --> 26:41.800 - Yes, that's fair, that's accurate. 26:41.800 --> 26:44.800 - And then on Afghanistan, the readout 26:44.800 --> 26:48.880 between Ghani and Secretary Pompeo said 26:48.880 --> 26:52.430 that now is the time to accelerate efforts to reach 26:52.430 --> 26:54.700 a negotiated end to the war in Afghanistan. 26:54.700 --> 26:55.710 Why now? 26:55.710 --> 26:59.370 I mean, if there is indeed a condition-based strategy 26:59.370 --> 27:02.950 for the U.S., how are the conditions on the ground 27:04.020 --> 27:08.050 in a place where now should be the time for peace 27:08.050 --> 27:09.900 to be negotiated at a faster-- 27:09.900 --> 27:11.230 - Yeah, I understand what you're saying. 27:11.230 --> 27:12.610 That's a fair question, and I think 27:12.610 --> 27:16.210 that we will always continue to assess the situation 27:16.210 --> 27:18.070 on the ground, and the Secretary 27:18.070 --> 27:19.490 has always been committed to that, 27:19.490 --> 27:21.540 certainly in his public testimony 27:21.540 --> 27:23.260 when he's talked to Congress about this. 27:23.260 --> 27:25.280 But as I opened up, I think, in one of the first 27:25.280 --> 27:28.100 or second questions that I answered, 27:28.100 --> 27:31.730 we talked about the number of American lives and NATO lives, 27:31.730 --> 27:34.850 the billions of dollars that American taxpayers have spent, 27:34.850 --> 27:36.450 and so I don't think that there is 27:36.450 --> 27:38.610 any doubt of the American commitment 27:38.610 --> 27:42.840 for almost two decades to Afghanistan, 27:42.840 --> 27:46.010 one in which, as I said, many of these people in the room, 27:46.010 --> 27:49.660 myself included, have sent our loved ones off to Afghanistan 27:49.660 --> 27:51.700 because of Americans' commitment, 27:51.700 --> 27:54.140 the American government commitment to see the Afghan people 27:54.140 --> 27:57.840 be able to choose their own future, to choose their leaders. 27:57.840 --> 28:00.490 And I think that's something, as an American 28:00.490 --> 28:01.910 and as a Department of State employee, 28:01.910 --> 28:03.841 that I'm incredibly proud of, okay? 28:03.841 --> 28:04.674 - [Reporter Wearing Fleece] And do you have any comment 28:04.674 --> 28:08.160 on the back-to-back explosions in Kabul just this week, 28:08.160 --> 28:10.790 one of which was claimed by the Taliban? 28:10.790 --> 28:11.623 - Any comment? 28:11.623 --> 28:14.910 No, I need to double-check, I think that we might have put 28:14.910 --> 28:19.390 a statement out on that from our SCA bureau, 28:19.390 --> 28:21.660 so I'll get that statement for you. 28:21.660 --> 28:23.540 I want to look at that and see exactly what it said. 28:23.540 --> 28:24.563 Go ahead. - I have two questions 28:24.563 --> 28:25.704 about Afghanistan and visit 28:25.704 --> 28:26.890 of the Prime Minister Imran Khan. 28:26.890 --> 28:28.730 - Okay, guys, I think I've answered it a lot, 28:28.730 --> 28:30.670 so I don't know that I have much more to say 28:30.670 --> 28:31.530 beyond what I've already said. 28:31.530 --> 28:33.610 So if you can be creative and ask me 28:33.610 --> 28:36.130 something I haven't been asked, kudos to you. 28:36.130 --> 28:36.963 If not-- 28:36.963 --> 28:37.796 - So my first question is there are 28:37.796 --> 28:40.690 reports that U.S. is looking for a deadline of September 1 28:40.690 --> 28:42.770 to reach an agreement with the Taliban. 28:42.770 --> 28:43.663 Is that true? 28:44.923 --> 28:47.710 - We're going through those negotiations. 28:47.710 --> 28:51.190 Ambassador Khalilzad travels quite a bit. 28:51.190 --> 28:52.920 As you know, we often talk about his travels 28:52.920 --> 28:56.513 here from the podium, and so I don't think 28:56.513 --> 28:59.210 that we're putting a specific date in terms of peace, 28:59.210 --> 29:01.700 but obviously, that's something that the President 29:01.700 --> 29:03.310 has said, since his campaign days, 29:03.310 --> 29:04.450 it's something that he's committed to. 29:04.450 --> 29:08.210 - And Prime Minister Imran Khan comments on terrorists, 29:08.210 --> 29:10.600 he said that there are 30 to 40 terrorist organizations-- 29:10.600 --> 29:12.620 - Yeah, somebody already said that, yeah. 29:12.620 --> 29:14.730 - [Reporter Wearing Purple Shirt] So did you ask him 29:14.730 --> 29:18.120 to act strongly against those terrorist groups? 29:18.120 --> 29:21.100 Are you satisfied that he'll take steps this time? 29:21.100 --> 29:22.880 - I'm not gonna go beyond the readout 29:22.880 --> 29:24.170 that we've given, that the White House gave 29:24.170 --> 29:25.580 of the President's meeting and, of course, 29:25.580 --> 29:28.590 the President spoke to it, and the meeting, 29:28.590 --> 29:30.550 of course, that I think all of you should have 29:30.550 --> 29:32.760 our readout from the Secretary's meeting. 29:32.760 --> 29:34.680 But again, let me just say holistically 29:34.680 --> 29:37.330 that when it comes to fighting terrorism, 29:37.330 --> 29:39.570 you have a Secretary of State who's been committed 29:39.570 --> 29:41.890 to this his entire career, and that's something 29:41.890 --> 29:44.350 that he is always going to raise with allies 29:44.350 --> 29:47.250 and friends and whomever comes to the table. 29:47.250 --> 29:50.080 I mean, whether it was his time in the Army 29:50.080 --> 29:52.280 or his time as director of the CIA, 29:52.280 --> 29:55.260 I don't know that I've ever met anyone more committed 29:55.260 --> 29:58.363 to fighting terrorism and to fighting injustice, 29:59.300 --> 30:01.230 and that's, again, something holistically 30:01.230 --> 30:02.639 that he's always fought for in his career. 30:02.639 --> 30:03.623 - [Reporter Wearing Purple Shirt] And finally, 30:03.623 --> 30:07.030 has the Kashmir policy of U.S. changed? 30:07.030 --> 30:10.030 Has there been any change in the U.S. policy on Kashmir? 30:10.030 --> 30:12.030 - Oh, are you referring to the President's statement? 30:12.030 --> 30:12.863 - Yes. - Yeah, I don't have 30:12.863 --> 30:14.810 anything to say beyond the President's statement. 30:14.810 --> 30:15.670 Hi, Barb, how are you? 30:15.670 --> 30:16.503 - Good, thank you. 30:16.503 --> 30:17.610 Just to follow up Said's question, 30:17.610 --> 30:20.680 I have Mr. Greenblatt's comments here, 30:20.680 --> 30:25.680 and he said international law, 30:25.680 --> 30:27.187 "This conflict is not gonna be resolved 30:27.187 --> 30:28.657 "by reference to international law 30:28.657 --> 30:31.407 "when such law is inconclusive. 30:31.407 --> 30:33.857 "We will not get to the bottom of whose interpretation 30:33.857 --> 30:36.487 "of international law is correct on this conflict. 30:36.487 --> 30:38.047 "It's a tricky subject. 30:38.047 --> 30:39.547 "This conflict will not be resolved 30:39.547 --> 30:41.087 "by constantly referencing the hundreds 30:41.087 --> 30:43.000 "of UN resolutions on the issue." 30:43.000 --> 30:45.370 So I just wondered if you could, again, 30:45.370 --> 30:46.940 that question, does that mean that the U.S. 30:46.940 --> 30:49.040 still sticks by the commitments it made 30:49.040 --> 30:50.790 under these UN resolutions previously? 30:50.790 --> 30:54.640 Or is Mr. Greenblatt saying we can't really reference 30:54.640 --> 30:56.950 this body of work that we've agreed to in the past 30:56.950 --> 30:58.930 because it's actually inconclusive 30:58.930 --> 31:00.720 and won't help to solve the conflict? 31:00.720 --> 31:02.910 - Yeah, I don't want to get ahead of the Secretary 31:02.910 --> 31:03.820 on this, so let me just take 31:03.820 --> 31:04.707 a further look at that and get back to you. 31:04.707 --> 31:06.020 - [Barb] I would really appreciate an answer at some point. 31:06.020 --> 31:07.970 - Sure, we'll get it to you today, no problem. 31:07.970 --> 31:08.820 Hi, Cindy. - Hi. 31:09.920 --> 31:12.700 As you know, President Trump vetoed 31:12.700 --> 31:15.848 congressional legislation on three measures-- 31:15.848 --> 31:16.690 - [Morgan] On the arms sales? 31:16.690 --> 31:18.430 - Exactly, that would have blocked certain arms sales 31:18.430 --> 31:20.430 to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. 31:20.430 --> 31:22.110 This caused some members of Congress 31:22.110 --> 31:23.340 to say that the administration 31:23.340 --> 31:25.610 is not treating them as a co-equal branch. 31:25.610 --> 31:28.010 Is the Secretary concerned about that perception? 31:28.010 --> 31:30.430 - Well, the Congress voted. 31:30.430 --> 31:32.180 They sent legislation to the President. 31:32.180 --> 31:33.770 He vetoed it. 31:33.770 --> 31:35.710 Ain't democracy grand? 31:35.710 --> 31:36.543 Next. - Follow-up on that? 31:36.543 --> 31:37.508 - Sure. 31:37.508 --> 31:40.900 - Just on the Saudi weapons, can you go over 31:40.900 --> 31:42.690 what's being done to ensure that those weapons 31:42.690 --> 31:44.903 won't be used on civilians in Yemen? 31:47.950 --> 31:50.740 - We would have to get into a specific discussion 31:50.740 --> 31:51.870 about the type of weapon. 31:51.870 --> 31:53.680 I mean, we'd have to get into a weapons discussion 31:53.680 --> 31:57.100 that probably goes beyond the State Department podium. 31:57.100 --> 31:58.700 We can get a much more lengthy 31:58.700 --> 32:01.128 and detailed discussion to you, but I don't think we can. 32:01.128 --> 32:03.710 We would have to go through every weapon that's in the thing 32:03.710 --> 32:05.480 in order to accurately answer that. 32:06.457 --> 32:07.992 - [Said] Morgan, just to follow up-- 32:07.992 --> 32:09.408 - Hold on, okay, Said. 32:09.408 --> 32:10.694 - [Said] I know it just happened. 32:10.694 --> 32:11.791 - I'm trying to get everyone a chance, Said. 32:11.791 --> 32:13.106 - No, no, I understand but-- 32:13.106 --> 32:14.490 - [Morgan] If something just happened, I probably don't know 32:14.490 --> 32:15.780 'cause I'm standing right here. 32:15.780 --> 32:17.620 - Well, it seems that the president 32:17.620 --> 32:19.920 of the Palestinian Authority just announced 32:19.920 --> 32:22.130 that he's suspending all agreements with Israel. 32:22.130 --> 32:23.610 I wonder if you would have or take-- 32:23.610 --> 32:25.114 - He announced this right now? 32:25.114 --> 32:26.420 - Just now. - I mean, Said. 32:26.420 --> 32:28.140 - [Said] I wonder if you would take that and-- 32:28.140 --> 32:30.212 - Yeah, if it happened when I was standing here, 32:30.212 --> 32:31.312 I'm not gonna have a comment, 32:31.312 --> 32:33.490 but we will get you one by the end of the day. 32:33.490 --> 32:34.500 Ben. 32:34.500 --> 32:37.090 - Thank you, Morgan, and forgive me if I missed it, 32:37.090 --> 32:39.070 but on the Secretary's travel to Bangkok, 32:39.070 --> 32:41.910 you only mentioned one bilateral meeting with Thailand. 32:41.910 --> 32:44.650 Will the Secretary have any time to meet with Seoul 32:44.650 --> 32:48.750 or Tokyo, maybe on a pull-aside, to talk about North Korea? 32:48.750 --> 32:50.610 And will Steve Biegun, does he have 32:50.610 --> 32:53.390 any plans to attend any ASEAN meetings? 32:53.390 --> 32:57.010 - So I'm not going to announce the individuals on the trip. 32:57.010 --> 33:00.910 I don't think that we do that here from the podium. 33:00.910 --> 33:03.820 In terms of his schedule in Thailand, 33:03.820 --> 33:05.063 I only said one meeting? 33:06.000 --> 33:08.000 I need to double-check to see if there's any, 33:08.000 --> 33:10.200 for all the reporters coming on the trip, 33:10.200 --> 33:12.170 they'll have the full public schedule 33:12.170 --> 33:13.610 and whatever press avails that we have, 33:13.610 --> 33:15.730 and they'll certainly have the opportunity 33:15.730 --> 33:18.150 to ask questions, so that won't be a problem. 33:18.150 --> 33:21.420 We'll make sure that the public portions 33:21.420 --> 33:23.250 of the schedule are available to you so-- 33:23.250 --> 33:26.600 - Do you know if Mr. Biegun's attending ASEAN meetings? 33:26.600 --> 33:27.940 - We're not gonna talk about individuals 33:27.940 --> 33:30.550 who will be on the trip right now, but thank you. 33:30.550 --> 33:31.579 In the pink. 33:31.579 --> 33:33.340 - [Muna] Yes, Muna Shikaki with Al Arabiya, 33:33.340 --> 33:34.470 I have a question about Qatar. 33:34.470 --> 33:35.313 - Al Arabiya? 33:35.313 --> 33:36.146 - Yes. - Okay. 33:36.146 --> 33:36.979 - I have a question about Qatar. 33:36.979 --> 33:39.700 There was an article in The New York Times this week 33:39.700 --> 33:42.470 that referenced a audio recording 33:42.470 --> 33:45.830 between a Qatari ambassador to Somalia 33:45.830 --> 33:48.210 and a Somali businessman talking 33:48.210 --> 33:51.630 about a terror attack and kind of referencing 33:51.630 --> 33:56.319 perhaps a Qatari role in the terrorist attack. 33:56.319 --> 33:57.163 - [Morgan] Oh, I think I know 33:57.163 --> 33:58.930 the article that you're talking about. 33:58.930 --> 34:00.640 - Is the U.S. either looking into this 34:00.640 --> 34:03.483 or concerned about it or has a statement about this? 34:05.110 --> 34:08.170 - I remember reading the article that you talked about. 34:08.170 --> 34:11.120 I mean, I don't think we would normally have 34:11.120 --> 34:14.860 official comments on articles like those 34:14.860 --> 34:18.060 that have accusations, but I'll be happy to check into it 34:18.060 --> 34:18.980 and look into it with the team. 34:18.980 --> 34:22.150 I did read that article, but to my knowledge, 34:22.150 --> 34:25.210 the Secretary nor NEA, which is a part of that bureau, 34:25.210 --> 34:29.160 has made any sort of public comment on those allegations. 34:29.160 --> 34:30.605 Okay, Nike, last one. 34:30.605 --> 34:32.730 - [Nike] Quick question, 34:32.730 --> 34:35.550 recently Russian military fighter planes 34:36.407 --> 34:41.060 invaded Korean air defense identification zones. 34:41.060 --> 34:41.893 What is your comment? 34:41.893 --> 34:43.840 - I mean, the Japanese might have issue 34:43.840 --> 34:45.210 with you saying that, but yes. 34:45.210 --> 34:46.800 - [Nike] Yes, and what-- 34:46.800 --> 34:47.690 - What's your question about it? 34:47.690 --> 34:52.040 - [Nike] Yeah, what is your official comment for this? 34:52.040 --> 34:54.530 - Yeah, I mean, we're aware of those reports. 34:54.530 --> 34:58.960 I think the White House has put out comments on that 34:58.960 --> 35:01.563 as well as soon as it happened. 35:02.900 --> 35:05.773 And we obviously consider those sorts of, 35:07.110 --> 35:08.550 and actually, now that I think about it, 35:08.550 --> 35:11.270 Secretary Esper spoke about it late yesterday, 35:11.270 --> 35:14.683 so I would also point you back to his comments as well. 35:16.090 --> 35:17.470 We think that those sorts of actions 35:17.470 --> 35:18.800 are certainly provocative. 35:18.800 --> 35:21.630 It's not something that we're supportive of, 35:21.630 --> 35:23.160 and we would hope that the Russians 35:23.160 --> 35:24.720 would not continue to do that. 35:24.720 --> 35:26.377 - Thank you. - Okay, thank you. 35:30.145 --> 35:31.332 (people chattering)