WEBVTT 00:06.140 --> 00:09.450 Good afternoon . Okay , no 00:10.540 --> 00:12.596 few things at the top and then we'll 00:12.940 --> 00:15.450 get right to your questions first . As 00:15.450 --> 00:17.561 you know , President Biden pledged to 00:17.561 --> 00:19.394 host the summit for Democracy to 00:19.394 --> 00:21.561 reinforce the United States commitment 00:21.561 --> 00:23.672 to placing democracy and human rights 00:23.672 --> 00:25.783 at the centre of our foreign policy . 00:25.783 --> 00:27.783 And earlier today , the White House 00:27.783 --> 00:30.006 announced the President biden will host 00:30.006 --> 00:31.950 to some . It's the first will be a 00:31.950 --> 00:34.228 virtual event on december 9th and 10th . 00:34.228 --> 00:36.394 2021 . The second , which we intend to 00:36.394 --> 00:37.950 be in person , will be held 00:37.950 --> 00:39.839 approximately a year later . Both 00:39.839 --> 00:42.061 summits will bring together established 00:42.061 --> 00:41.950 and emerging democracies , civil 00:41.950 --> 00:44.190 society and the private sector to 00:44.190 --> 00:46.412 solicit innovative and bold commitments 00:46.412 --> 00:48.468 to defend against authoritarianism , 00:48.468 --> 00:50.301 address and fight corruption and 00:50.301 --> 00:52.670 promote respect for human rights both 00:52.680 --> 00:54.680 at home and abroad . The summit for 00:54.680 --> 00:56.736 Democracy reflects President Biden's 00:56.736 --> 00:58.736 deeply held belief that in order to 00:58.736 --> 01:00.569 tackle the world's most pressing 01:00.569 --> 01:02.402 challenges democracies must come 01:02.402 --> 01:04.291 together , learn together , stand 01:04.291 --> 01:06.458 together and act together . We'll have 01:06.458 --> 01:08.458 more details to share in the coming 01:08.458 --> 01:10.860 weeks . Next , we enthusiastically 01:10.860 --> 01:12.693 congratulate to close partners , 01:12.693 --> 01:14.740 Morocco and Israel as Morocco today 01:14.740 --> 01:16.740 welcomes Israeli Foreign Minister . 01:16.740 --> 01:18.962 Yeah , I nearly peed on his first visit 01:18.962 --> 01:21.184 to the kingdom . Another important step 01:21.184 --> 01:22.851 in the strengthening of their 01:22.851 --> 01:24.573 relationship . We believe that 01:24.573 --> 01:26.796 normalized relations between Israel and 01:26.796 --> 01:26.550 its arab neighbors create new 01:26.550 --> 01:28.717 opportunities for peace and prosperity 01:28.717 --> 01:30.970 to flourish in the region . The Morocco 01:30.970 --> 01:33.137 Israel relationship has already led to 01:33.137 --> 01:35.026 real benefits of both countries , 01:35.026 --> 01:37.137 including direct commercial flights . 01:37.137 --> 01:39.303 Economic cooperation in the opening of 01:39.303 --> 01:42.040 liaison offices today marks one month 01:42.040 --> 01:43.984 since the Cuban people took to the 01:43.984 --> 01:46.300 streets making a call for freedom heard 01:46.300 --> 01:48.530 around the world . The Cuban government 01:48.670 --> 01:50.448 responded with a brutal wave of 01:50.448 --> 01:53.400 repression unseen in decades . As of 01:53.400 --> 01:55.650 today . Over 800 Cubans have been 01:55.650 --> 01:57.483 reported detained for peacefully 01:57.483 --> 01:59.640 demonstrating on July 11 . By some 01:59.640 --> 02:01.862 accounts , there may be hundreds more . 02:01.862 --> 02:03.862 Many are held incommunicado without 02:03.862 --> 02:05.390 access to family or legal 02:05.390 --> 02:07.460 representation . Secret summary 02:07.460 --> 02:09.627 judicial proceedings , lack fair trial 02:09.627 --> 02:11.516 guarantees and seek to repress to 02:11.516 --> 02:14.380 silence and make examples of anyone who 02:14.380 --> 02:16.658 added their voice to peaceful protests . 02:16.658 --> 02:18.800 On july 11th , the government of CUBA 02:18.800 --> 02:21.420 denies this systematic abuse of human 02:21.420 --> 02:23.290 rights and refuses access to 02:23.290 --> 02:25.190 international observers . CuBA's 02:25.190 --> 02:27.246 leaders are counting on the world to 02:27.246 --> 02:29.412 turn a blind eye to their oppression . 02:29.412 --> 02:31.357 The world must not look away . The 02:31.357 --> 02:33.900 United States will not look away . We 02:33.900 --> 02:36.011 joined the families who are suffering 02:36.011 --> 02:37.733 and scared he was human rights 02:37.733 --> 02:39.622 defenders and those who share our 02:39.622 --> 02:41.844 concern around the world in calling for 02:41.844 --> 02:43.789 the immediate release of all those 02:43.789 --> 02:45.622 detained or missing , for merely 02:45.622 --> 02:47.733 exercising their rights to freedom of 02:47.733 --> 02:49.678 expression and peaceful assembly . 02:49.678 --> 02:51.789 Addressing the ongoing crisis in CUBA 02:51.789 --> 02:53.622 is a top priority . At President 02:53.622 --> 02:55.400 biden's direction . The U . S . 02:55.400 --> 02:57.289 Government is actively focused on 02:57.289 --> 02:57.060 providing support to the Cuban people . 02:57.120 --> 02:59.342 Whether it is facilitating humanitarian 02:59.342 --> 03:01.287 assistance or information access . 03:01.287 --> 03:03.398 We've brought to bear the strength of 03:03.398 --> 03:05.342 international diplomacy , rallying 03:05.342 --> 03:07.453 nations around the world to speak out 03:07.453 --> 03:09.564 in support of the Cuban people and in 03:09.564 --> 03:11.620 condemnation of the regime's violent 03:11.620 --> 03:13.731 response to the protests . And we are 03:13.731 --> 03:15.898 holding the repressors accountable for 03:15.898 --> 03:18.064 human rights abuses through the global 03:18.064 --> 03:19.953 Magnitsky sanctions program . And 03:19.953 --> 03:22.070 finally Today is August 11 . It's the 03:22.070 --> 03:24.280 40th birthday of journalists . Austin 03:24.280 --> 03:27.200 Tice This week also marks his ninth 03:27.200 --> 03:30.280 year in captivity in Syria . Austin's 03:30.280 --> 03:33.160 release and return return home are long 03:33.170 --> 03:35.940 overdue . We call on Syria to help 03:35.940 --> 03:38.320 release Austin tice in every U . S . 03:38.320 --> 03:40.450 Citizen held hostage in Syria , 03:40.840 --> 03:42.618 Secretary Blinken is personally 03:42.618 --> 03:44.729 dedicated to seeking the safe release 03:44.729 --> 03:46.562 of U . S . Hostages and wrongful 03:46.562 --> 03:48.780 detainees . We will continue to pursue 03:48.780 --> 03:51.540 all paths that may lead to Austin's 03:51.620 --> 03:55.230 safe return home with that map 03:55.440 --> 03:58.170 right just before we get to what I'm 03:58.170 --> 04:00.770 sure will be Afghanistan . Um I just 04:00.770 --> 04:03.580 want to uh on the administration's 04:03.580 --> 04:07.060 commitment to democracy , human rights , 04:07.230 --> 04:10.800 which I which I think includes 04:11.640 --> 04:14.690 freedom of the press and your support 04:14.690 --> 04:16.690 for that . I just wanted to ask you 04:16.690 --> 04:19.740 really quickly about the situation with 04:19.740 --> 04:23.040 Julian assange in London court , 04:23.230 --> 04:25.720 the court hearing that was held today . 04:25.730 --> 04:28.130 And if you're only going to refer to 04:28.130 --> 04:30.241 the Justice Department , then I don't 04:30.241 --> 04:33.940 need to hear along explanation of that . 04:33.950 --> 04:36.117 But I just want what I want to know is 04:36.117 --> 04:38.172 from the State Department's point of 04:38.172 --> 04:40.228 view because it was State Department 04:40.228 --> 04:42.394 equities that we're in among the first 04:42.540 --> 04:45.760 that were compromised , quote unquote . 04:46.440 --> 04:50.310 Mhm . I mean , you 04:50.310 --> 04:52.477 have you have an interest in the State 04:52.477 --> 04:54.810 Department has an interest in this case . 04:54.810 --> 04:56.754 And so I'm just wondering if it is 04:56.754 --> 04:58.810 still if it is still the position of 04:58.810 --> 05:01.070 the State Department that assange is 05:01.080 --> 05:04.150 not a journalist and that he he should 05:04.160 --> 05:07.750 be tried for theft 05:08.140 --> 05:11.840 of what are what you would essentially 05:11.840 --> 05:15.600 say are state secrets matt by referring 05:15.600 --> 05:17.544 to the Department of Justice as we 05:17.544 --> 05:19.433 always do in cases like this , it 05:19.433 --> 05:21.656 doesn't indicate it doesn't indicate we 05:21.656 --> 05:23.767 don't have an interest indicates that 05:23.767 --> 05:25.989 we have a respect for the separation of 05:25.989 --> 05:28.044 institutions and the independence of 05:28.044 --> 05:30.044 the position of this administration 05:30.044 --> 05:32.044 says that came in talking about how 05:32.044 --> 05:33.989 important freedom of press is that 05:33.989 --> 05:35.711 hasn't impacted the Yeah , the 05:35.711 --> 05:38.280 department's position in this case , is 05:38.280 --> 05:40.447 that correct ? This is a matter before 05:40.447 --> 05:42.391 the Department of Justice . It's a 05:42.391 --> 05:44.613 matter of the Department of Justice for 05:44.613 --> 05:43.970 the Department of Justice is a matter 05:43.970 --> 05:46.680 before the british courts , but I just 05:46.680 --> 05:49.050 want to know if your position , the 05:49.050 --> 05:52.270 State Department's position that you 05:52.280 --> 05:54.558 represent to the Department of Justice , 05:54.558 --> 05:57.870 who then represents you has changed at 05:57.870 --> 06:00.990 all . Uh I'm at the Department of 06:00.990 --> 06:03.210 Justice is pursuing this . Um I will 06:03.210 --> 06:05.099 leave it to them to pursue and to 06:05.099 --> 06:06.821 characterize the United States 06:06.821 --> 06:08.988 government's position on this . Okay , 06:08.988 --> 06:10.932 so the State Department's position 06:10.932 --> 06:13.540 hasn't changed , correct . Matt , the 06:13.540 --> 06:15.707 Department of Justice is going for the 06:15.707 --> 06:17.929 United States and Law Enforcement . Why 06:17.929 --> 06:20.930 can't you answer yes or no ? Has it 06:20.930 --> 06:23.152 changed or not ? Over the course of the 06:23.152 --> 06:25.319 last the Department of Justice in this 06:25.319 --> 06:27.541 matter , a lot where ned you don't need 06:27.541 --> 06:29.870 to be combated . Okay . I know you like 06:29.870 --> 06:32.037 to get worked out , but please this is 06:32.037 --> 06:34.203 it's a simple matter that's before the 06:34.203 --> 06:36.620 Department of Justice . Fine . All 06:36.620 --> 06:38.509 right . So in terms of your grand 06:38.509 --> 06:40.731 promotion of democracy , human rights , 06:40.731 --> 06:42.898 which are going to be at the center of 06:42.898 --> 06:45.360 U . S . Foreign policy as well ? See no 06:45.360 --> 06:48.040 doubt in december when the president 06:48.050 --> 06:51.820 hosts his his summit of uh 06:51.830 --> 06:54.330 for Democracy , how does that relate 06:54.330 --> 06:57.580 exactly to Afghanistan and your 06:57.580 --> 07:01.130 promotion of human rights and democracy ? 07:01.130 --> 07:03.480 When you have a situation where the 07:03.480 --> 07:06.800 country is rapidly coming under the 07:06.810 --> 07:09.500 control of a group that has shown no 07:09.500 --> 07:12.530 respect for democracy and human rights ? 07:12.940 --> 07:16.460 However , yeah 07:16.910 --> 07:20.450 I'm sorry . The question was how do you 07:20.460 --> 07:23.700 how do you reconcile this ? How do you 07:23.710 --> 07:27.360 how does the administration 07:28.140 --> 07:31.000 expect to be taken seriously in terms 07:31.000 --> 07:33.490 of promoting human rights and democracy 07:33.620 --> 07:35.900 as being at the center of U . S . 07:35.900 --> 07:39.820 Foreign policy ? If it is prepared to 07:39.830 --> 07:42.050 allow Afghanistan to 07:42.440 --> 07:45.370 deteriorate into a situation where a 07:45.380 --> 07:49.330 group that has shown that you yourself 07:49.410 --> 07:51.250 just days ago have accused of 07:51.260 --> 07:54.900 committing atrocities . If you're 07:54.900 --> 07:57.090 prepared to allow that to happen , I 07:57.100 --> 07:59.790 would reject every single premise of 07:59.790 --> 08:02.620 that question . Uh The United States , 08:02.620 --> 08:05.410 what I just said is actually the United 08:05.410 --> 08:08.460 States , uh I think it is undeniable , 08:09.240 --> 08:11.460 Has , over the course of 20 years , 08:11.940 --> 08:15.650 done more to support the cause 08:16.020 --> 08:19.280 of the Afghan people to provide 08:19.290 --> 08:21.512 humanitarian support . Just numerically 08:21.512 --> 08:23.401 speaking , of course , we are the 08:23.401 --> 08:25.179 largest donor and that includes 08:25.179 --> 08:27.401 humanitarian assistance , that includes 08:27.401 --> 08:30.130 assistance for uh the women and girls 08:30.130 --> 08:32.130 of Afghanistan , for Afghanistan's 08:32.140 --> 08:35.660 minorities . Uh That won't change . 08:36.040 --> 08:39.860 I would also reject the premise uh 08:39.870 --> 08:42.360 that we are 08:43.640 --> 08:46.660 just prepared to um 08:47.040 --> 08:50.330 watch and do nothing uh as 08:50.340 --> 08:53.360 the violence escalates . That could not 08:53.360 --> 08:57.320 be farther from the truth . The truth 08:57.330 --> 09:01.050 map is that on every count on every 09:01.050 --> 09:04.120 score , the United States , Over the 09:04.120 --> 09:06.750 course of the past 20 years and now 09:06.770 --> 09:10.350 going forward is , I would dare say uh 09:10.360 --> 09:13.960 doing more than any country to uh 09:14.440 --> 09:18.260 try to bring stability , security 09:18.940 --> 09:22.050 uh and ultimately prosperity to the 09:22.050 --> 09:25.380 people of Afghanistan . Now , it is 09:25.380 --> 09:28.460 true that our tactics are changing , 09:28.940 --> 09:32.440 that the president has made the 09:32.440 --> 09:35.490 decision to withdraw our military 09:35.490 --> 09:38.520 forces . That says nothing about our 09:38.520 --> 09:41.260 support for the rights 09:41.840 --> 09:44.750 of the people of Afghanistan and what 09:44.750 --> 09:47.000 we will continue what we have done and 09:47.000 --> 09:49.190 will continue to strive to do uh to 09:49.190 --> 09:52.370 bring stability and security to the 09:52.370 --> 09:55.760 people of Afghanistan right now , as we 09:55.760 --> 09:58.030 speak through a diplomatic process . 09:58.030 --> 10:00.550 And I know you tend to discount 10:00.560 --> 10:03.920 diplomacy , at least in this case , 10:03.930 --> 10:07.210 just I don't I don't see how you can 10:07.220 --> 10:10.380 you can realistically think that it's 10:10.380 --> 10:12.436 gonna accomplish anything because it 10:12.436 --> 10:14.491 hasn't in the past . And you say you 10:14.491 --> 10:16.713 reject the premise that you're prepared 10:16.713 --> 10:18.769 to sit by and watch and do nothing . 10:18.769 --> 10:20.713 Well , what have you done over the 10:20.713 --> 10:22.769 course of the last couple weeks , as 10:22.769 --> 10:24.769 these atrocities that you've talked 10:24.769 --> 10:26.880 about have mounted as the Taliban has 10:26.880 --> 10:28.936 taken over more and more territory ? 10:28.936 --> 10:31.510 What exactly has it been that you have 10:31.520 --> 10:33.980 done ? You said that you weren't gonna 10:33.980 --> 10:36.460 sit stand happy ? Nothing . What have 10:36.460 --> 10:39.600 you done ? Happy to um reiterate uh 10:39.610 --> 10:41.721 much of what we've done , of course , 10:41.721 --> 10:43.554 we've spoken of our humanitarian 10:43.554 --> 10:45.666 assistance which is directly relevant 10:45.666 --> 10:49.080 uh to the current and future 10:49.080 --> 10:52.700 conditions of uh the Afghan people , 10:52.700 --> 10:56.360 including it's women and girls uh and 10:56.840 --> 10:59.830 Afghan Afghanistan's minorities as well . 10:59.840 --> 11:02.920 Just right now , just this week . Um 11:02.920 --> 11:05.810 And again , this is diplomacy . What we 11:05.810 --> 11:09.120 think has the potential to lead 11:09.130 --> 11:12.770 to a political settlement and a cease 11:12.770 --> 11:15.400 fire . It is ongoing actively . Uh 11:15.410 --> 11:18.190 right now , there are several rounds of 11:18.190 --> 11:20.580 planned meetings this week . First took 11:20.580 --> 11:22.802 place yesterday . There was another one 11:22.802 --> 11:24.858 today . Um There will be another one 11:24.858 --> 11:26.469 tomorrow , bringing together 11:26.469 --> 11:28.580 representatives from countries in the 11:28.580 --> 11:30.636 region uh and well beyond as well as 11:30.636 --> 11:33.630 from multilateral institutions in Doha . 11:33.640 --> 11:37.480 Um to press for a reduction of violence 11:37.490 --> 11:40.650 and a ceasefire and a commitment on the 11:40.650 --> 11:43.360 part of all those in attendance . Uh 11:43.370 --> 11:46.140 This constellation of representatives 11:46.140 --> 11:47.640 from various countries and 11:47.640 --> 11:49.810 international organizations uh not to 11:49.810 --> 11:52.390 work with any entity that takes the 11:52.390 --> 11:55.130 country by force . And so just today , 11:55.140 --> 11:57.030 Ambassador Khalilzad and his team 11:57.040 --> 11:58.929 participate in the meeting of the 11:58.929 --> 12:00.873 extended troika that is to say the 12:00.873 --> 12:02.707 United States , Russia china and 12:02.707 --> 12:04.707 Pakistan . Uh They're the country's 12:04.707 --> 12:07.740 aligned efforts to press the Taliban to 12:07.750 --> 12:10.780 reduce violence to engage seriously and 12:10.790 --> 12:13.480 urgently in Afghan peace negotiations , 12:13.590 --> 12:16.570 including the fundamental issues needed 12:16.570 --> 12:19.540 to resolve that conflict . I said this 12:19.540 --> 12:21.207 started yesterday yesterday , 12:21.207 --> 12:23.096 Ambassador Khalilzad and his team 12:23.096 --> 12:25.096 participated in meeting with on the 12:25.096 --> 12:27.318 current situation including the current 12:27.318 --> 12:29.484 levels of violence uh with the U . N . 12:29.484 --> 12:31.160 Envoy , Jean Arnault and 12:31.160 --> 12:33.160 representatives from the region and 12:33.160 --> 12:35.104 other international stakeholders . 12:35.104 --> 12:37.327 Tomorrow there will be a broader set of 12:37.327 --> 12:39.438 countries we expect that will be that 12:39.438 --> 12:41.549 will come together . Um And in all of 12:41.549 --> 12:43.382 this it's our intention to forge 12:43.382 --> 12:45.604 consensus and to have the international 12:45.604 --> 12:47.660 community including countries in the 12:47.660 --> 12:49.771 region and beyond , to speak with one 12:49.771 --> 12:53.730 voice . Both sets of these meetings uh 12:53.740 --> 12:56.440 this week uh included briefings from 12:56.440 --> 12:58.607 both the Islamic Republic , that's the 12:58.607 --> 13:00.496 Afghan government uh and from the 13:00.496 --> 13:02.551 Taliban negotiating teams . Abdullah 13:02.551 --> 13:04.384 Abdullah , the chairman is there 13:04.384 --> 13:06.329 representing the Afghan government 13:06.329 --> 13:08.384 collaborator ? Is there representing 13:08.384 --> 13:10.218 the Taliban ? This is high level 13:10.218 --> 13:12.273 representation . The other countries 13:12.273 --> 13:14.410 are are you prepared to Sarah Dino ? 13:14.420 --> 13:16.531 We'll we'll we'll have more detail on 13:16.531 --> 13:18.753 that tomorrow . But the Taliban will be 13:18.753 --> 13:20.976 represented in those meetings as well . 13:20.976 --> 13:22.864 Yes , there will be represented , 13:22.864 --> 13:25.031 correct . Is it is it correct that the 13:25.031 --> 13:27.460 Secretary has not spoken to uh Arda 13:28.340 --> 13:31.630 for any taliban ? Remember that is 13:31.630 --> 13:34.500 correct . So he has his 13:34.510 --> 13:36.660 representations about this have been 13:36.660 --> 13:40.380 confined to the Afghan 13:40.380 --> 13:42.350 government in terms of the afghan 13:42.360 --> 13:44.880 afghan people , it's been it has 13:44.880 --> 13:47.047 included uh the Afghan government . Of 13:47.047 --> 13:49.269 course , we visited Kabul , we met with 13:49.269 --> 13:51.436 President Ghani , we met with Abdullah 13:51.436 --> 13:52.991 Abdullah . Uh It's multiple 13:52.991 --> 13:54.713 conversations . President Last 13:54.713 --> 13:56.491 Secretary of State are the only 13:56.491 --> 13:58.658 Secretary of State to have spoken with 13:58.658 --> 14:00.547 the Taliban directly , as was his 14:00.547 --> 14:00.540 predecessor in the context of the 14:00.540 --> 14:02.818 conclusion of the US Taliban agreement . 14:02.818 --> 14:05.040 Uh But let me make one other point , of 14:05.040 --> 14:07.096 course , the Secretary has also been 14:07.096 --> 14:08.984 actively engaged in speaking with 14:08.984 --> 14:11.207 countries , representatives , countries 14:11.207 --> 14:13.429 from the region on this . You're trying 14:13.429 --> 14:15.596 to impute some kind of I just want , I 14:15.596 --> 14:17.818 just want to know if it's correct , I'm 14:17.818 --> 14:19.984 not saying it's good or bad whether he 14:19.984 --> 14:22.207 is or not . So we have one more point , 14:22.207 --> 14:24.380 just just on this , one more and it's 14:24.380 --> 14:26.269 extremely brief . But I think the 14:26.269 --> 14:28.880 answer is , I mean , ok , uh Ambassador 14:28.880 --> 14:31.213 Khalilzad in the context of all of this , 14:31.213 --> 14:33.270 um we'll meet with each negotiating 14:33.270 --> 14:36.920 team separately as we frequently do to 14:36.920 --> 14:39.350 encourage them to engage productively 14:39.360 --> 14:42.320 uh in this process and importantly not 14:42.330 --> 14:46.280 to squander this opportunity which may 14:46.280 --> 14:50.260 be um historic opportunity to end 14:50.640 --> 14:53.790 what is not way squander this , what 14:53.800 --> 14:56.050 opportunity ? What are you talking 14:56.050 --> 14:57.717 about ? The opportunity ? The 14:57.717 --> 14:59.828 opportunity that brought about by you 14:59.828 --> 15:01.994 guys withdrawing the opportunity which 15:01.994 --> 15:04.217 has plunged the country opportunity 65% 15:04.217 --> 15:06.272 of the country , chaos of the Afghan 15:06.272 --> 15:08.640 government and the Taliban and the rest 15:08.640 --> 15:10.807 of the world at least a large swath of 15:10.807 --> 15:14.040 the world coming together . Uh And let 15:14.040 --> 15:16.151 me remind you , it was it's been less 15:16.151 --> 15:18.040 than a year since both the Afghan 15:18.040 --> 15:19.984 government , the Taliban have been 15:19.984 --> 15:22.151 willing to talk , have been engaged in 15:22.151 --> 15:24.262 intra Afghan dialogue . So we have an 15:24.262 --> 15:26.540 opportunity . We've had an opportunity , 15:26.540 --> 15:28.762 have had an opportunity in recent weeks 15:28.762 --> 15:30.373 and months that in many ways 15:30.373 --> 15:32.596 Afghanistan has not had over the course 15:32.596 --> 15:34.651 of 40 years . We talk about The past 15:34.651 --> 15:36.596 three weeks of violence , the past 15:36.596 --> 15:38.596 three months of violence . This has 15:38.596 --> 15:42.290 been 40 years of conflict . And so with 15:42.290 --> 15:44.850 the Taliban and the Afghan government 15:45.340 --> 15:48.160 now willing to talk to one another um 15:48.170 --> 15:50.910 Of course , that is a necessary but 15:50.920 --> 15:53.770 insufficient step . But what we are 15:53.770 --> 15:57.620 doing is galvanizing the international 15:57.620 --> 15:59.760 community , supporting these intra 15:59.770 --> 16:02.950 afghan discussions . Uh attempt to make 16:02.950 --> 16:05.880 progress um to do a couple things to 16:05.880 --> 16:08.470 stop this military offensive diminish 16:08.470 --> 16:10.700 the level of violence , and more 16:10.700 --> 16:12.644 broadly , to negotiate a political 16:12.644 --> 16:15.080 settlement , to form an inclusive 16:15.080 --> 16:17.490 Afghan government that ends this 16:17.490 --> 16:21.350 conflict . We remain confident 16:21.940 --> 16:24.700 in the fact that this is the only path 16:24.710 --> 16:26.821 to stability . We remain cognizant of 16:26.821 --> 16:28.988 the fact that this is the only path to 16:28.988 --> 16:31.270 stability and development in 16:31.280 --> 16:35.010 Afghanistan . So , uh progress has been 16:35.010 --> 16:38.800 slow . Uh it has been painfully slow . 16:38.810 --> 16:41.760 The violence has been a cause for grave 16:41.760 --> 16:43.871 concern . We've been very clear about 16:43.871 --> 16:45.927 that . I think a lot of people would 16:45.927 --> 16:47.704 argue that there's not been any 16:47.704 --> 16:49.760 progress . It's not been slow , it's 16:49.760 --> 16:49.500 been non existent . But anyway , did 16:49.500 --> 16:51.722 you ever get , did you get an answer to 16:51.722 --> 16:53.667 the question I had yesterday about 16:53.667 --> 16:55.778 whether the Taliban was violating the 16:55.778 --> 16:57.556 terms of the february 2020 Doha 16:57.556 --> 16:59.889 agreement . Let me add a bit of context . 16:59.889 --> 17:01.944 There there are several key parts of 17:01.944 --> 17:05.800 this february 2020 agreement um uh for 17:05.810 --> 17:08.130 uh to highlight number one , the 17:08.130 --> 17:10.400 Taliban will take specific actions to 17:10.410 --> 17:12.299 prevent any group or individual , 17:12.299 --> 17:14.130 including Al Qaeda from using 17:14.130 --> 17:16.352 Afghanistan to threaten the security of 17:16.352 --> 17:18.463 the United States and its allies . Uh 17:18.463 --> 17:21.120 this of course incredibly important to 17:21.120 --> 17:24.040 us . Uh we have a commitment from the 17:24.040 --> 17:26.670 Taliban . We also have capabilities in 17:26.670 --> 17:28.559 the region to see to it that this 17:28.559 --> 17:30.559 remains the case . Number two , the 17:30.559 --> 17:32.614 United States and coalition partners 17:32.614 --> 17:34.726 will withdraw foreign military forces 17:34.726 --> 17:37.080 from Afghanistan . This is especially 17:37.090 --> 17:39.280 noteworthy in the context of our 17:39.280 --> 17:42.460 decision making process . Uh and it's 17:42.460 --> 17:44.404 something that we obviously talked 17:44.404 --> 17:46.349 about at length yesterday . Number 17:46.349 --> 17:46.140 three of the Taliban , the Islamic 17:46.140 --> 17:48.250 Republic will launch intra Afghan 17:48.260 --> 17:50.482 negotiations . It's the point I've just 17:50.482 --> 17:54.460 made that uh this the two sides had 17:54.460 --> 17:56.440 not come together until uh this 17:56.440 --> 17:58.570 agreement went into force and they've 17:58.570 --> 18:00.792 been meeting now for less than a year . 18:00.792 --> 18:02.681 But the very fact that Abdullah , 18:02.681 --> 18:04.990 Abdullah and mullah Baradar in Qatar um 18:05.000 --> 18:08.650 is a sign of that . And number four , a 18:08.650 --> 18:10.830 permanent and comprehensive ceasefire 18:10.840 --> 18:13.062 and agreement over the future political 18:13.062 --> 18:15.284 road map of Afghanistan will be part of 18:15.284 --> 18:17.007 the agenda of the intra afghan 18:17.007 --> 18:19.180 negotiations . And so this one that's 18:19.190 --> 18:22.050 particularly relevant to your question 18:22.050 --> 18:25.280 on this . But the way we look at these 18:25.280 --> 18:27.502 four elements is that they are linked . 18:28.140 --> 18:30.620 They are interrelated intra Afghan 18:30.620 --> 18:32.842 negotiations leading to a permanent and 18:32.842 --> 18:34.810 comprehensive ceasefire were an 18:34.820 --> 18:37.040 integral element of the agreement . In 18:37.050 --> 18:39.310 all recent indications at least suggest 18:39.310 --> 18:41.254 the Taliban are instead pursuing a 18:41.254 --> 18:43.520 battlefield victory . Um Yeah , but 18:43.520 --> 18:46.110 they didn't agree in february 2020 not 18:46.120 --> 18:48.750 to seek battlefield victory against the 18:48.750 --> 18:51.070 Afghan government . What they did , 18:51.070 --> 18:53.980 they not , what they agreed to do was 18:53.980 --> 18:56.091 to seek a permanent and comprehensive 18:56.091 --> 18:58.313 ceasefire agreement through these peace 18:58.313 --> 19:00.369 talks have gone nowhere and agree in 19:00.369 --> 19:02.480 2020 and february 2020 did they agree 19:02.480 --> 19:04.910 not to attack afghan provision ? What 19:04.910 --> 19:07.243 we can population centers or the afghan ? 19:07.243 --> 19:10.090 What we can say , what we can say is 19:10.090 --> 19:12.170 that the level of the levels of 19:12.170 --> 19:14.940 violence are unacceptably high and what 19:14.940 --> 19:17.051 we have seen is inconsistent with the 19:17.051 --> 19:19.273 letter and the spirit . But they didn't 19:19.273 --> 19:21.430 actually agree not to attack cities , 19:21.440 --> 19:23.610 provincial capitals , big major 19:23.610 --> 19:26.550 population centers or the attack in the 19:26.550 --> 19:28.630 Afghan military attacking attacking 19:28.630 --> 19:30.519 provincial capitals and targeting 19:30.519 --> 19:32.463 civilians is inconsistent with the 19:32.463 --> 19:34.463 spirit of the agreement . It's this 19:34.463 --> 19:36.630 last clause of the agreement . The key 19:36.630 --> 19:38.797 point that I mentioned a permanent and 19:38.797 --> 19:40.963 comprehensive ceasefire agreement over 19:40.963 --> 19:42.963 the future political roadmap of the 19:42.963 --> 19:45.074 early part of the agenda of the intra 19:45.074 --> 19:48.500 afghan negotiations . Sure , I'll come 19:48.500 --> 19:51.140 right back to you . Uh huh . In terms 19:51.140 --> 19:53.350 of quote progress , I mean , what is 19:53.350 --> 19:56.370 the point of even being in in Doha on 19:56.370 --> 19:58.537 these talks ? Let me cite a few things 19:59.540 --> 20:02.040 Not only have they advanced and are in 20:02.040 --> 20:05.720 24 out of 34 provinces and six capitals . 20:05.720 --> 20:07.942 However , you want to argue it whatever 20:07.942 --> 20:09.942 percentage they've taken over , but 20:09.942 --> 20:13.300 they are advancing , you know , step by 20:13.300 --> 20:16.890 step day by day toward the core of what 20:16.890 --> 20:19.200 remains of the Afghan government's 20:20.840 --> 20:22.951 autonomy . If there is any in Kabul . 20:23.440 --> 20:25.607 Uh huh . As you know , better than any 20:25.607 --> 20:28.100 of us from just reading the intel . So 20:28.110 --> 20:30.470 first of all , there is no progress in 20:30.470 --> 20:33.460 these talks if the fourth 20:35.240 --> 20:37.351 part of this is so critical , whether 20:37.351 --> 20:40.230 or not it's iron clad in terms of their 20:40.230 --> 20:43.760 attacks against afghans . What they are 20:43.760 --> 20:45.593 doing has been described in some 20:45.593 --> 20:48.240 instances as it could be a war crime by 20:48.240 --> 20:50.573 the embassy in Kabul just two weeks ago . 20:51.440 --> 20:54.190 That's number one . Number 2 , we talk 20:54.190 --> 20:56.134 about our partners and these other 20:56.134 --> 20:59.600 countries . Is it consistent with this 20:59.610 --> 21:02.440 alleged partnership and agreement that 21:02.450 --> 21:04.283 Beijing welcomes the taliban and 21:04.283 --> 21:06.394 confers legitimacy on it ? You know , 21:06.394 --> 21:09.840 and in their capital . Mhm . And and 21:09.850 --> 21:13.730 have we talks with Iran about keeping 21:13.730 --> 21:15.510 its border open as hundreds and 21:15.510 --> 21:17.621 hundreds of afghans have been fleeing 21:17.621 --> 21:19.732 across that border . And what kind of 21:19.840 --> 21:22.560 Uh sustenance can be granted to those 21:22.560 --> 21:24.760 refugees as they wait ? Which you 21:24.760 --> 21:27.490 acknowledge is up to 14 months for 21:27.490 --> 21:30.520 permission to move on and get any kind 21:30.520 --> 21:34.340 of clearance for some of them . So what 21:34.340 --> 21:37.220 is the what is the future ? What What I 21:37.220 --> 21:39.480 think all of us are trying to get to is 21:39.490 --> 21:42.530 outside the parameters of February 2020 . 21:42.540 --> 21:45.640 The talks are feckless . If the Taliban 21:45.650 --> 21:48.840 participants there have no control over 21:48.840 --> 21:51.480 the combatants in the field , then why 21:51.480 --> 21:53.840 bother ? And if they do , the whole 21:53.840 --> 21:56.062 thing is hypocritical , and it's just a 21:56.062 --> 21:58.062 delaying tactic until they can take 21:58.062 --> 22:00.173 over the country . Okay . All right , 22:00.173 --> 22:03.210 let me try and take um much of that . 22:03.210 --> 22:05.730 On first , I would make the point that 22:05.740 --> 22:08.590 uh our diplomacy , uh it's taking place 22:08.590 --> 22:11.960 on on two levels . On one level . We 22:11.960 --> 22:14.420 are and we always have been supporting 22:14.540 --> 22:17.640 the intra afghan negotiations . We're 22:17.640 --> 22:19.751 not a direct participant to the top . 22:19.751 --> 22:21.862 These are these are talks between the 22:21.862 --> 22:24.029 Afghan parties . On another level , we 22:24.029 --> 22:26.500 are bringing together much of the rest 22:26.500 --> 22:29.320 of the world , the region and well 22:29.320 --> 22:33.250 beyond two , define 22:33.260 --> 22:35.390 our common concerns with what we're 22:35.390 --> 22:39.240 seeing right now on uh with the levels 22:39.240 --> 22:42.720 of violence , but also um to endorse a 22:42.720 --> 22:45.660 political road map and to encourage a 22:45.670 --> 22:48.390 political path forward for the Afghan 22:48.390 --> 22:50.557 parties . Of course , any path forward 22:50.557 --> 22:52.779 is going to have to be afghan owned and 22:52.779 --> 22:54.723 afghan led , but the international 22:54.723 --> 22:57.130 community has a vested interest in 22:57.130 --> 23:00.180 seeing in Afghanistan that is secure , 23:00.180 --> 23:03.750 that is safe , that is stable and where 23:03.750 --> 23:05.694 the human rights of its people are 23:05.820 --> 23:09.100 respected . Um That is why that's 23:09.100 --> 23:11.267 precisely what Ambassador Khalilzad is 23:11.267 --> 23:14.780 doing in Qatar uh this week . A 23:14.790 --> 23:17.820 major item on the agenda is making very 23:17.820 --> 23:21.760 clear to the Afghan parties into the 23:21.760 --> 23:23.740 rest of the world that the 23:23.740 --> 23:27.120 international community will not accept 23:27.130 --> 23:29.770 any government that seeks to take 23:29.770 --> 23:32.580 control of Afghanistan by force . And 23:32.580 --> 23:35.350 this is not a point that would be new . 23:35.740 --> 23:37.960 Uh in the context of this week . It's 23:37.960 --> 23:40.293 really a reaffirmation of of this point . 23:40.293 --> 23:42.550 You raised the Taliban's visit to the 23:42.550 --> 23:46.290 PRC . Um the 23:46.300 --> 23:49.520 PRC has signed on to any 23:49.530 --> 23:53.290 number of affirmations of the fact 23:53.300 --> 23:56.860 that uh any future government in 23:56.860 --> 23:58.916 Afghanistan that takes seeks to take 23:58.916 --> 24:00.916 control through the barrel of a gun 24:00.916 --> 24:03.770 won't have legitimacy uh and won't have 24:04.140 --> 24:06.950 uh they're backing U . N . Security 24:06.950 --> 24:09.650 Council issued a statement last week of 24:09.650 --> 24:11.761 course china as a permanent member of 24:11.761 --> 24:13.761 the council . The last sentence the 24:13.761 --> 24:15.983 member of the Security Council recalled 24:15.983 --> 24:18.206 resolution 25 13 from 2020 and reaffirm 24:18.206 --> 24:20.206 there's no military solution to the 24:20.206 --> 24:22.372 conflict and declared that they do not 24:22.372 --> 24:24.930 support the restoration of the Islamic 24:24.940 --> 24:27.370 emirate . Earlier this year , there was 24:27.370 --> 24:29.537 another extended troika and that again 24:29.537 --> 24:31.592 includes the PRC Russia and Pakistan 24:31.592 --> 24:33.481 and US uh issued a statement . We 24:33.481 --> 24:35.314 reiterate , there is no military 24:35.314 --> 24:37.481 solution in Afghanistan and negotiated 24:37.481 --> 24:39.648 political settlement through an afghan 24:39.648 --> 24:41.648 led and afghan owned process is the 24:41.648 --> 24:43.814 only way forward for lasting peace and 24:43.814 --> 24:45.870 stability in Afghanistan . There are 24:45.870 --> 24:47.750 any other of any number of other 24:47.750 --> 24:51.170 examples . We can point to where the 24:51.170 --> 24:55.020 PRC has offered very clear statements 24:55.110 --> 24:59.000 about where Beijing stands . We've 24:59.000 --> 25:01.370 made this point before . Of course our 25:01.380 --> 25:03.491 our relationship with the P . R . C . 25:03.491 --> 25:05.602 It's a complex one , perhaps the most 25:05.602 --> 25:07.880 complex bilateral relationship we have . 25:07.880 --> 25:09.824 But in many ways our interests are 25:09.830 --> 25:12.520 aligned with Beijing when it comes to 25:12.520 --> 25:14.853 Afghanistan the same way or similar way , 25:14.853 --> 25:17.076 I should say In which our interests are 25:17.076 --> 25:18.909 aligned with any number of other 25:18.909 --> 25:21.020 countries in the region . It is in no 25:21.020 --> 25:23.280 one's interest to see in Afghanistan 25:23.290 --> 25:26.600 that is stricken with 25:26.600 --> 25:30.510 conflict and civil war for another 40 25:30.510 --> 25:32.430 years . It's certainly not in the 25:32.430 --> 25:34.708 interests of the people of Afghanistan . 25:34.708 --> 25:36.460 It's not in the interests of 25:36.540 --> 25:40.330 Afghanistan's neighbours and it is not 25:40.340 --> 25:42.850 ultimately in the interests of the 25:42.850 --> 25:46.200 Taliban , which clearly seeks to have a 25:46.200 --> 25:49.860 role in Afghan leadership . 25:50.240 --> 25:52.930 Um But it is not it is neither in their 25:52.930 --> 25:56.830 interest to see conflict dominate 25:56.840 --> 25:59.007 another four decades or another single 25:59.007 --> 26:01.230 decade or another single year . I told 26:01.230 --> 26:04.650 you I'd come back . Yes . Several 26:04.650 --> 26:06.650 countries , including India closing 26:06.650 --> 26:08.428 down their consulates . Several 26:08.428 --> 26:10.650 countries , including India are closing 26:10.650 --> 26:12.650 down . The concepts are temporarily 26:12.650 --> 26:14.650 setting it down , taking back their 26:14.650 --> 26:18.300 citizens from there . Uh Is Afghanistan , 26:18.310 --> 26:20.477 is Afghanistan now land into the hands 26:20.477 --> 26:22.860 of Taliban . Now , it looks like , 26:25.240 --> 26:27.300 sorry , can you repeat ? That ? Is 26:27.300 --> 26:29.411 Afghanistan landing into the hands of 26:29.411 --> 26:32.530 Taliban . Now , they're spreading we've 26:32.540 --> 26:35.030 we've made the point that the levels of 26:35.030 --> 26:37.020 violence , what we are seeing now 26:37.030 --> 26:40.150 across the country are of grave concern . 26:40.160 --> 26:43.320 Uh It's of grave concern to us . I 26:43.330 --> 26:45.620 think we will hear and have heard uh in 26:45.620 --> 26:48.580 Doha , that it is of grave concern to 26:48.590 --> 26:52.060 the international uh community . 26:52.740 --> 26:55.560 Uh But at the same time , 26:57.840 --> 27:01.220 this is not a foregone conclusion , as 27:01.230 --> 27:05.020 many people seem to think um that uh 27:05.030 --> 27:08.000 this will be an inexorable march 27:08.000 --> 27:11.850 forward uh for the Taliban or 27:11.860 --> 27:13.971 any other force . And we've made this 27:13.971 --> 27:16.360 point uh in several different ways . It 27:16.360 --> 27:19.700 is not , it is quite relevant to what 27:19.700 --> 27:21.950 we are seeing now that the Afghan 27:21.950 --> 27:24.360 national security forces are 27:24.370 --> 27:28.190 numerically far superior . Two , The 27:28.190 --> 27:30.412 Taliban , what the Taliban can muster , 27:30.640 --> 27:32.880 as I said yesterday , they have over 27:32.890 --> 27:36.140 300,000 troops and Air force 27:36.250 --> 27:38.083 special forces heavy equipment , 27:38.083 --> 27:40.300 including heavy equipment that the 27:40.300 --> 27:42.860 United States only recently provided . 27:43.240 --> 27:45.780 Uh this partnership with the Afghan 27:45.780 --> 27:48.830 National Security Forces is support for 27:48.830 --> 27:50.830 the Afghan National Security Forces 27:50.830 --> 27:53.440 will continue . Uh It will continue in 27:53.440 --> 27:56.090 a concrete sign of that is President 27:56.090 --> 27:58.146 biden's budget request , in which he 27:58.146 --> 28:00.790 requested 3.3 billion for the A . N . D . 28:00.790 --> 28:04.270 S . F . Going forward . So , again , 28:04.640 --> 28:08.170 the the government in Afghanistan 28:08.740 --> 28:12.440 has tools at its disposal , has a 28:12.450 --> 28:14.940 political support uh continues to 28:14.940 --> 28:18.070 receive uh support from the United 28:18.070 --> 28:22.050 States to its uh security sector . And 28:22.070 --> 28:24.860 has the wherewithal certainly on paper , 28:25.240 --> 28:28.770 two defend its country right 28:28.770 --> 28:32.700 now , what we see is 28:32.710 --> 28:34.654 an issue of leadership . It's both 28:34.654 --> 28:37.360 political and military and military 28:37.360 --> 28:40.300 leadership . We need to see afghans 28:40.300 --> 28:43.120 leaders united , we need to see a 28:43.130 --> 28:46.990 united front um knowing that 28:47.000 --> 28:50.770 they and their forces are fighting 28:50.770 --> 28:54.060 for a just cause . They have 28:54.070 --> 28:57.830 a credible strategic plan . They have 28:57.830 --> 29:00.163 the right tactics , the right execution . 29:00.240 --> 29:00.860 Uh 29:03.140 --> 29:06.530 The advances we have seen 29:06.540 --> 29:09.340 need not continue . First , the levels 29:09.340 --> 29:12.800 of violence again , um unacceptably 29:12.800 --> 29:14.856 high . The atrocities that have been 29:14.856 --> 29:18.720 reported are repugnant . Uh 29:18.730 --> 29:21.910 This is evidence of 29:22.090 --> 29:26.070 um a force that appears to 29:26.070 --> 29:29.950 have no respect for their fellow 29:30.540 --> 29:34.480 mhm fellow countrymen and women . Uh it 29:34.480 --> 29:37.180 is uh these are the tactics of a force 29:37.180 --> 29:40.310 that uh if that continues uh obviously 29:40.310 --> 29:43.260 will not have legitimacy on the part of 29:43.260 --> 29:45.038 the international community and 29:45.038 --> 29:47.270 importantly won't accrue the sort of 29:47.280 --> 29:50.370 international assistance that any 29:50.380 --> 29:52.491 future government in Afghanistan will 29:52.491 --> 29:55.610 need to achieve any semblance of 29:55.610 --> 29:57.943 durability . And as I was saying before , 29:58.140 --> 30:00.473 all right , it is in no one's interests , 30:00.473 --> 30:03.560 not the Taliban's interest to um 30:04.640 --> 30:07.170 attempt to seize power , only to 30:07.180 --> 30:09.291 control parts of the country that are 30:09.291 --> 30:12.360 riven by conflict . Where their hold on 30:12.360 --> 30:16.260 power is always um uh in 30:16.260 --> 30:18.371 jeopardy , what we are seeking , What 30:18.371 --> 30:20.204 we are supporting is a political 30:20.204 --> 30:24.180 settlement is a diplomatic solution to 30:24.180 --> 30:26.236 this . That in the first instance is 30:26.236 --> 30:28.820 afghan owned uh in Afghan led , but 30:28.830 --> 30:31.790 ultimately can lead to a diminishing of 30:31.790 --> 30:34.800 violence , a ceasefire uh in a durable 30:34.810 --> 30:37.032 political outcome going forward . Yes . 30:37.032 --> 30:39.032 One more . What role do you see for 30:39.032 --> 30:41.180 India ? After we use withdraws all 30:41.180 --> 30:43.180 these troops from Afghanistan ? You 30:43.180 --> 30:45.610 know , India has been a major donor for 30:45.610 --> 30:47.777 Afghanistan's development activities . 30:47.777 --> 30:49.499 Now closing down most of those 30:49.499 --> 30:51.499 development activities now . Well , 30:51.499 --> 30:53.830 this this goes to what I was saying 30:53.830 --> 30:57.670 before , and we have seen a role um 30:58.040 --> 31:02.030 for India um uh 31:02.040 --> 31:04.150 and other countries in the region 31:04.150 --> 31:06.830 knowing that it is a shared and 31:06.830 --> 31:09.180 collective interests on the part of 31:09.190 --> 31:11.490 Afghanistan's neighbours and countries 31:11.500 --> 31:14.310 uh further a field for there to be a 31:14.310 --> 31:18.300 stable uh and secure Afghanistan . All 31:18.300 --> 31:20.040 countries in the region have a 31:20.040 --> 31:23.320 significant stake in that uh including 31:23.320 --> 31:25.560 India . And we do appreciate India's 31:25.560 --> 31:27.671 strong record of offering development 31:27.671 --> 31:30.860 assistance to Afghanistan . Um But this 31:30.860 --> 31:34.040 has been a primary chore of ours 31:35.340 --> 31:38.850 to encourage um Afghanistan's 31:38.850 --> 31:41.300 neighbours to continue uh to do all 31:41.300 --> 31:43.189 they can to support the people of 31:43.189 --> 31:45.890 Afghanistan uh and on a political level , 31:45.900 --> 31:49.180 to lend their support support and to 31:49.180 --> 31:51.920 lend their collective national voices 31:51.930 --> 31:55.280 to the ongoing political process and 31:55.290 --> 31:58.210 and the diplomacy that is taking place 31:58.220 --> 32:01.780 um in in Qatar . That is taking 32:01.780 --> 32:04.660 place between uh the Afghan parties , 32:04.660 --> 32:07.490 knowing that uh in our estimation , in 32:07.490 --> 32:09.157 the estimation of much of the 32:09.157 --> 32:11.157 international community that is the 32:11.157 --> 32:13.323 only viable and realistic path forward 32:13.323 --> 32:15.323 to achieve what we all collectively 32:15.323 --> 32:17.700 seek to see fulfilled . Yes , thank you 32:17.700 --> 32:20.140 very much for America . Russian service . 32:20.430 --> 32:22.597 I have two questions . I will ask them 32:22.597 --> 32:24.420 one by one today , Russian 32:24.430 --> 32:27.360 investigative committee pressed new 32:27.360 --> 32:29.330 charges against Russian opposition 32:29.420 --> 32:32.770 politician , Alexey Navalny . And he's 32:32.770 --> 32:36.080 already in jail . And earlier this year 32:36.080 --> 32:38.191 concerned about new Orleans . Destiny 32:38.191 --> 32:41.570 was expressed at the highest level in 32:41.570 --> 32:44.490 the United States by the president . So , 32:44.500 --> 32:46.722 are you aware of this development ? And 32:46.722 --> 32:48.880 should we expect some reaction from 32:48.880 --> 32:51.850 State Department ? We are aware of this 32:51.850 --> 32:54.017 development . Of course , this follows 32:54.017 --> 32:56.940 uh on the heels of the Russian 32:56.940 --> 32:59.630 government's not only it's it's arrests 32:59.630 --> 33:02.030 and attention to Mr Navalny , but the 33:02.030 --> 33:05.360 violent crackdown on the many Russians 33:05.370 --> 33:07.980 who peacefully took to the streets uh 33:07.990 --> 33:10.380 to demonstrate against his detention . 33:10.390 --> 33:13.470 Uh It follows on the heels of efforts 33:13.470 --> 33:17.170 to intimidate uh and to um 33:17.540 --> 33:21.190 uh suppress uh those 33:21.200 --> 33:24.250 organizations , ngos independent 33:24.250 --> 33:26.420 organizations that are allied with Mr 33:26.420 --> 33:30.080 Navalny . Uh So in many ways , uh this 33:30.080 --> 33:32.050 is just a continuation of a very 33:32.060 --> 33:34.940 disturbing uh pattern . Uh The United 33:34.940 --> 33:38.170 States continues to stand on the side 33:38.170 --> 33:41.630 and stand with the many Russians who we 33:41.630 --> 33:43.970 saw not all that long ago again 33:43.970 --> 33:47.020 peacefully take to the streets uh to 33:47.030 --> 33:49.380 hold their government , to account to 33:49.380 --> 33:53.090 express their aspirations for greater 33:53.090 --> 33:56.120 freedoms , uh to protest 33:56.130 --> 33:58.830 the repression and the level of 33:58.830 --> 34:01.052 repression that to which they have been 34:01.052 --> 34:04.720 subject . Um uh so yes , we're watching 34:04.720 --> 34:06.900 very closely . And another question . 34:06.900 --> 34:10.490 There are some media reports that 27 34:10.490 --> 34:13.710 members of us Congress recently written 34:13.710 --> 34:17.180 letter to Secretary Blinken demanding , 34:17.190 --> 34:19.900 I quote , suspension of any expert 34:19.910 --> 34:23.270 permits for US drone technology to 34:23.270 --> 34:26.200 Turkey . Did you receive this letter 34:26.200 --> 34:29.800 and could you save department is 34:29.810 --> 34:32.920 going to take actions regarding this 34:32.920 --> 34:35.142 letter ? Thank you . I'll see if we can 34:35.142 --> 34:37.198 get you more information on that and 34:37.198 --> 34:39.800 bring it back again . Sure , Thanks . 34:39.810 --> 34:43.410 Um , just really quickly , the 34:43.420 --> 34:45.531 behavior by the taliban that you have 34:45.531 --> 34:48.150 described today have been describing 34:48.330 --> 34:50.386 the United States see any of that is 34:50.386 --> 34:54.270 sanctionable . We , as I said yesterday , 34:54.280 --> 34:57.730 um , just as we are investing in a 34:57.730 --> 34:59.730 diplomatic process , because we are 34:59.730 --> 35:01.841 cognizant that only through diplomacy 35:01.841 --> 35:03.841 can we achieve the sort of just and 35:03.841 --> 35:06.174 durable outcome that we seek to achieve ? 35:06.174 --> 35:09.480 We will not hesitate to 35:09.480 --> 35:12.260 use , um , the carrots and the sticks 35:12.440 --> 35:16.430 that are available to us , um uh 35:16.440 --> 35:19.990 if we see um behavior that would 35:19.990 --> 35:22.101 warrant and that would be appropriate 35:22.101 --> 35:24.270 for that kind of tool , um It is 35:24.270 --> 35:26.860 certainly not off the table . Uh And 35:26.870 --> 35:30.150 also uh a taliban spokesperson told 35:30.160 --> 35:33.740 Axios uh regarding a question about 35:33.740 --> 35:35.629 whether they were concerned about 35:35.629 --> 35:37.851 becoming an international pariah , that 35:37.851 --> 35:39.907 we have never yielded to any foreign 35:39.907 --> 35:42.073 pressure tactics before , and we don't 35:42.073 --> 35:43.962 plan to capitulate anytime soon . 35:43.962 --> 35:46.980 Either . The taliban is blatantly 35:46.980 --> 35:49.410 saying that it has no interest , nor 35:49.420 --> 35:51.364 does it have any interest in being 35:51.364 --> 35:53.087 pressured by the international 35:53.087 --> 35:52.500 community . So what makes the 35:52.500 --> 35:55.000 administration so confident that it can 35:55.010 --> 35:57.230 pressure using the international 35:57.230 --> 35:59.452 community ? Well , look , I'm not going 35:59.452 --> 36:01.620 to engage in a tit for tat with the 36:01.630 --> 36:03.797 taliban spokesperson . I will tell you 36:03.797 --> 36:06.050 an ambassador . Khalilzad has made this 36:06.050 --> 36:09.980 point as well that in discussions with 36:09.980 --> 36:13.880 the taliban , uh they have been candid 36:13.890 --> 36:17.620 and they have said publicly That uh 36:17.630 --> 36:21.520 they did not in the 1990s recognize 36:21.530 --> 36:23.308 the importance of international 36:23.308 --> 36:26.860 legitimacy . Uh that they did not 36:26.860 --> 36:30.720 recognize uh the advantages it 36:30.730 --> 36:34.120 would that would come with it . Um more 36:34.120 --> 36:36.700 practically this is international 36:36.700 --> 36:38.867 legitimacy . Of course , it's a it's a 36:38.867 --> 36:41.033 virtue , it's a good thing , but there 36:41.033 --> 36:43.330 are some practical realities that come 36:43.330 --> 36:46.430 along with it and so beyond 36:46.490 --> 36:49.350 international approval or condemnation 36:49.730 --> 36:53.450 uh legitimacy bastos . And essentially 36:53.450 --> 36:55.830 is the ticket to the levels of 36:55.830 --> 36:58.052 international assistance , humanitarian 36:58.052 --> 37:00.163 assistance for the Afghan people , uh 37:00.163 --> 37:02.219 international funding and assistance 37:02.219 --> 37:03.886 for any future government and 37:03.886 --> 37:06.500 Afghanistan uh that would be required 37:06.510 --> 37:08.454 for any future future government . 37:08.454 --> 37:10.790 Again , to have any semblance of 37:10.800 --> 37:13.210 durability . Uh there are other 37:13.210 --> 37:15.330 practical implications . They want 37:15.340 --> 37:17.180 sanctions lifted , they want the 37:17.180 --> 37:20.440 ability to travel uh to 37:20.440 --> 37:23.850 engage in international diplomacy , uh 37:23.860 --> 37:27.250 none of that would be possible . Were 37:27.250 --> 37:29.960 they to continue down this path ? Were 37:29.960 --> 37:32.680 they to attempt to take the country by 37:32.680 --> 37:36.230 force ? Were they not to respect the 37:36.240 --> 37:38.790 fundamental rights and freedoms of the 37:38.790 --> 37:40.401 afghan people ? Not only the 37:40.401 --> 37:42.401 fundamental rights and freedoms but 37:42.401 --> 37:44.623 going back to that first question , the 37:44.623 --> 37:46.734 hard won gains of the past 20 years , 37:46.734 --> 37:49.910 those gains that the United States was 37:49.920 --> 37:52.980 integral to helping the Afghan people 37:52.990 --> 37:56.900 secure . So um it is a uh is about 37:56.900 --> 37:59.420 much more than legitimacy . It's about 37:59.420 --> 38:03.000 what legitimacy can lead to both 38:03.000 --> 38:06.670 for um uh in terms of support 38:06.680 --> 38:08.847 uh And on the other side of the ledger 38:08.847 --> 38:11.930 laura on that given that any U . S . 38:11.930 --> 38:14.940 Assistance to the Afghan government , 38:14.950 --> 38:17.117 whether it includes the Taliban in the 38:17.117 --> 38:19.339 future or not would be funneled through 38:19.339 --> 38:21.339 the U . S . Embassy in Kabul . Have 38:21.339 --> 38:23.050 there been any discussions by 38:23.050 --> 38:25.161 Ambassador Khalilzad or others in the 38:25.161 --> 38:27.217 State Department with the Taliban to 38:27.217 --> 38:29.161 assure the security of the U . S . 38:29.161 --> 38:31.620 Embassy in the future . And also to 38:31.620 --> 38:33.731 follow up on my colleague's very good 38:33.731 --> 38:35.520 question about other diplomatic 38:35.520 --> 38:37.742 missions from other countries . Pulling 38:37.742 --> 38:39.742 out of Afghanistan right now is the 38:39.742 --> 38:41.909 United States engaged with discussions 38:41.909 --> 38:43.964 with any of those missions to try to 38:43.964 --> 38:46.630 persuade them to stay . So this is a 38:46.630 --> 38:49.340 challenge that we have 38:50.620 --> 38:52.676 treated as a collective challenge uh 38:52.676 --> 38:55.200 since not only this administration but 38:55.210 --> 38:58.530 um it really goes back to the earliest 38:58.530 --> 39:00.520 days of America's engagement in 39:00.530 --> 39:04.180 Afghanistan in 2001 . Um More 39:04.180 --> 39:08.140 recently with the diplomacy again , we 39:08.140 --> 39:12.040 have brought together a broad swath of 39:12.040 --> 39:15.260 countries in various formats uh 39:15.270 --> 39:18.930 informs the , I can just give you 39:18.930 --> 39:22.020 a sampling of some of the countries 39:22.020 --> 39:24.730 that have been a part of various 39:24.740 --> 39:26.518 elements of this process . I've 39:26.518 --> 39:28.740 mentioned Russia , china Pakistan , the 39:28.740 --> 39:31.073 eu France , Germany , italy NATO Norway , 39:31.073 --> 39:32.907 the UK Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , 39:32.907 --> 39:35.184 Tajikistan , turkmenistan , Uzbekistan , 39:35.184 --> 39:37.518 Australia , Canada , the Czech Republic , 39:37.518 --> 39:39.573 Denmark , Finland France , Germany , 39:39.573 --> 39:41.684 italy , japan Korea , the Netherlands 39:41.684 --> 39:43.850 NATO , of course , Spain Sweden , uh 39:43.860 --> 39:47.140 India Qatar , of course , Turkey , um 39:47.760 --> 39:50.280 Indonesia . The list goes on . These 39:50.280 --> 39:53.660 are countries who have uh lent their 39:53.660 --> 39:56.450 voices , who have lent their um 39:57.220 --> 40:00.700 engage diplomatically in this 40:00.700 --> 40:04.430 process . We have the United States 40:04.430 --> 40:06.430 has on a bilateral and multilateral 40:06.430 --> 40:09.950 basis discussed . Um our 40:09.960 --> 40:12.680 our objectives um 40:12.690 --> 40:16.510 uh with many of these 40:16.510 --> 40:19.690 countries , we have with many if not 40:19.700 --> 40:22.920 most of them uh interests that are 40:22.930 --> 40:26.390 quite well aligned . Uh look the 40:26.400 --> 40:29.530 presence and um uh 40:30.410 --> 40:32.830 staffing of any given country in 40:32.840 --> 40:35.007 Afghanistan is going to be a sovereign 40:35.007 --> 40:37.310 decision . Uh The United States we have 40:37.310 --> 40:39.199 and will continue to make our own 40:39.199 --> 40:41.560 decisions based on um first and 40:41.560 --> 40:43.810 foremost , the threat assessment , the 40:43.810 --> 40:46.060 safety and security of our people . 40:46.060 --> 40:48.590 Other countries will be doing the same . 40:48.600 --> 40:50.950 We've talked about this in the context 40:50.950 --> 40:53.061 of Hamid Karzai International Airport 40:53.061 --> 40:56.540 uh and the imperative of uh functioning 40:56.540 --> 40:59.170 and operable international airport um 40:59.170 --> 41:01.630 to sustaining the operations at our 41:01.630 --> 41:03.797 embassy . It's also important to other 41:03.797 --> 41:05.463 embassies on the ground . But 41:05.463 --> 41:07.630 ultimately it's going to be a question 41:07.630 --> 41:09.720 for individual countries as to what 41:09.720 --> 41:11.776 they are comfortable with consistent 41:11.776 --> 41:14.430 with um their interests in their goals . 41:14.430 --> 41:17.120 Fortunately we do share um not only 41:17.120 --> 41:19.120 goals and interests but also values 41:19.120 --> 41:21.340 with many of these countries as they 41:21.350 --> 41:24.100 apply to Afghanistan , remind me of 41:24.100 --> 41:27.110 your first question you're but has 41:27.110 --> 41:29.221 ambassador clears out or anybody else 41:29.221 --> 41:31.460 in the State Department discussed the 41:31.460 --> 41:33.627 security and the future of the U . S . 41:33.627 --> 41:35.960 Embassy in Kabul with the Taliban ? So 41:35.970 --> 41:39.910 of course um the US Taliban agreement 41:39.920 --> 41:43.540 um uh the Taliban did make 41:43.540 --> 41:46.480 commitments when it comes to uh U . S . 41:46.480 --> 41:50.140 Forces uh and coalition forces on the 41:50.140 --> 41:53.290 ground . We are taking a number of 41:53.290 --> 41:56.520 steps . Uh Those include um with 41:56.520 --> 41:58.860 physical security that includes with 41:58.860 --> 42:01.840 diplomacy um to do everything we can um 42:01.850 --> 42:05.200 to uh ensure the safety 42:05.200 --> 42:08.930 security welfare and well being of our 42:08.940 --> 42:12.320 diplomats and US government presence on 42:12.320 --> 42:14.542 the ground . But I'm not in position to 42:14.542 --> 42:17.120 detail that further . Long list of 42:17.120 --> 42:19.400 countries that you read off , You're 42:19.400 --> 42:21.622 not saying that they have all committed 42:21.622 --> 42:23.789 to keeping their diplomatic . No no no 42:23.789 --> 42:26.011 no . These are these are countries that 42:26.011 --> 42:28.220 in one form or fashion have made the 42:28.220 --> 42:31.600 point um that any government that seeks 42:31.600 --> 42:34.170 to take Afghanistan by force will lack 42:34.180 --> 42:38.140 international legitimacy . Yes the 42:38.150 --> 42:41.620 Taliban issued a statement denying the 42:41.620 --> 42:43.509 killing of innocent civilians and 42:43.509 --> 42:45.940 driving people from their homes . You 42:45.940 --> 42:48.051 know that's something that you you've 42:48.051 --> 42:49.940 cited evidence saying that that's 42:49.940 --> 42:51.996 happening . Um I wonder if that does 42:51.996 --> 42:54.218 the US have its own evidence for that . 42:54.218 --> 42:57.400 And Taliban is saying uh they would be 42:57.400 --> 42:59.511 they would be willing to be part of a 42:59.511 --> 43:01.789 former team with the U . N . And the I . 43:01.789 --> 43:03.956 C . R . C . To conduct some kind of an 43:03.956 --> 43:05.956 independent investigation . Is that 43:05.956 --> 43:08.067 something that you would support ? Is 43:08.067 --> 43:07.780 that something that is being discussed 43:07.780 --> 43:10.710 in Doha or uh and if it did happen you 43:10.710 --> 43:12.543 know could it be impartial if it 43:12.543 --> 43:15.780 includes members of the Taliban ? I'm 43:15.780 --> 43:18.110 not aware of any ongoing discussions 43:18.120 --> 43:21.620 for a joint investigation the likes of 43:21.620 --> 43:23.787 which you describe . Uh and that's for 43:23.787 --> 43:26.280 a very simple reason . Uh There is 43:26.290 --> 43:29.210 everywhere you look compelling data 43:29.210 --> 43:32.490 points , evidence , imagery uh of 43:32.500 --> 43:36.500 um the violence , the bloodshed , 43:36.510 --> 43:40.190 the um potential atrocities that the 43:40.190 --> 43:42.246 Taliban are committing . The embassy 43:42.246 --> 43:45.710 has been very clear about this . Um We 43:45.710 --> 43:48.870 have um can see it with our own eyes 43:48.880 --> 43:51.480 from some of the footage uh that's 43:51.490 --> 43:53.657 emerging . It's one of the reasons why 43:53.657 --> 43:56.320 we are doing everything , we can uh to 43:56.320 --> 43:58.260 accelerate the efforts of the 43:58.260 --> 44:00.371 international community to speak with 44:00.371 --> 44:02.490 one voice to condemn what's going on 44:02.490 --> 44:06.110 and and beyond that , to seek 44:06.590 --> 44:09.620 a definition of the violence , a 44:09.620 --> 44:11.620 ceasefire in a political settlement 44:11.620 --> 44:14.780 among the parties . And just for um the 44:14.790 --> 44:18.180 Al Jazeera is reporting that the head 44:18.180 --> 44:20.347 of the Afghan reconciliation committee 44:20.347 --> 44:22.458 is saying the Taliban was not showing 44:22.458 --> 44:24.513 seriousness in the peace talks . And 44:24.513 --> 44:26.736 it's clear that they don't believe in a 44:26.736 --> 44:28.958 political solution . Obviously , you've 44:28.958 --> 44:31.291 talked about this , but I wonder if you , 44:31.291 --> 44:33.402 you know , people who are involved in 44:33.402 --> 44:35.624 these talks , I don't have any faith in 44:35.624 --> 44:37.958 the Taliban seriousness . So , you know , 44:37.958 --> 44:40.130 I'm not sure it's accurate to say the 44:40.140 --> 44:42.320 Afghan government doesn't have any 44:42.320 --> 44:44.542 faith . The fact that Abdullah Abdullah 44:44.542 --> 44:46.709 is there in Qatar that they are taking 44:46.709 --> 44:48.709 um that they have sent a high level 44:48.709 --> 44:50.980 representative this week , I think , 44:50.980 --> 44:54.350 speaks to the recognition that yes , 44:54.360 --> 44:57.460 this process has been too slow . Uh 44:57.470 --> 45:01.110 Yes , we would like to see 45:01.490 --> 45:04.420 um these talks achieve 45:04.990 --> 45:07.720 meaningful progress . We would have 45:07.720 --> 45:10.770 liked to have seen that weeks ago . Um 45:10.780 --> 45:12.830 But despite all the challenges , 45:12.840 --> 45:16.270 despite what we're seeing uh that again , 45:16.270 --> 45:18.430 diplomacy is the only means through 45:18.430 --> 45:21.630 which we can achieve a definition of 45:21.630 --> 45:23.560 the violence , cease fire and 45:23.560 --> 45:26.610 ultimately , uh a just and durable 45:26.990 --> 45:29.390 political solution . The other point 45:29.390 --> 45:32.300 that is relevant is that 45:32.990 --> 45:35.390 throughout history and I made this 45:35.390 --> 45:37.990 point yesterday , um it is not the case 45:38.000 --> 45:40.111 that peace talks require peace on the 45:40.111 --> 45:42.520 ground . Very rarely have you looked at 45:42.520 --> 45:45.940 instances of peace negotiations uh only 45:45.940 --> 45:49.850 to find uh peace on the 45:49.850 --> 45:52.540 ground ? Uh so with the levels of 45:52.540 --> 45:54.651 violence , we are doing everything we 45:54.651 --> 45:58.240 can two encourage the international 45:58.240 --> 46:00.407 community step up and doing everything 46:00.407 --> 46:02.780 we can to support meaningful progress 46:02.790 --> 46:05.800 towards uh , diminishing the violence 46:05.810 --> 46:08.290 and setting this process back on the 46:08.290 --> 46:10.401 path towards a ceasefire in a durable 46:10.401 --> 46:12.640 solution is martin rana tv . And 46:12.640 --> 46:16.060 Discovery from Poland . Uh Today , the 46:16.060 --> 46:19.530 ruling party in Poland is pushing hard 46:19.540 --> 46:23.100 in the parliament to pass a law 46:23.380 --> 46:26.590 forcing Discovery american company and 46:26.590 --> 46:28.920 the owner of our network , which is the 46:28.920 --> 46:31.460 largest american investment in Poland 46:31.470 --> 46:35.090 out of out of the country . So , you 46:35.090 --> 46:37.312 know , in fact , the goal is to silence 46:37.312 --> 46:39.423 the largest independent tv network in 46:39.423 --> 46:41.630 Poland . Uh do you have a comment on 46:41.630 --> 46:43.730 this ? I do . Well , first , let me 46:43.730 --> 46:45.897 just say thank you for being here . Um 46:45.897 --> 46:48.670 certainly this law , uh if this law 46:48.670 --> 46:52.140 were to go into a force , it would have 46:52.150 --> 46:54.317 a very personal impact on you and your 46:54.317 --> 46:56.372 colleagues uh and we appreciate that 46:56.372 --> 46:58.830 and we understand that uh and it is 46:58.830 --> 47:01.052 part and parcel of the reason why we've 47:01.052 --> 47:04.070 been so vocal on this . Um There are 47:04.070 --> 47:06.440 actually two pieces of legislation uh 47:06.450 --> 47:09.390 that are before the polish parliament . 47:09.390 --> 47:12.970 One uh is the media law you referenced . 47:12.980 --> 47:15.560 The other is the holocaust restitution 47:15.570 --> 47:18.960 legislation . Uh We are watching these 47:18.970 --> 47:22.450 legislative efforts in Poland on media 47:22.460 --> 47:24.738 and holocaust restitution very closely . 47:24.880 --> 47:27.750 Um Poland is an important NATO ally 47:27.760 --> 47:30.600 that understands importantly that the 47:30.600 --> 47:34.290 transatlantic alliance is based not 47:34.300 --> 47:37.790 only on mutual interests um when it 47:37.790 --> 47:41.390 comes to our shared security , but 47:41.400 --> 47:44.490 also mutual commitments to share 47:44.500 --> 47:47.490 democratic values and prosperity . When 47:47.490 --> 47:49.790 it comes to the media law , we know 47:49.790 --> 47:52.090 that a free and independent media , 47:52.580 --> 47:55.600 they make our democracy is stronger . 47:56.080 --> 47:58.380 It makes the transatlantic alliance 47:58.390 --> 48:01.130 more resilience , including to those 48:01.130 --> 48:03.490 who would seek to divide the alliance 48:03.490 --> 48:06.540 and divide us . And it is a fundamental 48:06.540 --> 48:10.290 component of our bilateral relationship 48:10.300 --> 48:12.510 with Poland . And so that is why we 48:12.510 --> 48:16.170 have urged Poland to the government of 48:16.170 --> 48:18.281 Poland to demonstrate its commitments 48:18.281 --> 48:20.860 to these principles , which are indeed 48:20.860 --> 48:24.200 shared not only in words , but indeed 48:24.470 --> 48:26.248 and the government now has that 48:26.248 --> 48:28.530 opportunity . Let me follow up quickly . 48:28.540 --> 48:31.720 Uh Councillor Derek chalet was in 48:31.720 --> 48:34.090 Poland and he talked with the polish 48:34.090 --> 48:38.000 authorities . Uh a bipartisan group 48:38.000 --> 48:40.540 from the Senate and also a bipartisan 48:40.540 --> 48:43.200 group from the House of Representatives , 48:43.210 --> 48:45.220 sent letters to the authorities in 48:45.220 --> 48:48.090 Poland and all of that to no effect . 48:48.470 --> 48:51.200 So how do you intend to talk with 48:51.200 --> 48:53.550 Warsaw ? How do you intend to engage 48:53.550 --> 48:55.606 with the authorities ? And Well , we 48:55.606 --> 48:57.940 have engaged with authorities in Warsaw 48:57.950 --> 49:00.280 at very high levels . You didn't 49:00.280 --> 49:02.900 mention counselor chalet was there in 49:02.900 --> 49:04.956 person . I can tell you that some of 49:04.956 --> 49:07.289 the most senior people in this building , 49:07.289 --> 49:09.344 including in recent hours , have had 49:09.344 --> 49:11.067 discussions with senior polish 49:11.067 --> 49:14.200 officials on these very subjects . Um 49:14.870 --> 49:18.510 Look , both of these bills are before 49:18.510 --> 49:20.420 the polish parliament . Uh the 49:20.420 --> 49:22.660 government of Poland now has an 49:22.670 --> 49:25.700 opportunity to show that 49:25.710 --> 49:29.490 both in um uh to show in 49:29.500 --> 49:32.150 in indeed , and not only in work um 49:32.160 --> 49:36.100 that it stands by the values 49:36.100 --> 49:39.390 that unite our transatlantic alliance 49:39.400 --> 49:42.080 and the values that bind the United 49:42.080 --> 49:44.302 States in Poland . So we'll be watching 49:44.302 --> 49:47.780 very closely restitution . Uh So on the 49:47.780 --> 49:50.230 restitution law , this is the other 49:50.230 --> 49:52.063 piece of legislation that we are 49:52.063 --> 49:53.841 watching very closely and quite 49:53.841 --> 49:56.130 concerned with . And we're concerned by 49:56.140 --> 49:58.940 any steps that would impede the ability 49:58.940 --> 50:00.773 of holocaust survivors and their 50:00.773 --> 50:03.690 families as well as other jewish and 50:03.690 --> 50:05.810 non jewish property owners to obtain 50:05.810 --> 50:07.710 restitution or compensation for 50:07.710 --> 50:10.390 property wrongfully confiscated during 50:10.390 --> 50:12.390 Poland's communist pterosaur . Also 50:12.390 --> 50:14.557 watching that . And then you also said 50:14.557 --> 50:16.612 that there had been today within the 50:16.612 --> 50:18.834 last couple hours . Can you be a little 50:18.834 --> 50:20.890 more specific about who was in touch 50:20.890 --> 50:22.946 with polls about that ? I I wouldn't 50:22.946 --> 50:25.001 want to offer any additional details 50:25.001 --> 50:27.850 but very well as your as your very high 50:27.850 --> 50:31.430 level . Okay . It was 50:31.430 --> 50:33.690 delayed . So do you have any response 50:33.690 --> 50:35.780 to the fact that it's not the 50:35.780 --> 50:37.390 opposition managed to delay 50:37.390 --> 50:39.668 consideration of this until next month ? 50:39.668 --> 50:42.020 I don't have a specific comments on 50:42.020 --> 50:43.853 Apple . We're watching very very 50:43.853 --> 50:45.742 carefully . Let me move . Or just 50:45.742 --> 50:47.909 anyone who hasn't gotten a question on 50:47.909 --> 50:50.730 the same region on Belarus Sure the 50:50.730 --> 50:52.690 Belarusian , the lukashenko regime 50:53.060 --> 50:55.227 order the United States to reduce this 50:55.227 --> 50:57.338 diplomatic presence . Do you have any 50:57.338 --> 50:59.504 reaction to that ? And in light of the 50:59.504 --> 51:01.727 U . S . Ambassador fishers status ? How 51:01.727 --> 51:03.838 how would the US actually be affected 51:03.838 --> 51:05.616 or is uh well as you alluded to 51:05.616 --> 51:07.560 authorities immense today . Um And 51:07.560 --> 51:09.282 where this was relayed via the 51:09.282 --> 51:11.616 Belarussian Ministry of Foreign Affairs , 51:11.616 --> 51:13.727 informed the United States that it is 51:13.727 --> 51:15.740 imposing new limits On American 51:15.740 --> 51:17.880 diplomatic and technical personnel at 51:17.890 --> 51:20.290 our embassy in Minsk effective next 51:20.290 --> 51:23.060 month . September one . The regime has 51:23.070 --> 51:26.500 also recalled its agreement to receive 51:26.500 --> 51:29.030 julie fisher as U . S . Ambassador to 51:29.030 --> 51:32.550 belarus . It is important to remember 51:32.560 --> 51:35.580 in all of this uh and to acknowledge 51:35.590 --> 51:38.500 that Belarusian authorities are 51:38.500 --> 51:42.130 responsible for the deterioration uh in 51:42.130 --> 51:44.352 us belarus relations through relentless 51:44.352 --> 51:47.460 repression against their citizens . Uh 51:47.470 --> 51:49.450 And that includes through the 51:49.460 --> 51:51.980 intensifying crackdowns that we have 51:51.980 --> 51:54.430 seen targeting members , members of 51:54.430 --> 51:57.000 civil society , targeting media , 51:57.010 --> 51:59.980 targeting athletes , students , legal 51:59.980 --> 52:02.920 professionals uh and other citizens . 52:02.930 --> 52:04.930 And that's why in response to these 52:04.930 --> 52:06.870 events uh the White House and the 52:06.870 --> 52:09.210 broader administration announced just 52:09.210 --> 52:11.860 this week on august 9th the strongest 52:11.870 --> 52:14.010 set of sanctions on the lukashenka 52:14.010 --> 52:17.080 regime today . What we know is that a 52:17.080 --> 52:20.050 sovereign independent belarus that 52:20.050 --> 52:22.400 respects the democratic will of its 52:22.400 --> 52:24.511 citizens , their human rights and the 52:24.511 --> 52:26.622 country's international obligations . 52:26.622 --> 52:28.678 That is in not only the interests of 52:28.678 --> 52:30.733 the Belarusian people , but also the 52:30.733 --> 52:34.140 United States . We are disappointed to 52:34.150 --> 52:36.280 be where we are now in terms of our 52:36.280 --> 52:38.391 relationship with Belarus , but we'll 52:38.391 --> 52:40.447 continue to work with our allies and 52:40.447 --> 52:42.980 partners to promote uh shared interests 52:42.990 --> 52:46.140 when it comes to Ambassador Fisher in 52:46.140 --> 52:48.930 your question . Um The United States 52:48.930 --> 52:51.330 Government Ambassador Fisher um 52:51.340 --> 52:53.340 personnel at our embassy in Minsk , 52:53.340 --> 52:55.610 they will continue to support the 52:55.610 --> 52:57.832 democratic aspirations of the people of 52:57.832 --> 52:59.832 Belarus . Uh U . S . Diplomats will 52:59.832 --> 53:02.010 continue to engage with Belarusians uh 53:02.020 --> 53:04.187 including leaders of the pro democracy 53:04.187 --> 53:06.353 movement , media professional students 53:06.353 --> 53:09.760 uh and other elements of civil society 53:09.950 --> 53:12.210 wherever they are uh in the interest of 53:12.210 --> 53:14.432 time . Let me just go to something else 53:14.432 --> 53:17.380 to Sudan . The transitional government 53:17.950 --> 53:20.117 said that they're willing to hand over 53:20.117 --> 53:22.283 general bashir to the I . C . C . That 53:22.283 --> 53:24.228 of course has long been a goal the 53:24.228 --> 53:26.339 United States to have any reaction to 53:26.339 --> 53:28.506 this . Is that any U . S . Discussions 53:28.506 --> 53:30.339 with ? Well we do welcome the re 53:30.339 --> 53:29.950 confirmation by the Council of 53:29.950 --> 53:31.880 Ministers or the Cabinet of its 53:31.890 --> 53:34.112 intention to hand over former president 53:34.112 --> 53:36.001 bashir and other former officials 53:36.001 --> 53:38.820 wanted by the I . C . C . For crimes in 53:38.820 --> 53:41.740 Darfur . Uh We look forward to joint 53:41.750 --> 53:44.450 action by the Cabinet and the Sovereign 53:44.450 --> 53:46.506 Council to finalize and execute this 53:46.506 --> 53:49.870 decision . We urge Sudan to continue to 53:49.870 --> 53:51.759 cooperate with the I . C . C . By 53:51.759 --> 53:53.759 handing over those those subject to 53:53.759 --> 53:55.870 arrest warrants and by cooperating on 53:55.870 --> 53:57.648 the provisions of the requested 53:57.648 --> 53:59.703 evidence . Doing so would be a major 53:59.703 --> 54:03.250 step for Sudan uh in the fight 54:03.260 --> 54:06.550 against decades of impunity . 54:07.140 --> 54:10.930 Yes . Question . I believe 54:10.930 --> 54:13.920 the Minsk authorities wanted to reduce 54:13.920 --> 54:16.970 the U . S . Embassy presence to five . 54:16.980 --> 54:19.570 Do you know what it is currently ? How 54:19.570 --> 54:21.792 much of a decrease of that and how much 54:21.792 --> 54:23.737 of a problem would that be for the 54:23.737 --> 54:25.880 embassy there ? I don't have our 54:25.880 --> 54:28.420 current current staffing figures for 54:28.420 --> 54:30.476 the embassy in Minsk but belarussian 54:30.476 --> 54:32.531 authorities have indicated that they 54:32.531 --> 54:34.476 will be reducing the size of their 54:34.476 --> 54:36.531 mission to the United States to five 54:36.531 --> 54:38.698 diplomats . Uh and have requested that 54:38.698 --> 54:40.698 we limit the size of our embassy in 54:40.698 --> 54:43.620 Minsk 25 american diplomats diplomats 54:43.620 --> 54:45.564 by the deadline of september 1st . 54:46.440 --> 54:47.670 Yes 54:50.160 --> 54:52.390 sort of related to it . Yesterday you 54:52.390 --> 54:54.334 mentioned that the U . S . Was not 54:54.334 --> 54:56.560 taking any tools off the table with 54:56.560 --> 54:58.671 regard to what it could impose on the 54:58.671 --> 55:00.930 taliban and would use those tools if 55:00.940 --> 55:02.773 the State Department deemed them 55:02.940 --> 55:05.220 appropriate . It seems like now would 55:05.220 --> 55:07.442 be an appropriate time to use any tools 55:07.442 --> 55:10.230 the US has at its disposal . So could 55:10.230 --> 55:12.510 you maybe go into more detail about 55:12.510 --> 55:14.732 what tools you're referring to and when 55:14.732 --> 55:16.954 would be appropriate to use this tool ? 55:17.140 --> 55:21.030 Well , there are any number of 55:21.040 --> 55:24.510 forms of leverage that uh the 55:24.520 --> 55:27.160 are partners in this effort have . Uh 55:27.170 --> 55:30.690 I've mentioned both today and yesterday 55:30.700 --> 55:32.700 the leverage that the government of 55:32.700 --> 55:36.380 Afghanistan has uh in the form in many 55:36.380 --> 55:38.820 ways but of course importantly in the 55:38.820 --> 55:41.970 form of its armed forces , 300,000 55:41.980 --> 55:44.630 trained soldiers , uh Air Force heavy 55:44.630 --> 55:47.630 equipment , uh continuing support from 55:47.640 --> 55:50.830 uh the United States . There are other 55:50.830 --> 55:54.140 countries in the region that can 55:54.140 --> 55:56.970 exert influence and leverage 55:57.140 --> 56:00.370 over the taliban . We are 56:00.380 --> 56:02.780 uh this is part of why we are 56:02.780 --> 56:05.100 continuing to galvanize international 56:05.100 --> 56:07.650 attention , international support to 56:07.660 --> 56:10.550 the diplomacy we have . The United 56:10.550 --> 56:13.640 States has important sources of 56:13.640 --> 56:16.980 leverage uh to uh that includes both 56:16.990 --> 56:19.700 carrots and sticks . I don't think it's 56:19.700 --> 56:23.290 prudent for us to preview what 56:23.300 --> 56:26.850 we might do , but the fact is 56:27.230 --> 56:30.100 that we will not hesitate if we think 56:30.100 --> 56:32.044 it will be in the interests of the 56:32.044 --> 56:34.211 people of Afghanistan . Uh if we think 56:34.211 --> 56:36.640 uh it is an appropriate recourse um to 56:36.640 --> 56:39.150 you to use any and all tools at our 56:39.150 --> 56:43.020 disposal . The one the one tool we have 56:43.030 --> 56:45.220 taken off the table , of course , is 56:45.220 --> 56:47.630 the the reintroduction of U . S . 56:47.630 --> 56:50.420 Service members because uh this 56:50.420 --> 56:53.830 president uh in the priority attach is 56:53.840 --> 56:56.970 that he attaches to the safety security 56:56.980 --> 56:59.480 of american citizens , including of 56:59.480 --> 57:01.910 course our our service members . Uh we 57:01.910 --> 57:04.710 have concluded that the United States 57:04.710 --> 57:07.170 will no longer use our service members 57:07.180 --> 57:10.650 as sources of leverage in a negotiation , 57:10.940 --> 57:14.790 something that had not 57:14.790 --> 57:18.200 borne fruit um uh previously , uh 57:18.210 --> 57:20.432 Beyond that though , we have any number 57:20.432 --> 57:22.432 of sources of leverage and we'll be 57:22.432 --> 57:24.043 prepared to use them if it's 57:24.043 --> 57:26.154 appropriate . Yes . Let me get rid of 57:26.154 --> 57:29.790 here . Democracy in december . 57:29.800 --> 57:32.090 Has the administration finalized the 57:32.100 --> 57:34.350 invitees ? How would you draw a line 57:34.350 --> 57:36.620 between who is democracy that is 57:36.620 --> 57:39.910 qualified to be invited and who isn't ? 57:39.920 --> 57:42.200 Because we know that some countries 57:42.210 --> 57:45.000 claim they are democracies when they 57:45.000 --> 57:47.340 are not in other standards . For 57:47.340 --> 57:49.710 example , china claims that it has its 57:49.720 --> 57:51.960 own brand of democracy with quote 57:51.970 --> 57:54.250 chinese characteristics , unquote . 57:55.730 --> 57:59.320 Um what I can say is that we have 57:59.320 --> 58:03.040 reached out to a regionally diverse uh 58:03.050 --> 58:06.850 set of both well established uh 58:06.860 --> 58:09.430 as well as emerging democracies whose 58:09.430 --> 58:12.310 progress and commitments will advance a 58:12.310 --> 58:15.120 more just and peaceful world . Our goal 58:15.120 --> 58:17.640 in all of this and putting together the 58:17.650 --> 58:20.500 virtual uh summit for later this year 58:20.510 --> 58:23.390 is to be as inclusive as possible . Uh 58:23.390 --> 58:25.501 And of course we have to do so within 58:25.501 --> 58:27.860 logistical constraints , but we are 58:27.870 --> 58:30.900 therefore considering additional 58:30.900 --> 58:34.020 opportunities to ensure that even 58:34.020 --> 58:36.860 beyond this virtual gathering all 58:36.860 --> 58:39.260 relevant voices and viewpoints can feed 58:39.260 --> 58:41.720 into the summit process . Uh and we'll 58:41.720 --> 58:43.331 continue working with summit 58:43.331 --> 58:45.276 participants and other governments 58:45.276 --> 58:47.920 around the world to uh let me just say , 58:47.920 --> 58:50.590 those other participants include um non 58:50.590 --> 58:52.770 governmental participants , uh non 58:52.770 --> 58:54.659 governmental stakeholders , civil 58:54.659 --> 58:58.210 society uh and other actors to address 58:58.210 --> 59:00.200 democratic backsliding , promote 59:00.200 --> 59:02.089 respect for human rights , defend 59:02.089 --> 59:04.200 against corruption , both at home and 59:04.200 --> 59:06.150 abroad . Whether that work occurs 59:06.160 --> 59:08.760 within or outside of the summit 59:08.760 --> 59:10.649 framework . So having the private 59:10.649 --> 59:12.371 sector involved , would you be 59:12.371 --> 59:14.170 strengthening like technology , 59:14.170 --> 59:16.930 security , and um supply chain issues 59:16.930 --> 59:19.041 and all those topics ? Could you give 59:19.041 --> 59:21.152 us some more color to what the summit 59:21.152 --> 59:23.152 would look like ? Well , we'll have 59:23.152 --> 59:25.263 much more on this uh in in the coming 59:25.263 --> 59:28.970 weeks . But let me just say um uh 59:28.980 --> 59:31.760 that uh this summit , as we see it , is 59:31.760 --> 59:35.160 an opportunity to engage , listen and 59:35.160 --> 59:39.060 speak honestly about the challenges uh 59:39.070 --> 59:41.490 that democracies face . Um it's an 59:41.490 --> 59:43.657 opportunity to work together with like 59:43.657 --> 59:45.712 minded governments , civil society , 59:45.712 --> 59:47.768 the private sector on meaningful new 59:47.768 --> 59:49.934 commitments and new initiatives and to 59:49.934 --> 59:52.101 cooperatively build the Foundation for 59:52.101 --> 59:54.212 democratic renewal globally . This is 59:54.212 --> 59:56.434 not just a forum for sharing thoughts . 59:56.434 --> 59:58.730 Uh this is a forum for putting forward 59:58.740 --> 01:00:01.230 concrete ideas , concrete commitments . 01:00:01.250 --> 01:00:04.470 That is part of what we have solicited 01:00:04.480 --> 01:00:07.520 in our initial outreach to countries 01:00:07.710 --> 01:00:10.300 around the world , asking them to be 01:00:10.300 --> 01:00:12.590 bold to be ambitious in terms of what 01:00:12.590 --> 01:00:14.701 they might be able to bring forward . 01:00:14.701 --> 01:00:17.080 And we look forward to um , having that 01:00:17.080 --> 01:00:19.620 discussion with participants uh in the 01:00:19.620 --> 01:00:21.787 coming weeks in several months . Can I 01:00:21.787 --> 01:00:23.898 just have one more question , Korea ? 01:00:23.898 --> 01:00:26.064 Okay . Yeah . North Korea has issued a 01:00:26.064 --> 01:00:28.176 warning to us and South Korea again , 01:00:28.176 --> 01:00:30.287 it said the U . S . South Korea joint 01:00:30.287 --> 01:00:32.380 military exercise risk provoking , 01:00:32.380 --> 01:00:35.230 quote , a serious security crisis with 01:00:35.230 --> 01:00:37.440 consecutive misstatements coming from 01:00:37.440 --> 01:00:40.280 the Dprk . Senior officials does the U . 01:00:40.280 --> 01:00:42.660 S . C . This north Korea action as 01:00:42.670 --> 01:00:46.410 escalating tension . Look , I don't 01:00:46.410 --> 01:00:48.410 want to I wouldn't want to offer an 01:00:48.410 --> 01:00:50.710 assessment as to what may or may not be 01:00:50.720 --> 01:00:54.270 the message from the Dprk . What I will 01:00:54.270 --> 01:00:57.250 do is reiterate our message and it's a 01:00:57.250 --> 01:00:59.370 very simple one . Uh , the joint 01:00:59.380 --> 01:01:01.740 military exercises , they are purely 01:01:01.740 --> 01:01:04.240 defensive in nature . Uh , We have long 01:01:04.250 --> 01:01:06.840 maintained the United States harbors no 01:01:06.850 --> 01:01:10.410 hostile intent towards the Dprk . We 01:01:10.410 --> 01:01:12.188 remain , it is true , we remain 01:01:12.188 --> 01:01:14.021 committed to the security of the 01:01:14.021 --> 01:01:16.110 Republic of Korea uh and are defined 01:01:16.110 --> 01:01:18.650 convinced uh combined defense posture 01:01:18.660 --> 01:01:20.680 uh in accordance with the Ironclad 01:01:20.690 --> 01:01:24.050 Alliance we have with the rok um 01:01:24.060 --> 01:01:27.510 We support inter korean dialogue , we 01:01:27.510 --> 01:01:29.610 support inter korean engagement and 01:01:29.610 --> 01:01:32.340 will continue to work with our our okay 01:01:32.340 --> 01:01:34.507 partners to that end , couple of final 01:01:34.507 --> 01:01:36.840 questions . Andrea . And so uh you 01:01:36.840 --> 01:01:38.951 talked about using all leverage again 01:01:38.951 --> 01:01:41.118 with the taliban . Are you prepared to 01:01:41.118 --> 01:01:43.229 use leverage against american banks ? 01:01:43.229 --> 01:01:45.340 Who , according to a lawsuit filed by 01:01:45.340 --> 01:01:47.562 Gold Star families including the family 01:01:47.562 --> 01:01:49.750 of Anne Smedinghoff , revered and you 01:01:49.750 --> 01:01:51.940 know , Decorated Foreign Service 01:01:51.940 --> 01:01:54.140 Officer lost her life in 2013 in 01:01:54.140 --> 01:01:58.110 Afghanistan . And to go after banks 01:01:58.710 --> 01:02:01.450 that are headquartered here that are 01:02:01.460 --> 01:02:04.570 allegedly money laundering and getting 01:02:04.570 --> 01:02:08.510 money to the Taliban . Uh our efforts 01:02:08.520 --> 01:02:10.631 um when it comes to illicit finance , 01:02:10.631 --> 01:02:13.710 um we have many tools at our disposal . 01:02:13.720 --> 01:02:16.730 Um again , I think it is um far to 01:02:16.730 --> 01:02:18.970 tactical for me to entertain a question 01:02:18.970 --> 01:02:21.730 like that from here at this point . But 01:02:21.730 --> 01:02:24.500 the point remains , uh we are and will 01:02:24.500 --> 01:02:26.722 be prepared to use any tool that in our 01:02:26.722 --> 01:02:29.230 estimation can um 01:02:30.200 --> 01:02:32.530 uh provide would provide an advantage 01:02:32.540 --> 01:02:35.520 to what we seek to do . And ultimately 01:02:35.520 --> 01:02:39.070 that is to um bring about 01:02:39.080 --> 01:02:43.040 uh stability , security to 01:02:43.050 --> 01:02:45.161 the people of Afghanistan . Could you 01:02:45.161 --> 01:02:47.610 take a question on that ? Uh we'll see 01:02:47.610 --> 01:02:49.610 if you can provide anything , but I 01:02:49.610 --> 01:02:51.666 just don't think we're gonna be in a 01:02:51.666 --> 01:02:53.666 position to offer anything specific 01:02:53.666 --> 01:02:55.730 time out of the top . Some comments 01:02:55.730 --> 01:02:59.370 about Austin tice , there's another 01:02:59.370 --> 01:03:01.426 american who was detained overseas . 01:03:01.426 --> 01:03:05.010 Danny finster in Myanmar . I 01:03:05.010 --> 01:03:07.350 saw I wanted to bring your attention . 01:03:07.360 --> 01:03:09.527 His brother brian finster on twitter , 01:03:09.527 --> 01:03:12.150 he added , he tagged you in his tweet , 01:03:12.160 --> 01:03:14.216 but I don't think he responded . But 01:03:14.216 --> 01:03:18.210 he's asking for , you know , there's 01:03:18.210 --> 01:03:20.321 a , The fact that there's an American 01:03:20.321 --> 01:03:22.488 journalist still wrongly imprisoned 80 01:03:22.488 --> 01:03:24.488 days later in Myanmar . What is the 01:03:24.488 --> 01:03:26.488 Biden administration doing to bring 01:03:26.488 --> 01:03:28.950 Danny Finster ? Well , this is a 01:03:28.960 --> 01:03:31.590 priority for us . It's a priority for 01:03:31.590 --> 01:03:33.820 us for a couple of reasons . Um As 01:03:33.820 --> 01:03:35.764 we've said about austin tice . The 01:03:35.764 --> 01:03:37.931 welfare and safety of U . S . Citizens 01:03:37.931 --> 01:03:40.098 is its highest priority of the U . S . 01:03:40.098 --> 01:03:41.987 Government . And we remain deeply 01:03:41.987 --> 01:03:44.153 concerned over the continued detention 01:03:44.153 --> 01:03:47.100 of Danny finster who was working as a 01:03:47.110 --> 01:03:49.440 journalist in Burma . We are closely 01:03:49.440 --> 01:03:52.040 monitoring his situation . We continue 01:03:52.040 --> 01:03:54.880 to press burma's military regime to 01:03:54.890 --> 01:03:57.090 release Danny immediately . Uh We will 01:03:57.090 --> 01:03:59.860 do so until he is able to return home 01:03:59.860 --> 01:04:03.520 safely uh to his family . Uh 01:04:03.530 --> 01:04:05.697 Danny is a journalist as I said , will 01:04:05.697 --> 01:04:08.580 also continue to make the point uh that 01:04:08.590 --> 01:04:10.650 journalism is not a crime free and 01:04:10.650 --> 01:04:12.817 independent media , it's indispensable 01:04:12.900 --> 01:04:14.956 to building a prosperous , resilient 01:04:14.960 --> 01:04:17.580 free societies . Uh the continued 01:04:17.580 --> 01:04:19.980 detention of Danny , the arrest of 01:04:19.980 --> 01:04:22.480 other journalists . The use the 01:04:22.480 --> 01:04:24.480 employment of the burmese military 01:04:24.490 --> 01:04:26.490 against members of the media . That 01:04:26.490 --> 01:04:28.601 constitutes an unacceptable attack on 01:04:28.601 --> 01:04:30.800 freedom of expression uh in Burma . 01:04:30.890 --> 01:04:33.700 Consular officers have spoken with 01:04:33.700 --> 01:04:37.270 Danny several times by phone . Members 01:04:37.270 --> 01:04:40.800 of his family have also been on 01:04:40.810 --> 01:04:43.950 uh those calls and will continue 01:04:43.960 --> 01:04:47.660 to urge burmese authorities to 01:04:47.660 --> 01:04:50.350 affect his immediate release . Um That 01:04:50.350 --> 01:04:52.517 continues miracle is that contact with 01:04:52.517 --> 01:04:54.628 culture officials ongoing ? Because , 01:04:54.628 --> 01:04:56.517 you know , there was a protest in 01:04:56.517 --> 01:04:58.406 insein prison , I think they lost 01:04:58.406 --> 01:05:00.517 contact for a while . At the moment . 01:05:00.517 --> 01:05:00.340 They're , you know , they're in regular 01:05:00.340 --> 01:05:02.690 contact . Uh It has been , it has been 01:05:02.690 --> 01:05:04.634 several weeks , I understand since 01:05:04.634 --> 01:05:06.801 we've been able to be in contact . But 01:05:06.801 --> 01:05:10.430 consular officers , the embassy uh in 01:05:10.440 --> 01:05:13.540 Burma um is following this case very 01:05:13.540 --> 01:05:17.220 closely . Journalism is not a crime 01:05:17.690 --> 01:05:20.590 then . Why do you have a problem saying 01:05:20.600 --> 01:05:22.711 that ? What you believe that ? You do 01:05:22.711 --> 01:05:24.767 not believe that Julian assange is a 01:05:24.767 --> 01:05:27.770 journalist or or or or you do believe 01:05:27.770 --> 01:05:29.826 that he is a journalist and you just 01:05:29.826 --> 01:05:31.810 don't care . No , it's actually a 01:05:31.810 --> 01:05:34.290 procedural procedural issue . The fact 01:05:34.290 --> 01:05:36.690 that journalism is not a crime , right ? 01:05:36.700 --> 01:05:38.922 Journalism is not a crime that okay but 01:05:38.922 --> 01:05:41.144 not in the case of Julia massage or you 01:05:41.144 --> 01:05:43.311 don't believe he's a journalist . It's 01:05:43.311 --> 01:05:47.170 a really it's a binary choice . Uh It's 01:05:47.170 --> 01:05:49.570 really easy then the Department of 01:05:49.570 --> 01:05:52.580 Justice is handling this matter . Okay . 01:05:52.590 --> 01:05:54.940 Uh journalism is not a crime . We've 01:05:54.940 --> 01:05:57.360 made that very clear . Unless it's 01:05:57.360 --> 01:05:59.360 Julian assange or you don't believe 01:05:59.360 --> 01:06:01.582 that he's a journal matt . You can talk 01:06:01.582 --> 01:06:03.870 to the Department of justice . Uh They 01:06:03.870 --> 01:06:07.010 have put forward public charging 01:06:07.010 --> 01:06:09.232 documents and other documents . I would 01:06:09.232 --> 01:06:13.040 refer you to those when you ask about 01:06:13.050 --> 01:06:15.800 pending cases whether the case is an 01:06:15.800 --> 01:06:18.022 extradition of Julian assange or anyone 01:06:18.022 --> 01:06:20.078 else . He just asked about a pending 01:06:20.078 --> 01:06:23.370 case in Burma . Not an extradition case 01:06:23.370 --> 01:06:26.510 matter . No . But it's very simple . 01:06:26.520 --> 01:06:29.080 It's very simple . And I'm surprised 01:06:29.080 --> 01:06:30.747 you're having trouble trouble 01:06:30.747 --> 01:06:32.636 understanding . We don't speak to 01:06:32.636 --> 01:06:35.820 extradition cases . I'm asking you not 01:06:35.820 --> 01:06:37.931 about an extradition . I'm asking you 01:06:37.931 --> 01:06:40.153 whether you believe Julian assange is a 01:06:40.153 --> 01:06:42.376 journalist . How is that how you decide 01:06:42.376 --> 01:06:44.653 having anything to do with extradition ? 01:06:44.653 --> 01:06:46.820 Yeah . Do you believe that what he was 01:06:46.820 --> 01:06:49.880 doing is journalism or not ? Thank you 01:06:49.880 --> 01:06:53.010 all very much . Yeah . Mhm . 01:06:54.590 --> 01:06:55.100 When you say