State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller holds a press briefing.
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NewsTranscript
00:00On Wednesday, Secretary Blinken will depart for his 18th trip as Secretary to the Indo-Pacific
00:06region, traveling to Vietnam, Laos, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Mongolia.
00:13From day one, this administration has made deepening our engagement with Indo-Pacific
00:18partners a top priority.
00:20And on this trip, the Secretary will continue to advance our vision of a free, open, and
00:25prosperous region.
00:26In Hanoi, Secretary Blinken will attend the funeral of General Secretary Nguyen Phuong
00:32and offer condolences to the people of Vietnam.
00:35He will further underscore the strength of the comprehensive strategic partnership with
00:39his government counterparts.
00:40In Vientiane, Secretary Blinken will participate in ASEAN-related foreign ministers' meetings,
00:46including co-chairing the ASEAN-U.S. and Mekong-U.S. Partnership Foreign Ministers'
00:51Meetings.
00:52The Secretary will emphasize our steadfast support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN
00:56outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
00:58He will also discuss topics including enhancing our economic cooperation, combating the climate
01:03crisis, and addressing the ongoing crisis in Burma.
01:07In Tokyo, Secretary Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will join their Japanese
01:12counterparts to build on the success of Prime Minister Kishida's historic official visit
01:17to Washington in April by participating in a foreign and defense ministerial dialogue
01:22to reaffirm the critical importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance.
01:26They will also continue to build on the momentum of the U.S.-Japan, Republic of Korea, and
01:30U.S.-Japan-Philippines trilateral cooperation.
01:33The officials will later hold an extended deterrence ministerial meeting during which
01:37they will discuss bilateral cooperation to further strengthen U.S.-extended deterrence
01:42bolstered by Japan's defense capabilities.
01:45Finally, in Tokyo, Secretary Blinken will join his Australian, Indian, and Japanese
01:49counterparts for a quad foreign ministers meeting during which the officials will discuss
01:54how our four nations can continue to deliver concrete benefits for the Indo-Pacific region.
01:59In Manila, Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin will meet with their Philippine counterparts
02:03for a two-plus-two ministerial dialogue.
02:06They will reaffirm our nation's shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region and
02:10support for adherence to international law in maritime domains.
02:14They will discuss ways to deepen coordination on shared challenges, including in the South
02:18China Sea, while also advancing our critically important bilateral economic agenda.
02:23In Singapore, Secretary Blinken will meet with senior Singapore officials to review the growth
02:28of our cooperation on security, economic, climate, and technology objectives.
02:33The Secretary will also co-chair the second round of the U.S.-Singapore Critical and Emerging
02:37Technologies Dialogue where the two sides will discuss how to reduce barriers to innovation
02:42and increase collaboration while also protecting national security.
02:46Finally, in Mongolia, the Secretary will meet Foreign Minister Batsetseg to continue the
02:50momentum from the first-ever U.S.-Mongolia Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue, which the
02:55Secretary and Deputy Secretary will host in Washington tomorrow.
02:59The two will hold in-depth discussions on our country's growing relationship, as demonstrated
03:03by ongoing initiatives to bolster our people-to-people ties through professional and educational
03:08exchanges, English-language programs, and establishing direct flights between our two countries.
03:14We'll have more to share in the coming days as the trip proceeds.
03:17I look forward to making further meetings and events public as we move along.
03:22With that, Matt.
03:23Okay.
03:24Thanks, Matt.
03:25So, just broadly on the trip, and I think I, in fact, I'm sure I know the answer to
03:33this, but I'm going to ask it anyway.
03:36Was there any consideration after yesterday, say 1.45 p.m., of the Secretary pulling this
03:44down?
03:45No, none at all.
03:46In fact, this isn't a direct answer to the question, but I think it's relevant.
03:52So, the Secretary convened the senior leadership team of the Department this morning to share
03:59a few things with them.
04:00One, that he talked to the President yesterday after the announcement, and the President
04:04made it clear that he is focused on all the work that we're doing, the administration
04:09is doing broadly, but of course that we in the national security space are doing, and
04:15he wants that work to continue full steam ahead for the next six months.
04:20And as the Secretary shared with the senior leadership team here, we still have an eighth
04:24of the President's term remaining.
04:26There's a lot of important work that remains to be done, and he expects our team to continue
04:31to focus on getting that work done.
04:33So, you still have an eighth?
04:35An eighth.
04:36It's a significant amount of time.
04:38Okay.
04:39It just seems that's unusual to say an eighth.
04:42Okay.
04:43Eighth, yeah.
04:44Fair enough.
04:45Eighth, six months, however you want to look at it.
04:47As you know, a lot of things can happen in six months.
04:52Seriously, there is a lot of work.
04:54So, no, we didn't in no way consider canceling the trip because the work we're doing in the
05:00Indo-Pacific is one of our top priorities and it needs to continue.
05:03But in some ways, I mean, you could see that maybe even if it wasn't considered pulling
05:07it down, that continuing to go or keeping the plan is just as, if not more important
05:16to, you know, to show the administration's commitment, no?
05:22Keeping it.
05:23I got a little lost in the keeping it on is more important.
05:27Even if there wasn't any consideration of pulling the trip down because the President
05:30has decided, you know, maybe the President decided not to withdraw, I suppose there are
05:39those, and maybe I'm wrong, but who could say that it's important for you, for the Secretary
05:44to go anyway just to show that, you know, kind of continuity.
05:52Yeah, I'm sure people could make that argument.
05:54I would say from our perspective, we don't really connect it to a campaign decision.
05:58We connect it to the fact that the President was elected to a four-year term.
06:01We have a number of work left to do in the remainder of that term, and we're going to
06:06be laser-focused on getting that work done.
06:08All right.
06:09And then I asked this question earlier today, but I do want to know, I mean, on Friday,
06:14you asked when the Secretary said that he'd be planning to see the Chinese foreign minister
06:19in Laos.
06:21Is that actually going to be, is that going to be, you know, a formal meeting, or is it
06:26just like he's going to pass him in the hallway or see him across the table with a pen or
06:31something?
06:32So I don't have any meetings to announce today with respect to either Wang Yi or any other
06:37officials we may see on the sidelines of any of these meetings.
06:42But, as you know, when we have been in the same place as the Chinese foreign minister
06:49on other trips, we have found occasion to sit down with him in one respect or the other,
06:53and I would certainly expect that to be the case here.
06:55Right.
06:56Well, you have also found occasion on some other trips, certainly not all or many, to
07:00sit down with the Russian foreign minister.
07:02Do you expect something like that then?
07:04I do not.
07:05Okay.
07:06Thank you so much.
07:07I have a follow-up on, was there any guidance that went out to posts about how to discuss
07:11what happened yesterday in ALDAC or anything?
07:14No.
07:15No ALDAC has gone out as of yet.
07:19We may end up sending some guidance along the lines of what the Secretary communicated
07:23to the senior leadership today.
07:25I don't know if we'll make that decision or not, but we do think it is important that
07:28everyone in the department hear loud and clear that the work that we have been engaged in
07:33over the course of the past three and a half years remains a high priority and that everyone
07:37should remain focused on getting that work done.
07:39And then can I switch to the Middle East?
07:41Yeah.
07:42Do you have any updates on the discussions around the hostage deal?
07:45Netanyahu said he would send negotiators later this week to continue negotiations.
07:49Will Bill Burns be there?
07:51What can you tell us about where things stand?
07:52So I won't make any announcements with respect to the leader of another agency, Paul and
07:57Michael, my typical practice here.
08:00But we continue to work on it.
08:02You heard the Secretary speak to this and ask him on Friday where he said that in his
08:06estimation we are inside the 10-yard line, but that of course doesn't mean that we'll
08:10ultimately be successful, but that if you look at how far we've come, we have significantly
08:14narrowed the disagreements between the parties and have a few remaining issues that need
08:20to be resolved.
08:21Now, since Friday they're not yet resolved.
08:23We continue discussions with the other mediators and with the government of Israel to try to
08:28reach a resolution, but we don't have that yet and I don't have any kind of forecast
08:32about when we might come to that.
08:34So you don't anticipate this could be done by the time the Israeli Prime Minister addresses
08:37Congress?
08:39I'm not going to put – I thought you were going to say when he arrives.
08:42I was looking at the clock because I think he arrives pretty soon, like in the next few
08:46hours.
08:47I don't want to put any kind of timetable on it at all.
08:51It's just very difficult to predict.
08:54Will Blinken have any engagements with Netanyahu?
08:57I would expect that he would attend the meeting with the President, but that meeting has not
09:03yet been formally announced.
09:05Will he meet with the hostage families?
09:07Will the Secretary – I don't have any meetings to announce today, but as you know,
09:11he has met a number of times with the families of hostages, both on our trips to Israel and
09:17here at home, and he's met with them 10 times, more than 10 times.
09:20So it has been a consistent priority of his to meet with hostage families and let them
09:25know all that we're trying to do to bring their relatives home, but I don't have any
09:28announcements to make about meetings this week.
09:32Thanks, Matt.
09:33With the Houthi attack on Tel Aviv on Friday, our video verification team did what they
09:41do best, and they determined that the UAB exploded about 200 meters away from the U.S.
09:48Embassy branch in Tel Aviv.
09:50Has there been any discussion with the Israelis or any conclusion as to whether the U.S.
09:57Embassy branch was indeed a target?
09:59We do not know at this time what the actual target was, which is not to say we have any
10:05information to suggest that our embassy branch was the target.
10:09We just don't have any actual information about what the exact target was.
10:12The Israelis, I think as they publicly announced it, have said they identified the drone as
10:16being an Iranian drone launched from Yemen, which is, of course, claimed responsibility
10:21for it.
10:22We are in close contact with the Israelis as they fully investigate the source of the
10:27explosion and its intended target, but don't yet have any definitive information about
10:31that second question.
10:32And given the proximity, do you expect or has there been any change in security posture
10:37at that branch or any of the others?
10:39There hasn't been.
10:40As you, I think, are probably aware, since October 7th, there have been a number of attacks
10:47on Israel writ large and on Tel Aviv.
10:49There was a while when Tel Aviv was coming under daily attack from rockets from Gaza,
10:56and we, since that time, have been always very closely monitoring the security situation.
11:01We have well-established protocols at our embassy and our embassy branch office for
11:07dealing with threats.
11:09We conducted an accountability after the drone attack on Thursday, I guess it was Friday
11:18morning there, and established full accountability for all of our personnel at our embassy and
11:24the embassy branch office are operating from now until then.
11:30Just to be clear, you're not expecting the Israeli prime minister to come to this building
11:35for any money, are you?
11:36No.
11:37You don't.
11:38No.
11:39Okay.
11:40Now, let me ask you this about the prime minister as an expert.
11:43Not that I want you to go to his head.
11:45Am I an expert then?
11:46No, you are an expert on this issue.
11:48You are an expert to knowing where the Israeli prime minister, for sure, you've encountered
11:53many times.
11:54But my question to you is, would he be this inclined to be cooperative on this deal?
12:00I mean, he's opting by nature, but now he may feel that there's a great deal of disincentive
12:08to go ahead with this deal since the person who basically articulated this deal has decided
12:17that he will not run for office.
12:20So, expert or not, I try not to put myself in the minds of anyone else, try to make assessments
12:25about people based on their actions.
12:27And I will speak to the actions of the government of Israel, including the prime minister, when
12:31it comes to this potential ceasefire deal.
12:34And that is that they have continued to stand by the proposal that the president outlined
12:38publicly some six weeks or so ago.
12:41We have been engaged with them over the course of the past few weeks trying to bridge the
12:47final differences.
12:48And what they tell us and what they continue to show is that they are working to try to
12:52get a deal.
12:53It doesn't mean that they are willing to agree to every demand that Hamas has made.
12:56Of course not.
12:57That's the standard way a negotiation proceeds.
13:00But we continue to judge that they are working to try to reach a deal.
13:04Okay.
13:05So, you don't feel that a great deal may have changed in, let's say, in what Israel would
13:09want or would agree to in the last 24 hours, as it were?
13:13No, I do not.
13:14And again, I'm going to assess all the parties by the actions they take.
13:17Yeah, a couple more questions.
13:19The U.S. criticized the ruling, the ICJ ruling, that the Israeli occupation of Palestine is illegal.
13:28Why would you do that?
13:29Because you guys, I just want to learn, you are a signatory to 242, 338, and so on, which
13:36speak very clearly on what is occupied territory and so on.
13:41Why would you be opposed to a statement that is stating the obvious, actually, that the
13:46West Bank and East Jerusalem are there?
13:48So, if you look closely at the response that we gave to people that asked for our take
13:53on this ruling on Friday, what we said is that we have been clear that the Israeli government's
13:58support for settlements is inconsistent with international law and, of course, runs contrary
14:03to the cause of peace, and that we respect the role the International Court of Justice
14:09plays in the peaceful settlement of disputes.
14:12But what we are concerned about is that parties will use the court's advice as a pretext for
14:20further unilateral actions that will just deepen divisions and make the cause of establishing
14:26an independent Palestinian state more difficult to achieve.
14:29So, we are clear on what we think about the settlement program, and we are also clear
14:33about what we think the ultimate outcome ought to be here, which is the establishment of
14:37an independent Palestinian state, and that is what we continue to pursue.
14:40You are positioning very clearly on occupation, very clearly on pursuit of a two-state solution
14:45and so on, and the settlement, all this, but the Israelis are not responding.
14:49Now, you continue to say that the best or the most feasible path forward on this is
14:55negotiation, but then we have the legislative body of Israel come out and say, you know,
15:01we are not going to negotiate on this issue, so why not then take this matter into some
15:06sort of an international court?
15:08Because we believe the best outcome, ultimately, to establish an independent Palestinian state,
15:12and it is important to remember the practical goal that we want to see achieved, not votes
15:18at international bodies that don't do anything, not rhetorical statements that don't do anything.
15:23We want to see the actual establishment of an independent Palestinian state, and in our
15:26judgment, to get there, it is going to require negotiation, and yeah, it is a very difficult
15:31process, obviously.
15:32There is a reason why this dispute has been dragging on for decades now, but we continue
15:37to push for the establishment of a Palestinian state, and we continue to look at ways to
15:42come out of the current conflict and get a ceasefire and build a ceasefire into lasting
15:48peace and build a ceasefire into enduring stability, and ultimately, push for the establishment
15:54of a Palestinian state.
15:55Not to say that it is easy.
15:56Of course, it is not easy, but in our judgment, that is the route that has the ultimate best
16:00chance of success.
16:02Lastly, on the water, Israel is using water as a weapon, according to different reports
16:08in Gaza.
16:09I mean, it seems like water has been cut off by 94 percent.
16:12Are you aware of this situation?
16:14I have not seen that specific report, but I can tell you that we have been working to
16:18try and get food and, of course, water into the people of Gaza.
16:22We have been working to try and get pipelines turned back on.
16:25There have been times that Israel has made progress working with local Palestinian agencies
16:29to try to get water turned back on, and then you had events that led to pipes being disrupted
16:34again.
16:35Obviously, the provision of water is incredibly important.
16:36It is why, for another example, we have worked to get fuel into Gaza to allow desalinization
16:42plans to run, so they can provide water to the people who need it, and that continues
16:46to be a priority for us.
16:49Thank you so much, CJ.
16:50So, in your response to that, you are talking about you do not want parties to use this
16:58opinion as a pretext for further unilateral action.
17:01What are we really talking about there?
17:03What is it that you are concerned that a court's decision will be used as a pretext?
17:09So, I do not want to prescribe any from here, but just as we have criticized unilateral
17:14actions that Israel has taken because we do not find them conducive to the goal of reaching
17:22peace, we would see actions by other parties.
17:25So, you have seen us, for example, when other countries have come out and recognized the
17:30Palestinian state as a unilateral action.
17:33It is, of course, the right of any country to make that decision, but we see that ultimately
17:37as harmful to the ultimate goal of negotiating the establishment of a Palestinian state.
17:43So, without prescribing any exact options that various parties may take, it is that
17:47kind of unilateral thing that outside the context of negotiations we just ultimately
17:51do not find helpful.
17:52Right.
17:53I think what Saeed was kind of getting at, you are basically saying we do not sort of
18:03see this court's opinion as useful, but that is not really what courts are for, right?
18:08They are not there as bodies to make useful political interventions and issues.
18:13This is an issue where you say you support international law, but in international law,
18:19the concept of international law means that there are courts that can rule on these kind
18:23of things, right?
18:24And now we have got the ICC and the ICJ have both taken actions regarding Israel in the
18:31last few months, and in both cases you have sort of pretty strongly spoken out about those
18:40courts' interventions.
18:42So, how can you say that you support international law when whenever the bodies of international
18:49law act, you denounce it?
18:52So, various parties or observers to international fora or courts here can both respect a court
19:02system and disagree with rulings that courts make.
19:05We see that all the time just thinking about domestically here at home, where an administration
19:09can respect the work that the courts do, but disagree with an individual, that ruling that
19:15comes down, be concerned about the practical implications of a decision that a court makes,
19:21a plan to an appeal.
19:22It is, I think, keeping in practice with the way people respond to court decisions all
19:28around the world.
19:29And it's the case here, where we can respect the role that the courts play, but also be
19:34concerned with the implications of decisions that they make.
19:38And when we have those concerns, I think it's incumbent upon us to give voice to them.
19:42But by doing that, you're kind of signaling to your ally Israel that it doesn't need to
19:47follow those rulings.
19:48And so this was an advisory ruling, first of all, but I think what it signals is that
19:54when we have concerns, we're going to speak to them publicly.
19:58A couple of topics.
20:01On Alsu Kremesheva, we learned today that last week a Russian court rushed through her
20:07conviction in a secret trial.
20:09They sentenced her to 6.5 years in prison.
20:14Any comment on that?
20:15So we remain focused on the case of Alsu Kremesheva.
20:18She's a dedicated journalist who is being targeted by Russian authorities for her uncompromising
20:24commitment to speaking the truth and her principle of reporting.
20:27Journalism is not a crime, as you have heard us say on a number of occasions.
20:31And we continue to make very clear that she should be released.
20:36I'm moving to the second dispute.
20:38Can you explain why it is that she has not been determined to bring lawfully detained?
20:43I don't have any update, only in that, you know, when we're reviewing these matters,
20:47I never give kind of readouts on the internal process while they're ongoing.
20:50But we have not yet made a determination in this case.
20:53But we have called on her to be released.
20:56Well, yeah, but not that she's been wrongfully detained.
21:00Correct.
21:01So that suggests that you think that there might be something to the charges against her.
21:05No, it does not suggest that at all.
21:07What I think it is an indication of is oftentimes there are a number of factors that we have
21:12to take into consideration.
21:14It sometimes takes longer than people would like, but we take it very seriously and we
21:19are undergoing that process as we speak.
21:22Sometimes it takes very, very little time.
21:24I know.
21:25The cases can be different.
21:26They have different legal factors that apply to them.
21:28But the process is ongoing prospectively, yes.
21:30Can I ask a question?
21:32Go ahead.
21:33No, I'll come.
21:34I'll follow up.
21:35I'll split up.
21:36Yeah.
21:37Are you providing –
21:38This is a gentleman yield.
21:39How many yield have you?
21:40Are you providing any assistance?
21:42As long as you don't say reclaiming my time.
21:44My time is completely under Congress.
21:46Sorry.
21:47Now I'm sorry for interrupting.
21:48Go ahead.
21:49Is the State Department providing her family any sort of assistance?
21:54So whenever a U.S. citizen is detained overseas, we provide consular assistance.
21:59We have talked to her family and her attorneys on a number of occasions since she's been
22:05detained.
22:06And anything you can do from here now, from here onward?
22:10So I don't want to speak to the underlying dynamics of this case, but as I said, we continue
22:16Thank you, Matt.
22:17Have you noted in the last week's decision that we expedite the process in terms of designation?
22:22I'm just not going to speak to the internal dynamics of it.
22:26Moving to the Secretary's trip, particularly the Tokyo leg of the trip, the 2 plus 2 meeting,
22:31will there be any discussion in terms of certifying Japanese companies which are in the process
22:39of speeding up, and I think you also announced that Ukraine is more, and the U.S. can provide
22:47Japan as capability.
22:49Is this something that is being discussed?
22:51So whenever we have these types of discussions with our allies and partners, the situation
22:57in Ukraine, the need to continue to back Ukraine is near the top of the list, if not at the
23:02top of the list.
23:03And that is always the case, but I don't want to get into what the specific conversations
23:08might be before we have them.
23:10Obviously, the Secretary will have press conferences along the trip, and we'll have readouts of
23:14the trip, so you'll be able to see what we talk about, and journalists will be able to
23:17ask him exactly what we talk about in the meetings.
23:20I have one more on a particular drawdown package that is being announced.
23:24Both the State Department and DOJ say that the amount was $235 million, right?
23:30But the presidential memorandum, the Secretary is reflecting $125 million.
23:35Can you please clarify which one?
23:37I don't have to take that back, Alex.
23:39I have to go to the South Caucuses, if I may.
23:41Why don't we go to someone else?
23:42You don't get to do seven questions at a time.
23:44You can come back to me.
23:45Well, if we have time, I'll come back to you.
23:46But if you have a South Caucus question, it's a South Caucus question.
23:48Go ahead, Michel.
23:49Thank you, Matt.
23:50Do you have any details on the U.S.-Iraq security cooperation dialogue that's being held in
23:57Washington today, as the U.S. ambassador to Iraq has said?
24:00Yeah.
24:01So representatives from the State Department, including Deputy Assistant Secretary Victoria
24:04Taylor and Ambassador Romanowski, are participating in the U.S.-Iraq joint security cooperation
24:09dialogue this week with our colleagues at the Defense Department.
24:12This is the second joint security cooperation dialogue between the United States and Iraq.
24:17The meetings are an opportunity to reaffirm our joint commitment to security cooperation
24:21and regional stability and continue discussions on further developing Iraq's security and
24:26defense capabilities.
24:27Will they discuss the U.S. forces' presence in Iraq?
24:31So I don't want to get into it in detail.
24:33We'll have a statement that comes out after the meeting.
24:35But we do remain committed to the higher military commission process that began in August.
24:40I think, as you know, that process is to determine how the coalition's military mission will
24:45transition based on threat from ISIS, operational and environmental requirements, the capabilities
24:51of Iraqi security forces.
24:54But I don't have any further detail to give on that.
24:56And finally, when will the meetings be done?
24:59I would defer to the Defense Department.
25:01They are the actual hosts of the meeting.
25:03They are this week in Washington.
25:05But with respect to specific timing, I would defer to them to speak to it.
25:10Thank you, Mr. President.
25:11Thank you, Matt.
25:12Former President Trump said last week that he got along well with North Korean leader
25:20Kim Jong-un, and he said it is good to get along well with a country that has many nuclear
25:28weapons.
25:29As you know, North Korea has continued to develop nuclear weapons and the WMD, even
25:37while engaging in along with the United States and North Korea or South and North Korea in
25:45the past.
25:46How would you comment on about getting along with the dictator Kim Jong-un?
25:53I wouldn't.
25:54Why not?
25:55I typically prefer not to comment on campaign matters from this podium.
26:00And also, North Korea is already threatening the Korean Peninsula with nuclear weapons
26:06as well as international community.
26:09North Korea is also demanding a price to give up its nuclear weapons.
26:17Do you think that if we get along well with North Korea, North Korea will give up its
26:24nuclear weapons?
26:25So I'm not going to speak to comments that were made in the course of the campaign, which
26:32I know that's a question you're asking me to respond to.
26:36But I will repeat, as I've said before, we have made clear on a number of occasions that
26:41we prefer diplomacy to deal with this situation, and the North Koreans have shown that they
26:46are not in any way interested in that.
26:49On the senior leadership meeting this morning, was there any talk of a shift of priorities
26:58or is there any hope or less hope for accomplishing some certain goals for this administration
27:06now that there's a six-month condensed timeline for its existence?
27:09No talk of shifting priorities.
27:11In fact, just the opposite.
27:13As I said, the Secretary telling the team that he wants all of them to continue to focus
27:17on the priorities that we have been working on.
27:19Obviously, if you look across the world, it will be continuing to deepen our partnerships
27:25in the Indo-Pacific region.
27:26It's part of what the Secretary is doing on this trip that he will undertake at the end
27:31of this week into next week.
27:32But there is other work that happens at the levels below him.
27:35It's continuing to hold Russia accountable for its aggression against Ukraine, and it's
27:40working to achieve a ceasefire and ultimately lasting stability and security in the Middle
27:45East.
27:47But those obviously aren't the only things.
27:48If you look across every bureau of this department, they have things that they're working on,
27:53and the Secretary's mission is keep focused, keep at it, and work as hard as possible to
27:59run through the day.
28:03Thank you, Matt.
28:04Messy feelings going on in Bangladesh, as you know.
28:08Bangladesh security forces given short on sight, and nobody knows the death toll, internet
28:15shutdowns for 50 days today.
28:18And its death toll crosses hundreds, and government is using that Supreme Court, controlled Supreme
28:26Court, to control the voices of the students.
28:30So it's just an unthinkable situation.
28:35And I saw the many members of the Congress, human rights organization, asking and expressing
28:41their solidarity with this movement.
28:43Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus are the world leaders, including U.S. and United
28:48Nations, to act promptly to rescue the Bangladeshi people and the democratic rights.
28:52So what is your comment?
28:53So we are closely following developments in Bangladesh.
28:57We continue to call for a call for calm and de-escalation.
29:02We condemn all recent acts of violence in Bangladesh and reiterate our unwavering support
29:09for peaceful assembly.
29:11In addition, we remain deeply concerned by reports of ongoing telecommunications disruptions
29:17across the country, which limit the ability of people in Bangladesh, including American
29:20citizens, to access critical information.
29:22We call on the government to restore internet service.
29:26We condemn the reported shoot-on-sight orders that have been given and call for those to
29:32be rescinded.
29:33And of course, I would just, as a final thought with respect to the situation, reiterate that
29:39media freedom is an essential building block of a thriving democracy.
29:43It is essential that journalists in Bangladesh, as is true everywhere in the world, be able
29:47to function freely.
29:49Just don't interrupt.
29:51One at a time.
29:52You know, the Bangladeshi people are protesting everywhere in the world, you know, in front
29:58of the State Department, White House, Times Square.
30:01But the UAE, when they are protesting in Dubai, some places in Iwi, they sentenced 57 Bangladeshi
30:09for 11 years while they are protesting against their own government.
30:13So what is your comment?
30:14And finally, do you rely on Bangladesh regime as you are calling and urging them to entertain
30:20your call and urge, you know?
30:22As we see in last 15 years, Bangladesh is run by authoritarian regime and they are trying
30:26to keep their power by any means using their security forces.
30:30So with respect to the first question, I wasn't aware of that report, so I'm reluctant to
30:34comment on it.
30:35It's always the case we don't have perfect information here.
30:38But when it comes to the government in Bangladesh, it's a government with which we've worked
30:43on a number of issues.
30:44But we also make clear when we have concerns, as I believe I just did.
30:47I have one follow-up.
30:48Go ahead.
30:49Thank you so much.
30:50Same.
30:51I know that you will tell already that you told, but the widespread violent protest happened
30:57in Bangladesh recent days.
30:59And already Bangladesh Supreme Court on Sunday ruled back most of the controversial quotas
31:05on government jobs.
31:07That is, they now send back to the government that this quota system, they should change.
31:13And they are taking this, this time maybe they are giving the ruling from government
31:19would be 93% of government job will be free for the, without quotas.
31:25But my question, already my colleague asked about that.
31:29I want your comment on that.
31:31I will write it.
31:32In light of recent sentencing of three Bangladeshi to life imprisonment in United Arab Emirates,
31:40just they were protesting what's happening in Bangladesh.
31:46How does the State Department view the development in terms of human rights and diplomatic relation
31:51between the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, and the United States?
31:56Additionally, what state, if any, in the United States State Department considering to address
32:01the broader issue of the treatment of foreign workers in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi
32:07Arabia?
32:08Let me just say, so I said 60 seconds ago, I wasn't aware of that specific report.
32:11I obviously didn't sneak out of the room and read about it.
32:14Between the time he asked his question, you asked yours.
32:16So I'm still unaware of that specific report, so can't comment on it in any detail.
32:22Did you have another one?
32:24Yeah, just if you have a comment on the ruling of Bangladesh Supreme Court to that.
32:30Oh, no, because with respect to the underlying quota system and whether it goes forward,
32:36whether it's rescinded, that's an internal matter for Bangladeshi side where we feel the need
32:40to speak out is on acts of violence, on shutdown of the internet, and other things that impact
32:46fundamental human rights, human dignity, human freedom.
32:50Thank you so much.
32:52Current situation in Bangladesh.
32:54Is the military taking over the power now?
32:56What do you have to comment on that?
32:58I think the military is taking over.
32:59I just don't have an assessment of that.
33:03Matt, how are you?
33:04My name is Jacob Milton.
33:05I'm representing.
33:06I'm good.
33:07Thanks for asking.
33:08No one ever does that.
33:10Most of your colleagues don't care about my underlying feelings up here.
33:15They're quite indifferent to them, in fact.
33:20Of course, the feeling is not mutual.
33:22I care about all of your underlying status.
33:26Matt, so far, about 1,000 people have been assaulted, and another 1,000, 2,000 people
33:32become the victim of disappearance by the government forces in Bangladesh.
33:38Also, there's eyewitness news and my reporter in the border.
33:43There's infiltration of Indian forces and Humvees, military vehicle, inside Bangladesh,
33:49aiding Bangladesh police, RAF, and BGB in enforcing, enforcing killing and enforced
33:58disappearance, extrajudicial killing and enforced disappearance.
34:02Other than general awareness, other than general concern of America, does America have any
34:09plan to take the side of Bangladeshi people to protect them, protect their rights?
34:14So, as I just said, we condemn all acts of violence, and we condemn acts of violence
34:19no matter who they are perpetrated by or perpetrated against.
34:22And so, of course, we stand with the Bangladeshi people.
34:24We support freedom of assembly.
34:26We support peaceful protest when it comes to acts of violence, whether they be committed
34:31by people conducting protests or by government authorities.
34:35We condemn them in all instances.
34:37Okay, Matt, last thing I would like to discuss.
34:40Secretary Blinken, he is visiting South Asia.
34:43He is concerned.
34:44He is very much showing solidarity with the people of South Asia, and that is really a
34:49very good thing for the Asian people.
34:51Now, to protect America's national interest in Bangladesh, people views, if there is a
34:57chaotic government under the leadership of Dr. Mohammed Yunus with the strong ties with
35:02U.S. government and European Union, Bangladeshi people may have their right back to cast their
35:08vote, and they would like to see the peaceful society in the country.
35:14I know America is aware and concerned, but awareness and concern did not stop.
35:20Thousands of people are getting killed.
35:22Thousands are disappearing from their house.
35:25Is there anything else that people can expect from America?
35:29So, we will continue to make our concerns clear.
35:31We will continue to speak with our partners in the international community about concerns
35:34that we have.
35:35But when it comes to – it's not so much the premises of your question, but as a point
35:41that you raised, as opposed to alternative leadership in Bangladesh, that ultimately
35:45is a question for the Bangladeshi people, not the United States of America.
35:50Going back to the ceasefire deal, actually, Secretary's remarks, the 10-yard line, was
35:55on Friday.
35:56Just before Sunday, President Biden's decision to drop off took place.
36:00Now, Prime Minister Netanyahu arrives in a very politically uncertain environment.
36:05I was going to say, I feel dots being connected here that don't necessarily connect.
36:08Go ahead.
36:09Maybe I should – go ahead.
36:10Actually, let me –
36:11No, I would just – I'd just like to ask, should we still expect that ceasefire deal
36:16put forward by President Biden stand as effective as it would be, given he's not running for
36:23the second term now?
36:24Because there are reports that Prime Minister Netanyahu might be dragging his feet until
36:28November to see who would be the next president of the United States.
36:31So, absolutely.
36:32And I think you have to remember that when the President outlined that proposal publicly,
36:36it was a proposal that had been put forward by the government of Israel.
36:39It was Israel's proposal.
36:40We had obviously been involved in the development of that proposal as our role in one of the
36:44mediators to the negotiations, but it was ultimately an Israeli proposal.
36:49Now, as I said in response to whose question it was earlier, we continue to be involved
36:56in those negotiations and try to move them forward to get them across the line.
37:00And what we have seen is, on behalf of the Israeli Government, is them engaging, also
37:07trying to get a final deal.
37:08Now, there are things that they have put forward that ultimately are difficult, just as there
37:12are things that Hamas has put forward that are difficult to resolve.
37:15But we believe that ultimately those all ought to be resolvable.
37:18Again, always with the caveat that doesn't mean they will be resolved.
37:21Negotiations are tough.
37:22And I think the Secretary said on Friday that sometimes the last 10 yards can be the hardest
37:29lanes to cover.
37:30But we have made important progress and we continue to push to try and get it over the line.
37:34Let me finish.
37:35I'd be the hardest to cover, but it doesn't take three days.
37:38I mean, that's a pretty crappy red line, a red zone offense.
37:42So if you...
37:43Three, four days now?
37:45So if you look at how long we have been involved in these negotiations, this is not a 60...
37:50You said it out loud.
37:51Technology does not carry over to a 60-minute football game.
37:53We have been involved in these negotiations for some time, going back months.
37:57Like an eight-month or a nine-month...
37:59Going back months is...
38:00Sounds more like a cricket test match than it does a...
38:04Here you go with cricket again.
38:05Testing my cricket knowledge again.
38:07Well, let's talk water polo then.
38:09Definitely not.
38:10So you don't have any concerns that the process would be slower now, given the President is
38:15not running for a second term because of the uncertainty for a second term?
38:19No.
38:20Not...
38:21Look, ultimately, we believe a ceasefire deal is in the interest of the government of Israel.
38:25It's in the interest of the Palestinian people.
38:28That's why it ought to be agreed to, and we'll continue to push for it as hard as we can.
38:32No, keep it.
38:34Yeah, go ahead.
38:36The meeting between the Prime Minister and the President doesn't take place tomorrow
38:41or before the Secretary travels to Asia.
38:44Do we expect a separate meeting between Secretary Clinton and Netanyahu?
38:49I just don't...
38:50It's hard for me to answer that without knowing when the meeting with the Prime Minister is
38:54going to be scheduled, so before I get into what I would expect if something doesn't happen,
39:00I'll wait and see if it actually does.
39:02Ask me on Wednesday if it hasn't happened already.
39:07Thank you very much.
39:08Thank you very much.
39:09How are you doing, by the way?
39:14You've been very kind today, and I am a very emotional guy, so if you're going to be this
39:18down, the next three, four months are going to be very tough for me, so please cheer up.
39:22There's still a few months to go.
39:24I didn't know I was...
39:25I didn't know I was...
39:27So Pakistani embassy in Germany was attacked by these Afghans' kids, and they ripped off
39:34the flag as well.
39:37Your reaction on that, and then connecting it with the last week question a little bit,
39:44Pakistani journalists are condemning that Voice of America had given so much coverage
39:51to that day when the funeral was held, and kids were walking with Afghan flag in Pakistan,
39:57but to this incident where, in Germany, Pakistani embassy was attacked, flag torn down, and
40:03tried to burn it, your reaction on both of these?
40:06So with respect to the underlying incident, let me take it back and get you an answer.
40:10With respect to Voice of America's coverage, Voice of America is an independent outlet
40:15that makes its own editorial decisions.
40:17Any concerns that people have, they should direct to them, not the State Department.
40:20It doesn't affect diplomatic relations, right?
40:22You should...
40:23They make independent editorial decisions, and you should direct any questions to them.
40:28Okay.
40:29Just one question more, please, and because this question, me and you have talked about
40:33it so much, not as much as anyone can.
40:38President Trump, in his speech, had mentioned two things which I have been raising with
40:41you multiple times, and in the Pentagon as well.
40:45Fourteen U.S. soldiers who died on the last day, and I asked for inquiring at the Pentagon.
40:52My issue was that the U.S. was already withdrawn.
40:55There was no ambassador of the State Department at that time in Afghanistan.
41:00The second thing I've been raising with you, and Mr. Kirby, is the weapons left there.
41:07Mr. Trump mentioned it as well.
41:09Now, the other thing is, Reuters mentioned, again, this issue I've mentioned with you,
41:14that the U.S. funds to Afghanistan may have landed into the wrong hands as well.
41:21All these three issues, just I want to give you again an opportunity to at least give
41:26your opinion or thoughts about it in a more...
41:31If you want a different answer, you're not going to get one.
41:34With respect to weapons, I would defer to my colleagues at the Pentagon, obviously.
41:39I think you said you raised that question before.
41:41They're the appropriate agency to speak to that.
41:44When it comes to U.S. funding of the Taliban, no.
41:47We flatly do not fund the Taliban.
41:49I've made that clear on a number of occasions.
41:51Just a quick follow-up on Netanyahu.
41:53Has there been any engagement or discussion with Israelis regarding Netanyahu's expected
41:59remarks to Congress on Wednesday?
42:02Not that I'm aware of.
42:03I'm sure it may have come up anecdotally, obviously.
42:04We talk to the Israeli government all the time.
42:07But, no, I'm not aware of what he's going to say.
42:11Go ahead, and then we'll wrap up.
42:14We have Russian officials over the weekend stating on the record that Russia is prepared
42:20to assist the ruling Georgian Green Party in maintaining power if required.
42:25Any concern about Russian attempts to meddle into foreign policy?
42:28Look, so we have seen a number of Russian not just attempts.
42:31We've seen outright Russian interference in elections all throughout the region and
42:36all throughout the world.
42:37And we are always vigilant in watching those.
42:39And as you've heard us say on a number of occasions, it is important that the Georgian
42:43people and the Georgian people alone decide the future of their country.
42:48On Armenia, what can you tell us about today's EU decision to start both a visa-free dialogue
42:52and also supporting this funding from European peace fund?
42:56Any implications for the region, please?
42:58So, Armenia and Azerbaijan continue to make significant progress toward finalizing a peace
43:02agreement.
43:03We are committed to supporting that process.
43:05As you have heard us say, the time for peace is now, and we continue to work to try to
43:09reach agreement.
43:10This isn't a decision about peace.
43:12I don't believe this is a decision.
43:14I'm just inquired on the Israeli forces in Gaza.
43:18Has the Israeli government given you any information about this incident?
43:21Are you asking for information?
43:23We have inquired with them about this strike.
43:27I do not have any information about it as of yet.
43:30If it's made it back to us, it hasn't made it to me.
43:32This is happening, as you guys have touted, this new deconfliction mechanism.
43:37How do you make it that it's safe for humanitarian convoys to move forward if even this is occurring?
43:41So, look, it is always going to be, anytime you're in a conflict zone, it's always going
43:45to be difficult to proceed with humanitarian work.
43:49And what we try to do is to make it as safe as possible, recognizing that this is still
43:52work that's happening in a conflict zone, which is why you hear us speak on a number
43:57of occasions to the enormous sacrifice and the enormous risk that humanitarian workers
44:04put themselves under.
44:08And so we have kind of two tracks on this.
44:11One is trying to work with the United Nations to try to make it as safe as possible.
44:16The Secretary spoke to Sigrid Kog, the UN coordinator for Middle East humanitarian issues,
44:21earlier today about a number of humanitarian issues, including this.
44:25But we also continue to work to try to get a ceasefire.
44:28The other significant line of work that the Secretary spoke to Sigrid Kog about today
44:35was how we get all the mechanisms in place so if we do reach a ceasefire, humanitarian
44:41aid can surge into Gaza as quickly as possible.
44:44And obviously in the context of a ceasefire, it will be much safer for them to move about
44:49Gaza and do the work that they need to do without worrying so much about their personal safety.
44:57Is there any discussion of punitive measures for Israel if they continue to annoy the fire
45:01on marked humanitarian conflict?
45:03I don't have anything to read out at this time.
45:05We did that.
45:06Thanks.