On Friday, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce held a press briefing.
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NewsTranscript
00:00And already a hand is up. Two hands are up. Oh my gosh. You guys don't make me cry. Don't
00:13make me cry. Two hands are up. Yes, so I got it. It was like four in the morning. Welcome
00:19aboard everyone. Thank you very much for being here. Certainly we are all interested in the
00:23Vice President, his remarks. Today's going to be slightly different. It already is a
00:28little bit. I was on the Secretary's travel, of course. Many of you were as well. Raise
00:34your hands if you were on that lovely travel experience through the forests of the world.
00:37One. Yeah, all right. Got home about four in the morning. And so don't take advantage
00:45of me. I've had a few hours sleep. But yes, so it's been an unusual day and I wanted to
00:50do this because gosh, nothing's happened. So I thought we'd just have simple chats today.
00:56But there it's different in that there are several large issues, which I believe all
01:01of you would be interested in mostly that are significant. And so we're going to move
01:06in that regard. And I've got a bit of an announcement for you as well. But several things, of course,
01:14are on our plate. So this is it is an experiment. Thank you for working with me. And I appreciate
01:20you being here, obviously, to say the least. All right. So we did just return from a highly
01:25successful trip in the Caribbean. This was Secretary Rubio's second trip in our hemisphere
01:30from day one of this administration. American leadership has been back in our region. We
01:36are standing with our partners to ensure mutual prosperity, security and progress. In addition,
01:42the United States sends our deepest condolences to all affected in Burma and Thailand by the
01:48earthquake that struck this morning. USAID has maintained a team of disaster experts
01:54with the capacity to respond if disaster strikes. These expert teams provide immediate
01:59assistance, including food and safe drinking water needed to save lives in the aftermath
02:04of a disaster. The United States is evaluating the need for assistance based on requests
02:10and dynamic reporting. We are also united in support for the people of the Republic
02:14of Korea as they face devastating wildfires that have caused loss of life and destruction.
02:20We have not forgotten the Republic of Korea's unwavering support during the wildfires in
02:25Los Angeles and Hawaii. Just as they stood with us, we stand with them. As the Office
02:32of the Secretary also announced today, the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for
02:38International Development, USAID, have notified Congress on their intent to undertake a reorganization
02:46that would involve realigning certain USAID functions to the department by July 1st, 2025,
02:53and discontinuing the remaining USAID functions that do not align with administration priorities,
03:00I should say. In the words of Secretary Rubio in his statement, foreign assistance done
03:06right can advance our national interests, protect our borders, and strengthen our partnerships
03:12with key allies. Unfortunately, USAID strayed from its original mission long ago. As a result,
03:18the gains were too few and the costs were too high. Thanks to President Trump, this
03:23misguided and fiscally irresponsible era is now over. We are reorienting our foreign assistance
03:33programs to align directly with what is best for the United States and our citizens. We
03:38are continuing essential life-saving programs and making strategic investments that strengthen
03:43our partners and our own country. This is yet another promise made and delivered to
03:49the American people. Finally, the United States announced important steps to disrupt the complex
03:55schemes Hezbollah uses to conceal its illicit behavior and acquire revenue to fund its malign
04:02activities. Today, we sanctioned five individuals and three entities with ties to the U.S. designated
04:11Hezbollah. The United States is taking decisive action against anyone involved in facilitating
04:17Iran's oil sales at any stage of the supply chain. Today's designation supports the President's
04:24policy of maximum pressure on Iran and its terrorist proxies. And now, I'm open for
04:32questions. Now, there are all the hands. Dare I say, Matt Lee, who doesn't even, he's kind
04:38of got a pen, he's kind of raised his hand. But yes, go ahead sir. Thank you. My pleasure.
04:43And you know, I don't know how you got back at 4 o'clock. I got back at 3.30. Well, there
04:49you go. We will not discuss transportation and domiciles, but go ahead sir. I guess the
04:55traffic was worse for you than it was for me. Anyway, I have two. They'll be both very
05:01brief. One, I think you can answer quite quickly because the Secretary addressed it
05:05on the plane last night on the way from Suriname to Florida, and that is about the Yale project
05:11on the Ukrainian children taken to Russia. What exactly has been restored, even if just
05:22temporarily? Can you give us a dollar amount? Sure. And then I've just got one more also.
05:29Yes, and I'll repeat what the President said. There should be a transcript up with these
05:34gaggles that happened in the back of the plane with our bullpen. And he was asked about,
05:40there was a very misleading tweet, I think, from a reporter saying that funding had been
05:44reversed and restored. The Secretary noted, no, it hasn't been, but I can tell you exactly
05:50what has occurred and something in fact has. So first of all, a couple of things here,
05:57and we've already talked about, of course, the data. That was the main concern. We know
06:00that the data was protected and available. But for those who are thinking that there
06:06was a reversal of the decision to terminate support for the conflict observatory, funding
06:12is being provided for a short period while the conflict observatory implementers ensure
06:18the proper transfer of the critical data on the Ukrainian children to the appropriate
06:24authorities. It is part of the standard closeout procedures for terminated programs. So this
06:30is not a reversal of funding. It's not a restoration. It is part of the closeout dynamic
06:36that we've realized in the process of closing it out about what needs to happen to finish
06:41that process. Also, as we learned about more specific requirements of the closeout, we
06:48provided then updated guidance to the implementer, and so this is what has occurred. As part
06:56of the Foreign Assistance Review directed by the Secretary consistent with the Executive
07:00Order 14169, the award supporting the Ukraine Conflict Observatory was paused effective
07:06January 25th. Following a review, the U.S. Department of State terminated the award on
07:11February 26th. And so when we think about the nature of very good example of what was
07:19fake news based essentially on something partially accurate, but this is the fact of the matter.
07:25There is no reversal of funding. It has not been renewed. This is a closeout procedure
07:30that required funding to move to make sure the data that was retained that exists is
07:37moved to the proper authorities.
07:38QUESTION. So how much is it, do you know, for – and for how long?
07:42MS. NULAND. No, I can't speak to the – I can't speak to the amount of money. It's
07:44going to be an amount of money that gets – that facilitates the goal of that closeout.
07:48Matt, now –
07:48QUESTION. And then – well, hold on a – wait, wait, wait. I said you –
07:50MS. NULAND. I beg your pardon. Matt, I beg your pardon. Go ahead.
07:53QUESTION. Thanks. I'm just trying to get some more fidelity on the number of foreign
08:00students' visas that have been revoked. There's been some back and forth, and it's a little
08:05nebulous.
08:05MS. NULAND. Sure.
08:05QUESTION. If you have – not the exact figure, I'm sure, because it's a fluid situation,
08:10but a default.
08:10MS. NULAND. It's one of my new favorite words, because that is somewhat correct. We
08:17know that, of course, there's – some things I've said, I think, regularly on the issue
08:22of visas is that we don't speak about specifics, right? We tend to also not provide statistics,
08:28and I think that's also important. So I'm not going to talk to you about numbers, because
08:35also it does continue to change. As we talk about numbers and everything else, we're
08:40looking at a framework where it gets us closer to the specifics for individuals, which we
08:44don't want to do. Of course it's a big story. It's something also that's important
08:49when it comes to the larger story, the revocation of visas, and why that's happening.
08:55But the Secretary also addressed this a couple of times on the trip. He was asked about certain
09:01numbers of visas that were revoked. He said he didn't know, but that we'll revoke
09:08the visas of whoever it is that fits within the category of what it is we're deciding
09:14is going to get your visa revoked, which is illegal activity, essentially. And I do know
09:21that from our own conversations here that – here we go – the department – I can
09:32say this specifically – revokes visas every day in order to secure America's borders
09:37and keep our communities safe, and will continue to do so. Because the process is ongoing,
09:43the number of revocations, as I've noted, is dynamic, and the department generally does
09:47not provide statistics on visa revocations. And generally, we are not going to add anything
09:54at this time. But clearly, this is a process that we are committed to and is part of making
09:59America safe again. And we're – it's within our right, it's within the right
10:04of every sovereign nation to make a determination who will stay in this country, who will be
10:09allowed in this country. And the Secretary, of course, has been very clear on this.
10:15What we can also say is that we have zero tolerance for non-citizens who violate U.S.
10:19laws. Those who break the law, including students, may face visa refusal, visa revocation, and
10:27or deportation. Also, all visa applicants, no matter the visa type and where they are
10:33located, are continuously vetted. So we are looking always at your status in this process.
10:42We also are looking at the security vetting. It runs from the time of each application
10:47through adjudication of the visa and afterwards during the validity period of every visa issued
10:54to ensure that the individual remains eligible to travel to and be in the United States.
11:00The Department of State will work closely – continues to work closely with the Department
11:05of Homeland Security, which enters into this process to administer and enforce U.S. visas
11:10and immigration laws. A lot of this may have been unknown to people who have visas, because
11:14we haven't had to discuss it before, but I think that should answer your question.
11:19Yes, ma'am.
11:20Q Thank you. Thank you very much. I want to follow up on the same topic. I want to
11:24go back to the detention of Turkish students.
11:25MS. NULAND All right. So what we're going to do is I do want to stay within a certain
11:29block so that we don't go back and forth, because there's, again, a number of larger
11:32issues, and that includes this issue, the U.S. aid issue, the visa issues, the announcements
11:39made today. We have sanctions on Hezbollah, which are important to discuss. So, Andrea
11:44Mitchell.
11:45MS. MITCHELL Are you going to come back to me?
11:46MS. NULAND Yes, ma'am. We'll come back to you. We'll come back to you, absolutely.
11:47QUESTION I wanted to ask you about U.S. aid.
11:48MS. NULAND Yes, ma'am.
11:49QUESTION Did you get disaster relief? And about the children?
11:50MS. NULAND Yes, ma'am.
11:51QUESTION Okay. For the disaster relief, can you tell us how or when the disaster relief
11:58teams might be mobilized and ready, how soon that might take place, have requests already
12:04come in, to your knowledge? And has the reorganization of U.S. aid affected our ability in these
12:12instances to assemble a team and mobilize them quickly?
12:15MS. NULAND Well, from conversations through the last – well, since early this morning,
12:22what I can tell you is that we wait for formal requests, so that has not, at least maybe
12:29in the last five minutes. But coming up here to the podium, we are awaiting any formal
12:34request. We are ready. Obviously, we are watching what is transpiring. It is – for all of
12:43us who watched September 11th unfold, there's video – I'm sure you've seen it – of
12:47a major skyscraper just – it was – it literally – it gives all of us the chills.
12:54So we are – we've obviously – telegraphing that from this podium, and we are ready. I
13:01can tell you that, again, through, as I've said before, regarding the nature of the reform
13:07and the reviews that have gone on, that we are ready to move now. So there has been no
13:13impact on our ability to perform those duties, those requests for aid if and when they come
13:21in.
13:22QUESTION. Can I just follow up on the children and the broader question about war crimes
13:26and investigations which have been undertaken with coordination with the State Department,
13:33understanding that the data has been – the data have been preserved?
13:37MS NAUERT. Correct.
13:38QUESTION. But does that mean – can we infer from that that investigations will not be
13:44conducted by this government of war crimes going forward, in – either the crime of
13:50kidnapping or the war crimes that were undertaken – Bushehr, Mariupol, all these other places?
13:57MS NAUERT. I've cautioned always for us to not place a whole host of issues attached
14:03to something starting or stopping, and that our work and our commitment to the world is
14:08on display every day through, certainly, Secretary Rubio's commitment, the nature of who he
14:14meets with, what he's done when it comes to summits, negotiations, bargaining, the
14:19issue of working for ceasefires. It has been a hallmark and remains a hallmark and will
14:24be, I have to say, a hallmark of this Administration and of Secretary Rubio's tenure here.
14:30So it is – it would be wrong to say that, in fact, that signals some kind of end to
14:36our work on these issues. In fact, manifesting through the conversation with President Trump
14:42and President Putin, it was a central part of that conversation that was discussed between
14:46those two men. And I think that shows you where it's placed now and where it will
14:52continue to be placed.
14:53Well, here's what I do know, which may speak to that a bit, is that the data is not being
14:58transferred to a storage facility. It's being transferred to the appropriate authorities.
15:03And I think that can tell us that – the nature of the trajectory of this data. But
15:07also, it – I can't speak to what then moves at that point once it's been transferred.
15:14I have a tiny feeling that with all of your investigations and questions, that we will
15:19continue to get the details of what happens next.
15:21I'm talking about the crimes that are now underway today, tomorrow, next month. Is anyone
15:27in this government investigating – anyone that, to your knowledge, at the State Department
15:31or connected to it – sorry – investigating crimes current and future since the data that
15:39has been –
15:40Well, first, I'm not going to discuss the details of what the State Department is doing
15:46when it comes to its investigations, when it comes to contemplations or negotiations
15:50or diplomatic decision-making, whether – on any level, with any situation, any case that's
15:59involved.
16:00But what I can point to, I think it's safe to point to, is this nation's history of
16:05being involved in making sure that the right thing gets done. There are a number of other
16:10entities of which, of course, we are involved, including the United Nations, and of course,
16:15other – Europe – the nations of the civilized world.
16:19So I would – same with whether it's aid, this argument that we are stopping our aid
16:26and we're out of the – of caring about providing foreign aid. Of course, that's
16:31not true. And because one grant dynamic has stopped in this country at one university,
16:38that is not the determiner of the nature of the work of the State Department of the United
16:43States. It is – that's unfair, frankly, and moves people into this idea that everything
16:52is contained in one moment when there are thousands of moments and work going on around
16:58the world, certainly including the nature of what the State Department's doing under
17:04the direction of Marco Rubio, when a commitment of the State Department to solve these problems,
17:12to stop carnage, to find justice – we want to be safe, secure, and prosperous for ourselves
17:18and for our neighbors. So that would not be an accurate conclusion based on this one particular
17:24grant.
17:24Yes, ma'am.
17:25Yeah, go ahead.
17:26Q Thank you, Tammy. I just want to follow up on the earthquake response. The President
17:30said about an hour ago, we are going to be helping. We've already alerted the people.
17:35And you're saying, of course, you're waiting if and when those requests come in. So – for
17:40the disaster response teams. So just wondering if you could clarify, is the State Department
17:44going to be doing anything else to help? Are there financial resources that are being devoted
17:49to these impacted countries? And then can you also just say what governments you are
17:55in contact with?
17:56Well, again, the President, as you noted, had made some comments regarding that, which
18:01is terrific. Again, another indication that while the State Department does work on all
18:07these issues in general, of course, the President's going to make decisions about where we go
18:12and who we assist. When it comes to what we are waiting for here or looking for here,
18:18it could be different than what's happening at the White House. And of course, I would
18:22refer you to the White House for further information in that regard. Very specific
18:26messaging, though, this morning from the State Department, with what I was watching internally,
18:32and to me, is that we are ready and we stand ready and we will be ready when the requests
18:40emerge. And that's what I know and that's what will happen. Yeah. All right. Yes.
18:46Thanks. Just staying on USAID or USAID, today USAID Foreign Service officers received a
18:56reduction in force notice, the ones – this is hundreds of officers who are based abroad
19:03for USAID. Can you confirm that all Foreign Service officers' positions will be terminated
19:10now and that they will all be coming home? And do you have or will there be transparency
19:18on how much it's going to cost to bring home hundreds of USAID Foreign Service officers
19:23home, including their families, those, as you know, that have been based abroad and
19:29have their whole lives integrated into different countries abroad? Some of them have been working
19:33abroad for many, many years.
19:35Yes. The Secretary has mentioned throughout this process, I've mentioned to you, that
19:41with any major change there's going to be disruption. This particular review and project
19:49to assess the nature of waste and fraud and abuse and whether or not these programs and
19:54the grants align with America's priorities has been public news, worldwide news. We've
20:01discussed it openly. We've seen what's happened. And so it's something that I think
20:06most people – we've been waiting for this conclusion. It has arrived. I can't speak
20:11to the number of people who will not be a Foreign Service officer at this point. I can't
20:20say if it's going to be every single one. It is – there'll be a point where I don't
20:25have to speak about fluid situations and things that are changing and moving every day. But
20:30of course, this is a part – it's a restructuring, essentially. And there's going to be – from
20:38one statement made that there'll be from USAID and a statement about the last mission,
20:45if you will, is that like any restructuring, there will inevitably be disruptions. From
20:49Secretary Rubio down, we are committed to ensuring that USAID personnel remain safe
20:55and that the agency's ongoing lifesaving aid programs remain both intact and operational.
21:00And it's something that we're committed to. There are periods of time for blocks of
21:07individuals to come home and to be separated, but it's dynamic when you're looking at
21:14such a reorganization that's going to happen. We will, I'm sure, with this being a public
21:19story, have more information every day. And when that's possible, as I seek it out,
21:25I will bring it to you. All right.
21:27QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR And just one on the RAF, just –
21:29SECRETARY CLINTON Sure.
21:30QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR This note also said that employees will be
21:34separated from the Foreign Service, effective from the 1st of July. Does that mean that
21:40they are not guaranteed an opportunity to apply for jobs inside the State Department?
21:45SECRETARY CLINTON Well, that's not true. There is – there
21:46will be jobs that then can be applied for by those who have been separated. I can't
21:52tell you how many of those will exist or even the structure of what that is, but there's
21:58been a very specific note that for the jobs that then are open, these individuals – or
22:04at least some of them – will be able to apply. So that will be part of it as well.
22:08Yes. Yes, Daphne.
22:09QUESTION Thank you. On what you said on the response
22:11to the earthquakes, I just wanted to clarify, is that the Disaster Assistance Response Team,
22:16the DART that you're referring to?
22:17SECRETARY CLINTON DARTs, yes. It's the DART system.
22:19QUESTION Okay, great. And how quickly would that team
22:21be able to get on site given the contract terminations and the cuts at USAID? Will they
22:26be able to respond as quickly as they've been able to in the past?
22:29SECRETARY CLINTON Well, from what I'm told is that what's
22:31been happening at USAID has not affected our ability to employ the DART system as we always
22:37have. When it comes to where they are and in that particular location, I can't give
22:41you a timeline. But clearly, as said repeatedly, we stand ready, and there's an understanding
22:48of what the situation is, and that certainly has not been impeded whatsoever.
22:53All right.
22:54QUESTION I have a follow-up on the USAID stuff.
22:55SECRETARY CLINTON Oh, yes. Yes, absolutely.
22:56QUESTION And I was also got home at 4 a.m.
22:57SECRETARY CLINTON Thank you very much.
22:58QUESTION A lot of the embassies that he's been visiting
23:04have also big USAID missions and local staff that are hired for them.
23:09SECRETARY CLINTON Yes.
23:10QUESTION So in this reduction, are all the local staff
23:12also being hired – I mean, fired as you downsize USAID?
23:16SECRETARY CLINTON Well, the messages I've seen and the guidance
23:19I've received is about Foreign Service Officers. So I can't speak to where foreign – where
23:25the staff – the local staff there fits within that framework. So if they're not Foreign
23:30Service Officers, but each mission is in a different dynamic. So I would – I can't
23:36speak to that at this point.
23:37QUESTION And one other question on another topic. The – Carrie Lake is talking about
23:43firing about – almost 700 journalists at VOA. For those who are visa holders and from
23:51countries that – where it might be dangerous for them to return, what's the State Department
23:57doing, like, to give them time to apply for asylum, or what kind of programs are in place
24:03to help people like in that situation?
24:05SECRETARY CLINTON Yes, I mean, this is a recurring question.
24:06It's an important one, and it's good for people in this situation and other situation.
24:11The visa dynamic for people involved in this situation is no different than everyone else
24:15who has a visa, that if you're here on a work visa and your job ends, some people have
24:21gotten another job on that framework and have then reapplied and have gotten a visa for
24:25that new job. If you are – if that's not going to happen, of course, there's like
24:30a 30-day period of time for you to take action about going home, going to your home country,
24:36or not. But then you would be here without a visa illegally. If you are from a country
24:42and you cannot return because of fear of what will occur to you if returning to that country,
24:48you can apply for asylum. There's – this is true for everyone who holds a visa, who
24:53loses that visa, and is – would be – believes that they would be in trouble going back to
24:59their home country. That is an option, and that is something that they can do as well
25:04if that's a case that they face.
25:06All right.
25:07QUESTIONS AFTER TRANSLATOR
25:08QUESTIONS AFTER TRANSLATOR
25:09QUESTIONS AFTER TRANSLATOR
25:10QUESTIONS AFTER TRANSLATOR
25:11MR. RATHKE I'm not sure that I'm – thank you.
25:12QUESTIONS AFTER TRANSLATOR
25:13MS. NULAND Thank you.
25:14MS. STERN Thank you very much, sir.
25:15MS. NULAND Thank you. Thanks for your patience, everyone.
25:16QUESTIONS AFTER TRANSLATOR
25:17MR. RATHKE Sticking with USAID, one of its crucial functions was getting humanitarian
25:19supplies into Gaza during the conflict there and during the ceasefire. Now, the last tranche
25:25of funding that it paid to the partners in the region was end of January, so there's
25:30a kind of block here. Will State be taking over this type of function come July the 1st?
25:38And what is going to happen for the funding for the partners applying that humanitarian
25:43relief in Gaza in the interim?
25:45MS. STERN Well, we're at a state where Congress has just been notified that this transition
25:50is happening. I can't speak to the decisions that'll be made once that decision occurs
25:56through USAID as it exists and how it moves into state. So that's the process that's
26:03happening right now. So I don't have something for you on that.
26:07But we also know that that dynamic is very complicated, as we've talked about every
26:12day, importantly, and it remains complicated. And of course, aid can immediately move through
26:18that situation through all of our regional partners, people who are concerned. If Hamas
26:24were to release its hostages and lay down its arms, how many times does that need to
26:32be reminded? Because that's the solution. And when that does occur, as we saw with the
26:39first element of the ceasefire, is that the region cares about this, the nations in the
26:44region, the world cares, the United States of America cares, to where its leadership
26:49is involved in this as a main north star of what needs to be solved.
26:55All right. Yes, ma'am, in the blue, in the blue.
26:56QUESTION Can I follow up on this, Tammy?
26:57MS. STERN Thank you very much.
26:58QUESTION Can I follow up on this?
26:59MS. STERN Now, I've – we're moving on. We'll see what we can do here.
27:02QUESTION Thank you. Going back to the detention of Turkish student Rumeysa Öztürk, because
27:06I want to get a clear understanding of why she was detained and on what grounds her
27:11visa was revoked. So Rumeysa's lawyer, family, and friends deny the claims made by the Administration
27:18that she violated the U.S. law. Her lawyer states that Rumeysa has not been accused of
27:25committing any crime, and they say she was detained solely for writing an article criticizing
27:31Israel. What is your response to this? Was she detained just because she wrote an article
27:36expressing her views?
27:37MS. STERN I will not, as many of you already know – I will not speak about something
27:43that's in the courts, that's being adjudicated, so that's not going to happen here. I can
27:48point to Secretary Rubio's remarks about this on the plane to the reporters as we were
27:55returning home last night, is that the DHS, which manages this framework, clearly felt
28:02that she had committed crimes that required her detention. And now that will be adjudicated
28:09in court, but it's a framework that we would not be commenting on in any regard, regardless
28:15of the situation or whom it happens to. As you've noted, it is playing out in court
28:22with representatives, and that's where it's going to be.
28:25QUESTION Is there a possibility that you might make this evidence public?
28:29MS. STERN I am not here to comment on what's going to happen in a courtroom or the people
28:35who are involved in that court case. It is – it's not my position. It certainly is
28:39beyond my purview, and we're going to leave it there. Yes, sir.
28:43QUESTION Thank you, Tammy. Yesterday, Secretary Rubio spoke about his meeting with Turkish
28:49foreign minister and the theme of that meeting earlier this week. My question is that have
28:55they talked about the peace process between Turkish Government and the Kurdish fighters
28:59in Turkey and the peace process between Kurds and Turkish? Is it something – the matter
29:06of your concern?
29:07MS. STERN Here's what I think we know, and again, the Secretary spoke about this a little
29:14bit also on the plane. It was – he enjoys speaking to the press, and that is helpful
29:19for us when it comes to transparency and the American people knowing what's going on.
29:24I, of course – and I know why you ask and everyone wants to know, but I'm not in a
29:31position where I'm going to speak about the nature of a conversation between the Secretary
29:35of State of the United States and the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia or anyone else in
29:39a position in any country where there is discussions about any kind of dynamic involving governance
29:46and the choices that those governments make. What I can say, of course, as we know, is
29:50that Turkey is an ally, a member of NATO, and the conversations we have are often and
29:58deal with issues that are of importance to both countries. So I'm going to leave it
30:02there.
30:02So yes, sir, with the glasses in the back here.
30:04QUESTION Oh, thank you. Thanks. I have a question. Sergey Yermatov with TASS News Agency.
30:08MS. STERN Uh-huh.
30:09QUESTION My question is on Russia and Ukraine. When do you expect the next round of consultations
30:13between the American and Russian delegations to occur?
30:16MS. STERN Well, we know, of course, that we have our teams that have returned from the
30:20last Saudi Arabian technical framework of what they were working on there. The Secretary
30:25has noted in some of his comments that now we have to take a look at what's been accomplished
30:30and what we need to be doing, and we will decide at that point about how we proceed.
30:35All right? All right. Yes, sir.
30:37QUESTION Can I move to Lebanon?
30:39MS. STERN Yes, certainly.
30:42QUESTION Today there was some missiles fired in northern Israel from Lebanon. Israel retaliated
30:52with airstrikes and artillery in the south and even in the capital, Beirut. My question
30:59is that the ceasefire agreement, in it there is a mechanism for reporting violation or
31:05alleged violation of the agreement itself, the ceasefire itself. This mechanism is led
31:10by the United States, will include France, UNFL, and both parties have to report any
31:16violations to the ceasefire agreement. Was this mechanism implemented in this incident?
31:22MS. STERN Well, I can say a few things about this, including Israel is defending its people
31:27and interests by responding to rocket attacks from terrorists in Lebanon. As part of the
31:32cessation of hostilities agreement, the Government of Lebanon is responsible for disarming Hezbollah,
31:38and we expect the Lebanese Armed Forces to disarm these terrorists to prevent further
31:42hostilities. The reason that any attacks have happened is because terrorists launched rockets
31:48into Israel from Lebanon. That is a violation of the cessation of hostilities. It is a violation
31:54of the ceasefire when terrorist groups, when armed groups, shoot rockets into Israel. Whether
32:00it's Hezbollah or whether it's Palestinian groups like Hamas, it does not matter. Israel
32:06has to respond as the United States would have to respond, or any other country would
32:11have to respond in this kind of situation. We stand by Israel, of course, and it's a
32:17dynamic that also continues to unfold, but I think it's pretty clear that this is the
32:22responsibility of the Lebanese Armed Forces to disarm the terrorists who are preventing
32:27– in order for us to prevent further hostilities. Yes, sir.
32:30Follow-up.
32:31Thank you very much. Several human rights organizations and the media reported that
32:38many civilian activities have been arrested in Iranian Kurdistan for participating in
32:44Nowruz celebrations. Have you received any reports on this matter, and how would you
32:50to describe human rights record in Iran at this time?
32:54Yes. Yes, we are aware of those reports, that the Iranian regime has been arresting Iranian
32:59Kurds for participating in those celebrations. The regime is one of the world's worst violators
33:06of human rights, oppressing the Iranian people to maintain its grip on power and curtailing
33:11their exercise of fundamental freedoms. In Iran, the freedom of expression, peaceful
33:16assembly, and religion are completely ignored. The regime unjustly executes more people than
33:23any other country, persecutes members of religious and ethnic minority groups, and uses tactics
33:29like arbitrary arrest and torture and other violations to intimidate political opponents
33:34and squash dissent. We will continue to support and defend the human rights of the people
33:41of Iran against the regime's continued human rights abuses and authoritarian repression.
33:47All right.
33:48Tammy.
33:49All right.
33:50Go ahead.
33:51Thank you. Thank you, Tammy. A very quick question. AXIS reported yesterday that a New
33:57U.S. proposal was submitted to have – to reignite the ceasefire talks and so on. Can
34:04you share with us any – anything about the status of this peace proposal that was submitted
34:12by the United States? Is it gaining traction? What is next?
34:15And then I have a quick follow-up on that.
34:16Yes, I can't speak to that today, but we are, again, next week returning to – we're
34:20going to have a Monday briefing, and I have a feeling you might have another question,
34:25and I will be answering your question tomorrow. But we'll do that. Yes, Daphne.
34:29Can I follow up on –
34:30No, no. We're going to Daphne here. But yes, thank you.
34:33Just on the Panama Canal, today China's –
34:36The Panama Canal. All right.
34:37Sorry.
34:38No, it's all right. No, it's okay. We're in – we're here. We're good.
34:41Okay. Today China's market regulators said it will carry out an antitrust review on the
34:47Hong Kong's C.K. Hutchinson's proposed sale of two Panama ports to Black Rock to,
34:54as Beijing said, protect fair competition and safeguard public interests. What is the
34:59U.S. response to that move by Beijing, and what's your message to Panama, which has
35:03an audit pending over the company's concessions to operate those ports?
35:07All righty. So we are aware of the comments made by China. It's also no surprise that
35:12the CCP is upset at this acquisition, which will reduce their control over the Panama
35:18Canal area. We are also glad to see U.S. investors acquire a controlling stake in the
35:24Panama Ports Company, which owns and operates the ports of Balboa and Cristobal at either
35:30end of the Panama Canal. So we would refer you to Black Rock and C.K. Hutchinson for
35:35more information about the agreement itself, and we refer you to the Government of Panama
35:39regarding its role in ensuring that the sale complies with Panamanian laws and regulations.
35:46So yes, we're aware, and it's not a surprise, certainly. All right. Yes, pink jacket.
35:51Thank you. Back to Turkey. Is there a confirmed date for President Erdogan's visit to the
35:57White House in April out of Foreign Minister Fidan's meeting with Secretary Rubio on Tuesday?
36:04Not that I'm aware of, but again, the White House may have more information on that for
36:07you. In the white shirt here. You just sat down, sir. One moment, please. In the white
36:13shirt, please. Thank you very much. On Georgia, if I may? Okay, sure. Thank you very much.
36:19Have you had any communication with the ruling party in Georgia? And if so, would you share
36:24what type of communication exists between you now? You know that the situation in Georgia
36:28is very difficult. The Georgian people and the international community do not recognize
36:32the election results. Peaceful protesters have been arrested, as well as an independent
36:37journalist who's currently in jail. So given the circumstances, what is your perspective
36:42on the situation in Georgia? I do want to answer that, and as a result, we're going
36:46to take that back, and we will have an answer for you. All right? All right.
36:51Yes, yes, sir.
36:52Yeah, hi, Kim. I'm sorry to jump to another region, but I wanted to ask you about –
36:57It's everywhere. There's news everywhere.
37:00South Sudan.
37:01Sure.
37:02Does – do you have – the State Department have any comment on the situation there, which
37:06is on the brink of plunging back into the civil war? The vice president was put under
37:10house arrest, and yeah, the situation is pretty dire. So I was wondering if the U.S. State
37:19Department has any comment on that.
37:21Well, we – of course, there's been news on this, the dire situation, I think, throughout
37:27the area, and then whether it's north Darfur, et cetera. So we are concerned about a number
37:35of issues that are unfolding, and that too I'm going to have to get some updated information
37:40on, because what I'm seeing here is – I'd like something new, some updates there. So
37:46we'll have that – we'll bring that back for you for sure.
37:48Yes, sir.
37:49Thank you. Thank you so much. Jahanzaib Ali from ARY News, Pakistan.
37:52Okay.
37:53For the last few months, we have seen a rise in terrorist activities in Pakistan. Hundreds
37:58of civilians and security officials lost their lives, and Pakistan is a partner country recently
38:04handed over the most wanted terrorists to U.S. authorities. And these all terrorist
38:09networks are based in Afghanistan – TTP, al-Qaida, ISIS – and Pakistan is kind of
38:15war against terrorists – against terrorism. So how you guys see this kind of situation,
38:21like all those terrorist networks established and working under the umbrella of Taliban?
38:27Well, it's a dynamic where we're aware of certain problems, human rights issues,
38:35et cetera. But again, this is – we seem to be in a series here of things that I want
38:39to take back on this. So I'm going to take that back. If you don't mind, we're going
38:43to go on.
38:44Okay.
38:45And I – you know what? What I do want to discuss here, sir, and if someone has – I
38:51want to discuss the Hezbollah sanctions that we have going on as well. I know that many
38:56of you might be interested in that as well. But let's – well, let's go on. I'm
39:02not going to start to try to direct what we're saying here.
39:05I have a more – I'm just – I'm just –
39:07Well, let's go on. Let's go on here.
39:09And I have one more question.
39:10Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Go ahead.
39:11Yeah. It was about – I was about to ask about the Hezbollah. You can talk a little
39:17bit about the sanctions and also the Lebanese foreign minister with the Syrian one signed
39:27an agreement for the border in Syria between Syria and Lebanon, if you have also something
39:33on that.
39:34If you do.
39:35Yes. Yes, we do. So first, let's start here with Hezbollah. The United States is designating
39:42five individuals and three entities pursuant to Executive Order 13224 as amended for ties
39:49to U.S.-designated Hezbollah or individuals designated through this action. The action
39:54advances President Trump's maximum pressure policy on Iran and its proxies. We will continue
40:00to disrupt the complex schemes Hezbollah uses to conceal its illicit behavior and acquire
40:05revenue to fund its malign activities. And we will – the United States will take decisive
40:10action against anyone involved in facilitating Iran's oil sales at any stage of the supply
40:16chain. We are exerting maximum pressure on Iran and its terrorist proxies under the President's
40:22maximum pressure policy to disrupt Iran's destabilizing activities.
40:27The Department of Treasury is designating, again, five individuals, three entities for
40:33supporting a sanctions evasion network affiliated with Hezbollah's finance team. This action
40:41is part of the United States effort to deny Hezbollah access to revenue and to cut off
40:45the terrorist group's access to the international financial system. Today's designation support
40:51the whole-of-government policy of maximum pressure on Iran and its terrorist proxies,
40:57such as Hezbollah, as detailed in the National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 of February
41:044th. We will – the United States – use all of its tools to disrupt activities of
41:10individuals and companies supporting Hezbollah. The United States is committed to working
41:15with partners to disrupt terrorism and terrorist financing worldwide.
41:28The President was asked about Ukraine just a couple of hours ago, and he did highlight
41:39the issue of Ukrainian children.
41:40He did. He did.
41:41It looks like this is something he cares about. To deliver on the President's stated goal,
41:46even if this funding will run out of this very particular program, can you assure us
41:50that you will be seeking supporting alternative programs, at least, to deliver on that?
41:57Well, I think the biggest, most amazing program can be the most powerful man in the world
42:03caring about the resolution of the issue. That is something that nothing can match,
42:09and that's what we have now. And you are correct. I think it's clear for anyone who
42:12listens to President Trump that he is a serious person, addresses issues that matter to him
42:17directly, that he knows will make an impact on the quality of people's lives. That is
42:22the Trump effect. And the fact that he is successful in the choices he makes and that
42:26he is relentless in making them work has an impact on the resolution of those issues.
42:32As far as what mechanisms he will use, I don't know. It's – he's the President of the
42:38United States. He's the best dealmaker in the world. And those children matter to him,
42:44and it matters that that issue is resolved like it does to every decent human being on
42:50this planet. President Trump represents that – the notion of that outrage and the desire
42:57to solve the problem in the process of getting to the end of this horrible carnage that has
43:03gone on. So, yes, I can't tell you what mechanism he would choose. We do know that
43:09he's chosen a Secretary of State who feels as passionately about the resolution of these
43:14issues as he does. We are going to continue to see that unfolding. And it's – it is
43:20while horrible issues we're facing, it is an exciting time because we have leadership
43:25that are tired of the status quo, want results, care about people, and are going to do what
43:30it takes to get results. And that's what I have for you today.
43:33Thank you, everyone. We'll see you also on Monday. We'll see you on Monday. Thank
43:36you, everybody. I appreciate it.