Good afternoon everyone . Maybe I
should say good evening . I am very
sorry for the delay . I assume you
all have seen the statements that is
just hitting your inbox is regarding
the fact that Secretary Blinken has
tested positive for Covid . The good
news is that he is fully vaccinated .
He is boosted , he is experiencing only
mild symptoms . He will
quarantine at home . He will follow CDC
guidelines . I know he very much looks
forward to returning to the office ,
returning to his full schedule and
returning to the road just as soon as
he is able to do so . So with that
happy to take your questions . Is the
china speech still on ? The secretary
looks forward to delivering the address
that was scheduled for tomorrow .
Unfortunately , it will not take place
tomorrow but we'll find an alternative
date just as soon as we can . Yeah ,
thank you need on north Korea and south
Korea china and north Korea fired on I
C . B . M . Yesterday always the United
States to kim jong un's repeated .
Besides provocations and hippo .
Well , I am not sure if I heard you
perfectly but it was a ballistic
missile that the north Koreans launched .
We condemn that launch like the DpRK is
recent tests of at least three
intercontinental ballistic missiles .
This launch is a clear violation of
multiple United Nations Security
Council resolutions . It demonstrates
the fact that north Korea's ballistic
missile program . Its nuclear weapons
program . It pose , they pose a threat
to the DPRK ? S neighbors . They pose a
threat to the region . They pose a
threat to peace and stability
throughout the indo pacific when it
comes to the United States . And we
have said this before . We've said this
in the aftermath of other recent
provocations . Our commitment to the
defense of our treaty allies , the
Republic of Korea and Japan , that
commitment is ironclad . We have been
and will we will continue to be in
close touch and close coordination with
our treaty allies , the Rok and Japan .
Uh and together we will respond to the
provocations that we have seen emanate
from the Dprk . This is also something
that we will address with our allies
and partners in new york at his work
that is ongoing . But when North Korea
Iran to the missile yesterday , the
chinese ambassador to pretty in
Penninsula , do you shall make
what what he's in there , China has
never criticized North Korea . How can
you say about this ? Because china we
never who decides the north Korea . So
they always say that you better keep
helping in this city . It's a better
way is that they both needed to
dialogue but they never had . Well , I
would refer to what I said earlier and
that is the fact that each of these
provocations has been a violation of
multiple U . N . Security Council
resolutions . The PRC of course is a
permanent member of the U . N .
Security Council . The fact that there
are multiple U . N . Security Council
resolutions . The fact that there are
multiple statements that have emanated
from the U . N . Security Council
chamber itself is a testament to the
fact that countries around the world
including the PRC recognize that
the Dprk s ballistic missile , its
nuclear program is a source of
instability . It is a source of
insecurity and that is a threat to the
broader region . We will continue to
work very closely with Japan and the
rok on this challenge . But of course
we will work with allies as well as
partners around the world and we , as
we've recently said , have had recent
engagements with our PRC counterparts
on the danger that is posed by the DpRK
s ballistic missile and nuclear weapons
program . Our special envoy Sung kim
has had recent engagement . Secretary
Blinken has had an opportunity in
recent months to engage wang ye on
this issue as well . It is a challenge
that we on every occasion also do
address with our PRC counterparts .
Lastly , as you know , china is
ignoring North Korea's continuous
provocations . There is no
reason why South Korea should get
approval from China to deploy thad
for its own defense bother me if
the South Korea's incoming government
wants to deploy additional
thoughts . The United States
considering every country has the
inherent right to self defense . As I
said before our commitment to the
defense of our treaty allies , the Rok
in this case it is ironclad . These
will be discussions that we will have
as allies regarding how best we can see
to it that our commitment to the
defense of the rok remains ironclad .
And so is it your assessment that this
was a ballistic missile but not a not
an I C . B . M . It is our assessment
that is a ballistic missile . We're not
in a position to provide any additional
detail at this time . Yes , tom news
out of Iran today said that
the Iranian Swedish detainee
will be , his sentence is going to be
carried out towards the end of this
month . He is charged with spying for
Israel and is to be executed .
Um Today , apparently also
the Iranian foreign minister spoke with
that announcement out of Tehran news
out of Taiwan . There is no coincidence
that yesterday Iran , I mean the trial
of a former
officer at the Tehran's prosecution
office , his trial and in in Stockholm
Sweden For having a hand in the
execution of political prisoners in
1988 . Um given that the
US has more experience than other
countries with its citizens being held
hostage for different reasons , getting
different sentences . Um do other
countries reach out to the U . S . To
see how to handle situations like this .
Well , let me first say something about
this particular case . It's it's one
that we're watching very closely and
we're watching it very closely because
it is especially egregious . It is an
egregious case of arbitrary detention
of the Swedish Iranian doctor Ahmed
raza Jalali . He has been held by
Iranian authorities authorities . Both
this Department the State Department
along with the U . N . Special
repertoire and human rights in Iran
have highlighted jollies case inhuman
and reports on human rights conditions
in Iran . It was a case that was
featured in our human rights report .
We know that as you alluded to , Iran
does have a long history of unjust
imprisonment of foreign nationals for
use as political leverage . It
continues to engage in a range of human
rights abuses which include large scale
arbitrary or unlawful detention of
individuals , some of whom have faced
torture or worse in some cases
execution after a failure to receive
due process and enduring unjust trials .
These practices are outrageous . We
continuously document them . We to your
question do often consult with our
allies and partners . As you know ,
this is an issue that is quite personal
for us as a country . Americans remain
detained wrongfully unjustly in Iran ,
they have been separated from their
families for far too long . But it is
not only americans who suffer this
treatment and of course countless
Iranians do as well . Dual nationals do
as well . So yes , it is something that
we routinely discuss with our closest
partners to determine how best we can
address this shameful practice of
wrongful detention . How best we can
work together to seek to affect
the safe release of our
nationals and importantly to work
together to seek to create and to
underscore a norm against this
outrageous practice . This is something
that Secretary Blinken has been quite
focused on our Canadian
counterparts have put forward a series
of very constructive , very useful
proposals that will help to establish
this norm by which countries around the
world will work together not only to
condemn this egregious practice , but
to seek to put it into it by holding
accountable collectively those
countries that are most responsible for
this practice . And of course , Iran
unfortunately is one of those countries .
I Yes , just a sort of a
status update on J C P . O . A
negotiations . You know , you've you've
spoken before and we've talked many
times about the the window closing the
runway being short . Where are we now
happy to provide an update ? You will
find that the update is not all that
dissimilar from what you heard when
this was last asked . I think it was
day before yesterday . The fact is as
everyone in this room knows that we had
achieved significant progress in the P
five plus one context , in Vienna in
recent months . But of course we have
not been able to close an agreement and
it remains uncertain and unclear if we
will be able to we remain engaged with
our european partners and we have
spoken of the role of enrique mora .
The helpful role that he has played
conveying messages back and forth
between the United States and in this
case , Iran , we remain committed to
testing the proposition as to whether
we can achieve a mutual return to
compliance with the joint comprehensive
plan of action . For one reason and for
one reason only a mutual return to
compliance . That is to say if Iran
were to once again submit itself to the
permanent to the verifiable limits and
checks imposed on its nuclear program .
That would be manifestly in our
national interest . Yes , This process
has dragged on for much longer than we
would like for far too long . But the
fact is that a mutual return to
compliance if Iran were to reenter the
J . C . P . O . A . If we in turn were
to re enter the J . C . P . O . A , the
result would work to our national
security benefit . That is because ever
since 2018 , when the last
administration left the deal that was
working a deal with which Iran was in
compliance , Iran's nuclear program has
advanced in ways that are unacceptable
to us . And the net result of
those advancements is the fact that
Iran has gone from a breakout time .
That is to say the time that it would
take Iran to acquire the fissile
material necessary for a nuclear weapon .
Should it make the decision to to
weaponize has gone from a high water
mark of about a year at the outset of
the deal to something that is best now
measured in weeks and to us that is
unacceptable . And I say that we remain
engaged on trying to determine whether
mutual return to compliance is in the
offing because a mutual return to
compliance would change that dynamic ,
it would significantly prolong the
breakout time , it would change the
dynamic . It would reimpose the most
stringent verification and monitoring
program ever peacefully negotiated on a
nuclear program that has not been
subject to it for several years now .
So yet at the point of diminishing
returns , I'm sorry to cut you off .
But we've I mean , we've we've talked
about the time running short . We've
now long past what what seems to be
several kind of guide posts for for
timing on negotiating it , there seems
to be an impression that there was
always a date fixed on the calendar for
us and I've seen this reported . But I
would just note that it flies in the
face of of what I have consistently
said . We don't think of this and I'm
sorry to to go back to this . I'm sure
you're all sick of hearing it as a
temporal cluck . This is a technical
clock . And it is a technical clock .
For one simple reason , what we're
looking at is the technical assessment
of the point at which a mutual return
to compliance . That is to say , the
point at which reentering the deal
would not convey benefits .
Nonproliferation benefits that outweigh
the advancements and the implications
of the advancements that Iran has been
able to achieve while these nuclear
shackles has been off have been off .
So we are still at a point where if we
were able to negotiate a mutual return
to compliance , that breakout time
would be prolonged from where it is now ,
we would have greater transparency .
There would be those permanent
verifiable limits reimposed on Iran .
That would be in our national security
interests . Now , to your point , it is
true that there will come a time when
on the basis of those technical
assessments , a mutual return to
compliance and the nonproliferation
benefits it would convey would not in
fact outweigh the implications of the
advancements that Iran has been able to
achieve in its nuclear program . So we
are constantly taking a close look at
the state of Iran's nuclear program of
what it is doing . The implications of
those actions and comparing that to the
deal that may still be in the offing .
But I should add that because the J . C .
P O . A mutual return to compliance
with the J C P O . A is very much an
uncertain proposition . We are now
preparing equally for either scenario .
A scenario in which we have a mutual
return to compliance in which that
breakout time is elongated in a point
at which I this
this what what has the potential to
devolve further into a nuclear crisis
is put back into a box . We are also
preparing with our allies and partners
for a scenario in which there is not a
J . C . P . O . A . And we will have to
turn to other tactics and other
approaches to fulfill what is
for us a requirement , a commitment
that President biden has made that Iran ,
whether there is a J C P O A or whether
there is not a J C P O A must never ,
never , never be allowed to acquire a
nuclear weapon . Yeah , you said you
keep saying there will come a time when
it will be , you can say definitively
right now today that that time has not ,
there's not been a judgment made that
that time has gone by , that time has
not come and gone Sure .
Access to has reported today that when
the Israeli national security adviser
was here and spoke with jake Sullivan
that they it was agreed that they
increased pressure on Iran to finalize
this deal and prepare if it doesn't
happen . Um but later to push Iran
towards this . Can you anything ? What
I can say is that we regularly have
occasion to consult with our Israeli
partners on this . I know that
Secretary Blinken has recently met with
Foreign Minister Lupi , he's met with
him several times in recent months .
He's been on the phone with him several
times in recent months when there were
active negotiations in Vienna , we
would routinely brief our Israeli
partners before each round during each
round after each round Secretary
Blinken has done that himself to
Foreign Minister , repeated Secretary
Blinken has done that himself with
Prime Minister Bennett and his
predecessor as well . So I'm not going
to detail those consultations , but it
is regularly a topic of discussion with
our Israeli partners . Can we go to
Ukraine ? The Russians have said that
they're going to again have a ceasefire
for three days at the steel plant . Uh
do you see this as do you see anything
positive in this ? Do you are you are
you hopeful that this could actually
come to fruition ? Well , every time an
individual is able to take advantage of
a humanitarian corridor , humanitarian
pause to reach safety . That is a good
thing . What we want to see happen
however , is a prolonged
humanitarian corridor , prolonged
humanitarian access . What we have
consistently seen and we've seen this
even in recent days is the tendency on
the part of the Russian Federation to
embrace so called humanitarian pause
to cloak itself in the
guy's an actor that has humanitarian
concerns only to quickly and promptly
resume shelling and violence ,
including against civilians who are
trapped in besieged areas , including
our concern is and what we want to see
happen is that this humanitarian access
be motivated by genuine humanitarian
concern . And not the desire on the
part of the Russian Federation to
achieve a pr victory to claim it has
humanitarian concerns . When it's only
concerns is propaganda are now in
recent days , there have been over 100
individuals who have been able to reach
safety as far as Zappa Russia . In
recent days , there are still hundreds
of people who are trapped in the steel
plant , there are still thousands of
people who are in the besieged city of
Mariupol , who have been once again
subject to shelling to violence .
People need to be let out humanitarian
aid needs to be let in . That dynamic
needs to last . That's what we care
about . It seems like just follow
the Ukrainians that the Russians are
planning a victory parade in Mariupol
for reminders provide their victory
against Nazi Germany . Um , first of
all , is there anything in the United
States knows about that ? But how would
that be seen ? What do you think the
message word to ? Well , uh , I know
there's lots of speculation about what
the Russians may or may not do on on
May nine , But I can tell you that May
eight and May nine , it's not only a
day of significance for the Russians ,
it is a significant day for all of
Europe and for the United States , to
the , the anniversary Of the defeat of
the advance of Nazi Germany at the end
of World War II . So this is not a day
that any single country owns . But what
I can tell you is that on May eight on
May nine , Our strategy and our
approach is going to be the same
strategy and the same effective
approach that we have employed since
February 24 , since the Russian
invasion began . That is to support in
many different ways . Our Ukrainian
partners . But to hold the Kremlin and
the Russian federation to account and
to do that with allies and partners
around the world , dozens of allies
around the world across four continents .
So I don't have anything to to preview
for for what they might do . But again
to claim as a victory ,
it's a parade through the streets of a
city that not all that long ago was
filled with hundreds of thousands of
civilians of people who were doing
nothing but seeking livelihoods
pursuing their lives . I think that
says a lot in the aftermath of
brutalization by Russian bombs , by
Russian shells , by Russian artillery .
Uh and if that is the focus of any
victory day parade , any
Victory day celebration . I think that
speaks volumes about the nature of the
Kremlin and the nature of what they're
doing to the people of Ukraine . Thank
you . President of the european council
Charles Michel said today that the
european union will provide additional
military equipment to Moldova to
strengthen its resilience . I wonder if
the U . S . Considers additional
military assistance to Moldova and
Georgia . And I wonder if you see any
imminent threat of new Russian
aggression in the region against these
countries , both Georgia and Moldova
our are important partners of the
United States were committed to their
sovereignty , to their independence ,
to their territorial integrity . We
have demonstrated that commitment in a
number of ways when it comes to Moldova ,
we spoke about this , I believe on
Tuesday we recently restarted a
strategic dialogue with our moldovan
counterpart , Secretary Blinken was
recently in case now where he met with
the moldovan leadership had an
opportunity to meet with moldovan
leadership once again here for that
strategic dialogue . It is a
partnership that spans many different
elements . We have provided significant
amount , a significant amount of
humanitarian assistance to our moldovan
partners are militaries have an
effective partnership . They have
served together side by side as far
away as Kosovo . Uh and our commitment ,
as I said before to the sovereignty to
the independence of the territorial
integrity of Moldova and to Georgia
which we have demonstrated in in in in
our own right as well . That is
something that we will continue to
support any negotiations planned with
Georgian side and by the latest
developments in the region and Russian
Russian aggression . We're always in in
touch through our embassy through the
department here with our partners in
the region that certainly includes uh
with our our counterparts in in Tbilisi .
I think we are demonstrating in
response to how we are providing our
Ukrainian partners with what they need
to be effective against this instance .
This egregious instance of Russian
aggression . We are demonstrating that
the United States and our allies and
partners won't stand for that type of
activity . Yes sir considerate Bowl
News network Pakistan . So
last week there was a suicide bomb
blast in Pakistan due to the situation
in Afghanistan . We have seen rising
terrorism in Pakistan . The security
assistance was suspended by previous U .
S . Administration and it is still
suspended . Is there any review is
going on ? Well at the time we strongly
condemned the terrorist attack against
Karachi University University in
Pakistan . We reiterate that
condemnation today a terrorist attack
anywhere is
front to humanity everywhere . But for
a terrorist attack to take place at a
university or at a religious site or at
some of the locations we've seen
recently . That is a true affront
to to mankind when it
comes to your your question , what I'll
say is that we value our bilateral
relationship . We want to continue to
work together in areas where we do have
mutual interests with our Pakistani
partners that includes counterterrorism
that includes border security as well .
Yes , thank you so much as heavily from
their bodies to Pakistan and the U . S .
Commission on Religious Freedom
recommended to include India into there
blacklist like for the religious uh
Freedom relations . So what what what
would be the expected decision ?
Because like the second time in a row
US commission recommended India to be
included into the cbc countries . Well ,
US surf is an independent commission .
It's not a governmental entity . It
does provide recommendations and
guidance to the U . S . Government . It
is something that we look at closely as
we evaluate conditions of religious
freedom or lack thereof around the
world . I have no doubt that our
experts in our office of International
religious freedom will take a close
look at the report that us surf has
submitted as they prepare for our
determination and our findings when it
comes to religious freedom around the
world . Yes . And on china , can you
get a preview of the china strategy
speech ? I was going
to deflect that question into Duckett
pointing to the fact that there would
be a speech tomorrow . Unfortunately
there won't be a speech tomorrow , but
there will be a speech at some point in
the not too distant future . So I will
then uh duck that question pointing to
that date and then not to disappear .
That secretary Blinken , did he take an
antigen test or PcR tests ? Instead it
got taken he he tested positive earlier
this afternoon via PcR test ? He had
tested negative as recently as earlier
this morning and again yesterday with
antigen tests . Okay , well let's just
stay on that and I don't know how much
you covered at the beginning . I think
I answered everyone's questions . Go on .
Um , so you
say that he is not considered a close
contact with the president ? Certainly
he's correct me if I'm wrong in close
contact with the Swedish foreign
minister here this afternoon and
potentially with the mexican foreign
secretary who was here yesterday and
everyone who was at that luncheon . So
have they all been informed and then
why if he tested negative this morning
with an antigen test . Did he get a PcR
test this afternoon ? Was it because he
was feeling symptomatic . So we're in
the process and we have notified those
individuals with whom he has been in
close contact following CDC guidance .
So in most cases , if not all cases
we've been in a position to notify . Uh
then the secretary , as you know , he
has young kids in the house , as you
know , he was around a number of people
this weekend . So as a matter of
precaution he does regularly test , he
reported symptoms this afternoon . He
received a PcR test shortly .
So in other words he didn't get the PcR
test this afternoon because he was he
was feeling symptoms . We got it just
because he reported symptoms this
afternoon and thereafter received a PcR
test . So that's why he took , it
wasn't something that was required
since he had been tested . That's right .
That's right . Um Okay . And then , so
can you say approximately how many
people have been notified that they are
close contacts of the secretary ? I
mean does it go back to saturday
night's dinner ? Does it go to whatever
events parties that he went to on
sunday ? What what I will say is that
he is he is working closely with the
department physician , his physician
here at the department , they are
working together to follow CDC guidance
to reconstruct close contacts in the
appropriate period and those people
either have been notified or in the
process of , I guess it's CDC
guidance but but also and I've had
personal experience with this as well
with it . State Department physicians .
But can you say that the Swedish
foreign Minister is a is a close
contact . I mean we saw them standing
next to each other , but I don't know
if that qualifies for the 15 minutes
and I will , I don't want to
divulge divulge anyone's health
information . What I will say is that
he had a bilateral meeting with with
the Swedish foreign minister and the
press aspect of that was only one
element of it . So suffice it to say
that we are we are notifying everyone
who is considered a close contact for
that CDC guidance . Yes . Secretary was
at the Foreign Press Center yesterday
and you were along with the secretary .
Many reporters and informed questions
stuffers . So is if I believe you were
there at the , at the Foreign Press
Center , the Secretary was not within
six ft of reporters . There are CDC
guidelines regarding close contacts .
As I was explaining to matt . We are
and have notified uh those individuals
who would qualify as close contacts . I
was tested just about an hour ago and
tested negative were identified as a
close contact . I mean , I would hope
you were . So what I will say is that I
I was tested about an hour ago and
tested negative . Yes . What have you
got a couple of questions , Let me
start with Hungary which is pushing
back against oil . Russian oil bank . I
know you're involved in this but the US
did not impose sanctions on
Russian soil but rather decided to go
always its own purchase decision will
hunger is push back First affect your
relationships under 2ndly ? Well ,
maybe because the U . S . To reconsider
its decision on Russian oil band moving
towards the sanctions which will enable
if they continued when it comes to the
proposed oil bandit is something we
welcome on the part of the EU . I would
need to refer you to the european union
for any details . Obviously , this is a
question that they continue to discuss
within their own block within their
Member States . There is however broad
support among our allies and partners
for cutting off what is undeniably the
strength of President Putin's economy
and its war machine and that is that is
energy . We are united as a NATO
alliance . We are united with our
european allies , including with the EU
on the imperative on cutting back uh
and choking off this important source
of revenue for our for the Russian
Federation . We are in regular
conversation with our partners and
allies about the most effective way to
decrease their dependence on Russian
energy . The position the United States
is in is different from the position
that any member of the EU is in . It is
different from the position that any
other country around the world is in
the United States as we've discussed is
in a fortunate position in that we were
never reliant on Russian energy and in
fact we have infrastructure and we have
energy supplies in this country
That has um has enabled us to do
things earlier that other countries
that other blocks are considering now .
And shortly after the start of the
invasion on March eight president biden
signed an executive order that banned
the import of key sources of Russian
energy . Now of course the EU there are
certain countries in the EU have who
have a higher dependence on Russian
energy . Our goal is to see to it that
we do everything to choke off these
strategic assets to make it as painful
for the Kremlin and to make it as
painless for the United States and our
partners and allies around the world .
But these are conversations that are
ongoing within the EU . So I wouldn't
want to get ahead of those . Yes ,
actually Secretary Foreign Minister
last week they had to call and the
readout says that they also discussed
intensifying support for both North
Macedonia and Albania on their U . S .
Accession pets . So can you tell me
more in detail what exactly this
intensified support means that that
that that was mentioned in the readout
and how this support is given . Do you
have some back and forth diplomatic
channels with Bulgaria ? Did you
contact the your leaders to convince
the area and even put pressure on it to
lift . It's better for for these
countries to finally start the
negotiation talks with the North
Macedonia and Albania . We the United
States has long been a strong supporter
of North Macedonian . Albania's
integration into the EU . We believe
the future of the Western Balkans is
squarely with the EU . The enlargement
process promotes long term peace ,
stability , prosperity throughout the
region . And the use March 2020
decision to open accession negotiations
with North Macedonia and Albania , we
think was a positive step . These two
countries have laid the groundwork in
the time we believe is now to move
forward together to the next phase in
the long and challenging accession
process . The historic Prescott
agreement demonstrated that countries
in the Western Balkans are capable of
doing difficult things , making
compromises and finding solutions . And
we're confident that Bulgaria and North
Macedonia will do the same by
negotiating their bilateral disputes .
We do continue on a bilateral basis to
urge both of them , Bulgaria and North
Macedonia to resolve those disputes
quickly . But obviously we're not going
to detail those conversations . Yes .
Um to go back to Iran , the families of
some of the imprisoned americans joined
in a demonstration today outside the
White House . Can you give us an update
on the status of the indirect talks
over the detainees ? Are they still
happening despite the holdup in the
nuclear talks and will the State
Department helped facilitate a meeting
between the families and president
biden is for today . So in terms of the
americans who are detained wrongfully
detained in Iran . We have made the
point that we have no higher priority
than the safe return of americans who
are wrongfully or unjustly detained
anywhere . And that includes the four
americans who are detained in Iran .
We've also made the point that even as
there had been a process in Vienna
to discuss nuclear issues , that
we were not going to um
conflate these two areas of
discussion and we weren't going to do
those for one simple reason . I think
that simple reason has become even more
evidence given where we are now . In
terms of the talks regarding Iran's
nuclear program , the J . C . P . O . A .
Has always been an uncertain
proposition . It is very uncertain now .
The potential of mutual return to
compliance with it . We want to see to
it that the return of these americans
is a certain proposition . So it does
not do us . It certainly does not do
these americans or their families any
good to tie their fates to something
that may or may not happen at the same
time . We have uh conveyed in no
uncertain terms to the Iranians . The
priority we attach to seeing the safe
release of uh these americans . It is
something that our team here has worked
on constantly . It's something that we
worked on even before the formal
Uh processed in Vienna began in the
spring of 2021 . Yes from the family .
Um , I just , I just want to make sure
you get a chance to respond to uh , you
know , these families are out there .
They gave were there this morning um ,
press conference where there's a lot of
obviously a lot of criticism of the
administration for , you know , as they
say it , not doing enough to get their
their family member's home , you know ,
specifically Alexandra for Seth is the
daughter and a niece of two of the guys
Who were part of the Seco six in
Venezuela . You know , she says ,
talking to the other families , they
all see this pattern of indecision from
the administration . In terms of trying
to get family members home , talk about
running into roadblocks within the
administration as they tried to , you
know , try to get more action from you
guys . That would , that would help to
get these family members home , you
know , how do you respond to these
people's emotional pleas and and
criticism like I wouldn't want to
respond directly only because I am
not going to be in a position to
understand their , their full english .
Uh , and the emotion that is of course
attached to having a loved one
held unjustly in a far away place
for in all cases far too long and for
most of those cases years at a time , I
will never be able to understand that
there are many people in this building
who don't won't be able to understand
that on a personal level . But what I
can say is that we are doing
everything we can . Almost all of it
unseen . Almost all of it unsaid in
public too . Do everything we can
to advanced the commitment that
President biden has to see these
americans who were wrongfully or
unjustly detained around the world or
in some cases held hostage around the
world brought home . The president has
made a commitment to do that . We have
been able to make good on that
commitment in a number of cases ,
including as you alluded to in
Venezuela , including in Burma ,
including in Afghanistan , including in
Haiti , including most recently in
Russia with the return of Trevor reed .
In all of those cases , we did
not detail um contemporaneously what it
was that we were doing , but we were
doing it and we were executing on the
President's commitment . We were
executing on the priority that the
president attaches to this , that
Secretary Blinken attaches to this uh
and our special presidential envoy for
hostage affairs in his office , roger
Carstens in his office . They have
traveled the world . They are ready and
willing to go anywhere to talk to
anyone . As in some cases as in many
cases they have uh in an effort to see
these americans return to their homes .
That is a commitment we have , we will
keep executing on that commitment until
every single last american is reunited
with her or his family . Yes , could
you tell us more about the State
Department's process for opening that
Brittney Griner is being wrongfully
obtained in Russia . And why did that
take the amount of time that it did ?
What I can say is that uh and as you
heard from us yesterday ,
we have
we have determined that the Russian
federation has wrongfully detained us
citizen Brittney Griner . There is
um there will be no change of course to
the fact that we are going to do
everything we can to provide
appropriate support to Miss Griner to
her family . There's only so much I can
say about the process for determining
whether an american is wrongfully
detained . It is a deliberative process .
But what I can say is that we weigh the
totality of circumstances in every case ,
whether it's the case of Brittney
Griner , whether it's the case of paul
Whelan , whether it's the case of
americans in Iran , there are going to
be unique factors in each and every one
of those cases . But I would say that
the robert Levinson Act , 302 of that
act Does spell out a number of criteria .
11 criteria that are among the factors
that we look at in determining whether
an American who was detained overseas
is held wrongfully or unjustly . And
you can see for yourself many of those
criteria , there is for example , an
indication of innocence if um the
detention is based on being a US
national if it is in violation of the
laws of the detaining country , um if
due process has been sufficiently
denied or impaired and you can go on
through that list . But each case of an
american detained overseas is going to
be unique . And in each case we look at
the totality of circumstances in that
case when it comes to arriving at such
determination . Yes . Just to follow up
on their call for White House meetings ,
texas met President biden this week .
Will the other families have a chance
to what I can say ? I can only speak
for the Department of State but I can
say that Secretary Blinken has
frequently had an opportunity to meet
to speak with the families of americans
who are wrongfully detained around the
world as recently , within the past
couple of days , he's had an
opportunity to meet face to face With
the family of one such american and to
speak to the family over the phone of
another such american . We often don't
publicize these again because our
efforts , we want to see to it that our
efforts have the best prospects
prospects of being effective . And we
found that when we undertake these
activities , these discussions quietly
that they are bestowed typically with
more effectiveness . Now of course
President biden , Jake Sullivan others
at the White House have also routinely
met with the families of hostages . It
is important for us to hear their
perspectives , to hear their inputs .
After all , it's these families who
know the details , who , who know the
intricacies of these cases better than
anyone . And there was a process Put
forward in 2015 with um
a new PPD that called for
a more streamlined , more effective
process for engaging with the families .
That is a commitment that the
department , I know this entire
administration takes very seriously
knowing that again , these families are
going to be the best advocates . These
families are going to be the best
experts when it comes to the unique and
the totality of the circumstances
behind each individual case . Yes . To
questions about conflicts . And let me
start with Ukraine again , President
Zelensky said today that we will not go
to 1000 coffee Father . If it reflects
Washington's viewpoint as well . Can
Ukraine rely on State Department's on
sports and when it comes to ah I wasn't
coming . I'm sorry miss part of your
question can Ukraine rely on the United
States ? The President said that he
will not accept frozen another frozen
cop . We have been there done that . So
that's not a solution . It doesn't
reflect general sentiment here as well
as a potential the the general
sentiment here . In fact , the only
sentiment here is that it is up to our
Ukrainian partners to determine
the point that they want to achieve .
It is up to them to determine what they
seek to achieve in their discussions
with the Russians . It is up to them to
determine what it is that is the will
of their people and it is our role to
support them and carrying that out . It
is our role to support them on the
battlefield by providing security
assistance . It is our role to to
support them at the negotiating table
by strengthening their hand including
by providing them security assistance
but also holding the Russian federation
to account another conflict . Chief .
Oh I see . Monitor Andrei Kostitsyn ,
the State Department this morning I
believe as a secretary
um have they discussed hydrocarbons
issue ? And what is the U . S . State
of U . S . Involvement ? This point , I
know that there are some efforts
between Europeans and in Washington and
from the second there'll be a lot of
meetings this week or next week . I'm
sorry I missed the last part of your
question . They've opened up the
meeting between Europeans and
Washington . Either this week or next
week . If I'm not mistaken . I don't
know if they agreed to an additional
meeting or if that was discussed . But
um we'll let you know if we have more
details to share from that meeting will
take a couple final questions . Yes .
Thanks . That I have a question on
Saudi Arabia on behalf of ah rollicking
shelf will have to leave . Um
Mostly Journal Journal says that has
reported that CIA director Bill Byrnes
traveled to Saudi Arabia in mid april .
And according to this article , one
American official has called has
described the trip as better than
higher engagements . Um What's the
status of relations between the U . S .
And Saudi Arabia ? Has it gotten worse ?
Is it the Russia crisis , the
crisis that Porsche has created and
what will it take um bringing
back so they would enough
this this way and not not let it
go towards Russia and china ? Yeah ,
Well , I think I would dispute the
premise of the of the second part of
your question . Of course , Saudi
Arabia has been a longstanding partner
of the United States in many ways .
That's a partnership that dates back to
1945 when uh FDR
um met with Abdul Aziz . But
fast forwarding more recently , you've
heard from senior american and Saudi
officials about the critical importance
of the strategic ties between the
United States and Saudi Arabia . Uh and
importantly how we can use that
strategic partnership and those
strategic ties to deliver for our own
people . Ah For our part , we
have pursued the many mutual interests
that we have with our Saudi partners .
We've pursued the many interests that
we have within the gulf region and
beyond with Saudi Saudi Arabia . Just
as we have sought to elevate human
rights and to um put them at the center
of our foreign policy , including at
the center of our bilateral
relationships ? Uh And we have not
unrelated to that engaged in vigorous
diplomacy , including with our Saudi
partners to seek to bring an end to the
war in . Yemen and I think across the
board , you have seen the way we have
managed this relationship and the way
we have um the way we have
engaged with this partner deliver
results for the United States for our
Saudi Saudi partners as well . Most
recently we supported U . N . Efforts
to secure a nationwide two month truce
in Yemen . We it is something that we
were have been quite encouraged by . It
is a testament to the work of the U . N .
Special envoy but also to our own
special envoy , tim linder King who has
spent quite a good bit of time in
Riyadh in other parts of Saudi Arabia
and other parts of the gulf to arrive
at this two month truce . That of
course we want to see built upon .
We're also encouraged by Saudi Arabia's
return of its ambassador to Lebanon at
an important moment . And we remain
committed to building a partnership
with Saudi Arabia that is durable and
that is importantly sustainable . That
accounts for the broad range of shared
interests that our countries have .
Whether that is helping Saudi Arabia
defend its territory and the 70 some
odd 1000 americans who are resident
within the kingdom . Whether it is um
helping to educate tens of thousands of
young Saudis who will help to craft and
to drive their their country's future ,
whether it's partnering on clean energy
and renewables , whether it's
addressing human rights or as I said
before , helping to end the war in
Yemen . Our approach to this
partnership has been designed to
advance the ball on each and every one
of those . Uh and the way we measure
this partnership is in terms of that
effectiveness . What have we been able
to achieve And we've been able to
achieve a great deal including in
recent weeks there's no point of
contention . No princess .
Every relationship is unique . And of
course there is no country around the
world with whom we share uh
identical perspectives on on every
single issue . What is important for us
is that we manage
our relationship in a way that delivers
results for our two countries . And I
think in the case of Saudi Arabia ,
you've been able to see many of those
results in recent weeks . One final
question , are there any plans to help
the Ukrainian refugees that travel to
Mexico and are now in this limbo state ?
Because the U . S . Well , what I can
say is that we have put in place a
process so that Ukrainians need not
make the journey to Mexico or to any
other third country in the region .
Because we do have a pipeline now a
program . We we are calling uniting for
Ukraine under which Ukrainians can
be sponsored directly uh and under
which they can be paroled directly into
the United States for two years . Now ,
the president has made a commitment to
um uh huh Bring to this country 100,000
Ukrainians and others affected by this
war . That includes Ukrainians who are
internally displaced within their home
country , Ukrainians who are now
refugees in Europe . But in some cases
there will be Ukrainians who are
refugees in places closer to the United
States . We're going to adjudicate each
of those cases . But again , there is
now a program through which Ukrainians
have much readier , much easier access
to the United States through this
sponsorship program . Of course ,
that's not the only pathway for uh
arrival here in the United States , the
U . S . Refugee admissions program ,
including the Lautenberg program under
those auspices . And then the
additional resources we have committed
to uh visa processing , visa
processing in the region for Ukrainians
seeking to travel to the United States .
Thank you all very much .