Departmental Media Briefing – November 10, 2022 – United States Department of State

MR PRICE: Janne, that was a quick trip. I just saw you on the street.

MR PRICE: Wow. (Laughter.) That’s impressive. We either have some cub reporters with us today or some interns in the back. I suspect they are State Department interns. Welcome. Well, we have a few things at the top and then we’ll take your questions.

The United States congratulates FIFA, Israel, and Qatar on the historic step of opening direct flights between Tel Aviv and Doha for the duration of the World Cup and commends the efforts made to achieve this the arrangement. Today’s announcement is a historic development and an important step that also holds great promise to strengthen the ties between the people and economic relations. As President Biden said, building regional integration – in the Middle East and beyond – brings prosperity and security to the people of the region. We welcome the statement that this move will benefit Israeli and Palestinian football fans alike, as a step towards expanding greater freedom of travel for all consistent with the promise of the Qatar that everyone is welcome at the World Cup. The United States will continue to engage with Israel and our partners across the region for the benefit of all, and we commend Qatar and Israel, both close partners of the United States, for – their leadership and the spirit of sportsmanship they showed with this important. development.

Next, as you may have seen, USAID Administrator Samantha Power traveled to Lebanon this week where she met with Lebanese citizens, refugees, the speaker, and the interim Prime Minister, as well as officials from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the United Nations to discuss the country’s economic crisis and the urgent need for reforms.

Administrator Power announced several new support initiatives for Lebanon, including an additional $72 million in emergency – emergency food assistance benefiting more than 650,000 vulnerable people in Lebanon, through the World Food Program United Nations Food.

The Lebanese economy is in crisis due to decades of corruption and mismanagement. This crisis has been exacerbated by President Putin’s brutal war against Ukraine, which has increased food prices and threatened food security and critical supplies such as fertilizer and grain.

The United States continues to support the Lebanese people as they face the effects of a historic economic crisis and we remain committed to addressing the immediate needs of vulnerable Lebanese families and refugees inside Lebanon.

And finally, as you saw this morning, we announced that Secretary Blinken will be traveling to Egypt, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand in November – starting on November 11th.

While in Sharm El-Sheikh, on November 11, Secretary Blinken will join President Biden at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP27, to advance US efforts to strengthen global climate ambition. The Secretary will support the President to encourage countries to implement their climate commitments, encourage all nationally determined contributions to be aligned with the 1.5 degrees Celsius target of the Paris Agreement, and ensure that the -COP27 responds to the priorities and needs of the African continent and of vulnerable developing countries and communities everywhere.

While in Phnom Penh, on November 12 and 13, Secretary Blinken will support President Biden’s participation in the US-ASEAN Summit and the Asia Summits of – Eastern The President and Secretary will reaffirm our partnership with ASEAN and support for the centrality of ASEAN and will discuss regional and global challenges, including the humanitarian and human rights crisis that going on in Burma. The United States will emphasize the importance of US-ASEAN cooperation to ensure security and prosperity in the region and the well-being of our one billion people together.

While in Bali, from November 13 to 16, Secretary Blinken will support President Biden’s participation in the G20 Leaders’ Summit. The President and the Secretary will praise President Widodo’s leadership of the G20 and emphasize the commitment of the United States to this main forum for economic cooperation with countries that represent more than 80 percent of -GDP of the world. The United States will strengthen our commitment to work with G20 partners to address key challenges such as climate change and the global impact of President Putin’s war on Ukraine, including when it comes to energy and food security and affordability, as well as a range of other products. important priorities for global economic recovery.

And finally, in Bangkok, on November 16 and 17, the Secretary will advance economic policies in the Asia-Pacific region to promote free, fair and open trade and investment and advance growth inclusive and sustainable with other foreign and trade ministers in APEC. Ministerial Meeting. He will also support Vice President Kamala Harris’ participation in APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, where she will highlight US economic leadership and outline US goals for our host year of -APEC in 2023, which will build on the progress from Thailand’s host year.

We look forward to sharing more about the Secretary’s travel in the coming days. Therefore we encourage you, all of you who are not joining in person, to follow along virtually.

QUESTION: Thank you, Ned. I was going to start with Iran, but actually, since you opened with the FIFA-Qatar-Israel thing, I understand that you think this is a great opportunity for Palestinians who can afford a plane ticket to fly from Tel Aviv to Doha, but what about palestinians who want to fly from tel aviv to somewhere else? This is a wonderful opportunity for a month, I suppose, but it is for a game. Okay? And so there are Palestinians who want and need to leave Ben Gurion to fly to Europe, to visit relatives for family matters, to fly to the United States, and they can’t. So what are you doing about it?

MR PRICE: Matt, I understand your point, and it is well taken. I guess what I would say, though, is that this is an incremental step. It is an important incremental step.

QUESTION: But it’s also temporary, and it’s for –

MR PRICE: I don’t think I said anything at the beginning of this briefing to give the impression or to give the impression that this would be a remedy for some of the obstacles faced by the Palestinian people.

QUESTION: I’m not saying I did. I’m just saying that if you think this is such a wonderful thing, wouldn’t it be wonderful if it could be extended to – so that Palestinians could travel anywhere, not just to Doha?

MR PRICE: A few points about that. Number one, this is important for a few reasons. Regional integration – regional integration and increasing the capacity of the countries in the region to have relations with each other is something that this administration has invested a lot in. We saw that on full display in the Negev earlier this spring where a number of ministers – five ministers representing five countries, including the United States – were on stage and I think they were witness to the promise and the opportunity which brings about regional integration. That’s something we want to see continue.

QUESTION: Okay. But I don’t remember it being there – I was there, and I don’t remember it being there –

QUESTION: — Palestinians on stage.

MR PRICE: But since you were there, you also –

MR PRICE: You will also remember – you will –

QUESTION: Yes, you – yes, he was in Ramallah meeting with –

QUESTION: — President Abbas just before.

MR PRICE: Well, but I was going to –

MR PRICE: — different point. I was going to the extent that several of these ministers said while they were speaking in the Negev that this normalization process does not replace progress when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We fundamentally believe this. We can welcome incremental steps when it comes to progress –

MR PRICE: — between Israel and its neighbors while also acknowledging that there needs to be significant progress when it comes to relations between Israelis and Palestinians, when it comes to tensions between Israel and Palestinians in the West Bank, between Israel and Gaza. That of course remains a focus. This is not a substitute for this, but at the same time, when we see progress, when we see important progress like this, we welcome it and continue to encourage it.

QUESTION: Okay. I’ll be back on –

QUESTION: — just follow Matt’s questioning. I mean, sure, you say incremental and so on when you’re talking about integration – incremental integration in the region, but then – doesn’t it really ignore the big elephant in the room, which is the Israeli occupation? I mean, everyone seems to want to make peace with those they are – they are not at war with. The Israelis are at war with the Palestinians. This is the elephant in the room; don’t you agree?

MR PRICE: Said, we think there can be progress on both fronts. We think there must be progress on both fronts. As we have discussed – you and I have discussed actually a number of times – this administration is fully and fully supportive of – it supports a negotiated two-state solution between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Ultimately, this is how this conflict will be resolved.

Now, there are many surmountable obstacles that stand in the way of a negotiated two-state solution between the Israelis and the Palestinians. What we have seen in recent years is Israel’s ability to forge closer relationships and in some cases official ties with its neighbors. Doing so is good for the region, it is good for Israel, it is good for those Arab and Muslim countries. But what we need to do is translate the progress we are seeing in terms of Israel’s bilateral relations and regional relations into progress for the Palestinian people.

The point you made to Matt applies here: when we were in the Negev in the spring, a number of ministers, including Secretary Blinken, including, as I recall, Foreign Minister Lapid – then the Minister of Foreign Affairs Lapid – made the point that we cannot allow this to be a substitute. We will continue to work on the progress between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Obviously there is still a wide distance and quite a ways to go between the Israelis and the Palestinians when it comes to that two-state solution. What we are trying to do incrementally, step by step, is to make progress, to alleviate some of the humanitarian plight that Palestinians face in places like Gaza and the West Bank, and to work together with Israel , to work together with the Palestinians. Authority, to work together with partners in the region to do what we can to achieve progress on that front.

QUESTION: But you know exactly where Matt started. The Palestinian Americans, citizens of this country, cannot fly in and out of Ben Gurion because there is a new law that has been implemented for four – for months – for weeks now or maybe more. I don’t know exactly how long. And you didn’t – you didn’t do anything to make sure that your ally and your benefactor, basically, Israel, is adhering to the basic human laws and the human rights laws and rights that they have –

QUESTION: — which should be available to all Americans.

MR PRICE: But I want to stop because that is not true. It’s just not true. This law was introduced on 20 October.

MR PRICE: The pilot procedure was published —

MR PRICE: We had the opportunity to speak with the Israeli Government, with our Israeli partners, about some of the concerns that we had. And what finally came into force on October 20 had several improvements when it came to the ability of American citizens, dual citizens to pass. We are continuing to discuss this with our Israeli partners. We remain concerned about the potential for a negative impact that some of these procedures may have on Palestinian civil society, on tourism, investment, academia, and health care. We continue to raise those concerns, but it is not true that we have done nothing. In fact, we worked together with our Israeli partners on this.

QUESTION: And finally, I mean, you keep saying that this is not a substitute, openness – normalization is not a substitute. Their words. I mean, they – these words are said all the time. You talk about two state solutions. In the end we didn’t see – since this administration came into office, we haven’t seen any push for negotiations, for example. Or you had difficulty with the former Israeli Government, the current one, etc. I think we will probably have more difficulty in the future with the type of government that is being formed in Israel.

So there was really no effort or any strong statement about, let’s say, the need to renegotiate these things, or to start negotiations, or that you sponsor such a negotiation. Am I wrong?

MR PRICE: You have seen very strong statements and more than statements from us about the importance of ultimately the imperative of a two-state solution that forms the basis of a long-term agreement between Israelis and Palestinians. When we take these jobs, we take something of a diplomatic Hippocratic Oath. Of course, we want to improve the lives and livelihoods, the well-being of people around the world. At the same time, we want to make sure that we are not doing harm. And if a foreign government, if this government were to step in – especially when tensions are high, as unfortunately they were, between the Israelis and the Palestinians – and move aggressively or suggest, put forward a diplomatic approach to the solution of ‘ two states at this moment, I’m not sure that approach would be effective. I am not sure that the approach serves to reduce tensions. And in fact, I think there is reason to believe that tensions will only get worse.

We have focused since January 20 of last year on reducing the tension between the Israelis and the Palestinians. We did this in times of acute tension, such as in May of last year between – during the war between Israel and Gaza, a war that was shortened significantly, a war that saw far fewer lives lost than in previous exchanges between Israel and Gaza, we think because of the role we played, the quiet diplomacy, the quiet diplomatic role we played.

We are doing the same thing right now, as we have seen heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank. Meanwhile, this does not mean that we are standing still when it comes to the humanitarian concerns of the Palestinian people – far from it. I saw us rejoining the Palestinian Authority; I saw us rejoining the Palestinian people; I saw us re-engage with important international institutions, including UNRWA. And we have provided almost, as I recall, about a billion dollars in humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people in Gaza, in the West Bank, since January of last year.

We believe in the end – as you have heard us say – that Israelis as well as Palestinians deserve equal levels of security, stability, democracy, freedom, dignity and opportunity. And the humanitarian assistance we’re providing and the approach we’re taking is trying to afford greater levels of dignity, greater levels of opportunity for the Palestinian people.

QUESTION: Ned, can I clarify one thing?

QUESTION: When you opened and said congratulations to FIFA, Qatar, Israel for this, but are you understanding that the Palestinians had nothing to do with this agreement?

MR PRICE: — those two countries and that institution. This is –

QUESTION: Okay. So it was – so your understanding is that this was only between Qatar, FIFA, and Israel; the Palestinians had nothing to do with it. So this is something they should be thankful for, even though it’s like a kind of table scrap, right?

MR PRICE: Matt, you are putting words in a mouth. i –

QUESTION: No, no, no, I’m not. I’m just asking –

MR PRICE: He commended this – he commended this as –

MR PRICE: I didn’t say that nobody in particular should be grateful for that.

MR PRICE: You said that the United States welcomes this. We see this as an important step.

QUESTION: Yes, okay. Everything is fine. Second, the Hippocratic Oath you just mentioned –

QUESTION: Does this apply everywhere? Does the US want to do no harm anywhere? I just want to make sure we’re talking about –

MR PRICE: Matt, that’s a statement I would subscribe to everywhere, correct.

QUESTION: Okay. And for – hold on, wait.

QUESTION: Yes? Okay. And then the last thing I just – because Said raised the new Israeli government, and I – it seems that the minister of internal security, the minister of police, whatever it is, Mr. Ben- Gvir, went and paid a visit to the Kahane memorial. And I’m just wondering, you weren’t talking about this before a government was formed, or talking about the new Israeli government before it was formed, but I’m just wondering if you have any comments on this.

MR PRICE: Well, of course I’m not commenting on any government that hasn’t been formed yet. But what I can say is that we have seen these same reports. Celebrating the legacy of a terrorist organization is deserved; there is no other word for it. He is disgusted. And we remain concerned, as we have said before, with the legacy of Kahane Chai and the continued use of rhetoric among violent right-wing extremists. Condemn incitement, condemn violence and racism in all its forms. There is good reason why Kahane Chai remains designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization. We encourage all parties to keep calm, exercise restraint, and refrain from actions that only serve to aggravate tensions, and that includes in Jerusalem.

QUESTION: But it’s not an FTO anymore, is it?

MR PRICE: My understanding is that it is still designated as SDGT.

QUESTION: But is it no longer an FTO?

MR PRICE: That is my understanding. That is correct.

QUESTION: I understand, Ned, that Rob Malley is coming to E3 next week in Paris. Can you confirm that, and can you talk a little about what will be discussed?

MR PRICE: At the moment I don’t have any of his meetings to confirm, but as you know Rob and his team have been in regular dialogue with our European partners, especially our E3 partners, the French, the Germans, the British. Of course, the nature of their conversations has changed quite a bit since then – well, over the past few weeks. We’ve spent a lot of time at senior levels, including at Rob’s level, including at Deputy Sherman’s level, including at the Secretary’s level talking about ways we can show our support for those brave Iranians, including many women and girls, who demonstrate peacefully, take to the streets, to ask for the reforms they are asking for.

So again, I – if we have any engagement to announce, if we have any travel to announce we’ll do. But conversations between the United States and our European allies continued.

QUESTION: I just want to quickly ask about Brittney Griner as well. The President said yesterday that he hopes and guesses that Putin will be engaged more seriously. I am wondering if there is any basis for that hope, if you have caught any signs in your dealings with the Russians, that they were expecting the midterms to weigh on this. Like, what is his hope based on basically?

MR PRICE: Well, the fact is, and what the President was alluding to, is the fact that the Russians, until now, have not committed themselves to the seriousness of the purpose and the constructive approach that we wanted to see. We put forward this substantial proposal, as announced by Secretary Blinken a number of months ago now, for the release of Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner. The fact that Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner remain behind bars – Brittney Griner for some ten months now, Paul Whelan for more than three years now – is testimony to the fact that this process has not progressed as quickly as we would have liked. I heard us say that from our end this process was not static. We put forward this substantial proposal. We had discussions with the Russians. Those discussions are continuing. We are continuing to look for ways to secure the release of Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner as soon as possible so that they can be returned to their loved ones here in the United States.

QUESTION: But was there ever, like, a reference to the US midterms? That is why the President –

MR PRICE: Again, I’m not going to go back and forth. The fact is that the Russians have not taken an approach to date that we think is sufficient. We continued to press them to commit seriously and in good faith on the original proposal we put forward, the alternatives we put forward. We have continued to seek ways to secure the expeditious release of Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner, and we continue to work on those efforts.

QUESTION: And finally, do you have any information on the exact whereabouts of Brittney Griner? Did the Russians inform you of this?

MR PRICE: Well, I saw the Secretary put out a statement about that earlier this week. Her transfer to – her transfer from the detention center in Moscow after a mock trial, following her unjust sentence. It – it just compounds the original injustice of her wrongful detention.

Unfortunately, it has become standard practice on the part of the Russian Federation not to inform us in advance when US citizen detainees are transferred from one detention center to another. I mean – that was the case in this case too. We did not receive a heads-up. Ultimately we had seen press reports and had engaged very closely with Brittney Griner’s representatives, and we continue to do so. As soon as we found out about her transfer, we formally requested from the Russian Government – we asked for more information about her transfer. We also commit to doing everything we can to ensure that her conditions are as safe, as healthy as possible during this time. This is something we do for all US citizens held in Russia and really around the world. We are, as I said before, in frequent contact with its representatives, with its legal teams. And ultimately, we are in contact with the Russians, one, on the conditions of her confinement, but, two, and importantly, to do everything we can to see her and Paul Whelan released.

QUESTION: Ned, about Russia – on this subject –

QUESTION: Stay on – as you know – the same subject.

QUESTION: Lavrov will be replacing the president in Indonesia. Is it the Secretary’s belief that he should be isolated, as he was a few months ago during the ministerial?

MR PRICE: It is our belief that it cannot be business as usual with the Russian Federation. Not just our beliefs; I think we all saw in Bali during the G20 ministerials in July that Russia was isolated. We heard this from statements from a number of ministers representing the majority of the G20. We heard that. Of course, Foreign Minister Lavrov heard this too. The fact that he could not deign to return in the afternoon after hearing condemnation from a number of his friends and colleagues around the table I think speaks to the schedule and the criticism that he heard and internalized in a very clear way.

I suspect that Foreign Minister Lavrov, who will be representing his country at least with public accounts, will hear something very similar. Countries around the world continued to condemn Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. This goes well beyond the G7 countries. We have heard a number of countries in the region, including countries that at least initially sought to save, countries that more recently have been much more direct and pointed in their remarks, calling for an end to this aggression, and making clearly this is not an era of war, that borders cannot and should not be redrawn by force.

And then of course, there are all the implications that accompany Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and I suspect that the G20 will be an opportunity for a number of these countries to talk, in some cases to talk directly about the -implications of the increase in food prices, rising energy prices, the weakening of the international order based on the rules. Those are messages we have heard before – during the G20 and before the Black Sea Grain Initiative came into effect on August 1st. Now that the Black Sea Grain Initiative seems to be in doubt again as the Russians have continued to refuse to make explicit statements that they will extend it, I expect we will hear this again.

And it’s just being asked, as we hear the Russians essentially asking the rest of the world, “What’s in it for us? What’s in it for us when it comes to renewing the Black Sea Grain Initiative?” They continue to falsely claim that they are unable to export food and fertilizer. That, of course, is totally untrue. We have gone to extraordinary lengths to clarify that our sanctions regime has clear waivers and clear exemptions for food and food. Russian fertilizer. We issued formal guidance – the Treasury Department did. We issued FAQs. We issued public Fact Sheets. We engaged privately with countries around the world. We even set up a call center here at the State Department for countries or entities that may have questions about any potential sanctions implications of transactions to ensure that countries and entities around the world know that food and fertilizers are exempt from our Russian sanctions regime.

So again, we hear the Russians resort to these false allegations, and I think the world will again react badly when Moscow asks, “What’s in it for us?” when the rest of the world is at risk of starvation.

QUESTION: And the Secretary has no plans to interact with him?

MR PRICE: At this point we have no plans for any kind of formal interaction.

QUESTION: A Russian court ordered the deportation of an American citizen who spent 11 months in detention in Russia. Do you have anything on this?

MR PRICE: We are aware of reports that Russia has ordered the deportation of an American citizen. We continue to insist that Russia, as you heard me say a moment ago, allow consistent and timely consular access to all detained US citizens. We take our role in helping US citizens abroad seriously. We are closely monitoring this situation, but of course I am limited in what I can say due to privacy.

QUESTION: Can I track this?

QUESTION: So you had consular access to her before when she was convicted for – or when she spent 11 months in prison for assaulting her partner?

MR PRICE: I understand that we did not have consular access in this case. We have made it clear to Russia that consistent with their obligations under the Vienna Convention, under international law, that we seek regular and consistent consular access. That is certainly the case for our wrongful detainees Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, but it is true for all US citizen detainees in Russia and around the world.

QUESTION: Same subject. As for Brittney Griner, since that transfer started and you reached out to the Russians, have you heard anything back from them? And on the subject of consular access, since this was such a problem in Britney Griner’s case, you would hope that US diplomats – US diplomats, actually, would have some access to her once she comes transferred to that penal colony?

MR PRICE: So on your first question, my understanding is that we haven’t heard anything substantive from the Russians since we put forward our formal request to seek additional information about her whereabouts and to clarify our expectations that her conditions, the conditions of its restraint, will be sufficient and improved as much as possible.

When it comes to other American citizens, what I can say is that American citizens who have been transferred from Moscow, in the past we have been able to secure consular access for them. Most of them have somewhat regular access to the phone and can make calls to the State Department, make calls to others, but consular access in person is something that we sought and something that we got in the case of other Americans. who were transferred to prison camps outside Moscow.

QUESTION: Can we just stick to the Americans?

QUESTION: And I’m not going to Cambodia yet. This is Arabia –

QUESTION: Wait, can we stay on Russia before we leave Russia?

MR PRICE: Okay. Go ahead, Kylie.

QUESTION: I just want to ask about the prospect of a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine war. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Milley said this morning that the United States is seeing the beginning of the forces withdrawing from Kherson, and continued to say, “We think there are some possibilities for some diplomatic solutions, so we will see where. that leads us.” Does the State Department agree that that possibility is in the future now?

MR PRICE: We agree with what President Zelenskyy said, that –

QUESTION: No, no, no, I’m wondering if you agree with what Milley said.

MR PRICE: I know you are, but we agree with what President Zelenskyy said. Look, we know, as President Zelenskyy said, that this war will have to end through diplomacy and dialogue. President Zelenskyy in his address even earlier this week made it clear once again that Ukraine is ready for peace, ready for a fair and just peace, whose formula we have expressed many times: respect for UN Charter, respect for our territorial integrity, respect. for our people.

The Ukrainians have made clear their belief that this war will ultimately end at the negotiating table. Russians have sometimes expressed that same sentiment. Unfortunately, we have only seen the Russians combine that feeling with brutal aggression against the Ukrainian people, now targeting more and more Ukrainian infrastructure, targeting food, targeting food storage throughout the country; heating, water, sanitation services.

So, once again, the onus remains on Moscow to show not only with the word but also with the fact that it is ready to negotiate, it is ready to fulfill what the world has heard very clearly from the partners our Ukrainians, and that they are ready and willing. to sit down and engage in good faith.

QUESTION: But if there is a possibility for a diplomatic solution, as Milley is saying, why? Why does the United States feel that at this point specifically? Is it because these troops are starting to withdraw from Kherson? Is it because maybe we are entering a time where there is a lull in the winter fighting? Why?

MR PRICE: Kylie, the broader point here is that it is not for us to dictate to the Ukrainians what that diplomacy will look like, its contours. It is up to us as we continue to seek and continue to support our Ukrainian partners to do this – to provide them with security assistance, provide them with economic assistance, provide them with humanitarian assistance as well, so that if and when that negotiating table develops, they in the strongest position possible.

But no one here intends to signal to the Ukrainians that they want to do X or they want to do Y. Ultimately, these are decisions they will have to make. President Zelenskyy made it clear at a very high level consistently and repeatedly that Ukraine is ready to engage in dialogue, in diplomacy. Unfortunately, the Russians have yet to meet and have matched that sentiment with actions that show the same on their part.

QUESTION: So there is no greater push for a diplomatic solution coming from US diplomats in this building at this time?

MR PRICE: We are supporting our Ukrainian partners precisely what they need right now. And what they need right now is security assistance to defend their country. It is economic aid that remains economically viable to provide services to their people, and it is humanitarian aid for the Ukrainian people who were so brutalized by this war. All of this has a short-term impact, but all of this will also have a long-term impact, because if and when a negotiating table develops, all those elements will strengthen Ukraine’s hand at the negotiating table.

QUESTION: Just back to – just back to the detained Americans. The Saudis – the woman in Saudi Arabia, the American woman, Carly Morris, who we talked about on Monday, now seems to have been released. Are you aware of this? But it also seems, she was stopped from leaving the country. Do you have anything on this?

MR PRICE: We are aware of reports that Ms Morris has been released after a brief detention by the Saudi authorities. We take our role in helping US citizens around the world, including in Saudi Arabia, very seriously. We are continuing – our embassy in Riyadh continues to follow the situation closely and provide all the appropriate assistance we can.

QUESTION: You – is it correct, however, that she is not allowed to leave?

MR PRICE: I am not in a position to confirm those reports, but the embassy continues to follow up and support as they can.

QUESTION: Just a follow up on this. I guess my question is: Why is Saudi Arabia not assigned the “D” risk travel indicator for wrongful detentions because of cases like this of US citizens reported under a travel ban or in jail on what appear to be charges related to free speech?

MR PRICE: So the “D” indicator is a travel indicator that we issued a number of weeks ago now to make American citizens aware of the risks they may face of wrongful detention if they choose to travel to certain countries. The “D” indicator applies to the usual suspects where Americans are unjustly detained, where they are held as political pawns for political leverage.

To your question, the indicator “D” applies to countries where the nationality of the United States was and has been in play in the detention of any particular individual. So to put a little more meat on the bones, if an American is detained in a particular country but we have no reason to believe that that person’s American nationality or citizenship in some cases was directly linked to that detention, the “D” indicator may not apply to a particular country.

Anything else on Russia-Ukraine?

MR PRICE: Let me try to move on because you had a question.

MR PRICE: I don’t have unlimited time today, unfortunately.

QUESTION: Yes, after the theme of the negotiations, that’s why the President said yesterday that he still needs to see if Ukraine is ready to compromise with Russia. And you – of course, you say it’s Ukraine you choose if you do that. But so – but are you committed to continuing to support Ukraine even if you decide not to enter into talks? And you say that you are ready to support Ukraine how – what – how – as long as it takes, but what does this mean in practice?

And secondly, President Biden also said yesterday that the United States refused to provide longer range systems to Ukraine because it does not want Ukraine to hit Russian territory. But given the track record so far, is it something to really worry about? Because I don’t know of any such strikes, even though Ukraine has the ability to do it. And if Iran is supplying Russia with long-range systems, why shouldn’t the United States?

MR PRICE: So a few things to your questions. First, we are committed to Ukraine for as long as it takes. We want and the Ukrainian Government wants to see a Ukraine that is independent, that is sovereign, that is prosperous, that is free, with the capacity to defend itself from this type of aggression in the future.

In the first instance, that will be protected and defended with security assistance – security assistance which is complemented by economic assistance, which is complemented by humanitarian assistance. But in the end, a Ukraine that is independent, sovereign, prosperous, democratic, with the ability to defend itself – that will have to be something that in the longer term, as President Zelenskyy said, is sought after and obtained at the negotiation table. . President Zelenskyy knows this. The Ukrainian Government knows this. So we are providing these elements to our Ukrainian partners now in the near term to fight and repel this Russian aggression, but, as I said a moment ago, in the end, we strengthen the hands of -Ukraine at the negotiating table so they can be in the strongest possible position.

When it comes to the types of systems that we’ve given to Ukraine, every step of the way we’ve provided our Ukrainian partners with the systems and the weapons and the resources that they need for the battle that they’re facing right now. So you’ve heard us say this before, but in the early days of the war, we provided our Ukrainian partners with what they needed for what was then the Battle of Kyiv – anti-aircraft systems, anti-t -tank, anti-armor, small arms. As the battle moved south and east, we provided artillery, we provided anti-aircraft systems, we provided anti-ship systems, we provided our Ukrainian partners with what they needed to take that particular battle.

Just today, I heard Jake Sullivan announce several hundred million dollars more in security aid. This is the kind of assistance the Ukrainians need now as they take their counteroffensive and as they are effective in that counteroffensive. So that’s what we’re going to – that’s the approach that we’re going to continue to take.

QUESTION: Thank you. I have two questions –

QUESTION: — Russia one and one —

MR PRICE: I need to walk a bit.

QUESTION: One Russia and one North Korea. It is reported that Russian military uniforms made in North Korea are being exported in large quantities. Do you think this is a violation of sanctions or do you have something about it?

MR PRICE: I could not speak specifically to the potential export or transfer of military uniforms which are –

MR PRICE: — manufactured in the DPRK, but what we said is that Russia sought security assistance from the DPRK. They discussed the possibility of providing a significant amount of artillery – millions of artillery rounds – and that the DPRK is seeking to provide this to Russia, and hide those supplies through third countries. So that, of course, would be a violation of the sanctions that are in place. If the export of military fatigues violates the sanctions, that’s it – I can’t confirm that.

QUESTION: So one more on North Korea. North Korea has spent a lot of money on a series of missile launches. This is the cost of food for the people of North Korea for several years. What measures is the United States taking regarding the financial resources for North Korea to develop missiles and WMD, weapons of mass destruction?

MR PRICE: So a couple of points – a couple of points. The premise of your question is absolutely correct. At every step, the DPRK regime has prioritized its own interests over the interests of its people. This includes through the development of its WMD programs. This includes through – by engaging in other illicit activities around the world. This obviously had consequences for the DPRK regime. Unfortunately, it – also led to consequences for the people of North Korea.

Around the world, even when we have differences with a particular government or a particular regime, even when we have deep differences with a particular regime – and this obviously applies in the case of North Korea – we always look for ways to support the humanitarian needs of a particular people. Therefore, with our DPRK sanctions regime, likewise, there are appropriate humanitarian provisions to see that the robust international and US sanctions that are in place against North Korea do not lead to unnecessary suffering on the part of the people of North Korea.

Ultimately, however, it must be the DPRK regime that changes course to put the interests of its people first and stop the provocations that have only led to more pressure, and finally ultimately to further isolation on the part of the DPRK.

QUESTION: Ned, Syria is one of the countries that Russia –

QUESTION: — use to transfer weapons from North Korea?

MR PRICE: I’m just not in a position to confirm the – those countries.

QUESTION: Ned, I want to go back to something I said when I answered Humeyra’s question about Special Envoy Rob Malley’s plans. You said that the United States is trying to show its support for women and girls who are taking to the streets to call for reform. Is that what the United States is seeing now from Iran when people are burning the flag of the Islamic Republic and the pictures of the supreme leader?

MR PRICE: Again, we are not going to characterize what the people of Iran are asking for. One of the strengths of this movement is the fact that this movement is organic; it is in many ways leaderless; it is the product of the passion and legitimate aspirations of the Iranian people for a better life. Ultimately, this is what they are asking for: a better life. We are doing what we can to support them – first of all by holding the regime accountable, but also by providing them certain tools or certain authorities that they can use to express what they are asking for, to have their voices heard, to communicate with each other inside Iran and ultimately, to connect with the rest of the world.

QUESTION: About two weeks ago the White House said that the Biden administration believes that Russia is – it can help Iran to suppress the protesters. Can you give us some details based on what made this comment? Are you seeing device transfer images?

MR PRICE: Unfortunately, there is nothing more I can give. In some cases we are able to provide additional details, including how we did with arms transfers. In this case it was the wider point that there are indications that this knowledge can be shared.

In the end, the fact is that these two countries unfortunately have good experience when it comes to repression. Both have shown their effectiveness when it comes to their ability to suppress their people, to suppress the legitimate aspirations of their people, and to suppress their people’s ability, in some cases, to exercise peacefully rights that are as universal to them as they are to people around the world.

So we saw – our concern is that they will share this knowledge and that they will try to optimize those practices.

QUESTION: Well, don’t you think you talk about the evidence that the administration may have seen helping the people who demonstrate and others to – I don’t know, somehow help them one way or another? Because US policy in general towards sanctions, for example, is naming and cursing to effect a change in behavior. Now, if you were to open up the ways – the basis of this comment, wouldn’t that also be just one way to say, hey, here’s a proof?

MR PRICE: In some cases we are able to do that. In many cases we are not only given the nature of the information. We seek to be transparent. We seek to provide as much color and detail as we can. But in this case I just can’t go any further. But I will add that we are not only making a name and shaming that we are doing in this case. We are talking about repression, but we are also providing through action the issuance of the D-2 General License which follows a general license issued in 2014 that allows the people of Iran to access certain tools, hardware, and software which they can use to communicate with each other and the rest of the world so that the world can hear their voices and their fellow citizens can hear their voices.

QUESTION: Ned, I’m sorry, I have a question about Iran – an IAEA question about Iran. But first, when you talk about the aspirations of the Iranian people and you don’t want to speak for them, well, I want to say, I spoke to the aspirations of others – of people in other countries who are protesting repressive authoritarian regimes. In Burma, you called – you said you support aspirations for a return to democracy. Presumably, you think the Palestinians aspire to a state. Why can’t you say what you think Iranians aspire to? Don’t you think there is a common aspiration?

MR PREZZ: This goes back to the point I was making a moment ago to Gitte. One of the strengths of this movement is that it is organic. It is – to the extent that it is organized, it is only loosely organized.

QUESTION: Okay. So you – okay. But – so you’re saying you’re not –

MR PRICE: There is not one individual or one movement that is driving this.

QUESTION: No, I know there isn’t. Okay, that’s fair. But you’re saying you can’t – don’t you know what they aspire to?

MR PRICE: We will let them talk about what those aspirations are.

QUESTION: Everything is fine. Can I just ask you about the IAEA report?

QUESTION: And the — and without going into a whole thing, which I suspect you will, about how horrible it was that the previous administration withdrew from it and this is all the fault of that, the IAEA found that the Iranians increased their stockpiles of highly enriched uranium. What do you say about this?

MR PRICE: So there is not much I can say, Matt, because we are not in a position to comment on the details of a report that has yet to be made public. But we are familiar with this court – report. We have been clear that we support the independence of the IAEA, and address concerns that there has been no progress in clarifying and resolving the issue of Iran’s outstanding safeguards – issues. Iran needs to answer the IAEA’s questions, in accordance with its legal obligations under the NPT and its comprehensive safeguards agreement.

What we saw instead is just more foot-dragging from Iran. We urge Iran to cooperate fully with the IAEA safeguards investigations so that the agency is confident that all nuclear material in Iran is under those safeguards.

QUESTION: Well, what about the increase in the holding of highly enriched stocks –

MR PRICE: So again, I’m not in a position to comment on any particular findings. But what we’ve talked about for a while now is the ability, the ability that Iran has – not to fall into the trap that you set for me – but the ability that Iran has had since –

QUESTION: I would never, ever set a trap for you.

MR PRICE: — from May 2018 to make advances in his nuclear program that were previously prohibited under the JCPOA. It is, of course, of concern to us the way in which Iran has advanced its nuclear program. It is, of course, of concern to us the way Iran has become emboldened when it comes to its support for regional proxies, for terrorist groups, for other malignant actors. It is, of course, of concern to us the way Iran continues to repress its people and now continues to brutally repress the protesters who have been out in the streets marching peacefully, most of them women and girls, they pray and seek their aspirations.

QUESTION: Yes, they are looking – looking for their aspirations. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: On this issue – on this issue –

QUESTION: Reuters is reporting that –

MR PRICE: I will (inaudible).

QUESTION: Reuters is reporting European diplomats saying the US and the E3 are considering presenting a resolution at the IAEA Board of Governors next week. Can you confirm?

MR PRICE: We – as you know, we do not predict our actions in the upcoming meetings of the Board of Governors. These are decisions and discussions that we will have with our European partners. We will consult closely with the IAEA. We will consult closely with the director general and all our partners in that forum.

QUESTION: I wanted to ask about this statement that came out on Tuesday about a former State Department contractor employee who was just convicted of sexually assaulting and drugging a woman. During the federal investigation, he admitted that he did the same to 17 other people, I think, from 2002 to 2016. Your – in the statement you say that you are following the – the case has been submitted to the OIG. But you know – were there complaints against this man during the time he was employed with the State Department contractor?

MR PRICE: Abbie, I am simply not in a position to offer any additional detail beyond what is in the statement. But as you noted, we referred the case to the OIG. We believe that the OIG is the relevant and appropriate institution to look into this, so this is ongoing.

QUESTION: Russia-Iran, one question. We have to cover this. Russia’s security chief is in Iran today. Is there any concern on your part that, first, it will continue to embolden Iran at home — back to an earlier question? Secondly, in the region, you have urged regional countries before to be concerned about Russian-Iranian cooperation. And third, in Ukraine, so do you have concerns that they actually go beyond the provision of drones and missiles in Ukraine? Thank you.

MR PRICE: All of this is concerning, Alex. All this is of concern in the context of the partnership – in some ways the growing partnership – that we have seen develop in recent years and in different ways in recent months between Iran and Russia. This is a growing alliance that the whole world should consider a deep threat. Naturally, the people of Ukraine recognize this as a deep threat. They are the ones who are facing this threat in very real terms every day. But this is a relationship that has implications, it can have implications beyond any one country.

And that is why we are working with the international community, including in the United Nations, to address the threats that are posed by Russia and Iran separately and the cooperation, the bilateral cooperation that we have seen between the two of them , including Iran’s dangerous proliferation of weapons systems to Russia. We will continue to vigorously enforce all US sanctions on both the Russian and Iranian arms trade. We will make it more difficult for Iran to sell these weapons to Russia. And we will stand with our partners throughout the region against the threat they face from Iran. As I said earlier, when it comes to Ukraine, we will also continue to provide Ukraine with the security assistance, including the air-to-air systems, that it needs to deal with the threat it faces from some of these weapons are made by the Iranians. .

QUESTION: There is also increasing rhetoric from Iran to neighboring countries such as Azerbaijan. They – are threatening lately; they also gathered a statement accusing Azerbaijan of carrying out an act of terror in the territory of Iran. Will the United States be able to stand up and protect those neighboring countries in case Iran continues its rhetoric against them?

MR PRICE: We have important bilateral relations with all these countries. You mentioned Armenia. Of course, the Secretary only had the opportunity to see his Armenian counterpart before –

MR PRICE: You mentioned Azerbaijan. He had the opportunity to see his Azerbaijani counterpart earlier this week. We have been very clear that Iran represents a threat to the region. We will continue to stand with our partners, support them, and ultimately stand against the kind of destabilizing influence that Iran presents and – in its region and perhaps beyond.

QUESTION: And also about the protests, I know you asked it before, I just want to put it on the record: Is there any reason why the United States is not sanctioning the Iranian supreme leader for human rights violations?

MR PRICE: We are looking at all the appropriate tools. The Iranian regime is heavily sanctioned, to say the least. There are sanctions for the full range of their evil activities, from their nuclear program to their ballistic missile program to their support for terrorism, support for proxies, for their cyber activities, and, yes, for the our deep concern when it comes to the man of Iran. record of rights.

QUESTION: Oh, right, I forgot. Yes, no, I go back to the question I have raised with you many times.

MR PRICE: Well, it’s good to see everyone. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Theng Seary in Cambodia – is there any change in this? You can say – and I realize that you cannot speak for the President, but the Secretary will also be in Phnom Penh. Will this case be raised?

MR PRICE: Matt, we raised this case very clearly in our interactions at senior level, as we talked about it even this week. Secretary Blinken raised it directly with Hun Sen when we were in Phnom Penh —

MR PRICE: As we discussed this week, yes.

MR PRICE: Yes, as we discussed this week, Secretary Blinken raised it very directly with Hun Sen when we were in Cambodia in August.

MR PRICE: We have been clear in our public messages that it should be released. This is a case that has the highest priority, and I expect that human rights, including the systemic challenges when it comes to Cambodia and specific cases, will be raised in the context of this visit –

QUESTION: Okay. So this means, in general, that even if a case has not been referred to SPEHA as wrongful detention that is still – but you still think, for whatever reason – and I’m still not sure I understand the difference between wrongful and wrongful detention – are unjust detentions as big a priority as those dealt with by SPEHA?

MR PRICE: The welfare, well-being, safety and security of American citizens around the world is our highest priority, regardless of how someone is classified in our system.

QUESTION: Well, I understand, but it doesn’t seem to make sense, because you –

MR PRICE: Now, it is true that in some cases we are calling for the release of an individual when we believe that he is being held unjustly, when he is being held unjustly. In this case – in the case of Seng Theary – we were very clear that she should be released. She is being wrongfully detained and we are prioritizing this case as we do the cases of all detained American citizens.

(The briefing was concluded at 3:01 p.m.)

What issues does the State Department deal with?

• The Secretary of State. Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
• Deputy Secretaries of State. Office of Cyberspace and Digital Policy.
• Arms Control and International Security.
• Civil Security, Democracy, and Human Rights. …
• Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment. …
• Management.
• Political Affairs.
• Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.

What are three main responsibilities of the State Department? In the United States, approximately 5,000 professional, technical, and administrative employees work to collect and analyze foreign reports, provide logistical support to locations, communicate with the American public, formulate and oversee the budget, issue passports and travel warnings, and more.

What is the focus of the State Department?

The United States Department of State is responsible for handling the foreign affairs of the United States government. The Department of State, originally known as the Department of Foreign Affairs when it was created in 1789, is the oldest of the cabinet-level agencies in the Executive Branch.

To see also :

The United States of America: terrorist attack in Mogadishu

The United States strongly condemns the Al-Shabaab attack on the Hayat hotel…

How do I write a letter to the department?

If you are addressing the letter to a department rather than an individual, the address on the envelope should include: The name of the company. Read also : YMCA presents the new Whole Health Coordinator | News, Sport, Work. The abbreviation "Attn" followed by a colon the name of the department (ie, "Attn: Tim Kreattiv") The postal address of the company.

How do you start a letter? You should always use the greeting “Dear†to begin personal letters. Follow âDearâ with your recipient’s name and a comma. Consider how you usually address your recipient when you speak to him or her. For example, you can address your recipient as, “Dear Stephanie,†“Dear Grandma,†or “Dear Sir.

On the same subject :

In China, science-based approaches to the virus are being sidelined

Beijing (CNN) China’s Covid strategy was ahead of the curve at the…

How do you address a US Department of State in a letter?

Use the salutation synonymous with the title for the Department of State and other high-ranking government officials, such as Dear Mr. See the article : Taiwan and the US will hold secret trade talks next week. President; Dear Mr. Secretary; or Dear Madam Ambassador, etc. e.

How do you address an elected official? If you are writing to an elected official, show respect for the position by using the position title, and the official’s full name. In any other letter, use the familiar term “Dear,” the title Mr., Mrs., Ms., Mrs., or Dr., and the official’s full name.

How do you address the president of the United States in a letter?

Begin your letter: â Dear Mr./Madam President.â This is the polite and expected greeting with which all written addresses to the president should begin. To see also : Meet the Gamers: Why Queer Representation Is Exploding in Video Games. Do not use the president’s name in your correspondence. Continue to refer to them as Mr. or Mrs. President.

Who is the head of the Department of State?

Antony J. Blinken was sworn in as the 71st Secretary of State of the United States on January 26, 2021. The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, he is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser.

How do you speak in a press conference?

Remember to make eye contact with the audience, maintain good posture and use positive facial expressions. SECTION: Speak slowly, and enunciate your words. A natural inflection in your voice communicates sincerity to your audience. Read your notes out loud, then video yourself giving the presentation.