Daily Press Briefing
Elizabeth Trudeau
Director, Press Office
Daily Press Briefing
Washington, DC
April 1, 2016
Index for Today's Briefing
THE NETHERLANDS/UKRAINE
SUDAN
SECRETARY'S TRAVEL
RUSSIA/SYRIA
DEPARTMENT
MIDDLE EAST PEACE
TURKEY
DEPARTMENT
THE NETHERLANDS/UKRAINE
JAPAN
IRAQ/SYRIA/ISIL
THE NETHERLANDS/UKRAINE
DEPARTMENT
TRANSCRIPT:
2:30 p.m. EDT
MS TRUDEAU: Hello, all. Welcome to the State Department. My apologies for the delay. We had a little technical issue. My goal is to get you guys out as soon as we can to enjoy a beautiful Washington spring day.
So I have a few things at the top. First, on the April 6th referendum in the Netherlands on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. We believe the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement is critical to ensuring that Ukraine's leaders continue to make the needed and important reforms that will contribute to a more peaceful democratic, prosperous, and stable continent. It will provide new economic opportunities for the Netherlands, for Ukraine, and for Europe as a whole. With its population of 46 million, a Ukraine that is bound by the rules of an association agreement is poised to become a key European trading partner. The United States and the Netherlands have worked together closely to support the people of Ukraine as they resolutely forge a more democratic and a more just society inspired by Western values.
Next, on Sudan. As many of you may know, Sudan has one of the highest rates of malnutrition in the world. To help address the complex emergency arising from conflict and widespread displacement in Sudan, USAID announced today that it's providing nearly 68 million in emergency food assistance. The World Food Program will deliver the assistance to help 2.5 million Sudanese, as well as refugees from South Sudan and neighboring states. Since 2011, USAID has provided over 1 billion in food and nutrition assistance in Sudan.
Finally, a travel note. I think you saw the statement that came out about an hour ago. Secretary Kerry will travel next week to Manama, Bahrain, as well Hiroshima, Japan. From 6 to 8 April, the Secretary will hold bilateral meetings with senior Bahraini officials and will participate in a ministerial meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council, where he'll discuss a range of regional issues. Later in the week, he'll participate in the G7 ministerial in Hiroshima.
And with that, Mr. Lee.
QUESTION: Well, it being April Fools' Day and all, I don't actually have anything except for a couple of follow-ups, so I'll pass.
MS TRUDEAU: Okay. Great.
QUESTION: Can we – there are reports that the Secretary spoke to Foreign Minister Lavrov. Is that correct? Did they speak? When? And can you give us a readout?
MS TRUDEAU: Thank you, Arshad. I actually saw the Russians had released a brief statement on this. This is one of a series of conversations that the Secretary has had with the foreign minister particularly looking at the cessation of hostilities. So not a lot of detail to add, but I appreciate the question.
QUESTION: Cessation of hostilities in Syria?
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.
QUESTION: And that was today?
MS TRUDEAU: That was today.
QUESTION: And did you see there was a report out earlier in the week in Al-Hayat suggesting that – or saying that the United States and Russia had reached an agreement on Assad's eventual departure to a third country and that Secretary Kerry had begun briefing Arab officials about that? Is there any truth to that report, and did that issue of Assad's future come up in today's talks?
MS TRUDEAU: Okay. The report is absolutely false. The UN continues to lead negotiations on a political transition between the Syrian parties, which will resume in mid-April. So I appreciate the question. I can't speak to if it came up today. I don't have that level of granularity.
QUESTION: On this very issue --
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah. Hi, Said.
QUESTION: -- on this very issue – hi there. On this very issue, the day before yesterday I think it was you guys restated your position on Assad. So that – those two positions are independent of one another. The fact that you --
MS TRUDEAU: Our position on Assad has not changed.
QUESTION: No, no, I'm saying your position on Assad --
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.
QUESTION: -- is that he should have no part of Syria in the future, right, I think?
MS TRUDEAU: Sure.
QUESTION: Now suppose – suppose --
MS TRUDEAU: Are you asking me a hypothetical?
QUESTION: Not a – well, I mean it's --
MS TRUDEAU: It's early in the brief to go to the hypotheticals.
QUESTION: I tell you what, when we say "suppose," it is a hypothetical, but it looks more real because that's the news that is coming out of Damascus, that Mr. Assad is intent on running for elections. Now suppose he is chosen in a transparent election by the Syrian people, because you keep saying this should be left up to the Syrian people to determine. Suppose he's elected by the Syrians. Would you consider that to be null and void, much like they did with Hamas, let's say, in Gaza?
MS TRUDEAU: So, one, hypothetical. And I appreciate you giving me the out on that. Two, let me speak to that, okay? Our position on Assad has not changed. Assad must be transitioned out. The decisions for how that will take place must be decided in the context of the UN political negotiations that will begin in mid-April. It's important to remember all ISSG members support the transition as called for in the Geneva communique of 2012. And that document states very clearly there must be a transitional governing body, formed by mutual consent, with full executive powers.
So Justin, I know.
QUESTION: No, I was a different subject.
MS TRUDEAU: Oh, I'm sorry, are we staying on Syria, Samir?
QUESTION: On – yes, Syria/Russia.
MS TRUDEAU: Of course.
QUESTION: Do you have a readout about the talks Under Secretary Shannon had in Moscow the last two days?
MS TRUDEAU: I do. Thank you. So Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon traveled to Moscow March 28th through 31st for meetings with senior Russian officials to follow up on Secretary Kerry's meetings March 23rd and 25th. His conversations focused on the latest developments in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as JCPOA implementation and bilateral issues. He also met with members of Russian civil society, participated in events with our community at Embassy Moscow.
QUESTION: Could I just --
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, of course.
QUESTION: A quick follow-up on Syria.
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.
QUESTION: There's a Dutch study that showed most of foreign fighters from Europe come from France and from England, which they make their way back to Europe and possibly do some harm, as we've seen in Brussels and so on. Do you have any comment on that?
MS TRUDEAU: So I haven't seen that report. I can't speak to it specifically. We've talked a lot about foreign fighters here from this podium as well as from our colleagues at the Defense Department, as well as our friends and partners and allies in Europe. Foreign fighters are a threat that we all face, and this is something the international community continues to seek to address. As you remember, this is one of the tenets of taking the fight against ISIL. So it's something we're aware of, but I can't speak to that report. I'm sorry, Said.
QUESTION: Any new figures on, let's say, the number of Americans that might be fighting with ISIS?
MS TRUDEAU: I don't have that. We can look into it. I'm not sure if it's included in that report. But why don't I take a look at the report. And if I have anything we'll get back to you.
Justin.
QUESTION: On a different subject.
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.
QUESTION: Clinton's emails. Do you guys have an update on the internal review the State Department is conducting into the 22 top secret emails and whether they should have been classified at the time, whether or not they were mishandled?
MS TRUDEAU: I do. It's a procedural update, but it is an update. As you know, in late January, the State Department announced that we intended to conduct an internal review to examine questions of classification at the time emails from former Secretary Clinton's collection were sent. In doing so, we contacted the FBI to solicit a judgment from them as to the best path forward. The FBI communicated to us that we should follow our standard practice, which is to put our internal review on hold while there is an ongoing law enforcement investigation underway. Of course, we do not want our internal review to complicate or impede the progress of their ongoing law enforcement investigation. Therefore, the State Department, at this time, is not moving forward with our internal review. The internal review is on hold, pending completion of the FBI's work. We'll reassess next steps after the FBI's work is complete.
QUESTION: Do you expect to help inform the FBI's investigation in any way in determining if those emails, specifically 22, ought to have been marked classified at the time? Do you expect to inform --
MS TRUDEAU: So we're coordinating with the FBI on this. I'm not going to share any additional details at this time. This is a law enforcement matter.
Okay.
QUESTION: Sorry, I'm not sure I understand.
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.
QUESTION: These two – well, I don't --
MS TRUDEAU: Review and investigation.
QUESTION: Right. I don't understand how they contradict each other. Why?
MS TRUDEAU: So it's basically – it's – like I said, it's a procedural matter. So while the ongoing law enforcement investigation is taking place, our internal review is on hold pending the completion of that.
QUESTION: Why?
MS TRUDEAU: Because we don't want to complicate the law enforcement investigation. That takes priority.
QUESTION: Are the same people doing the review as are doing the investigation?
MS TRUDEAU: I understand that it's our standard procedure. In cases like this, if there's an ongoing law enforcement investigation we pause. So we communicated with the FBI in this matter.
QUESTION: Well, let's just take, for example, something else. Like there was an ongoing investigation into what happened in Benghazi, and yet there was also a internal State Department review going on at the same time to see – I didn't see that – the review wasn't stopped then.
MS TRUDEAU: I can't speak to that. I can speak to the decision that was taken here.
QUESTION: Well, you can say what the decision was, but I don't understand why it is that you would --
MS TRUDEAU: So what --
QUESTION: I don't understand why it is that you would say that your internal review would somehow complicate an FBI investigation. And I don't understand why the FBI would say that either. It doesn't sound right.
MS TRUDEAU: So what we're saying is that the law enforcement investigation will continue. We don't want our own internal review to impede or complicate the progress.
QUESTION: Yeah, how --
QUESTION: (Off-mike.)
QUESTION: How exactly --
MS TRUDEAU: I'm not going to speak to that.
QUESTION: How exactly would it or could it impede or complicate --
MS TRUDEAU: I'm not going to speak to the details on that, Matt. I can't.
QUESTION: Well, if you can't say how it is, then why should – I mean --
MS TRUDEAU: It's a procedural matter. This is why – so the law enforcement investigation will continue.
QUESTION: I get it's a procedural matter, but that doesn't mean you don't – it doesn't have to be explained.
MS TRUDEAU: So my understanding is that the law enforcement investigation, run by the FBI, is continuing. Ours is on pause. It is on hold until that happens.
QUESTION: Yeah, I understand that's the – yes, that is the fact of what you've just said.
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.
QUESTION: What I'm trying to get at is why it is that – or how it is possible that an internal State Department review of what happened with those 22 emails could possibly complicate or impede a review being done by an entirely different agency at a --
MS TRUDEAU: I think it's prudence. It is the idea that there is an ongoing law enforcement investigation.
QUESTION: But --
MS TRUDEAU: As we do our internal review, we do not want to get into the complications that a law enforcement investigation, as it continues, the ramifications of that. Ours is --
QUESTION: Well, I don't understand how an internal State Department review could possibly complicate the – I don't get it. I don't. How could an internal State Department review complicate an FBI investigation?
MS TRUDEAU: Well, clearly, we believe that it's best that it's on hold.
QUESTION: Yeah, to – you believe that it's best on hold, yeah. But I don't – but I --
MS TRUDEAU: We believe – it's our standard process, is that this is what we do. That while it's happening – do you have more questions?
QUESTION: Is it (inaudible)?
QUESTION: Well, I just – yeah, I mean, your – the answer is far from satisfactory, I think. Go ahead, Arshad.
QUESTION: Should the fact that you have decided to pause your review so as not to impede the FBI's investigation be taken as a sign that the Administration thinks that the laws may have been broken here?
MS TRUDEAU: I wouldn't read anything into it. It's my understanding – and I know this makes Matt unhappy – that this is a procedural matter.
QUESTION: So the reason I'm asking this is --
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.
QUESTION: -- I mean, I think clearly somebody thinks that there may have been laws broken here, because the FBI's investigating it. Now, that doesn't mean that laws were broken; it just means the FBI is trying to figure out if laws have been broken. And therefore, it seems to me to stand to reason that you're backing off on this to let --
MS TRUDEAU: Pausing.
QUESTION: -- the investigation into whether laws were or were not broken proceed. Correct?
MS TRUDEAU: I can speak to process on this one. I can't speak to the details, what the overlap is. What I can say is that our standard procedure in this case is that law enforcement comes first.
QUESTION: So once the law enforcement investigation is over, your internal review will start again?
MS TRUDEAU: So after the law enforcement investigation ends, we'll reassess. I'm not going to prejudge any outcomes on that. And the department will take appropriate action to take a look at where we move forward on it.
QUESTION: And so how long have – this review began when, the State Department's internal review?
MS TRUDEAU: So it's my – it's – we reached out to the FBI in February. I think Kirby spoke about this from the podium in January. So the work that had begun was largely administrative, talking about planning.
QUESTION: When did the – and when did the FBI investigation begin?
MS TRUDEAU: You know I can't speak to that. I'd refer you to the FBI on that.
QUESTION: Was it before January?
MS TRUDEAU: I actually don't know.
QUESTION: Is there a fear that the findings of the internal review could contradict those of an FBI review --
MS TRUDEAU: I won't --
QUESTION: -- and therefore create a problem?
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, I'm not going to speak to that. But we are prioritizing the law enforcement investigation.
QUESTION: When did the FBI ask you not to proceed with your review?
MS TRUDEAU: So we reached out to them in late February. They came back to us in March.
QUESTION: When in March?
MS TRUDEAU: I don't have that specific date.
QUESTION: Was it yesterday, or was it, like --
MS TRUDEAU: I – to be honest, I don't have that granularity.
QUESTION: Can you ask?
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, I will.
QUESTION: Can I change topics?
MS TRUDEAU: Of course.
QUESTION: No, no, wait.
MS TRUDEAU: Wait, hold on one second.
QUESTION: It was – who was it again that was doing this internal review?
MS TRUDEAU: It was the bureaus of Diplomatic Security and INR.
QUESTION: Now does this also mean that the – is this the only review? The IG has still got a review going on, and in terms of just broader practices --
MS TRUDEAU: We – the Secretary --
QUESTION: -- and the – that has not stopped?
MS TRUDEAU: It's my understanding that continues at the direction --
QUESTION: Why would that continue if this --
MS TRUDEAU: The IG is an independent organization. Remember they have their own process, their own mandate.
QUESTION: So – okay. But you can say that it hasn't been affected?
MS TRUDEAU: To my knowledge, as of right now, it continues.
Said.
QUESTION: Can we go to the Palestinian-Israeli issue?
MS TRUDEAU: Of course.
QUESTION: I have just a quick follow-up on a couple questions that I asked on Wednesday regarding the anti-BDS conference that took place. And you – I think the State Department confirmed that Ambassador Dan Shapiro was there in that --
MS TRUDEAU: He did attend.
QUESTION: Yeah. I wondered if you had time to look at what – the speeches that took place and the statements made by Minister Katz, whether that can be considered as incitement, especially in this atmosphere of heightened tensions and so on. And --
MS TRUDEAU: We have seen the comments. We're going to refer you to Minister Katz on that.
QUESTION: Right.
MS TRUDEAU: We understand that there are several divergent translations of the Hebrew that could happen. I can't read it in the original format, so I'm trusting my experts.
QUESTION: But I imagine that you have your own interpretation.
MS TRUDEAU: I'm going to refer you to the minister --
QUESTION: And Ambassador Shapiro --
MS TRUDEAU: -- to speak to that. As you know, Ambassador Shapiro attends many events in his professional role.
QUESTION: In the event that Minister Katz said what he said about targeting and eliminating the leaders of the BDS – which is really a peaceful – it's not an armed kind of resistance or group – would that be a disturbing thing? Would that be considered by U.S. --
MS TRUDEAU: I'd ask you to talk to Minister Katz about what he specifically meant on that one.
QUESTION: But to you, I mean, you consider statements made by --
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, Said, I can't read into it --
QUESTION: Okay.
MS TRUDEAU: -- because we understand that there's – even in Israeli press, there's very different interpretations of what he said.
QUESTION: Right. If you would indulge me for a minute --
MS TRUDEAU: Of course.
QUESTION: -- because, I mean, there are statements that are made by the Palestinian leaders, for instance, that are deemed inciteful. Would this be – in the event that this is exactly what he said, would that be deemed inciteful?
MS TRUDEAU: I can't speak, again, to exactly what he said. We understand there's a lot of different interpretations. I'd refer you to him to clarify that. But again, as we do almost every day from up here, we do call on all parties to reduce the rhetoric.
QUESTION: Okay. Also, a Palestinian rights group has put a report together showing that Israel has committed, or Israeli soldiers have committed, war crimes and they want to submit it to the ICC. Would that be something that the United States would look at, and sort of neutrally, or would support it, or would oppose that?
MS TRUDEAU: So we have seen those reports. I'm going to refer you to the group for more information. That said, our position is well known. As you know, we oppose actions against Israel at the ICC as counterproductive to the cause of peace. Also, we have made clear during the 2014 conflict in Gaza we support Israel's right to self-defense, but we have expressed deep concern for the welfare of civilians. We urge all parties to do what they can to protect civilians, especially considering the very high civilian death toll in Gaza.
QUESTION: So let me ask you something. If the Palestinians are not allowed to defend themselves, they're not allowed to go to the ICC, they're not allowed to even form boycotts and so on, how should they resist the occupation, in your view?
MS TRUDEAU: We've been very clear what we think the future is. We talk about this every day.
QUESTION: Okay.
MS TRUDEAU: Do you have another one?
QUESTION: One last question.
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.
QUESTION: I have a very last question. Bear with me. I appreciate your indulgence.
MS TRUDEAU: No, I'm happy to talk.
QUESTION: The Israeli occupation force has demolished a – like, a kindergarten --
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.
QUESTION: -- last week. I wonder if you have any comment on that.
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, we are concerned about the demolitions undertaken by Israeli authorities that continue throughout the West Bank and East Jerusalem. These actions are indicative of a damaging trend of demolition, displacement, and land confiscation, and alongside settlement-related activity and continued construction, undermine the possibility of a two-state solution. They also call into question the Israeli Government's commitment to that two-state solution.
QUESTION: Thank you.
QUESTION: I've got a really --
QUESTION: Washington?
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, I'm sorry. One sec.
QUESTION: Just a follow-up.
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.
QUESTION: The letter that Senator Leahy and the other lawmakers signed, have you guys responded to that? And even – if you have, what did you say? And if you – even if you haven't, can you explain what the process is for doing – how it is that the State Department does reviews of various militaries to determine if the laws --
MS TRUDEAU: So we do have the letter. I don't know if the response has actually been sent. We will respond, Matt, as appropriate. You're asking about how we do Leahy review?
QUESTION: Mm-hmm.
MS TRUDEAU: Okay. So Leahy is a huge, complicated process, as you can fully understand. Let me see if I --
QUESTION: I don't think he thinks that. I don't think he thinks it's very complicated.
MS TRUDEAU: Which one?
QUESTION: And he wrote it.
MS TRUDEAU: Senator Leahy? So --
QUESTION: It's pretty straightforward, isn't it?
MS TRUDEAU: So it's actually run by our Office of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, DRL. They have a team of Leahy vetters. We work with our partner – our embassies on the ground to take a look at those who are eligible for training. We vet those. It's a continual process as we look, and we stay in very close communication with Congress on this. I can get you more detail and the granularity on how each individual case is vetted, as well as if we've responded in fact to Senator Leahy's letter.
QUESTION: That team in DRL that does that, do you know how big it is?
MS TRUDEAU: I don't. I know that it's actually sizable and that it has increased, I believe, within the last two or three years.
QUESTION: And then just a quick follow-up on this.
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, yeah.
QUESTION: Yesterday the prime minister of Israel, Netanyahu, was quite critical of Senator Leahy, which – Senator Leahy said this is only fair to the American taxpayer. Do you have a position on this? You don't have --
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, I don't.
QUESTION: Okay.
MS TRUDEAU: I'll leave that comment.
QUESTION: Washington?
MS TRUDEAU: Turkey.
QUESTION: (Laughter.) Yes. First of all, have you seen yesterday footages went viral about the Turkish security officials --
MS TRUDEAU: I have.
QUESTION: -- or guards who were basically attacking protesters as well as journalists?
MS TRUDEAU: So we have seen reports of the confrontations between protesters and Turkish security personnel at the Brookings Institution yesterday. As we have stated many times, we respect the right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest. Violence against peaceful protesters is totally unacceptable.
QUESTION: So as I learned today, apparently it is the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service was also there.
MS TRUDEAU: It was actually Secret Service.
QUESTION: It was? I was told by there that it was --
MS TRUDEAU: No, it's Secret Service, so we would refer you there for specific details on that incident.
QUESTION: Okay. You talk about the freedom of expression. Another part of yesterday's story was at Brookings Institution. After President Erdogan spoke, moderator Ambassador Martin Indyk said that we are not going to take questions from the journalists, basically blocking a journalist's right to ask questions. Do you have any comment? Is this --
MS TRUDEAU: I'm going to refer you to Brookings as that was a private event.
QUESTION: Okay. This does not disturb you that a journalist's right has been blocked?
MS TRUDEAU: I'm not – I – if you're asking me about what happened at a press event at a private institution, I'm going to refer you to Brookings to speak to that. I'm not sure if they've put out a statement on that.
QUESTION: Final question: A lot of Turkish officials are here, and Monday, I believe, Foreign Minister Cavusoglu met with the Secretary Kerry. It has been over two and half years since the November 2013, last time Foreign Minister Davutoglu was here, that Turkish and American officials took questions. Is there a new policy that you are not going to take questions from the press?
MS TRUDEAU: No. Next.
QUESTION: How long this going to go? I mean, is there a limit if the Turkish --
MS TRUDEAU: No. I'll be honest – a lot of this, Ilhan, is really based on logistics. There is no policy that U.S. and Turkish officials will not take questions from the press. In fact, since I stand up here and my colleagues do, taking questions from Turkish journalists, I think that that question --
QUESTION: No, no, I am talking about the Turkish officials --
MS TRUDEAU: Officials – there is no policy.
QUESTION: -- and American officials.
MS TRUDEAU: There is no policy on them.
QUESTION: How do you decide? Was it --
MS TRUDEAU: A lot of it's timing, logistics, what happens, if we have multiple back-to-back bilats, if we have multiple meetings. It's a technical question, but there is absolutely no policy.
QUESTION: If this goes on another 20 years, should we just expect that this is technical questions?
MS TRUDEAU: You're asking me not only a hypothetical but what happens in the next 20 years. This is something – it's – we understand, and we fully support transparency. We stand up here every day – except yesterday – answering your questions on that. But no, there is no policy. Okay?
QUESTION: And we are really grateful; you have been very kind to answer all of our questions. The problem is about 80 million's right now that this is very unusual. We have been here for over how many years. Turkish officials always take questions, and now we are basically block from asking questions to both of you, Turks and the Americans together.
MS TRUDEAU: There is no policy. Okay?
Sir.
QUESTION: Yeah, thank you. I have a follow-up question on the Leahy letter.
MS TRUDEAU: Of course.
QUESTION: So, I mean, respectfully, one of the allegations in the Leahy letter happened three years ago. I mean, what is the timeline for the Secretary's response? And then secondly, is – am I – did I hear you correctly? It's State that is running the investigation of whether or not human rights or gross violations of human rights occurred?
MS TRUDEAU: Okay, so I believe Senator Leahy's letter was from February 17th.
QUESTION: Yes, but the allegation that it detailed happened --
MS TRUDEAU: So you're asking about a response to a letter that was sent February 17th? We'll get a response, and the Secretary, as a former senator himself, takes very seriously his obligations to maintain good relations with Congress. We will respond.
And I'm sorry, your second question?
QUESTION: The question was: It will be the State Department that will be running this investigation? Will there be an --
MS TRUDEAU: What investigation?
QUESTION: Well, I mean, how are you going to ascertain whether or not --
MS TRUDEAU: So one of the things that Leahy does in our Leahy vetting process is that we continually stay and we review as we go. It's a rolling process, and we stay in very close coordination with Congress on that. So we will respond to the senator's letter, and there were other signers.
QUESTION: So there is an investigative process that --
MS TRUDEAU: No there's not. There is an ongoing process. Senator Leahy wrote to the Secretary to raise his concerns and we will respond to that letter as appropriate. Okay.
QUESTION: Iraq? Iraq?
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.
QUESTION: On your statement on Ukraine --
MS TRUDEAU: Of course.
QUESTION: -- isn't this something that the people of the Netherlands should decide, and aren't you afraid to get too much involved in the whole process?
MS TRUDEAU: Like any referendum, the decision is for the Dutch people. At the same time, we believe an association agreement is in the best interests of Ukraine, the Netherlands, and Europe as a whole. We've been very transparent on that, but it is a question for the Dutch people.
QUESTION: Do you want Japan?
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.
QUESTION: So as you mentioned, Secretary Kerry will visit Hiroshima later this month.
MS TRUDEAU: Yes.
QUESTION: Could you share more on his visit outside of the G7 foreign ministerial meetings?
MS TRUDEAU: No, I can't. As soon as we have details on the schedule, we will share. That's what I have right now.
QUESTION: So he won't visit Peace Memorial Park?
MS TRUDEAU: I have no details to share on his schedule, but we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
QUESTION: Can you speak a little more to the significance of the visit?
MS TRUDEAU: So he is going for the G7, for the foreign ministerial. This is something that I think reflects our deep and abiding friendship with the people of Japan. I'm not going to get into sort of the details of his schedule because I just can't speak to that yet. Okay?
QUESTION: Iraq? Iraq?
MS TRUDEAU: Yes.
QUESTION: Thank you. In March, the U.S. targeted the Mosul University campus. Daesh has used the university's chemistry lab to make bombs. Two years ago, shortly after Daesh overran Mosul, Iraq told the UN that the terrorists seized nearly 40 kilograms – and that is 88 pounds – of uranium compounds that were kept at the Mosul University. Do you know if the nuclear materials seized by Daesh at the University of Mosul were affected by the recent U.S. strikes?
MS TRUDEAU: Okay, so we're aware of that report. I don't have details to share at this time. We've been concerned by ISIL's use of chemical weapons in both Syria and Iraq. We continue to work with partners to mitigate this threat. The Pentagon has spoken to this. The coalition has conducted targeted strikes against suspected ISIL chemical weapons facilities, including around Mosul. We'll continue to do that as targets are identified.
As we speak, though, to ISIL's responsibility, I think which is really sort of the more significant issue, we believe ISIL was responsible for the sulfur mustard attack in Marea, Syria on August 21st, 2015, largely based on photographic evidence and the Syrian opposition's description of that event. Based on available information, we also believe ISIL was likely responsible for some of the alleged attacks using sulfur mustard in Iraq. Any use by ISIL of chemical weapons is a continuation of its extensive record of gross violations of human rights as well as its blatant disregard for international law.
QUESTION: Just on the nuclear --
MS TRUDEAU: Of course.
QUESTION: Does the U.S. know if Daesh is in possession of nuclear materials?
MS TRUDEAU: I have no details.
QUESTION: Daesh has been using this Mosul University lab to make bombs for two years now, and as I understand, the U.S. began to target the labs this March. Do you know why not earlier?
MS TRUDEAU: I can't speak for that. For operational stuff, you know we'll send you across the river.
Sir, in the back.
QUESTION: It's about the Ukraine referendum.
MS TRUDEAU: Of course.
QUESTION: You've talked about the importance of the Ukraine agreement and the possibilities, the opportunities that it offers for all parties involved. What are your concerns when the people of one of the major participants, The Netherlands, in this agreement will vote against – what kind of signal do you feel that that will send to Europe, and, for that matter, maybe even Russia and the United States?
MS TRUDEAU: So we welcome you to the briefing. We would call that a hypothetical question. You are – you're asking me to forecast a vote that has not yet happened, which is April 6. As I said in our topper, we believe that this is the best for Europe as a whole. I'm not going to get ahead of the Dutch people's vote. As I said to your colleague, this is a decision for the Dutch people. However, we've made our views known.
QUESTION: You brought it up with a reason today. What do you feel are the dangers that there are of consequences?
MS TRUDEAU: Let's not get ahead of the vote, okay?
QUESTION: All right.
MS TRUDEAU: Ma'am.
QUESTION: What made you decide to speak out on the referendum, if I may request?
MS TRUDEAU: We think that this referendum is important for the people of Ukraine as well as Europe as a whole. The Netherlands has been very supportive of Ukraine as they continue their process to build on reforms, to build on a basis of Western values.
And one last.
QUESTION: I have one on – I know you saw the story that we did yesterday on the security gaps in the --
MS TRUDEAU: I did.
QUESTION: -- Consular Consolidated Database, as it's known.
MS TRUDEAU: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: The vulnerabilities that were detected – can you say if they have all been fixed?
MS TRUDEAU: What I can say is let's start – and thanks for the question, and we appreciate your reaching out to us on this story. We believe that the Consular Consolidated Database, like any database in the world, especially here at the State Department, is something that we look at very closely. Any database anywhere in the world is a vulnerability. However, the Consular Consolidated Database is constantly monitored, assessed. We constantly do work to assess any concerns that we have.
I'd also like to point out that there is no evidence that a cyber security incident has occurred pertaining to the Consular Consolidated Database. This is an ongoing process, and as threats are – not threats – as vulnerabilities are identified, they're addressed.
QUESTION: So – okay. So are there vulnerabilities that have been addressed and fixed, or are you just saying because it's a database, it has vulnerabilities that can never be fixed?
MS TRUDEAU: I'm saying that the department constantly monitors, tests, and implements upgrades in order to improve our defenses against constant, ever-evolving cyber threats. This is something we take very seriously, Justin, and it's something that we address on a rolling basis.
QUESTION: Right. So you're not denying, then, that --
MS TRUDEAU: There's vulnerabilities?
QUESTION: -- the vulnerabilities were detected and that they were addressed? You're not denying that?
MS TRUDEAU: What I'm saying is that there's vulnerabilities in any database in the world.
QUESTION: But you – but again, it's my question about --
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah. I'm not – to this – to --
QUESTION: -- you won't speak specifically to this?
MS TRUDEAU: To any vulnerabilities that have been addressed. We are constantly monitoring this. This is an enormous database. And as you know, we've spoken about cyber security from the State Department exhaustively, frankly. It's something we take seriously. It's something we'll continue to address.
QUESTION: And can you say if the Secretary was ever briefed on these vulnerabilities?
MS TRUDEAU: I can't. I can't. He speaks about cyber security. This is something, I think, is – in the world we live in and the malicious actors who target not only the State Department but all of the U.S. Government, it's a priority for everyone.
Matt.
QUESTION: Can I go back to the email thing for just one second?
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah. I'm not sure if I'll have much for you.
QUESTION: No, I just want to make sure I can read my notes correctly. Did you say that the FBI specifically asked you to pause the internal review?
MS TRUDEAU: So the FBI communicated to us that we should follow our standard practice, which is to put internal review on hold while there is an ongoing law enforcement investigation. We reached out to them. They responded.
QUESTION: And so that standard practice, that standard procedure, you apply in all cases where there's a law enforcement investigation?
MS TRUDEAU: I can't say in all cases, but I do know it's our standard practice.
QUESTION: Well, then, if it's your standard practice, then it would be --
MS TRUDEAU: I'm not saying there's not exceptions. I just can't speak to that level, but --
QUESTION: So all criminal investigations – in other words, every now and then we hear about State Department employees who are arrested or accused of various thing – criminal, often with visas and things like that. You're saying that internal reviews of their circumstances are put on hold, pending whatever criminal investigation is going on?
MS TRUDEAU: What I'm saying is – yes, standard practice is that we always prioritize law enforcement investigations and then our internal reviews.
QUESTION: In every case. But you're not saying that the FBI said stop or --
MS TRUDEAU: No.
QUESTION: -- pause?
MS TRUDEAU: They said follow your practice.
Okay. Thanks, guys.
(The briefing was concluded at 3:04 p.m.)
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