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Military

Daily Press Briefing

Mark C. Toner
Deputy Spokesperson
Daily Press Briefing
Washington, DC
May 4, 2016

Index for Today's Briefing

SYRIA/REGION
IRAN/REGION
MIDDLE EAST PEACE
DEPARTMENT
SYRIA/REGION
DEPARTMENT
SYRIA/REGION
NORTH KOREA
BAHRAIN
VENEZUELA

 

TRANSCRIPT:

1:48 p.m. EDT

MR TONER: Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the State Department. In the interest of time, since I do have to be up and down fairly quickly this afternoon because there's a bilat I've got to be at, I will not – I will refrain from any toppers and go right to your questions.

Matt.

QUESTION: Okay, thank you.

MR TONER: Yep.

QUESTION: The announcement of the enhanced, reaffirmed cessation of hostilities that you just put out –

MR TONER: Yep.

QUESTION: -- you say since it went into effect at one minute or one second past midnight local time in Damascus, I'm just – that's what it says, "Since this went into effect today."

MR TONER: Right.

QUESTION: But if you had – if fighting continues, how can you say it went into effect?

MR TONER: Well, because – I mean, look, that was the agreed upon start for this, as you put it – or as we put it – this enhanced cessation of hostilities reaffirmation. It began at 12:01 this morning Damascus time. It --

QUESTION: But did it really?

MR TONER: Well, there have been – and we say that in our statement. We've seen an overall decrease in violence, but there have been incidents, of course.

QUESTION: Well, so in other words, you have an agreement but it really hasn't taken hold yet?

MR TONER: It's not complete.

QUESTION: Okay.

MR TONER: And that's – frankly, that has been the case throughout the cessation, frankly --

QUESTION: Right. Yes, right.

MR TONER: -- writ large.

QUESTION: Okay, and then --

MR TONER: We've seen overall a reduction but – yeah.

QUESTION: Okay. And then my last one on this.

MR TONER: Yeah.

QUESTION: I'm just curious, it says that you're coordinating with – closely with Russia to finalize enhanced monitoring efforts of the renewed cessation and that you look to the Russians to press the Assad regime for compliance and that you'll do your part with the opposition. I'm just wondering, do you have an agreement with the Russians that they will do this? And what exactly does it mean, "enhanced monitoring efforts?"

MR TONER: Yes. I mean, that's – otherwise, we wouldn't have this statement out saying that we have an agreement with Russia to –

QUESTION: Well, I mean it says --

MR TONER: Right.

QUESTION: -- it's critical that Russia redouble its efforts against the regime.

MR TONER: We have –

QUESTION: Do you have an agreement with them?

MR TONER: -- reached an agreement with Russia.

QUESTION: Okay.

MR TONER: And as the Secretary alluded to, and I preface my next part of my comments by saying I don't have high-level – or I can't get into the minutiae of how this new structure will look. But the Secretary spoke about it the other day in Geneva, that we're looking at enhancing our personnel in Geneva, the Russians are doing the same, and with the goal or aim of really intensifying our efforts to look at these areas where the ceasefire is being reaffirmed – or the cessation.

QUESTION: Go ahead. Thanks.

QUESTION: On the ceasefire?

MR TONER: Go ahead. Go –

QUESTION: Did the rebels –

QUESTION: (Inaudible.) That's how it happens, I think.

MR TONER: Okay. Go ahead, Lesley, and then I'll get to you.

QUESTION: So you probably saw today that France called a special meeting of Friends of Syria in – for next week.

MR TONER: Yep.

QUESTION: Is the U.S. attending that?

MR TONER: Nothing to announce at this point. Obviously, the Secretary has been in touch with his counterpart in France, Ayrault, Foreign Minister Ayrault, for – this week. I'm just looking to see when they last spoke, but – I always look at the wrong date of these. But in any case, we've been in consultation with them over the last weeks and days and – but nothing to announce in terms of our attendance next week.

QUESTION: And then you say that the ceasefire is not complete, and that's how it's always been. Today you've seen some pretty serious assaults going on and fighting in Aleppo. How many days or how long do you believe that it will take effect?

MR TONER: Well, I mean, look, we have also said, and the statement said as much, that there has been a decrease in the fighting, in the violence in these areas, specifically in Aleppo. But it has not been, of course, complete and that's what we're striving towards. That's the goal here, and not just in Aleppo but throughout Syria. And in fact, we said that in our statement. We're not – our aim here isn't to just simply establish a bunch of truces, if you will, in various parts or hot spots around Syria. Our aim here, ultimately, is to get this cessation back into credible enforcement or a credible state in the next coming days and weeks so that, ultimately, we can (a) reduce the fighting, increase humanitarian assistance to those parts – and the Secretary spoke to this yesterday – those parts that have not received it, and then get negotiations back on track.

QUESTION: So you believe that by tomorrow there would be – the fighting will have stopped in that area? Or you don't think that?

MR TONER: I can't predict that right now, Lesley.

QUESTION: And so --

MR TONER: And of course, that's a – and look, I mean, that's a reality of this. I mean, we're going to put influence on the parties who – over which we have influence. The Russians are going to do the same on their side. But ultimately, neither side, neither Russia or the United States, can predict fully that that's going to have an effect, an immediate effect.

QUESTION: But today Lavrov said that Bashar Assad is not an ally for Russia. Do you really expect him to have that kind of influence on the ground?

MR TONER: Look, Russia has, we believe, influence on the Syrian regime, of course, most notably through their military support of the regime over these past weeks and months. I can't speak to what Foreign Minister Lavrov meant by his comments. Certainly, you know where we stand on Assad's future.

Please.

QUESTION: On Lavrov's statement --

MR TONER: Let me take her question. I'll get to you, Said.

QUESTION: Did the rebels that the U.S. is in contact with in Aleppo agree to separate themselves from al-Nusrah there?

MR TONER: Again, that's – this agreement or reaffirmation is predicated on the fact that – that both the regime and the opposition, who have signed up to the cessation, will act accordingly and in good faith --

QUESTION: Did they even tell you --

MR TONER: Let me finish, let me finish.

QUESTION: -- that they'll distance themselves?

MR TONER: No, no, let me finish. So in order to maintain this cessation or this renewed cessation of hostilities, it's incumbent on them and it's what our message is to them that they cannot interact with those parties on the ground who are not part of that cessation. Let me finish. And that's what – that's been a consistent message with – from us.

That said --

QUESTION: What was their response?

MR TONER: That said, we are – let me finish. We also are cognizant of the fact that, and the Secretary himself has spoken to this I think in Geneva and we've said it before, that the situation on the ground in Aleppo city in particular is very fluid and very complex, and there's – there has been, quote/unquote, "intermingling" of some of these groups. We need to separate them. We need to clearly delineate who is where going forward in order for this to – the cessation to have effect.

QUESTION: I understand your message to them.

MR TONER: Yeah.

QUESTION: What is their response to you, though?

MR TONER: Well, again, I mean, I don't have their immediate response to this latest reaffirmation today, but we are going into this believing that we can influence them to abide by it.

QUESTION: Sir, if the U.S. has hard time separating the rebels from al-Nusrah in Aleppo, do you expect Assad forces to do a better job, or do you expect them to stop attacking al-Nusrah in Aleppo altogether?

MR TONER: What we need now is a complete de-escalation of the violence, and that's what we're looking for all sides. What we have seen over the past several days certainly, but weeks, is on the part of the regime is – and again, the Secretary spoke to this much better than I will be able to – but just blatant attacks on civilian populations, on hospitals, on medical facilities, and again, targeting civilians that are unacceptable no matter how you justify them, whether you're going after al-Nusrah or whatever. However you justify them, it's just simply unacceptable. It needs to stop. And the Secretary spoke yesterday that attacks from both sides on civilians need to stop. So what we're looking for now is a cessation, a credible cessation, in and around Aleppo.

Please, Said.

QUESTION: Mark, just to follow up the Lavrov, he also said that the United States wanted to extend areas under the control of al-Nusrah as part of the truce and that the Russians actually rejected that. Could you confirm or deny that?

MR TONER: That's inaccurate.

QUESTION: That is completely false?

MR TONER: It's inaccurate, yes.

QUESTION: Would you say that is completely --

MR TONER: That is inaccurate.

QUESTION: Would you say it's inaccurate?

MR TONER: Yes, I would say it's inaccurate.

QUESTION: Can I just ask you one thing on this comment that he made about Assad not being an ally? Does that sound any different to you than what the Russians have been saying for the past four years?

MR TONER: I mean --

QUESTION: I mean, Putin himself has come out and said that Assad is not an ally and that it's not up to the Russians to stick up for one leader or another, it's up to the Syrian people to decide. And I just --

MR TONER: I mean, the Russians have – what the Russians have said, and in publicly as well as privately, is that they don't want to see a power vacuum exist in Syria. And hence --

QUESTION: Right. But I'm not asking you --

MR TONER: No, but I'm saying that's how they – that's how they are justifying their support for the regime.

QUESTION: Do you see – yeah, but --

MR TONER: Yeah.

QUESTION: But do you see this comment today as any change in the Russian position?

MR TONER: I – again, I don't want to necessarily signal that we see it as any kind of significant change. Frankly, to me, it sends a message to Assad that we think is a helpful one.

QUESTION: Let me just go back to my question.

MR TONER: Sure thing.

QUESTION: He also said that this leads them to believe that you are either manipulated or influenced by forces that don't wish to have al-Nusrah attacked. Do you have any comment on that?

MR TONER: I truly don't. I don't know what he was --

QUESTION: Alluding to.

MR TONER: -- alluding to. Thank you.

QUESTION: All right.

MR TONER: Thanks – alluding to in his comments.

QUESTION: Okay.

MR TONER: Please, Pam.

QUESTION: Can you clarify with this new cessation in Aleppo, the U.S. and Russia of course are spearheading this, but has either side received assurances from the Assad regime and as well as from rebels on whether or not they're buying into this and are ready to comply with it?

MR TONER: Well, again, I think – so two things. One is this all hinges on the fact that – or the idea that we as well as Russians – the Russians can influence the main combatants on the ground to uphold a cessation of hostilities. We're in very close touch with the Syrian opposition. We know that the Russians are in very close touch with the regime. So it's a certain test, if you – if I could put it that way, that they're going to abide by this cessation of hostilities. They're the ones who need to ultimately abide by it if it's going to have any effect. But we believe we can --

QUESTION: I guess what I'm asking is --

MR TONER: Sorry, but we believe – we believe we can exert the necessary influence on them and that we can get – and we have their buy-in on this effort.

QUESTION: But neither side has said – the Russian – the regime or the opposition has stated to you, "We're going to agree with the cessation at this point"?

MR TONER: Well, again, I'll let them speak for themselves, but we believe that, at least on the opposition side, that we have their buy-in.

Please.

QUESTION: Does the Administration consider sending MANPADS to the rebels in Syria or approving the delivery of MANPADS by coalition partners?

MR TONER: No.

QUESTION: Can I --

QUESTION: On the enhanced monitoring.

QUESTION: Mark?

MR TONER: Yeah, I'll get to you.

QUESTION: You've said before that – you seem to be very confident --

MR TONER: I apologize, the first part of your – on the enhanced – I apologize.

QUESTION: On the enhanced monitoring.

MR TONER: Yes.

QUESTION: Previously you've expressed a lot of confidence in your ability to monitor. There has never been any talk about monitoring shortcomings; where you've acknowledged shortcomings is that there's no enforcement at all. So what is the enhanced monitoring actually going to do? What haven't you been able to do, and why are you not doing anything on the enforcement side?

MR TONER: Again, I can't go back and look at all – everything we've said about our monitoring efforts to date, but I think we've --

QUESTION: (Off-mike.)

MR TONER: -- but I think we've – but I --

QUESTION: You were very praiseful of it.

MR TONER: -- I hope we didn't oversell it, because there's always room for improvement, and I think we've recognized, especially in and around Aleppo where, as I said, it's very complex, there's intermingling, it's very difficult to define exactly who is where, that we need to do a better job. And I think that this is a recognition that we need to do a better job coordinating, again, where we believe the Syrian opposition is and then communicating that to the Russians and then – and through the Russians to the regime so that we can, again, de-escalate the violence there.

QUESTION: I don't think the complaint on either side has been that you're not monitoring well enough. It seems to be that nobody gets in trouble for doing – for killing people. So what are you doing on the enforcement side?

MR TONER: Well, look, we've talked about this, again, before and on the enforcement side, it's ultimately incumbent on the parties who adhere to the cessation to, obviously, uphold it. And if they give up on – no, let me finish. Don't give me the quizzical look. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: This is self-enforcement.

MR TONER: Well, I mean, in a sense, yeah. Yes, Brad. Because – well, listen, but --

QUESTION: Well, after 500,000 people die, that seems to have been a failing effort; hasn't it?

MR TONER: But Russia has influence on the regime. Russia can send a message to the regime that they are not in this for the long haul and that there is no military solution, and that any such belief in a military solution is, an ultimate military victory in Syria, is fantasy. We also need to convey that same sentiment to the opposition so that both sides recognize that it's incumbent on them to uphold this reaffirmation and that it's incumbent on them to go back to Geneva and engage in serious political negotiations to find a political solution.

Please, Michael.

QUESTION: Foreign Minister Lavrov --

QUESTION: Can you explain this enhanced monitoring? Does that mean NGOs or --

MR TONER: I'll get back to you.

QUESTION: -- or electronic --

MR TONER: I just – yeah, that's okay. I've given you what I have. So it's basically – the Secretary spoke to this – increasing the personnel on the ground – I don't have exact numbers – but on both sides so that they can do a better job in closer contact, in closer coordination.

Please.

QUESTION: Foreign Minister Lavrov said he was actually satisfied with U.S.-Russian efforts on this, and he said because no one expected the level of violence to reduce – be reduced as much as it did. Do you agree with his assessment?

MR TONER: I'm sorry, you're talking about his assessment to date or to --

QUESTION: Yes.

MR TONER: -- or since the reaffirmation came into effect?

QUESTION: The reaffirmation.

MR TONER: Again, I mean, the ultimate goal in any of these things, Michael, is to have zero percent violence or zero cases of violence, but I think looking at the overall picture, we are – I don't want to say "satisfied" because that implies that we've reached our goal. We have not. But we have seen a significant reduction in the level of violence, so we believe that this is worth pursuing.

QUESTION: I have one more question on --

MR TONER: Yeah, sure, Michael.

QUESTION: Yesterday, the hospital bombing – have you reached out to the opposition about the hospital bombing in Syria and --

MR TONER: I'm aware – I mean, we're obviously in near-constant contact with them or in frequent contact with the opposition. And I'm sure that what we said publicly, what the Secretary stated publicly, was conveyed to them in our private conversations as well, but --

QUESTION: What he said – Secretary Kerry said he urged both sides --

MR TONER: Correct.

QUESTION: -- and a lot of time when it – when the regime does it, you call out Assad specifically. Why won't you specifically --

MR TONER: Michael, we're trying to get more granularity on what exactly happened. That's part of the process here. But I don't have anything to add at this point.

Michel.

QUESTION: Mark, I have three questions. One, in your statement, you said, "We welcome today's reaffirmation of the cessation in Eastern Ghouta for the next 48 hours." That means the cessation will stay only for 48 hours? What did you mean by that?

MR TONER: Well, I mean, you recall that when this Latakia and East Ghouta cessation came into effect that there was actually a timeframe that was 24 hours, I think, in Latakia and 48 hours initially in Eastern Ghouta. And forgive me if I have those reversed; I apologize. But as it went forward and appeared to at least have some purchase or have some effect, that we've seen this extended throughout the week. And ultimately, as I said, our goal here is to have it in place permanently, but we've kept extending the time limit for the cessation so it solidifies and strengthens.

QUESTION: And same --

MR TONER: Yeah.

QUESTION: -- timeline for Aleppo too, 48 hours?

MR TONER: You know what? That's a good question. I'm not aware that there's – and forgive me, I'm not aware that there's a specific timeline for Aleppo, like a timeframe or a deadline or whatever.

QUESTION: When you announced the Ghouta or Latakia ceasefires, did you announce a timeframe for those or was that the Russians who announced the timeframes?

MR TONER: It was the Russians and the Syrians who said they would recognize that certain timeframe, but it was with our understanding that that was the --

QUESTION: So your communications up to date haven't included the timeframes. You've just said there was a reaffirmation of ceasefire.

MR TONER: No, and I said we welcome the reaffirmation of the ceasefire for the next 48 hours. So I apologize that's – if that was unclear.

QUESTION: So was that the first time you've acknowledged that these were time-limited? Previously --

MR TONER: I think we have, David. I think we have.

QUESTION: Okay.

MR TONER: I think we have, but --

QUESTION: Mark, do you know, was there an effort to get the Russians to sign off on this statement and make it a joint statement so that it's not just yours?

MR TONER: Not necessarily. I mean, we – we obviously coordinated closely with them, but --

QUESTION: You guys are taking turns in announcing these things? Is that what-- Well, no, I'm not meaning you. I'm not trying to be funny. It's just that --

MR TONER: No, okay. I'm sorry. No, no, okay. I mean --

QUESTION: -- the first one was announced by the Russians.

MR TONER: Yeah.

QUESTION: This one's announced by you guys. Why don't you do it together to show some kind of solidarity here?

MR TONER: We'll take your suggestion under advisement.

QUESTION: Two more questions, Mark.

MR TONER: Please, Michel.

QUESTION: On the MANPADS, Saudi foreign minister has asked the international coalition to provide the MANPADS to the opposition. What can you answer on?

MR TONER: I would refer you to the Saudis.

QUESTION: Yeah, but you asked the international coalition who's fighting ISIS --

MR TONER: I'm just saying our --

QUESTION: -- to provide the opposition with MANPADS, and you are --

MR TONER: Michel --

QUESTION: -- leading this coalition.

MR TONER: The question to me was whether we have. We have not. And the question was whether we would condone it. Our position's been clear to date on providing actual weaponry to the opposition on the ground.

QUESTION: And my third question was: You've been relying on Russia to press the regime to comply with the cessation of hostilities. What can the U.S. do without Russia if the regime doesn't comply with the cessation of hostilities?

MR TONER: Well, it works both ways, and frankly, I don't want to exclude the other members of the ISSG, all of whom wouldn't be at the table of the ISSG – the International Syria Support Group – if they didn't exert some kind of influence with the parties on the ground who are part of the conflict. So, I mean, it's incumbent on, as I said, everybody who's part of that group. I'm talking in terms of the U.S. and Russia, certainly, in and around Aleppo, and this renewed effort. But as we see France and others are meeting next week about the cessation of hostilities, there's more relevant parties and stakeholders to this than just the U.S. and Russia.

Please, sir.

QUESTION: Mark, yesterday, the Secretary said a target date for transition in Syria is 1st of August --

MR TONER: Yeah.

QUESTION: -- and he said, "So either something happens in these next few months or they are asking a very different track." And I was wondering if you can elaborate on that different track.

MR TONER: No, I won't at this point. We're committed right now to the cessation, getting it in place – or getting it renewed or reaffirmed, and then also pursuing political negotiations and a political process that leads to a transition in power. So I don't want to talk about what-ifs or what-nexts. The Secretary was alluding to – or not even alluding to, but talking about the fact that there is this August deadline, if you will. It's a timeline with target dates that was already built into the political process, and that was in both the ISSG joint statements as well as in UN Security Council Resolution 2254. And again, the idea behind these deadlines is sometimes they can be forcing mechanisms; they can help clarify to the parties involved the need to – and the urgency of the situation and the need to engage.

QUESTION: Can you clarify what they have to achieve by August the 1st?

MR TONER: I think it's to – well, it's to establish the framework for a political transition, as well as a draft constitution.

QUESTION: Can we move on?

MR TONER: Please.

QUESTION: Iran. I just have a quick one.

MR TONER: Yeah.

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

QUESTION: (Inaudible) one more on Syria?

MR TONER: I have very limited time now. I mean, I just don't – I apologize. If we have time – let me take a look – few more questions, I'll come back. I apologize, but go ahead.

QUESTION: I just want to know if you saw the comments by this deputy IRGC commander about closing off the Straits of Hormuz to the U.S. The Iranians have said this in the past, or made this threat in the past, and you guys have always brushed it off. But that was before you had this new relationship with Iran, or this rapprochement, at least, around Syria and the ISSG and the nuclear deal. And I'm just wondering, what do you think of this threat now in the context of the – in particular the nuclear deal? This kind of a threat doesn't seem – well, it doesn't have anything to do with the nuclear deal; it doesn't seem to comply with the spirit of this new rapprochement.

MR TONER: Well, Matt, I mean, we've talked a lot about – that we hope in the spirit of the deal that that will spread into other aspects of our relationship with Iran, or Iran's relationship with the rest of the world. We can't predict that that's going to happen, and frankly we've still seen Iran continue with statements and behaviors that are not helpful and not constructive.

QUESTION: So it remains that it's pretty much all hope and no change?

MR TONER: Look, I mean, that's – I mean, let's dial back and look at the fact that the JCPOA was about preventing Iran from acquiring or developing a nuclear weapon. That's its main goal. If other aspects of the relationship improve as a result of that --

QUESTION: It's nice.

MR TONER: -- then that's great.

QUESTION: Right.

MR TONER: So much for the better.

QUESTION: But you haven't seen that yet, right, in any – in anything other than maybe them joining the ISSG?

MR TONER: Yeah. I mean --

QUESTION: Is that right?

MR TONER: I mean, that, and we do have, I think, improved access with Foreign Minister Zarif. But beyond that we've seen a continuance of some of the same behaviors.

QUESTION: Thank you.

MR TONER: Please.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) new topic for a second?

MR TONER: Yeah. We're in – we already changed; we're in Iran.

QUESTION: Okay, all right. May I change topics to the Palestinian-Israeli issue very quickly?

MR TONER: Quickly, yeah.

QUESTION: There are some reports that the Israelis have gone into Gaza, eastern Rafah in Gaza – I mean, just like a few hours ago and so on. Have you heard anything about that?

MR TONER: I have not, Said. I apologize. I don't have any update on that.

QUESTION: Okay, all right. Okay. And very quickly, there are also reports that the Obama Administration is going to issue a – like a some sort of a statement or fact sheet on the efforts that they have done since 2008 and so on, and some suggestions on what to do next in the context of --

MR TONER: Sure.

QUESTION: -- turning down the Paris – or the French initiative. Have you heard anything about that?

MR TONER: So I've not – no, I'm not aware of those specific reports about a summation or, as you put it --

QUESTION: Summation, right, yeah.

MR TONER: All I can say is that – I mean, I – you do know the Quartet is in fact preparing a report on the situation on the ground that will include recommendations on how to change current trends. I don't know if that's what you're referring to. And also, just to clarify, too, we haven't made any decisions; we're still looking and discussing the French proposal. And we're always looking at options on how to get both parties to take steps that we believe will get them back into an environment where serious negotiations or peace talks can restart.

QUESTION: And finally, there are 10 Palestinian journalists that are being held by Israel – six without charges. Do you have any comment? I mean, considering yesterday was Free the Press Day and so on. Do you have any comment on that?

MR TONER: Well, again, I don't know their specific cases. Certainly you know where we stand on freedom of the press; the Secretary spoke to it yesterday. I don't know – I don't have any details. Any specific cases, I'd refer you to Israeli authorities.

QUESTION: (Off-mike.)

MR TONER: Yeah, please.

QUESTION: Over the last year, Congress has appropriated specific sets of funds to help the State Department comply with document production requests for the Benghazi committee. Do you know how much that figure was, and can you tell us the status of the document review unit?

MR TONER: So I don't have a specific dollar figure. We can try to get that for you. I apologize; I just don't have it in front of me. Speaking broadly, I mean, we're very much committed to cooperating with the Benghazi committee. I think since the committee was formed we've provided some 48 witnesses for interviews and some 95,000 pages of documents.

Look, we have an open line of communications with the Benghazi committee. When they make requests, we do our utmost to comply with them in a speedy manner. We want to make sure that we're providing the right type of documents that they need as well as briefings and interviews that match their priorities, and we'll continue to do that. So I think we've made a good-faith effort overall to comply and to – with the committee's requests and to get them the information that they need, and we're going to remain committed to doing that.

QUESTION: It's our understanding that some of the State Department personnel were – who were evacuated from Yemen were supposed to staff this document review unit. Has that happened?

MR TONER: I don't know. I mean, we did look at – I don't have that level of detail. What we did look at was – in terms of our FOIA requests for the Clinton emails, we did ramp up our efforts and our staff and personnel who were looking at both that as well as – we've talked about this before – the sharp increase in FOIA requests. Now, I don't know if that same approach has been applied to the Benghazi committee. I'll just have to take the question.

QUESTION: Okay. And then was the Benghazi committee staff helpful to the State Department in securing these funds from Congress? I know you didn't give us a figure, but --

MR TONER: Yeah.

QUESTION: -- for this purpose.

MR TONER: You know what? I don't have – again, I apologize. I don't have clarity on that, so I'll try to --

QUESTION: Okay. Thanks.

MR TONER: Yeah, please. In the back.

QUESTION: Hey.

MR TONER: Hey, Felicia.

QUESTION: Just back to – sorry, back to Syria really quickly.

MR TONER: That's okay. Sure.

QUESTION: Are there going to be efforts to look at other cities for partial ceasefires? Like I heard from an aid organization that the fighting in Homs has gotten very intense and they're having trouble getting access there. Are there other places that you're kind of looking to extend this in the coming days?

MR TONER: I mean, we're really trying to take a systematic approach. We began in Latakia and east Damascus. We've now attempted to apply the same reaffirmation to Aleppo. Ultimately, yeah, we want to see this spread throughout Syria, this reaffirmation of the cessation of hostilities, because we have seen pockets of instability, we've seen pockets of violence continue. And we need to, as I said, systematically go try to address these pockets where they exist.

QUESTION: Just – yeah, like Secretary Kerry and others spent a lot of time saying this needs to happen in Aleppo. Are there other sort of, like, high-priority --

MR TONER: Yeah – I mean, I don't have a list in front of me.

QUESTION: Yeah, yeah.

MR TONER: I mean, we're looking at – and as I said, there's other areas of concern, I guess, is – I'd put it that way. And we're going to continue to look at this. I don't have like another --

QUESTION: Yeah, yeah.

MR TONER: -- next on our list, but I think what we're trying to do is get these two areas under a solid cessation of hostilities and then continue to look at where else it needs to be applied – or reapplied, rather.

QUESTION: (Off-mike.)

QUESTION: I have Syria.

QUESTION: I have one more too here.

MR TONER: Yeah, please, and then I'll get to you.

QUESTION: Can you show the public that the money that was reprogrammed – the funds for it that Congress set aside for this purpose – has actually been used for this purpose and not other things?

MR TONER: The funds reprogrammed for --

QUESTION: For the --

MR TONER: -- the Benghazi committee?

QUESTION: -- document production requests.

MR TONER: Yeah. I'll look into that. Again, I don't – I – if they were reprogrammed for that or that funding was provided, I'm fairly certain that it would have been used for the purpose for which it was set up for.

Yeah.

QUESTION: For the ceasefire to hold in Aleppo, do you expect Assad forces to stop attacking al-Nusrah, given that, as you said, the lines between rebels and al-Nusrah there are fluid?

MR TONER: Again, it is a very fluid situation. Nusrah is not party to the cessation. We all know that. But we have not seen the regime's actions specifically targeting Nusrah; in fact, we've seen them targeting civilian populations as well as opposition groups. So what we want to see is them to comply, the regime to comply with the cessation of hostilities, which only applies to those who have signed up to the cessation of hostilities.

Please.

QUESTION: Mark --

MR TONER: Yeah, quickly.

QUESTION: Thank you, Mark. Do you have any information about North Korea preparing a fifth nuclear test soon or tomorrow or --

MR TONER: No, I don't, and I don't know that we would preview that.

QUESTION: I've got two brief ones on Bahrain.

MR TONER: Yeah, sure.

QUESTION: I'm wondering if you – or if the embassy is planning to send anyone to the verdict – scheduled court verdict tomorrow for this opposition guy who's been in prison for a while. His name is Khalil al – hold on, I've got his name now – Halwachi, Halwachi.

MR TONER: We'll take it, Matt.

QUESTION: And then secondly, tomorrow is also the month anniversary of the date of when the Bahraini foreign minister told Secretary Kerry, standing next to him, that this woman would be – the other woman that we were talking about --

MR TONER: And we'll use this anniversary, one-month anniversary, to urge the Government of Bahrain to follow through with its publicly announced plans to release her.

QUESTION: So as far as you know, she – that pledge that the foreign minister made while he was standing next to Secretary Kerry has not been fulfilled?

MR TONER: As far as I know, yeah.

QUESTION: Wasn't that court-ordered as well?

MR TONER: I'm not sure about that.

QUESTION: Although dressed as a humanitarian gesture?

MR TONER: I'm not sure about that. Sorry.

QUESTION: Do you have any update on this back-and-forth between the U.S. and Venezuela on visas, please?

MR TONER: Back-and-forth? You mean the comments by Venezuela that we somehow withheld visas for --

QUESTION: Yeah. Well, it really started last year, didn't it?

MR TONER: Yeah. Look, I mean, we're aware of the reports that Venezuelan officials were denied U.S. visas. You know we can't talk about visa records; they're confidential under Section 20 – 222 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. So – but more broadly speaking, as a host country for many international meetings and conferences and summits, et cetera, I can assure you that we facilitate all requests by foreign governments' government officials for travel to the United States for multilateral meetings in accordance with U.S. immigration laws.

QUESTION: Mark, I want to make this a point again. It is not 100 percent always the case that visa confidentiality is – requires – means that you can't say nothing. If the person in question comes out and publicly says or complains that his or her visa has been revoked or he has – she has been denied a visa, it has been in the past, and I think should be and is allowable under the law, for you to confirm whether that's true or not. Just putting that out there.

MR TONER: You just undercut my --

QUESTION: Yeah, well.

MR TONER: -- witty retort there. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Is there a part two?

MR TONER: No, that's it. Look, I mean, I would refer you to the Venezuelan Government, but I will not uphold the accuracy of those comments. How about that?

QUESTION: Thank you.

MR TONER: Yeah. Thanks, guys. I'm sorry, I've got to run.

(The briefing was concluded at 2:21 p.m.)



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