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Military

Daily Press Briefing

Elizabeth Trudeau
Director, Press Office
Daily Press Briefing
Washington, DC
May 12, 2016

Index for Today's Briefing

BRAZIL
SYRIA
BAHRAIN
BRAZIL
TURKEY/SYRIA
SUDAN/UGANDA/DJIBOUTI
BANGLADESH
BURMA
COUNTER-ISIL COALITION
PAKISTAN
CHINA
UGANDA
MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

 

TRANSCRIPT:

2:05 p.m. EDT

MS TRUDEAU: Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the State Department. I don't have anything at the top. Tomorrow you get Mr. Kirby back at the podium, but it's been a good week. So with that, I turn it over to Matt.

QUESTION: Right. What do I have? I can't read my writing. Oh, oh --

MS TRUDEAU: But wait. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: No, I'll defer to Arshad. I really honestly can't read my writing here.

QUESTION: Can we – let's just do one quick one to get it out of the way --

MS TRUDEAU: Sure.

QUESTION: -- and then maybe then we can turn to Syria. But with – do you have any comment on the suspension of Rousseff as Brazil's president?

MS TRUDEAU: So thanks for the question. We continue to follow political developments in Brazil. We are confident Brazil will work through its political challenges democratically in accordance with its constitutional principles.

QUESTION: And then going to Syria --

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.

QUESTION: -- the cessation of hostilities seems to have unraveled with the expiration of the 48-hour time period north of Aleppo. What are you doing to try to restore that, if anything?

MS TRUDEAU: Okay. So we've talked about it extensively this week. We believe the nationwide cessation of hostilities remains in place, remains open-ended. Again, as we've said repeatedly, we know that there are these areas of violence. We understand that these attacks continue in some of these places. However, as we said on Monday with our joint statement with the Russian Federation, we remain committed to advancing this and creating that space for a political dialogue and transition.

QUESTION: But are you actually doing anything? I mean, it's all very well to say that a theoretical construct remains in place and is open-ended, but if it has unraveled, as we have seen repeatedly since it was originally imposed or agreed to, are you making any fresh efforts to --

MS TRUDEAU: So we are. Both the United States and the Russians are currently focusing in those areas that you're mentioning – making efforts to continue the confidence-building measures, speaking to people on the ground to continue the cessation as we move forward.

QUESTION: Who's doing that? And is the Secretary himself doing anything on this? Has he talked to Foreign Minister Lavrov or --

MS TRUDEAU: Well, as we take a look at the ISSG moving forward, we continue to have these conversations. We're speaking on the ground. This is part of the process that we have structured. This is something that happens day to day, hour to hour. So the commitment's there.

Matt. Could you read your writing?

QUESTION: Right. Okay. So what I couldn't read was Brazil.

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Because --

MS TRUDEAU: Good chat. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Yeah. But I have another B question, and it has to do with Bahrain.

MS TRUDEAU: Yes.

QUESTION: Very recently, I think over the course – over the past weekend, the head of the commission that they set up to look into the protests and the violence there said that all of the recommendations of its – of the commission had been implemented. I'm wondering if you – if the Administration takes that view, or do you think that there – this is still a work in progress, needs to be – needs more to be – more needs to be done?

MS TRUDEAU: So you're speaking about the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry?

QUESTION: BICI.

MS TRUDEAU: Yep. And Professor Bassiouni. So we are aware of media reports attributing statements to the chair of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, Professor Bassiouni. We'd refer you to the Government of Bahrain or Professor Bassiouni for any questions about his recent visit to Bahrain and to his assessment of Bahrain's implementation of the commission's recommendations.

I'd note Congress has requested a report on the Administration's assessment of Bahrain's implementation of the BICI recommendations. We're currently finalizing that report. As we've said, the government has implemented a number of important reforms, including key recommendations made by the Bahraini Independent Commission of Inquiry. These include human rights training for police, establishing institutions of oversight and accountability, and rebuilding mosques that were destroyed in 2011. We continue to both privately and publicly raise our concerns with Bahrain regarding several areas covered in the BICI report, including limitations on peaceful assembly and political activism, the criminalization of free expression, and the importance of reconciliation.

QUESTION: So in other words, whether it was this guy saying everything had been implemented or anyone else, the Administration does not think that everything has been implemented, judging by --

MS TRUDEAU: We continue to raise some concerns. So we believe some have been done --

QUESTION: But some have not been done?

MS TRUDEAU: We continue to raise concerns on that --

QUESTION: Okay. And when do you – that report, I believe, is several months overdue now. No?

MS TRUDEAU: So I asked this exact question. I'm told soon. It is due to Congress. We're very aware of that. We're committed to getting it.

QUESTION: When was it due?

MS TRUDEAU: I don't know when it was due.

QUESTION: Was it February?

MS TRUDEAU: I am not sure on that, Matt.

QUESTION: I believe it was. So we're now in May.

MS TRUDEAU: Was that a hypothetical question, Matt?

QUESTION: No. No. But --

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah. So we are committed to getting it to Congress. So we're working on it now.

QUESTION: Okay. But you don't have a timeframe?

MS TRUDEAU: I don't. I'm sorry.

QUESTION: And am I correct in thinking that when the report is sent to – when it's completed and sent to Congress, it will have a more definitive finding than what you're --

MS TRUDEAU: I believe that it'll have a comprehensive finding. We've had a number of State Department representatives working to finalize a thorough, accurate report that includes information from a variety of sources.

QUESTION: I'm sorry if this has happened and I missed it, but we've – the question of the Bahraini activist who was --

MS TRUDEAU: Zainab al-Khawaja.

QUESTION: Exactly. Zainab al-Khawaja. Has she, indeed, been released?

MS TRUDEAU: So we're aware that Bahrain's ministry of foreign affairs announced on Monday – this past Monday – that Zainab al-Khawaja would be released. However, to our knowledge, she remains in prison – in detention with her child. We've closely monitored the case since her arrest and incarceration. We've discussed this issue with the Government of Bahrain. I don't have further information to do – but for a status on her case, I'd refer you to the government.

QUESTION: Well, do you know if the Secretary plans to raise this personally? Because the commitment was made to him in person while he was visiting Manama.

MS TRUDEAU: I can't speak to the Secretary's conversations, but this is a case where, as you know, we've been closely monitoring.

Yeah.

QUESTION: Hi.

MS TRUDEAU: Hi.

QUESTION: Marcelo Ninio from Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo.

MS TRUDEAU: Thank you for joining us.

QUESTION: Good afternoon. I wanted to ask about Brazil first. It's – what the State Department and the U.S. Government expect about the relationship with the interim governments? And has there been any communication yet with the new government?

MS TRUDEAU: Well, I can't speak to our embassy communication there. As you know, we maintain a strong bilateral relationship between our two countries. As the two largest democracies in the hemisphere, Brazil and the United States are committed partners. We cooperate with Brazil on a number of issues – trade, security, environment. We expect that'll continue.

QUESTION: I have a follow-up --

MS TRUDEAU: Of course.

QUESTION: -- about the protocol of the President's call to newly – new governments or new presidents. Can you explain how this – when – how does it work?

MS TRUDEAU: If you're asking a presidential question, I'm going to refer you to the White House on that. Okay. Thank you though.

Yeah.

QUESTION: Turkey.

MS TRUDEAU: Turkey.

QUESTION: The Turkish president says his country is ready to take unilateral action against ISIL in Syria, saying that Turkey hasn't received the support that it wants from its allies. What do you think about Turkey taking unilateral action in Syria?

MS TRUDEAU: So I've seen those reports. We're going to refer you to the Turkish Government to speak to that. We view our NATO ally Turkey as a key partner in the coalition to counter ISIL. As we do with all of our partners, we continue to discuss with Turkey our – strengthening our cooperation. I would, again, refer you to Turkish authorities on any operation they may be planning.

QUESTION: Yeah. Erdogan – well, he says that the allies are not supporting Turkey the way it wants. Has the U.S. received a request for support from Turkey? And what kind of support does it want from the U.S.?

MS TRUDEAU: So we're in constant dialogue with Ankara on this. And as I said, our cooperation and our relationship with Turkey is one of allies and partners and friends.

QUESTION: Well, what do you think about Ankara's complaint?

MS TRUDEAU: Again, I'd refer you to Turkish authorities to speak specifically to the president's comments.

Ma'am.

QUESTION: What's your reaction to the Sudanese president slipping into Uganda today, in defiance of an arrest warrant, and slipping back out again without being arrested?

MS TRUDEAU: So --

QUESTION: And was anyone from the U.S. Embassy present at the inauguration of the new president? And if so, how did they react?

MS TRUDEAU: Okay. Thank you very much for the question.

QUESTION: Re-inauguration of the old president.

MS TRUDEAU: So the United States has made its position with respect to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's travel very clear. We're concerned that President Bashir has been able to travel to Uganda as well as Djibouti in the past. In Kampala, President Museveni made disparaging remarks about the ICC in front of attendees, including other heads of state. In response to President Bashir's presence and President Museveni's remarks, the United States delegation, along with representatives of the European Union countries and Canada, departed the inauguration ceremonies to demonstrate our objection.

We believe that walking out in protest in an appropriate reaction to a head of state mocking efforts to ensure accountability for victims of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, particularly when his country has committed to accountability as a state party to the Rome Statute. While the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, which is a treaty that established the ICC, we strongly support the ICC's efforts to hold accountable those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Darfur.

QUESTION: What did he say?

MS TRUDEAU: I'm – I don't have the exact transcript in front of me. It was my understanding he spoke to – you know what? I'm going to have you take a look. I'm not going to extrapolate here.

QUESTION: Can I ask a couple on this?

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

MS TRUDEAU: I'll come to --

QUESTION: Prior to the actual inauguration, was there any contact between the U.S. and the – the U.S. and Ugandan governments about the appropriateness of President Bashir attending?

MS TRUDEAU: When U.S. officials who were present at the ceremony learned of President Bashir's arrival, we relayed our concerns immediately to the Ugandan prime minister and foreign minister in light of President Bashir's status as the subject of ICC arrest warrants for genocide and other atrocity crimes in Darfur.

QUESTION: And did – I mean, I'm not – was the decision made that it was – even though he did arrive, they didn't – basically they ignored your complaint and presumably the complaint of – complaints of Europeans. But why did they even then go to the ceremony if President Bashir was going to be --

MS TRUDEAU: So Uganda is – we do have bilateral ties with Uganda. However, they found that President Museveni's comments about the ICC with President Bashir there – the two issues together. And --

QUESTION: So – but they went, so – they obviously went, because they walked out.

MS TRUDEAU: They did, they did.

QUESTION: But why was it appropriate for them to even go in the first place if your concerns about President Bashir were ignored?

MS TRUDEAU: So considering our bilateral ties with Uganda – it was the presidential inauguration – we did make our concerns known. However, when President Museveni did make those comments, we found it appropriate to leave.

QUESTION: Okay, but I mean – so, first of all, who was the U.S. delegation? Was that --

MS TRUDEAU: Which was Arshad's question.

QUESTION: Yeah, sorry.

MS TRUDEAU: It was Ambassador Malac as well as our Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Bruce Wharton.

QUESTION: So there was someone from Washington.

MS TRUDEAU: Washington, yes, there was.

QUESTION: But here's what – I mean, why is it okay to sit in the VIP section with President Bashir, or wherever it was they were – why is that okay or it was deemed to be okay and then it was only when President Museveni made his comments that – against the ICC that it was determined that they shouldn't --

MS TRUDEAU: So we raised our concerns, as I mentioned --

QUESTION: Yeah.

MS TRUDEAU: -- with Uganda, as we did when he was previously in Djibouti. And consistent with our bilateral relationship with Uganda, we did feel it was appropriate to attend.

QUESTION: Well – so there was no walkout at the Djibouti inauguration, correct?

MS TRUDEAU: No there was not.

QUESTION: Is that only because the president – the --

MS TRUDEAU: We did not --

QUESTION: -- re-inaugurated president of Djibouti didn't make any disparaging comments about the ICC?

MS TRUDEAU: So we had no interaction with the Sudanese president at the inaugural ceremony in Djibouti, but they did feel at this time, considering both President Bashir's presence as well as President Museveni's comments, that it was appropriate to show --

QUESTION: Right. I --

MS TRUDEAU: -- to show our concern.

QUESTION: But I'm just trying to find out – maybe this is a protocol question, but why is it okay to sit with him, but – and it's only when another leader insults the ICC that it's --

MS TRUDEAU: I think it was – I think it was the two issues together, Matt.

QUESTION: Yeah, but, I mean, why did they go in Djibouti?

MS TRUDEAU: So again, we have bilateral relations with Djibouti.

QUESTION: Yeah.

MS TRUDEAU: We have a strength of relationship with both Djibouti and Uganda on this. What we found is what happened with President Museveni's comments as well as the presence of President Bashir.

QUESTION: Right, but do you understand what I mean?

MS TRUDEAU: I --

QUESTION: My question is: Why is it – why is it only appropriate to walk out if the – if President – when President Museveni makes comments, when they were perfectly happy to --

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah. I'd refer you to President Museveni's comments, as we mentioned, mocking the --

QUESTION: Yeah. And I can understand why they would walk out if that happened. What I don't understand is why they were there in the first place after the Ugandan Government ignored your concerns about President Bashir being there in the first place and President Bashir showed up and participated or attended.

MS TRUDEAU: Again, it was a bilateral decision to attend the inauguration of an important U.S. partner.

QUESTION: Here's something I don't quite understand.

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.

QUESTION: Your decision to walk out was a function of dismay at Museveni's comments about the ICC or Bashir's presence or both?

MS TRUDEAU: It's both. This goes back to Matt's question.

QUESTION: Okay, so it's both. And then secondly, was there – I know you said that as soon as you learned of his presence at the ceremony – do you mean, like, that he had actually shown up at the ceremony, or rather --

MS TRUDEAU: So it was after President Museveni's comments that our delegation left, as well as other delegations.

QUESTION: No, no, no, I get that.

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.

QUESTION: But what I didn't understand was at some point you were asked – and I believe you said that as soon as you learned of President Bashir's presence, you raised your concerns.

MS TRUDEAU: As soon as we learned about his planned travel and his presence, we did raise our concerns with the --

QUESTION: And how did you do that?

MS TRUDEAU: We raised our concerns with both the prime minister and the Ugandan foreign minister. I'm not sure if it was a demarche or --

QUESTION: Can you check that?

MS TRUDEAU: I can. If I have anything to add --

QUESTION: Okay.

MS TRUDEAU: It's a question of detail on that. But if I do have something to add, I'll get back to you.

QUESTION: And following on that, apart from your concern about President Bashir presence and the Ugandan president comments, are you concerned also about the fact that the Ugandan president is starting his fifth term as president?

MS TRUDEAU: So the United States and Uganda have a longstanding and strong partnership. We are concerned the Ugandan Government's recent actions could endanger the economic and political process that has allowed our strong bilateral relationship to grow. We do urge the government to take steps to reverse this troubling trend.

QUESTION: On the Sudan – the Sudan Government held a referendum last month in Darfur and they said it was very successful and it's going to end the crisis in Darfur. Do you accept that?

MS TRUDEAU: We actually put out a statement, I think you remember, on April 9th that specifically spoke about our concerns with the referendum in Darfur. We spoke about our concerns with the timing of the Darfur referendum due to conditions on the ground not being right for holding a vote – a widespread insecurity currently exists, there are millions of internally displaced individuals still. Again, we thought that the referendum posed a risk of setting back efforts to secure a monitored cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access in the conflict-afflicted areas, so --

QUESTION: Thank you.

MS TRUDEAU: Lalit.

QUESTION: Yeah, on Bangladesh --

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.

QUESTION: -- there was a demonstration yesterday near Dupont Circle on rise in extremist violence in Bangladesh. I know assistant secretary was in Bangladesh last week. Do you think the government is doing – there's enough to take care to protect religious minorities in the country?

MS TRUDEAU: Okay. So we're troubled by the recent spate of extremist attacks in Bangladesh. We're confident, however, that these attacks do not represent the views of and are rejected by the overwhelming majority of Bangladeshis. These attacks are being carried out by a small group of terrorists who seek to stifle independent thought, to violently attack those who disagree with him. We believe the government is working to address this problem. Our focus is on supporting their efforts to do so effectively while still respecting human rights.

Bangladesh has a proud and historic tradition of being a pluralistic society that values diversity and welcomes the free exchange of ideas. These are the very values that these extremists are attacking.

QUESTION: To what extent extremist organization like al-Qaida or ISIS have established their foothold in Bangladesh? Do you have a list?

MS TRUDEAU: I believe the Government of Bangladesh has spoken specifically to your question. I'd refer you there to speak about that as well as their own counterterrorism efforts. We continue to stand with the Government of Bangladesh as they take a look at violent extremism across the spectrum.

QUESTION: Staying in the region?

MS TRUDEAU: Of course.

QUESTION: So there is a report which cites as its original source the Facebook page of Myanmar official Shwe Mann that U.S. Ambassador Scot Marciel told him that he would be careful in future about how he – about saying things that displease the Myanmar people. Is there any truth to – this is all obviously over the use of the word "Rohingya" – is there any truth to that report? Is that what Ambassador Marciel told this gentleman?

MS TRUDEAU: So I can't speak to that meeting specifically.

QUESTION: You – you don't – have you tried to find out?

MS TRUDEAU: So I can speak to the use of the word "Rohingya," but I can't speak to that meeting specifically. I'm sorry, Arshad.

QUESTION: Well, is it the policy of the Administration that officials will be careful in using the word "Rohingya" from --

MS TRUDEAU: No.

QUESTION: -- going --

MS TRUDEAU: It is – the United States supports the ability of all groups to self-identify. If members of a population identify as Rohingya, we respect their ability to self-identify by using the term "Rohingya."

QUESTION: And there is no reason to believe nor reason to think that Ambassador Marciel had strayed from that position, correct?

MS TRUDEAU: I believe that Ambassador Marciel has expressed that view. I can't speak to this --

QUESTION: He has expressed what – he has expressed the position of --

MS TRUDEAU: The Administration.

QUESTION: But you can't speak to whether he was misquoted, for example, or whether he said maybe he'll be a little more careful?

MS TRUDEAU: I haven't seen the Facebook post, I --

QUESTION: Yeah.

MS TRUDEAU: So no, I can't speak to that meeting.

QUESTION: And then one other one. I mean, in his – in the Q&A that was widely reported, he – what I've seen him saying was that the Rohingya get to decide what they're going to be called and that's the U.S. practice. So why is it that the United States has for so many years referred to a country that at least the previous government preferred to call Myanmar as Burma, a term they didn't like.

MS TRUDEAU: So that's the U.S. position that that's what we call them.

QUESTION: So you call people what they want to be called, except in the case of Burma?

MS TRUDEAU: I'm going to leave that where it is.

Go ahead.

QUESTION: Yesterday Turkish minister of foreign affairs told that – I mean, he was talking about the struggle against ISIS, and he told we don't even have a strategy to destroy ISIS. Our strategy is in pieces, and many of those pieces didn't work. We are powerless, that we hope for help from some radical groups on the ground. Is there a strong strategy against ISIS, I want to ask, after his remarks?

MS TRUDEAU: Okay. Well, I'm not going to speak to the remarks of a foreign leader. I think your colleague has asked this already. We believe we've made important progress on the counter-ISIL coalition, certainly along the military line of effort in the last two months. Josh Earnest spoke about this yesterday too from the White House. This is not a fast fix. This is a long fight. This is day-to-day taking ground. And not only the military, but also fighting back against the different areas of effort: the foreign terrorist fighters, the financing, countering the messaging that is online. So yes, we do think we've made progress, but on those specific comments, I'm not going to discuss those.

Yes.

QUESTION: Which are, do you think, the radical groups that they hope help?

MS TRUDEAU: Again, I'm not going to speak to a foreign leader's comments. I'd refer you to him to speak to that.

QUESTION: Okay. Can I have one more on Turkey about Syria?

MS TRUDEAU: You know what; we'll come back to you if we have time.

QUESTION: Okay.

MS TRUDEAU: Go ahead.

QUESTION: On the South China Sea, China again spoke out against the arbitration process and saying that they wouldn't accept it. Do you have a response?

MS TRUDEAU: I don't. We're very clear where we are on that.

QUESTION: And they also said that the arbitration process opens up a Pandora box of possible counter-litigation. Do you see that as a threat?

MS TRUDEAU: I'm not going to respond to that comment. We're very clear on where we are on that.

Lalit.

QUESTION: I have one on Pakistan. The House Armed Services Committee last week passes – passed NDAA 2017, according to which they have increased the condition for the release of U.S. aid to Pakistan.

MS TRUDEAU: The Coalition Support Funds?

QUESTION: Yeah.

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.

QUESTION: By 450 million until, unless you certify that Pakistan has taken appropriate action against the Haqqani Network.

MS TRUDEAU: Okay.

QUESTION: And in connection with the F-16s commitments (inaudible), do you consider those considerations – what's your take on that?

MS TRUDEAU: Okay. So we've spoken about our view on the Haqqani Network from here before. So Coalition Support Funds are a Department of Defense matter. For details on that, I'm going to refer you to the Department of Defense. I will note key members of Congress have been clear they're not prepared to support U.S. military aid to Pakistan absent some specific actions. I would direct you to Congress, those specific members, for anything further on their position. As always, we're committed to working with Congress to deliver security assistance to our partners and allies. It furthers U.S. goals by building capacity to meet shared security challenges.

QUESTION: But is the State Department willing to certify that or say that the Pakistan is taking enough action against Haqqani Network?

MS TRUDEAU: So we've spoken about our views on Haqqani quite a bit as well as what we view Pakistan needs to do. Pakistan has spoken that they will not discriminate against groups. We could encourage them to continue to live up to that.

QUESTION: So on this issue, you and the Congress are on different page on --

MS TRUDEAU: So we continue to work with Congress, as I said.

Okay, Nike.

QUESTION: Right. Do you have anything on Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Gottemoeller's meeting with her counterpart?

MS TRUDEAU: The China meeting?

QUESTION: Yes.

MS TRUDEAU: I do.

QUESTION: Is that today or yesterday?

MS TRUDEAU: It was today. Under Secretary Rose Gottemoeller hosted the U.S.-China Security Dialogue at the Department of State today. She was joined by Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation Countryman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Anita Friedt, as well as other interagency officials from the National Security Council and the Department of Defense. Discussions focused on a range of bilateral and regional security issues, including arms control, nonproliferation, missile defense, and disarmament.

QUESTION: Did she also attended yesterday's meeting on cyber security or outer space?

MS TRUDEAU: So the lead on that was actually the Coordinator for Cyber Issues Painter. I'm not sure the under secretary's participation in the cyber meeting.

QUESTION: Can I ask you a follow-up to that?

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.

QUESTION: How does the so-called Senior Experts Group on cyber issues differ from the Working Group on Cyber Issues that China ceased attending in 2014?

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah. So just for clarity point because I think you guys know this, for others watching at home, these are different meetings. So I do have some information on the cyber meeting. So the governments of the United States and China held the first Senior Experts Group, which was your question, Arshad --

QUESTION: No, my question was: What's the difference between the two groups?

MS TRUDEAU: And I'll get there.

QUESTION: Okay, yeah.

MS TRUDEAU: To international security and cyber space on May 11th. This new meeting – and it is a different meeting from previous meetings – was an element of the cyber commitments made by Presidents Obama and Xi in September 2015. I can go on and read it out, but I do want to note that this was different. This was based on the commitments made in September 2015 – different people.

QUESTION: How is it different?

MS TRUDEAU: So it's my understanding different people, different scope, different process of meeting.

QUESTION: So is it two levels of people? Is it more junior-level people, for example? And scope – is it a narrower scope or a wider scope?

MS TRUDEAU: So I can't speak to the scope. I can say that they spoke about international security and cyber space – the international law on state behavior in cyber space, voluntary international norms of state behavior, cyber confidence-building measures. It was led by the coordinator for cyber issues here at the department, but I am told it's a different group than the previous.

QUESTION: Could you take that question? Because I'd actually like to know how it differs in --

MS TRUDEAU: -- in the detail?

QUESTION: Yeah.

MS TRUDEAU: We can look into it.

QUESTION: I mean, it shouldn't be that hard. You had people at the original meetings and you've had people at different meetings --

MS TRUDEAU: I am told that this is a different group.

QUESTION: Yeah, I get that.

MS TRUDEAU: It actually came from 2015.

QUESTION: Yeah, I get that.

MS TRUDEAU: And Matt Lee.

QUESTION: I have a question on both of them.

MS TRUDEAU: Hold on one second, Nike. Do you want to --

QUESTION: She can go.

MS TRUDEAU: Do you want to go then?

QUESTION: This is a different subject.

MS TRUDEAU: Okay, Nike. Is this a follow-up?

QUESTION: Right. Is there any – is there any indication like that China has actually followed through the cyber commitments from last fall that no – what's the word – the cyber-enabled theft should be used for commercial gains? Is there any indication that the commitments was actually --

MS TRUDEAU: So I'm not going to – I'm not going to grade China on its commitments. What I would say is that we continue to have this dialogue. This meeting on May 11th is a good indication that we stay engaged, we stay in discussions, we talk about these international norms.

QUESTION: When you mentioned that this is a good mechanism for confidence building --

MS TRUDEAU: It is.

QUESTION: -- how exactly is that going to work? Is that going to be worked through constant meetings or would that be under the umbrella of the Strategic & Economic Dialogue?

MS TRUDEAU: So we understand that the senior group will be meeting twice a year now.

Okay, Matt.

QUESTION: I wanted to go – ask – to ask you a general question. Twice in this briefing so far you've been asked about comments of foreign leaders, and you declined to. You referred us back to them. And the one time when you weren't asked about the comments of foreign leaders --

MS TRUDEAU: I volunteered.

QUESTION: -- you did speak out on them. Where is – where do you draw the line? Why is it that it's the department or the Administration deems it appropriate to criticize President Museveni for his comments about the ICC and you don't see the need to comment on the --

MS TRUDEAU: We view President Museveni's comments were mocking the victims of genocide and seeking accountability – we view that that was appropriate for us to speak out.

QUESTION: Okay, thanks.

MS TRUDEAU: Good.

QUESTION: When was the last time that U.S. diplomats staged a protest like that to the --

MS TRUDEAU: I don't know, Carol, and I'll look. I'm not even sure how we would start to look at that, but let me find out. If we've got anything, we'll come back to you.

QUESTION: Okay.

QUESTION: Do you have any comment on reports that dozens of Russian athletes from the 2014 Olympics, including 15 medal winners, were found to be part of a state-run doping program?

MS TRUDEAU: I do not.

Sir.

QUESTION: On Japan.

MS TRUDEAU: Yes.

QUESTION: There have been reports that the U.S. Government discussed the purpose of President Obama's visit to Hiroshima with the Korean Government. Can you confirm those reports?

MS TRUDEAU: I cannot. For questions regarding the President's travel, I'd direct you to the White House.

Matt.

QUESTION: A follow-up from yesterday.

MS TRUDEAU: Sure.

QUESTION: Just wondering if you were able to find out whether or not U.S. officials had raised the situation of Omar Barghouti directly with the Israelis or if you are just going to stick to the public comments that you made yesterday.

MS TRUDEAU: Okay. So thank you for that. Today is a holiday in Israel. I have no updates on our conversations with the Israelis, however we will discuss this with the Israelis, as we do a range of other issues. Our strong opposition, of course, to boycotts and sanctions of the state of Israel is well known, however I would reiterate, as a general principle, we support the freedom of movement as well as freedom of expression even in cases when we do not agree with the political views espoused.

QUESTION: Okay. And is it – is it safe to assume, for lack of a better word – assume, that that will be the message that you – that is delivered to the Israelis as well as --

MS TRUDEAU: As we say this publicly, we say it privately.

QUESTION: Right. You said – okay, so that one was --

MS TRUDEAU: That's great. Thanks – whoops.

QUESTION: No, no, no.

MS TRUDEAU: Not --

QUESTION: Not getting away so easily.

MS TRUDEAU: But we've been doing so well, Matt.

QUESTION: I need to ask you one more time: Have you all gotten to the bottom of the glitch in the video of the – of the briefing?

MS TRUDEAU: So we continue to take a look at it. We take this seriously. What we're doing is not only reviewing what happened in the past but also ensuring that we can guarantee that transparency going forward, so we're in discussions now. I don't have a final readout to give you guys.

QUESTION: And has – in the course of the review or whatever you want to call it, however you want to describe it, has – have there been any other similar instances?

MS TRUDEAU: We have not located any similar incidents.

QUESTION: But have people looked?

MS TRUDEAU: So people are continuing to review it. It's a big archive, yeah.

QUESTION: Right, no kidding. I know.

MS TRUDEAU: But no, we are.

QUESTION: It's --

QUESTION: And have you – have you – is it still your view, as it was yesterday, that it was a glitch?

MS TRUDEAU: At this stage we know – and as Fox News pointed out – that there was – there were minutes missing on that. As soon as we found out, we flipped it over. As I said before, the transcript was available, the video was available on other U.S. Government platforms. I can't speak to what happened. I'm not at that point yet, but --

QUESTION: No, no, I know. But yesterday and the day before --

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.

QUESTION: -- you told us it was a glitch, and I'm wondering if that's still your view.

MS TRUDEAU: It's still my view right now.

QUESTION: Okay.

MS TRUDEAU: So – but again, we continue to take a look at it. We take it seriously.

Okay, thanks.

QUESTION: Can I – I'll just wait.

MS TRUDEAU: Okay. Thank you, guys.

QUESTION: Thank you.

(The briefing was concluded at 2:39 p.m.)



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