Daily Press Briefing
Elizabeth Trudeau
Director, Press Office
Daily Press Briefing
Washington, DC
November 14, 2016
Index for Today's Briefing
PAKISTAN
AFGHANISTAN
GHANA
SECRETARY TRAVEL
DEPARTMENT
SYRIA/RUSSIA/REGION
BAHRAIN
COLOMBIA
VENEZUELA
COLOMBIA
SOUTH SUDAN
MIDDLE EAST PEACE
SYRIA/LEBANON/REGION
TRANSCRIPT:
2:01 p.m. EST
MS TRUDEAU: Good afternoon, everyone. We know that the President will be speaking about 3 o'clock, so we'll do this as quickly as we can today so you all can watch that. I do have a few things at the top.
First, on Pakistan: The United States condemns in the strongest terms the attack on Saturday on a Sufi shrine in Balochistan that killed 52 innocent worshippers and wounded over a hundred more. We extend our condolences to the victims and their families. Attacks like this only deepen our shared resolve to defeat terrorism and end the targeting of religious minorities. We stand with the people of Pakistan at this difficult hour and remain committed to supporting religious freedom. We'll continue to work with our partners in Pakistan and across the region to combat the threat of terrorism.
In Afghanistan, we also strongly condemn the suicide attack on coalition personnel at Bagram Airfield this weekend that killed two U.S. servicemembers and two U.S. contractors, and injured 16 other U.S. servicemembers and one Polish soldier participating in the NATO mission. Our deepest sympathies go to the family and friends affected by this tragic loss. So we mourn their sacrifice, we reaffirm our commitment to protect the homeland, and help our Afghan partners secure their country and their future.
On Ghana, the United States is deeply disappointed by the targeting of the home and family of the primary opposition presidential candidate. We condemn all violence in Ghana, including political violence in the period leading to, during, and immediately following Ghana's elections scheduled for December 7th. Ghanaians from across the political spectrum have worked hard to build one of the leading democracies in Africa. We call on all Ghanaians to remain peaceful and respect the democratic process. We specifically call on candidates, their parties, and their supporters to reaffirm their pledges to renounce violence and settle any disputes through the judicial process.
And finally, I believe you all saw the readout of Secretary Kerry's meetings today in Oman, where he met in Muscat with His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said in Muscat. Secretary Kerry and the sultan reaffirmed the enduring partnership between the United States and the Sultanate of Oman. Secretary expressed the United States' deep appreciation for the helpful role that Oman has played in securing the recent release of U.S. citizens held in Yemen. He also discussed with the sultan the conflict in Yemen, the urgent need to find a durable political settlement to ease the suffering of the Yemeni people.
I think also, as you know, the Secretary met with his counterpart, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, where they discussed a range of regional issues of mutual concern, including the conflict in Yemen.
The Secretary travels to Abu Dhabi tomorrow to meet with the crown prince, and we'll have more on that tomorrow.
And with that, Matt.
QUESTION: Right. Thanks. Let's start with any transition news that you might have. Has there been any contact yet? Have – do you have any idea when the president-elect's team will be showing up?
MS TRUDEAU: So we have no updates from this weekend. As we said on Friday, the department stands ready to help the transition team and support them as we move to Inauguration Day, but I have no updates.
QUESTION: But does that mean that no, there hasn't been any contact?
MS TRUDEAU: Correct.
QUESTION: Okay. Does anyone have anything on that, or --
QUESTION: Well, from – so just to clarify, so nobody from the president-elect's office, nor from the State Department, has reached out?
MS TRUDEAU: Correct.
QUESTION: So what would normally happen? Would the State Department --
MS TRUDEAU: I think this is standard. I think at this stage we'll wait for the transition team. Certainly we're poised to help, we're poised to support with a range of administrative, logistical briefing information materials. We would welcome that. And as soon as I do have an update, I'll make sure you guys get it.
QUESTION: All right.
QUESTION: Just to understand clearly, how is what – the Secretary's activities, how do you brief the president-elect on what he's doing far as U.S. foreign policy – from the State Department's perspective, not from the White House? How do you do it?
MS TRUDEAU: Well, I think we would back it up and we would take a look at --
QUESTION: Right.
MS TRUDEAU: -- the range of foreign policy issues. We've spoken about this in previous transitions from the podium.
QUESTION: Right.
MS TRUDEAU: There's briefing books, there's oral materials coming in. So it really – it's something that the State Department is adaptable, looking at what the transition team would need. And we look forward to working with them.
QUESTION: Thank you.
QUESTION: Elizabeth, on Syria, Secretary Kerry has called Minister Lavrov today. Do you have any readout for this phone call?
MS TRUDEAU: So I don't have much of a readout. I can confirm that the Secretary did speak to Foreign Minister Lavrov this morning, spoke about the situation in Aleppo. They also re-emphasized the need for a political solution to the conflict in Syria. But beyond that, I have no details to offer.
QUESTION: But it looks like the Syrian regime and the Russians are planning to invade eastern Aleppo soon. Did they discuss this? Has the Secretary asked the Russians to postpone this military operation?
MS TRUDEAU: So I know they discussed the situation in Aleppo. In terms of what the regime or their Russian backers are planning on doing, I'd refer you to them to speak to their plan. But the Secretary did re-emphasize, again, that there's no military solution to the conflict in Syria.
QUESTION: And are you concerned about such an operation?
MS TRUDEAU: Well, as we've said all along, we're deeply concerned about the situation in Aleppo. We're deeply concerned about the civilian toll that we're seeing there. What we have said all along is that aid needs to go in and that there needs to be a period where we can get back to the political negotiations. The Secretary in his conversation with Foreign Minister Lavrov did emphasize the dire situation in Aleppo and --
QUESTION: But since this whole – since the September 9th agreement collapsed not too many days after it was actually announced, you guys have spoken – and then the bilateral contact, or at least in terms of a ceasefire was broken, you guys have talked about how the teams are still meeting in Geneva and continue --
MS TRUDEAU: Which they are, including today.
QUESTION: So exactly what have they done over the course of the last month and a half since the bilateral U.S.-Russia thing broke down?
MS TRUDEAU: I'm not going to detail the conversations that we're having in Geneva. What I would say, and I confirmed this this morning, is we continue to have conversations there in a multilateral setting, taking a look at the emphasis that we've placed on aid, that we've placed on re-establishing a cessation of hostilities and the political transition.
QUESTION: Can you – can you --
MS TRUDEAU: Go ahead. I'm sorry.
QUESTION: Well, I'm just wondering, can you point to any kind of success that these talks – that you continue to have – have made? I mean, is there any --
MS TRUDEAU: I can't point to success, but I can point to the fact that we continue to think that they're valuable enough that we remain at the table.
QUESTION: But they haven't – but they've produced nothing, then, right?
MS TRUDEAU: At this stage, we continue to engage. I don't have a result to point to, Matt.
QUESTION: Just that – right, I know, that I – and that's the issue here because you guys have said, and actually, everyone has said all the time that – or everyone does say all the time that there's no point in having talks for talks' sake. And frankly, if they've been meeting for a month and a half and you can't point to a single thing that they've accomplished, I just wonder what the – what is the point of continuing this? It seems just like it's a charade and an excuse for people to get a lot of expensive room service meals in luxury hotels in Switzerland.
MS TRUDEAU: I think where we are very focused on is the fact that we go back to our fundamental principles where we've focused on, on – in the conflict in Syria, is that there is no military solution. The only solution on this is going to be through a multilateral setting. We are having these talks because we think it's important to have these talks and we wouldn't continue to engage in these talks if we didn't think it was valuable. Again, I'm not in a position --
QUESTION: Okay. Well, then, just --
MS TRUDEAU: -- where I can unpack the specific strands of our work – where we've seen progress, where we don't see progress – but what I will say is that we're there, we're at the table, we're in Geneva, we continue to push.
QUESTION: Can – but can you give one reason why you think that they're valuable?
MS TRUDEAU: I think they're valuable because what's our other solution? Our other solution is a military solution and the international community understands there is no military solution for the conflict in Syria. So what we do is we continue to engage every day, pushing for a political one.
QUESTION: Well, that's a very odd way to describe – to ascribe value to something, because, I mean, if they don't produce anything, they're not productive, right?
MS TRUDEAU: We continue to believe it's valuable.
QUESTION: All right. Can we – are we done on Syria?
QUESTION: On Russia and Syria.
QUESTION: I had a follow-up.
MS TRUDEAU: Hold on, a few on Syria and then we'll move on. We'll go to Said, then Michel.
QUESTION: I just want to – the – according to the Russian foreign ministry's readout of the meeting, they're saying that Minister Lavrov raised the fact that you refuse to separate the terrorists from the other groups and so on, and that is basically causing the problems in eastern Aleppo.
MS TRUDEAU: So I couldn't speak to the veracity of the Russian foreign ministry's readout on that. What I would say is what we've said all along, is we do understand this is a problem. We've talked about the marbleization on that.
QUESTION: Right.
MS TRUDEAU: We've talked about our efforts to pull those groups apart that continue.
QUESTION: So what are you doing in terms of basically pulling them apart from one another, to use your words?
MS TRUDEAU: It's a – this is something that we've spoken about for weeks and weeks, Said. We continue to have conversations with the groups on the ground. We've also said how difficult it will be when these groups are under constant bombardment and this is – this is a situation where it's very difficult for them to pull apart. When they're under threat, they're under attack. We believe it's important. Our view on Nusrah and certainly Daesh have not changed.
QUESTION: So now with – apparently, there is a decision to target al-Qaida-affiliated groups and so on in eastern Aleppo. That would really include many of the groups under that umbrella, correct? I mean, including some of the groups that you may have supported in the past.
MS TRUDEAU: Well, we've spoken about who is included in the cessation of hostilities – the one that was put in place earlier this year. Nusrah, Daesh have always been excluded under that.
Michel.
QUESTION: Yes, Elizabeth. You were saying that there is no military solution, but Russia and the Syrian regime are talking about a military solution in eastern Aleppo and the – it looks like the military offensive on eastern Aleppo is imminent.
MS TRUDEAU: We continue to believe that attacks like this just push the country further into chaos. They continue to push the country farther from the goal of a nonviolent solution.
Lesley.
QUESTION: Also, still on Syria. Do you – following up what Matt was saying, do you really believe that there can be progress made in the next two months, or is it really just a situation of --
MS TRUDEAU: No, we do, or else --
QUESTION: -- maintaining the situation as it is until a – I mean, it's a difficult --
MS TRUDEAU: It is.
QUESTION: -- situation to be in, where – I mean, what progress can one make in two months when you've got a new administration --
MS TRUDEAU: We believe it's valuable to be at the table to continue to explore all opportunities that will alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people, and to create that space for a political dialogue. We work at this every single day.
QUESTION: Can I ask, has the president-elect's transition team in any way – I know he's getting daily security briefings, but have they in any way joined or been briefed on this situation?
MS TRUDEAU: I would refer you to the president-elect's transition team on that, Lesley.
QUESTION: Okay.
QUESTION: Can I stay in the region --
MS TRUDEAU: Sure.
QUESTION: -- but move south a little bit to Bahrain?
MS TRUDEAU: Of course.
QUESTION: You will have seen, I believe, that this secular leader has been arrested after giving an interview – or for giving an interview about Prince Charles' visit to Bahrain, and I'm wondering if you have anything to say --
MS TRUDEAU: I think you're talking about Ibrahim Sharif.
QUESTION: Sharif, yes.
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah. We are aware of media reports, actually, that Ibrahim Sharif, the former leader of the opposition Waad political society, has been questioned and charged over comments he actually made in an AP article. We're following the case closely. As we've said before, we believe that no one anywhere should be prosecuted or imprisoned for engaging in freedom of expression, even when that expression is critical. Any charges against Sharif on that basis should be dropped.
QUESTION: Can I go to Colombia?
QUESTION: Thanks. Just do you know if his --
MS TRUDEAU: I'm sorry.
QUESTION: -- if you've raised this case directly with the Bahrainis?
MS TRUDEAU: We have. We have raised the case of Ibrahim Sharif and other human rights separately directly with the Bahrainis.
QUESTION: Okay. So this – I mean, this just kind of happened over the weekend, so --
MS TRUDEAU: Yes.
QUESTION: But since his – since he was detained, you have --
MS TRUDEAU: It is my understanding, yes.
QUESTION: Okay. All right, thank you.
MS TRUDEAU: Lesley.
QUESTION: Do you have any reaction to the Colombians – the Colombian Government publishing a revised peace accord? Do you --
MS TRUDEAU: I think you saw a statement from the Secretary this weekend.
QUESTION: I actually didn't, but --
MS TRUDEAU: It was – let me recap that statement for you. So the Secretary actually spoke to this this weekend. We congratulate Colombia on achieving a revised peace accord and we continue to support efforts by President Santos and the Colombian people to pursue a just and lasting peace, the peace that Colombia deserves. The United States has supported Colombia in conflict; we will continue to be a strong partner in peace.
QUESTION: And then on Venezuela --
MS TRUDEAU: Yes.
QUESTION: -- you didn't put out a statement on that.
MS TRUDEAU: We did not.
QUESTION: So the discussions – the second round of peace talk – of talks on Venezuela. When Tom Shannon was here, he was pushing for the release of prisoners and said that was the most significant thing that everybody's watching for. As they moved into the talks, obviously didn't see anything on that happen. So do you continue to do that? Do you think it's on the way? How did you think the second round went?
MS TRUDEAU: So I'd characterize it this way, is we're pleased to hear that reports from the Venezuelan Government and the political opposition that they've made some progress in their dialogue. We understand the dialogue continues. We hope it will continue to bear fruit in the coming days. As we've said before – and I believe the under secretary addressed this – is that Venezuela needs a good-faith and productive effort to end its political impasse and to address the urgent challenges facing the Venezuelan people. We continue to work with our partners in the region through the Organization of American States to support the dialogue.
Nike. I'll get to you, Said.
QUESTION: Sure.
QUESTION: A quick follow-up on Colombia.
MS TRUDEAU: Sure.
QUESTION: What is the U.S. position on the referendum of the revised peace accord? Would the United States support it?
MS TRUDEAU: Sure. How the revised accord is submitted for approval is really up to the Colombian Government to decide.
Said.
QUESTION: If I may, can I --
MS TRUDEAU: Oh, I'm sorry. Of course.
QUESTION: Take your time.
QUESTION: One quick question on South Sudan.
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.
QUESTION: A United – USAID-funded radio station, Eye Radio, was shut down last Friday by the government. Do you – first, do you have anything on that? What does that say about --
MS TRUDEAU: I do, and thank you for the question. We are aware that South Sudanese authorities recently shut down Eye Radio. We'd note this follows the closure of other media outlets. Such actions send the wrong message to the people of South Sudan, who are guaranteed the right of freedom of information and expression by their own laws and constitution. As we've said many times, a society that's free, vibrant, and successful depends on the unrestricted flow of information and ideas through a free and independent press. We understand Eye Radio and South Sudanese authorities are engaged in talks right now to restoring Eye Radio and allowing it to reopen. We're also raising it directly with our counterparts in Juba.
QUESTION: Thank you.
MS TRUDEAU: Great. Said.
QUESTION: Can I go to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict very quickly?
MS TRUDEAU: Of course.
QUESTION: Yesterday, the – Israel's ministerial committee for legislation unanimously approved a law to retroactively legalize the illegal outposts. Do you have any comment on that?
MS TRUDEAU: I do. I've got quite a bit to say on that, so --
QUESTION: All right, all right.
MS TRUDEAU: -- give me a second. We're deeply concerned about the advancement of legislation that would allow for the legalization of illegal Israeli outposts located on private Palestinian land. Israel's own attorney general has reportedly expressed serious concerns about the constitutionality of the proposed legislation. If this law were enacted, it could pave the way for the legalization of dozens of illegal outposts deep in the West Bank. This would represent an unprecedented and troubling step that's inconsistent with prior Israeli legal opinion and also break longstanding Israeli policy of not building on private Palestinian land. Our policy, as you know, on settlements is clear. We believe they are corrosive to the cause of peace. This legislation would be a dramatic advancement of the settlement enterprise, which is already gravely endangering the prospects for a two-state solution.
This only makes the clearer the choice Israel faces between building more settlements and preserving the possibility of peace. I would note we understand this legislation has several more steps to go before it's passed. We hope it does not become law.
QUESTION: Now, the logical follow-up. Now, if they go ahead and do this, will – will you, before – this Administration before departing, will they do anything or they are not likely to do anything?
MS TRUDEAU: So that's a hypothetical. I'm not going to get in there.
QUESTION: Okay.
MS TRUDEAU: Obviously, we very – made very clear our position on this proposed legislation.
QUESTION: So independent of the incoming administration, are you likely to do something tangible if they move ahead and (inaudible)?
MS TRUDEAU: Again, I'm not going to speak to this. We've made our position very clear on this. Let's see where that goes.
QUESTION: Okay. I have a couple more if you would indulge me.
MS TRUDEAU: Of course.
QUESTION: Also, a couple of days ago the Israelis – they made a Palestinian family of 12 – or a number of families demolish their own homes in East Jerusalem. I wonder if you have any comment on that.
MS TRUDEAU: We've spoken before to this practice of demolition.
QUESTION: Yes. Right.
MS TRUDEAU: We believe that any actions like that that raise tensions are counterproductive to peace.
QUESTION: Okay, thank you.
QUESTION: Well, can I just add to --
MS TRUDEAU: Of course.
QUESTION: -- to your comment on the draft law. You referred to the settlement enterprise.
MS TRUDEAU: The idea of settlements, new settlements, the retroactive legalization of existing illegal settlements – so settlements taken as a whole.
QUESTION: Right. But I mean, "settlement enterprise" suggests that it's --
MS TRUDEAU: Should I say "settlement issue?" That's probably better.
QUESTION: I don't know what you --
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.
QUESTION: I don't know what you mean by "enterprise."
MS TRUDEAU: I would say the issue of settlements. It's a good clarification.
QUESTION: Can we go back and find out if – because, I mean, if the Administration believes that settlements are a quote/unquote "enterprise" that is – that suggests that it's got --
MS TRUDEAU: I'll check. I think what we meant is --
QUESTION: -- it's got some broader implication to it.
MS TRUDEAU: -- the issue of settlements writ large.
QUESTION: Okay. And then nearby, Syria – just – over the weekend you may have seen some photographs that appeared on Twitter and other social media that appeared to show some U.S. tanks being in a Hizballah parade in Homs. Do you know anything about that?
MS TRUDEAU: So I saw the social media report's very grainy photographs. I have no information on it. I will note that we're working with our interagency counterparts to find out more information and get some clarity on it.
QUESTION: Well, if – and I realize you will be able to dodge this by saying it's a hypothetical, but it shouldn't --
MS TRUDEAU: I love it when you set me up like that.
QUESTION: But it – well, but it shouldn't really be a hypothetical. If it turns out that these were tanks that were sold to the Lebanese armed forces and then ended up in Hizballah's hands, wouldn't that be some kind – wouldn't that violate some kind of U.S. law?
MS TRUDEAU: Well, Hizballah is a foreign terrorist organization, clearly.
QUESTION: Yeah. So wouldn't it violate some kind of --
MS TRUDEAU: Why don't I look for granularity, get some clarity on this? I don't want to speak --
QUESTION: I'm not interested in – I mean, I am interested, but I think this is a question that can be answered without you knowing definitively whether these tanks --
MS TRUDEAU: Obviously, we would be gravely concerned if equipment ended up in the hands of Hizballah.
QUESTION: Equipment that you sold or gave to the Lebanese armed forces.
MS TRUDEAU: To whomever.
QUESTION: There is a precedent for this. It happened in the middle '70s. I mean, the Lebanese army basically broke up and everybody went to his own group, so to speak, or --
MS TRUDEAU: Again, what we're looking at --
QUESTION: So it could --
MS TRUDEAU: -- is sort of a Twitter feed with some grainy photos. As I said, we're trying to look for clarity on this. As I have more information, either we can discount it or we have more, I'll definitely come back.
QUESTION: How urgently are you looking into --
MS TRUDEAU: Very much.
QUESTION: Okay.
MS TRUDEAU: Lesley.
QUESTION: No.
MS TRUDEAU: Okay. Matt?
QUESTION: That's it.
QUESTION: No, thank you.
MS TRUDEAU: Thanks, guys.
(The briefing was concluded at 2:23 p.m.)
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