Daily Press Briefing
Elizabeth Trudeau
Director, Press Office
Daily Press Briefing
Washington, DC
November 15, 2016
Index for Today's Briefing
BURMA
SECRETARY KERRY'S TRAVEL
BURMA
DEPARTMENT
YEMEN
SYRIA/RUSSIA
IRAQ
ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS
LEBANON
MISCELLANEOUS/ICC
CHINA/HONG KONG
TRANSCRIPT:
2:06 p.m. EST
MS TRUDEAU: AFP has deigned to join us.
QUESTION: Two of them.
MS TRUDEAU: I know, it's the tag team.
QUESTION: (Inaudible.)
MS TRUDEAU: We appreciate that. Good afternoon everyone. Welcome to the State Department. I have a few things at the top.
First, on Burma: We're concerned by reports of a spike in violence in Burma's Rakhine State. We're following the situation closely and attempting to get reliable information about developments there. I'd note that the U.S. Ambassador to Burma Scot Marciel, along with a visiting delegation of officials from the State Department as well as other U.S. agencies, held a previously scheduled bilateral dialogue with the Government of Burma today in Naypyidaw. The delegation included the deputy assistant secretaries from both the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau, as well as the Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Bureau. The U.S. delegation stressed the need for the Government of Burma to facilitate a credible and independent investigation of these allegations to improve transparency and information sharing, and to provide access for both media as well as humanitarian aid.
We note the recent visit to Rakhine State by Ambassador Marciel and other representatives was a positive step in improving international access, but it's important for the government to do more to stem the violence and provide assistance to those in these affected areas.
Next, a quick update on the Secretary's travel. As you've seen, Secretary Kerry met with the Emirati Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, as well as National Security AdvisorSheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi today. He's now headed to Marrakech, where he'll participate in the 22nd Conference of the Parties, COP-22, to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. While at COP-22, Secretary Kerry will deliver a speech that highlights the urgency of addressing climate change and the importance of a continued, ambitious climate action around the world.
And with that, Matt.
QUESTION: Can I just start – ask you very briefly on your Burma statement?
MS TRUDEAU: Of course.
QUESTION: Who exactly did this delegation meet with?
MS TRUDEAU: So it met with – let me see if I've got this. So it was with their counterparts with the Burmese Government, so it's ministries of border affairs, home affairs, and foreign affairs. Separately they also met with a host of local NGO, and they've also met separately with officials from Rakhine State.
QUESTION: But they haven't met with anyone from the military?
MS TRUDEAU: At this stage, I've got border affairs, home affairs, and foreign affairs, as well as the office of the state counsellor.
QUESTION: Do you think that they got to meet with the right people to --
MS TRUDEAU: I think that they engaged with the interlocutors that they felt were important there. If they did meet with the military, I can update you on that.
QUESTION: Okay. Moving on.
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.
QUESTION: This is going to be your daily question here. Any contact from the transition team yet?
MS TRUDEAU: As of this morning, we have no update to offer you; we have no contact to report.
QUESTION: Okay. None at all that you're aware of?
MS TRUDEAU: Correct.
QUESTION: And that – and – okay. All right. Then, unless anyone has questions about that --
QUESTION: Yeah. Is that normal that at this stage you would not have had contact with the transition team?
MS TRUDEAU: We discussed this yesterday. It's up to the president-elect and his team. We stand ready to welcome them, provide the briefing materials, the facilitation, as we look towards inauguration in January.
QUESTION: I guess the other question would be though you – so you don't see this as being some kind of a snub or --
MS TRUDEAU: Oh, absolutely not.
QUESTION: Okay.
MS TRUDEAU: No, absolutely not.
QUESTION: Can I just follow up Matt very quickly?
MS TRUDEAU: Uh-huh.
QUESTION: But it seems like it's not only with the State Department but also with the Pentagon and even the White House that there is no – been no contact in the transition teams.
MS TRUDEAU: Well, I would direct you to the president-elect's team.
QUESTION: I mean, just going back to the normalcy of those things.
MS TRUDEAU: I would direct you to the president-elect's team. We stand ready to support. We look forward to having those discussions.
QUESTION: Can I change to the subject of Yemen?
MS TRUDEAU: Of course.
QUESTION: The Secretary, in his comments to people – to reporters in Abu Dhabi earlier today talked about the – getting an agreement --
MS TRUDEAU: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: -- on a ceasefire to start on the 17th, whatever day of the week that is. But immediately afterwards, the Yemeni Government, President Hadi's government, said: What? – basically – we're not on board with this. And I'm just wondering, was this premature that – what the Secretary announced?
MS TRUDEAU: No, I wouldn't say it was premature at all. If people missed this, the Secretary actually made these remarks this morning our time in Abu Dhabi. As we all know, the Secretary continues to actively engage the parties in the conflict to bring the fighting to an end. As part of this sustained effort in Muscat yesterday – actually very early this morning – Secretary Kerry met with members of the Houthi delegation in a push to make progress into restoring – resolving the conflict in Yemen.
As the Secretary said in his remarks to the press, the Houthis have indicated a willingness to abide by the terms of the April 10th cessation of hostilities on the condition that other parties abide by that commitment as well. We understand the Saudi-led coalition has also expressed a willingness to return to the cessation. Additionally, the Houthis accepted the UN-drafted roadmap as a basis for negotiations to end the conflict to work for the establishment of a new national unity government.
In terms of your question, in terms of the Yemeni Government, we continue to support the UN special envoy's work. This is his role as he seeks to negotiate the details of this solution moving forward. In terms of the interactions that he's had directly with the Government of Yemen, I'd point you to the UN special envoy.
QUESTION: Okay. So then you're saying that he did not exaggerate or – because he said only that the Houthis had agreed and --
MS TRUDEAU: No. We believe that for the reaction of the Government of Yemen, as I said, I'm going to point you to the special envoy. We believe that we have an agreement on the UN roadmap. We continually – we continue, though, to urge the Republic of Yemen to support this roadmap, to agree to those terms. As you noted, the 17th is – has been posited as a start date. We continue to work on the granularity of that.
QUESTION: Right. But it's not – not all parties have agreed to it.
MS TRUDEAU: We believe that we have a good path towards the parties agreeing. I note the Yemeni Government's reaction to this this morning.
QUESTION: Yeah. So not all parties have agreed to it, correct?
MS TRUDEAU: We believe we have a good start towards it. Correct.
QUESTION: Sorry?
MS TRUDEAU: Correct.
QUESTION: Correct?
MS TRUDEAU: Yes.
QUESTION: Not all parties have agreed to it.
MS TRUDEAU: We've seen the Yemeni Government's reaction – yes.
QUESTION: Right. They rejected it. So why – I mean, can you just say --
MS TRUDEAU: So we have three days as we move to --
QUESTION: I'm just looking to --
MS TRUDEAU: As we look three days as we --
QUESTION: I'm looking for some kind of acknowledgement from you guys that it's – all is not well and good with the ceasefire in Yemen --
MS TRUDEAU: No.
QUESTION: -- yet because not everyone has agreed to it.
MS TRUDEAU: No. And I think what we explained is part of the Secretary's remarks on what I've just said is that we've made enormous progress. We think that this provides an opening. We're looking towards November 17th as that time. We continue to engage with the UN special envoy as he works to bring all parties to the table.
QUESTION: Okay. But you do acknowledge that President Hadi's government needs to be brought onboard still?
MS TRUDEAU: I saw those remarks. Yes.
QUESTION: Does that mean yes, you accept that --
MS TRUDEAU: Yes.
QUESTION: -- the government has yet to agree?
MS TRUDEAU: I believe that is correct.
QUESTION: Okay, thank you.
QUESTION: And Elizabeth, did you think that the Secretary coordinated with the government before his announcement or not? And do you think that there is a coordination between the Saudis and the government, the Yemeni Government, in this regard too?
MS TRUDEAU: Okay. So in terms of the coordination between the Saudis and the government, I'd refer you to those parties. Where we are working is with the UN special envoy in his role to facilitate the communication between the parties.
QUESTION: But how can he announce such an agreement or ceasefire --
MS TRUDEAU: What he announced was that we have made significant progress towards that roadmap, towards the UN roadmap, looking at a November 17th date; that he had had constructive engagements with the Houthis about this; and that we believe there's a path forward.
QUESTION: But it's not – this issue is not related to the Houthis only.
MS TRUDEAU: Well no, of course. And that's what we've said and we continue to work with the UN special envoy as he continues to talk with all parties to move towards that November 17th date.
QUESTION: And why don't you talk to the Yemeni Government directly as the Secretary talked to the Houthis directly?
MS TRUDEAU: So the conversation that the Secretary had with the Houthis was to talk about that UN roadmap. In terms of conversation directly with the Yemeni Government, we believe that's the role of the UN special envoy and we direct you there.
QUESTION: And it's not the role of the UN special envoy to talk to the Houthis too?
MS TRUDEAU: We believe that it was important to talk to the Houthis as we move forward and try and move to that 17th to get that cessation of hostilities to create a roadmap going forward under the UN auspices.
QUESTION: As you know, the Houthis get significant support from abroad. Has the Secretary been in touch with Foreign Minister Zarif?
MS TRUDEAU: I have no calls to read out on that.
QUESTION: So you don't know then if the Houthis' main sponsor is also onboard? It's not just the Yemeni Government that is not yet onboard, but you don't know whether the --
MS TRUDEAU: The Secretary had direct engagement with the Houthis regarding the path forward on this. They have accepted the UN roadmap as the path forward, so we take their word for it.
QUESTION: Do you happen to know how many times the Secretary has had direct contact with this – with the Houthis, Houthi leaders?
MS TRUDEAU: Actually, I don't. I do note it's unusual. I can check though.
QUESTION: It's – yeah. I don't know that he's ever had himself. I know that there have been contacts, but is this the first?
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah. I don't believe that, but we'll check. And if he has before, then I'll get back to you.
QUESTION: Where did he meet with them? In Oman or UAE?
MS TRUDEAU: He met with them last night, so that was in Oman.
QUESTION: And do you have the names of the --
QUESTION: Can we go to Syria?
MS TRUDEAU: Hold on one second. I do not.
QUESTION: -- of the Houthi representatives?
MS TRUDEAU: I do not. Why don't we go to Syria?
QUESTION: Yemen? A quick Yemeni --
MS TRUDEAU: Of course on Yemen.
QUESTION: Right. I'm just confused, trying to clarify. The 17, the date of the November 17th – who proposed it?
MS TRUDEAU: I believe this came out actually of the discussions that the Secretary had, noting, as Matt has pointed out, that there's still some granularity, that there's work to do moving towards that – that cessation. But we believe we have a path forward on this.
QUESTION: (Off-mike.)
QUESTION: Was it premature, do you think? Sorry.
MS TRUDEAU: No, I don't believe it was premature. I think – I think with the Houthis' agreement on this, this was a significant step.
Are we moving to Syria? Go ahead.
QUESTION: Can we do Syria? Yeah. Could you update us? Apparently, the Russians resumed bombardment of Idlib and these areas although not in the Aleppo area. Could you first update us on what the situation is and if there has been any kind of contact with the Russians on this issue?
MS TRUDEAU: Okay. So we have seen that. We strongly condemn the resumption of airstrikes in Syria by the Russians as well as the Syrian regime. The most recent reported attacks are on five hospitals and one mobile clinic in Syria. We believe it's a violation of international law.
It's also worth noting – and I would say this as an aside – but noting our focus has been on the delivery of aid, is that despite Russian claims that it halted airstrikes in the past month, Russia allowed no aid or food into east Aleppo; they let eastern Aleppo residents starve while seeking praise from the international community for halting indiscriminate strikes for three weeks.
We have consistently tried to work to de-escalate the violence in Syria. We're at the table again in Geneva on that today. And we've consistently pushed for the provision of humanitarian aid to these civilians suffering under siege. Instead of joining us constructively to reach that goal, Russia again has backed the Assad regime in their ruthless war against the Syrian people.
QUESTION: You're saying that they have halted aid during the times --
MS TRUDEAU: They did not permit the facilitation --
QUESTION: How did they do that? How did they do that physically? I mean, did they like have barricades? Did they stop the – obstructed the roads and --
MS TRUDEAU: In terms of – they did not facilitate the access. They worked with their partners in the regime to block the aid.
QUESTION: What specifically did --
QUESTION: Okay. There are also reports --
MS TRUDEAU: Hold on one second.
QUESTION: Yeah. Yeah, go ahead, and I'll follow up on you.
QUESTION: And just on this one, I mean, what specifically did Russia do in this latest bombing campaign that you're saying is a violation of international law?
MS TRUDEAU: Well, it's – we're taking a look at what Russia is hitting. It's hitting mobile clinics. It's hitting hospitals. Again, it's denying aid. We've said this repeatedly: Russia had an opportunity here to facilitate aid and food and medicine to these people under siege. It failed to do so.
QUESTION: But is the – is – when you're saying it's a violation of international law, are you talking about something they have specifically done as part of this resumption of airstrikes, whether it's the hitting of hospitals, or are you saying this is just what they've been up to?
MS TRUDEAU: The set of actions that they have taken within the last weeks.
QUESTION: Over the last many weeks?
MS TRUDEAU: Yes.
Said.
QUESTION: According to the UN --
QUESTION: Are you surprised?
MS TRUDEAU: We've talked a lot about Russia's actions and their words. Russia, for three weeks, made a significant point of saying that it had halted bombardment of Aleppo.
QUESTION: Yeah.
MS TRUDEAU: And had broadcast that through it's various platforms and various outlets. The resumption of airstrikes today I won't say is a surprise; it's certainly a disappointment.
QUESTION: But they did say that they – that these pauses were temporary in nature and they kept being extended. And then --
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, with the idea that it would be for aid access, which did not happen.
QUESTION: Right. And then it – right. And then they did tell – make the announcement that everyone should leave that part of the city. That doesn't make it any – that doesn't mitigate it --
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah. Warning civilians that you're going to bomb them doesn't make bombing civilians (inaudible).
QUESTION: I'm not suggesting that it does. I'm just asking you that --
MS TRUDEAU: Correct.
QUESTION: -- you don't think that that's a mitigating factor.
QUESTION: So does this mean it has yet --
MS TRUDEAU: Hold on. One second, Lesley. I want to go to Said, because we --
QUESTION: No, I – stay on Syria. Just very, very quickly – now, they're making a separation between bombing Aleppo and bombing Idlib. You don't make that separation. You think that's part of the same campaign.
MS TRUDEAU: We think bombing civilians --
QUESTION: Yeah.
MS TRUDEAU: Yes.
QUESTION: But it's one – it's part of the same campaign.
MS TRUDEAU: Yes.
QUESTION: The same Russian aerial bombardment campaign. And my last question is: It seems that areas under government control is also suffering from lack of aid and so on, according to the United Nations. Do you have any information on that? There is --
MS TRUDEAU: I don't. On that, that would be best a question for the UN. Civilians need aid, period.
Lesley, I'm sorry to cut you off.
QUESTION: No, no, not at all. Have you raised your thoughts with the Russians, if you are talking in --
MS TRUDEAU: So we continue to have these discussions in Geneva.
QUESTION: Was it raised with them there?
MS TRUDEAU: Yes.
QUESTION: It was?
MS TRUDEAU: Yes.
QUESTION: So – wait. Today?
MS TRUDEAU: We met in Geneva --
QUESTION: Today?
MS TRUDEAU: -- on the issue of – the issue of the possibility of strikes – I'm not sure on the timing, because I believe the strikes happened while they were still meeting in Geneva. We've raised the issue of bombardment. Let me check the exact timing and see if it came up today.
QUESTION: Well, but, wait – but I mean, you can't say that --
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah. So we were meeting in Geneva. We talked about the issue --
QUESTION: There was a meeting underway when the resumption of the attacks happened?
MS TRUDEAU: I want to check the exact timing on that. Okay.
QUESTION: Okay.
QUESTION: Iraq?
MS TRUDEAU: Are we done on Syria?
QUESTION: Well, I just want to go back to the – not the point that I made yesterday, but my question from yesterday. If they were, in fact, in the middle of a meeting – how can you say that these meetings are accomplishing anything when in the middle of it the bombardment resumes?
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah. We believe that Russia and the Syrian regime's actions are inexcusable. However, we still believe that the only way forward is a political resolution and that resolution will happen through multilateral talks.
QUESTION: Right. But these multilateral talks are not aimed a political resolution. They're – I thought they were aimed at trying to get the ceasefire back.
MS TRUDEAU: It is. A ceasefire, aid delivery, creating the space --
QUESTION: I know. But these meetings --
MS TRUDEAU: -- to have that political resolution.
QUESTION: But the meetings in Geneva are not aimed at – I mean, they are ultimately aimed at restarting the political talks.
MS TRUDEAU: They are.
QUESTION: But in the immediate term they're supposed to be for the ceasefire, right?
MS TRUDEAU: That's correct. But we do view this as a sequence of steps.
QUESTION: I get that. But you're still saying that these meetings are worthwhile.
MS TRUDEAU: We do.
QUESTION: And I don't understand how you can say that if in the very middle of the meeting the attacks begin again.
MS TRUDEAU: We continue to believe it's important to talk.
QUESTION: Okay.
QUESTION: And when will you be ready to withdraw from --
MS TRUDEAU: I'm not going to get ahead of that, Michel.
QUESTION: And --
MS TRUDEAU: One more.
QUESTION: Well, I was trying to figure out – can we just clarify, at what level are these discussions again?
MS TRUDEAU: They're working level.
QUESTION: So if you say --
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.
QUESTION: I mean, is Ratney there? Is the special envoy there?
MS TRUDEAU: At this stage, it's working-level discussions. It's my understanding that the special envoy is not in Geneva right now.
QUESTION: But what are the achievements of these meetings or of these groups?
MS TRUDEAU: We talked about this at length yesterday, Michel.
QUESTION: But we didn't get it yet. If there is no results yet and they are still meeting, what's the purpose of meeting without achieving anything?
MS TRUDEAU: We actually spent about 20 minutes unpacking this yesterday. We are not saying that these discussions in Geneva are coming to an immediate conclusion or an immediate win, but we continue to believe that this is the best path forward – is a discussion in a multilateral setting. And we'll stay at the table until we believe it's not the case.
QUESTION: The U.S. ambassador in Iraq visited Erbil over the weekend.
MS TRUDEAU: He did.
QUESTION: Could you give us a readout on his meeting, please?
MS TRUDEAU: I did. I believe you might have seen the embassy in Baghdad actually issued a statement on this today, but I'm happy to recap it. Ambassador Silliman did visit the Iraq Kurdistan region yesterday. The ambassador was accompanied by the Deputy Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, Terry Wolff. The ambassador met separately with President Barzani and other IKR officials to discuss progress in the battle against Daesh, U.S. support for the Peshmerga, and the IDP situation in the area. The ambassador praised the sacrifices and the bravery of the Peshmerga and thanked the leaders for their support of the more than 1 million IDPs and refugees who have come to the IKR. Ambassador Silliman also encouraged the Kurdish leaders to continue what we see as productive dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad to address outstanding issues.
QUESTION: And while he was there, he gave a press conference, asked – answered a reporter's question, saying he was confident that Peshmerga forces would return to their pre-ISIS positions once ISIS is defeated. Was that just an opinion he was expressing or a formal policy that you intend to enforce?
MS TRUDEAU: Well, I think we've spoken about this before. The Peshmerga themselves have said that and we would hold them to their word.
QUESTION: Well, there are, kind of, changing circumstances in that a lot has happened – a lot of bloodshed, a lot of animosity. In fact, the CIA director, John Brennan, has expressed skepticism that Iraq can ever be put back together again. And I'm wondering if that – if you still remain firmly committed to that or there's room for negotiations between Baghdad?
MS TRUDEAU: No, we remain firmly committed to that.
QUESTION: Do you think that will continue in the new administration?
MS TRUDEAU: Again, I would refer you to the president-elect's team to discuss any of his policies for the next administration.
QUESTION: Can I go to the Palestinian-Israeli issue?
MS TRUDEAU: Sure.
QUESTION: Very quickly, I have a quick question. We discussed this a couple weeks ago – I think Matt raised it on the – this barring BDS supporters and so on from entering Israel. Well, it passed its first reading yesterday and so on, and in fact, they were called by former Israeli Minister of Justice Livni – Tzipi Livni called it McCarthyism and we should allow everybody in, and that would actually help the BDS movement. Do you have any comment on all this? I mean, I know you said that you don't interfere, but I wanted to know if you do have a position.
MS TRUDEAU: Well, I guess I – yeah, I'd reiterate what – I think it was Mark who briefed --
QUESTION: Right.
MS TRUDEAU: -- that day where we spoke about this. We're aware of the various reactions to the proposed bill to bar pro-BDS activists from entering Israel. We understand. I'd also note that the legislation requires several more steps before becoming law. The United States strong opposition to boycott and sanctions of the state of Israel is well known, however, as a general principle, we value freedom of expression even in cases where we do not agree with the views espoused. In terms of where the legislation is and the local reaction in the Israeli community, I'd refer you to Israel.
QUESTION: What should, let's say, Americans of Palestinian descent that are active on these issues – when they go to, let's say, and they land at Tel Aviv airport and so on, and they're barred from entering the country or held, what should they do? What should the – what do you advise them to do in this case?
MS TRUDEAU: Well, I think we've spoken about this before --
QUESTION: Right.
MS TRUDEAU: -- and we've spoken about our conversations with Israel and treating all Americans equally on that. And while every country has a right to control its borders, we certainly support the freedom of expression even when we don't agree with the policy.
QUESTION: Thank you.
QUESTION: Elizabeth, on the U.S. tanks that appeared in the --
MS TRUDEAU: The armored personnel carriers?
QUESTION: Yeah.
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.
QUESTION: Any update on it?
MS TRUDEAU: So we actually have been looking into it, so thanks for that, because I did want to update you. We take any allegations of end-use violations seriously – in Lebanon, in Syria, anywhere around the world. Our embassy in Beirut is working with the Lebanese armed forces to investigate the images circulating on social media purporting to show Hizballah displaying U.S. military equipment in Syria.
We'd note that the Lebanese military has publicly stated that the M113s depicted online in the Hizballah military parade were never part of their equipment roster. We'd also note the vehicles in the photos that you can see circulating on Twitter are extremely common in the region. The M113s are old. They're found in a number of different countries' militaries in the region. Identifying their origin is difficult, something that we have not yet assessed exactly at this period of time. However, we continue to work closely with our colleagues within the Pentagon and the intelligence community and will update you either later this week or later as soon as we come to a conclusion.
QUESTION: And --
QUESTION: So what countries have them in their --
QUESTION: Yeah.
QUESTION: What countries in the region --
MS TRUDEAU: So I actually – I asked that, and apparently it's a number of countries in the region, and these apparently also – it's things I did not know about M113s – is they can last for decades. They can last upwards – 40, 50 years. So as we continue to take a look at these images that were circulating on social media, we'll drill down; we'll see if we can identify it by the configurations of the tanks, things like that.
QUESTION: Right. Well, bravo. I'm glad that they last long. It's another testament to American manufacturing.
MS TRUDEAU: Thank you. Thank you. Buy American, Matt.
QUESTION: Exactly. (Laughter.) Well, so Hizballah should buy American? Is that what you're saying?
MS TRUDEAU: Or not, yeah.
QUESTION: Well, wait a second. I --
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.
QUESTION: You say "a number of countries." Can you name them or at least give --
MS TRUDEAU: At this stage, I don't want to get ahead of it, because we're still looking.
QUESTION: Well, how many? What's the number?
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, I will say several. We're still looking --
QUESTION: Three, four, five?
MS TRUDEAU: I'm not going to characterize it.
QUESTION: It's not like – well then, how – but how can you come and say a number of countries and then not --
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah. As soon as we have more granularity, more details – but I will say, as I mentioned yesterday, that we're actively looking at this. It is of concern, as end use is anywhere around the world. And as soon as I have something more, I'll update you guys.
QUESTION: I think Israel has some, but I think they're probably unlikely to be Hizballah's supply.
QUESTION: Is it conceivable that they are actually old Iranian tanks from the shah days?
MS TRUDEAU: Again, I'm just not in a position to --
QUESTION: But do you suspect that? Do you suspect that they may have been old Iranian tanks that have found their way to Lebanon?
MS TRUDEAU: Again, I'm not in a position to sort of judge hypotheticals like that. We're looking into it. As soon as I have an update, you guys will get it.
QUESTION: Did the U.S. deliver such arms to Iraq, to the Iraqi Government, lately?
MS TRUDEAU: Again, we're taking a look. We'll get back to you as soon as we have more, Michel.
Anything?
QUESTION: Yes.
QUESTION: The other question: Does --
MS TRUDEAU: Of course.
QUESTION: -- the Iraqi Government have the same kind of tanks?
MS TRUDEAU: These are questions in terms of that sort of capability that, as we take a look at the photos that were circulating on social media, we'll be able to narrow it down. I just don't have an answer for you.
QUESTION: Elizabeth, three weeks ago Kirby told us that the ICC has made a valuable contribution to the service of accountability in a number of situations. This was in reference to African countries – a handful of them withdrawing cooperation from the ICC. Now the chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, says she's investigating U.S. military and the CIA for potential war crimes in Afghanistan. Will you cooperate with this investigation? Do you find it helpful, a valuable contribution to the service of accountability?
MS TRUDEAU: So I think you're talking about the preliminary examination report of the Office of the Prosecutor. Obviously, we're aware of the report. I'd note the United States is deeply committed to complying with the law of war. We have a robust national system of investigation and accountability that is as good as any country in the world. We do not believe that an ICC examination or investigation with respect to the actions of U.S. personnel in relation to the situation in Afghanistan is warranted or appropriate. As we previously noted, the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute and has not consented to ICC jurisdiction.
QUESTION: Is that the reason that it's inappropriate, because you're not a member?
MS TRUDEAU: We – for that and for other reasons. We do not believe it's warranted or appropriate.
QUESTION: Well, Sudan says that – Sudan is not a member.
MS TRUDEAU: What --
QUESTION: And it says that the indictment of its president is not appropriate or warranted. What's the difference?
MS TRUDEAU: Well, we have a robust system of accountability. It is longstanding U.S. policy, and you guys see this every day. Kirby, I think, of anyone, speaks about the accountability of U.S. military systems. Though when credible allegations of wrongdoing by U.S. forces are made, an investigation is undertaken so appropriate actions may be taken.
QUESTION: So the reason that this is not hypocritical is because one, you're not a member, and two, you conduct investigations and hold people accountable on your own and don't need the International Criminal Court to --
MS TRUDEAU: Well, as you said, we're not a member, we're not subject to ICC jurisdiction and we also do have a robust system --
QUESTION: Right.
MS TRUDEAU: -- of national accountability.
QUESTION: So I think you're saying --
MS TRUDEAU: Correct.
QUESTION: -- yes, that those are the reasons.
MS TRUDEAU: Correct.
QUESTION: One, you're not a member, and two, you handle these kinds of investigations on your own.
MS TRUDEAU: Correct.
QUESTION: But I don't understand how those two things – I mean, there are lots of countries that aren't members – and when you say that it's a bad thing or a negative thing for African countries to want to leave because they think it's unfair and then say – and then give this as your reasoning for why it's inappropriate for the ICC to look into these allegations, do you not see how that opens the way – opens the door to --
MS TRUDEAU: Well, I would say, as we said --
QUESTION: -- people saying that you're – that there's a double standard here?
MS TRUDEAU: Well, we have engaged with the ICC and we've supported ICC investigations and prosecution of cases that we believe advance our values in accordance with U.S. law. I understand your point, but we hold ourselves accountable more than – I wouldn't say more than any other country, but we hold ourselves to the highest possible standards when it comes – we believe that we have national systems of accountability that are more than sufficient.
QUESTION: But if --
QUESTION: Okay, but there's been criticism, though --
MS TRUDEAU: I'm aware.
QUESTION: -- of the national system of accountability that – and do you reject that as being --
MS TRUDEAU: No, we --
QUESTION: -- unfair criticism?
MS TRUDEAU: We – what I would say is that we do an extraordinary job of investigating and of holding those accountable -- investigating credible allegations, holding ourselves accountable, holding our personnel accountable, and closing investigations in a manner that serves justice.
QUESTION: So in these – with these specific allegations that the prosecutors say that they were looking into, people have been held – there have been investigations and people have been held accountable for --
MS TRUDEAU: On specific investigations on issues like that, especially the ones in this report, I am going to have to refer you to the Department of Defense. I can speak broadly about our view on this report.
QUESTION: Right, but the – you're saying that the ICC doesn't need to or shouldn't investigate this, because the U.S. has its own system, so I'm --
MS TRUDEAU: We have extensively examined the conduct of our own forces in Afghanistan, for example.
QUESTION: And determined what?
MS TRUDEAU: We have made public reports on detention operations, we have extensively examined our own activities, we have been as transparent as possible.
QUESTION: Right, but the findings were – and people were or were not held accountable for any abuses?
MS TRUDEAU: In many cases, people were held accountable. Yes.
QUESTION: They were? Okay.
MS TRUDEAU: Yeah. I'm sorry, Dave.
QUESTION: Yeah, so you said that you have in the past cooperated with similar ICC investigations into other countries where you see an opportunity to advance American values.
MS TRUDEAU: Correct.
QUESTION: So you're selectively using the ICC as a tool of foreign policy, rather than as justice.
MS TRUDEAU: No, I would say that we – as I said, that we cooperate with the ICC, we support the ICC. We believe the ICC, as we have made clear --
QUESTION: You support the ICC's investigation of other countries.
MS TRUDEAU: We have supported the ICC when we believe in cases, for example, of accusations of genocide where you have these grave violations of – grave atrocities on this, but we're not a signatory to the Rome statute; we are not members. We have our own system of accountability.
QUESTION: Right. Does that undermine your case for asking, for example, African countries to cooperate with us?
MS TRUDEAU: We've raised our concerns. When countries --
QUESTION: Your concerns bear little weight since you yourself would not put yourself under their jurisdiction.
MS TRUDEAU: Well, when we did raise concerns, we've always been clear that we ourselves are not signatories.
QUESTION: You were a signatory at one point.
MS TRUDEAU: Well, we --
QUESTION: Not a ratifier.
MS TRUDEAU: Not a ratifier. Thank you.
QUESTION: I have --
MS TRUDEAU: One more.
QUESTION: I don't know if this was addressed before. Maybe you did or there was a statement over the weekend and I missed it, but Hong Kong? And --
MS TRUDEAU: I haven't, so if you --
QUESTION: Yes.
MS TRUDEAU: -- if you want to ask about them.
QUESTION: The removal of these legislatures on the oath issue.
MS TRUDEAU: Okay. We are aware of reports that a Hong Kong court has disqualified two legislator-elects who altered the wording of their --
QUESTION: I think it's legislators-elect.
MS TRUDEAU: What did I say? Legislators – did I put the plural on the wrong --
QUESTION: It's like attorneys general.
MS TRUDEAU: Thank you. Legislators-elect who altered the wording of their oaths of office. The United States strongly supports and values Hong Kong's legislative council and independent judiciary, two institutions that play a critically important role in promoting and protecting the special administrative region's high degree of autonomy under Basic Law and the "one country, two systems" framework that has been in place since 1997. We believe that an open society with the highest possible degree of autonomy and governed by the rule of law is essential for Hong Kong's continued stability and prosperity as a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China.
QUESTION: Okay, maybe I missed it. So you think that – you don't like this action by the court?
MS TRUDEAU: We believe that the Chinese and the Hong Kong SAR government and all elected politicians in Hong Kong should refrain from any actions that fuel concern or undermine confidence in the "one country, two systems" principle.
QUESTION: So does that mean that you – that altering the oath, you're opposed to, or that the court stripping them of their office is of concern? Which or both?
MS TRUDEAU: Both. We --
QUESTION: So you don't like the fact that they changed the oath and you don't like the fact that the court ruled the way it did.
MS TRUDEAU: We believed that – actually, both. So one, it was an independent – the independent legislative council, the independent judiciary, we believe played that important role. But we also call on both the Hong Kong politicians as well as the Chinese Government.
QUESTION: Can I have a quick Hong Kong question?
MS TRUDEAU: Sure.
QUESTION: The student advocate Joshua Wong is coming in Washington, and he's supposed to be in Congress tomorrow. Is there any plan from this building? Anyone is meeting with him?
MS TRUDEAU: I have no meetings to read out for his visit. If that changes, I'll let you know.
QUESTION: Thank you.
MS TRUDEAU: Thanks, guys.
QUESTION: Thanks.
(The briefing was concluded at 2:41 p.m.)
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