Ensuring Digital Signature Lawfulness for Personal Leave Policy in United States

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TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST . >>> GOOD AFTERNOON. AT THE RISK OF DISAPPOINTING EVERYONE, I DON'T HAVE ANY OPENING COMMENTS, SO, MATT, LET'S START -- >> DISAPPOINTING US. >> A BIT FACETIOUS ON MY PART, PERHAPS. >> ALL RIGHT. LET'S JUST START IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ONE, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOU'RE EXPECTING OUT OF THIS MEETING FROM DERMER AND SECRETARY? >> YEAH. SO, LATER THIS AFTERNOON THE SECRETARY WILL MEET WITH RON DERMER, MINISTER FOR STRATEGIC AFFAIRS FOR THE GOVERNOR OF ISRAEL AND THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER. HE WILL DISCUSS OUR ONGOING WORK TO TRY TO REACH A CEASE-FIRE THAT WILL SECURE THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES, SECURE HUMANITARIAN ISSUE. THEY WILL DISCUSS THE SITUATION NORTH OF ISRAEL ALONG THE BORDER WITH LEBANON, DISCUSS OUR ONGOING WORK, EVEN ABSENT TRYING TO SECURE A CEASE-FIRE TO TRY TO GET HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO GAZA AND WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ACCELERATE THAT PROCESS, AMONG A HOST OF OTHER ISSUES THAT WE DISCUSS EVERY TIME WE MEET WITH PEOPLE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL. >> WHEN IT RELATES TO THE, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, NORTH OF LEBANON -- >> ISRAEL. >> NORTH OF ISRAEL, YES. >> SOUTH OF LEBANON. >> WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE NORTH OF LEBANON IF YOU WANT. >> SURE. YOU COULD PROBABLY TALK ABOUT YOUR TRIPS TO IT. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NORTH OF ISRAEL ON THE LEBANESE BORDER. WHAT IS THE SITUATION THERE, AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT? IS THERE SOME KIND OF -- IS THERE SOME KIND OF OPERATION THAT'S GOING TO BE MOUNTED ANY TIME SOON? IF THERE IS, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IT? >> SO, WE HAVE MADE QUITE CLEAR THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE ESCALATION OF THIS CONFLICT. HEZBOLLAH HAS INCREASED THE NUMBER OF CROSS-BORDER ATTACKS OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. YOU'VE SEEN DRAMATIC ATTACKS TARGETING CIVILIAN COMMUNITIES. MATT, I HATE TO INTERRUPT. THERE'S A COCKROACH ON THE WALL OVER YOUR HEAD THERE. MAYBE NEED -- WELL, WE'LL DEFER THAT TO -- NO INSECTICIDE OR ROACHACIDE. >> I'LL GO GET IT AS SOON AS YOU FINISH. >> YEAH, YEAH. SORRY TO BE DISTRACTING, BUT IT'S A RATHER LARGE ONE. >> DO I HAVE TO GET RID OF IT NOW? >> NO, NO. LET ME GO AHEAD AND FINISH. WE'VE SEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN ATTACKS ACROSS THE BORDER. I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID ANYTHING BECAUSE NOW THE ROOM IS GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME FOCUSING ON THE VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGES I HAVE TO DELIVER HERE. BACK TO WHERE WE WERE. BACK TO WHERE WE WERE. WE'VE BEEN EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SITUATION IN THE NORTH OF ISRAEL. WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THE CONFLICT ESCALATE. WE HAVE SEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN STRIKES BY HEZBOLLAH ACROSS THE BORDER TARGETING ISRAELI VILLAGES, CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE, AND SO WE HAVE BEEN PURSUING A DIPLOMATIC RESOLUTION TO TRY TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO FURTHER ESCALATION. THAT'S WHAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO PURSUE. >> WELL, YEAH, BUT, I MEAN, HAVE YOU TOLD THEM, THE ISRAELIS OR THE LEBANESE, THAT, YOU KNOW -- WELL, HAVE YOU TOLD THEM ANYTHING? >> SO, WE'VE HAD INTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH BOTH GOVERNMENTS ABOUT THIS. IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR OF ISRAEL, AND I'M SURE THE SECRETARY WILL GO OVER WITH THE TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE GOVERNMENT HERE TODAY. WE HAVE MADE CLEAR THAT OUR PREFERENCE IS TO SEE A DIPLOMATIC RESOLUTION. THEY HAVE SAID TO US THAT THEY WANT TO SEE A DIPLOMATIC RESOLUTION TO THIS CONFLICT. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO PURSUE. >> HAVE THE ISRAELIS TOLD YOU THEY'RE ABOUT TO LAUNCH SOME KIND OF A STRIKE? >> THEY HAVE NOT. [ APPLAUSE ] >> SOLVES THAT PROBLEM. >> RIGHT. I MEAN, IS THAT THE -- >> I'M NOT GOING TO -- I'M NOT GOING TO ENGAGE IN ANY METAPHORS HERE. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO -- >> I MEAN, SO HAVE YOU TOLD THE ISRAELIS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO -- THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THEM OR HELP THEM IF THEY DECIDE TO GO IN? >> WE HAVE MADE CLEAR WE WANT TO SEE A DIPLOMATIC RESOLUTION. >> THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M ASKING. >> I THINK I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT. >> ALL RIGHT. THANKS. >> AFTER THE VISIT TO ISRAEL AND LEBANON, IS IT FAIR TO SAY THE DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION HAS FAILED? >> I DON'T THINK SO. WE CONTINUE TO PURSUE ACTIVE DIPLOMACY TO KEEP THIS CONFLICT FROM ESCALATING. YOU HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, THE BEST WAY TO UNLOCK THE POSSIBILITY OF A RESOLUTION ALONG THE ISRAEL/LEBANESE BORDER WOULD BE ACHIEVING A CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA. AND WE CONTINUE TO ACTIVELY PURSUE A CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA, PRIMARILY FOR -- TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERING OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE IN GAZA AND TO SECURE THE RETURN OF HOSTAGES. BUT A VERY IMPORTANT SIDE EFFECT, WE ASSESS, WOULD BE MAKING IT MUCH EASIER TO ACHIEVE A CEASE-FIRE AND DIPLOMATIC RESOLUTION ALONG THE ISR ISRAEL/LEBANON BORDER. THAT SAID, WE'RE NOT WAITING FOR A CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA. WE'RE CONTINUING TO PURSUE DIPLOMACY BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO. AGAIN, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO REACH SUCH A RESOLUTION WHILE THE CONFLICT IN GAZA CONTINUES AT THE PACE IT IS TODAY. >> AND DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON HEZBOLLAH GENERAL'S SPEECH YESTERDAY AND THE THREAT TO CYPRESS? AND DID THE SECRETARY DISCUSS THIS TOPIC WITH CYPRESS FOREIGN MINISTER IN THEIR CALL YESTERDAY? >> SO, THE MEETING HE HAD WITH THE GOVERNOR OF CYPRESS WAS TWO DAYS AGO SO IT WAS BEFORE THE SPEECH -- THE HEZBOLLAH SPEECH YOU REFERRED TO. SO, NO, THEY DIDN'T DISCUSS IT BECAUSE IT HADN'T HAPPENED YET. THOSE COMMENTS ARE EXTREMELY UNPRODUCTIVE AND HEZBOLLAH SHOULD CEASE MAKING THREATS AGAINST ANYONE. OUR PREFERENCE WOULD BE FOR HEZBOLLAH TO MAKE A DIPLOMATIC RESOLUTION INSTEAD OF MAKING THREATS AGAINST OTHER COUNTRIES THAT ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THIS CONFLICT AT ALL, ARE NOT A PRODUCTIVE STEP FOR THEM TO BE TAKING. >> THANK YOU. >> TO KEEP ON THE LEBANON BORDER ISSUE, THIS HAS NOW BECOME A GREATER FOCUS OF YOUR DIPLOMACY, LIKE THE MEETINGS THIS AFTERNOON, THAN THE SITUATION IN GAZA? THIS SEEMS TO HAVE REALLY HEIGHTENED IN TERMS OF THE RHETORIC COMING FROM BOTH SIDES, YOU KNOW, DO YOU SEE THIS AS A SORT OF -- THE PRIORITY IS NOW AVOIDING A BROADER CONFLICT? >> NO, THEY CONTINUE TO BE EQUALLY IMPORTANT PRIORITIES. THEY HAVE BEEN FROM THE BEGINNING. WE HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY FOCUSED ON THE SITUATION IN GAZA SINCE RIGHT AFTER OCTOBER 7th. BUT IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT WHAT THE SECRETARY SAID IN HIS FIRST VISIT TO THE REGION, WHAT WE SAID IN REALLY EVERY TRIP, KEEPING THE CONFLICT FROM ESCALATING HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR OVERRIDING STRATEGIC GOALS. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS MORE OF A CHANCE OF CONFLICT AND ESCALATING THAN OTHERS. THERE WAS TIME WHEN THERE WAS DIRECT FIRE AGAINST THE STATE OF ISRAEL FROM INSIDE IRAN. WE'VE SEEN THE PACE OF ATTACKS ACROSS THE LEBANESE BORDER KIND OF RISE AND FALL OVER TIME. BUT THAT OVERRIDING STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE HAS BEEN THERE FROM THE BEGINNING FOR US. WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON BOTH. THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, BUT I WOULD JUST SAY I WOULDN'T -- THE NUMBER OF QUESTIONS WE GET ABOUT ANY ONE TOPIC IS NOT ALWAYS INDICATIVE OF ACTUAL WORK GOING ON INSIDE THE GOVERNMENT. WE CONTINUE TO WORK TO PURSUE A CEASE-FIRE. THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS GOING ON BETWEEN OUR GOVERNMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT OF -- THE GOVERNMENTS OF ISRAEL, EGYPT AND QATAR IN A WAY FOR THAT CEASE-FIRE TO GET THE HOSTAGES HOME, ALLEVIATES THE SUFFERING OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE BUT I WOULDN'T RANK THEM IN ANY SORT OF ORDER. >> ON THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT, OTHER THAN THIS FALLOUT FROM THE VIDEO THAT PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU MADE, TALKING ABOUT WHAT SECRETARY BLINKEN SAID TO HIM IN THAT MEETING. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY -- THE ADMINISTRATION HAS SPOKEN ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, AND SAID SOME PARTS OF IT ARE NOT TRUE. I JUST WANT TO GET YOUR RESPONSE BECAUSE THE LATEST COMMENT FROM THE PRIME MINISTER, HE'S SAYING, YOU KNOW, HE'S WILLING TO ABSORB PERSONAL ATTACKS, HE CALLS THEM PERSONAL ATTACKS, APPARENTLY IN A REFERENCE TO THE WAY THE ADMINISTRATION HAS RESPONDED TO THIS VIDEO, IN ORDER TO GET THE WEAPONS THAT ISRAEL NEEDS FOR ITS SURVIVAL. SO, HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THIS KIND OF -- THERE SEEMS TO BE A CONTINUING DISCORD BETWEEN THE WAY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS AND SPECIFICALLY ON THE ISSUE OF WHETHER YOU'RE PROVIDING ISRAEL WITH THEIR NEEDS? >> I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER IS TALKING ABOUT OR WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS WHAT THE SECRETARY TOLD THE PRIME MINISTER DIRECTLY IN HIS MEETING IN ISRAEL LAST WEEK, WHICH IS THAT OUR COMMITMENT TO ISRAEL'S SECURITY IS SACROSANCT. WE HAVE PROVED THAT NOT JUST WITH WORDS, BUT WITH DEEDS. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S PRODUCTIVE TO ENGAGE IN AN INTENSE PUBLIC BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THIS. SO, WE WILL JUST LET OUR ACTIONS CONTINUE TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES AS THEY HAVE SINCE OCTOBER 7th. >> STAYING ON LEBANON, YOU AND OTHER U.S. OFFICIALS HAVE MADE CLEAR THAT YOU DON'T WANT A SECOND FRONT TO OPEN, BUT HOW LIKELY AT THIS STAGE DO YOU BELIEVE THAT A NEW CONFRONTATION BETWEEN AND LEBANON AND ISRAEL -- >> I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU ANY ASSESSMENT OF LIKELIHOOD. I WOULD SAY IT'S AN INTENSE CONCERN OF OURS. HAS BEEN FOR SOME TIME. AS I HAVE SAID, THERE HAVE BEEN MORE CONCERNS, IT'S NEVER GONE AWAY. BUT WHENEVER YOU SEE INCREASE IN STRIKES ACROSS THE BORDER THAT MAGNIFIES OUR CONCERN AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. OF COURSE WE HAVE INTENSE CONCERNS ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE PURSUING DIPLOMACY TO TRY TO ACHIEVE A RESOLUTION. >> A U.S. OFFICIAL TOLD US ISRAEL HASN'T COME CLOSE TO THEIR STATED OBJECTIVE OF DESTROYING HAMAS IN GAZA. DOES THE U.S. BELIEVE THEY ARE CAPABLE OF SUCCEEDING MILITARILY AGAINST HEZBOLLAH WITH OR WITHOUT AMERICAN SUPPORT? >> AGAINST HEZBOLLAH? I JUST DON'T WANT TO OFFER ANY KIND OF ASSESSMENT ABOUT A CONFLICT WE HOPE NEVER HAPPENS IN THE FIRST PLACE. >> WELL, YOU MAY BE MORE PERSUASIVE IF YOU POINT OUT IT'S NOT ONE -- >> WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT SORT OF THING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S HELPFUL FOR ME TO -- >> JUST BECAUSE SO MUCH HAS BEEN PREDICATED OR BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY THE U.S. DIPLOMATIC PUSH TO ACHIEVE A CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA, WHERE DO THOSE TALKS STAND? HAVE MEDIATORS ENGAGED -- RE-ENGAGED WITH HAMAS TO GET A READ ON WHAT THE BRIDGEABLE GAPS ARE AT THIS STAGE? >> WE ARE ENGAGING IN CONVERSATIONS, AS I SAID A MOMENT AGO, WITH THE GOVERNMENTS OF EGYPT, ISRAEL AND QATAR ABOUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD, RESPONDING TO THE PROPOSAL THAT HAMAS MADE LAST WEEK, TO TRY TO COME TO A RESOLUTION THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL ENDORSED AND WHAT COUNTRIES ACROSS THE WORLD HAVE SIGNED UP TO. BUT I DON'T THINK AT THIS POINT IT'S HELPFUL FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT THOSE CONVERSATIONS IN DETAIL. >> THERE'S BEEN NO RE-ENGAGEMENT WITH HAMAS, EITHER -- >> I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THAT PUBLICLY RIGHT NOW. >> I HAVE ONE MORE ON UKRAINE. >> WE'LL COME BACK. >> WHILE WE'RE ON HEZBOLLAH, CAN I JUST ASK IF YOU CAN KIND OF GIVE US AN UP-TO-DATE ASSESSMENT ON WHERE THE U.S. -- HOW THE U.S. IS VIEWING IRAN'S BACKING OF HEZBOLLAH AT THIS POINT IN TIME? HAS IT INCREASED? IS IT THE SAME STEADY STATE AS IT'S BEEN? >> I CAN'T GIVE YOU A MINUTE-TO-MINUTE ASSESSMENT BUT IRAN HAS BEEN A BACKER OF HEZBOLLAH GOING BACK YEARS, AS A PRIMARY BACKER OF HAMAS AND OTHER TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION, AND THAT HAS IN NO WAY CHANGED. >> SO THERE'S NO FURTHER SUPPORT THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING TO THEM? >> THEY ARE PROVIDING ONGOING SUPPORT TO THEM AT ALL TIMES. WHAT I MEAN IS, I CAN'T GIVE YOU A DAILY RUN BY RUN OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN ONE OF HEZBOLLAH'S CHIEF BACKERS GOING BACK YEARS. THAT HASN'T CHANGED. IT'S BEEN CONSISTENT. IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE'VE BEEN SO CONCERNED ABOUT IRAN'S DESTABILIZING ACTIVITIES. >> ONE QUESTION ON THE SECRETARY PREVIEWED LAST WEEK THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS GOING TO BE ROLLING OUT PLANS FOR DAY AFTER PLANS IN GAZA. I JUST WONDER IF YOU CAN GIVE US AN UPDATE AS TO WHERE THOSE EFFORTS STAND, HOW MANY PLANS YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO ROLL OUT IF A FEW WEEKS IS STILL KIND OF THE TIME FRAME WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE. >> I THINK I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE YOU THE STAY TUNED ANSWER ON THIS ONE. THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS WE'RE ENGAGING WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE REGION ABOUT. WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS FORWARD. AS THE SECRETARY SAID, HAVING SOMETHING TO SAY, BUT I'M NOT READY TO PREVIEW IT TODAY. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU WERE RESPONDING TO OLIVIA ON THE PATH FORWARD. ING TO U.S. OFFICIALS SEE NO PATH FORWARD TO RESOLVING THE GAZA WAR ANY TIME SOON OR COMING UP WITH A CEASE-FIRE THAT CAN ENDURE. I WONDERED IF YOU WOULD ELABORATE ON THIS. WHERE ARE WE -- >> FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE NO IDEA WHO THOSE U.S. OFFICIALS ARE. AS I'VE SAID ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO SERVE IN THE GOVERNMENT HAVE -- WHO ARE U.S. OFFICIALS AND THEY HAVE A RIDE DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS. THEY'RE NOT ALL THE OPINIONS YOU SEE QUOTED FROM U.S. OFFICIALS ARE NOT UNIVERSALLY SHARED. I WILL SAY THAT WE VERY MUCH SEE A PATH FORWARD TO A CEASE-FIRE. THERE WAS A WAY TO GET A CEASE-FIRE LAST WEEK. IN FACT, EVEN BEFORE LAST WEEK, IF HAMAS AGREED TO THE PROPOSAL THAT ISRAEL HAD PUT FORWARD AND HAD BEEN ENDORSED BY THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL AND COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. HAD HAMAS ACCEPTED THAT PROPOSAL, WE WOULD HAVE A CEASE-FIRE TODAY. AND THE SUFFERING OF THE PEOPLE INSIDE GAZA COULD HAVE BEEN DRAMATICALLY ALLEVIATED AND WE WOULD HAVE SEEN A MASSIVE SURGE IN HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THEY DIDN'T ACCEPT THAT PROPOSAL. WE THINK THEY OUGHT TO AGREE TO A CEASE-FIRE. WE ARE ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MEDIATORS ABOUT HOW TO GET TO A CEASE-FIRE THAT PROTECTS CEASE-FIRE. WE DO THINK IT'S POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE ONE. AS YOU HEARD THE SECRETARY SAY, JUST BECAUSE IT'S POSSIBLE DOESN'T MEAN WE WILL GET THERE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP TRYING. >> YOU KNOW, SINCE YOU MENTIONED HUMANITARIAN AID, TODAY MARKS THE 43rd DAY OF THE CLOSURE OF THE RAFAH CROSSING. THERE'S VIRTUALLY NO AID. AND THE PIER IS NOT FUNCTIONING, OBVIOUSLY. THE SITUATION IS VERY DIRE. WHY CAN'T THE U.S., YOU KNOW, PUT FORTH AN IDEA OR A WAY TO INCREASE UNDER THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES BEFORE YOU EVEN GET TO A CEASE-FIRE BECAUSE THE SITUATION IS VERY BAD. THE PEOPLE, LITERALLY CHILDREN ARE STARVING. >> WE ARE ABSOLUTELY -- SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU. WE ARE ABSOLUTELY PUTTING FORWARD WAYS TO IMPROVE THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN GAZA. AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF U.S. ADVOCACY THAT WE SAW ISRAEL INSTITUTE THESE HUMANITARIAN PAUSES THEY ANNOUNCED ON SUNDAY OR MONDAY. WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH OUR PARTNERS ON THE GROUND ABOUT HOW TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF TRUCKS THAT GO IN. MORE IMPORTANTLY RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF TRUCKS THAT HAVE MADE IT TO KA RECOM KE KEREM SHALOM. WE. TO BE INCREDIBLY FOCUSED ON THAT, AS WELL AS REACHING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND EGYPT ABOUT HOW TO SAFELY REOPEN THE RAFAH BORDER CROSSING. >> ALTHOUGH ISRAEL HAS DESTROYED IT COMPLETELY, THEY SAY IT'S RENDERED COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE INDEPENDENT INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY THAT ISRAEL DID, INDEED, COMMIT WAR CRIMES. HAVE YOU SEEN THE REPORT? DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT? >> WE SAW THE REPORT. WE SAW ISRAEL IS REVIEWING THE REPORT. I CAN JUST GIVE YOU WHAT OUR ASSESSMENT HAS BEEN. YOU SAW US PUT OUT A REPORT LAST MONTH WHERE WE SAID IT IS REASONABLE TO ASSESS THERE HAVE BEEN VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT SPECIFIC INCIDENTS TO DRAW FINAL DETERMINATIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> THERE'S REPORTING THAT IRAN IS UNDERGOING MAJOR EXPANSION THAT WOULD TRIPLE PRODUCTION OF ENRICHED URANIUM THERE. I WANTED TO GET YOUR COMMENT THERE. AND SEPARATE REPORTING THAT THE IRANIANS COULD NOW BE USING COMPUTER MODELING THAT COULD BE USED IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. >> SO, WITH RESPECT TO THE FIRST QUESTION, IRAN CONTINUES TO EXPAND ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM IN WAYS THAT HAVE NO CREDIBLE, PEACEFUL PURPOSE, WE REMAIN DEEPLY CONCERNED WITH IRAN'S NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES AND WILL CONTINUE TO VIGILANTLY MONITOR THEM. AS WE SAID IN A JOINT STATEMENT WE PUT OUT WITH THE G7 ON FRIDAY, IRAN MUST COOPERATE WITH THE IAEA WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY. AS IT RELATES TO THIS REPORT ON COMPUTER MODELING, I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON INTELLIGENCE MATTERS. WE DO NOT SEE INDICATIONS THAT IRAN IS CURRENTLY UNDERTAKING THE KEY ACTIVITIES THAT WE WOULD -- THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO PRODUCE A TESTABLE NUCLEAR DEVICE. BUT, OF COURSE, THIS IS SOMETHING WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR VERY CLOSELY. >> GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU. EARLIER WHEN YOU WERE TALK WILLING ABOUT HEZBOLLAH'S ACTIVITIES, YOU REFERENCED IRAN'S SUPPORT FOR HEZBOLLAH TERRORISM. CANADA JUST DESIGNATED THE IRGC AS A TERRORIST GROUP. I WONDER IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT? >> WE WELCOME CANADA TO DESIGNATE THEM AS A TERRORIST GROUP. THE PLOTTING THREATENS THE ENTIRE WORLD AND WE STAND READY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AS OTHER COUNTRIES CONSIDER DESIGNATING THE IRGC AS A TERRORIST GROUP. >> HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT THEM? >> PROVIDE THEM INFORMATION ABOUT ACTIVITIES THEY HAVE UNDERTAKEN, SOMETHING WE OFTEN DO, SHARING INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION AND OTHER INFORMATION WITH OUR ALLIES AND PARTNERS ABOUT ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE SEEN. ANY SUPPORTERS OF TERRORISM TAKE AROUND THE WORLD. >>. >> JUST TO COME BACK TO THE NETANYAHU VIDEO, THE WHITE HOUSE SAID TODAY THAT WHAT THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER WAS, QUOTE, INCORRECT. I'M TRYING -- THERE WERE A FEW THINGS HE SAID. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHICH PART WAS INCORRECT. >> I THINK THE PART THAT IS INCORRECT IS THAT THERE ARE BOTTLENECKS THAT NEED TO BE OVERCOME. OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS ONE SHIPMENT OF HIGH PAYLOAD MUNITIONS WE HAVE PUT UNDER REVIEW AND REMAINS UNDER REVIEW. THAT'S NOT A BOTTLE NECK. THAT'S A POLICY REVIEW. OTHER SHIPMENTS OF WEAPONS HAVE BEEN MOVING REGULARLY TO ISRAEL BECAUSE WE ARE COMMITTED TO ISRAEL'S LONG-TERM DEFENSE. THAT INCLUDES THINGS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WAR IN GAZA BUT OUR CAPABILITIES RELATED TO ISRAEL'S LONG-TERM SECURITY DEFENDING ITSELF AGAINST THE THREAT FROM IRAN. >> HE ALSO SAID THE SECRETARY TOLD HIM THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS WORKING DAY AND NIGHT TO OVERCOME THE BOTTLENECKS. IS THAT INCORRECT? >> I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO A WORD-FOR-WORD PARSING OF WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER SAID. AS I SAID A MOMENT AGO, I DON'T THINK IT'S PRODUCTIVE TO HAVE THIS KIND OF CONVERSATION IN PUBLIC. BUT THERE ARE -- BUT THERE ARE NO BOTTLENECKS. THE SECRETARY MADE CLEAR IN HIS CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO FLOW SECURITY ASSISTANCE, OTHER THAN THE ONE THAT IS PUBLICLY KNOWN, WE HAVE MADE CLEAR TO THEM, OTHER THINGS CONTINUE TO FLOW. THERE ARE NO BOTTLENECKS. >> HE DIDN'T SAY THE ADMINISTRATION WAS WORKING TO OVERCOME THAT PARTICULAR BLOCKAGE OF 2,000 POUND BOMBS? >> NO. >> HE DIDN'T SAY THAT? >> NO. > >> YOU SAY IT'S NOT FOR PUBLIC EXCHANGES BACK AND FORTH AND ALL THIS, BUT THE WHITE HOUSE THIS MORNING, QUITE STRONGLY AGAINST NETANYAHU'S COMMENTS, AND SO IS THE STATE DEPARTMENT NOT AT THE SAME LINE AS THE WHITE HOUSE? >> NO. I MADE CLEAR I DIDN'T THINK THE COMMENTS THAT -- I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER WAS TALKING ABOUT OR WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. I'M HAPPY TO MAKE THE RECORD CLEAR AS I THINK THE WHITE HOUSE WAS DOING. BUT NONE OF US THINK IT'S PRODUCTIVE TO HAVE EXTENDED PUBLIC DEBATE. I THINK THE WHITE HOUSE WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. WHEN IT COMES TO DEFENDING OUR RECORD, WE'LL DEFEND OUR RECORD. >> IT SEEMS YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT VIEW THAN THE WHITE HOUSE. >> NOT AT ALL. >> WHY DON'T YOU TELL THEM THAT? >> NO. >> NO? >> WE HAVE THE EXACT SAME -- >> NOT THE WHITE HOUSE. THE ISRAELIS -- >> I THINK I JUST DID. >> DID YOU? DID YOU? >> I THINK I JUST DID. >> ALL RIGHT. OKAY. >> THE SAYING IT'S NOT PRODUCTIVE TO HAVE A BACK AND FORTH BUT YOU ARE HAVING A BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM RIGHT NOW. WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU THINK THAT SERVES? >> I DON'T THINK IT SERVES ANY PURPOSE. THAT IS MY OVERALL POINT. >> YOU ARE STILL SIGNING THE CHECKS. >> NO, I DON'T THINK IT SERVES ANY PURPOSE, BUT IF SOMEONE COMES OUT AND SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THE ACTIONS BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT THAT ARE NOT ACCURATE, WE'RE GOING TO CORRECT THE RECORD. DON'T THINK IT'S -- HOLD ON. DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARILY PRODUCTIVE TO HAVE THIS EXCHANGE IN PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THINGS THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND AND CAN'T COMPREHEND BECAUSE THEY DON'T REFLECT REALITY BUT WE'LL DEFEND OUR RECORD 100%. >> YOU WON'T SAY YOU'LL HAVE THE DEBATE IN PUBLIC BUT YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE THE DEBATE IN PUBLIC. >> WE'LL DEFEND OUR RECORD. >> YOU HAVE DAILY CONTACTS WITH THE ISRAELIS. ARE YOU SAYING NETANYAHU, THE PRIME MINISTER, IS LYING OR NOT SAYING CORRECT THINGS OR -- >> AS I JUST SAID, WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO BOTTLENECKS. WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE, OTHER THAN THIS ONE SHIPMENT UNDER REVIEW, WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THEM THE EQUIPMENT THEY NEED TO DEFEND THEMSELVES. >> AND THE STAFF HASN'T EXPLAINED TO YOU WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT SINCE YOU'RE IN DAILY CONTACT WITH THEM? >> WE HAVE VERY DIRECT EXCHANGES WITH THEM. THEY CAN BE QUITE CANDID AT TIMES AND I THINK I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. ALEX, GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU. I WANT TO GET TO UKRAINE, BUT BEFORE THAT, ANYTHING YOU CAN SAY ABOUT ANOTHER ARRESTED U.S. CITIZEN WHO IS FACING TRIAL, BASICALLY RUSSIA IS TRYING TO HOLD ANOTHER AMERICAN CITIZEN. >> YES, FIRST OF ALL. AS WE ALWAYS MAKE CLEAR, WE TAKE SERIOUSLY OUR COMMITMENT TO ASSIST U.S. CITIZENS ABROAD AND PROVIDE ALL APPROPRIATE ASSISTANCE. OFTENTIMES THERE'S A LIMIT TO WHAT I CAN SAY FOR PRIVACY REASONS BASED ON THE LAW. THAT IS THE CASE HERE. I WILL SAY GENERALLY WHEN A U.S. CITIZEN IS TAKEN ABROAD, THE U.S. CONSULAR PROVIDES THEM ASSISTANCE. RUSSIA HAS TAKEN THE POSITION WITH DUAL NATIONALS THEY DON'T HAVE TO RESPOND TO THOSE QUESTIONS, BUT WE CONTINUE TO ACTIVELY SEEK ACCESS TO ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THIS SITUATION. I DO HAVE TO REITERATE, AS I ALWAYS DO IN THESE SITUATIONS, THAT NO AMERICAN CITIZEN, FOR ANY REASON, SHOULD TRAVEL TO RUSSIA. AND I KNOW THIS IS -- SOMETIMES COMES DOWN TO A VERY PAINFUL CHOICE FOR AMERICANS WHO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS IN RUSSIA, SOMETIMES FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE HEALTH PROBLEMS THEY WANT TO SEE, BUT YOU RUN A TREMENDOUS RISK BY TRAVELING TO RUSSIA OF BEING DETAINED, BEING IMPRISONED, BEING CONVICTED, AND SO WE CONTINUE TO MAKE CLEAR TO EVERY AMERICAN, DO NOT, FOR ANY REASON, TRAVEL TO RUSSIA. >> THANK YOU. MOVING TO UKRAINE, ON TODAY'S DECISION TO REPRIORITIZE ARMS SELLS TO UKRAINE, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE DECISION? >> WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED. WE'VE SEEN THE RUSSIAN MILITARY TARGETING UKRAINIAN CITIES, TARGETING ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE, MAKING CLEAR THEY WANT TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND TURN THE HEAT OFF WHEN WINTER ROLLS BACK AROUND. SO, IT HAS BEEN CLEAR TO US THAT WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING TO INCREASE UKRAINE'S AIR DEFENSE CAPABILITIES. WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED WITH OUR ALLIES AND PARTNERS ABOUT HOW DO THAT. THAT INCLUDES SOURCING ADDITIONAL SYSTEMS AROUND THE WORLD TO IMPROVE UKRAINE'S AIR DEFENSE, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES SUPPLYING THE SYSTEMS THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED. THAT'S THE DECISION THE PRESIDENT TOOK, WHICH IS TO RESEQUENCE SOME DELIVERIES OF PATRIOT INTERSCEPTERS, THE MISSILES THAT GO UP AND INTERCEPT MISSILES FIRED BY RUSSIA. TO RESEQUENCE THEM FROM OTHER COUNTRIES BECAUSE OF THE DIRE NEED UKRAINE HAS AND THE DIRE THREAT UKRAINE FACES TO MAKE SURE UKRAINE IS GETTING WHAT IT NEEDS NOW TO DEFEND ITSELF FROM THIS INTENSE RUSSIAN AIR BOMBARDMENT. >> IS IT FAIR ALSO TO EXPECT REPRIORITIZING F-16 TRAINING SLOT? >> I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO FUTURE DECISIONS. THE SECRETARY HAS ALWAYS MADE CLEAR WE ALWAYS ADAPT AND ADJUST OUR POLICY BASED ON THE BATTLEFIELD REALITIES. WE LOOK AT WHAT UKRAINE NEEDS AND WE LOOK AT HOW WE CAN MEET THOSE NEEDS, WHETHER THROUGH ACTIONS THE UNITED STATES IS TAKING OUR ACTIONS OUR ALLIES AND PARTNERS ARE TAKING. WE LOOK TO PROVIDE THEM THE BEST EQUIPMENT, THE BEST OF TRAINING, THAT WE CAN, AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN PROVIDE IT. AND WHEN THE UNITED STATES CAN'T DO IT OR ANOTHER COUNTRY THAT CAN DO IT BETTER, WE LOOK TO ANOTHER COUNTRY. >> ON PUTIN'S TRIP TO NORTH KOREA, ANY CONCERN -- FIRST, THE INDICATIONS FOR UKRAINE, AND ALSO ANY CONCERN ON YOUR END THAT UNIFIED U.N. RESPONSE TO NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR ISSUES MIGHT BE ERODING? >> A FEW THINGS. ON THE DEEPENING COOPERATION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE DPRK, WE HAVE BEEN WARNING ABOUT THIS FOR SOME TIME. YOU RECALL WE FIRST MADE PUBLIC THAT THE DPRK WAS PROVIDING RUSSIA WAS MILITARY EQUIPMENT THAT WOULD SHOW UP ON THE BATTLEFIELD IN UKRAINE. IT HAS SHOWED UP ON THE BATTLEFIELD IN UKRAINE. WE'VE SEEN THEM PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF ARTILLERY SHELLS AND MUNITIONS THEY SL BEEN USING TO SHELL UKRAINIAN CITIES AND VILLAGES AND KILL UKRAINIAN CIVILIANS. WE HAVE BEEN TAKING THIS QUITE SERIOUSLY. IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE BEEN PRIORITIZING STRENGTHENING OUR TIES WITH ALLIES AND PARTNERS IN THE INDO-PACIFIC THROUGHOUT THIS ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING THROUGH THE TRILATERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA AND JAPAN, THROUGH OTHER WORK BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR DEEPENING COOPERATION BETWEEN THESE TWO COUNTRIES. THAT SAID, IT SHOULD ALSO BE CONCERNING FOR YOUR SECOND QUESTION, WHICH IS, ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT MAINTAINING PEACE AND STANLT ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA, IF YOU LOOK AT THE -- WHAT WAS CONTAINED IN THE AGREEMENTS THEY MADE PUBLIC, IT WOULD INCLUDE RUSSIA VIOLATING U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS IT VOTED FOR, SO IT CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM AND WE'LL WORK ON IT WITH OUR ALLIES AND PARTNERS. >> I SAY, ANY KIND -- THAT BEING SAID, ANY QUESTION BETWEEN -- >> I THINK I CAN GO TO SOMEONE ELSE. >> THE TRIP TO VIETNAM AND PUTIN'S VISIT, ANY CONNECTION? >> BETWEEN THE SECRETARY'S TRIP? >> OH, THE SECRETARY WHO IS THERE, NO, WE WERE PLANNING THAT TRIP WELL BEFORE THIS VISIT BY PRESIDENT PUTIN. >> SO, PUTIN'S VISIT TO VIETNAM COMES AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN'S VISIT LAST YEAR WHERE THE U.S./VIETNAM RELATIONSHIP WAS UPGRADED TO COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP. I WAS WONDERING WHAT YOUR TAKE IS ON PUTIN'S TRIP TO VIETNAM. >> SO, OBVIOUSLY, RUSSIA AND VIETNAM HAVE HAD LONG-STANDING CLOSE TIES. THAT SAID, WE EXPECT THAT ANY COUNTRY WHEN IT ENGAGES IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF RUSSIA, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HOST LEADERS FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF RUSSIA, WILL MAKE CLEAR THEIR RESPECT FOR THE PRINCIPLES OF THE U.N. CHARTER, INCLUDING SOVEREIGN AND U.N. TERRITORIES AND CONVEY THOSE PRINCIPLES MUST BE UPHELD ACROSS THE WORLD. >> WILL VIETNAM BE SHARING MAYBE THE CONVERSATION THEY HAD WITH PUTIN? >> I DON'T KNOW. ASK ME TOMORROW AFTER THE MEETING. I'M UNABLE TO PREDICT THE FUTURE. >> ONE LAST ONE ON THIS. IS THERE ANY INDICATION THAT VIETNAM COMPANIES OR VIETNAMESE COMPANIES ARE SUPPLYING MATERIAL TO OFFER NATIONAL SUPPORT TO RUSSIA IN ITS WAR AGAINST UKRAINE? AND HAS THE U.S. TALKED TO VIETNAM ABOUT THIS? >> LET ME -- I DON'T HAVE AN ASSESSMENT. LET ME TAKE THAT BACK AND GET YOU AN ANSWER. >> MY ONE QUESTION TURNED TO TWO ON THE BASIS OF ALL OF THIS STUFF. ON THE HEELS OF THIS PACT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND DPRK, SOUTH KOREA REPORTS THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING SENDING ARMS TO UKRAINE. DOES THE GOVERNMENT HAVE A VIEW ON THAT? >> THAT'S A DECISION FOR SOUTH KOREA TO MAKE, THAT IS A DECISION FOR EVERY COUNTRY TO MAKE IN TERMS OF WHETHER THEY'LL SUPPLY WEAPONS TO UKRAINE. WE WELCOME ANY SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST RUSSIAN AGGRESSION. BUT THAT'S THE ULTIMATE DECISION FOR SOUTH KOREA. >> YOU WOULD NOT VIEW IT AS DESTABILIZING TO THE INDO-PACIFIC. >> WE WELCOME ANY COUNTRY THAT WANTS TO SUPPORT UKRAINE IN THIS FIGHT. AS FOR THE SPECIFIC DECISION, THAT'S ONE FOR SOUTH KOREA TO MAKE. >> SOMEWHAT SEPARATELY BUT STILL ON UKRAINE, WE HEARD THE SECRETARY SAY THAT NEXT MONTH THE NATO SUMMIT, HE HOPES IT WILL LEAD TO A WELL-LIT BRIDGE FOR UKRAINE JOINING NATO. THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION OF OTHER CHARACTERIZATIONS OF ITS PATHWAY, THE UK AND SECRETARY-GENERAL OF NATO HAVE USED THE WORD IRREVERSIBLE. DOES THE U.S. OPPOSE USING THE WORD IRREVERSIBLE TO CHARACTERIZE UKRAINE'S PATH TO NATO? >> I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO WHAT THE EVENTUAL WORDS WILL BE IN A UK COMMUNIQUE FOR A SUMMIT THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED. UKRAINE'S FUTURE IS IN NATO. IT WILL BECOME A MEMBER OF NATO. WE HAVE MADE THAT CLEAR. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR ALLIES IN NATO ABOUT THE EXACT BRIDGE TO MEMBERSHIP AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT UKRAINE HAS TO DO. BUT WHAT THE ACTUAL WORDS ARE IN A COMMUNIQUE, WE WILL RESOLVE THAT DIPLOMATICALLY WITH OUR ALLIES. >> I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO GIVE US THE FINAL LANGUAGE THAT'S GOING TO BE USED. I JUST WONDER IF YOU OPPOSE A GIVEN WORD APPEARING IN THE COMMUNIQUE? >> I THINK THEY WILL HANDLE THIS THROUGH DIPLOMATIC DISCUSSIONS WITH THE MEMBERS OF NATO. YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, OLIVIA. >> YET. >> JUST TO COME BACK TO THE NORTH KOREA, PUTIN'S PRESENCE THERE. >> YEAH. >> PUTIN HIMSELF HAS SAID THAT RUSSIA MAY DELIVER WEAPONS TO NORTH KOREA AS PART OF THIS. WHAT ABOUT THAT SIDE OF IT? WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS REGARDING THE POTENTIAL FOR RUSSIA TO BE, YOU KNOW, DESTABILIZING IN THAT SENSE? >> IT IS INCREDIBLY CONCERNING. IT WOULD DESTABILIZE THE KOREAN PENINSULA, OF COURSE, AND GIVE IT -- DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF WEAPONS THEY PROVIDE, MIGHT VIOL VIOLATE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS THEY SUPPORTED, WHICH IS WHY WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR ALLIES IN THE REGION, SOUTH KOREA, JAPAN, OTHERS TO RESPOND TO THE THREAT POSED BY NORTH KOREA. >> AND ALSO ON THE VISIT TO VIETNAM, SO YOU'VE KIND OF EXPRESSED YOUR CONCERN, BUT MORE BROADLY, IS THIS -- HOW DO YOU SEE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH VIETNAM GIVEN IN RECENT -- ONLY A FEW MONTHS AGO THE PRESIDENT WENT THERE TO, YOU KNOW, TO SIGN THIS UPGRADE AND TIES, IS THIS A FAILURE OF THE POLICY TO TRY TO BRING A COUNTRY OUT OF THE ORBIT OF -- MORE AUTHORITARIAN COUNTRIES AND TO BE A U.S. PARTNER IN THE REGION? >> NO, I THINK TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE. FIRST OF ALL, IT WAS A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT TO SIGNIFICANTLY UPGRADE THE TIES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND VIETNAM, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES. AND AS A KEY PART OF OUR INDO-PACIFIC STRATEGY. THAT SAID, VIETNAM HAS HAD LONG-STANDING, VERY CLOSE TIES WITH RUSSIA. OUR ONLY EXPECTATION IS THAT WHEN THEY HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH RUSSIA, AS CHINA DOES, AS OUR COUNTRIES IN THE REGION DO, WE WOULD HOPE THEY WOULD EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE PRINCIPLES OF THE U.N. CHARTER. EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD. >> THERE'S AN ONGOING PROCESS,IST THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT TO RECOGNIZE WHETHER TO RECOGNIZE VIETNAM AS A MARKET ECONOMY. DOES THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAVE A VIEW ON WHETHER IT IS? I GUESS YOU WOULD BE INVOLVED IN SOME WAY IN ADVISING FOR THAT PROCESS. >> I WILL HAVE TO TAKE THAT BACK AND GET YOU AN ANSWER ON THAT. I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER. >> ON THIS WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE U.N. CHARTER AND, YOU KNOW, TERRITORY -- SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, WHAT'S THE U.S. RECORD ON THAT WITH REGARD TO VIETNAM? >> SO, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE INVOLVED IN A CONFLICT IN VIETNAM MANY YEARS AGO, ANCIENT HISTORY -- >> IT'S NOT SO ANCIENT. I WAS ALIVE DURING IT. MAYBE NOT OTHERS WERE, BUT IT'S NOT ANCIENT. IT'S NOT ANCIENT. >> I WASN'T TRYING TO INSULT YOU, MATT. JUST TO BE CLEAR CLEAR. THAT SAID -- >> I MEAN -- >> YOU KNOW, WE -- >> IN THE EARLY 1960s THE U.S. ACTUALLY WENT INTO VIETNAM AND STAYED THERE UNTIL 1975. >> I AM FULL AWARE OF THE LONG, HISTORICAL RECORD BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES AND IN THE YEARS SINCE YOU HAVE SEEN A BROAD RECONCILIATION. >> WHEN YOU SAY THAT YOU WANT RUSSIANS TO RESPECT THE U.N. CHARTER AS IT RELATES TO VIETNAM -- >> I WAS SPEAKING AS IT RESPECTS TO UKRAINE, WITH RESPECT TO UKRAINE. >> TO ANYWHERE. AS IT RELATES TO VIETNAM, YOU DON'T EXACTLY HAVE THE BEST RECORD. >> SO -- >> RIGHT? >> AS USUAL, I'M NOT GOING TO LITIGATE THE FULL HISTORY OF AMERICAN -- >> YOU DON'T HAVE TO LITIGATE IT -- >> FROM THE PODIUM ESPECIALLY AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ADMINISTRATION THAT'S BEEN IN CHARGE FOR 3 1/2 YEARS. I THINK I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. >> ALL RIGHT. >> GO AHEAD. >> SO, IN RELATION TO THE U.N. -- >> THAT'S NOT ON YOU, BUT GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. >> WELL, I STARTED SO I'LL FINISH, AS THEY USED TO SAY. THE U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT, ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES, I DON'T RECALL WHO ASKED YOU, AND YOU NOTED THE STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT AND YOU SAID, WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT SPECIFIC INCIDENTS TO DRAW FINAL DETERMINATIONS AS TO WHETHER, YOU KNOW, INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW WAS BROKEN. ARE THE INCIDENTS -- THE SIX INCIDENTS MENTIONED IN THE U.N. REPORT AMONG THE SPECIFIC INCIDENTS -- >> I HAVE NEVER SPOKEN TO AND I'M NOT GOING TO TODAY SPEAK TO SPECIFIC INCIDENTS UNDER REVIEW. BUT THERE IS A BROAD NUMBER OF INCIDENTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. >> I MEAN, IN THIS CASE, LIKE I CAN'T GO THROUGH ALL SIX OF THEM, IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG, BUT ONE INSTANCE, A STRIKE ON THE TOWER IN GAZA CITY, THE U.N. SAYS WAS CAUSED BY SEVERAL THOUSAND POUND BOMBS, KILLING 105 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 33 WOMEN AND 47 CHILDREN. SHOULD IT TAKE EIGHT MONTHS TO MAKE A FINAL DETERMINATION? >> AS WE HAVE SAID BEFORE, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRAW FACT-SPECIFIC CONCLUSIONS WHEN WE DON'T HAVE SOMEONE ON THE GROUND. AND WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ACTIVE CONFLICT. SO WE GATHER INFORMATION, TALK TO INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATIONS TO TRY TO GATHER INFORMATION AND THEN WE MAKE OUR ASSESSMENTS. THOSE ASSESSMENTS ARE COMPOUNDED BY THE SHEER SCALE OF THIS CONFLICT AND THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS WE HAVE TO REVIEW AND THE LIMITED RESOURCES WE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE ASSESSMENTS. I CAN TELL YOU THERE ARE PEOPLE WORKING ON IT DAY AND NIGHT. >> AS HARD -- I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THE POINT, BUT HOW DOES IT BECOME THE U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH AND THE STATE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT CAN ALL FIND COMPELLING EVIDENCE OF WAR CRIMES BY ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES, WITH ITS ENORMOUS POWERS OF INTEGS AND DIRECT CONTACT WITH ISRAEL, CAN'T FIND THOSE? >> DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE DIFFERENT BURDENS, DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND WE TAKE OURS VERY SERIOUSLY AND TAKE THESE ASSESSMENTS VERY SERIOUSLY AND WANT TO FINISH THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BUT IT'S IMPORTANT WE GET THEM RIGHT. >> TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE ON THE GROUND, AS A GLOBAL SPORTS PERSON REPORTED AN INCIDENT HE SAW IN GAZA WHEN ISRAELI FORCES SHOT TWO FISHERMEN AND DENIED THEM MEDICAL CARE UNTIL THEY BOTH DIED. DO YOU HAVE ANY REPORT? >> I HAVE READ THAT BUT UNABLE -- >> AND ON TUESDAY ANOTHER PALESTINIAN DOCTOR DIED AFTER BEING DETAINED AND TORTURED IN AN ISRAELI PRISON. DO YOU HAVE AN ANSWER OF WHY DOCTORS ARE BEING DETAINED IN THE FIRST PLACE? >> I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER WITH RESPECT TO THIS SPECIFIC INCIDENT OR WITH THE OVERALL POLICY. WHAT WE HAVE MADE CLEAR AS A GENERAL MATTER IS WE EXPECT ISRAEL IN CARRYING OUT ITS DETENTION POLICIES AND CARRYING OUT SIMILAR OPERATIONS TO FULLY RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS, FULLY RESPECT THE LAWS OF WAR AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE DUE PROCESS. >> LASTLY, THERE'S A PICTURE CIRCULATING OF ISRAELI SOLDIER DISPLAYING ZIONIST ON THE UNIFORM. THIS IS THE PICTURE. THE BADGE SHOWS A MAP INCLUDING EGYPT, SAUDI ARABIA, IRAQ, PARTS OF THEM, SYRIA AND ALL OF LEBANON. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT ON THAT? AND DOES THIS SERVE THE LONG-LASTING PEACE AGENDA YOU GUYS TALK ABOUT? >> I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT PHOTO AND MY EYES ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH -- >> I'LL SEND IT -- >> THANK YOU. TO VIEW IT ON YOUR PHONE FROM HERE. WE HAVE MADE QUITE CLEAR HOW WE WANT TO SEE THIS -- THIS CONFLICT RESOLVED. WE MADE QUITE CLEAR WHAT WE BELIEVE THE FUTURE SHOULD BE AND THAT'S THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN STATE. >> THANK YOU. CONGRATULATING MODI FOR A THIRD TERM. THEY BELIEVE THE PRIME MINISTER HAVE THE ABILITY TO INITIATE THE PEACE PROCESS. ANY COMMENT? >> WE VALUE OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIA AND PAKISTAN. WE SUPPORT DIRECT DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN BUT THE PACE, SCOPE AND CHARACTER SHOULD BE DETERMINED BY THEM AND NOT US. >> THEY SAY PAKISTAN NEEDS MORE AMERICAN WEAPONS TO FIGHT WITH THE TTP AFTER USING AMERICAN WEAPONS AGAINST PAKISTANI MILITARY THAT WERE LEFT BY U.S. FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN. DOES THE U.S. GOING TO CONSIDER PROVIDING MORE U.S. MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO PAKISTANI SECURITY FORCES? >> THE UNITED STATES AND PAKISTAN HAVE A SHARED INTEREST IN COMBATING THREATS TO REGIONAL SECURITY. WE PARTNER WITH PAKISTAN ON SECURITY THROUGH OUR HIGH-LEVEL COUNTERTERRORISM DIALOGUE, INCLUDING COUNTERTERRORISM CAPACITY PROGRAMS AND WE SUPPORT U.S./PAKISTAN MILITARY-TO-MILITARY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DISCUSS REGIONAL SECURITY IN DETAIL, INCLUDING THROUGH OUR ANNUAL COUNTERTERRORISM DIALOGUE AND OTHER BILATERAL CONSULTATIONS. >> ONE LAST QUESTION. FBI AND FORMER CIA CHIEF WARREN SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS FACING SERIOUS THREAT OF TERRORIST ATTACK IN THE MONTHS AHEAD. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT? >> I HAVE SEEN THAT REPORT AND I WILL SAY WE TAKE COUNTERTERRORISM MATTERS SERIOUSLY. IT'S GO WE WORK ON ACROSS THE INTERAGENCY, THE FULL SUITE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY AGENCIES WORK TO DETECT TERRORISM PLOTS AND HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. >> SENATOR CARDIN RECENTLY SAID CONGRESS HAS TAKEN STEPS TO MAKE SURE THE PRESIDENT CAN'T WITHDRAW FROM A TREATY OR ANY OF OUR COMMITMENTS ABROAD. FOLLOWING UP ON UKRAINE AND THE DIVERSION OF FOREIGN MILITARY SALES, DOES THIS SPEAK TO NOT JUST THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND BUT LIKE A RENEWED SENSE OF TENSION AND URGENCY AROUND A POSSIBLE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND THAT DESTABLILIZEING UKRAINN SECURITY? >> I WILL NOT SPEAK ON THE ELECTION. I WILL REITERATE OUR POLICY TO UKRAINE, WE HAVE MADE CLEAR THROUGH THE SIGNING OF THE BILATERAL SECURITY AGREEMENT, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SPECULATING ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THE ELECTION, I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO DO. >> TWO QUESTIONS, PLEASE. ONE, AS FAR AS U.S./INDIA RELATIONS ARE CONCERNED COMPARING WITH PRIME MINISTER MODI TWO AND NOW PRIME MINISTER MODI THREE, THIRD TIME HE'S THE PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA. A LOT IS GOING ON NOW BETWEEN U.S. AND INDIA BECAUSE OF NSA IN INDIA AND ALSO AT THE G7. AMONG OTHERS. WHERE DO WE STAND NOW AS FAR AS UNDER MODI THREE, RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES? DIPLOMATICALLY AND THE ALSO CULTURE AND MANY OTHER THINGS GOING ON. >> INDIA CONTINUES TO BE A CLOSE PARTNER OF THE UNITED STATES. NOT JUST AT THE GOVERNMENT LEVEL BUT AT THE PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE LEVEL. WE DO SHARE CLOSE ECONOMIC TIES, CLOSE CULTURAL TIES. THEY CONTINUE TO BE A PARTNER THAT WE WORK WITH ON OUR INDO-PACIFIC STRATEGY. WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT WITH THE GOVERNMENT, WITH PRIME MINISTER'S MODI'S GOVERNMENT. >> SECOND, IF I MAY, SORRY, AMERICA ARE KNOWN FOR ITS FOOTBALL, BUT NOW CRICKET -- USA AROUND THE GLOBE HOUSEHOLD NAME IS NOW THERE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A U.S. CRICKET TEAM WAS CREATED HERE IN THIS AREA, IN WASHINGTON, AND BE BEATING TOP CRICKET TEAMS, INCLUDING PAKISTAN AND MANY OTHER NATIONS, ALSO BY THE U.S. CRICKET TEAM. MY QUESTION IS HOW WILL THIS CRICKET DIPLOMACY AROUND THE GLOBE, AND NOT ONLY THE CRICKET TEAM CREATED HERE BUT ALSO U.S. IS THE HOSTING COUNTRY FOR THE CRICKET WORLD CUP. >> SO, I WOULD SAY THAT WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE UNITED STATES CRICKET TEAM AND ITS RECENT SUCCESS JUST AS WE'RE PROUD OF THE U.S. MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM. THE U.S. MEN'S IS ABOUT TO KICK OFF COPA AMERICA ON SUNDAY. WE'LL BE PULLING FOR THEM AS WE PULLED FOR THE UNITED STATES CRICKET TEAM. IT IS TRUE THAT SPORTS PLAYS A POWERFUL ROLE IN DIPLOMACY IN CONNECTING PEOPLE, INCLUDING PEOPLE FROM COUNTRIES WHERE GOVERNMENTS HAVE DISPUTES OR HAVE LONG-STANDING HISTORICAL DISAGREEMENTS. WE CONTINUE TO SEE SPORTS AS AN IMPORTANT WAY TO BRING PEOPLES TOGETHER ALL AROUND THE WORLD. >> THE FUTURE OF THE U.S. CRICKET TEAM? >>. >> WHAT'S THAT? >> WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF THE -- >> I HOPE THEY'LL CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL. >> HOW MANY HAVE YOU ACTUALLY WATCHED? >> I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT ONE BACK. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THEY CALLED FOR PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU TO BE HELD CRIMINALLY FOR HIS ACTIONS AGAINST PALESTINIANS. HE'S HINTING -- MAYBE HE IS NOT READY FOR U.S. PEACE PROCESS. HOW DO YOU SEE THAT? >> SO, WHEN IT COMES TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN STATE, WHICH I THINK THAT QUESTION GOES, WE MADE QUITE CLEAR THAT AT THE END OF THIS CONFLICT, WE NEED TO HAVE PLANS FOR -- WE NEED TO HAVE POLITICAL PLANS AS WELL AS MILITARY PLANS. WE NEED TO HAVE PLANS FOR SECURITY IN GAZA, WE NEED TO HAVE PLANS FOR RECONSTRUCTION IN GAZA, AND ULTIMATELY WE NEED TO GIVE THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE A PATH FORWARD TO THEIR OWN SELF-DETERMINATION TO PRESENT AN ALTERNATIVE VISION OF THE WORLD TO THE ONE THAT HAMAS HAS PRESENTED. >> SECONDLY, INDIA PASSED PAKISTAN AT NUCLEAR ARMS, AND MEANWHILE CHINA IS ALSO WITH 500 NUKES. SO, MEANWHILE, TALKS ABOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS REGARDING THE RUSSIAN THREATS, AND AT THE SAME TIME SOME CHINESE OFFICIALS ARE SHARING CONCERNS, THEY SAID, LIKE UNDERMINING NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT. WITH THIS TIMELINE, DO U.S. HAVE SOME CONCERNS ON CHINA AND INDIA NUCLEAR ACCELERATION? >> I'M JUST NOT GOING TO COMMENT. I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON THAT HERE. I DON'T THINK IT'S PRODUCTIVE. GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU. >> NEXT TO YOU. >> HELLO, THANK YOU. AFTER ISRAEL TOOK CONTROL OF THE RAFAH CROSSING, EGYPT EXPRESSED ITS RESERVATION AND REFUSED TO KOORD WITH THE OPERATION OF THE RAFAH CROSSING. HOW DID EGYPT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN THE CONVERSATION WITH THE UNITED STATES? >> I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS, BUT WE HAVE MADE CLEAR IN -- THAT WE WANT TO SEE RAFAH CROSSING REOPENED AND WE HAVE ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN EGYPT AND ISRAEL. IT'S SOMETHING THEY NEED TO WORK ON TOGETHER. WE'RE TRYING TO FACILITATE THAT PROCESS AND IT'S ONE THAT REMAINS ONGOING. >> OKAY. ANOTHER QUESTION, PLEASE. LAST MONTH THE ISRAELI BROADCASTING AUTHORITY PUBLISHED STATEMENTS TO THE IAGF MINISTER IN WHICH HE SAID ISRAEL, THERE IS NO PALESTINIAN STATE, AND THE AMERICAN UNDERSTAND THIS, ADDING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC STATEMENTS ARE NOT IMPORTANT. AT THE SAME TIME, THAT PRICE OF THE -- THROUGH THE ARABIA PEACE INCLUDES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PALESTINIAN STATE. WHAT'S YOUR COMMENT, PLEASE? >> THE COMMENT IS THE SAME WE HAVE SAID FOR SOME TIME. ULTIMATELY WE THINK THE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE THE LONG-STANDING TENSION IN THE REGION, THE LONG-STANDING DISPUTES BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PALESTINIAN STATE. WE ARE WORKING ON NOT JUST DAY AFTER PLANS FOR THE CONFLICT IN GAZA BUT LONG-TERM PLANS TO ACHIEVE THAT. WE'LL WRAP FOR TODAY. >> THANK YOU. HEZBOLLAH THREATEN CYPRESS YESTERDAY, READY TO ATTACK THE ISLAND. ANY COMMENT, PLEASE, SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HEZBOLLAH THREATEN CYPRESS. ALSO, CAN YOU -- HOW WAS THE MEETING BETWEEN THE SECRETARY AND THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF CYPRESS TODAY? >> REVERSE ORDER. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLY PRODUCTIVE MEETING. THE SECRETARY THANKED THE GOVERNMENT OF CYPRESS FOR ALL THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE TO FACILITATE THE DELIVERY OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE PEOPLE OF GAZA. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AGAIN. CYPRESS HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE AS A STAGING AREA FOR DELIVERING HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, THAT MAKES IT TO GAZA, THAT HELPS INNOCENT MRINS, THAT FEEDS INNOCENT PALESTINIANS. WHY HEZBOLLAH WOULD ATTACK A COUNTRY IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT IMPORTANT HUMANITARIAN ROLE IT'S PLAYING, WHY THEY WOULD LAUNCH THIS KIND OF VERBAL ATTACK IS JUST BEYOND ME. WITH THAT WE'LL WRAP FOR TODAY. >> ONE QUICK QUESTION ON THE DERMER MEETING. DOES THE SECRETARY PLAN TO REITERATE THAT THERE ARE NO BOTTLENECKS IN U.S. WEAPONS GOING TO ISRAEL, DESPITE NETANYAHU'S COMMENTS? >> I DON'T WANT TO PREVIEW A MEETING BEFORE IT HAPPENS, BUT THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY MADE CLEAR TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL. >> YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT PERCEPTION? >> I DON'T WANT TO PREVIEW A MEETING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN A FEW MINUTES. WE'LL BE HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT IT. THANK YOU.