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QUESTION: Good afternoon.
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MR KIRBY: Good afternoon.
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All right, couple things to go through
at the top if you’ll bear with me.
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Some – some logistics, that kind of thing.
As you know, the Secretary is up north today.
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He went to Cambridge, Massachusetts and
delivered a speech at MIT on climate change
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innovation and the global transition to a
clean energy future. Following that, he was
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joined by the deputy secretary and participated
in a roundtable discussion with members of
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MIT and policy experts on the future of work.
And as I noted last week, that discussion
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was focused on how rapid advances in technological
innovation can impact the future of jobs and
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transform economies. The roundtable was part
of our Innovation Forum here at the State
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Department, which convenes senior policy makers
and industry experts for discussions on issues
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at the intersection of foreign policy and
innovation.
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He also will be participating in some open
press events tomorrow that I want to highlight
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for you in Washington and in Annapolis. First,
the Secretary will lead off the U.S. Institute
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of Peace’s Passing the Baton 2017: America’s
Role in the World event at 9:30 tomorrow morning,
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where he’ll be discussing our nation’s
top foreign policy priorities that – under
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the Obama Administration and, of course, challenges
that could lead into the next administration.
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Judy Woodruff from PBS’s NewsHour will be
moderating his discussion in front of the
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audience. That’s an open press event.
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Then later in the day, a little after noon,
he will go to the Naval Academy in Annapolis,
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where he will deliver an address to midshipmen,
faculty, and staff at the Naval Academy. He’ll
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be reflecting on his time in the Navy and
what his Navy service – how that impacted
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his public service throughout his life as
well as his views on foreign policy. And I
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suspect he’ll also talk about some of the
challenges that the United States will continue
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to face in global leadership going forward.
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And then finally, tomorrow night the Secretary
will be joined by former Secretaries of State
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Albright, Colin Powell, and Hillary Clinton
as they deliver all remarks – as they all
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deliver remarks at a reception celebrating
the completion of the construction of the
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U.S. Diplomacy Center’s main pavilion. So
if you go down on 21st Street, you’ve probably
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seen that structure is now done. And they’ll
be sort of formally opening that or commemorating
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the end of the construction. The Diplomacy
Center’s not open for business yet; there’s
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still quite a bit of work on exhibit design
and construction that needs to be done. This
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is just marking the formal completion of the
construction of the main pavilion. And that
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too will be an open press event. As I said,
each former secretary, as well as the Secretary
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himself, will have a chance to say a few words.
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On Portugal. The United States is saddened
to hear of the death of former Portuguese
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president and prime minister Mario Soares,
a lifelong champion of human rights, self-determination,
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and democracy. Soares endured years of imprisonment
and exile, but throughout his lengthy career
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remained committed to fighting for the people
of Portugal. Portugal and the United States
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share a close and longstanding relationship,
and we extend our deepest condolences to the
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family and loved ones of Mr. Soares as well
as to the people of Portugal.
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And then finally, on Mexico, because I know
that all of you have been tracking this over
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the weekend and I just want to get a couple
of comments out of the way at the top. As
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you know, the Secretary issued a statement
yesterday on the arrest of a suspect in the
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heinous attack against our Foreign Service
officer colleague in Guadalajara. Always and
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continually the safety and security of U.S.
citizens and our own diplomatic staff overseas
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are among our highest priorities. Our thoughts
and prayers are with him and his family, and
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we’re wishing him, obviously, a speedy recovery.
Given that it’s an ongoing investigation
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and it’s now being taken up by the FBI,
I do not have additional information on the
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motive, I cannot provide any more information
about the victim due to privacy concerns.
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I’m simply not going to be able to give
you much more information on this today. We
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continue to – obviously, to monitor as best
we can the medical condition of our consular
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officer – I’m sorry, our Foreign Service
officer colleague. And if and when there is
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more information that we can provide, we’ll
do that. But right now it is an active, ongoing
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investigation by the FBI.
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So with that, Matt.
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QUESTION: Just before we get into substance,
I want to ask just a logistical – did you
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say what time that event was tomorrow evening?
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MR KIRBY: I don’t --
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QUESTION: And if you didn’t, can you say
what time --
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MR KIRBY: 5:30 p.m.
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QUESTION: Okay, and then --
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MR KIRBY: I did say.
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QUESTION: You did? Okay.
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MR KIRBY: Yeah.
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QUESTION: Sorry, I missed it. And then, do
you know, were the other living former secretaries
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of state invited as well?
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MR KIRBY: Yes.
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QUESTION: And they were unable to attend for
some reason?
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MR KIRBY: Yes. And I understand, it was scheduling
concerns.
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QUESTION: So Kissinger --
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MR KIRBY: Yep.
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QUESTION: -- Rice --
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MR KIRBY: Every living --
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QUESTION: -- they were all – what, Shultz
--
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MR KIRBY: -- former secretary of state was
invited --
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QUESTION: Okay. And --
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MR KIRBY: -- and not everybody is able to
make it.
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QUESTION: Okay. All right. I’ve got a – unless
someone has more on that – I’ve got a
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couple things on Iran, if I could.
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MR KIRBY: Sure.
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QUESTION: The first has to do with the passing
away of the former Iranian President Rafsanjani.
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Over the weekend, there was a comment attributable
on background to U.S. or a State Department
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official offering condolences for his passing.
Do you – can you put that on the record
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for us?
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MR KIRBY: Sure. I mean, former President Rafsanjani
has been – or was, excuse me – a prominent
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figure throughout the history of the Islamic
Republic of Iran, and we do extend our condolences
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to his family and to his loved ones.
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QUESTION: So there have been some people who
are highly critical of the Administration
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on Iran policy in general, but also on this
specifically, taking issue or questioning,
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rather, the appropriateness of offering condolences
to Mr. Rafsanjani given activities that Iran
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was involved in in terms of supporting terrorism
back when he was in charge and also in his
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roles in the Iranian parliament. What do you
have to say about that?
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MR KIRBY: Well, look, I – no question, as
I said, he was a prominent figure, and the
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history’s complicated. We’re not going
to debate the history, and I don’t think
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it’s valuable for us to try to comment on
the potential internal implications of his
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death, of the potential impact on Iran today.
He was consequential in terms of the recent
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history of Iran and we send our condolences
to the family and loved ones. And whatever
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there is to say about his complicated history,
you’re still dealing with a family that’s
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dealing with grief and dealing with a loss,
and so it’s not inappropriate for us to
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simply offer our thoughts to a family that’s
grieving right now.
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QUESTION: Okay, but – but, I mean, this
is a guy who when he was in senior leadership
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positions repeatedly did and said things that
this --
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MR KIRBY: Absolutely.
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QUESTION: -- that this government, whether
this Administration or previous administrations
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--
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MR KIRBY: Yeah. Sure.
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QUESTION: -- have adamantly rejected – his
position on Israel, for example – and condemned.
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MR KIRBY: Sure. Sure. Sure. Absolutely.
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QUESTION: And so you don’t see any – you
--
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MR KIRBY: But should we – so we should hold
the family and loved ones accountable for
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things that he did in his past that we didn’t
like? I mean, the man died; we offered condolences
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to the family. We went through this, I think,
when Fidel Castro passed too. I mean, no question
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– another individual with a history of actions
and decisions and policies and rhetoric that
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we didn’t approve of in many, many ways,
but you still have a family that’s grieving.
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And again, I don’t think we should make
more of this than needs to be made. We offered
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our condolences, thoughts, and prayers to
the family, and we think that’s appropriate.
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QUESTION: All right. Secondly, on this incident
that happened on the Strait of Hormuz with
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the Navy – and I realize this is a Pentagon
thing or a Navy thing altogether, but I’m
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just wondering – previous incidences involving
the U.S. Navy and Iranian patrol boats has
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– have drawn some kind – some diplomatic
intervention, as it – shall we say. And
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I’m just wondering if that has happened
in this case.
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MR KIRBY: I’m not aware of any specific
intervention on the State Department’s behalf
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with respect to this recent incident.
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QUESTION: Or plans to? Because, I mean, one
of the side benefits of the Iran deal --
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MR KIRBY: Sure.
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QUESTION: -- which has been talked about is
this channel between --
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MR KIRBY: Sure.
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QUESTION: -- Secretary Kerry and Foreign Minister
Zarif. That has not been or was not contemplated
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to be used in this case to tell the Iranians
to knock it off?
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MR KIRBY: I wouldn’t rule anything out right
at this point. I’m not aware of any plans
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for the Secretary to intervene at this point,
but I certainly would not rule anything out.
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I just know that there’s been no communication
on a diplomatic front on this issue, and I
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think the Pentagon has obviously spoken to
the incident itself.
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QUESTION: Okay. And then lastly on Iran, you
probably have seen a story that my colleague
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wrote out of Vienna about the P5+1 procurement
committee approving the shipment of 116 metric
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tons of natural uranium --
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MR KIRBY: Yeah.
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QUESTION: -- to Iran. People look at this
and wonder exactly why it is that this kind
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of a shipment would be approved. Do you know
what it’s for and why it was approved?
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MR KIRBY: Well – so a couple of thoughts
there, Matt. I think you know that I’m unable
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to speak about specific proposals that are
subject to the procurement working group confidentiality,
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so I – there’s a limit here. However,
and more generally, the JCPOA does permit
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Iran to import natural uranium, and such transactions
were always anticipated throughout the process
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of working towards the deal. Natural uranium
is an internationally traded commodity. It’s
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not usable in its natural form for building
a nuclear weapon. Iran can use any natural
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uranium it acquires only within the other
limitations of JCPOA, so the – all the limits
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of the JCPOA still are in place. So I think
– and you know this – for example, they
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cannot have more than 300 kilograms of enriched
material, and it cannot enrich that material
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to a level more than 3.67 percent. And again,
natural uranium can – is not in its natural
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form usable. Any natural uranium that would
be transferred to Iran would still remain
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subject to the enhanced verification and transparency
measures of the JCPOA and under the terms
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of that arrangement for 25 years.
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QUESTION: Yeah, but – okay, which is fine.
So if it’s not usable, why would they want
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it?
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MR KIRBY: Well, again, they’re allowed to
bring in natural uranium. I would let – I
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can’t – sorry, there’s – I cannot
confirm these reports. I think you know that.
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So – but there’s no prohibition on bringing
in natural uranium. They are still – regardless
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of that, they are still held to all the limitations
of the Iran deal. That doesn’t change. And
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we still have the most robust inspection regime
in place.
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Without confirming this procurement, I’d
refer you to Iranian authorities for discussion
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of whatever desire they might have to bring
in natural uranium. But if you’re going
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to have a civil nuclear power program, you
can see that there might be a need for a product
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like that. But again, I can’t speak to it
specifically.
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QUESTION: Well, is it not correct, though,
that after – or tell me, I mean, if they
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hold onto this, if they store it away for
25 years, can they then not take this 116
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tons and then do whatever they want with it?
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MR KIRBY: Well, the – first of all, I really
hate – I hate hypotheticals --
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QUESTION: Or whatever the quantity --
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MR KIRBY: -- particularly the ones that go
out two and a half decades from now, but --
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QUESTION: Look, the – your whole point is
that don’t worry, this is going to be subject
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to inspection and verification --
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MR KIRBY: Which – which --
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QUESTION: -- under the JCPOA, but those – that
expires at some point.
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MR KIRBY: There are – there are --
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QUESTION: So after those limitations expire,
is it not correct that they could do whatever
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they want with it?
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MR KIRBY: I’m not going to speculate one
way or another here about something that --
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QUESTION: I don't know that --
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MR KIRBY: -- may or may not happen 25 years
from now, Matt. There’s a strong inspection
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regime in place --
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QUESTION: Now.
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MR KIRBY: -- to – and for well into the
future to prevent Iran from --
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QUESTION: For 25 years.
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MR KIRBY: -- to prevent Iran from ever being
able to achieve a nuclear weapon, and that’s
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on page – by the way, not 25 years. The
deal says Iran will never achieve nuclear
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weapons capability, but let’s get beyond
that. I’m not going to speculate about what
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might or might not happen 25 years from now.
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QUESTION: Well --
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MR KIRBY: I just don’t think that’s a
useful exercise.
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QUESTION: Well, it may not be a useful exercise
for you, but I mean, if you’re looking at
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this from the perspective of other countries
in the region – Gulf, Arab countries – I
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mean, 25 years isn’t that long, is it not?
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MR KIRBY: Well, for you and me, it might --
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QUESTION: It might be for us.
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MR KIRBY: It might be for us.
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QUESTION: But we’re talking about --
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MR KIRBY: Look, I --
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QUESTION: -- generations of --
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MR KIRBY: Matt, I do understand where the
question’s going. There’s no prohibition
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under the deal now for them to bring this
material in in its natural form. It cannot
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be enriched – it cannot be used, I’m sorry,
for a weapon. There is a very strong inspection
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regime in place for a very long time. And
oh, by the way, in the deal, Iran said they
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would never achieve nuclear weapons capability.
So I can’t – I don’t think either of
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us can predict what things are going to look
like 20 years from now or 25 years from now
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or what the inspection regime continues to
find and continues to be able to see 25 years
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from now. But we’re confident that the deal
makes the region safer, makes our allies and
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partners safer, will prevent Iran from achieving
a nuclear weapons capability. And I think
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that’s probably the best place to leave
it.
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QUESTION: John?
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QUESTION: Kirby --
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MR KIRBY: Yeah.
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QUESTION: The --
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QUESTION: You’re going to ask on the same
thing?
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QUESTION: Yes, on the same thing, yeah. So
they’re permitted to bring in natural uranium,
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as you say, but the Associated Press story
that Matt referenced seemed to suggest that
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this particular batch was – has been permitted
by some kind of decision. Now, without confirming
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that, as you say you can’t --
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MR KIRBY: Right.
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QUESTION: -- do they have to inform their
partners in the JCPOA when they do bring in
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natural uranium?
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MR KIRBY: I’m not – I’m going to have
to take the question. I don’t know. As – and
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again, I want to be clear: I cannot confirm
the press reporting on this and I’m not
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going to speak about the working group’s
– anything that would violate the working
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group’s confidentiality. But as a matter
of procedure, I’d have to ask. I don’t
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know. Okay?
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Lesley.
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QUESTION: Can I change the subject to Taiwan?
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MR KIRBY: Yeah.
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QUESTION: So I don’t know if you’ve commented
on it over the weekend – I don’t think
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I saw anything – the Taiwanese president
met the Republican lawmakers during a stopover
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on Sunday. Has there been any formal complaint
by the Chinese on this? There was a report
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in a Chinese state tabloid that’s warning
the next administration about it, but as of
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today, was there any kind of formal --
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MR KIRBY: Not that I’m aware of.
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QUESTION: -- complaint of it?
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MR KIRBY: Not that I’m aware of.
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QUESTION: So --
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QUESTION: And how do you see that visit? I
mean, is it – those discussions, does it
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complicate anything in the last two weeks?
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MR KIRBY: Well, so, a couple of things. First
of all, nothing’s changed about the “one
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China” policy or the United States support
for it. Number two, the president’s transit
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through the United States is based on a longstanding
U.S. practice. It’s consistent with the
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unofficial nature of our relations with Taiwan.
These are undertaken, of course – I think
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I talked about this Friday – out of consideration
for the comfort of the traveler, safety, convenience,
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that kind of thing. But there’s no change
to the “one China” policy.
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Now, as for discussions that the president
had, I would let those who were party to those
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discussions speak to them in terms of content.
We had no role. We did not – we didn’t
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encourage, we did not establish, we did not
organize those discussions. But again, this
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was unofficial transit for safety and comfort
only, and again, nothing’s changed about
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the “one China” policy.
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QUESTION: And nothing’s complicated your
life?
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MR KIRBY: Nothing has changed about the “one
China” policy.
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QUESTION: Okay.
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MR KIRBY: And again, I think the participants
in those discussions should speak to what
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was discussed.
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Janne.
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QUESTION: Thank you, John. On North Korea,
are you ready? (Laughter.)
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MR KIRBY: I’m always ready for questions
about North Korea from you, Janne. I mean,
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but I’m – as you rightly pointed out Friday
– (laughter) – I’m not informed, so
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I’ll do the best I can.
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QUESTION: All right. She said you’re not
an expert.
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MR KIRBY: She’s – that’s right, she
said I’m not an expert.
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QUESTION: I’m sorry. Okay. North Korea announced
the second time – Kim Jong-un announced
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the second time this year that North Korea
will soon launch the ICBM – intercontinental
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ballistic missile – anywhere, anytime. What
– do you have any comment on this?
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MR KIRBY: It would be exactly the same thing
that we have said when they have made these
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sorts of provocative statements in the past.
I mean, now is the time – and we’re well
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past time for Pyongyang to prove that they’re
willing and able to return to the Six-Party
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Talk process and to stop their provocative
moves, their destabilizing moves to develop
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– continue to develop ballistic missile
capabilities as well as a nuclear program.
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And as we’ve said before, the – that the
entire international community is aligned
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against them in terms of exerting more pressure.
We’ll – we take his comments seriously.
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We have to. Regrettably, we have to. But I’m
not going to get into our own estimate or
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assessment of where he might be with respect
to progress on this most recent threat.
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QUESTION: Is the United States ready to shut
down North Korean ICBM this time?
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MR KIRBY: I’m not going to speculate about
future tactical developments one way or the
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other. I would just tell you, as I said last
week, that in addition to the international
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pressure being applied through a very robust
sanctions regime, and the fact that we’re
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not ruling out additional sanctions if required
through the UN, that the United States maintains
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a significant deterrent capability militarily
in the region. That’s all been part and
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parcel of the Asia Pacific rebalance. And
we’re confident that we have the capabilities
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in the Asia Pacific region to protect our
interests.
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QUESTION: But a launch of North Korean ICBM
is a threat to South Korea and United States.
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So hopefully U.S. have military action to
– this time, so --
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MR KIRBY: Well, Janne, you know better than
probably anybody in this room that when I
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say “our interests,” I also mean the significant
interests and commitments that we have on
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the peninsula itself through a rock-solid
defense alliance with the Republic of Korea.
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That hasn’t changed. And we have – still
have a very significant military presence
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there on the peninsula, all of which is designed
to act as a deterrent. But also if – and
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nobody wants to see this come into open conflict
– but of course to be ready should it. And
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our forces on the peninsula are in fact some
of the most ready that we have anywhere in
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the world.
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QUESTION: Thanks.
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MR KIRBY: Okay.
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QUESTION: I have a question about Asian missile
technology. It’s not North Korea, though,
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so --
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MR KIRBY: Go ahead.
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QUESTION: All right. Pakistan launched a submarine
launch – well, what they said was a submarine-launchable
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nuclear-capable cruise missile today.
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MR KIRBY: Yeah.
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QUESTION: Does this have any concerns in terms
of balance in the region or any existing agreements?
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Is this something that is an issue for the
United States?
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MR KIRBY: What I can say is we’ve seen reports
of this missile launch – submarine-launched
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missile. We continue to urge all states with
nuclear weapons to exercise restraint regarding
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nuclear and missile capability testing and
use, and we encourage efforts to promote confidence
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building and stability with respect to those
capabilities.
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Yeah.
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QUESTION: Can we go back east between South
Korea and Japan? So I know you said last week
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that the comfort women statue that was erected
in Busan, like – that the State Department
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didn’t have a direct comment on that. But
last week, they – Japan pulled out the South
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Korean ambassador because it was erected.
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MR KIRBY: Right.
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QUESTION: I was wondering if you have any
response to that action.
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MR KIRBY: We are aware of the – of reports
that the ambassador was recalled. I think
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we would leave it to those two countries to
speak to that decision. I mean, as you know,
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it’s not an uncommon practice with respect
to moving diplomats in and out, and I think
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I’d let those two countries talk about that
action. Okay?
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Steve.
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QUESTION: On Syria, President Assad gave a
new interview. He made some comments that
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at peace talks he put everything on the table,
even discuss the possibility of elections
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being held in the country. Does any of this
seem realistic or give you any sense of optimism?
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MR KIRBY: I think you have to take his comments
in the context of things he has said in the
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past and even not – in the not so distant
past about taking – he also said he was
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going to take back his whole country and we’ve
seen the manner in which he sees fit to do
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that. So I think it’d be difficult to take
any stated commitment to him about elections
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very seriously. What needs to happen is what
we’ve said all along needs to happen, and
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that’s a UN-led process whereby the opposition
and the regime begin to have a discussion
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about what a political transition can look
like in Syria, a transition that incorporates
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the voice of the Syrian people – all of
them. And we continue to want to support that
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process and that process alone.
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Go ahead.
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QUESTION: Russia. You probably know that the
intelligence report, the one that was made
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public about Russia’s alleged meddling in
the U.S. election through leaks, does not
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provide any evidence for the public to see.
The report claims high degree of confidence.
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Do you think the public should have the same
high degree of confidence without seeing the
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evidence?
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MR KIRBY: I don’t think that we should be
surprised that in an unclassified version
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of a highly classified assessment and report
that we would be protecting sources and methods.
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And that all our intelligence communities
came to the same basic conclusion over and
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over again, that they testified publicly to
those conclusions last week and that they
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backed up that testimony in private briefings
to some members of Congress, as well as to
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President Obama and President-elect Trump,
I think should give people confidence in their
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assessments. But nobody – I don’t think
anybody should be surprised that in an unclassified
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version, the intelligence communities protected
sensitive information, particularly sourcing
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and methods; that it would it have been irresponsible
for them to have provided – to reveal that
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sort of information. And we rely on them,
as we should, to make that determination for
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themselves in terms of what information was
appropriate to put out publicly.
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QUESTION: Sir, it was with high degree of
confidence that the intelligence community
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said Iraq had weapons of mass destruction,
which led to a disastrous war based on that
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false assessment. Do you think the public
does not deserve to see the evidence in the
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case of Russia?
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MR KIRBY: I don’t think – I don’t think
many people would doubt that – the responsibility
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of the intelligence community to protect sources
and methods. I think most of the American
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people understand that, that they have a responsibility
to protect that information for the future.
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And I don’t think that trying to compare
what happened back in 2001 to this assessment
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is very relevant. The President, Secretary
Kerry, as well as every other cabinet official
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that has spoken on this has spoken to the
trust and confidence that they have in the
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assessment that was made by all 17 intelligence
communities. All of them came to the same
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basic conclusion: That Russia interfered with
the U.S. election.
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QUESTION: But that’s about the agencies.
What about the public? Should the evidence
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be relevant for the public to see, or should
they just take the agency’s word for it?
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MR KIRBY: There is a fundamental responsibility
not to reveal sources and methods and we leave
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it to the intelligence community when they
make unclassified information such as this
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to make that determination for themselves
on what is appropriate to put out there. And
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I think you and everybody else can understand
they have a responsibility to protect our
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nation’s secrets so that they can continue
to protect us going forward.
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Now, you heard the Secretary last week – very
clear in his firm admiration for the men and
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women of the intelligence community in the
United States, and the work that they do,
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and the manner in which they protect the American
people day in and day out. And there are hundreds
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of ways they do that that never sees the light
of day, that never gets a headline, and that’s
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just fine with them. So I think – well,
I don’t think. The Secretary believes strongly
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that they handled this matter in the appropriate
way in terms of how it was – how it was
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analyzed, how it was presented, and how it
was briefed to those who needed to see a deeper
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level of the information. Okay?
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QUESTION: Can I just ask you about – about
one thing, not specifically about this. But
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why is it that you say that what happened
in 2001 is not relevant to this? I mean, it
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seems to me that past performance is an indicator
of --
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MR KIRBY: Yeah, Matt. Look – I mean, look.
Nobody is saying that there weren’t mistakes
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made in 2000, 2001. But that was, what, 15
years ago and a lot has changed in the Intelligence
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Community since then. We’ve learned a lot.
We’ve become much more integrated. Back
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then, the intelligence communities, as you
well know, were much more stove-piped. There
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wasn’t the level of cooperation that we
– I mean, we have moved on. We have learned
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a lot from those mistakes.
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I’m not suggesting that the Intelligence
Community – that every bit of intelligence
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is always 100 percent. In fact, you know yourself
that oftentimes – and they are appropriately
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very careful about that – which makes it
all the more remarkable that in this case
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they were so uniform in their opinion and
their high confidence in the role that Russia
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played.
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QUESTION: But in terms of – you say you’re
drawing a distinction between then and now
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because of --
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MR KIRBY: I think it – I think it --
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QUESTION: Because the intelligence agencies
have gotten bigger and better?
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MR KIRBY: I think to paint them with the same
brush that was used in 2001 is highly unfair
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and actually wholly irrelevant and inaccurate
to the kinds of gains that have been made
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in intelligence gathering and analysis since
then. I mean, we’re talking 15 years.
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QUESTION: Right. So --
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MR KIRBY: I mean, should they --
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QUESTION: Well, you were just talking about
25 years with Iran.
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MR KIRBY: Should that be the benchmark for
everything?
401
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QUESTION: Well, I – I don’t know. I’m
asking you why you think it’s not relevant,
402
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what happened then is not relevant now.
403
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MR KIRBY: Because of what’s happened over
the last 15 years.
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QUESTION: So the improvements and --
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MR KIRBY: Improvements in integration, coordination,
analysis capability. I mean, we’ve moved
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on.
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QUESTION: All right.
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MR KIRBY: Okay?
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QUESTION: I have another one about history.
You said you didn’t want to debate history.
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MR KIRBY: I don’t.
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QUESTION: And I won’t ask you to. But I’m
just curious, in light of that, on Iran --
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MR KIRBY: Well, then why are you asking me?
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QUESTION: Well, no, because of this apology
that Secretary Kerry put out to the LGBT community.
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MR KIRBY: Right.
415
00:30:30,460 --> 00:30:33,600
QUESTION: I’m just wondering, 11 days left
in the --
416
00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:34,600
MR KIRBY: Sure.
417
00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:35,600
QUESTION: -- in his time. Why?
418
00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:36,600
MR KIRBY: Sure.
419
00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:40,670
QUESTION: Why now? And if he felt this strongly,
why not do this early on?
420
00:30:40,670 --> 00:30:45,580
MR KIRBY: Sure. No, it’s a fair question.
Look, I think this issue of what is known
421
00:30:45,580 --> 00:30:56,680
as the Lavender Scare was in relatively recent
weeks brought to our attention as a matter
422
00:30:56,679 --> 00:31:01,499
of concern by some members of Congress, mostly
recently Senator Ben Cardin, who I think we
423
00:31:01,500 --> 00:31:08,210
talked about his correspondence directly with
the Secretary just last week. And so the Secretary
424
00:31:08,210 --> 00:31:14,390
appreciated them expressing their concerns
over those events in the ‘40s and ‘50s,
425
00:31:14,390 --> 00:31:22,520
took a look at the historical record and decided
that it was appropriate to issue this apology,
426
00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:23,520
and so he did.
427
00:31:23,520 --> 00:31:28,270
QUESTION: Okay. But it wasn’t until – but
the reason for now is because members of Congress
428
00:31:28,270 --> 00:31:29,270
were seeking it?
429
00:31:29,270 --> 00:31:32,720
MR KIRBY: It was – it was because several
people brought it to his attention here in
430
00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:35,220
recent weeks, to include some members of Congress.
431
00:31:35,220 --> 00:31:41,650
QUESTION: Okay. So he wasn’t – I don’t
want to suggest that he didn’t – was clueless
432
00:31:41,650 --> 00:31:42,650
about it before, but I mean --
433
00:31:42,650 --> 00:31:43,650
MR KIRBY: I think – look, look.
434
00:31:43,650 --> 00:31:44,650
QUESTION: This wasn’t, like, high on his
--
435
00:31:44,650 --> 00:31:45,650
MR KIRBY: Well --
436
00:31:45,650 --> 00:31:47,980
QUESTION: -- agenda? Because I mean, in the
statement he talks about --
437
00:31:47,980 --> 00:31:48,980
MR KIRBY: His record.
438
00:31:48,980 --> 00:31:49,980
QUESTION: Exactly.
439
00:31:49,980 --> 00:31:50,980
MR KIRBY: His record.
440
00:31:50,980 --> 00:31:51,980
QUESTION: In the statement he talks about
his – his record of support.
441
00:31:51,980 --> 00:31:55,020
MR KIRBY: His record on these issues, LGBTI
rights, is longstanding as a member of Congress
442
00:31:55,020 --> 00:31:58,890
as well as Secretary of State. He has done
a lot to advance those causes.
443
00:31:58,890 --> 00:32:01,590
QUESTION: John, now you’re being defensive.
I’m not trying – I’m just trying to
444
00:32:01,590 --> 00:32:06,620
figure out if he – was this something in
the back of his mind that got moved to the
445
00:32:06,620 --> 00:32:07,740
front because of what --
446
00:32:07,740 --> 00:32:09,180
MR KIRBY: Yeah. I mean, he certainly --
447
00:32:09,179 --> 00:32:10,179
QUESTION: -- what he – the people are bringing
it to his attention now?
448
00:32:10,179 --> 00:32:12,389
MR KIRBY: He certainly knew the basics of
the history of the Lavender Scare.
449
00:32:12,390 --> 00:32:13,390
QUESTION: Okay, okay.
450
00:32:13,390 --> 00:32:16,470
MR KIRBY: I don’t think he considered himself
an expert on it. It was brought to his attention
451
00:32:16,470 --> 00:32:19,190
in recent weeks, and he felt it was appropriate
to issue the apology.
452
00:32:19,190 --> 00:32:20,190
QUESTION: Okay.
453
00:32:20,190 --> 00:32:27,550
MR KIRBY: On Syria, a couple questions on
Syria. One is that President Assad’s claim
454
00:32:27,550 --> 00:32:34,120
that he’s willing or he will take back the
country, the whole country. So would – in
455
00:32:34,120 --> 00:32:39,460
a case of like that or Bashar Assad or any
other forces tried to undo what you have done
456
00:32:39,460 --> 00:32:45,230
with the SDF or other forces that you’re
partners in Syria, would you tolerate any
457
00:32:45,230 --> 00:32:49,960
actions against these forces to undo what
you have done? Because it’s not just militarily
458
00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:54,500
you are helping them. Also there are some
humanitarian assistance to these area --
459
00:32:54,500 --> 00:32:56,900
MR KIRBY: I’m not really sure what you mean
by “undo” what we’ve done.
460
00:32:56,900 --> 00:33:03,330
QUESTION: Like retaking the area. I mean,
just kicking out every force, like your partners,
461
00:33:03,330 --> 00:33:05,750
SDF, everyone from Manbij, for example, Kobani.
462
00:33:05,750 --> 00:33:11,670
MR KIRBY: I don’t think it’d be useful
for me to speculate or hypothesize about what
463
00:33:11,669 --> 00:33:18,429
might or might not happen. The support that
the coalition provides to the Syrian Democratic
464
00:33:18,429 --> 00:33:23,449
Forces is designed for one goal and one goal
only, and that is to defeat Daesh. That’s
465
00:33:23,450 --> 00:33:28,390
the effort. We have long said that what needs
to happen with respect to the civil war in
466
00:33:28,390 --> 00:33:34,110
Syria is a political solution, and that’s
what the Secretary has labored so hard for.
467
00:33:34,110 --> 00:33:40,070
He will stay focused on that for the next
couple of weeks. But I’m not able to predict
468
00:33:40,070 --> 00:33:52,280
or speculate what might happen if Bashar al-Assad
moves into those areas. What Bashar al-Assad
469
00:33:52,280 --> 00:33:57,960
really needs to do is stop bombing his own
people, allow for humanitarian assistance
470
00:33:57,960 --> 00:34:04,200
to get in, and prove that he’s committed
to participating in UN-led political talks
471
00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:06,490
in Geneva to end the war.
472
00:34:06,490 --> 00:34:12,600
QUESTION: On the refugees program, I got some
information from the State Department that
473
00:34:12,599 --> 00:34:19,629
in Fiscal Year 2016 you have got over 12,000
Syrian refugees to the United States, which
474
00:34:19,631 --> 00:34:27,041
was meeting the goal even more than what President
Obama said, like, at least bringing 10,000.
475
00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:33,010
What is the status for this year? Are you
trying to keep the same goal or – because
476
00:34:33,010 --> 00:34:36,780
you have allocated money for that program
for this year too, so if you --
477
00:34:36,775 --> 00:34:41,595
MR KIRBY: Well, the President said for Fiscal
Year ’17 that we were going to shoot for
478
00:34:41,599 --> 00:34:48,889
a goal of 110,000 total refugees – not just
from any one place. There has not been a goal
479
00:34:48,889 --> 00:34:54,529
set by the President for Fiscal Year ’17
with respect to refugees specifically from
480
00:34:54,530 --> 00:34:55,530
Syria.
481
00:34:55,530 --> 00:35:00,500
QUESTION: So any – do you have any idea
that how is the status after – like, since
482
00:35:00,500 --> 00:35:03,790
October is the fiscal year – the new fiscal
year, so do you have --
483
00:35:03,790 --> 00:35:08,140
MR KIRBY: I can – we can get that for you.
I don’t have an exact number of what’s
484
00:35:08,140 --> 00:35:13,510
been brought in thus far in the fiscal year,
but we can ask and see.
485
00:35:13,510 --> 00:35:16,690
QUESTION: Okay. So can I switch to Iraq or
--
486
00:35:16,690 --> 00:35:18,140
MR KIRBY: Go ahead.
487
00:35:18,140 --> 00:35:23,550
QUESTION: Okay. The – couple days ago of
Turkish Prime Minister Yildirim visited Iraq
488
00:35:23,550 --> 00:35:30,570
and he met with Kurdish and Iraqi leaders
in Baghdad and Erbil. One of the topics they
489
00:35:30,570 --> 00:35:36,010
talked about is the military and deployment
– Turkish military deployment in Iraq and
490
00:35:36,010 --> 00:35:41,460
that issue. So if you would just comment on
that – on the visit in general and on were
491
00:35:41,460 --> 00:35:46,700
you involved in any way, because you – previously
you have asked both sides to de-escalate the
492
00:35:46,700 --> 00:35:48,380
tensions they had over the --
493
00:35:48,380 --> 00:35:49,380
MR KIRBY: Yeah, we --
494
00:35:49,380 --> 00:35:50,380
QUESTION: -- Turkish army --
495
00:35:50,380 --> 00:35:52,930
MR KIRBY: I think I talked about this last
week. I’m not going to – I don’t have
496
00:35:52,930 --> 00:35:59,680
a readout to offer to you. We weren’t party
to these meetings. Certainly, as we’ve said
497
00:35:59,680 --> 00:36:06,260
over and over again, we respect the sovereign
right of the government in Baghdad to meet
498
00:36:06,260 --> 00:36:11,760
and discuss and have dialogue with neighbors
and partners in the region, including Turkey.
499
00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:17,290
We obviously look favorably on dialogue between
Turkey and Iraq on a number of issues, but
500
00:36:17,290 --> 00:36:21,740
I’d leave it to leaders from both those
countries to speak to what was discussed and
501
00:36:21,740 --> 00:36:22,740
what the outcomes were.
502
00:36:22,740 --> 00:36:23,740
QUESTION: Okay.
503
00:36:23,740 --> 00:36:26,480
MR KIRBY: That’s not for us to speak to.
But I said all that last week, so that’s
504
00:36:26,480 --> 00:36:28,010
– I’m not giving you anything different.
505
00:36:28,010 --> 00:36:29,010
Yeah.
506
00:36:29,010 --> 00:36:30,800
QUESTION: I’m Kawa from Kurdistan 24.
507
00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:32,380
MR KIRBY: From where?
508
00:36:32,380 --> 00:36:33,410
QUESTION: Kurdistan 24.
509
00:36:33,410 --> 00:36:34,410
MR KIRBY: Okay.
510
00:36:34,410 --> 00:36:39,160
QUESTION: Yeah, I came on behalf of Laurie.
I will ask a question if you allow me about
511
00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:43,750
the same case of the Turkish minister while
they were talking about the very important
512
00:36:43,750 --> 00:36:48,430
and sensitive case, which is PKK in Sinjar.
And also, United States also been concerned
513
00:36:48,430 --> 00:36:55,480
about this case and ask the PKK to get out
from Sinjar, but it looks like from the last
514
00:36:55,480 --> 00:37:01,020
information that the PKK are showing a kind
of resist and rejecting for getting out. In
515
00:37:01,021 --> 00:37:05,921
case if they insisted of getting out from
Sinjar, which is a part of threat for the
516
00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:09,940
area – and also the United States needs
the area to get stable and for the sovereign
517
00:37:09,940 --> 00:37:14,980
of Iraq too – what will be the advice of
the United States for Turkey and the Iraqi
518
00:37:14,980 --> 00:37:17,830
Government and the Kurds to react in this
situation?
519
00:37:17,830 --> 00:37:22,900
MR KIRBY: Well, I wouldn’t get ahead of
diplomatic discussions that haven’t occurred
520
00:37:22,900 --> 00:37:27,110
and for all I know might not occur, okay,
so I don’t want to speculate. That was a
521
00:37:27,110 --> 00:37:31,740
long windup in your question. Only thing I
would say is that the PKK remains a foreign
522
00:37:31,740 --> 00:37:37,590
terrorist organization. We consider them a
terrorist organization. We recognize that
523
00:37:37,589 --> 00:37:40,929
the threat that they pose in the region and
specifically to Turkey, and we continue to
524
00:37:40,930 --> 00:37:43,750
support Turkey in their counterterrorism efforts.
Okay?
525
00:37:43,750 --> 00:37:45,220
I got time for --
526
00:37:45,220 --> 00:37:48,330
QUESTION: I – I have a very brief logistical
one, but someone else can go first.
527
00:37:48,330 --> 00:37:50,190
MR KIRBY: Okay, you and then Matt, and then
that will be it.
528
00:37:50,190 --> 00:37:53,360
QUESTION: Yeah, on the same thing in Sinjar.
I don’t know if you’re aware of the situation
529
00:37:53,359 --> 00:37:58,899
in Sinjar. There are PKK and there are some
other forces which is also they are in conflict
530
00:37:58,900 --> 00:38:03,470
with the Kurdish forces, but they have, like,
the support of Baghdad – the Yezidi forces
531
00:38:03,470 --> 00:38:09,160
there. I don’t know how you are involved,
if you are aware of the conflicts or the tensions
532
00:38:09,160 --> 00:38:14,520
between the KRG and also these forces that
are there in Sinjar, because that situation
533
00:38:14,520 --> 00:38:20,830
is very delicate and the residents – the
IDPs, they are not returning to their places
534
00:38:20,830 --> 00:38:25,340
because of the having multiple forces in the
area. If you just – I don’t know if you
535
00:38:25,340 --> 00:38:26,340
are aware of anything --
536
00:38:26,340 --> 00:38:27,340
MR KIRBY: Is there a question there?
537
00:38:27,340 --> 00:38:28,340
QUESTION: -- anything. Yeah.
538
00:38:28,340 --> 00:38:32,230
MR KIRBY: I mean, I think I’d refer you
to the – to DOD to speak to a specific situation
539
00:38:32,230 --> 00:38:34,190
on the ground. Obviously, we’re well aware
--
540
00:38:34,190 --> 00:38:35,190
QUESTION: (Off-mike.)
541
00:38:35,190 --> 00:38:38,680
MR KIRBY: We’re well aware of the tensions
in and around Sinjar. We’re well aware of
542
00:38:38,680 --> 00:38:45,670
the PKK’s influence. I’ve already stated
our view of the PKK and who they are and what
543
00:38:45,670 --> 00:38:50,720
they are, but for specifics about the situation
on the ground, I think I’d point you to
544
00:38:50,720 --> 00:38:52,200
DOD as a much better source. Okay?
545
00:38:52,200 --> 00:38:53,200
QUESTION: Okay, thank you.
546
00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:57,050
QUESTION: Sorry, I just wanted to – the
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is
547
00:38:57,050 --> 00:38:59,870
in town. He’s going to be up on the Hill
later this afternoon. I know the Secretary
548
00:38:59,869 --> 00:39:05,829
is not back yet, but he will be back tomorrow,
obviously, although it seems like he has a
549
00:39:05,831 --> 00:39:06,831
busy day.
550
00:39:06,831 --> 00:39:07,831
MR KIRBY: He’ll be back this evening, but
there are no plans to --
551
00:39:07,831 --> 00:39:08,831
QUESTION: But I just --
552
00:39:08,831 --> 00:39:09,831
MR KIRBY: -- meet with the foreign minister.
553
00:39:09,831 --> 00:39:13,131
QUESTION: Okay, but would anyone else? Do
you know if Mr. Johnson – Foreign Secretary
554
00:39:13,130 --> 00:39:14,130
Johnson --
555
00:39:14,130 --> 00:39:15,130
MR KIRBY: I’m not aware of any meetings
--
556
00:39:15,130 --> 00:39:16,130
QUESTION: Okay.
557
00:39:16,130 --> 00:39:17,130
MR KIRBY: -- that the foreign minister will
be having here at the State Department.
558
00:39:17,130 --> 00:39:18,130
Okay.
559
00:39:18,130 --> 00:39:19,130
QUESTION: Thank you.
560
00:39:19,130 --> 00:39:19,630
MR KIRBY: Thanks, everybody.
