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05/23/2023 05:54 PM EDT
Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson
1:18 p.m. EDT
MR MILLER: Good afternoon, everyone.
QUESTION: Welcome.
MR MILLER: I was informed I’m apparently expected to do this every day. (Laughter.) Let the record reflect I’m on time today, which I say not to pat myself – ah, well, Matt.
QUESTION: No, no, no. Hold on. You’re actually 10 minutes late. (Laughter.)
MR MILLER: We – let me – and if you want exact detail what happened, we gave the two-minute warning, I sat in the room and noticed that not everyone was in here, so I waited for the august representative from the Associated Press to make an appearance before I walked in. (Laughter.)
QUESTION: Well, thank you. I appreciate that. You might not, but I’ll see. (Laughter.)
MR MILLER: I don’t have any opening comments, so Matt, do you want to kick us off?
[]QUESTION: Can I ask you about what your understanding is of the hearing that Evan Gershkovich had in Russia today?
MR MILLER: Sure. So we understand the hearing took place and that Russia extended the pretrial detention of Evan Gershkovich by an additional three months. We once again call on Russia to comply with their obligation to provide consular access to him. As we said – as I discussed yesterday, on Friday they rejected our second request for consular access to them. The claims against Evan are baseless, and we continue to call for his immediate release as well as for the immediate release of Paul Whelan.
QUESTION: Okay. But you have gotten consular access to him once, right? Or no?
MR MILLER: No. No. They have rejected —
QUESTION: Oh.
MR MILLER: They have rejected consular access.
QUESTION: So you haven’t gotten any?
MR MILLER: Correct.
QUESTION: But there were people in the court today? —
MR MILLER: We did have representatives from the embassy in the court today.
QUESTION: But they weren’t able to speak to him privately or —
MR MILLER: I don’t know. I haven’t – I don’t have an update on whether – I know they were there. I haven’t – I don’t have an update on whether they were able to speak with him.
QUESTION: Okay. And per – but per the people who were in there, you don’t have any better understanding of the charges against him?
MR MILLER: I think that – my understanding of the hearing today was that it was a hearing on whether to continue to detain him, and they extended that detention by three months. I believe the embassy in Moscow will have a statement coming out. I thought it would be out before the briefing, but if it’s not out, it’ll be out in the next few minutes with any more details. But I don’t have any more details from what happened inside the court.
QUESTION: Thank you.
QUESTION: May I follow up?
MR MILLER: Yeah.
QUESTION: Evan’s parents were also in attendance at the court. Did the U.S. help arrange their visit to Moscow? Do you approve of this visit? Anything, any comment?
MR MILLER: We were aware that they visited Moscow. As I think we’ve said before, we have been in close contact with Evan’s parents since immediately after his detention. We did not help arrange their travel.
I will just say personally I can only imagine how difficult it must be to see your child detained overseas, especially to be detained wrongfully. And so I’m certainly not going to criticize any parent for wanting to see their child. But that being said, we do have a Level Four Travel Advisory for Russia, and just speaking generally, we don’t – we do not advise that U.S. citizens travel to Russia.
QUESTION: A follow-up on that?
MR MILLER: Yeah. Go ahead, Alex.
QUESTION: Thank you, Matt. Just to clarify, just so we have clear understanding of how your pressing on – still pressing for consular access, at what level? Have you invited the Russian ambassador to the State Department to express your concern about the latest development?
MR MILLER: So I’m not going to get into the details of back-and-forth conversations. But we have expressed our concern from the minister level. Secretary Blinken had a conversation with Foreign Minister Lavrov about Evan Gershkovich’s detention already this year. We’ve engaged with him at a number of levels. Our embassy in Moscow has engaged with them. We’ve engaged with them here. And I’m not going to get into the specifics of those conversations.
As I said yesterday, we’ve found that oftentimes when it comes to wrongful detentions it’s unproductive to the release that we seek to talk about all of the conversations we have publicly. But we have consistently pressed the case that, number one, they need to – Russia needs to fulfill its consular obligations; and number two, they need to immediately release him as well as Paul Whelan.
QUESTION: Have you exhausted your leverages at this point?
MR MILLER: I’m not going to speak to any of the details of how we are trying to secure his release, other than to say that it is an ongoing priority for the Secretary, it is an ongoing priority for the President. And I will say that even speaking more broadly than the case of Evan Gershkovich or Paul Whelan, the wrongful detention of Americans is one of the top priorities for this department. As you are aware, we have secured the return of more than two dozen wrongfully detained Americans since the beginning of this administration. It continues to be our top priority, and we’ll continue to work on it with all the tools available to us.
QUESTION: And a final follow-up on this. The administration earlier this month sanctioned FSB for its action particularly in going after American citizens, but it stopped short. You guys did not sanction the Russian foreign minister which is refusing the consular access. Is it on the table as an option?
MR MILLER: So I don’t want to preview any specific sanction action. I will say that, as always, we look at all the tools that are available to us and we use them when we think they are most effective. But if you look at our record not just with respect with wrongful detentions but our record with respect with Moscow and Russian Government officials and other Russian elites going back to more than a year now, we have not hesitated to use our sanctions authorities to go after any number of officials in that government, including the most senior officials.
Shaun.
[]QUESTION: Thanks. I know lots of us are concerned about Evan. But let me move to another topic, Sudan.
MR MILLER: Yeah.
QUESTION: The ceasefire that is supposed to have taken place, that did come into force. What’s your assessment of whether it’s holding and where things stand right now?
MR MILLER: So today in Jeddah, representatives of the Ceasefire Monitoring Coordination Committee that we announced over the weekend engaged in discussions on humanitarian assistance deliveries. And they also had discussions with their respective chain of command, so that would be the Saudi officials on that group discussing it with the officials in the Saudi Government, Ambassador Godfrey, who leads our representation on the Monitoring Committee having conversations with officials in our government.
Regarding allegations of ceasefire violations, we’ve obviously seen the reports. The officials on the Monitoring Mechanism are looking into those reports and continuing to monitor, and we have the ability to, when we see violations of the ceasefire, make those known publicly as well as engaged with direct – directly with both sides to the conflict.
QUESTION: Can I just pursue that?
MR MILLER: Yeah.
QUESTION: You said the Monitoring Mechanism, and of course the Secretary spoke to that as well. How do you see that coming – how do you see that working? I mean, do you think that’s going to have a shaping effect, if you will, to reduce the violations? Is this just more of a reporting mechanism? How do you see that going?
MR MILLER: So what I’d say is the Monitoring Mechanism is made up of 12 individuals: three officials from the U.S. Government – Ambassador Godfrey is our lead and there will be two other officials as well; three officials from the Saudi Government; as well as three officials each from the SAF and the RSF.
The way we see the Monitoring Mechanism is – and what it can achieve is a couple of different things: one, to identify violations of the ceasefire; two, to publicly hold accountable the parties for the violations of the ceasefire; and then three, so we have evidence that we can use to privately press the parties. We have had conversations at a number of levels inside this department, both with the top generals and other officials in the SAF and the RSF from the beginning of this conflict, and we’ll continue to do that to press them to stop the violence when we see violations of the ceasefire, and also to have conversations with our partners in the region.
And then the last thing I will add is that we do have additional tools available to us and we will not hesitate to use those tools if and when it’s appropriate to do so.
QUESTION: So how —
QUESTION: Go ahead, go ahead.
QUESTION: How do you hold the violators accountable? How will you do that? I know you said you have some tools and so on.
MR MILLER: I don’t want to preview any specific action. Obviously, this is a – continues to be a very delicate situation, where we are involved in intense diplomatic conversations both directly with the two parties and with partners in the region. But we have a number of tools available to us. We – and we will not hesitate to use those tools if and when it’s appropriate to do so.
Anything else on Sudan before I – Sudan? Yeah, go ahead.
QUESTION: You announced the 245 million towards humanitarian aid for civilians today. But since there’s not a civilian government in place, how exactly is that going to be distributed?
MR MILLER: So let me note, first of all, that the United States remains the largest single donor of humanitarian assistance in Sudan and we will continue our support for the vulnerable population in Sudan.
The assistance that we announced today is not just for people in Sudan but for neighboring countries that are experiencing the impacts of the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Specifically with respect to how that will be distributed, it will be distributed through the State Department’s Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration, as well as additional humanitarian assistance from USAID.
So we have the ability to directly provide humanitarian assistance and then also engage with multilateral organizations in the region.
Yeah, Said. Michel.
[]QUESTION: Are you aware on phone conversations between Israeli prime minister and the Saudi Crown Prince on the normalization between the two countries, and did the U.S. play any role in this regard?
MR MILLER: So we are aware of the reports. I would refer you to the two countries to speak to them, any detail. And of course, those are two countries with which we engage regularly, but I’m not going to speak to any private diplomatic conversations.
I will say as a broader measure we, of course, fully support Israel’s integration into the Middle East region, including normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia.
QUESTION: Can I just follow up on this real quick?
MR MILLER: Yeah.
QUESTION: Okay, thank you. It is said that Prime Minister Netanyahu is either speaking or spoke with Saudi Crown Prince MBS on – about flights for the pilgrimage for Hajj, a direct flight for Israel. But it is – also that was reported in the Times of Israel and – but it is alleged that the Saudis are insisting on allowing PA security officers on the compound of Haram Sharif. Are you aware of such talks and would you support the presence of Palestinian PA security in al-Aqsa/ Haram Sharif?
MR MILLER: Again, I think it’s more appropriate for those two governments that were involved in the reported talks to speak to any details about them. I would say as a general matter the United States continues to strongly support the historic status quo on the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount.
QUESTION: Right. But it’s the United States that really trained Palestinian security, supports them, finances them and all these things, so you wield a lot of power of the Palestinian security. Does that factor in in any way?
MR MILLER: I will say, as I just said, we continue to support the longstanding historic status quo. That’s been our policy for some time, and I don’t have any further comment.
[]QUESTION: A question about Lebanon. Germany issues arrest warrant for Lebanon Central Bank Riad Salameh. This is like the second arrest warrant within one week. The first one came from France and this from Germany. What’s your take on that, since it’s a very kind of sensitive matter for Lebanese economy? It’s crashing right now and this will add more insecurity for the economy that is already clashed.
MR MILLER: So I would say with respect to the specific reports, we would leave that to our German partners to comment on them, just as last week we left it to the Government of France.
I will say in general it is for the Lebanese Government to determine who continues to serve in that position. We work with the designated governor in his or her official capacity. And I will say more broadly, as we’ve said before, it is important that the Lebanese Government respect the established process for appointing a new governor and focus on the task of stabilizing Lebanon’s economy and effecting meaningful change.
QUESTION: Okay. My question about the displaced Syrians – I’m stressing on the word “displaced,” not refugees, because a big number – as reports indicated, big numbers, they go back to Syria and then go back to Lebanon and get paid a salary through UNHCR. So they don’t really have a security problem going back home. Why this administration is not kind of pushing these displaced Syrians to go back home, safe, for good?
MR MILLER: So I will say that we continue to engage with our partners in the region about that issue, about the return of refugees to Syria. But I don’t have anything to add in – specifically.
Go ahead.
QUESTION: Yes, my question is about Mexico, and the illegal use of surveillance there. Today The New York Times is publishing a front-page story showing how the Mexican army has been widely using commercial spyware to target a wide array of persons in Mexico. Does the State Department condemn this type of use of commercial spyware? And given the administration has spoken so forcefully against the misuse of surveillance, what does it say that one of your closest allies is encouraging this practice?
MR MILLER: So I have seen those reports. I haven’t even had a chance to read the full story; I don’t have any comment on them in detail, other than to say that the U.S.-Mexico relationship is one of the most important and dynamic in the world. But I don’t have any specific comment on that report in The New York Times.
QUESTION: So the U.S. doesn’t condemn the use of – the misuse of —
MR MILLER: I said I haven’t had a chance to look at that report in detail, and I don’t think it’d be appropriate for me to comment on it in detail until I have done so.
QUESTION: Not even in general, around the world?
MR MILLER: I – I understand what you would like me to say. However, I think with respect to the report in the Times, until I’ve had a chance to read it in detail and talk with my colleagues about it, I don’t think it’d be appropriate for me to make any comment.
Go ahead.
[]QUESTION: Thank you, Matt. Could you provide an update, please, on the State Department’s facilitating access to the Afghanistan dissent cable to the leadership of the House Foreign Affairs Committee?
MR MILLER: Sure. So as we made public last week, we made an offer to the committee that Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Meeks could come here to the State Department to view both the dissent cable – dissent channel cable itself and Secretary Blinken’s response. They accepted that offer, and it’s our understanding that they will visit the department today to review the cable and the response.
QUESTION: Has consideration been made for their – or for the chairman’s sort of counter that access be broadened to other membership of the committee?
MR MILLER: I would say as a general principle we continue to believe it’s important to protect the confidentiality of the dissent channel. We understand the need to give Congress the information it needs to do its job, but we want to protect the ability of State Department employees to do their job. We’ve seen the comments that Chairman McCaul has made about this issue publicly, of extending access to the other members of the committee. We will continue to engage with him on this question. And as we’ve said for some time, we hope to reach some kind of final resolution.
QUESTION: Follow-up on Afghanistan?
QUESTION: Should we – should the —
MR MILLER: Let me just – let me – one —
QUESTION: — the prospect of the enforcement of that subpoena be resuscitated? You think that you might consider facilitating broader access?
MR MILLER: I think for this point we’ll continue to keep the conversations confidential with the chairman. But we’re – we understand that he and Ranking Member Meeks will view the cable today. And as I said, we hope to achieve some resolution to the matter.
QUESTION: Thank you. On one quick separate topic, if I may.
MR MILLER: Yeah.
[]QUESTION: Does the State Department have a view on the impetus behind the apparent pardoning of Roman Protasevich in Belarus by Lukashenka? Was that – do you have clarity onto the circumstances of that pardon?
MR MILLER: Not clarity into the circumstances. As I think you’re aware, we don’t have a lot of direct conversations with the Lukashenka regime. I will say generally the release of even one political prisoner in Belarus is a positive sign, particularly when the total number of political prisoners continues to grow and now has reached more than 1,500. But that does not excuse the Lukashenka regime’s blatant violation of international civil aviation regulations when it diverted the Ryanair flight two years ago for the sole purpose of arresting – excuse me – Mr. Protasevich. After his arrest, he was unconscionably used as a tool of Belarusian state media. He was paraded in front of TV cameras, coerced into confessing. And while he was pardoned, Ms. Sapega, who was sentenced with him, continues to serve her six-year detention and – today. And we reiterate our call for the regime to unconditionally release all political prisoners unjustly detained in Belarus.
All right, Guita.
[]QUESTION: Thank you. On Iran, Matt. After months of detention of the two journalists who broke the news on how Mahsa Amini was actually killed, or died, the judiciary has set a date for their trial, which is next week. They have been – one of the charges is collaboration with the United States. Do you have any comments on that? And also anything – any thoughts on the escalation of executions in that country.
MR MILLER: So I will say with respect to that specific question, we reject those charges. They are obviously not true. And I will note that over the course of the protests, Iranian authorities have repeatedly violated Iranians’ human rights, punished them for executing their essential freedoms. This includes not just members of the Iranian public who have – who came forward to protest, but also journalists in the country. Sham trials and executions have been key components of the regime’s attempt to suppress any form of dissent. And we once again, as we have on a number of occasions, call on Iranian authorities to stop their arbitrary detentions, stop their sham trials, and stop denying the Iranian people the fundamental freedoms that they deserve.
QUESTION: And how about on the escalation of executions?
MR MILLER: I will say that we have been concerned about the way the Iranian regime has used executions after, as I said a minute ago, what we believe are sham trials.
QUESTION: Can I ask one more on Iran?
MR MILLER: Yeah.
QUESTION: Just President Raisi is in Jakarta. He signed some agreements on trade with the Indonesians. Does the United States have any stance on that? You have – the United States has good relations with Indonesia. Do you have any – any position?
MR MILLER: So I don’t have any specific comment on their visit. I will say that in general, we do continue to vigorously enforce our sanctions on Iran. We don’t hesitate to take action against sanctions invaders. We’ve taken those actions numerous times in the world, and we regularly engage with countries and strongly discouraging – discourage them from taking steps with respect to Iran that contravene U.S. sanctions.
Alex, you’ve already had, like, four questions. Go ahead. (Laughter.)
QUESTION: And do – all right. Yeah.
QUESTION: A couple of different things. Just in a response a minute ago on Syria, you sort of talked about engaging partners in the region about return of refugees. Just to clarify, is that – is the U.S. sort of discussing the possible return of Syrian refugees?
MR MILLER: I don’t think I want to detail – to comment in detail about our conversations with partners in the region.