(AGENPARL) - Roma, 18 Luglio 2023 - (AGENPARL) – mar 18 luglio 2023 Department Press Briefing Index
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
1:23 p.m. EDT
Briefer: Spokesperson Matthew Miller
~RUSSIA/UKRAINE~
~NORTH KOREA/SOUTH KOREA~
~IRAQ~
~ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES~
~ISRAEL/MOROCCO~
~ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES~
~NORTH KOREA~
~SOUTH KOREA~
~SYRIA/RUSSIA~
~IRAN~
~BANGLADESH~
~RUSSIA/UKRAINE~
~SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED ARAB EMIRATES~
~CHINA~
~SAUDI ARABIA/SUDAN~
~CAMBODIA~
7/18/2023
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DEPARTMENT PRESS BRIEFING
DPB # 75
TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2023
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
Briefer: Matthew Miller, Spokesperson
1:23 p.m. EDT
MR MILLER: Strange – there’s like half the crowd that was here for the Secretary yesterday. I’ll
try not to -QUESTION: Well -MR MILLER: Try not to be offended.
QUESTION: And you were the main show, he said. The main event.
MR MILLER: Yeah, I think he was being a little facetious. Let me start with some brief remarks
at the top.
Yesterday, Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, its latest blow to
the world’s supply of food. Just hours later, the Kremlin rained missiles and dispatched armed
drones on Ukraine’s grain hub, the Port of Odessa. And then today, President Putin’s
spokesman threatened the safety of Ukrainian ships that would dare to carry food through
international waters.
It is clear that Russia continues to use food as a weapon of war. This time, the impact is not
only on the people of Ukraine, but also on global food supply and prices. Sixty-five percent of
these shipments have gone to some of the world’s most vulnerable countries and people. The
world should not be fooled by Moscow’s latest lies. The impact of these actions is already
being felt, particularly in the Middle East and Africa.
Prior to the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, food commodity prices spiked
nearly 22 percent due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As a result of Moscow’s
inhumane and unilateral decisions over the past 24 hours, we are already seeing a spike in
global wheat, corn, and soybean prices. Meanwhile, Russia continues to reap record profits
from its grain exports.
Despite Russia’s claims to the contrary, the UN has worked hard to facilitate Russian exports of
food in coordination with the private sector, the United States, EU, and UK to clarify any
concerns raised by Russia. As we have consistently made clear, no G7 sanctions are in place on
Russian food and fertilizer exports.
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Since its implementation in August last year, the Black Sea Grain Initiative successfully stabilized
food prices. Over 32 million metric tons of grain and foodstuffs flowed to countries worldwide
through the initiative, including the equivalent of nearly 18 billion loaves of bread, the majority
of which has gone directly to developing countries and the most vulnerable populations, like
the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, Yemen, and Afghanistan.
For the millions of people who depend on Ukrainian grain to feed their families, we urge the
Government of Russia to reverse its decision and to extend, expand, and fully implement the
initiative immediately, and cease its attacks against infrastructure critical to global food
security.
We also hope that every country is watching, because they will see it is Russia who is
responsible for blocking food from getting to those who need it and Russia who should change
course immediately.
With that, Matt?
QUESTION: Okay. I’m sure we’ll get back to Ukraine. I just want to start real quickly – and I
know that you guys are not really the lead agency on this, but what is the State Department’s
role in the situation with North Korea and this serviceperson who (inaudible)?
MR MILLER: Right now we are in touch with the Department of Defense. As you noted, it was
a U.S. servicemember who willfully and without authorization crossed into North Korea. The
Department of Defense is of course in the lead because it’s a member of their personnel, and
we are in touch with them to offer whatever assistance may be appropriate.
QUESTION: Yeah, but I mean, have you – well, so you’re only in touch with the military? You’re
not in touch with the South Koreans? You haven’t tried to get in touch with the North Koreans?
MR MILLER: At this point – I’m sure that we are in touch with the South Koreans. We have
regular ongoing conversations with them. I will say at this point we have not reached out – the
State Department has not reached out to the North Koreans or other governments. It is our
understanding that the Pentagon has reached out to their counterparts in the DPRK. They’re
the lead agency, and I will defer to them to comment on the nature of those contacts.
QUESTION: Well, who are the Pentagon’s counterparts?
MR MILLER: I will defer to the Pentagon for – to answer that question.
QUESTION: Do they have any? Like -MR MILLER: I will refrain from speaking for the Pentagon from here.
QUESTION: Just one quick follow-up on that.
MR MILLER: Yeah.
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QUESTION: So you said at this point State hasn’t reached out to the North Koreans or other
governments, though you guys have regular contacts with the South Koreans. Are you saying
that the U.S. hasn’t reached out to China regarding this incident specifically?
MR MILLER: I’m not – I am not aware of any such contacts at this point. Again, the
Department of Defense is in the lead at this point because it is an active duty serviceman.
QUESTION: Okay.
QUESTION: And this – and you haven’t reached out to the Swedes?
MR MILLER: Not that I’m aware of, no.
QUESTION: So does that mean that this hasn’t gotten to the point where you think you
(inaudible) -MR MILLER: It has not gotten to the point where the – let me go back and say the Department
of Defense is in the lead at this point. We are in coordination with them. It has not yet gotten
to the point where there is any step that is either appropriate or necessary for us to take. But
we will stay in close coordination with them over the next hours; and if there are steps that
would be useful for the State Department to take, we of course will not hesitate to take those.
QUESTION: Have you gotten any confirmation that he is alive and well?
MR MILLER: It’s a matter that remains under investigation. I would refer to the Pentagon for
comment on the exact details.
QUESTION: Just one last question before we move on.
MR MILLER: Yeah.
QUESTION: Is the expectation – or is there any reason to believe – that this could be resolved
quickly with the contacts that the Pentagon is taking the lead on right now?
MR MILLER: Again, I would defer to them, their contacts, that they are taking the lead. I
shouldn’t speak to them from here.
Yeah.
QUESTION: The Pentagon has said that they believe that he’s in detention. Would the State
Department attempt to provide consular services through Sweden if that’s the case, he’s in
detention?
MR MILLER: I will just say that, as always, the safety and security of any American overseas
remains the top priority for the United States. As I mentioned, the Pentagon is in the lead right
7/18/2023
now, are making the appropriate contacts. We are in close coordination with them. And
whatever we can do to resolve this situation, we will of course not hesitate to take the
appropriate step.
Any -QUESTION: And you’ve heard nothing from the North Koreans?
MR MILLER: No, not – we at the State Department have not. I can’t speak for the Pentagon
and their contacts.
QUESTION: Well, because given the status of the armistice, it is not out of the realm of
possibility that they could claim that this guy is a prisoner of war or a defector should –
depending on whatever. But you haven’t – there hasn’t been any -MR MILLER: Not -QUESTION: There hasn’t been any kind of even acknowledgement from the North Koreans that
you’re aware of that they -MR MILLER: We have had no -QUESTION: — that they have?
MR MILLER: We have had no contacts with them from the State Department, and I’m not
aware of the outcome of contacts at the Department of Defense.
QUESTION: Thank you.
MR MILLER: Before I move on, let me just finish up this – let me finish up this topic first, and
then will be happy -QUESTION: Do you have any indication that he was defecting or trying to defect?
MR MILLER: All I will say is that, as I said at the top, it’s clear that he willfully, on his own
volition, crossed the border and that the matter remains under investigation.
Anything else on this? All right, Michel.
QUESTION: Yeah, on Iraq. Do you have any reaction to the Iraqi president decision to revoke a
decree recognizing Cardinal Louis Sako, patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, as head of
the Christian Church in Iraq?
MR MILLER: Yes. I will say we are disturbed by the harassment of Cardinal Sako, the patriarch
of the Chaldean Church, and troubled by the news that he has left Baghdad. We look forward
to his safe return. The Iraqi Christian community is a vital part of Iraq’s identity and a central
part of Iraq’s history of diversity and tolerance.
7/18/2023
I will say we are in continuous contact with Iraqi leaders on this matter. We are concerned that
the cardinal’s position as a respected leader of the church is under attack from a number of
quarters, in particular a militia leader who is sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Act.
Excuse me.
QUESTION: And to what extent do you think this decision affects the religious freedom in Iraq?
MR MILLER: I would say certainly it is a blow to religious freedom, and that’s why we are so
concerned and why we have engaged directly with the Iraqi Government to make our concerns
clear.
QUESTION: And do you expect any change in their decision?
MR MILLER: I will say we have engaged with them. I think I just made our position quite clear.
And we certainly hope that they will reverse that decision and the cardinal will be able to safely
return to Baghdad.
QUESTION: Thank you.
MR MILLER: Said.
QUESTION: Thank you. Switching topics?
MR MILLER: Yeah.
QUESTION: Okay, on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, a couple things. The Israeli Government is
said to be advancing a bill that, once passed, will criminalize Palestinian Arab activism in Israeli
universities. Do you have any comment on that? I mean, you talk about shared values all the
time, but if passed, that will not be a shared value.
MR MILLER: So I won’t comment on that bill, which I understand is in draft form.
QUESTION: Right.
MR MILLER: I will say as a general matter the United States Government strongly believes that
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and a strong civil society are critically
important to responsible, responsive, and democratic governance.
QUESTION: Mm-hmm, okay. Apparently, the President, President Biden, extended an
invitation to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. We don’t know when or where. It could be
on the sideline of the General Assembly – it could be – but I mean, this comes at a time when
the overhaul is being advanced and of course settlements being advanced and so on, so are you
okay now with the advancement of the overhaul, the judicial overhaul?
MR MILLER: I will say, as we have made clear repeatedly, as the White House made clear
yesterday, I believe, in reading out the call that the President had with Prime Minister
7/18/2023
Netanyahu, that we continue to believe that those fundamental reforms need to be made with
the broadest consensus possible.
QUESTION: Okay. And lastly I wanted to ask you about Israel recognizing the Western Sahara
as part of Morocco. First, do you have any comment on that? I know that the last
administration did recognize that as – in the leadup to the normalization between Morocco and
Israel. Do you have any comment on this, that Israel had recognized this? How do you stand
on this issue?
MR MILLER: I would just say as a general matter the resumption of relations between Morocco
and Israel has been an unequivocal positive for the region, and we look forward to working with
these close U.S. partners to expand the circle of peace further.
QUESTION: So – but you have no position on recognizing Western Sahara as part of Morocco,
like -MR MILLER: I don’t have a comment on the Israeli Government’s decision to do that, no.
QUESTION: Okay. Do you have a comment on the position of the United States of America?
MR MILLER: Well, obviously the United States took that step in December of 2020 and has not
been changed.
QUESTION: It has not been changed, so it stands that Western Sahara, as far as you’re
concerned, is part of Morocco?
MR MILLER: I would say that the policy was announced in December of 2020; it has not
changed. I will say at the same time we fully support the UN Personal Envoy of the SecretaryGeneral Staffan de Mistura as he intensifies efforts to achieve an enduring and dignified
political solution for Western Sahara.
QUESTION: Thank you.
QUESTION: Well, back in December of 2020 when that was announced, there was also a big
announcement with a great amount of fanfare that the U.S. was going to open – construct and
open a consulate in Western Sahara. That appears to have fallen by the wayside as you guys
are going full-bore on opening new embassies and consulates around the Indo-Pacific. So not
to suggest that this would – that the Western Sahara consulate, that delays in that would – are
related to what’s going on in the Indo-Pacific, but is it still on hold? Are you still planning to
build one, or is this the beginning of the walking away from what the Trump administration did?
MR MILLER: I will have to get back to you on the construction of the consulate. I’m just not
following the construction.
QUESTION: Well, it should be in there.
7/18/2023
MR MILLER: No, I’m – it’s not an issue I’m following, the construction of the consulate.
QUESTION: Well, it should be right there under -MR MILLER: I -QUESTION: Under the expert talking points and the little background bit, it should say -MR MILLER: I will tell you the issues I’m following and the issues I’m not, and that is not one
I’m following. But I’m happy – but I’m…
QUESTION: Well, please, please do.
MR MILLER: But I’m happy to look into it, yeah.
QUESTION: And then one other on Israel, because President Herzog is here today and
tomorrow, and then in New York. There’s been a lot of speculation about the visa waiver
program and this pilot program. I know Said has asked about it over the course of the last
couple days – well, years, basically, months. But is there any – is there any chance that even a
pilot program could be agreed to until and unless the Israelis actually take steps to treat
Palestinian and Arab Americans as the same as they treat Jewish and other Americans?
MR MILLER: I will say as I’ve said from here before – first of all, I’m not going to comment on
the reports of a pilot program, but it is an issue in which we remain in dialogue with the Israeli
Government, but we have made clear what the positions are for entering into the visa waiver
program. At this point, Israel does not comply with those conditions.
QUESTION: Okay.
MR MILLER: But we’re hopeful that they will come in compliance with them.
QUESTION: Well, yeah, but successive administrations have been hopeful for that for the last,
like, decade.
MR MILLER: And we remain hopeful.
QUESTION: Okay. Well, I suppose you have to be optimistic if you’re a diplomat. But there
isn’t any indication that something is coming soon on this?
MR MILLER: I do not expect – “soon” is always a relative term. I don’t expect any — I don’t
expect -QUESTION: But the President of Israel is here today. (Laughter.)
MR MILLER: Hold on – I don’t expect any announcement today or tomorrow; I’ll put it that
7/18/2023
QUESTION: Okay. All right. Thank you.
MR MILLER: If that’s what you mean by “soon.”
QUESTION: Can I just please follow up -QUESTION: Yes.
MR MILLER: Yeah.
QUESTION: — on that here. Whatever comes up in the next few weeks and so on, it will not be
sort of segmented according to geography. The Gazans will not be treated differently than
West Bank American citizens and so on, correct?
MR MILLER: Let me not try to speculate about the shape of announcements that have not yet
been made.
QUESTION: Right. But all Americans will be treated equally regardless?
MR MILLER: I have made very clear that – what the requirements are for entering into the visa
waiver program, and I don’t want to speculate on what any future announcements might look
like.
Janne, go ahead.
QUESTION: Thank you, Matt. I think you already have this issues. The U.S. soldier defected to
North Korea through the DMZ yesterday. But there is no diplomatic relationship between the
U.S. and North Korea. How does the State Department contact about these issues?
MR MILLER: I did speak to this, I think before you came in. And as I said then, the – this is an
active member of the United States military; the Pentagon is in the lead. They’re making
appropriate contacts with officials from the DPRK. We stand ready to support that effort
however we can.
QUESTION: So you don’t have any detail why he defect, or did he go to – voluntary defected
to, or not get to -MR MILLER: I would defer to the Pentagon. It’s a matter that remains under investigation.
QUESTION: Okay, on other issues.
MR MILLER: Yeah.
QUESTION: NCG issues, nuclear conservative group meeting yesterday in Seoul, Korea. Does
the State Department officials attend this meeting? Who is he, if he attended this meeting?
MR MILLER: I’ll have to take that one and get back to you. I just don’t know.
7/18/2023
QUESTION: Thank you.
MR MILLER: Yeah, go ahead.
QUESTION: Yeah, on Syria, Russia has increased their activity in the skies over Syria, and this
has distracted your strikes against ISIS. How do you address this issue in Syria, and do you have
any connection, links with the Syrian forces in – with the Russian forces in Syria?
MR MILLER: I will say that the United States and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS continue to
work with our local partners in Syria to maintain constant pressure on ISIS remnants and to
ensure ISIS’s lasting defeat. The Department of Defense has spoken to this on a number of
issues, and I will reiterate the statements they have made, which is we strongly urge Russian
forces in Syria to stop reckless and threatening behavior that could result in an accident and
loss of life, and adhere to the standards of behavior expected of a professional force. And I
would refer to the Pentagon for any specific context that they might have in that regard.
QUESTION: Why is Russia doing this at this time? Do you think – is there any relations
between Russian war in Ukraine?
MR MILLER: I certainly wouldn’t want to speak to Russian motivations, but I would say it’s
extremely reckless behavior, and from our perspective it should stop immediately.
QUESTION: And one question on Iran. Yesterday, Washington said that they are deploying
fighter jets to the Middle East to deter the Iranian activities of region. But at the same time,
the Iranian foreign minister spokesperson, they warned to Washington and said that
Washington’s decision to boost up its presence in the Gulf could cause insecurity and instability.
And he said that – that Iran maintains its right to defend itself against American provocative
and illegal actions near its borders. My question is that: How do you deal with this Iranian
warning to you? And then if Iran keeps its behavior in the region – which there is no sign to