ウィスパリング同時通訳研究会コミュのNed Price held a press conference on April 1

MR PRICE: Good afternoon. Just a couple things at the top, not quite as many as yesterday.
But I’d like to call your attention briefly to the Secretary’s announcement yesterday of the candidacy of Doreen Bogdan-Martin to become the next secretary general of the International Telecommunications Union. The United States strongly supports Ms. Bogdan-Martin, who is a leader deeply committed to inclusion, transparency, and performance and supremely qualified for the position.
The ICU of course is hardly a household name, but it probably should be.

QUESTION: You got it wrong just then. Underscoring it’s the ITU, not CU.
MR PRICE: I intended to say ITU. I’m sorry if it came out wrong. But the ITU of course should be a household name. Every time you use a cell phone, watch television, get the weather forecast, or travel by air or sea, you are benefitting from work done at ITU to coordinate allocation of radio spectrum and facilitate seamless communication between and among countries.
If elected, Ms. Bogdan-Martin would be the first woman to serve as the ITU secretary general in the organization’s 156 years of existence. U.S. support for Ms. Bogdan-Martin is yet another element of the administration’s renewed emphasis on multilateral tools and fora to tackle global issues, playing a more prominent role in the multilateral space, all while working together with our allies and partners around the world. We know Doreen Bogdan-Martin is the right person for this important job.
Next, today the Department of State is proud to recognize April as National Arab American Heritage Month. The United States is home to more than 3.5 million Arab Americans, representing a diverse array of cultures and traditions. Like their fellow citizens, Americans of Arab heritage are very much a part of the fabric of this nation, and Arab Americans have contributed in every field and profession. Many of them, in fact, serve here at the State Department and throughout the interagency, and their careers are as diverse as their backgrounds. We mark National Arab American Heritage Month noting these contributions that are as old as America itself.
And with that —

QUESTION: Really? No April Fool’s joke?
MR PRICE: You know, I thought about it. I thought about it.
QUESTION: No embassy in Wakanda? No —
MR PRICE: Thought about just not showing up. I thought that could be good enough.

QUESTION: Can I ask you one very brief one on the ITU before we go to – I want to talk about – ask about the Middle East. But just on the ITU, you know the current secretary general is a Chinese gentleman. Is he running for reelection? Is that why you guys are coming out twice in two days to support this other candidacy?

MR PRICE: Well, it’s still very early in the process. As you know, the elections aren’t until next year, 2022. Right now we’re aware of only one other candidate. That’s a candidate from the Russian Federation.

QUESTION: Oh, okay. So it’s either the current guy, if he runs for re-election, or a Russian.
MR PRICE: There – that could chance between now and 2022, but of course we are strongly supporting Ms. Bogdan-Martin.

QUESTION: All right. On the Middle East. Yesterday Shaun tried to nail you down without success – not his fault – on the question of settlements and the occupation. And I want to take another stab at it today, because frankly it’s confused a lot of people and it’s – your position is, to be frank, clear as mud, right? You said in response to him yesterday that, on settlement activity, that you want both sides to refrain from any actions that might hurt or will hurt a two-state solution. Does settlement activity in the West Bank or construction in East Jerusalem hurt prospects for a two-state solution or not?

MR PRICE: Matt, on this, I want to be clear. And we have said this from the start. We believe when it comes to settlement activity that Israel should refrain from unilateral steps that exacerbate tensions and that undercut efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution. That includes the annexation of territory. That includes settlement activity. We’ve been equally clear when it comes to the potential actions of the Palestinians, whether that is incitement to violence, providing compensation for individuals in prison for acts of terrorism. That, too, moves us further away from a two-state solution. Our goal in all of this is to advance the prospects for that two-state solution.

QUESTION: Okay. So that’s a little better, I think, or a little more clear, not like trying to nail Jell-O to a wall. But does this administration intend to be as forceful in its opposition or criticism of settlement activity as the Obama administration was? Do you know?

MR PRICE: We intend to do everything we can to advance the prospects for a two-state solution. We intend to do that with the knowledge that it is in the interests of – consistent with the interest and values of the United States, but importantly, consistent with the values and the interests of Israelis and also Palestinians. This is something that successive administrations have sought to do; it’s something that we will seek to do.

QUESTION: Okay. And then do you know if the Secretary – not the President – does the Secretary intend to have someone dedicated to pursuing Israeli relations or Israel’s engagement with the Arab world, someone specific in an envoy-type position?
MR PRICE: Well, I —

QUESTION: Or is Hady doing that right now and that’s the way it’s going to stay?
MR PRICE: So of course we do have people in our NEA Bureau who are engaged —
QUESTION: Right.
MR PRICE: — very closely on this.
QUESTION: But I mean like a —

MR PRICE: I’m not in a position to announce any plans for an additional envoy-type role, but there are people in this building, there are people throughout our government who are focused —

QUESTION: Right.
MR PRICE: — on this process of normalization.
QUESTION: And then —
MR PRICE: That’s something that we very much support.
QUESTION: Okay. And then just as an aside, what does this – what do you call these agreements between —
MR PRICE: They’re normalization agreements.
QUESTION: Yeah, but what are the – what is the name for them?
MR PRICE: Normalization agreements.
QUESTION: No, there’s a specific name that they all signed onto. I believe you know what it is.
MR PRICE: Look, we call them – we call them normalization agreements. That’s —
QUESTION: Why do you not —
MR PRICE: That’s precisely what they are.
QUESTION: — use the name that the leaders of these countries signed onto —
MR PRICE: We’re —
QUESTION: — which is the Abraham Accords? Why is that —
MR PRICE: I’m not averse to using that. I’m describing what these are. These are normalization —
QUESTION: Well, then can you say it for me, please?
MR PRICE: Of course I can say the term “Abraham Accords,” Matt.
QUESTION: Thank you.
MR PRICE: But we call them normalization agreements.
Said.

QUESTION: Thank you. Just to be redundant on the issue of occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, why can’t you say it is occupied, without all the caveats? Can you say that it is occupied, that you acknowledge that position? It’s been like this since 1967.
MR PRICE: Well, Said, and that’s precisely what I said yesterday.
QUESTION: Right.

MR PRICE: It is a historical fact that Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza, and the Golan Heights after the 1967 war. That’s precisely why the 2020 Human Rights Report uses that term in the current context of the West Bank. It has been the longstanding position of previous administrations of both parties over the course of many decades. Do we think that the West Bank is occupied? Yes.

QUESTION: Mm-hmm. Okay. Let me just follow up on that. I mean, if you consider it occupied – I know you’ve taken a very strong position in the past; you’ve called for ending the occupation of the Ukraine immediately and so on. Why can’t you call for this occupation to end immediately and all the human rights abuses that go along with enforcing it immediately? Why can’t you call for that?
MR PRICE: Said, what we are calling for – and this really gets to the root of this challenge – is that two-state solution.
QUESTION: Right.

MR PRICE: The two-state solution is precisely what will allow Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in dignity and security, securing the interests – in the interests of Israelis, in the interests of Palestinians together. That’s precisely why are we are supporting this two-state solution, just as previous administrations of both political stripes have.

QUESTION: If you would allow me – and my colleagues indulge me – just I have a couple of other questions. It was conveyed – I think AP broke the story – that the administration has given an additional $75 million to the Palestinians. Can you confirm that? And is that – is also – are we also headed towards, let’s say, a resumption of aid to UNRWA?

MR PRICE: I’m happy to turn it over to my colleague Matt Lee from the AP to comment on this. (Laughter.) But look, we have been clear that resuming assistance to the Palestinian people is a priority, and we are working with Congress on this right now. All U.S. assistance to the Palestinian people will be provided consistent with requirements under U.S. law, and that includes the Taylor Force Act. We just announced – I believe it was last week, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, our ambassador to the UN announced – $15 million in humanitarian assistance to some of the most vulnerable populations throughout the West Bank and Gaza. That was in the context of COVID. We don’t have any additional announcements to make at this time. But again, we have been clear that we are resuming that assistance to the Palestinian people as a priority.

QUESTION: And lastly, I promise, on the Palestinian election. We heard that there are two Palestinian businessmen that are here, feeling out the administration or would be a reaction to, let’s say, the cancelation of the elections and so on. What is your position on the election? Are you like, let’s say, the European Union and you’re pushing for these elections? Give us your —

MR PRICE: Well, the exercise of democratic elections is a matter for the Palestinian people to determine. We note that the U.S. and other key partners in the international community have long been clear about the importance of participants in that democratic process, renouncing violence and renouncing terrorism, recognizing Israel’s right to exist. But Palestinian elections are ultimately a matter for the Palestinian people to decide.
Yes.

QUESTION: I wanted to ask you on this. Has the Secretary been in touch or tried to be in touch with the president of the Palestinian Authority? Because there are reports from the Israeli press that Mahmoud Abbas wouldn’t talk to Secretary Blinken.

MR PRICE: We believe it’s important to engage the Palestinian people. We believe it’s important to engage the Palestinian leadership. The Secretary, for his part, has not had a conversation with the Palestinian prime minister. I imagine if there is a high-level call from here, including one from the Secretary, we’d be in a position to read that out.

QUESTION: Can I go to Iran?
MR PRICE: Sure.
QUESTION: Yeah, so the European just announced that there will be a meeting of the joint commission of the JCPOA tomorrow, virtual meeting, without the U.S., if I understand, unless you will be observer or participant in some way. They also say in their statement that they are going to discuss the willing of the U.S. to get back to compliance for compliance. Does that mean that you have shared with the Europeans what you’re ready to do, and that they will kind of mediate with the Iranians? And can you tell us what your stance before this meeting, which is the first one since —

MR PRICE: Well, I just saw this announcement from the Europeans before I came out here. We obviously welcome this as a positive step, and that’s precisely because we have been clear for weeks now that we are ready to pursue a return to compliance with our JCPOA commitments, consistent with Iran also doing the same. We have also been open about the fact that we have been talking with our partners in the P5+1 context and elsewhere about the best way to achieve this, including through a series of initial mutual steps. We’ve been looking at options for doing so, including with indirect conversations through our European partners. I mentioned this yesterday, but when the Secretary was in Brussels last week, there was a meeting with the E3+1, or the European Quad, whichever term you want to use, where of course Iran was a topic of discussion. Iran was a topic of discussion in other meetings in Brussels as well. Iran was a topic of discussion in Anchorage with representatives of the PRC.
So we have been having these conversations in different fora and with different allies, and in some cases partners. We took note of the Europeans’ announcement today. It’s a positive step, especially if it moves the ball forward on that mutual return to compliance that we’ve talked about for a number of weeks now.
Yes.

QUESTION: Following up on that, we understand there’s an – the Iranians already met with other members of the other parties to the deal on Monday. And there’s a – an Iranian proposal which sources tell us has been shared with the – with you guys. Can you comment on that, or tell us what – is there any substance to that?

MR PRICE: I’m not going to comment on the substance of any diplomatic conversations beyond the broad outlines of what we shared, namely that we have been looking at ways, proposing ways, exploring ways with our allies and our partners – principally our European allies in this case – to effect that mutual return to compliance with the deal.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) Iran?
MR PRICE: Yeah. Sure.
QUESTION: One, there was the sanctions waiver for Iraq today. Can you describe, is that part of this effort to explore ways to get back into the talks, or is that just – how do you characterize that?
And then also later this week, Siamak Namazi faces a grim milestone of 2,000 days in an Iranian jail. Can you update us on what efforts the administration is taking to get him released?

MR PRICE: When it comes to the energy waiver with Iraq, I would put that in the context of our partnership with the Government of Iraq. This renewal acknowledges the recent success the United States and Iraq have experienced through two rounds of our strategic dialogue with Baghdad, and several energy agreements signed by the Iraqi Government as well. These agreements will ultimately allow Iraq to develop its energy self-sufficiency and, we hope, to end its reliance on Iran.
In the interim, renewal of the sanctions waiver is appropriate until the agreement – agreements and development of the Iraqi energy sector can be fully realized and implemented. This is a 120-day waiver extension. We believe it is possible within the 120 days for the Government of Iraq to take meaningful action to promote energy self-sufficiency and to reduce its dependence on expensive Iranian energy.
When it comes to the Namazis, you’re right. There is a grim milestone coming up: 2,000 days – 2,000 days separated from family, loved ones, held in – held unjustly in detention by the Iranians. This is something that I know we will mark here, we will mark here rhetorically, but also by renewing our calls that we have issued consistently, almost since day one, through different partners, means, and channels, to leave no doubt in the minds of Iranian leaders the priority we attach to this. We have no higher priority than seeing the return of Americans unjustly detained in Iran, Americans who may be missing in Iran. That remains our goal. We have been very clear. We have been working very closely with our allies and partners and being very clear with the Iranians as well on that score.
Yes.

QUESTION: I work for Kurdish TV, so I may ask questions in different countries, but starting with Iraq, the Iraqis and the Kurdish leadership have finally reached an agreement on the budget. I just wanted to see if you have a comment on that, but more importantly, the – according to some of the local sources or reporting, some of the Iraqi Shiite militias are saying that they are ceasing their attacks on the coalition forces with the condition that the U.S. withdraw troops in Iraq within a year. Is that something that you guys are also – is a goal for you to withdraw troops within a year?

MR PRICE: Well, I’m obviously not going to comment on the intentions of Iran-backed militias inside of Iraq. What I can say, what I will say is that we have the strategic partnership with the Government of Iraq. We have had now two rounds, I believe it is I just said, in terms of that strategic dialogue. It’s something that – it’s a partnership that benefits both our countries. It’s one that we look forward to deepening in the days, weeks, and years ahead.

QUESTION: And any comment on the issues between Baghdad and Erbil? Is that something that the U.S. tries to get them closer to a resolution?
MR PRICE: Well, of course, constructive relationship between Erbil and Baghdad is in our interests. It’s in the interests of both those entities, but I’ll leave it at that.

QUESTION: And one – can I – one more question about northeast Syria. Just couple of days ago, the SDF political missions representative here wrote that – and I quote – “President Biden can show the world that we can again trust the U.S. leadership calling on Turkey to withdraw from Syria.” Is that something that – are you willing to call on Turkey to withdraw from Afrin and other areas that we’ve seen multiple reports of human rights abuses?

MR PRICE: Well, we have talked about our partnership with partners on the ground, the partners with whom we work to effect our important mission – namely, in this case, the counter – the D-ISIS mission that we have taken on for some time. But I don’t have a specific comment on that call.
Yes.
QUESTION: Can we transition to Russia?
MR PRICE: Sure

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