MR.
VENTRELL: Okay.
Happy Friday.
Welcome to the State Department.
One thing for you at the top in our Free the Press Campaign: Today we're highlighting the
case - the murder of Vladimir Goncharenko.
He's editor of - he was the editor of a newspaper on environmental security and environmental
activists in the Ukraine.
On July 27th, 2012, Mr. Goncharenko held a press conference on his investigation that
revealed the illegal dumping of 180 tons of dangerous chemical and radioactive industrial
waste in the city of Kryviy Rih in the Ukraine.
The city denied the allegations of illegal dumping.
Four days later, unknown assailants beat him so severely that he was hospitalized and died.
The United States calls for a thorough investigation of his murder in order to bring the perpetrators
to justice.
So having said that, I will turn it over to all of you.
QUESTION: Can we start with Syria?
MR.
VENTRELL: Yeah.
QUESTION: Syrian officials today have rejected the assessment that you made public yesterday.
Do you have anything to say to that?
Do you have any more proof so that this claim you made is somehow substantiated?
MR.
VENTRELL: Well, if the regime has nothing to hide, they should let the UN investigators
in immediately so we can get to the bottom of this.
As we said yesterday, we're working to establish credible and corroborated facts to build on
this intelligence assessment in order to establish a definitive judgment as to whether or not
the President's redline has been crossed.
So that's what we're pursuing.
And as I said yesterday, it's both the UN process but we'll continue to consult very
closely with friends, allies, and concerned parties as we look at this body of evidence.
QUESTION: Can you just say - there's been a lot of talk about - including from the President
- that this would be a game-changer if they did it.
MR.
VENTRELL: Those were the President's words.
QUESTION: Right.
Up to now, nothing seems to have changed.
Can you tell me what might have changed now that you've - you've presented this evidence,
yet we're in exactly the same situation we were yesterday, or two days ago?
MR.
VENTRELL: Well, to clarify, Brad, we're working to establish a definitive judgment as to whether
or not the President's redline of chemical weapons use has been crossed.
We're not there yet, but we're very carefully looking at the information, working to establish
credible and corroborated facts.
And to be clear, you talk about sort of an intelligence assessment.
That is the assessment, but we're working to further corroborate the evidence.
And the evidence must build on the intelligence assessment as we seek to establish the corroborated
facts.
So that's where we are right now, but the President and others have said, and the White
House has said, that all options are on the table as we look at a range of scenarios here
and we continue to look at the facts.
QUESTION: If this intelligence assessment has so little fact in it that it's basically
not worth making any policy decisions based on, why make it public?
MR.
VENTRELL: Well, look, I really refer you to the White House in terms of the timing of
responding to the congressional inquiries on this.
It was an Administration decision to respond to those inquiries in a public, unclassified
fashion.
But the bottom line is, given the history that we all know in terms of intelligence
assessments when it comes to WMD, it's important to look very carefully at all the available
evidence.
And in addition to the intelligence assessments, we have to work to corroborate the facts.
Jill, go ahead.
QUESTION: Can you tell us, please, what Secretary Kerry did this morning up on Capitol Hill?
MR.
VENTRELL: Secretary Kerry had a briefing on Capitol Hill on the House side, similar to
his briefing yesterday on the Senate side.
Syria was, again, one of the topics.
It was a classified hearing.
But again, these were hearings that had been scheduled a while back for the Secretary to
update members of both the Senate and House on some of the key issues that - key diplomatic
issues he's been working on, Syria and North Korea certainly among those.
So that was the focus of this morning's briefing.
QUESTION: One of the participants is quoted as saying that they did discuss possible options.
Can you confirm that he at least - even in general, you can confirm that he talked about
possible options after this?
MR.
VENTRELL: Again, I can't get into the details of a classified briefing, but certainly the
President on down have said that all options are on the table and we'll be looking at those.
But in terms of the actual details of a classified session, we can't get into the details of
that one way or another.
Go ahead, Camille.
QUESTION: After that meeting, some members of Congress said that Russia needs to be more
involved in this.
And I wondered if you could update us on this building's conversations with your counterparts
in Russia about where to go next on Syria.
MR.
VENTRELL: Well, our interaction with the Russians on the issue of Syria is intensive and has
been going back, as you know, many months.
I don't have anything to update you for in terms of meetings or diplomatic conversations
just in the past hours, but we do have a robust conversation with the Russian Government on
the Syria account, including as recently as when the Secretary met with his Russian counterpart
last week.
But we continue to brief them in a number of different formats and continue to be in
close collaboration with them on all of these issues.
QUESTION: I mean, have you shared your intelligence assessments about this chemical weapons with
the Russians?
MR.
VENTRELL: I'll have to check on that detail in specific.
I'm not sure in terms of intelligence sharing one way or another other than to say that
this issue is something that we, broadly speaking, have been in touch the Russians on, and they
too have expressed a concern about the use of these horrific weapons.
Go ahead.
QUESTION: Joseph from Sky News Arabia.
MR.
VENTRELL: Yeah.
QUESTION: If this is proven, like Syria has used chemical weapons, do you consider this
as an act of war, like a war crime?
And what are the actions that the United States might take or would take?
Does it include military actions?
MR.
VENTRELL: Again, I'm not going to get into hypotheticals of precisely what we may be
considering, but all options are on the table and we've said that consistently.
Okay.
Other topics?
QUESTION: Syria?
MR.
VENTRELL: Okay, sure.
QUESTION: Lucas Tomlinson, Fox News.
Patrick, is going back to the UN or another resolution a possible avenue for - to go ahead?
Or is NATO expressing any willingness to be more involved?
I know people are a little shy from --
MR.
VENTRELL: Again, when we talk about all options, of course it came sort of in a - the previous
question in a military context, but it's a diplomatic context as well.
So we'll look at everything appropriately.
And we know the history of what's happened at the Security Council in terms of the three
vetoed resolutions and the difficulty we've had there given Chinese and Russian opposition,
but we're always willing to look at whatever diplomatic initiatives may be helpful.
I don't have anything for you one way or another.
QUESTION: Is it a war crime?
MR.
VENTRELL: Again, I'm not sure - I'd have to check in terms of a definition one way or
another.
Clearly, the use of chemical weapons would cross the President's redline.
I'd have to check on a legal definition.
Samir, go ahead.
QUESTION: Any new information, update on the two kidnapped bishops in Syria?
MR.
VENTRELL: We still don't have an update.
We continue to call for their immediate release and we'll continue to look for more information.
But it appears they have not been released yet, and we'll continue to call publicly and
make clear our belief that they should be released.
Okay.
Go ahead, sir.
QUESTION: Venezuela?
MR.
VENTRELL: Yeah.
Tell me your name and your outlet.
QUESTION: U.S. citizen Timothy Hallett Tracy has been arrested.
There are charges that he is a spy for the U.S., that he received funds from a NGO tied
to the U.S. Government.
Have you been able to - the consulate has been able to talk to him at all?
And what is the latest on - from your side?
MR.
VENTRELL: Yeah.
So we are aware of the arrest of a U.S. citizen in Caracas.
We're seeking further information from the Venezuelan Government on the case, and we're
seeking consular access to the detained individual.
Because of privacy considerations, we're unable to comment on this specific case further at
this time.
But let me just say that these type of accusations are the latest in a series of allegations
made by the Venezuelan Government in recent weeks against a variety of, quote/unquote,
"foreign actors" suggesting efforts to affect political developments in Venezuela.
These allegations have not been substantiated.
The U.S. continues to categorically reject any allegations of U.S. Government efforts
to destabilize the Venezuelan Government or to harm anyone in Venezuela.
So again, we're still looking for more information about this specific case, but that's the broad
sweep of the pattern that we've seen.
QUESTION: But there's no link between Mr. Tracy and any U.S. Government agency?
MR.
VENTRELL: Again, this is about an arrest of a private U.S. citizen.
Go ahead, Jill.
QUESTION: Patrick, another story kind of in that vein.
The U.S. has indicted a former State Department employee who is living in Sweden.
MR.
VENTRELL: Right.
QUESTION: What can you tell us about that?
And what will happen with extradition?
We understand the Swedes only extradite citizens to other EU members.
Is that correct?
MR.
VENTRELL: I really have to refer you to the Department of Justice.
This is an ongoing legal matter, and this is really better directed to the Department
of Justice.
I know you're interested because of the former employment and that connection, but in terms
of the ongoing legal matter, it really is a Department of Justice concern.
So I refer you to them on this matter.
QUESTION: Can I ask you --
MR.
VENTRELL: Go ahead, Brad.
QUESTION: Do you have any more information on Bangladesh, whether any American companies
were sourcing product from --
MR.
VENTRELL: Yeah.
I did check again this morning, Brad, and we still don't have information one way or
another on any American companies.
I know that it's a fairly chaotic scene as they go through and continue to work through
this very grim scene.
But in terms of American --
QUESTION: Right.
The companies are not - the names of companies are not lost in the rubble.
It's a --
MR.
VENTRELL: Well, my understanding is that there were a number of floors in this facility that
had a number of different companies.
And so in terms of making - doing our due diligence in terms of looking at not only
sort of subcontractors and other associations, we don't have any information at this --
QUESTION: So you've found none so far.
MR.
VENTRELL: We've found none so far.
QUESTION: Okay.
MR.
VENTRELL: Thanks, Brad.
Go ahead, Catherine.
QUESTION: Today there was a hearing of the Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threat Subcommittee
in the House.
A couple of the members and even one of the panelists were dismayed that there was not
any State Department representation there to testify.
Did you receive a request for someone to go to this hearing on State's behalf?
And if so, the representatives were saying the request was declined.
Why was it declined?
And then one representative specifically said that State seems too busy to send someone
here and suggests that this might be part of the problem with the region of Chechnya,
that it hasn't gotten the attention it deserves.
MR.
VENTRELL: I believe we did have a request on this subcommittee.
Let me just say that, I mean, first of all, the Secretary of State of the United States
of America was on Capitol Hill all morning yesterday and today, and so we've had close
cooperation with the Congress.
And I think in terms of the reason that they're interested in Chechnya is probably because
of the issue going on with Russia and the Boston bombings, and I think that's the tie
that they're looking at it.
And so my understanding is that there were extensive hearings up on the Hill in the past
couple of days, and we did have State Department representatives there to accompany Department
of Justice witnesses as well, and this is at the committee level.
So I'd have to check again on this particular subcommittee, but my understanding is in the
past couple of days, there have been pretty extensive hearings and witnesses from the
Department of Justice, and we made State Department people available as necessary.
So thank you.
Go ahead.
QUESTION: China.
MR.
VENTRELL: Yeah.
QUESTION: The Chinese Government called Senkakus as a core interest to the - at press conference.
This is first time on this issue that they called Senkakus core interest publicly.
How do you take this comment?
MR.
VENTRELL: I really hadn't seen the remark, but our position on the Senkakus has not changed.
Go ahead.
QUESTION: Japanese Government and the Chinese Government officials met in Beijing today
to discuss the current situation, I think, of East China Sea.
And what kind of progress do you expect they're going to make?
MR.
VENTRELL: Well, I'm not sure what kind of progress in one specific bilateral exchange,
but we've consistently pushed for good and close cooperation between the Chinese and
the Japanese and an improvement of the diplomatic situation there.
QUESTION: Another question about Japan.
Is the --
MR.
VENTRELL: Yeah.
QUESTION: The Japanese Government will hold a ceremony on this weekend to celebrate 61st
anniversary of the restoration of their sovereignty from the United States to Japan after World
War II, and this is the first time that this kind of event will be held by Japanese Government.
And I was just wondering if you have any comment on that.
MR.
VENTRELL: Let me look into it for you after the briefing.
I'm not aware of this specific event in Japan.
Scott, go ahead.
QUESTION: In Guatemala, the trial of Rios Montt was suspended this week as it approached
final arguments.
Does the United States have any concern that that suspension might undermine efforts to
have accountability for human rights violations in Guatemala?
MR.
VENTRELL: Well, first of all, let me say, Scott, that the United States supports credible,
independent, and transparent and impartial judicial processes, including in Guatemala
in this case.
The Rios Montt trial is historic not only for Guatemala but for the international community.
It's the first prosecution of a former head of state at the national level for genocide,
and the trial is also an unprecedented and complex legal situation.
So we urge the Government of Guatemala to ensure that this legal case is conducted in
accordance with Guatemala's domestic and international legal obligations, and we expect the process
and outcome will advance the rule of law.
So I don't have an update for you on these most recent developments one way or another,
but broadly speaking, we're pushing for a credible, independent, transparent, and impartial
judicial process in this case.
Go ahead, Lalit.
QUESTION: I have a follow-up, one on Bangladesh.
MR.
VENTRELL: Yeah.
QUESTION: Do you have anything additional on this Bangladesh tragedy?
Have you any further on any presence of U.S. companies in that building?
MR.
VENTRELL: Brad just asked about that.
I already answered that we don't have updated information.
Go ahead, Brad.
You looked like you had a question.
QUESTION: Can I ask you about Amir Hekmati?
MR.
VENTRELL: Yeah.
QUESTION: His family was in the building yesterday, I believe, and had some meetings.
What are you doing to help get him released?
MR.
VENTRELL: Yeah.
Thanks for the question, Brad.
We continue have serious concerns about the fate of U.S. citizen Amir Hekmati.
We are determined to secure his release and remain deeply concerned about his well-being
in Iranian custody.
Our diplomatic efforts to secure Mr. Hekmati's release are ongoing, and this is what we discussed
with his sister yesterday in the meeting she had with senior officials of the Department.
One of our highest priorities is ensuring the safety and well-being of U.S. citizens
overseas, and we've been continuously working to secure the release of Mr. Hekmati.
QUESTION: They want this to raise to the Secretary level; there's been no statement, I think,
from Secretary Kerry, but there have been statements about the pastor.
I mean, are you going to augment your effort by kind of raising the political level of
this?
MR.
VENTRELL: We've been very clear: there's - a few of these cases of American citizens where
we've been very clear and robust in our public commentary that they should be freed.
I can't get into sort of our private diplomatic efforts because they're, again, very sensitive
in terms of trying to help secure their release.
But we've been very focused on his case and, indeed, the others that you've mentioned.
QUESTION: Okay.
But, I mean, he is a veteran.
I guess you would think he would get as much treatment as a private pastor.
MR.
VENTRELL: Again, we're looking for the release of all these American citizens.
And there's a few cases out there, as I mentioned, and so we take them all very seriously.
Go ahead in the back.
QUESTION: Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned President Obama's April 24 statement on remembrance
of the so-called Turkish - sorry, Armenian genocide.
Do you have any reaction to that?
MR.
VENTRELL: I mean, the statement stands for itself, and I really refer you to the President's
very clear statement.
QUESTION: And also, two months ago, U.S. failed to honor victims of the Khojaly massacre committed
by the Armenians.
Do you have any reaction to the statement that it could be - it is a wrong-sided approach
to honor victims on one side and ignore victims on the other side - on all the other sides?
MR.
VENTRELL: Well, we've talked about this before, and I'll give the same response, which is
that the tragic loss of life in the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia reminds us that there
cannot be a military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Only a lasting and peaceful settlement can bring stability, prosperity, and reconciliation
to the region.
And you know that the United States is a co-chair of the Minsk Group, and we remain firmly committed
to working with both sides to achieve peace.
Looks like we have one more.
Lalit.
QUESTION: Can you follow up on yesterday's question?
The Indian Embassy --
MR.
VENTRELL: Right.
QUESTION: -- has said that they have liaised with the State Department yesterday on the
ill treatment of an Indian minister at the Boston airport.
Do you have any response to that?
MR.
VENTRELL: I'm not sure about the Indian communication directly here with the State Department, but
what I said yesterday stands.
We very much have a strong bilateral relationship with Indian Government officials and refer
you to Department of Homeland Security on airport operations.
Scott.
QUESTION: The Enough Project today released satellite imagery that it says shows that
Sudan is supporting the Lord's Resistance Army --
MR.
VENTRELL: Yeah.
QUESTION: -- and Joseph Kony.
Does the United States Government believe that to be the case?
MR.
VENTRELL: The United States is aware and continues to evaluate reports that the LRA has operated
in the disputed Kafia Kingi area claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan.
The U.S. and the international community as a whole would take very seriously any credible
evidence of support or safe haven being provided to the LRA.
And I do point you back the December 2012 presidential statement at the UN Security
Council that expressed concern about possible LRA presence in Kafi Kingi.
So we continue to discuss our concerns about the whereabouts of Joseph Kony with all governments
in the region, including with the Government of Sudan, and we have encouraged Sudan to
cooperate with regional efforts to counter the LRA.
More broadly speaking on the LRA, I did want to make the point that we're in a position
now where two of the top five commanders are gone, the number of people killed by the LRA
has gone down by 66 percent, and defections continue.
So our pressure on the LRA continues.
QUESTION: Have you had the opportunity to look at the information that was released
today and determine whether that meets the threshold of credible information?
MR.
VENTRELL: We're aware of it and we continue to evaluate, and our experts continue to look
at it.
All right.
Thank you, all.