Department of State Daily Press Briefing – May 11, 2021

Transcript

Good afternoon. Few things at the top. First, we are deeply concerned about the escalation between Israel and those launching rockets from Gaza and we call for restraint and for calm. Israel has the right to defend itself and to respond to rocket attacks. The Palestinian people also have the right to safety and security, just as Israelis do. We are also deeply concerned about the reported loss of life in Gaza and Israel, including the deaths of Children, as well as many innocent civilians injured similarly in Jerusalem, where they reportedly have been hundreds of Palestinian Palestinians injured as well as Israeli police. We call on all sides to exercise restraint and to exercise calm. The United States will continue to remain engaged with senior Israeli officials and Palestinian leadership in the days and weeks ahead. Just today. In fact, Secretary Blinken had an opportunity to speak to his counterpart, Israeli, Foreign Minister Ashkenazi to condemn the rocket attacks and to reiterate this important message of de-escalation Next. In view of the ongoing Covid 19 crisis in brazil. The United States is partnering with the pan American health Organization, or PAHO, To provide access to approximately $17 million COVID-19 patients who require intubation to be connected to lifesaving ventilators. Today, 164 pallets of medication arrived in Sao Paulo and are being prepared by the Brazilian Ministry of Health for Distribution to hospitals across the country. The United States government facilitated supply will enable Brazil to meet its critical hospital needs for at least 30 days. This action comes in addition to over $16.9 million us government assistance and $75 million dollars in private sector support to Brazilian communities and governments across the country, as we have consistently said, as long as the virus continues to spread anywhere, it remains a threat to people everywhere, including two Americans here at home. That is why this administration has stepped up to again help lead the global effort to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and we will continue to do so going forward. And finally, the United States government welcomes the announcement by President Ghani that the Afghan government will join the Taliban in observing a cease fire over the outfits are holiday. We urge both sides to build on the momentum of this cease fire by engaging in serious negotiations on a political settlement and a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire. While the Aedes ceasefire is a positive step, innocent Afghan civilians have borne the costs of decades of war and they deserve much more than just three days free of violence. The United States remains committed to the afghan peace process, which presents the best opportunity for afghans to reach a just and durable political settlement and to assure and ensure a future for Afghanistan that is free of terrorism and of senseless violence. And with that, I’m happy to take your questions. Thanks ah net on the call between the secretary and the foreign, the Israeli foreign Minister, when you said that he condemned the rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel. And then you also said he reiterated or important message of de-escalation um to you to the to the administration. What does that mean from the Israeli set? Could you repeat that? What does that mean from the Israeli side? From the Israeli side, what specifically would you like to see them do to deescalate? I’m gonna ask the same thing about Palestinians. Well, uh as you know, matt, we have called on both sides and in fact given Hamas is horrific terrorist attack, its rocket fire into Israel. We have called on all sides of course, including Hamas to cease uh this activity, uh the loss of life, the loss of Israeli life, the loss of Palestinian life. Uh it’s something that we deeply regret. We are urging this message of de escalation to see this loss of life come to an end. Um as you know, we’ve been very clear that Israel does have a right to defend itself. Um at the same time, reports of civilian deaths are something that we regret. And then we would like to see come to a stop. But what specifically do you want to say other than an end to the rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel, which is a specific thing, what you called for me from the Israeli side and from the Palestinian side, in terms of what’s happening in east Jerusalem and uh on a around the holy sites. What specifically would you like to see? Well, what I would say is that we have seen some encouraging steps both from Israel and from Palestinians. The decision yesterday to reroute the Jerusalem day parade. The decision on the part of the Israeli Supreme Court to delay the checks are off. Uh decision was was was welcome as as as as was as was the decision by Prime Minister Abbas uh to uh President Abbas excuse me, uh to uh call off the uh celebration uh celebration. Uh So look, I am not going to offer specific advice to both sides or either side from the podium. I will say that our message continues to be one of prioritizing de-escalation urging calm, urging restraint on both sides. Okay, And then my last one of us, just so that message has been people, people look at that on both from both sides. Look at that and many of them, and you can see this on social media, you can see it on their own. You know, words, interviews that they they’ve done, don’t think that this administration is doing enough or that it is pursuing uh some somewhat of a halfhearted or trying trying to do in all sides all sides. That one size fits all kind of policy that has resulted in both the Israelis and the Palestinians being upset at what they perceived to be a lack of US leadership. And how do you how do you respond to that criticism? Well, I would respond to that criticism matt by noting that the United States is doing what we can um knowing that we don’t um are ability in certain situations, um is going to be uh in some cases limited. But we are speaking to our partners, we are speaking to our Israeli partners, We are speaking to Palestinian officials again to do what we can uh in conjunction with the international community. Yesterday again we spoke to this statement on the part of the quartet that was issued. Other countries. Other international bodies, multilateral fora have issued similar statements. I think the international community by and large is calling for precisely what we are calling for doing precisely what we have attempted to do in to urge calm, de escalation and restraint on both sides. Maybe I missed it. Does that mean that you dropped your opposition? Your objection to the U. N. Security Council statement that as we as I said yesterday, we want to see to it that steps whether they emanate from the Israeli government, the Palestinian Authority or the U. N. Security Council uh serve not to escalate or provoke, but to de escalate. The one word answer is no you haven’t dropped your opposition. We have uh the council come out with a statement. I’m sorry. We have we have continued to call uh in multiple forums um for de escalation uh and to see to it to do what we can to ensure that no actor takes provocative actions. We don’t we don’t want to see provocations. The provocations that we have seen have resulted in a lamentable, deeply lamentable loss of life of Israeli life uh And a Palestinian one word answer. Yes or no. Have you dropped your objection to the Security Council Presidential statement on the situation that as you know as well as anyone does private uh sessions of the U. N. Security Council are not are not sessions that we read out. But again our message continues to be one of de escalation. We do not want to see any actor, be it a government Or be it an intergovernmental body uh taken action uh that could serve to escalate rather than escalate Francisco. Uh I’m sure you’ll agree that there has been no de escalation in the last 24 hours despite your calls rather than fresh escalation. Would you say that Israeli response is consistent with the right to self defense? Or is it an escalation that you ask them to stop or moderate? And also as the Secretary of State, as to his counterpart precisely to stop or halt the demolitions and evictions of Palestinians family? Well, in terms of sexual uh as we’ve learned that as a matter that the Supreme Court will issue a ruling on uh in the coming days, obviously we have made our views clear on this, uh noting that the Palestinian families, who in many cases have lived there for generations should be treated with compassion and humanity uh and that continues to be where we stand on, This is the matter, is adjudicated within the Israeli legal system. Uh In terms of Israel’s response again, Israel has a right to self defense. We also recognize that the Palestinian people need to be able to live in safety and security, just as Israelis, do do you consider that there are within the right to self defense or that the current strikes and the pledge by Prime Minister Netanyahu to even intensify them is an escalation that you condemn. We stand by Israel’s right to defend itself. We also stand by the principle that Palestinians deserve the right to live in safety and security. I’m not here to adjudicate military operations to say what is proportional precisely what is not. But the United States certainly stands by the principal, um, that civilians should not uh that any loss of civilian life uh is deeply limit table, um, whether that is a Palestinian life or an Israeli life, that is why we’ve continued to call on com continue to call for calm, continued to call on all sides to de escalate and to exercise restraint in their actions. Yes, Barbara, thank you the Palestinian news agency as saying that President Abbas received a letter today from President biden dealing with the current situation and bilateral relations. Can you confirm that? Secondly, when it comes to east Jerusalem, my understanding from what you said yesterday is that the State Department regards it as disputed rather than occupied territory. Is that correct? And thirdly, following on these questions about de escalation, as you probably know, Israeli politics have shifted even further to the right. Over the past four years, the Israeli government has shifted further to the right. There is the influence of the hard right has grown. What makes you think you’re on the same page when you call for de escalation? Uh So when your first question, I don’t have anything to offer, when it comes to any reported presidential correspondents, I would need to refer to to the White House um for that. What I will say, however, is that american officials, including those in the State Department, have been in touch with Palestinian officials, both in this period of increased tensions uh and uh throughout this administration as we work to build ties with the Palestinian people uh in the Palestinian Authority. What I said yesterday um was just a slight modification on a question that was proposed. Because the question I thought put words in my mouth, I made the statements several weeks ago now that it continues to be the policy of the United States government, that the West Bank is occupied, Jerusalem, as we know as the final status issue, which is the status of which is to be determined by the parties in the conduct of diplomacy. Do you mean that that is it disputed then? Is that how you see it rather than rather than occupied? You don’t you don’t classified as occupied? It is an issue that whose final status needs to be determined by the parties in the conduct of diplomacy. And then my last question, your last question was was that the Israeli government has shifted to the right considerably. What makes you think you’re on the same page when it comes to de escalation, especially given the influence of the hard right, as we’ve seen with this uh provocations in Jerusalem? Well look, we are speaking to um uh we will always have a partner uh in the Israeli government. We are speaking to our uh partners in Israel. Um just as we are speaking to the Palestinian authority, um reiterating this same message, a message that prizes de escalation and calm uh in an effort to uh put an end to the loss of civilian life on both sides. Yes, To restore calm other than calling the two parties too. Mhm. To re storm the column and other than the Israeli foreign Minister, did the secretary call someone else from the region? Uh So on your um Well, to take both questions, I what I would say is that senior american officials and american officials at various levels. Uh in fact have been in touch with their Israeli and Palestinian counterparts uh In recent days, we have of course mentioned national security adviser Sullivan’s call to his counterpart, Deputy Secretary Sherman has spoken to her counterpart. Secretary Blinken has spoken to his Israeli counterpart as of just a couple hours ago. Now, the same is true um uh with uh when it comes to Palestinian counterparts, uh that interaction has taken place uh with both Israeli and Palestinian counterparts from this building from our uh embassy in Israel uh and it will continue going forward as well. Look, the United States is doing what we can we are doing what we can in close coordination with the international community. Um We know whether it is this issue or just about any other issue under the sun, uh that when we demonstrate engagement when we step up and use our voice as we have uh done both in public and in private uh that um it tends to have a catalytic effect. Uh and uh we have been gratified by the international community uh, largely speaking in unison, uh calling for restraint, calling for calm, calling for de escalation. Uh, we know that is going to be an important ingredient if we are to fulfill our desire to see a dimunition of this violence and of this bloodshed, which of course remains the ultimate goal. Yes, the stuff I am saying that we are condemning the rocket attacks into Israel and today was no different. You again condemned the attacks against Israel by the Palestinian side, but yesterday you fell short of condemning the pictures of Palestinian Children killed as a result of Israeli airstrikes. Have you seen those pictures first of all? And does the State Department have anything to say against that? I have seen those pictures. Um, those pictures, um it’s hard not to look at those pictures and um uh feel uh since the suffering. Um It is precisely why today we have called for restraint and de escalation uh in an effort to preserve um civilian life. Um uh and we recognize that Israelis have been killed, Palestinians have been killed. Um And you raised yesterday. Um I what I said yesterday, I think um bears repeating because I don’t want it to be glossed over um when I came out here yesterday, um reports had just emerged. Um We didn’t have uh independent verification of what had transpired. Uh And so we think it’s important uh that Before um we speak publicly, um whether it’s the state department or the US. government um that we have a solid understanding of the facts on the ground uh today, um some 24 hours later, we have a solid understanding of the facts on the ground. We have developed that understanding over the course of yesterday and and today. Of course we’ve seen more deeply uh disturbing uh developments, uh the loss of life of Palestinian innocent Palestinians of innocent Israelis is something we deeply regret. Uh it is precisely why we are doing everything we can we are doing everything we can in coordination with our international partners uh to put an end to a cycle of escalation and a cycle a violence. Having seen those pictures quite clearly, do you think those pictures, those scenes are something to condemn right now? I’m sorry, I didn’t Do you think having seen those pictures, do you think those pictures, those scenes of Palestinian Children having been killed by Israeli airstrikes? Do you think that’s something to condemn today? Well, and I said this yesterday that the loss of innocent life is something that we would uh that is that is deeply regrettable. Um uh it is um uh of course uh Israel has the right to defend itself against those attacking Israel against Hamas and terrorists responsible um including for the loss of life uh in Israel. Um but the loss of civilian life in these operations uh is something that uh we deeply regret. Um it is precisely why we have said that just as uh the Israelis, do the Palestinians have every right to live in safety and security? Yes. Does the administration regret not appointing a special envoy for the Israel Palestine conflict? And is that something you’re considering doing now? And you mentioned these discussions you’re having uh and hoping to play a de escalatory role. Does that involve contacts clarity with Hamas? Our policy vis a vis Hamas is very clear. Hamas is a foreign terrorist organization, um uh and it will be treated as such when it comes to our approach this. Look, I don’t want to get ahead of where we are. We spoke to this yesterday in some detail and I made the point that it is not that we have failed to prioritize this, that is uh not the case. What we have recognized is precisely um uh what other governments have recognized and what is plain as day is that the two sides are not at the present moment, um in a position to undertake meaningful negotiations to advance the two state solution. Uh If there, if that becomes, if that opportunity becomes riper, if there is an opportunity to advance that ball in a meaningful way towards a two state solution, the United States will continue to be deeply engaged towards that end, and we will continue to be deeply engaged towards that end, because we recognize that only a two state solution uh will serve the interests of Israelis of Palestinians and would be consistent with our interests and our values. It would preserve Israel’s identity as a jewish and democratic state. It would fulfill the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for sovereignty and dignity uh in a state of their own. Uh that’s what we would like to see happen. That has been the long standing position of successive american administrations. Uh Now, of course, a negotiated two state solution as alluded any number of american administrations over time, we are doing what we can now uh two, I would say lay the groundwork to be in a better position going forward uh to potentially make progress. Um Of course we have a stalwart relationship with Israel. Um Those ties continue to be uh close of course, um When it comes to the Palestinians, this administration has uh made an effort to re establish ties with the Palestinian people uh with the Palestinian authority uh in any number of ways whether that is our humanitarian assistance, um whether it is our engagement as well and and that will continue. Uh So it is not that we have not been paying attention. Uh We have been very much engaged, deeply engaged and that predates this cycle of escalation that we’ve seen over the past several days and in fact started in the earliest days of the administration. Yes. The administration any closer to naming an ambassador to Israel? And is that something that’s going to be expedited in light of the current tensions? Uh well. Uh So as you know, uh there have been I believe 11 ambassadorial nominations put forward by this administration. Nine of career officials to of uh non career officials, both of whom of course, Ambassador thomas Greenfield, who is now confirmed as our U. S. Ambassador uh and Chris liu who is now nominated, also serve at uh the U. S. U. N. When it comes to forthcoming nominations. I know that all of these are a priority but it’s especially a priority um uh when it comes to our closest partners in Israel of course uh is among them, but I just don’t have a time frame for you on that. Yes. With Univision network, I’m talking about the situation in Colombia. Is there anything more on just have a really before before? Let me just make sure we get questions over Good I guess. Hi, thanks. Just a bureaucratic in line with what jenny was asking, Barbara Leaf has been nominated but hasn’t had a hearing yet, is that correct? That is my understanding. Okay. Um yesterday there was stark contrast between the statements that secretary Blinken made and Jordanian foreign minister. Um So Phoebe in which Blinken emphasized the two sides and Israel’s right to self defense. Whereas Safadi um zone, you know, was was very firm about all of the Palestinian grievances. That’s what he emphasized. How do you bridge that gap as you try to find international partners like Jordan like Egypt to deal with this crisis? Well, I think if you look at the statement both from Secretary Blinken, uh and the Foreign minister, what you saw yesterday was agreement that the status quo of Temple Mount Roraima Sharif needed to be preserved. Both sides were very much in agreement. They’re both sides were very much in agreement. Um uh and calling for de escalation, calling for calm. So I think I would take issue with the idea that there was um uh much daylight there now, of course, we only speak for ourselves, but the preservation of the status quo um and prioritizing call for restraint, Call for calm, called for de escalation is something you certainly heard from both individuals yesterday. You said when you said Wendy, Sherman talked to her, his her Israeli deputy Israeli form is So do you have you have these three calls then? And what was that? Sorry? What was when was that? That was over the weekend. So around the same, roughly the same time that jake Sullivan spoke to his. Okay, So you have these three calls them um Sullivan blank and Sherman, I don’t want to say that’s the entirety. Okay. But the Israeli side that we have. Okay, we’ll have any of those people spoken to anyone on the Palestinians from the Palestinian Authority or do you believe that they don’t have any influence or they’re not able to know? I didn’t say that at all. I didn’t say that at all. In fact, I said that there has been engagement with the Palestinian Authority. What level not these levels at the appropriate level? Well, what does that mean at the appropriate level? Has the secretary of the Deputy Secretary made any effort or called or made any effort to call Palestinians? We have engaged their Palestinian counterparts, both in the context of this, but well before this, to on a regular basis to discuss issues of mutual concern. If you’re happy to talk about the Israeli Foreign Minister and the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister and the Israeli national Security advisor. Who on the Palestinian side, have these people been in touch with? We have engaged with various Palestinian officials even know their names at different levels, but I will. And then just the other thing, just I mean, it’s a good question that Francesco, is that why why do they not have names? Do you think that they don’t have any influence? That’s not it at all that we have, we have engaged with them. Why is it why is it a secret? If you’re happy to talk about going after calling up the Israelis and telling them in person personally voice to voice if not face to face, the exercise restraint? Who on the Palestinian side of your point, you can’t talk to a mosque. So presumably you got to talk to someone in the P. A. Who is it you’re talking to? If we have any more details to read out of those calls will let you know. But we have engaged regularly uh in an effort to discuss these areas of mutual concern. Just on the other question about Jerusalem and saying the final status needs to be a adjudicated. That’s fine. That’s well and good. I guess the question though is what is the status, what does the U. S. Regard? The status of east Jerusalem? Right now, Jerusalem is a final status issues needs to be status of it right now because yesterday we heard the Jordanian foreign minister as was mentioned, calling for continuation of the status quo and that’s something you agree with. What is the current status. We have also called for a preservation of the status quo, especially on these holy pertaining to these holy sites. What is the temple, the Temple Mount? Obviously Jordan has an important custodial role there as well. But Jerusalem is a final status issue. That it has been the position of successive american administrations that Jerusalem and its final status needs to be determined by the two sides. You one more, one more, one more on this uh is that it was ready to call for an international confidence or regional confidence to push the two state solution? I think this goes back to what we were saying before. Um what we have been focused on one uh is when it comes to the Palestinians, reengaging with the Palestinian uh leadership with the Palestinian people. Um Obviously we’ve been in close contact and coordination with our Israeli partners as well. I think if we get to a point where uh some sort of personnel announcement or some sort of gathering, uh international gathering would be potentially conducive to advancing the two state solution. That is something we would approach uh in turn. Um But I think the reality at the present moment, as we all have seen in recent hours, in fact, is that we’re not at that point, the time is not yet right to do something like that. Uh It is our goal to lay the steps and to make incremental progress uh in the hopes that we can be in a position To move the ball forward towards a two state solution over time. Okay. I want to ask you about the India situation. What you do assessment about it and how is the COVID-19 assistance to India from the U. S. Going on? How long this will continue? Can you give us an update? Sure. Happy to do that. As you know, le let let the uh U. S. A. I. D. Issued a pretty comprehensive fact sheet um when it comes to our uh aid to India in recent days uh taken together our assistance to combat Covid 19 in India Has totaled about $100 million dollars in all. Um We’re continuing to work closely with indian officials and health experts to identify uh continue needs and emerging needs um in this ongoing crisis, as you know, there have been now six airless to India deployed in the course of six days. Among the supplies, including those airlifts, 20,000 courses of them disappear. Nearly 1500 oxygen cylinders, 550 mobile oxygen concentrators. One million rapid diagnostic diagnostic tests. Nearly 2.5 million in 95 mask large scale deployable oxygen concentration system, pull socks, senators and I could go on and on. Um uh in addition, uh U. S. A. I. D. Uh immediately allocated funding to purchase locally an additional 1000 mobile oxygen concentrators. I would add that even as the United States government has um delivered these supplies, totaling some $100 million other elements have also stepped up uh, NGoS as well as the private sector. And we understand that the private sector, to date has donated an additional $400 million totaling a half billion dollars in assistance to India. Just as I was talking about our catholic of catalytic effect uh in another context. Earlier, um as you know, uh Secretary Blinken um special uh coordinator Gayle smith participated in calls the other week um with the uh US India Business Council in the Chamber of Commerce uh in an effort to um uh illicit um and to elicit additional supplies from the private sector which we uh terrifically gratified to see. And secondly, you must have seen the news reports that China has warned Bangladesh against joining quad. So two questions either in move to expand the quad. And secondly, how do you see the statement coming out of china? Well, we have taken note of that statement from the PRC ambassador to Bangladesh. Um what we would say is that we respect Bangladesh’s sovereignty and we respect Bangladesh’s right uh to make foreign policy decisions for itself. We have an incredibly strong relationship with Bangladesh. We work closely with our partners there on a range of issues from economic growth. It’s a climate change to humanitarian issues and when it comes to the quad we’ve said this before, but the quad it’s an informal essential um multilateral mechanism that right now conveys um uh convenes like minded democracies, the United States, uh India Australia and Japan to coordinate um in the indo pacific and fundamentally uh to push forward our goal of a free and open uh indo pacific region. Yes if I can uh India has started 5D trial and Chinese companies are not being allowed to be part of it. Us you know have been insisting on its friends and allies that they shouldn’t let the chinese companies be part of the 55 G trials. How do you see the developments by? Well, this was a sovereign decision of on the part of the indian government. So we refer you to the government of India for any comments on that decision. But I would say more broadly, uh and we’ve we’ve talked about this before but it is true that we are deeply concerned about the dangers of installing uh networks with equipment that can be manipulated disrupted or potentially controlled by the PRC uh and allowing untested communications, untrusted telecommunications suppliers like Huawei or Zte to participate in or Uh to have any control over any part of the 5G network creates. We think unacceptable risk to national security, to critical infrastructure to privacy uh into human rights as well. Yes. Yeah. Here in a couple of days, Maurice and I was wondering what will be top of the agenda for the administration um and specifically. Well, you have a message on climate given Australia didn’t make any new commitments on emissions reduction at the latest summit a couple of weeks ago. Well, we’re very fortunate to have a strong in broad relationship with our Australian ally. It will be an opportunity for the secretary um and his counterpart to discuss a range of issues including uh this idea of a free and open uh indo pacific that we’ve discussed both bilaterally and multilaterally um in uh the context of the quad. But I don’t want to get ahead of the bilateral meeting. Yes. About the situation in Colombia, how does the U. S. Government received these allegations of human rights violations and also police abuses in the Colombian protest? And also my second question is the U. S. Is the Colombia’s largest trading and investment partner shouldn’t the US used this as an opportunity to promote peace and justice in Colombia? And my third question is, what are the steps that the U. S. Is taking to help Colombia with these protests with this crisis? Well, um we’ve made this point before, but it bears repeating that were deeply saddened by the loss of life during the protests that have taken placed throughout Colombia in recent days. And we send our condolences to the victims as well as to their families and other loved ones um all over the world. And of course this includes in Colombia uh citizens uh in democratic countries have every right to protest peacefully. Um but we also know that violence uh that vandalism is an abuse of that right. Um We call just as we condemn violence and vandalism. Um we do call upon the police to respect the rights of peaceful protesters. We continue to urge the utmost restraint by Colombian Colombian police and maintaining public order. We also call on Colombian authorities to continue to investigate um reports that have emerged of police excess. We welcome the Colombian government’s proposal to bring together stakeholders in political dialogue into and we encourage full participation in those talks and will continue to address these issues through peace and political dialogue in a way that puts human rights at the core of that policy going forward. Do you think the U. S. Should do more to help Colombia with the situation? I mean, it’s escalating, it’s been already two weeks, There are hundreds of that’s missing people. We we have continued to engage with our Colombian partners on this. We have done this um from the State Department here, from our embassy in bogota uh and that won’t change, will continue to be engaged. Uh I think we call them. Yes. Okay. Uh since um Russia is going forward with the withdrawal uh which of course was decided after the U. S. Wants by the previous administration. Can you do you have any comment on that? And do can you take the opportunity to precise what this administration stands towards? Open skies is? Well, we haven’t made a decision on the future of american participation in the open skies treaty. We are at the moment actively reviewing matters related to the treaty. Importantly, we are consulting with our allies and partners as we always do on these matters. Russia’s own continuing non compliance with the treaty is one of several pertinent factors. As we take stock of things. As this process continues, we encourage Russia to take steps to come back into compliance with the treaty. I saw one more hands. Okay, Seeing sure Afghanistan, I don’t know if anyone else has Afghanistan. Are you any closer to assessing who is to blame for the deadly explosion over the weekend? Yesterday? You said it for resemblance to attacks by ISIS K. But have you determined that they are in fact behind that attack? We haven’t yet. I determined um attribution for the attack. What I said yesterday about the attack bearing some of the hallmarks of previous ISIS K attacks, including the location of this attack continues to be the case, but we don’t yet have conclusive attribution. And then again on marc fredericks, the hostage being held by the taliban. Are you closer to getting him out as we are moving further along in the withdrawal? We have no higher priority than uh the safe release in the return of detained americans held all over the world. That includes Mr Frerichs uh in Afghanistan. Uh The secretary uh in one of his earliest um engagements, had an opportunity to meet with many of the families of detained Americans so that he could um personally and sincerely relay the priority we attached uh and we do attached to all of these cases. Um you’ve heard us say in the case of Mr. Frerichs, um he has been um repeatedly have repeatedly raised his case um including in Doha and we will continue to do everything we can um to affect his safe return to his family. Yes, Russia and Ukraine, a couple of Ukrainian officials have spoken about the um supposed withdrawal of Russian troops from around the border and saying that only about 3500 troops actually withdrew and there’s about 100,000 troops remaining on the border, Do you? Does your assessment kind of concur with those numbers? And he’s still concerned about that? Well, I’m not in position to give you precise numbers on of Russian troops that remain on or near the border. What I can say, however, and you heard this from Secretary Blinken when we were in Kiev last week, he made the point that even as we have uh seeing reports of Russian withdrawal and we’ve been able to confirm um uh that some Russian forces have been relocated, uh tensions remain high because Russia does maintain a large number of forces along the border. The number of forces that Moscow continues to maintain in the region Uh still is has not been matched since the 2014 uh invasion. Um and so it is still a cause for concern. Um it was a topic of discussion uh when we were in NATO several weeks ago. Now, it was a topic of discussion at the G-7 last week. And of course it was a topic of discussion. Uh our meetings with our partners in Kiev. Um and we went there precisely to signal um that the United States stands with Ukraine. Um The international uh I should say the uh we and our like-minded partners um stand with Kiev in the face of this intimidation and will continue to do so as long as um these acts of aggression, intimidation persist. Thank you all very much.