SECRETARY BLINKEN: That’s right.
QUESTION: The Biden administration did put an offer on the table with regards to a prisoner swap along with Russia. That was in July.
ADMIN BLINKEN: Margaret, as you know, we do put a significant proposal on the table many months ago. And since then, we’ve already been engaged repeatedly in any way that individuals can to try to advance this and to look to see if you can find different permutations that could attain what we’re trying to achieve, which is to get our people home – Brittney Griner, Paul Whelan. We are engaged in that on a regular basis, plus it’s my determination that individuals bring our people house. We will not quit until we do.
QUESTION: Mm-hmm. And am know their families would love them home by Christmas, which explains why I’m asking you.
ADMIN BLINKEN: So , Margaret, we’re within an intense competition with China. And of course, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with competition alone as long as it’s basically fair and on a level playing industry. And we’re working with countries around the world to build convergence on the approach to China, which I’ve seen get quite strong in Europe, in Asian countries. And the President includes a strong determination to ensure that competition does not veer into conflict. That’s one of the reasons which he spent three hours along with Xi Jinping in Philippines on the margins of the G20. It’s one of the reasons which he asked me to go to Tiongkok early next year, making sure that we’re talking, we’re communicating, we are making clear what we’re about, what our intents are, what we’re doing. That’s vitally important. The world —
QUESTION: To bring them each home, but Russia wants a one-for-one swap.
QUESTION: Secretary Blinken, you’re the busy man. Thanks to your time this morning.
QUESTION: Your deputy, Wendy Sherman, gave a presentation here in Washington on Friday where she said, “I think war is possibly possible, because Xi Jinping now has absolute control in China. ” You’re about to go to China. Do you agree with that assessment?
QUESTION: But these – this extreme-right-wing government, as it has been defined, being put together does confuse your relationship, because then you also have to spend time talking about not really canceling gay pride parades, not deporting people, each one of these policies here. That is not what you want to focus on, that is settling peace, a two-state solution, which is being turned down by many of these figures.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, Russian media – Russian mass media reports a lot every day that I wouldn’t necessarily take at face value.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Again, we’re going to focus on what the government really does. And as we have with every past Israeli govt, and as Israelis have along with every past U. S. administration, we’ll work carefully together.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: So I’m never going to get into the details of this. It would be counterproductive for me to get into the specifics of anything that we’re saying or the fact that Russians are saying and that we are hearing. My perseverance is one way or another, as long as it requires, to get people home. My efforts, the attempts of the entire administration, are usually to bring both Paul plus Brittney home.
QUESTION: So you are not worried about this?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, Margaret. Great to be along with you.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: I believe we can run and chew up gum at the same time.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: The determination that we get is to make sure that the competition will not veer into conflict, which is also what the world desires of us. They anticipate us to responsibly deal with the relationship with China. This is something that I listen to from countries around the world. It’s exactly what President Biden is doing – standing up strongly for our interests and ideals, working with other countries who are similarly situated to advance them, making sure that we’re keeping the particular contacts open, keeping the particular dialogue open.
QUESTION: I want to ask you about Russia. Chief executive Biden says he has no plans to speak with Vladimir Putin, but he would in case there was an indication he desired to end the war. The President’s top military advisor, Mark Milley, has said that during this cold time period combat will slow plus there could be a window just for diplomacy. You’re the very best diplomat. Do you think there are value in trying to begin talks?
QUESTION: Well, that’s what Russian media has been reporting. So in your view, could it be all or nothing?
QUESTION: Two weeks ago you said Russia includes a failure to seriously negotiate. Has that changed? Is Russia serious now?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: That’s up to the Iranian people. This is about them; it’s not about us. And what we’ve observed since the killing of Mahsa Amini has been the remarkable courage of Iranian the younger generation, especially women, who’ve been leading these protests standing up for the right to be able to say what they want to say, wear what exactly they want to wear. And so when the regime has now responded in some fashion to those protests, that may be a positive thing, but we have to see how it actually performs out in practice and what the Iranian people think. This is about them and it is up to them.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: There’s always value in diplomacy if the celebrations in question – in this case, Russia – are actually interested in significant diplomacy. And what we have seen, at least recently, is precisely the contrary. Even while President Zelenskyy from Ukraine came to the G20 nations, the leading economies in the world, and put out a proposal intended for how to move forward toward peacefulness, what did Vladimir Putin do? He doubled and tripled down on every thing he was doing, mobilizing more forces, annexing territory in Ukraine, and now endeavoring to weaponize winter.
QUESTION: But “war is usually potentially possible” is what the lady said.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Margaret, we have worked and will keep work with Israeli governments of every kind, just as Israeli governments have worked with American administrations of every kind. Plus we’re determined to do that in the years ahead. Our focus can be less on personalities and more on policies. The main thing is what policies does the federal government pursue. The government, or maybe the incoming government at least, knows our views on a quantity of these issues. But we have an absolute commitment to Israel’s security. That’s not going to change. And as all of us always have in the past, we’ll talk directly to each other; we’ll be very clear about what we think and what we believe with our Israeli allies. I’m sure they’ll do the same. And again, we’ll focus on the policies, not the personalities.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Again, I’m not going to enter the details of it. Seem, the other side gets a vote in this. It’s not precisely what we want; it’s what they are prepared to do. Which is something that we’re working on almost every day.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: As they say, Maggie, the proof will be in the pudding. We have to see if the engagements that we’ve had, the discussions that we get produce an actual result. That’s the most important thing. Yet we are not resting for the laurels of having put forward a proposal some months back. We’ve been actively engaged over these many a few months to try to move things forwards.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Once again, I’m not going to get into the particular – into the details of exactly where we are.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Margaret, good morning. Good to be with you.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Nicely, we’ve seen, apparently, several easing of the COVID restrictions in recent days, but very hard for us to speak to that will. There, again, we’ve been standing up for the simple principle that people should have the suitable to make their views recognized peacefully, to protest, as the case may be, to in-take their frustrations.
He’s been unable to earn on the battlefield, so he’s taking – he’s fundamentally turning his ire great fire on Ukrainian civilians, going after the energy infrastructure, seeking to turn off the lights, turn off the heat, turn off the electricity. That’s what’s taking place. So unless plus until Putin demonstrates that he’s actually interested in significant diplomacy, it’s unlikely to look anywhere.
QUERY: The particular offer, for our viewers, had been to release convicted arms dealer, known as the merchant of death, Viktor Bout. There are two Americans being held. You named all of them right there – Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan. Brittney has been in custody for under a year. Whelan, a former Marine, has been in captivity given that 2018. Russia wants a one-for-one swap. How do you decide which American will get left behind?
I want to also, before I actually let you go, ask about His home country of israel. Benjamin Netanyahu is usually on trial for corruption, but he right now is attempting to piece together an connections to form a government. If he does, he’ll become prime minister again. I know you know this. But he’s been allying himself with figures that have spewed anti-Arab, anti-gay detest as well as discrimination against non-Orthodox Jews. One of them really wants to cancel gay pride parades. At least two have called for mass deportations of Palestinians, including the man that may head Israel’s police force. Doesn’t this makeup really jeopardize your purpose to have peace in the region?
QUESTION: Good morning to you, Mister. Secretary.
QUESTION: But if these talks are now active plus ongoing, as the White House said, that suggests you believe there is some reason to think they’re serious now. You said they weren’t serious a few weeks ago.
QUESTION: So that’s not really what the Russians have told you?
QUESTION: I want to start with some breaking news right away out of Iran. They have abolished the morality police. This is after a few months of protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, whom died because – the girl was taken into custody since her head wasn’t adequately covered. Will this stop the protests that have been raging?
QUESTION: We’ve also noticed protests in China because of these COVID lockdown policies. They seem to have died out in recent days. Is that because the police condition stopped them, or have they actually had an effect?
