English subtitles for clip: File:3-21-14- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Carney: Good afternoon,

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ladies and gentlemen.

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Thank you for being here
today

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for your daily briefing.

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As you can see, I have a
couple of guests with

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me today -- the President's
National Security Advisor,

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Ambassador Susan Rice; and
the President's Deputy

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National Security
Advisor for Strategic

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Communications,
Ben Rhodes.

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They're here to give you a
preview of the President's

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upcoming foreign trip
and then to take some

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questions on that trip.

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Ben will start with a
quick overview

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of the schedule.

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Ambassador Rice will
then provide

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a thematic overview.

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And then they can take
your questions

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on those topic areas.

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After an allotted period
of time I'm going

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to let them go, and I'll stick
around for questions

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on other subjects.

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With that, I give
you Ben Rhodes.

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Mr. Rhodes: Thanks, Jay.

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So I'll just start
with an overview of the

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President's key
schedule engagements.

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There may be additional
meetings that he does and

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we'll keep you updated
over the course

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of the trip.

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We leave here Sunday night
and arrive

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at The Hague on Monday morning.

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Then the President will go
to the Rijksmuseum,

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the iconic museum in
Amsterdam, where he will

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meet with Prime Minister
Rutte of the Netherlands.

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The two of them will do a
brief tour of the museum

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and then they'll have
their bilateral

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meeting there as well.

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Following that, the
President will go

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to the summit site at The Hague.

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He will have a bilateral
meeting with President

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Xi Jinping of China to
initiate his meetings

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there at The Hague.

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This will be the first
meeting he's had with

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President Xi since
the G20 in September.

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President Xi, of course,
was able to greet

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Mrs. Obama today, and so
we're pleased that

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they were able to meet, and
they'll continue

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their consultations
there at The Hague.

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Then the President will go
into the summit sessions.

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There will be an opening
plenary session

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followed by a scenario-based
policy discussion

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in the afternoon.

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Following those summit
sessions, the President

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will attend a G7 meeting
at the Prime Minister's

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Residence in The Hague.

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This G7 meeting has
obviously been added

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on to the schedule as part of
our continued response

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to the situation in Ukraine,
and the President will

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consult with the leaders
of the G7 about how

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to both support the Ukrainian
government and of course,

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the meeting itself is part
of our isolation

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of Russia for its actions
in Ukraine.

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Following that G7 meeting
the President will have

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a chance to see the King of
the Netherlands

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and then attend a working dinner.

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Then on Tuesday, the 25th,
throughout the course

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of the day the President will
participate

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in the summit plenaries.

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Again, we anticipate him
having the opportunity

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to have some meetings on the
margins

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of the summit with additional leaders.

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We'll keep you updated
on those interactions.

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At the conclusion of the
summit, President Obama

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will have a joint press
conference with

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Prime Minister Rutte of
the Netherlands.

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Then following that press
conference, he'll have

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some additional meetings.

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He will have a bilateral
meeting with

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Mohammed Bin Zayed of the United
Arab Emirates, one of our key

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relationships in the Gulf
-- an opportunity

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to discuss our commitment to
Gulf security,

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our efforts to support the
opposition in Syria,

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and to update Mohammed Bin Zayed
on our ongoing nuclear

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negotiations with Iran

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and the Middle East peace negotiations.

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Following that meeting, we
will have a very important

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trilateral meeting with
President Park of the

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Republic of Korea,

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and Prime Minister Abe of Japan.

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We believe this is a very
important message to show

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the United States aligned
with our two most

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important allies
in Northeast Asia.

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It's a signal of our
commitment to the security

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of Northeast Asia and
our belief that when the

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United States and our
allies stand together we

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are all much stronger in
the region

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and in the world.

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Then the President will
leave and travel to

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Brussels and spend the
night in Brussels.

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On Wednesday, March 26th,
the President will begin

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by going to Flanders
Field, one of the most

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important battlefields
of World War I.

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This, of course, is the
centennial anniversary

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of World War I, a very
critical milestone in the

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history of Europe, the
United States

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and the world.

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At Flanders Field, the
President will meet with

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both King Philippe of
Belgium and Prime Minister

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Di Rupo as well.

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So they'll have a private
meeting, then there will

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be a wreath-laying and a
tour of the battlefield,

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which will be a very
resonant moment for the

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people of Belgium, people
of the United States

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and Europe as well.

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Following that, the
President will attend

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the U.S.-EU Summit, where
he'll meet with Presidents

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Von Rompuy and Barroso.

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Here, of course, we have a
very broad agenda

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with the EU.

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I'm sure the situation in
Ukraine will be front and

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center, as well as the
ongoing discussions around

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the Transatlantic
Trade and Investment

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Partnership, the Iran
negotiations,

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and the broad range of issue
that we have with the EU.

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Following that summit and
working lunch,

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he'll have a joint press
conference with the leaders,

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Van Rompuy and Barroso.

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After the EU meeting, the
President will then meet

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with the Secretary
General of NATO.

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And of course, this is
one of our -- well,

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our single-most important
joint security alliance

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and, frankly, is as
important

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as ever given the situation in
Europe and in Ukraine.

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So the President and the
Secretary General will

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be able to discuss not just
the situation in Ukraine,

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but the steps that we are
taking to reinforce

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the security of our allies in
Eastern Europe,

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as you've seen recently with
Vice President Biden's trip

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and our additional deployments
to the Baltic states and

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Poland as well.

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So these will be important
discussions on NATO's

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collective defense and the
preparations

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for the Wales summit.

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Following the meeting with
the Secretary General,

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the President will give a
speech at the

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Palais des Beaux Arts in Brussels.

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This will be the single
speech of the trip.

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The President will have
a chance to discuss his

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vision of transatlantic
relations,

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of European security.

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Obviously, the situation
in the Ukraine

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will factor heavily into his
presentation.

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It only reinforces the
need for the United States

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to remain committed to
a strong transatlantic

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alliance, to the security
of Europe, the integration

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of Europe, and to the
values that the United

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States and Europe stand
for together, including

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both individual liberty,
but also the rights of

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sovereign nations to make
their own decisions

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and to have their sovereignty

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and territorial integrity respected.

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Following that speech, the
President will depart

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for Rome, where he will
spend the night.

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On Thursday, March 27th,
the President

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will begin his day with an
audience with Pope Francis.

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He has long looked forward
to meeting Pope Francis.

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He has very much admired
the leadership

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he has provided in his first
year as Pope, his commitment

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to address issues like income
inequality,

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and his leadership of the
church more broadly.

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So that will be an
important time

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for the President to have some
personal interaction

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with the Pope and to hear about
the very ambitious agenda

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that he has launched
in his first year.

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Following that audience
with Pope Francis, the

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President will meet with
the Secretary of State

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Parolin to discuss what
the Vatican is doing

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on a range of issues around
the world as well.

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After the visit to the
Vatican, he will then have

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a meeting and lunch with
President Napolitano

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of Italy, who has been a very
good friend and partner

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of President Obama and the
United States

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for several years now.

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Then, he will have his
first bilateral meeting

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with Prime Minister
Renzi of Italy.

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He has had a good series
of discussions

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with him on the phone.

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He'll have an opportunity
to address with Prime

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Minister Renzi the
situation, of course,

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in Ukraine, but also broader
cooperation between

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the United States and Italy.

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Following that press
conference,

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the President will have the
opportunity to tour the Coliseum

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in Rome, one of the iconic
sights in the world,

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and he is very much
looking forward

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to that opportunity.

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Then, on Friday, we go to
Saudi Arabia, to Riyadh.

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After arriving in Riyadh,
the President will have

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a bilateral meeting with
King Abdullah, again, an

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important opportunity to
invest in one of our most

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important relationships in
the Middle East, certainly

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in the Gulf region, to
address I think a very

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broad agenda in terms of
our ongoing support

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for Gulf security, our support
for the Syrian opposition

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where we've been very
coordinated with

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the Saudis, the ongoing Middle
East peace discussions,

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as well as both the nuclear
negotiations with Iran but

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also our joint concern for
destabilizing actions that

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Iran is taking
across the region.

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And then the President
will spend the night

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in Saudi Arabia on Friday.

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He will be returning back

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to the United States on Saturday.

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And with that, I'll
turn it over to Susan.

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Ambassador Rice:
Thank you, Ben.

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Good afternoon, everyone.

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Over the course of this
trip, the President will

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be mobilizing the
international community

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and some of our most
important partners

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in the world at a time when
we're dealing with a number

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of important challenges.

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If there's a common theme
to this trip, it's the

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fundamental strength
and importance

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of our alliances and
partnerships.

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The strategic importance
of this effort really

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can't be overstated.

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From Europe to Asia to the
Middle East,

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our ability to lead strong coalitions

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is essential to making progress.

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In Europe, as you heard
Ben say, we'll meet with

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some of our most important
institutional partners

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in the world -- the G7, the
European Union, and NATO.

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We'll also have important
bilateral engagements

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with the leaders of the
Netherlands, Italy,

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and Belgium, all traditionally
strong allies.

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These meetings obviously
take place against

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the backdrop of Russia's
intervention in Ukraine.

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What will be clear for the
entire world to see

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is that Russia is
increasingly isolated and

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that the United States is
leading the international

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community in supporting
the government of Ukraine

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and the people of Ukraine,
and in imposing costs on

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Russia for its aggression
against Ukraine.

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At the same time, we're
also building our

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strategic cooperation in
Europe by moving forward

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with T-TIP, which is a
vital engine for growth

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and job creation on both
sides of the Atlantic;

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by strengthening NATO as the
world's leading instrument

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of collective security;
and by advancing our

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efforts to secure nuclear
materials around the globe

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through the President's
signature initiative of

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the Nuclear Security
Summit,

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in its third iteration.

253
00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:30,367
Meanwhile, we continue to
focus

254
00:10:30,367 --> 00:10:31,900
on our rebalance to Asia.

255
00:10:31,900 --> 00:10:34,867
After a period of tension,
we will bring together

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00:10:34,867 --> 00:10:38,233
two of our closest allies,
the Republic of Korea and

257
00:10:38,233 --> 00:10:41,165
Japan, in a trilateral
meeting that will send

258
00:10:41,166 --> 00:10:44,033
a powerful message about
America's commitment

259
00:10:44,033 --> 00:10:46,567
to the security of
Northeast Asia.

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00:10:46,567 --> 00:10:48,633
In addition, the President
will meet with President

261
00:10:48,633 --> 00:10:51,333
Xi Jinping of China and
that will advance

262
00:10:51,333 --> 00:10:53,600
our efforts to try to
cooperate where we can

263
00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:56,200
with China on a range of
issues from climate

264
00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,967
change to denuclearizing the
Korean Peninsula.

265
00:10:59,967 --> 00:11:02,100
Finally, we'll be
reinforcing some of our

266
00:11:02,100 --> 00:11:03,767
most important
relationships

267
00:11:03,767 --> 00:11:04,767
in the Middle East.

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00:11:04,767 --> 00:11:08,400
As you heard Ben say, on
the margins of the

269
00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:10,333
Nuclear Security Summit, the
President will have

270
00:11:10,333 --> 00:11:12,600
the opportunity again to spend
time with the Crowned

271
00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:14,700
Prince of the United Arab
Emirates,

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00:11:14,700 --> 00:11:18,533
Mohammed Bin Zayed, and then
later to travel to Riyadh

273
00:11:18,533 --> 00:11:21,066
for a very important meeting
with King Abdullah

274
00:11:21,066 --> 00:11:22,967
of Saudi Arabia, which we've
been

275
00:11:22,967 --> 00:11:24,633
very much looking forward to.

276
00:11:24,633 --> 00:11:27,266
These meetings come at a
time when we're engaged

277
00:11:27,266 --> 00:11:30,666
in the nuclear negotiations
with Iran, where we're

278
00:11:30,667 --> 00:11:33,633
working to try to bring
fruition to the

279
00:11:33,633 --> 00:11:36,767
Middle East peace negotiations,
and we're engaged

280
00:11:36,767 --> 00:11:39,100
in collective efforts with
many of our partners

281
00:11:39,100 --> 00:11:41,633
in the region as well as in
Europe to strengthen

282
00:11:41,633 --> 00:11:43,867
the Syrian opposition.

283
00:11:43,867 --> 00:11:47,500
By investing and
deepening our core Gulf

284
00:11:47,500 --> 00:11:49,767
partnerships, the United
States will

285
00:11:49,767 --> 00:11:53,400
be in a stronger position to
make progress on these very

286
00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:56,033
core projects that are
central to the President's

287
00:11:56,033 --> 00:11:57,834
second term agenda.

288
00:11:57,834 --> 00:12:00,566
The common thread is that
we are investing

289
00:12:00,567 --> 00:12:03,467
in our traditional alliances
and building strong

290
00:12:03,467 --> 00:12:05,533
and flexible coalitions.

291
00:12:05,533 --> 00:12:08,233
In each of these regions,
which will serve

292
00:12:08,233 --> 00:12:12,032
in many ways as force
multipliers, the United States

293
00:12:12,033 --> 00:12:15,367
cannot and we should not bear
all the burdens

294
00:12:15,367 --> 00:12:17,900
of addressing global challenges alone.

295
00:12:17,900 --> 00:12:20,667
And we don't, because
with this core group

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00:12:20,667 --> 00:12:23,734
of alliances and partnerships
from Europe to Asia

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00:12:23,734 --> 00:12:27,967
to the Middle East, we have, I
am confident, the wherewithal

298
00:12:27,967 --> 00:12:31,333
to manage this very
complex mix

299
00:12:31,333 --> 00:12:34,033
of international issues,
including challenges

300
00:12:34,033 --> 00:12:37,934
like Ukraine, like Iran, like
North Korea and Syria,

301
00:12:37,934 --> 00:12:40,967
while also continuing our
ability to make progress

302
00:12:40,967 --> 00:12:43,367
on key elements of our
affirmative agenda --

303
00:12:43,367 --> 00:12:45,266
things like the trade
agreement we're working

304
00:12:45,266 --> 00:12:48,333
on with Europe, T-TIP, our
Asia rebalance,

305
00:12:48,333 --> 00:12:51,367
and working to resolve the
Iranian issue --

306
00:12:51,367 --> 00:12:53,834
nuclear issue through
peaceful means.

307
00:12:53,834 --> 00:12:55,967
With that, I'm happy to
take a few questions,

308
00:12:55,967 --> 00:12:57,600
joined by Ben and Jay.

309
00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:00,300
Mr. Carney: We'll start
with Josh of the AP.

310
00:13:00,300 --> 00:13:02,532
The Press: Thanks,
Ambassador.

311
00:13:02,533 --> 00:13:05,900
Is it your goal at this G7
meeting next week to get

312
00:13:05,900 --> 00:13:08,333
the Europeans to agree to
the same type

313
00:13:08,333 --> 00:13:09,867
of sanctions that the U.S.

314
00:13:09,867 --> 00:13:11,699
says that it's
willing to impose?

315
00:13:11,700 --> 00:13:13,500
Or are you anticipating
tough rhetoric

316
00:13:13,500 --> 00:13:15,967
from the Europeans, but an
unwillingness to embrace

317
00:13:15,967 --> 00:13:17,400
the kind of sanctions
against sectors

318
00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:19,934
of the Russian economy that
could affect them?

319
00:13:19,934 --> 00:13:22,433
And also, will you be
laying out clear lines

320
00:13:22,433 --> 00:13:26,266
for what steps Russia would
have to take to trigger

321
00:13:26,266 --> 00:13:28,567
those kinds of sanctions?

322
00:13:28,567 --> 00:13:32,767
Ambassador Rice: We've
been in very close and

323
00:13:32,767 --> 00:13:37,066
constant communication and
consultation with our G7

324
00:13:37,066 --> 00:13:38,467
partners over the
last several weeks.

325
00:13:38,467 --> 00:13:39,867
I'm talking to my
colleagues and

326
00:13:39,867 --> 00:13:40,867
counterparts
almost every day.

327
00:13:40,867 --> 00:13:43,099
The President has been on
the phone for the last

328
00:13:43,100 --> 00:13:44,100
several weeks.

329
00:13:44,100 --> 00:13:45,400
So the communication
has been robust, so the

330
00:13:44,633 --> 00:13:47,467
And you saw that yesterday
when the European Council,
0:13:45.400,1193:02:47.295
coordination is already
very much in train.

331
00:13:47,467 --> 00:13:50,433
on the same day we made
our announcement of additional

332
00:13:50,433 --> 00:13:53,066
sanctions
yesterday, came out with a very

333
00:13:53,066 --> 00:13:55,333
strong decision of
its own, which

334
00:13:55,333 --> 00:13:58,867
included not only additional
support for Ukraine,

335
00:13:58,867 --> 00:14:03,766
but additional designations
of individuals for asset

336
00:14:03,767 --> 00:14:06,667
freezes and visa bans,
as well as a very strong

337
00:14:06,667 --> 00:14:11,000
statement of a readiness
to impose broad economic

338
00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:12,400
sanctions in the event
that

339
00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:13,867
the situation escalates.

340
00:14:13,867 --> 00:14:16,567
That very much matches
the theory behind

341
00:14:16,567 --> 00:14:19,400
the executive order that
President Obama signed

342
00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:23,233
yesterday, which gave us
and gives us the ability

343
00:14:23,233 --> 00:14:26,132
as needed to target
particular sectors

344
00:14:26,133 --> 00:14:29,967
to be designated within the
Russian economy,

345
00:14:29,967 --> 00:14:32,165
should the circumstances
necessitate.

346
00:14:32,166 --> 00:14:35,834
So we are already quite
closely coordinated

347
00:14:35,834 --> 00:14:37,266
with our European partners.

348
00:14:37,266 --> 00:14:39,800
Obviously, the G7 meeting
will be an opportunity

349
00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:43,666
to deepen and continue that
coordination even as we

350
00:14:43,667 --> 00:14:45,934
have the chance to talk
about how we step up our

351
00:14:45,934 --> 00:14:48,199
collective support for the
people and the government

352
00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:54,967
of Ukraine and consider
the optimum disposition

353
00:14:54,967 --> 00:14:58,300
of the G8-G7 mechanism going
forward in light

354
00:14:58,300 --> 00:14:59,766
of recent developments.

355
00:14:59,767 --> 00:15:02,033
The Press: There was a
report this morning

356
00:15:02,033 --> 00:15:03,633
in the Wall Street Journal that
says that

357
00:15:03,633 --> 00:15:05,834
the White House canceled a
planned meeting between Obama

358
00:15:05,834 --> 00:15:09,032
and the GCC leaders in Saudi
Arabia next week because

359
00:15:09,033 --> 00:15:11,266
of rifts among some of those
Persian Gulf leaders.

360
00:15:11,266 --> 00:15:12,400
Do you have any
response to that?

361
00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:16,000
Ambassador Rice:
That's not accurate.

362
00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:17,934
There was never a formal
meeting scheduled.

363
00:15:17,934 --> 00:15:18,934
It is something that we
had contemplated some

364
00:15:18,934 --> 00:15:20,967
weeks back and began some

365
00:15:20,967 --> 00:15:23,266
preliminary consultations on that.

366
00:15:23,266 --> 00:15:26,199
But then, of course, the
situation between

367
00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:29,133
and among the members of the
GCC has grown

368
00:15:29,133 --> 00:15:31,633
more complex of late.

369
00:15:31,633 --> 00:15:34,934
And while we maintain very
strong and cooperative

370
00:15:34,934 --> 00:15:37,632
relationships with each
of the GCC countries, we

371
00:15:37,633 --> 00:15:39,900
didn't think that from
their point of view that

372
00:15:39,900 --> 00:15:42,233
the time was optimal for
a collective meeting.

373
00:15:42,233 --> 00:15:45,733
The Press: Is the Ukraine
crisis prompting

374
00:15:45,734 --> 00:15:49,400
a fundamental reassessment
of U.S.-Russian relations?

375
00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:51,867
Ambassador Rice: Yes.

376
00:15:51,867 --> 00:15:57,867
(Laughter.) Well, look,
the fact of the matter

377
00:16:02,500 --> 00:16:06,600
is that in the years since
the ending of the

378
00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:10,500
Cold War, the United States and
Europe, and indeed the

379
00:16:10,500 --> 00:16:13,300
international community
have proceeded along

380
00:16:13,300 --> 00:16:15,333
a path where we've made
clear that

381
00:16:15,333 --> 00:16:20,632
our interest was in more fully
integrating Russia,

382
00:16:20,633 --> 00:16:23,734
politically and
economically, into Europe

383
00:16:23,734 --> 00:16:25,700
and into, indeed,
the fabric of the

384
00:16:25,700 --> 00:16:28,033
international system
and the global economy.

385
00:16:28,033 --> 00:16:33,100
But that was predicated on
an expectation that Russia

386
00:16:33,100 --> 00:16:35,667
would play by the rules of
the road, the economic

387
00:16:35,667 --> 00:16:39,867
and security rules of the
road, international law

388
00:16:39,867 --> 00:16:41,199
and the norms and
principles that

389
00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:43,767
govern responsible
international action.

390
00:16:43,767 --> 00:16:46,266
What we have seen in
Ukraine is obviously

391
00:16:46,266 --> 00:16:49,000
a very egregious
departure from that.

392
00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:52,867
And it is causing the
countries and people

393
00:16:52,867 --> 00:16:54,467
of Europe and the
international community

394
00:16:54,467 --> 00:16:57,900
and, of course, the United
States to reassess

395
00:16:57,900 --> 00:17:00,533
what does this mean and what
are the implications.

396
00:17:00,533 --> 00:17:03,834
You saw a stark example of
that or demonstration

397
00:17:03,834 --> 00:17:04,833
of that in the U.N.

398
00:17:04,834 --> 00:17:08,567
Security Council last
weekend, where Russia

399
00:17:08,567 --> 00:17:14,066
was alone, even without China,
in insisting that

400
00:17:14,066 --> 00:17:18,100
its actions in Ukraine had any
international legitimacy.

401
00:17:18,099 --> 00:17:20,833
The rest of the world has
said absolutely clearly

402
00:17:20,834 --> 00:17:24,133
that they reject and
will never accept the

403
00:17:24,133 --> 00:17:26,700
annexation of Crimea, that
this is an act that

404
00:17:26,700 --> 00:17:29,567
is in blatant violation of
international laws and the

405
00:17:29,567 --> 00:17:31,767
sovereignty and
territorial integrity

406
00:17:31,767 --> 00:17:34,200
of Ukraine, and it will
have consequences.

407
00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:35,333
And it already has.

408
00:17:35,333 --> 00:17:38,300
The Press: Russia,
obviously, is a country

409
00:17:38,300 --> 00:17:40,166
that's supposed to be a
big participant

410
00:17:40,166 --> 00:17:42,700
in the Nuclear Security Summit.

411
00:17:42,700 --> 00:17:44,300
Do you guys have an idea
of who's going

412
00:17:44,300 --> 00:17:46,000
to be representing them there?

413
00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:48,533
I know there's some
speculation that Secretary

414
00:17:48,533 --> 00:17:51,233
Kerry could meet with his
counterpart while there.

415
00:17:51,233 --> 00:17:53,367
And is there anything
you want to use with the

416
00:17:53,367 --> 00:17:54,966
nuclear summit to sort of
send a message

417
00:17:54,967 --> 00:17:58,467
to Russia about its
international isolation

418
00:17:58,467 --> 00:17:59,467
or things like that?

419
00:17:59,467 --> 00:18:01,100
Ambassador Rice: Nuclear
security is an area

420
00:18:01,100 --> 00:18:04,433
where the United States has
and continues to have

421
00:18:04,433 --> 00:18:07,166
an enduring interest in
cooperation with Russia

422
00:18:07,166 --> 00:18:09,867
and other important
countries where

423
00:18:09,867 --> 00:18:12,667
the security of nuclear
materials

424
00:18:12,667 --> 00:18:15,065
remains of concern.

425
00:18:15,066 --> 00:18:18,300
So the Nuclear Security
Summit is an opportunity

426
00:18:18,300 --> 00:18:21,332
for I think it's about 53
countries

427
00:18:21,333 --> 00:18:25,033
to come together to advance a
very important agenda that

428
00:18:25,033 --> 00:18:27,500
has been a pillar of this
administration's national

429
00:18:27,500 --> 00:18:31,300
security policy to make
it harder and harder

430
00:18:31,300 --> 00:18:34,433
for those who may wish to use
nuclear materials

431
00:18:34,433 --> 00:18:37,066
for terrorist purposes to
get their hands on them.

432
00:18:37,066 --> 00:18:39,066
And there's been a series
of steps,

433
00:18:39,066 --> 00:18:44,567
starting in 2010, which have led
to a very serious

434
00:18:44,567 --> 00:18:46,767
improvement in the security of
materials

435
00:18:46,767 --> 00:18:47,767
around the world.

436
00:18:47,767 --> 00:18:48,967
We have every interest in
continuing

437
00:18:48,967 --> 00:18:50,967
to cooperate with Russia and
other countries,

438
00:18:50,967 --> 00:18:53,633
even where we have differences
with them on other issues,

439
00:18:53,633 --> 00:18:55,166
on the issue of nuclear security.

440
00:18:55,166 --> 00:18:57,367
And I believe it's Foreign
Minister Lavrov

441
00:18:57,367 --> 00:18:58,367
who is representing Russia.

442
00:18:58,367 --> 00:19:00,567
And I think that was their
plan for --

443
00:19:00,567 --> 00:19:03,233
The Press: Do you feel like
that's an appropriate level --

444
00:19:03,233 --> 00:19:04,934
I mean, the United
States is sending

445
00:19:04,934 --> 00:19:05,899
the Commander-in-Chief.

446
00:19:05,900 --> 00:19:06,900
Russia is sending their --

447
00:19:06,900 --> 00:19:09,000
Ambassador Rice: Chuck, I mean,
that's their choice to make.

448
00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,500
But it's been their choice
for quite some while.

449
00:19:11,500 --> 00:19:16,333
This is not -- The Press:
It was Medvedev

450
00:19:16,333 --> 00:19:17,333
at the last one.

451
00:19:17,333 --> 00:19:19,367
Mr. Rhodes: It was -- yes,
it was Medvedev

452
00:19:19,367 --> 00:19:20,367
at the last one.

453
00:19:20,367 --> 00:19:22,133
Ambassador Rice: Yes, but
I don't think there

454
00:19:22,133 --> 00:19:23,767
was ever an expectation
that President Putin

455
00:19:23,767 --> 00:19:25,400
or Medvedev were
coming to this one.

456
00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:27,266
The Press: Do feel like
they're still fully

457
00:19:27,266 --> 00:19:28,667
cooperative, that the
Russians are still

458
00:19:28,667 --> 00:19:29,833
fully cooperative on
nuclear security?

459
00:19:29,834 --> 00:19:31,433
Ambassador Rice: We
haven't seen any evidence

460
00:19:31,433 --> 00:19:32,433
to the contrary.

461
00:19:32,433 --> 00:19:33,433
Mr. Carney: Jim.

462
00:19:33,433 --> 00:19:34,433
The Press: Ambassador
Rice, I guess since

463
00:19:34,433 --> 00:19:36,133
you're being so direct, what do
you think

464
00:19:36,133 --> 00:19:38,467
Vladimir Putin is up to?

465
00:19:38,467 --> 00:19:41,233
This morning or overnight
he said that

466
00:19:41,233 --> 00:19:43,567
they should hold off on
countermeasures in

467
00:19:43,567 --> 00:19:45,567
response to the sanctions.

468
00:19:45,567 --> 00:19:48,867
Do you think he is trying
to rewrite the end of the

469
00:19:48,867 --> 00:19:49,867
Cold War?

470
00:19:49,867 --> 00:19:51,567
Do you think he's, through
confrontation with

471
00:19:51,567 --> 00:19:53,467
President Obama, trying
to elevate his status,

472
00:19:53,467 --> 00:19:54,500
elevate Russia's status?

473
00:19:54,500 --> 00:19:57,266
Ambassador Rice: I'm
not going

474
00:19:57,266 --> 00:19:59,500
to get into speculating about
President Putin's motives.

475
00:19:59,500 --> 00:20:01,433
His actions are clear.

476
00:20:01,433 --> 00:20:04,367
And we have expressed
equally clearly

477
00:20:04,367 --> 00:20:10,600
our opposition to his invasion
and annexation of Crimea,

478
00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:12,833
and the further
provocative steps that

479
00:20:12,834 --> 00:20:14,834
he has taken with
regard to Ukraine.

480
00:20:14,834 --> 00:20:17,300
Our view is that this
situation can

481
00:20:17,300 --> 00:20:18,966
and should be de-escalated.

482
00:20:18,967 --> 00:20:20,767
It should be resolved
through

483
00:20:20,767 --> 00:20:22,000
dialogue and diplomacy.

484
00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:24,667
We still believe it can
be if that choice

485
00:20:24,667 --> 00:20:27,132
is the choice that the Russian
Federation makes,

486
00:20:27,133 --> 00:20:30,567
and we'll continue our
efforts, even as we impose

487
00:20:30,567 --> 00:20:33,700
costs and signal that
those costs could increase

488
00:20:33,700 --> 00:20:35,400
if the situation
escalates,

489
00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:39,266
to work to support any credible
efforts to resolve

490
00:20:39,266 --> 00:20:40,734
the situation diplomatically.

491
00:20:40,734 --> 00:20:43,066
The Press: Will the
President deliver

492
00:20:43,066 --> 00:20:45,367
a message to Russian
leadership while he's --

493
00:20:45,367 --> 00:20:48,133
Ambassador Rice: I
think he has been.

494
00:20:48,133 --> 00:20:49,200
The Press: Ambassador,
Secretary Hagel

495
00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:51,800
has had two important calls in
the last couple of days --

496
00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:53,767
one with Ukraine's minister
of defense,

497
00:20:53,767 --> 00:20:55,133
where he encouraged them to
continue

498
00:20:55,133 --> 00:20:56,233
to show restraint.

499
00:20:56,233 --> 00:20:57,767
So it's kind of a
two-parter:

500
00:20:57,767 --> 00:21:00,667
How concerned are you about the
Ukrainians being pushed

501
00:21:00,667 --> 00:21:02,199
by the Russians into
responding

502
00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:05,166
and giving Putin an excuse to
take more territory?

503
00:21:05,166 --> 00:21:07,767
And secondly, Secretary
Hagel had a phone call

504
00:21:07,767 --> 00:21:10,633
with the Russian defense
minister to talk about the

505
00:21:10,633 --> 00:21:12,867
some 20,000 Russian troops
on the border,

506
00:21:12,867 --> 00:21:15,567
and it was explained that
there's a military

507
00:21:15,567 --> 00:21:16,967
training exercise going on.

508
00:21:16,967 --> 00:21:18,633
Do you believe
the Russians that

509
00:21:18,633 --> 00:21:19,934
they're just doing a training exercise?

510
00:21:19,934 --> 00:21:21,734
How do you believe them
at this point when

511
00:21:21,734 --> 00:21:23,833
they previously suggested they
had no intention

512
00:21:23,834 --> 00:21:25,367
to take Crimea either?

513
00:21:25,367 --> 00:21:26,567
Ambassador Rice: Well, I
don't know that anybody

514
00:21:26,567 --> 00:21:27,567
is talking about beliefs.

515
00:21:27,567 --> 00:21:29,900
I think we're
characterizing what

516
00:21:29,900 --> 00:21:33,967
Secretary Hagel's
counterpart, Mr. Shoigu,

517
00:21:33,967 --> 00:21:35,400
said to him yesterday.

518
00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:39,333
I won't ascribe
a value to it.

519
00:21:39,333 --> 00:21:42,133
I will say that what
Secretary Hagel

520
00:21:42,133 --> 00:21:45,266
has been doing, staying in close
consultation with his

521
00:21:45,266 --> 00:21:48,367
Ukrainian counterpart,
very similarly to what

522
00:21:48,367 --> 00:21:52,567
Secretary Kerry has been
doing with Prime Minister

523
00:21:52,567 --> 00:21:54,533
Yatsenyuk and the foreign
minister of Ukraine,

524
00:21:54,533 --> 00:21:58,433
is part of our ongoing effort
to show support and

525
00:21:58,433 --> 00:22:00,300
partnership to the people
and

526
00:22:00,300 --> 00:22:01,567
the government of Ukraine.

527
00:22:01,567 --> 00:22:03,533
That support takes the
form of political

528
00:22:03,533 --> 00:22:05,934
and diplomatic support, of
course

529
00:22:05,934 --> 00:22:08,166
much increased economic support.

530
00:22:08,166 --> 00:22:13,233
And that is the reason for
our efforts to work

531
00:22:13,233 --> 00:22:15,633
with Congress and urge them to
act quickly

532
00:22:15,633 --> 00:22:18,834
to implement through legislation
the billion-dollar loan

533
00:22:18,834 --> 00:22:21,266
guarantee and the IMF
quota reform,

534
00:22:21,266 --> 00:22:23,934
which are critical to our
ability to support Ukraine.

535
00:22:23,934 --> 00:22:26,734
And this dialogue even
remains ongoing

536
00:22:26,734 --> 00:22:28,734
with Russian counterparts,
which we think

537
00:22:28,734 --> 00:22:30,399
is still important to maintain.

538
00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:32,066
The Press: Are you
concerned

539
00:22:32,066 --> 00:22:33,700
about Ukrainian restraint?

540
00:22:33,700 --> 00:22:35,734
Secretary Hagel said --
he encouraged the fact

541
00:22:35,734 --> 00:22:38,233
that they've been restrained,
but at some point are you

542
00:22:38,233 --> 00:22:39,500
concerned that the
Ukrainians are going

543
00:22:39,500 --> 00:22:41,767
to want to push back and that
will give Putin

544
00:22:41,767 --> 00:22:42,767
an excuse to do more?

545
00:22:42,767 --> 00:22:43,934
Ambassador Rice: Well,
this is obviously

546
00:22:43,934 --> 00:22:46,800
a very worrying and fragile
situation,

547
00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:51,133
but we have been very much
admiring of the posture that

548
00:22:51,133 --> 00:22:52,900
the Ukrainian people and
government have taken.

549
00:22:52,900 --> 00:22:55,367
They have exercised
enormous restraint

550
00:22:55,367 --> 00:22:58,133
in the face of obvious
provocation.

551
00:22:58,133 --> 00:22:59,967
And they've made clear
that their interest

552
00:22:59,967 --> 00:23:03,400
is in a unified, democratic
future that is --

553
00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:07,934
an existence at peace with
both Russia and with

554
00:23:07,934 --> 00:23:11,332
the Western Europe and
the United States.

555
00:23:11,333 --> 00:23:12,967
And as the President said
yesterday,

556
00:23:12,967 --> 00:23:15,900
we don't see those as in any way
necessarily in tension.

557
00:23:15,900 --> 00:23:18,967
Ukraine has a history that
ought to enable

558
00:23:18,967 --> 00:23:26,100
it to be simultaneously working
constructively with Russia

559
00:23:26,100 --> 00:23:27,065
and with the remainder
of the world.

560
00:23:27,066 --> 00:23:28,066
Mr. Carney:
Bill, then April.

561
00:23:28,066 --> 00:23:29,467
The Press: There were
reports today

562
00:23:29,467 --> 00:23:31,433
that more Russians troops --
substantially more

563
00:23:31,433 --> 00:23:34,266
than the 20,000 number that
were discussed,

564
00:23:34,266 --> 00:23:36,633
have gathered along many
segments

565
00:23:36,633 --> 00:23:38,100
of the Ukrainian border.

566
00:23:38,100 --> 00:23:39,199
Has the U.S.

567
00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:40,400
taken note of this?

568
00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:42,400
And what have you
said to Russia?

569
00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:45,433
Ambassador Rice: We have,
indeed, been taking

570
00:23:45,433 --> 00:23:48,233
note of developments along
Ukraine's border,

571
00:23:48,233 --> 00:23:49,399
including the
Russian border.

572
00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:51,567
And indeed, I think that
was part

573
00:23:51,567 --> 00:23:54,066
of the substance of Secretary
Hagel's telephone conversation

574
00:23:54,066 --> 00:23:55,600
yesterday with his
Russian counterpart.

575
00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:58,399
The Press: Does it signal
to you that things

576
00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:00,333
are getting worse
rather than better?

577
00:24:00,333 --> 00:24:03,266
Ambassador Rice: It's not
clear what that signals.

578
00:24:03,266 --> 00:24:06,133
The Russians have stated
that they

579
00:24:06,133 --> 00:24:08,166
are intending military exercises.

580
00:24:08,166 --> 00:24:10,265
Obviously, given their
past practice

581
00:24:10,266 --> 00:24:14,300
and the gap between what they
have said and what they have

582
00:24:14,300 --> 00:24:16,166
done, we are watching
it with skepticism.

583
00:24:16,166 --> 00:24:17,166
Mr. Carney: April.

584
00:24:17,166 --> 00:24:19,466
The Press: Ambassador
Rice, from the podium

585
00:24:19,467 --> 00:24:21,834
you just said that Russia has
not followed

586
00:24:21,834 --> 00:24:23,367
the rules of the road.

587
00:24:23,367 --> 00:24:25,800
And this White House
contends that they want

588
00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:27,000
to deescalate the situation.

589
00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:29,633
But from all looks, the
last couple

590
00:24:29,633 --> 00:24:31,333
of days at least things
have escalated.

591
00:24:31,333 --> 00:24:33,166
How far is this White
House willing

592
00:24:33,166 --> 00:24:36,100
to go beyond sanctions when it
comes to Russia

593
00:24:36,100 --> 00:24:37,632
and the isolation of Russia?

594
00:24:37,633 --> 00:24:39,333
Ambassador Rice: Well,
I'm not sure what

595
00:24:39,333 --> 00:24:40,667
you're implying beyond sanctions.

596
00:24:40,667 --> 00:24:42,734
But let me say this, that
the United States

597
00:24:42,734 --> 00:24:45,766
has been leading the
international community

598
00:24:45,767 --> 00:24:49,934
to the point where we are now,
which is that Russia finds

599
00:24:49,934 --> 00:24:54,867
itself highly isolated from the
norms and the expectations

600
00:24:54,867 --> 00:24:55,934
of the international
community.

601
00:24:55,934 --> 00:24:57,934
I mentioned what occurred
in the United Nations

602
00:24:57,934 --> 00:25:00,633
Security Council, which
is emblematic of that.

603
00:25:00,633 --> 00:25:02,800
We have Europe, the United
States,

604
00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:06,133
and many other countries outside
of Europe coming together

605
00:25:06,133 --> 00:25:09,367
to impose economic costs on
Russia and to indicate

606
00:25:09,367 --> 00:25:11,834
that those costs will
escalate if the situation

607
00:25:11,834 --> 00:25:13,266
on the ground escalates.

608
00:25:13,266 --> 00:25:15,800
We're supporting Ukraine
in a very active

609
00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:19,332
and affirmative way to get on
its economic feet

610
00:25:19,333 --> 00:25:23,633
and to be able to conduct the
upcoming elections.

611
00:25:23,633 --> 00:25:27,934
So this action, which is
coordinated and collective

612
00:25:27,934 --> 00:25:32,200
among the entire world, I
think is both emblematic

613
00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:33,367
of our commitment to
Ukraine,

614
00:25:33,367 --> 00:25:35,834
but also increasingly of the
isolation

615
00:25:35,834 --> 00:25:36,834
that Russia is facing.

616
00:25:36,834 --> 00:25:38,834
The Press: What I'm
speaking of are options

617
00:25:38,834 --> 00:25:40,934
that are on the table
that you're reviewing

618
00:25:40,934 --> 00:25:47,066
to include Senator McCain's
request for hardware.

619
00:25:47,066 --> 00:25:49,700
So what are those options
that are on the table

620
00:25:49,700 --> 00:25:51,133
beyond the economic
sanctions?

621
00:25:51,133 --> 00:25:52,867
Ambassador Rice: Well,
April, obviously

622
00:25:52,867 --> 00:25:56,667
as a national security team,
we have to review a wide

623
00:25:56,667 --> 00:25:57,699
range of options.

624
00:25:57,700 --> 00:26:01,266
But our focus has been and
remains on the economic

625
00:26:01,266 --> 00:26:03,333
and diplomatic instruments
at this point.

626
00:26:03,333 --> 00:26:06,100
Our interest is not in
seeing the situation

627
00:26:06,100 --> 00:26:08,533
escalate and devolve
into hot conflict.

628
00:26:08,533 --> 00:26:12,132
Our interest is in a
diplomatic resolution,

629
00:26:12,133 --> 00:26:15,066
de-escalation, and
obviously economic support

630
00:26:15,066 --> 00:26:19,600
for Ukraine, and to the
extent that it continues

631
00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:23,100
to be necessary, further
costs imposed on Russia

632
00:26:23,100 --> 00:26:24,100
for its actions.

633
00:26:24,100 --> 00:26:25,332
The Press: Do you have a
timeline for that, for

634
00:26:25,333 --> 00:26:27,934
those economic sanctions
to end -- I mean, when you

635
00:26:27,934 --> 00:26:30,300
want to move to the next
level beyond

636
00:26:30,300 --> 00:26:31,300
the economic sanctions?

637
00:26:31,300 --> 00:26:32,934
Ambassador Rice: We'll
keep you guessing.

638
00:26:32,934 --> 00:26:35,266
Mr. Carney: Ann, and
then Nadia after that.

639
00:26:35,266 --> 00:26:38,033
The Press: Thank you for
doing this briefing today.

640
00:26:38,033 --> 00:26:40,867
Can you point us to the
impact that you've seen of

641
00:26:40,867 --> 00:26:43,367
the sanctions so far, the
second wave of sanctions?

642
00:26:43,367 --> 00:26:46,567
And would the next step be
sanctions directly on the

643
00:26:46,567 --> 00:26:47,567
Russian government?

644
00:26:47,567 --> 00:26:50,333
What did the President
mean when he said that

645
00:26:50,333 --> 00:26:52,066
would have a
global impact?

646
00:26:52,066 --> 00:26:54,834
Ambassador Rice: Well,
Ann, I think, first of

647
00:26:54,834 --> 00:26:59,100
all, you can see that
these measures have had at

648
00:26:59,100 --> 00:27:01,567
least an initial impact
when you look at the

649
00:27:01,567 --> 00:27:04,333
markets, when you look at
the currency, when you

650
00:27:04,333 --> 00:27:09,533
look at the ratings by the
major ratings agencies,

651
00:27:09,533 --> 00:27:11,600
which have downgraded
Russia from stable to

652
00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:14,033
negative just in the last
24 hours,

653
00:27:14,033 --> 00:27:16,667
that these steps are consequential.

654
00:27:16,667 --> 00:27:21,399
The executive order that
the President signed

655
00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:25,433
yesterday is a tool that
allows even broader action

656
00:27:25,433 --> 00:27:29,433
should that be determined
to be necessary, including

657
00:27:29,433 --> 00:27:31,700
the opportunity for the
Secretary of Treasury

658
00:27:31,700 --> 00:27:34,333
in consultation with the
Secretary of State

659
00:27:34,333 --> 00:27:38,333
to impose sanctions in
various sectors,

660
00:27:38,333 --> 00:27:40,700
key sectors of the
Russian economy.

661
00:27:40,700 --> 00:27:43,233
We have not taken
that decision.

662
00:27:43,233 --> 00:27:45,500
As the President said
yesterday,

663
00:27:45,500 --> 00:27:47,800
that is not our preference.

664
00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:51,000
But if the situation
escalates, that remains

665
00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:53,133
a tool at our disposal.

666
00:27:53,133 --> 00:27:55,033
The Press: Ambassador,
both Syria and

667
00:27:55,033 --> 00:27:56,667
the peace process are important.

668
00:27:56,667 --> 00:27:58,934
Would you say that the
primary aim

669
00:27:58,934 --> 00:28:01,300
of the President's visit is to
assuage

670
00:28:01,300 --> 00:28:02,934
the Saudis' fear towards Iran?

671
00:28:02,934 --> 00:28:05,266
And do you think that's
achievable,

672
00:28:05,266 --> 00:28:06,834
considering they're being very
critical

673
00:28:06,834 --> 00:28:08,433
of the President's policy?

674
00:28:08,433 --> 00:28:11,200
And after his meeting, do
we expect any change

675
00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:13,000
of his policy towards Syria?

676
00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:15,600
Ambassador Rice: I think
the meeting that President

677
00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:17,166
Obama looks forward to
having with the

678
00:28:17,166 --> 00:28:20,533
King of Saudi Arabia will cover
a broad range of issues.

679
00:28:20,533 --> 00:28:22,899
In the first instance, our
very important

680
00:28:22,900 --> 00:28:25,000
bilateral relationship and
the strength

681
00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:27,867
of our cooperation and security,
economic issues,

682
00:28:27,867 --> 00:28:31,166
counterterrorism
regional issues as well.

683
00:28:31,166 --> 00:28:33,166
This partnership is
longstanding,

684
00:28:33,166 --> 00:28:35,833
is very important to both of our
countries,

685
00:28:35,834 --> 00:28:38,800
and this will be an opportunity
to affirm that

686
00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:40,800
and to find opportunities to
strengthen

687
00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:42,133
it and deepen it.

688
00:28:42,133 --> 00:28:44,800
On the regional agenda, of
course, Syria will

689
00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:46,899
be a topic of conversation.

690
00:28:46,900 --> 00:28:50,533
So will Iran and the
nuclear negotiations,

691
00:28:50,533 --> 00:28:54,600
and the United States'
determination above

692
00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:57,699
and beyond the nuclear issue
that we have security

693
00:28:57,700 --> 00:28:59,734
interests and security
commitments

694
00:28:59,734 --> 00:29:04,399
to our partners in the region
that we will stand

695
00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:06,000
by and maintain.

696
00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:08,700
They will talk about, I
imagine, the situation

697
00:29:08,700 --> 00:29:10,734
in Egypt and the Middle
East peace process.

698
00:29:10,734 --> 00:29:12,934
There will be a range of
issues on the agenda.

699
00:29:12,934 --> 00:29:14,734
And you mentioned
Iran in particular.

700
00:29:14,734 --> 00:29:18,000
That obviously is a topic
of importance to both.

701
00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:22,433
The Press: I just want to
know what do you expect

702
00:29:22,433 --> 00:29:24,934
the Saudis to do that's
different so far

703
00:29:24,934 --> 00:29:26,834
in terms of their cooperation
in Syria?

704
00:29:26,834 --> 00:29:28,367
Ambassador Rice: Well,
we've been working very

705
00:29:28,367 --> 00:29:32,433
closely with Saudi Arabia
on the issue of Syria.

706
00:29:32,433 --> 00:29:35,867
Our cooperation at the
present is excellent,

707
00:29:35,867 --> 00:29:39,033
in fact, and we expect to be
discussing ways

708
00:29:39,033 --> 00:29:40,233
to deepen it further.

709
00:29:40,233 --> 00:29:42,233
Mr. Carney: Last one
for Ambassador Rice.

710
00:29:42,233 --> 00:29:43,233
Jess.

711
00:29:43,233 --> 00:29:44,567
The Press: You talked
about the GCC

712
00:29:44,567 --> 00:29:46,000
and the divisions there,
Ambassador.

713
00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:48,033
Is there a role
for the U.S.

714
00:29:48,033 --> 00:29:50,033
to play to bridge those
differences during

715
00:29:50,033 --> 00:29:52,332
those meetings with the
UAE and Saudi Arabia?

716
00:29:52,333 --> 00:29:53,800
And will it be pursued?

717
00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:55,500
Ambassador Rice: I think,
first of all,

718
00:29:55,500 --> 00:29:57,867
as I said, we have very good
relationships with each

719
00:29:57,867 --> 00:30:01,800
of the GCC countries,
and we look forward to

720
00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:03,734
maintaining those and we
look forward to continuing

721
00:30:03,734 --> 00:30:07,600
what has been really a
pattern of collaboration

722
00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:10,466
between the United States
and the GCC as a whole.

723
00:30:10,467 --> 00:30:16,266
I don't think that
"mediation" is perhaps the

724
00:30:16,266 --> 00:30:18,633
noun I would use, but
certainly we will

725
00:30:18,633 --> 00:30:21,066
be interested in the
perspectives that

726
00:30:21,066 --> 00:30:24,734
we will hear from our important
partners in Saudia Arabia

727
00:30:24,734 --> 00:30:26,132
and the United Arab
Emirates,

728
00:30:26,133 --> 00:30:30,133
and that will inform our
efforts to encourage the

729
00:30:30,133 --> 00:30:33,867
continued cooperation among
those partners in the GCC,

730
00:30:33,867 --> 00:30:36,000
which we think is mutually
beneficial

731
00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:37,967
and in the United States' interest.

732
00:30:42,934 --> 00:30:44,100
Thank you.

733
00:30:44,100 --> 00:30:45,966
Mr. Carney: Thank you,
Ambassador

734
00:30:45,967 --> 00:30:48,433
Rice, Ben Rhodes.

735
00:30:48,433 --> 00:30:51,400
I'm here to take questions
that you may have

736
00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:54,567
for about 15 more minutes
if you need me.

737
00:30:54,567 --> 00:30:55,567
Roger.

738
00:30:55,567 --> 00:31:00,767
The Press: The Ambassador
said that the U.S.

739
00:31:00,767 --> 00:31:04,000
is reassessing the
relationship with Russia.

740
00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:08,834
What's the effect of
that on the Iran talks?

741
00:31:08,834 --> 00:31:13,900
Mr. Carney: We view that
it is in Russia's clear

742
00:31:13,900 --> 00:31:19,333
interest that Iran not
be allowed

743
00:31:19,333 --> 00:31:26,600
to or pursue possession of a
nuclear weapon.

744
00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:30,934
Thus far, Russia has been
an important part

745
00:31:30,934 --> 00:31:34,266
of the P5-plus-1 process and we
hope and expect

746
00:31:34,266 --> 00:31:37,834
that that collaboration and
cooperation will continue

747
00:31:37,834 --> 00:31:41,433
because of the shared
interest that all members

748
00:31:41,433 --> 00:31:45,600
of that process have
and that Russia

749
00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:48,533
has in particular, for the
reasons I just noted.

750
00:31:50,934 --> 00:31:53,899
This is true, I think as
Ambassador Rice

751
00:31:53,900 --> 00:31:59,867
said to Chuck earlier, when we
look at other areas where

752
00:31:59,867 --> 00:32:04,133
there are joint interests
that the United States

753
00:32:04,133 --> 00:32:06,066
and Russia share.

754
00:32:06,066 --> 00:32:10,400
And we obviously expect
Russia to continue

755
00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:13,033
to participate in a
constructive way in these

756
00:32:15,467 --> 00:32:17,200
processes, whether it's
the Nuclear Security

757
00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:19,500
Summit in the pursuit of
greater nonproliferation

758
00:32:19,500 --> 00:32:23,667
efforts and nuclear
security,

759
00:32:23,667 --> 00:32:27,833
or the P5-plus-1 process, which is related.

760
00:32:27,834 --> 00:32:30,867
So we're going to monitor
that situation

761
00:32:30,867 --> 00:32:37,133
very closely and continue the,
thus far, useful process

762
00:32:37,133 --> 00:32:41,200
that's been underway
through the P5-plus-1

763
00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:43,934
in order to try to resolve
diplomatically

764
00:32:43,934 --> 00:32:46,233
and peacefully the challenge
posed

765
00:32:46,233 --> 00:32:47,767
by Iran's nuclear program.

766
00:32:47,767 --> 00:32:48,767
The Press: You haven't
seen

767
00:32:48,767 --> 00:32:49,867
any damaging effect yet?

768
00:32:49,867 --> 00:32:54,166
Mr. Carney: We have not
seen any indication

769
00:32:54,166 --> 00:32:57,600
that Russia has changed its
posture with

770
00:32:57,600 --> 00:32:58,699
regards to the P5-plus-1.

771
00:32:58,700 --> 00:32:59,700
Kristen.

772
00:32:59,700 --> 00:33:01,867
The Press: Jay, given
everything

773
00:33:01,867 --> 00:33:04,332
Ambassador Rice just said about
the changing state

774
00:33:04,333 --> 00:33:07,200
of relations with Russia,
the fact that people are

775
00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:10,633
talking in terms of a new
Cold War, is the President

776
00:33:10,633 --> 00:33:13,133
thinking now about talking
to the American people

777
00:33:13,133 --> 00:33:15,934
on this subject, putting this
in some larger context?

778
00:33:15,934 --> 00:33:18,800
Mr. Carney: You heard the
President speak yesterday

779
00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:23,200
on this subject, and he
noted very clearly

780
00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:26,567
that what Russia has done in
Ukraine,

781
00:33:26,567 --> 00:33:31,867
and specifically in Crimea,
violates a sovereign nation's

782
00:33:31,867 --> 00:33:35,200
territorial integrity;
it violates Russia's

783
00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:37,767
commitments under the
United Nations Charter

784
00:33:37,767 --> 00:33:42,166
and its commitments through
agreements with Ukraine

785
00:33:42,166 --> 00:33:43,600
itself.

786
00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:49,199
It also is at odds with
what has been a 20-year

787
00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:52,834
effort, mostly -- mostly,
not entirely -- mostly in

788
00:33:52,834 --> 00:33:55,767
one direction towards
integrating Russia further

789
00:33:55,767 --> 00:33:57,266
into the international
community and into

790
00:33:57,266 --> 00:33:59,133
international
institutions,

791
00:33:59,133 --> 00:34:03,367
into the fabric of Europe, into
the global economy.

792
00:34:03,367 --> 00:34:05,767
So what we have seen
obviously represents

793
00:34:05,767 --> 00:34:09,900
a serious step away from
that integration.

794
00:34:09,900 --> 00:34:13,200
And it's very concerning
and problematic.

795
00:34:13,199 --> 00:34:17,500
It is not good for Europe;
it's not good for the

796
00:34:17,500 --> 00:34:19,300
United States; it's not
good for the world;

797
00:34:19,300 --> 00:34:24,467
but it is least good for Russia
and the Russian people.

798
00:34:24,467 --> 00:34:26,066
We've seen the impact
already on the Russian

799
00:34:26,065 --> 00:34:30,433
economy that Ambassador
Rice noted, and further

800
00:34:30,433 --> 00:34:33,632
escalation will result
in further isolation

801
00:34:33,632 --> 00:34:36,966
and higher costs that Russia
will incur because

802
00:34:36,967 --> 00:34:38,934
of these actions.

803
00:34:38,934 --> 00:34:42,367
I don't have a schedule
for the next time

804
00:34:42,367 --> 00:34:43,700
the President will address
this issue,

805
00:34:43,699 --> 00:34:45,799
but it is clearly one of concern.

806
00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:48,467
It's one that he's been
speaking about regularly

807
00:34:48,467 --> 00:34:49,467
for the past several
weeks,

808
00:34:49,467 --> 00:34:51,533
and I expect he will in the future.

809
00:34:51,533 --> 00:34:56,533
We pursue this matter with
a clear-eyed focus

810
00:34:56,533 --> 00:35:00,533
on our national security
interests,

811
00:35:00,533 --> 00:35:05,033
on our commitments to our allies
through the NATO alliance,

812
00:35:05,033 --> 00:35:12,467
and our commitment to the
Ukrainian people and their

813
00:35:12,467 --> 00:35:14,567
right, as a sovereign
nation,

814
00:35:14,567 --> 00:35:17,700
to choose their own future.

815
00:35:17,700 --> 00:35:18,633
The Press: And just one
question about

816
00:35:18,867 --> 00:35:19,900
that expression of support

817
00:35:19,900 --> 00:35:21,667
for the new Ukrainian government.

818
00:35:21,667 --> 00:35:24,500
How much do you feel it
undercuts your message

819
00:35:24,500 --> 00:35:26,934
that the loan
guarantees are stalled?

820
00:35:26,934 --> 00:35:30,700
Mr. Carney: We believe
that there is broad

821
00:35:30,700 --> 00:35:34,399
support on Capitol Hill
for providing direct

822
00:35:34,400 --> 00:35:37,734
assistance to the new
Ukrainian government

823
00:35:37,734 --> 00:35:41,433
in order to help Ukraine
get back on its feet

824
00:35:41,433 --> 00:35:44,133
economically, which in
turn will help

825
00:35:44,133 --> 00:35:48,165
it move forward, especially
towards holding elections,

826
00:35:48,166 --> 00:35:49,800
which have been scheduled.

827
00:35:49,800 --> 00:35:54,667
We believe that that
process can and should

828
00:35:54,667 --> 00:35:57,232
move forward quickly
through Congress

829
00:35:57,233 --> 00:35:59,233
as soon as Congress is back.

830
00:36:01,433 --> 00:36:04,367
We also believe that part
of that commitment

831
00:36:04,367 --> 00:36:08,667
to Ukraine and the new
Ukrainian government is

832
00:36:08,667 --> 00:36:13,333
the need to ensure that
the quota reforms for the

833
00:36:13,333 --> 00:36:15,000
IMF are passed as well.

834
00:36:15,000 --> 00:36:19,233
If the lawmakers of both
parties believe,

835
00:36:19,233 --> 00:36:21,333
as the President does, that we
need to maximize

836
00:36:21,333 --> 00:36:23,633
the assistance we can provide
to Ukraine,

837
00:36:23,633 --> 00:36:27,567
the way to do that is to pass
legislation that includes

838
00:36:27,567 --> 00:36:30,233
these reforms, these
quota reforms at the IMF,

839
00:36:30,233 --> 00:36:31,934
because that will increase
the flexibility and

840
00:36:31,934 --> 00:36:33,467
leverage that the IMF has
to provide

841
00:36:33,467 --> 00:36:34,867
assistance to Ukraine.

842
00:36:34,867 --> 00:36:38,133
The bilateral assistance
that we envision providing

843
00:36:38,133 --> 00:36:41,232
and that Congress supports
generally in providing,

844
00:36:41,233 --> 00:36:42,867
the loan guarantee
program,

845
00:36:42,867 --> 00:36:48,734
is a piece of and a complement
to the more substantial

846
00:36:48,734 --> 00:36:52,433
assistance that the IMF can
provide and should provide.

847
00:36:52,433 --> 00:36:53,400
Alexis.

848
00:36:53,400 --> 00:36:54,400
The Press: Jay, yesterday
the Russian Federation

849
00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:55,400
imposed travel
restrictions on some

850
00:36:55,400 --> 00:37:00,800
members of Congress, some
White House officials.

851
00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:02,867
Some members on the Hill
took that lightly,

852
00:37:02,867 --> 00:37:04,467
and I have two questions.

853
00:37:04,467 --> 00:37:07,367
One is did the White House
greet that response

854
00:37:07,367 --> 00:37:10,867
by taking it lightly as some
members on the Hill did?

855
00:37:10,867 --> 00:37:13,433
Or is the White House
concerned that the

856
00:37:13,433 --> 00:37:15,133
reaction from the Russian
Federation signaled

857
00:37:15,133 --> 00:37:16,466
that this is going to be a
ping-ponging

858
00:37:16,467 --> 00:37:21,367
of sanctions back and forth for
some prolonged period?

859
00:37:21,367 --> 00:37:24,000
Mr. Carney: The way we
look at it here, Alexis,

860
00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:26,734
is that it's certainly
unfortunate that

861
00:37:26,734 --> 00:37:31,133
an action like that would be
taken in response to the

862
00:37:31,133 --> 00:37:33,500
firm commitment the United
States has made

863
00:37:33,500 --> 00:37:36,133
to the sovereignty and
territorial integrity

864
00:37:36,133 --> 00:37:40,667
of an independent nation, and
to the effort that the

865
00:37:40,667 --> 00:37:45,033
United States has
participated in and led

866
00:37:45,033 --> 00:37:47,165
to provide support to the
Ukrainian people

867
00:37:47,166 --> 00:37:52,433
and the Ukrainian government,
and to oppose the clear

868
00:37:52,433 --> 00:37:55,767
violation of international
law that the Russian

869
00:37:55,767 --> 00:37:59,232
military intervention
in Crimea represents.

870
00:37:59,233 --> 00:38:03,467
But we're focused on
everything on the back

871
00:38:03,467 --> 00:38:06,000
half of that paragraph,
which is what can we

872
00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:08,000
continue to do to support
the Ukrainian people?

873
00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:13,567
What actions can we take,
as necessary, to ensure

874
00:38:13,567 --> 00:38:17,567
that Russia understands
that there are serious

875
00:38:17,567 --> 00:38:21,300
costs associated with the
decisions that the Russian

876
00:38:21,300 --> 00:38:22,300
leadership is making?

877
00:38:22,300 --> 00:38:29,367
We are also focused very
much on strengthening

878
00:38:29,367 --> 00:38:31,200
already what is the
strongest alliance in the

879
00:38:31,200 --> 00:38:34,399
world -- NATO; to taking
the steps we've taken,

880
00:38:36,567 --> 00:38:38,900
increasing our deployments
in the Baltic nations and

881
00:38:38,900 --> 00:38:41,767
Poland because of the
importance of that

882
00:38:41,767 --> 00:38:45,734
alliance; and then having
the kinds of collaborative

883
00:38:45,734 --> 00:38:47,933
consultations with our
European partners that

884
00:38:47,934 --> 00:38:49,300
you're going to see the
President participate

885
00:38:49,300 --> 00:38:50,467
in, in person

886
00:38:50,467 --> 00:38:52,300
this coming week. Josh.

887
00:38:52,300 --> 00:38:55,133
The Press: Jay, Israeli
Defense Minister Moshe

888
00:38:55,133 --> 00:38:57,533
Ya'alon says that he's
apologized to Chuck Hagel

889
00:38:57,533 --> 00:38:58,667
for questioning the U.S.

890
00:38:58,667 --> 00:39:00,767
commitment to Israel's
security, to taking action

891
00:39:00,767 --> 00:39:03,299
in Iran, and for
trashing John Kerry.

892
00:39:03,300 --> 00:39:05,333
Can you confirm that
he did apologize?

893
00:39:05,333 --> 00:39:06,333
And is the U.S.

894
00:39:06,333 --> 00:39:07,867
confident --
or has the U.S.

895
00:39:07,867 --> 00:39:11,400
received any assurances
from Netanyahu that

896
00:39:11,400 --> 00:39:13,467
Minister Ya'alon will no
longer be an obstacle

897
00:39:13,467 --> 00:39:15,133
to our efforts to secure
peace and deal with

898
00:39:15,133 --> 00:39:16,700
the Iranian threat?

899
00:39:16,700 --> 00:39:18,133
Mr. Carney: Well, I don't
obviously speak for him.

900
00:39:18,133 --> 00:39:23,033
I was quite clear about
our view of his previous

901
00:39:23,033 --> 00:39:25,133
comments, which are simply
inconsistent with

902
00:39:25,133 --> 00:39:28,265
the truth when it comes to
this country's

903
00:39:28,266 --> 00:39:30,333
and this administration's and
Secretary Kerry's

904
00:39:30,333 --> 00:39:32,934
commitment to
Israel's security.

905
00:39:32,934 --> 00:39:35,567
And I would point you to
the affirmation

906
00:39:35,567 --> 00:39:38,967
of that that Prime Minister
Netanyahu has made

907
00:39:38,967 --> 00:39:43,834
when it comes to the singular
nature of the specific

908
00:39:43,834 --> 00:39:45,700
and concrete commitment to
Israel's security

909
00:39:45,700 --> 00:39:47,466
that President Obama has made,

910
00:39:47,467 --> 00:39:48,767
and this administration has made.

911
00:39:48,767 --> 00:39:51,100
And I would point you to
comments of other leading

912
00:39:51,100 --> 00:39:53,567
officials in Israel to
that effect as well.

913
00:39:53,567 --> 00:39:55,133
The Press: And can you
flesh out any details

914
00:39:55,133 --> 00:39:57,834
about the who, what,
where of the meeting

915
00:39:57,834 --> 00:40:00,133
this afternoon with the
Internet CEOs?

916
00:40:00,133 --> 00:40:02,866
Mr. Carney: I can tell you
that the President

917
00:40:02,867 --> 00:40:05,033
looks forward to having that
meeting in which he will

918
00:40:05,033 --> 00:40:12,799
sit down with a number of
executives from tech firms

919
00:40:12,800 --> 00:40:15,333
to continue his dialogue
with them on the issues

920
00:40:15,333 --> 00:40:17,967
of privacy, technology, and
intelligence,

921
00:40:17,967 --> 00:40:21,533
following the President's
January 17 speech.

922
00:40:21,533 --> 00:40:23,366
We'll have more
information after the

923
00:40:23,367 --> 00:40:26,200
meeting, if we
can provide it.

924
00:40:26,200 --> 00:40:28,265
I can tell you that
the following CEOs are

925
00:40:28,266 --> 00:40:32,033
attending: Reed Hastings
of Netflix; Drew Houston

926
00:40:32,033 --> 00:40:37,866
of Dropbox; Dr. Karp of
Palantir; Aaron Levie of

927
00:40:37,867 --> 00:40:40,367
Box; Eric Schmidt of
Google and Mark Zuckerberg

928
00:40:40,367 --> 00:40:41,367
of Facebook.

929
00:40:41,367 --> 00:40:44,000
The Press: Jay, how did
the meeting with the

930
00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:45,367
Chinese President get set

931
00:40:45,367 --> 00:40:47,400
up for this trip next week?

932
00:40:47,400 --> 00:40:49,533
And is it about anything
special

933
00:40:49,533 --> 00:40:50,600
they want to discuss?

934
00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:53,433
Or is it a wide range, the
East China Sea tensions?

935
00:40:53,433 --> 00:40:54,300
What exactly?

936
00:40:54,300 --> 00:40:57,000
Mr. Carney: I don't have
more on the agenda for

937
00:40:57,000 --> 00:41:01,600
that meeting than Ben
and Susan outlined.

938
00:41:01,600 --> 00:41:03,533
And in terms of how it
came about, we look

939
00:41:03,533 --> 00:41:06,900
forward to opportunities
for President Obama and

940
00:41:06,900 --> 00:41:09,500
President Xi to meet
whenever practicable.

941
00:41:09,500 --> 00:41:12,400
As you know, they've
met several times now,

942
00:41:12,400 --> 00:41:14,567
including out
in California.

943
00:41:14,567 --> 00:41:16,266
And this is a very
important relationship

944
00:41:16,266 --> 00:41:20,600
that includes a panoply
of important issues --

945
00:41:20,600 --> 00:41:24,299
economic, security and
environmental

946
00:41:24,300 --> 00:41:25,567
issues, for example.

947
00:41:25,567 --> 00:41:29,433
So I'm sure you can expect
the full range

948
00:41:29,433 --> 00:41:32,600
of topics to be discussed.

949
00:41:32,600 --> 00:41:33,232
Ed.

950
00:41:33,233 --> 00:41:34,400
The Press: Jay, the health
care deadline will be

951
00:41:34,400 --> 00:41:35,333
coming up as the President
I guess

952
00:41:35,333 --> 00:41:37,433
is just returning from the trip.

953
00:41:37,433 --> 00:41:38,800
Can you talk about what
kind of preparations

954
00:41:38,800 --> 00:41:41,066
are going on while he's away?

955
00:41:41,066 --> 00:41:44,033
He's obviously been making
a big, last-minute push.

956
00:41:44,033 --> 00:41:45,533
And can you address some
of the critics

957
00:41:45,533 --> 00:41:49,033
who have been saying that you
haven't released the

958
00:41:49,033 --> 00:41:52,567
numbers on how many people
were previously uninsured

959
00:41:52,567 --> 00:41:55,367
who are now being
insured as part of the 5

960
00:41:55,367 --> 00:41:57,467
million-plus that
have been signed up?

961
00:41:57,467 --> 00:42:00,967
Is there any way
to break that down?

962
00:42:00,967 --> 00:42:02,266
Mr. Carney: Sure.

963
00:42:02,266 --> 00:42:05,800
On that one in terms of
that breakdown,

964
00:42:05,800 --> 00:42:07,033
if it is being calculated.

965
00:42:07,033 --> 00:42:09,799
I would have to
refer you to CMS.

966
00:42:09,800 --> 00:42:14,467
What I think is still
confusing to some viewers

967
00:42:14,467 --> 00:42:17,233
out there, depending on
the outlet, is the fact

968
00:42:17,233 --> 00:42:21,367
that this system that
the Affordable Care Act

969
00:42:21,367 --> 00:42:24,533
created is a system
of private insurance

970
00:42:24,533 --> 00:42:28,767
specifically aimed at
the individual market.

971
00:42:28,767 --> 00:42:32,734
Most Americans who have
health insurance

972
00:42:32,734 --> 00:42:34,700
receive it through their employer.

973
00:42:34,700 --> 00:42:36,533
Others, of course, if
they're

974
00:42:36,533 --> 00:42:38,567
senior citizens are on Medicare.

975
00:42:38,567 --> 00:42:41,433
And other Americans
receive health

976
00:42:41,433 --> 00:42:43,200
care through Medicaid.

977
00:42:43,200 --> 00:42:45,033
The private insurance
market set

978
00:42:45,033 --> 00:42:48,600
up by the Affordable Care Act
and by the state marketplaces

979
00:42:48,600 --> 00:42:51,900
are obviously aimed at the
individual market and,

980
00:42:51,900 --> 00:42:56,867
in that case, the uninsured
within those marketplaces.

981
00:42:56,867 --> 00:43:02,834
So I know that the sort of
criticism is a moveable

982
00:43:02,834 --> 00:43:05,966
feast, because as each
straw man in this debate

983
00:43:05,967 --> 00:43:09,433
is knocked down, there is
a new one that's set up.

984
00:43:09,433 --> 00:43:12,767
And maybe this is it, that
somehow the fact that

985
00:43:12,767 --> 00:43:16,500
in some places, somebody in a
state is finding

986
00:43:16,500 --> 00:43:19,433
out that through the
marketplaces the insurance

987
00:43:19,433 --> 00:43:22,700
that's available is more
affordable

988
00:43:22,700 --> 00:43:25,000
and higher-quality than what
they had before --

989
00:43:25,000 --> 00:43:26,266
and that's certainly often
the case,

990
00:43:26,266 --> 00:43:30,367
because the standards are higher
that are set by the ACA.

991
00:43:30,367 --> 00:43:33,400
That would be a good thing
for the individual

992
00:43:33,400 --> 00:43:34,667
who was able to get that insurance

993
00:43:34,667 --> 00:43:36,299
and an improvement for them.

994
00:43:36,300 --> 00:43:40,266
So we're going to focus
instead on making sure

995
00:43:40,266 --> 00:43:42,100
that the system is working
so that Americans can get

996
00:43:42,100 --> 00:43:47,266
their options and avail
themselves of the

997
00:43:47,266 --> 00:43:51,433
insurance plans that
they can find on

998
00:43:51,433 --> 00:43:55,266
healthcare.gov, and to
further implement the

999
00:43:55,266 --> 00:43:56,667
Affordable Care Act,
because millions of

1000
00:43:56,667 --> 00:43:59,900
Americans are
demonstrating through the

1001
00:43:59,900 --> 00:44:01,767
federal and state
marketplaces that they

1002
00:44:01,767 --> 00:44:03,299
want this product.

1003
00:44:03,300 --> 00:44:07,667
And I'm sure that no
matter what the number

1004
00:44:07,667 --> 00:44:10,433
is come April 1st, no matter
what the demographic is,

1005
00:44:10,433 --> 00:44:15,533
no matter what, we'll
still

1006
00:44:15,533 --> 00:44:16,533
hear from the critics.

1007
00:44:16,533 --> 00:44:17,533
Jim.

1008
00:44:17,533 --> 00:44:19,933
The Press: On the March
31st deadline,

1009
00:44:19,934 --> 00:44:22,567
is there going to be any kind of
grace period

1010
00:44:22,567 --> 00:44:25,433
at all if people are having
trouble with the website

1011
00:44:25,433 --> 00:44:28,333
on that last day because there
could be a lot of traffic?

1012
00:44:28,333 --> 00:44:29,867
Could they have
until April 1st?

1013
00:44:29,867 --> 00:44:31,166
Mr. Carney: Well, March
31st

1014
00:44:31,166 --> 00:44:32,500
is the deadline for enrollment.

1015
00:44:32,500 --> 00:44:34,066
You've heard us
make that clear.

1016
00:44:34,066 --> 00:44:41,500
And I would refer you to
HHS and CMS for procedures

1017
00:44:41,500 --> 00:44:47,266
that might be in place for
dealing with what will

1018
00:44:47,266 --> 00:44:53,233
probably be an increase in
interest towards the end

1019
00:44:53,233 --> 00:44:55,900
of the enrollment period,
which you see in all kinds

1020
00:44:55,900 --> 00:44:58,700
of enrollment periods like
this and how that

1021
00:44:58,700 --> 00:45:00,433
volume will be handled.

1022
00:45:00,433 --> 00:45:02,867
But the March 31st
deadline is the deadline.

1023
00:45:02,867 --> 00:45:05,233
The Press: So if you sign
up on April 1st,

1024
00:45:05,233 --> 00:45:07,700
you won't be able to -- you'll
just have

1025
00:45:07,700 --> 00:45:08,799
to wait until November?

1026
00:45:08,800 --> 00:45:10,734
Mr. Carney: March
31st is the deadline.

1027
00:45:10,734 --> 00:45:13,299
As was the case for the
December deadline,

1028
00:45:13,300 --> 00:45:14,533
we're going to want to make
sure that people

1029
00:45:14,533 --> 00:45:17,866
who are already in line can
finish their enrollment.

1030
00:45:17,867 --> 00:45:20,166
But for how that process
works, I would point

1031
00:45:20,166 --> 00:45:21,233
you to what happened in
December

1032
00:45:21,233 --> 00:45:22,233
and how that played out.

1033
00:45:22,233 --> 00:45:23,233
The Press: The December
grace period,

1034
00:45:23,233 --> 00:45:24,233
you could kind of --

1035
00:45:24,233 --> 00:45:27,066
Mr. Carney:
would refer you to CMS and

1036
00:45:27,066 --> 00:45:30,734
HHS for how to explain
the -- how that works.

1037
00:45:30,734 --> 00:45:31,299
The Press: -- if you were
having trouble on the 31st

1038
00:45:31,300 --> 00:45:31,500
you'll have the
door shut on you?

1039
00:45:31,500 --> 00:45:33,100
You now have
the door shut?

1040
00:45:33,100 --> 00:45:34,967
Mr. Carney: Again, we want
to make sure, as we did

1041
00:45:34,967 --> 00:45:36,967
in December, on that
deadline, that folks who

1042
00:45:36,967 --> 00:45:39,500
have begun the process
are able to complete it.

1043
00:45:39,500 --> 00:45:41,800
We certainly
expect naysayers,

1044
00:45:41,800 --> 00:45:43,800
notwithstanding, that
there's going

1045
00:45:43,800 --> 00:45:45,834
to be continued interest right
up to the deadline.

1046
00:45:45,834 --> 00:45:47,399
And that interest will
probably increase

1047
00:45:47,400 --> 00:45:48,934
as we approach the deadline.

1048
00:45:48,934 --> 00:45:53,734
The Press: -- Turkish
Prime Minister shut

1049
00:45:53,734 --> 00:46:01,333
it down, Twitter officially
was banned in Turkey.

1050
00:46:01,333 --> 00:46:03,200
What your reaction
about

1051
00:46:03,200 --> 00:46:04,066
this government's decision?

1052
00:46:04,066 --> 00:46:07,667
Mr. Carney: The United
States is deeply concerned

1053
00:46:07,667 --> 00:46:09,000
that the Turkish
government has blocked

1054
00:46:09,000 --> 00:46:12,333
its citizens' access to basic
communication tools.

1055
00:46:12,333 --> 00:46:14,900
We oppose this restriction
on the Turkish people's

1056
00:46:14,900 --> 00:46:16,700
access to information,
which undermines

1057
00:46:16,700 --> 00:46:19,399
their ability to exercise
freedoms of expression

1058
00:46:19,400 --> 00:46:22,333
and association, and runs
contrary to the principles

1059
00:46:22,333 --> 00:46:25,533
of open governance that
are critical to democratic

1060
00:46:25,533 --> 00:46:28,066
governance and the
universal rights that the U.S.

1061
00:46:28,066 --> 00:46:29,567
stands for
around the world.

1062
00:46:29,567 --> 00:46:33,166
We have conveyed our
serious concern to the

1063
00:46:33,166 --> 00:46:34,300
Turkish government.

1064
00:46:34,300 --> 00:46:36,667
We urge Turkish
authorities to respect the

1065
00:46:36,667 --> 00:46:39,333
freedom of the press by
permitting the independent

1066
00:46:39,333 --> 00:46:42,400
and unfettered operation
of media of all kinds.

1067
00:46:42,400 --> 00:46:44,867
And we support the people
of Turkey in their calls

1068
00:46:44,867 --> 00:46:47,934
to restore full access to
the blocked technologies.

1069
00:46:47,934 --> 00:46:48,934
Mark.

1070
00:46:48,934 --> 00:46:50,900
The Press: Jay, is the
White House considering

1071
00:46:50,900 --> 00:46:54,700
a change in its smartphones,
leaving Blackberry and

1072
00:46:54,700 --> 00:46:56,500
going to some other brand?

1073
00:46:56,500 --> 00:46:59,333
Mr. Carney: I can tell
you, Mark, that the

1074
00:46:59,333 --> 00:47:03,734
reports on this are
somewhat -- I don't want

1075
00:47:03,734 --> 00:47:06,100
to say misleading,
but they

1076
00:47:06,100 --> 00:47:07,100
create the misimpression.

1077
00:47:07,100 --> 00:47:09,433
The White House
Communications Agency is

1078
00:47:09,433 --> 00:47:11,233
part of the Department of
Defense,

1079
00:47:11,233 --> 00:47:12,934
as veterans like you know.

1080
00:47:12,934 --> 00:47:15,033
And for questions about
their devices,

1081
00:47:15,033 --> 00:47:17,500
I would refer you to them.

1082
00:47:17,500 --> 00:47:19,767
I can tell you that the
Executive Office of the

1083
00:47:19,767 --> 00:47:22,066
President is not
participating in a pilot

1084
00:47:22,066 --> 00:47:28,066
program with regards to
our handheld electronic devices.

1085
00:47:29,633 --> 00:47:33,000
The Press: Jay, can you
comment today on the

1086
00:47:33,000 --> 00:47:34,033
statement from U.S.

1087
00:47:34,033 --> 00:47:35,933
Ambassador to Poland
Stephen Mull that the U.S.

1088
00:47:35,934 --> 00:47:38,934
is preparing a military
exercise in Poland, which

1089
00:47:38,934 --> 00:47:41,266
will include Poland,
Czech Republic, Hungary,

1090
00:47:41,266 --> 00:47:43,266
Slovakia, Romania,
Bulgaria, et cetera?

1091
00:47:43,266 --> 00:47:44,133
Mr. Carney: I would
refer

1092
00:47:44,133 --> 00:47:44,933
you to the Defense Department.

1093
00:47:44,934 --> 00:47:46,500
Laura.

1094
00:47:46,500 --> 00:47:48,467
The Press: Did you have
some briefing at the

1095
00:47:48,467 --> 00:47:51,233
White House this week about the
terrorist action involving

1096
00:47:51,233 --> 00:47:53,367
the missing plane?

1097
00:47:53,367 --> 00:47:56,400
And my second question is
what for the White House

1098
00:47:56,400 --> 00:47:59,333
the definition
of breaking news?

1099
00:47:59,333 --> 00:48:04,600
(Laughter.) Mr. Carney:
Laura did not submit that

1100
00:48:04,600 --> 00:48:06,133
question in advance.

1101
00:48:06,133 --> 00:48:08,734
(Laughter.) And the answer
I'm about to give I'm

1102
00:48:08,734 --> 00:48:12,299
going to make
up right here.

1103
00:48:12,300 --> 00:48:15,633
The Press: People from
all over the world are

1104
00:48:15,633 --> 00:48:18,866
watching what some 24-hour
news channels are doing.

1105
00:48:18,867 --> 00:48:22,133
Mr. Carney: Well, Laura,
what I'd say on the first

1106
00:48:22,133 --> 00:48:26,033
question is, as you know,
the United States is

1107
00:48:26,033 --> 00:48:30,165
providing assistance to
the Malaysian government

1108
00:48:30,166 --> 00:48:32,800
in its investigation and
in its search for the

1109
00:48:32,800 --> 00:48:34,333
missing plane.

1110
00:48:34,333 --> 00:48:39,000
And we have not here in
the United States reached

1111
00:48:39,000 --> 00:48:41,633
any conclusions about what
happened to the plane or

1112
00:48:41,633 --> 00:48:42,866
where it is.

1113
00:48:42,867 --> 00:48:47,266
We are, as part of that
investigation that's being

1114
00:48:47,266 --> 00:48:51,066
led by the Malaysian
government, engaged in an

1115
00:48:51,066 --> 00:48:54,000
effort to try to look at
different scenarios and

1116
00:48:54,000 --> 00:48:56,700
make decisions about and
conclusions about what

1117
00:48:56,700 --> 00:48:57,700
happened.

1118
00:48:57,700 --> 00:48:59,933
But we are not
there, by any means.

1119
00:48:59,934 --> 00:49:02,233
This is obviously a
challenging situation for

1120
00:49:02,233 --> 00:49:06,233
Malaysia and for everyone
participating in the

1121
00:49:06,233 --> 00:49:07,467
investigation
and the search.

1122
00:49:07,467 --> 00:49:11,033
On the other one, one
man's breaking news is

1123
00:49:11,033 --> 00:49:16,066
another man's news of
the day, I would say.

1124
00:49:16,066 --> 00:49:19,433
I'm not sure that
means anything.

1125
00:49:19,433 --> 00:49:21,867
I've got to go
in a few minutes.

1126
00:49:21,867 --> 00:49:23,767
I'm not going to wade
into that debate.

1127
00:49:23,767 --> 00:49:26,667
The Press: I was just
handed the score of the

1128
00:49:26,667 --> 00:49:27,667
Duke-Mercer game.

1129
00:49:27,667 --> 00:49:30,933
Mr. Carney: I lost
three games yesterday.

1130
00:49:30,934 --> 00:49:34,400
I have a meeting with
my boss pretty soon.

1131
00:49:34,400 --> 00:49:35,400
I'll take one more.

1132
00:49:35,400 --> 00:49:36,400
Zeke.

1133
00:49:36,400 --> 00:49:39,000
The Press: I was wondering
if you could clarify a

1134
00:49:39,000 --> 00:49:41,600
little bit -- you said
that the sanctions

1135
00:49:41,600 --> 00:49:44,133
authorized by the
executive order yesterday

1136
00:49:44,133 --> 00:49:45,100
could be deployed in
the event if there's

1137
00:49:45,100 --> 00:49:46,734
escalation in Ukraine.

1138
00:49:46,734 --> 00:49:49,866
Now that Russia has sort
of formally annexed

1139
00:49:49,867 --> 00:49:52,433
Crimea, what would
constitute escalation?

1140
00:49:52,433 --> 00:49:54,166
Is that moving into
eastern and southern --

1141
00:49:54,166 --> 00:49:55,667
the rest of eastern
and southern Ukraine?

1142
00:49:55,667 --> 00:49:56,866
Or could those --

1143
00:49:56,867 --> 00:49:57,500
Mr. Carney: That would

1144
00:49:57,500 --> 00:49:58,600
certainly constitute
escalation.

1145
00:49:58,600 --> 00:50:00,633
The Press: But couldn't
there be escalation

1146
00:50:00,633 --> 00:50:06,466
without Russia moving
into southern Ukraine or

1147
00:50:06,467 --> 00:50:07,033
eastern Ukraine?

1148
00:50:07,033 --> 00:50:09,533
Could those economic
sanctions be imposed?

1149
00:50:09,533 --> 00:50:12,366
Or is that the
only disincentive?

1150
00:50:12,367 --> 00:50:15,400
Mr. Carney: I think that
you could follow that road

1151
00:50:15,400 --> 00:50:18,800
a long way and try
to create specific

1152
00:50:18,800 --> 00:50:19,800
parameters.

1153
00:50:19,800 --> 00:50:21,400
What I can tell you is
there are a variety of

1154
00:50:21,400 --> 00:50:24,333
ways that escalation
could take place.

1155
00:50:24,333 --> 00:50:26,300
We certainly
hope it doesn't.

1156
00:50:26,300 --> 00:50:30,033
The scenario you outlined
represents escalation --

1157
00:50:30,033 --> 00:50:31,866
would if it
were to happen.

1158
00:50:31,867 --> 00:50:35,233
But the fact is it's not
our preferred path to have

1159
00:50:35,233 --> 00:50:39,533
to resort to imposing
those sanctions on sectors

1160
00:50:39,533 --> 00:50:42,133
of the Russian economy
that the President

1161
00:50:42,133 --> 00:50:44,000
described, but we have
the authorities to do so,

1162
00:50:44,000 --> 00:50:51,300
should Russia choose to
further escalate, to make

1163
00:50:51,300 --> 00:50:52,834
the situation worse.

1164
00:50:52,834 --> 00:50:56,232
Instead, what we hope is
that Russia will choose a

1165
00:50:56,233 --> 00:51:00,500
path of de-escalation, one
that recognizes Ukraine's

1166
00:51:00,500 --> 00:51:05,667
sovereignty, recognizes
that it has an opportunity

1167
00:51:05,667 --> 00:51:08,000
to engage in a dialogue
with the Ukrainian

1168
00:51:08,000 --> 00:51:12,533
government about any
additional concerns they

1169
00:51:12,533 --> 00:51:15,467
have, and one that
understands from the

1170
00:51:15,467 --> 00:51:17,800
beginning that the world
will not recognize the

1171
00:51:17,800 --> 00:51:25,233
illegal seizure of
territory that was part of

1172
00:51:25,233 --> 00:51:28,233
and remains part of
a sovereign nation.

1173
00:51:28,233 --> 00:51:32,867
The Press: Is time a
factor here if nothing

1174
00:51:32,867 --> 00:51:35,166
changes on the ground for
a certain period of time?

1175
00:51:35,166 --> 00:51:36,166
Would that count
as an escalation?

1176
00:51:36,166 --> 00:51:39,033
Mr. Carney: I'm not going
to speculate about that.

1177
00:51:39,033 --> 00:51:41,600
We obviously, as you will
see in the President's

1178
00:51:41,600 --> 00:51:46,933
trip this coming week,
have worked very hard with

1179
00:51:46,934 --> 00:51:51,900
our partners to make it
clear to Russia that

1180
00:51:51,900 --> 00:51:56,834
sustaining this
disposition, continuing

1181
00:51:56,834 --> 00:52:01,000
this kind of action
will result in further

1182
00:52:01,000 --> 00:52:03,900
isolation and further harm
to the Russian economy and

1183
00:52:03,900 --> 00:52:11,033
the Russian people, and
will erode the authority

1184
00:52:11,033 --> 00:52:16,834
and prestige that Russia
could have if it were to

1185
00:52:16,834 --> 00:52:19,433
choose to abide by the
rules of the road that

1186
00:52:19,433 --> 00:52:21,834
Ambassador Rice discussed
at the top of the

1187
00:52:21,834 --> 00:52:22,834
briefing.

1188
00:52:22,834 --> 00:52:23,834
Thank you all very much.