{"id":59190,"date":"2018-05-15T17:12:24","date_gmt":"2018-05-16T00:12:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.46.6.243\/?p=59190"},"modified":"2018-05-15T17:24:55","modified_gmt":"2018-05-16T00:24:55","slug":"state-department-press-briefing-including-questions-on-gaza-north-korea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=59190","title":{"rendered":"State Department Press Briefing Including Questions on Gaza &#038; North Korea"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;State Department Press Briefing With Heather Nauert Including Questions on Gaza &#038; North Korea<\/p>\n<p><iframe src='https:\/\/players.brightcove.net\/1705665025\/HJ8lQG1Eg_default\/index.html?videoId=5785229714001' allowfullscreen frameborder=0><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Hi, everybody. How is everyone today? Good. First, I\u2019d like to start out by welcoming some guests that we have in the back of the room. We have nine journalists who are visiting from Ecuador, so I\u2019d like to say welcome. We have a lot of journalists up here. I\u2019m sure they\u2019d be happy to chat with you a little bit afterwards about some of the challenges in the United States, and likewise I\u2019m sure you have some as well that you could talk about in terms of reporting.<\/p>\n<p>Good afternoon, everyone. First, I want to start out with some personnel updates that we have here to announce at the State Department. I\u2019d like to take a moment to recognize some of the new people who have just been recently confirmed by the U.S. Senate. First, we have a new under secretary, Andrea Thompson. She is our new Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. Under Secretary Thompson is a former military officer who recently served as special advisor in the Office of Policy Planning at the State Department. She also served as deputy assistant to the President and national security advisor to the Vice President of the White House. And I should say, because Robert Greenan is from South Dakota, she\u2019s also from South Dakota. So we\u2019re thrilled to have her on board.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to that &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Yay South Dakota.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Exactly, yay South Dakota. In addition to that, we have a few new assistant secretaries. Yleem Poblete is one of them; she\u2019s the Assistant Secretary of State for Verification and Compliance. Also Kirsten Madison is an Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. Her first day in the building was just yesterday, so it was great to meet her.<\/p>\n<p>A few details about some of our new colleagues: The Assistant Secretary Poblete recently served as a senior advisor at the State Department. She also served for more than two decades on the staff of the Committee on Foreign Affairs at the House of Representatives, including as chief of staff and staff director \u2013 the first Hispanic female to serve in that post. Assistant Secretary Madison had been deputy director and resident fellow for foreign defense policy at American Enterprise Institute. She had a 25-year career in foreign and national security policy. She\u2019s worked on issues related to governance and counternarcotics for the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the Coast Guard, the State Department, and she is now at the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>The Secretary has said that the department\u2019s workforce is our most valuable asset. Those officials, along with many others, are hard at work to execute our mission of diplomacy and development on behalf of the State Department and the American people.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve all seen by now also that the Secretary made the decision and sent out a note today announcing the end of the hiring freeze. So we\u2019re tremendously happy in the building as a result of that today.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to that, I would like to recognize Peace Officers Memorial Day. As many of you are aware, flags at the Department of State are at half-staff today, by presidential proclamation, to recognize Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week. We were especially humbled to honor those U.S. and partner nation law enforcement professionals who\u2019ve made the ultimate sacrifice to protect American diplomacy around the world. Here at the department we remember our four Diplomatic Security special agents who have given their lives protecting diplomacy, as well as their 140 colleagues from around the globe who\u2019ve died in service to Diplomatic Security. They are honored at the DSS Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.<\/p>\n<p>As for the U.S. state and local police honored during National Police Week, those officers put themselves in harm\u2019s way to pursue justice across our nation, and we at the State Department are fortunate to be able to call quite a few of them and their police organizations our partners. Through 22 formal police department partnerships with the department managed by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, we leverage world-class expertise of U.S. police to build foreign nations\u2019 ability to fight crime.<\/p>\n<p>Just this month, through the State Department partnerships, Miami-Dade police are now training Mexican counterparts in Miami, the Texas Department of Public Safety is conducting a field officer training in Morocco, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff\u2019s Office hosted Haitian law enforcement for training there.<\/p>\n<p>This Peace Officers Memorial Day we reflect upon the men and women who protect us and who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Their watch may have not ended, but our gratitude for their service will not.<\/p>\n<p>And lastly, I\u2019d like to mention that our USAID administrator, Mark Green, is visiting Cox\u2019s Bazar in Bangladesh on a USAID trip. He announced today more than 44 million in new humanitarian assistance to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and other vulnerable groups affected by the conflict in Burma. This now brings the total U.S. humanitarian assistance for displaced people in and from Burma to more than 299 million since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2017. The new funding will provide emergency food and nutrition as well as shelter, safe drinking water, life-saving medical care, and other critical aid.<\/p>\n<p>Today, Administrator Green met with representatives from UNHCR, the World Food Program, and with newly arrived refugees who are now among the 700,000 Rohingya who have fled violence and conflict in Burma\u2019s Rakhine State since August, and they\u2019ve crossed the border into Bangladesh.<\/p>\n<p>The United States calls on the Government of Burma to allow for immediate and unhindered humanitarian access to reach people in need and create conditions that would allow for the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of those refugees.<\/p>\n<p>Later this week, Administrator Green will be here \u2013 will be in Burma on behalf of Secretary Pompeo. He will meet with the governor of Burma \u2013 Burmese officials to discuss urgent steps needed to end the crisis in the Rakhine State and address violence in other parts of the country. And I know the Secretary looks forward to speaking with him when he gets back to get a full report.<\/p>\n<p>With that, I\u2019d be happy to take your questions.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Thanks, Heather. Before you get a barrage of questions about this latest \u2013 these reports coming out of North Korea, I want to start \u2013 to which I don\u2019t think you\u2019re going to have an answer, other than we\u2019ve seen the report and &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Well, that\u2019s your preface always. Yes, okay.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Well, I just suspect that it\u2019s going to be \u2013 the answer is not going to be very solid. Anyway.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: You could\u2019ve saved that for the end then, Matt, if it\u2019s going to that boring of a leadup.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Sorry. I want to start with the Mideast.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Okay.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: You\u2019re obviously aware of what happened yesterday and what\u2019s been happening over the course of the last month along the Gaza border. Today your \u2013 Ambassador Haley at the UN said that the Israeli Government had acted with restraint in dealing with the protests along the border. And I\u2019m just wondering, is that really \u2013 is that the position of the government, that the Israeli \u2013 that Israel has acted with restraint in dealing with these protests?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I don\u2019t have her comments right in front of me to be able to put those into the proper context. I think what the ambassador was referring to is compared to how other countries in other situations handle certain things. But I\u2019m not going to parse her comments. I\u2019d have to refer you up to the USUN for additional information on that.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: There was a \u2013 the United States Government was notable for being one of the few, if not the only, who did not at least call on the Government of Israel to take restraint. Other governments went much further. They condemned the \u2013 their actions and the deaths of almost 60 people just yesterday. Are you in a position to be able to say that \u2013 to criticize or to otherwise say that Israel might not be acting in a proportionate way?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Well, first let me say we regret the loss of life. We regret the loss of all life. Ambassador Haley said that as well. White House officials have addressed that in addition to that. But let\u2019s go back to something that we have covered extensively here, and let\u2019s go back to the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. We have had many Gazans who have suffered at the \u2013 from the loss of medical care, not being able to have access to enough medical care, not having access to consistent electricity, food, jobs, and many other things as well. The misery that is faced by people in Gaza is because of a result of Hamas. That is something that we come back to. People want to blame Israel for all of this that is going on over the past few weeks. Let\u2019s take a look at the dire situation that people in Gaza are facing, and that is a result of Hamas\u2019s governing. Let\u2019s not forget that. People like to lose sight of that.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: I don\u2019t think &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Is that what the &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Michelle, go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: I don\u2019t think anyone\u2019s necessarily not blaming Hamas for part of this. But the point is so many U.S. allies are also just at the very least saying the words Israel should use some restraint. Why does the U.S. seem to not want to just even make that simple statement?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Michelle, I said we regret the loss of life. That is very clear. The administration has said that consistently. We\u2019ve said that &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: But that\u2019s not (inaudible) restraint.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Hold on. We\u2019ve said that on numerous occasions. We have seen how Hamas continues to incite violence. The actions, the activities that are taking place there that you\u2019re all referring to, would certainly stop if violent protests were to stop and if Hamas were to stop inciting violence, encouraging people to go up to the border fence, encouraging people to cut through the border fence, encouraging people to run down that border fence and into Israel, sending these kites over the fences \u2013 all of those activities. They\u2019re encouraging people to do those activities, and might I remind people that is not a safe place to go. It is not a safe place for people to bring their children. If that were to stop, then certainly the violence would stop.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: So when the UK calls for an independent investigation of the killings that have happened there, would the U.S. support that?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: That\u2019s a hypothetical. I\u2019m just not going to get into it. Okay?<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Yesterday &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Said, go right ahead. Hi, Said.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Thank you. Hi. Yesterday the White House said that all the blame rests with Hamas, no blame on Israel whatsoever. So do you agree with that statement that Israeli soldiers that shot these people, killed 60 people, six of them are children, are not responsible whatsoever by any degree?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Israel has a right to defend itself. When people are being sent to the border, they are bringing weapons, they are threatening to cross through the fence, they are throwing Molotov cocktails \u2013 Israel has a right to defend itself. But I want to be clear about this also that we do regret the loss of life. Ambassador Haley addressed that today. She called the loss of life deplorable. And let\u2019s once again get back to why the situation is so miserable. The United States would like to see peace. That is a priority for this administration. We would like to see \u2013 we would like to see both sides be able to come back, sit at the table, and have conversations about a good and peaceful solution. Unfortunately, we\u2019re not there at this point, but we hope that we will be soon.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: I fully understand what you\u2019re saying. Now, according to all reports, there has been no firing from the Gaza side by anyone so far since the \u2013 since the 30th of March. But I just want to ask you once again: There is absolutely no blame whatsoever that should fall squarely on Israel?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Said, I\u2019m not &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Or Israeli snipers?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: &#8212; going to parse every single event that happens. But let\u2019s remember why the situation has become so troubling. Let\u2019s remember how Hamas continues to incite violence. If they really wanted peace \u2013 if they really wanted peace, they would call for peace, and we don\u2019t see them doing that.<\/p>\n<p>Lesley, you had a question.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: I want to ask &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Do you really believe that the opening of the embassy in Jerusalem had nothing to do with inciting some of this violence?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Look, we have seen the demonstrations, and we have watched the demonstrations over the past six weeks. These demonstrations are nothing new. Our embassy was set to open for quite some time when the President announced it late last year. There have been other countries as well that have announced that they\u2019re opening their embassies as well. If Hamas wants to use that as an excuse to rile people up and to encourage violence, that is their choice. It\u2019s an irresponsible choice.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: And then the Palestinian representative was withdrawn today from Washington. Was there any kind of protest letter or communication with the State Department regarding this?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I\u2019m just \u2013 I\u2019m not aware of that, myself, if there was. The PLO office though remains open in Washington. You\u2019d have \u2013 I\u2019d have to refer you to the Palestinians for more information on that.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: So Heather &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Heather &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Okay. Hi, Barbara.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Yeah. Just to say \u2013 you said that the misery in Gaza was because of Hamas. And of course, Hamas has not done a very good job of governing. But are you seriously saying the blockade of Gaza has not contributed to the misery? I mean, that seems to be self-evident.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Look, we have a \u2013 not we, but there are a group of people \u2013 there is a group of people in Gaza that don\u2019t have access to all of the things that most of us do each and every day. We have pretty much unfettered access to healthcare, to clean water, to electricity \u2013 all of those things \u2013 and that has been a problem there. And when you fail to provide people with the basics that they need, they can turn \u2013 they can become frustrated and they can certainly turn to violence, and Hamas is certainly encouraging them to do that.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: And when you block the borders in Israel and in Egypt and people can\u2019t get in and out, and foods and goods can\u2019t get in and out, the same thing happens.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Look, I would just say that Israel has certainly concerns and they\u2019re right to have concerns. I saw it myself \u2013 a terror tunnel that was going from Gaza into Israel, for example. They have legitimate concerns about their security and people trying to send weapons and other things through the various checkpoints. So that\u2019s a concern of theirs.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: So all of the situation in Gaza is completely the fault of Hamas?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: It\u2019s the primary responsibility \u2013 it\u2019s primarily the responsibility of Hamas. This is the first time we\u2019ve said this. We\u2019ve been very clear about this all along, okay.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: And in terms of an independent investigation, I don&#8217;t think it\u2019s a hypothetical because it has been called for.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: It\u2019s being called for right now.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: So what \u2013 is there any chance the Americans &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I don&#8217;t have anything for you on that, okay?<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Heather, I\u2019d like to ask you \u2013<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Yeah. Hi.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Heather, could I ask you \u2013<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Go \u2013 hold on. I\u2019ve already &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: &#8212; a question about Ambassador Friedman?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Hold on. I\u2019ve already talked to you. Hold on. Michel.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Can we switch to Iraq?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Certainly.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Can we &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Okay. I\u2019ll come right back to you. Okay. One &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Very quickly, one question.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Okay. Hold on. One more for Said, and then I\u2019ll go over to you, Michel.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Thank you. I appreciate it. I asked Ambassador Friedman on a teleconference the other day whether he considered East Jerusalem to be occupied territory or whether he considered the West Bank to be occupied territory. And he said: Well, look I am \u2013 I have my own personal views. As the ambassador of Israel, I am not the ultimate policy maker, so I\u2019m going to defer to others. I think the situation in West Bank is unique, unprecedented, and so on. What is your position on the West Bank and East Jerusalem? Is it occupied or is it not &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Our position on that has not changed. You and I have gone around and around about this many times before. I can just tell you our position on that hasn\u2019t changed.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: What is it?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Our position on that &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Is your position occupied or not occupied?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I\u2019m going to leave it at this. Our position on that has not changed. We\u2019ve discussed this before. I\u2019ll sound like a broken record. Okay, let\u2019s &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: (Off-mike.)<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Let\u2019s move on. Michel, go right ahead.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: (Off-mike.)<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: (Inaudible) recognize the &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Yeah. Heather, do you have any comment on the &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Wait, before we go to Iraq \u2013 among the questions that have been asked about the whole Gaza situation for a while now is the situation \u2013 the death of the Palestinian photographer, news photographer, and then the death later of \u2013 from injuries of another Palestinian journalist. The first one to die had been a recipient of USAID funding. You guys said you were going to look into that.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: That money was never transferred over to that individual. Last I checked, that is still being investigated. I don&#8217;t have anything additional for you. But when I do, I\u2019d be happy to bring it to you.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Okay, but should &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Can I &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: When you say that you regret the loss of life just now &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Yeah.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: &#8212; I mean that would include a working journalist as well, right? This &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Matt, we\u2019ve &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Because &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I think I can blankly say that the United States Government regrets the loss of life. Okay? Okay.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: But in so many flashpoints that are sensitive around the world, regularly the U.S. Government calls for restraint on all sides. It\u2019s such a common, simple thing to say. Why in this case is it so difficult? What would be wrong with calling for restraint on the part of Israel?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I think this is a complex region. We\u2019re looking at exactly why protests are taking place, why Hamas is encouraging people to go out and protest, why Hamas is encouraging people to go out right up to the border fence, why they\u2019re encouraging people to try to knock down that fence and go into Israel, why they\u2019re sending kites with Molotov cocktails to try to burn down the fields. Michelle, this is not as innocent as it may seem to many people. Hamas is trying to encourage people to do that, and by doing that, they are putting Palestinian lives at risk. Many people are expecting or are wanting people to be sympathetic to Hamas. We are not going to be sympathetic to Hamas. Hamas does not take care of its own people and it\u2019s inciting violence, and we\u2019ve seen a death occur as a result, okay?<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Then why did the Secretary of State &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I don\u2019t have &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: &#8212; have nothing to say on this issue?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I don\u2019t have anything more for you on that, okay. I wasn\u2019t there at the time.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: (Off-mike.)<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Let\u2019s move on. I don\u2019t have anything more for you on this, okay?<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: (Off-mike.)<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Look, guys, you\u2019ll want to go on all day. We\u2019ve got a big world to cover, other things going on. Nick, I\u2019ll come back to you on something else. Michel, go right ahead.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Yeah. On Iraq and the Iraqi \u2013 and the parliamentary elections. Do you have any comment?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Yeah. I think it\u2019s certainly notable, first of all, that Iraq held elections that were largely free of violence. Imagine, think about not long ago, ISIS had controlled large swaths of that country. And the fact that they were able to pull off elections that were relatively free of violence is certainly a pretty amazing feat and a testament to the Iraqi people. We congratulate Iraq and the Iraqi people for participating in the democratic process yet once again. Iraqis are certainly eager to build a safe and prosperous future for themselves in the context of a government that\u2019s sovereign and stable. So we\u2019d like to congratulate them for doing that.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: I have two more on this, Heather. Do you have any comment on Moqtada al-Sadr, who emerged as the big winner in these elections?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Yes. Let me just remind folks that he wasn\u2019t an actual candidate on any of the ballots, but yet his slate of people were candidates. Iraq is still finalizing its election results right now. They\u2019re likely to have to form some sort of coalition government, so I don\u2019t want to get ahead of the process and presume how things are going to look in the end. But I think the overarching theme right now is congratulations to Iraq for holding democratic and free elections.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: And on the formation of the new government, Iranian Revolutionary Guard\u2019s commander Qasem Soleimani is in Baghdad to discuss the formation of the new government. How do you view this Iranian role in the formation of the government?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: We have a good relationship \u2013 bless you \u2013 with the Government of Iraq, and we believe that we will continue to do that. There have been many \u2013 in Iraq and in other countries as well \u2013 that have been concerned about Iran\u2019s reach into many other countries. That is certainly always a concern of ours, but we have a great deal of trust and faith in the Iraqi people and whoever ends up governing, whatever the structure is, the governing of that country going forward.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Is Brett McGurk \u2013 is he still &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Are you concerned &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Sorry.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Is Brett McGurk there for the talks along relations to the elections?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I can confirm he is in Iraq right now; I don\u2019t have the details of his entire itinerary and why he\u2019s there. I can see if I can get more for you on that. Okay. Hey, Laurie.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: And also some are \u2013 one more here.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Okay.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: And also, some of the political parties are charging that the election was rigged by groups in \u2013 that were probably backed by Iran. Do you have any comment on that?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Yeah. I can just say the Independent High Electoral Commission \u2013 that\u2019s basically the Iraqi equivalent of the Federal Election Commission \u2013 they are investigating; they are taking a close look at allegations of fraud and intimidation. There were civil society observers who were participants or who \u2013 involved in watching the process. And there were also international observers who were on the ground as well, and they have reported to us that they found the elections to be credible. Okay.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: What &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Hi, Laurie.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: What do you see as next steps in this political process? And are you concerned that if it takes too long that there may be a resurgence of Islamic State or other insecurity?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I\u2019ll just say we\u2019re not going to get ahead of that process right now. We have faith in the Iraqi Government, and so we\u2019re just going to wait and see how this all plays out. They\u2019re still finalizing the election results, so I don\u2019t want to get ahead of that.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: And you\u2019re comfortable that the leading two party lists include people who were opposed to the United States presence in Iraq up to 2011?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: We are very well aware of Moqtada al-Sadr and his background and his positions now, yes.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: And as well as the Conquest list, which includes figures like Qais al-Khazali?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I don\u2019t have any information on the so-called list that you mentioned.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: They were number two.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Okay. I don\u2019t have any information on that, Laurie. I\u2019ll see if I have anything more.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: (Off-mike.)<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Okay. Let\u2019s switch on. So North Korea? Okay.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Okay. I guess you saw just before the briefing the reports that North Korea threatens to cancel its participation in the summit in Singapore because of the joint exercises, military exercises with South Korea. We were told by South Korea that they were okay with these exercises. What has changed? Did &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Well &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: &#8212; Secretary Pompeo spoke about that &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: So I just saw that report as I was coming out here.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: &#8212; when he was there?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: So we haven\u2019t had a whole lot of time to dig into that. I will say that Kim Jong-un had said previously that he understands the need and the utility of the Untied States and the Republic of Korea continuing in its joint exercises. They\u2019re exercises that are legal; they\u2019re planned well, well in advance. We have not heard anything from that government or the Government of South Korea to indicate that we would not continue conducting these exercises or that we would not continue planning for our meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong-un next month.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: So they didn\u2019t tell you anything about &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: We have no information on that whatsoever. What we have to go on is what Kim Jong-un had said before, that he understands and appreciates the importance to the United States of having these joint exercises. The Republic of Korea has as well. We\u2019ve received no formal or even informal notification of anything.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: So you continue to plan the summit as &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Absolutely. We will continue to go ahead and plan the meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong-un.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Isn\u2019t a report on the official North Korean news agency at least an informal notice or &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Did it actually go out on there? Because I got this just as I was walking out here, so I haven\u2019t had a chance to fully sit down and investigate. But this is \u2013 that would be news to me.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: It did.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Okay. Great.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: They\u2019re calling the exercises provocative and they\u2019re calling them &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Well, they\u2019re certainly not provocative. These are things that we do all around the world with many of our partners and allies. These are things that have occurred for decades and decades. Again, I\u2019ll say this for a third time, Kim Jong-un had said that he understands the importance to the United States that we conduct these joint exercises, these joint exercises continue to go on, so okay.<\/p>\n<p>Hi.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Hi. In addition to saying that they might cancel the U.S.-North Korea summit, they\u2019ve also canceled high-level talks with South Korea over the military drills. Do you have any comment on that?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I can\u2019t confirm that. I would just have to refer you to those respective governments.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Heather &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: But would you see that as an unwelcome sign?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I \u2013 guys, I would not get ahead of ourselves here. Let\u2019s not get ahead of ourselves. This news just came out. We need to verify it, get additional information on that, but we\u2019re going forward and planning our meetings next month, okay?<\/p>\n<p>Hi, yes.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Still on North Korea but not on that.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Yeah.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: So Secretary Pompeo said on Sunday that the U.S. would have to provide security assurances to the Kim regime. Is that what he told Chairman Kim when he was in Pyongyang meeting with him, and if so, what was the response?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: So some of those would certainly fall under private diplomatic conversation. I was not there in the room when the Secretary spoke with Chairman Kim at the time. I \u2013 what I would go on is what the Secretary said in interviews in which he had talked about security assurances. Obviously, governments like that are concerned about their principals\u2019 security, and I\u2019ll just leave it at that, okay?<\/p>\n<p>Okay. Hi. Yeah.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: So Secretary Pompeo has said that having a ambassador to South Korea is one of the high priority. Now that the \u2013 with the freeze of hiring, should we \u2013 what does the timetable look like? Should we expect a U.S. ambassador to South Korea before June 12th?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Well, I would refer you to the Senate, first of all. Let\u2019s see what they have to do, let\u2019s see what they can do to help speed this up. We look forward to having an ambassador in South Korea just as soon as we can get one. I don\u2019t know what the timeline is on that or the timeframe is on that, but we look forward to having him in place.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Heather.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Can you confirm that Harry Harris &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: (Off-mike.)<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Hold on. Yes.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Heather, no Secretary &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Hold on a sec. Janne, go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Thank you. In order to \u2013 me go?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Yes. Please, go right ahead.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: In \u2013 on North Korea. In order to \u2013 (coughs) \u2013 excuse me. In order to dismantle of North Korean\u2019s Punggye-ri, North Korean nuclear test site, on I think May 22nd \u2013 between the 22nd and 25 \u2013 only the reporters were invited to ceremony, but not \u2013 expert were not invited. Will the U.S. need verification or not? Do you have any comment on this?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: First I would say the United States and our allies look forward to getting some more information about that event that North Korea has said they would destroy that facility. I don\u2019t know if any of you are planning to go or hope to go over, but I\u2019m sure our Consular Affairs people would be okay with taking your calls, certainly. We look forward to learning more about that and seeing exactly what they have planned.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: You should have verification, that site, because they five times in a nuclear test. So why \u2013 you had to verify &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I can just say our people will be all over this type of thing, whether it\u2019s now or in the future when our people can go in and start to verify. Hopefully we\u2019ll be in the position to be able to do that, but again, I don\u2019t want to get ahead of that process.<\/p>\n<p>Hi, Nick.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Heather, do you have \u2013 you mentioned the Senate would have a role to play in that. Has the administration formally nominated anyone for &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I\u2019d have to double check on that. I\u2019m not sure if they\u2019ve actually formally nominated Admiral Harris to be the ambassador of South Korea, but I\u2019ll just double \u2013 take a look at it.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: But he is the nominee?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I \u2013 I\u2019ll double check on that.<\/p>\n<p>Kylie.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: (Off-mike.)<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: So wait a second. Just to make sure I got this right, you\u2019re inviting all reporters to call Consular Affairs to ask them about traveling to North Korea?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I\u2019ll get in trouble with Consular Affairs. I\u2019m being lighthearted in that. I understand that the Government of North Korea has invited reporters. I\u2019ve not heard from any of you about that just yet.<\/p>\n<p>Kylie, go right ahead.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Will Secretary Pompeo be reaching out to North Korea to encourage them to carry through with this meeting with South Korea?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I don\u2019t think he\u2019s picking up the phone and begging anybody to do anything at this point. We are operating under the idea and the notion that the President\u2019s meeting is going forward with Chairman Kim next month.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: And if this meeting doesn\u2019t happen, will you still go forward?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: That\u2019s a hypothetical. That\u2019s a hypothetical. Look, this news just came out. I can\u2019t verify it just yet. It\u2019s very early on in the process, but we\u2019re planning ahead for our meetings. Okay.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: (Off-mike.)<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: How does that affect your confidence on North Korea?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Pardon me?<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: North Korea making such announcements through state media ahead of the summit, how does that affect U.S. confidence on North Korea in pushing ahead with this summit \u2013 planned summit?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Well, I would say that we\u2019ve seen some pretty good indications from them so far. It was just one week ago that we had three Americans who were being held prisoner in North Korea for far too long. The Secretary was able to bring home those Americans, and now they\u2019re home and reunited with their families.<\/p>\n<p>So they have taken some steps in the right direction in having us and inviting this United States delegation to go to North Korea and saying that they\u2019re willing to meet with us, and they have said that we will commit to denuclearization. I think those are all good signs. I don\u2019t want to get ahead of this announcement that everybody\u2019s all worked up about until we have some time to take a look at things, okay? Okay.<\/p>\n<p>Michel, go right ahead.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Heather, on the Gulf dispute, Secretary Pompeo has emphasized yesterday to UAE foreign minister the President\u2019s desire to see the Gulf dispute eased and eventually resolved.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Yeah.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: And his hope that parties will engage constructively ahead of the U.S.-GCC summit. Was he trying to put a deadline for the GCC to resolve their dispute?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Initially, the GCC summit was supposed to be sometime this spring. I\u2019d have to double-check this &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: September?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: &#8212; but it\u2019s now been moved to September.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Yeah.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I can\u2019t remember the date exactly, but it\u2019s been moved. This is something that\u2019s important, though, for the President, and the President has talked to many of those countries. When Secretary Pompeo was recently in Saudi Arabia, he had conversations with the government there, also spoke with the Jordanians about this as well since they are our strategic partners in the region, about the importance of solving this dispute. The dispute\u2019s been going on now for, oh, 10 months or so. It\u2019s gone on far too long. So the President has said enough is enough, let\u2019s put an end to this and move forward.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Is September a deadline?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s a deadline, but last I had heard that that is when we have a meeting scheduled on GCC. Okay.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Can I ask about the hiring freeze?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: (Inaudible.) Do you have a number for \u2013 the number of positions that were left unfilled because of the freeze and then how quickly you expect there to be movement on those jobs?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Yeah. I don\u2019t have any numbers for you just yet. We are all very happy, as you all have worked here long enough to have known how frustrating it was for many people who wanted to get jobs at the State Department who were told no, I\u2019m sorry, we\u2019re not hiring as a result of the hiring freeze. This is something that the Secretary looked at very early on when he came on board. In fact, before he came on board, he had been briefed on this when he was briefed about the various issues that had to be resolved or various difficult issues at the State Department, and that was one of the things very early on that he wanted to take a very close look at, a careful look at, and has made this decision to lift that hiring freeze.<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t have any numbers for you just yet. This is all pretty fresh and pretty new, but if I can get some numbers, I\u2019ll let you know.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: So can you, as you\u2019re checking that, also find out if this is going to affect the intake of new \u2013 of A-100 classes?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I believe that it does help facilitate, because we\u2019ve been getting some phone calls from young people asking if they can now get in, so I believe this helps sort of pave the road for some of those younger people to get in.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Okay. But could you find out a hundred percent &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: &#8212; for sure if it was &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I will find out 100 percent.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Okay.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: On Turkey?<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: (Off-mike.)<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Okay. Hold on. Hey, Abbie.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Can I go back to the Middle East for a moment?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: We\u2019re done with the Middle East. I got nothing left for you. Yeah.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: This is a separate question not related directly to the Gaza, but &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Okay.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: (Off-mike.)<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: And then we\u2019ll move on.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Do you have any further explanation for why it was that Pastor Jeffress was chosen to participate in the ceremony given his past controversial comments?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I can just tell you that Ambassador Friedman, I know, was looking at a variety of people to be a part of the service or the ceremony, and that\u2019s who was invited. I don\u2019t have anything more for you on that.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Was the State Department aware of some of his past comments regarding specifically Mormonism, Islam, Muslim, and &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: We certainly would not agree with &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: &#8212; Jewish &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: &#8212; his assertions. We would certainly not agree with the pastor\u2019s remarks, some of his controversial remarks that he has made about various religious groups, but he was chosen by Ambassador Friedman, who was certainly welcome to do so, and made that decision.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Well, wait, so that means that if not \u2013 even though you don\u2019t agree with those comments, you might say that they\u2019re wrong or what \u2013 I don\u2019t know what term you would use &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I think I was just pretty clear. I said we do not agree with his opinion.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: But \u2013 so that\u2019s not disqualifying to be \u2013 I mean, does this \u2013 is this the embassy of the United States of America or is it basically Ambassador Friedman\u2019s embassy?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: As we have seen before \u2013 I seem to recall not too long ago that there was another embassy that made some decisions \u2013 embassies certainly have their free will sometimes to make decisions about who they want to bring in as guest lecturers or people to lead a ceremony or some sort of a celebration. To my knowledge, we did not have any role in making that decision, but &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Okay.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Not that we asked to. I just \u2013 I\u2019m not aware if we had any decision-making &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Okay. So I just want to make sure I understand. So this is the equivalent \u2013 you\u2019re saying it\u2019s kind of like the equivalent of the Berlin situation?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I\u2019m not saying that. I\u2019m just saying that embassies and people around the world bring in lots and lots of people who have various opinions. Okay?<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: And speaking of going \u2013 going back to that, when the U.S.\u2019s allies and eight European countries call for restraint on the part of Israel &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Michelle, I think we\u2019ve already &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: &#8212; and they &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I think we\u2019ve already covered this.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: And they asked for \u2013 but my question is different.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I think we\u2019ve covered this already.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Are they wrong in asking for that?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Michelle, listen, we\u2019ve covered this already. I don\u2019t have anything more for you.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: But there\u2019s still questions. I mean, the questions don\u2019t end just because you say that they do.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I don\u2019t have anything more for you on this. I think we\u2019ve covered it extensively. Okay. Go right ahead.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Thank you so much. A little bit closer to home.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: I wanted to find out the status of the visas for Cubans and also the preparations in Georgetown, Guyana for those Cubans who may wish to come to live in the United States and obtain their visas. Do you have any update on this?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I will take a look. I\u2019ll get in touch with our people in Western Hemisphere and see if I can get you some specific details on that. Okay? Okay, thank you.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: On Russia?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Okay. Yeah, go right ahead.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: You may have already seen the video that Russia President Putin drove the truck himself &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Oh, I did.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: &#8212; across a new bridge connecting the mainland Russia to the Moscow-annexed Crimea today, and which we note Ukraine has condemned such annexation. Would you have \u2013 would you like to comment, or did you have a reaction on that?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Yes, we certainly do. We saw as Vladimir Putin hopped in that truck and drove that truck from Russia into Crimea. We saw the construction and the partial opening of that bridge. It\u2019s over a strait. One of the things I want to mention about it is that the construction of that bridge certainly limits the ability to bring in goods via ship, so it\u2019s affected people \u2013 it\u2019s affected Crimea, it\u2019s affected Ukraine \u2013 in that way. The bridge represents not just an attempt for Russia to solidify its unlawful seizure and occupation of Crimea, but it also impedes that navigation that I just mentioned. So that\u2019s something we\u2019re watching carefully and is a concern of ours. Okay.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Do you have anything on the raid today by Ukrainian authorities on these two Russian news outlets and the arrest of a reporter?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I do. Yeah, that\u2019s another situation that we\u2019ve watched. And you all have heard me talk here about the importance of free speech. The arrests of journalists or searches taken of media outlets, if that is done, it has to be done in accordance with the law. It is something that includes international human rights law. We take those actions seriously. We hope that the government takes those actions very seriously. We understand that Ukraine, like a lot of other countries, has been concerned about intense propaganda. Goodness, when we talk with a lot of our allies and partners overseas, they certainly have fallen victim and understand the influence and the reach of Russian propaganda. So we do understand Ukraine\u2019s concerns about that. But overall, these are very serious actions that have to be taken in accordance with the law.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: On Turkey?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Yeah, go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: The pulling of the ambassador from the U.S. and Israel \u2013 do you have any sense of how long this is going to be, and how would you say that it affects the relationship between Turkey and the U.S.?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I don\u2019t know how long it\u2019s going to be. I\u2019d have to ask you to speak with the Turkish Government of that. We\u2019re certainly aware of Turkey\u2019s decision, and I think it\u2019s their decision and they\u2019re the best ones in the best position to be asked that.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: You don\u2019t have a reaction to it?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Look, Turkey made that decision. That is their decision to make. Okay.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: And is Secretary Pompeo still planning to receive his Turkish counterpart here in D.C. in the next days or &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I\u2019m not aware of any meetings that we have fully solidified with really many governments at this point. When I \u2013 if I have those meetings, I\u2019ll be sure to bring them to you when I can.<\/p>\n<p>Okay, and we\u2019re going to have to wrap.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: How is it not justification for killing \u2013 for Israel killing when you say Israel has the right to defend itself?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Okay, we\u2019re done with this.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Israel has a right to defend itself &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: We\u2019ve already been there.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: &#8212; and there are no Israeli casualties &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Okay.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: &#8212; and there are literally tens of \u2013 there\u2019s over ten thousand &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: I think we\u2019ve covered this extensively already.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: &#8212; Palestinian casualties in the \u2013 and a hundred dead.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Okay. Go on, one last question?<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Do you have something else?<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Yes. On the Lebanese.<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Excuse me. Excuse me. No, no, no. That requires a response. And furthermore, I mean, the U.S. isn\u2019t mowing down people along the U.S.-Mexican border.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: We &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: Isn\u2019t that accurate?<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: We are done with this issue. We\u2019ve covered it extensively already. I\u2019ve taken many questions on this, and we\u2019ve &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: So Israel is off the hook again. Israel is off the hook again.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Sir, thank you for your question. I think we\u2019ve covered this already, okay? I\u2019m sorry; I\u2019ll get back to you another time, okay?<\/p>\n<p>QUESTION: That\u2019s okay.<\/p>\n<p>MS NAUERT: Thank you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;State Department Press Briefing With Heather Nauert Including Questions on Gaza &#038; North Korea MS NAUERT: Hi, everybody. How is everyone today? Good. First, I\u2019d like to start out by welcoming some guests that we have in the back of the room. We have nine journalists who are visiting from Ecuador, so I\u2019d like [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15188,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,5,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-government","category-news","last_archivepost"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/us_department_of_state_0_87528.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59190","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=59190"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59190\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/15188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=59190"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=59190"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=59190"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}