USA IS FRIEND OR ENEMY OF GREECE?U.S. Department of State Weekly Digest Bulletin

 THE AMERICAN PROBLEM IS NOT THE CHINISH RISING BUT THE AMERICAN ETHICAL AND CULTURAL DIVING AND DOWNGRADING

 THEY LOOK LIKE TO HAVE NO CIVILIZATION AND ANY MORAL DOCTRINE

 WHILE THE CHINISH MAKE GOOD RELATIONS  WITH THE OTHER NATIONS PUTTINS ABOVE IN THEIR AGENDA THE CIVILIZATION AND CALTURE THE AMERICANS PUT THE MONEY, THE ARMAMENTS, AND THEIR GEOSTRATEGIC INTERESTS.

THEIR BEST KEY IS THEIR  ANCIENT CIVILIZATION. 

DESPITE THE USA IS THE MOST WEALTHY AND STRONG NATION AND OFFERED VERY MUCH TO OTHER POOR NATIONS, THEIR BALANCE  IS POOR . CHINA IS INFILTRATING WITH ITS CALTURE EVERYWHERE WHILE THE AMERICAN LOOSE EVEN THEIR TRADISIONAL FRIENDS

 THEY CAN' T MAKE FRIENSHIP WITH THE  PEOPLE BY PROJECTING THEIR VALUES, OR THE MUTUAL FRIEDSH IN A WAY WIN -WIN. WE HAVE GIVEN THEM THE BASE OF SUDA WITHOUR MONEY AND THEY SHOULD VAVE THE OBLIGATION TO GARANTEE GREECE FROM AN ATTACK FROM TURKEY. ON THE CONTRARY RUSSIA WAS READY TO DO SO FOR A NAVAL BASE IN AEGEAN SEA

THIS LACK OF VALUES  IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM  THE USA FACES THAT DISOLVE THE EAMERICAN SOSCIETY AND THE AMERICAN MIGHTY .

THE HELLENISM CREATED SEVEN GREAR CIVILIZATIONS(PRO CATACLISM, MINOIC, MYCENAIC, CLASIC, ALEXANDRIAN, BYZANTINE AND RENNESANCE) THE SAME SPIRIT DESTROYED MANY  STRONG POWERS SUCH AS PERSIAN EMPIRE, 
  OTOMAN EMPIRE, FASCIST ITALIA, NAZIST GERMANY ect

THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS  FOR THE USA AND  THE WEST IN GENERAL ARE:

1/ LACK OF ANY  PHILOSOPHY AND CALTURE  BENEFICIAL TO THE  HUMANBEING AND THE   SOSCIETY  ,  

2/ THEIR IGNORANCE IN THEIR SCHOOLS OF THE HELLENIC PHILOSOPHY AND THE CLASICAL SPIRIT 

3/ THE CLOSING  OF THE HELLENIC CLASICAL SCHOOLS IN THE GREAT U.S UNIVERSITIES  

4/ THE LACK OF DEMOCRATIC SPIRIT AND THEIR ONLY   POWER IS THE WALL STREET .

5/ INSTEAD OF THE HELLENIC PHILOSOPHY THEY  ENGULFED THE MOST REACTIVE    AND DICTATORICAL REGIMES AS WELL AS  THE JUDEOABRAHAMIC  RELIGIONS( JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM) THAT DEVIDE THE PEOPLE INSTEAD OF UNITING IT . 

THE RESAULS ARE THE CRIME, VIOLENCE, SHOOTING, GREEDINESS, LACK OF EDUCATIONS LACK OF MORAL ,  ARROGANCE, CONSUMERING  etc.

THE  LAST AND MOST WORST IS  THAT  USA MADE  THEIR GREATEST ENEMY  GREECE AND THE HELLENIC INTERESTS IN EAST MEDITERRANEAN AND AEGEAN SEA.  

WE DO NOT FORGET : CYPRUS 1974, IMIA IISLAND 1996, IMF MEMORANDUM, NAME OF MACEDONIA TO SKOPIA NOW etc )
THEREFORE USA I THINK THAT IS ENEMY OF GREECE

AMPHIKTYON 

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U.S. Department of State Weekly Digest Bulletin Inbox x U.S. Department of State <usstatebpa@public.govdelivery.com> Sun, Jan 6, 1:43 PM (11 hours ago)  to me Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor: Bangladesh Election 01/01/2019 You are subscribed to Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor: Bangladesh Election 01/01/2019 09:55 AM EST Press Statement Robert Palladino Washington, DC January 1, 2019 The United States commends the tens of millions of Bangladeshis who voted in Bangladesh’s 11th parliamentary election on December 30, 2018, as well as the decision of all major opposition political parties to participate, a positive development after the boycotted election of 2014. The United States remains deeply invested in the future of Bangladesh and its democratic development. The United States is Bangladesh’s largest foreign investor, largest single-country market for Bangladeshi exports, and home to a large community of Americans of Bangladeshi origin. In this light, we note with concern credible reports of harassment, intimidation, and violence in the pre-election period that made it difficult for many opposition candidates and their supporters to meet, hold rallies, and campaign freely. We are also concerned that election-day irregularities prevented some people from voting, which undermined faith in the electoral process. We strongly encourage all parties to refrain from violence and request the Election Commission work constructively with all sides to address claims of irregularities. Bangladesh’s impressive record of economic development and respect for democracy and human rights are mutually reinforcing, and we look forward to continue working with the ruling government and opposition towards advancing these interrelated goals. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Secretary's Remarks: Remarks With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Before Their Meeting 01/01/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary's Remarks: Remarks With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Before Their Meeting 01/01/2019 11:11 AM EST Remarks Michael R. Pompeo Melia Hotel Brasilia, Brazil January 1, 2019 PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: I’m delighted to see Secretary of State Pompeo, our good friend Mike. The second time, I think, in about a month. We have a lot to discuss. We’re going to discuss our – the intense cooperation between Israel and the United States, which will also deal with the questions following the decision – the American decision on Syria and how to intensify even further our intelligence and operations cooperation in Syria and elsewhere, to block Iranian aggression in the Middle East and roll it back. That’s a common aim, and I have to say that I’m also very appreciative of the support – the strong support and unequivocal support – that you and the President gave our efforts at self-defense against Syria (inaudible) just in the last few days. So we’re going to have a lot to discuss, and 10 other items (inaudible). SECRETARY POMPEO: (Laughter.) Thanks. I’ll just add it’s great to see you again, Mr. Prime Minister. It’s wonderful. The decision the President made on Syria in no way changes anything that this administration is working on alongside Israel. The counter-ISIS campaign continues, our efforts to counter Iranian aggression continue, and our commitment to Middle East stability and the protection of Israel continues in the same way it did before that decision was made. So we have a lot to talk about today. You all have done good work in Operation Northern Shield. We understand the threat that that violation of Israeli sovereignty presents to the region and to the country – the threat from Iranian Hizballah – and we’ll work closely together to make sure that we get this right. PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: Thank you. SECRETARY POMPEO: Mr. Prime Minister, good to see you. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Secretary's Remarks: Remarks With Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Arajuo at a Press Availability 01/02/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary's Remarks: Remarks With Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Arajuo at a Press Availability 01/02/2019 10:08 AM EST Remarks Michael R. Pompeo Ministry of External Relations Brasilia, Brazil January 2, 2019 MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) We announce the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Ambassador Ernesto Araujo, followed by the Secretary of State of the United States, Mr. Mike Pompeo. Right now will have the floor the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Ambassador Ernesto Araujo. FOREIGN MINISTER ARAUJO: (Via interpreter) Good morning, everyone. It is a pleasure to welcome you here at the Itamaraty Palace for the first work, our U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. We just had a nice talk about how to implement the proposal of President Bolsonaro of building a partnership, an intense and higher-level partnership between Brazil and U.S., and some ideas of how to do it. And we identified the common conviction that this is the path for our relationship. We have concrete ideas and we’ll try to take it forward as we decided, and at the same time we want to see how to work together in behalf of the well-being of both countries and that corresponds to our objectives. I’d like to say that we’re just at the beginning of a new era that will be very productive in this relationship between Brazil and the U.S. and will have – will help the Brazilian economy to generate employment and to generate new initiatives in all fields, taking advantage of all the work that has been done already. But we intend to intensify this relationship. Now, I pass the floor to Secretary Mike Pompeo. SECRETARY POMPEO: Great, thank you. Good morning. It’s great to be here. It was an incredible privilege yesterday to witness the tens of thousands of people lining the streets as I pulled up to the Congresso Nacional. It was heartfelt. It was authentic. The expectations of the Brazilian people are high and deservedly so. I want to congratulate President Bolsonaro, Foreign Minister, yourself, on your new roles. We’re excited to work alongside of you. We know that you intend to make Brazil a safer, more prosperous nation, and please know you have the United States as your partner in doing so. We had the chance today to talk about the bilateral relationship between our two countries. We believe that the opportunity between President Trump, President Bolsonaro, and our two teams creates a truly transformative opportunity for our two nations, for our two peoples. And we in the United States are committed to working alongside of you to do that in lots of areas, certainly in economic areas, making sure that our two countries’ businesses have great opportunities, but also deeper collaboration on the security front as well. The U.S.-Brazil Permanent Forum launched last year provides a great foundation to further enhance these opportunities. And we know too we will have the opportunity to work alongside of each other against authoritarian regimes around the world. It heralds – while today heralds a new beginning in Brazil, it also marks 60 years to the day of repression of failed policies in Cuba. And we had a chance today also to talk about the threats that emanate from Venezuela and our deep desire to return democracy to the Venezuelan people as well. I’ll close with this thought: If we do this well, we can make the lives of the people of Brasilia, the people of the United States, and citizens all around the world better by working together, cooperative, and the Trump administration is determined to do that alongside you. Thank you for hosting me here these last two days. It’s been a real privilege and I’m thrilled at the new administration and all that we can do in the days and weeks ahead. Thank you, Mr. Foreign Minister. MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Right now, we’ll open this declaration to the press, the press questions. From the Brazilian press, journalist Roberto Kovalick from Globo TV. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, good morning. SECRETARY POMPEO: Good morning. QUESTION: Bom Dia. Mr. Secretary, my question is: What sort of role does President Trump expect Brazil to play in the coming years? And two fields that you already mentioned, but if you’d go deeper, I would appreciate: First of all, Venezuela and Cuba. Is a military operation on the table or something of that sort with the help of Brazil? And in terms of business, President Trump said a few months ago that Brazil is a hard place to make business and sometimes it is a little bit unfair with American companies. Will it change? (Via interpreter) Minister, good morning. For you, I’d like to ask: You also mentioned with regards to the cooperation with the U.S., in the electoral campaign, President Bolsonaro and you in your articles, in your blog several times spoke about a more pragmatic positioning and not as much ideological. However, this alignment with the U.S. seems to some analysts a bit excessive. After all, what are the priorities of Itamaraty with regards to alignment? In your words right now, you just mentioned that this represents a gain for Brazil, but many analysts believe that the options that are being chosen are very little ideological and they represent commercial risks for Brazil. After all, what are the priorities for the next coming years? Thank you very much. SECRETARY POMPEO: So if I may? Yeah. So let me try and elaborate just a bit in response to your question. So with respect to security issues, it is almost always the case that nations work together best when they come from a set of shared values, and that’s what we find today. We think the people of America and the people of Brazil have a set of shared values in democracy, and liberty, and freedom. I watched the peaceful transition of power take place yesterday. This does not happen all around the world and in many countries. You identified Cuba. We’ve spoken about Venezuela and Nicaragua. These are places that the people of those countries don’t have that opportunity to express their views, to speak their mind, to get government that is responsive to them. These are the kind of things that we intend to work on together. And so you were talking about modalities, whether there’s an operation. What there is, is a common understanding of this commitment to working closely with partners that share the American set of values. And then for economics, sometimes it is hard for American companies to do business in Brazil, sometimes it’s hard for Brazilian companies to do business in America, as well. President Trump’s aim is very clear. We want a set of relationships – economic relationships – call them whatever one may. People use the ideas of FTAs and the like, but what’s important is that the relationships, the economic relationships, give the companies and citizens of our two countries real opportunity that is fair, that is reciprocal, that is conducted transparently. Not the same model that is used by some other countries in the world. These should be commercial transactions driven by economics that make lives better for the people of our two countries, not driven by political imperatives from others who want to come to a country and make an investment not for commercial reasons, but for political reasons, to achieve political outcomes. If our two countries share those goals, then I am confident that in the days and weeks ahead, we will deliver a good outcome on those for the Brazilian people and for America. Mr. Foreign Minister. FOREIGN MINISTER ARAUJO: (Via interpreter) Well, thank you. Well, with regards to alignment, I’d like to say that, in fact, Brazil is realigning itself. Brazil is just coming back to its own values and with its own ideals, and Itamaraty is actually realigning with the Brazilian people in our foreign policy, and the reflex of this is that we would get closer to those countries which have these same values. So in our relationship with the U.S. is a consequence of this internal realignment in Brazil, and with other countries the same way. With regards to the – an eventual conflict of interest or commercial interests or our actions in this sphere, I believe that it is not a problem for a big country. Brazil has to place itself as a big country. Brazil needs at the same time to work in favor of its values and ideals of the people, and to work for the economic growth. We need to do business and generate trade opportunities and economic opportunities. We understand it is perfectly possible to do both things, and a major country doesn’t need to renounce its values or ideas to create economic opportunities. Thank you. MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) From the U.S. press, journalist Mary Milliken. QUESTION: Bom dia. Parts of Brazil’s civil society have expressed concerns about a possible loss of protection for human rights under this new government. Mr. Secretary, do you share these concerns? And Sr. Ministro, do you have a response? And if I may, Mr. Secretary, on the detained American in Moscow, do you believe this is retaliation for the Maria Butina case, and what do you intend to do about it? SECRETARY POMPEO: Foreign Minister, let me let you go first on the human rights issue and I’ll follow up and then I’ll answer the final question. FOREIGN MINISTER ARAUJO: There’s no reason at all to fear any sort of lack of protection for human rights in Brazil. (Via interpreter) Actually, I should speak in Portuguese. There are no reasons to have any fear for any reduction in the human rights in Brazil. This is simply a leftover from the electoral campaign that survives for some reason. The commitment of the new government with the defense of human rights is absolute, and even we have to increase the defense of some rights which are not being defended enough. We’ll talk to the minister of human rights. And this is an area in which we’ll not only keep working, but we’ll work in a more incisive fashion for the protection of the rights of all Brazilian citizens. SECRETARY POMPEO: Thanks. I’d add only this: The United States is ever mindful of ensuring that countries treat each of their citizens with dignity and respect. It doesn’t happen every place in the world. Where we find it is inadequate, we call it out. We’re very consistent about that and we do our best to effect that, to make clear that it is unacceptable, that we expect every country to behave in a way that treats their citizens with the dignity and respect they deserve as human beings. We expect that everywhere in the world. That certainly includes here. And our conversation this morning makes clear to me that this administration’s committed to it as well. With respect to Mr. Whelan, who is being held, we are hopeful within the next hours we will get consular access to see him and get a chance to learn more. We’ve made clear to the Russians our expectation that we will learn more about the charges, come to understand what it is he’s been accused of, and if the detention is not appropriate, we will demand his immediate return. MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Well, this declaration to the press is adjourned. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Secretary's Remarks: Remarks With Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Before Their Meeting 01/02/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary's Remarks: Remarks With Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Before Their Meeting 01/02/2019 11:09 AM EST Remarks Michael R. Pompeo Presidential Palace Brasilia, Brazil January 2, 2019 PRESIDENT BOLSONARO: (In progress, via interpreter) for some reason, we’re enemies. It is now, by contrast, it is just the opposite. We are friends, and we are aware of our position. We are also aware of what we have. By means of our partnership, I would very much like to make efforts to ensure that what we have and what you have, in turn, will ultimately work to the benefit and well-being of (inaudible). And that same business counts (inaudible) we can’t stop it together, so we stand together. SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah, it’s a long time. PRESIDENT BOLSONARO: Muito obrigado. Again, thank you so very much, once again. SECRETARY POMPEO: Mr. President, thank you. Thanks for the kind words. Congratulations to you. These are a couple of big days, and it’s an honor for me to have the opportunity to be there and to watch the transition of government here. We’ve been watching closely. President Trump sends his regards as well. I spoke with him last night. He was watching on TV, and he is very pleased with the relationship that our two countries are on the precipice of beginning to develop. These are views that it is important for the United States, to benefit our people – your people as well, and he’s also confident that it will benefit the world by a set of shared values. So we look forward to the time we have with you this morning and others for a couple of busy days in the States (inaudible). I look forward to working with you and Ernesto over the days and weeks and months ahead. PRESIDENT BOLSONARO: (Inaudible.) The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Secretary's Remarks: Warning to the Iranian Regime on Space Launches That Defy UNSCR 2231 01/03/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary's Remarks: Warning to the Iranian Regime on Space Launches That Defy UNSCR 2231 01/03/2019 07:40 AM EST Press Statement Michael R. Pompeo Washington, DC January 3, 2019 The Iranian Regime’s Ministry of Defense has publicly announced plans to launch three Space Launch Vehicles (SLV) in the coming months. Such actions would once again demonstrate Iran’s defiance of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2231, which calls upon the Iranian regime not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. This action includes launching SLVs, which incorporate technology that is virtually identical to that used in ballistic missiles, including in intercontinental ballistic-missiles (ICBMs). An ICBM with a range of 10,000km could reach the United States. The Iranian regime has launched ballistic missiles numerous times since UNSCR 2231 was adopted and continues to do so. On December 1, the Iranian regime test-fired a medium range ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple warheads, and the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force later said that Iran tests 40 to 50 ballistic missiles every year. The United States has continuously cautioned that ballistic missile and SLV launches by the Iranian regime have a destabilizing effect on the region and beyond. France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and many nations from around the world have also expressed deep concern. The Iranian regime is the world’s foremost state sponsor of terror and has proliferated missiles and related technology to its proxies around the Middle East, further flouting UNSCR 2231. The United States will not stand by and watch the Iranian regime’s destructive policies place international stability and security at risk. We advise the regime to reconsider these provocative launches and cease all activities related to ballistic missiles in order to avoid deeper economic and diplomatic isolation. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor: United States Calls Upon the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Electoral Commission To Release Accurate Results 01/03/2019 You are subscribed to Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor: United States Calls Upon the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Electoral Commission To Release Accurate Results 01/03/2019 02:10 PM EST Press Statement Robert Palladino Washington, DC January 3, 2019 The United States stands by the millions of Congolese voters who went to the polls across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on December 30 to participate in presidential, legislative, and provincial assembly elections. Since independence in 1960, the DRC has never experienced a peaceful, democratic transfer of power. The December 30 election was therefore one of the most important elections in DRC history. The United States was deeply concerned by the DRC’s National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) decision to deny accreditation to several international election observers and media representatives. We also noted that confusion on election day over the location of polling stations, the posting of voter lists, the late delivery of some election materials, and CENI's unfortunate decision to cancel elections in Beni and Butembo in eastern DRC disenfranchised voters. Nevertheless, despite these challenges, millions of Congolese citizens turned out peacefully across DRC on election day to cast their ballots and make their voices heard. ‎CENI must now ensure that these voices and votes are respected. As the Congolese people, the region, and the world await patiently for the results of these elections, the internet must be restored and the media allowed to report freely. We strongly urge the CENI to ensure that votes are counted in a transparent and open manner, with observers present, and that the results reported by CENI are accurate and correspond to results announced at each of DRC's 75,000 polling stations. We support the African Union Election Observation Mission to DRC’s expectation, expressed on January 2, that the announced results align with votes cast by the Congolese people. As official results are tabulated and reported, we continue to urge DRC government officials, leaders of the DRC security forces, opposition party leaders, civil society representatives, and stakeholders from all sides to respect the law and reject violence. There are moments in every nation’s history when individuals and political leaders step forward and do the right thing. This is one of those moments for the DRC. Those who enable a peaceful, democratic transfer of power out of respect for DRC’s constitution and the results of this election will be hailed, while those responsible for undermining democratic institutions and processes, threatening the peace, security, or stability of DRC or benefiting from corruption ‎will be held accountable. Those who undermine the democratic process, threaten the peace, security or stability of the DRC, or benefit from corruption may find themselves not welcome in the United States and cut off from the U.S. financial system. On December 30, millions of Congolese went peacefully to the polls. Now is the time for CENI to affirm that these votes were not cast in vain by ensuring the accurate reporting of election results. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Secretary's Remarks: Interview With John Bachman of Newsmax 01/03/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary's Remarks: Interview With John Bachman of Newsmax 01/03/2019 03:33 PM EST Interview Michael R. Pompeo Washington, DC January 3, 2019 QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thank you for the time today. I want to start with Paul Whelan, the retired Marine American now being detained in Russia. I understand that Ambassador Huntsman had an opportunity to see him and talk with him. Can you give us an update on his status? SECRETARY POMPEO: I don’t have much to update, but the American people should know that the safety and security of Americans traveling abroad is of the utmost importance to us here at the State Department and throughout the United States Government. We’re doing everything we can to make sure that he’s treated appropriately and that we get the information we need. It is the case Ambassador Huntsman spoke with him yesterday, had a chance to ensure him that we’re doing all that we can to make sure that he gets the things that he needs. And then Ambassador Huntsman had a chance to talk to the family as well. I can’t say much about the conversation, to protect their privacy. But the American people should know we’re very focused on this at the most senior levels of the United States Government. QUESTION: And in December you gave Russia a 60-day heads-up on the INF Treaty, telling them that they need to comply or that we were going to pull out. Is there any status update to that? We’re about 30 days into that. SECRETARY POMPEO: So, yes, we’re now almost exactly 30 days from the deadline which we provided. And unfortunately, the Russians have made no effort to comply with the treaty any more than they did for the previous four or five years we’ve been having these conversations with the Russians on this. We’re going to continue to talk with them to try and urge them to return to treaty compliance and at the very least commit to returning to treaty compliance. But it makes no sense. It makes no sense for a treaty with two parties, only one of whom is complying, for us to stay in that. We’ll work with our European partners. This is very important. It’s of great importance to them to make sure that we get the strategy right. QUESTION: But today’s the 25th anniversary of the START II Treaty, a day when George H.W. Bush, President Bush, declared the Cold War over. Are we effectively in a new cold war? SECRETARY POMPEO: I was a soldier in the late ’80s, stationed along the east – then East German border, right up until the final days of the communist empire there. We’re not quite back to that place today, and I’m happy about that. But it is also the case that we need the Russians to behave in a way that’s consistent with the rule of law and the things that – the value set that we hold every nation accountable to. Their actions in many parts of the world aren’t consistent with that, and our conversations with them, whether it’s across counterterrorism campaigns or the like, make clear that that’s our expectation and we’re going to do all that we can to ensure that they do. QUESTION: Is there anything that Putin could do – say, take more territory in the Ukraine – that would obligate the United States – obviously there’s Article 5 of the NATO treaty – but anything else that would obligate America to have some sort of military response, say if he takes more territory in Ukraine? SECRETARY POMPEO: Well, I don’t want to speculate on what we might do in response to any particular action by the Russians, any more than I would on an action by any other country. But this administration’s been incredibly strong in responding to Russian actions, whether it was the chemical attack that took place and Skripal or the connectedness between the Russians and the chemical attacks that took place in Syria. We’ve sanctioned senior Russian leaders. We’ve provided defensive weapon systems in Ukraine, something the previous administration refused to do. We’ve pushed back against Russian malign behavior, all the while trying to develop a relationship with them that could prevent us from having to do anything that’s more serious than that. QUESTION: Let’s talk about Syria. President Trump said the troops were coming out. And they’re going to come out? They’re going to leave? SECRETARY POMPEO: They’re going to come out. QUESTION: Now it seems like that timeline may be delayed a little bit, and Saudi Arabia has – or I’m sorry, and in Afghanistan, the same situation. Can you give us an update, the official American policy when it comes to troop levels in Syria and in Afghanistan and the timetable for their withdrawal? SECRETARY POMPEO: So the President is not ambiguous with respect to Syria. Our troops are coming out. The President also made very clear that we needed to continue the counter-ISIS campaign, and we needed to continue to ensure that we did the things to create stability throughout the Middle East. The counter-Iran campaign continues. We’ll do all of those things. We’ll continue to achieve those outcomes. We will simply do it at a time when the American forces have departed Syria. I can’t give you a timeline. QUESTION: Sure. SECRETARY POMPEO: I don’t want to let the adversaries know precisely -- QUESTION: Right. SECRETARY POMPEO: -- when it is we’ll be departing. But the President’s mission there – guidance to us is unambiguous, and we’ll get that done. QUESTION: Lindsey Graham said he had a meeting with the President and he heard some things that changed his mind a little bit. But is the President open to advisors – his advisors and other people like Lindsey Graham and their assessment on the situation in Syria? Are those discussions ongoing? SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah. No, look, I’ve been working with the President for a couple years now. My sense is the President is always willing to hear from others who have different viewpoints than him, whether they’re from outside the administration or those of us who are working there. He wants to know our judgment. It’s the reason he brings senior leaders around him. And then he’ll make his decision, and our mission is to go execute that in a way that’s consistent with his guidance. And we’re certainly going to do that in Syria – across all fronts. Not only the withdrawal, but all of the other elements that the President laid out: the importance of ensuring that the Turks don’t slaughter the Kurds; the protection of religious minorities there in Syria. All of those things are still part of the American mission set. QUESTION: Speaking of Turkey, President Erdogan is another person that’s very important, and our relationship with Erdogan is important. You and President Trump worked very hard; you got Pastor Brunson to come back. That’s a positive thing. But there are reasons to question Erdogan. Is he reliable as an ally? SECRETARY POMPEO: So we still have lots of things to work with on the Turks. They’re a NATO partner. There are places where they’re very supportive of the things that Americans care about and which keep Americans safe. There are other places we have real concerns. We still have Americans that are being held there. And so the conversation with the Turks continues. Ambassador Bolton and Jim Jeffrey will travel there next week to talk about Syria. There are lots of places where we need to work with President Erdogan and the Turkish leadership to get good outcomes for the United States. QUESTION: I know we’re short on time. One more question on Iran, if we have the time for it. There were new sanctions put in place on Iran recently, but waivers were granted for those sanctions. Is there any point in time when those waivers could come to an end? SECRETARY POMPEO: Oh, sure. The sanctions and the waivers were for six months. We are continuously evaluating whether they make sense given our policy, right? We still want to make sure that we’ve got enough – a well-supplied crude oil market. But at the same time, we want to ensure that we’re complying with the requirements that the sanctions on Iran have the ultimate goal which we’re trying to achieve: creating an outcome where the Iranian people – the Iranian people can have better lives than they have today under this tyrannical regime. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thank you for your time. SECRETARY POMPEO: John, thank you too. Have a great day. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Secretary's Remarks: Interview With Sean Hannity on Hannity 01/04/2019 You are subscribed to Secretary's Remarks for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Secretary's Remarks: Interview With Sean Hannity on Hannity 01/04/2019 06:42 AM EST Interview Michael R. Pompeo Washington, DC January 3, 2019 QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, good to see you. I see this as a massive national security issue. It deals with relations, obviously, with Mexico. It’s about drugs being brought into the country, human trafficking, criminals, gang members, some people that have ties to terror. Why shouldn’t we all view this as a national security issue? SECRETARY POMPEO: Well, Sean, thanks for having me on tonight. We should. We should all be very serious about this. I’ve been the CIA director. I’m now the Secretary of State. This has enormous national security implications. Border security is an important part of American sovereignty and keeping Americans safe. There is a central role to make sure that we know who is coming in and what is coming in to our country, and President Trump is doing the right thing in making sure we understand what’s moving across that border, and we do so with enough border security so we have confidence and we can do this on behalf of the American people. QUESTION: We’ve been able to apprehend 3,700 people that we have identified as having ties to terror? SECRETARY POMPEO: There’s lots of risks associated. The narcotics risk itself has enormous implications for people inside the United States. There are lots of things that come across that southern border that we need to get control over, and President Trump is determined to make that happen. It includes the risk that we have terrorists come across that border. QUESTION: We’re talking about Central America, but you’ve had a pretty busy year. We have the talks with North Korea, talk about denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. We have issues now with China. We also have issues with the Middle East, new alliances, opportunities hopefully emerging, certainly with Israel, with the Iranian deal being drawn back. Where do you see on the world stage, where is America different now? Because I don’t think the President gets a lot of credit for a lot of progress around the world. SECRETARY POMPEO: Oh, Sean, we have made fundamental changes in American foreign policy that enormously benefit the American people. I could tick through the same list of places that you spoke about. The previous administration had decided that the world’s largest state sponsor of terror was the partner in the Middle East, Iran. We have fundamentally flipped that. We know that that is a real threat to the world and to America, and so we have developed relationships with Arab countries and Israel. We’ve brought them together to develop a coalition to keep Americans safe from things going on in the Middle East. You spoke first, I think, about North Korea. Lots of work that is left to be done, but I am confident that in the next short period of time President Trump and Chairman Kim will get the chance to meet again and truly create a much better, safer America with less threat of not only nuclear weapons being launched at us but nuclear proliferation as well. These are real risks and real changes from the previous administration’s policies. QUESTION: All right, let’s talk specifically about North Korea. So the President has been hinting and saying that there’s going to be another meeting with Kim Jong-un. Will that be about and will there be the potential at that meeting of the denuclearization of the entire peninsula? Obviously, missiles aren’t being fired, remains have been sent back, hostages have been released, so a lot of progress. Is this where you might close that deal? SECRETARY POMPEO: Sean, I’d be surprised if we get all the way home in this meeting, although it would be fantastic if we did. I don’t want to tell you exactly what our negotiating strategy is, but suffice it to say I think we have set the conditions where we can make real progress when Chairman Kim and President Trump meet and take down the threat to the United States and to the world that has been, frankly, holding America hostage for so long in North Korea. It’ll be good for South Korea. It’ll be good for Japan. It’ll be good for all of the world. QUESTION: But putting aside the Khashoggi incident, there seemed to be an emerging new alliance against Iranian hegemony, and that would be the United States, our closest ally is Israel, the Saudis, Egyptians, Jordanians, up till recently the Emirates, against the Iranians. Do you see an opportunity, a historic opportunity, where these alliances could lead to a peace that nobody could even have been thinking about 10 years ago? SECRETARY POMPEO: Sean, undoubtedly, we have set the conditions in the Middle East where these countries are now working together across multiple fronts. You saw the President’s announcement about our withdrawal from Syria. We’re still going to be able to effectively with those partners counter the threat from ISIS in the region, and we’ll do it without those 2,000 soldiers on the ground. We haven’t changed our policy about continuing to make sure that there is no ISIS resurgence, and we’re just going to do it in a way that is smarter and better. And we can do that because of the alliances that President Trump has built. QUESTION: All right, let’s talk about China in the sense they’ve had a massive military buildup, but your State Department issued a warning to Americans traveling to China that, in fact, they could issue exit bans preventing Americans from leaving. What’s the status? SECRETARY POMPEO: But, Sean, we didn’t change the level of the warning there in China. We did change some of the language. We do our best here to constantly review things that might happen to Americans who are traveling abroad. We saw what happened with the American there in Russia. Our job is to always have Americans safe who are traveling, and we wanted to let them know that there have been more risks from what China has done in terms of folks traveling there and not being permitted to return. We just wanted to make them aware of that, and I am hopeful that we got the language just right so Americans will understand the risk but still travel there when it’s appropriate. QUESTION: Let’s talk about the latest in terms of the relationships with Russia – obviously a hostile regime, obviously a hostile actor in Vladimir Putin. Not only the United States but other countries have experienced their cyber warfare, if you will, or their desire to create chaos in other countries. But if you can address that and also their support of the Iranians, their influence in Syria, and do you see an Iranian-Russia-Syrian alliance that would worry you? SECRETARY POMPEO: I am concerned about that, and frankly, the Russians’ behavior has not been good. But this administration has been very serious at responding to that, whether it was the strike that President – the strikes the President has taken in Syria – those were in Syria but the Russians were all around it, our effort with respect to what the Russians did in Skripal, the sanctions we’ve put on Russian oligarchs who have threatened America and American interests. Those are real responses. We’ve done that, Sean, at the same time that we’re trying to find space where we can work with them, trying to find opportunities where the Russians’ and American interests overlap even if our value sets do not so that we can work together against some of these most difficult problems. It’s been tough, and Vladimir Putin has not cooperated, but we’re still trying to find a place to do that. QUESTION: The President has some critics as it relates to saying that he wants to withdraw from Syria and Afghanistan. Is there a timetable, or will it be based on the situation on the ground? SECRETARY POMPEO: The President has always been very clear that he wanted to get our soldiers back home. In Syria he’s made that decision, and we are working in that direction. That decision’s done, and we will withdraw from Syria. The timeline, it will be consistent with what we can do to make sure that our soldiers are safe, that we continue the counter-ISIS campaign, that we do all that we can to keep the coalition against Iran together. Those are also things that the President has made very clear he was going to do when he visited Iraq now – goodness – a week ago. He made very clear that those were things that were also important. So we will manage those threats to America, but we will do so without a couple thousand folks on the ground in Syria. QUESTION: I wouldn’t even venture a guess how many frequent flyer miles you have as a result of just the one year. We’ve been friends a long time. I know how hard you’re working and how much success is happening on the world stage. Secretary Pompeo, thanks for joining us. SECRETARY POMPEO: Sean, thank you very much. Have a good evening. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Stay connected with the State Department:     External links found in this content or on Department of State websites that go to other non-Department websites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. 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