00:00MS TRUDEAU Yes, sir.
00:01QUESTION Can I have one more on Syria?
00:02MS TRUDEAU One more on Syria.
00:03QUESTION Okay.
00:05And thanks for that Syria statement.
00:06That might actually be the clearest and the first time that administration talked about
00:10Syria.
00:11So my follow-up is this.
00:13MS TRUDEAU Can I mention, though, in the midst of that?
00:15It is because of your questions, the nature of what your interests are, and the importance
00:24of what I think we encourage here when it comes to – there's all kinds of countries
00:29and cities that are in the news all the time, but things are happening all around the world
00:35that affect all of us.
00:36And it's that kind of modern age, and it's exciting to be able to look for those answers
00:40and at least provide some insight.
00:41So I'm sorry.
00:42Go ahead.
00:43QUESTION There is a big expectation for any sanctions relief that U.S. could give to Syria.
00:50Is this something the administration is thinking about, and what would it take to give sanctions
00:56relief to Syria?
00:58AMBASSADOR BIRX You know, there are – the sanctions dynamic
01:03has not changed, and there's no plans to change it at this point.
01:07But there is – so the existing measures that have always existed remain, and I understand
01:13why that's a question.
01:15But we have authorized Syria General License 24, which allows for transactions meant to
01:21help stabilize Syria.
01:23So it is not a blanket block, but the previous measures remain.
01:30But there is General License 24, again, that allows for transactions to help facilitate
01:36the stabilizing of that nation.
01:38All right.
01:39Yes, sir.
01:40QUESTION This is David on Syria.
01:41You speak a little bit on Syria.
01:42I was wondering what's the State Department assessment on the new Syrian constitution
01:47that was drafted by the interim authority, which the draft was rejected by the minority
01:52groups, and they are saying that it has – grants likely no rights of these minority groups
01:57like Kurds and Jews.
01:59AMBASSADOR BIRX So one thing I can tell you, we are following
02:03developments that Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a – I guess signed a so-called constitutional
02:09declaration, and note concerns expressed around consolidation of power by al-Sharaa.
02:15We continue to call, as I've mentioned in my first part of my statement, for an inclusive,
02:21civilian-led government to ensure national institutions are effective, responsive, legitimate,
02:27and representative.
02:28And we are continuing to watch the interim authorities' actions to see if they guarantee
02:33equal rights and treatment for all Syrians and preserve individual freedoms, as outlined
02:39in that constitutional declaration.
02:41So we continue to watch, and I think that will bear out the nature of what it is we're
02:46dealing with.
02:47Bottom line, we continue to stand with the people of Syria.
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