Secretary pompeo i want to talk about the historic work the department is doing in mounting to repatriate americans in response to the pandemic. Its in the finest traditions of what the state department has done. First, venezuela. Dont want to go into every detail. I got someone here that will here at theuestions end but i do want to set up the ramework to the pathway to democracy. It would put the elected members of the National Assembly, would nting both sides, create an acceptable council of tate to serve as Transitional Government until president and National Assembly elections can be held. Months. Within six to 12 the Transitional Government would not be able to run for elections. N those oth Nicholas Maduro and juan guido would accept the executive period. His transitional if the conditions of the framework are met, including the departure of Foreign Security being free lections and fair by international observers, then all remaining u. S. Sanctions would be lifted. We have the full text. You can see the agreement on our website. Hope that every venezuelan will consider this framework and ully, thoughtfully, seriously. We think it presents an opportunity for the venezuelan people. Turning to the state departments truly heroic to repatriate americans. T was super bowl sunday, february 2, when we all still had live sports on tv. That day to working arrange two flights to bring home americans from wuhan, china. Our medical teams leaders wrote an email to his colleagues. Want to read part of it to you. Olleague wrote, quote, while the whole country enjoys the game in the comfort of a home or idea thatst have a no a small group heads into the singular focushe of bringing them out of a condition. We have given ourselves over to quote. Rthy cause, end of that mission was completed, bringing home more than 800 people from wuhan and it was the beginning of the most important and unprecedented missions in the history of the state department. We have repatriated over 20 i think its 26,000 27,000 u. S. Citizens from more than 50 countries. Teams heart our and character and commitment to excellence are truly amazing. Et me give just a couple of examples. In butan, no easy place to get was critically ill from the virus, on a ventilator and frankly expected a country located in one of the most remote corners f the world but we came to the rescue. Our team arranged a biocontainment transfer from care unit intensive in baltimore, maryland. A distance of nearly 8,000 miles. Cant man due, katmandu, the state department pulled that off in honduras. A double Lung Transplant running out of medications which arent there. Le intrepid young counselor officer got him a letter, got him to the airport. It was a city in complete and total lockdown. We got him home on the next flight. Told our team that we saved his life. The good news is, too, the state department is doing great but not doing it alone. Were coordinating closely with the federal ies in government. My deputy, the undersecretary for management, keith, the ndersecretary for economic affairs, the 24 7 Repatriation Team were performing these amazingly. Never in the departments a year history have we led worldwide evacuation of such complexity graphic and such geographic scale. To the no higher duty American People than to pull this off. Ive never been more proud of the team has done today than today. The 24 7 repatriation tafshg bring ill continue to home thousands of more americans in the coming days and weeks. At the same time i want to deliver a message to americans who are still abroad. We remain steadfast, committed to getting you all back. Not know in some countries how long the continued commercial flights in our may continue to operate. We cant guarantee the u. S. To arrange ability charter flights indefinitely where commercial options no longer exist. Americans to register with their nearest embassy at way. State. Gov and work your back here. Americans abroad who wish to return home should do so and make y arrangements to accomplish that. Look, im just as proud of the on repatriation as i am about the health and humanitarian assistance that the state departments providing the world, too. Its a topic that deserves more attention. E dont talk about it all that often. In america, we provide aid because were a generous and noble people. It because we know from prior experiences that we dont have good data. And allout ency, efforts to fight pandemics that home, m americans back too. For both of these reasons, the United States is one of the First Nations to step forward help. Fer in early february, it seems like a long time ago, in early nearly we transported 18 tons of medical supplies provided by samaritans first, christ of of jesus latter day saints and others to we pledged 100 million in assistance to fight what ould become a pandemic, including an offer of assistance to china. Surpasses e so far that initial pledge significantly. Weve now made available a total number of 274 million in 64 ding to as many as countries. That money will go to some of he worlds most atrisk peoples. You can go to state. Gov to find a fact sheet to talk about what country by country, give you a breakdown. We put that up at the independent of last week. Last week. Weve been doing this a long time. We know how to help people world. The american taxpayers have generously funded 100 billion assistance and thats and thats billion with a b. Help is much more than money. Staffers on the groundworking with the health ministry. He f. D. A. , as an example, is cochairing a Virtual International conference on developing a covid19 vaccine. Americans from all across the Trump Administration are working crisis ly to put this back in the box. Working xample, were with n. G. O. s to deliver medical syria, including in regime held areas. Crisis. A humanitarian two, well continue to help u. N. Agencies and n. G. O. s to build sanitation inalth amps all across Northern Syria to help prevent the spread of the virus in that difficult place. Earlier, it ed isnt just our government helping around the world, businesses, private charities have given 1. 5 billion to the world to fight pandemic. This is Truly American exceptionalism at its finest. Generosity, our pragmatism aimed at saving american lives and in the future is also exemplified through our work multilateral organizations. Its another underreported stories. Weve long maintained an commitment to Global Health and humanitarian assistance. Consider just the top end of for our Financial Support international organizations. Never mind all the scientists nd technical people and other expertise that we bring around the world. The United States remains by far largest contributor to the World Health Organization as 1948. Been since our contribution exceeded 400 million last year, 10 times that china. The u. S. Contributed nearly 1. 7 the u. N. Refugee agency which is helping those their ble to mitigate exposure to the virus. This compares to 1. 9 million china. Unicef is engaged in emergency countries dozens of all across the globe, including iran. Na and in in 2019, the u. S. Supported nicef with more than 700 million. China gave just a mere fraction of that. The world food program, headed americas own david beasley, sent more than 85 shipments of protective sonal equipment to 74 countries to help them battle the virus. E provided 8 billion in resources just last year. 2 of that organizations budget. Look, you all get the idea. We dont talk about assistance uch, but the American People should be aware of and proud of our vast commitments to these institutions. They not only help citizens throughout the world, but they protect americans and keep us as well. With that im happy to take a andful of countries this morning. Try to get to everybody. Pompeo hi. Wont allowed to come or she because from home. Secretary pompeo not because of the state department . Correct. Sorry. [laughter] wanted to ask on venezuela. Hat future do you say for gaido . Is it recognition he has not will the u. S. President . As secretary pompeo absolutely yes. He is the most popular politician. Continue to do well. Well continue to support him. When we put together this athway to democracy, we worked closely with him. Aware of how it is were presenting this. Guaido, and his entire team, understand that maduro must go. We must get this democracy started. We have not introduced this that. Y to achieve we continue to remain enormously upportive of the work that the rightful president of the gaid, isn people, juan engaged in. Reporter there have been renewed calls from the europeans, u. N. , others, for sanctions relief. Know what you will say, any shortfalls in their Health Care System is the fault of the regimes themselves but im people are dying and sanctions relief would help, regardless of whether or not it regime, would it ever come to the point where you position . Nsider your secretary pompeo of course, we policies ll of our constantly so the question is, will we ever rethink it . Making sure we have our policies right. Hen it comes to humanitarian ssistance, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, what people need in these difficult times, those are not sanctioned at anytime. Whether its its not always an american sanction. In north korea, their u. N. Resolutions. Cil in other places they are in fact american provisions. If you ach of those, read them, its quite on its ace that these items arent sanctioned. Theres no prohibition on moving humanitarian assistance in these ifficult and challenging places. You rightfully point out, some of these countries continue to bombs and missiles and capability all the while their people are starving. Claim, they e the dont have money to feed their people, these are decisions that hese people leaders have often made not in the best interest of those peoples. Ts indeed quite sad to see those governments make those decisions which harm their own people. Not ast thing ill say is, nly do we not sanction any of global entity ny sanction global assistance, the United States has worked in every one of those places to provide that assistance. Get assistance into north korea. We made offers of assistance to iran. Oull recall when we first began, we worked diligently in venezuela to get humanitarian assistance to the venezuelan well. As no. The United States understands this is a humanitarian challenge, a humanitarian were deeply committed to ensuring the humanitarian assistance gets to countries. Of those we care more often about the people in those countries than do. R own leaders thats sad. Thats a reflection of those regimes too often. Were e reason, in fact, working to help those people raise up in their countries so they can get a better outcome for themselves as well. Sir. Reporter same question. Right. Ry pompeo all youre testing my patience. No worries. Military bases in iraq escalated lately. U. S. Have any reaction soon . Your reaction to and ttack on saudi arabia ow they are confronting disinformation against the u. S. During this war against covid19 . Ok. Etary pompeo let me try and take each of those three. O we have seen attacks on americans attempted efforts in some cases as well inside of conducted by shia militias. Ur response has been very consistent. Two things. One, we will always respond to protect and defend americans, our diplomats in our embassies, in consulates inside of iraq or the department of defense people who are serving, civilians who are ontractors, well always do everything we can to defend and protect them. We will respond if they are threatened. Made clear that in iraq in particular we know that hose shia militias who have attacked americans are trained, equipped, underwritten by the regime of the Islamic Republic iran and its been president trumps policy consistently that says that we will respond all of those who facilitated, trained, equipped, enabled those attacks on america. That hold as true today as it or two weeks, four weeks, back in the beginning of january strike against qassem soleimani. The second question is about the from es that were fired emen by the iranianbacked houthis. Good news is, it looks like the is ge done by everyone else minor but none ttheless, there have been a lot of work to reduce conflict, to take down levels of violence that were there and we had some success. Thataudis had been leading effort, and it broke down that day. Have now responded and they can get on the right path. We hope we can find a path forward with the u. N. Security ouncil resolution in yemen to find a path to peace there. Interestbe in the best of every participant in the region. Sadly, it appears the iranians dont share our vision for peace yemen and in saudi arabia. And lastly, you asked a question disinformation and the oment here with the covid19 challenge. You know, i see it every day. The data ing i read set from across the world. Not only the tragedy thats place here, weve had a state Department Official pass this virus, ult of one of our team members. E now have 3,000 americans whove been killed. Its tragic. My prayers go out to every american and every american impacted by this. This data set matters. Trust the data that youre getting so that our scientists and doctors and at the World Health Organization, all across the world who are trying to figure remediate this, how to find therapies, how to identify a solution, which will a vaccine to determine whether the actions taking, the social distancing, all the things were transportation, figure out if theyre you working so we can theyre so we can save lives depends on information of whats actually transpired. The reason disinformation is dangerous. Ts not because its bad politics. Its because it puts lives at risk if we dont have confidence in the information thats coming country. Y so i would urge every nation, do your best to collect the data, o your best to share that information. Were doing that. Were collecting. Were sharing. Good making sure we have sound basis upon which to make decisions how to fight this disease. S thats the risk that comes when countries choose to engage in disinformation across the world. Reporter hi. Kim dozier. Two questions. Afghanistan. In venezuela, what is your envoys message o the american citizens being held since 2017 in a prison that now has cases of covid19 . Citgo has stand decided not to pay them their alaries anymore so their families are relying on church aid to survive. Hasfghanistan, dr. Abdullah ghanis peace could that lead to you yielding you some of the 1 billion you have taken away for his year, especially since theyre facing this covid19 crisis because it could have a effect . Secretary pompeo ill give you a little bit on the citgo six nd elliott can come up and perhaps elaborate on that. We spent a lot of time and energy trying to get those folks back. Just as we do with every american whos wrongfully detained. Unsuccessful. My message to those families our entire lliott, team is never far from thinking them. With respect to the issues in the prison, weve seen that, too. To the venezuelans that creates increased risk. They should be let out, not only the right thing to do, because theyre wrongfully detained, because theres a top of that as well. As we said for the detainees in iran, now is the most moment to use this humanitarian challenge as a these people to return to their families and their loved ones. The state departments working back. O get them second question was about afghanistan. I traveled there, goodness, a week ago, almost had some progress on the political front. The reason i traveled there. Thats good news. Identified. Team looks like its pretty inclusive, pretty broad. Were happy about that. Some work to see done on prisoner releases as well. All elements that have to come get to the we can appropriations which will prove to be any mechanism to deliver peace and reconciliation to the people of afghanistan. Its good news. We will constantly reevaluate posture with respect to afghanistan, not only the Security Assistance and umanitarian aid and assistance we provide to them in addition to the decision we made last week on the billion dollars, we announced were providing ssistance to them to combat covid. I think the number is 15 million. Ill give you the actual data. Everything to help afghanistan battle the coronavirus issue as well. To see progress on every element. Its worth noting, too, its overlooked. Taliban innd met we withe doha. As want to reduce violence well. What they will do as we proceed the path where intraafghan relations begin. We have every expectation that will hold up their agreement that was put in place, coming up, what is it, two months ago, i guess. January. He end of sure. Reporter thank you, mr. Secretary. Prices as low as theyve gone over the past month, do you see this as an ratchet up to sanctions more so than perhaps the administration otherwise in venezuela . E nd with the maduro regime seemingly not receptive to previous proposals, why would be think this proposal might accepted . And also, on understanding there it,sensitivities surrounded if you could give any more information about the state Department Official who passed away because of covid . Secretary pompeo ll make sure we do our best to get the information thats appropriate to release about all that. Full status. We have had other members of the team come down with code of as well. E are now up to covid19 19 as well. That includes our locally employed staff. Full state department team. We are happy to provide that data to you as well. Your first question was about venezuela sanctions. The answers no. We dont see this as an opportunity. The policy thats been laid out that the state department and the United States government are executing with respect to how to deliver democracy to venezuelan people hasnt changed. Oil prices will go up. Our mission set remains unchanged. To deliver an opportunity. For democracy. You saw last week maduro was indicted by the United States department of justice. I hope as we have laid out this Clear Pathway to peace that the venezuelan people will demand that every leader inside of venezuela, not just maduro and his team, but every leader inside venezuela will look at this seriously and say that is a path which we can see our way forward which will deliver this hope for democracy in america. Thats the mission we had when we laid out this charting this new pathway. Reporter final question was, maduro has rejected proposals in the past. Is there something about this one you think secretary pompeo we hope hell take it seriously and consider it just as we have. We have made clear all along that maduro will never again govern venezuela. That hasnt changed. Reporter i want to go back to what you just said about data sets mattering. And yesterday you spoke about the necessity to have numbers from china and italy and iran on coronavirus. But the numbers coming out of china right now indicate that the new cases of coronavirus are going down. Does the Trump Administration believe that those are accurate new numbers . Are those manipulated disinformation numbers . Then i have a quick question on the sanctions secretary pompeo give me the second one. Ill take them both. Reporter the second one is christina asked you about sanctions relief, but is there any point at which this pandemic could grow worldwide that the u. S. Would consider sanctions relief . Or is it just a nogo right now . Secretary pompeo i think i answered that question. We reevaluate all our policies, including our sanctions policy, constantly f we conclude its in the best interest of the American People to alter any of those policies, well do that. I have to reiterate, the goods that are needed for each of these countries to resolve the coronavirus problem in their nations are not sanctioned. They were not sanctioned. They are not sanctioned. And they will not be sanctioned. Indeed, the United States has gone beyond that. Its not just that they are not sanctioned, its not simply they are prohibited. But the United States, the American People, are working diligently in each of these countries you are thinking of as sanctioned nations to try and assist getting humanitarian assistance into those countries, not only from the United States but to help other countries deliver that humanitarian assistance to the people of those nations. This policy is deeply consistent with the finest traditions of the United States of america. Your first question was reporter the data set. Secretary pompeo ill leave that to the medical professionals who are evaluating the data coming in from these countries. Its not a state department issue. Ill leave that to h. H. S. And c. D. C. And the others who are trying to put these data sets together to make evaluations. That question is more properly lodged with them. Thank youall very much. Have a good day. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2020] captioned by the National Captioning Institute www. Ncicap. Org shortly, new York Governor Andrew Cuomo will hold a briefing on the coronavirus. Live coverage at 11 30 eastern. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker will give an update on his states efforts to respond to coronavirus. Live coverage begins at 2 00 p. M. Later today, louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards will talk about the increase in coronavirus cases in his state. Live coverage at 3 30 eastern. Reminder you can watch all of our coverage joob line at cspan. Org or lins with the free cspan radio app. If you miss any of our live coverage of the governments response to the coronavirus outbreak, watch it any time at cspan. Org coronavirus. From daily briefings by the president and the White House Task force, to updates from governors of the hardest hit states. Its all there. Use the charts and maps to track the virus global spread and confirm cases in the u. S. County by county. Our coronavirus webpage is your fast and easy way to watch cspans unfiltered coverage of this pandemic. On journal continues. Heback to ira bright is host of siriusxm doctor radio channel. One of the things you have been doing a lot is what we do here, people call in and ask questions they want to ask. Since coronavirus has been declared a global pandemic, what is the most common question you are getting these days and what is your answer . Guest the most common question is, do i have it . We have been fielding a tremendous amount of telehealth calls, calls from friends, you name it. We have been hearing it. R