Will be spending quite a bit of time together starting shortly and i very much support that. But today first i have the privilege of introducing for the first time to this room the 71st secretary of state mr. Tony blinken. Thank you good afternoon. Let me start by saying they first ambition is to be known as the man who brought the price to the state Department Briefing room. That at least is mission accomplished. In all seriousness, thank you everyone for joining me here today, this is my first full day on the job as secretary of state and to restate what i said before it is an honor to be in this job and im gratified the president trust me with his responsibility. Im incredibly excited about the work ahead. Especially working with limited women about the state department. I serve the American People and represent our country to the world. I want to spend a few minutes with all of you today right from the start, how important i see the work that each and every one of you does. Some of you may know i started my career as a journalist it was obvious is something i did not succeed but i took tremendous pride and pleasure and something i have deep respect for as aas result of my own experience and being on both sides of the enterprise. You keep the American People and the world informed about what we do here. Thats a key to our mission as well. And you hold us accountable. Ask tough questions and that really does make us better. More broadly it is never more important to be restated a free press is a cornerstone of our democracy and this is the critical moment for protecting and defending democracy including right here attife hom. So here is what you can count on coming from me and coming from us. For resuming the Daily Press Briefing starting next week on tuesday. That is an essential part of the day. And were bringing aback. President biden has said that he wants truth and transparency back in the White House Briefing room, that fully applies in this room as well. You will be w seeing me with a little bit of frequency to including on our travels together, when we can get backo those travels just as you have an opportunity to hear from many policy experts in this building. I know we are not always going to see eye to eye, that is not the point of the enterprise. Sometimes will be t frustratingo you and i imagine a few times where you will be frustrating to us but thats to be expected. That is exactly someways the point. But you can countt on me, you n count on us to treat all of you with the immense respect you deserve and to give you what you need to do the jobs that you are doing that are so important to our country and our democracy. I will be forthright whether its behind this podium, on the plane or hopefully eventually some distant part of the world. Its an adventure, i am really glad that were in this together, welcome back to the press room and with that said this is your pressroom and with that let me take a few questions. Thank you, welcome back mr. Secretary to the building, thank you for your kind words about her profession earlier, ill try to be as brief as possible. In the last couple months of the Previous Administration several policies rolled out and enacted that attracted a bunch of criticism. I realize almost everything is under review right now as youre less than 24 hours and but among those things that were enacted in the last several months which are your priorities to complete the review to possibly reverse or send a rollback and similarly within the building apart from policy but in terms of personnel, what exactly do you intend to change if anything about the approach the Previous Administration took for Foreign Service and people working in this building. You are right were reviewing a number of steps weve taken late in the last administration we want to make sure we understand the basis for the decisions that were made. I will tell you i particular focused on the question i think you know very well that the who these committed an act of significant aggression and taken over synopsis some years ago moving to the country. Committing acts of aggression against our partner saudi arabia, committing human rights abuses and other atrocities inea creating an environment in which we see extremist groups fuel the vacuums that were created. But at the same time and we seen a campaign led by saudi arabia that has contributed to what is by many estimates the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Yitoday, that is saying somethi. It is vitally important even in the midst of this crisis that we do everything that we can to make humanitarian assistance to the people of yemen who are in desperate need. What we want to make sure any steps weto are taking do not get in the way of providing that assistance. The houthis control territory that i believe contains about 80 of yemens population so we want to make sure any of the steps including the designation dont make what is already an incredibly difficult task even more difficult that is a traditional of humanitarian aid to the people of yemen so were taking a very urgent and close look at that we want to make sure that not only are american groups are able to do with they can to provide assistance but also groups around the world providing the bulk of that assistance and make sure nothing buwe are doing interviews withot particular if it doesnt in any other way advance our policy and objective, that is a priority in my book. Thank you very much congratulations mr. Secretary. Biden in his first phone call outlined in agreement and the extension but at the same time areas of concern many which involve russia, were talking about the solar wind hack in ukraine, the investigation in the assessment of 2020 campaign but also the safety of alexi novelli where the United States considering changing russia and any harm that comes or to the protesters being arrested, how front and center is this issue to you of rushing crackdown on the opposition and human rights. Thank you as we know already expressed our k deep concern for the mission of Alexei Navalny specifically and more generally with the human rights situation. In russia and it remains striking to me how concerned and maybe even scared the russian government seems to be of one man Alexei Navalny. Acrosstheboard is the president has said we are reviewing all of these actions that are in deep concern to us, whether it is the treatment of Alexei Navalny and particularly the apparent use of a chemical weapon and an attempt to assassinate him, were looking very urgently as well as solar room wins and the location of the reports of bounties placed by russia on American Forces in afghanistan. And of course we are looking at these questions of election interference. All of that as a president white house have indicated under review i dont want to get ahead where we are on those reviews. But as i said we have a deep concern for Alexei Navalny safety and security in the larger point, his voice is the voice that many,y, Many Russians and it should be heard, not muzzled. You dont have anything that comes to . Were not really not anything but we want to get the whole review done and then well take itit from there. Mr. Secretary as head of the Correspondent Association thank you for coming on your first day as a powerful signal and it doesnt go unnoticed by us. In your confirmation hearing you spoke in support of the Abraham Accords under the Previous Administration. A couple of descriptions your administration could take, there is a review going on right now about military sales, to united emirates into saudi arabia, how do you see this Going Forward do you plan on the f35s p going o the io e and with morocco. As the United States to recognize as a Previous Administration said the western sahara. The cure much. A couple of things on that. As we said we very much support the Abraham Accords we think israel normalizing relations with its neighbors and other countries in the region is a very positive development so we applauded them. And we hope that there may be an opportunity to build on that on the months and years ahead. We are also trying to make sure we have a full understanding of any commitments that may have been made in securing those agreements and that is something were looking at right now. Generally speaking when it comes to the arms sales, it is typical at the start of anhe administration to review any penny sales to make sure what is being considered is something that advances our strategic objectives and advances our Foreign Policy. That is what we are doing at this moment. The review is to secretary what are you looking at and you plan of u. S. Envoys. With regard to afghanistan one thing we need to understand is exactly what is in the agreements that were reached between the United States and the taliban to make sure we fully understand the commitments of the taliban main as well as any commitments that we made, we are taken that up and with regard we have asked to continue the work that he is performing. Thank you so much, good afternoon mr. Secretary, how are you. If i may on china, how do you cooperate with china and Climate Change when you say you agree to engage in genocide and measures such as loosening up iorestrictions in the consulate closing, is that happening . Thank you very much. We have had some opportunity to talk about this inty recent wees and recent months and i think its not a secret that the relationship between the United States and china is arguably the most importantar relationship tt we have in the world Going Forward, it is going to shape a lot of the future that we all live and increasingly that relationship has some adversarial aspects to it, has competitive and also still has cooperative ones in the cooperative ones are in areas where its in our mutual interest to try to Work Together including manifestly on climate words in the interest of china and the United States and countries aroundit the world to make concrete progress in combating globalng warming. I think and hope we will be able to pursue that. Its within the larger context of our Foreign Policy and of many issues of concern that we have with china, issues that we need to work through and i think you will see us doing just that even as we pursue the claimant agenda that is so important to her country in the future of our planet. Hello mr. Secretary, i want to ask you about why ron they said they would like the United States to lift sanctions while you saidti they need to come bak in full compliance, how do you plan to reconcile that and when should we expect to open negotiation and who would lead them the United States, if i may on china. You talked about reviews and with respect to uighurs, you endorsed the genocide limitation but today they said the department is reviewing, not only about the process or the different views on this determination and should we expect a more punitive action throughout this. Im not seeing what investor thomas greenfield said so i cannot comment ono it. But my judgment remains that genocide was committed against the uighurs and that has not changed. Regard to iran, President Biden has been very clear that saying if iran comes back into full compliance with its obligations under the jcpoa, the United States would do the same thing and then we would use that as a platform to build with our allies and partners what we call a longer and stronger agreement and to deal with a number of other issues that are deeply problematicc in our relationship with iran. We are long ways from that point, i ran is out of compliance on a number of fronts and it would take some time should it make a decision to do so to come back into compliance in time for us to assess whether it was meeting its obligation. So we are not there yet to say the least. And then with regard to how we would engage his issue if iran comes back into compliance, i tell you we will build a strong team of experts and we will bring to bear different perspectives oner the issue, ths is something i would say this across the board by the way, one of the things i feel very strongly about is any of the issues we are engaged on and that we are tackling in our Foreign Policy has to confront that we are constantly questioning our own assumption and premises that we do not engage in groupthink that there is as much selfcriticism and self reflection as we get appropriately the outside whether its from you or people who disagree with the policies we are pursuing. I think you can expect to see that as we move forward to iran and for that matter just about any other issue thatt we tackle. Thank you. Thank you mr. Secretary. You talk about restoring u. S. Leadership in the world but allies know everything that you do could be overturned in four years and asca a cycle it doesnt instill confidence in the longterm and the United States cut ability, how can anyone administration if it can be done assure the world that the United States can be trusted to keep a commitment. One of the things i have done over the last 24 hours i spent a lot of time on the phone with some of our closest allies and partners in various parts of the world that is continuing. And what i picked up from those conversations already is a very, very strong desire for the United States to be back in the room, back at the table working with them on the many, many t we face, that was a most possible in the conversation i had today and i expect to hear more of that in the days ahead. One of the things to your point is that when it comes to virtually everything we are doing, and the president has said this many times, when it comes to Foreign Policy it is hard to have a sustainable Foreign Policy absent the informed consent the people, that comes in a couple of ways. One it comes from you because Many Americans are reading about, hearing about, listening to what we are doing thanks toto you. That is vitally important to make sure theyre fully informed and thinking about ultimately providing their consent to what we are doing. But the placebo in our system tt informed consent is vitally important is with congress. The members of congress are the representatives of the American People, they provide advice to consent to our policies and one thing you will see from our administration is working as closely as we possibly can with congress on these issues on the takeoff not just the landing because ultimately for the policies to be sustainable we need to work them as much as we can upfront and not at the back in. They will be disagreements and places where were in a different place but we stand a better chance in producing the policies that will stand the testg of tie if were working closely upfront with congress. We will see where we get that im determined that we do that. Thank you very much. Thank you wall. I look forward to seeing you soon and often. I really look forward to that but not tomorrow. Keep your word on that. Here is a look at our live coverage thursday at 10 00 a. M. Eastern on cspan the Senate Banking committee hold the confirmation hearing for marcia fudge to be secretary of housing and urban development and economic advisors. On cspan2 the senate returned at 10 00 a. M. To consider the nomination of alejandra my no chris to be Homeland Security secretary. And on cspan3 at 10 45 a. M. Eastern House Speaker nancy pelosi speaks to reporters about the legislative agenda. Do you solemnly swear and all things pertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Donald J Trump former president of the United States now pending you will do impartial justice according to the constitution of the laws so help you god. With senators sworn in as jurors arguments in the impeachment trial former President Donald Trump are set to begin tuesday february 9 on whether the former president should be convicted on incitement of insurrection. Watch a Senate Impeachment trial live on tuesday february 9 at 1 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan2. Cspan. Org or listen on the free cspan radio app. Russian president Vladimir Putin on International Relations in combating the coronavirus pandemic this was first addressed to the World Economic forum in over a decade. The annual event brings together leaders in business and politics to discuss global priorities and challenges. Russia is an important global power. With the protection, at this moment in history the world has a unique and short window of opportunity to move from an age of confrontation to at an age of corporation the ability to hear your voice the voice of the