Transcripts For CSPAN Key Capitol Hill Hearings 20131211

With respect to the stated positions, public positions of iran and its rhetoric, no. It hasnt changed and it very inflammatory and very threatening. Do you think, excuse me, mr. Secretary, because i have one minute left. Do you believe its still the goal of the Supreme Leader to destroy israel and destroy the United States . Well, when you say do i believe . Do you think, do you believe, what do you think of that position . I think their rhetoric is dangerous and threatening, incredibly counterproductive and damaging to any potential rational relationship. Reclaiming my time, one other question. I want to reclaim my time. My but is im reclaiming my time. My other question is this, mr. Secretary. If Iran Gets Nuclear weapons, will saudi arabia, turkey and egypt also rush to get Nuclear Weapons as well. If iran got a Nuclear Weapon, there would be an arms race in the region for certain, which is one of the reasons why they arent going to get a Nuclear Weapon. I want to finish. Absolutely, mr. Secretary. Go ahead. I want to finish. There are lots of people in the world who use outrageous, outlandish rhetoric. They play to their street and play to their constituency and have no means of actually implementing what they are saying. But we take seriously the threat of iran and the potential for a Nuclear Weapon. Thats why the centerpiece of the Foreign Policy is they will not get a Nuclear Weapon while this president is president of the United States. Warren vargas of california. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman, and thank you very much, mr. Secretary, for being here. I wan to premise my remarks, i have nothing but respect in regard to you personally and professionally. One of my biggest disappointments politically was that you wouldnt become president. We worked hard in california for you and i think you would have been a magnificent president. Im not a socalled friend, im a believer. However, when it comes to this deal, im against it. I do think items naive and i dont think it makes us safer unfortunately. I dont think it makes our allies safer, especially israel. Instead of agree with those that say sanctions were working. We didnt ratchet them enough. We should have tightened them down more. The question comes whether they want to function in the economy or Nuclear Weapons capability weapons program. I think we need a corollary the axiom nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. Instead we should say we wont agree to anything until everything is agreed. We want that comprehensive deal first. Has iran changed calculus . I dont know. Im not skeptical. Im not skeptical at all. I havent changed calculus. I think we want a Nuclear Weapons program. I do want to give you time to answer those questions. I wont go all the way until theres two seconds left and then say, mr. Secretary, would you like to answer those 50 questions. I do want to know, it seems to be naive, to be frank, on its face. Well, first of all, congressman, im really pleased that you think i would have made a good president , and i appreciate your support in that effort. I hate to disappoint you ive come up with something in conjunction with the administration and our efforts are naive. I think it is anything but naive. Anything but. I think that for many reasons ive been thinking about and working on the iran file, so to speak, for a lot of years. Ler a lot of people who have a different calculation about what iran might or might not want to do. Its all well and good and sit here and say theoretically ratchet up sanctions and drive them into a place they will crush. You know what, russians and chinese wont be with you doing that. Ultimately the europeans might not be either. As you ratchet them up, and they think its unreasonable based on their willingness to explore diplomacy, you lose them, too. Guess what youve done . Youve undone the sanctions not reinforced them. Let me go a step further. Theres a lot of people in the Intel Community who will sit and tell you, and i urge you to get briefed on it, who will tell you theres a whole school of thought in iran, the hardliners, who welcome the idea the United States might whack them, because they think they will be heroes in the street and they think they will be true to the revolution. They think as a result they will actually be stronger as a regime. There are many people who believe if the regime got into real extremist on the economy, what would happen is the extreme leader will say im not surrendering. Were not ever going to surrender to the great satan. Now were going to go for the weapon because its the only thing we can do. Well dig deeper and go more secret and take whatever it takes but were going to get it. Thats all the United States of america understands. Thats an alternative theory to the notion you can go out and raise your sanctions add infinite um and win. Perhaps we wont get an agreement and have to do the other thing anyway. You know, one of the things i learned a long time ago is if youre going to take the nation to war, you better have exhausted all the possibilities of trying to get peaceful resolution before you do it. We are doing that now. We are going through the testing and testing to see whether or not they are serious. If not, we have all the options available to us. Theres nothing naive about what were doing. It is calculated. It may be wrong. You may find its a miscalculation. Its not miscalculation based on naive, i believe no question in my mind, if we were negotiating and pressing further, we would be inviteing a prolonged process which would drive them to want to get the weapon even more and then youd be at a place where you might get negotiations but they are even closer to having the weapon than they are today. Much more dangerous. My last few seconds, i pray youre right. Again, i encourage you. I think youre a man of great courage and i hope the best for you. Thank you. From arizona. Thank you, mr. Secretary. I have three questions and they all deal with the issue of accountability. Ill ask the three questions and then turn the time over to you. It is an alarming fact that this agreement that you struck with the iranians gives them access to 7 billion in cash. Can you assure the American People that not one single dollar of that new money coming into iran is going to be used to kill one american soldier . The second question is i dont feel like the Obama Administration has a stellar track record on the issue of accountability, from benghazi, nsa, ap, irs, to fast and furious, these are all dismal examples. Where we still dont have answers to why they happened and who is ultimately accountable. Where does the buck stop in the new deal if it doesnt work like promised p. Are you going to be held ultimately accountable, the president , who in the administration . Finally, continuing on that theme of accountability, the administration claims to not be in negotiations with iran when they, in fact, were. The state department has admitted victoria were mislead reporters when in february she denied exist earns of secret bilateral talks with iran. Turns out your department intentionally misled American People about negotiations taking place behind closed doors. How can we have the confidence the information youre giving us now is on the level, particularly since the iranians clearly have a different interpretation of the agreement than you do. Those are my questions and im very interested in your answers. Honestly, id have to go back and check. I became secretary of state february 1st. Im not sure what was said then or not said exactly or what the state of play was but let me find out. With respect to accountability, im hanging out there. Ill be account able. I have absolute confidence youll hold me accountable. I said to the chairwoman i dont think the sanctions regime will come apart. She said its the death knell of it. Were going to know in a few months. So ill be accountable. As to my very first question, with the new money they are getting, and ill take it face value that the amount youve speculated, 7 billion, with that new money coming into iran, can you assure the American People that not a dollar of that money is going to be used to kill an american soldier . Congressman, i wish i could give you that kind of assurance, i have no ability to tell you exactly what fungability there is in money in iran or where the budget goes. My prayer is that no soldier will be killed as a consequence of anything that iran chooses to do. And our hope is as a consequence of this process maybe we can get at some of those issues that are very significant between our two countries. Finally, i think this has boiled down to a disagreement of whether or not ultimately want them to continue any kind of Nuclear Program within iran versus being able to go forward and not have any kind of a Nuclear Program. When you say nuclear, do you mean Power Program . Yes, any kind of Nuclear Program, any kind of enrichment. They can get all the Nuclear Material they need for power by purchasing that from other countries. They dont need to be able to enrich that themselves. The way i look at this deal, and i understand there are a lot of components, but you mentioned earlier in your initial remarks that one of the big successes of this interim deal or sixmonth deal is that they have to way lay their 20 enriched uranium. Thats very insubstantial. Its a small quantity. They have a far larger quantity of 3 to 5 enriched materials and it doesnt take a lot to get to that next level. I think we all understand that. So it seems like a large seems to me like a great deal to get a small quantity of 20 enriched uranium for 7 billion bucks. Congressman, if they dont have theability to enrich it and they cant. They arent allowed to put in any additional enrichment facilities, they arent allowed to change that stock, so its relevant. You think its not worth six months trying to negotiate a comprehensive deal you hold their program where it is, then you make your judgment. We believe it is. You know, weve proven in the last years as we went from those 164 centrifuges to 19,000 what you get for not talking. You get closer to a bomb. So we believe its important to try to sit down and see if we can resolve this. We go now to rhode island. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, mr. Secretary, for being here and thank you to the administration for briefings and Important Information you have shared with us today. Thank you for the work youre doing. I was happy to reaffirm the commitment for iran not to enrich. It makes us safer, our allies safer. The question is whether or not this is likely to make it more likely or less likely that we prevent iran from having a Nuclear Weapon. The scepticism everyone has expressed is healthy, but i think the question is does this make it more likely we achieved this objective. I think there seemed to be very competing time lines. One time line is doing nothing and the development of a nuclear iran. The other time line is additional sanctions so severe that either iran abandons its Nuclear Ambition or the regime is brought down. Another time on the negotiation, we have questions as if nothing will happen if we dont take some action or pursue diplomatic alternative. So like everyone on the panel i hope you achieve this effort, everyone will win if we achieve a greater iran, everybody will benefit if we can. To follow up on a question, if it is true that iranians are certain if they violate this agreement that additional sanctions will be imposed, if they are certain of that, then speak to what would be the consequence of acting sanctions, additional sanctions not triggered until a default in the agreement or Effective Date a year from now or some other mechanism if, in fact, they expect it. What would be the impact on negotiations, our allies. Why wouldnt we do that as a mechanism to sort of make clear what you indicate they had already know. Because we told them we wouldnt do it while negotiating. Because our partners dont expect us to pass new sanctions while negotiating. Because our partners, if we pass them now, could get squirrely on the idea of sanctions. They will figure were doing our own thing and were not part of the team. You think thats the same view even if the sanctions are not imposed . Sanctions not imposed. It implies a lack of faith in the process and unwillingness to play by the rules our partners are playing by. The second question, mr. Secretary, i know that, and i think its an important point, interim agreement says iran reaffirms under no circumstances will iran ever seek or develop any Nuclear Weapons. As you well know, there are many steps in research and development and testing that a state may under take that are important steps to build nuclear capacity. In the past according to iaea iran has taken some steps and argued dual use because of civilian use. Is that an issue you intend and can assure us youll address in a final agreement . It has to be. Absolutely. Thats part of what we were talking about about resolving all our concerns and dealing with the larger u. N. Security council and Ballistic Missile issues. Mr. Secretary, it seems to me that the outline of the first step are creating a window of opportunity. The alternative of not proceeding aggressively in this negotiation would allow iranians to proceed unchecked, really, over the next six months or longer. It is my hope youll be successful and provide greater security to the country and allies to the region. Thank you. Mr. Jeff duncan of south carolina. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Its quite a feat to have secretary of state in front of our Committee Twice in one year. I just wanted to remind the committee its been 15 months since benghazi terror attacks that killed four brave americans including tyrone woods. Administration brought none of the perpetrators to justice or culpability in the deaths of these brave americans. In negotiating with iran the administration chose to ignore the polite of pastor abedini during negotiations and decided to release an Iranian Nuclear scientist for the iranians. That just baffles me. Mr. Secretary in negotiating with iran, you seem to give them the benefit of the doubt they will comply with the agreement, but i agree with the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister who said we think past actions best predict future actions. Iran defied United Nations Security Council and iaea. Simply put iran has not earned the right to have benefit of the doubt. Iran is a bad actor. We know that. Numerous hearing pointed out iranian activity in the western hemisphere. Even the defense minister of israel acknowledges in a december 9th article in the times of israel, he states iran built infrastructure of terror in central and south africa in order to among other goals had a basis to attack u. S. These are the guys were negotiating with. Iran clearly implicated in buenos aires bombings. Abandon 190 years of policy by declaring the Monroe Doctrine era is over. What kind of message does that send . Sends wrong message to iran, china, russia about our liability in the region. Having made all those statements i have to ask, why trust iran . There has been no accountability for past actions and past links to terrorism. I have a series of yes or no questions for you. Iran is still listed by the u. S. Department of state as a state sponsor of terrorism, correct . Yes, it is. Thank you. Is iran still supporting hezbollah and hamas . Yes. Hezbollah still active in south america . Weve established that in this committee and state department agreed in complying with threat and western hemisphere threat. What impact do you think sanctions relief will have on hezbollah and other regional proxies. If we lift these and they have 7 billion, what impact do you think that will have on state sponsored terrorism. Very little. They are a 1 trillion economy. This is a tiny percentage of that. They are not banking on this money to engage in nefarious activities they take place in, which we agree with, all of them. I cited a moment ago our concern about the many other issues from Ballistic Missiles, support for terror, support for hezbollah. I mentioned hezbollah earlier. Obviously these things concern us a lot, congressman. Nowhere, nowhere, not once today, nothing that i said intimated in any way whatsoever a benefit of any doubt. I sat here and said were skeptical. I sat here and said they have to prove it. I sat here and said were going to test them. I said were not going to mention the word test. This is based on testing and verification. I dont know where you get benefit of doubt. Theres no benefit of any doubt here. This is a very skeptical and tested and focused process of verifying a program that we have to account to the world for. Let me ask you another question, then, does north korea have Nuclear Weapons . North korea does not have a program yet that is capable. They have had some explosion devices. In february 2007 north korea agreed to abandoning all Nuclear Weapons and existing Nuclear Programs and returning at an early date to a treaty on nonproliferation Nuclear Weapons and iaea safeguard. Supposedly this significant achievement committed six parties at that time to an agreement to a denuclearized p korean peninsula. Guess what, september 2008, they were back. We gave them 700 i think it was 950,000 tons of fuel if they would stop their Nuclear Weapons program. I go back to one of the gentlemen to my left said freeze and unfreeze. Thats exactly what happened in north korea. They froze it and got what they wanted out of the deal and restarted it. Im afraid were going to see this similar thing happen. Different actors, same script. Lois frankel of florida. Thank you, mr. Chair. I know we all agree, thank you, secretary, for your service, perseverance and fortitude. We all agree that iran should not acquire a Nuclear Weapon. I have a few questions. There seems to be listening to my colleagues, a lot of scepticism in the room. Implicit it sounds to me is the belief pushing more sanctions would eventually bring iran to full capitulation. So my question to you really has to do with the timing. Why do you think the timing is right now for these talks. Whether you disagree with the premise more sanctions reach full capitulation is possible one question. Number two, are we getting pressure from our partners not just about sticking with this agreement but with actually bringing an agreement . Do you feel like they are tiring about enforcing sanctions . And then as to the 7 billion, you seem to imply its really more less a drop in the bucket. I know 10 million is a drop in the bucket but you say compared to what stays in place. What is iran getting from this that will lead us to progress in these talks . And last, in talking about the final deal, are you going to be looking at putting back sanctions automatically if certain bench marks are not met . Say the last one again, im sorry . In the final deal, are you looking at sanctions automatically going being put back if certain bench marks are not met . Let me go through each of your questions, congresswoman. Thank you very much. Is the timing right . Is capitulation possible, and what is the timing here. The timing we believe is right for a number of different reasons, because we have the unity of p5 plus 1. We believe iran, the change of administration in iran, wants to try to reach out and see if they can, indeed, achieve a different relationship. For all the mistrust here, i have to tell you theres equal amount if not more mistrust in iran. They mistrust us. They have a complete lack of confidence were willing to make a deal or that well keep the deal. So these things work two ways. They have a perception that we are out for regime change and what we want to do is hammer them and bring more sanctions. Theres a lot of doubt whether were going to negotiate in good faith, which is one of the reasons theres a question here about what we wind up doing after we enter into negotiation. Is capitulation possible . I dont believe it is. It depends what you engage in. Does the United States have the power ultimately militarily . Yeah. Is that where were headed . Is that where americans want to go . Is that what the situation calls for . Thats a whole different set of questions and i doubt answers are affirmative. I think basically sanctions are not going to produce capitulation. I think thats part of the calculation here. I think when you have a country ready to negotiate, and they step up and say were prepared to do this, and we have partners in the deal, if those partners perceive that were not prepared to do it, then they will go off and do what they need to do and you lose unit, what we have, whh is part of what makes sanctions so powerful. We dont want to lose that. In addition you asked what is iran getting. What iran is getting is a road map to the way they can get rid of the sanctions, that they ultimately, hopefully can strike a new relationship. What does that require . It obviously requires things beyond the Nuclear Program. It will require dealing with missiles, Ballistic Missiles, terrorism, their support for it, with other kinds of activities. Youve got to begin somewhere. The most immediate threat to us and our friends in the region is the Nuclear Program and thats where weve begun. Mr. Brooks of alabama. Thank you, mr. Secretary, for sharing your time with us on a very important and very highrisk issue. In 2005, the president of iran stated, quote, israel must be wiped off the page of time, end quote. In 2006, the president of iran said, quote, whether you like it or not, the zionist regime, referring to israel, is on the road to being eliminated, end quote. Also in 2006 the iranian president added that, quote, the zionist regime is a rotten, dry tree that will be eliminated by one storm, end quote. I emphasize that a Nuclear Attack on israel certainly qualifies as being, quote, eliminated by one storm, end quote. The jewish community, the United States, and for that matter almost all the rest of the world disregarded adolf hitlers threats and were deceived by hitlers promises in the 1930s resulting the holocaust and murder of millions of innocent jews. In as much as israel appears to be irans number one target, i give great weight to israels opinion about the iran nuke deal you advocate. So far israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not been favorably impressed having said, quote, what was achieved in geneva is not an historic agreement, it is an historic mistake, end quote. Quote, to a large degree, this agreement rescues iran from the pressure it has been under and also gives it International Legitimacy to continue its Nuclear Program. This is a bad agreement, end quote. It seems to me, mr. Secretary, that the key to any agreement is whether the United States can and will enforce it. In that vein, mr. Secretary, april 14th, 2013, chairman of the Services Committee and chairman of the house Permanent Committee on intelligence mike rogers sent president obama and you a letter that states in part, quote, since october, we have written to you twice with our concerns about a massive russian violation and circumvention of arms control obligation to the United States of great significance to this nation and to its nato allies, end quote. Given the Obama Administrations failure to enforce arms control agreements with russia, what can you say to israel and the rest of our allies in the middle east to convince them that america is still a reliable ally, that america will enforce agreements with iran or else, and that america is not ignoring history and repeating the Neville Chamber appeasement and retreat that helped trigger world war ii and the death of tens of millions of people around the world. Let me begin, congressman, by first of all condemning in the strongest language possible those expressions of hate and sheer and utter insanity asking for a country to be wiped off the face of the map and time and for people to be so. That language is the most abhorrent kind of language you can find in any discourse of public life. It has no place in a reasonable world. Its unacceptable, and we should never hear that kind of language again. Secondly, with respect to Prime Minister netanyahu and, quote, his attitude about this, ive had many conversations with the Prime Minister. Hes a friend of mine. We talk frequently. I respect his leadership. But i think he and i are working very, very effectively together in a lot of things. He knows, and i think israel knows, that nothing will come between our relationship, our security relationship, our commitment to israel is ironclad. We just may occasionally have a difference of tactics, but we have no difference strategically in what our goal is. Our goal is to make israel safer, make the world and region safer. We are committed to not allowing iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. This president , i will tell you, uneequivocably without any question, demonstrably, measurably has done more to provide for the security of israel than any other administration in history. Mr. Secretary, my time is running out. Im going to emphasize the privilege of answering your question, congressman. Im not going to sit here. Mr. Chairman, five to ten seconds. Excuse me, i think theres time, mr. Brooks, for you to ask a question and certainly for our secretary of state to answer that question. Thank you. The president has made certain that israel has iron dome, b22 osprey, no other nation has it. Israel has weaponry no other nation has. We have an aid program, a day to day collaboration, day to day. Even this week the National Security adviser is here collaborating talking about how we approach this question in dealing with iran. So i will tell you that we take no back seat to any administration ever in our support and our friendship and commitment to the state of israel. Now, that said, i think that the United States has engaged in many efforts in the region now that be supportive. We are removing weapons of mass destruction from syria. Were engaged major discussions with saudis, syria, about other issues. I think those countries understand that when the president says iran will not get a Nuclear Weapon, and he actually develops the military capacity to guarantee that, which no other president did, they can trust the president means what he said. Thank you, mr. Secretary. In april 2009, president obama said in prague, rules must be binding violations punished, words must mean something, end quote. If theres anything i can do to assist you in that regard with respect to these agreements, please let me know. Absolutely. I will tell you we are folk ocu on those and we take them seriously. Thank you, again, mr. Secretary. I understand you have to go. Im sorry we didnt get to all the members. The department will be available to answer the written questions. The secretary of state will be involved in that process in the days and weeks ahead. We again thank all the members for attending today. With your permission, mr. Chairman, we didnt have time to do this earlier. I would like to put something on the record. I keep hearing this and i dont think it adequately reflects the record. The fbi is currently conducting investigation and working through the law to try to apprehend identifiable people with respect to what happened in benghazi. It is absolutely inaccurate to suggest that nobody paid a price in the state department for what happened. A report was delivered to me. I have acted on that report as i said i would. Two people were demoted and retired. Two retired. Two careers were ended over it and they left the department. Two other careers have seen demotions as a consequence of what happened there. I think it is simply inaccurate, and i hope we will stop repeating something as a mythology that has no basis in fact. There was accountability, there is accountability, and we need to go forward from that, quite frankly. Thank you, mr. Secretary. As you know we made a request for a lot of data, some of which we got and a lot we did not. We look forward continuing to work with you to have the the questions that were answered asked by members of congress, answered by the department of state and receiving the information that we have requested. We thank you again for your testimony here today. We thank the members. Thank you, mr. Chairman. We stand adjourned. To suppoe refugees. This is one hour and 35 minutes. We are going to start. I know that senator graham is on his way. We have a situation where we are having a series of votes. We are having people going back and forth. I hope that doesnt indicate to anybody a lack of interest because this is a major level of interest. I want to applaud senator graham. He represents the republicans on this. I applaud him for his concerns. I said to the ambassador from lebanon and jordan that if you had this many refugees in a wealthy part of the u. S. , for example, like california with all kinds of Natural Resources it would be an enormous strain. It is far more so in these areas. I commend you and applaud you for the humanitarian stance that both of your countries have taken. It is a horrific situation, and unfortunately, it will be reflected in the lives of so many of these people. Here. L have Anne Richards ambassador brown of jordan. And we know the United Nations has traveled a long distance. We are grateful for that. I thank senator graham who proposed this hearing. We have a humanitarian catastrophe in syria. It continues to unfold in syria. Not just that syria, no one more directly than jordan and lebanon. I want to commend you for your generosity. Youve done this even though others might shirk from this. I commend both of your countries. The number of refugees change all the time. 557,000. We know that there are more than that. In jordan, they are living mostly in tent camps like this picture here. In lebanon, they are scattered among the general population. Over here. For people who have traveled to lebanon, as i have, know that you have some varied types of topography and geography. You have two governments. They are facing huge strains on their government and their populations. The war in syria shows no sign of ending. The protracted crisis is going to be stressful on lebanon and jordan. Turkey andas on iraq. It is going to require significant donor aid for years to come. And then when the war ends, how do you take millions of refugees and have them put their lives and their communities back together. That task is daunting. Jordan is a close ally of the United States. They are already accomodating 2 million palestinian refugees. Lebanon is struggling with a myriad of problems, not the least of which is the influence of hezbollah. And there is the crisis in africa. Particularly in africa. And the budget is limited. We want to hear about the most urgent needs. We will start am. Richard with you. Then we will go alphabetically. I will go to the other ambassadors. Thank you very much. Thank you for holding this hearing to review the humanitarian crisis in syria. Everyone is looking at how the u. S. Is responding. At the outset of the hearing, i want to thank the subcommittee for making possible all of the resources that allow the u. S. Government to be a leader in a humanitarian response. They provided generous funding for humanitarian aid and allowed us to respond to the crisis in syria and the surrounding region. The u. S. Has provided more than 1. 3 billion in humanitarian aid since the beginning of the crisis. The farsighted action of the subcommittee has undoubtedly saved many lives. The funding has helped keep borders open. It has led us to so when opportunities arose in syria to respond to a regional crisis. We have been able to Pay Attention to other troubled laces around the globe. United states is the worlds humanitarian leader. You know quite a bit about the crisis. There has been massive destruction in the country of syria. The crisis has claimed thousands of lives. For every one person who has been killed, six people have been injured. More than 6 million have fled their homes and are still trying to survive as best as they can. 2 million have fled to neighboring countries. Some of fled to camps in turkey or jordan. These camps are used to illustrate the crisis. Most are living outside of camps. 80 dont live in camps. They found shelters and local communities. That is partly why, if you look at the map, there are hundreds of communities that have taken refugees in. Hospital beds are filled by syrian patients. And the neighboring governments are concerned that they must stress the services they provide to their own citizens to reach the overwhelming people in need. We have to admit it is a struggle to keep pace with the immense scale of this emergency. However, the organizations that we fund, both governmental and nongovernmental organizations, and you will hear from ngos a moment, are professionals who are at personal risk to provide aid. These organizations are doing a great deal in a dangerous situation. 13 u. N. Staff members have been killed. One un staffer has been reportedly abducted. Nine reported missing. 32 staff or volunteers were killed in the line of duty. These agencies are a multifaceted response. You will see in my testimony that there is an acrossthe board spectrum of all of the things theyre doing. In my written does money, we tell you the conflict has intensified, and there are hard to reach areas. This has been a major challenge. To get inside to the people who need the help and do so safely. People are tracking locations that are cities that are besieged. There are part of cities that are besieged that we can get to. We are concerned this is a deliberate tactic to starve them into submission. We have seen the reemergence of polio and the spread of other diseases, such as the rate of measles. Children are not in school. We need to keep the borders open so that people not get trapped inside syria. We have been monitoring the situation very carefully. I want to talk today about the arrival in winter and the changes that that presents. They need insulating tents. They need warmth grade they need warmer close. We are concerned about gender based violence. That is an issue that i know has been of concern to many. The us has taken steps to erase the scourge. And we will have someone talk about the importance of refugee camp security. Those are the top issues. The us is working to support regional security. We work with the world food program. We support refugees and palestinians trapped inside syria. We seek to use every channel possible to get into those areas that needed. That is across all forging of syria. We are also supporting the neighboring governments and communities. I discuss that in my written testimony. Looking ahead, we believe that the u. S. Must remain a leader in the humanitarian response. We are focusing right now on the october 2 statement, the president ial statement became out of the Security Council that called for all of the parties of the conflict to allow extension of relief operations and allow medical care to get to the sick and stopped deliberate targeting of medical facilities. Humanitarian leaders have found it difficult to reach people in need. We have recently gotten some agreement from the syrian regime. They will allow assistance to enter syria for jordan and iraq during they have allowed the streamlining of convoy we have to see whether this happens on the ground. I am not optimistic that this is a key moment in this crisis as the world comes together to try to make a difference in what is happening there. To address the rampant violations of law that have been a hallmark of this conflict. This has demanded a great deal of attention from Foreign Policymakers, not just humanitarian offices but diplomats and we are fortunate that we have been led by folks in the white house and secretary kerry and our seven floor in a whole series of efforts just in the past two weeks. There have been discussions on overcoming obstacles. Took part in a highlevel dialogue convened by to response coordinator and try to discuss some of these access issues and there is periodic gathering of the emergency directors, all coming together to 80 different. Finally in the next coming weeks we will see the u. N. Issue a major appeal for assistance and kuwait clans to cohost a pledging conference scheduled for january 19, 20 14. We cannot do the things were doing without your support and help and we are tremendously grateful what for what you have done. Thank you very much. Honorable ranking members and committee members, good morning. Thank you for the invitation and the opportunity to testify before your esteemed subcommittee today. I am equally happy and glad to be here today with secretary ann veryrds and addressing a important issue. Majestysend his appreciation for your long standing friendship and support. You for your strong leadership. My testimony will focus on the jordanian perspective visavis the recent domestic challenges. I hope to demonstrate the challenges we face as a country during this time and the value of our unique Strategic Alliance to safeguard our joint interest and address the issues at hand. Factsoy we believe the of what is happening right now will extend far beyond these borders if we do not despond and address the issues firsthand. The dangers are mounting by the day. This is unmatched in our recent history. In addition the palestinian israeli conflict continues to andume the resources needed feeds radicalism and extremism around the world. I would like to take a moment here to recognize and express our gratitude to president obama and secretary kerry for their relentless efforts and commitment to the ongoing peace efforts. Historicald a regional transformation that swept our region. During the stimulant times jordan managed to navigate calmly and provide sanctuary and security and stability to those seeking refuge. Jordan stands firm in his commitment to keep its borders open. We see this as a humanitarian duty and we have no plans to shy todayrom this commitment. We are witnessing the worst to military and played in the regions recent history. The crisis enabling syria has resulted in grave human costs and suffering. This has posed in unprecedented challenge on my country. Due to jordans new political positioning and ties with the Syrian People, we are able to monitor i keep close eye on what is happening right there. I would like to draw your attention to three main points that best characterize the conflicts and explosive nature of this. [inaudible] thank you. Good afternoon. Forologize to all of you our running back and forth and i am sure that senators leahy and graham have said the same thing. I think we should go ahead and begin, madam ambassador. If you could continue with your testimony, senator leahy will be back shortly. Click thank you so much for giving the opportunity. Just a minute ago i was saying that due to jordans new vertical positioning and close ties with the Syrian People we are able to keep a close eye on the deteriorating situation over there. I would like to draw your kind attention to the main three points or traits that best characterize the conflicts and the explosive nature of the syrian crisis. This is a rapidly escalating crisis that has sectarian components. Some of which seek to exploit the crisis into neighboring countries. What has made matters worse is the presence and use of unconventional weapons. This makes a dangerous combination which bears unimaginable consequences that impact our security regionally as well as locally. The humanitarian dimension that hasemerged from this crisis reached an alarming state. Where witnessing firsthand human , men, women, and children at the borders fleeing from the atrocities and from the human tragedy happening inside syria. I would like to take a moment to include and applaud all the u. N. Agencies, particularly [inaudible] and their dinner partners in their efforts to alleviate the suffering of the syrians. Jordan is committed to work with them closely on this noble cause. These are overwhelming factors that face all jordanians and further undermine our ability to assume our responsibilities. So far the number of syrians who sought refuge in jordan exceed 600,000 which represents 10 of our population. Some are spread into our cities and villages. Having a big impact on our resources and our stretched infrastructure. Focusing primarily on accommodating the immediate needs of Syrian Refugees in the kingdom as they adapt to their surroundings and jordanian cities and villages. This will add more pressure and increase in the medium future. To put things in perspective i would like to share with you with the little time i have some that reflects the level of crisis has on jordan. After spending hundreds of millions of dollars on reforming jordan wason sector, forced to reinstate the system in order to admit and i got to know this number yesterday, 97,000 children in our schools alone this year alone. The estimated needed Capital Expenditure to build 100 new schools or the increasing number of syrian children inside the school will definitely exceed one and 135 million. The public ,as healthcare sector syrians are granted the same access to services as our this is subsidized by the government. More than nine percent of our budget is allocated to health care. The estimated cost to build new hospitals and Health Centers exceeds 124 million. In addition the estimated cost of added Healthcare Services is expected to reach 160 million. This year we have vaccinated against polio, measles, and other Infectious Diseases over 83 82,000 children. , jordan hases eradicated them a long time ago from our radical history. There are concerns over the increasing number of jobseekers as they compete with jordanians for lowwage jobs. Usually80,000 jobs occupied by jordanians have been taken by syrians. This figure is not worth since this exceeds 13 of the population of only 7 million. Tensionscreated social. In the Energy Sector there is a demand on electricity. With the large number of syrians present in another part of the kingdom. What made matters more in theging was the drop gas supplies to major due to the interaction of the gas pipeline in the past two years. This further exasperated this position which resulted in an energy bill that reached 19 and 22 of our gdp and 2012. Compared to an average of 10 over the past decade. Water has been a scarce resource. We were are one of the poorest countries in terms of Water Resources and the added strain on the infrastructure requires rehabilitation and the expansion of water and wastewater networks. This sits on the best aquifer oft we have in other parts the kingdom. If we do not do anything about the water issues were going to be faced with a huge pollution problem regarding one of our best aquifers in the north of jordan. The government of jordan need to be well prepared to provide urgent support for a humanitarian crisis of this magnitude. There is the time. You have further statements about the additional cost. I would have put your full statement in the record. Theyre going back and forth and voting. Your statement will be placed in the records. We want to help in any way. Facts incompelling here. I want to make sure that the investor gets a chance to speak and your whole statement will be placed in the record. Thank you. Thank you. Opportunity tohe come in front of you to give you an update of the situation in lebanon caused by the huge number of refugees who entered my country and its impact and implication on every level. I would like to briefly inform you on the good relations between the u. S. In lebanon. Based on a great degree of shared values and a long history of cooperation and friendship. The relationship between the u. S. And lebanon has been close. Americans have contributed immensely by actively participating in all aspects of life promoting the mutual interest of our two great nations. This is a clear example of the interaction. Congresscan lebanese has been important in this regard. This is based on five things, the same terrorism and sectarianism and protecting democracy, human rights, freedom of expression, and public liberty. To thank the u. S. For their valuable assistance. The remarkableis acknowledgment of officials and the assistant secretary. And the representatives of the u. N. Hdr. This is a painful cry on behalf of lebanon to be heard. Specifically by the American Congress and your esteemed committee. It is a cry of pain. Favorite day impact of the crisis in lebanon increases. The largest figures demonstrate 835,000 and we look at this map, the map of lebanon, the red dots are where the syrians are. White dots are in areas where they cannot be. They will cover all of lebanon unfortunately. Demonstrateigures. Hat they are awaiting hadmorning the u. N. 300,000 refugees. To number has changed 769,000 as an increased by 6000 during one single day. This massive increase does not relay the whole story. If we add a legal refugees, the isber is 1. 3 million which about 30 of the lebanese population. Themalent to having entered germany in one year and during the u. S. In the same time. They have increased the population. The impact of the country so far is deep and threatens to unravel the country economically, politically, and socially. The world banks Impact Assessment estimates loss to be billion from 2012 through 2014. Unemployment is likely to reach 20 at 324,000. Prompted and the growth rate has turned into a minus one percent decline in 2012. That was the same story with the increase of 20 in october 2010 and also turned into a 30 decline in october 2012. The impact has been severe. The direct impact on budget revenues will decline at one point 5 billion. In addition there is the the needs of the country related to humanitarian needs. 32 has been funded so far. The price of is proving too much to bear for lebanon. In addition the syrian presence is causing severe stress as competition for the sources increases. Their presence is causing increased tension. This has led to additional hostility toward syrians and has increased racist sentiment sometimes toward them. We call on the International Community to increase its assistance to lebanon and to do so quickly. We call for our friends to share the human burden with lebanon. We call on the massive trinitys solution tolitical the crisis. Despite all that, lebanon has remained faithful to his hearing trayvon, not to close its borders. This aggravating burden yields an existential crisis in view of such suddensions of overpopulation. They followed the successful [inaudible] and was very highly attended by the u. N. And the d5 and the arab league and other u. N. Agencies. The American Administration was represented at a very high level by the honorable john kerry personally. Based on the common responsibility of the International Community, the lebanese need the care and support of weatherly and friendly countries in order to face the negative repercussions of this huge external conflict which is not of their own making. The which threatens their security and stability. As you now, lebanon is a small country, the size of the state within anicut living area with limited resources. It is not possible to impose a [inaudible] reiterate thet to call of lebanon to increase assistance to the escalating burdens. Already in eastern lebanon, there are 20,000 refugees. Adding more to the suffering of whichalready present and will stretch the capacities of all concerned. I such rests on the upcoming should stress it looks like lebanon in the area are expecting a blistering winter which already started with a strong so he stormed and it is hitting the area today. Situation tragic worse. The government is committed to support within its capacity awaiting the disturbed to get home. These matters seemed pressing and urgent. Hopefully this will be provided by the geneva [indiscernible] a solution that will likely and hopefully included dignified and safe return. Let me conclude by emphasizing a fact. Problem theythis will enhance the security and stability of this country. The spillover of the syrian situation to this country, creating aluded is conducive and ferment for terrorism and federalist organizations. Statement,in your you quoted antonio gutierrez. You put in his quote, i applaud you for doing this because you quickly,o not act innocence will become lasting casualties. I could not agree more. We have two minutes to get to the floor. Senatorvote. Either shaheen or senator graham will be back where i will. Apologize either do this the rescheduled this on saturday morning and i did not want to do that to any of you. Thank you. We stand recessed. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2013] we will reconvene the hearing. Sorry for the interaction but we had a lot of those today. A difficult day to get around the senate. Very quickly before we go to the next witness. I want to thank senator devaneys staff for putting on this hearing. I hope members, i know people are busy. Willthe staff of this listen closely to what is being said. We have a humanitarian crisis on of almost the vocal proportions here. I do not see any end in sight. Lebanon, jordan, and the whole region is very much at risk and what we do in the coming months can affect the outcome and the quality of peoples lives, the difference between living and dying, whether or not governments can remain intact. I cannot think of a more important time for the congress to be engaged when it comes to lebanon, syria, jordan, the entire region in terms of what we can do to help our partners and other coalition partners. With that, thank you. The office off refugees, we would like to thank you for this opportunity to be to discuss the humanitarian situation, discuss the situation of refugees and discuss the needs of the host countries. Particularly jordan. It was not for the host countries keeping their borders could do would be extremely limited. When we talk about refugees it means people who have fled the violence have been able to seek safety. It was this was two days ago when i was up on the jordanian border with syria. Close to iraq. Here you have photographs every day, every night were seeing refugees cross and sometimes we get a bit blase. Whether it is 800,000 or 600,000 or one million, you start losing the focus and the focus should be on how many women and children and elderly and vulnerable are coming across and haveng safety and today we we have staffe on the border with armed forces working to , whereefugees across they are is a desert. It has flooded. Required armed forces to bring us out. They used six tanks and a pcs bring the refugees to safety. The armed forces have their vehicles on top of a hill shining into syria to direct the refugees to come to jordan. This is a country that we need to help. 600,000they have got syrians now. We could have a total of 800,000 by the end of the year. It takes us four days to move the refugees from the border to the cam. E had children coming across they had their feet stuck in the mud trying to cross the border. We will bring up like its again. One of the things we have been because ofieve the generosity of the u. S. People, it is when you provide blankets and shoes and the codes to women and children that are crossing the border in the snow on the rain that you say, ok, this is what the priority has to be because we are saving lives. When we do move the refugees into jordan, we cannot forget the needs of the jordanians who provide protection to them and i can go through the costs and the numbers. I could make three main points so you can take them away. We need to continue the amount of support and we need to enhance it and ensure that there is a linkage between the emergency humanitarian response with the development response. This crisisway that is going to end tomorrow. We need to provide the confidence of the government of jordan that we have their backs. That we are their friends, and we support what they are doing. Because how much money are you talking about . We have an appeal coming out next in two weeks time. This involves 60 actors. In the whole scheme of things when you look at the middle east and you are looking at stability you invest now and you recoup those costs and that is something that the high commissioner has been engaged in. I will have seen the jordanians working from the frontlines to the hospitals to the camps, to , so again i do not want to talk too much because my testimony is there for the record. The ambassador has spoken eloquently. The partnership between the government of jordan the master week despite the lasthelming and even week, despite overwhelming crisis, they increased the validity of the refugee registration. This means refugees do not have to come to the opposite we six months. Every come to the office every six months. Free education and free health care, which the government of jordan is paying for. Across the board, we need report and support jordan not only in 2013 and 2014 and 2015. Until such a time the situation in syria can be solved. Thank you. , the previous speakers have detailed currently many aspects syrian of the syrian crisis. With your indulgence, i would like to concentrate on a few points. What this crisis has meant is a global as a Global Organization is consequences of refugees and the critical operational challenges that we face and some of the future implications. Took office,sioner he pledged that our organization would have the ability to respond to a crisis. We are currently dealing with 6. 5 million inside syria. 2. 3 million outside syria. Possibly by the end of next year, another one million to come. We have proved our ability to respond. With a speed and on a scale and with a complexity that our organization has to address. One statistic from lebanon is a vice to evidence that the estimate in 2011 was 4. 3 million. Today with the addition of the refugees, a stance at 5. 3 million. Ist 5. 3 million figure equivalent to what the population was projected to be in the year 2050. The ability of a country to observe that many people in such a short time speaks eloquently to the humanitarian on solidarity and enormous generosity of the people of lebanon in meeting that crisis. Whatnal challenge does it mean . We have to find the logistical means to respond to 1600 settlements scattered across the country. In many of those, the population of syrians is a ready 30 or more of the communities. These are places where the isrest live, where there enormous competition for resources, jobs, workers, electricity. This makes the logistical challenge extreme. Access to shelter, medical assistance, education, job opportunities, the is of the. Ost challenging opportunities for refugees, our work means that they are documented and registered. It means properly registering newborn children so they have a legal identity. It means ensuring that children are immunized against Early Childhood diseases like polio and measles. It means having access to school for vocal families he means having access to food. It means for horrible families to have access to food it means having access to school. It means having access to food. A means for vulnerable families to have access to food. By early next year, our organization, we expect to have this many people on the ground in our offices across the country, almost as many as we have in our headquarters in geneva. Being physically close to the people we serve is an article of faith for us. Understanding their needs and those of the local population is critical to the efficient delivery of our work. Of the speedion and scale and complexity of the to find neworced us ways to gain efficiency to improve our effectiveness and to reduce transactional costs to the lowest we can. One of our programs has an overhead of 1 . Situation hasian forced us to into a different approach. In two years, our operation in lebanon, we have gone from only 9 million to over 253 million. s refugees have had no were steadfast partner than the people of the United States. Our Regional Response, one of the largest in our history has so far generated 1. 8 billion. The United States has contributed 349 million. One third of that program go store operations in lebanon. Goes to operations in lebanon. Were not in the crystal ball gazing business, but we have to be prepared. Our estimate is that by this time or the end of next year, we will have approximately another 1. 5 million refugees crossing the border. In geneva, we launch six Regional Response plans here at our figure for that is over 3 million oh. Your support 3 Million People. Your support not only in lebanon, but around the world weredozens of countries working keys away from the headlines, our income is from private donations. Our core budget still depends largely on monetary contribution from government. Speak. Ourselves our results speak. Thank you for your confidence in our work and your genesis port generous support to refugees. Thank you. Thank you. Ok. Thank you for that very compelling testimony. Is there a document that has been prepared by the state that would basically submit to congress what we can do for the region . What are the ripple effects of the syrian conflict in terms of refugees . How much money do you need not just in lebanon and jordan, but for the whole region . If you could do that, i think it would be helpful to make every quest of the committee. What do you need to handle the syrian crisis, country by country . What would you recommend that outside direct assistance . A sort of business plan. If you could make in multiple years. Make it multiple years. Is that a fair request . I think the omb would have to agree. I will write them. Absolutely. It is for congress to understand the totality of it. You mentioned is that the ways they are name . You say your name . [inaudible] okay. 2050 to getcting that number it is amazing that the countries are having to absorb. Agencies toto get give you the authority to do that. Can let people know that we care and send our National Security interests. Be glad if senator leahy is interested to get permission to do that here at from your point of view to do that. Is your point of view that your understanding . You dont have to answer. Does not in my lane. I probably shouldnt answer, but i want to say that we are very theseed in trying to use next series of meetings leading up to geneva to try to make headway on the humanitarian east. Piece. I know that the opposition have a few things in order to participate in peace agreements. Except the past 11 they have said they will not accept assad. This is a key time right now. It is whether they can get in. Madam and basinger, from a jordanian point of view, what is the status between jordan and the United States madame ambassador, from a jordanian point of view, what is the status between jordan and the United States . The understanding is crucially important. It keeps us within the context of what do we have . It allows the government to budget and plan for the next four years. We are in negotiations with the state department for the renewal for the next four years. It enables us to plan and missed a fluctuating situation that jordan is experiencing right now. A fluctuating situation that jordan is experiencing right now. Thanks to you, we are able to do that. Thatld also like to ask the communities that take care of the refugees and the refugee camps is extremely important. It is because they are sharing the little bits that they have. I have been in the communities. By beforeard to come the refugees came. Many newmagine having people competing for the few jobs that exist . That is why the government is in negotiations now or engagement with the state department. In addition to that, the government has worked with agencies to prepare a platform for the different projects that are catering the communities. How would you describe the pressure being placed on the jordanian government and the people of syria . Huge. Unsustainable . Very much so. More help is very much needed. Happen if jordan had to close their borders . What we are seeing is so much we do not even want to contemplate. It is that bad . Having borders open is a lifesaving element. What they do its because of the tradition of generosity. A culture of helping those flee. What we need to do is ensure that jordan does not suffer any more than what it has. This is an international conflict. Written in lebanon or a countries like lebanon are absorbing the conflict. There was a town. There was a hospital there. There were 16 baby incubators there. 12 of them are being used by syrians. Being used byre nationals. They should give you an example of what we need to might negate the impact of the syrians you can use that. People talk about aquifers. But jordan is doing is it is leveraging its future in order to pay the price of being an example to the rest of the world in regards of how to handle refugees. We need to step provide support now to mitigate these costs. What kind of rusher is your country under from syria pressure is your country under from syria . As you can see from the map, the dots are those are mountain areas where they cannot live. Opened our schools to refugees. In their security and law and everything. Especially security. We are a very dedicated country. My time is about up. I would like to end on a note of , where are we going to go . Do you see this war coming to a conclusion anytime soon . Expecte set can we assad to be in power next her . How old this movie end, for lack of a better term . Is assad winning . How well it end . Ladies first. Thank you. We would definitely tackle this issue and say what the time span is and what have you. It is difficult to predict. And what we have seen on the ground, that is happening in terms of the act david he in the field. It makes it even vague activity is happening in the field. It makes it to bake. To itadd it adds makes it vague. A refugee or contemplate on going back to their country. It does not just receiving and hosting refugees now, but hosting them for the long term. There are multiple that that jordan has. Could you briefly of course. End. Ll see how it will we hope so. Nobody find a solution. We hope to find a solution. It does not look we have reached this actuation. We hope that the war will end tomorrow. We we could come to a certain solution. Think you, mr. Chairman. Not just her for testimony, but for what each of you are doing to address this humanitarian crisis not just for your testimony, but for what each of you are doing to address this humanitarian crisis. Thank you for what youre doing. That true the remarkable you have been willing to take on this number of refugees. World has note shown it today, we certainly are great all for what you have done. We need to provide additional assistance. Thent to start with assistant secretary richard. Im signed mr. Testimony. One of the most important things we can do to address the crisis is to improve the situation on the ground in syria, make sure the people who are there i getting the help that they need and to end the conflict. Can you talk a little bit about whether there is more that we can do as that United States through that u. N. Can make sure that the assistance is getting people is getting to people who needed inside of syria . Thank you, senator for the question. That the u. S. Has contributed to respond to the sis in the region we have been working with partners. Cross. E red with usaid, it is a food program. Where they have been able to get access, we have been able to do tremendously good. Is over 2m is there Million People inside of syria that are places that do not get regular access. The people who are in these deceased is cities where they are completely cut off from aid. We are trying to get countries around the world to put pressure on various parties of the conflict inside of syria. Stop targeting medical facilities. Attack on civilians is one of the most gruesome things i have ever seen in my adult life in terms of going against and harming innocent families and children or casualties of this work. It keeps continuing. We are trying hard to see if russia can be brought to bear on all sides to stop this type of bloody attacks on civilians. Whereiously to countries been helpful and not willing to step up in the way that is really needed are russia and china. Are there ways in which we can and take them responsibility that they have as world powers to stop the humanitarian crisis . They have been engaged through the un Security Council through their membership. More recently, two weeks ago, i received and personally was meeting with counterparts around the world, including russia, in additionrabia to the usual major donors. Step inthis is a good terms of having these conversations. We need to see what happens on the ground and whether the conversations converge into changes that are tangible and make a measurable difference. In that, we have not yet seen. And mentioned it makes testimony that we have seen utterances from that regime and that they will provide visas and that they will let tomboys through. We have not seen enough for me to give you a positive report yet. Again, i do not know if anyone else on this panel as thought about whether there is more the u. S. Can do to try to encourage other members of the International Community to step up given that amount of money raised,had hoped to be as now we have only raised about 60 of that internationally. Efforts that we can undertake that can try to encourage Additional Support to address his creditors . There will be a pledging conference. It will be the second time that kuwait hosts that. We are encouraging i was about to mention the same thing and say that kuwait and other countries have been extremely generous when it comes to the Syrian Refugees. This is a crisis of a different magnitude. This is a crisis of a different depth. It is to be discussed during the next conference on the Syrian Refugees. Jordan and the refugees and help the Host Communities that are hosting the camps as well. Earlier, you have been in the forefront of helping jordan. You have been our voice as well. Thank you enough and for your support. Thankould say and administration. They are doing a good job. We thank them and pushing other countries to help and assist. We want to show how important it is not only from the humanitarian point of view, but a civilian point of view. Helped, then there were be conducive ambience for teis