Joint Press Conference by Secretary Carter and Secretary Michael Fallon > U.S. Department o... 13 of 14 https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/937142/joint-press-conference-... Would you -- I'm not asking you to comment on a leaked report. I'm asking you to comment on the principle, that would you be willing to halt arms sales while that investigation -- independent investigation is underway? SEC. FALLON: Well, we apply principles to our arms exports all the time. And you know the criteria that we've set out. We keep those arms licenses under review the whole time. There are investigations going on by the Saudi authorities into the latest allegation by -- (inaudible). And we await the result of those investigations. Our arms control, export control criteria are some of the strictest in the world. And, you know, we won't hesitate to -- to stop sales to any country if those criteria are infringed. But we need to await the investigation first. Finally, we have some -- I have some 30 defense ministers to go and greet downstairs as they arrive. But we must make time for the London Times. Q: Thank you. Secretary Carter, our newspaper did a piece last week by one of our correspondents, Anthony Lloyd, who was kidnapped in Syria a couple of years ago and he was -- (inaudible) -- and escaped. And actually John Kerry had made some very nice remarks about the incident after he was -- he managed to get -- be freed. And he -- Anthony found out that this guy that perpetrated the kidnapping is now -- seems to be working for one of the U.S.-backed rebel factions in Syria. And I was wondering, he reported this over the weekend. Has that triggered any -- any review of the way that Syrian rebels are vetted and the processes that the U.S. undertakes -- (inaudible)? SEC. CARTER: I don't have anything for you on that case. If you -- if you wait here, I'll see whether anybody 21.02.23, 14:13