Briefing Skipper: China, Iran, Cuba, Sudan

In which we scour the transcript of the State Department’s daily presser so you don’t have to. Here are the highlights of Friday’s briefing by spokesman P.J. Crowley:

• Seems like the Obama administration is getting more vocal on human rights cases in China. Crowley started the briefing by expressing the State Departments "concerns" about the indictment of Liu Xiaobo, the Chinese dissident being held on charges of subversion. "We call on the government of China to release him immediately and to respect the rights of all Chinese citizens to peacefully express their political views and desires for universally recognized fundamental freedoms," Crowley said, noting the irony of the fact that Liu’s indictment came on Human Rights Day. The Chinese rejected the call.
• Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, to discuss a lot of things, including Serbia’s cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal, which has been spotty at best.
• Nothing new to report on the 5 detained suburban Washingtonians being held in Pakistan, "but as to how they got themselves to Pakistan, what they were intent on doing there and so forth, that is still something that is being investigated," Crowley said.
• Special Envoy George Mitchell was among the officials who met with Lebanese President Michel Suleima on his visit to DC. The others included Clinton, Vice President Joseph Biden, and of course President Obama. Apparently Obama wanted to talk arms smuggling, but as for the Mitchell meeting, "I can assume that it involved a more granular discussion about the status of the peace process," Crowley said. Mitchell will not travel to the region again this year, probably early next year.
• Still no consular access to the American contractor being held in a high security Cuban prison after being caught handing out electronic devices to Cuban activists. But Crowley did admit that such activities were part of the U.S. activities there. "Part of our programs are centered on providing and helping groups provide a capability to network and to communicate," he said. Interesting.
• Crowley refused to state clearly what the administration’s concerns are with the Iran sanctions bills moving through Congress now, despite persistent questioning. But don’t worry, The Cable has got you covered here and here.
• Crowley wouldn’t comment on the reports that China who won’t return to the P5+1 talks before the end of the year. "I would say that all the members of P-5 plus one, from the strong statements that we have put forward, in recent weeks and months, share concern about — you know, about Iran." Very helpful, thanks. Undersecretary of State Bill Burns was in China last week discussing the issue.
• He did seem to suggest that media reports about Iran’s work on a "nuclear trigger," are on target. "It was a fine piece of journalism," said Crowley, "Enough said."
• Crowley gave a full throated defense of Sudan Special Envoy Scott Gration, who has been coming under increasing criticism from lawmakers. "Scott Gration has been working, you know, very, very hard not only in terms of our bilateral discussions with officials in Sudan but in terms of garnering, you know, greater involvement in the region, around the world," Crowley said, "So the idea that we have not been focused on Sudan is flat wrong."