Question: I actually had one on India.
Ms Psaki: Oh, okay.
Question: I know - yeah, I know we've...
Ms Psaki: Let's go to India and then Russia. Go ahead, Roz.
Question: Talk about Mr Modi's visa, all about it (Laughter).
Ms Psaki: Go ahead, Roz.
Question: It looks as if Mr Modi may be able to declare victory as early as Friday. Given that the outgoing ambassador met with him in March before she left New Delhi, is it fair to assume that, in a phrase, "All is forgiven," and that if he is indeed confirmed as the new prime minister, that he will get a visa to come to the US to do official business?
Ms Psaki: As you know, we don't talk about visa applications. We're looking forward to working...
Question: Unless you want to.
Ms Psaki: ...with the new Indian government when they're elected. But I'm not going to speculate on that given, obviously, the results haven't been announced yet.
Question: Now, what is the policy of the US government when it comes to all fairly installed foreign leaders? Do they automatically qualify for a visa to come to the US on official business? Is that US policy? And if not, why not?
Ms Psaki: Well, heads of state and heads of government are eligible for A1 visas - visa classification under the INA. No individual automatically qualifies for a US visa. The US law exempts foreign government officials, individuals - including heads of state and heads of government - from certain - for certain potential inadmissibility grounds. I'm not going to get into any greater level of detail.
Question: So you're not suggesting that the answer to this question will be if we see - if Mr Modi does win and become the prime minister, our - the answer to our questions will come if and when he shows up in the US?
Ms Psaki: I'm not speculating. Obviously, I'm not going to speak to visa applications.
Question: Well, let me ask you one more question. Particularly...
Ms Psaki: You're welcome, Elise, for answering your question in the past. Go ahead.
Question: ...because India is quite sensitive to how its diplomats and government officials are treated by the US, is it standard practice for all foreign heads of state or heads of government to sit down with a consular official and apply and be interviewed for a visa?
Ms Psaki: Well, anyone can apply for a visa, Roz, but beyond that, I don't think I have more to add to your question.
Question: Can you check on that, please?
Ms Psaki: I don't think there's anything to check on. I don't have anything more to add on visa applications. Go ahead.
Question: Can I change the subject?
Ms Psaki: Mm-hmm.
Question: On MERS, this virus, I understand the president has been briefed on it, but do you have any new advisories that you're considering for travelers, given that it originated in Saudi Arabia and now some health workers have been infected by some of the people in Florida, in particular?
Ms Psaki: Well, obviously, we've been watching it closely and in close touch with our health experts, but we typically don't predict those. I will check and see if there's anything I can convey to all of you about that.
Question: Russia? Russia?
Ms Psaki: Go ahead.
Question: In response to the latest round of sanctions -
Question: That's spring fever. Sorry.
Question: No problem. In response to the latest round of sanctions, Russia said it would bar the US from using Russian rockets for US military satellite launches. They've also said they reject the US insistence on using the International Space Station past 2020. Does the state department have any reaction to this news?
Ms Psaki: Can you... sorry, can you repeat your question one more time? I just want to make sure I'm answering the right way. Go ahead.
Question: Yeah, okay. No problem. Russia said it would bar the United States from using its rockets on US military rockets. Do you have a reaction to that?
Ms Psaki: Well, obviously, we've had a long co-operation on our space programme with the Russians and we're hopeful that will continue. We still continue to co-operate on a range of issues. We do have a number of materials of the same kind that we can use in the future, so we're just hopeful we'll be able to continue our work with the Russians on this issue.
Edited excerpts from a briefing by the US State Department spokesperson, Jen Psaki, in Washington, May 13, 2014