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21 July 2005
State Department Briefing, July 21
United Kingdom, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, Russia, Turkey/Iraq, Syria/Iraq, Lebanon/Syria
State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli briefed the press July 21.
Following is the transcript of the State Department briefing:
(begin transcript)
U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing Index
Thursday, July 21, 2005
12:30 p.m. EDT
Briefer: Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman
UNITED KINGDOM
-- Reaction to Bombings in London
-- No Reports of American Citizen Injuries/Status of Embassy
IRAQ
-- Reported Kidnapping of Algerian Envoy/U.S. Condemnation
-- Importance of Diplomatic Missions to Iraq
NORTH KOREA
-- Six-Party Talks/U.S. Committed to Making Progress
-- Ending North Korea's International Isolation
-- Human Rights Situation in North Korea
SUDAN
-- Incident Involving Traveling Press in Khartoum/Secretary Rice's Protest
-- U.S. Concerns Over the Situation in Darfur
RUSSIA
-- Putin's Comments on NGOs/U.S. Support for Democratic Processes Globally
TURKEY/IRAQ
-- U.S.-Turkey's Shared Concern About the PKK/Military Channels
-- U.S. Cooperation and Coordination with Turkey and Iraq
SYRIA/IRAQ
-- No Indication That Syrian Support for Iraqi Insurgency Has Ended
LEBANON/SYRIA
-- Syrian Threat to the Lebanese/Call for the Disbanding of Militias/Resolution 1559
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2005
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
12:30 p.m. EDT
MR. ERELI: Greetings. I'm happy to be here. I'm happy to answer your questions. I don't have any announcements so let's start. Let the questioning begin.
QUESTION: Any reaction about the London bombings?
MR. ERELI: Obviously, shock, outrage, horror at yet another senseless and evil act. We certainly, I think as you would expect, stand with our British friends and allies in response to this act as we have in response to the many challenges we face together brought by those who seek to undermine our commonly held values and common way of life. We will stand with them and work with them in dealing with this tragedy as we have in past tragedies. I would defer to the British experts who are obviously investigating and determining the facts. They will be speaking to that shortly, so I leave you to them for the facts about what happened.
As far as American interests are concerned, I can tell you that we have no reports of American citizen injuries. Our Office of Overseas Citizens Services is taking calls from American citizens. The number of those calls has been relatively low. Family members or friends who are concerned about the welfare of loved ones can call our toll free number at 1-888-407-4747. That's a toll free number. Those calling outside the United States and Canada can call 1-202-501-4444. Our Embassy in London is providing us updates as they get them. I would note that our Embassy is temporarily closed to the public, except for emergencies.
Yes.
QUESTION: Adam --
MR. ERELI: On this subject? Still on this subject?
QUESTION: It's basically the same subject.
MR. ERELI: Same subject.
QUESTION: Why was the Embassy closed? Last time around, perimeter security, I believe, was increased and the Consular Section was closed; but why -- why this time out?
QUESTION: (Off-mike).
MR. ERELI: I'll have to see what their reasoning is.
QUESTION: Last time, there was an angry reaction because of this kind of --
MR. ERELI: I don't think there was -- I don't recall an angry reaction. I think that -- look, the Embassy is going to take the measures that it thinks it needs to take: (a) to protect Americans; but (b) to serve the public. And if this is the best way to do things that responds to what the public is looking for and what our responsibilities are, then that's the decision that they're going to make. But again, you know, for the specific reasons, you might want to have your colleagues in London ask the Embassy.
On another subject.
QUESTION: Well, to carry on to this subject. In Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf was addressing his nation and in a questioning by Cynthia McFadden of ABC News, President Musharraf wants to know why everyone is blaming Pakistan. But of course, there are the madrassas schools and -- do you want to make a comment on what Tony Blair said about the extremists --
MR. ERELI: No. I really, you know, I don't want to use this press availability to comment on other press availabilities that others are doing because: (a) I don't know what other people said; but (b) let others make their comments. I just don't want to get into that back and forth.
QUESTION: Switch to Iraq?
MR. ERELI: Sure.
QUESTION: The Algerian Envoy to Iraq has apparently been kidnapped and are there -- can you comment on that -- and are there any additional steps that U.S. forces or Coalition forces are taking to help secure diplomats' presence?
MR. ERELI: We have seen a report of the kidnapping of the Algerian Envoy, Mr. Billa Roussi well as the Embassy's diplomatic attaché. We condemn this kidnapping and we condemn the terrorists and insurgents and common criminals who carry out these acts. We will work to support the Government of Iraq and the Government of Algeria, both in terms of calling for the unconditional release of these diplomats, as well as in coordinating efforts to secure their release and the release of all hostages that are being held in Iraq.
QUESTION: And are there any additional measures that Coalition forces are taking to help secure diplomats?
MR. ERELI: I think the Government of Iraq has expressed the importance that it attaches to diplomatic missions being able to work in Iraq and has pledged to undertake measures to help facilitate that work. And to the extent that MNFI, and the U.S. as part of the MNFI, can help contribute to that, we stand ready to support the Government of Iraq.
QUESTION: That's been said before. I'm just wondering if there are any steps that are, in fact, being taken.
MR. ERELI: From our side, nothing specific that I have to report for you.
QUESTION: In conversations with leaders of other countries, is the U.S. continuing to urge them to send their envoys to Baghdad?
MR. ERELI: The United States is consistently making the point that if one looks at Brussels, if one looks at the recently concluded conference in Amman, if one looks at the public statements and very concerted work of the Iraqi Government that there is a plan, there is a program, that the Iraqi Government is making progress in across the board -- politically, economically and in security terms. And that we encourage the international community to contribute to that progress and to support the Government of Iraq in every way that it can, whether it be as a diplomatic presence, whether it be with economic support, whether it be with political and diplomatic support.
Obviously, every country is going to make its own decisions. But we believe that, again, that the conference in Brussels, the conference in Amman, show that the international community has signed on to supporting Iraq and has expressed a vote of confidence in what Iraq is working to achieve. There are challenges. This incident demonstrates that. But as with other challenges, the, I think, collective will to persevere and to prevail is much stronger than those who are seeking to frustrate it.
QUESTION: But Adam, what's to tell these countries that supporting, I mean, they can go to these meetings in Brussels and support Iraq without sending somebody to Baghdad who might get kidnapped. What's wrong with that?
MR. ERELI: I am not going to engage into a debate on whether a country should or shouldn't do something. I am going to tell you that Iraq has demonstrated that it has a program, that it has a plan, that the international community has shown that it supports that plan, and that it is working to help Iraq achieve its goals. And that across the board, whether you look at things economically, whether you look at things politically, or whether you look at things in security terms, there are a myriad of examples of countries ponying up to support what Iraq is doing. Each one is going to have to determine what they're comfortable doing and what's the best way they can support it. Diplomatic presence is one way, there are other means and they are using other means and it is a broad and multifaceted effort. And it is going to work.
QUESTION: North Korea? Even if North Korea nuclear issue is reserved at the coming six-party talks --
MR. ERELI: Is what? Reserved?
QUESTION: If (inaudible).
MR. ERELI: Yes.
QUESTION: Why North Korea human rights issue is not promoted at all? Then what would happen to the six-party talks?
MR. ERELI: These are, I guess, theoretical questions that frankly, while they may be sort of intellectually interesting as they relate to our current policy and what we are trying to achieve in the six-party talks, aren't something, really, that I am prepared to get into.
I would tell you that we are looking forward to engaging in a substantive discussion of a serious proposal to end North Korea's program and denuclearize the Korean Peninsula when we start on July 26th. We are going to be coming into those talks with the purpose of making progress on that proposal and toward that goal, along with our other parties to the six-party process. What we are trying to achieve is a more stable, more secure Peninsula and get on a path that we can end North Korea's isolation once they give up their nuclear program. That is the direction we are going in, that is what we are trying to achieve, but you know, you've got to talk, you've got to start, first and foremost with the nuclear issue.
QUESTION: Will the U.S. Government raise the North Korean human rights issues at this time?
MR. ERELI: The issue of human rights in North Korea is a regular part of our -- the issues that we are concerned about. It is a feature of the landscape. One cannot ignore it. One cannot fail to speak out about it. And so it will always be an element of our approach to this issue -- to the issue of North Korea.
QUESTION: Today, North Korea is saying things like, again saying there would be no need for nuclear weapons if the U.S. would drop its hostile behavior or hostile attitude toward the North Koreans. After all the times that you have reassured them that you have no hostile (inaudible), is it disappointing or discouraging to you that they're still making comments like this ahead of the talks?
MR. ERELI: I will just chalk it up to pre-talk chatter and leave it at that.
QUESTION: Adam, the press scuffle in Khartoum, which involved Andrea Mitchell and others, comes at the same time that the Khartoum government expects a lifting of sanctions and normalizations with Washington. What does Secretary Rice's assessment of the situation? And what is she saying to Messrs. Bashir and Ismail? And was their telephone apology sufficient?
MR. ERELI: A bunch of questions there. Let me deal with them this way. I hope you will all appreciate the State Department standing up for all of our First Amendment rights today in showing that the press had access to a meeting between the Secretary and President Bashir. It was unfortunate that there was an attempt to prevent that, but our valiant State Department colleagues made sure that you had access and you could see for yourselves what happened at the meeting. So that's point number one.
Point number two: On Sudan, the Secretary has spoken to this. The Secretary is in the region. I will let her words speak for themselves. We have made clear that on the issue of sanctions that Sudan remains on the terror list, that, you know, Darfur remains a big problem, and that we can't have more normalized or more fully normalized relations until that problem is effectively dealt with. And the Secretary made that point again today.
QUESTION: Did you see President Putin's remarks?
MR. ERELI: I've seen reports of his remarks. In response to those reports, I have the following for you, which is that we certainly agree with President Putin that the more than 600,000 NGOs in Russia are indispensable and play an important and positive role in Russian society.
And number two, I would note that the U.S. Government, in Russia as elsewhere, does not provide funds to individual candidates or individual political parties. Our policy and our practice is to support democratic processes and democratic institutions and we do that through a fully transparent process and in agreement with the governments in countries where we're involved.
QUESTION: Well, I think you have a different perception of what the NGOs are up to and he, frankly, doesn't want any U.S. funding for these groups. Not a single state that respects itself does that and we wouldn't allow it either, is what he said.
MR. ERELI: Well, I don't know that there's a difference of opinion, as dark as you might -- or as the reports might paint it out to be. The bottom line from our point of view is NGOs are an important part of -- are playing an important and positive role in society. The United States supports a civil society and the role of civil society, as does President Putin, and that in that respect, we are working towards the same goal.
QUESTION: Well, except that the Russian officials have accused Western countries of bankrolling, you know, the uprisings in the Ukraine and elsewhere that, you know, led to you know what.
MR. ERELI: And I would say that, as I just said, that we don't support individual politicians or individual political parties, but we support democratic processes. And there's really nothing to be -- nothing anyone need fear or be apprehensive about because of that.
QUESTION: Mr. Dan Fried on Monday made a conference before the Washington Institute and he said that the Turkish hot pursuit against PKK are a trans-border operation and would not be productive and --
MR. ERELI: Who said this?
QUESTION: Dan Fried --
MR. ERELI: Oh.
QUESTION: During the conference. And he said that it would not be productive and not easy. But then Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey would decide alone, whether or not to go there or not. And I want to ask you if it is possible -- it is possible that Turkey alone do this? And what will be the (inaudible) of the United States?
MR. ERELI: Again, we have been talking about this for the last three days and I'll tell you the same thing that I told you previous days.
Number one, that the United States and Turkey have a shared concern about the PKK and work together, I think, well and cooperatively in confronting that organization, which we both consider to be a terrorist organization. As far as the issue of hot pursuit goes, this is something that is a -- if it is being discussed, it's being discussed in military channels and I'd refer you to military authorities to talk about it. I'm not going to engage in hypotheticals with you: "If Turkey did this, what would we think?" I'm just not going to do that.
I will tell you that we value our relationship with Turkey. We work together closely with Turkey and Iraq to confront the threat of the PKK and that we put great value and store in communicating and coordinating closely and well with our partners on both sides of the border.
QUESTION: But the problem is that during these last three days, Turkey -- two officials and some five or six soldiers have been killed by PKK.
MR. ERELI: Right.
QUESTION: And that this is a very big concern in the Turkish public opinion.
MR. ERELI: Right.
QUESTION: And that Turkish Government openly said that Turkey will decide alone to go back or not. So this is the question is -- they openly said that. I'm not asking for the military aspects of this but the diplomatic aspect of this. If Turkey will go through the northern Iraq, what would the State Department --
MR. ERELI: The diplomatic answer is that we want to work closely with Turkey and with Iraq to deal with the problem of the PKK. That is what we consistently do. That is what we will continue to do. We understand and appreciate Turkish concerns and work energetically to address them with our friends in Turkey and with our friends in Iraq.
QUESTION: I have a follow-up on the PKK question. It's not directly related to Turkey. This morning, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Detainee Affairs Matthew Waxman at the Foreign Press Center stated that, "Coalition forces can only detain certain individuals that pose threat to stability in Iraq." So does the PKK fall in this category? Does it -- is it closely or does it threat to the stability of Iraq?
MR. ERELI: I defer to my Defense Department colleagues who have the rules of engagement and operating procedures on that question.
QUESTION: Have you any reaction to China's currency decision not to --
MR. ERELI: No.
QUESTION: Okay.
QUESTION: Today, Syria hit back at the accusations about their borders, the militants crossing their borders, saying that so far they had detained thousands of would-be insurgents.
MR. ERELI: Syria?
QUESTION: Yes, Syria. And they speak about 1,200 foreign extremists and more than 4,000 Syrians. Do you have any comment on that?
MR. ERELI: (A) It's a number that, I guess, hard to verify but; (b) and I think this is the important point, the really important point is that there's no indication, whether or not they detained 1,400 people and whether or not those 1,400 people are really as problematic as they might suggest, there's still no indication, frankly, that the problem of support for the insurgency from Syria has ended. And that's the bottom line.
The Iraqis are telling us that Syria is a problem. Other evidence indicates that Syria's a problem. So regardless of what's happened with these 1,400, there are serious issues that remain in terms of insurgency activity in Iraq that is being conducted because of support and other facilitation from inside Syria.
And it remains an issue that we continue to press the Syrian Government about, that the Iraqis, more importantly, continue to press the Syrian Government about, and that frankly continues to undermine stability in Iraq, in which therefore is a problem not just for Iraq, but for the whole neighborhood.
QUESTION: Thank you.
MR. ERELI: Yes, sir.
QUESTION: The Syrian Prime Minister is saying that the disarming of Hezbollah will cause a big threat to Syria's national security. Do you have any comment on that?
MR. ERELI: I guess if anybody's qualified to say what can harm the Lebanese, it's the Syrians. They know better than anybody what might do harm to the Lebanese. Their presence has harmed the Lebanese. Their actions now on the border stifling a trade is hurting the Lebanese.
I certainly think, however, on this score, they're way off the mark. Why? Because armed militias in Lebanon, independent of the central government, are not, as evidenced in Resolution 1559, are not a recipe for success and do not contribute to stability. To the contrary, they undermine central government authority and that is why it is important that these militias be disbanded.
The claim that somehow independent armed militias prevent outside interference just doesn't wash. So let's be clear: There needs to be, as called for in Resolution 1559, a disbanding of armed militias, a extension of government authority throughout the country. And Syria would do well to facilitate that as opposed to stand in the way of that and continue to act in ways that undermine Lebanese sovereignty as opposed to strengthen it.
QUESTION: Thank you.
(This briefing was concluded at 12:55 p.m.)
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
