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State Dept. Daily Press Briefing February 17, 200626 February 2006
State Dept. Daily Press Briefing February 17, 2006
Daily Press Briefing Sean McCormack, Spokesman Washington, DC February 17, 2006
INDEX:
PHILIPPINES U.S. Response to Philippines Mudslide
MIDDLE EAST Secretary Rice's Upcoming Trip to Egypt,Saudi Arabia and UAE Expected Topics of Discussion:Democracy in the Middle East; Recent PalestinianElections; Iran's Behavior in the Region/ CurrentSituation With IAEA Board of Governors/Support for Terrorism
IRAN Iran-Iraq Relations IranianForeign Minister's Call for Withdrawal of Multinational Forces From Basra, Iraq Iran's Comments Regarding theUN Security Council
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY Hamas andNew Palestinian Government / US Review of Assistance USRequest for Return of $50 Million Disbursed to Palestinian Authority in 2005 Russian Meeting with Members ofHamas Israeli Defense Ministry Comments RegardingMovement and Access of Palestinians Turkish Meetingwith Members of Hamas
GREECE Prospects for SecretaryRice to Meet with New Greek Foreign Minister UnderSecretary Burns' Conversation with Greek Foreign Minister Reported VOA Decision to End Greek and Turkish Services
IRAQ Committee to Protect Journalists Annual Report
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Interagency Process and Reviewof UAE/Dubai Ports Acquisition of US Port Operations
NORTH KOREA Announcement by Banco Delta-Asia onClosure of Accounts with North Korea US EncouragesNorth Korea to Return to Six-Party Talks UNITED NATIONS Process for Consideration of Next UN Secretary General
TRANSCRIPT:
12:23 p.m. EST
MR. MCCORMACK:Good afternoon. I have one opening statement for you andthen we can get right into questions. This is concerns theU.S. response to the mudslides in the Philippines.
"TheUnited States extends its sincere condolences to the peopleof the Philippines in the wake of last night's deadlylandslide. Reports indicate that the massive mudslidedestroyed the town of Saint Bernard on the Island of Leyteand may have caused over 1,000 fatalities.
In response toa request from the Government of the Philippines, elementsof the U.S. Marine Corps' 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit,which was in the Philippines participating in a militaryexercise with the Philippine armed forces, have beendirected to assist in the rescue effort. The MEU consists ofamphibious ships equipped with helicopters and has about5,500 personnel. The MEU is currently en route to thedisaster area. In addition, USAID has authorized the U.S.Embassy in Manila to disburse approximately $50,000 indisaster assistance. The Embassy in Manila is alsorequesting an additional $50,000 for this emergency and isworking directly with the Office of Foreign DisasterAssistance, Bangkok Region Office. The United States standsready to provide additional assistance as needed."
Withthat, I'd be pleased to take your questions.
QUESTION:The Secretary is going next week to the Gulf. I wanted toknow what she expects from the Gulf countries there and ifit's she said it would be linked to Iran and do theyhave concerns about Iran?
MR. MCCORMACK: No.
QUESTION:What does she expect to gain?
MR. MCCORMACK: Well, shehas a wide agenda for this trip next week. Currently on theschedule, she's going to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE for aconference of the Gulf Cooperation Council. There are anumber of different topics on the agenda. I expect that sheis going to be talking about democracy in the Middle Eastand the United States' unwavering and continuing support forthe spread and promotion of democracy in the Middle East,talk about recent Palestinian elections. I think she'lltalk about Iran. She'll talk about Iran in the context ofIran's behavior in the region and how that affects Iran'sneighbors in the region. You know, we are all aware of thecurrent situation with regard to Iran in the IAEA Board ofGovernors. Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program undercover of a civilian nuclear program and the international community has called them on it. So we will see how thisprocess unfolds on the diplomatic front with respect to thenuclear program.
On the terrorist front, Iran is thecentral banker for terrorism in the Middle East. Theysupport Hezbollah. They support Palestinian rejectionistgroups. And that funding directly affects the aspirations ofthe Palestinian people for a better more peacefulprosperous life. So I think she will be talking to them about that and how the states of the region have an interestin talking to Iran about its behavior in the region. She'llalso be talking about Iran's behavior towards its ownpeople. Iran is headed in the opposite direction from wherethe rest of the region is headed. It is now putting in placemore and more oppressive policies concerning its ownpeople, their ability to speak out, their ability toprotest, their ability to express themselves artistically.You know, you can see examples of Iranian publications beingshut down, some even before they publish their firstedition. You see examples of Iranians not being able toprotest. There was a recent transit strike that was brokenup. These people just wanted to tell the government, in anorganized fashion, that they wanted a better wage for theirwork.
The Iranian Government won't allow individuals toplay classical music anymore in Tehran. So, these are justmanifestations of a more oppressive political environmentin Iran. And the Secretary will be talking to countries ofthe region about that and how they have an interest inspeaking out and confronting Iranian behavior because theydo have a stake in how Iran is behaving in the region.
QUESTION: If I can follow up. You speak about interests.Do you plan to ask them to invest more in Iran in Iraqto counter try to counter the influence of Iran andIraq?
MR. MCCORMACK: Well, we have, for some time, askedmember-states of the international community to support thenew Iraqi Government in whatever way that they possiblycan, whether that is a diplomatic presence in Baghdad or canceling debt or providing financial assistance in someform or providing or encouraging investment in Iraq.Certainly, we have, for some time, encouraged the states ofthe region as well as states around the world to do that.
We had a conference in Brussels last I believe it wasseveral months ago, I can't remember the exact date inwhich you had more than 80 countries around the worldgathered to talk about their support for Iraq. So, we wouldencourage those countries who made commitments at thatconference and subsequently to follow through on thosecommitments. So, we think it we think a peaceful, stableIraq on the pathway to democracy is in the interest of theworld but also, in particular, to the region and to Iraq'sneighbors.
Yes.
QUESTION: In her discussions withthese Gulf countries, will the Secretary be asking them notto fill any funding gap that might be left over from theU.S. and other Quartet members, possibly cutting off aid toa Palestinian Authority led by Hamas?
MR. MCCORMACK:Well, the Secretary will have the same conversation withstates in the region as she has had with numerous othercountries around the world. And the basis of thatconversation is the Quartet statement. It calls upon Hamasto make certain choices: recognize Israel's right to exist,turning away from terror and also abiding by previouscommitments of the Palestinian Authority, most notably, tothe roadmap and a commitment to a two-state solutionarrived at via the negotiating table.
That is in theinterest of the Palestinian people. There's a lot ofdiscussion about between states about funding andQuartet statements, but what we can't lose sight of the factis what is at stake here is the future of the Palestinianpeople. They want a better way of life for themselves. Theywant a peaceful way of life. They want a more prosperousway of life. And the way they arrive at that is through theprocess that has been outlined via the roadmap.
Now,Hamas a choice to make. They have a choice whether or notthey are going to meet the aspirations of the Palestinianpeople for a prosperous, more democratic, free way of lifein which they live at peace with their neighbors. And partof that is, from our point of view and the point of view ofthe Quartet, is looking at the behavior and the choicesthat Hamas makes. Do they make the right choices? Weencourage them to make the right choices because if they domake the right choices then there is a pathway to peace,then there is a partner for negotiation. And again, eachcountry is going to make its own decisions concerningparticular aid to a new Palestinian Government. We have encouraged and will continue to encourage, both in publicand in private, individual countries to consider what kindof assistance they might provide in light of Hamas'decisions.
QUESTION: But does that amount to puttingpressure on those governments not to fill that funding gapbecause if they do then whatever action you take will be fairly useless because if that funding gap is filled thenthe Palestinian Authority would still be thriving.
MR.MCCORMACK: Well, again, individual countries are going tomake their own decisions. There's no way around that.That's just the way the world works. But we will make thestrong case, as we have in public and we'll make in it inprivate as well, that the international community has to setstandards. The international community cannot allow thosewho are elected in a free and fair election to try to haveit both ways: that is, to have one foot in the camp of terror and one foot in politics. That is a fundamentalcontradiction that needs to be resolved. That's notsomething that is just the view of the United States; it isthe view of many others in the international community. We believe that others in the region should hold those electedto that standard. And it's also incumbent upon theinternational community to hold those elected viademocratic elections to govern in a democratic manner.
Sothose are the arguments that we're going to make. And quitesimply, a group that does not recognize the right of Israelto exist a potential partner for peace then it doesn'tmake sense that there could be a pathway for peace. Youneed two partners in order to do that.
QUESTION: Can Ijust follow up with one other thing? The New York Times saidtoday that the U.S. has asked the Palestinians to return $50million which is going to be used for (inaudible) waterprojects and other projects. Is that correct this moneythat was originally going to be used by various ministries,is that
MR. MCCORMACK: That is correct. That iscorrect. There was $50 million disbursed to the PalestinianAuthority in 2005. It was provided to the well, it was apast government, now that there's a caretaker government,for new infrastructure projects in Gaza. It's part of abroader effort to ensure Palestinian or to assist withPalestinian economic revival in the wake of Israel'swithdrawal from Gaza. And this is all part of our program ofreviewing our assistance programs. We talked to thePalestinian Authority about this issue, found out that therewas still the vast majority of this money is still inthe bank. And so in the interest of seeing that this fund these funds not potentially make their way into the coffersof a future Palestinian Government that might not recognizethe right of Israel to exist, might not meet those Quartetobligations, we've asked for it to be returned. And thePalestinian Authority has agreed to return it.
QUESTION:Have they indicated when it will be returned and do you haveplans to use that money, for say, humanitarian projects, orto redirect it to other causes for the Palestinian people?The Secretary has made clear she doesn't want to sort ofmake the situation worse for the Palestinian people, particularly refugees and others suffering.
MR.MCCORMACK: You're exactly right on that. In terms of thetimeline, they've told us that they would return itpromptly and I don't think it has been returned as of thistime. In terms of what the future potential uses for the money are, well we'll try to keep you updated. At thispoint, I don't have the information for you.
QUESTION:So
MR. MCCORMACK: You rightly state that the UnitedStates does have an interest in seeing how we might providefor those who are the most vulnerable among the Palestinianpopulation. The refugees, for example, that's funding thatis those are programs that are usually assistanceprograms usually provided through the UN, so we're going totake a look at that. We're going to take a look at food aidprograms, things like childhood immunizations. I think, although we haven't made any final decisions on that, thoseare certainly things that we will look for a way to try todo. Whether or not this and there's already moneyallocated for those kinds of programs.
Whether or notthis $50 million makes its way into those kind of programsor other programs that we might find acceptable in terms ofour law and our policy, we'll see. I don't have an answerfor you on that.
QUESTION: Okay.
MR. MCCORMACK: Teri.
QUESTION: On Hamas and their trip to Russia, the Russianssaid today that they will not be making any demands ofHamas during those meetings. I'd like your reaction tothat, considering that the Quartet statement lays out threepretty distinct demands of Hamas.
MR. MCCORMACK: Ihaven't seen their exact quote, Teri, so I can't respond to it.
QUESTION: Are you
MR. MCCORMACK: And in termsof the word "demands," I you know, I just haven't seenthe quote. But let me just tell you what Foreign MinisterLavrov assured the Secretary and that was that, shouldthere be a meeting with Hamas, they were going to reiteratethat Hamas must meet the requirements of the internationalcommunity as outlined in the Quartet. We believe that shoulda state choose to have contact with Hamas, that that is themessage that they should send.
QUESTION: Okay. Andanother question on the Palestinian Territories, Ehud Elmersaid today that they that the Israelis plan to seal offworkers from Gaza going into Israel, something like 4,000 now I'm getting my numbers wrong, but anyway, a largenumber of people who work in Israel will no longer be allowed to go there. And I don't understand they arecouching it in terms of the Hamas victory again. But I don'tknow how does the United States feel about that? And ifyou could explain how that hurts the Hamas Government instead of just the Palestinian workers?
MR. MCCORMACK:No, we don't have a personal view don't have a newgovernment yet, but in terms of Israel security, of course,we understand, as we always have, Israel has certainresponsibilities in terms of protecting its own people.That is a general statement.
Now, in with respect tomovement and access, you have to have some assurance thatthat movement and access is for the intended purposes, forexample, going to work or transporting goods for peacefulcommerce, for peaceful interaction. If you have a futurePalestinian Government that is not committed to the renunciation of terror and violence, does not recognize theright of Israel to exist, then I think that certainly,those are legitimate questions for the Israeli Government toraise, concerning what is this movement and access going tobe used for.
Now, of course, Israel certainly hasobligations under the roadmap, as well as other agreements.In order to move forward on those kind of full implementation of those agreements, you need to have apartner in order to that. Now, there is we haveencouraged states to work with including Israel, to workwith this interim government. Now, as for a futurePalestinian Government, I think it is understandable thatIsrael will want to take a look at its security interestwhen with respect to
QUESTION: You're not planningto drastically upgrade your food aid to these people whowould no longer have a way to make a living. Could youreally support cutting them off from their jobs?
MR.MCCORMACK: Well, again, the onus is upon Hamas to makecertain choices. They are now going to be faced with thehard choices of governing to providing for theaspirations of the Palestinian people not only for a better way of life, but for a peaceful, secure life. So, there isan opportunity. There is a pathway. It's clearly outlined.The Palestinian Authority has been on that pathway for sometime, or they have at least committed to that pathway forquite some time. If there's going to be a break with thatpolicy, where which you might have, if there is a HamasGovernment that chooses not to meet the commitments of theinternational community, certainly, the international community is going to look at what reaction it has to that.
And this circles back to Hamas making fundamentalchoices. It has those fundamental choices before it. And wehope and the international community hope that they do makethose choices, because there is a potential pathway that is out there for them, but it is up to them to make thosechoices.
Yes, ma'am.
QUESTION: Yes. Sean, you saidthat those who were elected can not have one foot in terrorand another in politics, but Fatah, who was defeated in theelections in the Palestinian elections had one foot one military foot, which is (inaudible) Al-Aqsa and thelatest thing they did two weeks ago when they launchedrockets pointed at Israeli territories and had the politicalfoot too. Why is it that Hamas you're insisting on this,while Fatah had the military win went to (inaudible).
MR. MCCORMACK: We called upon the Palestinian Authorityto dismantle all terrorist organizations. That included thePalestinian and Islamic Jihad, that included Al-AqsaMartyrs Brigade, that included Hamas. So it is stillincumbent upon a government to meet the legitimate demandsof people for a safe, secure environment. You can't havemilitias operating outside of the central authority of agovernment. So the Palestinian Authority did and continuesto have the responsibility to prevent terrorist attacks anddismantle terrorist networks.
QUESTION: But the leadersfrom Fatah are the leaders of the Palestinian Authoritythat you talk to and you still talk to them while they havethe military wing.
MR. MCCORMACK: Again, President Abbashas turned away from the use of terror. He was elected he committed himself to a peaceful path. He committedhimself to a two-state solution via the roadmap. So when wetalk to we talk to President Abbas, we talk to him onthe basis of this is an elected leader, a person who hasmade a choice. He has made a choice to try to better thefuture of the Palestinian people through negotiation,through acceptance of the roadmap and through arenunciation of terror and we believe he is committed to that; there are others who are committed to that. There areothers Palestinians committed to that. And we look forwardto continuing to work with President Abbas through thisperiod.
Joel.
QUESTION: Sean, throughout this morningyou were talking essentially about carrot and stick and alsoa Jekyll and Hyde-type mentality. What's to prevent we're beginning to see this where the new leaders of Hamasare invited to Moscow? What's to prevent them to go into afull camp with the Iranians and others, just ignore whatwe're saying? And you've seen over a period of two yearsthat the Iranians are intransigent. Is that what theSecretary will be discussing in the Gulf?
MR. MCCORMACK:Well, I think in answer to an earlier question, I talkedabout the fact that funding for terrorist groups, supportfor terrorist groups by Iran is something that is anobstacle for the Palestinian people realizing a better wayof life, realizing an independent Palestinian state. Becausethe pathway to a Palestinian state is not going does notlie along the pathway to violence and terror; it is via thenegotiating table that the Palestinian people can realize aPalestinian state, so Iranian behavior does matter.
Andcertainly if we would call upon all members of theinternational community as well as Iran's neighbors to tryto influence Iranian behavior, not to turn away from supportfor terror. That's why we haven't seen any indication thatthis regime is going to do that. But we believe that it isimportant, as we have seen on the nuclear issue that theinternational community speak out clearly concerning Iran'sbehavior in this regard.
Yes, ma'am.
QUESTION: Some ofthe Hamas members visited Turkey yesterday. What's your viewon that? Are you against such contacts or do you encourageit in order to deliver the message of internationalcommunity?
MR. MCCORMACK: Again, it's the same answerwhen I was asked about the Russians meeting with members ofHamas. That will ultimately be a choice for individual states to make. Should they choose to do so, we wouldstrongly encourage and, frankly, expect them to only usesuch a contact to send a strong, clear message to Hamas thatthey have to meet the requirements of the international community.
QUESTION: Do you think that happened in theTurkey meeting?
MR. MCCORMACK: We have not gotten thereadout from the Turks on that contact. We would certainlyexpect that that's what happened.
Do you have the samesubject?
QUESTION: Yes. Same subject.
MR. MCCORMACK:Okay. Then we'll come back to you, Jonathan.
QUESTION:You said that the neighbors of Iran or Palestinians shouldabide by the requirement of the Quartet, but don't youthink it would be better to have the Palestinian Authorityfunded by Egyptians or Saudis instead of Iranians or Syrians?
MR. MCCORMACK: Again, individual states aregoing to make their own decisions about what aid theyprovide. We ourselves are very clear in our choice; we are not going to fund a terrorist organization. We willcertainly look to the legitimate humanitarian needs of thePalestinian people and to see what might be done within theconfines of our law, our policy, as well as the Quartetstatement to meet those needs. And we would expect that, youknow, or we would encourage state of the regions, statesaround the world to follow that same set of principles.
Jonathan.
QUESTION: It's just a question about yourapproach, America's approach, to this compared to the restof the international community. I mean, you say decisions Hamas is going to take decisions about whether it's apolitical entity or a terrorist group. And the rest of theinternational community appears to be giving Hamas time andspace to set its course. And here you are taking a unilateral decision to cut off funding. I just wondered whyaren't you prepared to give Hamas a bit of time and space?
MR. MCCORMACK: I guess I guess I'd, frankly, differsharply with your characterization of the United Statesbeing isolated. I'd point you back to the piece of paperthat is the Quartet statement. It's more than just a pieceof paper; it was a commitment by all the members of theQuartet there, represented by the EU, Russia, the UN and theUnited States. So I'm not sure where this idea
QUESTION: as I said, give Hamas you won't(inaudible) Hamas to be given time to set its course. Sothere are people in the Quartet who believe there should besome time and space given to Hamas.
MR. MCCORMACK: Well,what we have said is that they face a choice. Their choicesare clearly theirs to make. Of course, we are going to lookat what choices they make we, meaning the internationalcommunity and there's going to be, certainly, a reactionbased on the choices that they make. And the members of theinternational community very clearly laid out that theywould encourage everybody to review what assistance isprovided to the Palestinian people and a future PalestinianGovernment in light of that new government meeting therequirements laid out by the international community.
Yeah.
QUESTION: Change of subject?
MR. MCCORMACK:Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: The Iranian Foreign Minister has calledfrom Beirut today British forces for immediate withdrawalfrom Basra, Iraq. Do you have any comment on that?
MR.MCCORMACK: The multinational forces in Iraq are assistingthe Iraqi people in helping to build their own democracy.They are there to help protect the Iraqi people againstterrorist threats. And I would only say that the Iranian Government should concentrate on good, neighborly,transparent relations with Iraq.
Teri.
QUESTION: Whatdo you think about the Iranians calling the Security Councila "scarecrow"?
MR. MCCORMACK: I hadn't seen that. All Ican say is I guess they've tried everything they could andthey've tried awfully hard to not be sent to the SecurityCouncil, so I'm not sure
QUESTION: Do you thinkthey're scared?
MR. MCCORMACK: Well, I can't I can'tcharacterize what emotions they may or may not be feelingat this point, but I can tell you that it's pretty clear given their behavior over the past few years that they triedeverything they possibly could to stay out of the SecurityCouncil. So, I think, it makes it a little bit hollow nowto say that this doesn't effect them in some way because clearly it has had an effect on them.
Lambros.
QUESTION: On Greece. It was reported extensively inAthens that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed adesire to meet the new Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs,Mrs. Dora Bakoyanni. I'm wondering if you comment on that.
MR. MCCORMACK: Secretary Rice looks forward to workingwith her new counterpart in the Greek Government. I don'thave a schedule for you at this point when they might seeone another, but she certainly looks forward to working withher.
QUESTION: Any telephone communication between thetwo?
MR. MCCORMACK: Not at this point.
QUESTION: Andone more to this effect. It was reported also that Under Secretary Nicholas Burns he had an extensive telephonecommunication with the new Greek Foreign Minister, Mrs.Dora Bakoyannis. May we know the context of theirdiscussion?
MR. MCCORMACK: I have not talked to UnderSecretary Burns about that particular conversation. I'll tryto find out, you know, what he may have talked about duringa phone call.
Yes, Samir.
QUESTION: Any chance for theSecretary to add Beirut as a stop on her trip?
MR.MCCORMACK: Yeah, we have the schedule out at this point andwe'll keep you updated if there are any changes to it.
Yes.
QUESTION: The Committee to Protect Journalists inits annual report has criticized the U.S. for holding upjournalists, one who is a cameraman in Iraq, where he worksfor CBS and the other one is his our correspondent alJazeera correspond sorry, cameraman to Sami Al-Hajj,who was held in Guantanamo. Do you have anything to say onthis report for the CPJ?
MR. MCCORMACK: I haven't readthe report, so I can't speak to those particular cases.Certainly, in Iraq, our forces and the forces of othergovernments operating in Iraq try to work in the bestpossible way with journalists there trying to cover thestory. There have been journalists who have covered the story in a lot of different ways over there, either embeddedwith reporters or operating independently. In either case,we try to work together so that legitimate journalists cantell the story of what's going on in Iraq.
In terms ofthese two specific cases, I'm just not familiar with thefacts surrounding them. Certainly, we are the UnitedStates are forthright defenders of freedom of the pressaround the world. We have programs that we support in orderto help train journalists who are new to the experience of afree and fair press. We do that with Iraqi journalists, aswell as others as well. So, we not only support freedomof the press and freedom of expression rhetorically, but wealso you know, have programs to do so as well.
QUESTION: On this the CPJ also said that by holding upjournalists in Guantanamo and in Iraq, that you are givinglicenses to other governments to do so.
MR. MCCORMACK:Again, I'm not familiar with the particulars of these twocases, so I couldn't speak in an informed way about them.
Teri.
QUESTION: Was the State Department involved indiscussions over the UAE taking over management of sixports six U.S. ports?
MR. MCCORMACK: The StateDepartment is part of an interagency process which is ledby the Department of Treasury. We did participate in it.This interagency process did a thorough review of allaspects of this proposed sale. And the bottom line findingwas that there was no basis on no national security basison which to block the sale going forward.
QUESTION: Areyou aware of the outrage in Congress?
MR. MCCORMACK: I'veheard the press reports about it. I can only say a couple of things. One, that this was a very thorough process. Ithink that the Department of Homeland Security has spokento their aspect their participation in the process. Theyhave a particular responsibility with respect to portsecurity, so clearly, they would be an important voice inthat process. And the only other thing I would say is thatthe United States is a longstanding friend and ally of theUAE. We have a good relationship with the UAE and lookforward to a continuing friendship with them. I can onlypoint you back to the fact that there was a rigorousinteragency process that examined the sale.
Yes, ma'am.
QUESTION: Yesterday in a statement, Banco Delta-Asiaannounced it has officially closed all of its accounts withNorth Korea in relation to their implementation of newmoney laundering policies and procedures. Has the State Department had any reaction to this or have they heardanything from North Korea?
MR. MCCORMACK: Well, we theNorth Koreans have talked about this issue in public quitea bit. As for contact with Banco Delta-Asia, I don't havethe latest for you. I know that I do know that they werequite concerned about this issue and that they were talkingto us, as well as others, about what remedial steps theymight take.
Look. The United States is going to takesteps to protect itself. In this case, it's going to takesteps to protect its currency. I think that any you wouldexpect any country around the world to do just that. So,we'll continue to do so and as for the attempt to make aconnection with the six-party talks, it's just not there.These are completely separate issues and we encourage North Korea to return to the six-party talks at the earliestpossible date, engage in a serious way without precondition.
Yes.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) return to six-party talks.Has the United States heard any sign from North Koreandelegation in New York? So, you have (inaudible) U.S. and(inaudible)?
MR. MCCORMACK: We haven't heard that theNorth Koreans are coming back to the talks. As for the NewYork channel, on any given day, there's some exchange of information. We don't have diplomatic relations with NorthKorea, so the New York channel is a way to passinformation, anywhere from logistics to clarifyingstatements. So, as for the New York channel, you know, thisis, I know, a source of continuing fascination among thepress corps, but it is merely a channel through which weexchange information because we don't have diplomaticrelations with North Korea.
Yes.
QUESTION: Sean, justgoing back to Hamas for a minute, what impact might eithernaming of a government of technocrats by Hamas or astatement of a commitment to a long-term cease orcontinuing a long-term ceasefire might that have on theinternational community in their response to a Hamasgovernment? Does there have to be a statement that thesethree conditions set up by the international community aremet? Is there some sort of deadline for that or are thereconditions that would sort of enter into the picture, suchas the makeup of the government or a commitment to aceasefire?
MR. MCCORMACK: As far as we're concerned, therequirements are clear. Hamas has a choice to make and we'llsee what we'll see what choices they come up with.
Lambros.
QUESTION: Yes. Voice of America is stoppingits Greek and Turkish services in other languages. And I'mwondering why such a decision by BBG, not BBC but sinceit was very helpful and very informative service?
MR.MCCORMACK: I refer you to the BBG about you know, aboutthe decisions they make about the services they provide.
QUESTION: One on Bulgaria. Earlier today in CSIS, theBulgarian Minister of Interior, Rumen Petkov, answered twoquestion of mine rejected that CIA agents participatedtwo days ago in the arrest and interrogation of a Greek citizen in Bulgaria, as it was important and you know that.The Minister verified, however, that the arrest and theinterrogation reported by the Bulgarian authorities, thathe has been sent already to Greece via the (inaudible) theGreek Embassy for medical reasons.
And upon thecompletion of his medical, they think he is going to returnto Bulgaria to face charges for laundering money, anotherseries of other crimes, as the Minister said specifically.Since, however, the Greek press is insistent that the entire(inaudible) is taking place with involvement of some U.S. authorities assigned to your embassy in Sophia, I'mwondering if you could look into that in order to find outwhat is going on exactly with this case?
MR. MCCORMACK: Idon't have anything for you.
Dave, do you have aquestion?
QUESTION: I just had, sort of, another questionon Hamas. Are you saying that Hamas, as far as the UnitedStates is concerned, is a redeemable organization? In otherwords, if they did adopt the Quartet statement, that wewould have a relationship with them like we do with thecurrent PA?
MR. MCCORMACK: Let's see if they make thosechoices and if they do, we'll see what the reaction of theinternational community and the United Statesis.
QUESTION: But you did say if they do these things,there is a partner to work with.
MR. MCCORMACK: If theydo those things, there is a partner to work with within thecontext of the peace process. Israel would have a partnerfor peace if you, in fact, had a Palestinian government thatrecognized the state of Israel that had turned away fromterror and renounced terror and that had made a commitmentto abide by the obligations that the previous PalestinianAuthority had said.
QUESTION: So, wouldn't the answer toDavid's question be yes?
MR. MCCORMACK: Well, we wouldhope. We all hope. The international community all hopes,the United States included, that Hamas does make thosechoices and should they make those choices, we'll see whatkind of possibilities there are in the internationalcommunity.
Yes.
QUESTION: Ambassador Bolton, today atthe UN, has called for a meeting for the five permanentmembers to discuss calling for the replacement for SecretaryAnnan. Does the timing have anything to do with the UNreport on Guantanamo?
MR. MCCORMACK: No. AmbassadorBolton was down here, I think, about what, three weeksago, a month ago. He talked to a lot of you in this room inan on-the-record interview session and he talked about thefact that he was going to try to start the this processof consideration a bit earlier. And the reasons he laid outwere that you want to give an incoming Secretary General asmuch time to prepare for the responsibilities of becomingSecretary General. He pointed out the past precedent wherethere was a very short amount of time for the incomingSecretary General to prepare for the work.
So, he wasjust encouraging member states to start the considerationprocess a bit earlier. It's not tied in any way, shape, orform, to news of the day.
Joel.
QUESTION: Sean, one ofyour former colleagues here at the State Department, SeligHarrison, has written in an editorial in the Post this pastweek criticizing the partly, the Pakistan Governmentover Baluchistan with the possibility that China is goingto open up a both a naval base and a warehouse centerwest of Karachi. There's been rebels fighting there and the same type of initiatives that you see in the north ofTaliban and al-Qaida up in the Tora Bora region may indeedbe occurring in the south.
And in the last number ofmonths, you've always said these are internal issues andthe Pakistani Government has replied, "Hands off." Is thisstill the case?
MR. MCCORMACK: Well, they Pakistanclearly faces a number of challenges from those who woulduse violence to go after the current leadership of Pakistan.We have a common fight against terror. And certainly ingoing after those individuals who are committed to thecause, to the use of terror, the United States has a commonfoe with Pakistan.
Okay. Thank you.
(The briefing wasconcluded at 1:30 p.m.)
DPB # 27
Released onFebruary 17, 2006
ENDS
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