28 September 2001
Transcript: Powell, Spanish Foreign Minister Press Stakeout
(Sept. 28: anti-terrorism coalition, Central Asia, Sudan) (1170)
Secretary of State Colin Powell and Spanish Foreign Minister Josep
Pique spoke with journalists after their meeting at the State
Department September 28.
Powell praised Spain for its being "forthcoming" in allowing its bases
and air space to be used for U.S. deployments and mentioned that six
individuals in Spain connected to the Al Qaeda terrorist organization
had been arrested.
Pique reiterated Spain's solidarity with the United States in the
global fight against terrorism.
Asked about Central Asia's role, Powell replied: "We have been very
pleased with how forthcoming they have been with respect to condemning
the act of 11 September, of offering support in various kinds of ways.
And we are in touch with them through diplomatic channels and other
channels to see what additional support they may be able to provide us
as we undertake this campaign."
Asked about the change in U.S. policy towards the Sudan, Powell said
that since the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States
Sudan has been "rather forthcoming in giving us access to certain
individuals within the country, and in taking other actions which
demonstrate to us a change in attitude."
Following is a transcript of the press availability:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
September 28, 2001
REMARKS BY SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN L. POWELL
AND SPANISH MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS JOSEP PIQUE
AFTER THEIR MEETING
September 28, 2001
C Street Entrance
Washington, D.C.
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. It has
been my pleasure this afternoon to host my colleague, Foreign Minister
Pique of Spain. We had an excellent conversation and covered a large
number of issues.
He began by once again expressing condolences on behalf of his
President and the Spanish people for what happened in the United
States on the 11th of September, and I in turn expressed our
condolences to those Spanish citizens and Spanish-Americans who were
lost in that terrible tragedy which reinforced once again that it was
an attack, really, against the World Trade Center, and so many
countries lost citizens in that terrible tragedy.
Spain has also been very, very forthcoming with respect to
over-flights and the use of their bases to support our deployments.
They have done this in the past and it is always deeply appreciative.
But Spain has done more than that; they have spoken out very strongly
against terrorism. They have experience in dealing with terrorists.
And we have mutual agreements that we will work together against
international terrorism.
And so they join us in this campaign and will do more. And we are
examining other ways in which we can work together and cooperate. We
have already seen the results of their efforts with the arrest of six
individuals in Spain connected to the al-Qaida organization. And as
President Bush said when he visited Spain, we want to help Spain in
their struggle against terrorist activities and their struggle against
the ETA. And we will continue to find ways to cooperate.
And so I welcome my colleague, I thank him, and I thank the Spanish
people and especially President Aznar for all they have done to help
us in this time of tragedy, crisis and opportunity.
Thank you.
FOREIGN MINISTER PIQUE: Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary, my friend.
I want to reiterate our condemnation to the terrorist attacks on the
past 11th of September, and all our solidarity with the United States
and with the people and the Government of the United States in those
moments.
We are ready to cooperate. We have cooperated in the past, and we are
now cooperating, and we are ready to cooperate in the future, and
going ahead, if it's convenient and it will be useful for this global
fight against terrorism.
Unfortunately, we know very well this phenomenon, because we are
suffering the terrorism for more than 30 years -- 32 years ago -- and
we know very well the importance of the international cooperation for
winning this battle and this struggle to confirm the superiority of
our values and our institutions.
That's why our wish to cooperate is very sincere, it's very open, it's
without any mental restrictions. And I'm sure that this kind of
cooperation will be very, very close and corresponding to and coherent
with our special and (inaudible) relationship among our two countries.
We have common views, we have a common political joint declaration,
which is the framework of our relationship. We want to develop it. We
have a bilateral relationship also in defense, because we have a
bilateral agreement in this sense. We are allies in NATO. So I think
that we have to continue with these efforts.
Thank you very much.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, could you give us a sense, if you will, of
the kind of cooperation the US either is getting or seeking with
Central Asian countries? You know, in this notion of encircling the
Taliban.
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, we're in touch with all of the Central Asian
countries. We have been very pleased with how forthcoming they have
been with respect to condemning the act of 11 September, of offering
support in various kinds of ways. And we are in touch with them
through diplomatic channels and other channels to see what additional
support they may be able to provide us as we undertake this campaign.
QUESTION: On Sudan, sir, why are you rewarding a terrorism-sponsoring
state?
SECRETARY POWELL: Who are we rewarding?
QUESTION: Sudan. What you have done up at the UN (inaudible).
SECRETARY POWELL: We are quite appreciative of actions that Sudan has
taken in recent months to respond to the concerns that we have had for
a long time with respect to their support of terrorist activities. And
especially since the 11th of September, they have been rather
forthcoming in giving us access to certain individuals within the
country, and in taking other actions which demonstrate to us a change
in attitude. It's a change in attitude that we called for, and we had
indicated to the Sudanese Government if we saw these sorts of changes
in attitude, we would acknowledge them in a substantial way. And our
actions in the UN today reflected that acknowledgment.
QUESTION: Are you looking to necessarily, maybe, de-list Sudan from
the list of state sponsors of terrorism, given their recent
cooperation?
SECRETARY POWELL: We continue to examine our relationship with Sudan.
As you know, we appointed a humanitarian coordinator, Mr. Natsios, the
Administrator of AID, and former Senator Jack Danforth will be a
special envoy of the President's.
So we are looking for opportunities to improve our relationship, but
more than that, improve the lives of the people of Sudan, those who
are suffering so terribly as a result of the civil war that has gone
on there for so long. And hopefully we are on a better path with Sudan
to solve the problems that exist within that country.
Thank you.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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