03 October 2001
Transcript: Qatar "Good Friend of America," Powell Says
(Also comments on Saudi support, Al-Jazeera, terrorism) (1190)
"Qatar is a good friend of America, and they have always been there
when we needed assistance," Secretary of State Colin Powell told
reporters October 3, after meeting with the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh
Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Powell drew attention to the generous contributions Qatar made to
assist the victims of the terrorist attacks in New York. Sheikh Hamad
told reporters Qatar stands "by the United States, especially in the
efforts to combat terror."
In response to a question, Powell said the Saudis have been responsive
to U.S. needs. "The requests that (we) put to the Saudis have been
responded to," he stated.
Asked whether the U.S. would avoid attacks on Arab nations as it
pursues terrorist networks, Powell said U.S. efforts were focused on
the al Qaeda organization located in Afghanistan, and this effort
should not be seen as "the beginning of some conflict with other Arab
nations."
"We are not seeing this as anti-Arab, anti-Islam.... We are not
looking for conflict with other nations," Powell said.
(begin transcript)
Remarks with His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Amir of
the State of Qatar and Secretary Colin L. Powell Washington, DC
October 3, 2001
SECRETARY POWELL: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. It has been my
great pleasure this morning to receive His Highness, the Amir of
Qatar. We have had a good conversation. I had the opportunity to
express my thanks to His Highness and to the people of his country for
the expressions of condolence and support they have provided to the
United States during this time of difficulty since the 11th of
September.
I especially thanked His Highness for the immediate response that he
provided when we asked for assistance for the movement of American
forces. Qatar is a good friend of America, and they have always been
there when we needed assistance. And this time was no exception.
I also took this opportunity to thank His Highness for the generosity
he showed in New York earlier this week by providing donations to the
Burn Unit at Cornell University, as well as other donations for the
families of rescue workers and others who lost their lives in the
tragedy. The Amir certainly understands that this was a tragedy not
just against the United States but against civilization, and we are
united in the struggle against terrorism.
And so, Your Highness, it's a great pleasure to welcome you here in
the State Department, and to the United States again, and to thank you
for the support that you have been providing to us.
Your Highness.
SHEIKH HAMAD: I am pleased to be here in Washington, DC and to see the
Secretary. I came here to convey the condolences on behalf of the
Qatari Government and the Qatari people to the American people and the
American Government. There is no doubt that the unique relationship
between Qatar and the United States dictates that we have to stand by
the United States, especially in the efforts to combat terror.
There is no also doubt that we have a unique military relationship
with the United States. That relationship is normal and joint
exercises are going as scheduled.
And if there is any question, I'll be happy to answer it.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, however hard you all try, reports keep
persisting that the Saudis are not doing or promising to do all the
things the US would like them to do. I know it's a redundant question,
but do you care to address it this morning?
SECRETARY POWELL: Yes. I know the reports keep persisting, but the
requests that we have put to the Saudis have been responded to. Now,
as you know, Secretary Rumsfeld is on his way over there to thank them
for the support they have provided, and I'm sure they will have a full
discussion of what else might be required or needed.
But we are very satisfied with the support that the Saudi Arabian
Government has provided to us.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, you've been asking for the support of the
Arab countries, and you've been getting this support. However, there
have been reports like the Egyptian Foreign Minister, and also from
King Abdullah of Jordan, that America gave us assurances that no Arab
country will be attacked during the campaign. This has been denied.
Can you put the record straight once and for all and assure your
honored guest that no Arab country will be attacked during this
campaign?
SECRETARY POWELL: Our campaign objective is to go after the al-Qaida
organization and its leader Usama bin Laden. The headquarters of this
organization and Usama bin Laden are located in Afghanistan. He has
elements of his network around the world. We are using all the tools
available to us: financial tools, law enforcement, intelligence, and
the prospect of military operations as well to go after this network.
We are focusing on al-Qaida and focusing on Afghanistan, and that is
the first phase of this operation, and I obviously cannot comment on
what might happen in the future. But I think the concerns raised by
your question should not be concerns. We are not seeing this as
anti-Arab, anti-Islam; it's anti-terrorism, and we're going after the
al-Qaida organization where it is located by all the means at our
disposal. We are not looking for conflict with other nations.
But as the President has indicated, we have to make sure that this
campaign focuses on al-Qaida, but also takes note of those nations
that provide haven, provide succor, provide support to terrorist
organizations. But this is not the beginning of some conflict with
other Arab nations. We are keeping our attention focused on our
principal objective, which in this first instance is al-Qaida.
QUESTION: This is a question for His Highness. Have you relayed
concerns I guess relayed last week by the United States Government to
the al-Jazeerah network over the balancing of their coverage of the
new war on terrorism?
SHEIKH HAMAD: It is true that we heard from this Administration, as
well as previous American administrations in the past, about this
issue. Whenever we hear from these friends, we consider this as a
friendly advice and we listen to the friends and their advice. But the
issue here is the program that has been put together in Qatar. Qatar
is embarking on a parliamentary life that within two years will have a
life, a parliamentary life with a democracy, which dictates that
freedom of the press should be granted, and that press should enjoy
credibility.
I will go back to the issue of al-Jazeerah. There are so many heads of
other states who raise that issue, and there was some setbacks. The
issue here is how can we work together in order to combat terror, and
how all the other countries in the region and elsewhere should work
together in order to combat terror. This is the issue.
SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you.
SHEIKH HAMAD: 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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