15 October 2002
Powell, U.K.'s Foreign Secretary on Indonesia Bombing, Terrorism
(Oct. 14: Bali bombing increases US/UK determination to fight terror)
(1409)
The weekend terrorist bombing in Indonesia reinforces the
determination of the United States and the United Kingdom to fight
terrorism, Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters in a joint
appearance with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw after their
meeting at the State Department October 15.
"We will not be deterred, and we will do everything we can to remove
this scourge from the world, and we are reunited in that purpose once
again," Powell said.
Straw said that, in addition to discussing the "appalling atrocity" in
Bali, he and Powell had discussed the consultations within the U.N.
Security Council about Iraq. "There is a much better and greater
understanding worldwide ... about the evil nature of the Iraqi regime
and the paramount need to deal with the Iraqi regime's weapons of mass
destruction," Straw said.
He said the world faces "three linked threats" to international
security: weapons of mass destruction, rogue and failing states, and
international terrorism, adding: "If you want a safer and more
peaceful world, we have to address and deal with all three threats
together."
Powell rejected suggestions that the focus on Iraq is a distraction
from the war against terrorism: "When we talk about the campaign
against terror, we're going after those responsible for what happened
in Bali, those who were responsible for 9/11 [September 11, 2001], and
those regimes that are supporting terrorists and developing weapons of
mass destruction. And that nexus between developing weapons of mass
destruction and supporting terrorist activities is focused in Iraq,
and that's why I think Iraq is very much a part of this overall
campaign."
The bombing in Bali, Powell said, has been a "very sobering experience
for the Indonesian leadership."
Terrorism can exist "everywhere where the conditions are ripe and
where this kind of terrorist organization can thrive. And that's why
we have to go after them wherever they are, and I hope this will
reinforce Indonesian determination to deal with this kind of threat,"
Powell said.
Following is a transcript of the press availability:
(begin transcript)
U.S. Department of State
REMARKS WITH BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW AFTER THEIR MEETING
Secretary Colin L. Powell
Washington, D.C.
October 15, 2002
(11:30 a.m. EDT)
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, good morning, ladies and gentlemen. It's once
again a pleasure to have my colleague, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw,
here. We have just begun our discussions and we'll be continuing them
over lunch.
We talked, as you might expect, about the terrible tragedy that took
place in Bali over the weekend, and our thoughts are with the families
of those who lost their lives. And the United Kingdom lost a number of
citizens there, and it once again reinforces our determination to
prosecute this war against terrorism. And we will not be deterred, and
we will do everything we can to remove this scourge from the world,
and we are reunited in that purpose once again.
We also, as you might expect, have begun our discussions with respect
to the UN resolutions that are being considered, whether it is one or
two. Some think it should be two. We continue to believe that one
resolution would suffice. But it's a process of consultation and we
are in close touch with other members of the Security Council and the
negotiations are intense but they are continuing, and I am hopeful
that we will find a solution. I am sure that in the course of our
lunch we will talk about a number of other regional issues -- the
Middle East situation as well as the situation in India in Pakistan,
upcoming NATO summit and the usual bilateral issues that we always
touch on.
But it's a pleasure to welcome Secretary Straw, and I would invite him
to say a word.
FOREIGN SECRETARY STRAW: Thank you very much, and it's a real
pleasure, Secretary Powell, for me to be here for these discussions.
As Secretary Powell has said, our discussions so far have touched on
or been about the appalling atrocity in Bali and the discussions
within the Security Council about Iraq.
As far as Bali is concerned, the British Prime Minister Tony Blair has
just given an oral statement in the House of Commons condemning the
atrocity and giving further details about the numbers of casualties
that we believe has occurred there. We believe that at the moment
there are about 17 confirmed dead and up to a further 13 reported
missing, likely, almost certainly I'm afraid, to be in due course
confirmed dead, on top of the 27 who were reported injured on Sunday.
We in the British Foreign Office are doing everything we can to assist
those who are injured in terms of medical evacuation and medical care,
and also for the relatives of the dead and missing and injured to
enable them to travel to Bali or to the region on the same basis as
the arrangements we put in place after September the 11th.
So far as Iraq is concerned, as Secretary Powell has said, discussions
about a resolution or resolutions continue. But one of the things I am
clear about is that in the period since President Bush made his
historic speech to the United Nations General Assembly on September
the 12th there is a much better and greater understanding worldwide,
as I have noticed when I've been on my visits around the world, about
the evil nature of the Iraqi regime and the paramount need to deal
with the Iraqi regime's weapons of mass destruction.
Thank you.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, we keep asking how close you are to moving on
a resolution, but maybe I can vary it a bit. Would the US go ahead
with a resolution just to make a point, even if you don't have the
votes?
SECRETARY POWELL: I wouldn't comment on that. I think what we have to
do is continue the discussions that are underway. We were in touch
with the French yesterday. They had some ideas. We'll be responding to
those ideas and we'll see how things unfold. And I don't think I want
to start speculating as to what we might or might not do under
hypothetical circumstances.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary and Foreign Secretary, don't events in Bali
show that your focus on Iraq is just a distraction from the war on
terror and the campaign against al-Qaida?
SECRETARY POWELL: Not in my judgment. It shows that terrorism can
raise its head in many different ways. And I think when we talk about
the campaign against terror, we're going after those responsible for
what happened in Bali, those who were responsible for 9/11, and those
regimes that are supporting terrorists and developing weapons of mass
destruction. And that nexus between developing weapons of mass
destruction and supporting terrorist activities is focused in Iraq,
and that's why I think Iraq is very much a part of this overall
campaign.
FOREIGN SECRETARY STRAW: I share this view, and I'm making a speech
later on today in Chicago in which I am talking about three linked
threats to international security: from weapons of mass destruction;
from rogue and failing states, rogue states like Iraq, failing states
like Afghanistan; and from international terrorism. And if you want a
safer and more peaceful world, we have to address and deal with all
three threats together.
SECRETARY POWELL: One more, and then I think --
QUESTION: How serious do you think Indonesia is being about the
al-Qaida threat? What more should Indonesia be doing and what will the
US be doing to help move them in that direction?
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, we'll be working with the Indonesian
authorities and President Megawati. Clearly, I think this has been a
very sobering experience for the Indonesian leadership when they see
this kind of tragedy.
I think it's also appropriate at this point to express out particular
condolences to Australia for the large number of citizens that they
lost. As Prime Minister Howard has said, this is Australia's 9/11. So
we now can see that you are not exempt from this; you cannot pretend
it doesn't exist in your country, and it can exist everywhere where
the conditions are ripe and where this kind of terrorist organization
can thrive. And that's why we have to go after them wherever they are,
and I hope this will reinforce Indonesian determination to deal with
this kind of threat.
Thank you.
FOREIGN SECRETARY STRAW: Thank you very much.
[End]
(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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