03 April 2003
U.S. Official Describes Powell Meeting with NATO-EU Officials
(Discussed U.N. role in Iraq, Middle East peace) (2770)
In a meeting in Brussels April 3 with his NATO and European Union
counterparts, Secretary of State Colin Powell discussed the military
situation in Iraq and invited ideas on how to work together on
establishing democracy in Iraq and on moving ahead on the roadmap for
peace in the Middle East.
A senior State Department official described the atmosphere in the
meeting as "really good." The official said Powell emphasized that the
United States is making an effort to avoid civilian casualties.
"He then talked briefly about the importance of the U.N., that there
has to be a partnership with the U.N.," the official said. "We can't
say when that will all start, but that we look forward to [U.N.
Secretary General] Kofi Annan appointing a coordinator or a
representative of some kind who can help get the U.N. efforts started.
[Powell] closed by saying that he would be very interested in hearing
from all of his colleagues as to their ideas about how to move ahead
on Iraq, how to move ahead on the Middle East."
The Secretary did not ask for any decision on the role of the U.N. in
Iraq, the official said, nor was there any discussion of a role for
NATO peacekeeping forces.
The official said that in their responses to Powell, each of the other
ministers expressed appreciation for the briefing and "said that they
were very happy to hear that he mentioned the importance of a role for
the U.N."
"And every single one of them mentioned how important it was that the
United States was committing to not only issuing the roadmap, but
working to implement the roadmap in the period ahead," the official
said.
"At the end, in his [Secretary Powell's] sum-up, he said I really
appreciate the support for the roadmap, but please understand that it
can't just be issued and magical things happen. And it's not going to
be just imposed. It's going to take a heck of a lot of work to get the
sides to implement the roadmap. But President Bush has committed to
pushing very hard," the official recounted.
Following is the State Department transcript of the briefing:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
April 3, 2003
BACKGROUND BRIEFING BY A SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL
ON SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL'S MEETINGS WITH NATO [AND EU]
OFFICIALS
April 3, 2003
Brussels, Belgium
(Approximately 2:45 p.m., Local Time in Brussels)
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: The Secretary started out, after a
brief introduction by Lord Robertson and by Papandreou -- they were
the co-hosts. He went through what the military situation on the
ground is very briefly, how much effort we make to avoid civilian
casualties, how much we're sensitive to the images on television that
are upsetting to European publics, and as upsetting to us.
He then talked briefly about the importance of the U.N., that there
has to be a partnership with the U.N. We can't say when that will all
start, but that we look forward to Kofi Annan appointing a coordinator
or a representative of some kind who can help get the U.N. efforts
started. He closed by saying that he would be very interested in
hearing from all of his colleagues as to their ideas about how to move
ahead on Iraq, how to move ahead on the Middle East. He mentioned
briefly that the intention is that as soon as Abu Mazen gets his thing
confirmed that the roadmap will be issued and a lot of work will begin
to implement the roadmap.
He said that he would be very interested in hearing what all the ideas
are of his colleagues around the table, and that it's very important
to look ahead to how we can begin working together on establishing
democracy, rule of law, etc., etc. in Iraq and not spend any time ....
Q: We're back to Iraq now?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Yes.
Q: That's right. We know their ideas on the Middle East. We're talking
back to Iraq now, right?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Sorry, right. I switched back to
Iraq. And how important it was for us to look ahead on Iraq, to figure
out all the ways that we can work together on Iraq and not spend any
time debating the things that divided us in the past. He said that we
will look to endorsement by international organizations, international
authorities, the U.N., for an Iraqi interim authority, because of the
importance of their being able to function as part of the
international community.
Then, his presentation was maybe 10 to 15 minutes. And then every
single other foreign minister in the room spoke. Each one was meant to
be brief. They were fairly brief. And to summarize, each one focused
on the following: They focused on, number one, how glad they were that
he took the initiative to come talk to them, that they thought it was
not only a very important gesture but an important way to get the
dialogue going again. They all emphasized the importance of a dialogue
rather than a debate. That they appreciated his asking them for their
views of how we might begin working together on Iraq. Virtually every
single one of them said that they were very happy to hear that he
mentioned the importance of a role for the U.N. They looked forward to
talking about that as the situation develops so that we have a better
sense of what that would be.
And every single one of them mentioned how important it was that the
United States was committing to not only issuing the roadmap, but
working to implement the roadmap in the period ahead.
Those were the major themes from each of them. There was a summing up
at the end in which the Secretary said that one of the things he's
taking away from this is that as he's listened to all the different
ideas about the U.N. role, that this is a dialogue, that there have
been no decisions made about what the role of the U.N is, since after
all the U.N. isn't even sitting here. So we can't make decisions for
them. They have to be part of the dialogue.
Q: They said that. Or the Secretary said that?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: The Secretary said that. The
Secretary said that. The U.N. isn't sitting here. We can't make
decisions about the U.N. They're not here.
Q: Apart from saying that the U.N. should have a role, an important
role, did he actually put any flesh on that and say what role and how
it would be related to the ...
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: No.
Q: He used the word, "partnership" in his words?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Yes. Partnership with the U.N.,
important role of the U.N. What he said at the end is it's important
we not use words that make it look like we made a decision about what
that role is exactly because it's too early to determine that, number
one. And number two it cannot be determined without further
discussions with the U.N. itself since Kofi Annan himself doesn't want
to be the director of Iraq.
Q: I can only think of two constructions of what you're telling us
that the others said.
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Okay.
Q: Either that in two magical hours all the opposition to the U.S.
approach for post-war Iraq is melted away. If that's the spin you're
trying to give us, it ain't going to go down. The second construction
that's possible is he didn't ask for any decision, that he made the
point this is all preliminary discussion.
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: That's right. That's exactly right.
Q: We've got to talk to the U.N. and, by the way, did he say when he's
going to see Kofi Annan?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: No.
Q: Because he told us he'd see him soon.
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: I don't know when he's going to see
him. He didn't say.
Q: So, everything is sort of on hold?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: It's the beginning of a discussion.
It's the beginning of a dialogue. Nothing is decided. At the end, he
said he very much appreciated all the comments. He wanted to take them
back to Washington for discussion with his cabinet colleagues, what
their views are about the U.N.
But the critical thing is 'nothing is decided.' Too early to decide.
Not possible to decide. But one of the ...
Q: Certainly outside of the U.N. it's too early?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Outside the U.N, certainly it's too
early to decide.
Q: Did anyone ask him what U.N. role he does envisage? Did they press
him on this point?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Partly because of the nature of the
discussion. He speaks. They each speak. By then we're already way past
time. So he only had about a minute to respond. So they presented
their comments on what he had said or on what the others had said.
So there's a whole range between us, which is why we need to talk to
the U.N., about what kind of role. Is there going to be a coordinator?
Would that be a good idea? How to get the U.N. humanitarian workers
in, because of the security situation? How is all that going to work,
which the U.N. has to help us out with? All the way to, the U.N. has
to be in charge.
Q: What about NATO peacekeepers?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Was there any talk of NATO
peacekeepers?
Q: Because [Spanish Foreign Minister Ana] Palacio thought maybe it's
time to get into it.
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: I believe I'm correct in saying
there was zero talk of NATO peacekeepers there. One or two might have
said one thing to keep in mind is the U.N. has a role, the EU has a
way of participating, NATO might even have a way of participating. But
absolutely nothing except that. That's the sort of thing that could
come up now, in the next bit [meeting].
Q: Oh, what's now?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Now [the next meeting] is NATO only.
Q: What was this earlier?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: This [previous meeting] was NATO and
the EU together.
Q: And now we're just going to have NATO?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: And now it's just NATO.
Q: On the question of international endorsement of the interim
authority, how much opposition was there?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: None. None. The way it was discussed
...
Q: Was there any support for it?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: The way most people discussed it,
they all said it was important for the U.N. to participate, that the
U.N. have a role. And there are all kinds of gradations of what that
role could be. But, U.N. endorsement, not only of the Iraqi interim
authority or whatever, but U.N. endorsement of, approval,
participation - there were all kinds of words used - for any
arrangement as there is a transition from the military to the civilian
authorities. Some of the things that are obvious is that you have got
to have a U.N. authorized way to sell the oil, so that there's
ownership - legal ownership - of the oil under Oil for Food [program].
Q: Did he speak of the U.N. coordinator, which is what ...
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: He did mention the importance of a
U.N. representative or U.N. coordinator - I think he said U.N.
coordinator. He said we have to be careful about what titles, because
we don't want to use titles that connote the wrong thing. So I don't
know what title it would have.
Q: But some U.N. ...
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Somebody that we can work with.
Q: Was there any talk of a conference in relation to the interim
authority in Baghdad conference?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: There were a couple of references to
'Wouldn't it be a good idea to have something like the Bonn
conference?'
Q: Not from him [Secretary Powell] though?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: No.
Q: On the roadmap, I know how hell-bent they are. Oh yeah, I know
where they're coming from.
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Every one of them mentioned the
roadmap. At the end, in his [Secretary Powell's] sum-up, he said I
really appreciate the support for the roadmap, but please understand
that it can't just be issued and magical things happen. And it's not
going to be just imposed. It's going to take a heck of a lot of work
to get the sides to implement the roadmap. But President Bush has
committed to pushing very hard.
Q: He and Rice have said it's not negotiable. They've already caved to
the Europeans. So he's not pulling back on that?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: No. He's not pulling back on that.
And several asked about that. They said, "Are you sure you mean it's
not to be negotiated?" and he said, "It's going to be issued the way
it is."
Q: And then implementing it is the serious ...
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Implementing is the serious issue
and that's why we've asked the Europeans for help with this.
Q: In the way it is?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Yes. In the way it is.
Q: But with this level of detail on the U.N. role, he's not going into
any more detail in the bilats? Is that where he's giving ...
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: That's right. In the bilats he's
giving exactly the same thing.
Q: Okay.
Q: Humanitarian assistance? Anything specific?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Mostly the focus was on the
importance of humanitarian assistance. In his presentation he talked
about how much he appreciates the E.U. humanitarian money that's
already been put forward by Chris Patten, the importance of getting
the humanitarian assistance in, the importance of the U.N. security
coordinator authorizing ...
Q: But nothing more specific in terms of (unintelligible) . . .
clearing mines?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: No. There was no real discussion of
any specifics like that. It was much more concept.
Q: So (unintelligible) will be provider of . . .
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Exactly.
Q: I'm not trying to put words in your mouth but it sounds like there
was no assertion of positions in any serious terms. It sounds rather
amiable.
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: The atmosphere was really good.
Q: Are you sure the French were there?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Yes. And the French were the same.
Let's talk about the future, looking ahead, important to do that,
atmosphere was good because he came. Because he took the initiative to
talk to them. Because he said that it's important to get the roadmap
out without it being renegotiated. Because he said that we want an
important role for the U.N.
Q: Oh, you're talking about ...
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: This is my 'why did it go well?'
Q: But on Iraq, nobody said, 'Oh, you're rewarding the belligerents?'
Or 'You're trying to impose democracy on the back of a cruise
missile?' None of this heated nastiness?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: None. None.
Q: That was Ivanov, of course. But Chirac spoke of the belligerents
getting rewarded by running Iraq?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: There was no talk like that.
Q: No such talk?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: No talk like that at all. It was
good. A lot of work still to do. That was the other thing. We have a
lot of work to do.
Q: What's next date? Any ...
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Well, right now we have the NAC
meeting, so there will be a lot more discussion of that kind of thing.
Q: But he hasn't said something like, "I'll see you at the NATO spring
meeting," or maybe something in between?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: No. There was some talk of the
U.S.-E.U. summit, but that's not until the end of June.
Q: So he didn't set up for two weeks from now, huh?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: No.
(Briefing Concluded at approximately 3:00 p.m., local time in
Brussels)
(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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