14 July 2004
State Department Noon Briefing: July 14
Department issues, Israel/Palestinians, Iran, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, China/Taiwan, India, France, Russia
State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher briefed reporters July 14.
Following is the transcript of the State Department briefing:
(begin transcript)
Daily Press Briefing Index
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
12:47 p.m. EST
BRIEFER: Richard Boucher, Spokesman
DEPARTMENT
-- Secretary Powell to Speak at U.S. Institute for Peace about Iraq
PHILIPPINES
-- Withdrawal of Troops from Iraq
-- Filipino Hostage Angelo de la Cruz
-- Continuation of U.S.-Philippines Cooperation
ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS
-- U.S. Steps for Progress/Contact with Egypt and Jordan/Deputy National
Security Advisor Abrams and Ambassador Kurtzer Meeting with Israelis
IRAN
-- Response to International Atomic Energy Agency Requirements
SAUDI ARABIA
-- Interest in Information Gained from Khaled Harbi
-- Steps Taken to Counter Terrorism
NORTH KOREA
-- Goal of Denuclearization
ISRAEL
-- Encouragement of Nations to Have Good Relations with Israel
CHINA/TAIWAN
-- No Change in One China Policy
NORTH KOREA
-- U.S. Readiness to Respond if North Korea Begins Denuclearization
INDIA
-- Deputy Secretary Armitage Travel to India/Meeting with former Minister
Fernandez
DEPARTMENT
-- Deputy Secretary Armitage Travel
FRANCE
-- U.S. Relationship with France
MISCELLANEOUS
-- U.S. Does Not Tolerate Mistreatment of Guantanamo Detainees
RUSSIA
-- Need for Open Media
-- Investigation into Murder of Paul Klebnikov
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2004
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
12:47 p.m. EDT
MR. BOUCHER: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Just one thing I'd like to note at the top. The Secretary will be speaking tomorrow at the U.S. Institute for Peace at 3:30 in the afternoon about Iraq, about the current situation in Iraq. There will be some coverage available there. You can talk to Kay King at the U.S. Institute for Peace, for those who are looking to cover that. She's at (202) 429-3824. People need to confirm with her by 10 a.m.
There's limited seating in the room. There will be a feed to side rooms, I understand, and we'll also have a feed back here to the Department for those of you who have televisions here.
QUESTION: Q&A?
MR. BOUCHER: Q&A will be from members of the Institute people who are invited guests, not general press Q&A. Okay?
QUESTION: Will he give us any more detail on subjects other than Iraq?
MR. BOUCHER: No, not at this point. Okay? We'll move on to other things?
QUESTION: Well, of course, what happened now in Manila, a decision to leave early after all. Was that clarified?
MR. BOUCHER: Is there a new statement out of Manila?
QUESTION: Well, we have something here -- the Philippines said Wednesday it was withdrawing its small peacekeeping (inaudible) from Iraq early to save the life of a kidnapped truck driver. It's called a dramatic turnabout by a backer of the U.S. --
MR. BOUCHER: I don't think I've seen that particular statement. I would say we have been in contact with the Philippine Government at all levels. Our embassy out there has been with a lot of different people in the Philippine Government.
I don't think we have precise clarification yet as to their exact plans, but we've seen statements like this or heading in that direction. And they -- as I think you know, they've reconfirmed the original statement, that they would leave as soon as possible.
I would express once again the fact of our disappointment in that statement. We think withdrawal sends the wrong signal, and that it is important for people to stand up to terrorism, not allow them to change our behavior. We certainly have every sympathy for Mr. de la Cruz. Unfortunately, we have no new information on his status, on his situation right now. But we continue to hold that he needs to be released immediately and that these terrorists who have captured him need to be found and punished.
QUESTION: You said that you don't have any precise information on their exact plans, but, I mean, that could be interpreted to mean you don't know what particular plane they're going to get on. Do you have any reason to doubt that their leaving early is --
MR. BOUCHER: I have no reason to doubt, but I don't know what date they might be leaving or how they might be working that out.
QUESTION: Do you have any -- do you have a feeling that this may set a precedent for other countries in similar circumstances, to bail when threatened?
MR. BOUCHER: I think each country makes it own decision. We've seen decisions that the Japanese Government, the Korean Government, the Bulgarian Government, and others have made in similar circumstances when their nationals were threatened. I think probably a number of other nations I could name if I could -- if I had time to prepare the list. But it's, I think, really, in many cases, strengthened the resolve of nations to understand the cruelty and the harm and the barbarity of these people who are capturing people and then threatening to kill them, and in some cases, beheading them.
QUESTION: Do you think --
MR. BOUCHER: And so, in many nations, the reaction has been to only strengthen their resolve, to know even more strongly what they are fighting for and why it's important to fight to end that sort of cruelty and that sort of terrorism which goes against all of the world's religions.
QUESTION: Do you think that the Philippine decision might have the perverse consequence of making their citizens even more vulnerable because the taking of one hostage generates a considerable response by the Philippine Government, and therefore others might be taken to push them in other directions?
MR. BOUCHER: I think -- and, you know, I can't say, give you an absolute analysis in this case. I would say our general stance has always been that making concessions to hostage-takers and terrorists only encourages that behavior.
Joel.
QUESTION: Richard, Al-Jazeera is --
QUESTION: Could you stay on this please?
QUESTION: It is on this.
QUESTION: Oh.
QUESTION: -- has now pledged honest coverage. Do you think that they have a bearing of what's gone on, especially with the beheadings and such?
MR. BOUCHER: I haven't seen their coverage of this, and I think I commented on their --
QUESTION: Well, this is a statement by them today.
MR. BOUCHER: -- their new rules yesterday. I don't -- I don't have an assessment at this point.
Saul.
QUESTION: Yeah, given that the Philippines' reaction is completely the opposite of the U.S. policy on terrorism and giving in to terrorists, will this affect relations, bilateral relations, with the Philippines?
MR. BOUCHER: I think we'll have to see. They have pledged, we have pledged, to continue the strong cooperation we have had in many, many other areas with regard to terrorism. We have worked closely with them in the Philippines against terrorists there. We have worked closely with them on many other things around the world in terms of sharing information, law enforcement information, training, a lot of different forms of cooperation, all of which we certainly would like to continue.
The Philippines has stood beside the United States as a friend and an ally on many, many occasions in the decades past, and so we look forward to continuing to work with them in all the areas where we can productively do that.
QUESTION: Hasn't the government -- in fact, we can personalize it and say the President, if you wish -- given the U.S. a different impression, as late as last weekend, that they would not bow to a terrorist threat, they would not compromise?
MR. BOUCHER: I think it's safe to say that they gave no indication before the statement on -- when was that, Monday evening, our time? -- that they would leave as soon as possible.
QUESTION: The concessionary statement.
MR. BOUCHER: Yeah. Before the concessionary statement by the Deputy Foreign Minister, there was no indication from the Philippine Government they intended to take this course.
QUESTION: Forgive me, I'll pass.
MR. BOUCHER: Okay, sir.
QUESTION: Will the U.S. allow Mr. Han Song-ryol, the North Korean Ambassador to UN, to travel to Washington, D.C. this --
MR. BOUCHER: Don't know. Don't know what he might be applying for. We've been careful to give those permissions within the scope of the agreements on which he's here for UN business, but I don't know if there's such a thing pending right now.
QUESTION: Change subject?
MR. BOUCHER: Sure.
QUESTION: The Palestinian Authority just declared Terje Larsen, the UN representative for the Middle East, as a persona non grata because he criticized the Palestinian Authority and said it's unable to reform itself.
MR. BOUCHER: Are you sure?
QUESTION: Well, this is what I had before I came here.
MR. BOUCHER: Huh.
QUESTION: So what's your comment about that?
MR. BOUCHER: Well, I have to express a little bit of surprise. I don't have any comment at this point. I'll have to look into it and see if we have anything to say.
QUESTION: Now do you think that will complicate (inaudible) the peace process, obviously.
MR. BOUCHER: Let's find out what it is and what it means and we'll speculate later. Actually, we won't speculate later, but we'll get you what we can and see if we have anything to say. Okay?
Let's keep moving back.
QUESTION: What's your comment on the (inaudible) report yesterday in the UN?
MR. BOUCHER: I think we gave some comments up in New York. I think Senator Danforth, Ambassador Danforth, made some comments in New York to the stakeouts up there, so I'd really stick with what he had. There have been discussions up in New York. I think our views of the overall need for progress are very clear. The United States has certainly been pushing forward in every area we can. We've just had David Satterfield out, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near East, was out at Quartet meetings looking at assistance in other programs.
We've been staying in close touch with the Egyptian Government, Jordanian Government and others, about how they can help the Palestinians. We've been very, very clear on our part about the need for the Palestinians to take responsibility and authority over the areas that they can control. We've also been very clear with the Israelis. We just had Deputy National Security Advisor and Elliott Abrams and our Ambassador Kurtzer meeting with the Israelis this week about settlements and fences and outposts and walls and all these other issues that we have discussed before with the Israelis, as well as the opportunities that present themself in Gaza.
So the United States is working very hard to try to make progress, to try to take advantage of the opportunity, and try to help others take advantage of the real opportunity to make progress on the ground, consistent with the roadmap, in the direction of creating two states that can live side by side.
QUESTION: Is the time right for the Secretary to go over there maybe?
MR. BOUCHER: Nothing at this point, we'll see.
QUESTION: Can I ask about something else? Iran says it's ready to resume, you can call it negotiations, if you will, with France, Britain -- and I forgot the third country -- it's Germany or Italy -- on its nuclear program. That's been going on parallel, as you know, to what the IAEA has been trying to do. Is this something the U.S. thinks will help?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't --
QUESTION: Because, you know, it was hoped last time but it didn't work out.
MR. BOUCHER: You guys have been reading a different set of wires than I have this morning.
QUESTION: No, just reading the State Department's own, whatever this is.
MR. BOUCHER: Well, the issue of Iran, I think, we've been quite clear on. Iran needs to comply with -- Iran needs to comply with its own promises and commitments to the IAEA. Iran needs to comply with the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency. We've seen, I think it's safe to say, since the IAEA meeting, a number of statements not only that were mixed but a number of statements flat out rejecting the requirements, flat out rejecting what they had previously agreed with the Europeans.
We don't think is a matter of continuing negotiation, we think it's a matter of compliance. And so we want to see Iranian action to comply with their commitments, with their own promises and to comply with the international requirements that they're under.
QUESTION: Right.
QUESTION: Can we go back to the Philippines for one second? You said that there have been contacts at all levels. Obviously, we know about the phone call with -- or the Ambassador's meeting with President Arroyo. Did you mean that President Bush had been involved in contacts with him?
MR. BOUCHER: No, I meant that we've kept in touch with President Arroyo. Our embassy out there has been in touch with President Arroyo, with other members of the Philippine Government, people in the Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, other places like that.
(Inaudible.)
QUESTION: Do you think the Saudi (inaudible) is paying off now, considering that Khaled al-Harbi, a guy who's a close associate of bin Laden, has given himself up? And can you tell us a bit more about the Iranian role in that sense that he gave himself up to the Iranian --
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know that I could tell you any more about the Iranian role since I'm a U.S. Government spokesman and not an Iranian one. You'd have to ask them.
QUESTION: No, but (inaudible) in contact with the Iranian regarding that, (inaudible).
MR. BOUCHER: You'd have to ask the Saudis if they had any contact with Iranians in that regard.
QUESTION: Not the Saudis. I'm talking about the (inaudible).
MR. BOUCHER: This is not our program. This was not our guy. This is not our action. I don't see any grounds for us to have been involved in that regard.
We have been in close touch with the Saudis. We work with them against terrorism. We're very interested in learning any information they might get from this man turning himself in, very interested in any information that they can acquire about terrorist actions and possible terrorist actions.
We've been working very closely with the Saudi Government. Their policy, as I understand it, is not really an amnesty so much as an opportunity for people to turn themselves in. This is, I think, the third al-Qaida-associated individual who's turned himself in. We think the Saudis have been very resolute in their pursuit of terrorists. They've had a number of successes. They have also suffered a number of attacks and suffered some deaths among their security people who have been going after the terrorists. So we have worked very closely with them on law enforcement, intelligence sharing, finance and all these other areas, and we'll continue to work with them against terrorism.
Sir. Mr. Ota.
QUESTION: Going back to North Korea.
MR. BOUCHER: Yes.
QUESTION: The North Korean State News Agency, you know, issued a new statement and just responding the corresponding there. They say that they will exclude the peaceful use from the kind of dismantlement and the freeze on it. Do you have any response to this statement by North Korea?
MR. BOUCHER: I -- we'll obviously look at whatever statements are made. I think, in the end, their response is going to have to be more solid in the discussions that we have, the six-party talks. But our general view, the view adopted by the parties at the six-party talks, is that there needs to be denuclearization; it needs to be complete, it needs to be verifiable, it needs to be irreversible. That's the only way to ensure that we're not going to get ourselves back into the problems that we have now and that North Korea is not going to get itself back in the hole that it's dug for itself now. And that has to be the goal and that's the goal that's generally accepted by the parties to the talks.
QUESTION: Regarding this statement, do you have any concern? They say they're quite negative about the inspections and they say that they need -- they need --
MR. BOUCHER: I don't think it's very useful for us to try to go back and forth based on public statements that come out. I think we've been quite clear what the goal is, what the goal needs to be. All the parties have accepted denuclearization. We have put a specific proposal on the table to achieve that. We think North Korea should take that seriously, should study it carefully and should respond by accepting a program to achieve the goal that they and others have accepted.
QUESTION: The North Korean statement also said that denuclearization, that North Korea would dismantle if there is denuclearization. And does this mean that North Korea only should denuclearize or do you feel that there are prospects for other countries around the area to denuclearize?
MR. BOUCHER: The goal is to eliminate any possibility of nuclear weapons on the Peninsula. Denuclearization means an elimination of North Korea's nuclear weapons and nuclear programs, period.
Sir, over here.
QUESTION: New subject?
MR. BOUCHER: Yeah.
QUESTION: Does United States have any concerns about the tension in Turkish-Israel relations in these days?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't really think it's for me to comment on that. We'll leave that to the Turks and the Israelis.
QUESTION: And what is your comment on the Israeli's Prime Minister's visit to Turkey?
MR. BOUCHER: Again, you know, it's up to them who they visit and how they talk and what they do with each other. We have always encouraged nations to have good relations with Israel. We think they are an important part of the region. We've always welcomed people who have had good relations with Israel and have tried to be a positive force for moving forward in the region, moving forward on peace. If Turkey takes that role, if Turkey wants to do that, that's good.
QUESTION: China's Embassy spokesman says, "We're gravely concerned over the recent U.S. moves on the Taiwan question." Is that something that the U.S. would like to respond to?
MR. BOUCHER: Well, I don't know why one needs to talk about recent U.S. moves. There has been no change in the U.S. policy regarding China and Taiwan. We've had numerous exchanges with the Chinese. The subject of Taiwan always comes up. The Secretary discussed it with the Chinese Foreign Minister in Indonesia. Dr. Rice was just out in Beijing, had meetings with the Foreign Minister, with State Counselor Tang Jiaxuan, former President Jiang Zemin, President Hu Jintao.
During all these meetings, we expressed very clearly what our policy was and we followed that policy very carefully. I think our views are well known. We've committed to a One China policy, based on the three joint communiqués and the Taiwan Relations Act. We've opposed unilateral moves by either side that would change the status quo.
For Beijing, this means no use of force or other forms of coercion against Taiwan. For Taipei, it means exercising prudence in managing all aspects of cross-strait relations. We do not support Taiwan independence. For both sides, it means no statements or actions that would unilaterally alter Taiwan's status. We continue the sale of appropriate defense and military equipment to Taiwan, in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act.
So that's been our policy all along, happy to restate it for you today.
Yeah. Sir.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) said that North Korea will be surprised to see so many things possible if they comply with the U.S. proposal during the meeting with the South Korea President. What are those so many things possible, right?
MR. BOUCHER: We've made clear from the beginning of this problem that North Korea's created that we were ready and had been ready to take bold steps in the relationship if North Korea was going to correct the problems that they had caused. In fact, when Assistant Secretary Kelly first went out to North Korea, he was ready to present them with a bold approach that would involve economic interaction, talks, ties, a lot of different kinds of interaction and opening up between the United States and North Korea.
Many others of North Korea's neighbors have been prepared to offer various kinds of support, assistance and ties, if North Korea begins seriously this process of denuclearization. So I think the kind of isolation that North Korea has found itself in, the kind of difficulty that North Korea has found itself in, in terms of interaction with the world and improving its relationships with the world, have been caused by its pursuit of these programs, these nuclear weapons programs. And we have all made clear that the ending of those programs, serious progress towards denuclearization, would result in a variety of benefits and the gradual establishment of normal relations with the rest of the world.
Ma'am.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) Dr. Condoleezza Rice mentioned anything about the military doctor, Jiang Yangyong, during her visit to Beijing?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know. You'd have to check at the White House.
Sir.
QUESTION: Can I change topics?
MR. BOUCHER: Please.
QUESTION: Do you have anything on the report named in the media that the former Indian Defense Minister was strip-searched when he came to Washington last year?
MR. BOUCHER: I think those are old reports based on a book that's coming out. No, I don't. I do know that the Deputy Secretary has just been in India. He has had very good meetings with a lot of people. I believe he spoke with former Minister Fernandez, just to make sure we understood what the situation was, and obviously we'll look into anything that might have happened.
But, no, I don't have any confirmation of those reports at this point.
QUESTION: Can I follow on it?
MR. BOUCHER: Yeah.
QUESTION: (Inaudible.)
MR. BOUCHER: Okay.
QUESTION: We have a story out of New Delhi in which Deputy Secretary Armitage says he apologized to former Minister Fernandez. And our story quotes Mr. Armitage as saying that he was not strip-searched but that he removed his shoes. And I don't understand why asking somebody to remove their shoes while going through security is worthy of an apology because if it is, you should be apologizing to tens of thousands of people every day, including U.S. Senators and lots of other people. So it would be nice to know what actually happened to him and why it merits an apology, given that it seems to reflect what is basic treatment in most American airports today.
MR. BOUCHER: I don't have any further details for you at this point. I'll see if we have any further details on what happened to him, when it happened and whether it merits any sort of apology. I think it's courteous just to say we're sorry if it inconvenienced you.
QUESTION: Just one on China and Taiwan.
MR. BOUCHER: Go.
QUESTION: Do you have a readout of Mr. Armitage's meeting in India?
MR. BOUCHER: Okay. Let's do that and then we'll go on. I think we just got the transcript of his press conference there, so we'll try to share that with people once we have a good version of it.
But the summary, Deputy Secretary Armitage had a full day of activities in New Delhi today. He had excellent and productive meetings with the Prime Minister, National Security Advisor, Foreign Minister, Defense Minister and other senior officials. He also met with opposition leader and former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani. Mr. Armitage, as you all know, is the highest-ranking U.S. Government official to visit India since its elections and the change of government.
The United States and India remain close friends and partners. All of Mr. Armitage's meetings reflected the warm and collaborative nature of our relationship with India and they are indicative of the direction we want the relationship to proceed.
The Deputy Secretary has now arrived in Islamabad this evening for a series of meetings on Thursday with senior government leaders in Pakistan, including the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister.
QUESTION: Is the Deputy Secretary finding any disposition in that region to contribute troops to help guard the UN or secure the borders in Iraq?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know that -- there is not anything to report at this point. Obviously, other governments will have to give their positions on this. This was not a major topic in India. I think the Indian Government has already been quite clear on what its position is.
QUESTION: (Inaudible, off mike) -- also that a strong contender to the position of (inaudible).
MR. BOUCHER: I wouldn't comment on that one way or the other. That would be for the White House. But I have nothing on that.
QUESTION: Something else?
MR. BOUCHER: Go back?
QUESTION: Yeah. A Chinese embassy spokesman said explicitly yesterday that U.S. cannot expect an improvement in relations so long as it continues selling advanced arms to Taiwan, and there was a report in The Washington Times today quoting U.S. officials as saying that they would continue to sell arms to Taiwan so long as --
MR. BOUCHER: I just said that five minutes ago.
QUESTION: Could I ask you something you didn't say five minutes --
MR. BOUCHER: Is there anything else to that? Okay.
QUESTION: Okay. Last night, the Secretary made another attempt, in a ceremony here, to say France and the United States have a lot in common, differences can be overcome, common interests, a long history of friendship. Do you feel that France is reciprocating to this -- been reciprocating, considering what President Chirac, for instance, had to say in Istanbul about Europe and Turkey? In other words, are the French as disposed as Secretary Powell is to overcoming, shall we say, the differences that have marked the relationship?
MR. BOUCHER: Look, we've got a long relationship with France as allies. The Secretary is not trying to say this; he is merely telling the truth about it.
QUESTION: Okay.
MR. BOUCHER: If you're watching the overall situation, you'll see we worked very well together in Haiti, for example; you see we're working very well together in Africa; you'll see the French just recognized the government in Iraq; the French are talking about how they can get involved in assisting the reconstruction of Iraq; that the French were part of a NATO consensus about training for Iraqis, although they've expressed some different views about how that might take place.
So we have a relationship with France that's fundamentally as it's always been. We have some differences and we have an awful lot of points of alliance and commonality where we work together. It's not one statement or -- by us or by them, pro or con, that makes a difference. It's what we do together. And I think any look at what we do together in the last few months -- four unanimous UN resolutions and some of these other things that I've cited -- shows that there is a strong relationship with France although it's not without its differences.
QUESTION: Are you suggesting that maybe French politicians posture a little bit?
MR. BOUCHER: I didn't suggest that. Did you?
QUESTION: No, I'm asking.
MR. BOUCHER: I don't think I said that.
QUESTION: Well, maybe they had to say some kind of --
MR. BOUCHER: I'd leave that for you to say what you want on that.
QUESTION: Well, I mean --
MR. BOUCHER: I'm not a political commentator in France. You can -- others can do that.
QUESTION: Well, I'm just questioning whether -- I'm asking, I guess, whether French policy is more cooperative than French statements appear to be.
MR. BOUCHER: I really don't have an assessment of that. You'd have to make that assessment with some political commentator. I'm just pointing out facts.
QUESTION: The Swedish man who was released from Guantanamo Bay last week has said that he was tortured while he was detained. Is the U.S. aware that he was tortured? Is there any investigation into it?
MR. BOUCHER: I think the Pentagon, which has been in charge of these detention facilities, has denied the allegations. They have reaffirmed that the United States does not tolerate mistreatment of Guantanamo detainees. I would point out that Government of Sweden representatives have visited Guantanamo on multiple occasions and they have not expressed allegations of mistreatment to us.
QUESTION: And since he made the allegations back in Sweden, the government hasn't raised it with you?
MR. BOUCHER: The Government of Sweden has not raised allegations of mistreatment with us.
QUESTION: Bahrain has arrested seven men accused of planning bombings. Six of the seven were detained and then released, I believe, several weeks ago for lack of evidence. Do you have any comment on the fact that they've been arrested and on the fact that they were detained and then released several weeks ago?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't have any comment at this point. I just saw the news. We'll have to check on it and get back to you later.
QUESTION: And just as a general matter, are you satisfied with the cooperation Bahrain has provided in seeking to protect U.S. officials and U.S. servicemen in that country?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't think I'm in a position to make any sweeping statements right now. Joel.
QUESTION: Richard, in the last half week following the assassination of the editor of Forbes Magazine in Moscow, have you been in contact with the Russians concerning protection for journalists, media suppression that you're mentioning with the closedown of NTV and other media outlets, and also perhaps a clampdown on some capitalistic-type progress such as the Yukos affair?
MR. BOUCHER: I think before we start speculating on other things about this, on the motives of the killers and whatever, I think it's important to really deal with the specific situation. We've made clear our general views about the state of the media in Russia and the need for open media. In the case of Mr. Klebnikov, I don't think there is any new information on his killing at this point. Russian authorities are conducting the investigation and you'd have to hear from them more on that.
We have kept in touch with Russian law enforcement authorities. We note that the Procurator General attended the memorial service that was held today in Moscow. We are pleased with the high level attention that Russia has been showing in this case. We have offered to assist the investigating authorities in any way that might help with the apprehension and punishment of the killers. So far, Russian law enforcement authorities haven't felt they needed any of that assistance but the offer is still there.
It is important for us that the killers be brought swiftly to justice and swift accountability in this case is important to avoid a climate of fear for journalists. Paul Klebnikov was a courageous and talented journalist, who represented the best of American values of fair play, equality and openness, and we pay tribute to him here. We've kept in touch with his family, we've kept in touch with his employer, and we've kept in touch with Russian authorities on this case.
QUESTION: Thank you.
MR. BOUCHER: Thank you.
(The briefing was concluded at 1:19 p.m.)
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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