Military

11 April 2005

State Department Briefing, April 11

OECD Development Assistance Report, India, North Korea, Iran, Greece, Macedonia, Iraq, Pakistan

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher briefed the press April 11.

Following is the transcript of the State Department briefing:

(begin transcript)

U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing Index
Monday, April 11, 2005
12:30 p.m. EST

Briefer:  Richard Boucher, Spokesman

DEPARTMENT
-- Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Releases 2004 Official Summary of Development Assistance Report
-- U.S. Leads Major Donor Countries/U.S. Official Development Assistance Constitutes 24 Percent of World Total/Highest Share in Nearly 20 Years U.S. Overall Official Development Assistance Increased 14.1 Percent/Assistance to Developing World Nearly Doubled in 2004

INDIA
-- Foreign Minister Natwar Singh's April 12 Meeting with Secretary Rice
-- Moving Bilateral Relations Forward
-- Progress in Relations with Pakistan

NORTH KOREA
-- Comments by Selig Harrison
-- Resuming Six Party Talks
-- North Korea's Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity

IRAN
-- U.S. Grants to Organizations Supporting Democracy and Human Rights
-- U.S. Activities Consistent with Algiers Accords

GREECE
-- Condolences on the Death of Archibishop Iakovos

MACEDONIA
-- U.S. Support for Constructive Negotiations on Name

IRAQ
-- Role of the President
-- Proposals for Amnesty for Insurgents

PAKISTAN
-- F-16s/Bilateral Relations

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING

MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2005
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

12:30 p.m. EDT

MR. BOUCHER:  Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.  It's a pleasure to be here.  If I can, I'd like to call your attention to one report being issued, or issued already today, in Paris.  That is the OECD, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's announcement of the official summary of development assistance for the year 2004.  This report, I think, highlights some of the things that we've talked about here before and that the United States has been trying to make clear on in terms of international assistance to the developing world.

We are pleased to see that official development assistance in 2004 rose to its highest level ever, surpassing $78.6 billion.  The aggregate increase there is 4.6 percent.  Once again, the United States is leading the major donor countries, with an increase of 14.1 percent in our official development assistance, to more than $19 billion.  That means, as we've said before, that since the year 2000 the United States has nearly doubled its aid to the developing world.  This also represents a early fulfillment of the -- twice the commitment, sorry -- made by the Monterrey Financing -- made by -- made at the Monterrey Financing for Development Conference by President Bush in 2003.

I'd point out a number of other ways to look at this.  Official development assistance from the United States constitutes 24 percent of such assistance in the world.  That's the highest share it's been in nearly 20 years.  We know these levels are due to rise against significantly in the year 2005 because of the funds we have contributed to tsunami disaster relief and reconstruction and because the Millennium Challenge Account expenditures will be kicking in.

I'd also note this is not part of their official numbers, but that over 50 percent of the funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development in 2003 and 2004 is going to predominantly Muslim nations; that is, countries where 50 percent or more of the population are Muslim.

So I think as we've talked about before here, the United States has a good record on development assistance.  We also strive to make sure that our money is spent effectively in helping to galvanize development, galvanize opportunity and galvanize other funds from the private sector and elsewhere; and this report, I think, demonstrates the United States has been and remains a leader in official development assistance overseas.

So with that, I'd be glad to take your questions about this or something else.  Sir.

QUESTION:  I guess related to this question.  Apparently, Aceh's governor has just been jailed, given a ten-year sentence, and you've just spoken about overseas development.  Apparently, one of the things he's done is to purchase a $400,000 helicopter.  Is there something --?

MR. BOUCHER:  Well, I don't know -- I don't know about that particular situation.  I would point out U.S. development assistance is always very carefully monitored and audited to make sure that it's used for the purposes of development and not for -- you know, it's not just thrown out there so that people can use it any way they want.

Sir.

QUESTION:  Richard, can you clarify two things?  One, Foreign Minister of India Mr. Natwar Singh will be here tomorrow in Washington to meet with the Secretary of State.  And sine Secretary was in New Delhi recently, why he's coming here, whether he has been invited by the Secretary and what -- is this something to do with F-16 because India is very much concerned about the F-16 sale to Pakistan?

MR. BOUCHER:  I don't want to put any words into his mouth about why he's coming here.  I think for our purposes, he and the Secretary agreed when she was in New Delhi that we had an opportunity now to move forward in the U.S-India relationship, that we were all going to do everything possible to move into a new phase and that we wanted to do that through frequent and productive contacts.  And I think we saw this visit as an opportunity to move forward generally in the relationship on many topics that we have before us.

QUESTION:  Can you clarify one thing that whether U.S. offered India sale of F-16 or 18 or not, because they were speculating in different stories in different newspapers around in India and Pakistan and also in the U.S. that the Secretary said something else over there and the newspapers are saying that --

MR. BOUCHER:  I'll have to check on that.  That was not in the Javits report itself -- was it? -- what we might be willing to sell to India.  I'll have to see if there's something more to say on that or whether we covered it at the time.

QUESTION:  A related question.

MR. BOUCHER:  Yeah.

QUESTION:  General Musharraf is coming to India this week and will be meeting with the Prime Minster and other officials and also, of course, watching the cricket game between India and Pakistan, that is a main aim is that growing India-Pakistan relations how to move forward now.  Bus service has already gone back and forth to India and Pakistan (inaudible) Kashmir and (inaudible) also meeting him there.

So what do you think now of the future of India-U.S. -- India-Pakistan relations and the Kashmir problem or what separately think coming out of this or how much (inaudible)?

MR. BOUCHER:  Well, I think, as far as predicting the future, I'm not very good at that.  I think what we've said is we welcome the progress that they've made.  We welcome the effort that they both made in terms of improving their relationship.  We're glad to see the things that have happened and we look forward to more.  And they seem all quite committed to continuing to move forward in their own relationship.  We think that is good for the region, it's good for the people of India, good for the people of Pakistan and good for those, like us, who wish them both well.

QUESTION:  Finally.  I know Prime Minister of India is coming sometime July here on the invitation of President Bush in the White House, but is U.S. ready to invite both President General Musharraf and the Prime Minister of India to U.S. for some kind of ceremony or some --

MR. BOUCHER:  I wouldn't make any predictions at this point.

QUESTION:  Okay.

MR. BOUCHER:  Okay.  Other topics?

David.

QUESTION:  Richard, are you aware of these comments by Selig Harrison, who visited North Korea, among other things, saying that North Korea has disavowed a commitment to negotiate a step-by-step elimination of nuclear weapons but may freeze under certain circumstances?  Also, he -- Mr. Harrison is quoted as saying that an opportunity to negotiate an agreement with the North Koreans has been lost.

MR. BOUCHER:  I think -- well, are we aware?  Yeah, we've read the press report, as you have.  We haven't had a chance at this point to talk to Mr. Harrison directly himself about his visit or to find out exactly how the North Koreans phrased things or what they said.  We have certainly seen, you know, the vituperative and other statements the North Koreans have put out over the past few months and we'll just have to see where they stand in terms of the talks.

We have made absolutely clear that opportunity is there and we remain committed to resuming the talks without preconditions.  We hope North Korea will do the same.  North Korea has not yet responded to the quite extensive proposal the United States tabled in June, which gave the North a path to address concerns about its nuclear activities and end its international isolation.  We continue to believe the right place for North Korea to seek to address its concerns is through the six-party talks.  At this point, as I said, we don't know what their intentions are in terms of actually showing up and conducting serious discussions.

QUESTION:  Another thing that he is quoted as saying is that he was told by North Korean leaders that the United States must pledge to respect North Korea's sovereignty and territorial integrity before they would return to negotiations.  Have you already -- do you consider that already done given the sort of non-aggression commitments that you've made?

MR. BOUCHER:  Well, I think you've seen -- the Secretary made quite a number of different comments about these things when she was on her trip in the region and was quite clear on the various things that have been put forward, including, as the President has put forward, the possibility of security guarantees from all the other parties to the talks.  The President has made clear we have no intention of invading North Korea.  And as the Secretary said during her trip, nobody questions its sovereignty.

So again, it boils down to, you know, are you willing to come back to talks without conditions?  The United States and others are willing to (inaudible), come back for serious discussions, without preconditions and we would hope North Korea would do that as well.

QUESTION:  That pledge -- is that something that's a formal pledge of this?  Is that something that you'd be prepared to do?

MR. BOUCHER:  Oh, we've made clear the security guarantees be handled in the talks and in an appropriate way.

Yeah.

QUESTION:  On North Korea?  It is reported that North Korea has request the closure of UN humanitarian affairs office in Pyongyang.  Do you have anything on that?

MR. BOUCHER:  No, I don't have anything on that.

Peter.

QUESTION:  Richard, the government's spokesman in Iran says they're going to take some sort of unspecified legal action against the United States for spending $3 million in, I guess, NGO money to spread democracy as interference in their political affairs.  Can you comment on that?

And also, it's been a while since we've heard anything about the EU-3 talks with Iran.  Do you have anything at all to say about that or any update to give us?

MR. BOUCHER:  On the EU-3 talks, no I don't have any update to give you.  I think any update on the status of those discussions would have to come from the Europeans themselves.  As far as Iran, I think you know that there is this $3 million in U.S. legislation.  It's available now for competition for groups -- educational institution, humanitarian groups, nongovernmental organizations and individuals inside Iran who would work to support the advancement of democracy and human rights.  None of the activities that are mentioned in the announcement or the article are inconsistent with our commitments to the Algiers accords -- a simple fact as far as we're concerned.

QUESTION:  Just a follow-up.  Just again, for my own information, the Algiers accords did provide for no interference in political process, and we're saying that this is not interference in the political process?  Is that --?

MR. BOUCHER:  This is -- the Algiers accords pledge -- the United States pledge "not to intervene directly or indirectly, politically or militarily in Iran's internal affairs."  Supporting democracy and human rights around the world is something the United States does everywhere.  It's not an attempt to decide somebody else's internal affairs.

QUESTION:  Mr. Boucher, the Greek Orthodox Church of America lost yesterday its former head Iakovos -- I-A-K-O-V-O-S -- Archbishop of North and South America, a prominent religious leader who served this country in the clergy for more than 50 years, dealt with seven U.S. Presidents, from Dwight Eisenhower to William Clinton, and lots of member Secretaries of States and he was the real fighter for religious freedom, human rights, freedom, democracy, justice and human dignity.  I'm wondering, Mr. Boucher, if in the name of history, if you comment on that.

MR. BOUCHER:  Yeah, I would.  And I do agree with everything you said, that we are deeply saddened by the passing of former Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America Iakovos.  His Eminence was a passionate supporter of civil rights, who marched with Martin Luther King in Selma, Alabama in 1965.  He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Carter in 1980.  And we certainly extend our deepest condolences to his family and to the faithful of his church.

QUESTION:  Mr. Boucher, your distinguished Ambassador to Greece, Charles Ries, is here in Washington, D.C.  Do you know the real purpose of his visit?

MR. BOUCHER:  No, I don't.

QUESTION:  And the Greek Minister of Public Order George Voulgarakis is in town and tomorrow is going to be meeting here in the State Department with Under Secretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns.  Do you have anything on that?

MR. BOUCHER:  I don't have anything on that.  We'll try to get you something after the meeting.

QUESTION:  And also, how do you comment on the rejection by the President of FYROM of the UN proposal expressed by the Special Envoy Matthew Nimitz regarding the name of Skopje from which you said last Friday, "We welcome this new momentum in the process.  We urge both sides to engage constructively in the spirit of compromise."

MR. BOUCHER:  I would just stick with what I said on Friday.  I think it's important for both sides to approach these negotiations constructively.

QUESTION:  And the last one.  Today, the (inaudible) plan is going to release the U.S. final commission report under the title, "The Balkans in Europe's Future."  Do you have anything on that as the Department of State?

MR. BOUCHER:  No, I don't.

Peter.

QUESTION:  Can I turn to Iraq for one second?

MR. BOUCHER:  Yeah.

QUESTION:  President Talebani has been quoted in papers as talking about extended amnesty that would extend even to combatants who have fought against U.S. troops in Iraq.  I was wondering if you could comment on that.

And the second question, just related to that, is that from my understanding is that the Presidency is likely to be ceremonial in Iraq, but Mr. Talebani seems to be taking a lot of decisions -- or at least taking a lot of initiative.  Is that appropriate under the TAL?

MR. BOUCHER:  Well, I'm not going to try to comment on his role at this point.  That's going to have to be worked out in Iraq and within Iraq as far as who has control and responsibilities for these issues.  As far as the statements that have been made, I think those are things that we're going to need to discuss with the Iraqi Government, as it's formed, as it moves forward.  And we've already started some discussions with the Iraqi Government about this question of amnesty and what their intentions are and we'll continue our discussions.

QUESTION:  Would you -- without prejudging what the outcome of your discussions would be, would you consider it appropriate to give amnesty to Iraqis who have fought and probably killed U.S. troops?

MR. BOUCHER:  I think -- let's find out from the Iraqis what their intentions are and how they intend to frame any amnesty.  This question has been addressed by them in the past.  Whether this is different or not, I can't say at this point.  I think as a general proposition, no we don't think it's appropriate to give amnesty to people who have killed American or coalition forces or Iraqi forces, for that matter.

QUESTION:   So you are in active discussion with them on this point?

MR. BOUCHER:  We have had some discussions with members of the Iraqi Government.  We'll continue those discussions.

QUESTION:  Do you have any readout on Secretary Rice meeting with Prime Minister Sharon in Texas?

MR. BOUCHER:  No, I think I'll leave all that for Texas and they're supposed to do a press conference in about ten minutes down there.

Sir.

QUESTION:  Richard, how much are you concerned over this triangle tension over the U.S. sale of F-16 to Pakistan because both sides -- people from India and Pakistan, both sides are concerned that now, one side, relations are growing between the two countries, and other side, the tension is growing because F-16.  And F-16 will fulfill what they say in Pakistan, getting ready, might attack in India a nuclear weapon.  F-16 will carry a nuclear head.  And also a Pakistani was arrested in the U.S. who is believed to be in Pakistan for exporting nuclear devices which can (inaudible) to test and carry the nuclear.

MR. BOUCHER:  I don't think one should get this --

QUESTION:  Are you asking or calling for extradition for his --

MR. BOUCHER:  I'm not quite sure who you're talking about, frankly.

QUESTION:  Humayun Khan, according to The Washington Post that he --

MR. BOUCHER:  Yeah.  I --

QUESTION:  -- believed to be in Pakistan.

MR. BOUCHER:  You would have to check with the Justice Department on extraditions and fugitives, if that's what this gentleman is.  The question on, you know, speculating on this, that and the other, nuclear weapons and F-16s and all that, I'd leave it at what we said at the time.  I think we've adequately explained that.  We're not involved in triangular relations or hyphenated relationship or anything else that you're positing here.  We're involved in two very important relationships with the United States:  one we have with India and one we have with Pakistan.  There are many aspects to both those relationships.

QUESTION:  Well, is it too much in the press just -- or you see -- I mean, what I'm saying, is too much is being written or said in the press?

MR. BOUCHER:  I would never say too much is being written in the press.  That's why we are all here.

Joel.

QUESTION:  Yes.  Regarding the protests that occurred in Jerusalem over the weekend, East Jerusalem, there was an arrest by Israeli forces against a leading head of Hamas who, apparently, came from Gaza to the West Bank --

MR. BOUCHER:  I've got to cut you off right here.  I'm not doing any Israeli-Palestinian issues today.  That's all being discussed out in Texas.  I think I'd risk being behind the news if I tried it here.

Okay, thanks.

(The briefing was concluded at 12:50 p.m.)

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)