Homeland Security

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QUESTION: In light of the FBI hunt for the five Pakistani gentlemen who they believe entered the United States via Canada, does the State Department have any concerns with Canadian policies, immigration policies?

MR. BOUCHER: I really think that's better -- that's more Homeland Security and FBI type of questions. I don't have anything new to say about that at this point.

QUESTION: So the State Department hasn't had any discussions with Canadians or --

MR. BOUCHER: Not that I'm aware of, but it's possible. I mean, our embassy involves every agency of the U.S. Government and every possible liaison arrangement that we have, and so I would imagine that we're maybe talking to them up there. I'm not aware of any special discussions. I'll check and see if we have an angle on this, but that's really much more a Homeland Security and FBI type question.

Sir.

QUESTION: Can we stay on Canada for just a second? Richard, do you have any comment on the report that the Canadian Government has approached the British Government with regard to -- I'm sorry, the Canadian Government with regard to placing Hezbollah on the terrorism list, pointing out that Hezbollah is a political party in Lebanon?

MR. BOUCHER: I lost the train somewhere in there -- that the Canadians have talked to the British --

QUESTION: Well, no --

MR. BOUCHER: --about not putting Hezbollah on the European list?

QUESTION: Sorry, I made a mistake. They have talked to the Canadians.

MR. BOUCHER: The British have talked to the Canadians?

QUESTION: No, no.

MR. BOUCHER: That we have talked to the Canadians about the British?

QUESTION: No.

(Laughter.)

MR. BOUCHER: I'm sorry.

QUESTION: The Lebanese Government has talked --

MR. BOUCHER: The Lebanese Government has talked to the Canadians.

QUESTION: -- talked to the Canadians, pointing out --

MR. BOUCHER: No. I don't. I think our view is quite clear that Hezbollah, Hamas and other organizations are on the list because they are terrorist organizations that conduct terrorist attacks.

QUESTION: Including the political parties and -- a party --

MR. BOUCHER: Again, we believe these organizations are terrorist organizations. That's why they are on our list, and we think they deserve to be treated as such by the international community.

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