06 June 2002
Powell Says South Asia Tensions "Marginally Better"
(Condemns bombing in Megiddo, Israel June 5) (440)
Secretary of State Colin Powell June 5 said that the India-Pakistan
situation was "marginally better." Speaking to reporters after
testifying in Congress, Powell said the State Department,
nevertheless, was still advising U.S. citizens to defer travel to the
region and urging U.S. government employees assigned to the region to
consider coming home under voluntary authorized departure rules.
Powell reiterated his condemnation of the bombing of a civilian bus in
Megiddo Junction in Israel June 5.
"What is also lost here is the opportunity to achieve a vision where
both the Israeli and the Palestinian people will live in peace,"
Powell added.
Following is a transcript of Powell's remarks:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman
June 5, 2002
REMARKS
Remarks By Secretary Of State Colin L. Powell After Appearance on
Capitol Hill
June 5, 2002 Capitol Hill Washington, D.C.
QUESTION: Sir, can you tell us anything about this relationship
between Ramzi Yusef and Khalid Shaikh Mohammed?
SECRETARY POWELL: I think what you read in the paper is my best
understanding of it. I don't have anything to add to the report.
QUESTION: -- definitively was some sort of relationship that the
United States Government --
SECRETARY POWELL: I think it's best I let the intelligence community
deal with those kinds of issues.
QUESTION: Sir, there's a new travel warning. It doesn't sound like
things are getting any better quicker.
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, I think the situation is marginally better.
I'm hearing different kinds of rhetoric in the last day or so, and I
think things are a bit better. But at the same time, we put in a new
travel advisory because it is still a tense situation. But it didn't
reflect necessarily any further deterioration; it's just that we
wanted to encourage people to defer their travel to the region for now
and to consider coming home under our voluntary authorized departure
rules.
QUESTION: And the Middle East, the latest bombing there, sir?
SECRETARY POWELL: We condemn totally this latest act of terror, which
was perpetrated by criminals who do not want to see peace, who do not
want to see a home for the Palestinian people. Not only do we regret
the loss of innocent life and extend our condolences to the families
of those who were lost, what is also lost here is the opportunity to
achieve a vision where both the Israeli and the Palestinian people
will live in peace. And this kind of action must be condemned, must be
condemned by all sides, by all parties.
Thank you.
(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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