25 January 2000
Transcript: Albright Remarks during UNSC Recess on the Congo Meeting
(U.S. supportive of nomination of Ekeus for Iraq inspections) (2220) Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told reporters late January 24 that the United States is supportive of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's nomination of Ambassador Rolf Ekeus of Sweden to be head of the new UN weapons inspection regime (UNMOVIC) in Iraq. During a recess in the UN Security Council meeting on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, she said that "while the work we did today on Africa is obviously very important, there is no more important subject for the Security Council to deal with than Iraq. "I was deeply disappointed," Albright said, "by some of the discussions last week, in which the Security Council did not honor the agreement made that the Secretary General would be able to name a chairman." It is essential, the Secretary of State said, for Iraq "to abide by the Security Council resolutions and for UNMOVIC to be able to go in there because, as I remember, it was the UNSCOM Commission that in '93, '94 and '95 was instrumental in making sure that many of the weapons of mass destruction were found and removed. So I do think that the work of the (Security) Council on Iraq is obviously not finished." And in response to a question, she said, "Well, I think that, obviously, what has to happen is there needs to be work on a resolution that makes the mandate for an operation very clear. And I think that that work - some drafting, I think, has already begun." Albright also discussed the situation in the Congo, the Middle East peace process, the situation in Rwanda, the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Greece and Turkey and the address by Senator Jesse Helms before the UN Security Council last week. Following is the State Department transcript: (begin transcript) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman (New York, New York) January 24, 2000 REMARKS BY SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT AT STAKEOUT DURING THE RECESS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING ON THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO New York, New York 1:45 P.M. SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I believe that we have just had a really historic session of the Security Council with the President here who spoke, I think, honestly and eloquently about the issues surrounding the Democratic Republic of Congo, and their determination to move forward. Some of them discussed the - as was put by one - the "ugly past," and their determination for work. And it's now up to the Security Council to really begin more deliberations on the subject, and to show the determination that is asked for by those who have spoken thus far. I have another point that I'd like to make, especially since I am back here, and that is that while the work that we did today on Africa is obviously very important, there is no more important subject for the Security Council to deal with than Iraq. I was deeply disappointed by some of the discussions last week, in which the Security Council did not honor the agreement made that the Secretary General would be able to name a chairman. And when those countries that abstained on the resolution gave their explanation of vote, they made very clear that they believed that the resolution needed to be abided by. And I must say I find it mighty ironic that, at a time when Ambassador Ekeus is being put forward, and when I remember that there were certain members during the Butler era who longed for Ambassador Ekeus, that when they had the opportunity to support him, they did not; and also ironic, doubly ironic, that so much effort was put into having the Secretary General play a very important role in the whole Iraq process, and then the selection of the chairman, that that arrangement has thus far not been honored. I believe, as I did when I was here, and I continue as strongly to say, that it is essential for Iraq to abide by the Security Council resolutions and for UNMOVIC to be able to go in there because, as I remember, it was the UNSCOM Commission that in '93, '94 and '95 was instrumental in making sure that many of the weapons of mass destruction were found and removed. So I do think that the work of the Council on Iraq is obviously not finished. Q: (Inaudible) - what do you hope for -- (inaudible) - Iraqi weapons -- (inaudible)? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, I think that, obviously, what has to happen is there needs to be work on a resolution that makes the mandate for an operation very clear. And I think that that work -- some drafting, I think, has already begun. Q: (Inaudible)? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: You know, I didn't predict when I was here, and I sure am not going to predict when I'm -- Q: Madame Secretary, today the Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Rwanda -- (inaudible) - United States tried to extradite the -- (inaudible) - question on Rwanda. Will you now -- (inaudible) -- extradite? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: First of all, I've just heard about this, and it is my duty, as Secretary of State, to make that decision. We have, in fact throughout, been guided by the idea that he should, in fact, be returned to Rwanda. But I need to go back to Washington, and review the whole set of papers involved in this. This is one of the duties of the Secretary of State, which I take very seriously, as I take all my duties as Secretary of State. I want to review the papers, but I will be guided by our previous position. Q: Madame Secretary, you heard an emotional appeal from -- (inaudible) - Congo -- (inaudible) - what happened in Rwanda. The Council did not act -- (inaudible) - be concerned -- (inaudible) - peacekeeping -- (inaudible)? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, I think that we obviously see the seriousness of the situation in Congo. And what we are trying to do - Ambassador Holbrooke is going to undertake this work - is to make sure that whatever mandate is set for a peacekeeping operation is one that is clear and, as I established when I was here, that there be a clear budget aspect to it, and that the mandate is well defined. And that is the basis on which he is going to work. Q: (Inaudible)? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: First of all, let me say that, as I said before, I believe that we did make progress in Shepherdstown. We created four working groups on the borders, on normalization, on security and on water, and there were discussions at a historically high level. So the President and I believe that progress was made. We are waiting for the Syrians, now, to send experts back in order to give us comments on the text. It is my understanding that Foreign Minister - that statement about - that he was supposed to have said that there has to be a written document, that he has said that that was not accurate. Clearly, where we are now is that both sides have taken a different approach to how to resume the negotiations, and the United States - the President and I and our peace team - will continue to work, because we believe that moving forward on this track, as well as the Palestinian track -- which the President the other day said was at the core of the issue -- that we need to keep working with them to move the process forward. But as we've said many, many times, the fateful decisions that have to be made have to be made by the leaders themselves. Q: (Inaudible) - Security Council -- (inaudible) - operation -- (inaudible)? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, I think that there are, in fact, kind of mutual obligations, that as the presidents here have committed themselves to work, it is important for the Security Council to do so at the same time. And while there probably can be mutual recriminations, I think that we should take this historic meeting as an opportunity to have absorbed the various statements made by the presidents, and that the Security Council now needs to move forward. And I look forward to Ambassador Holbrooke pushing that agenda forward. Q: Will you -- (inaudible)? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: We are supportive of the Secretary General's nomination, and we consider Ambassador Ekeus as so qualified, as somebody who knows the issues very well, knows how to manage, and has the respect of the international community. But as I said, I think it's kind of ironic that what is going on here in terms of Rolf Ekeus. Q: There is in today's New York Times a report quoting you that one of the main goals for the one year that is left remaining is to see Mr. Milosevic go out of office in Belgrade. Would you like to comment on that? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I would like to say the following. I believe that the Serbian people deserve a democratic government. They have suffered for a long time under a government that does not allow them to express their views. The United States has made very clear for a long time that it has no fight with the Serbian people. I would hope very much that the whole international community -- which has, in fact, made quite clear that it does not agree with the way that Mr. Milosevic carries out his presidency. We would all feel that the time has come for the Serbian people to be able to express their choice freely for the kind of government they want, which I believe is a democratic one. Q: Madame Secretary, got any response to the countries that are opposing (inaudible)? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I just made them. Q: (Inaudible) SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I have been chairing meetings and we will see. Q: Why did you feel it necessary to bring up the remarks you did about Senator Helms? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: First of all, let me make clear for all of you who have followed this, Senator Helms and I are very good friends. And in a number of times when I have appeared before his committee we have said to each other that while we may disagree we will try to do so agreeably. I did feel that while it was very important for Senator Helms and the Committee to be here and to have the opportunity to talk to each other and find out each other's views, I think it is important that it be clear that the Administration and I as the chief spokesperson for it do not agree with the statements made by Senator Helms on our position in the world, and that it is essential for us to work, as I said in there, with countries. We believe in the United Nation's system. We were one of the major creators of it. And, while we have really worked very hard -- I did, Ambassador Richardson did, and now Ambassador Holbrooke is working -- on reforms within the UN, it is important for us to be supportive of the United Nations. It is not only in the interests of the world community, but it is specifically in the interests of the United States to have a strong, functioning United Nations. I felt it important for the American people and even more importantly I think for those members of the Security Council to hear the views of the Clinton Administration whose responsibility it is to speak for American foreign policy. Q: Madame Secretary, the meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Greece and Turkey (inaudible) how do you feel (inaudible)? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Let me say that I am very encouraged because I know both Foreign Minister Papandreou and Foreign Minister Cem very well. They are both I think exceptionally fine Foreign Ministers who feel that they have a historic opportunity to relate to each other. So I think it was very important for Foreign Minister Papandreou to go there and for Foreign Minister Cem to receive him and for them to have such good discussions and to make some progress on one of the more complicated relationships. Q: Are you or Ambassador Holbrooke going to do any negotiating (inaudible)? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, I am not. I have to go back to Washington, but Ambassador Holbrooke -- Q: (Inaudible)? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: -- whether we are going to negotiate with the presidents. I think you are going to see - Q: Well, you are going to the lunch? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, I'm going to lunch. I don't think we are going to negotiate over lunch. But I think it was a remarkable meeting and I have met with each of -most of the presidents already bilaterally. I'll continue my bilateral discussions this afternoon before I have to go back to Washington. Thank you all very much. It's good to be back. Q: (Inaudible)? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Today? Q: A new debut or - SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, you know, I kinda thought it was good looking. (Laughter) (end transcript)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
