12 November 2002
Transcript: Powell Says Iraqi Assembly Decision "Not to Be Taken Seriously"
(Secretary, Annan on Iraq, Cyprus following Nov. 12 Washington talks) (1870) Secretary of State Colin Powell said November 12 that the vote by Iraq's National Assembly rejecting U.N. Resolution 1441 on arms inspection "is not to be taken seriously. ... The only power that exists exists in the hands of Saddam Hussein, and we'll wait to see what he says." The United Nations has asked Iraq to respond by November 15 to the Security Council resolution, which puts the Iraqi regime on notice that it will face serious consequences if it does not disarm. Powell spoke during a joint press briefing with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan after their meeting at the State Department. Annan called the resolution, passed unanimously by the U.N. Security Council November 8, "a beginning," and said that Hans Blix and the other weapons inspectors "are ready to go" to Iraq on November 18. "I can assure you they are determined to do a good, professional job," he said. Powell thanked Annan for his efforts in bringing about the Security Council vote as well as for his initiative in presenting a proposal for a comprehensive settlement for Cyprus to the two Cypriot leaders as the basis for an agreement. "I hope that both sides will study the initiative carefully," Powell said. "The initial response from both the Greek and Turkish and all parties in this difficult situation has been, I think, encouraging. There are many difficulties ahead, but I think it is important that both sides take this opportunity, with this new initiative, to reach a solution to this most vexing of problems." Powell and Annan said they also discussed the Middle East and conflicts in Africa, among other issues. They were also asked about reports that Iraq is trying to obtain atropine syrettes, which is an antidote for nerve gas poisoning. Following is a transcript of the press briefing: (begin transcript) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman November 12, 2002 Remarks by Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan after Their Meeting November 12, 2002 Washington, D.C. SECRETARY POWELL: Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It is my great pleasure once again to receive the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, here to the State Department. As usual, we have had a very good discussion of all the issues of the day. The Secretary General is in town to receive an award from the U.N. Association here, a well-deserved award for his many contributions to peace and to security around the world. Today, in our conversations we spoke about the situation with respect to Iraq and I expressed my thanks to the Secretary General for all the great work he did in bringing about the vote last Friday on U.N. Resolution 1441. I think it was a great cooperative and collaborative effort, and he and I stayed closely in touch on an almost daily basis for the last two months. I also extended my congratulations to the Secretary General on the new initiative that he has put forward with respect to Cyprus, and I think it is an important initiative and I hope that both sides will study the initiative carefully. The initial response from both the Greek and Turkish and all parties in this difficult situation has been, I think, encouraging. There are many difficulties ahead, but I think it is important that both sides take this opportunity, with this new initiative, to reach a solution to this most vexing of problems. We covered all the other issues that are on our plate, to include the Middle East and a number of African issues. But rather than belabor each one, one at a time, let me just say it's once again a pleasure to have the Secretary General here and invite him to say a word or two. SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN: Thank you very much. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. As the Secretary of State has said, we have had very good discussions, and I would also want to congratulate him for the way he managed the process in the Security Council and also with capitals. And I don't think it would have been possible without the effort and the leadership he provided. Yes, we do have a resolution, but it is a beginning. It is a beginning. We are looking forward to receiving a letter from the Iraqis by the 15th, and then we will move on from there. Mr. Blix and the inspectors are ready to go, and, as you know, they will be there -- they will leave on the 18th of November and will begin their work actively. And I can assure you they are determined to do a good, professional job. On the other issues that we discussed, which ranged from Africa issues, conflicts in Africa, to the Cyprus issue and other issues in Europe, I am very grateful for the support we are getting from the government and the way I'm working with the Secretary of State. I think we will take your questions. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, please explain the Cyprus issue. To which extent did you discuss the Cyprus issue? To both of you. SECRETARY POWELL: Did we -- QUESTION: To which extent? What did you discuss? SECRETARY POWELL: We discussed it quite extensively. I haven't yet studied the initiative, some one hundred and almost thirty pages, and we'll study it very carefully. But I don't want to get into any detailed comments on it now. It's more important for the sides to examine it carefully and enter into this discussion in the spirit of finding, not problems, but finding ways of moving forward, of finding a solution. SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN: And I did speak to both leaders yesterday, to Mr. Clerides and Mr. Denktash, and appealed to them to take time to study the document, not to give me any quick reactions, but come to me within a week. And once I receive their reactions, we'll make a judgment how we carry the process forward. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, can I try you on Iraq? SECRETARY POWELL: Be right there. QUESTION: What's your assessment of the new Usama bin Laden tape? Are there State Department analysts working on that right now. And what do you know so far and what are the implications? SECRETARY POWELL: I really have nothing to say. We just heard it a short time ago so I'm not prepared to comment on it. I'm sure it will be analyzed to determine its authenticity, but I have no reaction to it at this time. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, you've used the phrase "red line" as you negotiated the resolution. Is Friday a red line day? And if it is, how so? SECRETARY POWELL: Well, the resolution went into effect last Friday when it was passed by the Security Council. It is now binding. It is now in international law. Iraq is required to comply with that resolution. We put into that resolution this seven-day acknowledgement requirement to get an early indication from Iraq that they were going to cooperate this time and not try to frustrate the will of the international community. So we will see what they do this Friday and I am sure the Council are very interested in getting a response from Iraq. But I don't want to prejudge what the Council might do or what the United States might do in the presence or absence of a positive statement on the part of the Iraqi Government. The expression made by their national assembly today is not to be taken seriously. This isn't a real parliament. The only power that exists exists in the hands of Saddam Hussein, and we'll wait to see what he says. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, over there. Thank you. Actually, both of you gentlemen, please. Today, there was a report that Iraq had submitted a request for contracts that would have come from Turkey, Turkish companies, for the drug atropine, I believe it's an anecdote (sic) [antidote ?] for various chemical weapons. Do you think -- first of all, can you confirm this? And secondly, have you spoken with Turkey about this, Mr. Secretary and Kofi Annan, as well? And in addition, do you think it's a mistake that it wasn't on the goods review list? Is this something now that you're reconsidering? SECRETARY POWELL: We are constantly reviewing the goods review list. And the report is that they were trying to obtain atropine syrettes. Atropine is an antidote for nerve gas poisoning. And it's not clear they have received any, and, of course, we are in contact with any parties that might be a supplier. And whether it's on the goods review list or not, other judgments can be made as to whether or not this would be something you would want to be selling to Iraq at this time or not. SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN: I have nothing to add to what the Secretary has said. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, would you say that this was -- SECRETARY POWELL: Let's have one for the Secretary General. SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN: Yes, go ahead. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary General, this is a follow-on to the goods review list. Without speaking to this particular drug, there seems to be some indications that the goods review list, although you spent an exhaustive time going over it, isn't exactly working and that the Iraqis are starting to get some things that they shouldn't. Can you speak to this? And, Secretary Powell, do you have any evidence of this? And is this perhaps part of your reason why you say that Iraq could be a more immediate threat than some people think? SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN: I think we have tried to be as rigorous as we can. And you know this list goes through various checks. First it's reviewed by the inspectors and then goes to a committee of the Security Council to review it. Obviously, there are dual-use items, which we try to be as careful with as possible. It is not excluded that there may be items which are civilian use but may have other uses that may get through, but we try to ensure that any items that could be put to military use and are of military importance are kept out of the list. SECRETARY POWELL: The goods review list is a good list and it's serving its purpose. But we always knew there would be ways to get around it in certain circumstances, that there were dual-use items. Atropine is a dual-use item. Atropine is used for heart conditions and other medical problems. But its principal use in the form of a syrette when you buy it in those quantities is as an antidote for nerve gas poisoning. So we'll constantly review the list, but I think the list is serving its originally intended purpose. Last one. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary and Mr. Annan, can you say, though, whether you believe that because the Iraqis did this so publicly that this was, in fact, a threat? SECRETARY POWELL: I don't want to say what they intended or not. Maybe it was a threat or some effort at disinformation. I don't know. I'm not going to speculate on what they had in mind. Thank you. SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN: 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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