06 February 2003
Defense Secretary Rumsfeld Will Discuss Iraq in Italy, Germany
(Security conference and bilaterals on the agenda in Munich) (560) By Jacqui Porth Washington File Staff Writer Washington -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld travels to Italy and Germany this week to discuss -- among other matters -- the pressing issue of weapons of mass destruction and the problem of Iraq. Rumsfeld departs February 6 for Italy where he plans to meet with the Italian prime minister and defense minister in Rome to discuss the ongoing global war on terrorism, post-NATO Summit issues, and Italy's leadership role in garnering support for the U.S. position on Iraq. A senior Defense Department official, who briefed reporters February 6 at the Pentagon prior to Rumsfeld's departure, said the Italian government understands the importance of keeping up the pressure on Iraq. He also said that Italy has been "a key ally" in combating terrorism, noting, for example, that Italy will send a 1,000-person brigade to Afghanistan in March. Before traveling on to Germany to attend the annual Werkunde Conference on Security Policy in Munich, Rumsfeld will make a short stop at the air base in Aviano where he will meet with U.S. and Italian forces. Rumsfeld will be the keynote speaker at the Munich conference, which will be attended by a U.S. congressional delegation and observers from throughout Europe as well as Japan, Singapore, India, Pakistan and Israel. "We see Werkunde as a valuable opportunity for officials from key allies and partners, friends, key opinion makers to share their views on a broad range of security issues and on the dynamics that are shaping the security environment today," the official said. The secretary will be holding bilateral meetings with both the Russian and German defense ministers during the conference. The official said Rumsfeld's meetings will focus on the serious situation in Iraq and the steps that the international community needs to take next "to ensure Saddam Hussein is disarmed of weapons of mass destruction." This is a threat "that the international community has to face up to," the official said. Rumsfeld's appearance follows Secretary of State Colin Powell's graphic February 5 presentation to the United Nations on Iraq's transgressions. The official said there is no specific plan for Rumsfeld to share additional intelligence on the matter during his meetings. The official said he believes that there is already "an enormous amount of support" in Europe "for keeping the pressure up on Saddam Hussein," and he said he thinks that support is growing. Rumsfeld's consultations provide "an opportunity to continue to build that support," he added. Another subject that may come up during his trip is NATO force protection for Turkey should a war with Iraq unfold. The official said he expects NATO will take a positive step in this direction. Finally, since the issue of weapons of mass destruction is on the agenda in both nations Rumsfeld is visiting, the official said the subject of North Korea's weapons ambitions might come up. The United States has sought to "internationalize the problem," the official said, through the International Atomic Energy Agency and elsewhere. The official said NATO and European Union members as well as others need to take the North Korean issue seriously because it poses a security problem that "extends beyond the Asia-Pacific region." Rumsfeld returns to Washington on February 9. (The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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