19 March 2006
State Department Official Urges Dialogue Among Iraqi Factions
In Internet forum, Ereli also discusses Iran, Korea, Kosovo
By Ralph Dannheisser
Washington File Special Correspondent
Washington -- Dialogue and inclusiveness provide the best antidote to sectarian violence in Iraq, State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli says.
"That is why it is so important for the new government in Iraq to be a government of national unity that includes representatives from all political parties and communities," Ereli said March 17 in answering a question posted on "Ask the State Department," an online interactive forum sponsored by the department.
Ereli told another questioner that the United States’ primary goal in Iraq has been, and continues to be, "liberating the Iraqi people to be free to determine their own future."
He cited successes by the Iraqis that have included writing a constitution that "guarantees basic human rights and provides for a federal system of government," and holding three elections in which 70 percent of the population has participated.
"And, they are courageously confronting savage terrorists who wish to take Iraq back to the past," Ereli said. He pledged a continued U.S. presence until "Iraqis can take care of their own security," a goal toward which "[t]hey have already made significant progress."
With respect to the ongoing trial of Saddam Hussein, Ereli assured a forum participant that the United States supports "the Iraqi peoples’ campaign for justice and we will respect the outcomes of these proceedings" by the Iraqi Tribunal, a court "that is run by Iraqis and according to Iraqi law." (See Iraq Update.)
Responding to another participant, Ereli labeled Iran and North Korea as "countries of serious concern and threats to the international community because of their nuclear program."
In the case of North Korea, he said, the United States is working in concert with Russia, China, South Korea and Japan through the Six-Party Talks to eliminate nuclear programs from the Korean Peninsula. (See The U.S. and the Korean Peninsula.)
As for Iran, he said, "unfortunately that country has not proved willing to sit down and negotiate in good faith its nuclear program. As a result, the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) has reported its case to the Security Council. We are currently discussing the case, and hope to persuade Iran to suspend its enrichment activity and return to negotiations."
He said the intent is to avoid "actions or harsh measures that might hurt the Iranian people and our strategy is to collectively pressure the Iranian regime to abandon it[s] nuclear weapons program and integrate itself peacefully into the international community."
At present, Ereli said, Iran remains "probably the single greatest state sponsor of terror in the world in terms of money, arms, and political support for terrorist organizations." (See Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.)
Turning to an inquiry about the progress of status talks on Kosovo, the State Department official said it is the goal of the United States to reach a final status agreement by the end of the year.
Ereli did not respond directly to a question as to whether Kosovo would likely become an independent state and a UN member, saying, "The final status of Kosovo will be determined by the people of that region.
"We are assisting through the Contact Group the parties in arriving at a settlement that respects the rights of minorities and fulfills the ambitions of the people of Kosovo," he added. (See Southeast Europe.)
A transcript of Ereli’s complete online dialogue is available on the State Department Web site.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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