Remarks on Situation in Cote D'Ivoire

QUESTION: (inaudible)

AMBASSADOR DANFORTH: I think Colin Powell is a great person. He is an outstanding public servant. What a career he has had in public service. I’m sure there will be many other calls on Colin Powell to do great things for the country and for the world. He’s a terrific Secretary of State. Just seeing him function close up in this job has been remarkable. He’s very energetic, try keeping up with him when he walks from one point to the next, it’s enough to put anybody out of breath. He’s very much into everything that’s going on and I think he’s just terrific.

QUESTION: (inaudible)

AMBASSADOR DANFORTH: It hasn’t been mentioned by me or to me.

QUESTION: Are you interested in taking the job?

AMBASSADOR DANFORTH: It hasn’t been mentioned by me or to me.

QUESTION: Ambassador, could you comment on the agreement on Ivory Coast reached on the imposition of sanctions (inaudible)?

AMBASSADOR DANFORTH: I think it’s important and it’s important to get on with the vote and bring this to conclusion. We were very close to having a vote last week. And now the African Union has been wholly in support of what we’re doing, so I think it’s an important statement by the Council.

QUESTION: Ambassador, are you aware of reports that the President of Cote D’Ivoire has been purchasing fighter planes from the Russians, and other hardware (inaudible)?

AMBASSADOR DANFORTH: No.

QUESTION: (inaudible)