Stand-Up with Fuji-TV's Osamu Sorimachi following Meeting with Diet Members

MR. SORIMACHI: Did you explain a possible attack on Iraq?

D/S ARMITAGE: No, no, no.

MR. SORIMACHI: Absolutely not?

D/S ARMITAGE: No, we just talked about a lot of regional things.

MR. SORIMACHI: Oh, OK.

D/S ARMITAGE: We talked about Iraq, but, no, I didn't explain about an attack.

MR. SORIMACHI: Vice President Cheney had just announced in Washington about a possible attack on Iraq. So then why...

D/S ARMITAGE: No, I think what Vice President Cheney talked about was the cost of inaction, so look carefully at his words.

MR. SORIMACHI: He also showed his design after the attack on Iraq -- the United States is preparing to build up a democratic regime in Iraq.

D/S ARMITAGE: We've done some thinking about that. Absolutely.

MR. SORIMACHI: Because this time on Iraq, we have some limitation in cooperation with the United States, as you know.

D/S ARMITAGE: I did not come here to ask anything of Japan. I just came here to talk with Japan, so nice to see you again.

MR. SORIMACHI: Thank you very much.