Remarks with Her Excellency Tarja Halonen, President of Finland, after their meeting

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, thank you. I was honored to be the warm-up act for President Bush today, and honored to be able to meet the president, and discuss, in addition to the matters the president just raised, our bilateral relationship, and most particularly our gratitude for Finland's fantastic efforts in Afghanistan, fantastic efforts in humanitarian areas, such as the Middle East, North Korea, things of that nature, and look forward to an even greater expansion of our own bilateral relationship. I made the point that we must not allow the great issues of the day to completely crowd out further development of our bilateral relationship, which is something that gives Americans a great deal of satisfaction.

Thank you.

PRESIDENT HALONEN: Thank you.

QUESTION: (In Finnish.)

PRESIDENT HALONEN: (In Finnish.)

QUESTION: (In Finnish.)

PRESIDENT HALONEN: (In Finnish.)

QUESTION: (In Finnish.)

PRESIDENT HALONEN: (In Finnish.)

QUESTION: (In Finnish.)

PRESIDENT HALONEN: (In Finnish.)

QUESTION: (In Finnish.)

PRESIDENT HALONEN: (In Finnish.)

They asked whether I am optimistic now. I said that I am going to be optimistic, that I think so that the situation is now better than it was a while ago. So we are -- I think we are realistic, but optimistic.

(In Finnish.)

QUESTION: How about you, Mr. Armitage? Are you optimistic about the development in the Middle East?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, it is the Middle East, so therefore I am realistic, as the president is. We are going to do our best, aided by good friends like Finland, to try to better the general situation. The Secretary will complete his mission there tomorrow and return to brief President Bush, and we'll see where we take it from there.

PRESIDENT HALONEN: One thing what I would forgot to say, because it's so natural, of course. Even USA and also EU (inaudible) the importance. So what I would like to also to say that we all -- we have said that the Security Council's resolutions and the UN as a whole, it's a very good framework to work. A very good framework to work. So in that way, let's not make -- they spoke about Finland, so I said let's not make a (inaudible) for that. I mean, that the cooperation is that which is important.

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

PRESIDENT HALONEN: We didn't speak about the Iraqi --

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: We didn't speak about Iraq.

PRESIDENT HALONEN: We didn't even mention it. But Korean Peninsula we mentioned. We spoke about our experiences, the experience of mine in Korean Peninsula, also the representatives of the USA there. And we were both very committed that the Korean issue is still very important to solve and to help them to get steps forward. And in that way, I think that the discussion was also a very good one.

QUESTION: (In Finnish.)

PRESIDENT HALONEN: He said that our meeting has taken a little bit longer (inaudible). We had a good discussion, yes.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I would have liked it to take longer even, but the President has a schedule.

QUESTION: One more question.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I promised you one. All right.

QUESTION: You obviously have been in touch with Secretary Powell.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Yes. Twice today.

QUESTION: Has there been any new news?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Secretary Powell is with Prime Minister Sharon right now. I'm going to go up and call him. Do you want to come with me?

QUESTION: No, thanks.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: No, thanks?  (Laughter.)