Interview with Iraq Coalition and Pan-Arab Print Reporters

QUESTION: The voices of Korean and Japanese not to send troop to Iraq are growing, as you know, and then South Korean is counting votes at this moment in general election. So by questioning the new parliament asked for the administration not to send troop to Iraq, what did you --

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Who had? The columnists?

QUESTION: The Parliament.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, look, you mentioned Korea, which is your chosen (inaudible), so and we'll let Japan speak for herself.

Obviously, any decision that the Parliament makes we respect. It's just a democracy. We had something to do with helping to bring them out, so we respect any decision. I've noted that the Government of Korea seems to be quite stalwart, that the original parliamentary vote for the dispatch of troops was about 155 to 50, but we respect the decision of the Parliament.

Sir.

QUESTION: The Sharon-Bush talks yesterday.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: You are from --

QUESTION: I am from (inaudible) newspaper.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Right.

QUESTION: Everybody's now talking about the shift in U.S. policy vis-à-vis the Palestinian-Israeli peace process and the final settlement, particularly on accepting the settlements as legitimate in the occupied West Bank. Is this a shift or is this our interpretation of the policy?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, I think everyone will have to make up their own mind. Our view is that this is an historic opportunity. For the first time, Israel is giving up settlements. The Palestinians will take those settlements openly. For the first time in how many years, the Palestinians will have direct access to an Arab neighbor, which we hope and pray bring enormous interchange, commerce, et cetera.

There -- as the President indicated, every time (inaudible) a peace process for the past several years, many years, everybody that has been involved has acknowledged, at least implicitly, that the facts on the ground have changed a bit since 1949 and the populations have changed. But you please note, to be accurate in your reporting, that we were very careful to say that, ultimately, this does not prejudge final status. These have to be mutually agreed by the parties so --

Yes, sir.

QUESTION: Yes, I am from Hungary.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Okay.

QUESTION: Sir, according to your present knowledge, how long is the commitment in Iraq for for the international troops?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, this would be a decision of each country. No one can predict for my country how long the U.S. forces will be required. It is certainly the hope that after sovereignty is turned over to the Iraqi transitional government on -- by 1 July, that we and the international community can rapidly train or, in some cases, retrain Iraqi security forces to be able to do the duties that, in many cases, coalition forces are doing now.

But I would be completely unable to give you a prediction. But I think it's fair to say that all of us want to be able to leave Iraq to Iraqis as soon as we are sure that they're stable and safe in that country.

Yes, sir.

QUESTION: I'm Imad Mekki with the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper in London.

Sir, my question has to do with what President Bush announced in his press conference a couple days ago.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Two days ago or yesterday?

QUESTION: No, it was two days ago, sir.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Mr. Sharon yesterday and then --

QUESTION: No -- his 8:30, 9, conference?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Oh, right, right.

QUESTION: He said he was expecting you to work in the Middle East to try to bring some support from the Arab countries. What exactly are you going to address the Arab countries for, and which countries specifically? And, more specifically, are you going to ask them to bring troops to Iraq to help with the security situation there?

And, again, a follow-up on my colleague's question on the Sharon plan.

MR. FLOYD: I'm sorry, one question.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Yeah, one at a time. We can go back around.

QUESTION: Okay. Middle East. Okay, good.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I'm going to go to Iraq. I will also, I hope, as planned, to travel to Kuwait, to Qatar, to the UAE, to Bahrain, and again to Saudi Arabia. I will not ask any of these states for troops at all. I will try to engage in a discussion with them of our appreciation of what's going on in Iraq, try to gain from each of the states their appreciation and to try to arrive at a pretty fair mutual understanding of what stakes are involved.

And, for instance, where there are difficulties now in the predominantly Sunni areas of Iraq, we think it would be very helpful if some of the neighboring states could speak up about both the coalition's absolute desire to make sure that Sunnis do have a future in the new Iraq, that they are part of the political landscape, the economic landscape, the cultural landscape, the security landscape. And I will be explaining that to our friends in the region, and, hopefully, they can add their voices to the discussion so that our Sunni friends in Iraq can hear it.

Yes, ma'am.

QUESTION: I'm Marian Wilkinson, Sydney Morning Herald.

As you're aware, Mr. Armitage, the opposition leader in Australia has talked about pulling out troops by Christmas. How important do you think it is that Australian forces remain committed in Iraq?

In fact, particularly, do the coalition forces need a new Security Council resolution in order to have -- be covered by a Status of Forces Agreement?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: First of all, the second question first.

We believe that UN Security Council Resolution 1511 does afford sufficient authority for continuation of coalition security activities. Having said that, we are generally leaning forward towards a new resolution. And I'll be looking forward, along with my Secretary, to speaking with Lakhdar Brahimi when he returns after his announcement yesterday and just see how we might move forward.

On the question of Australian troops, and what-not, I have already spoken to Mr. Latham's comments. I spoke to Paul Kelly the other day. But we are enormously grateful for the decision of the people of Australia, the Government of Australia, to participate in the coalition, and I think that Australia is participating in one of the momentous endeavors of our time.

Having said that, we, of course, respect whatever decision would come out of this government or a subsequent government. My personal view is Australia is enormously important because of the power of the ideas which Australia brings to the table, and by participating in the coalition we hear those ideas. And I think it's often underestimated in Australia.

QUESTION: (Inaudible.) The New York Times wrote in its editorial on April 11th, and I quote, "The ill-prepared troops who form the contribution of places like Ukraine and Bulgaria seem to need protection themselves."

What would you comment on the level of combat readiness training and equipment of coalition troops from places like Ukraine and Bulgaria?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, I don't know how the New York Times knows anything about the equipment and training of the Ukrainian forces. I know that Ukrainian forces have stood up to difficult circumstances. They had one valiant soldier who was killed in recent fighting, for which we all expressed our condolences, including Secretary Powell in a call to his counterpart.

I was able, in my recent visit to Kiev, to be very clear about how much we appreciated the activities. We all know that these are not danger-free, that Iraq remains a dangerous place. And so I would find the valor of -- I'll speak to Ukrainians here, the Ukraine -- of Ukrainian troops is quite significant.

Yes, sir.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) Czech News Agency. My question is about kidnappings.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Yes, you have some journalists who are --

QUESTION: Yes, true. That's why I'm asking.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Of course.

QUESTION: So but it's a profitable business for some, and politics for others. Now are the American military authorities going to do something about it, to curb it? Or do you believe that the Iraqi authorities, when they are given administrative authority are able to curb it, to (inaudible)?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, I think they'll certainly be desirous of curbing it because, as we've seen some nations, our Russian friends today are in the process of removing some of their people because of fear of further kidnappings. And it's quite clear that the strategy of those who want to be part of the old Iraq is to interfere with reconstruction and the betterment of the lives of the majority of Iraqis.

And you're right. In some cases, it's politics; in some cases, it's profit. We are very delighted that the three Japanese -- three of the Japanese hostages have just been returned. We're very sorry for the journalist who is still missing. Where we have information about where people are, we are willing to conduct a military operation to try to free them.

But you must realize that those military operations are sometimes dangerous for the hostages. So it's the kind of thing we want to talk to the government involved to see if they really want us to move forward. And so we're trying to do our best to stop it. We have hostages as well. It's a terrible situation, and our hearts go out to the families.

Let's do one more round real quickly.

QUESTION: Do you we have five more -- about five more minutes?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, really, one more round, real quickly.

QUESTION: Yeah.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: And I apologize, you see, I've got to go to the White House.

QUESTION: Did the Czech Government ask you for help?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I think they -- well, they've asked in -- in a variety of ways. We have a coalition meeting once a week here in this Department, and they're very interested in whatever information is available. And we have made clear that if we have information on the Czech Government, we will certainly share it. I don't know of a specific request from the government, but I think it's implicit, you're alongside of us in the coalition. This is the type of thing partners will do for each other.

QUESTION: Yes. Russian companies have multimillion contracts to rebuild Iraq with -- specifically, with the Iraqi Energy Ministry, while Russia opposed the war in Iraq. Unlike Russia, Ukraine has sent troops to Iraq, but yet there are no Ukrainian companies having contracts to rebuild Iraq, even though they are trying hard to get in.

Could you comment on this paradox, and why don't Ukrainian companies participate while Russians do?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I did comment while I was in Kiev on this. I don't think that the people of Ukraine or the Government of Ukraine have made the decision to join the coalition and to put their young men and women in harm's way in order to win contracts. I don't think that's appropriate, and I don't think it's what motivated the government.

Having said that, Ukraine is certainly, as I know it, has not won a prime contract yet; but it's certainly eligible, as I understand it, for subcontracts. I just don't know the status. I think if the skill set fits, Ukrainian companies should be awarded the contract. But I don't know. Each sector is different.

QUESTION: If I could get you to talk something about the transition of the interim government. As we understand it. Just to quote some advisors to the Governing Council, they said that the decision to take on Sadr while these negotiations are going on is, "the stupidest decision that Bremer has made since disbanding the Iraqi army."

Do you think that this was now a mistake to take on Sadr? Is there any way his backers can be incorporated into an interim government?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: You noted, I think, in the question that some advisors to the Iraqi Governing Council. In our newspapers today, a member of the Governing Council has quite the opposite opinion, as you've seen, including about the disbanding of the army, et cetera.

I think the phenomenon you're witnessing with Muqtada al-Sadr is as follows. This is a man who is strongly believed by most segments of Iraqi society to have had a large hand in the death of the cleric Al-Khoei and should face justice for that. This doesn't seem to be a wide debate. I think the debate is about the manner of (inaudible), and if you'll allow me, of confronting him.

The situation in Najaf and Karbala is relatively calm today, as of this minute, and I suspect that over time we'll resolve this thing successfully. But a resolution will require that Muqtada al-Sadr presents himself to Iraqi justice. And the question of whether -- when is the right time or the wrong time to confront the man alleged to be a murderer, I think depends on how close or far you are from the scene. If you're in the Al-Khoei family, you may be quite concerned that we do it yesterday.

Yes, sir.

QUESTION: Sir, I'll go back to the Sharon plan, and I would like to hear from you what is the legal basis that gave the United States of America and Israel, who do not own the land, the right to decide that you want to keep Jewish settlement in (inaudible)?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: We don't have that right. We don't own the land. You're quite right. And you'll notice in the President's statement that he said very clearly, these have to be mutually agreed upon by the two parties.

What we don't want to happen is what could be an historic opportunity, that is, the actual giving up of settlements by the Israelis, to pass by the Palestinian people. We don't want the Palestinian people to lose another opportunity to take a step forward towards realizing their own state. And we thought that was the stronger part of the argument; and if you combine that with the comments I made to your colleague about the open border with another Arab state, et cetera, for the first time in so many years, you can see what drove us.

Yes, sir.

QUESTION: Sir, the President, in his press conference, mentioned that NATO should take over the Polish division and the Iraqi borders. How much troops would it take? And did you have any talks with -- with NATO (inaudible)?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, something -- I may be wrong in my numbers, but something like 17 of the NATO 26 already have troops in there. I think what the discussion was about a headquarters being located there. So that the troops seem to be there, but the question would be whether the NATO would feel free to put a headquarters there, and that's a discussion we're having. I don't know how many people are involved in the headquarters.

Yes, sir.

QUESTION: Is the U.S. Government prepared to back a unilateral annexation of territories in the West Bank under the pretext of, you know, some of these settlements, or any step, any unilateral step that is not coordinated with the Palestinians?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: No, we've made quite clear it has to be mutually agreed upon, and that was the meaning of that statement. That was the meaning of that wording in the President's statement. So that would say to me it has to be mutually agreed upon.

But I'll say again that every attempt at peace over the last many years has led to similar conclusions that things have changed somewhat since 1949, and I think we have to just recognize that in order to move forward. Everybody knows --

QUESTION: Whether you're rewarding -- you're rewarding illegal actions by Israel, because these settlements --

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: No, I mean, if you were an Israeli, you might say here we're giving up these settlements and we're rewarding terrorists. So that's -- it depends on which side -- on which side you fit. The point, the fact of the matter is, as far as I know, this is the first time that we've had this kind of possibility that Israel will actually give up settlements and the Palestinians will take them over.

QUESTION: Is there a timetable for them to do that?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I'm sorry. Within a year. I mean, it's supposed to happen within the year, as I understood it.

Yes, sir.

QUESTION: Thank you. The United States and South Korea didn't agree yet about the South Korean troops stationing plans in Iraq. And then my question is, is it -- will it be Arbil in northern area, and how and when will you reach the decision?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: My understanding is these were discussions between the two militaries and that we were leaning toward northern Iraq. And I think that's where, but I haven't seen any new discussions today, as you have been focused on the election.

QUESTION: One follow-up, sir, very quickly --

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Sure.

QUESTION: -- about human rights in Iraq. There have been civilian casualties, women and children, in Fallujah. How can you promote democracy in the Middle East when you're sending out a message that it's okay to shoot at children and --

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Oh, stop. Stop. Shame on you. I hope you were screaming about human rights during the time of Saddam Hussein. I didn't hear many in the region.

We are the most humane military in the world. We punish our people when they exceed bounds, and we do it transparently. We regret every single civilian life which is lost, and we do our utmost, even putting our soldiers at risk, to prevent those.

It is true that there are civilian casualties and it is true that these scenes are shown over and over, particularly on our Arab friends' television networks. Now we spend enormous amounts of time and put our soldiers and Marines at risk in order to try to prevent it.

War is dangerous and it is difficult times, but when you ask that question, I would hope that you'd reflect on your own writing over the past, say, 30 years and see what you've said about human rights in Iraq.

Thank you all very much.

2004/411