Remarks with First Deputy and Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al-Thani

FOREIGN MINISTER (Arabic): “In the name of God, thank you for attending. The Heir Apparent met with Mr. Armitage. Discussions were about the friendly relations between the two countries. The discussions also were on Iraq and how to help to calm down the situation in Iraq. We talked also about this with Mr. Armitage because it is important to solve the situation gently and not to accelerate militarily the situation in the areas under siege and to solve this issue. We found a positive response and great understanding with regard to this position, especially in regard to the situation of the Sunnis and with regard to the Shi’i areas. And with Mr. Armitage, we found great understanding of how to resolve the situation in the future in a way that it will be a calm solution, a calm way that will help to stabilize the situation in Iraq. In regard to the presence of the American forces in Iraq, I stated before that the presence of the American forces in Iraq is very important to reach stability until the process of handing over the power to the Iraqis is completed. We call upon our American friends that there should be an implementation time frame and clarity on who the troops will leave and handing over the power to Iraqis, but it is very important before that there is calmness and a constitution that the Iraqis will agree on and an elections process. We will work together with our friends as much as we can to calm the situation in Iraq because it is in the interest of the region. Once again we welcome Mr. Armitage. We are ready for any questions.”

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: President Bush had asked that I travel here to consult with the leadership, the Crown Prince, the distinguished Foreign Minister, about the situation in Iraq and to seek advice from our friends in Qatar about the proper way to seek political solutions to the problems in Iraq.

As we move to the day of turning over sovereignty to the people of Iraq, that is the first of July, it is very important that we move with wisdom and determination and in that regard, the advice of our friends in Qatar was most helpful.

The President of the United States and the Secretary of State, Secretary Powell, had also asked me to yet again express to His Highness the Crown Prince, as well as the Foreign Minister, our enormous gratitude and appreciation for the partnership which has been so helpful, we think, to both of us, and I’m talking in the military sphere here.

Finally, I was able to engage in a discussion with Foreign Minister Hamad in advance of his very important and much anticipated trip to Washington next week to engage in our strategic dialogue.
And I thank you, sir.

QUESTION: AFP (ARABIC): Newspapers reported today that American officials are counting the mistakes of Al-Jazeera. The report stated that the American officials counted 37 mistakes. The report stated that the Americans are counting these mistakes to pressure Al-Jazeera. Have you verified these mistakes and how are you going to deal with them and have you discussed Al-Jazeera with the Qatari Government?

Also, Honduras is pulling out its troops from Iraq and there are expectations that other coalition members will pull out. Does this mean that the coalition is breaking in Iraq and are you going to replace these troops with Arab troops?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, thank you. On the first question, I did raise the matter of Al-Jazeera with the government. I don’t know if I have enough fingers and toes to count what I consider the mistakes of Al-Jazeera. We don’t begrudge Al-Jazeera making reports or reporting the news but from our point of view, we find that the reports are distorted and very one-sided and we seek fairness and balance in their reporting.

You’re quite right about the Hondurans and, of course, the Spanish troops. In an orderly fashion, they are removing themselves from the Coalition. We were not surprised by the decision, particularly the Spanish decision, because the new leadership had been very clear about that. We did not find that the remaining coalition is becoming wobbly at all nor did I make any requests for Arab troops.

QUESTION: AL-HAYAT, LBC (ARABIC): For the Foreign Minister: The Arabs are angry about The United States’ (new?) stance on the Middle East. How do you evaluate the situation?

For Armitage: A question about the violence in Iraq and in Fallujah… (inaudible).

FOREIGN MINISTER: In regards to your first question, we have discussed this issue with our friend Armitage. There are positive points to the American stance, but there are lots of questions and some negatives, without a doubt, in this stance. We here in Qatar are with any Israel withdrawal from lands belonging to the Palestinians according to the international agreements and resolutions, especially the UNSC resolutions and the Madrid conference resolutions. But there are some questions about some areas which it is mentioned that the Israelis will not withdraw from and that belong to the 1967 borders, especially in the West Bank. With regard to the return of refugees, we understand all positions, but this issue should be solved as humanitarian issue. That is why it is very important, in our opinion, that before issuing a plan of this sort, with all our respect to this plan, there must be an agreement of point of view with the other partner who is part of the issue. We can’t say now that there is no partner to be found on the Palestinian side to negotiate with. It is important that the two points of view be present in any peace plan that would take place because one party can’t make peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians in the absence of the other.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: On the second question regarding my evaluation of the situation in Iraq, I’ll answer as follows: There is a certain level of violence, though we think things in the South are coming to a better situation. We are now in a cease-fire in Fallujah and in discussions with the notables in the town of Fallujah about a nonviolent way forward. We, the members of the coalition, will not allow the new Iraq to be dominated by those who want to perpetrate violence. At the same time, it is incumbent on us in the CPA as we approach the time of turning over sovereignty to an Iraqi entity, to make the point that there is a future in the new Iraq for everyone, for Sunni, for Shia, for Kurds, for Turkmen, for Chaldeans, for Assyrians, whatever, that all peoples have a right to representation and will have a role to play in the new Iraq. And I think once we are able to put that point of view out publicly and with credibility, then I expect to see the violence in Iraq continue to drop.

FOREIGN MINISTER TO THE PRESS: Thank You.