Press Availability Following Meeting with Norway's Foreign Minister Jan Petersen

Released by U.S. Embassy Oslo

9:15-9:30 a.m. (Oslo time).

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Thank you, Foreign Minister. Good morning. First of all, let me say what an honor it is to be back in Oslo – back among people who strive rigorously for peace and for better conditions for all mankind. It’s very invigorating for a visitor to come here and to see the spirit and strength of views that the Norwegian press holds.

Second of all I came here to express our appreciation and gratitude for the enormous efforts that the Norwegian military have made in Afghanistan, and for the humanitarian contribution in Iraq. In Afghanistan, as we all know, on October 9, I think we’ll witness one of the more momentous occasions, with the monitoring of safe and free elections in Afghanistan. On Iraq, we are determined to stay to the end to see it through to a successful conclusion, and we have no doubt that it will be successful. I think I’ll stop there and answer any questions.

QUESTION: You referred to Norway as a country that strives for peace. Does it worry you that so many people in Norway, and in Europe in general, support Kerry rather than Bush in the election? What does it tell you?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: What it tells me is that people have opinions in Norway, and I respect that. Any time that people have hard feelings about the United States, it’s a shame. But I think that in the long run you see that people generally have better feelings about the United States than bad feelings. And we’re in a little rough patch with some of our European friends now. We’ll get over it.

QUESTION: Sir, Mr. Seymour Hersh has released a book claiming that in the U.S. the DIA gave reports to both President Bush, Condoleezza Rice and Donald Rumsfeld about the maltreatment of detainees in Guantanamo already in 2002. What is your comment on those allegations?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: First of all I haven’t read Mr. Hersh’s book, but I would hope that they are not true. The situation that occurred at Abu Ghraib is, as far as I’m concerned, a stain on our national honor, and I’m not very proud about it. I am proud, however, that in the wake of it we have investigated, and will continue to investigate, and bring to justice those who committed those terrible crimes.

QUESTION: The United States has labeled the situation in Sudan as genocide, and you are trying to get a resolution through the Security Council. Will you now modify that as there has been a lot of opposition to it - the Chinese among them?

QUESTION: Generally as we move through the UN Security Council process, with a resolution, there are clarifications and modifications, and I do expect modifications. What I don’t expect to be questioned is the argument that the Government of Sudan absolutely has to be part of the solution, and must accept the responsibility for bringing Janjaweed under control, and that would not be modified.

QUESTION: What could be modified?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Oh well, the language will be subject to discussion among experts at the UN. We want as strong a resolution as possible, obviously, but the resolution will only be as strong as the draft we prepare.

QUESTION: What about the situation in Iraq? Do you define it as a war?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Yes I do. Sure it’s a war. As far as I’m concerned, having been in a war for 6 years of my life, if people are shooting at you, it’s a war.

QUESTION: Is the war on terror possible to win?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: The war on terror will be won, but it won’t be won in the short term. It’s a long drawn out process, and our President is steeled in the resolution that it will be long and it will take a long time, but it will be won.

QUESTION: In what way can Norway help in the Middle East?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: First off, Norway has been an enormous source of information, and indeed advice, for the United States, and is very helpful in the Quartet process. I expect that to continue. Norway’s reputation as a nation which strives for justice and peace gives, I think, the country an enormous weight when you express your opinion. It’s an opinion which we have always found helpful, and respect enormously.

QUESTION: What would happen to Mullah Krekar – did you discuss him? What would happen to him if he were extradited to Iraq?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I didn’t discuss the Mullah Krekar situation here in Oslo, and I have no idea what would happen to him in Iraq.

QUESTION: Question (from NRK) about Darfur and genocide: What actions should be taken? Obviously, military action? I mean that claiming it is genocide...

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Secretary Powell has declared in an interview genocide had occurred, and could still be occurring. The reason he made this statement is because we had conducted interviews with 1136 refugees in Chad, the great majority of which had first-hand knowledge of atrocities being committed. In terms of what needs to happen, the members of the United Nations, and each country who is a signatory to the 1948 Genocide Convention, has to act according to their own desires and needs. It is not necessarily something that needs to be resolved militarily, except for the troops for the African Union. The real [crux] is that Sudan has to accept its responsibilities, and has to reign in the militia, and stop these atrocities.

Thank you.

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