Interview with Slovak Television

SLOVAK TELEVISION: I wanted to ask you. Is this visit -- can we consider it as a way how to actually make sure that the countries that were helpful in Iraq and Afghanistan will continue with this help, and what exactly for example would you expect from Slovakia?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: No, actually, I came here for many more reasons than Iraq and Afghanistan. We’re grateful, as I’ve said, for the assistance of Slovakia, but I came here on a larger mission to make it clear to the people and to the government of Slovakia that we’re interested in having an in-depth and full-range relationship. We didn’t ask anything more of the government regarding Iraq. We came to thank, and through the government, the people of Slovakia for the fantastic, courageous activities of the military.

SLOVAK TELEVISION: However, can we expect that you would like to have more countries in the coalition since some of the countries have already said that they will withdraw from Iraq?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, some of the countries have said they’ll withdraw, and after we chatted with them, they changed their opinion a bit and have decided to extend at least until after the elections in January. And I think this is something that is appreciated by the people of Iraq. But we didn’t have those discussions here.

SLOVAK TELEVISION: And if I may, last question…

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Sure.

SLOVAK TELEVISION: …there is very bad security in Iraq as we know. Today even there were two car bombs and some other kidnappings. Are you going to change any strategy, maybe, because, for example, our soldiers are also unable to work there properly because of the security reasons?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, the strategy is one that’s worked out between the government of Iraq and the coalition, and you saw a very interesting application of that strategy in the siege of Najaf two weeks ago where Iraqi military were taking on more of the fighting, and they were backed up by coalition, and it was that military pressure of the Iraqis that allowed a negotiated settlement. You’ll be seeing that more and more as the Iraqi government comes to the fore. This is going to be a dangerous place until after these elections in January. You know, the specter of having a democratic society in the middle of the Middle East, an Arab democracy, is something that frightens many people, and it worries them, because it gets at their own power, so you can expect some difficulties.