Remarks with Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana after Their Meeting

QUESTION: How did it go today?

PRESIDENT RAVALOMANANA: Very well. I am glad to be here with my colleague, and now we build up our (inaudible) between Madagascar and America.

SECRETARY POWELL: I was pleased to receive the President. I met him last year before he became President and I congratulated him on his election and the elections they also held last December. We want to work with Madagascar as they move forward. They have been good friends to the United States. We're going to keep it that way and do everything we can to support him in his efforts to reform the political system, the economic system, and to build a better life for the people.

Thank you.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, is there a meeting on Iran today, or has that been postponed until Thursday?

SECRETARY POWELL: Our policies with respect to Iran have not changed. We do not approve of their support of terrorist activities. We have made it clear over the years that we disapprove of their efforts to develop a nuclear capability. Our policies are well known and I am not aware of any changes in policy of the kind that is reflected in --

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary --

QUESTION: Do you intend to continue contacts with them?

SECRETARY POWELL: There always -- we always have -- we have contacts with them.

QUESTION: And they'll continue?

SECRETARY POWELL: We have contacts and they will continue. There is much in the news today that I have not been able to source.  (Laughter.)

(The Secretary escorts President Ravalomanana to his car.)

QUESTION: The North Koreans offered to do multilateral talks if you do one-on-one first. Is that in any way a starter?

SECRETARY POWELL: I've been reading those statements, and while we are examining closely whatever they say, but we are still committed to multilateral talks, expanded multilateral talks (inaudible).