Interview With Robin Roberts of ABC's Good Morning AmericaSecretary Condoleezza RiceWashington, DC November 28, 2007 QUESTION: Secretary Rice, first of all, thank you. We know you have a busy day. We appreciate you joining us. As you know, many presidents have tried to play a role in creating peace in the Middle East: Carter, Reagan, Clinton. So what makes the Administration believe that this time will be different?
SECRETARY RICE: Well, you're absolutely right, Robin, that no one has ever been able to do it. And so, of course, one has to be cautious in approaching it. But I think that the reasons for optimism are -- were very much on display yesterday when you saw Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas, I think, acknowledge the suffering of their respective peoples, the need to move ahead. I think in the region you're seeing that the Arab states that have not been as active in the peace process in the past were there in the room, including Saudi Arabia. Clearly, there are some reasons for hope and for optimism, and the President has made clear that he will do everything that he can in the time remaining to him to try and move this forward. QUESTION: You talk about optimism, but it hasn't been that way in the past. Maureen Dowd, in her column in the New York Times this morning, reminded us of something that you said in the past about the Middle East when you said, "That we would think we had it all pieced together, we would go home, and it's like Groundhog Day. The next day, you would come in and it would come apart again." That is something that you have said in the past. She was just reminding us of that. Do you still feel that way? SECRETARY RICE: Well, that was in respect to Lebanon when we were trying to end the war in Lebanon, and it was a bit like Groundhog Day. But that's also the way that diplomacy is sometimes. You think that you've got all the pieces in place and then you find that you have to put them back together. But what has been remarkable about this process is that they're now ready to go. The United States won't be able to do this for them. They will have to do it for themselves. But the United States will be a strong partner, we will be a strong facilitator, and we will do everything that we can because this is a conflict that really has gone on too long. QUESTION: I want to talk to you now about Saudi Arabia. One of the people there at the peace talks is Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, and he has said that the government there in Saudi Arabia will rectify something that has really caused quite an international outrage involving the Saudi woman who was raped and then sentenced to 200 lashes. Are you confident that the Saudi Arabian Government will keep its word and rectify this? SECRETARY RICE: Well, we're certainly pleased that they've said they will review it. The world looked at this and there's no way to explain this. This woman was clearly a victim. And so I am pleased that the Saudis have said that they will review it. I think that's a very important step. QUESTION: And now talking about something that happened overnight in Pakistan, the general there, Musharraf, has turned in his uniform. He is now a civilian president. Do you think this will stem the tensions there in that country? SECRETARY RICE: This is a good first step. But really, for Pakistan, the most stabilizing thing will be to have free and fair elections so that Pakistan can stay and return to a democratic path, a path that, by the way, President Musharraf has helped to develop with freer press, with civil society. So it's time for Pakistan to move in that direction. QUESTION: Madame Secretary, always so much that we could talk about. I know you have a busy day ahead of you yet again. We appreciate you spending some time with us this morning. Thank you. SECRETARY RICE: Thank you. Good to be with you. 2007/1049 Released on November 28, 2007 |
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