Remarks to the Press in Egypt

SECRETARY RICE: (In progress) Well, I said before I left Washington, in fact, when this conference was scheduled, that this was a meeting about Iraq. It's a meeting to signal from the international community support for Iraq and to develop concrete steps that could help to stabilize Iraq. And I believe I said at the time that if in that context I had an opportunity to deliver that message to Iraq's neighbors, including to Syria, then I would do so. And so today on the margins of a larger meeting if there is an opportunity to talk about the problem of the flow of foreign fighters, a major source of the suicide bombings in Iraq, and I thought it was a good opportunity to talk to the Foreign Minister about it.

QUESTION: Did you get any assurances from the Foreign Minister that Syria was ready to talk with respect to prevent the flow of foreign fighters and are you satisfied that they are making a good effort?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, the Syrians clearly say that they believe that stability in Iraq is in their interest, but actions will speak louder than words. And I think we'll have to see how this develops.

Obviously, this is not just something that's in the interest of the United States; it's in the interest of Syria, and probably most importantly, it's in the interest of Iraq. And that is the basis on which we have this discussion. This is not a favor to the United States; it's an opportunity to help stabilize Iraq and, therefore, serve the interest of the neighborhood.

QUESTION: Could you tell us how it went, this meeting? How --

SECRETARY RICE: I would say it was professional. It was businesslike. And it was, you know, very concrete. We talked about this issue and really only about Iraqi issues, but it was quite professional.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) react to your meeting, saying that it proves that the Administration was wrong in criticizing Nancy Pelosi when she went to Damascus.

SECRETARY RICE: Well, I think there's a difference in going to Damascus and having broad-scale discussions about a whole range of issues with Syria and that was the issue at the time. And I think having the Secretary of State take an opportunity to speak to the Foreign Minister of Syria about a concrete problem involving Iraq, at an Iraqi neighbors conference, makes more sense.

QUESTION: One quick housekeeping matter -- had you ever met him before?

SECRETARY RICE: No. No, I don't believe so. I mean, I can't say I haven't passed him in the hallways before this. We've never met formally.

QUESTION: And have you seen any change in Syrian behavior -- I mean, in the past you've accused them backing Iran on a number of fronts, but you mentioned the foreign fighter issue at the beginning. Are they doing a little more on that?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, I have seen some reports that they may be trying to take a little bit better control of this. But I think we have to wait and see whether the trend is indeed a trend. From the point of view of their interests, it makes some sense given that these foreign fighters are likely to be sources of instability in Syria.

QUESTION: Do you have any plans to meet Foreign Minister Mutaki while you're here, and did you approach them for a meeting and did they turn you down for one?

SECRETARY RICE: We did not approach them for a meeting. I think I've made clear that if I have an opportunity to deliver a message or to reinforce the message that has been delivered here about the need to support Iraq and to -- (cell phone rings). That if there's an opportunity to deliver that message and to report the message that is being delivered here about the need to support Iraq, then obviously I'd take that opportunity. But we haven't planned and have not asked for a bilateral meeting, nor have they asked us.

QUESTION: But why not ask them for a bilateral meeting if you want to deliver that message?

SECRETARY RICE: If the opportunity presents itself, then perhaps we'll do that. But this is not about the United States and Iran. It's about Iraq and I think we can find different ways to deal with and reinforce the message.

MR. MCCORMACK: Okay, guys. One last one.

QUESTION: Well, you described your meeting today as businesslike and professional. Can you just give us a little bit about the back and forth? I mean, you said to him and he said to you?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, I think I probably started out. I want to be clear that we don't want to have a difficult relationship with Syria but there needs to be some basis for a better relationship, that there need to be concrete steps that show that on the Iraqi issue, for instance, that there is actually going to be action. But it was back and forth. I didn't lecture him. He didn't lecture me. It was a quite professional meeting.

QUESTION: Did Lebanon and the tribunal come up?

SECRETARY RICE: No. It was about Iraq.