Secretary Rice, South Asia and East Asia

Secretary Rice

Secretary Rice is traveling to South Asia and East Asia from March 14 to 21, 2005, visiting India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Japan, South Korea, and China. In South Asia, the Secretary highlighted positive momentum in the region,

including our transformed relationship with India, our continuing commitment to Afghanistan’s reconstruction, and our long-term engagement with Pakistan. On her visit to East Asian nations she will discuss our global and regional cooperation, such as the actions we are taking together to support democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, she will review with our partners our diplomatic efforts to convene the next round of Six-Party Talks. [Photos from India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; Japan; South Korea]

Remarks by Secretary Rice
2005/03/19 : Remarks to Troops at Command Post Tango, 2005/03/19 : Remarks With Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura, 2005/03/19 : Remarks at Sophia University, 2005/03/19 : Remarks at a U.S.-Japan Appreciation Event With Troops, 2005/03/19: Interview With Aiko Doden of NHK TV, 2005/03/19 : Interview With Yuko Ando of Fuji Television, 2005/03/19 : Statement on Death of George F. Kennan, 2005/03/17 : Briefing En Route to Toyko, 2005/03/17 : Interview with Jonathan Karl of ABC' Tonight, 2005/03/17: Interview with Hamid Mir of GEO TV, 2005/03/17 : Interview with Quatrina Hosain Currim of Pakistan Television, 2005/03/17 : Interview With Neda Farhat of Radio Liberty and Radio Afghanistan, 2005/03/17 : Remarks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, 2005/03/17 : Remarks to Troops at the Kabul Compound, 2005/03/17 : Remarks with Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, 2005/03/16 : Remarks with Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh, 2005/03/16 : Interview With Raj Chengappa of India Today, 2005/03/16 : Interview with Shirvaj Prasad of NDTV, 2005/03/15 : Remarks en Route to India, 2005/03/11 : Interview With Reuters News Agency
SOURCE; US Department of State

U.S. POW/MIA Delegation Leads Talks in Laos

U.S. POW/MIA Delegation Leads Talks in Laos, Senior officials from Laos and the U.S. concluded talks this week reaffirming close cooperation in the mission to account for missing Americans from the Vietnam War.

Director, Europe-Americas Department of Laos’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs Southam Sakonhninhom opened and closed the discussions with officials from the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO). He stated that he considered the U.S. and Laos to be one team with the same vision, working to carry out the same mission.

The discussion began a two-day visit to assess Lao cooperation, address the efforts of the Lao government in an archival research initiative begun last year, and to express appreciation for strategies to help accelerate the accounting efforts in Laos. In addition to new levels of assistance in archival research, Laos has worked cooperatively with the U.S. over the past year in areas such as: allowing U.S. teams more flexibility to conduct investigations and excavations; investigating cases requiring close coordination between the U.S., Laos, and Vietnam; refining the Lao unilateral investigation program; and enhancing the safety of American and Lao personnel by streamlining medical evacuation procedures.

While in Laos, the team spent a day and a half in southern Laos where specialists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command are seeking to recover American remains. U.S. officials noted the “one team” concept being put into practice at all levels during their visits to the Ta-oy base camp as well as to several excavation sites.

Weather and terrain in the area have made the joint work even more challenging. Workers at one of the aircraft crash sites scaled almost 90-degree slopes in their search for clues for the missing. Six poisonous snakes were found at one site, and various unexploded ordnance, including 500-pound bombs, were scattered throughout the sites. Despite the hardships, morale among the almost 50 Americans and more than 400 Lao was high, and the work in the field was clearly benefiting from the close cooperation and flexibility. The DPMO officials praised the work of both the U.S. specialists and their Lao counterparts.

The U.S. delegation departed Laos on today.

Of the 1,836 Americans missing from the Vietnam War, the remains of 375 are believed to be in Laos. Since the end of the war, 194 Americans have been accounted-for from Laos.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans from all conflicts, visit the DPMO web site at dtic.mil/dpmo, or call 703-699-1169.

No. 272-05 IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 18, 2005

U.S. Department of DefenseOffice of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)News Release
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