Secretary Condoleezza Rice, Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, VIDEO, PODCAST, TEXT

Technorati Tags: Secretary Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos or State Department and Secretary of State, or President Bush and diplomacy, or North Korea, and Spain, or NATO, and Latin America, or VIDEO, and PODCAST,

Remarks With Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos of Spain After Their Meeting, FULL STREAMING VIDEO, PODCAST, file is MP3 format, running time is 11:08 Secretary Condoleezza Rice, Benjamin Franklin Room, Washington, DC, June 19, 2006

Secretary Rice with His Excellency Miguel Angel Moratinos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain speak to the press after their bilateral and working lunch. State Department photo by Michael Gross.

SECRETARY RICE: Good afternoon. I'm delighted to welcome my colleague Miguel Moratinos, the Foreign Minister of Spain, to Washington and here to the State Department. Miguel and I have, of course, met on a number of occasions, including at our NATO meetings and when we've had an opportunity to meet at various international meetings as well. I am delighted that we've had this opportunity because we have talked about the entire world because Spain and the United States, as allies, NATO allies, are, in fact, engaged in many activities around the world.

We have talked about the prospects for peace in the Middle East. We have talked about Afghanistan, where Spain is playing an extremely important role. We have talked about how to support the new Government of Iraq. And we have talked a great deal about Latin America, where Spain and the United States share both interest and heritage.

Miguel, it is terrific to have you here. I should also note that Miguel has been here before. He has invited me to come to Spain and I look forward to doing so, Miguel, at the earliest possible convenience. Thank you very much.

FOREIGN MINISTER MORATINOS: Thank you. I'm extremely delighted to be back in the State Department in my third visit to Washington, D.C., and I had with Dr. Rice an extremely positive and fruitful exchange of view: on bilaterals, on regional issues that both Spain and United States are working together, fight against terrorism, our presence in Afghanistan, our support to the new Iraqi Government, on the Middle East Israeli-Palestinian issue, on Iran, on North Africa and of course on Latin America, where both United States and Spain wants to have a complementary role because we want progress and democracy to be absolutely established and consolidated in this important part of the world.

I think we have expressed our extremely satisfactory exchange of view. We are going to work together. I invite Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to visit Spain. She agreed to come to Madrid in this year and I have the sense that both United States and Spain are working together in the main challenges that are confronted in this, today's world.

So again, I'm extremely happy. We have a tremendous agenda both on North Africa with Morocco and Algeria, Western Sahara, on the Middle East, on the Latin America, and I think working together the best answer to anyone who thought that U.S.-Spanish relation are going extremely well.

MR. MCCORMACK: The first question to Anne Gearan from the Associated Press.

QUESTION: Hello. Madame Secretary, how imminent do you think a North Korea test launch would be? Do you regard it as a test and not as some sort of hostile act? And what would the consequences be? What would the United States do if, in fact, they do go ahead with the test?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, Anne, we are working very closely with our allies. I, over the weekend in the last few days, have had several conversations with regional allies. Indeed, Foreign Minister Moratinos and I talked about the North Korean situation.

We regard it as abrogation of obligations that North Korea undertook in the moratorium that they signed onto in 1999, that they reiterated in 2002 that is clearly a part of the framework agreement that was signed in September of this past year between the six parties. And so it would be a very serious matter and indeed a provocative act should North Korea decide to launch that missile.

We will obviously consult on next steps, but I can assure everyone that it would be taken with utmost seriousness. I think it is already taken with utmost seriousness by regional states and by the world because it would once again show North Korea determined to deepen its isolation, determined not to take a path that is a path of compromise and a path of peace, but rather instead to once again saber-rattle. And so from our point of view it would be a very serious matter indeed.

QUESTION: Hello. Madame Secretary, this is a question actually for both of you, but starting with Secretary Rice. Since this government in Spain was selected on the withdrawing of troops on Iraq, the relationship between our two countries have been more tense than they were before. And in Spain we see, like, proof of that, the fact that our president has never been invited to the United States to meet with President Bush. Since the relationship seem to be much more smooth now, I wonder if that was a topic in your discussion today, or do you have any plans for that in the future?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, we obviously are here working together. We're determined to look forward. There's no secret we had our disagreements in the past. But I am impressed with the degree to which the Foreign Minister came prepared to talk about the future agenda, including how to support the democratically elected Government of Iraq. After all, this is now a government that has been elected by more than 12 million Iraqis. It's a national unity government. It's a government that the entire international community ought to be prepared and ready to get behind and push to success and that's the attitude that I saw expressed by the Foreign Minister. And as I said, I expect to be visiting Madrid fairly soon, so let's take it from there.

FOREIGN MINISTER MORATINOS: (Via interpreter) No, we have not discussed anything regarding that specific issue but I would like to reiterate, as I have said before, the excellent level of our relationship, the intensity of the agenda that we have discussed today, the level of our commitment. We have discussed issues like the new Government of Iraq. We are firmly committed to supporting them. I have, in fact, promised the new Iraqi Foreign Minister to visit his country in September and we're going to be working on issues such as support for them in communications, health issues, education and others.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, what efforts are being made to find the two soldiers that have been kidnapped in Iraq? And also, you met with your Italian counterparts last Friday, but now we're hearing that the Italians would like to prosecute those responsible for the killing of Nicola Calipari last year and do you have any response to that?

SECRETARY RICE: I am not going to respond on a legal matter, but we are in discussion with the Italians. We have consistently respected our partners and, of course, discussed matters when they arise. But I'm not going to get into that -- that issue.

I will, on the matter of our missing soldiers. This is obviously a matter of great -- great concern to all of us and the American military has made very clear that they are going to do everything possible -- I think they've said, air, land and sea -- to try and find them. And obviously their safe return is something that everyone will work for and their safe return is something that everyone will pray for.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, have you talked with Mr. Moratinos about the future of the military base in Guantanamo, the prison in the military base?

SECRETARY RICE: We actually did not talk about this. I can, however, answer your question if you would like. And -- look, the United States doesn't have any desire to be the world's jailer. We've said that many times. But we are in a different kind of war where we have picked up very dangerous people, either plotting terrorist plots or fighting in Afghanistan, engaged with terrorism and you'll have to have a place to put people like this. I don't think anyone wants to see Guantanamo open one day longer than it is needed. But I also expect suspect nobody wants to see a number of dangerous people simply released out onto the streets. A lot of people have been released from Guantanamo to -- in several cases, to their home countries when adequate provisions could be made for them. We continue to discussthe release of others to their home countries with adequate security provisions. And in cases -- some cases, we have relocated some people when we thought that their release to their home countries was not the appropriate course. So we're working through this population.

We also, of course, very much want to have trials for people. We understand the concerns about what's called indefinite detention. But we are currently awaiting a decision by our own Supreme Court on the constitutionality of military tribunals, which would be one way to try these people. And I can assure you that we want to bring people to justice, we want to bring them to a process in which their cases can be heard and we'll do that as soon as possible.

Thank you very much.

FOREIGN MINISTER MORATINOS: Thank you. Thank you.

2006/626, Released on June 19, 2006

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Robert Zoellick Announces Departure VIDEO, PODCAST, TEXT

Technorati Tags: Secretary Condoleezza Rice and Robert B. Zoellick or State Department and Secretary of State, or President Bush and diplomacy, or global war on terrorism, and Sudan, or Darfur, and Deputy Secretary of State, or VIDEO, and PODCAST,

Remarks With Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick, FULL STREAMING VIDEO. PODCAST, File is MP3 format running time is 10:06

Secretary Rice and Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick announce the Deputy Secretary is stepping down. State Department photo by Michael Gross

Secretary Condoleezza Rice, The Benjamin Franklin Room, Washington, DC, June 19, 2006, (9:05 a.m. EST)

SECRETARY RICE: Good morning, everyone. When I became Secretary of State, our country had fought two wars, we were waging a global war on terrorism and President Bush asked me, using America's diplomacy, to try and help consolidate the gains of the past four years. Immediately, I set about assembling a first-rate team that would help carry out this historic mission, a mission that others have referred to as transformational diplomacy.

The very first decision, really the most important decision, was to find a first-class deputy. I knew that the State Department needed a deputy who was an experienced policymaker, a seasoned diplomat, a masterful strategist and an intellectual leader, someone who was known and respected in every foreign capital around the world.

(Editors Note, Start of VIDEO Transcript)We needed a deputy who would be a full partner for me in the formulation and implementation of our entire foreign policy agenda, someone who would take American diplomacy on the road with a vigorous will to travel and who would serve as my alter ego here in Washington. And of course, we needed a deputy who would get up his courage and roll up his sleeves and occasionally even hug a panda. (Laughter.) The President and I agreed that the only person who fit that bill was Bob Zoellick.

I was deeply honored that Bob accepted the job. And in the past year and a half, Bob has been greater than ever whenever we faced challenges. And today it is not without considerable sadness that I announce that Bob Zoellick will be leaving the Department in the coming weeks. Today America's diplomacy is on track. It is stronger than ever and that is due in no small part to Bob Zoellick.

I first met Bob back in 1989 when we both served another President Bush at another challenging time for American diplomacy. Together we participated in historic events, the unification of Germany, the liberation of Eastern Europe and the peaceful collapse of the Soviet Union. Those were heady times, to be sure. And I remember how well Bob helped to craft and steer America's foreign policy with his characteristic brilliance, his tireless work ethic and his impeccable judgment.

I had the pleasure of serving again with Bob in the first four years of the Administration when I was National Security Advisor and when he was U.S. Trade Representative. What most people don't know, however, is that Bob and I had lunch about every week or two. We talked, of course, about all the vital issues at the nexus of foreign policy and trade, yet we also shared stories and talked about our common passions, like exercise and reading, and we solidified a decades-long friendship.

My close personal relationship with Bob has been the foundation of all of our work together here at the State Department. You know that when you travel as much as I do, you need someone who can step comfortably and confidently into the role of Secretary in your absence, a deputy who can coordinate with the White House and manage the daily work of the Department and make countless decisions about every aspect of foreign policy. Bob has done this and more. He has been one of my closest and most valued advisors on every single international issue from advancing security and democracy in Iraq to checking the nuclear weapons ambitions of Iran, from forging a new partnership with a changing India to expanding our common agenda with old allies in Europe and the Americas.

In particular, Bob has led the way to success on a handful of really difficult challenges. He has been indispensable in our efforts to bring peace to Sudan and to end the violence in Darfur, personally leading the U.S. delegation that helped to secure the Darfur peace agreement last month. Bob has also helped us to launch a wide-ranging strategic dialogue with China and build on the progress that he achieved as our trade representative. Bob has helped our many partners in Central and South America to tackle the twin challenges of democracy and economic development.

Here in this building, Bob has been a leader and an advocate for all of the members of our foreign service, our civil service, and our foreign service nationals. He's been a demanding boss, to be sure, who has been -- everyone who has been exposed to Bob's questioning and his probing will tell you that. And Bob always says, "We have to be relentless in our attention to implementation."

But I know everyone would agree that they appreciate how Bob has held us all to high standards and encouraged us all to succeed. And I know how much everyone appreciates Bob's deep engagement with our daily work, which is hard to deny when your memos consistently return from the Deputy Secretary of State with twice as much writing as you sent him.

Bob, you have helped to guide American diplomacy with principle and prudence at a time when there are few precedents for action. Our nation is stronger and safer because of your work, so on behalf of President Bush, on behalf of all members of the Administration, on behalf of the men and women of the State Department, and on behalf of the American people, I want to thank you for your wise counsel. I want to thank you for your dedicated service to our nation.

And on a more personal level, I want to thank you for your friendship, which I know we will continue to build and enjoy in the many years ahead and I look forward to continuing our tradition of dinners with you and Sherry at your wonderful home. Thanks so much and now, if you would like to say a few words.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ZOELLICK: Well, thank you, Madame Secretary for your extremely gracious small remarks. When the Secretary asked me to join her as Deputy Secretary, I appreciated her confidence and her friendship. I knew that with the guidance of the President, she wanted to give fresh impetus to U.S. diplomacy. And we certainly have done so with the excellent colleagues at State and other departments. I am pleased to have helped to build a first-rate team at the State Department, offer counsel on a number of initiatives, back up the Secretary given her active agenda and travel schedule, and taken personal charge of some issues, especially with China and Southeast Asia, Latin America, Sudan, international economic topics and helping with the Congress.

As the Secretary said when we first talked about this assignment, my experience at the State Department from 1989 to '92 helped give us an inside perspective on the great talent and energy here. We've been colleagues and friends for a long time so we knew we could work well together and we were able to build on the firm foundation laid by Colin Powell and Rich Armitage, two excellent leaders.

I began service with the President as U.S. Trade Representative in early 2001 so I'm now well into six years in public office. I've accomplished what I've set out to do and it's time for me to step down. I am pleased to be joining Goldman Sachs, which will be making an announcement shortly.

I will, of course, miss my very dedicated colleagues at the State Department. I've worked with them over the years during my earlier tour here, when I was in the private sector, during my service at USTR and most recently as Deputy Secretary. They are superb public servants and patriots. Many, many are good friends. Whether presidential appointees, Foreign Service, Civil Service, Foreign Service Nationals, it's been an honor to serve with them.

When I've traveled around the world I try to stop in, even if only quickly, to thank the embassy staffs, like I did so two weeks ago in the Dominican Republic. In these visits to our embassies, big and small, I've seen firsthand the extraordinary service our colleagues provide to the American people. Many risk their lives in dangerous posts. The public can be very proud of their representatives abroad.

And I've certainly learned very much from our colleagues at the Department, not only in policy, but in character, in duty.

The development and execution of foreign policy also depends on the contributions of a host of other departments across the U.S. Government. We get things done together as a team. I've tried to support the President and the Secretary through my work with our partner agencies. So I want to thank those colleagues who have been generous and very cooperative.

Of course the backing of the U.S. Congress is vital for a sustainable and effective American foreign policy. Secretary Rice and I discussed the importance of our relations with the Congress from the very start of our work together. So I'd like to thank the many members of Congress of both parties, who have offered me support, counsel and encouragement in this post and others.

In closing, I'd like to thank this final time both President Bush and Secretary Rice for the opportunity they've afforded me. When the Secretary spoke at her confirmation hearing, she said, "The time for diplomacy is now" and so it has been. The effect of the Secretary's work is evident and I'm pleased to have been able to contribute and I'm confident that she and the Department will have and leave an even stronger mark in the months and years ahead. So thank you very much.
2006/622

Released on June 19, 2006

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