Russia: Murder of Journalist Anna Politkovskaya

Russia: Murder of Journalist Anna Politkovskaya

The United States is shocked and profoundly saddened by the brutal murder of independent Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was killed today in her Moscow apartment building. A highly respected and tireless investigative reporter and author, as well as the mother of two children, Politkovskaya devoted much of her career to shining a light on human rights abuses and other atrocities of the war in Chechnya and the plight of Chechen refugees. We extend our deepest sympathies to her family.

Personally courageous and committed to seeking justice even in the face of previous death threats, Politkovskaya was the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Civil Courage Prize by the Trustees of the Northcote Parkinson Fund in 2005, the Courage in Journalism Award from the International Women’s Media Foundation in 2002, the Golden Pen Award from the Russian Union of Journalists in 2000, the Prize for Journalism and Democracy from the OSCE, as well as awards from the Overseas Press Club and Amnesty International.

The United States urges the Russian government to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation in order to find, prosecute, and bring to justice all those responsible for this heinous murder. The intimidation and murder of journalists -- 12 in Russia in the past six years, including American citizen Paul Klebnikov on July 9, 2004 -- is an affront to free and independent media and to democratic values.

2006/900, Released on October 7, 2006, Press Statement, Sean McCormack, Washington, DC. October 7, 2006

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President on North Korea Nuclear Test (VIDEO)

President Bush's Statement on North Korea Nuclear Test, FULL STREAMING VIDEO, Diplomatic Reception Room, 9:58 A.M. EDT.

President George W. Bush delivers a statement on North Korea from the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, Monday, Oct. 9, 2006. White House photo by Kimberlee Hewitt.

THE PRESIDENT: Last night the government of North Korea proclaimed to the world that it had conducted a nuclear test. We're working to confirm North Korea's claim. Nonetheless, such a claim itself constitutes a threat to international peace and security. The United States condemns this provocative act. Once again North Korea has defied the will of the international community, and the international community will respond.

This was confirmed this morning in conversations I had with leaders of China, and South Korea, Russia, and Japan. We reaffirmed our commitment to a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, and all of us agreed that the proclaimed actions taken by North Korea are unacceptable and deserve an immediate response by the United Nations Security Council.

The North Korean regime remains one of the world's leading proliferator of missile technology, including transfers to Iran and Syria. The transfer of nuclear weapons or material by North Korea to states or non-state entities would be considered a grave threat to the United States, and we would hold North Korea fully accountable of the consequences of such action.

The United States remains committed to diplomacy, and we will continue to protect ourselves and our interests. I reaffirmed to our allies in the region, including South Korea and Japan, that the United States will meet the full range of our deterrent and security commitments.

Threats will not lead to a brighter future for the North Korean people, nor weaken the resolve of the United States and our allies to achieve the de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Today's claim by North Korea serves only to raise tensions, while depriving the North Korean people of the increased prosperity and better relations with the world offered by the implementation of the joint statement of the six-party talks. The oppressed and impoverished people of North Korea deserve that brighter future.

Thank you.

END 10:01 A.M. EDT

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