10 April 2002

Powell, Spanish Foreign Minister Comment on Bilateral Agreements

The United States and Spain signed a protocol amending their bilateral agreement on defense cooperation and also a declaration of principles for enhanced cooperation on matters of defense equipment and industry during a visit to Madrid by Secretary of State Colin Powell April 10.

Speaking at a press conference later with Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique, Powell said the documents show a deepening of the already-strong relationship between the United States and Spain, "one that the United States treasures, one that President Bush appreciates." He emphasized that the basis of the documents is mutual cooperation, so "everything that we might do in any of the areas covered by the agreement will be joint efforts, mutually agreed upon and working in the spirit of cooperation that has developed in recent years."

Pique, speaking through an interpreter, underscored how pleased Spain was with the protocol amendment, which he said "gives a framework of strengthened cooperation and certainty which lays the foundation for other fields of cooperation."

He also noted that about a year ago Spain and the United States signed a comprehensive political statement pledging cooperation against terrorism and organized crime "that enabled us to build a truly privileged relation between our two countries." Both sides, he said, "are very satisfied with having met our goals."

Powell was in Madrid for discussions with the European Union and then was expected to continue his Middle East peace mission. He answered several questions on that topic.

Following is the State Department transcript of the press conference:

U.S. Department Of State
Office of the Spokesman
April 10, 2002
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell And Foreign Minister of Spain Josep Pique
Joint Press Conference
Madrid, Spain
April 10, 2002

Minister Pique: Specifically on what we have done, that is to say the signing of the Protocol of the Agreement on Defense Cooperation between the United States of America and Spain and the Declaration of Principles for Enhanced Cooperation on matters of Defense Equipment and Industry. If you will allow me, I would like to make a very short introductory comment and to later give the floor to Secretary Powell.

I think that what we have just signed is a wonderful example of the excellent relations between our two countries, between the United States and Spain. Slightly over a year ago, both governments signed a political statement that was intended to be a positive step in the relations between the United States and Spain. It was to be comprehensive, all encompassing, including the political dialogue cooperation in every area, industrial, cultural, defense, technological, against organized crime, against terrorism and that enabled us to build a truly privileged relation between our two countries. Shortly after one year we have achieved, I think we can say now, and both sides are very satisfied with having met our goals.

The revision of the Defense Cooperation Agreement was already established as a priority and that statement has undergone very intense negotiations but with a wonderful spirit as is common to countries with such great relations as ours. The results are truly very positive and I would like to underline the Spanish government's satisfaction, my appreciation to the negotiating teams who have done a wonderful job, and in addition, not only to the members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but also to the members of the Spanish Ministry of Defense and most especially Minister Trujillo for his extraordinary cooperation so that this agreement has come into fruition.

You all know the terms of the agreement; it was presented during the press conference after it was approved by the Cabinet and also in a joint appearance by the Minister of Defense and myself last Monday afternoon. It's not a question of going into details now, but I did want to underscore how pleased we are with the signature of this amendment which gives a framework of strengthened cooperation and certainty which lays the foundation for other fields of cooperation.

With this I give the floor to Secretary Powell.

Secretary Powell: Thank you very much Mr. Minister. Let me also express my pleasure of the signing of these two documents, the Protocol of the Agreement on Defense Cooperation as well as the Declaration of Principles. Both of these documents demonstrate the deepening of the relationship between the United States and Spain, a relationship that was strong to begin with, one that the United States treasures, one that President Bush appreciates. It was also manifested in the strong support we have received from Spain in the campaign against terrorism and the support that the Spanish government has given us in every imaginable way since the tragic events of the 11th of September of last year.

I also want to express my thanks and admiration to both teams of negotiators, all the negotiators who worked on this over the past year and did such a terrific job and we have much to be pleased about from your efforts.

I also want to express my thanks to the Spanish government for hosting the ministerial meeting today between the United States and the European Union and you will hear more about that in a few moments from the minister and my colleague, our colleague, Javier Solana, and I also want to thank Minister Pique for hosting the very important meeting we had earlier this morning with Secretary General Kofi Annan and with the European Union and with the Russian Federation and the United States which I believe produced the important declaration with respect to the Middle East. And so my thanks to you and I share the pleasure you expressed on these two new agreements.

Question: Mr. Secretary, since you left Washington, Prime Minister Sharon has said it would be a tragic mistake if you were to meet Chairman Arafat and there has been another suicide bombing. Do you feel that your mission is now in jeopardy and are you willing to make the kind of long-term commitment to mediation that seems essential if you are to succeed?

Minister Pique: Excuse me, let me say that you have to avoid questions because we have a very brief time.

Secretary Powell: One, I think that my mission is not in the least in jeopardy. I am going to Jerusalem tomorrow and I look forward to my meetings with the Israeli leaders on Friday. And I believe it is important to meet with Chairman Arafat. He is the leader of the Palestinian people and I think the Palestinian people and the Arab leaders with whom I've met over the last several days believe he is the partner that Israel will have to deal with at some point. He and the other leaders of the Palestinian Authority. The reality is that no other Palestinian leader or for that matter, Arab leader, is prepared to engage as a partner until Mr. Arafat has had a chance to express his views to me and to others. So I hope that there will be no difficulties in arranging a meeting with Chairman Arafat. And I think if we are going to move forward, such a meeting is appropriate and important.

Question: Will there be other Palestinian leaders at the meeting in addition to Mr. Arafat and is that at the US's request?

Secretary Powell: I don't know who else might be there. We haven't arranged that meeting yet, but other Palestinian leaders, I hope, are able to meet with Mr. Arafat today. I don't have a report of that meeting yet but that was our expectation for today.

Question: But not with you?

Secretary Powell: I have not yet arranged my schedule.

Question: Mr. Secretary, on the same subject. Prime Minister Sharon has asked the United States not to push Israel too hard for an immediate withdrawal. He said, "I hope they know that Israel is struggling for its survival". What is your response to that?"

Secretary Powell: I think the President has spoken clearly. We understand the difficult situation that Israel finds itself in, but we believe that the best way to relieve this tension, the best way to move forward and provide a solution to the crisis that we find ourselves in, is for the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the President has been reinforcing that point of view everyday.

Minister Pique: Is the question about the bilateral relationship -- if it's possible?

Question: The Minister of Foreign Affairs explained to the Congress for the first time that the agreement includes cooperation between both Spanish and American intelligence services in order to fight international terrorism. The Spanish Minister of Defense told me that this was going to be regulated, that these operations, this cooperation were going to be regulated, but I would like to know the U.S. Secretary of State's view on how this cooperation is going to occur in Spain?

Secretary Powell: The basis of these agreements is mutual cooperation, so everything that we might do in any of the areas covered by the agreement will be joint efforts, mutually agreed upon and working in the spirit of cooperation that has developed in recent years.

Minister Pique: If you permit me Sir. These operations, and the Minister of Defense and myself explained this at Parliament very clearly, that as Secretary of State has stated very clearly are done together with the Spanish security forces with full respect of our sovereignty and under the responsibility of Spanish authorities, but after this action this has to be regulated but this is for the first time submitted to the Parliament. Something-it is submitted but it has been going on for many years now, and when I say many years, I mean many years. So I think it's a good thing that both sides made this effort of transparency, of openness, vis a vis the parliament, the regulation is going to include the operations, the procedures to be followed that for obvious security reasons it is not in order for them to be open to the public, but there should be Parliamentary procedures that guarantee and safeguard the necessary security aspect. More questions.

Question: Boxford BBC. If there were to be United States Military action against Iraq on its own or with allies, how important would the Spanish bases be, what percentage say of flights might use the Spanish bases?

Secretary Powell: We have no military plans before the President at this time with respect to Iraq, so I don't think it would be useful to speculate on how any such operation would be conducted. The President has received no recommendation from his advisors, neither me, nor the Secretary of Defense, for such operations and therefore would not be appropriate to even speculate about such operational details.

Minister Pique: Thank you.