*EPF206 06/11/2002
Transcript: Powell Hails Australia's Help in War on Terrorism
(Says Prime Minister John Howard is good friend of America) (1814)

Secretary of State Colin Powell hailed visiting Australian Prime Minister John Howard as "a good friend of America, and a good friend of mine," at the State Department June 11.

"We've had a very excellent discussion covering a wide range of issues from the Middle East to the situation between the Indians and the Pakistanis to the upcoming Johannesburg meeting of the World Summit of Sustainable Development," Powell told reporters.

Powell said he thanked Howard for Australia's contribution to U.S. efforts in Afghanistan "to help restore that country to a point where people can live in freedom and democracy."

Howard, who was in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the 50th anniversary of America's alliance with Australia when the terrorists struck September 11, said he "made it very plain" to Secretary Powell that "Australia's commitment beside the United States in the war against terror will remain strong and steadfast."

For Australians, Howard continued, what happened September 11 was "as much an attack upon Australia and the values that we hold as it was upon the people of the United States."

Australia, besides helping the United States in the war in Afghanistan, has lined up with America in all the major wars of the last century: World War I; World War II; Korea; Vietnam; and the Gulf War.

Following is the transcript of the June 11 remarks by Secretary of State Powell and Australian Prime Minister Howard following their meeting at the State Department:

(begin transcript)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
June 11, 2002

Remarks By Secretary Of State Colin L. Powell
And Prime Minister John Howard of Australia
After Their Meeting

June 11, 2002
C Street Entrance
Washington, D.C.

(1:05 p.m. EDT)

SECRETARY POWELL: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I've had the pleasure today to host a good friend of America, and a good friend of mine, Prime Minister John Howard of Australia. We've had a very excellent discussion covering a wide range of issues from the Middle East to the situation between the Indians and the Pakistanis to the upcoming Johannesburg meeting of the World Summit of Sustainable Development, our bilateral issues. And I took the opportunity once again to thank the Prime Minister for the contribution that Australia has made to our efforts in Afghanistan to help restore that country to a point where people can live in freedom and democracy, and I'm pleased that the Loya Jirga is now meeting. It shows how far we've come in just the past six months. And of course Australian forces have played a significant role in that effort.

Mr. Prime Minister, it's always a pleasure to have you here in the State Department, and I would invite you to say a word or two.

PRIME MINISTER HOWARD: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Secretary. Can I say that I found today's discussions extremely valuable. And we have talked very directly and openly about issues that are of concern to both our countries. I applaud the efforts that the United States is taking, both in the Middle East, which is such an intractable and challenging issue, and also the leadership she is displaying in relation to India and Pakistan. Richard Armitage, Mr. Powell's deputy, has just returned, and although one has to be always cautious in these very tense situations, I think the progress that has been made there has been very encouraging.

I made it very plain to the Secretary that Australia's commitment beside the United States in the war against terror will remain strong and steadfast. I said in September of last year, and I repeat it here today, that we saw what occurred then in your country -- that is the United States -- as much an attack upon Australia and the values that we hold as it was upon the people of the United States.

I think the progress made in Afghanistan has been very rewarding, not only the return of a more open democratic system of government, but also the impressive evidence of stability, revealed by the return of up to one million refugees from Pakistan to Afghanistan.

And finally, on a personal note, it's always a great pleasure for me to see the Secretary. He's not only a very fine representative of his nation, the Secretary of State, on a personal basis, I like him a lot; Australia likes him a lot, and he's always very welcome in our country.

SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you very much.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia is coming here, but basically you seem to be at the end of a round of talks, consultations, whatever. What does the future look like to you?

SECRETARY POWELL: Well, we are expecting Prince Saud in later this week to see the President, and then I'll be able also to spend time with him when I get back from the G-8 ministerial meeting at the end of the week. And that does complete this round of consultations.

And I think, as the President has said, he will pull this all together with his advisors, and then I think in the very near future he will make known to the American people and to the world, and to especially the people in the region, his vision of how to move forward. So I think you will see that coming from the administration, from the President, in the not-too-distant future.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, can you tell us, are you still planning to back a Middle East conference for the summer, since the President's remarks yesterday seemed to suggest you were backing away from that idea?

SECRETARY POWELL: I think we still see utility in planning for such a conference in the course of the summer. And I don't think the President intended to back away from it. The way the question was asked and the way it was answered, it was in the context of a broader summit. But I think we are pulling the pieces together now that might make such a conference useful, and we haven't backed away from the idea yet.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, the administration is talking tough on Iraq. In the event of any conflict with Iraq, would you like to see Australia on board?

SECRETARY POWELL: I think that's hypothetical, and the President does not have any war plans on his desk. And as he has said to all of his friends, that as we go down this road to try to do something about this despotic regime that develops weapons of mass destruction and threatens the region and the world, he will consult widely with our friends and allies around the world. But I would not pose such a question at this time because it wouldn't be appropriate.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, on Afghanistan, you mentioned the Loya Jirga. In Kabul, there's been some complaints amongst the delegates, some of the delegates, that the United States has too heavy a hand in the selection process and the fix being in for Mr. Karzai. How do you respond to those criticisms?

SECRETARY POWELL: I don't think that's accurate. I think we can see the Loya Jirga unfolding before our eyes. It seems to be representative of all the people of Afghanistan. I was reading some fascinating overnight traffic about the open meeting they have, of debate, discussion, disagreement, in the Afghan tradition.

And I don't think we've played a heavy-handed role at all. I think we have helped create, along with our Australian friends and so many others who have come to Afghanistan, we have helped create the conditions so that such a meeting of 1,500 representatives, under a tent provided by Germany, that could come together and find their way into the future in accordance with their traditions and their processes. And to the extent we've helped that, and I think we're all very proud of having done that, we have not tried to put a heavy hand on it in any way.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, Mr. Powell, the comments made yesterday by Mr. Bush during the meeting with Mr. Sharon indicate what the Arabs have seen as a green light for Israel, and without any sort of a reining in of Israel. Will you call today for Mr. Sharon to pull his tanks out of Ramallah?

SECRETARY POWELL: The President did not use any traffic light metaphors yesterday. He had a good meeting with Prime Minister Sharon. They exchanged views. We understand that the incursion into Ramallah is of a limited duration as they look for terrorists, and therefore we would expect it to end in the not-too-distant future, but I do not know when.

The President not only understands Israel's right to defend itself; he also understands the need for us to find a political way to move forward so that we can deal with Israel's need for security and the need of the Palestinian people for a future in a state that they can call their own.

Thank you very much.

THE PRESS: Thank you.

PRIME MINISTER HOWARD: Thank you.


(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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