Remarks at British Aerospace With U.K. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw

FOREIGN SECRETARY STRAW: (In Progress) … in Berlin on Iranian issues and what this Joint Strike Fighter hall in this very large BAE plant here in the northwest illustrates is the strength and vitality of the northwest and Britain's industrial base. And during the course of this two-day visit, Secretary Rice will have a chance to see other aspects of life here in the northwest. And I was saying to her earlier in the car -- and the apologies for those British journalists who may feel slightly offended by this, but I know that for many American journalists this may be their first visit to Blackburn. But I was saying to Secretary Rice that the American journalists will not be alone in this and for many from the South it will be your first visit to -- a British journalist's first visit to Blackburn as well. For those that have been to Blackburn before, you should have come again sooner and you're very welcome.

Can I just say on a somber note, how shocked both Secretary Rice and I were by two pieces of news this morning. The first was the sinking of the boat of Bahrain, where I gather 50 poor souls have lost their lives including at least 13 British citizens. We hear there may be one American citizen as well, amongst the dead. We've responded very quickly. The Embassy in Bahrain have moved into action and a rapid deployment team has already been sent from London to assist and we're offering all the help we can to the Bahrain authorities.

The second piece of very sad news was the earthquake in Iran, very shocking with what seems to be a large loss of life. Our hearts and our prayers go out to the families who have lost loved ones and to the people of Iran. And I shall be sending a personal message of condolences to Foreign Minister Mottaki of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Secretary Rice, you're extremely welcome.

SECRETARY RICE: Well, thank you very much, Secretary Straw. And Jack, thank you very much for having me here in Blackburn. Let me just underscore what the Secretary has just said about the tragic events in Bahrain. The United States is prepared to and is, in fact, already involved with the Bahraini government in lending whatever assistance we can. Also to the people of Iran for the terrible events there, the earthquake there. And of course, the United States is always prepared to help with humanitarian assistance anywhere in the world when these kinds of difficulties are faced by a population. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people both of Bahrain and people who have lost their lives in the ship incident and the people of Iran and the people who have lost their lives there.

It's a delight to be here in northwest England. I'm getting my geography straight. I was saying to Jack that I've spent a good deal of time in London over the years, but it's nice to get out and see another part of the country. And I look very much forward to learning about the most glorious history of this region where, in much of this region, the industrial revolution was really born. And I don't think, frankly, the industrial revolution looked like this at the time. And so I want to thank the management and the workers of the BAE here for providing this tour and for the excellent work that we're all doing together on the Joint Strike Fighter. It is, indeed, a very good symbol of cooperation among allies, as for the next generation of military technology.

And so Jack, thank you for the wonderful welcome. Thank you for the visit and I look forward to seeing more of northwest England.

FOREIGN SECRETARY STRAW: Great. Thank you. Just before -- we will take a couple of questions. Before I do, just to give a -- to avoid a diplomatic incident, I'm going to make clear that we're on the edge of Blackburn. We're actually in a (inaudible) and we're very grateful indeed to have (inaudible) of their reception of us. I'm also delighted to have with us Ambassador Tuttle and his wife Maria, the Ambassador to the United States, and our own Ambassador to Washington, David Manning and my wife Alice.

And the reason, of course, we're here is because Alice and I were invited by Secretary Rice to her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. We had a fantastic tour back in the autumn. Please.

QUESTION: (Off-Mike.)

SECRETARY RICE: Well, first of all, people have the right to protest. That's what democracy is all about. And I'm just delighted that in more and more of the world, those rights to speak your mind are being extended to other people for whom that right has not been there. And so I would say to those who wish to protest, by all means. I have no problem with people exercising their democratic rights. I will note that I am equally, if not more impressed with the warm welcome that I have received here. It's always easy to concentrate on some who find it controversial. I think many have said to me that they're delighted with the visit. I'm enjoying the visit and I look forwarding to continuing it.

I just want to say one thing. I think it's awfully important that foreign secretaries, when they go to the United States, get outside of Washington, New York and Los Angeles. And I think it's a good thing, when secretaries of state come to Great Britain that we get outside of London.

QUESTION: Bridget Kendall from BBC. Secretary Rice, when you were invited here to Blackburn, did you anticipate that there would be this strong discussion there is here now about your role in the Iraq war and some opposition here locally to it? Are you surprised by this?

SECRETARY RICE: I've seen it in every city I've visited in the United States. No, I'm not surprised. People have strong views. This isn't the first time that people have expressed those views when I've gone to places. And as I said, I have no problem with people expressing those views. But I'm delighted to have accepted the opportunity to be here in Blackburn. And I can tell you that the people that I've met have been very friendly and very welcoming and I very much look forward to rest of the visit.

FOREIGN SECRETARY STRAW: Can we just take two questions from American correspondents, please?

QUESTION: Secretary Rice and Minister, we're here at one of the homes of the Joint Strike Fighter where we understand that there is a dispute between Britain and the United States over the access to U.S. computer codes involving this project. Can you comment on what the progress is of that, please?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, we are working on any problems about technology sharing. It's a complicated matter. Everyone wants to protect technology as we move forward in the cooperation, but these issues are being worked out, as they should, among friends, as friends.

FOREIGN SECRETARY STRAW: Here's an issue that's being discussed, as the Secretary says, between the government's and the company's concern. But as you can also see, this is a physical manifestation of the extent of fantastic cooperation across the Atlantic.

Just one more question.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, will you make any diplomatic overtures to Iran as part of the earthquake recovery --

SECRETARY RICE: As part of what?

QUESTION: -- as part of the earthquake recovery?

SECRETARY RICE: As I said, we are always prepared to extend humanitarian assistance to people around the world. If you remember, the United States extended earthquake assistance to Iran at the time of the Bam earthquake and I'm quite certain we would be more than prepared to do the same.

FOREIGN SECRETARY STRAW: Thank you very much, indeed. Thank you.

(Gap in audio.)

SECRETARY RICE: (In Progress) … always very pleased as this -- in accordance with our compassion as a people and as a country to extend humanitarian assistance as it's needed.

FOREIGN MINISTER STRAW: James Robbins, very last question quickly.

QUESTION: James Robbins of BBC. I've heard everything you said about the absolute right to protest, Secretary Rice, but to the extent that a visit like this is proving divisive in this region and divisive within the Muslim community, hence the impossibility of you're going to a mosque tomorrow in Blackburn, do you think that it can actually do damage?

SECRETARY RICE: I assume that people, if they have different views, are capable of sharing those different views and that those different views are not a result of my being here but the fact that they are different views. Its part of the democratic process that people when they have different views ought to express them. I think if there are indeed different views that it's best to express them, not to keep them bottled up. And let's remember, if it is not possible for me to go someplace and to be willing to encounter people with different views then I'm really not doing my job in the course of democracy. It is really my responsibility to encounter people with different views, to take questions about our policies.

I was just in Australia and I went to a university. I'm very comfortable in universities. I'm an old academic. The students asked very tough questions and I responded, some students protested. I think that's all a part of the democratic process. But have we gotten to the place in democracy that we can't talk when we have different views? I think that would be a sad day for democracy.

FOREIGN MINISTER STRAW: And could I just say, James that these divisions have been there. If you've been in Blackburn during the last general election, the divisions were down every street and the issue of Iraq was fought over and debated in Blackburn just a mile up the road. It was one of the major issues about whether I should be reelected. Just for the record, my majority only dipped from 9,000 to 8,000. So whether people agreed with me or not on the issue of military action, they endorsed my staying as their member of parliament and through that I've been allowed to continue as Foreign Secretary. And I endorse everything that the Secretary said about the need for there to be vibrant debate in a democracy, especially on the most important issues of all, which are war and peace.

Thank you very much indeed.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you.
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