Remarks Before Meeting With Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Somalia Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, your reaction to Prime Minister Olmert's resignation today?

SECRETARY RICE: This is an internal Israeli matter. We continue to be committed to the goals of Annapolis. I've just finished discussions with Palestinian and Israeli negotiators. They were very fruitful, in that we continue to watch parties and to work with parties who are working very, very hard toward an agreement. The issues are difficult and they've always been difficult. There's nothing surprising in that. But as I said, the goal remains the same: to fulfill the Annapolis goals. And I expect that I will - I'll be planning, anyway, to return to the region fairly soon.

QUESTION: Do you feel that you've moved the ball forward today --

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you very much. Thank you.

MR. MCCORMACK: Thank you, guys.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you.

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