Middle East Digest: March 5, 2008Bureau of Public Affairs From the Daily Press Briefing of March 5, 2008: MR. CASEY: Okay. Well, good afternoon, everyone. Don’t have anything to start you out with. I am pleased to note, as I think you’ve seen from reports, that as a result of the Secretary’s trip there is a commitment on the part of the Israelis and Palestinians to resume negotiations towards a two-state solution. We welcome that decision on their part. I know they’ll be talking over the next few days about how they’ll specifically work out the arrangements on it. But pleased to see that’s happened and glad there’s a positive result to report from the Secretary’s visit to the region. So with that, Barry, why don’t I -- QUESTION: Yeah. The Iraqi -- the Iranians -- I think the Iraqis too -- are saying that the talks, the fourth round between U.S. and Iran, will resume in Baghdad tomorrow. In fact, the Iranian delegation has arrived. Can you verify that? MR. CASEY: I certainly can’t, Barry. I can verify for you -- in fact, I got off with Baghdad about 15 minutes before I came down here -- that there’s no talks scheduled. QUESTION: There are no talks scheduled? MR. CASEY: There are no talks scheduled. So not sure where those reports are coming from, but we certainly haven’t been aware of and aren’t aware of any scheduled talks for tomorrow. And the Iraqis, of course, are the host for these things. Know we’ve been in fairly regular contact with them. But again, as of 15 minutes ago at least, there’s nothing scheduled. QUESTION: You mean the Iraqis have not notified you? MR. CASEY: Well, there’s also, just as a matter of technical issues, for example, when we schedule these things we have to have Farsi translators and other kinds of people coming from different places. None of those arrangements have been made. There’s nothing that’s scheduled and we aren’t aware of any plans to hold a meeting tomorrow. QUESTION: More than just reports; it’s a official news agency in Iran quoting an official delegation had been -- MR. CASEY: Well, look, all I can tell you is the United States Government has no plans to have a meeting tomorrow, there is no meeting scheduled. And as I was just trying to explain to Barry there, logistically it would be impossible to do so. So I’m not sure -- you’d have to talk to the Iraqis or the Iranians about what their understanding is. Ours is that there’s no meeting scheduled for tomorrow. QUESTION: Just to clarify, you’d be ready for a meeting if they were to happen -- MR. CASEY: We wouldn't be ready for a meeting even if we wanted to do one tomorrow. QUESTION: You mean because the delegation isn’t there? MR. CASEY: Because of a number of factors, including translation and the relevant people involved and the fact that you would generally like to prepare for a meeting, I would assume, before you have one. But other than that, it’s all set. (Laughter.) QUESTION: Don’t say that. Someone will report it’s all set. (Laughter.) QUESTION: Last week, I had asked about any progress on the SOFA agreement. I don’t – I didn’t follow up on that, but do you have anything new to -- MR. CASEY: Well, first of all, I couldn’t do any better than the multiple hours of testimony that Special Advisor David Satterfield gave to Congress yesterday, but the negotiations have not, in fact, begun yet. I know David, in fact, I think, is traveling to Baghdad in the near future and will be participating in those discussions. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, of course, is the overall U.S. head of the negotiating team for that, but we’ll look forward to having an opportunity to begin these discussions and to arrange for a suitable follow-on mechanism to the current UN Security Council resolutions that authorize and oversee the presence of U.S. and other members of the Multi-National Force in Iraq. Okay, Mr. Lambros. One more shot. QUESTION: On Turkey. Mr. Casey, any update on the Turkish military presence and aggression against the Kurds of northern Iraq since the area is under U.S. control? MR. CASEY: Since the area is under U.S. control? I thought the area was under Iraqi control, actually, but -- QUESTION: You have forces, Mr. Casey. What are you talking about? MR. CASEY: Yeah, but Mr. Lambros, in case you didn’t see the statements from the Turkish General Staff -- QUESTION: I saw it. MR. CASEY: -- the troops have been out for some time. We’re pleased, as you know, that that operation was limited both in duration and in scope. We continue to urge Turkey and the Government of Iraq to work with one another to confront the challenge posed by the PKK. Know there are discussions that go on on a variety of different levels on that, but certainly there’s a lot more work to do before we can end this threat to both Iraq and Turkey. QUESTION: Any (inaudible) communication between DOS and Ankara? MR. CASEY: Well, there’s daily communication between our Embassy and officials in Ankara. We have a very active both military and political relationship with Turkey, which is a good friend and NATO ally. I’m not aware of any particular special conversations at a -- certainly not at a senior level here. |
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