Ambassador Khalilzad: Good afternoon, I’ll be happy to take some questions in my only capacity now, my national capacity.
Reporter: Regarding Darfur, what are the intentions? It seems the Sudanese are willing to negotiate and discuss matters in Addis Ababa next week. Why is this threat of unilateral action against Sudan?
Ambassador Khalilzad: Well first, we heard a report today from the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court pointing to very substantial violations, crimes, atrocities committed against civilians, and the indictment of two particular individuals and the desire to have access to them, for the Sudanese to turn those two people over. Our view is that given the very difficult situation in Darfur, the continued violation of human rights there, the three elements that are needed to be addressed, one being the hybrid force. And now the AU-UN plan has been forwarded to the Sudanese government, they have to agree to that as quickly as possible. Second is the humanitarian access and protection. And third, the political dimension involving negotiations with the rebels. We believe that the visit of the Security Council to Sudan offers the opportunity to come to closure on the force. And if the Sudanese do not come to an agreement quickly, we intend to push for more multilateral sanctions. We're already discussing that with our British colleagues and others. So the steps that we will have to consider will include a no-fly zone, an imposition of the no-fly zone over Darfur. Time is running out. People will continue to suffer. They have now this plan, AU-U.N. plan; they need to come to accepting that so we can begin to address seriously the problems of that area. Agreement is obviously the first important step, but of course, given their record, we also want to make sure that they will implement whatever they agree to.
Reporter: But Sudan is not a signatory to the International Criminal Court as well as the United States. Why should Sudan surrender these two people?
Ambassador Khalilzad: Well, because these two people are accused of serious crimes, crimes of substantial killings of innocent people, rape, and they're under obligation by U.N. Security Council resolutions to cooperate in stopping the violence there and allowing humanitarian assistance to get to the people and to move forward on the third track, the political track. They have obligations under U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Reporter: Ambassador, what countries or regional organizations would monitor the airspace over Darfur or enforce a no-fly zone?
Ambassador Khalilzad: Those are details we are still working on. But at this point, what I am saying is that the range of sanctions we are considering to move forward on will include the imposition of a no-fly zone.
Reporter: Ambassador, what tools or mechanisms do you have to force the Sudanese to allow the extradition of these suspects? And what do you plan to do?
Ambassador Khalilzad: Well, as I said, the prosecutor has asked for two specific names to be turned over. You heard his testimony, and we call on the Sudanese government to cooperate with the prosecutor.
Reporter: Mr. Ambassador, just on Kosovo. Is this going to be Kosovo week or is next week possibly going to be Kosovo week?
Ambassador Khalilzad: Well, we'll decide that later today. We'll see what happens in Germany during the summit and based on that decide. Of course, there is only one other day left of work for this week, so if you intend to surmise that it may be, look likely for it to be dealt with tomorrow, I can understand that. But in a formal sense, however, we will talk to our colleagues later today. Thank you very much.
Reporter: Is Russia engaging here in New York now on the latest (inaudible)? Are they really negotiating and contributing?
Ambassador Khalilzad: Well, I've had a number of meetings with Ambassador Churkin, sometimes twice in one day. So we are talking to them. Thank you.
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