Excerpts: June 14, 2002 Press Briefing (Iraq, Mideast)

MR. REEKER: This afternoon, that is, June 14th, the United States informed the Iraqi Mission to the United Nations that one of its diplomats was being expelled for engaging in activities that are incompatible with his status as a diplomat. And that's all I have for you.

QUESTION: Another question on Iraq. There was some engagement militarily in Iraq, some shooting, I think some --

MR. REEKER: In terms of the enforcement of the no-fly zones?

QUESTION: Yes.

MR. REEKER: I would direct you to the Pentagon on that. I didn't have anything specific on that.

QUESTION: Is there any change of policy on Iraq now with expelling the --

MR. REEKER: There is no change of policy on Iraq. Our concerns about Iraqi behavior are well known, and certainly this particular diplomatic action, which was taken because of the activities of the particular Iraqi diplomat at the United Nations, so this does not reflect any change in our policy towards Iraq.

QUESTION: On the expulsion though, this is going to be technical, but I have to ask it because I want to be accurate. Has this guy, this diplomat --

MR. REEKER: Get that for the record: Matt wants to be accurate.

QUESTION: Yes -- been declared persona non grata? And has he been give a specific -- or I guess you're not identifying the sex of the person, but has --

MR. REEKER: I am identifying the gender. He is definitely a man.

QUESTION: Well, has he been given a specific amount of time in which he's got to get out?

MR. REEKER: I don't know. He's been expelled for engaging in activities that are incompatible with his status as a diplomat. I just don't have anything further. I'm happy to ask if there are any more details we can --

QUESTION: Just the persona non grata thing. Because there's a question about whether, because he is not accredited to the United States, but rather accredited to the United Nations, there is a --

MR. REEKER: Yes, there are clearly procedures that involve the United Nations status, but I just don't have any details on them. I'm happy to ask and see if there's anything else we could get you today.

QUESTION: On the Mideast, the Israeli Defense Chief of Staff this morning in an interview, probably shortly before he met with Secretary Powell, said that the reforms, the changes in the cabinet that Arafat had announced, were basically just for show and that he didn't expect any reform could ever happen until Arafat was gone. Any reaction to that? And could you just give us a little bit of information on the Secretary's meetings today?

MR. REEKER: No particular reaction on that. I would just refer you to that. Everybody is entitled to their views. The US administration has been very active in consultations regarding the situation in the Middle East. The Secretary is going to see this afternoon the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal at 2 o'clock, and then later this afternoon he will see Palestinian Representative Nabil Shaath. That is scheduled for 4:15 this afternoon.

In addition, I believe going on right now, our Assistant Secretary for Near East Affairs, Bill Burns, is hosting a lunch with the Quartet Group at what we call the envoy level; that is, at Assistant Secretary Burns' level. That includes the European Union Representative Miguel Moratinos, the UN Special Envoy Terje Roed-Larsen, and the Russian Middle East Envoy Andrei Vdovin.

So that is all part of our ongoing discussion about how to move forward with our three-part strategy in terms of establishing effective Palestinian security performance, renewing a serious political process that aims at a two-state solution, as outlined by President Bush, and responding to the humanitarian needs and building strong, responsible Palestinian Authority institutions in preparation for Palestinian statehood.

So, as we have said before, the President and his top advisors are going to continue to review what we have heard in the past weeks as part of these consultations, and then determine how to move forward with our strategy and with the meeting that we want to convene this summer. The President's view will be revealed in due course.

QUESTION: Are they going to be talking about various ideas, interim state for the Palestinians?

MR. REEKER: When you say "they" --

QUESTION: Oh, I'm sorry, Secretary Powell, when he meets with the Saudi Foreign Minister.

MR. REEKER: Clearly that has been the focus of these types of consultations and discussions with our Arab friends within the Quartet, with the Palestinians and with the Israelis, getting their different views, hearing about ideas. Both sides need to do all they can to end the ongoing tragedy and bloodshed, and think carefully about the consequences of their actions.

I think both sides understand that the current situation cannot continue, and so our focus is on how we can, with this strategy, with these three parts of it working simultaneously, how we can move forward. Chairman Arafat must continue to signal clearly to his people, to the Palestinian people, that terror and violence cannot help the Palestinians achieve their national aspirations.

QUESTION: His new security chief today had a little bit of -- I mean, a few comments on that, basically saying he didn't want the name of the Palestinian people to be polluted by terrorism, that he was going to talk to various factions to try to -- do you view that as encouraging, or --

MR. REEKER: Those are always encouraging words. We will be monitoring those things to see implementation, to see action. There have been positive statements on reform of Palestinian institutions. I think the Palestinian people have taken on themselves to focus on reforming, reconstructing institutions that will serve their needs. And we are watching, along with the Palestinian people, for real implementation and progress on that front.

QUESTION: Regarding the Saudi meeting, earlier this week an organization called the Middle East Media Research Institute held a press conference and released some video of some Saudi newscasts in which Jews were referred to as "pigs"; children were asked questions about them, and said that the Koran has taught them to hate.

Is this another instance where the US Government will bring that up with the Saudis and ask them to try to stop this kind of rhetoric?

MR. REEKER: I am not aware of those particular programs, those particular remarks, but it is something that unfortunately has been a continuing problem: anti-Semitism in pro-government and opposition party media throughout the Middle East, including in Saudi Arabia. These media outlets have had this type of programming, these type of statements, and I think I would just say again that anti-Semitism, wherever it manifests itself, is repugnant, and we condemn it in the strongest terms. Such views are clearly based on ignorance, and certainly I don't think reflect the true meaning of any religion.

QUESTION: So the fact that this is a continuing problem will mean it rises to the level that Secretary Powell will mention it once again to the Saudis in his meeting today?

MR. REEKER: It's something that has come up periodically in our talks at a variety of levels. I couldn't tell you at this point what will come up. We think such material, as it shows up in different media throughout the region, we think it's counterproductive to improving relations and dialogue. We do continue to press the Saudi Government on this at the highest levels and in the clearest terms possible.

As we have said in the past, Saudi officials have promised to address the issue, and we are going to continue to monitor the situation. I would just reflect on what the President said in his April 4th speech from the Rose Garden about everyone in the region having responsibilities to focus on peace, and that means the people of the various countries, their governments, their media -- everybody has responsibilities to look at this and figure out how we can move forward in a positive light, which is in everyone's interest.

QUESTION: Well, as you monitor the situation, have you noticed that this has -- that the situation has improved?

MR. REEKER: I don't think, Teri, I can give you some sort of read-out on that. It's something we look at continuously. You're reporting to me current occurrences, which I haven't actually seen. It is an unfortunate reality, and I have just described for you exactly how we feel about that. That type of thing is repugnant. It represents ignorance, and it's something that has to be worked on. And we will continue to focus on that.

QUESTION: At Whistler, the question of EU funding to the Palestinians was mentioned, and it struck me that I wasn't sure what the US view was of an Israeli report suggesting that EU funds had actually ended up funding terrorism. Does the administration have a view of that?

MR. REEKER: I don't know. I would have to check. I think that has come up before. I have been focused mostly on our funds that we have had that don't go to -- directly to the Palestinian Authority or the PLO, but go to UN organizations and NGOs to support the needs of the Palestinian people, about whom the President has said he and others in the United States are very concerned.