Daily Press Briefing
Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman
Washington, DC
October 14, 2005
INDEX:
DEPARTMENT
Travel of Karen Hughes to Southeast Asia
ZIMBABWE
Detention of Ambassador
SUDAN / DARFUR
Response to ongoing violence / relief efforts / Abuja peace talks
/ U.N. Resolution / incidents of banditry against aid convoys
UNITED KINGDOM
Donated MREs impounded by Department of Agriculture / efforts to
redistribute MREs to communities that need them / timeline of
events / MREs from other countries
CHINA
Deportation of North Korean defectors
NORTH KOREA
Visit of Governor Bill Richardson to Pyongyang / State support of
visit / other USG officials
MACEDONIA
Statement of Under Secretary Nicholas Burns
IRAQ
Referendum on Iraqi Constitution / update on voting process
VENEZUELA
Expulsion of missionaries
CYPRUS
Invitation by Secretary Rice to Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat
TRANSCRIPT:
1:00 p.m. EST
MR. ERELI: Hope you enjoyed the speech.
QUESTION: Who's speech?
MR. ERELI: Oh, I guess you didn't enjoy it. (Laughter.) Anyway, let's go straight to your questions, since I have no
announcements.
QUESTION: Well, let me just follow up on the speech and ask -- she announced that she's going to Indonesia and
Malaysia.
MR. ERELI: Right.
QUESTION: But she didn't give any details. Was there anything you could tell us?
MR. ERELI: We'll be putting out a notice later today that gives you some of the particulars -- dates and that sort of
thing. Again, Under Secretary Hughes spoke to the purposes and objectives of her trip in general terms, continuing her
efforts to reach out and participate in a dialogue with countries and peoples who are important to the United States,
who we need to have a good understanding with about, you know, how we have shared ideals and how we can work together to
achieve them. I think it builds on her experience on the last trip and I think it's part of a continuing effort to get
out there and see what the reality is in the field as far as perceptions in the United States are and what we can do to
build lasting bridges of understanding with people and countries that are very important to us.
QUESTION: She also alluded to a trip to Latin America, but she was much less precise about it. Do you have any details
about that?
MR. ERELI: No, I don't not.
Yes, ma'am.
QUESTION: Yeah. Following the incident involving the U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe, I wonder whether you have anything
further on possible sanctions against Zimbabwe which were being discussed in terms of denying access to the United
States to President Mugabe and his immediate family and also members of his cabinet and their immediate families.
MR. ERELI: Let me begin with the incident in question and then go to the broader issue of targeted sanctions. The
incident in question which you referred to was a case in which our Ambassador to Zimbabwe was detained for about 90
minutes by military security personnel in Zimbabwe. He had inadvertently wandered into a portal marked "Military Area"
that was in the middle of the National Botanical Garden in Harare. He was released after 90 minutes. The Chief of
Protocol of Zimbabwe telephoned our Ambassador later to express his profound apology for the incident. He explained that
the soldiers on duty did not understand their responsibilities. And the next day an official from the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs also contacted Ambassador Dell and conveyed a similar apology.
So for our purposes, this incident is closed. As far as the broader issue of steps we're looking at with regard to
Zimbabwe, obviously unrelated to this incident, as you know we have targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe. That is in response
to the Zimbabwean policies which I think are fundamentally at odds with international standards and the interest of the
Zimbabwean people and regional interests. These are sanctions which we continue to look at which are constantly under
examination and review, given actions by the Zimbabwean Government and decisions by the Zimbabwean leadership, but I
don't have any particular announcements for you at this point regarding new sanctions.
QUESTION: There were people who were apologizing in the Zimbabwe Government for happened to the Ambassador. But weren't
there other Zimbabwean officials who were taking issue and suggesting that he behaved improperly?
MR. ERELI: Yes. There were two apologies from the Zimbabwean Government, first. And then there was later a note of
protest from the foreign ministry which called attention to the incident in the media. As I said, we felt the case was
closed after receiving the first apologies, then they chose to make immediate issue out of it. And the fact of the
matter is they apologized and we consider it closed.
QUESTION: I guess (inaudible) have prevailed after the apology position?
MR. ERELI: You can look at it that way, I guess.
QUESTION: Just a follow-up. Do you accept the notion that he walked into an unclearly marked military are in the middle
of a botanical garden or do you think there's something else behind that?
MR. ERELI: I think -- you ask me do I believe what I said? I said it's an inadvertently marked area and that he walked
into it. It's a poorly marked area. It's in the middle of a botanical garden. That's what happened. You asked me do I
believe that?
QUESTION: I mean, that was what they said, I'm saying.
MR. ERELI: No, that's what I'm saying.
QUESTION: Okay. Okay, then you believe him.
QUESTION: Well, wasn't one of the issues, though, that it was close to the residence of President Mugabe and that's why
they jumped up and down?
MR. ERELI: The Government said that these security personnel made a mistake.
QUESTION: Also on Africa, Adam, like a broken record, the violence continues in Darfur and the United Nations. Our
staff are being removed for their safety. And also NGOs can't function and are being threatened. What's next?
MR. ERELI: Let's -- I mean, let's be accurate in our assessments of what's going on. There are some measures being
taken by NGOs and UN personnel in light of the security situation. I would say those are of limited scope and impact.
What do I mean by that? In certain areas there are incidents and violence. In this particular case we're talking about
an area around el-Geneinain Western Darfur, which has seen some violence recently. And in response to that violence,
some non-essential personnel are being moved for their protection. Operations are not stopping. Humanitarian aid is
continuing to be delivered, although adjustments are being made given the circumstances. Those adjustments are, as I
said, temporary and limited. Clearly, that's not to say that the violence isn't a problem and doesn't have an impact.
But I think you need to be measured and accurate in the way you report that impact.
So to say that the UN is leaving and NGOs are shutting down is misleading. There are measures being taken to -- in
response to specific incidents in specific areas to adjust security posture for a limited period of time, that's number
one.
Number two, as to the broader issue of the violence goes on and what's being done to solve it, I think everybody who's
involved in Darfur and Sudan, more broadly, is disturbed by recent developments and is working to, I think, get things
back on track, both in terms of -- not essentially get things back on track, but basically to keep the process moving in
the right direction. What do I mean by that? Implementing the CPA, particularly getting a monitoring and implementing
mechanisms provided for in the CPA setup, moving forward on the political process in Abuja, getting the Government of
Sudan to take certain steps that would have a salutary effect on the impact on the situation in Darfur, particularly to
facilitate the delivery of 25 armored personnel carriers that are hung up in customs in Sudanese cities so that the AU
can more effectively carry out its mission.
As I mentioned earlier, sending out a number of special envoys or senior personnel from the United States from the
State Department to Sudan, and clearly Assistant Secretary Frazer and Special Representative Roger Winter. And I would
note yesterday's important action in the Security Council, where the Security Council President issued a statement,
which expressed the Council's grave concern about reports of an upsurge of violence in Darfur, expresses deep concern
about the humanitarian impact of this violence, reminded the international community that there's been no visible effort
by the Government of Sudan to disarm the militia, noted also that the rebels are failing to abide by their commitments,
expressed the unequivocal support for the African Union.
And I think this is important point to make here is that based on its very commendable and important performance up to
this point. The AU has won for itself and earned for itself an extremely valuable role in affecting in a positive way
the situation in Darfur, these recent events not withstanding. So the presidential statement expressed unequivocal
support for the AU and its mission there. And then finally it urged the AU to share the results of its investigations
and to the most recent attacks with the Security Council and raise the issue of a possible referral to the Sanctions
Committee.
So I think -- again, to summarize, we've got an inherently unstable situation in Darfur and there's nothing new in
that. And that situation is inherently unstable when you have active rebel groups in an area together with armed
militias who are not being stopped by the government. And you're going to have incidences of violence as long as that
fundamental equation isn't changed or that equation isn't changed in a fundamental way. And that's where we think that
by actively pursuing an implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and continuing to push forward in Abuja and
by bringing all the players in the Government of National Unity into the game in a meaningful way, then we can have an
impact on it.
Yeah.
QUESTION: Adam, two days ago, when I asked you about the upsurge in violence, you didn't have any such strong words to
say. Well, you said you're not even -- you weren't even sure that you had seen that there was an upsurge and that there
were UN teams that were being kept from delivering --
MR. ERELI: No, you -- I've been -- we've been very clear and I'm taken aback that there might be some confusion on your
part. I've been very clear about what the incidents were last weekend regarding both taking of hostages and the attack
on Nigerian peacekeepers. Those are the only recent events that we have facts on that I can speak to with confidence
about. You were asking -- I'm sorry.
QUESTION: Could you --
MR. ERELI: Let me just finish. You were asking about some unspecified reports and some unspecified area about some
unspecified activity the other day that I don't have anything to substantiate that. You also asked about reports that
the UN was shutting down. All information that I'm sharing with you today, based on the questions that you asked the
other day was, as I started this off was, there are limited steps that are being taken in some areas in response to
violence that has been going on. But, you know, I think it's all very specific and part of an overall assessment of what
the situation is.
QUESTION: I didn't just give random examples. There were just -- violence was blocking some aid shipments, I didn't say
that they were shutting down. But also you said that you didn't -- you hadn't heard of any increased attacks on IDP
camps, refugee areas. Is that now something that you --
MR. ERELI: I have not received any reports of -- that new attacks, other than those that have already taken place, on
IDP camps.
Yeah, I will say this, just in the interest of full disclosure and clarity; there are incidents of banditry going on
all the time. So, you know, there are convoys that are sometimes attacked. Aid convoys, other convoys, there are attacks
on herds and this falls basically into the basket of banditry where you have populations that are hungry and deprived
and poor and they sometimes use violence to get food or get supplies. That is not -- and that's kind of what I'd call
fairly consistent background noise in any area that is impoverished like Darfur.
But there's another type of incident, which is political violence connected with and ongoing conflict between the rebel
movements and governments. So, you know, when we're talking about violence in Darfur, you need to be aware of those
distinctions. Now, obviously for the humanitarian -- for the innocent civilian population in this area, those are
distinctions that are sometimes lost because they're displaced from their homes and they suffer from the violence. But
when you're talking about coordinating a broad-based diplomatic effort, working with different parties to resolve a
conflict, these are distinctions that are worth noting.
Yes.
QUESTION: Change the subject? There's a report in The Post today that there's a whole shipment of British MREs that's
sort of languishing in a warehouse because of fears of mad cow and I think the State Department is supposed to be making
some efforts to dispatch them. Can you describe to where?
MR. ERELI: Well, let me -- again, in the interest of clarity, see if I can't make some points to help you look at this
issue.
First of all, fears of -- it's not an issue of fear of mad cow. It's an application of U.S. law. There are legal
requirements that dictate how we treat this material. So we are bound by U.S. law governing British beef imports. And so
that's point one.
There's sort of an objective criteria here that we have a statutory obligation to follow. Now, in the wake of Katrina,
there was a worldwide appeal for assistance, based on a request from the *Foreign Emergency Management Agency, which we
sent out. As you know, the response was overwhelming and very moving for the United States.
_______________ *Federal Emergency Management Agency
Among the offers of aid were MREs from a number of countries, including Britain. The State Department's role was to
coordinate the reception and handling of the foreign aid, which we did. We received these MREs, some of them based on
needs that were communicated to us by FEMA, were distributed to people in need.
Others, because of U.S. legal restrictions, were not distributed; they remain in a warehouse, and we would certainly
hope that other countries in need or other needy populations would be able to make use of them. And we certainly invite
any countries that see a need to contact us. Meanwhile we will do what we can to see if we can't find deserving
recipients of this stuff.
QUESTION: But not recipients in this country?
MR. ERELI: I mean there's no need in this country. I mean, let me put it this way, the need for MREs, as a result of
Hurricane Katrina, was met in the first few days. And unfortunately, supply exceeded demand in this regard. And now we
have an access of supply that we're going to try to dispose of in a responsible way, giving it to people who need it.
But again, there are legal restrictions as to our ability to distribute it in the United States.
QUESTION: Can I have one?
MR. ERELI: Yeah, sure.
QUESTION: First of all, it was after the first couple of days, if I remember correctly, that you were still putting out
the call that we need -- the thing that we really right now is MREs. And when the British kind of made this pledge,
there were other pledges that you didn't accept because you said, oh, we don't really need this. This isn't in line
with, you know, the need right now. Didn't somebody, when they made this pledge, look into the fact that we were going
to have -- that you were going to have to -- in accordance with U.S. law, you know, and U.S. law governing beef imports,
have to inspect or something like that? I mean, where was the coordination before the MREs were delivered?
And number two, have you been -- have you, as the State Department, been contacting other countries, Pakistan for
instance, to see if --
MR. ERELI: I don't think Pakistan's an option because of the contents of -- the dietary restrictions.
QUESTION: Okay.
MR. ERELI: As far as the timing, we didn't --
QUESTION: Well, have you been contacting other -- have you -- I know you --
MR. ERELI: We are working to -- we were really doing two things. One is we were soliciting others to contact us if they
feel that they have a need for this. And we are certainly on -- for our part, looking to dispose of these MREs that are
offered in the spirit of friendship and charity. We are looking to dispose of them in the same way.
As far as the timing goes, what I can provide for you is the following calendar. We received from FEMA on September 3rd
a list of sort of desired items. That included a number of things: tarps, blankets and emergency food supplies,
particularly MREs. There were a total of 500,000 that we requested on September 3rd. We sent out a notice, a cable, to
all our embassies abroad alerting them of this need and asking that they go in and make this request. Countries
responded. And as I said before, you know, we're touched and heartened that there are so many friends of the United
States that would respond in that way.
On September 4th, the next day, we accepted the offer of MREs from the United Kingdom and on September 5th the MREs
started arriving at the collection point in Little Rock where most of the -- where the flights from abroad were -- where
they arrived. It was on September -- then we began distributing them. It was on September 6th that we learned from the
U.S. Department of Agriculture that they would need to inspect them because of the legal requirements that are enforced.
And that's when we halted the shipments, so I guess one day after they started arriving. The USDA inspectors arrived in
Arkansas on September 7th and that's when they actually stopped shipping the things.
QUESTION: Well, but didn't the British say, okay, we have MREs, this is what they are. I mean, nobody asked?
MR. ERELI: I can't tell you that. I don't know.
QUESTION: So you didn't know that these were going to have beef in them and that you would need to inspect them until
they arrived?
MR. ERELI: We did not foresee that when we received the offer that we would have this complication.
Yes.
QUESTION: How many MREs are involved? How many have been impounded or whatever it is?
MR. ERELI: My understanding is it's in the area of about 300,000.
QUESTION: So how many were distributed in total?
MR. ERELI: About 130,000.
QUESTION: This is the British MREs?
MR. ERELI: Yeah.
QUESTION: And how many MREs did you get in total? You asked for 500,000. Did you get more than that and did you
distribute 500,000? This is 300,000 over or --
MR. ERELI: Let me see if I can get you a total number -- a number for the total MREs that we received, worldwide. Is
that what you're asking me?
QUESTION: Yeah. And that 300,000, are they all beef because usually there's a selection in MREs? Are they all beef?
MR. ERELI: The ones that are in the warehouse are the ones that are subject to the U.S. legal restrictions.
QUESTION: And they're all beef or you're not sure?
MR. ERELI: I'm not 100 percent sure but I believe they are. But they're in the warehouse because either they're subject
to restrictions or we don't need them anymore.
QUESTION: Could you ask some food banks if they want them? I mean, seriously, there are people who are hearing this who
probably can't imagine that you're saying there's food sitting in a warehouse that isn't needed in the United States.
MR. ERELI: That is -- the distribution of which the United States is restricted by U.S. law. It's an important -- you
have to remember that.
QUESTION: No, but when you're saying they're just not needed that's --
MR. ERELI: These are the ones -- the ones we're talking about are those which come under U.S. legal restrictions.
Yep.
QUESTION: Those MREs, would you then perhaps ship them down to -- you mentioned El Salvador, you mentioned Guatemala
and Honduras.
MR. ERELI: I didn't mention those countries.
QUESTION: A day ago -- would be their storm that hit --
MR. ERELI: Like I said, we are looking -- as I said, we are looking to dispose of these or to use these MREs in the
same spirit of charity and goodwill that they were provided to us.
QUESTION: But, Adam, how long should that process take? You're saying people should contact you, I mean, that's days.
These people -- we know that there are people who are having very hard times in Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico.
MR. ERELI: Right. And if they need them and they want them, they're available to them.
Yeah.
QUESTION: Just to be very clear about something you said on September 7th, the USDA inspectors arrived, did they then
make a --
MR. ERELI: September 6th.
QUESTION: You said on September 17th --
MR. ERELI: I'm sorry, no, no, no. September 6th, we were informed by USDA --
QUESTION: USDA had to --
MR. ERELI: September 7th, they were dispatched --
QUESTION: Right. Okay.
MR. ERELI: To Arkansas to inspect the MREs.
QUESTION: Now, my question is -- have they made a determination that these particular MREs cannot be distributed?
MR. ERELI: Yes.
QUESTION: Okay.
MR. ERELI: Yes. That's why they were last.
QUESTION: That's the 300,000?
MR. ERELI: Yeah.
QUESTION: Okay.
QUESTION: Is there any other country that sent you MREs that you're having the same issue?
MR. ERELI: Thirty-three thousand MREs from Germany, Russia, Spain and France also have not been distributed because of
legal restrictions.
QUESTION: Thirty-three thousand (inaudible) 300,000?
MR. ERELI: 330,000.
QUESTION: Right. Three hundred that you mentioned --
MR. ERELI: Three hundred and thirty thousand UK MREs.
QUESTION: Right.
QUESTION: What three hundred?
MR. ERELI: I'm sorry. Three hundred and thirty UK MREs.
QUESTION: Okay.
MR. ERELI: And thirty-three thousand MREs taken together: Germany, Russia, Spain and France.
QUESTION: And one more.
MR. ERELI: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: So that's 363,000 in total?
MR. ERELI: Total.
QUESTION: Have any of these countries said, "Ship them back to us and let us just do what we wish with them?"
MR. ERELI: Say it again?
QUESTION: Have any of these countries said, "Could you ship them back to us and we will do disburse them as needed?"
MR. ERELI: No. They have said these are -- these were gifts from us, use them as you see fit.
QUESTION: Adam, you're -- the State Department, as you said, was coordinating, accepting the offer, handling the offer
and delivering the offer. Whose responsibility would it be when the offer was made to check if this -- if they would
have to go through these legal requirements? Is this -- when you let FEMA know? Is this a FEMA or USDA kind of role,
that they should have said, "Please go back and check exactly what is in this MRE?"
MR. ERELI: Yeah. You know, as you can see by the timeline and this was being done, you know, very quickly to meet an
immediate need. And as you can also see in the disposition of the MREs, the need was met very quickly. Obviously, I
guess, there were regulatory restrictions that many of us were not aware of at the early stages of this process.
QUESTION: A follow-up? Adam, is this somewhat of a tit-for-tat because --
MR. ERELI: No, it's not.
QUESTION: No? About a year and a half ago --
MR. ERELI: No tit-for-tat.
QUESTION: Now, a year and a half ago in Africa, they would want to receive genetic modified foods.
MR. ERELI: No, no tit-for-tat.
QUESTION: No.
MR. ERELI: This is -- that is a specious connection.
QUESTION: Factual thing. Is there a concern about that there's an expiration on these things that's going to render
them useless in x-number of days or whatever?
MR. ERELI: Is there a concern? I think we obviously want to find needy populations and get them these supplies as soon
as possible because if you need it, you need it now. So we're eager to resolve this soon. I don't know what the
expiration date is.
QUESTION: And will the U.S. fund shipping them to the needy country, as they were shipped to us?
MR. ERELI: I wouldn't predict how it would work, but I think obviously we would, if there's a country in need and
people in need, we would act to respond, again, to that need as other countries responded to ours.
QUESTION: Do you know if there have been any requests so far for any of them?
MR. ERELI: I do not believe there have. That's why they're still there.
QUESTION: Right. When did you put out notice to other countries that they could have these if they wanted them?
MR. ERELI: I'll check.
QUESTION: Are you targeting any specific countries or you just put a note out to all ambassadors, needy populations,
let us know?
MR. ERELI: Yes.
QUESTION: There was a note put out to all embassies?
MR. ERELI: I'll check. I think so. I think so.
QUESTION: These have been sitting there for a month. Did you do it a month ago?
MR. ERELI: I'll check.
QUESTION: Could you take the question and get back to us on it?
MR. ERELI: That's what "I'll check" means.
QUESTION: Well, it doesn't always mean we get an answer.
MR. ERELI: If there's an answer, I'll give you an answer.
QUESTION: Different subject?
MR. ERELI: Different subject? Yes.
QUESTION: A couple of days ago there was North Korean defectors at Korean boarding school in China. The Chinese
Government has deported North Korean defectors by force to North Korea. It's a clear violation of human rights. What
will be the response in the United States Government?
MR. ERELI: You know, this is a -- I'm not familiar with the circumstances of this particular case, I don't know the
details of what's involved, so I hesitate to make a comment on it.
Yes, ma'am.
QUESTION: On North Korea, there's reports this morning that Governor Richardson will be going over there. Can you talk
about any role the State Department had in that and what capacity he's going over there?
MR. ERELI: The Government of North Korea extended an invitation to Governor Richardson to visit North Korea. He is not
traveling as an official representative of the United States and he is not carrying a message on behalf of the
Government of the United States.
He consulted with us about his visit. We briefed him on our policy and our dealings and state of play with North Korea.
We expect that, you know, he would go and he'll come back and brief us, and we look forward to that. But as I said, he
is not traveling as a representative of the U.S. Government and he's not carrying any message for us.
QUESTION: When you say that he briefed you on his trip, did he --
MR. ERELI: No --
QUESTION: Consult you. Consult you. Excuse me. Did he consult you before he accepted the offer and say, "What do you
think of this? Obviously, I wouldn't be going as a U.S. representative, but would this kind of damage what you have gone
on right now?"
MR. ERELI: I wouldn't put it that way, but yeah, he -- before he decided to go, he solicited our views, and so it was a
very sort of, I would say, collegial and consultative planning for this.
QUESTION: Would you say this is a different way of approaching the problem, sending someone in a non-official capacity?
MR. ERELI: No, no. I mean, there are regular -- periodic, I would put it -- visitors, non-official visitors, to North
Korea, so this is not a unique visit in that regard. And it's -- you know, it's a regular, ongoing part of international
exchanges and international affairs that you have non-official visitors to countries at various times.
QUESTION: I saw a group of Korea experts leaving the building about 45 minutes ago. (Laughter.) Seriously.
MR. ERELI: Okay.
QUESTION: Selig Harrison, Tom Hubbard.
MR. ERELI: Okay.
QUESTION: Do you know what that was all about?
MR. ERELI: Not that specific group. But, you know, clearly, as the State Department in carrying out our diplomacy on
North Korea, solicits and values the insights and ideas of a wide variety of people.
QUESTION: Adam. Just to follow up on Governor Richardson. I mean, he's not just any person there because he is somebody
associated with the previous administration and the previous approach to North Korea. Right? Is there any worry that his
presence in North Korea might undermine what is this Administration's --
MR. ERELI: That's not a concern, frankly. I think, as a result of our discussions with Governor Richardson, I think we
both have -- we both share our -- share an interest in seeing North Korea make the right decision with regards to ending
its nuclear program and choosing a path of reintegration with the international community.
QUESTION: Adam.
MR. ERELI: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: Governor Richardson had been the department head for the U.S. Department of Energy and also obviously at the
United Nations. So wouldn't he be an official --
MR. ERELI: No, he wouldn't. He's Governor of New Mexico.
QUESTION: No, I understand that now, but --
MR. ERELI: He's a former official, but he's not a current official.
QUESTION: Right. Wouldn't be an excellent person to bridge that gap with the North Koreans?
MR. ERELI: We've got -- there's no need to bridge any gap. We've got an official engagement with North Korea through
the six-party process and that's working just fine.
Yeah.
QUESTION: Last day before the referendum in Iraq.
MR. ERELI: Anything more? Sorry. On North Korea?
QUESTION: The report also said that --
MR. ERELI: Who? A report?
QUESTION: The report from the five (inaudible), including special flight. Is there anything special? I mean, you said
it's not as U.S. official and all those things, but I don't think any international exchange program get a special
flight.
MR. ERELI: Right. He -- the Administration is providing the Governor an Air Force plane for his courtesy and
convenience. And that is because he is a former Cabinet official.
QUESTION: He had good hunting with the North Korean.
MR. ERELI: Pardon?
QUESTION: He had a good hunting with the North Korean delegation in UN when he was --
MR. ERELI: Okay.
QUESTION: Working in United Nations.
QUESTION: Richard didn't get a plane (inaudible) --
MR. ERELI: He wasn't a former Cabinet official.
QUESTION: Not a Cabinet official, that's true.
MR. ERELI: Yes.
QUESTION: Did he meet with the TAL specifically or was it other officials?
MR. ERELI: I believe so but I'll check to just to make sure.
Yes.
QUESTION: Mr. Ereli, on FYROM. Under Secretary Nicholas Burns stated to a reporter from FYROM today after the
unacceptable Nimetz's proposal against the territorial integrity of northern Greece, "It will be shameful for Greece to
block Macedonia not to become a member of the Euro-Atlantic institution, mainly EU and NATO," for which Greek Government
requested today and characterized his statements as unfortunate. Any comment?
MR. ERELI: I stand by Ambassador Burns' statements.
QUESTION: May we have the full statement of Mr. Burns on the record?
MR. ERELI: I'll see what transcripts we have available.
QUESTION: Any response to the Greek protest of the non-existent ethnic minorities in Greece as it was said by Felice
Gaer, September 28th. The question of mine pending now for four days.
MR. ERELI: No, you've asked me if we had comment and every day I said, no, we don't have a comment.
QUESTION: Any response to the Greek protest? The Greek Government protests --
MR. ERELI: No. I think Ambassador Burns responded to it previously.
QUESTION: When?
MR. ERELI: Last Friday.
QUESTION: To the Greek protests?
MR. ERELI: I believe so.
QUESTION: No, he did not.
QUESTION: Why does it matter?
MR. ERELI: Anyway, I'm sorry. I just --
QUESTION: Can you take this question?
MR. ERELI: I will --
QUESTION: I would ask what is your response?
MR. ERELI: No.
Yes, Teri.
QUESTION: Anything on Iraq day before the referendum, your last assessment of how things are going to go, what you
expect? And also Vice President Cheney said today in an interview that the U.S. hopes the constitution passes. And up
till now, you guys have pretty much just being saying you hope for good participation and nobody to boycott and things
like that. Is it the U.S. view that you hope the constitution passes?
MR. ERELI: Let me give you an update on the referendum. Voting has begun, actually. Eleven thousand Iraqis in
detention, not convicted of crimes but in detention, have begun -- and in hospitals -- have begun voting. So the process
is underway. As you know, yesterday we spoke to some of the positive signs we've seen in the preparations for the
elections -- preparations for the referendum, including numbers of polling stations and numbers of voters registered.
This will, obviously, be a decision whether to accept or reject the constitution that Iraqis will make. And our view is
that this is a -- what's important is that their decision be based on as full a participation as possible and as
everybody's vote being given equal weight in being considered and tabulated fully.
I haven't seen the Vice President's remarks so I can't speak to them. Again, I don't know what he said and in what
context he said it.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) just ask him, does it matter to the United States whether the constitution is accepted or
rejected?
MR. ERELI: That's a decision for the Iraqi people.
QUESTION: And you have no view?
MR. ERELI: It's a decision for the Iraqi people.
Sir.
QUESTION: Adam, a Sanford, Florida group called New Tribe Missions --
MR. ERELI: Yes.
QUESTION: -- has had some of their evangelistic ministries kicked out of Venezuela and Hugo Chavez has decided that
this is imperialist infiltration. And he's saying he's running a socialistic revolution. Are you going to bring this to
the OAS or to the United Nations?
MR. ERELI: Well, I won't to speak to actions that may or may not be taken. What I will say is that, obviously, we've
seen these statements and seen reports that this group was being expelled from Venezuela. I don't know that any official
notification has been given or any steps have yet been taken. Obviously, we view any step, including this one, that
imposes restrictions on civil society with concern. It's not the first time that nonprofit groups that are trying to
help society and operate as civil society in Venezuela have been targeted and we view these actions with concern.
I'm sorry we've got Cyprus.
QUESTION: Madam Secretary Condoleezza Rice extended an invitation to the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to
visit officials of the United States, something which protested -- excuse me, something which perceived by the Cyprus
Government today as a move towards two separate entities? How do you comment on that?
MR. ERELI: Yeah. They shouldn't see it that way. We regularly meet with Turkish Cypriots. Secretary Powell met with Mr.
Talat before. This is part of our effort to talk to and help support a settlement of this issue.
Thank you.
(The briefing was concluded at 1:40 p.m.)
DPB # 176
Released on October 14, 2005
ENDS