Bolton: Remarks on Cote D'Ivoire, Haiti, Iran, UN

Remarks on Cote D'Ivoire, Haiti, Iran, UN Reform

Ambassador John R. Bolton, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Remarks at the Security Council Stakeout
New York City
January 17, 2006

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: That's a question on Afghanistan, right?

REPORTER: No, actually, the situation in Cote D'Ivoire has deteriorated rapidly in the last 48 hours. The Secretary General has asked for a (inaudible) increase in the peacekeeping mission and the French are circulating a resolution (inaudible).

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: Well, I think we will wait and see what the resolution says, basically.

REPORTER: First on the issue of the Palestinian map, what's the exhibition? Have you heard anything? Have you gotten any response?

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: Well, we are still waiting for an answer. We are still waiting for an answer.

REPORTER: Have any other countries (inaudible)?

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: No, I haven't asked anybody for an interest. It is of interest to the United States among other things.

REPORTER: (inaudible)

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: Because of the statutory prohibition on the use of US funds for purposes related to that activity and to find out exactly how it could be that such a map would appear at a UN event like that.

REPORTER: (inaudible)

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: Well, it I understand that the answer is being prepared, according to the Spokesman, which is how I learned about it. So I am a patient man and I will wait for the answer.

REPORTER: Did you want to say anything about (inaudible) in the Security Council today?

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: Let me comment on that. I will come back out and talk about it.

Reporter: What about Haiti?

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: The security situation there is very, very disturbing, no question about it.

Reporter: Are you still confident that the election can (inaudible)?

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: Well, that is the announced plan of the government of Haiti; and that is what we think ought to happen.

Reporter: (inaudible)

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: Well, I don't think I should comment on the consultations that are ongoing. And we will have more consultations, because the next event will be at the IAEA in early February. But it's been the view of the United States for four years that this matter should be referred to the Security Council. If the Security Council can't deal with something like the Iranian nuclear weapons program then it's hard to imagine what circumstances the charter contemplated the Security Council would be involved in. This is a clear threat to international peace and security, as we have said for some time.

REPORTER: On human rights, last week you had a meeting, at the beginning there is a draft text out with certain barometers, are you satisfied with these barometers?

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: I think as the chairman of the meeting said last week, none of that text is agreed to yet. It is all still open, so we will be having discussions on it this week and next week.

REPORTER: On Eritrea, (inaudible)?

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: I think the plans are still underway as to what the mission will look like and what its travel would be. But I have not heard anything definitive this week one way or the other.

REPORTER: (inaudible)

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: Our consultations with Japan on the Security Council are continuing and very close. And I don't have anything to say specifically on that. And on the notion of electing the next Secretary General in the summer or certainly early enough to give the new SYG an ample transition time, I think there has been very broad support for it. I think people see it as a good idea, that the idea of the transition period is a sensible one; and we are continuing to talk to people about that idea. But there has been a lot of support for it.

REPORTER: (inaudible)

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: Well, there are candidates that are out there and candidates that would like to be out there. And we're talking to them and looking for other names as well, because, from our perspective, it's important to find the best-qualified person we can from around the world.

REPORTER: (inaudible)

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: Well, in the other countries on the Security Council and all the members of the organization, obviously, it is a decision the General Assembly would make, on the recommendation of the Security Council.

REPORTER: (inaudible)

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: I think our view on the inadvisability of the G4 resolution is pretty clear. And I think that is a consistent view that we have had.

REPORTER: (inaudible)

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: Well, we are consulting closely with Japan, which we have said for some time deserves a permanent seat.

REPORTER: (inaudible) next step for Eritrea?

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: Well, I don't know that for a fact, I know that our people are trying to work on the plans for it but not exactly sure where that stands for the moment.

REPORTER: Well, that's news to me, I couldn't tell you. Okay, thank you very much.

Released on January 17, 2006

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