Interview on Al Arabiya with Nadia Bilbassy-Charters
C. David Welch , Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs
Washington, DC
February 14, 2006
QUESTION: (In Arabic.)
AMBASSADOR WELCH: Are we going to do the questions in Arabic?
QUESTION: Yeah. I can repeat them in English.
AMBASSADOR WELCH: Would you mind?
QUESTION: A year after Hariri's assassination, does the United States still committed to the investigation and do you
want to see international trial for his killers?
AMBASSADOR WELCH: Ms. Nadia, thank you for having me with you today to speak to you and your viewers. This is a really
important day and we recall the memory of Rafik Hariri and those who perished with him on that terrible day a year ago.
A lot has happened in the year since. Among the things that have happened is the decision by the international community
to launch an investigation because of the implications of this crime which may possibly involve other states.
We would like to see that investigation pursued to its fullest, to reveal the truth, wherever that may be. The
resolution that established the investigation is clear that all parties and all states should cooperate with it. We
believe that that cooperation should be forthcoming and we are disappointed that Syria has been delaying and been
postponing its responses.
If it's necessary, the international community is prepared to support Lebanon in looking at ways to help in the
prosecution of those who are responsible. Of course, the investigation must gather information and charge people with a
crime before there can be a prosecution, and we have to examine that when we see it. But I am confident that given the
magnitude of this tragedy, especially that it involved the murder of a public figure with not just Lebanese support and
reputation but regional and international reputation, I'm sure that the international community will stand beside
Lebanon in any way that it thinks is necessary to see that justice is done.
QUESTION: (In Arabic.)
AMBASSADOR WELCH: Well, if the investigation commission asks to speak to anyone in Syria, they should respond by making
themselves available for the interview. That's a requirement of international law; it's not something that can be
questioned; it won't be abridged and there is no limit to which -- to how that may be extended. No one is immune.
QUESTION: (In Arabic.)
And would you call for Assad an immediate, you know, assistant to the investigation?
AMBASSADOR WELCH: Well, if that's what the commission wants, then they should receive it. And my understanding is the
commission has asked to interview a number of Syrians and they should all cooperate. If that includes the President of
Syria, then he should cooperate and there is no reason for any delay. If, as the Government of Syria has repeatedly
claimed, it has no involvement in this crime, then I don't understand what the reason for any delay is.
QUESTION: (In Arabic.)
AMBASSADOR WELCH: Well, look, given the long history of Syrian infiltration into Lebanon, into its political life, with
a meaningful intelligence presence on the ground, with a powerful security and military presence, there's every reason
from history to be concerned about this. Syrian military forces have withdrawn from Lebanon. If anything, that's one of
the most important by-products of the murder of former Prime Minister Hariri. But we still regrettably have reason to be
concerned about Syrian influence inside Lebanon. And what's most regrettable about that, because we understand that
Lebanese people themselves cannot control everything -- what's really regrettable here is that the Government of Syria
thinks it necessary to do these kinds of things, even in the face of the real desire of the Lebanese people to be left
to mind their own business.
QUESTION: (In Arabic.)
AMBASSADOR WELCH: We want to see the democratic process unfold as it should in Lebanon according to the laws of the
country without any outside interference. The extension of this mandate was questionable at the time and remains
questionable now. The institution of the presidency is a valid and important one in Lebanon and we call for all people
to respect it. That means that it should be occupied by a person who has arrived there through the democratic process in
a fair, transparent and internationally credible way.
QUESTION: (In Arabic.)
AMBASSADOR WELCH: Well, the most interesting change involving the Vice Presidency in Syria has been the former Vice
President's recent statements --
QUESTION: Abdel Halim Khaddam.
AMBASSADOR WELCH: Exactly. Mr. Khaddam has given a number of interviews, including to Arabiya, which -- very interesting
what he has to say about the missed opportunities for real change and reform in Syria. Personally, I don't think the
rearrangement of portfolios that we have seen recently has much content in terms of real reform, but I leave it to the
Syrian people to make that judgment for themselves, if they are asked.
QUESTION: (In Arabic.)
AMBASSADOR WELCH: We do have contacts with the Syrian Government at a lower level. As you know, we've withdrawn our
Ambassador and we have formally now returned her to the States. I don't anticipate we will be sending an ambassador to
Syria anytime soon given the policies and behavior of this government in Damascus. We do have some limited diplomatic
contacts both in Damascus and here in Washington.
QUESTION: (In Arabic.)
AMBASSADOR WELCH: It's a day of sorrow but it's also a day of remembrance, a day in which many, many Lebanese, as I see
from the TV screens, are recalling this patriot, Rafik Hariri, and recalling the others who died with him that day. And
they're saying to the world, many hundreds of thousands of them, we want to be free, we want to have hope, we want our
nation to be left alone, we want to see a solid future, and we as Lebanese put this national value above all else. If
hundreds of thousands are indeed in Martyrs' Square in Beirut today, as the news suggests they are, I think that
represents an enormous percentage of the population and a united voice about the future of Lebanon, not just to recall
the sad past.
QUESTION: (In Arabic.)
AMBASSADOR WELCH: Well, look, we don't know what the shape, direction and content of the new Palestinian government will
be. On Saturday, the majlis will come together and that begins the process of government formation. We'll see what
happens.
We respect that there was an election. We commend the Palestinian people for having a free vote by international
standards, by doing so in safety and security, and we respect that outcome. But we can disagree with those who may have
won some seats.
The international community is united behind three principles. If you want to have a negotiations process that leads to
two states living side by side in peace and security, well then you have to recognize the right of the other to exist,
so Hamas should recognize the right of Israel to exist.
Number two, the best way to pursue negotiations is in an atmosphere of security and nonviolence, so they should renounce
terror and they should renounce violence.
Number three, Hamas itself ran in these elections, they won in these elections. These elections were established by
agreement between the PLO and Israel. There are many such agreements. Do they or do they not accept the existing
agreements that govern relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority? Do they or do they not accept the basis
for peace that the international community has advocated since 1967 -- 242, 338? Do they or do they not accept the
Beirut summit outcome? Do they or do they not accept this entire body of work done by many respectable people over all
the years about how to move toward a future of freedom, security for both sides? They have to make some decisions on
this and then we'll see.
QUESTION: (In Arabic.)
AMBASSADOR WELCH: Well, look, it's important that there should not be violence and terror. We agree with that. On the
other hand, it's kind of hard to understand how you just sort of pause the machine for a little bit and what respect one
should have for that. What does that mean about tomorrow? What would happen then?
You asked earlier also about their contacts with others, Russia and -- or whoever. Each nation will have to decide its
position with respect to how they have contact with this group. We have our view. We don't hesitate to express it. I
think you know it. It's a terrorist organization. We don't have any contact with Hamas. We're not seeking any, either
directly or indirectly.
And with respect to how others do it, it's up to them. We would ask them to look very carefully at the position of the
international community as laid out by the Quartet in London, of which Russia is a part, that establishes these three
principles for what are the requirements here. And then it's up to Hamas to decide those.
QUESTION: (In Arabic.)
AMBASSADOR WELCH: Well, we're not seeking any mediation or any intermediaries. Our views are clear. I can't answer for
Hamas, whether it's trying to do that. I'm not sure I understand their positions yet. There seem to be many things that
need to be reconciled on their part, many decisions that they will have to make in order to earn the attention and
respect of the international community.
And you know, let's remind ourselves too that what is at stake here is not whether somebody has a dialogue with one
party or another. What is at stake is advancing the aspirations and the hopes of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples for
real peace and security between the two. That is the responsibility. Israel is not going to go away. Israel is a member
of the United Nations. It's going to be there tomorrow and the day after, et cetera. What is this organization going to
do now with its responsibility? Then it will be up to the Palestinian people to decide how well they're doing it.
QUESTION: (In Arabic .re New York Times.)
AMBASSADOR WELCH: No, this is a false report. I believe it's been denied already by the Israeli Government and you will
shortly see the same from the United States. But given that you're asking me this question now, let me just tell you
before Sean McCormack does, no such plan.
QUESTION: (In Arabic.)
AMBASSADOR WELCH: Can you rephrase that, please, in English?
QUESTION: If you agree with me that the Palestinian election was democratic and free and fair, why would you threaten to
cut aids to the Palestinian and punishing the very people you're trying to help?
AMBASSADOR WELCH: Well, look very carefully at what we've said. We have said that we will review our assistance to a
Palestinian government in light of what it does with respect to the three principles that everybody agrees should be
there: recognition of Israel's right to exist; renunciation of violence and terror; and acceptance of prior agreements
and obligations.
We support the Palestinian people. We always have and I expect we will do so in the future. But the manner in which we
do that will be reviewed by the U.S. Government. That's required under our law. It's necessary under these political
circumstances. It may indeed have consequences for any support that we provide, but I can't say right now what those
would be because we're still at the beginning of this review; and second, I don't know exactly what the political
positions of the new government will be.
It's their responsibility, by the way, to answer the international community on this. I don't think that people will be
content with a vague answer.
QUESTION: (In Arabic.)
AMBASSADOR WELCH: Well, I watched some of the trial proceedings yesterday, on Arabiya, in fact, late in the evening. I
think the defendants, frankly, are making a joke of their own position. It's depressing to see that they come in the
courtroom and abuse the law in this manner.
That said, the process of justice has to unfold. You know, I know in my heart what kind of criminal Saddam Hussein was,
but I want to see justice done. I'm not amused when I see this in the courtroom; on the other hand, I think it's a fair
way to proceed so that all Iraqis can understand exactly what happened.
What's unfortunate about the, with all due respect, if I may say, the television coverage is, you know, you focus on the
show, not on the witnesses. When you focus on the witnesses and you hear about some of the tragedies that have occurred
at this man's hands, then you understand the need for a trial.
QUESTION: (In Arabic.)
AMBASSADOR WELCH: In a way, you're asking me again a similar question to one of your earlier ones. We believe in the
democratic process. We don't -- elections are necessary but they're not sufficient for a democratic process. People need
to come together in a way respecting each other's sometimes different views to decide on what's the appropriate solution
for their situation and their political future. We don't interfere into this Iraqi discussion.
But look at how it's happening. It may not be perfect and, you know, maybe we don't agree with some of the positions of
some of the parties, but at least they're sitting and they're debating these issues, they're coming together themselves
and deciding who's going to represent them and how's it going to happen, and they take a vote about it. We respect that
process. Again, I don't say it's perfect and it doesn't mean that we agree with any given position from any person or
party, but we have to respect that the process occurs. That's important. That's how democracies develop. It's also rare
in this part of the world so, I mean, I think people look at it very intensely and curiously as to what is happening.
QUESTION: (In Arabic.)
AMBASSADOR WELCH: I don't expect that. We, the United States, would like a diplomatic solution to the problems that Iran
has presented to the world with respect to its nuclear weapons program. That said, you know, the President of the United
States traditionally reserves all his options to deal with a threat to our national security. We don't take anything off
the table.
Instead, we want to focus people on what is on the table right now. What's on the table right now, even today, for the
government in Tehran is an offer from the international community to negotiate this difficulty, but to do so in a manner
in that respects the commitments and obligations Iran has itself undertaken to the IAEA and under the Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty. It's respect for those obligations that we intend to see enforced. We believe the best path to
that is a diplomatic one.
Regrettably, the Government of Iran seems to be, as we say, digging the hole deeper. We don't see that there is any
serious, determined behavior on their part to try and address these concerns. It's disappointing and, frankly, it's
isolating them more and more each day.
QUESTION: (In Arabic.)
AMBASSADOR WELCH: Thank you, Ms. Nadia
Released on February 15, 2006
ENDS