15 April 2003
U.S. Has No Further War Plans, Powell Says
(Secretary of State at Foreign Press Center April 15) (1060)
By Jane Morse
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- Despite serious concerns about weapons of mass
destruction in Syria and Iran, the United States has no plans for
further military action in the region, says Secretary of State Colin
Powell.
Speaking to reporters at the Foreign Press Center in Washington April
15, Powell said: "We have concerns about Syria. We have let Syria know
of our concerns. We also have concerns about some of the policies of
Iran. We have made the Iranians fully aware of our concerns.
"But there is no list, there is no war plan right now to go attack
someone else, either for the purpose of overthrowing their leadership
or for the purpose of imposing democratic values," he said.
He added: "Democratic values have to ultimately come from within a
society and within a nation because they believe that's the best way
for them to move forward."
He said he hopes that democracy in a Muslim society such as Turkey --
and soon in Iraq -- would set an example for all the countries of the
Middle East and the Persian Gulf.
Democracy, Powell said, "is not something that has to be alien to
Muslims, and can work for Muslims. I hope that people throughout that
part of the world will realize the benefits that come when you have a
democratic form of government that is responsive to the needs of the
people, uses the wealth of the country to benefit the people. I hope
that that will become a more and more attractive political system
throughout the region, as it is in many other parts of the world.
There should be no reason that we should be fearful of democracy in
the Middle East or in the Gulf region. But each nation will have to
find its own way."
The secretary said the United States has no wish "to be the policeman
of the world." President Bush's agenda, Powell said, is "to help
people to a better life." He noted that that agenda includes a $5
billion-a-year increase in U.S. foreign aid planned under the
Millennium Challenge Account, $15 billion more for HIV/AIDS, free
trade agreements with nations throughout the world, and getting the
Doha Round of World Trading Organization negotiations moving.
Bush's desire "is one to work with friends and alliances throughout
the world," the secretary said. But U.S. foreign policy, he added,
"rests on not only our value system and our democratic political
system and our strong economy, but our military force, when we have a
need for it."
"We do not seek war," Powell said. "We do not look for wars. We don't
need wars. We don't want wars. But we will not be afraid to fight them
when those wars are necessary to protect the American people, to
protect our interests, to protect our friends."
Powell pointed out that although the United States in the past 12
years has played the role of "policeman" in a number of areas for a
time, it has not imposed itself on those areas. In Kuwait, Kosovo, and
Afghanistan, he said, the United States has been willing to work with
"like-minded members of coalitions" and to help rebuild and set up
governments under the leadership of local people.
Powell said the United Nations "remains an important organization" and
will play a role in the reconstruction and the rebuilding of Iraq.
"The U.N. cannot solve every problem that is brought before it," he
said. "But the U.N. will remain relevant."
When asked about the presence of weapons of mass destruction in the
Middle East region, including in Israel, Powell said: "[I]f we can
move forward with a comprehensive peace process that leads to a
comprehensive solution, that creates a Palestinian state living side
by side in peace with a Jewish state, Israel, and ultimately have that
comprehensive solution reach out and touch Lebanon and Syria, then I
think a lot of pieces will begin to fall in place with respect to what
people's various needs are. But right now, we will just continue to
say that we believe that the entire region should be free of weapons
of mass destruction."
With respect to the "road map" for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, Powell said the United States hopes to release it in another
week or so, when the Palestinian Authority's new prime minister is
expected to have his cabinet confirmed. "And we hope that both parties
will use this road map as a way of reaching the vision that the
president laid out in his speech of 24 June last year, and that also
is the vision that was laid out by the Arab League nations, following
on the initiative of Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia," he said.
The secretary warned: "This is going to be a very difficult process,
but I believe progress can be made if both sides enter this road map
process with an understanding of the needs of the other side and with
a good faith effort to use the new situation in the Palestinian
Authority, a new leadership under the direction of [Prime Minister]
Mr. Abu Mazen and with a newly elected government of Israel. We have a
new opportunity, an opportunity, I think, that is enhanced by what has
happened by the removal of the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein."
An essential part of the road map will be to deal with the issue of
Israeli settlements, he said. "We understand that, and we know that
the Israeli government understands that," the secretary said. "Our
position with respect to settlements is quite clear. That has to come
to an end."
Regarding Turkey, Powell said it was no secret that the United States
was "very disappointed" in not getting its cooperation for military
action in Iraq. "That disappointment is real, but it is now also
history, and we're moving forward," he said.
The U.S. relationship with Turkey, he said, "is strong and solid.
We've been allies for many, many years." Administration plans for $1
billion in aid to Turkey "will be used in a way that will help Turkey
to develop its economy."
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
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