19 June 2006
Rice Says U.S., Spain Working Closely in Afghanistan and Iraq, June 19, 2006 (Secretary meets with Spain's foreign minister, plans to visit Madrid)
Washington – Despite past differences over foreign policy, the United States and Spain now work together closely in Afghanistan and in support of Iraq’s new government, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said while meeting with Spain’s foreign minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos.
During a joint news conference with Moratinos on June 19, Rice also expressed “great concern” over two U.S. soldiers reportedly abducted in Iraq. She also said North Korea’s threatened test of a long-range missile would “be taken with the utmost seriousness.” (See related article.)
Rice accepted an invitation from Moratinos, to visit Madrid, Spain, “fairly soon.”
“We're determined to look forward,” Rice told reporters. “There's no secret we had our disagreements in the past. But I am impressed with the degree to which the foreign minister came prepared to talk about the future agenda, including how to support the democratically elected government of Iraq.” (See related article.)
In 2003, Spain was part of the military coalition that removed former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein from power. But on March 11, 2004 – three days before national elections in Spain – a series of coordinated terrorist bombings on Madrid commuter trains killed 191 people and injured 1,400. (See related article.)
The attack contributed to election victory of the Spanish Socialist Workers Party, which fulfilled a campaign promise quickly to withdraw Spain’s troops from Iraq. However, Spain has remained active in Afghanistan and continues to support Iraq reconstruction and democracy.
“We have discussed issues like the new government of Iraq. We are firmly committed to supporting them,” Moratinos said through an interpreter during the joint news conference. “I have, in fact, promised the new Iraqi foreign minister to visit his country in September, and we're going to be working on issues such as support for them in communications, health issues, education and others,” Moratinos said.
Iraq’s new government, Rice said, “has been elected by more than 12 million Iraqis. It’s a national unity government. It’s a government that the entire international community ought to be prepared and ready to get behind and push to success, and that’s the attitude that I saw expressed by the foreign minister [Moratinos].” (See related article.)
Rice also was asked to comment on reports that an Italian prosecutor earlier in the day requested a murder indictment of a U.S. soldier in connection with the fatal shooting of an Italian intelligence agent at a checkpoint in Baghdad in 2005.
“I am not going to respond on a legal matter, but we are in discussion with the Italians,” Rice said. “We have consistently respected our partners and, of course, discussed matters when they arise.”
The same reporter also asked Rice about two U.S. soldiers who have been reported missing after an attack on a checkpoint south of Baghdad on June 16. A statement by the Pentagon said 8,000 U.S. military personnel and Iraqi forces and police have been searching for the two soldiers.
“This is obviously a matter of … great concern to all of us,” Rice said. The American military “has made very clear that they are going to do everything possible … to try and find them. And obviously their safe return is something that everyone will work for and their safe return is something that everyone will pray for.”
Rice also was asked if she and Moratinos had discussed the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
“We actually did not talk about this,” Rice said. However, she added, “the United States doesn't have any desire to be the world's jailer. We've said that many times.”
The U.S. government, she continued, is seeking the best way to deal with enemy fighters captured in Afghanistan and elsewhere who would pose a grave danger to the United States and other countries if released from U.S. custody.
“I don't think anyone wants to see Guantanamo open one day longer than it is needed,” Rice said. “But I also … suspect nobody wants to see a number of dangerous people simply released out onto the streets.”
The United States would “very much want to have trials for people” deemed too dangerous to be set free, Rice said. “We understand the concerns about what's called indefinite detention. But we are currently awaiting a decision by our own Supreme Court on the constitutionality of military tribunals, which would be one way to try these people. And I can assure you that we want to bring people to justice, we want to bring them to a process in which their cases can be heard and we'll do that as soon as possible.” (See related article.)
The transcript of the Rice and Moratinos joint news conference is posted on the State Department Web site.
For more information on U.S. policies, see Europe and Eurasia.
