Rice Interview With Christian Malar of France-3 TV

Interview With Christian Malar of France-3 TV

Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Paris, France
January 25, 2007

QUESTION: Mrs. Secretary, thank you very much for talking to us.

SECRETARY RICE: Pleasure to be with you.

QUESTION: Trying to save Lebanon from bankruptcy is great, it's fine, but don't you fear that, through Hezbollah and Syria, Iran tries to ignite or coax civil war in the country, Shiites versus Sunnis, as they already do in Iraq?

SECRETARY RICE: It's very clear that both Syria and Iran, for different reasons perhaps, are playing a not very helpful role in Lebanon, Syria because I think it's unreconciled to the fact that its forces had to leave, Iran because it tries to extend its power through extremist forces. But the Lebanese people will resist that kind of external influence now. They got their chance when they elected a democratic government under Fuad Siniora and they are being supported very broadly here, very enthusiastically by the international community. And I know that the Lebanese people do not want violence between them and I think they will resist efforts to turn Lebanon into a civil war.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) fall apart with the destabilization? You don't fear for this country to be destabilized?

SECRETARY RICE: Of course, of course. It is always a danger that those from the outside can bring great destabilization. But that's why this international conference is so important because it sends a strong message that the international community is going to stand by Lebanon and that those who wish to destabilize it are, in fact, not just trying to hurt the Lebanese but they are, in fact, hurting international stability as well.

QUESTION: Coming back to Iraq, which faces civil war, is not there a risk of partition, as King Abdullah of Jordan just said it yesterday, with as a possible consequence the destabilization of the region fueled once more by Iran?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, again, it's -- but it's very interesting. The Iraqis also don't talk about civil war. They talk about national unity. There are some violent people who are clearly trying to drive the Iraqis apart, who don't want them to find a democratic future for all Iraqis. There's no doubt about that. And we've seen the hand of Iran, particularly in the south, in training of militias, in fact in doing things that are very dangerous to our forces. And that's why the United States has made very clear that it will go after those networks in Iraq that are causing the destabilization.

But again, the Iraqi people are now very determined, the leadership is determined, and I think you will see from the Iraqi Government policies that are evenhanded, that protect both Sunni and Shia -- that's very important -- and national reconciliation efforts on oil law, provincial elections, constitutional reform. That will be very important.

QUESTION: But in a certain way, when I see development of the situation on the ground, is not Iraq becoming for United States a nightmare, as the President used recently, in the area? The U.S. troops have difficulties in stabilizing the situation on the ground, but at the same time if you leave it's going to get worse.

SECRETARY RICE: Yes.

QUESTION: So what are we -- what can we do?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, President Bush has just put forward a new strategy. We did not see the situation in Iraq as acceptable and indeed the Iraqis need help to stabilize Baghdad. They need help to get a handle on the civil disorder of violent people who are trying to turn Sunni against Shia and Shia against Sunni. The President has said that the United States will deploy additional forces, up to 21,500 forces, to Baghdad, a smaller number to Anbar Province, because we believe that the Iraqi Government, given a chance and given the capability, can still get control of Baghdad and protect its population. And that will lead to a stable Iraq.

QUESTION: Jacques Chirac wants to start a dialogue with Iran to speak about the stabilization of Middle East. The Saudi authorities welcomed yesterday in Riyadh an Iranian emissary, Ali Larijani. Does that mean we must discuss and negotiate with the Iranians in spite of the nuclear threat they represent?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, I don't see that there is anything to negotiate with the Iranians about the stabilization of the Middle East. The Iranians know what to do to stabilize the Middle East; they can stop supporting and arming Hezbollah, they can stop supporting Hamas that is trying to undermine Abu Mazen's efforts at a two-state solution. There are many -- they can stop supporting death squads in Iraq. There are many things that they could do and I think they know what they are. They don't need to be told.

And on the nuclear front, the Iranian ambitions have to be stopped. The good news is there's a Chapter 7 resolution which is signed on by all 15 members of the Security Council. There are not too many countries under Chapter 7 resolution, and so the Iranians are not in very good company. And I believe that you're starting to see that there are Iranians who understand the isolation that they country is facing.

QUESTION: Last question, Mrs. Secretary. Finally, as a lot of Arabic leaders seem to say, is not the solution to all Middle East problem -- the current Middle East problem right now -- the global settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? I heard President Mubarak, whom I met with, and he's saying that to solve Baghdad it goes through first Israel.

SECRETARY RICE: Well, there are many problems in the Middle East that need to be resolved and I don't think there's any one that will resolve all the problems. But there is no doubt that a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict would make a very big difference in the Middle East. You can't imagine a different kind of Middle East, a more peaceful democratic Middle East without the resolution ultimately of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

That's why the United States has recommitted to that process. I was recently in the region. I will now go back in a few weeks, I hope, to meet with Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas because it's time for them to start talking about the political horizon, how to establish a Palestinian state within the context of the roadmap, recognizing that all the conditions of the roadmap need be met, but recognizing also that the Palestinian people need to be able to see that there is a state in their future, a state of -- a democratic state living side by side in peace with Israel. The Palestinians have waited a long time for their state. The Israeli people have waited a long time for the security that would come from having a democratic and stable neighbor. It's time to try to deal with the problem.

QUESTION: I want thank you very much and I wish you all the very best.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you very much.

2007/T2-6

Released on January 25, 2007

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