Powll After Meeting with Guinean Foreign Minister

Remarks After His Meeting with Guinean Foreign Minister Francois Fall

Secretary Colin L. Powell C Street Entrance Washington, DC March 10, 2003

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, can you say how concerned you were that the report of the drones that the Iraqis have been trying to get that can disseminate biological and chemical weapons, that they were not in the report?

SECRETARY POWELL: I think we should be concerned. It seems to me that this information on the drones, which I know UNMOVIC was evaluating, but it was information that was available last week, and should be of concern to everyone.

Iraq continues to demonstrate that it has not really changed its strategic intent, which is the case we've been making all along. So we're concerned about that, and I think other information will be coming forward that suggests Iraq has really not changed.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, are you feeling like you're in a bit of a competition with the French, the French Foreign Minister? He's in Africa trying to persuade those undecided votes. Do you feel as if --

SECRETARY POWELL: I'm in no competition with Dominique de Villepin. He does what he has to do, and I do what I have to do. We are both working for causes we believe in, we are both trying to consult with all the members of the Council, and as you see, I have been in touch today at some length with the Foreign Minister of Guinea and I have been on the phone most of the morning with nations around the world. It's a combination of phones, visits and means of that type that allow you to make your point. And so I'm not in competition with anybody. I'm trying to do my job the way I think I can do it best. Thank you. [End]

Released on March 10, 2003

© Scoop Media