State Dept. Daily Press Briefing April 26, 2007

Daily Press Briefing
Tom Casey, Deputy Spokesman
Washington, DC
April 26, 2007

INDEX:

JAPAN
Report Regarding WWII Brothels in Japan

DEPARTMENT
Subpoena of Secretary Rice / Issues Addressed Repeatedly / Written
Correspondence Most Appropriate
U.S. Policy on Torture / Special Detainees Program / President
Made Clear U.S. Practices Meet International Obligations

ARMENIA
Changes to Human Rights Report / Policy on Nagorno-Karabakh
Unchanged

IRAN
Non-Proliferation Talks Between Javier Solana and Ali Larijani /
U.S. Hopes Iran Takes Up P5+1 Offer
Civil Nuclear Program Cannot Be Used As Guise for Nuclear Weapons
Program
Secretary Will Be Involved in Negotiations Once Suspension Occurs
Missing American Citizen / No Updates on his Whereabouts

GREECE
Meetings Between Greek Intelligence Official and Department
Officials
Content of DC Police Department Publication
Investigation into Bombing of U.S. Embassy in Greece / Greek
Authorities In Charge of Investigation

AFGHANISTAN
Coordination of Provisional Reconstruction Teams and Military
Units

NORTH KOREA
Banco Delta Asia Funds / North Korea Has Said it Would Honor
February 13 Agreement
Meetings with White House Officials and North Korean Officials in
New York

TRANSCRIPT:

12:43 p.m. EDT

MR. CASEY: Okay. Well, good afternoon, everybody. I don't have anything to start you with so let's start with you guys.

Nicholas.

QUESTION: Sort of a bit off regular topics, but the AP had a story yesterday touting it as news and I'm wondering if it's news to you. But they did an investigation saying that the comfort women in Japan after the war, actually some of them stayed in those brothels and were probably use of the American soldier there -- some soldiers there. I'm wondering if you've heard that those comfort women, who had been such an issue in the past several months because of the Prime Minister's comments, if the Americans actually knew about those brothels and if they -- some of the soldiers used those brothels after the war.

MR. CASEY: It's nothing I've ever heard about. Certainly nothing I've ever seen, but you might want to check the Department of Defense. I think that they would have records of, you know, issues related to U.S. military presence there. But, no, it's not a story I'm familiar with.

QUESTION: Okay. Can you just -- because obviously it's been many years and I'm sure if there is anything to this it's been part of diplomatic relations between the two countries --

MR. CASEY: There is no information about that that I'm aware of anywhere in this building. I did do a quick check for you before I came out here.

QUESTION: Oh, that's great. That's good to hear.

MR. CASEY: But, you know, you're -- again, you're free to check with the Department of Defense on this too.

QUESTION: Right, thanks.

MR. CASEY: Yeah, Kirit.

QUESTION: Could you give us any sort of comment on Henry Waxman's subpoena of Secretary Rice and if you could elaborate anything more on her comments that she only wishes to provide another written response?

MR. CASEY: Well, we covered this a bit this morning and the Secretary did speak to this in Oslo during a press avail that she had with the Foreign Minister there. Look, these are, as we've said, issues that have been addressed repeatedly and over and over and over again, not only by her but by other people in the Administration. And as she said, you know, while she's certainly -- and we all respect the important role Congress has in oversight, this is something where she believes the most appropriate way to continue to address this subject, if Congressman Waxman has any further questions on it, is through written correspondence. And in anticipation someone might ask me this I just thought I'd show you, this is the stack of letters and documents -- the last three that we've sent to him on this subject since April. So clearly there's not a lack of information going back and forth here and certainly if there are other questions that people have on this, we're happy to continue to provide answers. But as she said, she thought the most appropriate way to do so would be through continued written correspondence.

I'd also point out that, as the White House has said, there is a larger constitutional issue here, too, in as much as many of the questions that are being asked here deal with her tenure as National Security Advisor. And as you know there's a longstanding policy regarding White House officials testifying on matters that relate to their counsel and advice provided to the President. So, you know, again I think her comments are pretty clear on this and I really don't have much more to add on it.

QUESTION: So she won't appear?

MR. CASEY: Well, again, I think she said pretty clearly that she intends to -- and thinks the best way to handle this is through continued written correspondence.

QUESTION: Has there been any contact between -- I guess she's traveling now -- but between her party and the committee at all?

MR. CASEY: Not that I'm aware of, but you know, certainly I'm sure if there is information that's coming in here or additional correspondence or phone calls or other things our congressional affairs folks will make sure she's aware of them.

QUESTION: Tom, you said the White House has pointed out the constitutional issues involved. But it's cut both ways. In the past they also have produced people to testify and sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. So just raising it doesn't answer the question really. And secondly, do you know if the final decision is going to be just up to the White House or is the Secretary going to have -- if she were to differ and wanted to testify -- White House didn't want her to testify?

MR. CASEY: You want me to take a trip down hypothetical road, Charlie?

QUESTION: Sure.

MR. CASEY: Yeah. No, look, this is something where I'm sure we'll be in close consultation with the White House on because there are White House issues and equities involved here as well. But I do think she's made a very clear statement today of her intention about how we intend to move forward on this.

QUESTION: Tom, isn't this a bit of a deja vu? Didn't she battle a couple of years ago about testifying and ended up testifying? Was it the 9/11 Commission? There was an earlier dispute about this and she ended up speaking, so --

MR. CASEY: Well, for the 9/11 Commission, kind of separate issues. But look, this is something where again, I think, you have had probably the most extensive and exhaustive investigation of this particular subject for more than four years now. Again, I point out we've provided just in the last month, you know, 100-plus pages of information and documentation on this. She's publicly testified to this issue, she's spoken about it, including as part of her confirmation process. Other people in the Administration have done so as well.

And you know, again look at the sum total of everything else that's out there, the kinds of things that she's doing, including today, working on Afghanistan and working on our relations with Russia out at NATO, her trip to the Sharm to work on the Iraq neighbors conference and deal with those questions, trips coming up to the Middle East to work on Middle East peace, ongoing efforts with the Hill to work on things like foreign trade and our efforts to build prosperity in the hemisphere -- there's a lot on her agenda. And again, I think as we've said before, you have to kind of question whether re-plowing an issue that has gone through extensive and elaborate discussions over four years is really something that makes a lot of sense.

Yeah. Want to go over here. Okay.

QUESTION: On another subject. The State Department Human Rights Report came out about a month ago and a statement in Armenia's section regarding Karabakh and apparently the state officials have communicated with Armenian officials about the statement being erroneous. It was changed last week and it was changed back again, I believe, today. Could you explain what went on there with changes on the website at least with the report?

MR. CASEY: Well, look, the bottom line here is people had questions about U.S. policy with respect to Nagorno-Karabakh and the simple answer is that policy hasn't changed. You know, in terms of efforts that people make to try and clarify that issue with respect to the Human Rights Report, you know, again, all I can say is the language that was sent to Congress is the language that stands. Our policy on Nagorno-Karabakh hasn't changed and certainly nothing in that Human Rights Report should be interpreted as differing from that longstanding policy.

QUESTION: So essentially, whatever is said in the interviews or statements or reports, et cetera, that's all secondary to the stated policy as (inaudible)?

MR. CASEY: Well, you know, again, the policy on Nagorno-Karabakh is longstanding for us and nothing has changed, certainly not as a result of anything in the Human Rights Report. The policy is the same.

QUESTION: But essentially, there's going to be some effort to make sure that the facts are accurate in that report as the --

MR. CASEY: Well, I think in the Human Rights Report, as well as in all of our documents, we try and be as accurate and as factual as we can. Certainly, we're fallible and in instances where we can be -- someone can point out to us a difference in fact as opposed to a difference in interpretation, we have in the past made changes and have sent revised versions of the report out. But again, with respect to this issue, the policies remain the same and I think that's the main point.

Yeah, Nina.

QUESTION: George Tenet has given an interview to 60 Minutes that's airing this weekend, where he defends the use of what he calls enhanced interrogation techniques, particularly (inaudible) detainees like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Now some people would call this torture. Would you defend his position? Do you have anything to say about criticisms of these methods?

MR. CASEY: Well, I'm glad you've seen the 60 Minutes report in advance. Look, I think these issues have been well covered and well discussed. The U.S. does not support or condone torture. It does not practice torture. You heard our statements on that over a long period of time. With respect to the program in terms of detention related to the CIA detainees or the special detainees program, you know, the President's addressed that and spoke to it publicly. I really don't have anything more to offer than that, but he made clear in that presentation that the methods and practices used met our international legal obligations.

Kirit.

QUESTION: Do you have anything -- any further readout from the meeting between Javier Solana and Ali Larijani?

MR. CASEY: Nothing beyond what I told you a little earlier in the day. Under Secretary Nick Burns did get a readout on those discussions. As I said, we haven't seen any substantive progress on this issue, though certainly, we would hope and continue to hope that the Iranian Government would take the offer that's on the table from the P-5+1 to suspend their uranium enrichment activities and to join us in negotiations, so that everyone can achieve a peaceful resolution to this, so that Iran can have a civilian nuclear power program. But at the same time, the international community can be assured that they're not using such a program as a guise for building a nuclear weapon.

QUESTION: They've said that they're going to try to meet again in two weeks. Is that helpful or is this just kind of spinning the wheels as far as you're concerned?

MR. CASEY: Well, look, I think that it's always useful to have Mr. Solana, as the representative of the P-5+1, have opportunities to continue to discuss this issue with Mr. Larijani and to have that kind of dialogue take place. But again, what we really need to see is a change in Iranian behavior. And all that has been asked for in terms of suspension is exactly the same kind of arrangement that the Iranians signed onto and adhere to for some months under the Paris agreement. So certainly there's nothing impossible or particularly difficult about it. And again, as the Secretary herself has said, she would personally be involved in the opening round of a set of negotiations once that suspension occurred, and would be happy to hear from the Iranians not only on the nuclear issue, but on any other issues they care to bring to the table.

Charlie.

QUESTION: Anything come over the diplomatic (inaudible) in the last few hours on Mr. Levinson, from Iran or the other --

MR. CASEY: No, I don't have any updates for you on this one, Charlie. We are unfortunately still where we've been, which is with no credible information on his welfare or whereabouts.

Mr. Lambros.

QUESTION: May I go to Greece? Mr. Casey, the chief of the Greek intelligence service Mr. (inaudible) who is in Washington and he had yesterday at dinner with the Greek Ambassador, President Mr. Alexandros Mallias. I was told that he had a meeting, too, with DOS officials with the Bureau of Intelligence. May we know the purpose of this meeting?

MR. CASEY: Mr. Lambros, I'm not sure whether they met or not. But if they did I'm sure it was a regular consultation among allies about intelligence matters that would sound reasonable to me. But we'll check for you and see if there's something.

QUESTION: And also --

MR. CASEY: But I can't confirm whether a meeting happened or not be (inaudible) tell you (inaudible).

QUESTION: Another question. And from -- upon the arrival of Mr. (inaudible), the daily publication of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, "The Dispatch," for unknown reasons on the front page, is dealing with the attack against 16 U.S. servicemen arrived in a Greek Air Force bus on April 23, 1987, by November 17 Terrorist Organization who had been injured.

Would you please comment since this issue of November 17 has been closed and it's a matter of foreign policy and not the business of the D.C. Metropolitan Police?

MR. CASEY: It's the business of any journalist in this country to report on whatever they want. And if you'd like to know why the journal of the D.C. Metropolitan Police ran a story on something, I'm sure their editor would be happy to talk to you about it.

QUESTION: But this (inaudible) and publications matter, not a private publication.

MR. CASEY: Uh-huh. And?

QUESTION: And then what's the answer?

MR. CASEY: The answer is that anyone in this country is free to publish what they want and if the D.C. Metropolitan police has a little newsletter and they'd like to run a story about something they're free to do so and you're free to talk to their editors about why they chose to.

QUESTION: And what about the timing?

MR. CASEY: Oh, I have no idea. You'd have to go ask them.

QUESTION: Okay. One question, according to the FBI, the investigation on the attack against the U.S. Embassy in Athens by an Albanian rocket on January 12th, carried out by terrorists or others, has been concluded, since according to an FBI (inaudible) emphasize, the Department of State is in charge, may we know the results of these investigations?

MR. CASEY: I have no idea what the FBI is referring to. The Greek authorities are in charge of this investigation. Certainly we are coordinating with them. But I'd refer you to the Greek police and law enforcement community and I'm sure they could give you a readout on what the terms of the investigation --

QUESTION: But why the FBI is saying that you are in charge?

MR. CASEY: I have absolutely no idea. You could go ask them, but we're not.

QUESTION: I just saw that -- I thought I read somewhere that Abdullah Gul had attended the Solana meeting. I'm just wondering why. I thought that was kind of --

MR. CASEY: I hadn't seen that report, but something you might want to go ask them about. You know -- no, I hadn't seen that.

Farah.

QUESTION: I don't expect an answer right now, but I'm --

MR. CASEY: Uh-oh.

QUESTION: (Laughter.)

MR. CASEY: That's a great lead in.

QUESTION: If this could be a taken question, you guys have given lots of background briefings over the past few months about PRTs and their efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and I've heard some reports of PRTs -- officials complaining that -- you know, sometimes their efforts would be undermined by the behavior of Special Forces in the area who are acting totally separately. And I'm wondering if you could let us know what are the -- you know, how do they -- do they work together at all? How does it -- what's the relationship? In some of these remote areas in Afghanistan, it's like there are two American presences; one is the PRT and the other is Special Forces. In the Afghan mind, it's -- they're the same. But I have a feeling that they actually have two different chains-of-command that don't necessarily work together.

MR. CASEY: Well, but PRTs aren't civilian in an entirety. They're a combined civilian-military operation. Certainly, the military components of the PRTs are -- or at least generally should be apprised of any activities that are going on by other U.S. military components in the area. Certainly, there are always challenges in coordination between units and among different elements of the overall U.S. Government presence in any country, but I'm not aware that there's any specific problem in terms of the military-civilian relations either in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Let's go back to you.

QUESTION: Tom, do you have any update -- update of the current situation of the North Korean's BDA activity?

MR. CASEY: No, I don't have anything new to offer you there. We certainly, again, believe that we've gone the extra mile to make it possible for the North Koreans to have access to these funds and to remove them and then to put them to use for the benefit of the North Korean people as they've agreed to do. They've reiterated, I believe last week, their commitment to honoring the terms of the February 13th agreement once they've accessed those funds, but you'd have to talk with them or with the Macanese about how far those arrangements are going. I'm not aware -- we certainly haven't heard anything from them officially that could give me any new information to share with you on it.

QUESTION: What about the South Korean delegation, Chun Young-woo and Christopher Hill conversations? Did they say about the end of this week is a possibility?

MR. CASEY: As Sean said the other day, really didn't get any kind of detailed readout on their discussions. These are something they do all the time and I know they certainly talked about issues related to the six-party talks, but nothing particularly new to share with you on that, so --

QUESTION: Because it's not clear to me, because they always say, "Next weekend, this weekend," you know --

MR. CASEY: Well, I think the important thing we see happening or the important thing we want to see happen is that they actually take actions to fulfill their commitments. And that means not only taking steps to access their funds and move them to other places, but more importantly, complying with the terms of the February 13th agreement, so we're all looking to see that happen.

Certainly, both publicly here and certainly in the conversations that other members of the six-party talks are having privately as well, the North Koreans are being encouraged to take those steps and do so as soon as possible. We need to get back to the important business at hand, which is the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

QUESTION: Tom.

MR. CASEY: Good.

QUESTION: On the meeting Victor Cha had the other day in New York with the North Koreans, what -- unnamed White House officials telling wires yesterday was that -- sounded like his message to the North Koreans was much tougher than what you've been saying in the past couple of weeks. Are you certain that what he delivered to the mission in New York was indeed what the State Department position is?

MR. CASEY: I'm certainly convinced that there's wonderful interagency coordination on this issue and I'm sure if Victor, in fact -- you know, had a discussion with them on this subject, that he conveyed, accurately, U.S. policy. But in terms of the readout of that meeting, I'd refer you over to our friends at the White House.

QUESTION: Thank you.

MR. CASEY: Thank you.

QUESTION: On Kosovo?

MR. CASEY: Next time.

(The briefing was concluded at 1:04 p.m.)

DPB # 74

Released on April 26, 2007

ENDS

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