Remarks to the Press

Philip J. Crowley
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs

Washington, DC

March 9, 2010

MR. CROWLEY: Good afternoon. Sorry for the unusual schedule today, but Rich Verma and I were hosting the Senate Youth Conference up in the Ben Franklin Room.

To begin, you’ll see a statement this afternoon coming out shortly. Today marks the third – the three-year anniversary of the disappearance of U.S. citizen Robert Levinson, who went missing in Iran during a business trip to Kish Island in 2007. Mr. Levinson will remain a priority for the United States until he is reunited with his family. The United States also calls on Iran to resolve the cases of the five American citizens who are unjustly detained in Iran: Joshua Fattal, Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd, Kian Tajbakhsh, and Reza Taghavi. But we – there’s – in the statement, there is – anyone who has information on Mr. Levinson to contact the State Department or the Levinson family via their website, www.helpboblevinson.com.

The Secretary, after the bilateral this morning with President Preval, had a lunch with Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke to talk about global economic issues and how they can influence different foreign policy aspects that we here at the State Department are working on.

Assistant Secretary Kurt Campbell has arrived in Kuala Lumpur and he will meet with senior Malaysian Government officials and hold a town hall meeting with American Embassy staff members on March 10^th, tomorrow. Then he will move on to Vientiane, where he will meet with senior Lao Government officials and attend the U.S.-Lao Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue and also meet with representatives of the Mekong River Commission.

And Scott Gration is currently in Nairobi, where he’s attending the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, or IGAD, Summit on Sudan. Yesterday, he had meetings with the Sudan Troika – Troy --

QUESTION: Troika.

MR. CROWLEY: Troika, thank you.

QUESTION: It’s also, I think, P.J., it’s “IGAD.”

MR. CROWLEY: IGAD, IGAD. Comprised of Norway, the UK, and the United States – and met with the President of Southern Sudan Salva Kiir. He – today, he’s also meeting with Sudanese Second Vice President Ali Osman Taha.

I want to clarify the U.S. position regarding Libya. We are strongly committed to the bilateral U.S.-Libyan relationship, and Secretary Clinton has asked Assistant Secretary Jeff Feltman to travel to Tripoli next week for a series of bilateral consultations.

Regarding the personal comments I made last week, I want to provide some context. I responded to a question regarding use of the term “jihad” in the context of relations between Libya and Switzerland. I should have focused solely on our concern about the term “jihad,” which has since been clarified by the Libyan Government. I understand that my personal comments were perceived as a personal attack on the president. As I made clear to Libyan Ambassador Ali Aujali when Assistant Secretary Feltman and I called upon him in his office on Friday, these comments do not reflect U.S. policy and were not intended to offend. I apologize if they were taken that way. I regret that my comments have become an obstacle to further progress in our bilateral relationship.

As I told the ambassador, I hope that we can use ongoing dialogue at high levels to continue to advance the U.S.-Libyan relationship. And just to make a point regarding the dispute between Libya and Syria, the United States does not take a position other than to register our concern about two Swiss citizens, one of whom has been released on humanitarian grounds, and we hope that this issue can be resolved as soon as possible.

Finally, you’ve seen the statement released by the Secretary a short time ago regarding the affirmation of the Hillsborough Agreement. Devolution will mark a major milestone in achieving the aspirations of the Good Friday Agreement, and the St. Andrews Agreement will help cement the hard-won gains over the past decade. Obviously, for a milestone like this, a number of players have played significant roles. We, the United States, including Secretary Clinton, have been actively engaged in helping Northern Ireland reach this point, as have a number of officials in the British Government, including not only the Brown government but also the strong support that David Cameron and the Conservative Party have given to the Hillsborough Agreement.

With that, your questions.

QUESTION: A question about Northern Ireland, actually. Can you confirm this Guardian report that Declan Kelly urged former President Bush to make a call to David Cameron last week about the vote?

MR. CROWLEY: He did not. We were not involved in – with the – former President Bush’s phone call.

QUESTION: Were there any contacts by the Administration on this other than the calls by the former president? I mean, was there anything by this Administration to push it one way or the other?

MR. CROWLEY: Clarify, Kirit. Try --

QUESTION: Was there anything from this government that’s actually tried to contact one side or the other to push them on this vote? Not – I know that you said it didn’t involve the former president at all, but --

MR. CROWLEY: Well, yeah. I mean, the Secretary has been engaged with all of the parties. She talked recently to the leading figures in Ireland, including Peter Robinson, Martin McGuinness, also Reg Empey. So we have been actively engaged, but we did not have anything to do with President Bush’s phone call.

QUESTION: On the Middle East?

MR. CROWLEY: Mm-hmm.

QUESTION: The Israeli interior ministry announced the committee approval for 1,600 new housing units in the neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo, which falls on the other side of the Green Line, and the interior ministry is saying that this is not in East Jerusalem, but – I mean, that’s a kind of bone of contention whether it’s in East Jerusalem or not, but – I mean, what do you think of the fact that this announcement was made while Biden – while Vice President Biden is there? Mitchell just announced his resumption of talks. I mean, it just seems so provocative right now.

MR. CROWLEY: Well, in terms of the Vice President, I’ll defer to --

QUESTION: Well, just the fact that he’s there.

MR. CROWLEY: Well, let me finish. In terms of the Vice President, I’ll defer to the traveling party. He is there, and your colleagues can check and see if he has any comment on this. We are looking into this report, and so I don’t want to comment specifically until we gain more perspective on exactly what the origins of this particular approval is. We continue to urge all sides to avoid counterproductive and unilateral actions that, intended or not, can be – can undermine trust and make it harder to negotiate – for negotiations to succeed.

QUESTION: Well, but, I mean, you keep urging them to avoid --

MR. CROWLEY: Yeah.

QUESTION: -- provocative actions and they keep making announcements while you’re asking them to make – you know what I mean? Regardless of whether Biden’s there or – I mean, it’s just the atmosphere that you’re trying to create is a positive one, and they’re, you know, basically ignoring you and doing whatever they want. I mean, are they setting the right atmosphere for talks right now?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, again, on that specific issue, I’ll defer comment until we have more on it. Proximity talks have begun. We think this is a positive step. George Mitchell will return to the region next week and he’ll continue the discussion that he had with the leaders over the past couple of days. He is back here in Washington, briefed the Secretary on his trip just prior to the Preval bilateral, and we are hard at work to try to move this process forward.

QUESTION: Well, but you didn’t answer my question. I mean, this is the second day in a row that we’ve been – or, you know, several days that we’ve been talking about Israeli provocative actions just as you’re trying to set the atmosphere for productive talks.

MR. CROWLEY: I understand that and I think we’re going to seek further information. We may have more to say once we understand fully what this is about.

QUESTION: And do you have anything more on the substance of how – what they’re going to talk about first and how they’re going to talk – what Mitchell said today to the Secretary?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, as he said in his statement yesterday, his talks on Sunday and Monday focused on structure and scope. We’re going to continue to develop our ideas in the coming days and the discussion will continue next week. I think it’s hard for us to kind of characterize a particular agenda for every single meeting. The process is underway and we’re trying to move from parallel talks to direct negotiations as quickly as we can.

QUESTION: You can’t say whether they’re starting with borders? That was one idea that was put out there so that these housing units wouldn’t become as much of a problem.

MR. CROWLEY: Certainly, as we go through this, beginning to work on the substance of these issues, it will be part of the process.

QUESTION: A quick question about the schedule.

QUESTION: So did they agree --

QUESTION: Oh, do you have --

QUESTION: Sorry. Did they agree on the issues that they want to talk about?

MR. CROWLEY: I think we’re still working through some of the particulars of how this has gone on forward.

QUESTION: Do you have any more clarification about Adam Gadahn? I mean, it really seems very confusing as to what’s going on here. The Pakistanis are insisting that it’s him. Yesterday, you made your comments. I mean, what’s going on?

MR. CROWLEY: The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad is in contact with Pakistani authorities and we have no information indicating that an American has been arrested.

QUESTION: A question about the schedule. There was an NSC meeting at 11 o’clock this morning with the President. Can you tell us what that was about? And then there was a – on the schedule, it was a 3 o’clock Homeland Security or something meeting. Can you tell us what that was about also?

MR. CROWLEY: I believe the first meeting was on Haiti and the second meeting is on Homeland Security issues.

QUESTION: I saw the statement by the Embassy in Nigeria, but do you have anything additional to say about the violence?

MR. CROWLEY: I mean, we express our deep regret at the continued violence and the tragic loss of life in Jos. We urge all parties to exercise restraint and seek constructive means for addressing the continuing cycle of violence in Plateau State. And we also want to see the Nigerian Federal Government ensure that the perpetrators of these acts of violence are brought to justice.

QUESTION: P.J., on the Iraqi elections, what is the U.S. timeframe for thinking about how quickly a coalition government is going to be formed or – and what is the U.S. going to do to help the government be formed?

MR. CROWLEY: Help the government?

QUESTION: Form after these elections.

MR. CROWLEY: Well, I mean, these are – this is an Iraqi election and this is an Iraqi process. So certainly, we look forward to working with the new Iraqi Government, but how this unfolds is up to the Iraqis and what – it will – I think it’ll happen on its own timetable.

QUESTION: And you don’t have a sense of what that timetable is at this point?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, I think maybe, Indira, we should just have the preliminary results first so we – I think --

QUESTION: I’m just wondering if the Iraqis (inaudible).

MR. CROWLEY: At some point, everybody will have their kind of political handicapping depending on which coalition and how difficult it’ll be to form a majority government. Let’s first get the results.

QUESTION: Have the Iraqi authorities, though, suggested that they think that there might be a government formed within four weeks, or have they given you any indication?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, I think let’s take it step by step. We had the election. We’re awaiting the results. I think the results will give us some indication of the degree of difficulty of forming a new government. But this is up to the Iraqis to accomplish and it will take as long as it takes.

QUESTION: Do you have an early take on the election laws announced by the Burmese? There seem to be many things that you might take issue with. The regime is going to pick the entire commission and all parties have to reapply to the government and political prisoners, i.e. Aung San Suu Kyi, won’t be able to run, et cetera.

MR. CROWLEY: We are concerned by the Burmese authorities’ unilateral decision to begin releasing the election laws without first engaging in substantive dialogue with the democratic opposition or ethnic minority leaders. We remain skeptical that the elections planned for this year will be credible and we urge the authorities to begin a genuine political dialogue with all stakeholders as a first step towards credible elections.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) the Japanese Government this morning officially acknowledged the existence of the secret nuclear pacts. Do you have any comment on that? And to follow up, do you expect this, I guess, official acknowledgement to affect the Futenma discussions at all?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, this investigation was a Japanese Government matter. We – I don’t think that it’s going to significantly affect cooperation between the United States and Japan. We understand the special sentiment of the Japanese people with regard to nuclear weapons and we have faithfully honored our obligations under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security and will continue to do so.

QUESTION: Can you give us more details on what the Secretary and Bernanke discussed?

MR. CROWLEY: No. It was a one-on-one lunch.

QUESTION: So you didn’t get any kind of readout yourself? Can you tell us what was on the agenda?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, I think – I mean, clearly, economics are a substantial part of our relations with many countries and communities. I think she was seeking his perspective on global financial trends and with an eye towards how that might influence policy directions in particular parts of the world.

QUESTION: P.J., on the Falkland Islands, how upset were the British by your use of the term “Malvinas” and subsequently the Secretary’s meeting with Kirchner? The reason I ask now is that we’re now hearing that they’re a lot more upset than they acknowledged to us.

MR. CROWLEY: Well, as to – well, let’s take them in reverse order. The Secretary had the opportunity to meet with President Kirchner in Buenos Aires last week. It was an excellent meeting. The Secretary made clear our policy position on this dispute, and as she said, we stand ready to help if that’s desired. I think that – we’ve had conversations with our British friends on this issue and I’m not aware of any particular concerns that anybody had.

QUESTION: Could you say what type of help the U.S. might give in this case? There are some – obviously she’s talking about mediation. So what does facilitation mean?

MR. CROWLEY: I don’t – I mean, let’s be – I don’t think that the Secretary used that phrase.

QUESTION: She said, “facilitate.”

MR. CROWLEY: I think she said, “help,” but – I mean, this is – as we’ve made clear, this is an issue that needs to be resolved between Britain and Argentina. We’re friends of both countries, and as the Secretary said, if we can be helpful, we’re happy to consider that. But I don’t know that that’s necessary.

QUESTION: But no specific ideas on where that help might come and what form it might take?

MR. CROWLEY: No.

QUESTION: A question on export licenses. In reference to a specific company, I got a query from someone from another bureau about an export license being put on hold for a defense contract. Does the State Department have a particular hold on all export licenses at the moment? I know you guys are reviewing – you have an interagency review on export controls. Is that affecting the application for export licenses?

MR. CROWLEY: Export licenses writ large?

QUESTION: Yeah, that’s what I’m wondering. I mean, this was in reference to a specific defense contractor, a British defense contractor.

MR. CROWLEY: Well, so, is your question about that specific contractor?

QUESTION: Yes. Can I ask about the (inaudible)?

MR. CROWLEY: (Laughter.) No, you’ll say – I got the impression that we were holding --

QUESTION: Well, I’d like to ask about BAE’s application for --

MR. CROWLEY: Sure.

QUESTION: -- an export license being put on hold, and then specifically, is this something that is affecting everybody or just them?

MR. CROWLEY: Let me talk more specifically. I’m not aware of any blanket hold on all export licenses. On March 1^st, BAE Systems plc pled guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to conspiracy involving violations of several U.S. laws, including the Arms Export Control Act. The State Department is studying the judgment and the plea agreement between the Department of Justice and BAE Systems plc, which BAE entered into to settle issues related to violations of the export – Arms Export Control Act.

We are assessing the implications that the plea will have on the statutory debarment and resulting policy of denial. Though no final determinations have been reached, our analysis indicates it would be inappropriate for us to make decisions on pending export applications at this time. But for further information on the plea agreement, I refer you to the Department of Justice.

QUESTION: Can you explain what that means? You said we’re assessing implications the plea will have on the statutory something-something. What was that?

MR. CROWLEY: What this means is only that their applications for export will be delayed if those applications involve BAE Systems plc or any of its subsidiaries.

QUESTION: Thank you.

QUESTION: Anything on the North Korea? Do you have any statement from North Korea or the (inaudible)?

MR. CROWLEY: No change.

QUESTION: No change.

QUESTION: Thank you.

# # #

Case of Missing U.S. Citizen Robert Levinson

Philip J. Crowley
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs

Washington, DC

March 9, 2010

Today marks the three-year anniversary of the disappearance of U.S. citizen Robert Levinson, who went missing in Iran during a business trip to Kish Island in 2007. Mr. Levinson will remain a priority for the United States until he is reunited with his family.

He is the father of seven children and grandfather of two – his second grandchild was born in his absence. The Levinson family misses him desperately and hopes he will be able to walk his daughter down the aisle later this year.

In December 2007, Mrs. Levinson first met with Iranian officials who expressed a willingness to share information about their investigation into her husband’s disappearance with the family. We ask that Iran stand behind its commitment to provide full details about their authorities’ investigation.

The United States also calls on Iran to resolve the cases of the five American citizens who are unjustly detained in Iran: Joshua Fattal, Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd, Kian Tajbakhsh, and Reza Taghavi.

We ask anyone who may have information about Mr. Levinson to contact us or the Levinson family via their website: www.helpboblevinson.com

Northern Ireland Assembly Vote on Devolution

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Washington, DC

March 9, 2010

I commend the Northern Ireland Assembly today for its affirmation of the Hillsborough Agreement and its endorsement of the devolution of policing and justice, an important step in ensuring a peaceful and prosperous future for all of the people of Northern Ireland for generations to come. Devolution will mark a major milestone in achieving the aspirations of the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement, and will help cement the hard-won gains of the past decade.

I applaud Northern Ireland’s political leadership for tackling the complex and difficult work that will come with these additional responsibilities, and the many men and women involved in the stewardship and provision of policing and justice who have already made an immense contribution to this process. The journey is not over, and real challenges remain. I encourage all parties to work together in a spirit of cooperation and compromise as they continue the road toward a full and lasting peace.

The United States stands with the people of Northern Ireland in their efforts to build and sustain a thriving, confident, and shared society. Through cultural exchanges and new business relationships, we are deepening our historic ties. Our Economic Envoy, Declan Kelly, is working to help Northern Ireland reap the dividends of peace, including economic growth, international investment, and other new opportunities. And I look forward to meeting with Northern Ireland’s leaders next week in Washington to discuss the way forward together.

Special Press Briefing and Release of 2009 Annual Report on Human Rights

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

March 9, 2010

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will deliver opening remarks on the release of the State Department’s 2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices on Thursday, March 11 at 11:15 a.m. Assistant Secretary Michael Posner from the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor will follow the Secretary’s remarks and respond to reporters’ questions. This event, which will be held in the State Department’s press briefing room (Room 2209), will be on camera and on the record.

Advance Viewing of the Embargoed Report
Access instructions for embargoed access of the report will be available on Thursday, March 11 at 10 a.m. in the State Department’s Press Office (Room 2109). The entire report is EMBARGOED until the end of the press briefing, approximately 12 p.m.

Press who attend this briefing should arrive at the 23^rd Street entrance and must present either (1) A U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification card (driver’s license, passport). Press should allow adequate time to process through security and to be in the briefing room 10 minutes before the briefing.

Electronic Access to the Report via Internet
The full text of the report will be available for downloading from the State Department web site at: www.state.gov as soon as possible after the briefing on March 11. The press briefing itself will be available via live video streaming on the state.gov web site as well.

Book Form
Copies of the full report will be sold at a later date by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC 20402; telephone 202-512-1800; fax 202-512-2250.

Press Contacts
For more information on this event, contact: Helaena White, Public Affairs Officer, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, (202) 647-1442 or the Office of Press Relations, (202) 647-2492.

Remarks With Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou After Their Meeting

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Treaty Room

Washington, DC

March 8, 2010

SECRETARY CLINTON: It is such a pleasure to welcome the prime minister to the State Department. I have had the great privilege of knowing him over a number of years in various capacities, and it’s wonderful to be able to work with him now.

Before we begin, I want to say just a few words about Iraq. Yesterday, millions of Iraqis reaffirmed their commitment to a democratic future and rejected a campaign of fear and intimidation. This election is a milestone for both the Iraqi people and our relationship, which is transitioning to a long-term, primarily civilian partnership based on mutual respect and mutual interest. I congratulate every candidate who ran and every citizen who voted. And we look forward to working with the new government once it is formed.

And of course, Greece is the birthplace of democracy, so any time there’s a democratic election anywhere in the world, Greece should get a royalty, Prime Minister, because the Greek people --

PRIME MINISTER PAPANDREOU: It would help my deficit too.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Yeah, it would help the deficit. It’s a new way of plugging the hole. (Laughter.) The democratic values that Greece brought to the world and to civilization have enhanced the security and prosperity of people all over the world for a very long time. We had a broad-ranging discussion. Of course, as NATO allies, we work side by side on so many of these matters, and I thank the prime minister for Greece’s contributions to the refocused mission in Afghanistan. Both of our countries know what it is like to be targeted by terrorists and we are committed to confronting violent extremism that threatens peace-loving people everywhere.

Among our most pressing, shared challenges today is the global economic crisis that has thrown people out of work, shuttered businesses, drained government coffers in both the United States and Greece. I know these are difficult days in Greece, but I want to commend the prime minister for his leadership in tackling the challenge that he confronted upon taking office. We support Greece and the tough economic measures it is taking to address this issue. The prime minister and I discussed this today and we will remain in close contact going forward.

We also discussed the Balkans, where Greece has a key role to play in promoting economic opportunities, stability, and democracy. Finishing the task of integrating the Balkans countries into Euro-Atlantic institutions is essential to regional stability and development and we commend Greece for its leadership role in moving toward that.

I also was able to discuss with the prime minister his continuing efforts to strengthen Greece’s relations with Turkey. He has shown great leadership through the example of his own personal diplomacy. Greece and Turkey are NATO allies, two close friends of the United States, and a constructive relationship is in the interest of both nations.

As to Cyprus, I reiterated our support for the Cypriot-led negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary General’s Good Offices Mission, led by Alexander Downer. I commend both Cypriot leaders on their hard work in these settlement talks and on the progress that they are making.

Greece is a valued ally and a trusted partner. I know the President is looking forward to his meeting with the prime minister. So again, Prime Minister, thank you for this visit and your friendship.

PRIME MINISTER PAPANDREOU: Well, thank you much, Secretary of State, dear Hillary. It is both an honor and a joy to work with you in this capacity. And we have met many times in the past in many other venues and capacities and continue to share common purpose and values with both our countries and also, on a personal basis, working for peace, prosperity, and democracy around the world.

And I would say that although democracy is a – Greece is a – the birthplace of democracy, we haven’t asked for any royalties. And the reason is that democracy, in fact, we believe, is very important, and I commend and do wish the best for the Iraqi people and the new representatives of the Iraqi people and do wish for a democratic Iraq. A strong democracy is being moved forward in the world. That’s a prerequisite. But as I said, democracy, in fact, brings a stability, but it also brings a security which then allows for much more economic growth, social cohesion, a more just society. And this is the kind of society which we believe we need not only at the level of the nation state, but also around the world.

The financial crisis which we are going through in Greece has made us very much aware of the very strong and sometimes unregulated forces of our financial system, the globalizing market economy, and the need for the types of regulations and rules which will make sure that the markets work for us and work for our – for the benefit of our peoples. So this, I think, is also part of the democratic challenge we face, and it is a message which I’m bringing also from the European Union and from other leaders which I met just a few days ago – Angela Merkel, Nicholas Sarkozy, Gordon Brown, Jose Luis Zapatero – that Europe is very much looking forward to meeting in the G-20, in the next meeting there, and promoting this idea of more further regulation, which is, I think, is in favor of the – of our citizens around the world and for growth.

And what we have done in Greece in dealing with this crisis – and thank you for your kind words – yes, we have taken very difficult decisions, difficult decisions in cutting down our deficit to make sure that our economy is viable, to make sure that we have put in place the necessary steps so that we can then restructure our economy, make our economy a green economy, one which is also important for attracting investment, developing our tourist industry, developing our agriculture, our services, but also making our society more just and more transparent and more open. This is a major change, and I thank you for your solidarity.

At the same time, what we have also seen is that very often, there are certain practices that perversely do not help the countries that are taking the right steps because of the speculation. And this is one of the areas where we think European and American cooperation, within the G-20, of course, will be of paramount importance in order to stabilize and make sure that a crisis doesn’t metastasize to other parts of the world.

I would also like to agree with the Secretary of State that we have – we are working very closely on a number of areas. The Balkans we do want to see stable, and Greece has taken the initiative to help promote the idea that the Western Balkans, still not members of the European Union, should accede to the European Union by 2014. Of course, if they do, also live up to their prerequisites of being a member of this community of values. This is important for stabilizing the wider region of the Balkans, and Greece, of course, is in a region where we’re at the crossroads – not only in the Balkans but also the Mediterranean, the Middle East. These are areas which are of great concern for us as they are neighboring areas.

Obviously, Greek-Turkish relations are of great importance for us. We have been staunch supporters of the Turkish possibility of being a member of the European Union also. But at the same time, we do believe that there are certain changes and certain problems we need to deal with on this path to the European Union – our bilateral relations issues, such as the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey, which is not a bilateral issue, but is a issue of respecting religious and human rights. And of course, Cyprus, which is – has divided our countries, because it is an island with a large number of occupying troops from the Turkish side. And we do need to liberate, I would say, this island from that type of activity and that type of a situation – allow the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots to create their own path and their own future.

Cyprus is now a member of the European Union, and I would just to reiterate that I have given my full support to President Demetris Christofias and his work to move ahead and continue the peace process, the process of negotiation for finding a just solution, one which will be a federated solution with a bi-zonal and bi-communal solution according to UN resolution. So very much support that the sooner the better, but of course, a just solution which will also be within the framework of the European (inaudible), the European law and legislation.

Finally, I will be meeting with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in the next few months. We haven’t yet set the date, but the – it will be very soon. And I do hope that this meeting will also signify and symbolize a renewal of our rapprochement, which we began some years ago, and dealing with issues such as the continental shelf. And therefore, I would like to see Greek-Turkish relations, Cyprus becoming a model of stability and peace, one – a model where we can work together and show the world that former foes can be the best of good partners in this globalizing world where we have huge issues to deal with. And there’s much more potential when we work together than when we work at odds with each other.

So thank you again, Hillary, for your --

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. Thank you so much, Prime Minister.

MR. CROWLEY: On the U.S. side, Arshad Mohammed from Reuters.

QUESTION: Secretary Clinton, what, if anything, can the United States do to help Greece through this period of financial instability? And Prime Minister Papandreou, what would you like to see your European partners do to try to reduce Greece’s borrowing costs? Would you like to see state-owned German or French banks starting to buy Greek Government debt? Would you like to see some kind of state debt guarantees for commercial banks that purchase your debt? And why should the market feel confident that – given the protests that one has seen in Greece, that Greek society is prepared to sustain the kind of tough measures that you have taken and that you have described today? Why should people feel confident that that will be a durable phenomenon?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Prime Minister?

PRIME MINISTER PAPANDREOU: Sure. Well, first of all, I would say that Greek society, citizens of Greece, know very well that we have a major challenge and we are taking measures to change our country. As a matter of fact, I was only recently elected, as you may know, and I was elected on a mandate of change.

So therefore, what we are doing in Greece is in fact what the Greek people in their wide majority have decided – making deeper changes, structural changes, making our economy, our society, more viable, more transparent, a whole developmental model, changing and moving to a green economy, which we think is going to be a very competitive economy. Just think of green islands, tourist islands which will have sustainable energy, renewable energy, Mediterranean food, high-quality tourism and so on. This is where we see, just to give you one example, the future of Greek economy, and not so far in the future, but quite soon.

Obviously, we had to take some immediate measures. These immediate measures we did responding to the desire – first, our desire but also the desire of our partners – that we show determination that we are ready to cut down our deficits, and in doing so, making sure that those who do lend us will have a – will be lending, will be investing in a viable economy and will be getting certain returns on their investment. This is, I think, what we had to do and we did do it.

What, of course, would be a problem would be if we continued to borrow at very high rates, beyond those that most of the European Union countries and the Eurozone countries certainly borrow at – twice, for example, the rates of Germany – that would be unsustainable, and that would be unsustainable within a common currency. We would not be able to become competitive. And therefore, what we are saying is we do need the support of the European Union if we see that speculation does not allow us to borrow at the right rates. We’re not asking for money. We’re not asking for bailouts. We’re simply saying what we want to be is equal partners, as we have taken these measures on the market to be able to get what others also can get, which is basically normal rates of borrowing.

Now there have been a number of ideas – I think now we’ve become much more specific – I don’t want to become specific because they haven’t been announced – of how one would have to do this. And the European Union, of course, is looking at this and countries around the European Union have the types of instruments which would be necessary if such – if Greece does have a problem. We may never have a problem. We may go out into the market and not have a problem of high borrowing rates next time we do so. But if we do so, there will be instruments which will help us deal with the – this type of speculation.

On the long – longer term, certainly Europe is now thinking of institutions such as guarantees or the EMF – that’s the European Monetary Fund or Eurobonds – but these, of course, will take somewhat more time as they also would need certain changes in the treaty – some of our treaties in the European Union.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, neither the prime minister nor Greece has asked the United States for anything. We support the steps that Greece is taking. We commend the prime minister and his government for moving quickly to put in place changes that are called for given the economic consequences of the fiscal situation that he inherited.

But what I think Greece is looking for, as the prime minister alluded to, is that the United States, working in the G-20, will make some of the changes in regulatory regimes governing some of these financial instruments that have been used to the detriment not only of Greece, but of other countries, including our own. The prime minister was saying that a year ago he had never heard of CDSs, credit-default swaps. Well, neither had we.

And so we’re all trying to focus on the immediate crises, as President Obama had to do when he came into office a little over a year ago, and as the prime minister is now doing, but then looking over the horizon so that we can avoid these kinds of consequences from an unregulated financial market that globally moves money at the speed of sound, if not light, and leaves in its wake all kinds of consequences that governments have to contend with.

QUESTION: Madam Secretary, can you assess the Greek role in the Balkans? Many times, people from the U.S., the U.S. Administration, have called it a strategic partnership. The prime minister, personally he’s spearheading the effort of bringing the whole (inaudible) into the European Union a hundred years after the end of – or the beginning of World War I. What exactly – how exactly do you see the Greek role there – the leadership role, I assume, of --

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I do see it as strategic. What the prime minister has labeled Agenda 2014 to work with the countries of the Western Balkans to help them be ready for membership in the Euro-Atlantic institutions is exactly the same strategic imperative that we see.

In addition to setting forth a strategy, however, Greece has been an absolutely essential partner in stabilizing the Balkans and continuing to provide very specific assistance in doing so. The Greek troops in Kosovo are a perfect example of that. The support in Bosnia-Herzegovina is another example of that. Working as a neighbor with the governments of the various countries to help them take decisions that will move toward this eventual integration – we not only welcome, but appreciate greatly the leadership that Greece is showing. And we share the same sense of importance that this is critical to future European peace, stability, and prosperity. So working together as partners and supporting Greece’s unilateral efforts is something that we are committed to doing.

QUESTION: Thank you very much.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you.

Remarks to the Press

Philip J. Crowley
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs

Washington, DC

March 8, 2010

MR. CROWLEY: I see we have a compressed opportunity this afternoon, so we will get right to it. Happy International Women’s Day. All week, we’ll be honoring 10 international women of courage. Nine of them are already here in Washington. I think there’s one – a tenth woman from Iran who’s living in Europe will not attend. But on Wednesday, the Secretary will present awards to these courageous women and then she will present an award, the Ninth Annual Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards at the Kennedy Center. And on Friday, she’ll deliver remarks in honor of the 15^th anniversary of the United Nations World Conference on Women in Beijing at the United Nations in New York.

QUESTION: P.J., excuse me, you said the Iranian woman lives in Europe?

MR. CROWLEY: Yes.

QUESTION: So she physically will not be here?

MR. CROWLEY: Yes. I think you’ve seen the media note from George Mitchell that we have begun indirect talks and that he will be returning to the region next week.

Scott Gration leaves today for travel to Nairobi, Kenya and Doha, Qatar. He will be participating in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, or the IGAD summit, on Sudan. That will be in Nairobi. And then he will continue his work in Doha with representatives from the Darfuri armed movements to push the Darfur peace process forward.

Kurt Campbell is en route to Singapore. He will arrive today, our time, tomorrow Singaporean time for meetings there. He will depart Singapore on March 9 for Kuala Lumpur.

We send our condolences to the families and friends of those killed in the earthquake in Turkey and to all in the region hit by yet another earthquake – obviously, reports of about 51 people killed and 71 injured.

And finally, we obviously congratulate the people of Iraq on the elections yesterday. An impressive number of people went to the polls. I think some were – the early estimate is in excess of 60 percent. And notwithstanding some early incidents of violence yesterday morning, obviously, the people were not deterred and came out to vote in significant numbers.

With that, happy to take your questions.

QUESTION: Do you have anything on this --

MR. CROWLEY: Elise.

QUESTION: -- possible arrest of an American? There are conflicting reports of who this American is – Adam Gadahn – some other guy born in Pennsylvania. Do you – have you been – heard anything from the Pakistanis?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, we do not know if – (a) if there was a person arrested and (b) if that person is an American citizen. I think the latest I’ve seen, that people have discouraged the idea that this is Adam Gadahn.

QUESTION: Have you asked? Because there are multiple reports suggesting that the person was born in Pennsylvania, which would (inaudible).

MR. CROWLEY: We do not yet have confirmation. I’m sure that we are trying to find out.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) Secretary’s (inaudible) discussed with prime minister of Greece?

MR. CROWLEY: She will meet with Prime Minister Papandreou in about 30 minutes time. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions of both of them afterwards. I would anticipate it’ll be a wide-ranging discussion, including Afghanistan, Cyprus, the Balkans, and the economic crisis.

QUESTION: Can you tell me – tell us a little bit about what these Mitchell talks are going to look like? I mean, how – is there a form on time limit or is he going to just be sitting over there the whole time or are they going to --

MR. CROWLEY: No. I think – well, he’s coming back here today and he’ll be going back next week. I think this early stage will be a little bit on trying to work on how the process will take place.

QUESTION: Are you still talking about talks? I mean, they’ve --

MR. CROWLEY: No, no. We are – we will be – I think he obviously has talked to both of them. They have agreed to start and will come back next week with some ideas on how these – how the action – how they’ll take place.

QUESTION: So – in other words, that they’ve agreed to start, but when --

MR. CROWLEY: Yes.

QUESTION: -- he goes back next week, that is not necessarily the commencement, the start of these talks?

MR. CROWLEY: I would – yes, I would think that you could say that the indirect talks are underway and --

QUESTION: Well, yeah, but P.J., if you then – if you put it that way, the indirect talks have been underway since he was appointed, right? I mean, he’s been --

MR. CROWLEY: Fair enough. I mean, I think – I would say not all of these discussions will happen at the leadership level. They will be supplemented by experts who will be able to get into specific detail on these issues. But I think he’s coming back here and will go back in next week and he’ll have substantive discussions with the leaders and – but we’ll see what else happens.

QUESTION: Just to clarify, are they underway at this point or will they not be underway until he goes back next week?

QUESTION: Or will they even be underway when he goes back next week, since you’re still talking about how that might unfold?

QUESTION: Mm-hmm.

MR. CROWLEY: Well, I mean, are – both sides have agreed to indirect talks. Now you’ve got – one of your colleagues is saying they’ve already started. One of your – I mean, I’m not --

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

MR. CROWLEY: No, no, look, look. He will return to the region next week. It’s hard for me to describe what the agenda will be for those next meetings other than that he will come back and will continue these discussions. It’s just hard to – I can’t give you chapter and verse of what he’ll – what his talking points will be for next week.

QUESTION: It sounds like since there’s no agenda, the talks haven’t actually begun.

MR. CROWLEY: I mean, you’re asking me to – I mean, if it – whether it quacks or not, I don’t know. I mean, I –

I believe they’ve started. Okay? That – so, I think they’re underway. Now, as to how substantive the discussions were today, George is on his way back. He’ll report to the Secretary.

QUESTION: Can you do us a favor? I mean, can you double-check your – or take that question? Your – you believe that they have started, you believe that they’re underway? Or if your absolutely certain of that, that’s fine. But, “I believe,” is not --

MR. CROWLEY: I am certain.

QUESTION: That they have started?

MR. CROWLEY: Yes.

QUESTION: So what do you make of the disclosure about these 112 new housing units in --

MR. CROWLEY: I’ll take that question. I think we’re just trying to figure out what the --

QUESTION: How hard you want to come down on the Israelis?

MR. CROWLEY: No. If this was a project – if this was a project that has been underway and preceded the moratorium --

QUESTION: Well, Mitchell’s statement says that – appeals to both sides not to take any provocative actions. Is this provocative or not?

MR. CROWLEY: You’re absolutely right, and I’ll – let – we – ask me again tomorrow.

QUESTION: It happened today. It’s news today. It’s not news tomorrow.

MR. CROWLEY: I understand. I understand. I understand that.

QUESTION: Can you give Steinberg a call and find out what he wants to say about this?

QUESTION: There’s a long history of American envoys, up to and including the Secretary of State, going to Israel, announcing progress of one sort or another, getting on the plane and, sometimes before they even get off the ground the Israelis announce additional construction of one sort or another. And it – that’s why, I think, Matt is so interested in a comment about this today.

MR. CROWLEY: And I’m not disputing the point. I’m just simply saying that it’s useful to find out what is the background of this particular project before we comment on it.

QUESTION: Right, but here’s some background: The Vice President is there. Mitchell is there. He just announced these talks. He’s on his way back and they’ve announced these new – they’ve announced these new housing starts.

MR. CROWLEY: And I – the question about “new” is something that we just are double checking.

QUESTION: Can you try to get us an answer today rather than tomorrow?

MR. CROWLEY: Yes. I will take that question.

QUESTION: And is there any – I mean, any announcement on any construction of anything? Is today, like, the appropriate day to do that, is I guess is what we’re trying to ask.

MR. CROWLEY: Well, that’s a good question to ask the Israeli Government.

QUESTION: Well, I mean, and – you’re the one that are announcing the talks. Does an announcement like this --

MR. CROWLEY: We’ve announced the talks --

QUESTION: Well, but an announcement like this --

MR. CROWLEY: -- and we have announced that, hey, statements or actions which prejudice the outcome of these talks are not helpful.

QUESTION: But you can’t say right now --

MR. CROWLEY: But, again, I will – I’ve already agreed to take the question as to double checking what the details of this particular project is. Let me get the facts before we comment.

QUESTION: Thank you.

QUESTION: What about Iran sanctions and China? Steinberg – what’s the latest? How’s China looking on that subject?

MR. CROWLEY: Jim has returned. As he characterized last week, we thought they were constructive, but I’m not going to issue a play-by-play from here. Obviously this – the Secretary looks forward to a discussion this afternoon with the Gabonese president as they assume the presidency of the UN Security Council.

QUESTION: Can you tell us, P.J., at all, without getting – going into a play-by-play, but – that the talks were constructive in what regard on Iran or on Google and the internet or on Tibet or – is there any particular area in which they constructive?

MR. CROWLEY: I mean, Mr. Steinberg had a discussion on all of those issues. I’d throw climate change in there as well. Did we solve all of the differences regarding Iran in one meeting? We did not.

QUESTION: I know this is coming from the Treasury Department but they did, just about a half hour ago, put out a statement on letting internet providers in Sudan and elsewhere, and Iran. I just wondered if you had any comment on that.

QUESTION: (Laughter.) You have their statement.

MR. CROWLEY: Mm-hmm. And?

QUESTION: So, I mean, what are – what’s the significance of doing this, of letting these companies go in --

MR. CROWLEY: Well, it’s – certainly if you look at it as it represents precisely our strategy that the Secretary outlined in her internet freedom speech, we will continue to help people throughout the world with their ability to have a free flow of information and stay in touch with each other. So the license will help people in Iran, Sudan, Cuba use web-based chat services to better keep in touch with each other in the outside world.

QUESTION: Do you fear that this may bring you into conflict with your partners in places like China, who may not be so keen to have people web chatting?

MR. CROWLEY: I wouldn’t say it’s directed specifically against one country. We’re working in more than 40 countries to help individuals silenced by oppressive governments. We think that internet freedom is a priority. And obviously, equipping these people with the modern tools of communication and technology is part of the universal principle that we will continue to support.

QUESTION: I’m sorry, but you do or you don’t think that this is going to bring you into conflict with countries whom you regard as oppressive? I mean, I think it’s likely to. Don’t you think that they’re going to be annoyed by this?

MR. CROWLEY: We’re – I mean, we’re pursuing what we think are universal principles and we’ll continue to do that. It’s fully consistent with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that many of these same countries have signed actually.

QUESTION: If the Greeks ask for help are you going to help them? Are you willing to help them?

MR. CROWLEY: Let’s have the meeting first.

QUESTION: On Japan, the foreign ministry is doing an internal review on this U.S.-Japan secret nuclear pact, and it’s going to be concluded this week. Are there any – is there anything that the U.S. expects to come out of that, any specific judgment or any comment on it?

MR. CROWLEY: I don’t have a particular comment at this point.

QUESTION: Six members of the Pakistani parliament who were from FATA they cut short their trip in protest because they said that they were forced to undergo extra security measures at the Washington airport. So, any comment on that?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, we regret that some of them decided to return home. Some of them continued on with their travel. They were subject to the same aviation procedures that many of us have been subjected to on a random basis. I think it was reported in Pakistan that of the 11 parliamentarians that were here on a visitor program, two of them were subject to full body screening. But it just underscores where these are measures that we’ve put in place to protect all people who travel through the global aviation – the transportation system anywhere in the world.

QUESTION: It was random. They weren’t singled out?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, obviously, there were 11 in the group, and two of them were subjected to full body.

QUESTION: Can I ask on North Korea? I have a couple of questions. The first one,
Robert Park who – U.S. citizen who was released last Monday from North Korea, there are many reports that he is tortured harshly in North Korea, so because of that he is mentally unstable and he’s in hospital. And some of his friends said that he – even committed suicide (inaudible). So do you have any comment on that? I think it’s serious in case if it’s true.

MR. CROWLEY: I mean, he’s – he is a private citizen. We’re grateful to have him back within the United States. I would defer to the Park family if they want to describe his time in North Korea. We obviously have no ability to independently verify any of those reports.

QUESTION: Has there been any investigation from State Department about this allegation that he is tortured in North Korea?

MR. CROWLEY: I can’t say whether we have any – have had, as a government, any kind of debriefing with him. I just don’t know.

QUESTION: And the other thing is on the U.S. Government’s effort to continuously implement sanction on North Korea, do you know that Ambassador Goldberg from Senate and moved to his new position as assistant secretary for research and --

MR. CROWLEY: Mm-hmm.

QUESTION: Yeah. So who’s leading that effort now and --

MR. CROWLEY: He has that – he has both the INR portfolio and he remains also in charge of implementation of 1874.

QUESTION: And I wanted to ask is there any (inaudible) North Korea new update on --

MR. CROWLEY: No new update.

QUESTION: Have the Libyans calmed down now?

MR. CROWLEY: I don’t know.

QUESTION: You don’t know? Has anything been – has there been any outreach to them?

MR. CROWLEY: Mm-hmm.

QUESTION: Yes? What was that?

MR. CROWLEY: Assistant Secretary Feltman and myself – we had a meeting with the ambassador here in Washington on Friday.

QUESTION: And?

MR. CROWLEY: And we talked about the situation and pledged, as indicated publicly, that we were committed to the relationship and that we would move forward with the ongoing dialogue.

QUESTION: Was there an apology in the --

MR. CROWLEY: I’m not going to characterize a private meeting.

QUESTION: What general role do you expect Biden to play in the indirect talks?

MR. CROWLEY: I’ll – I’m not sure. I wouldn’t characterize that there’ll be a role for the Vice President. But I think he’ll have high-level meetings while he’s in the region. But I’ll defer to the White House to describe them.

QUESTION: Has the ambassador dropped his demand for an apology?

MR. CROWLEY: You’re welcome to ask the ambassador.

QUESTION: Don’t – I mean, I’m not – don’t (inaudible) --

QUESTION: Well, okay. Is it resolved? Is the issue resolved? From your point of view is it resolved?

MR. CROWLEY: From our point of view, we’ve said all we’re going to say about it publicly.

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

MR. CROWLEY: Back to an earlier question, we have discussed this housing project with the Israeli officials. We’ve been informed that this is not a new project. And under the terms of the moratorium Israel announced in November, construction on them can be completed.

QUESTION: You have no objection whatsoever with their going ahead with this project?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, it – as I just said, it – on the one hand, it does not violate the moratorium that the Israelis previously announced. On the other hand, this is the kind of thing that both sides have to be cautious about as we move ahead with these parallel talks.

QUESTION: So – but it – going back to Libya, is it – this is over now?

MR. CROWLEY: We think it is.

QUESTION: Just to – sorry, to go back to the Middle East thing or to the construction. You said this is the kind of thing that both sides need to be cautious about even though it fits under the terms of the moratorium. Does that mean that this is the kind of thing that you regard as provocative or potentially provocative and that, therefore, both sides should avoid?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, I think it is – when you’re in talks of this kind, you have to recognize the interests and perceptions of the other side. And both sides should be cautious about actions that might be either misperceived within the region or that might be exploited by those who want to create obstacles to further progress.

QUESTION: Well, does – I mean, you’d rather that they not have done this?

MR. CROWLEY: As I just said – I can just repeat what I just said before, which is we – it does not violate the moratorium. But this is the kind of thing that both sides should be cautious of as we move forward.

Okay, I’ve got to go see the prime minister. We’ll see you upstairs.

QUESTION: Thank you, sir.

QUESTION: Did she have any bilats on Friday when she – at the UN? Can you let us know?

MR. CROWLEY: Fair question.

QUESTION: Thank you.

United States and El Salvador Extend Agreement to Protect Archaeological Heritage of El Salvador

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

March 8, 2010

The U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce the extension of the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of El Salvador Concerning the Imposition of Import Restrictions on Certain Categories of Archaeological Material from the Pre-Hispanic Cultures of the Republic of El Salvador. The U.S. Embassy in San Salvador and the Ministry of Foreign of Affairs of El Salvador exchanged diplomatic notes to extend the agreement and the Department of Homeland Security has published notification of the extended restrictions in the Federal Register. By extending this agreement, the United States demonstrates its continued respect for the cultural heritage of El Salvador and concern for the irretrievable loss of information about human history.

Effective March 8, 2010, this extension represents a continuation of cooperation that began in 1995 when El Salvador requested assistance from the United States pursuant to Article 9 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. Recognizing that certain of El Salvador’s heritage remains in jeopardy from pillage, the agreement enables the continued imposition of import restrictions on certain categories of archaeological material ranging in date from approximately 8000 B.C. to approximately 1550 A.D., including objects made of ceramic, metal, and stone. In 2009, the Department of Homeland Security recovered such material upon importation into the United States, including ceramic vessels and musical instruments dating to A.D. 300 to 900. These will be repatriated to Salvadoran authorities.

The agreement also calls upon both governments to encourage academic institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and other private entities to cooperate in the exchange of knowledge and information about the cultural patrimony of El Salvador, and to collaborate in its preservation and protection.

The Department of Homeland Security first published a Designated List of restricted categories of objects in the Federal Register in March 1995. The restricted objects may legally enter the United States only if accompanied by an export permit issued by the Government of the Republic of El Salvador or documentation verifying the objects’ provenance prior to 1995, and if no other applicable U.S. laws are violated. The Designated List and information about the agreement are at http://exchanges.state.gov/heritage/culprop/esfact.html.

The extension is consistent with recommendations of the Cultural Property Advisory Committee to the Department of State. The Committee is a presidentially appointed body established to make findings and recommendations to the Department on these matters.

Media Contact: Catherine Stearns, 202-632-6437 and StearnsCL@State.gov

U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration to Travel to Kenya and Qatar

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

March 8, 2010

U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration will travel to Nairobi, Kenya, and Doha, Qatar, from March 8 to March 15, 2010.

Special Envoy Gration will travel to Nairobi, Kenya, to participate in the Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Summit on Sudan, which will focus on issues related to implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and on how the international community can coordinate to further its implementation.

Special Envoy Gration will then travel to Doha, Qatar, where he will resume his active engagement with the Darfuri armed movements and officials from the Government of Sudan to push the Darfur peace process forward and to provide his support to ensuring that the peace process is inclusive and comprehensive.

Statement by Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

March 8, 2010

Following is a statement by Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell:

I’m pleased that the Israeli and Palestinian leadership have accepted indirect talks. We've begun to discuss the structure and scope of these talks and I will return to the region next week to continue our discussions. As we've said many times, we hope that these will lead to direct negotiations as soon as possible. We also again encourage the parties, and all concerned, to refrain from any statements or actions which may inflame tensions or prejudice the outcome of these talks.

International Women's Day: Colors of Warka opens at the State Department

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

March 8, 2010

The U.S. Diplomacy Center (http://diplomacy.state.gov) opens the exhibit The Colors of Warka: Paintings by Iraqi Women of Muthanna Province on Monday, March 8, from 4:00 – 4:30 PM, in the Exhibit Hall of the Department of State.

Remarks will be given by Aaron Snipe, a Foreign Service Officer who initiated the exhibit as a public diplomacy project sponsored by a local non-governmental organization, while he was serving in Iraq on a U.S. Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT). He will introduce the paintings and share the courageousness these women artists of Iraq’s Muthanna Province demonstrated by exhibiting their work in Iraq. These paintings are on view in the U.S. for the first time.

The 2010 Secretary’s International Women of Courage Award winners (http://www.state.gov/s/gwi/iwoc/2010/index.htm) will also be in attendance.

The remarks will be open to the press coverage.

Pre-set time for cameras: 3:40 p.m. from the 23^rd Street entrance.
Final access time for all press: 3:50 p.m. from the 23^rd Street entrance.

Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) A U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification card (driver's license, passport).

PRESS CONTACTS:
Katie Speckart
U.S. Diplomacy Center
U.S. Department of State
202-736-9054
SpeckartKG@state.gov

To see the paintings online, please go to http://diplomacy.state.gov/exhibitions/warka