Secretary of State Colin Powell and Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller focused on Iraq during their discussion at the State Department April 26.

"We specifically focused on Iraq, the contribution that Denmark is making in Iraq," Powell remarked to journalists afterwards. "They have been a strong supporter of our efforts to restore democracy and to give the Iraqi people hope for a better life, and the steadfastness that the Danes have shown has been very encouraging to us."

In his opening remarks, Moeller said it was "very important that we help the Iraqi people to get a life of freedom. That means we have to be there to stabilize the situation in Iraq so that the people can enjoy the freedom, and we find it very, very important that those who want to destroy the future of Iraq will not carry the day."

Powell said he and Moeller discussed how a new U.N. Security Council resolution on Iraq could be used "to broaden the coalition, to get more nations to contribute to the coalition."

Asked about the "no" vote by Greek Cypriots in the recent referendum on U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's plan to resolve the Cyprus problem, Powell replied, "Obviously, we were very disappointed. We believe that an important opportunity, a historic opportunity, was lost."

He said the United States is currently "reviewing" its position, "and we will also be reviewing the actions of the European Union to make sure that we are operating in a way that it is consistent with our European colleagues."

Regarding the train blast relief effort in North Korea, Powell said the United States is "making the United Nations aware of our willingness to participate in whatever relief efforts it might be appropriate for us to participate in."

Powell also was asked about a reported remark by Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faysal "that not a penny of money is going from Saudi Arabia to terrorists."

"I'm pleased that he is being so categorical about it," Powell said, because our information is that the Saudis now see it the same way we do, and they know that these organizations have to be destroyed and cannot be supported in any way -- implicitly, explicitly, tacitly, non-tacitly, in any way."

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
April 26, 2004

REMARKS BY SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN L. POWELL
AND DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER PER STIG MOELLER
AFTER THEIR MEETING

April 26, 2004
C Street Entrance
Washington, D.C.

11:35 a.m. EDT

SECRETARY POWELL: I'm very pleased to have received this morning Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller and Vice Premier Motzfedt. It's a pleasure to see them here in Washington.

We had good conversations. We talked about our bilateral relations and we specifically focused on Iraq, the contribution that Denmark is making in Iraq. They have been a strong supporter of our efforts to restore democracy and to give the Iraqi people hope for a better life, and the steadfastness that the Danes have shown has been very encouraging to us.

We also talked about other issues: Afghanistan, the support that Denmark has given us there as well. We talked about the Middle East at some considerable length, the Greater Middle East Initiative, our interest in assisting the Arab nations as they work on their reform initiative and as we get that ready for possible discussion at meetings in the course of the next couple of months with the European Union and G-8, and, of course, perhaps even a NATO role to be played in all of this.

It's a great pleasure to welcome the Minister back. And, Mr. Minister, I invite you to say a word and then we'll take a couple of questions.

FOREIGN MINISTER MOELLER: Thank you. Thank you very much. I can affirm that we had a good discussion about the matters, which was mentioned by Colin Powell. We find it very important that we help the Iraqi people to get a life of freedom. That means we have to be there to stabilize the situation in Iraq so that the people can enjoy the freedom, and we find it very, very important that those who want to destroy the future of Iraq will not carry the day.

That's also why I find it important that we get a new United Nations resolution, which makes it possible to get a broader support for the Iraqi people to the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq.

What concerns the Middle East, I want to say that we find the roadmap for peace is still the fundament for peace in the -- between Israel and Palestine. It must end with a two-state solution and only a negotiated solution will be a viable solution; otherwise, there will be forces which will fight against the solution which is not a negotiated solution.

So we see Gaza, the initiatives on Gaza, as a first step, not the last steps, towards the goal of the two-state solution.

Otherwise, I can confirm that in Afghanistan we are together also there. We find the possibility of peace in Afghanistan promising, but that means also we had to stay there; and then, of course, we'll work together also in stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, which is very important work for us in the future.

Thank you.

QUESTION: Mr. Minister, does your -- do your remarks about Iraq mean that Denmark needs a UN resolution to keep troops there? You know, we're a little confused. Your Defense Minister resigned, and you and the Secretary have made very strong statements of support, though.

So what is the situation? Do you need a resolution?

FOREIGN MINISTER MOELLER: What the situation is that we have Resolution 1511, which only runs out in October, I think. That means the resolution is okay, but if we want a broader support, it is obvious that we need a new resolution which authorizes a new government on the 1st of July and ask countries to come in and stabilize and help the new government.

And we have said if a new government does not invite us to stay, we will not stay, because the new government has authorities and must have authority to invite countries to stay. And I've said that also the Iraqi authority when I was in Baghdad three or four weeks ago. And I said, "We will not stay unless we're invited." And they said, "You will be invited."

SECRETARY POWELL: The context of the conversation we were having was that in order to expand contributors, the number of contributors to providing troops to Iraq and other support to Iraq, a new UN resolution would be quite appropriate and proper, as we get closer to transferring sovereignty. And of course, we would also expect the new sovereign, the new government in Iraq to invite security forces to stay and to encourage others to come.

And so the context of our conversation was, how could we use that resolution to broaden the coalition, to get more nations to contribute to the coalition. Denmark remains steadfast throughout this period, and of course, would like to see a broader resolution, as well as a continuing invitation from the Iraqi government.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, the Danish Government has said that they are ready to take on a little -- a further role in Iraq. Could you elaborate a little on what you could envision could be Denmark's role in Iraq in the coming months?

SECRETARY POWELL: Well, if -- I think I'd better yield to the Foreign Minister and let him describe.

FOREIGN MINISTER MOELLER: I don't think we are starting with a misquotation here. So we have said we'll stay. We have not talked about - coming roles.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, do you have any reaction to the results of the referendum in Cyprus, and what is going to happen with the Turkish Cypriots that voted with 65 percent "yes," and if the Foreign Minister has a comment on that also.

SECRETARY POWELL: Obviously, we were very disappointed. We believe that an important opportunity, a historic opportunity, was lost. But the people have spoken, and one must listen to the will of the people when they speak through referenda or through other means of expressing their view.

The European Union is meeting on it today, and I think they have made some statements about how they will continue to provide assistance to Turkish Cypriots. We are reviewing our position and we will also be reviewing the actions of the European Union to make sure that we are operating in a way that it is consistent with our European colleagues.

But I believe a great opportunity has been lost.

FOREIGN MINISTER MOELLER: Yes, I have the same opinion, that this opportunity should have been used by the Turkish and the Greek. Now we see that the Turkish people on Cyprus wanted to join the European Union and we are glad that they wanted, and that's why, of course, we have to have a good relationship with them and we'll look into how we can do it. It still is a divided island, and we had hoped the division would have stopped. And we have supported the United Nation plan, we have supported Kofi Annan and we have worked upon it.

But as Colin Powell said, we have to respect what the people decide, but also we have to realize that the Turkish Cypriots wanted to join the European Union and then we have to look positively into it.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, the situation in North Korea seems to be getting very dire, and the Red Cross has sent out an appeal for support. Will the U.S. provide any assistance to North Korea to help clean this tragedy up?

SECRETARY POWELL: Yes, we are working with the United Nations and we will be making an offer of some financial assistance, and we're waiting to see what the need is and what else we might be able to do.

This is a humanitarian tragedy. Children have been injured, homes lost, and America has always been a giving nation that will respond in time of need. And so we are making the United Nations aware of our willingness to participate in whatever relief efforts it might be appropriate for us to participate in.

QUESTION: The Saudi Foreign Minister has said that not a penny of money is going from Saudi Arabia to terrorists, to al-Qaida and Hamas. Are you satisfied that not a penny is going from Saudi Arabia?

SECRETARY POWELL: I can't make the same categorical statement that he did, but I accept his categorical statement. I do know, as he said, that in the aftermath of 9/11 and in the aftermath of the last year's worth of terrorist attacks that have taken place in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia realizes that this is a common cause that we have to give no support of any kind -- political support or financial support -- to al-Qaida or any other terrorist organizations.

And I'm pleased that he is being so categorical about it because our information is that the Saudis now see it the same way we do, and they know that these organizations have to be destroyed and cannot be supported in any way -- implicitly, explicitly, tacitly, non-tacitly, in any way.

Thank you.

(Secretary escorts Foreign Minister Moeller to his car.)

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, (inaudible) did ask about the report on releasing the hostage in Iraq and there are some --

SECRETARY POWELL: I'm sorry?

QUESTION: Releasing the hostage in Iraq. And there are some report in The Washington Post that U.S. thinking of secluding Chalabi from assuming responsibilities after June the 30th. How do you view that development?

SECRETARY POWELL: We're examining what political arrangement should exist and be most appropriate for the new interim government. We're in conversations with Ambassador Brahimi and it would be premature at this point to describe those conversations or who the personalities are that we might be looking at or that the Iraqis might be looking to assume positions in the interim government.

Thank you.