Televised Remarks by the National Security Advisor to the Inter American Press Association
Eisenhower Executive Building, Room 459
4:03 P.M. EDT
Q Good afternoon. We will be initiating our second session.
I'd like to thank Dr. Condoleezza Rice for being here with us through
electronic satellite system. For those of us, as journalists, it's a
great privilege and pleasure to be able to count on her presence here
in our meeting today because honestly, she is an individual that --
she's one of the newsmakers of the world. And we must admit that
whether or not we're in agreement with her decisions, and the advice
that she gives President Bush, as National Security Advisor, we can be
in agreement or not, but we must recognize that she is a woman of
immense value and great ability to synthesize the problems of the
world.
For no reason, it's obviously -- it's not a bad thing for her to be
occupying this position -- not just for the people of this country, but
the world. She's the author of several very important books: In 1995,
Germany Unified and Europe Transformed, with Mr. Philip Zelikow; The
Gorbachev Era, in 1986, with Alexander Dallin; and Uncertain
Allegiance: The Soviet Union and the Czechoslovak Army, in 1984.
In addition, she had a very important position as the provost of
none other than Stanford, where she was the chief officer of budget and
academic affairs, and handled half a billion dollars; 14,000 students,
and 1,400 first-class university professors. So let us welcome Dr.
Rice. And we'd like to invite her to please present her message to
us. Thank you.
DR. RICE: Thank you very much. (Applause.) Thank you. It's a
great pleasure to be here by the wonders of technology, in Washington,
D.C., and to be able to speak with you in Chicago. I want to thank
very much (inaudible.) and Andres Garcia (ph) and the delegates for
giving me this opportunity to be with you. I'll speak briefly, and
then I will be happy to entertain your questions.
The administration of President George W. Bush has not only a
strong record in the Western Hemisphere, but a deep and abiding
interest in the region. President Bush, from the time that he ran for
office as President of the United States, made clear that he believed
that sound American foreign policy starts in our own neighborhood.
The President has met with nearly all of the hemisphere's heads of
state, including a ministerial-level summit with Brazilian President
Lula. He has traveled to Mexico, Canada, Peru, and El Salvador, and he
looks forward to returning to Mexico in January for a special Summit of
the Americas.
This President's vision for the Americas is a fully democratic
hemisphere, working together to achieve market-based development,
representative democracy and security that improves the lives of its
citizens. The President is committed to advancing trade liberalization
globally, regionally, and with individual nations in order to promote
economic development and democratic governance among our trading
partners.
The President said it this way on September 3rd during the signing
ceremony for the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement -- he said: "For
developing nations, free trade tied to economic reform has helped to
lift hundred of millions of people out of poverty."
As such, we are working to complete by the end of this year a
free-trade agreement with five Central American countries, Costa Rica,
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. And we have notified
the Congress of our intention to negotiate a free-trade agreement with
the Dominican Republic.
These initiatives compliment the United States' goal of achieving a
genuine, comprehensive free-trade area in the hemisphere. And we
believe that the free-trade area of the Americas, the FTAA is the best
route to achieving that goal. The President is committed to
strengthening the region's democratic institutions by promoting good
governance and combating corruption. The Inter American Democratic
Charter, adopted on September 11, 2001, ironically for the United
States, day that will always stay seared in our memory, but that
democratic charter was adopted, reaffirming the region's commitment to
freedom and to democracy.
And I just want to note that as we speak right now, the Bolivian
government, Bolivia is facing a great challenge. There have already
been lives lost. We, the Organization of American States, and the
international community must fully support the democratic,
constitutional government of Bolivia. And our thoughts and hopes for a
peaceful resolution are with the Bolivian people.
The administration is firmly dedicated, too, to a proactive Cuba
policy that will assist the Cuban people in their struggle for
freedom. As the President emphasized just last week, we remain
committed to the goal of achieving a rapid, peaceful transition to
democracy in Cuba, using the dissuasive tools of economic embargo and
travel restriction. But the President also announced the establishment
of a Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba. And this commission,
co-chaired by Secretaries Colin Powell and Mel Martinez, will prepare
the U.S. government to assist the Cuban people with an orderly and
peaceful transition from tyranny to democracy.
The administration supports a peaceful, democratic and
constitutional and electoral solution to Venezuela's ongoing political
crisis consistent with the OAS Permanent Council Resolution 833. We
consider this an issue for the region, and we are fully supportive of
the efforts of the OAS in this regard.
The United States is committed to providing strong, economic and
security assistance in support of the Colombian people. We are working
closely with President Uribe in the fight against narco-terrorists, in
the eradication of coca and poppy, and in the interdiction of illicit
drugs and the extradition of criminals.
Since September 11, 2001, we have been pleased to have the
excellent cooperation of our hemispheric partners to combat terror.
And we have especially enhanced border security with Mexico and Canada,
while ensuring the intense pace of legal movement of people and goods
along our land borders is maintained.
Looking ahead to the special Summit of the Americas to be hosted in
Mexico in January, we will emphasize the positive message that
democratic governance, sound pro-growth economic policy, and investment
in health and education create opportunity for all citizens. This
agenda will help build on and advance the commitments agreed to in
April of 2001, at the Summit of Americas in Quebec City.
We are working toward the establishment of the Millennium Challenge
Account, the President's groundbreaking initiative that links a 50
percent increase in development assistance to just government,
investments in people and economic freedom because the United States
wants to join with developing countries in our hemisphere and beyond to
demonstrate that performance by governments in these critical areas can
build a development partnership focused on growth and embodying the new
development paradigm agreed to at Monterrey.
I want to close by simply saying that this President is committed
to a hemisphere that is free, democratic, governed wisely, governed
without corruption, that trades in freedom and where growth and
prosperity spread. He looks forward to working with the many leaders
in the hemisphere, who he knows, to working with the regional
organizations of the hemisphere, and to looking for a brighter and
greater future for the peoples of our own neighborhood, the Western
Hemisphere.
Thank you very much for your attention. And I'm happy to take your
questions. (Applause.)
Q Thank you, very much, Dr. Rice. Well, we have some
questions. Then we have some questions. As Mr. President said we ask,
those who have questions, to pose them from the podium, so that Dr.
Rice can see them as they do so.
Q Thank you. As you all mention, there's a strong cooperation
between the Colombian government and President Bush. President Uribe
is one of the U.S.'s strongest allies in this moment, not only in the
war against terrorism, also because Uribe is one of the few Latin
American presidents to support the Iraqi operation. Nevertheless, a
recent law that the Uribe government wants to pass for the
demobilization of the illegal armed groups has met with a strong
criticism in Colombian public opinion because it's considered too
lenient for the paramilitary groups. I understand that the U.S.
government also has objections to this law. I would like, Ms. Rice, if
you could clarify what these objections are, please?
DR. RICE: Well, in fact, the President recently met with President
Uribe. And President Uribe was also in discussions with several
leaders on Capitol Hill. We fully support the efforts that the
President is employing in Colombia to try and deal finally with the
narco-terrorism and the terrible terrorism that has befallen the
Colombian people. We are, in fact, in discussions with the Uribe
government about the law concerning what might happen to
paramilitaries. And it is very clear, from the administration, that we
are concerned about some aspects. But we believe that it will be very
possible to work with the Colombian government. And after all, it will
finally be a decision for the Colombian government and for the
Colombian people as to how they deal with issues of reconciliation, as
they try to move to a better day for Colombia.
Q Thank you.
Q Good afternoon, Dr. Rice. Venezuela -- the Venezuelan
government, at least to the best information in our newsroom, has
limited and curtailed U.S. drug interdiction flights in a country whose
constitution does not allow extradition to the U.S. Venezuela has
failed to follow on the San Jose Accords to supply oil to the Dominican
Republic, thus complicating the triangulation with Mexico. The Chavez
administration, we know, supplies daily some $50 million of oil to
Cuba, and has gone on record as supporting Evo Morales in Bolivia.
Briefly put, ma'am, to what extent does Venezuela's internal
polarization and the problems that we are undergoing on our way to
fulfilling the mandate of OAS 833 towards a democratic, constitutional
and electoral solution to the problem pose in your mind the status that
Venezuela may be putting at significant risk both the security and the
stability of the entire Andean and Caribbean region if that electoral
solution is not reached soon?
Thank you.
DR. RICE: Well, thank you very much. Let me start by saying that
we are very supportive of the efforts of the Organization of American
States in trying to oversee a process that will get Venezuela to a
constitutional, electoral process that will resolve these issues. We
do not consider this to be a bilateral issue with Venezuela , but
rather a regional issue. And it should be treated as such.
As to certain responsibilities that Venezuela ought to be
exercising in the hemisphere, I think it is no secret -- and it would
certainly be no secret to you -- that we have had our concerns about
some of the activities of the Venezuelan government. And we make those
known to Venezuela on a regular basis.
Venezuela does have responsibilities in the hemisphere to fight
terrorism, to fight narco-trafficking, to make certain that it is
responsible in its economic activities in the region. And as to Cuba,
Cuba remains the one government that cannot even be seated at the
Organization of American States because the governments that are seated
at the Organization of American States are committed to democracy.
And so we've had our differences with the Venezuelan government.
We continue to. We believe that Venezuela ought to fully live up to
the responsibilities that it has to this hemisphere for security and
economic prosperity in this hemisphere. And we are very focused on
trying to get to a peaceful referendum so that these issues can be
resolved.
Thank you very much.
Q Thank you, ma'am.
Q Dr. Rice, in your words you spoke of the role of the U.S.
government in international policy. And you expressed your desire,
your concerns about the future. Regarding this future, the Inter
America Press Association is very concerned about the threats that
freedom of press is facing in the context on the next World Summit of
the Information Society, under the sponsorship of the U.N., with the
direct participation of the Union International Telecommunications and
UNESCO to be held in December in Geneva. There is an attempt to have
the summit approve a plan of action and a statement that imposes
restrictions upon the free media, radio and TV, an attempt to curtail
the freedom of these media.
In 1980s, the United States of America held a firm position in
defense of a free press that led to the United States leaving UNESCO.
Today, after the U.S. has decided to return to UNESCO, it is of great
importance -- it matters a great deal to us to IAPA, to be sure that
the U.S. government will take a firm and active stand, and that it will
have a delegation in Geneva -- will be with us, defending the free
press. We would like very much, ma'am, to hear your comments on these
issues that I have just mentioned.
Thank you very much.
DR. RICE: Thank you. The United States has, indeed, rejoined
UNESCO, and the forum about which you're talking, my understanding is
that this a dialogue on global communication in a new era. And it is
important that there be such a dialogue about the importance of global
communication. It's important that we talk about how to make certain
that that communication can take place by all means in all countries,
for instance, the use of the Internet and how it has changed global
communications. I think this is simply to be an opening dialogue on
this very important subject. Of course, the United States is founded
-- one of our first freedoms is freedom of the press. And the United
States has been a strong voice for and proponent for a free press.
Q Thank you very much.
Q Good afternoon, Dr. Rice. It is, indeed, a pleasure to talk
to you. We heard that you reinforced your security measures along the
U.S. and Canadian borders. And personally, I think you're fully
justified in doing so. Nonetheless, I would like to know whether you
have weighed the damages that are being caused to us and are being
caused to you, as well, because a lot more Mexicans than usual are
crossing the border as undocumented aliens without no control -- and
could you tell us when do you have plans to lift or to change this
measure?
Thank you.
DR. RICE: After September 11th, we did have to work with our
partners in Mexico and in Canada to try and improve border security.
We've learned that we did have a number of problems in border
security. My colleague, Tom Ridge, the Secretary for Homeland
Security, has been working with his counterparts, I think, very
effectively. They've instituted a program called Smart Borders, which
is an effort to use technology and to use cooperation to improve border
security so that people do not cross the border who should not cross
the border, but to allow the free movement of goods and of services and
of people legally across the border. These are very important
elements.
And we would be the first to say that it will require more work.
It will require continued experience in how to make our borders more
secure without cutting off commerce, which is what we do not want to
do. The commerce that has been brought to us by NAFTA is so important
to all of our economies that, of course, we want the free flow of goods
and services. But I do believe that we've made a lot of progress since
September 11th. Tom Ridge meets frequently with his counterparts. And
I believe that we will continue to make progress on this very important
issue.
Q Thank you.
DR. RICE: Thank you.
Q We have one last question.
Q Thank you very much, ma'am, for your words this afternoon.
My question is, what is the final position of the President of the
United States regarding travel to Cuba that gives so much money to
Castro's totalitarian tyranny? That is my question. What will be the
President's decision? Is it going be an effective -- is it going to
become effective soon? Or is it going to be a long-term thing?
DR. RICE: Well, thank you very much. The President just last week
directed the Homeland Security Department to significantly tighten the
travel restrictions that have been on the books. There's supposed to
allowed travel for, say, humanitarian purposes to Cuba. But we know
that there are a lot of people who are using the travel opportunities
to go to Cuba in ways that end up enriching the Cuban government
because the Cubans are able to take the money in hard currency, to then
pay the workers in fairly worthless pesos, and to pocket the difference
between that hard currency and the pesos that they pay. This is simply
unacceptable.
And the President has directed Homeland Security to put together a
real enforcement program and to really begin to enforce these travel
restrictions. I cannot tell you that it will happen tomorrow because
these things take time. But I can tell you that there is a firm
commitment to begin immediately enforcing these travel restrictions as
quickly and as fully as possible. And this President could not be more
committed because we do not want to enrich the tyrannical government of
Fidel Castro. We do not want to allow him to use these monies to fund
his tyranny, his crackdown on dissidents, which has been really awful
this year.
And if I could just make one final point about Cuba, last year, the
President in a new Cuba initiative made an offer to the Cuban
government. He said that he was prepared to think about changing some
of our relations with Cuba, easing some of our restrictions, if Fidel
Castro would just permit free elections for his people and begin to
undo some of his tyrannical ways. And what was the answer to that?
The answer was a crackdown on dissidents that has earned Castro the
tremendous criticism of countries around the world. This needs to be
an international effort. It is unacceptable that Cuba remains in the
state that it does in this hemisphere. In a time when democracy and
freedom and prosperity are within the grasp of people in the
hemisphere, it should not be that the Cuban people are forgotten.
Thank you very much.
Q Thank you, Ma'am. (Applause.)
Q That concludes the presentation here today. Thank you very
much on behalf of the Inter American Press Association.