- Title: USA: IVANOV AND POWELL SPEAK TO MEDIA AFTER MEETING.
- Date: 19th May 2001
- Summary: WASHINGTON, DC, USA (MAY 18, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV/PAN: US SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV WALK INTO ROOM/ JOURNALISTS AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE 0.09 2. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) US SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL SAYING: "We shared our deep concern over the mounting violence seen again today, violence which has plagued efforts to find a peaceful, just and lasting solution to this troubled region. We also discussed ways in which the Mitchell committee report might be used to promote new diplomatic efforts designed to end the violence and promote confidence and dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians." 0.40 3. GV: JOURNALISTS AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE 0.48 4. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV SAYING: "We, in great detail, have discussed some of the key regional issues. We noted something that Secretary Powell already said, a very positive example of the constructive relationship and cooperation between our two countries on the ways of finding a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. And we are prepared in the future as well to undertake all the energetic efforts to prevent any crisis situations in the Middle East, cooperate in the Balkans, continue the dialogue on other regional issues, including the very complex issue such as the settlement of the business in Iraq." 1.31 5. GV: WIDE 1.35 6. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) POWELL SAYING: "I emphasised our interest in Russia's advancement along the path of democracy, rule of law and economic reform. These changes are vital to ensure Russia's prosperity and stability over the long term. In this regard, we also discussed the strong support we have for the independent media in Russia." 1.59 7. GV/SV: MEDIA (2 SHOTS) 2.09 8. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) IVANOV SAYING: "To support something or not support something, it's necessary to know what we're talking about. It is precisely with this in mind that we are holding very active consultations. In order to be able to assess the capabilities or what kind of ABM system we are talking about. What is the content, what is it aimed at? This is really the substance of the consultations. Naturally, today the world is not the world that existed 30 years ago. Naturally, today, the international community is up against new threats which have appeared..." 2.53 9. GV: WIDE 2.58 10. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) POWELL SAYING: "Consultations can't be a substitute for action. So we will take the necessary time to get the views of all who have an interest in this matter and factor those views into our consideration. At the time when we think there has been enough consultation and we've reached agreements with others, then we will act on those agreements or act on what we believe are our best interests at that time." 3.26 11. GV/PAN: IVANOV AND POWELL LEAVING THE NEWS CONFERENCE 4.03 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 3rd June 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: WASHINGTON, DC, USA
- City:
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVAEL6G7UVDIKQD9UBNO8RDQGBX2
- Story Text: U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Russian
Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov met for wide-ranging talks during
which they expressed a common concern over the bloodshed in
the Middle East.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell also said on Friday
(May 18) that there was a limit to consultations with other
countries on U.S. plans for missile defense after which
Washington would have to take action in its own interests.
On the Middle East, Powell said that Russia and the United
States "share a deep concern over the mounting violence seen
again today, violence which has plagued efforts to find a
peaceful, just and lasting solution to this troubled region."
He spoke after a suicide bombing followed by retaliatory
Israeli air strikes killed 16 people and injured 200 in one of
the bloodiest days since a Palestinian uprising erupted nearly
eight months ago.
Israel sent its warplanes on missile attacks in
Palestinian-ruled areas for the first time.
Powell also said the two discussed ways to use the
"Mitchell report" as a catalyst for resumption of peace talks
between Palestinians and Israelis. A commission led by former
U.S. Sen. George Mitchell is due to release the final draft of
its report on the violence at a news conference in New York on
Monday (May 21).
Once the report is public, attention will shift to the
U.S. administration, which is expected to take a public
position on it before Powell leaves for a trip to Africa and
Europe on Tuesday.
The most controversial element is the commission's call
for a freeze on Jewish settlement activity in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip, which has been rejected by the Israeli
government.
The talks also focused on the defense shield that the
United States is pursuing. Powell said that Washington
intended to pursue consultations, but this process could not
be indefinite.
"Consultations can't be a substitute for action. So we
will take the necessary time to get the views of all who have
an interest in this matter and factor those views into our
consideration," he said. "At the time when we think there has
been enough consultation and we've reached agreements with
others, then we will act on those agreements or act on what we
believe are our best interests at that time."
President George W. Bush's proposal to proceed with the
shield to counter possible missile strikes by "rogue states"
has run into Russian and Chinese objections that it would
compromise the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. It has also
been met with scepticism by U.S. allies in Europe.
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