Daily Press Briefing for August 14 -- Transcript

   Daily Press BriefingPhilip T. Reeker, Deputy SpokesmanWashington, DCAugust 14, 2002INDEX:

IRAQ

1-2 Meetings with Iraqi Opposition Leaders/Request for Security Guarantees

2-4 Intent to Award Iraqi National Congress Another $8 Million/ Biological Weapons

5 Reclassification of Mr. Speicher

IRAN

6-7 National Council of Resistance of Iran Press Conference/ Building of Nuclear Sites

8 Designation of Foreign Terrorist Organizations

SRI LANKA/THAILAND

9 Talks Between Tamil Tigers and Government of Sri Lanka in Thailand

ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS

9 Indictment of Marwan Barghouthi

14 Palestinian Reconciliation Talks in Gaza

RUSSIA/BELARUS

9 Alyaksandr Lukashenkos Visit to Moscow/ Proposed Union

RUSSIA

10 Denial of Re-entry Visas for Peace Corps Volunteers

PAKISTAN

10-11 Temporary Closure of American Cultural Center in Islamabad

CHINA/CAMBODIA

11 Persecution of Falun Gong Followers/ Deportation of Chinese Couple

CHINA

12 Chinese Governments Request for Meeting with Jia Yukuns Father

NORTH KOREA/SOUTH KOREA

12 Agreed Framework/ Possibility of US Visit to Pyongyang

VENEZUELA

13-14 Possibility of Another Coup/ Potential for Unrest Over a Court Decision

DEPARTMENT

12-14 Secretary Powells Phone Calls

COLOMBIA

14 Under Secretary Grossmans Talks in ColombiaTRANSCRIPT:

MR. REEKER:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Welcome back to the State Department.  My only announcement is that it is Wednesday, something we can all agree on, I believe.  QUESTION:  Can we have a filing break? 

(Laughter.)

MR. REEKER:  Please.  If you want, you can call right there.  Tomorrow will be Thursday, I can predict with great certainty. 

QUESTION:  That's a hypothetical. 

(Laughter.)

MR. REEKER:  It's August here in Washington, and at the State Department as well, but happy to have you all here, and defer to the Associated Press.  Mr. Schweid.

QUESTION:  There's nothing on our plate at the moment.

MR. REEKER:  George, please. 

QUESTION:  Something that Mr. Chalabi said yesterday after meeting with Assistant Secretary Burns:  "We asked for protection not only for Kurds but also for all of the Iraq population from Saddam's heavy weapons and weapons of mass destruction through UN Security Council resolutions."  Do you have a response to that request? 

MR. REEKER:  I think I responded to a similar quotation, perhaps from a different member -- representative of the Iraqi opposition yesterday.  But I would repeat again that we fully recognize that free Iraqis run risks.  The record of Saddam Hussein's regime in terms of oppressing and murdering its own people is all too clear.  I'll remind you of the 1988 Anfal campaign against the Kurds, the use of chemical weapons against the civilian population of Halabja, suppression of Shi'a in the south. 

So we're very conscious of the nature of Saddam Hussein's regime and the risks to those who oppose the regime.  That's why we have in place Operation Northern Watch and Operation Southern watch, the no-fly zones that we continue to observe with the British, and why we have made consistently clear that we have a credible force in the region and would respond.  And so that continues to be our position.

QUESTION:  Yesterday I think you responded in the context of the Kurdish section of Iraq.

MR. REEKER:  Yes.

QUESTION:  Now it's all-inclusive?

MR. REEKER:  Happy to say that as well.  As we have been saying for some time, should Saddam Hussein reconstitute his weapons of mass destruction, threaten his neighbors or US forces, or move against the Kurds, we would respond. 

Yes, Eli.

QUESTION:  That position has been, in effect, I think in an agreement that was reached last year at this time with the Kurds, but it does not get specific in terms of would you respond in terms of people attacking or would you respond as the US has responded in 1996, in attacking in the south, and there was an attack in the north. 

MR. REEKER:  I don't think I can predict any particular operational responses for you, Eli.

QUESTION:  Well, I'm not asking for operational, but it's well known that the Kurds have asked for a very specific security guarantee --

MR. REEKER:  I don't have anything further for you on that.  We wouldn't be sharing specifics in terms of that. 

QUESTION:  Can you talk about the funding a little bit more?

MR. REEKER:  Which funding?

QUESTION:  With the INC?  Chalabi said yesterday, I believe separately from, George, but that this -- you know, that everything should move forward now, that all the disagreements had been ironed out, and that money should --

MR. REEKER:  You're talking about the $8 million?

QUESTION:  Yes.

MR. REEKER:  Right.  Just to refresh everybody's memory on that, on May 23rd, the State Department notified Congress of our intent to award the Iraqi National Congress a new cooperative agreement offering the organization another $8 million for the June through December 2002 period.  We did further discuss this offer with the Iraqi National Congress leadership during the course of the last week while they've been in town, along with other Iraqi opposition representatives, and we are still awaiting a formal response from the INC to that offer.  So we do need to get a formal response to them on that. 

We're anxious to continue our support for the Iraqi National Congress -- their newspaper, their TV station, regional offices, the Office of Humanitarian Relief.  So we believe they can continue to play a very productive and useful role through the activities proposed in that new agreement. 

QUESTION:  Can I just clarify?  I mean, he's the leader of the INC.  Are you saying that in this meeting yesterday he didn't say formally we're ready for this money --

MR. REEKER:  I certainly saw it said on television.  We need to get a formal response from them.

QUESTION:  But he was here personally and he did --

MR. REEKER:  Yes, he had meetings.  No, we have not received yet the formal response from the INC to that.

QUESTION:  Would that require some kind of paperwork other than a verbal --

MR. REEKER:  Yes.  These cooperative agreements require a certain amount of cooperation, of exchange of documents.  So we'll be looking for that formal response.

QUESTION:  Can you say what the obstacles are? 

MR. REEKER:  I'm not suggesting there necessarily is an obstacle.  We need to get the formal response from the INC, and we don't have that yet.

QUESTION:  Phil, do you have to expect that such a formal response is imminent? 

MR. REEKER:  I certainly saw the remarks that Mr. Chalabi made publicly --

QUESTION:  Right, but here he gave you guys -- he didn't give you guys any indication that a, you know, a formal, you know, paper or --

MR. REEKER:  I couldn't tell you exactly what indication he may or may not have given, but we'll be looking for the formal response to that.

QUESTION:  So right now, pending the arrival, if and when it ever comes, of their formal response, that money is still not being disbursed?

MR. REEKER:  Exactly.  It's on the table, an $8 million cooperative agreement. 

Yes, Eli.

QUESTION:  Aren't you guys, though, like giving them just a little bit of money to keep going?  You know what I mean?  Like, I mean you've had these budget disputes for some time. 

MR. REEKER:  Eli, I would have to go back and check.  I don't know what -- this is -- we notified Congress --

QUESTION:  (Inaudible.)

QUESTION:  What? 

QUESTION:  You mean, like a tip? 

QUESTION:  Not like a tip.  I mean, that there was a formal agreement dispute, and my understanding is that you nonetheless don't want to see them shut down all their offices in Damascus and Prague and Tehran and whatnot, so you sort of just give them enough to get by. 

MR. REEKER:  I don't know, Eli.  I'll check.  We're awaiting a formal response to the cooperative agreement for the period May through December of this year.

Yes, Elise.

QUESTION:  Also on Iraq, US officials are now saying that they've -- that the United States' satellite information that sees Iraqi spot trucks arriving at suspected germ warfare site in Iraq.  This is a site that was previously bombed by the United States but rebuilt, and now the US believes that there is a biological weapons facilities there.

MR. REEKER:  I don't know what US officials you're quoting, but as you know, we don't discuss intelligence information here. 

QUESTION:  Well, can I follow up?

MR. REEKER:  Sure.

QUESTION:  Well, do you have reason to believe that the Iraqis now have a biological weapons program? 

MR. REEKER:  We have been very clear about our concerns about Saddam Hussein's regime and their attempts to have weapons of mass destruction, programs to that effect, and missiles to deliver them, their support for terrorism.  And so I don't think I can add again today anything new or different to our position in terms of our view of Saddam's regime, the threat that that regime poses not only to his own people but to the people of the region, and indeed to peace and security around the world. 

QUESTION:  Can I change the subject to Iran? 

QUESTION:  Can we stay on Iraq? 

MR. REEKER:  Elise has more in Iraq.  Please. 

QUESTION:  It seems as if the United States is trying to reclassify Michael Speicher, the pilot that was shot down in -- over Iraq as still being alive, rather than -- rather than he was killed.  Do you have anything on --

MR. REEKER:  I believe that is something the Pentagon did long ago. 

QUESTION:  No, he -- no. 

QUESTION:  They changed it to Missing in Action.

MR. REEKER:  To Missing in Action, right.  There was a reclassification from Killed to Missing in Action. 

QUESTION:  And now there's a new one?

MR. REEKER:  And that would be something that the Pentagon could then answer your questions on.  Thanks.

Judy.

QUESTION:  Did you ever get an answer or send a cable through a third party on information regarding Speicher?

QUESTION:  Speicher.

MR. REEKER:  We -- Speicher is the name of the gentleman.  I don't have anything new on that.  We had discussed that and the action we took, the messages that we sent to Iraq asking them to provide all information they had on that. 

QUESTION:  Did you ever get anything back? 

MR. REEKER:  I discussed what we did or not did receive many months ago.  I'll have to check into it and see if there's anything new to report. 

Matt had a question, then we'll go to the gentleman in back.

QUESTION:  Somebody else wanted to go to Iran, and mine is rain.

MR. REEKER:  Okay.  Well, since we're doing this regionally, I like that.

QUESTION:  The Iranian National Council of Resistance, or National Council of Iranian Resistance, has held a press conference this morning here in Washington.  They were classified as a terrorist organization because they're associated with Mujahedin-e Khalq, which is a --

MR. REEKER:  MEK. 

QUESTION:  MEK.  So I was just wondering what your position is on terrorist organizations like these, or organizations like these who are affiliated or on the list of terrorism --

MR. REEKER:  It's a terrorist organization.  It's listed as such, designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under US law.  You can read about them in the Patterns on Global Terrorism Report.

QUESTION:  But they're operating openly.  They had a press conference here in Washington.  I mean, you're not --

MR. REEKER:  For that, you would need to talk to the Justice Department that enforces that law domestically.

QUESTION:  Well, still on that matter, they actually -- the press conference that they had was to disclose information that they had that Iran is in the process of building two new nuclear sites for weapons-grade fuel, and that they said that this information was passed on to the administration.  So I guess the question is do you believe -- have you seen this information?  Do you believe it to be true?  And do you believe that Iran is in the process of building two nuclear sites? 

MR. REEKER:  I wouldn't be in a position to discuss intelligence information from whatever source it might be, so I can't help you on that. 

I think in terms of Iran, our differences with Iran stem from policies and actions of its government, and we've talked about that for some time, specifically the support for international terrorist groups, the opposition to Arab-Israeli peace process, their pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and the ballistic missile systems with which to deliver such weapons, and their poor human rights record.  And these have been the issues and concerns that we have had about the Iranian regime for some time.  So that remains our position.

I think the President has been quite clear that the future of Iran will be decided by the people of Iran, and he made a statement on July 12th that I can refer you to in terms of some of the internal debate taking place in Iran and the fact that the United States follows this with interest, but that it's a matter for the people of Iran to decide.  And as the President said, an Iran that moves towards freedom and tolerance will have no better friend than the United States. 

QUESTION:  Phil, back on the question of the NCR, can you check if it's possible and find out when the last communication was from the State Department to the Justice Department about the -- about this group?  Because it does seem implausible that it wouldn't raise any eyebrows if a group that's labeled an FTO is giving a press conference in a hotel, you know, at the Willard that's just a stone's throw from the White House.  So if it's possible, can you find out when the last time you -- it was raised with justice? 

MR. REEKER:  Yes, I mean, Justice enforces the law.  We make designations under it and Justice enforces that law.  You need to ask them what they may be looking at in terms of --

QUESTION:  That's what I want to know, if it's possible.  Have you guys been kind of saying, look, there's this group out there and they're on the list, and they're still operating.

MR. REEKER:  I'd be happy to check.  I'm sure they are equally as aware of the list and the people on it as are we. 

QUESTION:  But if we could stay on the subject, I mean, these people came into the United States.  They probably got visas through the State Department.  I mean, isn't there some sort of law banning --

MR. REEKER:  I don't know who these people are or whether they were people here in the United States or what their citizenship was, or anything else.  I'm afraid I don't have any information on who they are.  I did hear that there was a press conference being given today, I believe at 11:00 a.m., by such a group, but I have no further information on them.  And as a domestic matter in terms of law enforcement, it would be for the Department of Justice to look into that. 

QUESTION:  If -- I mean, this looks very much like the Iraqi resistance movement which was here last week, the leaders from the Iraqi resistance movement.  If Iran is developing weapons of mass destruction, nuclear or biological, which this group says they are, with the assistance of Russia, and they're campaigning here in the US.  The regime in Iran is not exactly free and democratic and open.  Will the State Department take some sort of action?  Are you in contact with this group to try and do something there like what you're trying to do in Iraq? 

MR. REEKER:  Again, I think you're looking at two different situations.  I've made quite clear, yet again today, what our concerns are about Iran, what our policy is about Iran.  I have invited you to review the President's statement from July 12th.  But very much so, our concerns include Iranian Government's pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and missile systems.  So that remains a concern of ours that we watch very closely. 

QUESTION:  Is it possible that a D.C. representative office of an FTO could be exempted?  This is what this group claims --

MR. REEKER:  You'd have to ask the Justice Department because they enforce the law, that is, the Anti-Terror and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996.

QUESTION:  So that's not the State Department's --

MR. REEKER:  They would, and we don't have a domestic law enforcement role.  You need to ask the Justice Department on that.

QUESTION:  I'm aware of that.  But do you make exceptions -- you designate the FTOs.

MR. REEKER:  Right.

QUESTION:  Do you make exceptions for groups underneath the umbrella name of MEK?  It's not about enforcement; it's about designation.  If they're not designated an FTO --

MR. REEKER:  This particular group that you're asking about, at least according to the press release or the announcement of their press conference is, we consider, the so-called NCRI, National Council of Resistance of Iran, we consider them to be a Foreign Terrorist Organization, consider them to be under the umbrella of the Mujahedin-e Khalq organization, the MEK.

QUESTION:  So any of their subsidiaries would be similarly designated? 

MR. REEKER:  Right.  And if you look in Patterns of Global Terrorism, they list a number of them, and there are others I think included in the actual legal documents that designate it.  Because obviously people can adopt new names and new acronyms and other things, so that is watched very closely. 

But again, on the domestic side would be the Justice Department that could look at that. 

QUESTION:  Phil, you never -- I don't know if you ever answered the question.  If you did, I'm sorry.  But has anybody from the State Department met with this group on this matter? 

MR. REEKER:  I'm not aware of it.

QUESTION:  Could you take the question? 

MR. REEKER:  Be happy to look into it. 

QUESTION:  Or received any information.

QUESTION:  Or received any information from them, without getting into the specifics of it.

MR. REEKER:  Be happy to check for you, Elise. 

QUESTION:  Can I ask about another FTO? 

MR. REEKER:  Yes, Matt.

QUESTION:  The Tamil Tigers and the Government of Sri Lanka have agreed on dates for talks in Thailand.  Do you have anything about that, or are you just still happy?  Does the last statement about it stand? 

MR. REEKER:  The last statement would certainly stand.  I don't have anything new.  I hadn't seen that particular development.  I would remind you that Deputy Secretary Armitage will be visiting Sri Lanka.  We put out a statement on that. 

Elaine.

QUESTION:  Do you have anything to say about the indictment of Marwan Barghouthi?

MR. REEKER:  I think that's really an Israeli judicial matter.  I don't think I can offer you -- it's a judicial matter in the Israeli court system, and I would have to refer you to Israelis or Palestinians for any comment on that.

Dmitri.

QUESTION:  Do you have anything in particular on today's summit between Putin and Lukashenko in Moscow?  And I also would like to ask the US administration view of Russian-Belarus integration process in general.

MR. REEKER:  Sure.  I don't think I have anything particular to say on the fact that the Belarus leader, Mr. Lukashenko, is visiting Moscow today.  In a broader context, we have discussed before this proposed union between Belarus and Russia, which has been under discussion I think since 1996.  We continue to watch the proposal with interest as it moves forward, but really this is a matter for Belarus and Russia to decide. 

We would hope that any arrangement between the two countries would be done in a way that reflects the will of their citizens and does not impede integration into broader European or global institutions, which have been goals I think for many of the people of those countries. 

But finally, I would note that Russia certainly is reforming its economic and political systems, and Belarus is not.  We hope that the Lukashenko regime will take decisions to join the reform trends that are prevalent all around Belarus and that have left Belarus isolated in Europe in terms of not pursuing reforms that would be to the benefit of the people of Belarus.

Elaine.

QUESTION:  Do you have anything on the success or otherwise of your effort to get the Russians to influence Lukashenko in a more positive direction, like the Secretary talked about in Canada? 

MR. REEKER:  I don't think I have any particular observations at this point.

QUESTION:  Speaking on Russia, has there been any movement on the Peace Corps visa issue? 

MR. REEKER:  I'm not aware of anything different than what we talked about the other day.  It's a subject, as I mentioned I think then, or in subsequent conversations with some of you, that Secretary Powell had discussed in one of his frequent conversations with Foreign Minister Ivanov obviously it's a decision that Russia needs to take.  We offer the Peace Corps volunteers as a resource.  We think it's been effective, an effective program, in many parts of the world, and indeed in Russia since they first -- we first had our cooperative agreement with Russia from I believe about 1992.  Obviously if Russia decides that that just isn't for them at this point, then we'll redirect those resources elsewhere. 

Terri.  And then the gentleman -- I'm sorry, I keep missing you.  Go ahead.

QUESTION:  Can you talk about the American Center being closed yesterday for security reasons in Islamabad? 

MR. REEKER:  Yes, sure.  The American Cultural Center in Islamabad temporarily suspended its public operations, actually on August 9th, as a security precaution.  They expect to reopen at an appropriate time, but I can't speculate exactly when that time might be.  You know, as our Travel Warnings for Pakistan suggest, but also our Worldwide Caution, facilities like this connected to our embassy and official US Government presence around the world may, from time to time, close to reevaluate security.  But I don't have any specifics to share with you on that.

QUESTION:  Your revised Travel Warning on Pakistan released just the night before, though, didn't have anything about this, about it closing.  Was that -- even though it had apparently been done before the Travel Warning came out. 

MR. REEKER:  Yeah, I think it and our Worldwide Caution discuss how facilities may close even without notice, and they may reopen, to reevaluate security or for specific security concerns.

QUESTION:  You can't tell us anything more about --

MR. REEKER:  No, I don't have anything on the specific --

QUESTION:  Were there threats?

MR. REEKER:  I don't have anything more, Barry, to say.  They are reevaluating security.  Our Travel Warning for Pakistan talks about security concerns there.  You know the status of our diplomatic presence there.  Our Embassy -- our Consulate in Karachi continues to reevaluate their situation as well.

Elise.

QUESTION:  This Travel Warning said that the Consulate in Karachi was closed indefinitely.  So is that the same thing as "open at an appropriate time"?  Would you say that --

MR. REEKER:  I suppose. 

QUESTION:  Would you say that the American Consulate -- American Center is also closed indefinitely?

MR. REEKER:  The words I used were, you know, "closed" and "will open at an appropriate time." I can't tell you when that time is going to be.  I think in Karachi it's a particular issue that they're working on with the local government there in terms of road closures.  There have been some street -- partial street closures.  As a security precaution when those streets were reopened, we had to close until we can work out a new arrangement to provide the appropriate security. 

QUESTION:  Phil, on the American Center, hadn't it actually been, or at least partially, closed already?  When we were just there, we used it as a filing center.  I mean, we were told that it hadn't been really open for some time. 

MR. REEKER:  Their sort of public access, I don't know exactly.  You might consult their website specifically.  These things change on a regular basis.

Now, the gentleman in the back had a question.

QUESTION:  I have a question about Falun Gong issue.  It has been reported that many Falun Gong followers has been killed in China because of persecution.  And about five days ago, August the 9th, Cambodian Government deported a Chinese couple who held UN refugee certificates back to China.  So I want to know what were the US Government's response on that.

MR. REEKER:  I'll have to look into that. 

On the broader question of Falun Gong, I think I would just refer you to my answer yesterday to your colleague, who asked a similar question, and I reviewed our position on that. 

In terms of the Cambodian question, check after the briefing.  Maybe we have something or we can look into it.

QUESTION:  Phil?

MR. REEKER:  George. 

QUESTION:  On Falun Gong --

MR. REEKER:  China?

QUESTION:  Well, it was Indonesia. 

QUESTION:  Indonesia?  Not close enough.  (Laughter.) 

MR. REEKER:  Get out the map. 

QUESTION:  China for 200, Phil.  (Laughter.)  Apparently the Chinese Government is saying that it has asked the State Department to look into the case of the father of this Chinese girl who disappeared and reappeared on the East Coast.  Apparently her father is in the US illegally now, and the Chinese Government wants to have a meeting with him. 

MR. REEKER:  The most I know about that case -- I think we had talked about it some time back -- that the Chinese Embassy had contacted the State Department last week, Monday, August the 5th, seeking information regarding the location and well-being of the girl.  And we referred them to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.  That's as much information as I have.

QUESTION:  (Inaudible.)

MR. REEKER:  Sure.

QUESTION:  I wasn't here yesterday --

MR. REEKER:  You weren't?  That's why we do transcripts, George. 

QUESTION:  Well, do you have any fresh guidance on the general subject of South Korea-North Korea and the Agreed Framework since yesterday? 

MR. REEKER:   I think we did cover most of it yesterday.  As we've said, North-South dialogue is a positive development.  We hope that the dialogue between North and South Korea indicates a new attitude on the part of North Korea.  As you know, we believe very strongly that inter-Korean dialogue is the key to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. 

So the just-concluded talks in Seoul we think produced movement in areas such as economic cooperation and family reunions.  We certainly support South Korea's efforts and look forward to implementation of the agreements that were reached during these talks in Seoul.  And I think that's probably what I have to say about that.

QUESTION:  There was something in the paper today about the possibility of a US visit to Pyongyang in the fall.

MR. REEKER:  I don't have anything to move that forward.  As you know, the Secretary will be discussing the talks that North and South Korea have had.  Any talks that we do support; that North Korea and Japan may have, and other recent developments -- he'll be discussing that with the President and with his national security counterparts as we consider the next steps in the US-North Korea relations.  But there are no decisions to announce at this point. 

QUESTION:  Phil, Powell -- the Secretary has spoken to the President since he's got back from Asia.

MR. REEKER:  Many times. 

QUESTION:  Many times.   Have they spoken specifically about North Korea and --

MR. REEKER:  I don't know. 

QUESTION:  Can I go to Venezuela?  Do you guys have reason to believe that there may be -- that the expected unrest surrounding the supreme court decision on the coup, alleged coup plotters, may lead to a new coup?  And the reason I ask is because the Embassy there in Caracas yesterday put out a notice telling Americans of the possibility of violence, which is not in itself unusual when this thing -- these kinds of things are expected.  But it also said that Americans should monitor local television and radio very closely, not just for news of what's going on but for some drastic changes in the content of programming, news programming.  And I'm wondering -- (laughter) --

MR. REEKER:  After the Nielson ratings, a cancellation of the --

QUESTION:  No, and it says that that -- that some change in programming may indicate changed circumstances.  And I'm wondering if -- what exactly that means. 

MR. REEKER:  I think it's probably a reflection on past experience, but certainly our position in Venezuela, as anywhere else, is the importance of following a constitutional order.  I talked a little bit about, yesterday I believe, the --

QUESTION:  I'm sorry.  A reflection of past experience of what?  Of coup d'etats in other places? 

MR. REEKER:  You'll recall the situation some months ago in Venezuela that indicated some unrest, in fact in which people were killed.  And so that, I would suggest, without having seen this myself, as a reflection on that, warning the American community what they may look out for.  But certainly our policy is quite clear about the need to follow constitutional order in Venezuela, the important need for dialogue, reconciliation nationally, to do all of this peacefully, and once again, within the constitutional order, which will benefit all the people of Venezuela and strengthen the Venezuelan democracy if they follow that.  And the importance of a separate judiciary and their ability to carry out judicial proceedings and render decisions unhindered or pressured from other parts of the community is also a very important part of that constitutional process. 

QUESTION:  But do you -- are you expecting a new coup d'etat?  Do you believe the situation to be --

MR. REEKER:   No.

QUESTION:  -- to be so unstable that you are expecting a dramatic --

MR. REEKER:  No, I think as we talked about and as has certainly been widely reported in the news media around the world, the potential for unrest over a court decision is there in Venezuela.  What I have just reiterated to your colleague is the importance for all Venezuelans to keep in mind that peaceful dialogue is the way to approach these differences, the need for national reconciliation and dialogue, the importance of an independent judiciary and allowing that judicial process to go forward unimpeded, the need to make sure there is not violence and to follow the constitutional processes that they have in a democracy there.

At the same time, we have an obligation to make American citizens aware of the potential for these problems, just as we do all around the world, whether it's natural disasters or potential for man-made disturbances that may be of interest to the safety and security of American citizens.

Betsy.

QUESTION:  Could you tell us of any phone calls to any of his colleagues that the Secretary may have made in the last 24 hours?

MR. REEKER:  I'm not aware of any, but I'll check. 

QUESTION:  Do you have anything on Mr. Grossman's talks in Colombia? 

MR. REEKER:  You know, I don't.  I had something the last couple of days.  Mr. Grossman is in Colombia, I believe, today.  I think he departed yesterday for Colombia for visits with the new administration down there, which was inaugurated last week.  Continuing to look at our bilateral relations and our cooperation together on counterterrorism and counternarcotics.  I'd be happy to check more for you on details.  I think he himself, our Under Secretary Grossman, was going to hold some press availabilities down there.

QUESTION:  One more.  It was suggested in the paper this morning, the Post, that there has been some sort of US mediation role in those Palestinian reconciliation talks in Gaza.  Do you have anything on that? 

MR. REEKER:  Don't know that I read the New York Post this morning.

QUESTION:  Washington Post. 

MR. REEKER:  But I don't think I can add anything particular to what the Secretary said in terms of the meetings that we had with the Palestinian delegation, the importance of moving forward on security cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians.  We have tried to support that effort in a variety of ways.  I just don't have any specifics and I don't --

QUESTION:  They were talking about these inter-factional talks in Gaza.

MR. REEKER:  I am not aware of that, and I don't have anything for you on that. 

QUESTION:  Thank you.