(Grossman visits North Africa to convey condolences, solidarity) (2440) Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Ambassador Marc Grossman visited Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia June 4-5, conveying U.S. condolences for the Algerian earthquake and the May 16 terrorist attack in Morocco, and encouraging Tunisia to take advantage of the opportunities available in the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). Grossman gave a press briefing June 5 in Tunisia, where he said he had earlier in the day delivered relief supplies in Algeria for victims of the earthquake there. "I also had a chance to visit with some of the Algerian employees of our Embassy who had lost their homes and had their property destroyed to tell them that we would stand behind them," he said. On June 4 he visited Morocco to send a message "of solidarity after the horrible terrorist attacks of May 16." "I felt that it was important to go there myself and, in person, convey our condolences and our solidarity with the Moroccans," said Grossman. He told his Tunisian audience that their country has begun to take advantage of programs available under MEPI, including exchanges of journalists, women political leaders, businessmen and entrepreneurs. "Our proposition is to spend over $100 million in FY 2003 in Middle Eastern countries under the MEPI. And, as I say, Tunisia can take great advantage of this program," he said. Grossman also told his audience that the recent meetings between President Bush and Arab, Palestinian and Israeli leaders were "a very important first step" towards the goal of achieving a two state solution to the Middle East crisis. He cited the end of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, the appointment of Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, and Arab statements supporting Abbas, as well as both sides' acceptance of the road map as helping to change the environment in the region. "The personal commitment of the President of the United States and the changes in the environment that I have described make us believe that this is a very important time to try to replace hopelessness with hope," he said. Turning to Iraq, Grossman said that despite the fact that some opposed the military action taken against Saddam Hussein's regime, "my impression is that ... nobody misses this dictator." "[I]f we can succeed, and I believe we will succeed, in allowing Iraqis to create an Iraq that is democratic, has its territorial integrity, is multi-ethnic, has no weapons of mass destruction, is not connected to terrorism, and is at peace with its neighbors ... there is something well-worth supporting," he said. Following is the transcript of a press briefing conducted by Under Secretary for Political Affairs Ambassador Marc Grossman on July 5, 2003 in Tunis: (begin transcript) Under Secretary for Political Affairs Ambassador Marc Grossman Press Briefing, Tunisia July 5, 2003 UNDER SECRETARY GROSSMAN: I am very pleased to be here with you today and it is an honor to be back in Tunisia. I come to Tunisia today to continue the very important dialogue that we have with Tunisia, and I will be leaving here to call on the Foreign Minister. I have been asked by Secretary Powell to come and report to the Foreign Minister on the trip that the Secretary was just on with the President in Sharm al-Sheikh and in Aqaba. I believe that this will be of interest to the Foreign Minister and Tunisians in general since you have for so many years been with us in working and in hoping for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. We believe that the meetings in Sharm al-Sheikh and in Aqaba are a very important first step toward realizing President Bush's goal of two states, a Palestinian state and an Israeli state, living side by side at peace in the Middle East. There are many obstacles yet to be overcome, but I believe that the statement that President Mubarak made at Sharm al-Sheikh and the statements made by Prime Minister Abu Mazen and Prime Minister Sharon and the statements made by President Bush are a very good start to what the President has said is the goal to replace hopelessness with hope. I know that the Foreign Minister and I will discuss other international issues, like Iraq, but I know he will also recognize that my visit here is a chance for us to review the very important bilateral relationship that Tunisia has with the United States. When I was here in November, we agreed that we should do more between Tunisia and the United States. And under the leadership of Ambassador Deming and his outstanding Embassy staff, I can report that academic, military, and other personal exchanges between our countries are increasing. And I believe that the number of these exchanges will continue to grow. I also believe that Tunisia is in a particularly good position to take advantage of the Middle East Partnership Initiative. In fact, Tunisia has already begun to take advantage of the opportunities available under MEPI through exchanges of journalists, visits to the United States by female political leaders, and visits to Tunisia by American businessmen and entrepreneurs. I believe that MEPI is one of the great opportunities for the Middle East and a very important initiative by the United States. Our proposition is to spend over $100 million in FY 2003 in Middle Eastern countries under the MEPI. And, as I say, Tunisia can take great advantage of this program. There is also more that we can do under the U.S./Tunisian Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. I also hope that Tunisia will be an important supporter of President Bush's call for a Middle East free trade area over the next decade. My only regret is that I will be in Tunisia for such a short time. But I take this opportunity in advance to thank the Tunisian government for its hospitality, and I very much look forward to my discussions with the Foreign Minister. I will be glad to take any questions or comments that you might have. Q. Mohamed Choulak, Palestinian News Agency. Do you think that now, in light of the two summits in Sharm al-Sheikh and Aqaba, the ball is in the court of Prime Minister Sharon? He has to take the first steps to implement the Roadmap. U/S GROSSMAN: Let us, if I could, step back for a moment, because we did not just start in Sharm al-Sheikh and in Aqaba. And with respect, sir, I think it is important to return to President Bush's speech of June 24 of last year. He made an historic statement that, with respect, I believe was underestimated in many quarters. The President called for two states living side by side. He called for a Palestinian state. He said that people had responsibilities before that could become a reality: more democracy for Palestinians, a Palestinian Prime Minister, and the requirement for Israelis to undertake some obligations as well. And then there was the drafting of the Roadmap. The Roadmap does not require obligations on only one side. The Roadmap is a performance-based document that lays out objectives against a very specific timetable. You will remember also in the President's June 24 speech, that he said that we could not go forward without an end to terrorism. And not just terrorism, but an end to the culture of extremism and violence. That allows us to come to Sharm al-Sheikh. And what do you find at Sharm al-Sheikh? A meeting of Arab leaders and the President of the United States. And you find there a statement by President Mubarak that supports the Roadmap, calls for an end to terrorism, calls for an end to the culture of violence and extremism, and supports Palestinian democracy. And President Bush welcomes that statement. With that statement, you can then move to Aqaba where Prime Minister Abu Mazen and Prime Minister Sharon both accept the Roadmap. And where President Bush shows his personal commitment to peace and the creation of a Palestinian state. So I give you a much too long answer, sir, but I come to the conclusion that this is not about only one party. There are obligations on the Palestinians. There are obligations on the Israelis. There are obligations now on the regional states. And there is an obligation on us too. And that is why the President is committed. That is why he announced that Secretary Powell and Dr. Rice would make this a personal commitment. This is why he asked Ambassador John Wolf, who I know Ambassador Deming knows well, to be in the region, and, as his full time job, to make sure that both sides live up to their commitments. Again I apologize for the length of my reply, but you ask a very important question. Q. H'mida Ben Romdhane. La Presse. My question is ten years ago, the Oslo Accords raised many hopes. And now there are some hopes for the Roadmap. To what extent do you think that the Roadmap has a better chance to be implemented than the Oslo Accords? U/S GROSSMAN: We were supporters of the Oslo Accords. But I believe that the situation is different today for the following reasons. There is more democracy among Palestinians. Palestinians have a new Prime Minister. Saddam Hussein is gone. (Inaudible) As Secretary Powell and others noted in Aqaba, this is an important first step. There are many challenges to meet. We cannot be diverted by one or two problems. The personal commitment of the President of the United States and the changes in the environment that I have described make us believe that this is a very important time to try to replace hopelessness with hope. Q. Mohamed Ali Klibi. Sharq al-Awsat. You have said that there are commitments on the Palestinian side, on the Israeli side, on the states in the region, and on the United States. We tend to believe that, out of all of this, the most important commitment is that of the United States because, without that commitment, we fear a repeat of the Oslo Accords. I would like to know to what extent are you really committed to bring this to a successful conclusion? Will the United States take a firm stand against whichever of the parties places obstacles in the face of this, and will the Quartet be contributing in this effort? U/S GROSSMAN: I think that among the most important quotes to come out of Sharm al-Sheikh and Aqaba is when President Bush, on a number of occasions, repeated to people that he meant what he said. And as I tried to answer your colleague, I would imagine that, after the President's speech on June 24, there was much skepticism as to whether we would follow through. We called for a new Palestinian Prime Minister, and there is one. We called on states in the region and the Palestinians to give up, forswear, and oppose terrorism. Again I call attention to the statements at Aqaba and Sharm al-Sheikh. We worked with the Quartet to create a roadmap. We said that we would publish that Roadmap immediately after the Palestinian Prime Minister was confirmed. That is exactly what we did. So I think that people should start to recognize that President Bush is committed to this, and so my answer to your question is, "Yes." As to the second part of your question, the reason that the President has appointed Ambassador Wolf to stay in the region is to have him spend his day making sure that people meet their promises. As for the third part of your question -- yes, I believe that the Quartet will continue to be involved. I cannot give you any exact detail, but I know that Secretary Powell is interested in keeping that forum, because it has been very positive. Q. Hamida Ben Salah. Agence France Presse. My question is about your tour. I heard that you are touring Algeria and Morocco, besides Tunisia. I would ask you about what is expected from this tour, and what is your message to the governments and the people of this region, especially after the war in Iraq and after what we have been witnessing of anger and resentment on that issue? U/S GROSSMAN: I was in Morocco Wednesday night. I had the chance to visit in Algeria this morning, and I am here to today. In Morocco, I had a chance to visit the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister. My message there was one of solidarity after the horrible terrorist attacks of May 16. I had been to all three countries in November, and I felt that it was important to go there myself and, in person, convey our condolences and our solidarity with the Moroccans. In Algeria, this morning, I also went to convey condolence and solidarity after the earthquake of May 21. I had the chance this morning, thanks to the direction of President Bush to our military and to USAID, to deliver some very important relief supplies for the Algerian people. I also had a chance to visit with some of the Algerian employees of our Embassy who had lost their homes and had their property destroyed to tell them that we would stand behind them. I have come here today, as I described, to report to the Foreign Minister on Sharm al-Sheikh and Aqaba and to take up any other issues that he might wish. On Iraq, I disagree with the premise of your question. My impression is that, while, perhaps some people opposed the military action undertaken by the Coalition in Iraq, nobody misses this dictator. A very large number of countries have joined the coalition to reconstruct Iraq. A large number of countries have signed up to join the military activity to bring security to Iraq. So I believe that, if we can succeed, and I believe we will succeed, in allowing Iraqis to create an Iraq that is democratic, has its territorial integrity, is multi-ethnic, has no weapons of mass destruction, is not connected to terrorism, and is at peace with its neighbors, that, while you may have disagreed with the Coalition's military activity, the fact that Saddam Hussein is gone and a new Iraq is possible means there is something well-worth supporting. And I believe that public opinion will move in that direction. Thank you all very much.