SECRETARY CLINTON:
Hello, how are you all? I actually missed you. (Laughter.) I know, I
know, and I wanted to thank you for the flowers. I really appreciated
those. They are immeasurably adding to the healing process.
But
I wanted to come down because, obviously, there’s a lot going on, and
there are a number of important issues to address today. But I want to
start with yesterday’s unfortunate events in Honduras, which were a test
of the inter-American system’s ability to support and defend democracy
and constitutional order in our hemisphere.
The United States
has been working with our partners in the OAS to fashion a strong
consensus condemning the detention and expulsion of President Zelaya and
calling for the full restoration of democratic order in Honduras. Our
immediate priority is to restore full democratic and constitutional
order in that country.
Today, foreign ministers of the Rio
Group will be attending a previously scheduled meeting of Central
American leaders in Managua, Nicaragua to address the issue of Honduras.
And tomorrow, the OAS will hold an Extraordinary General Assembly.
As
we move forward, all parties have a responsibility to address the
underlying problems that led to yesterday’s events in a way that
enhances democracy and the rule of law in Honduras. To that end, we will
continue working with the OAS and other partners to construct a process
of dialogue and engagement that will promote the restoration of
democratic order, address the serious problems of political polarization
in Honduras, restore confidence in their institutions of government,
and ensure that Honduras moves successfully towards its scheduled
presidential elections in November of this year.
At the OAS
General Assembly earlier this month in San Pedro Sula – some of you were
with me there – the United States insisted that the larger debate on
Cuba be framed within the OAS’s commitment to democracy and human
rights. Along with key partners, we won a reaffirmation of the
principles of democracy and constitutional order that define the
Organization of American States. Now, the wisdom of our approach, I
think, was evident yesterday when the OAS and the Inter-American
Democratic Charter were used as a basis for our response to the coup
that occurred.
Let me also say a word about the detention of
five British Embassy staff in Tehran. We are following this situation
with great concern. We have noted the statement from the European Union.
We find that the harassment of Embassy staff is deplorable, and we will
continue to support the United Kingdom in calling for their release.
Finally, on Iraq. Tomorrow, June 30
th,
marks the end of U.S. troop presence in Iraqi cities and localities.
This is a significant milestone in the responsible withdrawal of our
forces from Iraq and in Iraq’s journey to become a stable, sovereign,
self-reliant state.
This morning, I held a secure
videoconference with Ambassador Hill and some of his senior team in
Baghdad. The ambassador provided updates on the security, political, and
economic situation in Iraq, and we discussed a number of the challenges
and opportunities that we are facing.
As you remember, this
withdrawal is occurring under the so-called SOFA agreement, the Status
of Forces Agreement, and it is occurring in concert with the Iraqis.
There is another document that we will now be turning our attention to
with even greater concern; that is, the Strategic Framework Agreement
which sets forth the way forward for the relationship between the United
States and Iraq.
So there is a lot going on, and I wanted to
come down and talk about some of what we are doing. And I’d be happy to
take some of your questions.
QUESTION: Secretary Clinton, do you --
MR. KELLY: Arshad, yes.
QUESTION:
Do you believe – you used the words “detention” and “expulsion.” Do you
believe that a military coup d’état has taken place in Honduras, or are
you studying a legal – formal legal determination that a coup d’état
has taken place and that would therefore trigger the appropriations –
(inaudible) appropriations aid cutoff that is required under U.S. law?
SECRETARY CLINTON:
Well, we do think that this has evolved into a coup. The president, as
you know, has been expelled. Another person has been substituted for the
president. But we think that this is a fast-moving situation that
requires constant attention, which we are certainly providing to it,
along with our bilateral partners and through the OAS as our
multilateral vehicle. We are encouraging that there be a delegation
going to Honduras following the Extraordinary General Assembly tomorrow
to begin working with the parties to try to restore constitutional
order. So we are withholding any formal legal determination. But I think
the reality is that having expelled the president, we have a lot of
work to do to try to help the Hondurans get back on the democratic path
they’ve been on for a number of years now.
QUESTION: You’re not thinking about (inaudible) aid?
MR. KELLY: (Inaudible.)
SECRETARY CLINTON: Jill.
QUESTION:
Secretary Clinton, isn’t the U.S. in an uncomfortable position
nonetheless, because you’re invoking democratic norms to restore a
president who some would argue was taking illegal steps to stay in
office?
SECRETARY CLINTON: You know, Jill, I think
it’s important that we stand for the rule of law and democracy and
constitutional order. And when I talk about supporting the work that’s
being done in the OAS, and certainly a distinguished delegation to work
with the parties in Honduras, I think that all parties involved have to
take a step back and look at how the institutions within their democracy
are supposed to be working. So there are certain concerns about orders
by independent judicial officials that should be followed and the like,
but the extraordinary step taken of arresting and expelling the
president is our first and foremost concern right now.
Then
we do want to work with the parties, as I said, to try to return to a
rule of law, and that means for everybody. Everybody needs to kind of
take a step back here and take a deep breath. And so, look, we have a
lot at stake in maintaining our democracy and not going backwards, and
we would expect all parties to play a responsible role in doing that.
MR. KELLY: Okay, Bob, AP.
QUESTION:
Madame Secretary, you mentioned Iraq. I’m wondering if there are ways
in which you think the Iraqis are still vulnerable to letting the
security situation slip back to where it was. Are you fully confident?
SECRETARY CLINTON:
Well, Bob, I spoke to Ambassador Hill today. I’ve spoken to him a
number of times in the last couple of weeks. And both he and General
Odierno have reiterated their belief that the Iraqi forces are up to the
job that currently confronts them. Now, the United States remains
prepared to assist if necessary, but there is a great deal of confidence
in the fundamental ability of the Iraqis to begin to protect their
citizens.
Having said that, we’ve seen what’s happened the
last few weeks. We’ve had some horrific bombings and the loss of
hundreds of lives. But our assessment is that the Iraqis are ready,
willing, and able to step up to this. And as I’ve said, we will continue
our presence there; we’re not pulling wholesale out. We will continue
our presence there as we fulfill the requirements under the SOFA, and we
stand ready to assist them if necessary.
MR. KELLY: Okay, last question to James Rosen.
SECRETARY CLINTON: I can take a couple more.
MR. KELLY: You want to take two more?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes.
QUESTION: I’ll ask all the last questions. (Laughter.)
SECRETARY CLINTON: Why am I not surprised. (Laughter.)
QUESTION: Madame Secretary, I hope you’re feeling well.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. I’m engaged in a different form of arms control, I think. (Laughter.) Quite challenging.
QUESTION:
On Iran, the sense we’ve been getting from your aides that we’ve been
talking to is that the U.S. policy of engagement obviously is somewhat
in abeyance right now as we wait to see this fluid situation on the
ground in Tehran and throughout the country evolve. But I wonder what
you would say to the argument that any prospect for meaningful
engagement by the U.S. and the P-5+1, of which the UK is obviously a
member, are drastically set back by what we’ve seen; in fact, that
you’ve gotten your answer to all of your attempts at engaging this
regime, that you’ve seen an authoritarian regime unmask itself, and
that, in essence, they’re never going to strike any grand bargain with
you on the nuclear question or terrorism or anything else.
SECRETARY CLINTON:
Well, there certainly is reason for us to be cautious in our dealings
with Iran. There is not yet a final outcome of the process that they’re
engaged in internally to demonstrate to their own people the credibility
of the electoral process that has just been completed. So I am well
aware of the daunting challenges ahead of us or any group that tries to
deal with the Iranian regime.
Having said that, I think the
President has made clear in several statements in the last week that
we’re going to watch this unfold and we’re going to act in America’s
national interest. That’s what this has always been about. It’s never
been about Iran as much as it’s been about the values, goals, and the
interests of the United States of America. And we remain committed to
doing all we can to try to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear weapons
power.
So we’re going to watch this and we’re going to gauge our actions accordingly.
QUESTION: But there’s no sense you get in which these events might have somehow enhanced the prospects for engagement, have they?
SECRETARY CLINTON:
I’m not going to make a value judgment on what they may or may not have
done. I’m just going to reiterate that everything we intend to do is in
light of how we view America’s long-term interests and security, as
well as those of friends and allies, not just in the region but around
the world.
MR. KELLY: Mary Beth Sheridan.
QUESTION:
Madam Secretary, sorry, if I could just return for a second to
Honduras, just to clarify Arshad’s point – so, I mean, the U.S. provides
aid both under the Foreign Assistance Act and the Millennium challenge.
So even though there are triggers in those; that countries have to
behave – not have coups, you’re not going to cut off that aid?
SECRETARY CLINTON:
Well, Mary Beth, we’re assessing what the final outcome of these
actions will be. This has been a fast-moving set of circumstances over
the last several days, and we’re looking at that question now. Much of
our assistance is conditioned on the integrity of the democratic system.
But if we were able to get to a status quo that returned to the rule of
law and constitutional order within a relatively short period of time, I
think that would be a good outcome.
So we’re looking at all
of this. We’re considering the implications of it. But our priority is
to try to work with our partners in restoring the constitutional order
in Honduras.
QUESTION: And does that mean returning Zelaya himself? You would insist on that in order to –
SECRETARY CLINTON:
We are working with our partners. The OAS will have this Extraordinary
General Assembly tomorrow. We haven’t laid out any demands that we are
insisting on, because we’re working with others on behalf of our
ultimate objectives, which are shared broadly. So we think that the
arrest and expulsion of a president is certainly cause for concern that
has to be addressed. And it’s not just with respect to whether our aid
continues, but whether democracy in Honduras continues.
MR. KELLY: Okay.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Okay?
QUESTION: One more.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Yeah.
QUESTION:
Madame Secretary, back to Iran. The Guardian Council has just announced
that it – just after a limited recount, that they consider the vote
valid. Is this enough for the international community? Do you plan on
recognizing the government of President Ahmadinejad? I mean, we’ve seen
this crisis over the last few weeks illustrate a real division in the
regime. Do you think that this is the beginning of the end of the
Iranian regime?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I’m not going
to speculate on what happens with their internal regime. Obviously,
they have a huge credibility gap with their own people as to the
election process. And I don’t think that’s going to disappear by any
finding of a limited review of a relatively small number of ballots.
But
clearly, these internal matters are for Iranians themselves to address
and we hope that they will be given the opportunity to do so in a
peaceful way that respects the right of expression. And it has been my
position and that of our Administration that we support the fundamental
values of people’s voices being heard, their votes being counted. And
we’ll have to see how this unfolds. You know, it’s – this is a historic
moment for Iran and for the Iranian people. And I don’t want to
speculate on how it’s going to turn out.
QUESTION: Well, will you recognize President Ahmadinejad as the democratically elected president?
SECRETARY CLINTON: We’re going to take this a day at a time. We’re going to watch and carefully assess what we see happening.
Thank you all very much.
QUESTION: Okay. Thank you.
