sábado, febrero 10, 2007

 

Entrevistas de las autoridades USA en America Latina

Under Secretary Karen P. Hughes to Visit Mexico:
Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen P.Hughes will travel to Mexico February 12-15, 2007. The visit underscores theimportant relationship between Mexico and the United States and recognizes thestrong ties and common values shared by the peoples of Mexico and the UnitedStates.During her four-day visit to Mexico City, Chiapas, and Guadalajara, UnderSecretary Hughes will meet with government officials, students, business andcommunity leaders, and members of the media.Mexico is a neighbor and close partner with whom we share many common interestsand democratic values. We cooperate on a continuing basis on a broad range ofpolitical and economic issues, including regional and global security,environmental protection, energy, and trade. We look forward to continuing towork together to achieve our goal of consolidating democracy, promotingprosperity, investing in people, and enhancing security in the hemisphere.2007/088Released on February 8, 2007.
Roundtable With Latin American Journalists on Travel to Brazil and Argentina. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs;Thomas Shannon,Assistant Secretary for Western HemishphereWashington, DCFebruary 5, 2007MR. WATNIK: --tomorrow morning he'll be in Brazil through Thursday, and he'llgo to Argentina Thursday and Friday. I'm going to ask Under Secretary Burns andAssistant Secretary Shannon to make a brief opening statement, and then we'lltake your questions.UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Good morning. How are you? Nice to see you all. I'm NickBurns. I'm the Under Secretary for Political Affairs. I'll be traveling toBrazil and Argentina this week. I'll be accompanied by my very close friend,Tom Shannon, our Assistant Secretary of State. We'll also have with us GregManuel who is the energy advisor to Secretary Rice and he is someone who hasbeen at the forefront of our work on biofuels, particularly on our work withthe Brazilian Government. Because both of us, of course, are the world leaders,Brazil and the United States, on that issue. And with Bill McIlhenny, who isone our Latin American experts here at the State Department.So we're looking forward very much to this visit. This has been long planned.Tom and I had a very good dinner with Antonio Patriota, the Brazilian UnderSecretary and soon to be Brazilian Ambassador to the United States, back inSeptember in New York during the UN General Assembly, and Ambassador Abdenurwas there as well. And we talked about the obvious interest that both ourcountries have in building a stronger bilateral relationship, and there's somuch in that relationship, stronger regional cooperation and also globalcooperation because Brazil, of course, is a global leader. And this trip wasplanned back in September.We also have with the Brazilian Government a strategic dialogue, and what that will meet several times a year -- and I would like it to be several, not onceor twice, both here and in Brazil and at the United Nations -- to talk aboutwhat we can do to make sure that both of our countries are working together onthe global issues.So in our trip there, and we\'ll be seeing the Foreign Minister, we\'ll be seeingall the Foreign Ministry officials and lots of other different -- lots of otherofficials from the President\'s office and throughout the government, both inSan Paulo and in Brasilia. We\'re going to be focused on how our two countriescan succeed together on this huge bilateral relationship that we have andagenda. It\'s everything from trade to working together on biofuels, to workingtogether on crime, which is certainly a problem in our country as well as anissue in Brazil, and also working together in the hemisphere for what we knowto be our obligation as two important countries in the hemisphere to help ontrade, on democracy and issues of social justice, where the United States hasan interest, a real interest, on the environment; and then to take thatconversation which is about the bilateral relationship and the region, and alsoto talk about our global responsibilities and to talk about these greatmultilateral challenges that we face.Global climate change. You know, President Bush has referred to this in hisState of the Union Address as an issue that we know we have to work well onwith other countries. Trafficking of women and children, an issue that bothBrazil and the United States are fighting around the world. International drugcartels, international criminal cartels, weapons of mass destruction andproliferation and terrorism. Those are probably the core multilateral issuesthat Brazil and the United States, Argentina are facing, that we\'re facing with", means is that Ambassador Patriota and myself, and now his successor with me,will meet several times a year -- and I would like it to be several, not onceor twice, both here and in Brazil and at the United Nations -- to talk aboutwhat we can do to make sure that both of our countries are working together onthe global issues.So in our trip there, and we'll be seeing the Foreign Minister, we'll be seeingall the Foreign Ministry officials and lots of other different -- lots of otherofficials from the President's office and throughout the government, both inSan Paulo and in Brasilia. We're going to be focused on how our two countriescan succeed together on this huge bilateral relationship that we have andagenda. It's everything from trade to working together on biofuels, to workingtogether on crime, which is certainly a problem in our country as well as anissue in Brazil, and also working together in the hemisphere for what we knowto be our obligation as two important countries in the hemisphere to help ontrade, on democracy and issues of social justice, where the United States hasan interest, a real interest, on the environment; and then to take thatconversation which is about the bilateral relationship and the region, and alsoto talk about our global responsibilities and to talk about these greatmultilateral challenges that we face.Global climate change. You know, President Bush has referred to this in hisState of the Union Address as an issue that we know we have to work well onwith other countries. Trafficking of women and children, an issue that bothBrazil and the United States are fighting around the world. International drugcartels, international criminal cartels, weapons of mass destruction andproliferation and terrorism. Those are probably the core multilateral issuesthat Brazil and the United States, Argentina are facing, that we're facing with some of the countries that are globally oriented.And we\'ll certainly want to talk to the Brazilians and get their ideas on howwe strengthen the United Nations and some of the other multilateralinstitutions -- the OAS certainly -- to try to be effective in combating theseproblems.So I look at the trip to Brazil as an opportunity to do a lot of listening at atime of -- you know, where the new government is taking shape in Brasilia as tohow the Brazilian Government views these issues and how we can work with themon a regional and global basis.And in Argentina, we\'re very pleased to be going to Buenos Aires and to work onwhat I think is an improving relationship between the United States andArgentina. We have a new Ambassador there, Ambassador Tony Wayne, and he hasdone a very, very fine job in, I think, putting our relationship back on track.Obviously, everything that I said about Brazil pertains to Argentina. Argentinais a powerful country, a country with a lot of influence in the region andaround the world, and we\'ll want to work with the Argentine Government on allof these issues that I\'ve mentioned.I think in both countries we\'ll talk about our effort to try to stemproliferation in Iran, in North Korea, which are two leading issues. We\'llcertainly want to talk about our regional policy in the Middle East. We arestrongly supporting, of course, what the Argentine Government has been doing tofollow up on the 1994 bombings of the AMIA Center. In fact, I think I\'ll -- Iknow I\'ll be visiting there to lay a wreath and to meet some of the communityleaders in Buenos Aires.So my sense is that with both countries -- and you know, my responsibility hereis to look at our global policy, so I\'m involved in each region of the world.We have a real opportunity to build a stronger relationship with Argentina and" Japan and China and Russia and India and Indonesia, South Africa, just to namesome of the countries that are globally oriented.And we'll certainly want to talk to the Brazilians and get their ideas on howwe strengthen the United Nations and some of the other multilateralinstitutions -- the OAS certainly -- to try to be effective in combating theseproblems.So I look at the trip to Brazil as an opportunity to do a lot of listening at atime of -- you know, where the new government is taking shape in Brasilia as tohow the Brazilian Government views these issues and how we can work with themon a regional and global basis.And in Argentina, we're very pleased to be going to Buenos Aires and to work onwhat I think is an improving relationship between the United States andArgentina. We have a new Ambassador there, Ambassador Tony Wayne, and he hasdone a very, very fine job in, I think, putting our relationship back on track. Obviously, everything that I said about Brazil pertains to Argentina. Argentinais a powerful country, a country with a lot of influence in the region andaround the world, and we'll want to work with the Argentine Government on allof these issues that I've mentioned.I think in both countries we'll talk about our effort to try to stemproliferation in Iran, in North Korea, which are two leading issues. We'llcertainly want to talk about our regional policy in the Middle East. We arestrongly supporting, of course, what the Argentine Government has been doing tofollow up on the 1994 bombings of the AMIA Center. In fact, I think I'll -- Iknow I'll be visiting there to lay a wreath and to meet some of the communityleaders in Buenos Aires.So my sense is that with both countries -- and you know, my responsibility hereis to look at our global policy, so I'm involved in each region of the world.We have a real opportunity to build a stronger relationship with Argentina and we\'re so involved in Plan Colombia, but with these two countries we want tobuild a relationship. And I think that the atmospherics are good to do that. Ithink both Argentina and Brazil are prepared, I think, to meet us half way andthey\'ll be dealing with an American Government that truly wants to listen andwants to get their ideas and advice on how we can be successful. And we\'re veryfortunate to have in Brazil Ambassador Cliff Sobel, who is a new ambassador whois doing a great job on this agenda. And as I said, Ambassador Tony Wayne is inBuenos Aires. So we\'re looking forward to both visits.Tom. ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: Very briefly to underscore what Nick said, Nick(inaudible) the Council of Americas event here in Washington a while back. Hereferred to 2007 as a year of engagement and this is obviously a theme thatI\'ve used in several speeches that I had made, not indicating that 2006 was ayear of disengagement but that 2006 was a year of elections (inaudible) anenormous number of elections in the region and that we\'ve got new governmentsin place in a variety of countries. We\'ve got two elections, two big electionsscheduled for this year in Argentina and Guatemala. But coming out of 2006 wethought it very important to start 2007 very quickly with as many trips intothe region at a high a level as possible to begin to engage with thesegovernments and to begin to identify, you know, our priorities as we go into2007 and 2008, the final year of the Bush Administration. Because we have(inaudible) a big agenda, and as Nick noted, this is an agenda which isregional and global in nature. But also we want to have an opportunity to talkwith both Brazil and Argentina about how we link democracy and development andhow we find ways to make sure that democracy is capable of addressing the huge", with Brazil. Our relationship with Colombia, of course, is different becausewe're so involved in Plan Colombia, but with these two countries we want tobuild a relationship. And I think that the atmospherics are good to do that. Ithink both Argentina and Brazil are prepared, I think, to meet us half way andthey'll be dealing with an American Government that truly wants to listen andwants to get their ideas and advice on how we can be successful. And we're veryfortunate to have in Brazil Ambassador Cliff Sobel, who is a new ambassador whois doing a great job on this agenda. And as I said, Ambassador Tony Wayne is inBuenos Aires. So we're looking forward to both visits.Tom.ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: Very briefly to underscore what Nick said, Nick(inaudible) the Council of Americas event here in Washington a while back. Hereferred to 2007 as a year of engagement and this is obviously a theme thatI've used in several speeches that I had made, not indicating that 2006 was ayear of disengagement but that 2006 was a year of elections (inaudible) anenormous number of elections in the region and that we've got new governmentsin place in a variety of countries. We've got two elections, two big electionsscheduled for this year in Argentina and Guatemala. But coming out of 2006 wethought it very important to start 2007 very quickly with as many trips intothe region at a high a level as possible to begin to engage with thesegovernments and to begin to identify, you know, our priorities as we go into2007 and 2008, the final year of the Bush Administration. Because we have(inaudible) a big agenda, and as Nick noted, this is an agenda which isregional and global in nature. But also we want to have an opportunity to talkwith both Brazil and Argentina about how we link democracy and development andhow we find ways to make sure that democracy is capable of addressing the huge to be the core of democratic government and society in the Americas, which arerepresentative political institutions and individual freedoms and liberties.MODERATOR: We\'ll take a few questions, but could you please state your name andyour organization when you ask?QUESTION: Sure. My name is Phil (ph) -- (laughter) --UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: We know everything about you.QUESTION: I\'m Fernando (inaudible) from TV Globo Brazil. When you say that theUnited States believes that the governments in Brazil and Argentina would bewilling to meet half way, Brazil has designs to -- specifically to the UN --excuse me -- participation in the Security Council. I would like to know whichkind of latitude you will have and what kind of perspectives you would be ableto offer them.In terms of environment, the whole region for many years has resented the factthat the United States has not participated in the Kyoto agreement, and wouldyou be giving them any different direction or the prospective of any change onthat?UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Thank you very much. You know --QUESTION: Sorry for (inaudible).UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: No, it\'s okay. Picking up on what Tom said, I guess thisdefinitely applies to both Brazil and Argentina and your question, we\'relooking for a comprehensive engagement. And 2006 was the year of elections, anextraordinary number of elections. We now have the opportunity to move forwardon a regional agenda. And what we take away from the great majority ofelections is that the hemisphere is ready for a comprehensive engagement withthe United States and we are ready for it, so you\'re going to see a very activeagenda by the United States this year.Brazil is a natural leader for obvious reasons and it\'s well known that Brazilaspires to a permanent seat in the Security Council. We, to this date, have", social challenges that we face in the region while protecting what we considerto be the core of democratic government and society in the Americas, which arerepresentative political institutions and individual freedoms and liberties.MODERATOR: We'll take a few questions, but could you please state your name andyour organization when you ask?QUESTION: Sure. My name is Phil (ph) -- (laughter) --UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: We know everything about you.QUESTION: I'm Fernando (inaudible) from TV Globo Brazil. When you say that theUnited States believes that the governments in Brazil and Argentina would bewilling to meet half way, Brazil has designs to -- specifically to the UN --excuse me -- participation in the Security Council. I would like to know whichkind of latitude you will have and what kind of perspectives you would be ableto offer them.In terms of environment, the whole region for many years has resented the factthat the United States has not participated in the Kyoto agreement, and wouldyou be giving them any different direction or the prospective of any change onthat?UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Thank you very much. You know --QUESTION: Sorry for (inaudible).UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: No, it's okay. Picking up on what Tom said, I guess thisdefinitely applies to both Brazil and Argentina and your question, we'relooking for a comprehensive engagement. And 2006 was the year of elections, anextraordinary number of elections. We now have the opportunity to move forwardon a regional agenda. And what we take away from the great majority ofelections is that the hemisphere is ready for a comprehensive engagement withthe United States and we are ready for it, so you're going to see a very activeagenda by the United States this year.Brazil is a natural leader for obvious reasons and it's well known that Brazilaspires to a permanent seat in the Security Council. We, to this date, have could see our way towards an expansion of the Council perhaps by, you know,four or five members, permanent and non-permanent. And we\'re going to have to-- we\'ll just have to look for whether or not there\'s a specific formula thatcan work. It\'s eluded us, frankly -- the whole world and the United Nations. Noone has put together a formula that can balance all the regional interests thatare out there in Asia, South Asia, Africa and Latin America, as well as Europeby the way.And so we\'re obviously ready to talk to the Brazilians about what we can do tobe a stronger partner of Brazil at the United Nations. I mean, that\'simportant. I don\'t anticipate -- I will not say anything different than whatwe\'ve been saying for the last year or so on the Security Council issue, butwe\'re willing to listen and see what the Brazilians have in mind in terms of aformula that would win the support not just of the Security Council but of 128members of the General Assembly, which is the test.But certainly the idea that Brazil and Argentina are important in the UN, theyare both very important. And the UN and in a time with the new SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon where it needs a lot of strengthening on a global basis,and so we\'re willing -- I\'m going to look for -- to both countries to see whatideas both countries have for that and how we might work with them.On the environment, you\'ve seen that global climate change is an increasinglyimportant issue domestically in the United States. You\'ve seen some of ourstates are taking a lead on carbon emission targets. You\'ve seen President Bushsay that global climate change is an important issue for us. We have alwaysfelt that Kyoto maybe defines the issue too narrowly, because you have outsideof Kyoto the countries that are producing the greatest carbon emissions", supported Japan over the last five or six years, but we've also said that wecould see our way towards an expansion of the Council perhaps by, you know,four or five members, permanent and non-permanent. And we're going to have to-- we'll just have to look for whether or not there's a specific formula thatcan work. It's eluded us, frankly -- the whole world and the United Nations. Noone has put together a formula that can balance all the regional interests thatare out there in Asia, South Asia, Africa and Latin America, as well as Europeby the way.And so we're obviously ready to talk to the Brazilians about what we can do tobe a stronger partner of Brazil at the United Nations. I mean, that'simportant. I don't anticipate -- I will not say anything different than whatwe've been saying for the last year or so on the Security Council issue, butwe're willing to listen and see what the Brazilians have in mind in terms of aformula that would win the support not just of the Security Council but of 128members of the General Assembly, which is the test.But certainly the idea that Brazil and Argentina are important in the UN, theyare both very important. And the UN and in a time with the new SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon where it needs a lot of strengthening on a global basis,and so we're willing -- I'm going to look for -- to both countries to see whatideas both countries have for that and how we might work with them.On the environment, you've seen that global climate change is an increasinglyimportant issue domestically in the United States. You've seen some of ourstates are taking a lead on carbon emission targets. You've seen President Bushsay that global climate change is an important issue for us. We have alwaysfelt that Kyoto maybe defines the issue too narrowly, because you have outsideof Kyoto the countries that are producing the greatest carbon emissions want to do is have a global climate change debate that takes into considerationall these countries because there cannot be success without China and Indiabeing part of the effort and with the United States part of the effort. And weare spending, as you know, well over $5 billion per year in research on how tolower carbon emissions and in alternative fuels. And so we are among the worldleaders, if not the world leader, in scientific and engineering research onclimate change, which sometimes gets lost in the debate.So we are very anxious to have this discussion in Brasilia and in Buenos Airesand want to listen to both governments and see what\'s on their mind and see howwe can cooperate together.QUESTION: (Inaudible.) I would like (inaudible) to know if in thosenegotiations on biofuels (inaudible) some kind of opening of the Americanmarket for ethanol produced in other countries and if you are willing to talkabout removing the tariff that is in place (inaudible).UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Well, I\'m not going to Brazil or Argentina to negotiatea biofuels agreement, but there has been a broad set of meetings andinitiatives that are being discussed by both governments at the very highestlevels of both governments. And you know how important this is to the UnitedStates. We are with Brazil the world leader. You\'ve seen all of the impetus inour country now in terms of our national policy to stimulate ethanol, forinstance, as a fuel source. And what I expect is with -- at various levels ofthe Brazilian Government and in various ministries to be talking about what ourtwo leaders should be doing when they meet later this year, what they should bedoing to agree on greater cooperation between the two countries.In São Paulo we\'re also meeting with a number of governors from various states", globally -- China and India and the United States. And so what you probablywant to do is have a global climate change debate that takes into considerationall these countries because there cannot be success without China and Indiabeing part of the effort and with the United States part of the effort. And weare spending, as you know, well over $5 billion per year in research on how tolower carbon emissions and in alternative fuels. And so we are among the worldleaders, if not the world leader, in scientific and engineering research onclimate change, which sometimes gets lost in the debate.So we are very anxious to have this discussion in Brasilia and in Buenos Airesand want to listen to both governments and see what's on their mind and see howwe can cooperate together.QUESTION: (Inaudible.) I would like (inaudible) to know if in thosenegotiations on biofuels (inaudible) some kind of opening of the Americanmarket for ethanol produced in other countries and if you are willing to talkabout removing the tariff that is in place (inaudible).UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Well, I'm not going to Brazil or Argentina to negotiatea biofuels agreement, but there has been a broad set of meetings andinitiatives that are being discussed by both governments at the very highestlevels of both governments. And you know how important this is to the UnitedStates. We are with Brazil the world leader. You've seen all of the impetus inour country now in terms of our national policy to stimulate ethanol, forinstance, as a fuel source. And what I expect is with -- at various levels ofthe Brazilian Government and in various ministries to be talking about what ourtwo leaders should be doing when they meet later this year, what they should bedoing to agree on greater cooperation between the two countries.In São Paulo we're also meeting with a number of governors from various states a briefing tomorrow from the Brazilian Government about their biofuels andbiofuel initiatives. So I\'ll probably be better placed to speak morespecifically about your question at the end of the trip, but it is acenterpiece of what we\'re trying to do.Tom, you might want to --ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: I think that covers it.QUESTION: Sort of the same issue -- sorry, Sergio Davila from Folha de SãoPaulo. So is there a plan that you are going to announce at the end of the tripon biofuels or --UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: No, there won\'t be a plan on biofuels, but this is an --there have been so many discussions about biofuel cooperation between Braziland the United States. We wanted to try to focus them on what is achievable.And again, we need to listen to the Brazilian Government to see what theirideas are at a very high level, which we intend to do. In all of ourconversations we\'ll raise this biofuel issue, both in São Paulo as well as inBrasilia. And we\'ll talk to some of the private sector people involved in thisas well. And the reason we\'re bringing Greg Manuel is to try to see if we canfocus this into some initiatives that both governments can undertake together.And we\'re looking forward, of course, to President Lula and President Bushmeeting and we hope very much that this will be one of the centerpieces oftheir conversation. I\'m sure it will be. So, no dramatic announcement thisweek, but just the dull work of diplomacy which is very important to push thisinitiative along.QUESTION: (Inaudible) on listening.UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Yeah.QUESTION: That means you are not (inaudible). And secondly, do you have --UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: No. Is that a trick question? (Laughter.)QUESTION: (Inaudible.)UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: I can answer that either way (inaudible).", as well as from local politicians (inaudible) biofuels. We're going to receivea briefing tomorrow from the Brazilian Government about their biofuels andbiofuel initiatives. So I'll probably be better placed to speak morespecifically about your question at the end of the trip, but it is acenterpiece of what we're trying to do.Tom, you might want to --ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: I think that covers it.QUESTION: Sort of the same issue -- sorry, Sergio Davila from Folha de SãoPaulo. So is there a plan that you are going to announce at the end of the tripon biofuels or --UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: No, there won't be a plan on biofuels, but this is an --there have been so many discussions about biofuel cooperation between Braziland the United States. We wanted to try to focus them on what is achievable.And again, we need to listen to the Brazilian Government to see what theirideas are at a very high level, which we intend to do. In all of ourconversations we'll raise this biofuel issue, both in São Paulo as well as inBrasilia. And we'll talk to some of the private sector people involved in thisas well. And the reason we're bringing Greg Manuel is to try to see if we canfocus this into some initiatives that both governments can undertake together.And we're looking forward, of course, to President Lula and President Bushmeeting and we hope very much that this will be one of the centerpieces oftheir conversation. I'm sure it will be. So, no dramatic announcement thisweek, but just the dull work of diplomacy which is very important to push thisinitiative along.QUESTION: (Inaudible) on listening.UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Yeah.QUESTION: That means you are not (inaudible). And secondly, do you have --UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: No. Is that a trick question? (Laughter.) QUESTION: (Inaudible.)UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: I can answer that either way (inaudible). QUESTION: (Inaudible) President Hugo Chavez?UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Excuse me?QUESTION: Are you anywhere (inaudible) in Brazil and Argentina (inaudible) HugoChavez?UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Let me answer that question. No. He\'s not really part ofour thinking. You know, we\'re not going to Venezuela. We\'re going to Brazil andArgentina. We focus on our friends. We focus on countries we work with. AndBrazil and Argentina are two of the strongest countries in the hemisphere so wework with them. I don\'t expect that Venezuela will even come up in ourdiscussions. It may come up briefly, but it won\'t be a focal point.On the first question, of course we listen. But I think that we are on aninteresting point in relations with both Argentina and Brazil. There have been-- you know, we have overcome, I think with the Argentines, some problems inthe past. I think the relationship is in a much better place. But when you lookahead and say, okay, the purpose of my trip to Buenos Aires would be to saywhat can we accomplish together in 2007 on a regional and global basis. Youdon\'t want to go in with a list of ten things that you want the ArgentineGovernment to do and not listen. It\'s very important to listen. It\'s veryimportant because we share the hemisphere with these two countries to say,okay, how do you see us cooperating? Because I\'m bringing some ideas, specificideas, but we want to listen, too. And the same is true with Brazil.I really admired an article that Bob Zoellick wrote in the Wall Street Journal,I believe, about two weeks ago -- my former colleague Bob Zoellick -- where hewrote about a comprehensive engagement between the United States and LatinAmerica. That comprehensive engagement is already underway between the UnitedStates and Mexico, United States and Colombia, and is already underway withArgentina and Brazil. But I think with Argentina and Brazil we can make more of", QUESTION: (Inaudible) President Hugo Chavez?UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Excuse me?QUESTION: Are you anywhere (inaudible) in Brazil and Argentina (inaudible) HugoChavez?UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Let me answer that question. No. He's not really part ofour thinking. You know, we're not going to Venezuela. We're going to Brazil andArgentina. We focus on our friends. We focus on countries we work with. AndBrazil and Argentina are two of the strongest countries in the hemisphere so wework with them. I don't expect that Venezuela will even come up in ourdiscussions. It may come up briefly, but it won't be a focal point.On the first question, of course we listen. But I think that we are on aninteresting point in relations with both Argentina and Brazil. There have been-- you know, we have overcome, I think with the Argentines, some problems inthe past. I think the relationship is in a much better place. But when you lookahead and say, okay, the purpose of my trip to Buenos Aires would be to saywhat can we accomplish together in 2007 on a regional and global basis. Youdon't want to go in with a list of ten things that you want the ArgentineGovernment to do and not listen. It's very important to listen. It's veryimportant because we share the hemisphere with these two countries to say,okay, how do you see us cooperating? Because I'm bringing some ideas, specificideas, but we want to listen, too. And the same is true with Brazil.I really admired an article that Bob Zoellick wrote in the Wall Street Journal,I believe, about two weeks ago -- my former colleague Bob Zoellick -- where hewrote about a comprehensive engagement between the United States and LatinAmerica. That comprehensive engagement is already underway between the UnitedStates and Mexico, United States and Colombia, and is already underway withArgentina and Brazil. But I think with Argentina and Brazil we can make more of normal if you\'re a guest in a country not to go in say let me speak first. It\'snormal to say I\'m very happy to be here, tell me what\'s on your mind, and withthe various foreign ministers and leaders and governors, particularly in SãoPaulo. I mean, there\'s a lot to learn from people who are leading at theregional level. So I\'m very excited to meet the regional leaders in Brazil.QUESTION: (Inaudible.)QUESTION: I have two questions. One of the (inaudible) as you know, (inaudible)has announced recently that there were some (inaudible) terrorism in the(inaudible) Paraguay (inaudible) I will like to know if you are going to bringthis subject.The second (inaudible) is the role of the (inaudible) countries in thehemisphere and in (inaudible) and many other officials are saying that(inaudible) interesting role (inaudible) Bolivia (inaudible) now Ecuador, andas you know, Argentina (inaudible). I wanted to know how you see that(inaudible) as you know, Correa has said that perhaps they are going torestructure the debt (inaudible) doesn\'t like the idea (inaudible).UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Thank you. Why don\'t we take the remaining questions andwe\'ll just do it -- and I have to (inaudible) but Tom maybe can stay behind onsome of (inaudible).QUESTION: (Inaudible.)UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Pardon?QUESTION: I had a question regarding some (inaudible).UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Okay.QUESTION: (Inaudible) you said you (inaudible) it was very interesting -- thearticle -- and that you agreed with -- I just had a question because one of theproposals of Bob Zoellick was that the U.S. should get all the bilateralagreements it has and get them all together in an association (inaudible)another agreement. But that would basically mean FTAA without (inaudible)", it. And so yeah, we do want to go and listen. I think I'll start every -- it'snormal if you're a guest in a country not to go in say let me speak first. It'snormal to say I'm very happy to be here, tell me what's on your mind, and withthe various foreign ministers and leaders and governors, particularly in SãoPaulo. I mean, there's a lot to learn from people who are leading at theregional level. So I'm very excited to meet the regional leaders in Brazil.QUESTION: (Inaudible.)QUESTION: I have two questions. One of the (inaudible) as you know, (inaudible)has announced recently that there were some (inaudible) terrorism in the(inaudible) Paraguay (inaudible) I will like to know if you are going to bringthis subject.The second (inaudible) is the role of the (inaudible) countries in thehemisphere and in (inaudible) and many other officials are saying that(inaudible) interesting role (inaudible) Bolivia (inaudible) now Ecuador, andas you know, Argentina (inaudible). I wanted to know how you see that(inaudible) as you know, Correa has said that perhaps they are going torestructure the debt (inaudible) doesn't like the idea (inaudible).UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Thank you. Why don't we take the remaining questions andwe'll just do it -- and I have to (inaudible) but Tom maybe can stay behind onsome of (inaudible).QUESTION: (Inaudible.)UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Pardon?QUESTION: I had a question regarding some (inaudible).UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Okay.QUESTION: (Inaudible) you said you (inaudible) it was very interesting -- thearticle -- and that you agreed with -- I just had a question because one of theproposals of Bob Zoellick was that the U.S. should get all the bilateralagreements it has and get them all together in an association (inaudible)another agreement. But that would basically mean FTAA without (inaudible UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Okay.QUESTION: I\'d like to know what exactly would (inaudible).UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Okay.QUESTION: (Inaudible) this afternoon (inaudible) he mentioned the possibilityof doing a -- planned on doing an international forum on ethanol producers andconsumers and it would be China, Brazil, U.S. and India and South Africa, aswell, will take part in that. I was wondering if you will deal with that? Andnow that we\'ve mentioned Ambassador (inaudible) he also made a very strongstatement recently in an interview was published saying that business foreignpolicy is going to be dominated by anti-American leftwing representatives. Isone of the purposes of this trip to make -- for sure that Brazil adopt a moresoft stance towards the U.S., open as well as (inaudible) for that matter.UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Okay.QUESTION: (Inaudible) reporter for Latin America. I have a question on the(inaudible) initiative. And as you know, Brazil is a final (inaudible) memberof this group of countries (inaudible) receiving funds to the (inaudible). Butin the budget that of President Bush has signed today to the Congress, thePresident is requesting drastic (inaudible) about 41 percent. So what is theexplanation you expect to provide (inaudible) of this issue?UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Yes.QUESTION: (Inaudible) you know, will you be talking about Haiti and Bolivia?UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Okay.QUESTION: How did you see (inaudible?)UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: I\'ve got to go down to a meeting with the Secretary, butI\'m going to try some of these and then maybe ask Tom to answer the others. Letme -- Brazil and Argentina\'s role in the hemisphere vis-à-vis Venezuela, thatwas one of the questions that was asked.QUESTION: Venezuela and the other country.", because we don't have any bilateral agreements with the U.S.UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Okay.QUESTION: I'd like to know what exactly would (inaudible).UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Okay.QUESTION: (Inaudible) this afternoon (inaudible) he mentioned the possibilityof doing a -- planned on doing an international forum on ethanol producers andconsumers and it would be China, Brazil, U.S. and India and South Africa, aswell, will take part in that. I was wondering if you will deal with that? Andnow that we've mentioned Ambassador (inaudible) he also made a very strongstatement recently in an interview was published saying that business foreignpolicy is going to be dominated by anti-American leftwing representatives. Isone of the purposes of this trip to make -- for sure that Brazil adopt a moresoft stance towards the U.S., open as well as (inaudible) for that matter.UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Okay.QUESTION: (Inaudible) reporter for Latin America. I have a question on the(inaudible) initiative. And as you know, Brazil is a final (inaudible) memberof this group of countries (inaudible) receiving funds to the (inaudible). Butin the budget that of President Bush has signed today to the Congress, thePresident is requesting drastic (inaudible) about 41 percent. So what is theexplanation you expect to provide (inaudible) of this issue?UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Yes.QUESTION: (Inaudible) you know, will you be talking about Haiti and Bolivia?UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Okay.QUESTION: How did you see (inaudible?)UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: I've got to go down to a meeting with the Secretary, butI'm going to try some of these and then maybe ask Tom to answer the others. Letme -- Brazil and Argentina's role in the hemisphere vis-à-vis Venezuela, thatwas one of the questions that was asked.QUESTION: Venezuela and the other country. UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Yeah. We see Brazil and Argentina leading the debate inthe hemisphere. And we -- you know, we have a -- we believe in a big tent,meaning the hemisphere is a big tent and the United States ought to have goodrelations with all types of governments: center-left governments, centristgovernments, center-right governments. And we see out of the last year ofelections a broad -- largely broad consensus in Latin America for democracy, ofcourse, for trade with the United States, for cooperation with the UnitedStates. I\'m speaking from an American point of view, how do we think countriesrelate to us. And then there are some isolated countries, Cuba is one andVenezuela is certainly another, that have very, very different ideas that wedon\'t see as part of the Latin American mainstream. And so our friends areBrazil and Argentina and many of the other countries, all the great majority ofthe other countries in the hemisphere. And I think someone asked, do we fearthat Brazil and Argentina are going to somehow follow a Venezuelan line for theUnited States? No, we don\'t fear that. That\'s not what Argentina is doing. It\'snot what Brazil is doing. These countries have their own interests and they\'reextremely self-confident and powerful countries and they follow their own star.They don\'t need to follow anyone else\'s. So we have no concerns about thatwhatsoever.What I meant about Bob Zoellick\'s article, I want to be clear about this. Thisis a good question. I didn\'t mean to say I agree with every single thing hesaid. I meant to say I admired the way he framed the issue that we need to havea comprehensive engagement. The United States likes to talk about democracybecause we believe in it and we think it\'s good. It\'s good to see democracytake root around the world.We believe in free trade. But we also have to respond to those in Latin Americawho say that social justice is important, that trying to work on a hemispheric", UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Yeah. We see Brazil and Argentina leading the debate inthe hemisphere. And we -- you know, we have a -- we believe in a big tent,meaning the hemisphere is a big tent and the United States ought to have goodrelations with all types of governments: center-left governments, centristgovernments, center-right governments. And we see out of the last year ofelections a broad -- largely broad consensus in Latin America for democracy, ofcourse, for trade with the United States, for cooperation with the UnitedStates. I'm speaking from an American point of view, how do we think countriesrelate to us. And then there are some isolated countries, Cuba is one andVenezuela is certainly another, that have very, very different ideas that wedon't see as part of the Latin American mainstream. And so our friends areBrazil and Argentina and many of the other countries, all the great majority ofthe other countries in the hemisphere. And I think someone asked, do we fearthat Brazil and Argentina are going to somehow follow a Venezuelan line for theUnited States? No, we don't fear that. That's not what Argentina is doing. It'snot what Brazil is doing. These countries have their own interests and they'reextremely self-confident and powerful countries and they follow their own star.They don't need to follow anyone else's. So we have no concerns about thatwhatsoever.What I meant about Bob Zoellick's article, I want to be clear about this. Thisis a good question. I didn't mean to say I agree with every single thing hesaid. I meant to say I admired the way he framed the issue that we need to havea comprehensive engagement. The United States likes to talk about democracybecause we believe in it and we think it's good. It's good to see democracytake root around the world.We believe in free trade. But we also have to respond to those in Latin Americawho say that social justice is important, that trying to work on a hemispheric were so prominent in the elections in Latin America of course made this one oftheir driving forces in their campaigns and we respect that. And so Zoellick,you know, talked about a comprehensive set of initiatives and that\'s what Iadmire. I admire his ambition and the framework that he established.On the trade, though, of course, you know, we have a very clear delineation onseeking free trade agreements with some countries, but we would never want todiminish the trade possibilities or trade arrangements that other countrieshave including (inaudible.) You know, we\'re not -- that\'s not what we\'re tryingto do and I just want to make sure that\'s very clear. So I wasn\'t saying that Iagree with every single initiative, but I was admiring. What I thought aboutthat article was that here is someone who thinks that Latin America is veryimportant to the United States. So the United States needs to give it a lot ofattention and that we have to have an agenda that\'s not just narrowly focused,but that takes into consideration all the interests of the countries of LatinAmerica and so there\'s been a criticism of the United States that we haven\'t\'paid enough attention to social justice and economic issues and job creationand poverty. And I think what Tom has done very successfully, the AssistantSecretary, is to say, no, we have a broader agenda than that and we do have abroader agenda than that. We\'ll want to talk to the governments about this. AsAmbassador, you know, I literally have not seen what he said. You said some --you made some comments. I have not seen it, so it wouldn\'t be polite --QUESTION: Well, how does it strike you?UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: It wouldn\'t be polite of me to comment on something likethat. We have a very good relationship with the Brazilian Foreign Ministry.I\'ve started this Strategic Dialogue with Ambassador Patriota nearly a year", basis to alleviate poverty is important. Some of the indigenous peoples whowere so prominent in the elections in Latin America of course made this one oftheir driving forces in their campaigns and we respect that. And so Zoellick,you know, talked about a comprehensive set of initiatives and that's what Iadmire. I admire his ambition and the framework that he established.On the trade, though, of course, you know, we have a very clear delineation onseeking free trade agreements with some countries, but we would never want todiminish the trade possibilities or trade arrangements that other countrieshave including (inaudible.) You know, we're not -- that's not what we're tryingto do and I just want to make sure that's very clear. So I wasn't saying that Iagree with every single initiative, but I was admiring. What I thought aboutthat article was that here is someone who thinks that Latin America is veryimportant to the United States. So the United States needs to give it a lot ofattention and that we have to have an agenda that's not just narrowly focused,but that takes into consideration all the interests of the countries of LatinAmerica and so there's been a criticism of the United States that we haven't'paid enough attention to social justice and economic issues and job creationand poverty. And I think what Tom has done very successfully, the AssistantSecretary, is to say, no, we have a broader agenda than that and we do have abroader agenda than that. We'll want to talk to the governments about this. AsAmbassador, you know, I literally have not seen what he said. You said some --you made some comments. I have not seen it, so it wouldn't be polite --QUESTION: Well, how does it strike you?UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: It wouldn't be polite of me to comment on something likethat. We have a very good relationship with the Brazilian Foreign Ministry.I've started this Strategic Dialogue with Ambassador Patriota nearly a year that Secretary Rice very much values her relationship which excellent withForeign Minister Amorim. And so you know, we\'re happy with our relationship,with the Brazilian Foreign Ministry and we\'re looking forward -- I\'m spending alot of the day on Wednesday with them and looking forward to that very, verymuch.In terms of Haiti and Bolivia, we\'re definitely going to talk about a lot aboutHaiti with Argentina and Brazil. I just hosted a meeting on Haiti. We had 21countries and international institutions here on Thursday and it was a verysuccessful meeting as all of us agreed that we should support MINUSTAH. This isthe only UN peacekeeping operation that is dominated by a Latin country. Andit\'s working very well. We\'re in the Security Council now trying to get arenewal of this mandate of 12 months. Some countries are going to get sixmonths. All of us agreed Argentina, Brazil, Chile last week as well as Haitiand Dominican Republic that we should be looking at 12-month renewal.We very much appreciate the contributions of Brazil and Argentina. We want themto be continued and we\'re going to continue our support for MINUSTAH as wellbecause it\'s critical to give the Haitian Government a chance to improve onsecurity, especially in Port-au-Prince, especially in neighborhoods like CitéSoleil so that the government of President Préval will have a chance toimplement their agenda. And the Haitian Foreign Minister was with us and madethis point how grateful they were for MINUSTAH. So we\'re going to talk aboutHaiti about economic aid and about MINUSTAH.We just announced with the United States a $20 million grant to the Haitianslast Thursday which is designed to create implement in Cité Soleil because it\'sbeen such an unstable neighborhood that\'s been so much a source of the violencein Port-au-Prince. We wanted to help President Préval try to give especially", ago. And he and I have talked on the phone and we've seen each other. I knowthat Secretary Rice very much values her relationship which excellent withForeign Minister Amorim. And so you know, we're happy with our relationship,with the Brazilian Foreign Ministry and we're looking forward -- I'm spending alot of the day on Wednesday with them and looking forward to that very, verymuch.In terms of Haiti and Bolivia, we're definitely going to talk about a lot aboutHaiti with Argentina and Brazil. I just hosted a meeting on Haiti. We had 21countries and international institutions here on Thursday and it was a verysuccessful meeting as all of us agreed that we should support MINUSTAH. This isthe only UN peacekeeping operation that is dominated by a Latin country. Andit's working very well. We're in the Security Council now trying to get arenewal of this mandate of 12 months. Some countries are going to get sixmonths. All of us agreed Argentina, Brazil, Chile last week as well as Haitiand Dominican Republic that we should be looking at 12-month renewal.We very much appreciate the contributions of Brazil and Argentina. We want themto be continued and we're going to continue our support for MINUSTAH as wellbecause it's critical to give the Haitian Government a chance to improve onsecurity, especially in Port-au-Prince, especially in neighborhoods like CitéSoleil so that the government of President Préval will have a chance toimplement their agenda. And the Haitian Foreign Minister was with us and madethis point how grateful they were for MINUSTAH. So we're going to talk aboutHaiti about economic aid and about MINUSTAH.We just announced with the United States a $20 million grant to the Haitianslast Thursday which is designed to create implement in Cité Soleil because it'sbeen such an unstable neighborhood that's been so much a source of the violencein Port-au-Prince. We wanted to help President Préval try to give especially government and against the international organizations that are there. But thisis an example of where both Brazil and Argentina have been leading. And wefrankly have been trying to serve -- help them succeed and we\'ll continue thatvery much.I apologize, but I have to leave. I\'ve got to go a meeting with Secretary Rice.Tom, (inaudible). I\'ve left all of the hard questions for you. I answered theeasy ones. And that\'s the way it normally is in our relationship. But thank youfor coming this morning. We\'d be happy to meet with you when we come back. Wemay have more to say specific --QUESTION: How (inaudible)?UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Maybe next Monday or Tuesday, if you want because, youknow, it\'s a little bit difficult. Some of you have asked really good questionsthat are very specific and it\'s difficult before you\'ve even met people whostart saying it\'s not polite before you go to some place to give a specificagenda. We want to go and listen -- this is very much a listening tour. Andthink what will come out of it will hopefully be some joint initiatives withArgentina as well as with Brazil on some of these issues that we can talk aboutnext week. So I\'m happy to meet with you next week, if you\'d like to do that.We\'re going to go back over the weekend.So thank you for coming. We\'re looking forward to the trip very much to twovery good friends of ours. The other thing I should tell you is you\'re going tosee us move out very, very quickly to support an extension of Plan Colombia.It\'s in the President\'s budget. Tom just made a very successful trip to Bogotálast week where he met with President Uribe. He can tell you about that. Butone of our big initiatives in addition to reaching out to Brazil and Argentinathis month we\'ll be asking the Congress to support an extension of Plan", young people jobs so that they might seek not to engage in violence against thegovernment and against the international organizations that are there. But thisis an example of where both Brazil and Argentina have been leading. And wefrankly have been trying to serve -- help them succeed and we'll continue thatvery much.I apologize, but I have to leave. I've got to go a meeting with Secretary Rice.Tom, (inaudible). I've left all of the hard questions for you. I answered theeasy ones. And that's the way it normally is in our relationship. But thank youfor coming this morning. We'd be happy to meet with you when we come back. Wemay have more to say specific --QUESTION: How (inaudible)?UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Maybe next Monday or Tuesday, if you want because, youknow, it's a little bit difficult. Some of you have asked really good questionsthat are very specific and it's difficult before you've even met people whostart saying it's not polite before you go to some place to give a specificagenda. We want to go and listen -- this is very much a listening tour. Andthink what will come out of it will hopefully be some joint initiatives withArgentina as well as with Brazil on some of these issues that we can talk aboutnext week. So I'm happy to meet with you next week, if you'd like to do that.We're going to go back over the weekend.So thank you for coming. We're looking forward to the trip very much to twovery good friends of ours. The other thing I should tell you is you're going tosee us move out very, very quickly to support an extension of Plan Colombia.It's in the President's budget. Tom just made a very successful trip to Bogotálast week where he met with President Uribe. He can tell you about that. Butone of our big initiatives in addition to reaching out to Brazil and Argentinathis month we'll be asking the Congress to support an extension of Plan the battle against the FARC and some of the other groups, insurgent groups inColombia. And we are very, very pleased with all the progress that\'s been madeover the last six years on Plan Colombia and have a very close relationshipwith that Government -- another story to write about.Thank you.QUESTION: Can you give us the dates -- specific dates of the trip?ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: For which?QUESTION: (Inaudible?)MR. WATNIK: For this one?ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: For this one. Yeah. I\'ll get that for you. Yeah,we leave this afternoon.QUESTION: Do you mean, Brazil or?ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: In São Paulo. So we spend most of Tuesday in SãoPaulo and we go up to --QUESTION: (Inaudible.)UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: From São Paulo, we go to Brasilia on Wednesday. We\'re inBrasilia until Thursday afternoon, when we fly to Buenos Aires. We\'re in BuenosAires through Thursday evening and all of Friday and then we depart Fridaynight for Washington.QUESTION: So, Brasilia to Buenos Aires on Thursday?UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Correct, Thursday afternoon.QUESTION: (Inaudible.)ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: Yeah, the Secretary hasn\'t (inaudible) the budgetpresentation yet, so we\'re not going to talk about figures. She has to -- she\'sgoing to give her justification and her explanation and then we\'re going to --we can follow that up when we get back.QUESTION: (Inaudible) on the web (inaudible).ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: Yeah, I know, but the Secretary hasn\'t given herpresentation, so I\'m not going to -- I can\'t talk ahead of schedule.QUESTION: Oh, no, I understand.ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: So at least in terms of the specific numbers andthe rest Colombia both in our assistance on narcotics as well as counterterrorism andthe battle against the FARC and some of the other groups, insurgent groups inColombia. And we are very, very pleased with all the progress that's been madeover the last six years on Plan Colombia and have a very close relationshipwith that Government -- another story to write about.Thank you.QUESTION: Can you give us the dates -- specific dates of the trip?ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: For which?QUESTION: (Inaudible?)MR. WATNIK: For this one?ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: For this one. Yeah. I'll get that for you. Yeah,we leave this afternoon.QUESTION: Do you mean, Brazil or?ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: In São Paulo. So we spend most of Tuesday in SãoPaulo and we go up to --QUESTION: (Inaudible.)UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: From São Paulo, we go to Brasilia on Wednesday. We're inBrasilia until Thursday afternoon, when we fly to Buenos Aires. We're in BuenosAires through Thursday evening and all of Friday and then we depart Fridaynight for Washington.QUESTION: So, Brasilia to Buenos Aires on Thursday?UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Correct, Thursday afternoon.QUESTION: (Inaudible.)ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: Yeah, the Secretary hasn't (inaudible) the budgetpresentation yet, so we're not going to talk about figures. She has to -- she'sgoing to give her justification and her explanation and then we're going to --we can follow that up when we get back.QUESTION: (Inaudible) on the web (inaudible).ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: Yeah, I know, but the Secretary hasn't given herpresentation, so I'm not going to -- I can't talk ahead of schedule.QUESTION: Oh, no, I understand.ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: So at least in terms of the specific numbers andthe rest ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: Sure.QUESTION: Yeah, just the impression behind this, what is the reason the U.S.(inaudible).ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: Not going to do it, not going to do it. I\'m goingto let the Secretary give her presentation, okay?QUESTION: You\'re not going to (inaudible), one year, two years, (inaudible).QUESTION: (Inaudible.)ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: Yeah, but what\'s happening is that the Colombianshave developed a follow-on strategy to plan in Colombia, which they call theStrategy for Strengthening Democracy and Social Development. This is a planthat they envision lasting five to six years. The Colombia Foreign Ministerlast week called in the diplomatic corps and publicly presented this plan tothe diplomatic corps, asked the diplomatic corps and the governments theyrepresent to take a close look at that plan and determine how those adjustmentsmight be able to assist.The reason I went to Colombia was to meet with Colombian authorities to discussthe plan with them and to determine how it is we are going to be able to assistin this follow-on phase. And I think we came back with a very clear idea of howwe\'re going to be able to connect in terms of our funding. I mean, as UnderSecretary Burns noted when he was in Colombia in November, it\'s our intentionto largely maintain funding at more or less the same level for the next severalyears in an effort to provide a degree of stability, funding stability for theColombians as they make this transition to a secondary phase, but noting thatwhere the Colombians are placing a focus in this second phase is onstrengthening democracy and on social development.Obviously, the security side of things will remain important, especially thefight against drug trafficking and terrorist organizations. But the Colombiansrecognize that as their democratic security policy is successful and as they", QUESTION: (Inaudible.)ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: Sure.QUESTION: Yeah, just the impression behind this, what is the reason the U.S.(inaudible).ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: Not going to do it, not going to do it. I'm goingto let the Secretary give her presentation, okay?QUESTION: You're not going to (inaudible), one year, two years, (inaudible).QUESTION: (Inaudible.)ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: Yeah, but what's happening is that the Colombianshave developed a follow-on strategy to plan in Colombia, which they call theStrategy for Strengthening Democracy and Social Development. This is a planthat they envision lasting five to six years. The Colombia Foreign Ministerlast week called in the diplomatic corps and publicly presented this plan tothe diplomatic corps, asked the diplomatic corps and the governments theyrepresent to take a close look at that plan and determine how those adjustmentsmight be able to assist.The reason I went to Colombia was to meet with Colombian authorities to discussthe plan with them and to determine how it is we are going to be able to assistin this follow-on phase. And I think we came back with a very clear idea of howwe're going to be able to connect in terms of our funding. I mean, as UnderSecretary Burns noted when he was in Colombia in November, it's our intentionto largely maintain funding at more or less the same level for the next severalyears in an effort to provide a degree of stability, funding stability for theColombians as they make this transition to a secondary phase, but noting thatwhere the Colombians are placing a focus in this second phase is onstrengthening democracy and on social development.Obviously, the security side of things will remain important, especially thefight against drug trafficking and terrorist organizations. But the Colombiansrecognize that as their democratic security policy is successful and as they state in that territory can not only be security services, that it has to be --the state has to represent justice and has to represent health, education, andpublic security through police. And a lot of their funding and a lot of theiractivities over these next several years will be in those areas, consolidatingdemocratic institutions and then making sure that people have access to basicservices that the state provides.And we want to make sure that we\'re able to help them in this, recognizing thatwe won\'t be the only partner; that in fact, as the Colombians expand theiragenda more broadly from security to social development, that this will beattractive to other partners, especially in the European Union.QUESTION: Do you think (inaudible)?ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: It\'s our hope. I mean, obviously, the Secretarywill be presenting (inaudible). The figures for Colombia will be a part of thatand it\'ll be an engagement that we\'re going to have almost immediatelyafterwards with members of the Congress as we walk through the differentpriorities of the budget and have an opportunity to have a conversation withthem about Colombia.QUESTION: Well, do you think that the policies as far as Latin America couldchange the belief that (inaudible)?ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: By change, what do you mean by --QUESTION: I mean, (inaudible) democracy, which, in some ways, comes apart moremoderate and (inaudible)? Do you think that (inaudible) change somewhat(inaudible) current policies?ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: Well, I\'m looking forward to him coming on boardas Deputy Secretary. We\'ve been very lucky, since I\'ve come back to StateDepartment, to have both in Bob Zoellick and now in John Negroponte two DeputySecretaries who know the region well, who spent a lot of time in the region,", restate -- reassert authority over national territory, that the face of thestate in that territory can not only be security services, that it has to be --the state has to represent justice and has to represent health, education, andpublic security through police. And a lot of their funding and a lot of theiractivities over these next several years will be in those areas, consolidatingdemocratic institutions and then making sure that people have access to basicservices that the state provides.And we want to make sure that we're able to help them in this, recognizing thatwe won't be the only partner; that in fact, as the Colombians expand theiragenda more broadly from security to social development, that this will beattractive to other partners, especially in the European Union.QUESTION: Do you think (inaudible)?ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: It's our hope. I mean, obviously, the Secretarywill be presenting (inaudible). The figures for Colombia will be a part of thatand it'll be an engagement that we're going to have almost immediatelyafterwards with members of the Congress as we walk through the differentpriorities of the budget and have an opportunity to have a conversation withthem about Colombia.QUESTION: Well, do you think that the policies as far as Latin America couldchange the belief that (inaudible)?ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: By change, what do you mean by --QUESTION: I mean, (inaudible) democracy, which, in some ways, comes apart moremoderate and (inaudible)? Do you think that (inaudible) change somewhat(inaudible) current policies?ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: Well, I'm looking forward to him coming on boardas Deputy Secretary. We've been very lucky, since I've come back to StateDepartment, to have both in Bob Zoellick and now in John Negroponte two DeputySecretaries who know the region well, who spent a lot of time in the region, engagement with the region. I know Ambassador Negroponte well. We\'ve had achance to talk a lot about the region. And so I think that he is going to beone more positive element in our engagement with the region.Yes, one more.QUESTION: (Inaudible) border (inaudible)?ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: Oh, yeah, yeah. Well, you know, we have a separateforum to talk about tri-border issues and a lot of it\'s very technical, both onthe law enforcement side and on the financial side. But obviously, broadercounterterrorism assistance will be on the agenda because it typically is. Andin this regard, I think we\'re very lucky in that we\'ve got a very good dialoguegoing with both Brazil and Argentina on counterterrorism issues.At the working level, the cooperation is, I would say, first-rate. And youknow, that, I think, creates an atmosphere in which -- you know, we can speakto each other in a very open and confident way, in a way that, from our pointof view, is helpful to everybody. So it\'s my hope that we\'ll have anopportunity to address the broader issues.QUESTION: Any federal paper (inaudible)?ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: Well, I mean, obviously, as Nick noted, you know,this is a visit that has several levels. The conversation will have severallevels with Nick\'s expertise in the larger global issues, obviously being avery important part of this engagement.But we\'re very interested in talking about regional issues and we recognizethat -- you know, there are several countries in the region that are goingthrough some important political transformations right now and we want to makesure that we can play a helpful role in that process and that -- you know, wecan take advantage of the privileged position that Brazil and Argentina have inthe region to better understand what\'s happening.", who I think bring a lot of credibility and a lot of seriousness in theirengagement with the region. I know Ambassador Negroponte well. We've had achance to talk a lot about the region. And so I think that he is going to beone more positive element in our engagement with the region.Yes, one more.QUESTION: (Inaudible) border (inaudible)?ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: Oh, yeah, yeah. Well, you know, we have a separateforum to talk about tri-border issues and a lot of it's very technical, both onthe law enforcement side and on the financial side. But obviously, broadercounterterrorism assistance will be on the agenda because it typically is. Andin this regard, I think we're very lucky in that we've got a very good dialoguegoing with both Brazil and Argentina on counterterrorism issues.At the working level, the cooperation is, I would say, first-rate. And youknow, that, I think, creates an atmosphere in which -- you know, we can speakto each other in a very open and confident way, in a way that, from our pointof view, is helpful to everybody. So it's my hope that we'll have anopportunity to address the broader issues.QUESTION: Any federal paper (inaudible)?ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON: Well, I mean, obviously, as Nick noted, you know,this is a visit that has several levels. The conversation will have severallevels with Nick's expertise in the larger global issues, obviously being avery important part of this engagement.But we're very interested in talking about regional issues and we recognizethat -- you know, there are several countries in the region that are goingthrough some important political transformations right now and we want to makesure that we can play a helpful role in that process and that -- you know, wecan take advantage of the privileged position that Brazil and Argentina have inthe region to better understand what's happening. Thank you all very much. I\'m sorry I can\'t be more specific. Next week, I can.Released on February 8, 2007.-

Comments:
This pіeсе of wrіting is actuallу a pleаsant one it assists new web uѕeгs, who are
wishіng for blogging.

my blog; altec bucket truck
Feel free to visit my web page :: locate a bucket truck
 
You're so cool! I do not suppose I've read thrοugh anything lіκe thiѕ befoгe.
So nіce to discoνer somebοԁy with a few oгіginal thoughtѕ on this topic.
Ѕеriously.. thanks foг ѕtarting this up.

This websіte is something that is nеeԁed οn the web, somеone with a littlе originality!


Μy wеb pаgе; Coppell Taxi Company
my web page :: Irving taxi
 
I blog often anԁ I tгulу thank you for yοur
infοrmatiоn. Үour article has truly peaκed mу
interеst. I am gоing tο bоok mark уour blog and κeep chесking fοr new details about once a wеek.
I subscrіbed to your RSS feed аs ωеll.


Αlso vіѕіt mу pаge :: dallas seo company
 
Publicar un comentario

<< Home

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?