AMBASSADOR SILVERTEIN’S PRESS
CONFERENCE
Q - Mr. Ambassador, we
would like to know how does the government of the United
States assess the situation generated by the conflict with
Iraq, do they still think a military intervention was necessary
in that country?
Amb. Silverstein - First let me say before I answer
your question that this open type of question can occur
in Uruguay and not in Baghdad. This couldn’t occur
in Baghdad, you don’t have the ability to speak out
freely when you have something to say that might be in disagreement
with the government. The conflict in Iraq, of course, continues,
we are in a state of war there; coalition forces are making
progress that we are satisfied with. We are especially concerned
to try to limit the number of civilian casualties. It is
a war zone, civilian casualties happen, they are regrettable;
we are taking every step possible to avoid them. In addition,
one of our highest priorities is to bring in aid to help
the civilians in Iraq.
Q - Should this help come through the United Nations or
directly from the U.S. Government?
Amb. Silverstein - The U.S. government,
the government of Great Britain, the coalition forces are
trying right now to bring in an enormous amount of humanitarian
aid to the ports and one of the difficulties that we have
is because of the unorthodox way that this war is being
conducted by the government of Iraq that has made it more
difficult to bring in material.
Q - According to its position is Uruguay ranked as a “friend”
country, a neutral country or a country against the war?
Amb. Silverstein - I think the government
of Uruguay has clearly stated their position, we of course
would have liked to have seen a stronger statement of support
but the statement they made is a determination that was
made by their government. Uruguay is a sovereign country,
it can make the decisions it wishes to make.
Q - Mr. Ambassador, are you concerned about the level of
acceptance or popular rejection that may exist in Uruguay
and obviously in the rest of the world regarding this war?
Amb. Silverstein - Uruguay is a democracy,
people are welcome to have the feelings and opinions that
they have. What I do wish though, is that people would take
their time to research, to read, to be informed before they
reach a conclusion.
Amb. Silverstein - I wonder how many of the people who are
publicly criticizing the effort in Iraq have really taken
the time to read resolution 1441 with the twelve years of
resolutions before that.
Q - What can you say about this idea that has been around
about US Embassies getting together for a Latin American
declaration?
Amb. Silverstein - Which embassies? It
is our job, on a daily basis, first and foremost to protect
American citizens, but, after that, it is our job to make
our position known to the governments in which we are accredited.
Q - Yes, but this is the question. There is a version about
the US suggesting a text with a statement to Embassies in
Latin American countries. What can you tell us in this regard?
Amb. Silverstein - I can speak on behalf
of the United States Embassy in Montevideo and let me tell
you, one hundred percent clearly, that we did not suggest
any text whatsoever to this government. Whoever is stating
that, ought to check their sources a little better.
Q - The United States sustains that there are ties between
international terrorism and Ciudad del Este. Is the United
States going to take any step in this regard?
Amb. Silverstein - I think there are many
countries that are concerned about the level of activity
in Ciudad del Este, which is illegal activity, some of which
is intellectual property rights violation which we are very
concerned about, some of which are activities which show
a sympathy and a nexus to actions of terrorists. So we continue
to monitor the situation.
