U.S. State Department - 04.23.2004

State Department Spokesman Takes Questions on Berlin Conference

U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing 
Friday, April 23, 2004
12:50 p.m. EDT

BRIEFER: Richard Boucher, Spokesman

Read full briefing transcript

[EXCERPT]

QUESTION: Secretary Powell yesterday met with the leaders of Jewish American communities as representative to the Conference of Anti-Semitism in Berlin that they're going to represent the United States. I wonder, in all the midst of what's going on in the Middle East now and the visit of Sharon to Washington and all, has the Secretary used -- tried to employ the influence or lean on these leaders, Jewish American leaders, to use their influence and connection with Israel to try to contain what is destructive policies in Jenin and other places and the daily killing of Palestinians, that that is stirring actually the anti-Semitism in Europe and helping that to stir in other parts of the world, too, that they have duties also to lean on the Israeli Government to pursue different policies, better policies with the Palestinians?

MR. BOUCHER: I'm trying to figure out the question in there. There was a lot of editorial comment.

Let me tell you this about the meeting. It's a very important meeting to us because it's a very important conference. The Secretary met with the U.S. delegation to the Anti-Semitism Conference that will be held next week in Berlin, which the Secretary himself is going to go and attend.

We think that given the history of the Jewish people, it's very important to remember and to make sure that any manifestations of anti-Semitism are stopped and are rejected by the civilized world.

We also think it's very important to make sure that people don't use political excuses in some vain attempt to justify anti-Semitism or in some attempt to excuse it. Anti-Semitism is inexcusable and can lead to horrible consequences. And U.S. policies, Israeli policies, anybody's policies are not excuses for hatred and they're not justification for hatred and vile conduct. And we have made that point before and we'll make that point again at the conference.

QUESTION: Anti-Semitism is definitely condemned by many -- most of the people of the Middle East, and they are the people of the Middle East are Semitics too. But this new government, the Sharon government, has been pursuing policies that it is admittedly by so many people do admit that this policy of Mr. Sharon is helping the rise of new anti-Semitism in Europe. Israel itself talks about that.

MR. BOUCHER: There is no excuse for anti-Semitism. There is no -- this is not about the policies of a government. It's not about Mr. Sharon. It's not about Israel. It's not about the United States.

The United States Government, the President himself, went to great lengths after 9/11 to make clear that the enemy was violent groups and extremists; it wasn't a people, it wasn't a religion, it wasn't people who believe in Islam, it wasn't people from a country, it wasn't people of a certain ethnic group. And I think that's a point that gets made again and again by the United States in various contexts.

And in the context of anti-Semitism and the indicators of anti-Semitism in Europe, it's important for all of us to remember this is not about a country or a policy; this is about hatred and it needs to be stopped. And it's vile conduct, whatever supposed justification people might try to give to it.

QUESTION: So you say that it has to do with the race, and not with the policies of a government?

MR. BOUCHER: No, it doesn't have to do with a people who are the targets. It has to do with the people who are perpetrating it and the need for all civilized nations to stop that kind of behavior.

Sir.

QUESTION: Can I ask --

MR. BOUCHER: We've got a gentleman in the back that's been waiting.

QUESTION: It's about the OSCE conference?

MR. BOUCHER: Want to stick to the conference? Okay.

QUESTION: I'm just curious. This is a technical question. The Secretary is going but he is not the leader of the U.S. delegation? I don't understand this. Is he going to speak in place of former Mayor Koch or is -- what's the --

MR. BOUCHER: The Secretary's attendance at the conference will be short. The overall U.S. delegation and participation is going to be led by Mayor Koch and with a whole delegation with him who will be the American participants in the conference. The Secretary's presence will be short. He will speak on behalf of the United States, certainly, as he always does. I'll have to find out from protocol technically if, sort of for the point, the moment that he's in the hall, if he becomes the head of the delegation or not. But since the conference is longer than the Secretary's attendance, the U.S. delegation as a whole is going to be led by Mayor Koch for the conference.

QUESTION: But he does plan to speak?

MR. BOUCHER: He does plan to speak, yes.