United States Department of Defense

            Rumsfeld:  Good morning

 

            Rumsfeld:  We had a very good meeting

 

            Interpreter:  (Spanish)

 

            Rumsfeld:  The relationship between our two countries partners in NATO is important

 

            Interpreter:  (Spanish)

 

            Rumsfeld:  As you know we are cooperating in a variety of aspects in the Global War on Terror

 

            Interpreter:  (Spanish)

 

            Rumsfeld:  And in Afghanistan

 

            Interpreter: (Spanish)

 

            Rumsfeld:  and we are pleased that Spain is also training some Iraqi Security Forces

 

            Interpreter: (Spanish)

 

            Rumsfeld:  I was very pleased to see the Minister again and welcome him to the Pentagon on a beautiful sunny day.

 

            Interpreter:  (Spanish)

 

            Rumsfeld:  He has a statement?

 

            Bono (Spanish)/statement

 

            Interpreter:  We had a very cordial, very frank and very fruitful meeting.

 

            Bono: (Spanish)/Statement

 

            Interpreter:  And I think that we have laid the foundation so that the defense relations between the United States and Spain are improvable.

 

            Bono:  (Spanish)/Statement

 

            Interpreter:  And as partners and friends we agree on the fact that our major enemies (inaudible)

 

            Bono:  (Spanish/)/Statement

 

            Interpreter:  Spain has suffered the scourge of terrorism and still does.  And therefore you will always be able to count on us.  Never will Spain’s support fail in any matter regarding the fight against terrorism.  As alias and friends you will… as democracies and the United States particularly, will always be able to count on us.  And frankly speaking… concerning world peace, it cannot be understood without the United States.

 

            Bono:  (Spanish)/Statement

 

            Interpreter:  And we wanted to underscore this by wearing the same emblem with the colors of our two countries.

 

            Rumsfeld:  Thank you very much

 

            Question:  What about the (inaudible) agreement like the (inaudible) or maybe like the Venezuela?

 

            Rumsfeld:  We have discussed those issues…Venezuela.  We discussed the EU arms embargo and our interest in not having it lifted.

 

            Question:  Spanish

 

            Rumsfeld:  I think that’s normal when 2 countries relationships that there will be differences just as there are within countries.

 

            Question:  Spanish

 

            Rumsfeld:  I have always felt it was important for other countries want to characterize their department we certainly appreciate Spain involvement in Afghanistan and the Reconstruction team and in the support base

 

            Question:  Spanish

 

            Rumsfeld: Questions?  No more questions?

 

            Question (inaudible) foreign policy of Spain in military operations from now on, say Afghanistan or perhaps Iraq?

 

            Rumsfeld: Oh, that’s up to Spain, I’ve always felt that it’s important for other countries to decide how they want to characterize their involvement, but we certainly appreciate Spain’s involvement in Afghanistan…in the provincial reconstruction team and in the support base.

 

            Interpreter: Spanish

 

            Question: Spanish

 

            Rumsfeld:  Oh I enjoy Spain

 

            Question:  Spanish

 

            Rumsfeld:  I have been there many, many times over the decades

 

            Question:  Spanish

 

            Rumsfeld:   I have been there on business; I’ve been there on pleasure.

 

            Question:  Spanish

 

Rumsfeld:  I even ran the bulls in Pamplona in the festival of San Fermin (sp)

 

            Question:  Spanish

 

            Rumsfeld: …when I was ambassador to NATO.

 

            Rumsfeld:  But it was a very short run (laughs).  I saw them gaining on me and I grabbed a no parking sign and pulled myself up and watched it all go by.

 

            Question:  Have you overcome the problem of the withdrawal of the troops in Iraq?

 

            Rumsfeld:  We did not discuss that today but obviously we felt badly about that as our presence expressed.  We pick up and go on.

 

            Question:  Spanish

 

            Rumsfeld:  Why don’t you ask the Minister of Defense of Spain some tough questions?

 

            Question:  Is this the beginning of the recovery of the (inaudible).

 

            Rumsfeld:  I don’t.  I think that it’s important to understand we are partners in a important military alliance

 

            Question:  Spanish

 

            Rumsfeld:  …and our ministries of defense and our military have had good relationships for a great many years.

 

            Question:  Spanish

 

            Rumsfeld:  And I think that is a good thing for freedom loving countries that our two countries have that good relationship military-to-military.

 

            Question:  Spanish

 

Rumsfeld:  …and I’m going to get back to work.  I would love to stand out here in the sun like this with you all.

 

            Rumsfeld:  You ought to be paying your employers for being able to stand out here on a lovely day like this (laughs).  I think I’ll tell your employers that wherever you are.

 

            Rumsfeld:  I am going to have to get back upstairs and back to the grind.

 

            Rumsfeld:  Glad to see you all here.  Ask him a lot of tough questions when you’re with him later today.