Source: http://www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/press_releases/20080520_125.html http://www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/press_releases/20080520_125.html
Date: May 20, 2008

USUN PRESS RELEASE #   125(08)
May 20, 2008 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Office of Press and Public Diplomacy 
United States Mission to the United Nations 
140 East 45th Street 
New York, N.Y. 10017
Remarks by Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. Permanent Representative, on Peacebuilding, Burma, Somalia, Human Rights Council elections, detainees, and Lebanon, at the Security Council stakeout, May 20, 2008 

Ambassador Khalilzad: Well, we’ve had an ongoing, interesting discussion today on the challenges of peacebuilding.  It certainly is an important issue that requires an integrated effort by the international community and the discussion of challenges and having an integrated approach that (inaudible) with success that encourages self reliance but at the same time the necessary support is there for as long as is needed is a key question facing the international community.  So we very much appreciate the UK leadership to have a discussion of this important issue.
I wanted to say one or two other things.  First, with regard to Burma we are encouraged by the visit of the Secretary-General, we have another five C-130s landing today brining American assistance- more assistance to the people of Burma.  We believe that more needs to be done in terms of opening the affected area – the delta area to the international assistance community, in terms of expediting visas for experts as well as logistical support to get supplies to those that are affected.  Some positive steps have been taken but a lot more needs to be done and we look to the Secretary-General to use his influence and prestige to push things – facilitate things moving in the right direction. 
On Somalia I know some of you are interested in the resolution with regard to piracy.  There is still ongoing work, there are some wording issues, particularly with regard to the focus whether it should be purely limited to Somalia – some would like to refer to the broader issue of piracy.  But we are working and we are making progress, I hope that we can come to an agreement very soon in the next day or two.  With that I’d be happy to take your questions.
Reporter: Ambassador I have a question concerning…
Ambassador Khalilzad: You weren’t even here and come and right away ask a question, go ahead.
Reporter: Excuse me if you mentioned this in your opening remarks.  Tomorrow is elections for the human rights council.  To what extent is the U.S. concerned that there are some countries who are running are running on clean slates and very likely to get elected such as Gabon, Bahrain, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zambia that really don’t have records that merit inclusion on the security – on the human rights council?
Ambassador Khalilzad: Well we don’t discuss usually our vote.  And you know our concerns with regards to the human rights council.  We have had concerns and we would like obviously, people who have genuine concerns about the human rights situation in the world to be elected and to transform that institution into what the intention – the intent of this institution has been from its very beginning.  One of its principle objectives has been to promote and protect human rights.  Therefore, we have our concerns and we would like those who would work for the objectives that I described to be elected but we don’t 
discuss our own specific votes.
Reporter: (inaudible)
Ambassador Khalilzad: Thank you, you want to get me in trouble.
Reporter: Mr. Ambassador, what is your position on the twenty-five hundred youths under the age 16 that are detained by the United States?
Ambassador Khalilzad: Well it is very unfortunate that insurgents, terrorists use children, young people, in their campaign of violence and as result - because of that we’ve had to detain young people who should be in school learning and preparing for a productive life but are being used for these purposes.  We understand the sensitivity and the special needs of the children having been in Iraq myself, as you know, and we do our best to have special treatment of them in terms of their psychological need, their educational needs, and keep them apart form adults, and work with their communities and their families.  We are heartbroken that terrorists and extremists use kids for their campaign of violence but we understand the special circumstances and needs of these children.
Reporter: (inaudible) while being detained they are participating in specific programs that are…
Ambassador Khalilzad: There are educational curriculum that is being developed for them, I’m aware of, that is being developed for them - the special attention to their needs.  I can tell you no one on our side is happy about the set of circumstances in which one has to do this.  But this is an unfortunate fact of life that some terrorist and extremist groups use kids for purposes of violence against the government, coalition forces, government forces but we understand and we do what we can as best as we can to be sensitive and to deal with their needs.
Reporter: Ambassador, on Lebanon the Doha talks will not tackle the issue of armament - Hezbollah armament.  How much are you concerned about it?  Specifically because resolution 1559 and 1701 mention this issue?
Ambassador Khalilzad: Well, the principles that are important for us is that, one, that Hezbollah has revealed itself by what it did to be not a resistance movement but a militia used by external powers such as Iran against the people of Lebanon, against the institution of Lebanon.  Therefore, the issue of disarming Hezbollah is an important, urgent issue.  It's a requirement of U.N. resolutions.  And what they have done in recent days and weeks by their use of force against Lebanese makes that issue more urgent, because the absence of dealing with this issue, in our judgment, only encourages the growth of other militias. And in our judgment, what's needed is the building up of Lebanese legitimate state institutions such as the armed forces to be responsible for the security of the state of Lebanon. 
Thank you. 
Reporter: Any action then in the council about it?
Ambassador Khalilzad: Well, we're not ruling that out.  Because of the ongoing activity and discussions in Doha, there was a sense that we needed to see what happens there.  But as I've said from the beginning, that the Council has an appropriate role to express itself on what has happened.  And as far we're concerned, it's still on the table and we'll be attentive to what happens there. 
Thank you very much.