Powell lists New Year's resolutions for US foreign policy

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, January 02, 2004

Powell lists New Year's resolutions for US foreign policy

US Secretary of State Colin Powell made Thursday a list of New Year's resolutions about US foreign policy in 2004, saying that Afghanistan and Iraq remain the primary challenge ahead.

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US Secretary of State Colin Powell made Thursday a list of New Year's resolutions about US foreign policy in 2004, saying that Afghanistan and Iraq remain the primary challenge ahead.

"We are focused in particular on Afghanistan and Iraq," Powell said in an article published on the OP-ED page of The New York Times.

He said while the Afghan people moves towards national elections, the United States is working to return sovereignty to the Iraqis.

"As the Coalition Provisional Authority closes its doors on June 30, in accord with the Nov. 15 transition plan, we will open an embassy in Baghdad," he said.

The secretary said that the United States will continue to promote its strategy to facilitate "democracy" throughout the Middle East region in 2004.

"While our efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq will continue in 2004, we are resolved as well to turn the president's goal of a free and democratic Middle East into a reality," he said.

"We will expand the Middle East Partnership Initiative to encourage political, economic and educational reform throughout the region," he added.

Powell said that the United States is determined to achieve the goal of security by continuing to fight terrorism, noting that advances made last year have made Americans safer as 2004 begins.

"Al Qaida remains a great danger ... But its members are increasingly on the run, in hiding, in jail or dead," the secretary said.

"Its finances and communications are being disrupted and closer intelligence and law enforcement cooperation among peace-loving countries is making headway against terrorist plots," he added.

Powell stressed that to fight the war on terrorism, the United States needs to maintain constructive ties among the world's major powers and seek international cooperation through institutions like the United Nations.

Source: Xinhua

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