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SECRETARY RICE: All right, let me just make a brief statement, and then Foreign Minister MacKay will follow on with a brief statement. And then we'll be happy to take your questions.
Obviously, there is considerable concern about our relationship, so much so that it has developed into a crisis. Let me just step back for a moment and remind us all how this began. This began with introductions of the most proper sort, and then we had donuts and coffee, and we were at every moment in the company of security and other officials of both nations. It had followed weeks of polite telephone conversations, and a number of e-mails which were always, I believe, and I expect that Peter--Minister MacKay--will concur, were always professional although somewhat tinged with a healthy playfulness.
And the reason that I mentioned this is that it -- suggests a way ahead. First of all, let me say that Minister MacKay, of course, has the right to express himself as a human male. And we would not ask of any man that he not take steps to express himself similarly, insofar as that expression crosses no boundaries in which another party might fairly object. It also suggests a way ahead, which is that it is extremely important that the relationship be allowed to progress along lines which are acceptable to all parties, being myself and Minister MacKay, without undue and corrosive interference from the international media and other parties which have every legal, if not moral, perhaps, right to be interested and, one might even say, intrigued.
It is also very important that the international community continue to observe decorum with respect to our relationship. And because we believe strongly that there needs to be another day -- in other words, that once this state of the relationship ends, whether it goes forward or not, we need to be able to return to the road map of our lives, we need to be able to return to our partnership with the people of our separate nations to fulfill our personal and professional goals, and the democratic aspirations of our nations -- it is extremely important that the world exercise restraint in its activities of interest in and commenting on the relationship, its nature, and its future, whatever that future may hold or not hold, so to speak.
Those are the messages that we have been sending to the parties; those are the messages that are being sent through numerous diplomatic channels. Peter--Minister MacKay--is going to describe some of the diplomacy that we have been engaged in, but let me note that we believe that the best opportunity now for de-escalation of this crisis is the effort that Secretary General Annan has announced -- he's sending a three-person team to us--to Peter and myself--to seek means of de-escalation of both the international interference and the personal leaks that have plagued the parties--Peter and myself--increasingly as of late.
This came, in fact, out of conversations the Secretary General had had with us. I had a conversation with him yesterday morning, suggested that it might be useful for the U.N. to send a mission, and he is now sending such a mission.
We are particularly noting that the discussion of the issue of withdrawal of urges, or forces, which may hinder the smooth transition of the relationship from the current stage is proceeding apace, and that we seek and expect nothing less than a strong consensus about a role ahead for Minister MacKay in my personal and professional life, and I in his, in accordance with a proposed resolution, including the question of further encounters, alignment of future goals, personal boundaries, and so forth. And so I'm quite certain that there will be some discussion when Kofi Annan's mission arrives about how to proceed with these crucial issues.
Lastly, let me say that it is obviously extremely important that Minister MacKay's and my allies and families play a positive, not a negative role. And in this regard I would highlight the very positive role that a number of persons have played in trying to diffuse the crisis, in trying to bring the parties together. But on the other hand, I don't think that there is any doubt that Canadian and American media have been very much in the opposite direction, encouraging and, indeed, sheltering the people who are perpetrating these leaks and interferences.
So it's a complex situation. We've been very active, very involved, but we do believe that this is a situation that can be resolved if the parties will take responsible actions.
Thank you.
MINISTER MACKAY: Condi--Secretary Rice--has laid out most of it. I'll just talk a little bit, give a little color to some of the things we've been doing. We have obviously been together for various periods of time, engaged in a number of activities. We have been in contact with representatives of the various media and our respective governments, when appropriate, keeping them all apprised of the state of our relationship, at least that portion which might fall under public purview. Secretary Condi Rice has talked to her representatives and counsel, and I've been in touch with the -- with mine.
The purpose of these communications have been to get some sense of what we are doing, but also make some points about -- and to hear from others whose indications were that they were focused on us.
We've had a number of comments and conversations about the need to try to establish and shore up guidelines so as not to destabilize the relationship, as well as lay down groundwork for any future developments. This is a good relationship that is trying to bring -- create a working partnership -- in the midst of a lot of challenges. The media is one more challenge that we do not need. So we talked about how to strengthen and avoid undermining the relationship while simultaneously allowing--with as much good nature as we can muster--an open door policy with citizens of both countries and abroad who are curious about our relationship.
I think the sum total of those are to reinforce some of the points that Secretary Rice has made that -- remember how this began with introductions and donuts, all quite proper, and continuation of this properness. Secretary Rice has mentioned human male expression, and boundaries from parties with every right to object, namely, herself. Personally, if I may, I urge all of those who have a line and have influence with Secretary Rice to use that influence along these lines. (laughter from press corps) A number of allies and colleagues already have been a source of both information of what's going on and counsel and direction to the major participants, namely Secretary Rice and myself, and they have helped formulate this effort.
The last thing I would say is that we hope that the U.N. mission the Secretary talked about can be a framework for going forward, can do a number of things -- can increase the pressure on both Secretary Rice and myself to give necessary energy to a personal relationship that otherwise might receive short shrift in such busy lives; can be a vehicle for strengthening the relationship and help us ride out this very difficult path; and finally, to be a framework for avoiding further crises.
And that's what we've been doing over the last two days or so. I don't know -- Secretary Rice, do you want to add anymore details?
SECRETARY RICE: I won't add more details. We can take a couple questions.
Q: Secretary Rice, the administration consistently said that -- and you said just previously, a few moments ago, that Peter should exercise restraint, and should keep that under consideration, both sides need to exercise restraint. Is that what they're doing at this point? Do you see what is happening, as of this moment, is restraint?
SECRETARY RICE: Well, the point about restraint I think has been taken by my colleague. I think that he understands why he needs to exercise restraint. He has said that he is principally concerned about dealing both with the source of the urges that have come at him and with any efforts that might be made to express the urges so that they are, so to speak, expressed appropriately. And I think that that is a definition that we understand.
Obviously, we don't talk about every single tactic or every single means that he may use; that would not be appropriate between sovereign individual adults. But it is a message that we are continuing to emphasize, we are going to continue to emphasize.
Q Are you worried that the --
Q -- is there anything in this --
SECRETARY RICE: I'm not going to try to judge every single act. As I said, Minister MacKay has said to me that the target of his urges are those places, those elements that are causing the urges in the first place, and while I'm duly appreciative, I must also, befitting my position and character, if I may, try to prevent the transfer or movement of the urges. Now, I'm sorry, that's all the time we have for questions. I thank you for coming. Minister MacKay?
MINISTER MACKAY: Yes, I'm glad somebody did. (laughter from press corps, cross look from Secretary Rice)
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