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U.S. - Singapore Relations
 US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement

2008 US Singapore Relations

Morning Walkthrough

Remarks by Christopher R. Hill
Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs

St. Regis Hotel
Singapore

December 5, 2008

QUESTION:  (inaudible)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  I think we’re meeting them at ten o’clock again at the U.S. Embassy.  I don’t think we have a schedule for how long it will be.

QUESTION:  Do you have any indication of how long it will be?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  I don’t think we do.  We’re -- we just agreed we’d meet in the morning.  And it could be very briefly; I just don’t know.

QUESTION:  Do you have any plans for a working dinner tonight?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  No, I don’t.

QUESTION:  On the schedule, like were (inaudible) the Singaporeans?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  No, unfortunately.  I had another scheduled, but I -- my meeting was cancelled.  So as soon as we’re done here, we might look into when we are leaving for Seoul.

QUESTION:  Can you give us a sense - one brief question about the meeting with the Singaporeans yesterday - what was the (inaudible) and the energy assistance issue was discussed?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  Well, you know, we raised a lot of issues related to regional matters, including ASEAN and the U.S. bilateral relationship with Singapore.  Our ambassador from - the U.S. ambassador to Singapore - also took part.  And, you know, we talked about Burma and other things like that.  So not so much -- I gave a little briefing on the North Korea situation and talked a little bit about transition in the U.S.

QUESTION: So you did not (inaudible) about the energy assistance?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  No, we talked -- no, we talked more generally about (inaudible) the six  parties.

QUESTION:  What was (inaudible)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  Oh, I think it’s the same topics as yesterday: fuel, disablement, and verification.

QUESTION:  Are you trying to talk about the sampling issue?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: What issue?

QUESTION:  Sampling issue.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  Sampling issue.  What do you mean by that?

QUESTION:  I mean the scientific verification.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  Oh, scientific procedures.  I see.  Yes, that issue did come up.  Okay?

QUESTION:  Do you think North Korea will come back (inaudible)?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  I’m sorry?

QUESTION:  Do you think North Korea will come back (inaudible)?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  I don’t know.  I know that -- you know, I explained to them what our view is.  And it was very useful to have the trilateral meeting in Tokyo because I was able to convey the views that we have and, I think, views that are supported within the Six-Party process.  So, I think they have a clear understanding of what we need in terms of how to go forward.

QUESTION:  So the understanding that (inaudible) is still there (inaudible)?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  Oh, yeah.  The issue is not the verification.  The issue is how to express it in a piece of paper ahead of time, so there are no misunderstandings when the time comes.

QUESTION:  And about this paper, you’re on the same page (inaudible)?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL:  We’ll see.  I think so, we’ll see.  Okay.