Congressional Black Caucus
"The Conscience of Congress since 1969"
www.congressionalblackcaucus.net

(Washington, D.C.)- Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Melvin Watt (D-N.C.) issued the following statement after yesterday’s meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice:

“We had a very important and substantive meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in which we discussed a myriad of foreign policy matters including the war in Iraq, United Nations reform legislation, the upcoming G-8 summit and African debt relief and stability in developing nations such as Haiti.

“I appreciated the Secretary meeting with us. We do not agree on the Administration’s approach to many of the foreign policy crises our country now faces. However, the Congressional Black Caucus will continue to speak out in a constructive way with common sense solutions to addressing these problems. We look forward to working with the Secretary when we can, and to making sure she knows when we can not. The world our children will inherit is at stake, and we will continue to fight for their future.

"During the hour long discussion, we explained that closing disparities and creating opportunities for African Americans was our primary agenda for the 109th Congress. We stressed that eliminating debt, poverty and hunger in Africa and Caribbean countries like Haiti was a priority for the 43 Members of the Caucus and asked that the Secretary use her status and influence to help make this a reality.”

####