SECRETARY RICE: Good afternoon. We just came a very good lunch of the P-5. We had a number of topics on the agenda. I would just note on one, we did talk a good deal about Lebanon and about our concern for the atmosphere of intimidation that has been brought upon the people of Lebanon and the great desire to see that the members of parliament can carry out their duties without that intimidation. And that was a widely shared view.

We also had a good meeting this morning on Iran, where we made some progress to make certain that we remain active on both the tracks of the two-track strategy that we've been pursuing. That means to continue to try and stimulate negotiations, but also to continue the UN Security Council track. We will be working to finalize the text and we will be watching to see what progress takes place in the two events that are taking place during the November timeframe so that we can move to Security Council sanctions, should there not be progress.

QUESTION: Well, are you not disappointed that you didn't go straight to doing a third resolution now rather than waiting another two months?

SECRETARY RICE: I think we've made very clear that we've always wanted to keep the two tracks underway. One is the negotiations track. And after all, we are working to finalize the text in this period of time, and I think finalization of the text is going to take a little time and we're going to work on that.

We, of course, will continue to pursue those measures that we are pursuing on the basis of financial measures that may help to convince the Iranian regime that it's time to change its course.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, do you think there's time left in the Bush Administration to get the Iranians to change their course?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, changing the course is up to the Iranian regime. But I do know that with every day the Iranian regime is watching as more and more financial institutions decide not to do business with Iran, as more and more governments reduce their export credits for Iran, and that people consider what other measures are available to them. So I think that's really a question for the Iranian Government, but Iran's isolation continues.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, we were told there was -- the meeting this morning included a somewhat detailed discussion of different proposals for sanctions in the third resolution. How would you describe the dynamics of, you know, where the different parties were and what they had in mind for really the details of that third resolution?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, you're right; we did discuss at the level of ministers. Let me say that the agreement on maintaining the two tracks came really rather quickly -- in our context quickly -- and we then did turn to looking at what measures might be taken but we've referred that work to the political directors. And I'll not comment further on that, but we did have a discussion of some of the specific measures.

Yes.

QUESTION: Secretary Rice, how do you feel about the Security Council as a venue to solve some of these issues that the United States is very concerned about -- Burma, Sudan, Iran? It seems like you come here and it's very slow going.

SECRETARY RICE: Well, I will say that the international community has to have a greater sense of urgency about some of these issues. On Iran, we have been working along. We, after all, have two unanimous Security Council resolutions, Chapter 7 resolutions, in place on Iran and we are working on a third. And we are using that track to try and invigorate a negotiations track. So I think on Iran we have a certain level of cooperation.

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