US confident good relations will endure despite WikiLeaks

WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday that good relations between the US and other countries will survive the WikiLeaks release of secret documents that detailed sensitive communications on key issues and leaders.

“I am confident that the partnerships and relationships that we have built in this administration will withstand this challenge,” Clinton told reporters.

Clinton strongly condemned the release of classified material and the information contained in the reports without specifically addressing the content of the cables.

“I will not comment on or confirm what are alleged to be stolen State Department cables,” she said. “The United States deeply regrets the disclosure of any information that was intended to be confidential.

“To the American people and to our friends and partners, I want you to know that we are taking aggressive steps to hold responsible those who stole this information,” she added.

The leak undermines international diplomacy and efforts to resolve problems, and “poses real risks to real people”, Clinton said, referring to political dissidents and human rights activists who could be subject to repercussions in repressive countries.

Clinton criticised those who celebrate WikiLeaks for exposing government secrets.

“There is nothing laudable about endangering innocent people, and there is nothing brave about sabotaging the peaceful relations between nations on which our common security depends,” she said.