(7 Feb 2000) English/Nat
The U-S Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, says America will be keeping a close eye on Austria's new government.
Despite moves to isolate Austria diplomatically, a coalition government was formed last Friday that includes the far-right Freedom Party of Joerg Haider.
Monday's briefing at the State Department was on the 2001 budget, but Albright touched on other subjects - including the recently-announced departure of her spokesman James Rubin.
The U-S Secretary of State says she shares Europe's concerns about Austria's new coalition government.
At a State Department briefing on Monday, Madeleine Albright said the Clinton administration will be watching the new government's actions closely.
Last week, Joerg Haider's rightist Freedom Party joined up with the centre-right Austrian People's Party to form Austria's new government.
Seeking to calm foreign concerns, Haider said on Monday that he has no immediate plans to lead Austria and that his apologies for praising the Nazi era in the past mean he has acknowledged his mistakes.
But Albright seemed less than impressed by Haider's attempts at diplomacy.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I also think that it is quite unacceptable for Mr. Haider to make a statement one day, then apologise for it, and then make another statement the next day. I think that is not, while he's not a member of a government, I think that in our line of work that is not how we operate."
SUPER CAPTION: Madeleine Albright, U-S Secretary of State
In other State Department news, it was announced that Albright's trusted adviser, spokesman James Rubin, will leave on April 1.
In a statement on Monday, Rubin gave no explanation why he was leaving his State Department post or where he was going.
But his boss alluded to Rubin's pending fatherhood.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well, it's..we will mourn this when it happens. Obviously, Mr. Rubin has been very important in everything that we've done. I've just become a grandmother, and I can just tell you - it's a lot easier to be a grandmother than to become a father. So, he has to get ready for those duties."
SUPER CAPTION: Madeleine Albright, U.S. Secretary of State
Rubin is married to C-N-N correspondent Christiane Amanpour and they are expecting their first child in a few months.
Richard Boucher, a spokesman for three former Secretaries of State, will take over Rubin's spokesman duties.
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