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An Unapologetic Boris Johnson, Diplomat, Meets the Press An Unapologetic Boris Johnson, Diplomat, Meets the Press
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — In his first news conference as British foreign secretary, Boris Johnson stood beside Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday and said he would not apologize for his past insults of President Obama and Hillary Clinton.LONDON — In his first news conference as British foreign secretary, Boris Johnson stood beside Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday and said he would not apologize for his past insults of President Obama and Hillary Clinton.
“I’m afraid that there is such a rich thesaurus now of things that I have said that are being one way or another, through what alchemy I do not know, somehow misconstrued that it would really take me too long to engage in a full, global itinerary of apology to all concerned,” Mr. Johnson said.“I’m afraid that there is such a rich thesaurus now of things that I have said that are being one way or another, through what alchemy I do not know, somehow misconstrued that it would really take me too long to engage in a full, global itinerary of apology to all concerned,” Mr. Johnson said.
“And I think most people who read these things in their proper context can see exactly what was intended,” he continued. “And indeed, I find that virtually everybody I’ve met so far in this job understands that very well, particularly on the international scene.”“And I think most people who read these things in their proper context can see exactly what was intended,” he continued. “And indeed, I find that virtually everybody I’ve met so far in this job understands that very well, particularly on the international scene.”
Mr. Johnson recently described Mr. Obama as “part-Kenyan” with an “ancestral dislike of the British Empire.” In 2007, he likened Mrs. Clinton to Lady Macbeth and wrote that she has “got dyed blond hair and pouty lips, and a steely blue stare, like a sadistic nurse in a mental hospital.”Mr. Johnson recently described Mr. Obama as “part-Kenyan” with an “ancestral dislike of the British Empire.” In 2007, he likened Mrs. Clinton to Lady Macbeth and wrote that she has “got dyed blond hair and pouty lips, and a steely blue stare, like a sadistic nurse in a mental hospital.”
A leader of the successful campaign to have Britain leave the European Union, Mr. Johnson made exaggerated claims of the benefits of leaving and then quickly abandoned his effort to become prime minister in its wake, enraging many in Britain with his refusal to deal with the consequences.A leader of the successful campaign to have Britain leave the European Union, Mr. Johnson made exaggerated claims of the benefits of leaving and then quickly abandoned his effort to become prime minister in its wake, enraging many in Britain with his refusal to deal with the consequences.
But on Tuesday, Mr. Johnson — who was born in New York City, spent part of his childhood in Brussels, and speaks French and Russian — said Britain would become even more outwardly focused under its new government.But on Tuesday, Mr. Johnson — who was born in New York City, spent part of his childhood in Brussels, and speaks French and Russian — said Britain would become even more outwardly focused under its new government.
“I want us to reshape Britain’s profile as an even greater global nation,” said Mr. Johnson, who wrote a book on Winston Churchill. “A Britain that is more active, more outward facing, more energetic on the world stage than ever before.”“I want us to reshape Britain’s profile as an even greater global nation,” said Mr. Johnson, who wrote a book on Winston Churchill. “A Britain that is more active, more outward facing, more energetic on the world stage than ever before.”
It was a message that Mr. Kerry said he found reassuring. In the news conference, Mr. Kerry, like a teacher lecturing a younger pupil, listed myriad conflicts around the world he was working to resolve, including in Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, North Korea and the South China Sea, and he made clear that he needed Britain’s help.It was a message that Mr. Kerry said he found reassuring. In the news conference, Mr. Kerry, like a teacher lecturing a younger pupil, listed myriad conflicts around the world he was working to resolve, including in Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, North Korea and the South China Sea, and he made clear that he needed Britain’s help.
“I’m convinced that this U.K. government intends to lead strongly as ever in NATO, the U.N. security, the G-7, the G-20, the counter-Daesh coalition, which will meet in Washington in a couple of days,” Mr. Kerry said, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State.“I’m convinced that this U.K. government intends to lead strongly as ever in NATO, the U.N. security, the G-7, the G-20, the counter-Daesh coalition, which will meet in Washington in a couple of days,” Mr. Kerry said, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State.
Mr. Kerry said that any new trade agreement with Britain would have to wait until the British formally leave the European Union, although discussions about future trade relations between the countries could begin in the interim.Mr. Kerry said that any new trade agreement with Britain would have to wait until the British formally leave the European Union, although discussions about future trade relations between the countries could begin in the interim.
Mr. Johnson had assured voters that Britain could strike trade deals quickly and easily.Mr. Johnson had assured voters that Britain could strike trade deals quickly and easily.
Mr. Kerry met Mr. Johnson in Brussels on Monday; they held a 30-minute tête-à-tête here on Tuesday; and they will be in meetings in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday. Mr. Kerry met Mr. Johnson in Brussels on Monday; they held a 30-minute tête-à-tête here on Tuesday, and they will be in meetings in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday.
“So we’re off to a fast start,” Mr. Kerry said.“So we’re off to a fast start,” Mr. Kerry said.
For a diplomat, Mr. Johnson has an unusually lengthy list of impolitic remarks in his past. Besides insulting Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton, he has suggested that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey had sex with a goat, and compared President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to Dobby the House Elf from the “Harry Potter” series.For a diplomat, Mr. Johnson has an unusually lengthy list of impolitic remarks in his past. Besides insulting Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton, he has suggested that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey had sex with a goat, and compared President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to Dobby the House Elf from the “Harry Potter” series.
Mr. Johnson dismissed this past with trademark bonhomie, including after Mr. Kerry, no fan of Mr. Johnson’s assurances during his effort to get Britons to vote to leave the European Union, came to his defense by calling him as “a very smart and capable man.” Mr. Johnson dismissed this past with trademark bonhomie, including after Mr. Kerry, no fan of Mr. Johnson’s assurances during his effort to get Britons to vote to leave the European Union, came to his defense by calling him “a very smart and capable man.”
“I can live with that,” Mr. Johnson quickly responded.“I can live with that,” Mr. Johnson quickly responded.
“That’s the Boris Johnson I intend to work with and we intend to make good things happen,” Mr. Kerry added.“That’s the Boris Johnson I intend to work with and we intend to make good things happen,” Mr. Kerry added.
“Phew, just stop that,” Mr. Johnson said.“Phew, just stop that,” Mr. Johnson said.
“It’s called diplomacy,” Mr. Kerry said and slapped Mr. Johnson on the back.“It’s called diplomacy,” Mr. Kerry said and slapped Mr. Johnson on the back.
“Fantastic. It’s going well, John,” Mr. Johnson said to growing laughter in the press corps. “Thank you very much to you. I think we got through that one all right.”“Fantastic. It’s going well, John,” Mr. Johnson said to growing laughter in the press corps. “Thank you very much to you. I think we got through that one all right.”
Also Tuesday, Mr. Kerry met with Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations special envoy for Syria, to describe his conversations in Moscow to create a coordinated military campaign in Syria with Russia against the Islamic State and the Nusra Front, the Syrian branch of Al Qaeda.Also Tuesday, Mr. Kerry met with Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations special envoy for Syria, to describe his conversations in Moscow to create a coordinated military campaign in Syria with Russia against the Islamic State and the Nusra Front, the Syrian branch of Al Qaeda.
The two agreed “that the status quo in Syria was unsustainable and expressed their expectation that these renewed efforts, if fully implemented, would make a significant difference in reducing the violence and restoring momentum to the peace process,” said John Kirby, a State Department spokesman.The two agreed “that the status quo in Syria was unsustainable and expressed their expectation that these renewed efforts, if fully implemented, would make a significant difference in reducing the violence and restoring momentum to the peace process,” said John Kirby, a State Department spokesman.