U.S. Department of State 96/03/04 Daily Press Briefing

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U.S. Department of State

96/03/04 Daily Press Briefing

Office of the Spokesman

DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND LABOR
Postponement of Release of Human Rights Practices Report ........ 1
[...]
FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
Closure of Soros Foundation/Studio B ............................ 16
Foreign Forces/Equip and Train .................................. 16
Bosnia Relations w/Iran ......................................... 17-18
[...]

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING

DPB #35

MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1996, 12:51 P. M.

MR. DAVIES: A couple of things to start with. First off, we're postponing by about 24 hours the release of the Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, because Assistant Secretary Shattuck, who was integral to that process, is in Europe -- in Vienna at an OSCE meeting, and he can't make it back here in time to do it tomorrow. So we will look to do that the next day, and we'll give you details as they develop.

Q So it will be Wednesday.

MR. DAVIES: Wednesday, that's correct. Also I would point you to a number of very good statements that the Press Office has, reporting on the Secretary's trip -- the tail end of his trip to Latin America. He's had a very successful swing through Latin America. He had good meetings, for instance, yesterday in Manaus, in the Amazon, and was able to do some work on the environmental and scientific front.

[...]

You put out a statement condemning that. Are you going to do anything more than just talk? Are you going to use carrots or sticks to try to get him to put Soros back on the ground there?

MR. DAVIES: There are some sticks out there, if you will. There is the outer wall of sanctions which relates to all of this. That nation will be ultimately denied the full measure of membership in various international organizations and recognition from the United States if it does not reverse this disturbing trend that we've seen of anti-democratic measures, which include the closure of the Soros Foundation office and its Studio B. We've made clear to the Serb Government that we believe the Soros Foundation should be permitted to continue its work unhindered; and we're very concerned and have expressed concern over these anti- democratic measures that we've seen.

Q Can you give us any update on the foreign fighters in Bosnia and our efforts to train the Bosnian army?

MR. DAVIES: To train the Bosnian army? We haven't yet engaged in an effort to train the Bosnian army. We wouldn't do that anyway. It's an effort that we would lead, but United States forces wouldn't be engaged in any training of Bosnian forces.

We've discussed a number of times from this podium what needs to happen for the full measure of the train-and-equip program to go forward, and the primary obstacle now is the continued presence of foreign fighters in Bosnia.

We've made clear to the Bosnian Government that they have to show those fighters the door. We're still expectant. We expect and believe that they will do that, but have yet to see evidence that all of the foreign fighters are out. So until we see that evidence, we will not proceed with our leadership of the train-and- equip effort.

One more, Bill.

[...]

MR. DAVIES: Of course, that was a report that we read very carefully. I don't have any kind of numbers to give you or specific information about training that might be occurring in other nations. We are troubled by Bosnia's relationship with that nation, with Iran, and we've made clear to the Bosnian Government our displeasure at that continuing relationship, and we'll continue to do so.

Q Is it a violation of any of the Dayton accord provisions for them to be sending troops to Iran for training?

MR. DAVIES: I think what's important to note about the Dayton accords is that by signing the Dayton accords, the Government of Bosnia-Herzegovina made clear its commitment to working with the U.S. and the West in integrating itself into modern European society.

As I say, we've made clear to the Bosnians that we're troubled by this relationship with Iran, and we find it unfortunate that it's continuing.

Q What is your understanding of the relationship?

MR. DAVIES: I don't know that I can characterize it in its fullness. I know, for instance, that the Prime Minister of Bosnia has been visiting Iran recently. We simply would reiterate that involvement with the Government of Iran on the part of Bosnia threatens the success of the peace process.

Q Thank you.

(The briefing concluded at 1:37 p.m.)