U.S. Department of State 96/03/08 Daily Press Briefing

From: DOSFAN <gopher://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/>

U.S. State Department Directory

U.S. Department of State

96/03/08 Daily Press Briefing

Office of the Spokesman

DEPARTMENT--Announcements/Statements
International Women's Day Ceremony--Remarks by
  Secretary Christopher ........................................... 1
Secretary Christopher's Announcement re:
  Bosnia Organizational Structure in Dept. ........................ 1-2,19
--Departure of Ambassador Gallucci ................................ 1,18-19
Ambassador Kornblum's Trip to Balkans ............................. 1-2
[...]
ITALY
Disappearance of Achille Lauro Terrorist .......................... 19-22
[...]
GREECE/TURKEY
Conflict re: Aegean Islets/Islands ................................ 23-24
[...]

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING

DPB #39

FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1996, 1:16 P.M.

First, I just wanted to direct you all to the Secretary's comments this morning honoring International Women's Day -- the comments that he made at 9:00 this morning are available in the Press Office.

Secondly, I wanted to read an announcement from Secretary Christopher pertaining to the Bosnia organizational structure here in the Department.

Secretary of State Warren Christopher announced today that Ambassador Robert L. Gallucci will be leaving the Department of State to become Dean of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He will assume his new post on May 1, 1996.

In his 21 years at the State Department, Ambassador Gallucci has had a distinguished career. Most recently, as you all know, he led the Administration's efforts to freeze the development of North Korea's nuclear program, and he served as leader of the group responsible for implementing the Dayton Accords in the former Yugoslavia.

The Secretary said this morning: "Bob Gallucci is one of the most effective public servants with whom I've had the privilege to work. The School of Foreign Service, its faculty and its students are fortunate to have the services of this fine scholar and diplomat. On behalf of President Clinton and the entire Administration, I'd like to express my appreciation to Bob Gallucci for his extraordinary accomplishments, and I'd like to wish him well in this opportunity."

The Secretary has asked Ambassador John Kornblum to oversee our comprehensive policy toward the former Yugoslavia. Ambassador Kornblum, who has been nominated by President Clinton as Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs, is the top European expert in the Department of State.

As you know, he played a leading role in the Dayton peace talks and he has also served as the United States Ambassador to the OSCE.

Ambassador Kornblum will be assisted by two experienced European experts: Ambassador William D. Montgomery, and Rudolph V. Perina.

Ambassador Montgomery will serve in the position of Special Advisor to the President and the Secretary of State on Bosnia implementation issues. He was until recently the United States Ambassador to Bulgaria. He's an experienced person in Europe, having spent a previous tour in Belgrade, two tours in Sofia, and one in Moscow.

Mr. Perina was the Chief of Mission in Belgrade, as you know. He has just returned to become the senior Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs. He's had long experience in European and NATO affairs, including assignments in Moscow, Brussels, Berlin, and Vienna.

Secretary Christopher also said this morning that under John Kornblum's direction, I am confident that our new team will use their extraordinary skills and experience to implement successfully the Dayton Accords.

Ambassador Kornblum will be travelling on Sunday to the Balkans. He's going there to meet with leaders in Sarajevo, Zagreb, and Belgrade on Monday and Tuesday in order to impress upon them the strategic imperative of implementing successfully the Dayton Accords and to work with them in all the range of compliance issues that stem from the Dayton Accords.

[...]

MR. BURNS: Just one more, George.

Q When Assistant Secretary Holbrooke left here about two-and-a-half weeks ago, we were assured that passing the portfolio into the hands of Ambassador Gallucci would give the continuity and professional oversight needed to see through the civilian side of the implementation of the Dayton accords.

I'm just curious, now that he is leaving, is his portfolio going to be shifted among these three people you mentioned -- Secretary Kornblum and his two senior assistants -- or is there going to be one person managing the whole portfolio?

MR. BURNS: When Dick Holbrooke left, the Secretary made a decision that Ambassador Gallucci would assume his responsibilities for the former Yugoslavia, for the implementation of the Dayton accords. But Ambassador Gallucci has been given, I think, what one would understand to be a once-in-a-lifetime offer to become Dean of one of the premier academic institutions in the United States, dealing with foreign policy.

He's decided to accept that offer. Of course, the Secretary has accepted his resignation with great regret because he's a very distinguished public servant, and the Secretary has now made a decision that Ambassador Kornblum will effectively lead United States efforts, not only in all countries in Europe but specifically pertaining to the implementation of the Dayton accords. He'll be assisted by Ambassador Montgomery and by Rudy Perina. That's the decision the Secretary has made, and that's why I wanted to lay it out in some detail for you today so there's no misunderstanding about it.

Q Nick, can I ask about the Klinghofer case? The Italian rationale for releasing the Palestinian is that all inmates are granted leaves from prison after a certain amount of time behind bars. Do you have anything to say about that?

MR. BURNS: I think that logic will not be understood by the American people, and it will not be understood by the family of Leon Klinghofer. I think it's important, George, to review the basic facts; that in October 1985, a 69-year-old man in a wheelchair was assassinated by a terrorist. His body was dumped overboard.

As a result of that, the terrorist was convicted of murder and incarcerated, and inexplicably, I think, to the American people, he was let go on a 12-day pass, and he did what you'd expect him to do. He's now a fugitive from justice.

We've got a lot of questions about this affair. We are working very closely with the Italian Government. Ambassador Bartholomew was in to see Prime Minister Dini and in to see the Foreign Minister. We expect that the Italian Government will launch a nationwide manhunt for this murderer. We expect that the Italian Government will do everything it can to bring him to justice.

In Italy, as in the United States, it is sometimes true -- and in this case true -- that local magistrates and local judicial authorities establish the terms of imprisonment, and I believe the decision to release this murderer was made by local magistrates.

I frankly cannot understand why that decision was made. It was the wrong decision, and those people are now responsible for helping to bring this guy back to justice. This is a bottom-line issue, I think, for the American people, and the Italian Government has to understand that.

So far, we've been hearing the right things from the Italian Government. We want to see that cooperation continue.

Q Nick, can I follow up on that? Given the nature of this case, is the United States prepared to offer a reward for the arrest and capture of this guy?

MR. BURNS: That is an option that's under serious consideration. This man is a terrorist and, as you know, Carol, in many cases in the past couple of years we've offered very substantial rewards for people who can give us information leading to the arrest of that person.

That decision has not yet been made. It's under discussion in the Administration and with the Italian Government. I don't have anything to announce today, but it's one of the options that we could pursue, should the efforts to find this person fail.

Q What's holding up this decision? Why not just proceed?

MR. BURNS: First of all, we've tried to establish the basis -- the facts, in this case. When did he abscond from justice? Where do we think he is? We've tried to work with the Italian law enforcement authorities as well as with the Italian Government and the local authorities. We are discussing with them a number of ways that would enhance our ability to capture this man. He is a terrorist. He's not just a criminal; he's a terrorist. He is guilty of one of the most dramatically tragic crimes of the 1980s. Everybody, I'm sure, in this room remembers that.

Q Because time is of the utmost in a case like this, it would seem to me that if you are going to have a reward, you would announce it immediately and move forward.

MR. BURNS: We are in the early days on this. We've been working on this just for a couple of days now. I think it will give us a chance to sort through all the options. But I can assure you we're determined to bring this man to justice.

Q Are you still convinced that he is in Italy?

MR. BURNS: We have no way of knowing if he's in Italy or not; no way of knowing. I've seen some of the background comments by unnamed Italian Government officials, some of whom believe he may not be Italy; some of whom seem not to understand the depth of emotion in the United States about this issue.

I think it's better to see the comments of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Italy who seem much more understanding than some of these people in the Italian Government who speak on background.

Q Have you issued any kind of alert to try and find him in countries other than Italy?

MR. BURNS: Has the Italian Government done so?

Q Has the United States?

MR. BURNS: The United States is working with all the relevant police and law enforcement authorities in Italy and in the countries around Italy to try to apprehend him.

Q Nick, you say this is a bottom-line issue for the American people. Is it also a bottom-line issue for the Clinton Administration in its relations with Italy?

MR. BURNS: Sid, I said what I said. It's a bottom-line issue for the American people because the American people want murderers to be brought to justice. I'm sure the Italian people share that sentiment.

We have a good relationship with the Government of Italy. Italy is a NATO ally. Italy, from the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister on down -- the Government in Rome has been very constructive in its dealings with us. But I wanted to register for you the outrage that many Americans feel about the decision by these local magistrates to let this guy go.

Q As you did with the Farrakhan case, you're not talking about the government, but you're talking about individual Americans such as yourself. Can you tell us what the U.S. Administration --

MR. BURNS: I'm speaking for the U.S. Administration, Sid.

Q So it's a bottom-line issue for the U.S. Administration in its relationship --

MR. BURNS: Sid, don't put words in my mouth. Don't put words in my mouth. I said a variety of things about this and I've tried to make several points about it.

Isn't it obvious to you that this --

Q No --

MR. BURNS: Wait a minute. Can I finish my statement? Isn't it obvious to you that this would be a bottom-line issue for any American who is thinking about it?

I want to tell you it's a very important issue for the American Government, and we have transmitted that message to the Italians.

Q It's not a --

MR. BURNS: Why are we quibbling about words? I think you know what we're trying to say here.

David.

Q You called for a nationwide manhunt in Italy for this man. Does that mean there isn't a nationwide manhunt for this man going on?

MR. BURNS: That's we've asked the Italian Government to do. The Italian Government has said it will do so. That's what we continue to call for.

We don't know whether he is still in Italy. If we have evidence that he's left Italy, we're obviously going to have to pursue our search beyond the borders of Italy.

Q What have you heard from the Italian Government in terms of what they are doing?

MR. BURNS: We've heard many things. Obviously, because I don't want to compromise the chance to capture this individual, I'm not going to tell you everything that we've heard. But we've obviously been in very close touch on a political level and a law enforcement level.

Yes, George. We'll come back to you, Mr. Lambros.

[...]

Q According to Athens News Agency, the Greek Foreign Minister Theodore Panglos is reported to have said that if Turkey repositioned its Fourth Army Corps on the Aegean coast, Greece could demilitarize the islands.

Could you comment, since the U.S. Government is aware better than anybody else that this specific Turkish army is threatening the territorial integrity of Greece over the islands in the mainland?

MR. BURNS: Mr. Lambros, I'm just going to use my stock answer here, and that is, we would call upon Greece and Turkey to resolve their problems peacefully. I'm not aware of this specific incident that you've raised this morning. But I think you know our position on issues to pertaining to Greece and Turkey.

Q The President of the Republic of Greece, Mr. Kostandinos Stephanopoulos, stated yesterday regarding your suggestion: "We should state internationally that we are prepared to go to the International Court of Justice if Turkey agrees." May we have your comment?

MR. BURNS: The United States believes that the International Court of Justice is a good place for Turkey and Greece to try to resolve the dispute over Imia and Kardak peacefully. If Turkey and Greece would like us to participate, we'll be glad to. If they'd like to participate by themselves, that's okay with us, too. That's a very positive statement.

Q There's (inaudible) State Department officials dated February 20, 1996, Turkish defense (inaudible) General Cetinkaya claims, inter alia, "The extension of the Greek territorial (inaudible) cannot be just considered within the scope of internationally recognized navigational rights and freedoms." I'm wondering, what is your reply since this Turkish official disregards totally the existing law of the Law of the Sea of December 1982?

MR. BURNS: I can't improve on the 85 times we've commented upon this issue in the last month or two. I just can't improve on it. You know our position here. We're not going to take the side of Greece or Turkey against the other. We're going to be a good friend of both countries. We're going to try to be an effective mediator.

Q My last one. Since last Wednesday, the Greek parliamentarian, Mr. Christos Rokofilos, a very close friend to the Greek Prime Minister, Mr. Simitis, was in Washington. According to reliable sources, he was on a mission on behalf of the Prime Minister and actually, and as I was told, (inaudible).

Since he met with officials from the Department of State and with counsel at the White House, may we have the names of the officials and the results of his talks?

MR. BURNS: Probably not. (Laughter) With all due respect, Mr. Lambros --

Q Why?

MR. BURNS: -- because I respect you. Because we have to have diplomacy that's not carried out in the glare of these lights here. We have to have some diplomacy that's carried in private. I can't even confirm for you that this gentleman came to the United States. I have no idea if he did not, but I can't give names.

[...]

(Press briefing concluded at 2:05 p.m.)

(###)