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USIA - State Department Report, 96-10-02
From: The United States Information Agency (USIA) Gopher at <gopher://gopher.usia.gov>
STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1996
(EU/WTO, Africa, Burma, Haiti, Slovakia) (600)
There was no regular briefing, but Deputy State Department Spokesman Glyn
Davies did speak on-the-record with reporters. No transcript is available
of this briefing.
EU/WTO -- The United States is "disappointed" that the European Union (EU)
has apparently decided to request a dispute settlement panel in the World
Trade Organization (WTO) regarding the Helms-Burton law that penalizes
companies dealing with property in Cuba that has been deemed "confiscated"
from American citizens by the Castro regime. "The point of the Helms-Burton
law is to promote change in Cuba," Davies said, "which remains one of the
world's most serious violators of human rights. Our position on their (the
EU) action is that we're going to continue to try to implement the Helms-
Burton Act in a manner which maximizes pressure on the Cuban government and
minimizes friction with our allies."
AFRICA -- Secretary of State Warren Christopher will be leaving as planned
for his first official trip to Africa, according to Davies. Christopher
will visit Mali, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Angola, and South Africa October 7-15.
When asked if Christopher will be interviewing potential U.N. Secretary
General candidates, Davies replied: "It's an issue that's actively on the
agenda whenever he has discussions with foreign governments." Davies added
that he was not aware of anyone on the Secretary's schedule for Africa that
has been considered a candidate for the post. "Our position is that we
remain very open to suggestions from others for the job," Davies said.
BURMA -- Davies noted that the Burmese government has made allegations that
the work by Marilyn Meyers, the U.S. Charge d'Affaires in Rangoon, amounted
to interference in Burmese internal affairs. "Those allegations are
groundless," Davies said. "It's ridiculous to characterize her contacts
with Burmese government officials or with others in this way. She's been
carrying out her diplomatic role on instructions from Washington. She's
shared information with the Burmese government about the status of
legislations pending in Washington that could affect our relationship. She
has not been declared persona non grata, which is apparently a report that
is circulating in Rangoon." Meyers, however, is retiring as planned
months ago and will leave Burma this week, Davies said. Kent M. Wiedemann,
deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs,
will replace her.
HAITI -- The United States is in the process of recruiting about 25
American police officers to participate in the U.N. civilian police
component of the U.N. support mission in Haiti, Davies said. The American
police officers will join the other 275 to 300 U.N. civilian police
officers in their mission to train, mentor, and advise Haitian national
police officers. "We want to insure that the Haitian national police are
able to deal with the security issues that are facing them in a manner
consistent with full respect for human rights, and we have fully informed
the Congress of this program," Davies said.
SLOVAKIA -- Slovak Foreign Minister Pavol Hamzik met October 1 with Deputy
Secretary of State Strobe Talbott and with Assistant Secretary of State for
European and Canadian Affairs John Kornblum. Discussions included the
Slovakia's efforts to prepare for NATO membership, Davies said. Talbott
acknowledged the "substantial progress that Slovakia has made towards
entering Western political, security and economic structures over the last
three years," according to Davies. "We would like to see Slovakia qualify
for membership in NATO, in the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development) and the EU. The primary tests for membership," Davies said,
"is their commitment to democracy.... That will be the measure that is
applied first and foremost." He added that "There are no decisions that
have been made yet on NATO enlargement."
From the United States Information Agency (USIA) Gopher at gopher://gopher.usia.gov
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