USIA - State Department Report, 96-12-11

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From: The United States Information Agency (USIA) Gopher at <gopher://gopher.usia.gov>

STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT, DECEMBER 11, 1996

(China, Hong Kong, Burma, Serbia, Northern Iraq, United Nations) (550)

CHINESE DEFENSE MINISTER -- Davies called the December 10 discussions between Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott and Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotain "positive, frank and constructive." The U.S. side expressed its concerns over non-proliferation, global arms control, trade and human rights issues. General Chi raised Chinese concerns about U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, which Talbott noted is consistent with long-standing U.S. policy to provide Taiwan materiel for its self-defense consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act and three U.S.-PRC communiques.

Talbott and Chi also discussed the value of military-to-military contacts, the situation on the Korean Peninsula and other security measures, and U.S. ship visits to Hong Kong. Attending the meeting with Deputy Secretary Talbott were Assistant Secretaries of State McNamara and Lord, National Defense University President Lieutenant General Rokke, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency Director Holum and representatives of the Defense Department. Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights Shattuck did not attend the meeting.

In response to a question about General Chi's assertion in a Washington speech that no one was killed when the People's Liberation Army cracked down on the Tiananmen Square demonstrators over the weekend of June 3-4, 1989, Davies said the United States is convinced that there were deaths, that the United States has consistently condemned the use of force to crush the Spring 1989 student demonstrations, and that U.S. officials raise human rights issues in all discussions with their Chinese counterparts.

HONG KONG -- Davies said the United States congratulates C.H. Tung on his election as the first Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong administrative region, and said it looks forward to working with him. Davies noted that Tung has U.S. respect because of his "integrity and independent thinking," and expressed the hope that Tung will work to uphold democratic values when Hong Kong reverts to Chinese sovereignty July 1, 1997.

BURMA -- Noting reports of continued scattered anti-government student demonstrations in Rangoon and the government's "suggestion" that pro- democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi remain in her home "for her own safety," Davies noted that the U.S. charge d'affaires in Rangoon has formally protested to the Burmese government about its efforts to suppress dissents and restrict Aung San Suu Kyi's freedom of action.

SERBIA -- Davies called the appearance of a new government-backed anti- reform tabloid in Belgrade an example of how Serbia's rulers "will not hesitate to shamelessly manipulate the media for their own ends."

IRAQI REFUGEES -- As of early December 11, Davies said, 2,853 evacuees had crossed into Turkey from Northern Iraq, and a total of six flights, carrying 2,087 persons, had left Turkey for Guam, where they will be housed temporarily until they can be processed for political asylum in the United States.

UNITED NATIONS -- Davies called the informal secret balloting in the United Nations Security Council on a number of potential candidates for the Secretary-Generalship "the beginning of the end game," adding that the United States is "encouraged" that this process is now underway.

From the United States Information Agency (USIA) Gopher at gopher://gopher.usia.gov

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