USIA - State Department Report, 97-05-28

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From: The United States Information Agency (USIA) Home Page at <http://www.usia.gov>

REPORT ON STATE DEPT.NOON BRIEFING, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1997

(Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, Canada/Pacific Salmon) (610)

SIERRA LEONE -- In response to the unstable situation following the May 25 military coup d'etat in Sierra Leone, the State Department has ordered 17 nonessential U.S. personnel and dependents to leave the U.S. Embassy in Freetown, the capital; 15 U.S. personnel will remain.

Dinger emphasized that the United States condemns the coup. "We call on those involved to return power immediately to the democratically elected government of Sierra Leone," he said. "This is a terrible setback to democracy in Sierra Leone that needs to be reversed immediately."

Dinger noted that 1,300 Nigerian troops, who say their mission is to "reinforce security duties in Freetown at official (government) locations," are now in Sierra Leone. They have secured the airport, but because of a lack of ground facilities, only chartered flights are entering or leaving. According to Dinger, the Nigerian troops "have played a useful role" in securing the Mammy Yoko Hotel, where a number of foreigners are located.

AFGHANISTAN -- The Second Secretary at the Afghan Embassy in Washington, D.C. -- a Mr. Jamal Seraj -- declared May 28 that he has been authorized by the Taliban to take over the Washington Embassy. He has asked the charge d'affairs, Yar Mohammad Mohabbat, to leave the Embassy, Dinger reported.

Dinger said that the State Department has not received any official communication that would verify Jamal's assertion. "It is up to the Afghan Foreign Ministry in Kabul to inform us of any changes in the staffing of the Afghan Embassy," Dinger said.

Dinger noted that the incident is "procedural," but not an issue of recognition. "The United States recognizes states, not governments," Dinger said. The Taliban rebels, who have occupied most of Afghanistan, are battling another political group for control of the country.

The United States has never broken diplomatic relations with Afghanistan, Dinger noted, although no diplomatic personnel are currently permanently assigned there due to security reasons.

CANADA/PACIFIC SALMON -- Dinger said the United States is "very disappointed" that U.S.-Canadian talks regarding salmon conservation set for May 30 had to be postponed. The negotiations had been intended to resolve long- standing issues. Canada maintains that U.S. fishermen have been catching roughly four million more salmon each year than they should be, costing the Canadian industry $45 million annually.

"The United States approached these talks in the spirit of good faith and compromise," Dinger said. "We felt for the first time in a decade, we had a real chance of perhaps resolving this issue."

The input from the Canadian negotiators at a May 20 meeting in Seattle, Washington was to be taken back by U.S. negotiators for consideration among American stakeholders, Dinger explained. Dinger noted that on the U.S. side, the stakeholders -- American fishing concerns -- control the process; the U.S. government negotiator represents their interests.

"Instead, the Canadian negotiator abruptly walked away from the table. Following that there were threats against American fishing interests," Dinger said. Over the past weekend, four U.S. fishing vessels were detained by Canadian authorities; three have been released after paying a small fine, Dinger reported.

"There needs to be an end to these threats, because, frankly, we feel that they are counterproductive," Dinger said. In addition, the Canadian negotiator must indicate to the U.S. side "that he is willing to go back to the negotiating table in a spirit of good faith and compromise," Dinger said.

From the United States Information Agency (USIA) Home Page at http://www.usia.gov

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