USIA - State Department Report, 97-07-29

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

STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT, TUESDAY, JULY 29, 1997

(Korea, Pol Pot, Middle East, Cyprus) (320)

KOREA -- Foley announced that a Four Party preparatory meeting for Korean peace talks will be held August 5 at Columbia University in New York.

Represented will be the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea, the United States and the People's Republic of China.

He said the preparatory meeting will discuss and decide procedural matters for the Four Party plenary session, including the earliest agreeable date, venue and agenda. The U.S. delegation to the New York meeting will be Charles Kartman, principal assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs.

POL POT -- Asked about accounts of the trial of Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot by former supporters, Foley had no direct response, but noted that "our policy is that Khmer Rouge leaders responsible for the genocide (in Cambodia) should be brought to justice and punished for their crimes."

However, he said of the reported Khmer Rouge proceeding: "In our view this is not a bringing to justice." Foley said "Pol Pot and his henchmen must be turned over to legitimate legal authorities and tried according to the laws of Cambodia and/or international law."

MIDDLE EAST --- He said there is "good news coming out of the Middle East," referring to the resumption of informal talks between Israel and the Palestinians. Foley said that the parties' decision to formalize talks on interim issues is a "step in the right direction."

CYPRUS -- Commenting on the July 28 talks between the leaders of the Greek and Turkish communities on Cyprus, Foley said "we understand that it was a very positive meeting that formed a basis for progress." He added that "we are simply pleased that the meeting has continued the good atmosphere leading up to the talks next month" in Switzerland.

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