U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing #117, 97-08-15
From: The Department of State Foreign Affairs Network (DOSFAN) at <http://www.state.gov>
348
U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
Friday, August 15, 1997
Briefer: James P. Rubin
ANNOUNCEMENTS/STATEMENTS
1,6 Secretary's Activities and Meetings Today/Statements to be
Posted Today On:
1 --Albania: Secretary Albright's Meeting with Dr. Ibrahim
Rugova
1,10 --Cuba: Cuba: Deteriorating Human Rights Situation
1,4 --Bosnia: Politicization of Republika Srpska Constitutional
Court
CYPRUS
1-2 Conclusion of UN Talks in Montreux, Switzerland
2-3 EU Membership for Cyprus and Turkey
3 Ambassador Holbrooke's Role
FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
3-6 Ambassador Gelbard to Travel to Region/Focus of
Trip/Schedule
6-7 Troop Rotation/Election Monitoring
MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
7-8 Israeli Security Measures/Easing of Sanctions
8-10 Status of the Israeli-Syrian Track
ARGENTINA
11 Secretary's Meeting with the Foreign Minister
11 US Consideration of Argentina as a Non-NATO Major Ally
11-12 UK-Argentina Dispute re Falkland Islands
CENTRAL AMERICA
12 Secretary's Meeting with Central American Ministers
DEPARTMENT
12-13 State Department Role re: Alien Smuggling Ship Off the Coast
of Mexico
ANGOLA
13-14 UN Recommendations re UNITA Sanctions
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
DPB #117
FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 1997 12:32 P.M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
MR. RUBIN: Greetings. It's Friday; it's slow.
QUESTION: Thank God.
MR. RUBIN: And it's August, so we will do our best to get you out at a
reasonable time, provided I don't make any major bloopers.
The Secretary has been at the White House this morning in a series of
meetings. The White House will probably have more detail about what those
meetings specifically are - the topics, anyway.
She will be meeting later this afternoon with Dr. Rugova, a leader of the
Kosovo Albanians. There will be some press arrangements for that; it's at
2:45 p.m. She will also be meeting with Foreign Minister Di Tella this
afternoon, and there's some press arrangements for that.
I have a few statements we'll post after the briefing on Albania, Cuba and
Bosnia. Who wants to go first?
Sir?
QUESTION: Can you give us a hint as to what the subject matter was at
these discussions at the White House?
MR. RUBIN: Well, I think that Mike McCurry, the President's able
spokesman, has referred to the topics. But being not sure exactly what it
is that he said, I'm going to be cautious. But they include the Middle
East.
Yes.
QUESTION: The Cyprus talks don't seem to be going very well. I was
wondering if you think - or what's the U.S. view of the degree of
complication that the EU may be bringing to all of this by offering to
start entry talks with the Greek Cypriot Government.
MR. RUBIN: The talks did conclude earlier today in Switzerland. We're
obviously studying the statements made by the various leaders. I understand
that they did confirm their goal as achieving a bi-zonal, bi-communal
federation. They agreed to invite the UN special envoy to the island in the
future. They also agreed that there would be humanitarian discussions in
future on the island on various humanitarian issues.
We regard the talks as having been useful. Both parties heard each other
out on the full range of issues. We understand that the UN special envoy
put out a paper for them to think about. The question of how useful and how
successful these talks will be will have to be determined over time. This
is a long-running dispute. There are significant passions and emotions on
both sides, and we don't expect these kinds of problems to be solved
easily.
They are going to recess, and we don't expect another round until after the
elections in Cyprus. So that will probably mean next year. In the meantime,
our position has been that we support both EU membership desires of Turkey
and Cyprus. We believe that the EU accession process provides incentives
for the concerned parties to move ahead to achieve a just and viable
settlement to the Cyprus dispute.
Secretary Albright has spoken to various EU leaders over the recent weeks
and talked about the need to try to hold open as much prospect as possible
for both Cyprus and Turkey, and emphasizing that doing so increases the
chances that we will be able to resolve this long-simmering dispute.
QUESTION: But we have a situation here where the EU has offered to begin
entry talks with the Greek Cypriots. And it has been rather vocal and
assertive in its sort of kicking Turkey down the road. Do you think that
that offers the kind of balance that you need that is required to sort of
help move these talks along?
MR. RUBIN: One of the things that former Spokesman Nick Burns did brief
me on before I took this job was the importance of emphasizing - which I
shall now do so - that EU accession is a decision for the EU to make. What
we try to do is explain to them what we think about various situations and
the extent to which we think holding out the prospect of membership to both
Cyprus and Turkey will improve the atmosphere, improve the chances, improve
the incentives for a negotiation on this matter to succeed. That is our
view.
But again, it is an EU matter to decide the pace and timing of any
accession talks because we are not a member of the EU. But we do believe
that holding out the hope - realistic hope - of joining the EU is an
incentive that will increase the chances of a settlement in Cyprus.
Yes.
QUESTION: Well, do you think they are holding out a realistic hope to
Turkey?
MR. RUBIN: Again, we have made clear that we believe that holding out a
hope is a good way to go. We are not going to judge the extent to which it
has reached a point that Turkey has reason to conclude that its incentives
would have been limited. Bear in mind that I just told you that we don't
think there will be another round of these negotiations till next year. So
there is plenty of time.
QUESTION: One more question on this. How does Holbrooke fit into all this
equation? I mean, what - how does he enter into this process? What special
--
MR. RUBIN: Role will he play?
QUESTION: -- cache will he bring to it?
MR. RUBIN: Well, the first special cache Richard Holbrooke will bring is
that he is Richard Holbrooke and that he has demonstrated a unique
capability over the years to try to bring parties together who don't seem
like they want to solve the problem. He has done that in Bosnia. He has
obviously played a role in Greek-Turkish issues in the past in his position
as Assistant Secretary.
This past week, he spent a lot of time, as you may have noticed on the
subject of Bosnia. He has told us that he intends to begin to focus with
meetings in New York and at trip to the region this Fall on seeing where he
can make a difference. He's been consulting with various European
leaders. He's been consulting with the U.K. Special Envoy, David
Hannay. He's going to have to make a judgment of where, in this context, he
can play the role that we hope he can play, which is why Secretary Albright
decided to ask him to take on this task.
But we don't have any specific information for you other than to say that
he's very cognizant of the importance of holding out the hope for both
Turkey and Cyprus - a realistic prospect of closer union with the European
Union. Secretary Albright has made that point clear to most of her
counterparts - most recently with Foreign Secretary Cook, yesterday, I
believe, on the telephone.
Yes.
QUESTION: Different subject?
MR. RUBIN: Sure.
QUESTION: One subject that was discussed at the White House this morning
was Bosnia. Mr. Gelbard is going back to the region this weekend, is my
understanding. Can you share with us what he hopes to accomplish on this
trip?
MR. RUBIN: Yes, I can. As I understand it from Ambassador Gelbard, his
trip will focus almost exclusively on the Bosnia construction of the state
there, and try to see whether the agreements that have begun on creating
currency, creating a central bank, creating diplomatic arrangements for the
ambassadors stick. He will also be spending a fair amount of time on the
refugee issue. There were certain commitments that Mr. Krajisnik made to
Ambassador Gelbard in that regard, and he will be working on that.
I can say this - that he will also be emphasizing the question of
Mrs. Plavsic and her effort to resolve a legal issue. We believe, the
Secretary believes, that there's growing evidence that Bosnian Serb leaders
in Pale are pressuring the court in the Republika Srpska to politicize
legal actions against Mrs. Plavsic, the president of the Republika
Srpska. Our analysis and international analysis has determined that she was
- Mrs. Plavsic was fully within her powers in dissolving the assembly, and
that the current challenges to her actions are not legally valid.
Justices in the court are now under intense political pressure to decide
this case. We are aware of specific acts of intimidation. We regard these
acts as fundamentally wrong in that they are trying to flout the rule of
law there that we are working so hard to create. The bottom line is that
there is a struggle going on in the Republika Srpska between those who are
smart enough to realize that compliance with Dayton is the ticket to
prosperity and peace for their people and those leaders who are too stupid
to realize that a failure to comply with Dayton, a failure to follow
through on the international community's demands, will only make their
people suffer.
Over the long run, the smart leaders are the ones we hope win out, broadly
speaking. This kind of intimidation is something we strongly condemn. I
suspect that Ambassador Gelbard will be working on that point as well.
Beyond that, we'll have to wait and see what his agenda includes. But
refugees - making clear the importance of the three presidents working
together - trying to support those Bosnian Serbs who understand the wisdom
of Dayton and are smart enough to do what's right by their people, rather
than a trip that was of the kind that was taken last time, which included a
stop in Belgrade.
QUESTION: Jamie, what realistically can the U.S. do to try and influence
the Bosnian Serbs to move in the direction that we want, given that this is
a legal matter within their court system?
MR. RUBIN: Well, what we can do, first and foremost, is what we just have
done, is to take a position about what is right and what is wrong and make
clear that intimidation is something that we reject and make clear that
those who continue to act in this way are acting inconsistent with Dayton
and are hurting their people and letting the people of Bosnia, including
the Serbs in Bosnia, understand the difference between those leaders who
are smart enough to look out for welfare and those leaders who are too
stupid to look out for their welfare.
Yes.
QUESTION: When does Gelbard leave?
MR. RUBIN: I believe he leaves on Sunday. He should be in Sarajevo Monday
and Tuesday.
Mark.
QUESTION: With reference to your --
MR. RUBIN: Oh, sorry, go ahead.
QUESTION: Is the United States having any luck in getting Mr. Westendorp
to spend more time in the former Yugoslavia?
MR. RUBIN: Ambassador Gelbard - we actually talked about this earlier
today - has been in very close touch with Mr. Westendorp. They have been
working on a variety of tactical steps they are trying to take together to
try to pursue the objectives that I just went through, and I have not heard
any particular complaint in that regard. As you know, we in the United
States, pursuant to this President's review, have intensified our efforts,
working around the clock in some cases, but certainly long hours, to try to
bring as much peace to Bosnia and as much democracy to Bosnia as we can
during the coming months. We would like to see others do that, as well. But
I haven't heard any specific complaints.
Mark.
QUESTION: With reference to your use of the word stupid, there is a lot
of adjectives that you can attach to the Bosnian Serbs, but so far they -
the Pale Serbs have been pretty successful in holding on to a share of
power and certainly a share of economic strength. What new forms of
pressure will Mr. Gelbard have in his quiver next week that you think would
persuade them that they are now being stupid?
MR. RUBIN: We believe that any leader - any political leader's wisdom is
judged by the benefits they bring to their people. The wisdom of the Pale
Serbs is, therefore, in grave doubt. Their people are doing much worse than
the people in the Federation. They do not have the opportunity to increase
their economic growth the way the people in Bosnia do. I would be happy to
get you some facts on this, but our information suggests that the economy
is growing in the Federation, and the economy is stagnating down to the
barest of minimums in the Bosnian Serb area.
In fact, I'd recommend - although I will try to hesitate from doing this in
the future, but every once in a while you've got to break a rule - there's
quite an interesting article in The New Yorker magazine about what's going
on in the Republika Srpska. I think if you were a citizen of that area that
you would believe that your leaders have behaved stupidly.
Yes.
QUESTION: Where will Gelbard be going besides Sarajevo?
MR. RUBIN: Well, again, I specifically didn't include other cities
because I do not know whether he's going to go to Banja Luka. I don't think
he's made that decision yet. But what I was trying to - he may go to Tuzla,
he may go to Brcko; I just don't know. But I think when we have an agenda -
I don't think he's made it up yet - the focus, again, is on Bosnia not
Serbia not Croatia, unlike the last trip. But we may be able to get a full
schedule for you this afternoon; we can try to do that. I don't think he's
made any final decisions yet.
QUESTION: Might he go to Pale, as General Clark did?
MR. RUBIN: As I understand, things are a little different in Pale these
days. There have been a number of raids by SFOR on a number of locations in
Pale. I suspect the leaders in Pale are not feeling particularly safe these
days, which is a good thing. Whether he chooses to go there on this trip, I
don't think he's decided. But again, I will try to get you his actual
schedule in time for your deadlines.
Yes.
QUESTION: Jamie, the Pentagon said that they were sending over, beginning
on Friday, up to about 12,000 troops over to Bosnia, they said to monitor
the upcoming elections. But does this represent - this massive troop, I
guess, influx into the region - represent any kind of - does it represent a
more aggressive approach by the United States in the area?
MR. RUBIN: Let me say this - since the Secretary's speech on the
Intrepid, based on the President's review, I think if you look in every
area, you will see an intensified effort by the United States and SFOR to
try to achieve the objectives of Dayton. In the area of war criminals, you
saw an operation in which a sealed indictment was implemented through an
operation in Prijedor. In the area of refugees, you've seen more
comprehensive use of SFOR to try to get people back to their homes. We
believe that in the coming days, there will be a renewed effort in that
regard in several cities in Bosnia. In the area of sanctions and the use of
economic assistance, we've been able to achieve new commitments and new
actions by the Croatian Government.
As far as the troop build-up is concerned, my understanding from the
Pentagon is that is a normal planned troop rotation, designed to ensure
that troops will be sufficient in the area during the election period.
Now, it's normal in the sense that once the decision was made, as part of
our review, that we wanted to keep a strong presence there during this
election period because we saw it as a significant moment, this is a normal
rotation. As far as actual deployments, I understand the Pentagon estimated
that the number would increase by something like 2,000 or 3,000. So I would
hesitate to characterize it as massive increase. But I would urge you to
have your colleagues or yourself contact the Pentagon for specifics.
QUESTION: No change in - this isn't to try to nab Karadzic or anything
like that. You're saying it's - you're denying that it's any kind of new
approach or altered approach?
MR. RUBIN: Well, I don't know what I'm denying. I know that the United
States, at the behest of the President and the Secretary, has been trying
to coordinate better between its civilian and its military authorities to
try to intensify our efforts across the board in Bosnia in terms of
building democracy, in terms of creating economic reconstruction, in terms
of bringing refugees back, in terms of freedom of movement, in terms of
putting the proper fear into the hearts of those who might have been
indicted for war criminals. So that is an across-the-board effort that is
coordinated very closely between the Pentagon, the State Department, and
the National Security Counsel. That is what this is part of.
Yes.
QUESTION: Jamie --
MR. RUBIN: Yes.
QUESTION: The talks this morning at the White House, if you can answer
one question about that. Do you know if these meetings on these subjects
were decision meetings? Or were they simply briefing the President?
MR. RUBIN: Well, those are very good questions, very legitimate questions
that I can only say ought to be addressed to the press secretary at the
White House. We don't normally comment on the type of meetings the
President has.
QUESTION: The Middle East?
MR. RUBIN: Yes.
QUESTION: The Haaretz newspaper today claims that the Administration
feels it's - is disappointed with the degree to which the Prime Minister
has eased the sanctions. They feel that he has - the newspaper claims that
he has betrayed a promise he made to Dennis Ross to have a little broader
easing of those sanctions. Can you comment on that, please?
MR. RUBIN: I have not seen the newspaper, but based on your description
of it, I can say the following. The Secretary believes that the Israeli
Government has a right and it is understandable that they would undergo a
certain degree of intensified security measures in order to try to deter
and prevent any new terrorist acts of the kind that so traumatized the
nation a couple of weeks ago.
So we understand that. At the same time, we believe that the decision to
withhold funds from the Palestinian Authority and some of the closure, with
respect to humanitarian goods and some of the movement of peoples, were
counterproductive and were unwise and were not the way to encourage
successful restarting of the security cooperation. So that is the position
of the United States. Since, as I understand it, the funds have not begun
to go, that is still our position.
At the same time, we think that this whole process would be made a lot
easier if Chairman Arafat would understand the wisdom of making the
security cooperation part and parcel of his policies, because when these
terrorists strike and if he is not engaged in the kind of cooperation that
is reasonably required, all that happens is he becomes weaker. The Israel
public themselves begin to have graver doubts about his determination to
maintain peace with Israel. And his long-term goal, which we believe to be
a comprehensive peace with Israel, is farther and farther away.
So the short answer is, we are disappointed every day that there is not a
decision to provide the Palestinian Authority these funds because we
believe the decision to withhold them is counterproductive. Ambassador Ross
did not indicate to me any particular feeling of being double-crossed. On
the other hand, he and the Secretary believe that these steps are
counterproductive. But hopefully within a day or two when we start to see
some actions, this will become moot because Prime Minister Netanyahu
himself has said that with actions will go easing of these measures.
QUESTION: But the question - you say he doesn't feel double-crossed,
maybe I stated it a little too strongly. The question is, did the Prime
Minister pledge - make a firm pledge to Dennis (Ross), and thereby the
United States, to ease the sanctions beyond what he's now done as a result
of the trip?
MR. RUBIN: It's a legitimate question, except to the extent that we do
not make a comment - try to avoid commenting on specific diplomatic
exchanges, even if they're reported in reputable newspapers in Israel.
I can give you a general flavor of what we were hoping to receive, what we
were hoping would happen, and what our position is. Our position I won't
repeat, out of benefit to the fact that it's Friday afternoon. But we are
hoping that in the coming days, that actions will ensue from the procedural
meetings that have taken place that will make this a moot point because the
Prime Minister himself has said that with Palestinian actions will come
steps to ease the process.
Yes, Judd.
QUESTION: A related topic - excuse me, a group of Israeli Arabs has just
returned from a visit to Damascus, finding that Asad assured that he's
interested in peace. Do you regard this as a side show or as a meaningful,
tentative step?
MR. RUBIN: The Secretary believes that it is one of the highest
priorities of the President and her to try to develop a comprehensive peace
in the Middle East. Therefore, she believes, like the Israelis themselves
believe, that one necessary component is to have a peace process restarted
between the Syrians and the Israelis. That is something we've been working
on for some time. We've been looking for ways to find a formula that will
allow those talks to resume.
That's something that can only increase the security of the Middle East if
an agreement can be achieved to the satisfaction of both parties. So the
short answer to your question is, we do believe that a peace is important
between Israel and Syria to close the circle of peace, if we can get to
that point.
As far as what analyzing the current state of mind of Mr. Asad, I'm going
to have to duck that one and I'll probably do that a lot in the future.
QUESTION: I don't blame you for that, but you have no assessment of the
effectiveness of this delegation going to Damascus?
MR. RUBIN: At this point, we are working very hard to try to re-engage
the Israelis and the Palestinians. We have for some time said we would be
prepared to work, and have been working, on trying to find a formula to
restart the Syrian-Israeli track. I am not aware that as a result of this
meeting, that people are suddenly preparing their negotiating tables and
preparing their chairs and their pencils and their pads and their treaties,
if that is an answer to your question.
Yes.
QUESTION: President Asad told this visiting delegation - I think included
seven people from the Knesset - that he's willing to negotiate for peace,
providing that the four years of negotiation that preceded that with the
labor government is not sort of forgotten. He doesn't want to start the
whole thing - process all over again. Is that a position you would support?
MR. RUBIN: What we would support is a formula that can reconcile the
different positions of the Israeli side and the Syrian side on how to
restart the talks. It's not up to us to choose how one of the two parties
will negotiate what positions they will accept.
There's been a change of government in Israel, and we would be looking to
reconcile the Syrian view that the talks should resume where they left off
and the Israeli view that they ought to have the right to adjust positions
that they believe are different than the government that was elected. So
those are the two positions; that's fairly well known. Our position is to
work to find ways to find a formula to reconcile those two views.
Yes.
QUESTION: On the --
MR. RUBIN: Same subject? Any more?
QUESTION: No, another subject.
MR. RUBIN: One more, yes.
QUESTION: You've talked a lot about re-engaging the two sides. If you had
to pick an adjective to describe the current climate between the parties,
what would that be right now?
MR. RUBIN: Well, the Secretary has said not so long ago that there is a
crisis of confidence in the Middle East between the parties and the people,
and I don't think that has been eased yet.
Yes.
QUESTION: So even after speaking with Dennis and all the shuttle
diplomacy that has gone on over the last four days, you would still say
that - just an adjective to try to pinpoint the current climate?
MR. RUBIN: You can choose your adjective. What I can say is that the
United States believes there is a crisis of confidence in the Middle East
peace process. There is a need to begin security cooperation in action, a
need to re-start the interim agreement talks and then a need to begin to
address the accelerated permanent status talks. None of those things are
going on. There is a crisis of confidence.
Yes.
QUESTION: You said there has been an emphasis on the Israeli-Palestinian
track. But over the next few weeks, do you expect a renewed attention by
the Administration on the Israeli-Syrian track to try to find that elusive
formula?
MR. RUBIN: Well, we never fail to pay attention to that track. As far as
what we are prepared to do specifically, procedurally, diplomatically in
that regard, I don't have any new information for you today. New subject.
Yes.
QUESTION: Yes, two days ago the Cuban Government detained journalist Raul
Rivero, an independent journalist. Do you have anything on this?
MR. RUBIN: Let me say this about that -- the arrest in recent weeks of
dozens of pro-democracy and human rights activists in Cuba for no other
reason their attempt to exercise guaranteed freedoms - internationally
guaranteed freedoms - ought to be condemned, and we condemn it. The
struggle for freedom and peaceful democratic change being fought in Cuba
deserves our attention and the attention of all democratic nations. It is a
courageous struggle being waged by ordinary citizens -- lawyers,
economists, journalists, farmers -- who want to promote democracy there and
protect the fundamental rights of the Cuban people.
The government of Cuba is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, yet it continues to pursue repressive policies and abuse
systematically its people in denying them the exercise of their rights and
freedoms. So that is our view. As far as I understand, what these
particular people were thought of doing wrong was telling the truth about
the Cuban economy, telling the truth about what's going on there. I didn't
know the truth was a crime under the International Declaration of Human
Rights.
Yes.
QUESTION: Yeah, as you know, today, Madeleine Albright is meeting with
the Argentinean foreign minister.
MR. RUBIN: Correct.
QUESTION: And I would like to know which is the United States position
concerning if Argentina is asking Washington to intercede with Great
Britain so as to negotiate with Argentina on the Falklands Island issue?
What is --
MR. RUBIN: I am not aware that that is a prime topic of this meeting, and
I would have to get back to you on what has been said back and forth in the
past. As I understand, that is not a prime topic of this meeting.
Yes.
QUESTION: On the same - on the same --
MR. RUBIN: Yes.
QUESTION: On that, the Secretary said the other day that the United
States is considering making Argentina a major non-NATO ally.
MR. RUBIN: Correct.
QUESTION: The question is, how can they be elevated to that status when
they still have a major disagreement with arguably our closest ally in
NATO?
MR. RUBIN: I think that's an opinion or a view or an argument that won't
be unfamiliar to our British colleagues. But the question here is, what has
Argentina done in the last few years? What Secretary Albright herself
witnessed on several occasions, in several different ways, was the
important good citizenship of Argentina in the world in the last several
years. They have sent peacekeepers to many hot spots. They have played an
important role at the United Nations and tried to advance the cause of
peace and promote the policies and practices of the international
community. That counts for a lot with the United States.
So what Secretary Albright said is that we are taking a good hard look at
this, and that it would involve certain ability to get excess defense
articles and other training and other services from the Pentagon, if that
status were granted. We haven't made that announcement, but we are taking a
good hard look at it.
QUESTION: But the Americans have said --
QUESTION: Just a follow-up?
MR. RUBIN: Yes.
QUESTION: Have the British asked - questioned you since the Secretary's
words the other day? Have they asked you to hold off on this?
MR. RUBIN: Well, without making a practice of getting into each of the
diplomatic conversations, I do know that she did not indicate to me that
there had been a big problem with the British in the last day or two. Yes.
QUESTION: And she is going to speak to the foreign minister, right?
MR. RUBIN: Yes.
QUESTION: To the foreign minister?
QUESTION: Did they have talks about that?
MR. RUBIN: She didn't indicate to me there was a big problem with that.
Yes.
QUESTION: What about a small problem?
QUESTION: Any development with the meeting of the Central American
Ministers, especially today the minister of justice of Guatemala says that
they are asking for help from the United States because they are seeing an
increasing presence of Mexican narco-traffickers in Guatemala. Do you have
any comment on that? Or any --
MR. RUBIN: I will try to get you a readout. Someone can give you a full
briefing on what happened at that meeting. Obviously, any concern on the
part of one of the Central American countries that narco-traffickers were
improving their access and capabilities in one of their countries would be
a matter of great concern to us, and we would want to work on that.
David.
QUESTION: How is the U.S. doing in its effort to convince Mexico to take
the people who are onboard the Lapas No. 3 , about 30 miles off Baja,
California, being held right now by the U.S. Coast Guard? Why should Mexico
take those people?
MR. RUBIN: One of the other things that Mr. Burns told me before I took
this job was that when it comes to alien smuggling issues, one has to tread
with great care; and I will now do so. The U.S. Coast Guard continues to
provide humanitarian aid to the Asian migrants aboard the vessel, Lapas
No. 3, which was intercepted last Tuesday by the Coast Guard.
The vessel was spotted by a Coast Guard airplane while on routine
patrol. Later in the day, the Coast Guard cutter, Tybee, based in San
Diego, sailed to meet the ship to investigate the status and condition of
the vessel. The Coast Guard cutter, Midgett, is still on the scene to
attend to the health and safety of those on board the vessel. Assistance
includes the provision of food, fresh water, blankets and clothing to the
migrants.
U.S. officials are continuing the investigation of this case. When we have
more to say on it, we will.
QUESTION: I'm asking about the State Department's role in this matter,
and their effort to get Mexico to take the people in.
MR. RUBIN: I am advised that the success of our ability to pursue our
policy is greatly improved by the minimalism with which I speak about it
from this podium. It's a legitimate question. Our view is that illegal
immigrants ought to not come to the United States. The ways in which we try
to implement that are humanely and with maximum focus on the suffering and
concern of the people involved, but with also focus on the importance of
letting the alien smugglers know that this is a place that they would be
wise not to try to send their illegal cargo to.
Yes.
QUESTION: On Angola, there's a deadline - I think its' today - at the UN
on whether or not there's going to be new sanctions on Angola. Just as we
were starting this briefing, there was some story coming across the wire
about a report from the UN Secretary General in which it sounded as if he
wants to continue these sanctions. I was wondering what the U.S. view is.
MR. RUBIN: My understanding, from the same reporting, is that he did not
recommend sanctions, new sanctions. It has been our view that Dr. Savimbi
has been an unhelpful player in the process in recent months; that he has
not agreed to allow the Angolan Government to take control of the necessary
parts of Angola that he had control of; that he has tens of thousands of
troops under his command and armed who have not demobilized; that he has
refused to go to the capital and participate in the government Lusaka
Protocol requires; and that we should be prepared to consider sanctions.
We are ready, willing and able to consider a tighter sanctions package on
UNITA. But at this point, if the Secretary General has concluded what I
believe he has -- which is that there are some recent steps that
Dr. Savimbi has taken and some offers that have been made and some
negotiations that have taken place, including between Dr. Savimbi and Under
Secretary Pickering over the last week and that that improves the chances
of getting compliance - we're prepared to accept that for the time being.
QUESTION: So you would hold off on sanctions for now?
MR. RUBIN: Again, as I recall my time in New York -- and Secretary
Albright would be the first to say this - is that one wants to give the
benefit of the doubt to the Secretary General when it comes to implementing
details of an agreement, unless there's a really compelling reason not
to. At this point, if - again, I just saw a wire report as I came in - they
think that they've got enough to work with, we would be prepared to hold
off. We are prepared in principle to tighten up significantly the sanctions
package against Jonas Savimbi.
Any other subjects? One more?
QUESTION: Just back to Argentina. Have you any idea when this agreement -
these announcements will be made about the special relationship with
Argentina?
MR. RUBIN: Secretary Albright is going to take a question or two, and
you're welcome to ask her this afternoon.
QUESTION: Thank you.
MR. RUBIN: Thank you.
(The briefing concluded at 1:11 P.M.)
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