U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing #126, 97-09-04
From: The Department of State Foreign Affairs Network (DOSFAN) at <http://www.state.gov>
U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
I N D E X
Thursday, September 4, 1997
Briefer: James B. Foley
MIDDLE EAST
1,6 Bombings in Jerusalem; US reaction
1-4,6-8 Albright travel; importance of visit; purpose and goals, crisis
of confidence
3 Two American citizens injured in the attacks
4-6,9-10 Arafat's commitment to preventing terrorism; Ross and Arafat
conversation; Arafat's condemnation of bombing
6-8,12 Final status talks; fast track; Oslo Accords and extradition
provision
7,12 US expectations for Palestinian security measures
7-8,10 State Department assessment of progress in security
8 Timing of Secretary's return to Washington
8,10-11 Secretary's contacts: Netanyahu, Talbott, Ross
9 State Department compliance with terrorism bill
10 Secretary's involvement in Middle East peace process
10-11 Israeli closure; Palestinian tax receipts
11 Palestinian delegation meeting with Dennis Ross
11-12 Impact of Arafat's meetings with Hamas leaders
CUBA
12-13 Havana hotel bombings
NORTH KOREA
13 Number of deaths caused by famine
AZERBAIJAN/ARMENIA
13-14 Nagorno-Karabakh: Minsk group initiative
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
OFF-CAMERA DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
DPB #127
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1997 3:25 P.M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
MR. FOLEY: First, I'd like to apologize for the rather significant
delay in the briefing. I think you'll understand there were exceptional
circumstances, given today's events.
First, I can only reiterate the deep shock and condolences expressed by
the President, and by Secretary Albright in Prague today, to the people
and government of Israel for their losses in the wake of this dastardly
terrorist attack.
Secondly, just to give you what we do know -- and of course this is
still preliminary -- about the terrorist bombings, our current
information is that there were three bombings that left 165 people
wounded. There were apparently seven dead, which included the three
suicide bombers.
We have information, as far as we can determine, that there were two US
citizens who suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Our consulate in
Jerusalem is continuing to canvass hospitals in Israel to learn if any
other victims were US citizens. In the past, some dual nationals
involved in such tragedies were initially identified by their non-US
documents, but later it was revealed that the victims were also US
citizens. So such could also be the case with today's catastrophe.
As you know, the Israeli government has announced total closure of the
Palestinian areas. And lastly, a press agency, I think it was AFP, did
receive a call from Hamas claiming responsibility for the bombings.
Barry.
QUESTION: I'd like to see if I could ask you a logistical question and
then ask you a real question.
MR. FOLEY: Yes.
QUESTION: It is said she will go ahead with the trip. Of course, the
schedule wasn't worked out entirely, in any event. Is the trip she's
going ahead with the same trip she had planned before the attack, like
leaving on Tuesday, going to Israel?
MR. FOLEY: Yes.
QUESTION: So there's no --
MR. FOLEY: No, there's no change in the schedule as it was announced by
Jamie Rubin last week. As you indicated, we haven't given any final
details, and we'll do that when we're able to, but there has been no
change in the departure.
QUESTION: Broad-based trip?
MR. FOLEY: Yes.
QUESTION: Well, here's really what I'd like to know. In her speech
August 6, she said that she wanted to see a significant - an improvement
in the security environment, as she put it, before the US could go ahead
and tackle these political issues. And today, you're going ahead, even
though there's been another terrorist attack. I doubt that I'm the only
one who thinks these two things are in contradiction. Can you attempt
to explain how can she both say she has to see an improvement in the
environment, at the same time affirm her intention to go, when the
security environment is anything but serene?
MR. FOLEY: Well, the President and the Secretary both today reaffirmed
the importance of her traveling to the region, as previously scheduled.
As we said all along - have been saying for several weeks, there has
been some progress on the security issue. But we've also been saying
that much more needs to be done. And of course, we continue to say that
today.
There are, indeed, two dimensions to this process - one involving
unilateral Palestinian steps and, secondly, cooperation with Israel.
Additionally, everything must be done to ensure that a political climate
is created where terror and violence are not legitimized. Everything
must be done to de-legitimize those who support these actions.
QUESTION: Let me try it another way. She wasn't ready on August 6th to
announce a trip. She was waiting for an improvement in the security
situation. Today she announced her intention to keep to that trip. And
that's because there's been an improvement in the security situation?
MR. FOLEY: Well, what she said in that speech was that provided there
was some progress on security issues, she would be prepared to travel.
To elaborate further on what I've said, the Palestinians have taken
certain steps in the right direction. Security cooperation with the
Israelis has taken place, particularly with regard to sharing
information and cooperation on forensics.
You'll remember that prior to her speech and Ambassador Ross' last
travel to the region that there had been a significant hiatus in
security cooperation. There had been an effort on the Palestinian side
to condition security cooperation to diplomatic considerations, which we
rejected. In the wake of Ambassador Ross' last trip, we saw put in
place certain security mechanisms which began to bear some fruit.
However, I think we've made no secret of the fact - and certainly the
Israelis have made no secret of the fact that much more needs to be done
unilaterally by the Palestinians. The Secretary - you've probably seen
her statement in Prague today - she said, and I quote, that with regard
to - that "the Palestinians must preempt terror, destroy infrastructure,
as well as create a political climate where there is no tolerance for
terror." I can refer back, if you're interested, to some of the specific
measures she also mentioned in her August 6th speech.
QUESTION: What will be the purpose of her trip now?
MR. FOLEY: Well, the purpose of the trip, if you'll recall - going back
to her speech - she talked about the fact that there was a crisis of
confidence in the Middle East and, in particular, in relation to the
peace process. I think Mr. Rubin last week described a peace process
that was not too far from the abyss, I think was the word that he used.
She deemed it, in consultations with the President, important that she
make this trip at this point in time, in order to try to reverse that
trend, in order to try to revive hope on the part of all the parties in
the Middle East, in particular, on the part of the Palestinians and the
Israelis, that things had reached a point where she felt that she could
make a difference, that it was right for her to visit.
And in the wake of the bombing, today's bombing, I think, as the
President put it, the need for her trip has risen, if you will. That's
our view, that the situation obviously is growing dire, and there is a
danger that a sense of hopelessness might take root. She is determined
to do everything in her power and within the power of the United States
to help to begin to reverse that situation. So she's going to address,
obviously, the crisis of confidence that she spoke of on August 6.
It's, if anything, a more urgent priority today as it was three or four
weeks ago.
QUESTION: Do you have the names of the two American citizens?
MR. FOLEY: I may. We don't have Privacy Act waivers from them, but
they have given interviews and identified themselves in the media
interviews, apparently, as Avi Mendelson and Gregory Saltzman.
QUESTION: Jim --
QUESTION: -- following up --
QUESTION: Jim --
MR. FOLEY: I don't have that.
QUESTION: Excuse me --
QUESTION: Can we go --
MR. FOLEY: Yes, Crystal.
QUESTION: Thank you. Excuse me. Excuse me.
MR. FOLEY: I'll come to you in a second.
QUESTION: Can I continue?
MR. FOLEY: Yes.
QUESTION: You said the situation is growing dire and that the need for
her trip has escalated. And Jamie said, when he announced the trip,
that she was not a magician; she was going to the region as a realist.
What does she hope to accomplish in light of the second bomb attacks?
And if I can follow up with one other thing, after the first bombings,
officials here and Jamie, I believe, said from the podium that as though
Arafat has committed to fighting terrorism, cracking down on the
infrastructure, et cetera.
Is that the United States' position after the second round? And could
you just comment on both of those?
MR. FOLEY: Well, she's going to continue with the trip because she
believes, as I said, that she can help to make a difference. We believe
that, obviously, both the Israelis and the Palestinians have a deep
yearning for peace. They have, we think, on both sides, and indeed
throughout the Middle East, there's a desire to see the Secretary of
State come to the region and do what she can to help improve the climate
that has deteriorated. Obviously, all sides believe that she can play a
positive role.
So that really is going to be her overall goal, is to help restore some
sense of trust and some sense of confidence in the way ahead. But
specifically, her first goal, though, on the trip, will be, indeed, to
do what she can also to help ensure that the security situation is
addressed adequately. This will be the first priority. Obviously,
there can be no political process without the right environment, and
this means dealing seriously with the issue of security.
QUESTION: So she doesn't have one specific thing in mind that she would
like to see come out of her visit, nothing at all?
MR. FOLEY: She would like to see the issue - let me put it this way:
We've made clear from this podium, the Secretary herself has made clear
on several occasions, that security is the predicate for peace, that
there can be no realistic hope for progress on the peace process front
unless the security issue is being addressed vigorously. So she intends
to contribute, on her trip, to ensuring that this is understood and
that, certainly on the Palestinian side, that everything is done
unilaterally to help to destroy the enemies of peace.
I mean, clearly, this bombing - I think the President stated this in his
remarks - really, if there was any doubt after the first bombing on July
30th, there can be none today that both bombings occurred on the verge
of American visits to the region that promised some hope of movement on
the peace process. As the President made very clear, these bombers
aimed at the people who have been killed and wounded, and they also
clearly aimed at derailing any hope of a restored peace process.
QUESTION: And Arafat's commitment, could you just respond to that? Has
he taken seriously the demand to crack down on terrorism? It doesn't
seem as though, with the second attack.
MR. FOLEY: We have not been satisfied with the degree of effort that he
has invested, in terms of unilateral efforts, within areas under
Palestinian authority to crack down on the terrorist infrastructure.
We have been encouraged by the fact that during and following Ambassador
Ross' last visit that a security mechanism with the Israelis was
established, which has borne some fruit. There has been cooperation.
That represented progress over the absence of cooperation in preceding
months. But it is clear in our minds that more - and much more - could
be done, unilaterally, within areas under Palestinian authority to crack
down and eliminate the terrorist infrastructure.
QUESTION: Jim, have American officials spoken to Yasser Arafat today?
MR. FOLEY: Yes, Dennis Ross spoke to him.
QUESTION: Did Arafat - what was his message? Do you know? Did he
condemn the bombing? Did he agree that he's not doing enough? Did he
say he'd do something more? Or was he still - I'll leave it at that.
MR. FOLEY: Well, I'm not prepared to go into the details of their
conversation. I wasn't privy to the conversation, either. But I did
speak to Dennis, and he only characterized Chairman Arafat as very
subdued, aware of the seriousness of the situation. He made clear that,
in the coming days, we would be watching closely what he does.
QUESTION: Jim?
MR. FOLEY: Yes, Charlie.
QUESTION: There was no condemnation of this bombing from the Chairman?
MR. FOLEY: Yes, there was.
QUESTION: He did to Dennis?
MR. FOLEY: Yes.
QUESTION: To Dennis?
MR. FOLEY: To Dennis, yes.
QUESTION: Okay.
QUESTION: Jim, when American citizens are attacked in terrorist attacks
abroad, I believe that there is a U.S. law which enables the United
States to take certain actions, either reprisals or make arrests abroad,
and the FBI would be called in. Do you know if the United States has
initiated any of these procedures, following this attack?
MR. FOLEY: Well, I think it's a little early for me to be able to
answer that question. Clearly, the Israeli authorities will be and have
begun to investigate this bombing. When we have events of this nature,
it often takes some time for investigations to proceed and for leads to
be developed.
I am certain - especially as you indicate, the fact that there have been
American citizen victims, that our authorities will be working together
with Israeli authorities. But it's too early for me to answer your
question.
Charlie.
QUESTION: Jim, back to one of the things she mentioned in her speech
and the current trip. One of other things, aside - Dennis was supposed
to go out there and talk security and put in place a mechanism which, to
some extent, you've talked about. She also, then, talked about going to
talk about getting the parties to get final status talks put on a faster
track. Is there any hope that that still is possible, or have you given
that up?
MR. FOLEY: I would simply say, at this point, we're only still a number
of hours removed from the event of the bombing. If there is any message
that I could convey from the podium today, so shortly after the bombing,
it is the very strong resolution of the United States, as expressed by
the President and the Secretary today, not to be intimidated and not to
be deterred from continuing our efforts and our role in achieving peace
in the Middle East. Insofar as our specific plans are concerned, the
only major news we have today is that the trip will continue and that
we're not going to be deterred in this effort.
Secondly, as I've already indicated, security is obviously going to be
uppermost in her mind and at the top of her agenda in her meetings,
particularly in Israel and with the Palestinian Authority. That is
clear. Let me finish.
As you state, Charlie, she indicated in her speech that she wished to be
able, additionally, to help overcome the crisis of confidence and help
to share ideas on how we might resume negotiations on several fronts,
and help restore momentum back towards the proponents of peace, the
momentum that, obviously, the enemies of peace have been trying to steal
away. Again, it's too early for me -- and I'm not sure, in any case,
that we would be forecasting her specific agenda, but that will
certainly remain a part of her agenda.
QUESTION: You say that --
MR. FOLEY: Jim and then --
QUESTION: You say that you want him to do more; specifically, what?
MR. FOLEY: Well, I can only refer to the Secretary's speech of August
6.
QUESTION: Specifically what, though?
MR. FOLEY: She was very specific, and I can quote sort of loosely from
her speech. She talked about sharing information, coordinating law
enforcement action, unrelenting effort to detect and deter potential
terrorist attacks, identifying and seizing arms caches, arresting and
prosecuting those involved in planning, financing, or abetting
terrorism, no revolving doors for those who are arrested and imprisoned,
and overall, the dismantling of the terrorist infrastructure that exists
within those territories. We think that, clearly, there's more to be
done in that area, much more.
QUESTION: Is she encouraging the Palestinian Authority to arrest people
on the basis of suspicion rather than charges?
MR. FOLEY: I couldn't answer the question specifically. She is urging
the Palestinian Authority to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure. I
think that's eloquent enough and speaks for itself.
QUESTION: The Oslo Accords --
QUESTION: Jim --
MR. FOLEY: I'm sorry, here, yes.
QUESTION: You had said before that progress was made in security, in
light of the bombing itself. Is this the same assessment that the State
Department has now, or has that assessment changed?
MR. FOLEY: That there had been progress?
QUESTION: That there had been real progress made in terms of security
in the area.
MR. FOLEY: Well, we said that there had been progress made in terms of
cooperation with the Israeli authorities; that a mechanism was
instituted during Ambassador Ross' visit that has led to meetings, to
exchange of information, to progress, we believe, that has been
achieved. Arrests have been made, as well. And we noted that. We
never said we were satisfied with that progress. Indeed, we felt that
much more can and should be done.
QUESTION: Jim?
MR. FOLEY: Yes.
QUESTION: Follow-up on Charlie's question. Will she make an effort
during this trip to accelerate final status talks and marry them, as she
put it in her speech, with the interim phase of the Oslo Accord? Or has
that necessarily be put on hold because of the continued security
crisis?
MR. FOLEY: I'm not in a position today to describe her agenda
specifically. As I noted, with the bombing having taken place today and
only hours ago, clearly this event will have an impact on her trip, will
have an impact on her agenda and what she's able to accomplish.
As Mr. Rubin indicated last week, even before the bombing, the Secretary
is not a magician and the problems are daunting. We have a terrible
crisis of confidence. She was hoping to be able to begin to turn the
momentum in the direction of those who favor peace and to restore some
hope on the part of peoples throughout the region who yearn for peace.
She is not abandoning her agenda and her overall political goals. But
she will only be able to make progress in that area to the extent that
progress is made on the security front. That will be, as I've said
already today, that will be number one on her agenda.
QUESTION: Jim?
MR. FOLEY: Yes.
QUESTION: Two questions - is the Secretary cutting short her trip to
the Czech Republic and coming home early?
MR. FOLEY: Well, as you know, she was due to be coming home in a couple
of days and that still is her plan.
QUESTION: Okay, and --
MR. FOLEY: However, though, I would add that since the news of the
bombing, she's been hard at work, working the phones and conferring with
her experts here, including the Acting Secretary, Strobe Talbott and
others and Dennis Ross. She's spoken with Prime Minister Netanyahu.
She's made her statement. She's going to be staying in close touch and
monitoring events now through her return on Saturday.
QUESTION: Also, there are members of the Hill who are calling for a cut
in State Department funding if the State Department does not comply soon
with the terrorism bill that was passed last year, and the obligation
under the bill to name terrorist organizations. How concerned would
this building be in that threat? And how close do you think this
building is in naming organizations under that bill?
MR. FOLEY: Well, we are under legislative mandate to do just that, and
it's something we take very seriously. I can't add to what Mr. Rubin
noted several weeks ago. I believe he said that the Secretary was going
to be taking a close, personal look at this whole process to see what
could be done to accelerate it. We understand the concerns on the Hill.
I don't have anything new to report, but I'd be happy to look into it
for you. It's something she's very aware of and, as Mr. Rubin
indicated, she was going to make it a high priority.
Yes, Sid.
QUESTION: How would you respond to critics who say that this so-called
crisis in confidence, and perhaps even some of the bombings, might have
been avoided if the Secretary has not so doggedly stayed away from the
region?
MR. FOLEY: We would reject such accusations. She has been as involved
as could be from Washington. She's met with regional leaders here in
Washington, and she's worked the phones assiduously, day in and day out.
She stayed in close touch and made her views known. But in terms of a
visit to the region, she wanted to be sure that the timing was right,
and that when she went it would be possible to make a difference.
Clearly, the situation is such today that she believes she can and,
indeed, has a responsibility to go and to do what she can to help
improve the climate.
QUESTION: It sounds like she was waiting for the situation just to
spiral downwards and get worse?
MR. FOLEY: No, I wouldn't say that at all. The fact of the matter is
that the parties - and she said so in her speech on August 6, that we
cannot substitute for the parties in terms of the hard decisions they
need to make, and especially in terms of the will and the willingness to
approach each other in a spirit of compromise. We can't substitute
ourselves for that. There has been a hiatus, obviously, in
negotiations, and an absence of will. She believed, in the last number
of weeks, that the moment was ripening for a visit in which she felt she
could make a difference.
Yes, Talal
QUESTION: Arafat -- he's saying that he condemns the bombing. Is he
saying now that he can do more, or he's saying, well, I've done what I
can do; I can't do any more?
MR. FOLEY: Well, I hope he's not saying that he's done all he can,
because we don't share that view. I won't comment further on the
conversation he had with Ambassador Ross.
QUESTION: You were saying that she would go only when she was confident
she can make a difference. That clearly suggests she's still confident
she can make a difference. Does that mean, then, that you are still
happy and confident that the security mechanism that was put in place by
Ambassador Ross is going to continue throughout this latest difficulty?
MR. FOLEY: That security mechanism is a necessary but insufficient
answer to the compelling need for an unrelenting crackdown on the
terrorist infrastructure within the areas of the Palestinian Authority.
QUESTION: I guess what I'm saying is, what is it that makes her still
confident that she can make a difference?
MR. FOLEY: Well, I think you can take a sounding of opinion throughout
the Middle East, whether it be among the Palestinians or the Israelis
or, indeed, throughout the states of the region. Everyone has welcomed
her visit. Everyone believes that, indeed, the time is right for her to
come and that she can help begin to restore the confidence that's been
so lacking. I think that speaks for itself.
Yes, Crystal.
QUESTION: Some Palestinian officials have said that this second bomb
probably wouldn't have happened if Israel hadn't been so harsh in
sealing off borders from the West Bank and Gaza. How would the United
States respond to this? They seem to be almost blaming Israel's
reaction to the first bombing for the second.
MR. FOLEY: I think that preposterous. Such an argument, by
implication, suggests that there can be a justification for acts of this
type of barbarity. Our view has always been - and the Secretary stated
this clearly in her speech - that there can be no excuse, no
justification for terrorism.
As to the measures that you talked about, we have expressed
understanding for those measures that Israel has undertaken that are
connected to security. That remains the case. There have been other
areas where we've expressed our differences, and that has also remained
the case.
Yes, Sid.
QUESTION: You said the Secretary spoke to the Prime Minister. Can you
characterize that conversation at all?
MR. FOLEY: I don't have a read-out of that conversation.
QUESTION: Nothing? Was he subdued, or --
MR. FOLEY: Well, he welcomed her visit to Israel and to the region.
That's really all I've got on their talk.
QUESTION: Jim --
QUESTION: -- willingness to begin talks, to return the tax receipts, to
- you know, all this stuff you've been pressing him on? And will she
continue to press him on those? Do you still think those - let me
phrase it a different way. Do you still think the withholding of
Palestinian tax receipts by the Israelis is counter-productive? Do you
still think the closure itself is counter-productive and not conducive
to the peace process? Or do you now think it's a necessary component of
Israeli security?
MR. FOLEY: Well, I can repeat today what has been said previously from
this podium - that we think it's understandable that Israel will take
measures related to protected security. But we've also stated - and I
repeat today - that there needs to be a balance between security and the
every-day needs of the Palestinian people.
QUESTION: Jim --
MR. FOLEY: Yes.
QUESTION: Is it still your understanding that Mr. Erakat and Abu Mazen
will come here later today to talk to Dennis Ross?
MR. FOLEY: Yes it is, yes.
QUESTION: Do you have any idea what time?
MR. FOLEY: Well, the honest answer is, it will take place when they get
here. As I've understood since yesterday, there was a kind of fluidity
to that particular aspect. But we understand they are coming and
Ambassador Ross will be meeting with them later this afternoon.
QUESTION: Jim, do you believe that Mr. Arafat's meeting with Hamas
leaders recently has in any way encouraged Mr. Arafat to encourage Hamas
and to use Hamas as a card in his strategy? Is Mr. Arafat in part
responsible for this bombing today?
MR. FOLEY: Well, we obviously are in a situation too soon after the
bombing, as I noted to you earlier, to say anything about the nature of
the bombing. We have obviously the apparent call by Hamas taking
"credit," if that's the operative word for this horrible act. But in
terms of responsibility and the provenance of the bombers, we don't know
at this point.
But I think we made clear at the time when Chairman Arafat had meetings
with extremist leaders that there is, in our view, absolutely no place
in the peace process for those groups who violently oppose it. There
can be no tolerance for or embracing of these groups. I can state
again, we believe the Palestinian Authority must crack down on those
groups who want to destroy the process, who undertake cowardly attacks
on innocent civilians and who, by these very actions, actively destroy
Palestinian national aspirations.
Yes, Charlie.
QUESTION: On a different subject, reports of --
MR. FOLEY: Are we finished with - let's make sure we've --
QUESTION: One more question.
MR. FOLEY: Okay.
QUESTION: Under the Oslo Accords, I believe that the Palestinians -
both sides are required to extradite to the other side people involved
in terrorist attacks. Are you making any pressure or any requests to
Arafat to extradite people, rather than simply hold them for a few
months and release them?
MR. FOLEY: Extradite them to the United States?
QUESTION: To Israel.
MR. FOLEY: I think that would be a matter for the Israeli authorities.
You'd have to ask them.
Charlie.
QUESTION: -- reports of a series of bombings in hotels in Havana. Do
you have anything on that?
MR. FOLEY: Yes, well, just coming in, I was handed something on that
subject. What I can tell you is that there are unconfirmed reports of
three explosions at three hotels. There was an unconfirmed report of
one death in one of those explosions.
This is not the first time we've seen this type of incident over the
last several months. But we have no information on either these today
or the previous incidents.
QUESTION: What do you think about the recourse to violence? There is
no peaceful means of changing the government in Cuba. And do you have a
view on whether terrorism is viable under these circumstances?
MR. FOLEY: We believe it is not under any circumstances, as I made
clear in a different context a few minutes ago.
The United States is committed to supporting a peaceful transition to
democracy in Cuba, and does not in any way condone the use of violence
as a means of achieving that transition or of demonstrating political
opposition.
North Korea?
QUESTION: Yeah. Experts in World Vision said yesterday --
MR. FOLEY: I'm sorry, experts --
QUESTION: Experts in World Vision --
MR. FOLEY:World Vision --
QUESTION: -- NGO - said he believes 120,000 people died in North Korea
in starvation. This year it will be several times that 120,000 to a
million. So what's the understanding of the State Department the
numbers of these people who died in North Korea?
MR. FOLEY: Well, as you know, we don't have an embassy, we don't have
people on the ground in North Korea able to assess the situation on
behalf, directly, of the United States Government. We have relied on
international humanitarian and relief organizations who visit the
country, whose responsibility is indeed looking into these issues. So
we have to rely on their assessments. But I'm not aware of the report
that you mentioned.
Obviously, the situation is critical. We remain open to further appeals
from humanitarian, from international relief organizations, as they are
made.
Yes.
QUESTION: Nagorno-Karabakh was apparently some agreement that the
United States had helped put forth. I believe that it's been, perhaps,
accepted by Armenia and Azerbaijan and that there was opposition to it
in Nagorno-Karabakh itself. Do you have anything on that?
MR. FOLEY: I don't have anything new on that. This is an initiative of
the Minsk Group.
QUESTION: Minsk Group, right.
MR. FOLEY: With France, Russia and the United States leading this
effort.
QUESTION: Right.
MR. FOLEY: We've had excellent cooperation within the Minsk Group. My
understanding is that negotiators from the three countries - U.S.,
France and Russia - will be going out to the region again, I think,
within about a week or ten days. Maybe we'll have something additional
to report at the time or at the close of their visit, but I don't have
anything new on that today.
QUESTION: This is the way I understand it - they actually submit a
proposal to the concerned parties.
MR. FOLEY: I believe they did.
QUESTION: And what is the status of that?
MR. FOLEY: Well, it's a matter of ongoing negotiations. I believe the
team that's going out there will be pursuing those.
QUESTION: Thank you.
MR. FOLEY: Thank you.
(The briefing concluded at 4:00 P.M.)
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