U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing #52, 98-04-28
From: The Department of State Foreign Affairs Network (DOSFAN) at <http://www.state.gov>
648
U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
I N D E X
Tuesday, April 28, 1998
Briefer: James B. Foley
CUBA / CANADA
1 PriMin Chretien discusses human rights with Castro; Call
for release of four Dissident Working Group members
GUATEMALA
1-2 Killing of Bishop Jose Juan Gerardi; US offer of
assistance; Guatemalan high- level investigative
commission created
2 Timing of killing and release of Project for Recovery of
Historical Memory report
IRAN / RUSSIA / AZERBAIJAN
2-3 Azeri interception of steel alloy shipment; US contact with
Russia; Russia arrests suspects, begins investigation;
material usable for liquid-propellant missiles
3-4 Russia ability to control sensitive materials, meet arms
control requirements
3-4 Russian role in Iran missile program
SERBIA (FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA)
4-6 Kosovo: Contact Group meet in Rome 4/29; goals of CG
proposals; focus of CG efforts
4 FRY border troops kill three; cannot confirm other clashes
5-7 FRY provocations toward ALBANIA; concerns re FRY army
actions, spread of violence; size of FRY armed forces in
Kosovo
6 Albania request for NATO observers
CHINA
7 Tibet Coordinator Greg Craig role in Secretary's visit to
China
8 Reported Chinese comment that "Free Tibet" concert
musicians not welcome in China
IRAQ
8-9 Americares humanitarian aid delivery; US role in assisting
delivery
SUDAN
9 Any US, international effort to avert starvation?
RUSSIA
10 No reaction to cabinet nominations
INDONESIA
10 Opposition activist Pius Lustrilanang's allegation of
abduction, torture by govt forces
TERRORISM
10 Release of annual report on Patterns of Global Terrorism
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
DPB #52
TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1998, 1:05 P.M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
MR. FOLEY: Welcome to the State Department. I don't have any announcements.
So Associated Press?
QUESTION: Prime Minister Chretien is about to leave Cuba.. Apparently,
there was quite a discussion about human rights and even about possible
systemic changes on Chretien's part during his conversation with Fidel
Castro. Do you have any evaluation beyond what you said yesterday?
MR. FOLEY: Well, we've only seen the press reports at this point on the
prime minister's visit. We may have further comments after Prime Minister
Chretien returns to Canada and additional details become available. But the
press reports do indicate, as you say, that Prime Minister Chretien did
raise human rights and the need for democratic change with Castro. On the
human rights front, we understand that Prime Minister Chretien asked for
the release of the four members of the dissident working group.
These four were arrested last July after publishing a paper questioning the
contents of a government-published document prior to the fifth Communist
Party Congress. Other international leaders and non-governmental organizations
have also sought the unconditional release of these four members of the
dissident working group. We certainly hope that the Cuban Government will
respond to these requests by releasing, not only the four dissident working
group members but, indeed, all political prisoners and re-integrating them
into Cuban society. Is that it for today?
QUESTION: Kosovo?
MR. FOLEY: It is a quiet week. Yes, Betsy.
QUESTION: Maintaining a question in the same area. On the death of the
bishop in Guatemala, the statement that you put out yesterday said that the
US would help in any way that they can. I assume that means in the
investigation, the apprehension of the person who did this. Has the US
offered - have they been asked to help in any way in investigating the
death of the bishop?
MR. FOLEY: Well, first of all, as you noted Betsy, we did put out a
statement yesterday deploring this horrible crime against - against the
bishop. Indeed, we did offer the Guatemalan Government our readiness, we
expressed, to assist in any way we appropriately can. Our embassy is
following the case closely and is in contact with local law enforcement
officials. I don't have a report out of the embassy this morning as to
whether the Guatemalan Government has specifically asked for US assistance.
But we will be prepared to provide it as appropriate.
At this time, we do not know if the crime was a political act or a criminal
killing. As you are probably aware, since the signing of the peace accords
in December of 1996, there has been a sharp drop in the level of political
violence in Guatemala, which is obviously a very welcome development. Again,
we are following the case very closely - in close contact with the
Guatemalan Government. I would note finally the President Arzu has ordered
the formation of a high-level commission to assist in the investigation.
So I think in the wake of such a horrible crime, the only thing that
one can hope for is that the perpetrators are discovered and are prosecuted
and punished appropriately because, again, we have no information to
indicate that this is a political crime. But prosecution and punishment are,
of course, necessary in any case such as this to deter further acts of this
nature, be they criminal or political.
QUESTION: Would you agree that the timing of the killing, coming only
days after the bishop's human rights report is suspicious?
MR. FOLEY: I would agree that the timing is an element that needs to be
looked at. You can understand, I asked that question of our experts - our
hemisphere experts myself when the news of the murder came to us. It does
fall closely on the heels of the bishop's submission of his report. That is
a fact. If, however, it is proven through an investigation that this was a
criminal act, then obviously the two events would not be connected.
But it's just to early to say, and we'll have to see where the investigation
leads.
QUESTION: On another issue, we forgot to ask you yesterday about a report
that 22 tons of stainless steel was caught just about as it was to cross
into Iran, and this steel apparently was a specialized kind useful in
building missile tanks. One, can you confirm that? And, two, can you
confirm that the United States did raise alarms about it, but the Russians
acted tardily, if at all?
MR. FOLEY: Well, this is not a new story. On April 7th, the Russian
Federal Security Service announced that it had arrested three people who
were involved in attempting to export steel alloy to Iran. As far as the
United States Government itself is concerned, we were informed by
Azerbaijan on March 25th that their customs officials had detained a
shipment of steel at the Azerbaijan-Iran border because the shipping
documents were not in order. The material described in the shipping
documents apparently did not match the cargo that was found. This was a
shipment transiting Azerbajian from Russia.
The US Government analyzed a sample of the cargo and determined that it is
a type of stainless steel suitable for use in the production of liquid
propellant missiles. The US Government asked the government of Azerbaijan
to detain the shipment for further investigation. We shared the results of
our own inquiry with both the governments of Azerbaijan and Russia, and as
I said, the Russians subsequently announced that they had arrested several
person who apparently were involved in this shipment.
In terms of your question about Russia's activities in this regard, we are
pleased that they have made these arrests and that they're undertaking an
investigation. But I am not aware of the details of the level of cooperation
that existed prior to the - prior to the actual arrest at the Azerbaijani-
Iran border.
QUESTION: Well, did the original alert come from the United States?
MR. FOLEY: I'm not aware of that. I am aware that we were informed by the
Azerbaijanis on March 25th that the shipment had arrived at the border. But
I can't get into our private diplomatic exchanges on this.
QUESTION: Does this incident give you any pause for thought about Russian
attempts in general at controlling the export of such material?
MR. FOLEY: Well, there was a news article, I think that you're referring
to, I believe over the weekend that cast some doubt on Russian capabilities
in this regard. I don't believe that we have drawn that judgment ourselves.
Obviously, we are cooperating intensively with Russia on the whole issue of
cooperation with Iran in the missile field and in other fields. We believe,
in fact, that we have made significant progress in this area over the last
few months. So I wouldn't want to draw judgments that I don't believe our
experts have made on this particular case.
We, as I said, are pleased that they have launched an investigation. They
have made some arrests in this connection. On this same subject?
QUESTION: On the subject.
MR. FOLEY: Yes.
QUESTION: Okay, there was Mr. Timmerman's article I believe in The New
York Times that basically said that the Russians are still aiding the
Iranians in their missile program, and that Iran does not perceive that
this - or excuse me - that Russia does not perceive that this issue is a
high priority issue with the United States. We are not taking it as
seriously as we might. Can you respond to those allegations?
MR. FOLEY: Well, first I can reject the allegation that the United States
Government does not treat this as the high priority that it is. Proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction is, perhaps, our number one priority in the
world, certainly security priority. Proliferation to states that do not
have a record of responsible actions in the international arena is a
particular concern to us.
Secondly, the characterization of Russian attitudes I would challenge. The
fact of the matter is that beginning with the Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission
over the last two years, we've seen the Russians increasingly coming to
grips with this issue. I think it is a difficult issue, obviously, to
monitor on their side, as well. But we believe that we have a commitment to
make this a priority on their part. We have seen this reflected in various
actions recently.
The article that you mention notes - and then casts doubt on the arrest and
expulsion of an Iranian who was involved in Iran's illicit procurement
effort. Our information is that he was, indeed, expelled from the country.
Second, you saw earlier this year that Russia established a so-called
"catch-all" authority putting into place a new authority to stop transfers
of the full range of goods and services to programs of weapons of mass
destruction and foreign missile programs. This decree is now in force.
We have been meeting regularly with the Russians, first in the Wisner-
Koptev channel - now, Ambassador Gallucci has taken the helm of that effort
and met recently in Moscow with his counterparts. We believe there has been
important progress. But we don't believe we can claim that the work is
over. Far from it. More important work remains to be done.
QUESTION: So you're saying that perhaps the Russians are still aiding the
Iranians in their missile program?
MR. FOLEY: Well, as I said, we believe important work remains to be done.
We don't believe that the file is closed, if you will..
QUESTION: Do you have anything on Kosovo today?
MR. FOLEY: Do you have a particular question? I can give you what little
I have today. Obviously our focus is on the contact group meeting tomorrow
in Rome. In terms of events on the ground, we note that Serbian officials
reported that border troops - Yugoslav army border troops had killed three
persons whom they said were trying to smuggle weapons into Kosovo.
Additional clashes are being reported by the press. We are looking into
these reports at this time, but we can't confirm them as of yet.
I would simply reiterate the point I made yesterday and that was certainly
made in the background briefing yesterday afternoon that, again, we see
these clashes, these incidents as entirely symptomatic of what is wrong
with Belgrade's policy towards Kosovo. We see these border problems as a
consequence of President Milosevic's inaction towards a viable solution to
the Kosovo crisis. As you know, the contact group is preparing for their
meeting in Rome tomorrow. The view of the United States is that the
situation in Kosovo is grave. The contact group will be discussing a
variety of options and measures with the intent of moving the situation
in Kosovo from crisis to negotiations. You heard that described in some
length yesterday afternoon.
The people in Kosovo must be free from the repression they are currently
under, and the people of Serbia must find their way back into the community
of nations. We think that these two goals - far from being contradictory
could become mutually reinforcing if responsible leaders approach this
problem responsibly. The proposals that are being discussed in Rome
tomorrow will allow this to happen - if and only if President Milosevic
chooses to pursue a peaceful end to the crisis.
QUESTION: Yesterday's briefer spoke about the various statements by the
Yugoslav Government, including the Ministry of Defense, in very strong
terms - calling one of the statements a real provocation. I think it was a
statement directed at Albania - allegations that Albania is allowing the
smuggling of weapons and people. It would seem to me that there's a
question that's left open, which is: If this is a provocation toward
Albania, what is being done to ensure that it doesn't turn into a conflict
with Albania?
MR. FOLEY: Well, of course, the international community in the form of
the contact group when they met in London on March 9th, discussed the need
to provide for greater security for some of the bordering nations -
including Macedonia and Albania - and that's a subject that's continuing to
be looked. NATO has some elements of cooperation with Albania that are
being explored and reinforced. I think we have noted from this podium that
fact - twofold, first that the Albanian Government itself, we believe
is acting very responsibly in this crisis and is not in any way abetting
transfers of arms into Kosovo.
We have also noted that the border can be porous and historically has been
so. Furthermore, we noted that the Yugoslav - FRY authorities have the
right, as do governments around the world, to ensure the security of their
own borders. What we saw as provocative was the sense we got that the
Yugoslav army is now being put forward with the possibility of involvement
in internal repression in Kosovo itself and that the claim of a fear of
border incursion or weapons smuggling could become a pretext for further
repression and perhaps a widening of the conflict. There are legitimate
concerns on all sides here involving security, involving weapons,
involving the future course of events.
The fundamental point the United States wishes to emphasize, though, again,
as I said at the beginning is that these problems are symptoms, that the
underlying problem is a political one. The underlying problem of a
political nature is the failure of the Yugoslav authorities - especially in
the person President Milosevic - to come to grips with the legitimate
political aspirations of the Kosovar Albanians. We do not support
independence for Kosovo. But neither do we support a continuation of the
status quo. If President Milosevic undertook personally responsibility for
reaching out and finding a solution that enhanced the status of the Kosovar
Albanians within the FRY, we believe that these other problems would take
of themselves and the international community can help in that regard.
But nothing good will happen until he takes that fundamental decision to
sit down and negotiate in good faith with the Kosovar Albanian community.
QUESTION: I want to come back to Albania because the statement yesterday
was that the Yugoslav Defense Ministry had made what were called extremely
provocative statements and statements which could be interpreted very
easily as threatening to invade Albania. Now, if statements are made by a
government which has an army in the area and which is on the move and which
is really in major operations, it seems to me that - and you're worried
about Albania's security, it seems to me that you must have something to
say about how to ensure Albania is secure. I haven't heard that yet.
MR. FOLEY: Well, I'm not going to get into the specifics of our private
deliberations on this issue. Obviously, the security of the region is of
concern to the United States and to our European allies. Every since the
contact group meeting in London on March 9, indeed, ever since the outbreak
of repression inside Kosovo by the Yugoslav authorities, people in this
capital and in other Western capitals have been thinking about how to
reinforce the stability and security of the neighboring states. I have
nothing to announce for you at this stage. But it is a matter that
is of concern. Your question is on the mark. We don't see an imminence
of involvement by neighboring states in the conflict. But I think the
remarks that were uttered from this podium yesterday were a shot across the
bow, if you will, and stand for themselves at the moment.
QUESTION: But you don't want to just feed it with rhetoric I'm sure,
because --
MR. FOLEY: Well, I'm not going to get into - I'm not going to answer your
question specifically.
QUESTION: Well, but, I mean, this is not just something that came up
yesterday. The Albanian Government went to NATO weeks ago and asked that
NATO send in observers. NATO rejected that request. So is this now a
subject before NATO? Or is it just to being left --
MR. FOLEY: Secretary General Solana visited Albania following the London
contact group meeting. There are programs of cooperation between NATO and
Albania. The EU, I believe, also has security monitors in the country. I am
not up to date on the latest status of deliberations within NATO on the
subject. But I will continue to steadfastly refuse to be drawn further out
on the question, Roy.
QUESTION: I'm just a bit mystified -
MR. FOLEY: Roy, you can continue - you can continue on it, but I'm not
going to discuss it further.
QUESTION: Well, I know. But you, at the State Department, have made the
point. You've raised the subject. You've said that you're gravely
concerned. You say there are extremely provocative statements being made by
Yugoslavia. I just don't see where the action is - or even the follow-
through to match your own rhetoric. Because the rhetoric raises an
expectation that something - you might be on the verge of something
expanding in a significant way?
MR. FOLEY: We've described what we see is the gravity of the situation.
The central focus of our efforts will come together tomorrow in Rome, where
we hope to put together with our friends and allies in the contact group a
solid package that can help move the parties to negotiation and to a
stabilization of the situation. That's where our focus is right now.
QUESTION: So - isn't this a provocation on the part of - of the KLA - the
Kosovars who are bringing weapons into Kosovo through Albania? Isn't it a
provocation and an excuse for escalation by Milosevic? And isn't that
another component here that you would condemn?
MR. FOLEY: I think I have already answered that. Certainly the contact
group in both of its meetings thus far has - has condemned both repression
by the - on the part of the Belgrade authorities and violent acts on the
part of the KLA - or the UCK. So our position is clear on that issue.
Subsequently, the Security Council, I believe, on March 31st, passed an
arms embargo affecting the FRY, including Kosovo.
QUESTION: Thank you.
MR. FOLEY: Yes. Is this from your telephone call? Arin?
QUESTION: No.
MR. FOLEY: Do you get your calls --
QUESTION: (Inaudible) now what is the - what is the size of the Yugoslav
army and or police force that's now involved in these operations?
MR. FOLEY: I don't have that with me right here at the podium. If I can
get it for you, I will. Arin?
QUESTION: The Chinese have again raised objections to the inclusion of
Greg Craig in the delegation. If they refuse to meet with him, what is that
- what are the implications? And how is the whole Tibet question going to
be framed if they refuse to meet with him?
MR. FOLEY: Well, Arin, I think you won't be stupefied if I - I told you
that it's not our normal practice to comment on subjects that the Secretary
herself is involved in. In the context of regional travel, as you know,
she's going to China tomorrow. I can tell you in a general way that the
United States is deeply concerned about the protection and preservation of
Tibet's unique religious, cultural and linguistic heritage. We made these
concerns known to the Chinese Government regularly and at high levels.
I think the Secretary will be doing so on her visit. Yes.
QUESTION: Is he going? Is Craig going (inaudible)?
MR. FOLEY: He's part of her delegation, yes.
QUESTION: He will be going?
QUESTION: (Inaudible) he was included in the delegation prior to --
MR. FOLEY: I am not aware of that.
QUESTION: But, Jim, there was a report that a Chinese official, I think
in London, told a reporter that the music groups that are involved with
Free Tibet concert are not welcome in China, et cetera. Do you have any
comment?
MR. FOLEY: Well, I can tell you that we are aware of these stories thanks
to ABC News, but we have no additional details ourselves, or confirmation
of the reported Chinese statements. Apparently this was made to a reporter
out of their embassy in London, as I understand it. But we're not aware of
that ourselves. In general, I would note that all countries have the right
to determine whom they will allow entry into their country in conformance
with their laws. But the United States certainly stands for the principle
of the right of persons to express their views in a peaceful manner and to
artistic free expression without fear of penalty. Yes.
QUESTION: Do you have anything on the aid shipment to Iraq involving an
American organization and Americans?
MR. FOLEY: Yes, I do. The administration fully supports Americares
humanitarian efforts, which culminated in the arrival in Baghdad today of
medical supplies for the Iraqi people. Our embassy in Amman worked
especially hard to help Americares complete its mission. This involved - I
think - adjusting on the fly to changes in their travel schedule, the
airplanes they were using, visa issues, and so our embassy in Amman
cooperated fully to help this mission go forward.
In New York our mission at the UN worked closely with Americares also to
ensure that the requirements of UN sanctions procedures were met and,
indeed, they were met. We've certainly made clear that we support
international efforts to assist the Iraqi people. The Americares mission is
another in a series of humanitarian relief efforts that we have actively
supported. These efforts are consistent with those of the administration to
provide humanitarian supplies directly to the Iraqi people and not allow
them to go into the hands of Saddam's regime.
As has been demonstrated by Americares, private efforts can and should be
done in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
QUESTION: This has nothing to do with oil-for-food program?
MR. FOLEY: Not in terms of the oil for food program, which is, of course,
has just been enhanced by Security Council action recently. But any
shipments of this nature have - in terms of humanitarian donations - both
within and without the scope of the oil for food program have to be blessed
by the UN Sanctions Committee.
QUESTION: Why do the Iraqis need this aid? Is it still the position of
the administration that they are essentially blowing their money on palaces
and things like that?
MR. FOLEY: Well, I think the two points are not mutually contradictory.
Yes, the Iraqis are clearly and indisputably spending scarce resources on
the accouterments of power on behalf of the ruling elite. That's, I think,
indisputable. A number of international observers had the chance to observe
that firsthand in the course of the recent inspections of the so-called
presidential palaces and complexes, where they saw opulence on a unprecedented
scale.
At the same time, though, the United States has never challenged the fact
that there are children and elderly and people in need in Iraq. What we
have stressed is that our efforts and the efforts of our partners in the
international community to address those needs directly have been
consistently thwarted by the Iraqi regime ever since the end of the Gulf
War. As I stated yesterday, I think it's an inescapable conclusion that the
Iraqi regime believes that suffering of their people is a card - is a lever
that they can use in order to build world opinion against the sanctions
without themselves engaging in the disarmament that they are mandated to do
under UN Security Council resolutions. I don't think the two points are
contradictory at all.
As I also indicated yesterday, there was an important conference last week
in London. I think a very significant agreement was reached to develop a
program - not merely involving governments - but principally relying on
NGOs and other international organizations to develop a concerted effort to
reach Iraqi children under the age of five in a nationwide immunization
program and other efforts to help in water purification and other
infrastructure requirements there directly related to humanitarian needs in
Iraq.
The open question is whether the government of Iraq is going to cooperate
in that. They have allowed this group Americares into the country to
distribute this aid. That is a good sign. We would like to see it
duplicated in terms of cooperating with all the efforts of the international
community to reach people in need inside Iraq. Betsy.
QUESTION: There have been pictures recently of starving children and
other people in the Sudan. Is there any movement afoot by this government
to help in alleviating their suffering? Is there anything you can
do?
MR. FOLEY: I would have to take the question. I think we can probably get
you an answer if there has been recent developments in that regard. I can
get that for you this afternoon.
QUESTION: Back on the Iranian (inaudible).
MR. FOLEY: Yes.
QUESTION: Did US Government officials play any role in facilitating this
or arranging these two flights?
MR. FOLEY: Well, I think I covered that. First, our mission in the UN in
New York participated in the Sanctions Committee in the process of
approving this aid. Secondly, our embassy in Amman worked concertedly and
vigorously to help effect the travel of the group to Iraq. Yes.
QUESTION: Do you have any comment about the current formation of the
Russian Government and the first nominations which were announced
today?
MR. FOLEY: I have not seen those? I have not seen that they have been
reported in the press. If they have, it was unbeknownst to me before I came
out here.
QUESTION: Did you see the story from Indonesia about this political
leader who was arrested in February and subjected to torture and death
threats and so forth?
MR. FOLEY: Yes, it's a disturbing story. We have seen the press reports
that this Indonesian opposition activist - his name is Pius Lustrilanang -
has made public his allegations that he was abducted by unidentified armed
men and subjected to torture during his captivity. The United States
Government deplores the practice of torture and the practice of disappearances.
We call on the Government of Indonesia to conduct a full investigation
into these serious allegations made by this individual. The United States
Government is also deeply concerned about the numerous other cases of
individuals, many of them opposition activists who allegedly have
disappeared in recent months. We have raised this issue at high levels with
the government of Indonesia and will continue to pursue the matter until
the cases are resolved.
We are encouraged at least by the fact that some of these missing activists
have reappeared, as has this gentleman. We urge the government of Indonesia
to investigate the circumstances under which they disappeared in order to
resolve outstanding cases and especially to hold accountable anyone
involved in abductions or torture.
QUESTION: Final procedural question.
MR. FOLEY: Yes.
QUESTION: Do you know what the plans are for the release of the Terrorism
Annual Report?
MR. FOLEY: It will happen on Thursday. I think you will have to check
with the Press Office in terms of the timing and the logistics, and I
expect we'll also have a background briefing some time that day on the
subject. Thank you.
(The briefing was concluded at 1:40 p.m.)
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