U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing #120, 98-11-02
From: The Department of State Foreign Affairs Network (DOSFAN) at <http://www.state.gov>
749
U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
I N D E X
Monday, November 2, 1998
Briefer: JAMES P. RUBIN
IRAQ
1 US regards announcement as a very serious matter; UN
Security Council condemned it.
1 All options remain on the table; Secretary has contacted
other UNSC foreign ministers.
2,3 UNSC to meet informally today, tomorrow, on this flagrant
violation.
4 Based on announcement, postures of UNSCOM and IAEA missions
have been adjusted.
4 Saddam Hussein has defied the will of the international
community since August.
5 US has no present evidence that Iraq is reconstituting its
weapons of mass destruction.
5 UN's "oil-for-food" program is continuing, unaffected by
this latest crisis.
6 US believes it needs no further UNSC authority to act, if
necessary.
MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
7,8 Secretary Albright spoke to PM Netanyahu a short time ago.
7,8 US does not think Wye schedule is going to be delayed.
9 Hamas and Hezbollah have made outrageous, condemnable
statements.
9 US thinks Chairman Arafat's determination to go forward is
courageous.
10 US seeks further information on housing plans on Israeli
side.
10 Both sides must understand that actions, statements can
undermine confidence.
11 Final status negotiations are expected to begin this week.
12 From US perspective, Wye agreement enters into force today.
BOSNIA
14 Cody Shearer did not engage in any negotiation on behalf of
the US Government at any time.
RUSSIA
14 US has no evidence President Yeltsin has taken any steps to
change constitution.
14 Prime Minister Primakov has full authority to move forward
on economic issues.
14,15 US wishes President Yeltsin a speedy recovery from his
health problems.
15 A US team is in Russia, discussing size, conditions of
possible US food assistance.
CENTRAL AMERICA
15 Disasters declared in several countries; a monitoring group
has been established here.
15 First airlifts of US supplies reached Honduras October 31,
second on November 1..
FRY/KOSOVO
16 Assistant Secretary Julia Taft judged humanitarian
situation in Kosovo to have improved.
16 Return of internally displaced persons has
accelerated. Food convoys have been getting in.
16 Over 200 verifiers are in Kosovo now.
16 On October 30, NATO approved activation order for the air
verification regime.
16,17 Some KLA have moved into areas vacated by Serb police.
17 Humanitarian situation has greatly eased; problems remain,
but trends are in right direction.
17 We've made clear to KLA not to initiate hostilities.
17 There have been no significant violations of the cease-fire.
MALAYSIA
18 Trial of Anwar Ibrahim should be fair and open; US will
monitor proceedings.
18-19 Entrance to courtroom was denied to US diplomatic observer,
who was second in line.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
DPB #120
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1998 12:45 P.M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
MR. RUBIN: Greetings. Welcome to the State Department briefing here on
Monday. I have no announcements for you. So let me go right to your
questions. Sid Balman, from the United Press International.
QUESTION: Well, why don't we start with Iraq? What about you choosing the
time and place for confrontation?
MR. RUBIN: Let me bring you up to date on the facts first and then
address the question directly. My podium seems a little lower here, but
we'll work on that.
Over the weekend Iraq announced it would prevent the UN Special Commission
from conducting any further activities, including monitoring inside Iraq.
The decision does not appear to pertain to monitoring of designated sites
by the International Atomic Energy Agency, nor has Iraq expressed an intent
to expel UNSCOM personnel. The Council issued a statement unanimously
condemning the decision over the weekend, and we expect them be discussing
the matter in informal discussions at the bilateral and multilateral level
today and tomorrow.
A normal complement of roughly 120 inspectors remains in Iraq. There are no
plans to withdraw UNSCOM inspectors at this point. We understand that one
technical team has gone out to maintain monitoring equipment and IAEA teams
have visited sites for a second consecutive day. With respect to your
question on the use of force, let me say that we regard this as a very
serious matter. Iraq has confronted the international community with an
escalation by refusing to cooperate. It flies in the face of the offer the
Council made on Friday to allow for a comprehensive review if, and only if,
Iraq returns into compliance. This flouting of the Security Council and the
international community and the world was unanimously condemned, and I
think the Council acted with great speed and great clarity in making clear
that this is a flagrant violation of the Security Council's decisions.
The Secretary is reviewing all options with the President. All options
remain on the table and all options means all options. With respect to next
steps, let me say the Secretary has been in consultation with some of her
colleagues over the weekend and today. I believe she has spoken this
morning with Foreign Minister Ivanov of Russia; yesterday with Foreign
Minister Vedrine of France; and yesterday with Foreign Minister Cook, UN
Secretary General Kofi
Annan and Foreign Minister Lampreia of Brazil. So, we are in an intensive
consultative mode consulting about Iraq's failure to comply with previous
resolutions and its escalation of this confrontation by its most recent
decisions. That's where we are as far as the use of force.
I think I have addressed it as best as I can.
QUESTION: There was a suggestion--I forget by who--over the weekend that
this was really something for Kofi Annan to deal with since after all it
was sort of his agreement. Is that a torch you all care to--
MR. RUBIN_: Well, obviously we would be pleased if Saddam Hussein were to
respond to such an entreaty by the Secretary General but it looks like it
is a little bit beyond that at this time. Right now we are in a situation
where the Council is going to be meeting today informally in bilateral
discussions--and tomorrow, and we understand that some delegations are
considering a resolution which we would be happy to take a look at. So, I
think the next step is clearly for the Council to make clear that this is
unacceptable and that this decision is in flagrant violation of the
requirements of the Security Council. Secretary Albright is going to be
consulting with her colleagues about that.
Furthermore, I think it is also clear that Saddam Hussein has tried and
failed to divide the international community. Even Saddam Hussein's
erstwhile friends are left speechless in trying to defend the indefensible.
So, that is where we are and its a matter that is being dealt with at the
White House today and Secretary Albright is going to be consulting with her
colleagues in addition to the ones she has already consulted with.
QUESTION: I think it was Secretary Cohen who said, you know, this
violates the agreement--Kofi Annan's?
MR. RUBIN: It certainly does.
QUESTION: His reputation is on--he's crossed.
MR. RUBIN: I know.
QUESTION: You agree he has crossed Kofi Annan, hasn't he?
MR. RUBIN: Absolutely.
QUESTION: Jamie, this has come up so many, many times. You know, like you
couldn't read Milosevic's mind. And I don't know that anybody can read
Saddam Hussein's mind.
MR. RUBIN: Or want to.
QUESTION: Well, I don't know you know the phrase "cry wolf" comes to
mind. Not that I am saying you folks are crying wolf, but he has been
threatened so many times. How do you drive home that at this time, you know,
you folks really mean it? What about the old unilateral option? Apparently,
you don't think that is necessary that whatever will be done will be done
in an allied way?
MR. RUBIN: When I said that all options remain open that includes the
option that you mentioned. So all options means all options. And all
options are on the table.
With respect to bringing this home to Saddam Hussein, I think he severely
miscalculated. In Secretary Albright's conversations with her colleagues
her impression was that this was one of the more uniform responses from
colleagues that she consulted with in saying that Iraq's action was
inexplicable and unacceptable. So, I think they may have imagined that
there would be more support than there is. But as I said even their
erstwhile friends are left speechless in trying to defend the indefensible.
QUESTION: Did anybody--the Russians, particularly--suggest or the
French that maybe they will run their own--make their own diplomatic
effort.
MR. RUBIN: No--not so far.
QUESTION: There's no awareness of that.
QUESTION: Can we assume that since she spoke with Vedrine and Ivanov and
you're now--you're saying that in her consultations, the uniform
response was that Iraq's actions are inexplicable and unacceptable?
MR. RUBIN: Right.
QUESTION: Can we make the leap that that is what the Russians and the
French said to her, as well?
MR. RUBIN: Again, I would not be in a position to comment on any specific
conversation with a specific foreign minister. I have given you the list of
people she has talked to. I have given you a general flavor as to what the
responses were.
QUESTION: Does the still delicate state of the Middle East peace process
and the aftermath of Wye--
MR. RUBIN_: We are done with Iraq?
QUESTION: No, no. It bears on that.
MR. RUBIN: I see. This was a lead-in.
QUESTION: Does this complicate--does it complicate your--
MR. RUBIN_: On the contrary?
QUESTION: All right, I have another Iraq. But other people have
questions.
MR. RUBIN: Yes.
QUESTION: Did you see any gap between what the Iraqi's are saying in
public and what they are enforcing on the ground in respect to the UN
inspections? And if so, how do you interpret that?
MR. RUBIN: Well, as I indicated at the outset that there were one of the
cameras was allowed to be serviced by UNSCOM and IAEA people were allowed
to visit two locations, I believe. Let me check that precisely. IAEA teams
have visited sites for a second consecutive day, both of which are
consistent with what they have said publicly.
As I indicated at the outset, what they have said publicly is that they
would prevent the UN Special Commission from conducting any further
activities, including monitoring inside Iraq. It does not appear to pertain
to monitoring of designated sites by the IAEA, nor has Iraq expressed an
intent to expel UNSCOM personnel. With the one exception of the adjustment
of that one camera, they have made clear that they are not going to
cooperate and UNSCOM has not sent its people home but they have not been
expelled either.
QUESTION: Can I ask that another way around? Just to find out if the
Iraqis have one anything which would show that they are intending to carry
out this threat? I mean, they've spoken about what they're going to
do.
MR. RUBIN: Right.
QUESTION: But has anything happened? Any sort of confrontation happened
that would suggest--
MR. RUBIN_: I'm not aware of one. I think the posture of the IAEA and
UNSCOM has been adjusted based on this announcement. When Saddam Hussein's
Revolutionary Command Council and Saddam Hussein himself make these kind of
statements, there are certain consequences. In a dictatorship like Iraq,
one has every reason to assume that if UNSCOM inspectors try to act in such
a way to contravene the statements of Iraq, that it wouldn't be
allowed. So, I will have to check with UNSCOM to see what they've
tested. But let's be clear, starting in August, and now with its escalation
today, Saddam Hussein is defying the will of the international community,
and the international community is making increasingly clear that these
actions--especially this escalatory action is unacceptable.
QUESTION: You've mentioned that Saddam has defied the will now since
August. How long--at what point does sort of this continuing intransigence
affect his ability to reconstitute any weapons of mass destruction programs
that he may have or have had?
MR. RUBIN: If we determined that he is reconstituting his weapons of mass
destruction programs, we would act. We have no evidence of that at the
present time. But let me be clear. This is a very serious matter. We're
handling it seriously, and we're acting with all deliberate speed.
QUESTION: What do you mean by act?
MR. RUBIN: I don't want to be more specific than that.
QUESTION: Is it possible to determine if he's reconstituting his weapons
of mass destruction without having inspectors on site able--going
through the various buildings and locations?
MR. RUBIN: Yes, with a reasonable degree of confidence.
QUESTION: Is the Food For Peace Program (sic) continuing normally?
MR. RUBIN: Oil For Food.
QUESTION: Oil For Food, whatever.
MR. RUBIN: Food For Peace is somewhere else.
QUESTION: Is that continuing normally.
MR. RUBIN: Sorry, the commentary flowing from your question made me
unable to hear the last--
QUESTION_: Sorry. Seeds of Peace.
MR. RUBIN: --part of the question. Okay.
QUESTION: Oil For Peace.
MR. RUBIN: Can we now go back to the question? Thank you.
QUESTION: Is the program that feeds the Iraqis--continuing?
MR. RUBIN: Yes, it's continuing. This has no effect on that. Let's bear
in mind the U.S. and the British and others set up this program precisely
because we have every reason to believe Iraq is not going to comply with
the UN Security Council resolutions because we care about the Iraqi people.
So billions of dollars of food and medicine have gone to the Iraqi people
as a result of a program started by the United States and pushed by the
United States, and that is irrespective of his noncompliance on the weapons
of mass destruction side.
QUESTION: Can you cite anything--or what evidence do you have, or
we'll even take your word for it, if she got it on the phone, that the Arab
countries, some of whom you may need militarily, share the despair or the
attitude of the U.S. and the British?
MR. RUBIN: Well, the reports that we're receiving are that there is
unanimity in the world that this is unacceptable. In the Arab world it's
very clear to us from some of our key friends there that they regard this
as totally unacceptable. I wouldn't purport to speak for each one of them.
But generally speaking, the general reaction has been that this is
unacceptable.
QUESTION: Do they find it so unacceptable they would cooperate in
military operations?
MR. RUBIN: That's getting too far ahead of the game for me to address.
QUESTION: You said that some delegations to the United Nations were
preparing resolutions. Why is the United States not doing that? Why are you
not taking the lead on this?
MR. RUBIN: Well, that's a technical detail. For a variety of reasons, we
often let others prepare a resolution. As you know, we don't believe we
need authority from the Security Council to act any further. Let me
rephrase that for clarity. We don't believe we need any further authority
to act. Others may have a different view.
QUESTION: Would you urge the Security Council to adopt a new goal, which
is perhaps the old goal, of complete compliance and access to all sites in
Iraq instead of merely restoring the monitoring?
MR. RUBIN: We will seek--and the Security Council resolutions, we
hope, will make clear that Iraq doesn't get to decide where and when and
with whom UNSCOM and the UN does its inspections. It's up to the UN experts
to decide where to go when to go and with whom to go. That should be very
clear from our past positions. We would certainly be supportive of any
effort to further clarify that, but I don't think there's a lot of doubt
about it.
QUESTION: But, Jamie, then long-term monitoring and IAEA inspections
would not satisfy the United States?
MR. RUBIN: We've said since August that it's unsatisfactory, the
situation in which the inspections weren't permitted. So that's--there's
nothing new about that.
QUESTION: So there wouldn't be an alternative that might?
MR. RUBIN: There's nothing new about that position. It's been our
position since August--since the beginning of UNSCOM.
QUESTION: I know. But now this--seems to be more noise about the
long--you say the long-term monitor--and the cameras are still on
and they're still allowing the IAEA to come in. This looks like that may be
where it's--
MR. RUBIN_: You're looking for me to presage choices. I'm not going to do
that. All of them are unacceptable. I have made certain statements about
what would happen if there were reconstitution. But with respect to
monitoring, inspections, challenge inspections of normal sites, challenge
inspections of sensitive sites, challenge inspections of presidential sites,
our position remains unchanged: UNSCOM should be able to go where it needs
to go to do its job.
QUESTION: Middle East?
MR. RUBIN: Well, one more on this.
QUESTION: Jamie, how would you respond to reports out of Baghdad today
that officials are saying that Iraq can withstand a U.S. attack, and then
the vice president was quoted as saying that, you know, they're not afraid
of these threats from the U.S. because we've been making them for the past
eight years?
MR. RUBIN: I think the Iraqi history includes statements saying that they
were going to win the Gulf War. So we don't take those very seriously.
QUESTION: How does the State Department feel about the Wye schedule being
thrown off? And there was an American delegation due to go, are they still
going? Are they delayed simply?
MR. RUBIN: Secretary Albright spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu in the
last couple of hours. We do not think the schedule is going to be thrown
off. The legal-political process is one the Israelis are going to need to
work through, including a cabinet vote, and including a vote in the
Knesset. As a result of her phone call with Prime Minister Netanyahu, she
believes the Israeli leader is committed to moving forward with the Wye
agreement as signed and whatever technical legal-political issues arise, we
expect and anticipate that each side will have the necessary time to
complete its responsibilities pursuant to the time line of the Wye
agreement. What was your second question?
QUESTION: The group--the delegation?
MR. RUBIN: Ambassador Ross and his deputy, Aaron Miller, I would expect
to have a revolving presence in the Middle East during the course of
implementation. I believe Ambassador Ross is expected to leave this week.
The exact date may be as early as tomorrow, it hasn't been finally
decided.
QUESTION: There was a notion last Friday that Indyk would be in the group
and that he would, at some point, go to Damascus and test those waters
out.
MR. RUBIN: I'll have to check with Assistant Secretary Indyk with respect
to his schedule.
QUESTION: Okay.
MR. RUBIN: Tom.
QUESTION: New subject.
QUESTION: Assistant Secretary Indyk is not now planning to go with this
group?
MR. RUBIN: I said I was going to check with his schedule.
QUESTION: Okay, but it seems like there has been--I mean, it would
seem pretty--seemed fairly firm to an observer that it was pretty well
set.
MR. RUBIN: I just don't know his schedule. I'll have to get it for
you.
QUESTION: You know, on the schedule I'm a little--I mean, you mean in
substance it's not going to be thrown off, I take it.
MR. RUBIN: I haven't heard of any substantive change in plan with respect
to our consultations with countries in the region.
QUESTION: No, I don't--
MR. RUBIN_: I just don't have his schedule.
QUESTION: No, I don't mean the Ross thing. I'm talking about the larger
picture of following through on Wye. The commitment made--you say the
commitment is there. Nobody is questioning that the commitment has changed.
It's just things have happened on the ground that may delay the implementation.
You know, you can see that.
MR. RUBIN: Well, what?
QUESTION: Threats against Arafat's life, for instance?
MR. RUBIN: No, we don't see that.
QUESTION: Knesset approval?
MR. RUBIN: I said that Secretary Albright had a discussion with Prime
Minister Netanyahu about the political-legal process the Israelis need to
go through, including a vote in the cabinet and a vote in the Knesset. As a
result of those conversations, we have no reason to think that the schedule
laid out in the Wye memorandum need be delayed.
QUESTION: Have you heard any new threats, for instance, from Hezbollah?
Against Arafat?
MR. RUBIN: I've seen a lot of threats against--from Hezbollah and
Hamas--reports of such threats. Let me say very clearly, I think that
the enemies of peace, the extremists, the killers of children and women and
innocents will continue to fight the process of peace that courageous
leaders from the Palestinian side and the Israeli side are pursuing. We
have seen extremists on both sides say things with respect to Hamas and
Hezbollah. They have obviously made some outrageous and condemnable
statements. We would have condemned their actions in the past. We, again,
point up to the fact that Chairman Arafat has made a courageous decision,
that serious efforts are being made to crack down on terrorists, the
necessary plans were provided on time, prior to entry into force, and
clearly the Palestinian Authority's efforts to implement this agreement are
generating the kind of extremist hostility that some have long predicted.
Nevertheless, the Chairman, despite these threats appears ready, willing,
and able to follow through with his commitments. We certainly applaud that
courage.
QUESTION: This plan is in both American and Israeli hands. Today was
the--I guess, the day that?
MR. RUBIN: I can't be specific as to whose hands it is in. The committee
that deals with this is a bilateral committee between the U.S. and the
Palestinians.
QUESTION: But the plan has been delivered--an action plan?
MR. RUBIN: Those things that needed to be done prior to entry into force
have been done. There are modifications and adjustments and expansions and
details that get filled out if you look at the timetable after entry into
force. There's certain things that need to be done upon entry into force,
and they have been done.
QUESTION: You don't seem to want to be specific, but there was a lot of
attention on one major thing--the plan of action?
MR. RUBIN: Right and that's happened.
QUESTION: That's happened, okay.
MR. RUBIN: Yes.
QUESTION: This plan of action you talk about--I'm a little unclear--I'm
sort of under the impression it's--is it a piece of paper, a binder? Is it
more of a--a committee meeting?
MR. RUBIN: I think those are details that security people will work on,
and there is no need to make it public.
QUESTION: Okay, but is this something that literally had to be given--or
is it--is it a meeting or?
MR. RUBIN: I am not going to be more specific than that. What they needed
to do prior to the entry into force has been done.
QUESTION: Well, what--what they needed to do was begin cracking down
on?
MR. RUBIN: No, it specifically says in the agreement--and I'll be
happy to read you that section--if you would like me to do that--is
upon entry into force--"this Palestinian security work plan shared with
the U.S. pursuant to section 2A.1B," which refers to the Palestinian-
American committee that works on this.
QUESTION: That's--that plan has been shared, that's what you're
saying?
MR. RUBIN: I think I've said that, yes. I don't know how to be more clear
about it.
QUESTION: But you used to the word shared, yes?
MR. RUBIN: I've said as much as I can on this.
QUESTION: The groundbreaking on new houses at Kiryat--(inaudible),
obviously you opposed them. But is this a violation on the ban of
unilateral actions?
MR. RUBIN: Well, with respect to that issue, we are seeking further
information about it. Let me be very clear that the--Section 4 of the
agreement states that the two sides will immediately resume permanent
status negotiations on an accelerated basis, then it continues, Section
5:
"Recognizing the necessity to create a positive environment for those
negotiations, neither side shall initiate or take any step that will change
the status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in accordance with the
interim agreement."
In our view, we would not want to see unilateral actions of this kind
taken. But we are seeking additional information. With respect to Ras al-
Amoud, which has come up in the same context, the Israelis have assured us
that there will be no building there.
More generally, let me say that if we go back to business as usual, that
means undermining the confidence that has been created at Wye, we will be
out of business. So it's very important in the coming weeks on both sides
for both sides to understand that their actions and statements can
undermine the very confidence that we have put back on track through the
Wye River process and the agreement that resulted from it. If we go back to
business as usual in these areas, we will be out of business.
QUESTION: You said your seeking further information that?
MR. RUBIN: Right.
QUESTION: What--I mean, what's the problem there? As far as I know
there's no secret about the fact that this groundbreaking ceremony took
place on 200--
MR. RUBIN_: Right, the specific nature of it is maybe no secret to you. But
before we make pronouncements on subjects of this type, we like to get all
our facts together. We have not done that yet.
QUESTION: So you're not saying then that this would be an example of
going back to business as usual?
MR. RUBIN: I specifically pre--pre-somethinged that sentence with the
phrase "in general." What would the pre be?
QUESTION: Prefaced?
MR. RUBIN: Prefaced. (Laughter). Thank you. Prefaced.
QUESTION: Jamie, did the Secretary talk to the Prime Minister about that
housing at Kiryat-Arba?
MR. RUBIN: She did discuss the issues that are of now concern to us,
including the implementation and other subjects that were just discussed.
QUESTION: Final status negotiations.
MR. RUBIN: Expected to begin this week. My understanding is they will
occur without the presence of the United States. They will be bilateral.
But we'll have to see if the timing for that, the language of the agreement
is the two sides will immediately resume permanent status negotiations with
the goal--and make a determined effort to achieve the mutual goal of
reaching an agreement by May the 4th, and we do expect that to happen.
QUESTION: When?
MR. RUBIN: I don't have--it's between the Palestinians and the
Israelis. It would be unlikely and not with American participation for us
to announce the location or venue for such discussions.
QUESTION: High-level?
MR. RUBIN: Don't know yet. I wouldn't expect them to start at a high
level, though.
QUESTION: Can you be any more specific as to the dates?
MR. RUBIN: Of what?
QUESTION: Of the start of those talks?
MR. RUBIN: No.
QUESTION: I'm just curious, do you expect to be seeing Minister Sharon
here in the next few weeks with a--being to referred to as 20-year plan
for finishing final status talks?
MR. RUBIN: Well, I don't know what the topics would be. I do expect him
to see--Secretary Albright has had many conversations with the new
foreign minister of Israel. If he's in the United States, I would expect
them to meet--not every time. But I would expect them to have a meeting,
the extent to which the meeting will cover the issue you mentioned, I
wouldn't want to presume in advance.
QUESTION: That would be the near-term?
MR. RUBIN: Near-term, yes--days, weeks.
QUESTION: What is the next step now that the U.S. has this security work
plan? Does it--what is supposed to happen? Is it supposed to then go on
to this trilateral committee? And what is the timetable for that?
MR. RUBIN: Well, pursuant to the agreement, which I hope to memorize
shortly so that I don't have to keep going to it, upon entry into force,
the Palestinian security work plan is shared with the U.S., full bilateral
security cooperation resumes, trilateral security cooperation committee
starts, and entry into force week two, the security work plan implementation
begins. The committees will have started by then. An illegal weapons
framework is in place. An implementation report will be in place. So if you
go through the timeline and the agreement, it's spelled out.
Week two--as I understand week two--and if I make a technical error
here, please forgive me, is the second week after the entry into force.
QUESTION: And it's entered into force this week?
MR. RUBIN: Today.
QUESTION: Today.
MR. RUBIN: So that would mean two weeks.
QUESTION: Two weeks from today.
MR. RUBIN: Within two weeks. I think the--week two. Some may get
focused whether it is the beginning of the week or end of the week, so let
me just focus on week two.
QUESTION: So the agreement enters into force even though Israel--the
Israeli Government hasn't approved it?
MR. RUBIN: From our standpoint, it does. Of course we recognize that
there are legal-political issues that need to be resolved, but we don't see
any reason those issues need--we don't anticipate them changing either
side's fulfilling of its responsibilities. It's also quite clear that
Chairman Arafat and Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke to this. Neither of them
expressed concern that this issue was going to derail the memorandum, as
far as I can tell.
QUESTION: Do you feel a little blind-sided by this second approval that
Netanyahu has brought up with the Knesset?
MR. RUBIN: It is based on--as a nation of laws and a democratic
nation, we understand the differences between the issues that arise in
democratic countries based on the rule of law which sometimes include
details like this.
QUESTION: Did it ever come up, though?
MR. RUBIN: Every issue came up at least once. I can assure you. We had
plenty of time to talk about everything. The extent to which this was
discussed I don't know.
QUESTION: Is there anything that the Israelis have to do in the next week
which they may not be able to do because the Knesset has not approved?
MR. RUBIN: No.
QUESTION: Another--go ahead.
QUESTION: Are you on this subject or a new subject?
QUESTION: New subject.
MR. RUBIN: My understanding is, as I indicated, that based on the
schedule of a cabinet meeting shortly and a Knesset vote shortly thereafter
and the timetable in the Wye memorandum, there is nothing standing in the
way of the timetable being implemented and both sides fulfilling their
responsibilities on schedule.
QUESTION: Thursday--the Israelis--prime minister's office said
Thursday is when the Knesset will take it up, so that is still--
MR. RUBIN_: Within the time frame I just stated, but I wouldn't want to
tell you when another government is going to have a vote--other than to
say that based on our understanding of their timetable for approval in the
Knesset, approval in the Cabinet, that we anticipate the responsibilities
of both sides being fulfilled pursuant to the timeline in the agreement.
QUESTION: I want to ask a couple of questions about the diplomatic career
of Cody Shearer. Did the events happened as recounted in this morning's
Washington Times? Did the State Department cut these contacts off? What
impact, if any, did they have on Ambassador Gelbard's mission? And is this
case closed?
MR. RUBIN: I am going to have to get someone who is involved in this
rather low-level incident to respond in detail to your question. Let me say
from this podium that Cody Shearer did not engage in any official or
unofficial negotiations on behalf of the U.S. Government at any time. With
respect to what he did do and what steps were taken about it, I would
rather refer you to those involved. But I certainly can say that he did not
engage in any official or unofficial negotiations on behalf of the U.S.
Government at any time. What he did do and what he stopped doing and all
that I would like to get someone who is involved in it to talk to you
directly.
QUESTION: Primakov and Yeltsin. I think it has been reported--and I
think reliably--that Mr. Yeltsin is now incapable of functioning
effectively as president for even an hour or two a day, so essentially Mr.
Primakov has taken over for as long as three months, I understand. Is that
the understanding of the United States?
MR. RUBIN: You and I are obviously not reading the same reports.
QUESTION: Okay. What does the United States understand about Mr.
Yeltsin's health? And has Mr. Primakov, in fact, become the de facto vice
president of Russia?
MR. RUBIN: I don't want to make, you know, statements about who is a de
facto what in another government. But let me say this, we have seen press
reports indicating that President Yeltsin may consider steps leading to
changes to the Russian constitution which might alter the structure of the
Russian Government. We do not have any evidence that President Yeltsin has
actually taken any steps at this time. With respect to his health, on
October 26, President Yeltsin canceled the planned trip to Austria for
health reasons. His spokesman said that doctors advised against travel and
that the Russian president needs more to recover. We understand President
Yeltsin is now in a Moscow sanitorium. We wish President Yeltsin a speedy
recovery.
Prime Minister Primakov has a full mandate to move forward on economic
policy. We do not believe this development will or should get in the way of
the economic decisions that are going on there to put Russia back on a
firmer financial footing. President Yeltsin remains Russia's popularly
elected President, and we will continue to work with him on that basis.
QUESTION: Do you think, though, this man--Mr. Yeltsin is able to
work. Is that your reading?
MR. RUBIN: Contacts the United States has had with President Yeltsin in
various meetings, the accounts have been made quite public of the extent to
which the President and others have felt able to... (break)... He went to
Sochi. So, please that is old information about him being in a Moscow
sanitorium. In previous interactions people have found him an able
interlocutor on top of the subjects that needed to be discussed.
QUESTION: Just finally.
MR. RUBIN: Yes.
QUESTION: It is also reported that he is having heart spasms--they
call it--and is in great pain and distress and is--his attention is
rather diverted to his health. Do you have any comment or conformation on
this?
MR. RUBIN: Clearly being in the sanitorium and now in Sochi, the health
is an issue, and we wish him a speedy recovery. I don't care to comment. I
am not a doctor, and we are not doctors on the specific nature of any of
his specific illnesses.
QUESTION: Did the team that was there from USAID and USDA, did they
actually come to an agreement on food aid, or the Russian requests for food
aid?
MR. RUBIN: Hot off the presses. In response to a formal Russian
Government request, a team from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the
State Department has been in Moscow since last Thursday discussing possible
U.S. assistance with food procurement. This team's discussions with Russian
officials continued over the weekend. The two sides are discussing the size
of possible food procurement assistance and the conditions under which it
would be offered. Pending further communication with our team in Moscow we
have made no final decisions on possible assistance.
QUESTION: The situation in Central America ....
MR. RUBIN: Just one second, any more on Russia?
QUESTION: The situation in Central America is devastating. Do you have
anything on that?
MR. RUBIN: Our Ambassadors in Honduras, Belize, Nicaragua, El Salvador
and Guatemala have declared a disaster in each of these countries. We have
a monitoring group in the State Department that have been working on
this.
The Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance has provided more than a million
dollars for the funding of the U.S. Department of Defense fixed-wing and
helicopter aircraft to assist with delivery of relief supplies including
food, simple cooking stoves, blankets, and medical supplies and for local
private voluntary organizations for the purchase and delivery of local
relief supplies.
The Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance will provide rolls of plastic
sheeting, 10,000-liter water bladders and thousands of five-gallon jugs of
potable water. The first airlift carrying relief supplies arrived in
Honduras on October 31st and the second on November the 1st. Three
additional airlifts will deliver supplies today and tomorrow. Additional
emergency relief efforts will be considered by the Office of Foreign
Disaster Assistance once assessments of needs are completed.
We have sent personnel to each of the countries to assist with coordination
of arrival and distribution of relief supplies. The Southern Command of the
United States is deploying CH-47 and UH-60 helicopters as well as C-130
aircraft to the region. With respect to specific amounts, and where they
are going and how much has been delivered, I recommend you speak to the
Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, or the military airlift, to contact
the Department of Defense.
QUESTION: New subject?
MR. RUBIN: Yes.
QUESTION: What is the latest on the Yugoslav Army and Special Forces pull
out from Kosovo?
MR. RUBIN: Let me say that Assistant Secretary Julia Taft assessed the
humanitarian situation in Kosovo this weekend, met with some of the
humanitarian folks there. She reported that the humanitarian situation has
improved since her visit in August. She highlighted our commitment to help
Kosovars return and rebuild their lives. Today, she is meeting with
Montenegrin officials to express support and appreciation for Montenegro's
continued humanitarian efforts.
With respect to returns, our reports from monitors in the region is that
the return of internally displaced persons is accelerating. At one
particular camp which previously housed 3,000 or 4,000 IDPs--it looks
like all the residents of that camp at Kisna Reka, have returned to their
homes in Komorane. The number of shelterless IDPs has also dropped
significantly. Food convoys have been getting in.
With respect to the military side, there were no significant violations of
the cease-fire or incidents of ethnically motivated violence reported over
the weekend or this morning. Seventy-four Americans arrived in Belgrade
Saturday to join the monitoring effort to verify compliance with the
conditions of Resolution 1199. This should raise the number of persons,
including Russian and other Europeans attached to and working on verification
to over 200 people. Ambassador Walker, whom some of you met last week,
departs for Europe this evening. NATO approved on Friday the activation
order for the air verification regime, and U.S. air surveillance flights,
as you know, both manned and unmanned began on October the 17th. Ambassador
Hill is in Belgrade today, meeting with President Milutinovic of the
Serbian Federation. He plans to be in Pristina very soon.
With respect to the KLA, there are some KLA personnel that are in areas
where the Serb police have drawn back. For the most part there has been
cooperation on the part of the UCK with the necessary cease-fire and
withdrawal of Serbian forces. We hope this restraint will continue. As far
as the actual bean count of the forces, I don't think anything has changed
since last week, which was a time when we were giving out certain
numbers.
QUESTION: Any more general figures on the number of IDPs that there still
are within Kosovo. Do you think that the humanitarian crisis or the danger
of such a crisis is over now?
MR. RUBIN: Certainly, the humanitarian situation has greatly eased. The
prospect of a humanitarian catastrophe has been avoided. There are still
problems. But Assistant Secretary Taft is there trying to assess what
remains to be done. Clearly, people are returning to their homes, and this
great danger of tens--if not hundreds--of thousands of people
without shelter in the winter and without food has been averted through the
work of NATO and the United States. That is where it stands now. We can't
rule that the problem is going to resume. But right now the trends are in
the right direction.
QUESTION: Is the KLA not supposed to be taking up the positions abandoned
by the Serbian forces?
MR. RUBIN: I didn't say that. I said there's no agreement between the
United States and the KLA on that. What I indicated in previous comments on
the subject was that we recognized that there is going to be some of that
going on. That's a reality of Kosovo. Until we get a political solution to
the problem in Kosovo, there is going to be this kind of territorial
control back and forth going on. We don't think that the people of Kosovo
without the Serbs there need a police force or need a KLA force to come in
and start provocations. Both sides must--and we have made this very
clear to the KLA--not initiate military hostilities.
With respect to the Serb response to that, let me just repeat what I've
said in the past which is that we think we will be able to
distinguish--especially as the numbers or verifiers grow--between a Serb
self- defense response to a provocation and a Serb wholesale attack on
civilians as a result of relatively minor incidents. That's where we are
going to have to draw the line, unless and until we get a political
settlement.
QUESTION: There were reports that the Serbian Kosovars--the minority--the
10 percent minority are quite frightened, afraid of their Albanian Kosovar
counterparts and the KLA. And you're saying that there have been no attacks
so far--no incidents of the KLA or for that matter the majority?
MR. RUBIN: I can't rule out an incident here or there. But I think that
generally speaking there has been no significant violations of the cease-
fire.
QUESTION: And the KLA then is keeping the cease-fire?
MR. RUBIN: Yes.
QUESTION: The trial of the deputy prime minister of Malaysia began today.
Could you give any comment on that, especially given the fact that the
President of the United States is getting ready to go there with a number
of other world leaders?
MR. RUBIN: Well, let me start on the second part. There is a pattern
around the world where there are meetings that are scheduled on a certain
basis. One doesn't cancel a meeting because of the policies and practices
of the host country. But I think we have made clear that we are not going
to be having bilateral discussions with the Malaysians while we are there.
We are there for the meeting of APEC and not as part of any bilateral
support for what's going on there. We have serious concerns about what's
going on there.
With respect to the trial, let me say it's the first day of a trial that
could run for several weeks. It was largely focused on procedural matters.
We note the attorney general's statement that trials--that is the
Malaysian attorney general--on the remaining six charges will begin in
December and run through June, 1999. In addition, Anwar will face further
unspecified charges of misconduct at a time yet to be determined. We
believe that Anwar should have the opportunity to defend himself in fair
and open trials, and we will continue to monitor these proceedings.
We certainly see no reason why diplomats and journalists who have complied
with the court-stated procedures for entering the courtroom should be
arbitrarily prevented from doing so. We want to see this trial be as fair
and open as possible.
QUESTION: Was it an American diplomat barred from the courtroom?
MR. RUBIN: The chief justice had also announced that seating within the
courtroom would be open to all spectators on a first-come, first-serve
basis. Based on this information, U.S. and other diplomats and local and
international journalists began lining up outside the courtroom early in
the morning. At least six diplomats, including the U.S. embassy representative,
who was second in line, were prevented by bailiffs from entering the court.
While some international journalists were allowed in, several others were
denied entry.
We believe that given the enormous interest in this trial, it is in
Malaysia's interest to follow the policy announced by the high court and
allow spectators to observe the trial on a--first-come, first-serve
basis, including representatives of international and local organizations,
as well as diplomats.
QUESTION: So just--I guess you were as clear as could be, the U.S.
representative was second in line and he was not allowed--he or she--
MR. RUBIN_: Correct.
_QUESTION: --was barred from the courtroom?
MR. RUBIN: Correct.
QUESTION: Thank you. With no apparent explanation?
MR. RUBIN: Correct.
QUESTION: Has there--was there a protest of some kind?
MR. RUBIN: I'll have to check.
(The briefing concluded at 1:30 P.M.)
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