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U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing #27, 99-03-05

U.S. State Department: Daily Press Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Department of State Foreign Affairs Network (DOSFAN) at <http://www.state.gov>


630

U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing

I N D E X

Friday, March 5, 1999

Briefer: Lee Mcclenny

ANNOUNCEMENT
1		Senior State Department official will brief on background
		  today on Dayton Accords

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT'S TRAVEL 2 Secretary Albright has left Indonesia on her way to London. 2 Secretary will meet with ex-Sen. Dole in London.

KOSOVO 3 US stands by Sen. Dole's comments on optimism for Kosovar Albanian acceptance of the Rambouillet accords 4 Visa issue is now essentially moot. 5 Nothing to announce on Kosovar Albanian visit to Washington. 5 US hopes Brcko decision does not influence events in Kosovo.

BOSNIA 5 General situation in Balkans is tense, has been for a long time. 5-6 Brcko decision was made by Roberts Owen and Carlos Westendorp.

GREECE-TURKEY 6-7 US believe both governments should tone down public rhetoric, discuss disagreements through diplomatic channels.

NORTH KOREA 7 Bilateral talks continue in New York today. 7-8 US cannot comment on alleged intelligence matter of deployment of No Dong missiles.

CUBA 8-9 Discussions ongoing between Orioles and Cuban national baseball team. Reports that an agreement has been reached are premature.

MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS 9 FY 2000 budget request includes assistance for both Israel and Palestinian Authority, and is before the Congress.

UGANDA 10 Remains of two US victims will arrive in Portland, Ore., sometime tomorrow. 10 Some US survivors may still be in Uganda. US cannot yet verify report of killing of Hutu attackers by Rwandan troops.


U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE OFF-CAMERA DAILY PRESS BRIEFING

DPB #27

FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1999, 12:50 P.M.

(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

MR. MCCLENNY: I should start with an apology, actually. I told myself, come hell or high water, I'd be here at 12:30 p.m. today. Typically, however, it was neither hell nor high water that came at me, so --

(Laughter.)

I have no statements to read, but I should let you know several things administratively. In the Press Office, you can find statements on release of a State Department report on coral bleaching - an interesting and important environmental matter. It may sound dry - that's sort of an ocean joke.

QUESTION: It sounds wet.

MR. MCCLENNY: There we go, much better. It's very interesting. Also, we're posting a statement today welcoming the release of a number of political prisoners in Nigeria.

Finally, a reminder that at approximately 2:30 p.m. this afternoon, or shortly after the conclusion of the press conference of President Clinton and Prime Minister D'Alema, we will have a senior State Department official here at the podium, who will discuss Dayton agreement implementation. There have been a number of developments in the last few hours. He will be here to speak to you about all of that. As a consequence, I have very little on those subjects; particularly the more recent, fast-breaking ones. You can ask, but I really don't have anything for you.

QUESTION: Will he talk at all on Kosovo?

MR. MCCLENNY: Will he?

QUESTION: The senior State Department official.

MR. MCCLENNY: Or she, as the case may be. No, I don't think so. I have a little bit on Kosovo, and I'd be happy to share that with you. But George has the podium.

QUESTION: I wanted to talk about Kosovo, including the Secretary's Kosovo- related travel plans, and the denial of a visa to Senator Dole.

MR. MCCLENNY: Let's start with travel plans. The Secretary of State will be traveling - indeed, I believe she's already left Indonesia. She'll be traveling to London, arriving Saturday morning. At this point, I don't really have any details on her schedule or topics, but you know that Senator Dole is leaving Skopje later today, I believe. He will also be traveling to London, and they will be meeting in London to discuss what he's discovered. I believe also that the Secretary of State will have meeting or meetings with British officials. I would anticipate that Kosovo would be a subject of discussion, though it's possible other things might also be on the agenda.

As we get more information about her schedule, as things firm up, I'll try to make that information available to you.

QUESTION: What are the chances that they'll sign the agreement in London?

MR. MCCLENNY: I'm not in a position, really, to handicap it, Carole. I'm sorry; I'm not close enough to the story. It's located in two different places and I'm pulling together as many details as I can, but I don't have, really, anything for you.

QUESTION: Did she leave Indonesia early to go to London; or just did she finish her schedule and just go to London instead of going all the way back home?

MR. MCCLENNY: My understanding is she finished her schedule on time, completed her normal round. I don't think there was even a change - that I'm aware of - in departure time.

QUESTION: So it would be wrong if anyone is reporting or would report that she left Indonesia early to go to London?

MR. MCCLENNY: Yes, I believe that would be factually incorrect.

QUESTION: Okay.

QUESTION: Lee, do you know if Dole is going to get to London tonight, or will he overnight in Skopje?

MR. MCCLENNY: I don't know. I listened with one ear to his press conference, which just ended a little while ago. I thought he indicated that he would be in London tomorrow morning. But since it's already nighttime there -- he must be overnighting, I would assume; but I don't honestly know.

QUESTION: Lee -- (inaudible) - indicated he had another meeting tonight. Is it with representatives of the KLA?

MR. MCCLENNY: I don't know whether he will manage to meet with a representative of the KLA. I know there's an effort underway for someone from the KLA to meet with him in Skopje.

QUESTION: That's who the meeting is supposed to be with tonight - supposed to be with a representative of the KLA?

MR. MCCLENNY: I think it's his hope that he might still be able to meet with a KLA representative.

QUESTION: Okay. And he said - obviously, he said - the Secretary phoned him. Is that right; did she phone him on her way from Indonesia to London?

MR. MCCLENNY: I understand that they've had telephone conversation or conversations.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) - people?

MR. MCCLENNY: I don't believe he's met with any KLA people yet, but it's his intention still to do so. He's met otherwise with representatives of a broad range of people who represent various Kosovar Albanian factions and interests - the Rambouillet group.

QUESTION: You probably can't answer, but how can he be so optimistic that the KLA is going to sign the pact? He didn't even meet with them.

MR. MCCLENNY: I'd stand by his comments. I don't believe he's met with anyone face-to-face from the KLA, but I believe he's had some conversations. We also have regular conversations with the KLA on a regular basis. These are people we talk to.

QUESTION: I don't suppose creating the perception for Milosevic that pressure is increasing is behind this at all?

MR. MCCLENNY: Well, I think that's not just a perception; I think it's a reality.

QUESTION: What is?

MR. MCCLENNY: That there is increasing movement towards an agreement on the part of the KLA - excuse me, not the KLA, on the part of Kosovar Albanians -- to sign onto the Rambouillet agreement. They said so before they left, and --

QUESTION: They said a lot of things. But you think that increased pressure on Milosevic in any way?

MR. MCCLENNY: I didn't say that. I said I think it's a reality that there's forward movement in this area.

QUESTION: But you won't say the pressure is increasing on Milosevic?

MR. MCCLENNY: I think there's a lot of pressure on him already, and leave it at that.

You asked a question about his visa. The visa issue is essentially mooted. He went to Skopje; he met with - or will meet with, we believe - all the people he wanted to meet with. So, we'll go from there.

QUESTION: Dole also suggested that this agreement could be signed by the Kosovars within 48 hours. Do you have any reason to know anything more about that?

MR. MCCLENNY: I think the Senator said everything that I could say, at this point in time. He has a much more textured understanding of what's going on than I do; he actually met with them. But that - his comments should stand as they are, and let's let it go at that, I think.

QUESTION: Very shortly after you issued the warning on Bosnia, a story came out of Belgrade that the US Table Tennis Federation apparently has pulled out of some competition that was going to be in Belgrade later this month. They said that they were doing that at the suggestion of the State Department.

MR. MCCLENNY: The first I've heard of it. I'd be happy to look into it and see if there's some --

QUESTION: I just wondered -

MR. MCCLENNY: -- what role, if any, we played in that decision.

QUESTION: Yes, yes.

MR. MCCLENNY: I'd be happy to look into it.

QUESTION: I just wondered, is it connected to the whole Kosovo - the bombing threat?

MR. MCCLENNY: I'm not aware of the very basic fact that the table tennis association was, A, going or B, not going. But I'd be happy to look into it and see if there's something.

QUESTION: Two questions - even though the visa point is moot, you say, did the US Government ever hear back from the Yugoslav Government about this visa? Did they say, "No way we're giving him one;" or they just never granted him the visa?

MR. MCCLENNY: To be honest, Kelly, I'm not absolutely certain. The key point is, we asked for a visa, he didn't get one. We managed to have, or will have, the meetings that we want to have anyway. This is a fairly consistent pattern of behavior on the part of the Serbs. It's not an encouraging sign, but I wouldn't read too much into it.

QUESTION: And just the other question - anything more you can say on plans for Richard Holbrooke to go to Belgrade?

MR. MCCLENNY: Nothing to announce; no plans that have been finalized that I know of.

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

MR. MCCLENNY: Not as far as I'm aware of.

QUESTION: Lee, I'm sure it's all connected to what Dole's doing, but do you have a better idea of if and when a KLA delegation or Kosovar Albanian delegation will come to Washington?

Is that still something that's going to happen?

MR. MCCLENNY: Well, Jim spoke to this, I think, a few days ago, and I'm not aware of any change in the status since then. I certainly don't have anything to announce.

QUESTION: The other question I have is - I know we're supposed to be briefed on this later - but in the context of Kosovo, are you concerned or is there any concern that the decision on Brcko could have any influence on the Serb side, maybe angering them more and fuel the resentment among the Serbs? And could that affect the Kosovo negotiations?

MR. MCCLENNY: I think it's too speculative, too hypothetical. Certainly we hope not; certainly it's fair to say that we hope not. But I wouldn't be inclined to try to psychoanalyze and figure out how this might play out.

There are a lot of connections and different points of contact and certainly we hope not. That's about the best I can say.

QUESTION: Lee, since you're on the record here - I know we're going to get more of that sort of thing later on. It's not just Brcko; it's also the decision to sack Bosnian Serb President. It's Brcko; it's the threat of bombing in Belgrade; and it's also the warning issued to Americans in Bosnia. So clearly, you all are concerned that this confluence of events could cause problems, not only for Americans, but for perhaps the whole fragile Balkan peace. Can you address that?

MR. MCCLENNY: You're connecting dots that I just wouldn't connect the same way. Yes, the general situation in the Balkans is a tense one. It's been tense for a long time. We're watching things closely. We're going to take the steps we think are appropriate. I think I'd leave it there and let our senior Administration official talk to you in detail and depth about matter later today.

QUESTION: Just for the record, the Brcko decision and the Bosnia and the decision on the Bosnian Serb President was not a decision the United States ramrodded through?

MR. MCCLENNY: They're decisions taken, in the first case, by - I always get his name wrong - Roberts Owen - thank you; and in the second case, by Carlos Westendorp, -- (inaudible). These are people who have set institutional persona in the Dayton implementation situation. I don't think either decision comes as a total surprise to anyone, either, frankly, given the pattern of behavior in the past.

QUESTION: I don't understand that.

MR. MCCLENNY: Let's let it sit at that, and you'll get a better briefing and a more complete briefing later from the special representative.

QUESTION: Turkish Foreign Minister described Greece as a terrorist sponsor country. For that reason, he's announced that Turkey cut all kind of sensitive and intelligence matter, which includes the NATO exchange of information with Greece. Do you have any reaction?

MR. MCCLENNY: I confess, I have not heard that; haven't seen a report on it at all, one way or the other. There have been public statements of a variety, back and forth, for some time. I have something to say about that; let me review my notes.

We think that the Turkish Government and the Greek Government should tone down their public rhetoric, and focus on working things out between them through diplomatic channels in private. That's the extent of what I can offer you, I think.

QUESTION: There are reports that some Kosovar Albanians are supposed to go to NATO to meet with military folks there about the implementation of Rambouillet.

MR. MCCLENNY: I'll look into it; that's the first I've heard of it.

QUESTION: The leader of the Greek opposition, Kospas Karamanlis, is arriving tomorrow here in town for an official visit. Earlier today, his spokesman at the Greek Embassy confirmed that Mr. Karamanlis also is going to meet with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright next Tuesday. May we have something on their agenda?

MR. MCCLENNY: I apologize, I didn't bring anything on that. But if you'd like to come see me after the briefing, I'll see if I can scare something up for you.

QUESTION: A follow, your Charge d'Affaires in Athens met yesterday with the Secretary General of the Greek Foreign Ministry. The Greek Ambassador here in town, Alexandre Philon, came here to the State Department yesterday. Similar activity has taken place also in Ankara by your embassy. Do you know anything about this?

MR. MCCLENNY: Mr. Papantoniou, we don't discuss publicly our diplomatic exchanges with friendly governments. We have said, however, many times, that we believe that Turkish and Greek Governments should tone down their public rhetoric and discuss issues between them in diplomatic channels. We're doing so with both governments, and I would leave it at that.

It's worth adding: Our ambassadors and charges routinely meet with officials of friendly governments. I think this is what's going on here.

QUESTION: A follow-up - you said earlier that you advised both countries to avoid provocative statements. But in this particular case, only Ankara is raising the issue and making statements against the territorial integrity of Greece and Cyprus.

MR. MCCLENNY: My comments would apply the same, one way or the other.

QUESTION: The Korea talks - did they end up going to Iowa? Did they continue the talks?

MR. MCCLENNY: They have continued the talks today. We're watching the talks to see how they progress, and I encourage you to check in later in the days to see where we stand on talks as the day progresses.

QUESTION: Do you think that they might end today?

MR. MCCLENNY: It's possible. They might go on. Really, it depends on how things progress.

QUESTION: You don't want to use the "p-word" more emphatically than you just did - "progress?"

MR. MCCLENNY: No, I want to use it as a verb rather than as a noun.

(Laughter.)

QUESTION: Do you have anything on reports in Japan that North Korea has deployed some No Dong I's on the Chinese border? Up to 20 or 30 or so?

MR. MCCLENNY: Yes, I do have something on this. I apologize. When Jim can't find something in his book, I think he's - and now I can't find it, either; but I will, I promise. Really, there's no rush. I've got it here.

I'm not in a position to comment about intelligence matters or alleged intelligence matters, including when, where, or how many No Dong missiles may or may not have been deployed.

(Laughter.)

I wanted to be sure I got it just right.

QUESTION: Can I ask that question in another way?

MR. MCCLENNY: Can I ask a favor, please? Would somebody type that up and put it up on the wall in the Press Office over there?

QUESTION: Well, the thing is that you don't want to comment on intelligence until you want to comment on intelligence; and then it's not intelligence, it's just information. So I want to ask this question a different way. Have there been any movements or deployments by the Koreans that concern you?

MR. MCCLENNY: With regard to missiles of this type or something like that?

QUESTION: Yes.

MR. MCCLENNY: I think our analysis of that would, in fact, be intelligence and not that we want to talk about. I would say that it's well-known that North Korea is in advanced stage of developing a No Dong missile with a 1, 000-plus kilometer range. We continue to press North Korea to cease all development, testing, export of such missiles or missile technology. But I couldn't say anything more than that.

QUESTION: Is there anything which would preclude you from talking about the Orioles in Cuba and their efforts to arrange a game, or is this under the heading of an intelligence matter?

MR. MCCLENNY: No, that wouldn't fall under that area. Discussions are ongoing between Major League Baseball and the owners of the Baltimore Orioles on the modalities of two possible exhibition games between the Orioles and the Cuban national team. I can't speculate on the outcome of those talks at this point in time. I can say that reports that an agreement has already been reached are premature.

It is the policy of the US Government to encourage these kinds of exchanges, and we hope the Orioles will succeed in their discussions, and the people of Cuba will have an opportunity to watch US baseball in action. I encourage you to watch that, too - watch that story.

QUESTION: If there is an agreement between the Orioles and the Cubans on the game down there, does there have to be the game up here? Is that part of the agreement? Can that game go on without there being a return game up here?

MR. MCCLENNY: I don't think I can be specific about it. This is a complicated issue with a lot of moving parts, and there isn't agreement until everybody's in agreement about everything they need. We're not there yet; we might get there soon. There's obviously time pressure building on it, one way or the other.

As I say, I think this is one story that is worth watching and keeping your eye on, but we're not there yet.

QUESTION: Today is a deadline of sorts - that if there's no agreement by Friday, today, that they might as well forget about it. What is your understanding?

MR. MCCLENNY: I've read the same reports, and don't understand the nature of the deadline: why the deadline would be today or yesterday or Monday or a week from Monday or whatever - picking dates at random. But I did indicate, it's clear to anyone who saw the story at all that there is a time pressure of a sort. It can't drag on forever, at least not if one wants to play a game before major league baseball starts here in the United States.

I would encourage you to keep asking and keep your eye on the story.

QUESTION: Different subject - on the subject of US aid following the Wye talks, there are reports in the Israeli press that say aid is moving ahead on two fronts and not on a third. Can you bring us up to date no whether that's accurate or inaccurate?

MR. MCCLENNY: My understanding is that the report is inaccurate. Let me find it for you.

The report is false. The President of the United States included in the Administration's FY 2000 budget submission to Congress a supplemental request for assistance to Israel and the Palestinians to support the costs associated with the Wye Memorandum. The request is currently before the Congress.

It's our expectation that the Wye Memorandum will be implemented and that the funds will be approved by the Congress.

QUESTION: Is it moving forward on any one track faster than any other track?

MR. MCCLENNY: No, the entire request is still before the Congress.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) - move forward faster?

MR. MCCLENNY: Yes, the Jordan track is a separate track. I apologize, I don't frankly recall what we've been saying about that, but, yes, the Jordan track was on a separate arrangement. You've got to be careful with the use of the word "track," because it has other connotations as well. But the Jordan supplemental appropriation was on a different trail.

QUESTION: Who's the acting secretary today?

MR. MCCLENNY: I believe it's Under Secretary Tom Pickering.

QUESTION: All right, because the daily schedule shows Talbott.

MR. MCCLENNY: Really?

QUESTION: Yes.

MR. MCCLENNY: I'll check on that; we may have made a mistake.

QUESTION: And it also doesn't show him being out of the country.

MR. MCCLENNY: That's odd; I'll check on that. I was at the morning staff meeting, which was chaired by Under Secretary Pickering. So I base my assumption on that. He was in the building.

QUESTION: He's in the building.

MR. MCCLENNY: Well, there we go: a sighting.

QUESTION: Lee, on Uganda, is it still that the bodies of the two Americans will be flown to Portland tomorrow?

MR. MCCLENNY: Yes, it's my understanding that the bodies of the two Americans, escorted by a State Department officer, will arrive in Portland sometime tomorrow - probably in the afternoon, subject to the vagaries of commercial air flights and connections and what not. It's a complicated process getting someone from Central Africa to the West Coast of the United States.

QUESTION: And after the bodies are back, have all the US survivors returned, or are some still in Uganda?

MR. MCCLENNY: Some, I believe, are still on the ground in Uganda, but I'm not absolutely certain about that. I think most of the assistance that they've been asked to provide to the Ugandan law enforcement authorities has largely been cleared up, I think. People are beginning to try to get back to - try to put their lives back together and get on with things.

QUESTION: Are they going to come back - is there a military escort?

MR. MCCLENNY: They would normally come back on a commercial flight. If they need assistance or help of some kind, we're always happy to provide it, as in the case of the return of the bodies of the two Americans.

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

MR. MCCLENNY: I don't have anything to report. It's obviously in the hands of Ugandan law enforcement authorities. You will have seen reports that Rwandan army units or unit fired on and killed a number of ethnic Hutus they report to believe were those or some of those involved in the attack on the Americans and on other tourists in Uganda.

At this point in time, I don't have any confirmation of the fact that these were the people. I think it would take some time to verify that kind of information. We're not certain. It's plausible, but beyond that I don't have anything to report.

QUESTION: Thank you.

(The briefing concluded at 1:25 P.M.)


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