U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing #94, 99-07-21
From: The Department of State Foreign Affairs Network (DOSFAN) at <http://www.state.gov>
676
U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
I N D E X
Wednesday, July 21, 1999
Briefer: James P. Rubin
ANNOUNCEMENT
1 US is providing an additional $61 million to UNHCR to aid Kosovo
and other refugees
CHINA (TAIWAN)
1-3 US is committed to fulfilling security and arms transfer provisions
of Taiwan Relations Act.
2,3 The Chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan, Richard Bush, is
heading to Taipei for talks.
3,4 Secretary Albright is meeting with Senator Helms; he has been
critical of "One China."
10 US strongly believes in a "One China" policy.
ETHIOPIA / ERITREA
4 Former National Security Advisor Lake is leading an inter-agency
team to the region for talks on the continuing conflict.
INDIA / PAKISTAN
5 US condemns the continuing violence in Kashmir. US believes that
militants with leaders and infrastructure in Pakistan are among
those connected with the recent killings of civilians.
BANGLADESH
5,6 US position on the sale of Russian Migs to Bangladesh has not
changed.
MOZAMBIQUE
6 Embassy Maputo remains closed for security reasons.
EMBASSY SECURITY
6 US is watching security of embassies carefully as the anniversary
of the Kenya and Tanzania bombings approaches.
POPULATION
6 Department is pleased with Congressional vote on funds for UN
population programs.
DEPARTMENT
6,7 Senators continue to block Ambassador Holbrooke's nomination.
VIETNAM
7 Negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement continue.
BELARUS
7,8 US does not recognize President Lukashenko's legitimacy, but will
continue to deal with him on <I>de facto</I> basis.
TURKEY / IRAN
8 US has no comment on reported issues between the countries.
NORTH KOREA
8,9 The detained American citizen has been released.
10 Dr. Perry continues to prepare his report.
RUSSIA
9 US has no reason to believe that nuclear forces were affected by
the electric power cut-off.
SYRIA
9,10 US cannot confirm that President Assad has told Palestinian groups
to halt terrorist activity.
CHINA
10,11 US-Chinese relations have been strained following the accidental
bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade.
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS
11 Secretary Albright is meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus.
CONGO
12 US joins UN in expressing dismay that rebel leaders have not signed
the peace agreement.
COLOMBIA
12,13 US has not committed to training more Colombian troops to fight
drug trafficking.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
DPB # 94
WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1999 12:40 P.M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
MR. RUBIN: Welcome to the State Department briefing. I have one
statement for you.
Under Secretary for Global Affairs Frank Loy met today with Sadako Ogata,
the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. In that meeting, under the
direction of Secretary Albright we indicated that the Department will be in
a position to provide an additional $61 million to UNHCR to aid refugees in
Kosovo and elsewhere in the world.
The $61 million includes $50 million to support UNHCR's position, programs,
and operations in Kosovo to assist Kosovar refugees. The remaining $11
million will support the refugee agency's general program.
The donation for Kosovo includes $10 million to establish a Kosovar women's
initiative to support projects, counseling, job training, micro-credit,
similar to those funded under the Bosnian women's initiative. It also
includes $5 million for UNCHR to implement humanitarian projects in
Montenegro. The remaining aspects of the Kosovo piece of the package will
include repairing damaged shelters, logistical requirements, delivery of
supplies, protection and measures to ensure physical security of refugees
and food.
There is a statement that will be available after the briefing on that. In
having read that statement and slowing down my cadence to enable the
esteemed member of the Associated Press to sit, and now ask his first
question.
QUESTION: Yeah, sure. <I>The Washington Times</I> is reporting this
morning that the Administration is considering a cut-off or a slow-down of
military sales to Taiwan as an expression of displeasure with what the
Taiwanese have done over the past couple of weeks.
MR. RUBIN: Well, that report is inaccurate. There has been no change in
our policy. We remain firmly committed to fulfilling the security and arms
transfer provisions of the Taiwan Relations Act. Under that act, we
provide Taiwan with defense articles and services to enable Taiwan to
maintain a sufficient self-defense.
We do not comment publicly, as a normal matter, on our internal review of
particular arms sales. The review process is ongoing; it's on a case-by-
case basis. When it's appropriate, we do make the necessary notifications
to Congress. We do notify Congress of our intent, from time to time, to
sell defensive systems. A public announcement is made at the time of the
required notification period. We have no announcement to make on any
intended sale of defense items at this time.
With respect to the delay of the visit, which is the second piece of the
puzzle, as you know, the Chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan,
Richard Bush, will be arriving in Taiwan on Thursday for discussions with
Taiwan authorities on a wide range of issues, including cross-Strait
matters and Taiwan's cross-Strait policy. In the meantime, in accordance
with our policy, we have periodic consultations with Taiwan military
representatives. It's my understanding that the sequence was simply
switched to have Chairman Bush go first, and there's nothing more to it
than that. We haven't made any decision not to provide items that we were
previously intending to provide. Any suggestion that we have is simply
inaccurate.
QUESTION: So you're saying that the defense officials -- just the
sequence between the Defense officials going and Mr. Bush going were
switched; that, in fact, Defense officials will be going later on?
MR. RUBIN: You know, he's 50-50. Yesterday he had a good story, today
it was less good.
(Laughter.)
That's a good batting average.
QUESTION: That is good.
MR. RUBIN: Five hundred.
QUESTION: When you say that report is incorrect and then you talk about
there should be no change in policy -- well, I don't know that the
assertion wasn't that there was a change of policy. It was just that there
was a consideration of slowing down arms sales. I mean, does the United
States feel that it would be prudent at this time, when there are enhanced
tensions in the Straits, that arms sales go forward?
MR. RUBIN: What was incorrect and inaccurate is the suggestion that a
scheduling adjustment indicates a broad policy adjustment, tactical
adjustment, or anything of any broad significance. That's what was
inaccurate.
The fact is that the meetings will take place later, rather than this week.
That's not a big delay in the scheme of an ongoing process where you have
an ongoing set of discussions about needs. This wasn't a decisive meeting
of any kind. So the suggestion that because one delays by a week a meeting
that there's some dramatic signal being sent or some significant adjustment
in our intentions is what's inaccurate.
As far as your question is concerned, we make our judgments about what is
necessary based on a variety of factors. That process is ongoing; we work
on it; we consult with Taiwan; we consult with others; and we make our
decisions. Others in this case -- I mean the Congress. So to suggest
that because the dialogue has gone through what it's gone through over the
last couple of weeks, that we would not provide something we thought was
necessary for the defense of Taiwan is simply not based in fact or in our
policy contemplations. That's what's wrong with the story.
QUESTION: First, I know that Mr. Bush is the unofficial sort of
representative. Did the Secretary -- she made the announcement yesterday --
did she personally or did she ask that Mr. Bush go to have these discussions
now?
MR. RUBIN: Well, we made a series of decisions as to how to conduct our
discussions in the coming weeks. I think it's no secret that we said we
were talking to the Taiwan officials to seek clarification from them on
what their intentions are, what the meaning of these words are that
apparently, in Chinese, do have some translation issues. I'm sure you'll
be writing all about that today because of your demonstrated, repeated and
insistent interest in the translation of Taiwan words and their different
characters in China. I'd welcome the opportunity to read that copy.
QUESTION: I'll fax it over.
MR. RUBIN: Yes, please do. We have sought clarifications and we do
think it's important to discuss these issues on an unofficial basis through
unofficial dialogue. The Secretary also thought it would be a good idea to
have Assistant Secretary Roth go to China at this time to discuss this
issue as well as the other issues that the Secretary is likely to discuss
with the Chinese Foreign Minister in Singapore.
So we made the decisions about what we thought the best set of meetings and
interlocutors ought to be in the coming weeks; that's what we do around
here.
QUESTION: And any date set for her meeting with the Chinese Foreign
Minister?
MR. RUBIN: I don't have the date for you, but it should be around the
meeting, early next week.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) -- Secretary with Senator Helms now. He had a very
strong statement opposed to the one-China policy this morning. Is Taiwan
on their agenda, do you know?
MR. RUBIN: I do know that Secretary Albright meets regularly with
Senator Helms from time to time to go over issues between the Administration
and the Senate -- nominations, business, legislation that needs to be
pursued. You know the President made a strong pitch for the Comprehensive
Test Ban. So we have a lot of business to do with the Hill. That is the
purpose of this long-scheduled meeting, not -- to my knowledge -- an
intensive discussion on one particular -- I mean, it's no secret to Senator
Helms or to the world that there are many issues in which we and the
Chairman have different approaches. Taiwan is certainly one of them; but
there are many, many others.
Nevertheless, the Secretary and the Chairman are committed to disagreeing
agreeably as much as possible and working together to conduct the business
of the country, and these are regularly scheduled meetings. They happen
every couple of months. I've been aware of several of them in the last
several months. I'm not aware that any one was put on urgently on
this.
Will Senator Helms choose to raise this issue? You'd have to ask
him.
QUESTION: There is a buzz going around East Africa that the US is going
to send an envoy to try and help out on Ethiopia and Eritrea situation; is
that correct?
MR. RUBIN: Former National Security Advisor Anthony Lake met yesterday
with Secretary Albright here in the Department. He is leading an inter-
agency team which will depart today to the capitals of Ethiopia and Eritrea
to consult with representatives of the Organization of African Unity,
including Secretary General Salim Salim, on the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict.
He will also meet with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles and Eritrean
President Isaias.
Mr. Lake will discuss modalities put forward by the Organization of African
Unity during the recent OAU summit in Algiers for implementing the
framework agreement to bring peace to the region.
We hope this OAU initiative will prove to be an important step toward the
resolution of this conflict. As you know, the United States has worked
actively for a peaceful resolution of this dispute over the past year, and
continues to work in support of and in cooperation with the OAU to that
end.
QUESTION: Is he simply going to discuss the existing parameters; he's
not bringing anything new?
MR. RUBIN: I think he will -- yes, we're supportive of the OAU's ideas
and the framework, and he will be urging the two sides to work on that
basis.
QUESTION: Apparently there might have been more infiltration across the
line of control. And I just wondered whether this --
MR. RUBIN: Where?
QUESTION: The line of control.
MR. RUBIN: In which part of the world?
QUESTION: In Kashmir.
MR. RUBIN: Well, I'm looking at some Eritrea, Ethiopia.
QUESTION: I'm shifting, going to a different --
MR. RUBIN: -- border issues.
QUESTION: And I was just wondering whether these incursions were just
unfortunate militants that Pakistan wasn't able to control or whether
Pakistan deserves some blame for this.
MR. RUBIN: Fifteen inhabitants of a village in the Doda district of
Indian-held Kashmir were killed yesterday by gunmen, as were four laborers
in another part of the Indian state. These are only the most recent of a
number of attacks against civilians, both Hindu and Muslim.
As Secretary Albright said yesterday, we condemn attacks against civilians,
those who perpetrate them and those who give assistance to the perpetrators.
Acts of terrorism must stop immediately. Violent action against innocents,
whatever their source, make the Kashmir conflict more, not less, difficult
to resolve.
The continuing violence in and around Kashmir underlines the pressing need
for India and Pakistan to resolve the differences that separate them. We
hope that India and Pakistan will resume their dialogue under the Lahore
Process.
We are not in a position to make an independent determination of responsibilities
for these killings. We do believe, however, that militant groups with
leaders and infrastructure in Pakistan are among those connected with
killings of civilians in Indian-held Kashmir. We have, for example,
designated one such group -- the Harakat Ul-Ansar -- as a terrorist
organization, about two years ago. We call on the government of Pakistan
and all others with influence on these groups to press them toward
restraint.
QUESTION: Do you see this, though, as somehow a violation of Sharif's
agreement with President Clinton? Will you go that far?
MR. RUBIN: No, I think on the contrary what we've said is that we
believe that the steps necessary have been taken to follow through on the
commitments that Prime Minister Sharif made, and that we are not in a
position to make an independent determination of responsibility for these
particular killings. Therefore, one couldn't draw the conclusion that you
asked about.
QUESTION: Jamie, we are again back to Bangladesh. Does the United
States still hope that the Bangladesh Government will refrain from
purchasing the Russian Migs. There is now a row in the Parliament and it
has been an ongoing discussion at the highest level, I believe, at the
State Department. Is there anything that you can add or comment on?
MR. RUBIN: Well, there's been no change --
QUESTION: In what?
MR. RUBIN: -- there's been no change in our policy on that subject. I'd
like to get you a full and complete answer for that to provide you for in
the coming hour or so.
QUESTION: Does the US Embassy in Mozambique remain closed, and are there
any others that have been closed for security reasons?
MR. RUBIN: I don't believe I have any other embassy information, beyond
Mozambique.
With respect to the embassy in Maputo, it does remain closed today for
security concerns. During the course of the post review of security at the
embassy in Maputo, certain security vulnerabilities were identified.
Appropriate steps are being taken to correct these vulnerabilities, with
the assistance of the host government. For security reasons, we do not
discuss specific details. The posture of the embassy will be reevaluated
daily and it will be reopened when we are satisfied that it is safe to do
so. Safety is a top priority for the Department. We believe that the
continued suspension of operations in Maputo is the appropriate measure to
take at this time.
QUESTION: Jamie, the first anniversary of the bombings at the US
embassies in Africa is coming up; it's a couple of weeks away. Have you
all seen a rise in the number of threats to our facilities worldwide with
that anniversary coming?
MR. RUBIN: I don't think it's appropriate for me to comment on the pace
or the details or the numbers of threats that we receive in any general
way. As we approach that date, we will obviously be watching the situation
very carefully.
QUESTION: On embassy security, do you have any reaction to the House
passing the -- I've forgotten what it is now --
MR. RUBIN: Even though you've forgotten what it is, I have a reaction.
We were very pleased with the vote on UN population fund activities --
promote family planning, as well as maternal and infant health care
programs throughout the world. It fully supports the principals of
volunteerism and a non-coercion in all its activities. UNFPA's programs
in China do not permit birth quotas or targets, nor do they support
abortions.
With respect to the overall numbers, we continue to have concerns with both
the House and Senate bills and the overall numbers for foreign policy. We
will be discussing those issues with members as they approach a conference.
QUESTION: Specifically on the -- not on the UNFPA, but on the funding for
embassy security, do you have anything specific on --
MR. RUBIN: I'll try to get something on that for you.
QUESTION: Regarding Richard Holbrooke, I know the Secretary met with
Senator Voinovich last night. I know he has put a hold on the nomination.
Do you know if that matter was discussed; and is the Secretary likely, when
she meets with the Senator at this hour, to renew the Administration's push
that this nomination go forward? And is the Administration doing anything
else to try and expedite the matter?
MR. RUBIN: Right. But sometimes the pursuit of freeing up ambassadors
when they are taken hostage on unrelated issues is not well served by
extensive public comment on what it is that we're doing. I would be
surprised -- I wasn't there -- if the discussion with Senator Voinovich
didn't include the question of Ambassador Holbrooke. I know that Senator
Helms has passed, through his committee, Ambassador Holbrooke. The issue is
now primarily between the Majority leader and those senators outside the
committee who may or may not want to admit that they are holding up the
process for unrelated issues.
QUESTION: Jamie, there were reports today of a limited trade agreement
between the United States and Vietnam. Do you have anything on that?
MR. RUBIN: Well, I do know we've been negotiating since 1996 on a
bilateral agreement. There is a round of talks going on. We are seeking a
comprehensive agreement that would require Vietnam to make important market-
opening commitments on market access for goods and services, intellectual
property and investment. Concluding an agreement would pave the way for
normalizing trade relations between our two countries. A bilateral
agreement also would expedite Vietnam's entry into the World Trade
Organization.
We have made significant progress in narrowing the number of outstanding
issues, but there are some issues that do remain. We hope that these
discussions will be sufficient to enable us to conclude an agreement that
will achieve the objectives. But until the deal is done, it's impossible
to predict its outcome or whether it will be achieved.
Certainly, it's a possibility and we've heard a variety of optimistic
noises from the discussions. But it's not over until it's over in these
matters.
QUESTION: Is the goal an agreement by the time the Secretary meets with
the Vietnamese Foreign Minister in Singapore?
MR. RUBIN: I don't believe that was really connected. I know that when
it comes to trade issues, the goal has really been going on. It would be
nice; it would be hopeful; it would be good. I don't believe that they've
set that sort of a deadline, to my knowledge.
QUESTION: Mr. Rubin, last night the statement about Belarus was issued.
My question is, does this statement mean -- (inaudible) -- like the United
States is going to make some practical measures? Are you going to call
back your ambassador from Minsk or impose sanctions on anything else?
Thank you.
MR. RUBIN: Well, as a practical matter we will continue to deal with the
Lukashenko regime, even though it is our view that he has lost his
democratic legitimacy by his changes to the constitution in 1996.
The fact that we'll continue to deal with him on a de facto basis, in our
view, does not legitimize him. President Lukashenko's lack of respect for
human rights and democracy has long been an impediment in our bilateral
relations. Until there is improvement in this area, our policy of
selective engagement will remain very much in effect.
We have made some progress on the issue of the ambassador's residence; the
government seizure of which gave the impetus for our recalling of
Ambassador Speckhard. We have begun to discuss the issue of compensation
with the Belarusian Government. Progress on compensation would allow us to
send Ambassador Speckhard back to Minsk on a permanent basis.
So the bottom line is, we're going to deal with them on a de facto basis.
I think there's not much left to cut off.
QUESTION: So it means the United States doesn't regard him as a president
anymore?
MR. RUBIN: Right.
QUESTION: Starting today?
MR. RUBIN: Starting yesterday when the statement was issued.
QUESTION: Any comments on Turkish-Iranian tension?
MR. RUBIN: We've seen reports of some issues. I don't have any
particular comment on that.
QUESTION: Can you say anything on the US woman that was supposed to be
released by the North Koreans?
MR. RUBIN: Yes, my understanding is that I am pleased to confirm that
the detained American was released yesterday by North Korean officials. We
are assisting her, as we do all American citizens when they are arrested
overseas. This particular American citizen has declined to sign a Privacy
Act waiver, and we are unable to provide any specific details about his or
her --
QUESTION: Her.
MR. RUBIN: Actually it says about her or her release. So they couldn't
get themselves to write the word "his."
QUESTION: (Inaudible.) Do you have any information if that happened or
not?
MR. RUBIN: My understanding is that things went as intended, but I'll
check that for you.
QUESTION: Not about her release, but what was she charged with? Surely
that can't be covered under a Privacy Act.
MR. RUBIN: You'd be surprised.
QUESTION: What? No.
MR. RUBIN: The citizen's activities, their person, all the details of
that. If you have an interest in the charges, you should address that to
the very helpful DPRK press officer in New York.
(Laughter.)
QUESTION: There are reports of electricity being shut off to Russian
nuclear facilities. The last time that this occurred -- electricity was
shut off to a nuclear plant because of failure to pay electricity bills --
they said there was the risk of a meltdown similar to what happened at
Chernobyl. Do you have any comment on the situation?
MR. RUBIN: There apparently was a cut-off of electrical power to Russian
military units in the Far East because the military is in arrears in its
payment to the local utility company. Radar serving the air defense forces
and air traffic control were shut down and many utility functions were
inoperable during the blackout.
According to the Russian press, air defense rocket troops had some services
cut which were not related to combat readiness. We have no reason to
believe that nuclear forces were affected by the blackout. The Russian
Government continues to assure us that it maintains complete command and
control of its nuclear forces, and we have no reason to doubt those
assurances.
QUESTION: Are you able to verify or dispute reports that Syrian President
Assad -- or the Vice President acting on his behalf, actually -- has told
Palestinian terrorist groups to cool it for a while at least?
MR. RUBIN: No, we have not been able to do so.
QUESTION: Do you think the reports are false?
MR. RUBIN: We've all seen the reports. If they're true, they're
welcome. If I were in a position to answer your second question, it would
mean I would be in a position to answer the first question --
QUESTION: If I mention it's a Reuters' report, is that all right?
(Laughter.)
I'm not going to beat you on this one. (Laughter.)
MR. RUBIN: Let me say that we are obviously going to be in touch with
the relevant officials in the Syrian Government in the coming days on a
variety of matters. I'm sure this issue will be raised, and we will be
seeking verification of reports that, if true, would be welcome. But we
are not able to confirm the accuracy of them.
QUESTION: Any word on Dr. Perry's review; and can that be expected any
time soon?
MR. RUBIN: When we are in a position to announce the arrival of that --
I was going to think of an analogy, but I think I'll withhold on that --
that report, I will be in a position to let you know. I just have no new
data on that. It sounds like you have another question.
QUESTION: I do. If you'll forgive me for going back to China-Taiwan.
The US has come out with a very strong warning that if the Chinese use
force against Taiwan to settle the whole matter, the US would see that as a
grave threat. I mean, would the US take any action, or what action would
the US take if Taiwan continues to make statements that threaten the cross-
Strait dialogue?
MR. RUBIN: Well, we've been in touch with the government of China on a
number of occasions. Secretary Albright will have an opportunity to review
this in great detail at her meeting with Foreign Minister Tang. As I
indicated to you, the Chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan will be
in Taipei, having discussions with Taiwan officials. We certainly think
that the situation that has made it harder to have a successful cross-
Strait dialogue is unhelpful. We will continue to reiterate our view; and
our strong view is that we believe in a one-China policy. I've articulated
that on many occasions for you.
I don't have any intention of specifying what a specific response of the
United States would be to a hypothetical future response by someone
else.
QUESTION: Do you know if it's US policy that Taiwan should have the
weapons it needs to be able to defend itself?
MR. RUBIN: Yes. I think before you came in we went into this in great
detail about the Taiwan Relations Act, how we're continuing to work with
them in ensuring they have that.
QUESTION: Oh, okay.
QUESTION: The Secretary won't talk -- (inaudible) -- so Chinese Embassy
in Belgrade. Any more on this proposal?
MR. RUBIN: Well, I wouldn't be surprised if that came up. Look, the
reality is that US-China relations have been through a rough patch
following the tragic accident; that we haven't been able to resume all the
aspects of our relationship the way we would like to. We've apologized;
we've expressed our regret; we have offered compensation; we're talking
about compensation; we've provided a report. So we would like to move on,
but it's up to China to make that decision. That ball is in their court to
decide whether the various aspects of our relationship, which we believe
are beneficial to both sides should be resumed -- whether that's the WTO.
As you know, David Aaron, an Undersecretary for Commerce is traveling, I
just saw him, I guess he's leaving tomorrow. We would like to pursue
continued discussions on that. There are important non-proliferation
issues, human rights issues, other trade matters. So we would like to
resume a full breadth of the relationship, which we think is in China's
interest, as well as the United States' interest. But they have to make
that decision.
QUESTION: Have they ever said we accept your explanation? The best you
had to offer, I mean the State Department had to offer, with the Pickering
transcript, was that they had at least disseminated in the media.
MR. RUBIN: I'm not aware there's been any change in anything in any
formal sense.
QUESTION: No change, okay.
QUESTION: In your understanding, the issue of compensation -- (inaudible)
-- with China?
MR. RUBIN: Settled? No. There were initial discussions between the
lawyers.
QUESTION: Has there been any progress that you can report with regard to
the compensation negotiations regarding the embassy damage? Was that
already done?
MR. RUBIN: I think that was just done in the last two seconds. That is,
we've had discussions -- the lawyers have been discussing this issue.
We've offered compensation, the details of which have been discussed over
the last week. I believe I read to you David Andrews', our legal advisor's,
statement. I can certainly get you a copy of that. The discussions have
begun. I don't believe they've reached a conclusion yet.
QUESTION: Okay, that's what I wanted to know.
QUESTION: What is the subject of the Secretary's meeting this afternoon
with the Congressional Black Caucus?
MR. RUBIN: Well, this is a regular set of meetings that she has with a
number of members of Congress in different groupings. I would expect them
to discuss the wide variety of issues that the United States faces in the
world. I would expect also African issues to receive significant attention,
including the trip of Anthony Lake to deal with the Ethiopia-Eritrea
situation, as well as the hopeful signs that there may be peace perhaps in
Congo, as well as Sierra Leone. So I would expect those subjects to come
up, as well as the broad array of foreign policy subjects of interest to
the United States.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) -- on Congo, and do you have anything on what the
United States is considering?
MR. RUBIN: Well, as you know, right now the problem is that the rebels
have refused to sign the agreement. The UN Security Council issued a
statement yesterday expressing dismay --and that we joined in -- that the
leaders of the rebel movement still had not joined the signatories to the
agreement. The Council reiterated its call upon the governments of Rwanda
and Uganda and other governments who have influence to urge the rebels to
sign and to abide by the cease-fire.
We think this is a good statement and we will continue to press, through
our direct contacts and in discussions with regional leaders, press the
rebels to sign the agreement.
QUESTION: Is it too hypothetical to ask what the United States might
contribute to a post-peace --
MR. RUBIN: Well, we've obviously been in discussions with the Secretary
General's office. He has to issue a report. We would have to study that
report. In principle, we'd want to be helpful, but what specifically we
would be prepared to do or say about it would have to await the report.
QUESTION: Are you in a position to say anything about what the Secretary's
going to be doing tomorrow, outside of the contiguous 48?
MR. RUBIN: But in the United States of America?
QUESTION: Yes.
MR. RUBIN: I will have to try to see what information I can provide you
during the course of the day.
QUESTION: Jamie, can you confirm press reports that quote Ambassador
Romero saying that the US will train or help Colombia train several more
thousand troops for the drug trafficking --
MR. RUBIN: Yes, there are often erroneous press reports in this area; I
don't know why that it is. It's a repetitive process. My understanding is
that the Colombian Defense Minister presented some ideas in very much a
hypothetical way. What we promised was to study them when they were
provided in a more concrete way.
So what my guess is that in the course of those discussions, somehow
someone interpreted that as some decision of some kind, which it has not
been. We've agreed and welcomed the opportunity to study some specific
plans as they're made, but made no commitments.
QUESTION: Are you denying this quote by Ambassador Romero -- and I quote
<I>The Miami Herald</I> -- him as saying, "We're talking about training
several thousand more troops in Colombia."
MR. RUBIN: Right. I haven't seen that particular quote or that
particular story. I'm saying that what my understanding of the situation
is, is that we received a set of ideas that we asked them to make more
concrete, after which we would be in a position to make formal commitments.
I haven't seen the context of that story or the particular quote, and I
would want to check with Ambassador Romero whether he said it and the facts
before I made any grand judgment on that.
QUESTION: Thank you.
(The briefing concluded at 1:10 P.M.)
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