U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing #154, 99-12-20

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

U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing

I N D E X

Monday, December 20, 1999

Briefer: James B. Foley

ANNOUNCEMENTS
1      STATEMENT: SRI LANKA: Bombings in Colombo
1      NOTICE TO PRESS: Albright To Announce Corporate Awards
TERRORISM / SECURITY
1-2    Arrest of Algerian in Seattle / Connections to Organized Terrorist
       Groups
2-4    US-Canada Cooperation on Counter Terrorism
4, 5-6 Embassies on Heightened Security Posture / Terrorist Threats Foiled
CAMBODIA
3-4    Reports of Embassy Bomb Threat / Visa Services Temporarily Shut Down
PAKISTAN
4-5    US-Taleban Communications / Arrests of Suspected Terrorists
RUSSIA
6-7    Travel Warning / Voluntary Departures
7-8    Status of ExIm Loan to Talisman Oil / Chafee Amendment / USG
       Recommendations
ECUADOR
8-9    Status of Embassy & Post / Security Concerns
CUBA
9-10,12 Update on Louisiana Detainees / Deportation to Cuba / Connection to
        Elian Gonzalez
14-15   Migration Talks & Mariel Boat Lift
CYPRUS / GREECE
10-11   UN Secretary General Report / Aegean Territorial Disputes / US
        Position on EU Decision
11-12,14 Addendum to UNSYG Report
SRI LANKA
11     Elections / US Monitoring
MEPP
12     Update on Location of Upcoming Talks / Lebanese Track
14     Impact of Jonathan Pollard Case
RUSSIA
13     Chechnya's Role in Elections / Parliamentary Elections
VENEZUELA
15     US Assistance

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1999, 2:20 P.M.

(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

MR. FOLEY: Good afternoon. Welcome back to the State Department briefing room.

I have a couple of announcements. On December 18, two bombings occurred in Columbo, Sri Lanka, resulting in the death of over 30 people and injury to scores of others. The United States condemns these outrageous acts of terrorism.

The State Department extends its condolences to the families of those who were killed as well as wishes for a quick recovery to those injured, including President Kumaratunga and senior members of her government. The Department applauds the decision to continue the electoral process currently under way that will culminate in presidential elections on December 21st. The United States hopes that the leaders and citizens of Sri Lanka will continue their search for a just and lasting resolution to the bloody conflict that has plagued their country since 1983.

Secondly, I would like to announce that Secretary of State Albright will present the 1999 US Department of State Award for Corporate Excellence tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. in the Dean Acheson Auditorium. This award will be presented for the first time to two US companies for outstanding corporate citizenship, innovation and exemplary international business practices and we will have an announcement on the press arrangements for that after the briefing.

QUESTION: Did you hear anything new on the Algerian who was arrested in Washington State, specifically with reference to the Islamic armed group of which he is alleged to be a member? And do you know anything about that group?

MR. FOLEY: First of all, we applaud the work of the border personnel who intercepted the suspect. This incident underscores the need for special vigilance at all times.

The case is under active criminal investigation by the FBI and Canadian law enforcement authorities. They are cooperating closely on this matter. I would have to refer you to the FBI for any details. Obviously, at this stage, it is inappropriate for us to speculate on what ties, if any, the suspect had with other - with terrorist groups around the world. But that is clearly a matter that is subject to intense scrutiny at the moment.

QUESTION: We were looking at the last copy of the Patterns of Global Terrorism before and we were looking at the Armed Islamic Group, GIA. There is no mention of them having any activities in North America.

I was wondering if the US has had any previous knowledge or information that Algerian, possibly, terrorists are operating here in North America?

MR. FOLEY: I am not in a position to confirm what's implied in your question, which is that the suspect is attached to a particular terrorist group. That is a matter under investigation and I would have to refer you to law enforcement in the United States for any particular comment they might have. I think it is speculative at this point to comment on what they are investigating. Obviously, they are looking into his motivation, his intentions, whether he had accomplices and whether he was part of a wider network and is affiliated with international terrorist groups.

In terms of the group that you mention, I am not in a position to comment on whether they have had any activities in the United States. I think law enforcement would be in a position to talk about that if they can.

QUESTION: What can you say about Canadian reports that the United States has asked Canada to be a little more vigilant in cases like this? After all, this guy who was wanted for theft had managed to travel right across Canada and stay in a motel there for some time without anyone apparently noticing. Did the United States -

MR. FOLEY: As I indicated to you, the FBI is cooperating very closely with Canadian law enforcement in this investigation. I can't comment as to what in particular they are discussing and what the nature of the cooperation is. We have a lot of confidence in the ability of our Canadian friends to undertake effective counter-terrorist work and effective law enforcement work.

I think there has been press reporting - speculation to the contrary that is not shared in the government. We have a lot of confidence, as I said, in our Canadian partners and we are working very closely with them as we pursue all leads that are relevant to this investigation. But I can't comment on the particular details of our dialogue with the Canadians.

QUESTION: Can you speak to the concerns you might have about the potential for more people like this Algerian man crossing in from Canada - concerns about maybe Canadian immigration law, the ease of those kinds of people to enter Canada?

MR. FOLEY: Well, it is clearly important that law enforcement in the United States as well as Canada and elsewhere be extremely vigilant, now and at all times. But given the fact that we have issued a worldwide caution and we have indicated that we have information that terrorists are undertaking planning for attacks during the New Year period, it is obviously particularly important now for there to be maximum vigilance. And federal law enforcement authorities today are, indeed, acting with great vigilance and I think probably you saw Mr. Berger, some of you, on TV yesterday talking about the need for Americans themselves, especially as they travel overseas, to be especially vigilant in this period.

QUESTION: Has your department had any communication with its Canadian counterparts over this issue?

MR. FOLEY: This has been mostly handled by law enforcement, in particular by the FBI. I can't rule out that there has been some diplomatic communication through our embassies, our embassy in Ottawa and the Canadian embassy here, but I am not aware of the particulars.

QUESTION: As far as violence in Sri Lanka and elections, if the US has anybody there to watch the elections?

MR. FOLEY: Is this on the same subject?

QUESTION: No.

MR. FOLEY: Are we finished with this subject?

QUESTION: Can you talk at all about tangible border - beefing up at the borders, or is that something that -

MR. FOLEY: It's not a State Department matter. As Under Secretary Pickering indicated in the previous briefing here a few minutes ago, we can speak from this podium in the State Department to the overseas situation. But domestic agencies, law enforcement agencies, will have to give you the answers on our domestic borders and security.

QUESTION: On related terrorism - I don't know if this is going to be related or not, but there is a report on the wires that our US embassy in Cambodia has been closed due to bomb threats. Can you confirm it? Have there been bomb threats and is it related to any of the other arrests or possibly related?

MR. FOLEY: The reports are a little exaggerated. What we've done in our embassy in Phnom Penh is to suspend our visa operations temporarily until security measures are further assessed. In other words, the embassy remains open for diplomatic business.

As a practical matter, this affects applicants for immigrant visas because most of the work that we do processing non-immigrant - that is, tourist - visas in Cambodia or from Cambodia is done at our embassy in Bangkok. But we do have some security information that we are following up on that has led to the decision to suspend visa operations temporarily. I am not in a position to draw any links with security concerns elsewhere in the world, though.

QUESTION: Someone in NBC told us, though, that it was bomb threats. Can you - specific bomb threats against the embassy at all?

MR. FOLEY: Perhaps you might want to give me the name afterwards of the person you spoke to in the embassy. No, I can't confirm that. We do have specific security concerns at our post in Phnom Penh that led to the suspension of visa operations and that's something that we're following up on. But I am not drawing a link between the adjustment in our tactical posture in Phnom Penh with events elsewhere in the world.

QUESTION: In terms of shutting down visa operations, we were told in the previous briefing that there will be no visas for non-immigrants for two days and none for immigrants for two weeks, and that was because those people could be used for Y2K. Is there a security component to that as well, that you simply don't want to be opening the embassies up during this period to others?

MR. FOLEY: Not that I am aware of. I can confirm, though, that our embassies are in a heightened posture, and would have been anyway, as we approached the turn of the millennium, and now with the specific threat information that we've shared with the public eight days ago or nine days ago, the embassies, US embassies around the world are indeed in a very heightened security posture.

But my understanding, though, is that these personnel adjustments to the staffing of our embassies are related to the fact that we have to shift the focus of our workload to the Y2K rollover during that period.

QUESTION: Yes. If you could just tell us when the visa operations at the embassy in Phnom Penh were suspended and how long? This is indefinite, I take it?

MR. FOLEY: It's temporary. Indefinite sounds like it could be forever. It is temporary; we are reviewing our security posture. I don't know how long it will last. I'll have to check that for you. I don't know.

QUESTION: As far as terrorism is concerned, that over 200 people have been arrested in Pakistan, mostly Afghanis and Pakistanis coming from Afghanistan where Usama bin Ladin is there and he is directing them to go out and attack Americans wherever they are, including in Pakistan, India and elsewhere.

Now, if anyone is watching his activities, since we don't have much to do with the Taliban government really because sanctions are there and nobody is talking with the Taliban government, so how are the communications going on during this period of -

MR. FOLEY: Communications between the United States and the Taliban?

QUESTION: Right, because Usama bin Ladin is there, to watch his activities and -

MR. FOLEY: As I indicated last week, we meet with the Taliban from time to time in New York. We are able to meet with them elsewhere if necessary. Communication is not a problem in terms of our relationship with the Taliban. The problem is the fact that the Taliban continues to harbor the wanted international terrorist Usama bin Ladin and the Taliban is flouting the requirements of a UN Security Council resolution and continuing to harbor bin Ladin. So communication is not a problem; we can continue to talk to the Taliban if we want to.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) - people arrested in Pakistan?

MR. FOLEY: I have something on that that's gone missing. What I can tell you, though, is that there have been some conflicting reports, I think quite a lot of confusion about the situation in Pakistan over the last few days. All of you have seen press reporting to the effect that some 200 people were arrested and it has been attributed to counter-terrorist efforts or operations in the press.

Again, it is not entirely clear what the true facts are because our understanding from talking to the Pakistani Government is that there was a crime that occurred on Friday at some point, a Ministry of Finance official was murdered and there was a roundup of suspects, but I am not giving that to you as the final word on the story.

I think the best place to get an answer is with the Pakistani authorities. It may be that there is a mixture of reporting involved there, but we are not in a position to confirm it either way.

Yes, new subject or same subject?

QUESTION: Same subject.

MR. FOLEY: Yes.

QUESTION: Given the arrest of the Algerian at the Canadian border and the fact that they arrested, I think, 11 other Algerians in Montreal in the last couple of days. Have you beefed up security at your Canadian embassy and your Canadian consulates in response to that in the last several days?

MR. FOLEY: I would refer you to the answer I gave a few minutes ago, which is that our embassies and posts around the world are in a heightened security posture.

QUESTION: Jim, I realize this question may be a little far out but let me try it. About 10 to 20 percent of all drugs that are attempted to be trafficked into the United States make it - don't make it. Those drugs are intercepted. The 80 percent to 90 percent are not. Now, do you have any idea what the statistics are when it comes to terrorist activities, those that actually get in the country and are not detected?

MR. FOLEY: I don't think it's a far-out question; it's one that is not a State Department issue, though. It has to do with our borders and protecting our borders.

QUESTION: Let's apply this to our embassies and all of our assets abroad.

MR. FOLEY: The question is?

QUESTION: The question is: What percentage approximately actually are foiled and what percentage are successful?

MR. FOLEY: Of?

QUESTION: Of bomb attacks.

MR. FOLEY: Well, we had two horrible explosions that destroyed two of our embassies in Africa a year and a half ago, so I think that's the answer to your question in part. Against that, however, we receive constantly different kinds of information about possible attacks against our facilities overseas, against our personnel overseas, and they are varying degrees of reliability.

We, of course, receive a great wealth or bulk of threats and information that don't pan out that probably weren't credible. That's the nature of this kind of business. But quite often, though, we receive information that has credibility and that working with local or host government security officials and law enforcement agencies, we're able to counter those threats. But we're not in a position, for obvious security reasons, to come out and talk to you in public every day about threats that were foiled or otherwise dealt successfully with.

QUESTION: I understand. Thank you.

MR. FOLEY: More on security?

QUESTION: As Ambassador Pickering mentioned, there have been four embassies that have been closed down in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova. Can you just tell me --

MR. FOLEY: I'm sorry. What was your question?

QUESTION: I'm sorry, not that they've been closed but people have been allowed to evacuate.

MR. FOLEY: Right.

QUESTION: Not closed, but reduced. What governs in which countries this happens? Why was it in those countries? Was it because of internal Y2K unreadiness, and then why wouldn't that be the case in some of the countries where w e know there may be a very direct threat?

MR. FOLEY: I would have to refer you to the announcement that we put out. I believe it was last week. I'm sorry, October 20.

QUESTION: The Russian. I read the Russian one, yes.

MR. FOLEY: We reissued the travel warning. It talks about, in some detail, the concerns we have in those four countries - Russia, Moldova, Belarus and the Ukraine - about the Y2K rollover period.

But what I want to stress though is that - and this is a term of art in sort of the State Department community - what was decided was to allow a voluntary departure from the post, and that's different from an ordered departure. Voluntary means that dependents especially and non-essential and non-emergency personnel may depart post if they wish. It's not mandatory and it's not everyone.

I think in the previous briefing somebody asked a question about how many have availed themselves of this, and we're looking into that. The numbers of personnel, people who work for our embassies, is fairly low. There is a larger number of dependents of spouses and children who have availed themselves, or will, of this. But we'll have to track down those numbers and get them for you.

QUESTION: Is that very uncommon that that would be done?

MR. FOLEY: Well, the Y2K rollover is, I think, by definition an uncommon event.

QUESTION: Are there other situations in which that is done?

MR. FOLEY: Voluntary departures? Oh, sure, sure.

QUESTION: War zones? I mean --

MR. FOLEY: War zones or threats or acts of nature, and things of that nature.

QUESTION: New subject? Has the administration made a decision yet on the loans - blocking the loans to Talisman Oil?

MR. FOLEY: I think you stole the question out of your colleague's mouth there.

QUESTION: Sorry.

MR. FOLEY: Am I wrong? First of all, it's important to stress that ExImBank makes it decisions according to its governing statutes. At this time, the ExIm has not made a final decision on this transaction. I believe it's scheduled to do so tomorrow. The administration has provided the ExImBank with relevant facts.

In particular, let me point out that the administration recognizes that the failure to protect the rights of shareholders and creditors, including in bankruptcy proceedings, is a significant problem in Russia and represents a serious disincentive to investment. As Secretary Albright indicated last week, we are looking into this transaction. We're looking at a number of relevant issues, including those I mentioned, and also looking at the applicability of the Chafee amendment to the Export-Import Act. I'm not in a position to discuss the status of our internal deliberations at the moment, and I think you'll find out more about that tomorrow.

QUESTION: Have you been advised by the ExImBank on how it believes it developed --

MR. FOLEY: I can't tell you what the conduit was. As I said - and I think as the White House has said - relevant facts have been made available to the ExImBank. In terms of the Chafee amendment, that is a Presidential authority that's delegated to the Secretary of State but I'm not in a position to predict what the outcome will be. I'm simply telling you that we're taking a look at the possible applicability of the Chafee amendment.

QUESTION: What is the Chafee amendment?

MR. FOLEY: It allows for, on the basis of national interest, a determination not to proceed with the loan.

QUESTION: You said you had made available the relevant facts. Do these relevant facts, firstly, do they come with a recommendation of any kind; and, secondly, do they relate solely to the dispute over the bankruptcy affair or do they also relate to wider human rights concerns such as Chechnya?

MR. FOLEY: I indicated the extent to which our understanding of the relevance of the failure to protect shareholders and creditors in bankruptcy proceedings has been raised. The Chafee amendment itself refers to the national interest. I'm not in a position to really talk publicly about our internal deliberations. I'm just pointing out to you what are the relevant facts, but the ExIm will be meeting to make its determination tomorrow and, obviously, the government will be in a position to say more tomorrow.

QUESTION: Let me try one more time. If the US was to use the Chafee amendment, it would be - I guess this is going back to my colleague's question - because of the concern over Chechnya; it wouldn't be concern over, obviously, shareholders; it would be a national security concern and a concern over the ongoing war in Chechnya?

MR. FOLEY: No, I did not say that.

QUESTION: I'm asking.

MR. FOLEY: I'm not answering, to be honest. I've told you that we're looking at the possible applicability of the Chafee amendment. I talked about the fact that the administration has brought relevant facts to the attention of the ExImBank. I talked about the fact that we've had concerns about the bankruptcy proceedings. But I'm not in a position to say more at this moment about our internal deliberations.

QUESTION: Do you have any update on the US embassy in Quito?

MR. FOLEY: In Quito? Yes, I do.

QUESTION: The embassy is still closed?

MR. FOLEY: A Diplomatic Security team from the State Department will arrive in Quito later today to assess the security situation there. Unfortunately, the airport, the international airport in Quito, has been closed as a result of ash fall from the volcano that has erupted there. Therefore, the team had to be rerouted.

The team will arrive in Quito later today and as soon as they have assessed the situation and are satisfied that security concerns have been appropriately addressed, particularly the safety of Americans and Ecuadorians working in Quito and Guayaquil, our posts will reopen. I would like to stress, however, that the local authorities have already taken steps to address some of those concerns and we hope that our Diplomatic Security team will be able to be in a position to assess overall improvements that would allow for the reopening of the facilities.

QUESTION: Does this have something to do with Usama bin Ladin?

MR. FOLEY: No, I didn't say that. I think when this news broke on Friday we indicated that the embassy had security concerns, they were dealing with some suspicious activity that was observed and that, in addition, the embassy itself has security enhancements that need to be undertaken to improve the physical security on the premises and its surroundings, and that those issues needed to be addressed. And I believe, working with the government of Ecuador, we are in the process of addressing those concerns about the security of the facility and its perimeter and, meanwhile, the assessment is ongoing about some of the concerns about suspicious activity that had been observed. That is proceeding as well. But we have not drawn any links between what was observed locally and anything else going on in the world.

QUESTION: Jonathan Lipman with States News Service. A couple questions about the St. Martinville hostage situation, Cuban detainees. I understand that one of the five Cuban gentlemen who is theoretically going to be granted deportation to Cuba, Mr. Roberto Villargana is still serving state time for an attempted murder charge. I was wondering why the State Department or the INS, whoever did the negotiations, agreed to deport him back to Cuba when he was still serving time for charges here?

MR. FOLEY: First of all, it is not a State Department decision and so you are going to have to direct your question to law enforcement, local law enforcement, especially the FBI and the Justice Department, for the substantive answer to your particular question. But, nevertheless, I can tell you that we are gratified that the matter was brought to a peaceful resolution. The individuals are being returned to Cuba at their request and the government of Cuba has agreed to accept them.

We believe this resolution is in the best interest of the United States. It is, and this is at least a partial answer to your question, this return of these Cuban detainees to Cuba is consistent with our long-standing policy of removing deportable aliens to their country of origin.

More on this?

QUESTION: What was the State Department role in this? I have a couple of other follow-ups as well.

MR. FOLEY: Well, we are in charge of communicating with other governments. That is one of the obvious responsibilities of the State Department. So we were approached by US domestic agencies and asked to serve, if you will, as a conduit of information or at least a conduit of the request that Cuba agreed to take these detainees. And that's what the State Department did, and the result was a positive answer from Cuba.

QUESTION: Is there any linkage between this and the Elian Gonzalez case?

MR. FOLEY: Absolutely not.

QUESTION: And what is the status of that case?

MR. FOLEY: Well, you have to ask the INS for the exact status of the case. I believe the INS is still in the process of determining the issue of who speaks for the child. I read a press report that the family of the boy in Florida-based family of the boy, was meeting with the INS today and that I believe is an essential element of the INS's process of determining who speaks for the boy.

QUESTION: Any comment on the UN Secretary General's reports on Cyprus?

MR. FOLEY: Well, I would hope for a more specific question. I couldn't give you a general comment.

QUESTION: Anything on the EU decision or declaration of December 10 pertaining to Greek territorial disputes over the Aegean?

MR. FOLEY: We support the role of the Secretary General and his efforts to promote proximity talks on Cyprus and the fact that those talks will be reconvened, I think, at the end of January. We are very supportive of those efforts.

QUESTION: But I am asking about the Aegean, not on Cyprus, over the Aegean. The specific declaration or decision is dealing also for the dispute over the Aegean. So I would like to know the US decision vis-a-vis this decision.

MR. FOLEY: I am not aware that the United Nations is playing a role in the area of the dispute surrounding the Aegean.

QUESTION: No, no, I am saying about the EU, European Union -

MR. FOLEY: Oh, the EU?

QUESTION: -- decision, December 10, is dealing also with the Greek position over the Aegean. I would like to know the US position vis-a-vis this specific decision.

MR. FOLEY: I believe that the position of the United States is fairly - is broadly similar to the position of the EU in terms of the resolution of the disputes in the Aegean.

QUESTION: Can you repeat that? What is the US position?

MR. FOLEY: I said that I believe our position is broadly similar to that of the EU involving resolution of disputes in the Aegean.

QUESTION: In other words, do you support dialogue between Greece and Turkey, political one, and the undisputed problems that are heard in the International Court of Justice?

MR. FOLEY: Could you repeat the question, please?

QUESTION: The question is, otherwise, do you agree with the EU, which says that political dialogue should be first, as a first step, and the unresolved disputes should be addressed in the International Court of Justice?

MR. FOLEY: We're not in a position to be dictating to either of our two close friends and allies, Greece and Turkey, how they resolve their differences. We would like to see them resolve those differences. We, for our part, have said that we believe the parties ought to agree to take their disputes to the International Court of Justice or any other dispute resolution mechanism that they can agree to to refer disputes to. And are very supportive of that kind of an understanding.

QUESTION: But, Mr. Foley, a minute ago you said you agree with the EU decision which specifically says first political dialogue and then International Court of Justice.

MR. FOLEY: I am going to take another question. I am not going to exhaust this further. But just for the record, I did not say that we agreed. I said that our position was broadly similar.

QUESTION: On Sri Lanka, elections will be held tomorrow, as you mentioned in your statement. Also, she is in hospital, the president, and elections will go on. If US has anybody to watch the elections or monitoring the elections?

MR. FOLEY: I am not aware that we have a group of monitors from the United States who are watching and observing the elections. Certainly, our embassy is watching the conduct of the elections very closely and we hope that those elections will go forward now peacefully in the wake of these horrible attacks.

QUESTION: Do you support the Secretary General's report to the UN Security Council about Cyprus?

MR. FOLEY: I think you ought to focus your question a little bit more. I am not familiar with the report, broadly speaking.

QUESTION: The Secretary General, he prepared a new report about Cyprus to the Security Council, which he mentioned about what is peace force for the island and the other new development, he is offering that.

MR. FOLEY: I will have to take the question unless you can somehow refine or clarify a particular point. Thank you.

QUESTION: Change of subject?

MR. FOLEY: Yes, sure.

QUESTION: Can you tell us how far you've gone in finding a location for the Syrian-Israeli talks which start on January the 3rd and how much further arrangements have gone for bringing in the Lebanese at some stage, either -

MR. FOLEY: On the first issue, the location for the talks that resume on January 3rd in the Washington area, I checked before the briefing. I don't believe that a site has been finally selected. Obviously, they are working hard on that and we would expect to have a site finalized fairly soon. But that's not been finished and I will be in a position to let you know when we do have a site selection.

Right now, in terms of your second question, we are in discussion with the parties on when the Syrian - excuse me - on when the Lebanese-Israeli track can resume. We hope to see that track resume soon. I can't go into the details of those discussions but, again, we do hope that that important track can be restarted soon.

QUESTION: Back to Cuba? I apologize.

I don't know if you have any more information on this but I'm wondering if you can tell us, (a), where the detainees are in the process now? Are they being processed for their transportation back to Cuba and -- (inaudible) -- now want to go into the Bahamas?

Secondly, there were two who surrendered on Tuesday who were part of the team that took hostages. Were they part of your agreement with Cuba that they would also be deported?

MR. FOLEY: Again, this is not a State Department issue. I believe they were, but I would have to refer you to the Justice Department and the FBI for confirmation. The first question, though, had to do with information about their current whereabouts. As I understand that, INS, normally for reasons of security, does not speak publicly about those kinds of arrangements.

This is a regular procedure, though. The INS, I'm told, every month has a mechanism in place by which aliens or foreign nationals who are subject to deportation are returned to countries that wish to receive them. And this is a part of that process.

QUESTION: (Inaudible)?

MR. FOLEY: I don't have a comment about the latter question except to say that, clearly, the war in Chechnya did play an important role in the Russian election. What I can tell you about the results is that, with more than 80 percent of the vote counted, the Communists, the Communist Party apparently pulled around 24 percent, followed by the pro-Kremlin Unity Party at around 23.7 percent; the Primakov-Luzhkov Bloc received about 12.1 percent; the Union of Right Forces, 8.7 percent; Zhirinovskiy, 6.2 percent; and, Yabloko 6.1 percent. I don't think we get that precise in terms of our own elections, at least here from the State Department podium.

We are still awaiting the complete results for the single mandate seats. Until the new Duma actually convenes and the factional makeup becomes clear, it's not going to be possible to have a complete picture of what the new Duma will look like politically. But we believe it is important that those elections took place as scheduled. We believe that the parliamentary elections set the stage for the very important presidential race next June. We think that both these elections and the June presidential elections are key milestones in Russia's post-Communist development.

The fact of the matter is, elections are becoming routine in Russia, democratic elections. There is a further process of consolidation, a further movement away from the very long undemocratic past. We believe that these practices, democratic practices and institutions, are increasingly taking hold. This, of course, against a backdrop of very difficult economic adjustment to the free market. But in spite of those strains and stresses and the difficulties that average Russians are facing, it is clear that the Russian people are attached to the idea that they can choose their political leaders and their political institutions.

The turnout was fairly impressive, 61 percent, pretty much in the dead of winter. And that, too, is to the great credit of the Russian people. There was unprecedented participation of regional leaders and also new business leaders in the campaign process.

We believe that the strong showing by the Unity and centrist blocs suggest that the new Duma may turn out to be less ideological and also more pragmatic than its predecessor. We certainly hope that it will be more responsive to the needs of constituents on a range of bread-and-butter issues.

The OSCE determined that, at least thus far, determined that there were no serious violations in the voting process but it was a very tough campaign and, as some have said, a bare-knuckled campaign. The monitoring mission of the OSCE has expressed strong concern about some of the pre-election campaign tactics, most notably manipulation of media coverage. Also, the fact that being a member of parliament confers immunity on members of parliament has unfortunately encouraged criminals to seek seats in the new Duma.

But we hope that these problems are openly discussed as part of the public debate over the electoral process and we think, on the whole, it was a very positive development.

QUESTION: Thank you. Again, another question on Cyprus.

There was also an addendum accepted in addition to Secretary General's recent report on Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, through Turkey, stated that the functions or the operations of the United Nations peacekeeping force on the island should be ratified by two parties on the island and that a framework agreement should be done with the Turkish Cypriots also. And this has been agreed by the United Nations Secretary General and this framework agreement will be done very soon, in a month's time, as stated. And this has been interpreted by the sources in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus that it's an opening path to the recognition of the Turkish Cypriots.

First, how do you evaluate that? And, second, in addition to that, has there been any new letters submitted by President Clinton to the United Nations or has there been any involvement of the State Department in that respect?

MR. FOLEY: There's the question I was looking for.

QUESTION: Thank you.

MR. FOLEY: We understand that the Cypriot foreign minister met with UN officials on December 17 to seek clarification of this technical issue. In other words, it was an issue between Cypriot authorities and the United Nations, not the United States. The addendum states that the positions of Greece, the United Kingdom, Cyprus and Turkey in support of UN peacekeeping operations - it states their positions in support of UN peacekeeping operations on the island.

The addendum that you refer to also states without comment that Turkey believes the UN should develop peacekeeping modalities with both parties. That's, I think, what you were indicating. The UN spokesman clarified on Friday that there has been no change in UN policy nor has there been any change in US policy of recognizing only the government of the Republic of Cyprus.

QUESTION: Does the State Department believe that the question which has resurfaced about Jonathan Pollard should be considered or weighed by the administration within the context of whatever Middle East peace negotiations are going on or that it should be considered strictly within sort of a legal or humanitarian context?

MR. FOLEY: I think Mr. Lockhart spoke to that in his press briefing this morning. I just refer you to his comments.

QUESTION: You've bucked almost everything else to the Justice Department but there were discussions last week between State Department officials and Cuban officials at which the question of the Cubans who came to the US on the Mariel Boatlift almost 20 years ago came up, as it does in every one of these meetings. Do you have any information on the nature of that discussion?

MR. FOLEY: It's a good question because it's related to some of these events that we've been discussing. I don't know the answer; I'd be happy to look into it for you.

I know those numbers have gone down a bit. Clearly, they were at a high when the Mariel incidents happened and those numbers were higher than they are now. As I indicated in response to a previous question, there has been a trickle of returns over the last many years and so those numbers are down but there is still a sizable number that remain. But I don't have a readout as to whether this was raised and discussed and how it was addressed in the migration talks.

QUESTION: Can you tell us anything about US assistance to Venezuela (inaudible)?

MR. FOLEY: Yes, I'd be glad to. I believe Mr. Lockhart also stole my thunder in that regard earlier. But I can tell you -

QUESTION: Do you have anything to add to what he said?

MR. FOLEY: I don't quite remember exactly the details of what he said so let me seize the floor.

As President Clinton said on Friday or indicated on Friday, we were deeply saddened to learn of the death and destruction caused by flooding and mudslides in Venezuela. We are moving very quickly to provide assistance.

The United States Government has committed a fleet of 10 military helicopters, four

C-130 aircraft and one patrol boat to assist the Venezuelan Government with its search and rescue operations. The US military is actively supporting the Venezuelan military in evacuating injured and displaced persons from the disaster area.

Additionally, the United States Southern Command has dispatched a variety of technical experts to the disaster area. They are assisting the Venezuelan authorities in identifying the resources necessary for rehabilitating the area's infrastructure. General Wilhelm, who is our Commander-in-Chief of the US Southern Command, is in Caracas today assessing the scope of the disaster and the effectiveness of our military effort.

AID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, OFDA, has already provided more than $800,000 in assistance to the people of Venezuela. This includes a five-person USAID disaster assistance response team, paramedics and $200, 000 for the local purchase of supplies, including food, vaccines and medical equipment. The United States is airlifting relief supplies to Venezuela including blankets, plastic sheeting and water containers. These are arriving later today and tomorrow. Further assistance may be provided as needs are established by the reports of the assessment teams, by General Wilhelm also and by requests from the government of Venezuela.

Anything else?

QUESTION: How does it look for briefings this week? Have you got a schedule in mind?

MR. FOLEY: I don't know. It depends on your point of view, I think. For me it doesn't look so great. I think I'm going to be briefing tomorrow. I don't know about Wednesday. I don't think we'll brief on Thursday, but we'll play Wednesday by ear.

Thank you.

(The briefing concluded at 3:00 P.M.)

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