U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, 01-07-19

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

Phillip T. Reeker, Deputy Spokesman

Washington, DC

July 19, 2001

INDEX:

ARABIAN PENINSULA
1         Situation Update
G-8 SUMMIT
2         Potential Terrorism Threat
ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
2-5       Secretary Burns Travel / International Observers / Situation
          Update / Meetings / Anti-Semitism Issue
CHINA
5-6       Surveillance Plane Compensation / House Amendment
BELARUS
6-7       Report Validity
FRANCE
7         Ira Einhorn Appeal and Extradition
FRY
7-9       Talks Update / Reaction to Criticism / Contact with Xhaferi /
          Turkish Foreign Minister and NATO Involvement

MR. REEKER: Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome back to the State Department on this fine Thursday.

I would just like to take a moment to welcome an intern in our Bureau of Public Affairs. Mohib Karzai is here with us working this summer from John F. Kennedy High School. We are very pleased to have him in the Bureau this summer and pleased he can be at the briefing today.

I would also like to welcome interns from the French Embassy and five interns from our Bureau of European Affairs. So welcome to all of you. I hope we provide you with a lively time this afternoon.

Ready to begin. I have no other announcements. And Mr. Gedda from the Associated Press can start our fun and games.

QUESTION: Do you have a robust update for us on the Arabian Peninsula, relative to the public announcement issued last night?

MR. REEKER: We only deal in robust updates. Let me tell you, there isn't much to add from the public announcement that we did issue last night for the Arabian Peninsula which, as you know, supplements the worldwide caution which has been in effect for some time now, last updated June 22nd. As our notice last night indicated, the United States Government has strong indications that individuals may be planning imminent terrorist attacks against US interests in the Arabian Peninsula. In the past, such individuals have not distinguished between official and civilian targets. As always, we take this information seriously. US Government facilities remain at a heightened state of alert. American citizens in the region are urged to remain vigilant with regard to their personal security and to exercise caution.

While I don't have any further information on specific targets, timing or method of attack, we felt it necessary to share this information with the public so that people can be reminded of their security and take precautions if necessary. I think, as some of you are aware, all of our posts in that region at this time are closed because it's the weekend. They follow a Thursday-Friday weekend in the region, so they are following their normal weekend down time.

QUESTION: For what reason did you decide to restrict this warning just to that part of the world? Formerly, it was a worldwide warning.

MR. REEKER: Let me stress once again, as I have tried several times with all of you, this supplements the worldwide caution which remains in effect that was last updated June 22nd and that remains in effect worldwide. And I would refer you to that worldwide caution for some more detail in terms of the fact that we have learned that American citizens and interests abroad may be at increased risks of terrorist action from extremist groups. We have had a warning like that in place for some time.

This public announcement issued yesterday supplements that worldwide caution, focusing on the Arabian Peninsula.

QUESTION: How serious would you characterize the threat of terrorism at the G-8 Summit this weekend?

MR. REEKER: I don't think I have any particular characterization to make of it. As our worldwide caution indicates, terrorism is something that is unfortunately always with us at this point. And so we caution Americans, all American citizens, just as we caution our officials, to be very aware of that, to be aware of their security at any arrangement like the G-8 Summit, where you have a high-profile meeting of world leaders, obviously there is attention paid to that and obviously security is a very high priority. So I think our security forces will be working very closely with the Italian host security forces and others to make sure that we have maximum security at that.

QUESTION: Is there a reason why President Bush is not staying on in the floating hotels with the rest of the world leaders?

MR. REEKER: I think you need to direct your questions to the White House. I don't have anything on that.

QUESTION: Can you tell us who Assistant Secretary Burns has met and who he will meet on his trip to Europe?

MR. REEKER: Assistant Secretary Burns is in Europe -- that would be our Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs. Hold on one second; I don't know if have any details of his -- I don't. It is something I could check into. I know he is in Europe for consultations with European officials regarding our regional policies in terms of the Near East region. But I don't have a breakdown of with whom he has met, or his exact itinerary. I would be happy to check into that for you, though.

QUESTION: Is this in any way related to the statement that has come out of the G-8 meeting regarding international observers, and is there any change in the US position?

MR. REEKER: No, there is no change at all. I don't believe his trip to Europe is at all related to the G-8, per se. As you saw, the G-8 statement was released today. We fully endorse the G-8 foreign ministers’ statement, which notes that we believe that third-party monitoring accepted by both parties would serve their interests in implementing the Mitchell Report. And as you have heard from the Secretary of State himself, that has been our policy all along.

QUESTION: Yes, to follow up on that, have you in various levels and modes of diplomacy with the Israelis tried to make that argument to them? Have you stressed that you think it would be in their best interest to accept these observers?

MR. REEKER: I think the Secretary has made the point quite clearly, and I can go back and pull up transcripts for you of the times he has mentioned it in interviews and publicly, and I think probably from this podium, in terms of our view of that and how the Mitchell Committee would envision that. But again, we believe that monitoring must be accepted by both parties. We do believe it would serve their interests in implementing the Mitchell Report, which of course is the goal we have been talking about for some time now.

QUESTION: To follow up, specifically, did -- I understand this topic came up today in the meeting with Mr. Melchior and Deputy Secretary of State Armitage. Did again Armitage try to make this point, that it would be in their interest? Did he --

MR. REEKER: I don't have a full readout of that meeting. Deputy Secretary Armitage met with Deputy Foreign Minister Melchior of Israel to hear his views on the current situation. I believe it was frank exchange, and that Armitage reiterated the points that we have certainly been making from here, that the Secretary has made quite publicly, and that we have made to Israeli leaders for some time.

So I don't have a detailed readout of that conversation. I didn't have an opportunity to talk to Deputy Secretary Armitage about it. But in general, the same points that we have been discussing are the points that he reiterated and reaffirmed with the Deputy Foreign Minister from Israel.

QUESTION: But when you say "points," are you referring specifically to observers, or are you speaking more generally about the --

MR. REEKER: I am speaking more generally. I wasn't aware that we were focusing on observers in this conversation. I am talking about what we have made quite clear to the Israelis and to the Palestinians in terms of commentary, for instance, that we discussed yesterday.

QUESTION: When you use the word, "frank," can you expand a little on what you mean by that?

MR. REEKER: I can't, because as I indicated, I haven't had a full readout. I got a very straightforward -- you know, the meeting is over; it was a frank discussion. He raised the same points, as they told me, the points that I had raised with you yesterday and am happy to raise again today if you want.

QUESTION: Staying on Israel, have you confirmed the troop positions yet for the Israelis?

MR. REEKER: I don't know that I have details on that in particular. I know that we've said, as we have said before and I'll say it again now, Israeli incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas must stop. There can be no military solution to this conflict. I think it is a fairly fluid situation, which is why exact confirmations at any given point in time is somewhat difficult.

As we made clear to the Palestinians that attacks from areas under Palestinian control, such as the mortar attacks on Gilo yesterday and the shootings on Gilo earlier today, must come to an immediate end. Again, both sides have an obligation to exert maximum efforts to halt the ongoing tragedy and avoid the escalation and desist from provocation.

QUESTION: To follow up, just to make sure I understand, the troop movements this week are -- qualify as Israeli incursions?

MR. REEKER: Israeli incursions into Palestinian areas must stop. There have been incursions. I am not in a position to pinpoint all of them, as I indicated, at any given time.

QUESTION: Were there Palestinian -- were there Israeli incursions this week into Palestinian areas?

MR. REEKER: That is my understanding, this week.

QUESTION: Yes, okay. This week.

MR. REEKER: Yes, and those must stop. That is my present tense statement at this moment, 1:18 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Thursday.

QUESTION: I understand the former Prime Minister, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, met with Under Secretary Armitage. Do you have a readout of that meeting?

MR. REEKER: Yes, Deputy Secretary of State Armitage has been busy today, as he always is. He did have a meeting with former Israeli Prime Minister Barak to discuss the situation in the region and efforts to end the violence between Israelis and Palestinians and we welcomed the opportunity to hear his views on the current situation. I don't have any particular readout of that particular meeting either.

QUESTION: Did he deliver a message from Prime Minister Sharon?

MR. REEKER: Not that I'm aware of. I believe he is here on a private visit and took this opportunity to hear his views on the current situation.

QUESTION: Mr. Melchior said that the main purpose of his visit was actually to outline his concerns about the Durban UN Racism Conference and to try to get the United States to help stop -- as he put it -- it becoming an anti-Israeli farce. Can you tell us who from this building will be attending that conference?

MR. REEKER: I don't think I have that yet, necessarily. It is a conference that we would be most interested in, that Secretary Powell has discussed. We want to see it as a positive conference to focus on the future and improving the situation in terms of racism and the world. But I don't have details yet of our delegation to that. I think that is sometime the end of August, if I'm not mistaken.

QUESTION: Does the United States share his concern about anti-Semitism in the region and that somehow becoming an overriding issue?

MR. REEKER: Our views on that issue are fairly well known. That is something we have talked about for a long time. We don't think that should be the focus of this conference.

Anything else on the Middle East?

QUESTION: Two related questions. The Chinese Embassy spokesman had a news conference this morning. He said the United States and China are discussing China's requirements of compensation concerning the surveillance plane. And in connection with that, the House voted something like 424 to 6 yesterday against any compensation at all, either for the surveillance plane or for the care and feeding of the 24 crewmen for those 11 days. Any comment on either or both?

MR. REEKER: I know we are aware of the vote yesterday. I saw the reports on that, and I believe it is an amendment by Congressmen DeLay. We have not yet taken a position on that. I suspect they are studying the details of the amendment.

As you know, we have expressed our readiness to consider Chinese requests for payment of only those reasonable and appropriate costs directly associated with the process of the return of the EP-3 aircraft. And as we have said before, that is something that is being reviewed over at the Pentagon to determine what charges might be legitimate expenses related to return of the aircraft.

So I would refer you over there, I think, after they have completed their review. Then we will respond to the Chinese Government appropriately. But I just don't have anything new from here at this point.

QUESTION: You said talks were under way. Can you address that point?

MR. REEKER: Talks are under way?

QUESTION: Between the two sides?

MR. REEKER: As we have discussed, we have received a bill, if you want to call it that, from them, as I indicated. That has been sent to the Pentagon, which is studying that. And my understanding from talking just a little bit ago with my colleagues at the Pentagon is that they are continuing their careful review of the request from the Chinese to determine the charges that might be legitimate. So they are still looking at that, and it will be up to them to let you know where that stands.

QUESTION: In any case, the million dollars is out of the question; is that right?

MR. REEKER: I just don't have anything on the specific figures. I think they are looking at what legitimate costs may be involved as part of our readiness to consider requests for payment that are reasonable and appropriate, as we have said all along.

QUESTION: You said you haven't taken a position on the legislation or the amendment in the House. But the amendment in the House, as I understand it, would prohibit you from paying any money to the Chinese.

MR. REEKER: And we haven't taken a position on that amendment in the House.

QUESTION: But there is no way you would support not paying them any money, because you are discussing or the Pentagon is reviewing what you would eventually pay the Chinese?

MR. REEKER: Eli, we haven't taken a position on the amendment in the House. I am sure people are reviewing that amendment and what it means in terms of where it stands at this point.

QUESTION: Well, just one -- so there is a chance that you -- that that -- I know you haven't taken a position, but there is a chance that you could support the amendment in the House?

MR. REEKER: We haven't taken a position on the amendment in the House.

QUESTION: Okay.

QUESTION: I hate to do it, but to go back to Belarus.

MR. REEKER: Do it anyway. Oh, back to Belarus. I thought we were going to try amendments again.

QUESTION: The documents that -- whose praises you were singing yesterday.

MR. REEKER: I didn't sing any particular praises, I think. But please, go ahead.

QUESTION: Well, anyway, they have been denounced as fake by the Belarusian authorities today. So I wondered if you would like to say what the United States' understanding is of the validity of these documents.

MR. REEKER: I don't think I really have much to add to what I said yesterday. We cited in a formal statement we released and the discussion that we had, credible reports and publication of documents in Minsk, which implicate senior Lukashenko regime officials in the disappearances of, in particular, four Belarusian politicians. And there were also claims from two prosecutors from the prosecutor's office -- two investigators from the prosecutor's office in Belarus -- about a death squad, and we find these allegations -- we take them very seriously. We think there is some legitimate concern, that there is credibility to these reports, and that is why we have called upon the government of Belarus to have a clear, open, independent investigation to account for the whereabouts of the four gentlemen that we mentioned.

QUESTION: The appeal of Ira Einhorn was rejected today in Strasbourg, France. Do you have any comments on this?

MR. REEKER: I saw that there was a decision by the European Court of Human Rights. I just don't have any details on it. So I am not in a position to comment at this point.

QUESTION: Is that a green light for him to be extradited?

MR. REEKER: I will agree that that is the way it looked from the media reports, but I haven't actually heard that we have had a chance to review the European Court of Human Rights' decision. So until we have been able to do that, I just wouldn't be in a position to comment formally.

QUESTION: What is your take on the state of play of the Macedonia talks? There is some reportage that they are broken down, that the Albanian side has walked out?

MR. REEKER: No, the talks are not broken down. They are continuing in Skopje. I know there are reports of some people not taking part in those talks today. We are in touch with all sides as we have been, including Mr. Xhaferi, who is reported to have left the talks. We are encouraging all parties to participate actively in the ongoing talks and that is, as we discussed yesterday, part of a negotiation. And it is this sort of process that we called for all along, a political dialogue, a negotiation.

We have been there in the form of our advisor, Ambassador Pardew, Mr. Leotard, the special envoy of the European Union, and along with specialist experts from the European Union to work with President Trajkovski and to work with all the parties, all the legitimate political parties in Macedonia, to help them find compromises that address the concerns of all sides. That is what a negotiation is about; it's about thinking carefully about what is important to you, looking ahead to the future and finding compromises that everybody can agree upon.

We are quite confident that the structures that exist in Macedonia can help this to come to a successful conclusion. And so those talks continue and we will continue facilitating. As you know, there is no deadline for reaching an agreement. I think President Trajkovski reiterated that in his statement yesterday. And so we want to see that process continue because there is only a political solution to this problem in Macedonia and I think all the people in Macedonia know that.

QUESTION: Any reaction to criticism of Ambassador Pardew and Mr. Leotard?

MR. REEKER: We reacted to that a bit yesterday. I discussed that a bit from here. You will note that the European Union High Representative, Mr. Solana, and the NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson, put out a statement that we stand by and support very much in terms of reminding everybody that the international facilitators are in Skopje at the invitation of the Government of Macedonia and the Government of Macedonia has been informed of every step that the facilitators have taken. The EU and NATO, Ambassador Pardew from the United States, are helping a country faced with great difficulties.

As the statement released by Lord Robertson and Dr. Solana says, the international community has given no support or comfort to the ethnic Albanian armed groups. We have been very clear from this podium and in our statements both from the President, from the Secretary of State, that we do not support the armed Albanian extremists. We do not support violence. That has been something that we have stated quite clearly.

What we do support, and we are strongly committed to, is democratic institutions, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of Macedonia. And this is reflected in the proposals that have been presented by the international facilitators. Those are proposals that are part of a negotiation. All the parties need to come together to try to take the emotion out of it and work diligently to make compromises and to work in a process.

Nobody is wedded to a particular text. That is what facilitators do in this process of negotiations. So we will keep at it.

QUESTION: Why did Lord Robertson and Mr. Javier Solana cancel their visit to Skopje? Was it expected to be -- I mean, the agreement was expected to be signed today, or it was any other reason?

MR. REEKER: Not that I am aware of. I think you would need to ask them. I know they have both been in Macedonia at different times, and I know there was discussion about travel. But at this point, the talks are still ongoing. They released a statement today from Brussels, a joint press statement from those two leaders -- which I just discussed and supported, the points that they made.

I think right now that the talks need to continue, the various parties -- there are a number of political parties involved -- need to continue working on that, and they will do that with the representatives of the EU, with the representative of the United States, in trying to move forward on that.

I would refer you to them for their specific travel plans.

QUESTION: When you say that you are still in touch with Arben Xhaferi, do you mean the United States mediator is unilaterally in touch with Arben Xhaferi, or what do you mean?

MR. REEKER: I know that we are in touch with him generally. I mean, our embassy knows him extremely well. Mr. Pardew knows him well. The Secretary has met him, spoken to him. So I can't give you an exact breakdown, but we are in touch with Arben Xhaferi and his party, and the other ethnic Albanian political parties, as well as the, I think, Macedonian political parties and all of the people who are working on this process, to try to move forward and find political solutions, compromises that will help us reach a solution so that Macedonia can move forward to a more promising future.

QUESTION: Is there any specific role that Mr. Ismail Cem has in the negotiations that are going on in Macedonia, or it's just the --

MR. REEKER: Are you referring to the Turkish Foreign Minister?

QUESTION: Yes.

MR. REEKER: I did understand that he was there. But I am not aware of --

QUESTION: But he had (inaudible) with all the parties. But was there --

MR. REEKER: Well, as you know, NATO has been involved. We just discussed the joint statement from NATO and the European Union. NATO has been involved. Turkey is a NATO ally. They have been strong supporters of a positive process in Macedonia. I just can't give you any details on the Turkish Foreign Minister's trip to Macedonia. You might check with the Turkish Embassy.

Anything else? Great, thanks.

QUESTION: Thank you.[End]

Released on July 19, 2001

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