US Department of State Daily Briefing #4:
Monday, 1/7/91
Boucher
Source: State Department Deputy Spokesman Richard
Boucher
Description: 12:38 PM; Washington, DC
Date: Jan 7, 19911/7/91
Category: Briefings
Region: MidEast/North Africa, Caribbean, Eurasia,
Central America
Country: Somalia, USSR (former), El Salvador, Haiti
Subject: Democratization, Military Affairs,
Development/Relief Aid, Terrorism,
State Department
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
MR. BOUCHER: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. If
I can, I'd like to start out with the situation in Haiti, and
then I'd be glad to take your questions.
[Haiti: Haitian President Rescued]
At approximately 9:30 a.m. today, Haitian army troops
took control of the Presidential Palace and freed President
Trouillot from her captors. Supporters of Roger LaFontant, the
former Interior Minister under Jean Claude Duvalier, had taken
President Trouillot captive last night as part of an attempt by
LaFontant to seize power. LaFontant is now under arrest.
Our Embassy reports that there was some gunfire, but
that the President was unharmed. We have no reports on
casualties.
We applaud General Abraham and the Haitian army for its
strong action in support of the constitutional government. We
also applaud President-elect Aristide for his radio appeal to
the Haitian people, in which he called for support of the
constitution, and we admire the courage of President Trouillot.
Today's action allows Haiti's democratic process to
continue with the inauguration February 7 of Jean Bertrand
Aristide, who was overwhelmingly elected as Haiti's new
President on December 16.
With that, I'd be glad to take your questions.
Q He was due here this week. Do you know if he's
still coming?
A No, I don't. I think any announcement on a visit
like that would be from the White House anyway.
Q Do you know if there are any plans being made
concerning the Embassy in Baghdad in view of the imminence of
January 15?
A The staffing of our Embassy in Baghdad remains
under review.
Q Are you planning to move out of the city at all?
A That came up on Friday. I don't -- we were not
approached directly by either the Iraqis or the -- I think at
this point, even of the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps with whom
they (inaudible) --
Q Have you at all spoken to the Indian Ambassador?
A I didn't check this morning. I hadn't heard that
we had, but I'll check again to make sure that we haven't been
approached directly. But, as I said, the question of staffing
remains under review. We have a small staff, a handful of staff
there now.
Q Are you planning to issue any warnings with
respect to the media in Baghdad?
A Again, I don't have anything for you at this
point.
Q Richard, is consideration being given to calling
off the summit between President Bush and President Gorbachev in
February?
A That's something I have to leave for Marlin to
address, and I understand he's already addressed it.
Q Do you have any information on dispatch of large
numbers of troops to the Baltic republics?
A Again, I don't think I have much more than what
Marlin said. I can give you that if you weren't -- if you
didn't hear it. First, to point out the United States has never
recognized the forcible incorporation of the Baltic states into
the Soviet Union, and we support the aspirations of the Baltic
people to control and determine their own future.
We have seen reports this morning that Soviet troops
are being sent to the Baltic republics. We have not been able
to independently confirm this information from official sources.
Nevertheless, Ambassador Matlock, who was in the Foreign
Ministry this morning on another matter, raised these reports
with Soviet Foreign Minister Shevardnadze.
The Ambassador pointed out that the leaders and people
of the Baltic states conducted themselves with dignity and
discipline, and he reiterated the U.S. policy on behalf of
peaceful negotiations.
Q Richard, what was the Foreign Minister's response?
A At this point I don't have any more details to
provide, or I'm not in a position to characterize his response.
Q If Matlock discussed this issue with such a high
official as Shevardnadze, how come you're not in a position to
independently confirm whether these troops have been dispatched
or not?
A We have seen various reports, both from our
Embassy in Moscow and from our Consulate in Leningrad, including
some contacts they had with officials in the Baltic republics.
At this point we don't know the size, the nature or the purpose
of the deployments, other than what I think you've all seen
publicly.
Q But you can confirm that they're actually being
made?
A No. I can't confirm that the deployments have
actually gone ahead -- whether troops have been moved, and that
sort of thing.
Q If troops were moved, that would be a provocation,
as you said last week about the --
A Well, as I said last week, we would be very
concerned about any sort of provocation, and I'll just stick
with that. Ambassador Matlock reiterated again our policy in
his meeting.
Q Richard, would you give us an update on the status
of the START talks? Are there problems in those talks? Is the
treaty likely to be ready for signing in time for this "maybe"
summit? And then I have a follow-up.
A David, I don't have an update with me today. I
know that our discussions with the Soviets have been continuing.
We're still working on the issues necessary. I don't have a
full readout. I'll have to try to get you one.
Q On the Conventional Arms Agreement, how serious
are the alleged violations by the Soviets of the agreement, and
what is being done about that?
A Again, that's something that we've addressed
before. I don't have any particular update today. The
agreement itself provided for a certain period of time under
which discrepancies and questions could be asked and answered.
The Secretary raised these when he was in Houston. He raised
them with Minister Shevardnadze.
There are what we call serious discrepancies of data
and questions of interpretation that we have been raising and
pursuing with the Soviets. But I'm not sure whether that's come
to conclusion yet.
Q Do you have any theory on why there are such wide
discrepancies?
A No. I don't.
Q Can I go back just briefly to Haiti? Was there
any communication between U.S. officials either in Haiti or here
and any of the parties in the events of the past 24 hours during
the course of those events, or are we purely watching?
A I'm told that we were not involved in any way in
ending the coup. The Haitian army acted on its own to support
the constitutional government.
Q Did they touch base with us before they acted?
A I don't know precisely whether we talked to
anybody or not, but we were not involved.
Q Richard, Secretary Baker mentioned yesterday that
we would be asking Congress to release the $42.5 million in
military aid to El Salvador. Can you expand on that? When will
the request actually be made, etc.?
A The decision on release is up to the President. I
don't think that has been made. The Secretary said that the
first thing we would do would be to talk to the Congress, and
certainly we'll be doing that.
Q And do you know by what deadline should this be
asked? Is there a deadline for that?
A It's some time this week that we have to report to
the Congress.
Q By the 10th?
A I'm not aware of the precise date.
Q Richard, he also said that these men ought to be
found, indicted and brought to justice. What are you going to
do about that?
A Let me run down the situation with El Salvador,
and I think you can see it in here. The FMLN has issued four
separate and contradictory statements on the shooting down of
our helicopter and the murders of the crew members. Now that
they can no longer deny the evidence, they are calling for an
international investigation.
As usual, the FMLN's actions give the lie to their
words. Just last Friday, FMLN guerrillas opened fire on the
forensic team that was up at the crash site doing the
investigation.
The Salvadoran government has told us it plans to
investigate and to prosecute these killings. We believe the
guerrillas should turn over those responsible to the Salvadoran
judicial authorities. They should publicly pledge not to take
retribution against witnesses, and they should stop the actions
such as last Friday's attack.
Q What happened to the forensic team? I mean, was
anybody hurt?
A No. No one was injured. They took off under
fire.
Q Who? The guerrillas?
A Yes. The guerrillas came and started shooting at
them, and they got back in the helicopters and took off.
Q New subject. The transcript says, "Well, the
first thing we're going to do is talk to the Congress about
releasing the restrictions that they have on the monies." It
seems that a decision has already been made.
A I don't think the President and the Secretary
indicated that. If he's made up his mind, I don't know that for
sure.
Q Is the United States prepared to provide any
protection for the one peasant farmer who says he's afraid for
his life after witnessing this?
A I hadn't seen that. I just don't know. I'm
sorry.
Q Richard, are we planning any retaliation that
you're aware of?
A I don't know how to answer hypothetical questions
like that other than to say that at this point that would be
hypothetical. We have said very clearly what we think should
happen. We don't have deployed forces down there. We have
trainers down there, and so without getting involved in a
discussion of every possibility, I think we've said very clearly
what we think should happen. The investigation should proceed,
and the Salvadoran authorities should be allowed to bring these
people to justice.
Q Are we providing any investigative help at all in
this --
A Well, we've provided the forensic team, and the
results of that forensic team investigation, and I'm sure we'll
provide any other assistance that we could.
Q Have they requested other assistance?
A I don't know. I'll have to check that.
Q How about any changes in the rules of engagement
for our soldiers there, given -- in the wake of this?
A You'll have to check with the Defense Department
on that.
Q The legislation on Salvador aid sets out certain
criteria under which the President can release the $42.5
million, and none of that criteria is related in any way to the
events of last week. It has to do with importing of weapons
from outside and engaging in military offensives, and it doesn't
say anything about shooting at Americans.
Are the two issues linked?
A Well, that's right, George. Under the criteria of
the legislation, the killings do not directly affect the release
of military aid. They do call into question the FMLN pledges
not to assassinate non-combatants, and the FMLN's seriousness in
seeking a peaceful settlement.
We'll be consulting with the Congress on the issue, and
the legislation gives the President the authority to release the
military aid if he determines that the conditions specified in
the legislation are being met.
Q Do you have any evaluation there of the FMLN's
behavior since the legislation was approved?
A We've said, I think, repeatedly that they have
been engaged in offensive actions; that they have conducted
attacks. There was an offensive or a mini-offensive that took
place, resulting in a lot of deaths, including deaths on the
part of civilians. I think we've characterized their behavior
repeatedly.
Q The key word for over there seems to be
"continuous offensive." Since this began in the month of
November, do we view the continuous shooting, including the
bringing down of this helicopter, as evidence of a continuous
offensive?
A Well, that's exactly what I was saying. My
understanding is that the President had to make that decision
and that had not been decided; that the precise criteria of the
aid -- the release of the aid -- had to be addressed, and we
will be talking to the Congress about that and making the
decision.
Q What is the Department's assessment today of the
situation in the Persian Gulf? Do you see any change of any
sort, any hopeful signs, any evidence of troop movements, etc.?
A The Department's assessment is exactly the same as
the Secretary's assessment on the airplane, and the Secretary's
assessment in the press conference today with Douglas Hurd.
We'll get you transcripts of those.
Q Richard, is the State Department aware of how many
people holding Iraqi passports are currently in the U.S. under
varying statuses?
A We don't really collect that kind of information.
That's the Immigration Service that keeps track of people
actually in the United States.
Q Is there any sort of thought being given to -- are
these people just free to do anything they would care to do
should there be hostilities in the Gulf? Is that a concern or
not a concern?
A Well, obviously, we're concerned about the
potential for terrorism both here and overseas. But as far as
whether we're planning anything against people who happen to be
in the United States, not that I'm aware of.
Q Britain expelled some Iraqis just to guard against
the possibility of terrorism. Do you rule out the possibility
that the U.S. might expell some Iraqis as a precautionary
matter?
A I would just note that we've already reduced the
staff of the Iraqi Embassy here in Washington.
Q Excuse me. Could you comment on a report in
today's Washington Times that the Iraqis could strike first, and
what is the position of the State Department toward that story?
A That --
Q What is the position of the State Department over
that story?
A I'm sorry, which story?
Q In the Washington Times today about the
possibility of a strike by the Iraqis first against the United
States.
A I don't really have a position for you. I think
we have to leave military matters to be addressed by the
Pentagon. They've done quite a number of briefings on Iraqi
capabilities.
Q Does that include concerns of the Hawk missiles
that you have to leave to the Pentagon? And the Times also
carries a story about Jordanian technicians working on the
U.S.-made Hawks that were captured?
A Yes.
Q The Secretary will be meeting both with NATO
Secretary General Woerner and the Turkish Premier, Ozal. Would
it be fair to expect that additional NATO deployments to Turkey
would be part of those discussions?
A I have to leave questions like that to the
Secretary and his party on the road.
Q Do you have anything to say of assertions on an
NBC television program last night of quoting -- with Americans
interviewed saying they've been tortured and beaten in what they
call Saudi Arabian dungeons? Are you aware of this, and any
comment about it?
A I wasn't aware of that particular report; no.
Q What about that situation, in general? There have
been allegations or claims over the years to that effect.
A There have been such allegations in the past. I'd
have to check our human rights reports to see how we addressed
them. And, of course, new human rights reports are due out
soon.
Q Richard, has the Department decided to delay
sending the Conventional Arms Treaty to the Senate?
A I don't know. I have to check.
Q Richard, do you have anything on the situation in
Somalia today, including the whereabouts of President Barre?
A Let me give you the rundown on Somalia, what went
on over the weekend. We don't have anything on the -- we don't
have any information on the question of the whereabouts of
President Barre.
The situation, as we understand it now, is that
fighting and looting in Mogadishu continue. It subsided long
enough today, however, for an Italian aircraft to bring out 260
more evacuees.
We evacuated about 300 people on Saturday. We're still
working to get a final count of the non-Americans who were
aboard. There were 66 Americans evacuated. Forty of these
people were U.S. Government personnel, 26 were private citizens.
I can run down for you, if you want it, the long list of other
nationalities of people who were evacuated.
No rising chorus of demand for that. So we'll just say
that there are -- I should have counted before I came in. It
looks like 29 other nationalities of people that we took out.
It included Ambassadors or Charge d'Affaires for a number of
nations, including Germany, Kenya, Kuwait, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar,
Sudan, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union.
We evacuated all the American citizens who were able to
reach the U.S. Embassy Compound. Some persons who also hold
dual U.S. and Somali citizenship probably remain in Somalia, but
we are not aware of any Americans -- there were no Americans
with whom we had contact who were not evacuated.
According to the latest reports from other evacuees,
the U.S. Embassy is being sacked. Looters had used
rocket-propelled grenades to blast down the doors and to remove
office furniture and other moveables from our Embassy.
Just on the policy side, we continue our humanitarian
interest in alleviating the Somali people's hunger and suffering
and helping them to reconstruct their shattered economy and
society. Given the anarchic situation in the country, of
course, there's little that we can do at present to address
those needs.
For the past two years, the U.S. has advocated peaceful
reconciliation of Somalia's domestic conflict. Recently, the
United States supported efforts by Egypt and Italy to mediate a
solution. The chances of a negotiated settlement now appear to
be very slim. However, we still support solutions that can
prevent further bloodshed.
Q Richard, has the status quo regarding American
hostages in Lebanon changed at all over the past couple of
weeks, particularly in light of today's news that Abu Nidal has
released four Belgians, I think?
A I hadn't seen the news on the release of the
Belgians. There is nothing new as to the status of our hostages
in Lebanon.
Q No more, no less hopeful; just the same?
A That's right. We're not in a position to
characterize. We don't have any information that might lead us
to think that they could be released.
Q Do you have anything on the Evans ∧ Novak column
this morning suggesting that Saddam might unleash terrorists
against U.S. interests if the U.S. attacks him?
A Well, since Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, we have
noted repeated examples of planning for possible terrorists
activity, including surveillance of potential American targets.
Iraqi officials, and terrorists sponsored by Iraq, have
publicly threatened a terrorist campaign in the event of
hostilities, and we take these threats seriously.
We have made clear that the United States will hold
Saddam Hussein directly responsible for any terrorist attacks
sponsored by Iraq. I recall for you the words of the President
on September 2l. He said, "Terrorism concerns me. It will
continue to concern me, and I will hold him -- Saddam Hussein --
as will our allies, directly responsible for terrorist acts."
We have issued three public statements warning
Americans of the possibility of terrorist attacks in the event
of hostilities in the Gulf, and these warnings remain in effect.
I would point out, however, that we don't, at this
time, have any specific and credible information that would
affect the public on imminent attacks.
Q Richard, over the weekend, the comments of the
Secretary overseas indicated, or seem to indicate that the
French initiative is dead as far as the U.S. is concerned -- the
diplomatic initiation. Can you confirm that that is absolutely
something that we would not accept?
A We'll get you a transcript of exactly what the
Secretary said.
Q Richard, to follow up on, I think, it was George's
question. You said that you've noted recent examples of
planning, including surveillance of potential American targets,
and yet you say you have no specific or credible information.
That sounds somewhat inconsistent. Either you have evidence of
something or you don't?
A There's a limit to the amount of information I can
provide to you. But there is a difference between activity of
terrorists, or potential terrorists, incidents of surveilliance
that we might note against our personnel or other places and
specific information that we sometimes get on attacks.
We have noted in our advisories so far that there were
terrorists that were active and that we were seriously concerned
about the threat of attacks, but we had no specific information
and still do not have specific information that an attack might
occur at a given moment or at a given place.
Q Well, these recent examples, to whom do you
attribute them? Are they Iraqi types or Iraqi-related
individuals?
A I think there's a limit to the amount that I can
go into this on. I think I'd just have to stick with what I
said.
Q Richard, on the question of the three statements,
the three advisories, are you including in that (Inaudible)
Sudan, and nearby countries -- Jordan or -- well, tell me, which
advisories?
A We have issued three separate advisories on the
issue of terrorism. We have also issued advisories relating to
unsettled conditions or, as in the case of Somalia, advisories
relating to the events that advise Americans to depart certain
countries. We had ordered the evacuation of some countries; we
authorized voluntary departure in other countries for our
personnel. So those are separate.
Q Separate from the three --
A Separate from the three terrorism ones.
Q Are there any examples that you've noticed of
planning for possible terrorist actions against American targets
in the United States?
A David, I'm not at liberty at this point to go into
it in any detail.
Q On the travel advisories, any indication as to
whether Americans are getting out of Jordan and Sudan in
significant numbers?
A I don't have an update for you. I'd have to look
for that.
Q When was the most recent of those advisories?
A I don't know off the top of my head. We'll get
you copies of all of them.
Q Thank you.
A Thank you.
(Press briefing concluded at 1:00 p.m.)
(###)