US Department of State Daily Briefing #33:
Thursday, 2/28/91
Tutwiler
Source: State Department Spokesman Margaret Tutwiler
Description: 12:27 PM, Washington, DC
Date: Feb 28, 19912/28/91
Category: Briefings
Region: MidEast/North Africa, Eurasia
Country: Syria, USSR (former), Israel, Iraq, Kuwait,
Jordan
Subject: Terrorism, Regional/Civil Unrest,
Trade/Economics, Development/Relief Aid,
Military Affairs, United Nations, State Department
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
MS. TUTWILER: I have a number of things that I'd like
to tell you, and then I'll be happy to try to answer your
questions. As you know, there are going to be many questions
that I cannot precisely and concretely and definitively answer
today. We will try to answer those that we can and hope you
understand some things are in flux right now -- conversations
are going on, meetings are going on. I can't answer everything.
[Iraq: Diplomatic Contacts by Secretary and Others]
To recap, as some of you know -- because I talked to
you last night and others of us did here -- you know that
Secretary Baker met with Douglas Hurd yesterday. You know that
he met with Prince Bandar. I've mentioned to you all that he
called the Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union last night prior
to the President's 9:00 o'clock address. He also called the
Secretary General of the United Nations. He also talked to the
Foreign Minister of Canada.
Again, last night the State Department sent a cable
worldwide to all our posts of the President's statement. Under
Secretary Kimmitt met with the Swiss Ambassador to pass the
President's statement to the Iranians. The five regional
Assistant Secretaries at the Department met or talked on the
phone with all of the Ambassadors of the approximately 40
countries or more of the coalition.
Today, Secretary Baker has spoken to Prince Sa'ud of
Saudi Arabia, and he received a call from the Prime Minister of
Canada, Brian Mulroney. Secretary Baker, as you know, is today
seeing the Foreign Minister of France, Roland Dumas. He has two
additional meetings scheduled now. On Monday he will be seeing
the Foreign Minister of Italy here at the State Department, and
either on Monday or Tuesday he will be seeing the Foreign
Minister of Canada here at the State Department.
As I mentioned last night, he spoke with the Soviet
Foreign Minister. The Secretary asked the Foreign Minister to
convey, obviously, President Bush's message contained in his
statement to President Gorbachev. Obviously, the Foreign
Minister said he would do that immediately.
He also asked the Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union
to encourage the Iraqis to designate a military representative
to meet with our coalition representatives in order to deal with
the military issues of a cease-fire. The Foreign Minister said
that he would do that.
The Secretary also asked him -- keep this in the time
frame -- last night to please use their influence to get the
Iraqis to accept and to implement the United Nations
resolutions. They said they would also do this.
The two Ministers discussed a possible visit of the
Secretary of State to the Soviet Union, and the Foreign Minister
said, just as a general characterization, how very much he
appreciated Secretary Baker's call, and how pleased he was with
the contents of the President's statement.
[Gulf: Secretary's Trip]
Concerning Secretary Baker's trip, I do not, obviously,
have all the details worked out. We are tentatively looking at
leaving on Wednesday. The countries that the Secretary is
anticipating visiting are Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt, Israel,
Turkey and the Soviet Union.
We expect, obviously, to consult with the Government of
Kuwait. I just cannot tell you at this moment where they will
be located.
We will probably return to Washington on either the
14th or the 15th, and we want to, as we always do, hold open
that we can change the schedule. There is no order that I just
gave you, and (2) that's not the order in which we will be
visiting those countries. The only order that I can tell you is
that Saudi Arabia will definitely be the first country that we
go to.
The purpose of this trip, as the President stated last
night, will be to consult. The Secretary views these as true
consultations with the countries in the region. The Secretary
and the President do not underestimate the difficulty of
securing the peace, the challenges that will be involved, and
the problems that will need to be addressed, and they both
recognize, as do many, many people, that these are very, very
difficult problems.
The areas for discussion are the ones you're familiar
with: regional security arrangements, arms control and
proliferation, Arab-Israeli peace, regional economic
cooperation. I would also like to point out, as we have said
many, many times, that the countries in the region will
obviously have to take the lead.
[Iraq: Return of US Ambassador]
The other thing I would like to update you on is that
Ambassador Skip Gnehm is in Dharhan this morning. He is there
with his country team. He also has with him the 50 Civil
Affairs Command individuals of the 352nd I mentioned yesterday.
They are going in tomorrow. The reason for the delay is to
secure our Embassy and, as you know, the Marines and special
military personnel are there at this moment assuring that.
Concerning the Kuwaiti government, it is my
understanding that a team of Kuwaiti ministers and staff members
will return to Kuwait City tomorrow, including the Minister of
State for Cabinet Affairs, the Ministers of Communication, Water
and Electricity, Defense, Housing and Interior. They will begin
the work of restoring basic services in their various areas. At
the same time, they will prepare a secure site to prepare for
the return of the Crown Prince.
Employees of the various Ministries in Kuwait who
remained in Kuwait during the occupation began to report to work
yesterday and have started such essential tasks as assessing
damage to the power grid and communications lines. I'm sure
several of you who have members of your news organization there
in Kuwait have really quite impressive and heroic stories to
tell of people who have returned to their buildings. Their
buildings -- many of which are destroyed -- have so much damage
done to them, and these people are right back at it, going to
work, and trying to get their businesses and their country,
obviously, immediately back up on its feet.
When our Ambassador goes back, I do not know if he will
immediately occupy our Embassy building. That will be
determined by the security, obviously, of it, and they could at
first be located for a few days in another facility, and I don't
know specifically how that will work out.
[Iraq: Update on UN Discussions]
The final thing I'd like to give you an update on is
what's going on at the United Nations. As you know, this
morning they had -- I'm not sure if they're concluded -- a very
brief informal Security Council meeting, the purpose of which
was for our Ambassador to restate the President's statement of
last night and to hear from the Iraqi Ambassador concerning
their acceptance, as they have said, of 12 United Nations
resolutions.
As you know, the President said last night that the
political issues that need to be dealt with will be dealt with
in the Security Council. We, the United States right now, are
currently working on a proposed approach. We are obviously
discussing this approach with our coalition partners first.
These discussions have begun. As you know, Hurd was here
yesterday; Dumas will be here today.
We would then envision that these consultations would
result in a new resolution that we would take to the Security
Council at the earliest opportunity, probably no later than
tomorrow. The resolution will contain terms and conditions
which represent the political considerations that have to be
addressed for the termination of the war, such as release of
Kuwaiti detainees and third-country nationals; acceptance and
implementation of all United Nations resolutions; and, as you
know, concerning several things you've asked me about, our views
have not changed. We have always said that if Saddam Hussein
remains in power, it's the view of the United States Government
that an arms embargo must continue. That remains our view.
Concerning war crimes and reparation issues, those
discussions are going on right now with our coalition partners.
Concerning economic sanctions, that is something that will be
decided by the Security Council. The resolution that the
coalition will discuss in the Security Council will contain the
political requirements that are necessary, as I said, for
termination of the war.
Additional items that may show up in such a resolution
that are being discussed right now, that are being looked at
right now, are things like, "reaffirm that all 12 United Nations
resolutions remain fully in effect." The Council will take note
of Iraq's acceptance of the resolutions and demand
implementation of those that are appropriate, such as: Iraq, as
you know -- I believe it was in early August -- the Iraqi
Revolutionary Council passed a law saying that Kuwait was the
19th province of Iraq. That is a piece of legislation that
obviously needs to be rescinded.
The immediate release of Kuwaiti detainees and
third-country nationals. Acceptance in principle of liability
of damage and injuries caused by Iraq. The immediate return of
Kuwaiti assets -- airplanes, incubators. All of the things that
you're all very familiar with that were stolen and raped and
taken out of this country need to be returned.
Remove economic sanctions against Kuwait. Tell the
Secretary General and others to work urgently, consistent with
existing resolutions, to provide humanitarian assistance to the
people of Iraq.
Q Excuse me. You said "renew" economic sanctions --
"review" --
MS. TUTWILER: As you know, we froze, to protect the
Kuwaiti government -- be removed. And, as you know, I believe
there have been four shipments -- by either the International
Committee of the Red Cross or the World Health Organization and
UNICEF -- of medical supplies. I believe it's four shipments
that have gone in. I remember that one, I believe, was 54 tons
of medicine. Medicine, as you know, is exempt and always has
been from these sanctions.
And those are the types of things that are being
discussed today at the Foreign Minister level, at the United
Nations representative level, at the Under Secretary level, the
Assistant Secretary level. That is what we're basically dealing
with today, and what we would envision as to how this will
continue to evolve. Thank you.
Q Do you now have in hand what you consider to be an
authoritative, official acceptance by Iraq of the terms laid
down by the coalition and President Bush?
MS. TUTWILER: Of their acceptance of the United
Nations resolutions?
Q Yes.
MS. TUTWILER: I do not know, Jim, because they have
not finished, exactly what the Iraqi Perm Rep is doing in this
meeting. That is what I was told we anticipated he would be
doing, so I don't have a definitive answer for you. But I don't
think there's any question that they have indeed accepted these.
Q So --
MS. TUTWILER: But accepted is one thing, and, as I
said, the international community and the coalition will be
looking to implementation of those that are relevant.
Q So things can proceed in the fashion that you've
laid out here without that official, authoritative acceptance by
Saddam Hussein of --
MS. TUTWILER: Yes. Marlin answered that question this
morning.
Q Why is it that you can say you don't think there's
any question about that now?
MS. TUTWILER: We don't believe that there is, Ralph.
We, as you know, before you get into meetings, have all kinds of
consultations and conversations prior to those meetings. I know
of absolutely no reason to believe, based on substance and the
knowledge I have of the situation, that they have not. But I
want to leave myself the room -- so that I'm not misleading you
if the Iraqi Permanent Rep right now has new instructions or has
changed something.
Q Margaret, a two-part question about Iran. Why the
messages to Iran, and do these contacts, even though indirect,
establish a basis for some sort of diplomatic relations or
diplomatic dealings with Iran that will continue in this
post-war period?
MS. TUTWILER: Barry, as you know, the President said
in his inaugural speech that he would -- and I'm totally
paraphrasing now -- basically welcome any authoritative
representative of the Iranian government if they would address
themselves to two subject. As I remember, one is
state-sponsored terrorism, and the other is the United States
hostages.
They have never picked the President up on that offer
that I'm aware of, and throughout this Administration, as we
have said, there has been any number at different times of
indirect contacts with the Iranian government. They are,
obviously, a geographic and demographic player in the region.
We had contacts with them throughout this crisis, and I have no
reasons to believe that we wouldn't continue indirect contacts
through the Swiss.
Q What is the U.S. position on lifting or not
lifting economic sanctions on Iraq? Does the U.S. favor lifting
them?
MS. TUTWILER: That is something that will be decided
in these consultations and at the Security Council.
Q Well, that's something that the Security Council
will decide. What is the U.S. Government's point of view on
that?
MS. TUTWILER: Our point of view is that those
conversations are going on, and I'm not going to answer the
question for you head on, because other things impact on what
our position will ultimately be. So I'm not in a position today
to be able to say "yea" or "nay."
Q Margaret, why did you today and the President last
night use the phrase that "Iraq must accept in principle the
liability for the economic damage that it has caused there"?
The U.N. resolution doesn't say anything about "in principle."
It says "paying restitution."
Is the United States trying to leave that intentionally
fuzzy to decide at some point to come off the idea of
restitution?
MS. TUTWILER: No, we have not. But as each day we get
up and deal with something new and different, we have not
changed our policy. We have not changed our views. But now
you're in a different situation, John, where this is now being
discussed. I don't know how this -- this is our proposed
approach.
We are proposing a new resolution. That resolution and
the form it will take is being discussed right now with many,
many people who will get into it. So, no, we haven't changed,
but we're part of a consultative process up at the U.N.
Q Do you concede then that the coalition led by the
United States might withdraw the requirement for restitution?
MS. TUTWILER: No. I haven't heard anything like that.
No.
Q What's your position on Iraqi war crimes?
MS. TUTWILER: Iraqi war crimes, as we have said
continuously, are being discussed, and it is still being
discussed today. As you know, various members of the coalition
have differing views concerning this subject. We have
throughout this crisis been collecting information. The Defense
Department is the depository of that information, and there's no
answer for you other than it's being discussed.
Q Margaret, could we talk about Saddam Hussein a
little bit?
MS. TUTWILER: Can we talk about him?
Q Yes. Let's get into that subject -- a fellow that
you wanted to go away, and you wouldn't sob if he did. You've
already -- you've got a plan here that assumes -- presumes he
might stay in power. In other words, by trying to keep the
sanctions on military supplies to Iraq if he remains in power.
Is the Administration, number one, getting kind of
resigned to the fact that they couldn't blow Saddam Hussein away,
and, if that's not the case, how would you expect the people of
Iraq -- who you keep saying have the decision to make who runs
their country -- how would you expect them to choose a new
leader and through what mechanism?
MS. TUTWILER: That, Barry, is obviously something for
the Iraqi people to determine themselves. Two, I think you said
something to the effect, "Are we disappointed that we did not
blow Saddam Hussein away?" I have stated, as has the President
and the Secretary of State, that that was never one of the goals
or objectives of the United Nations. It's never been stated
anywhere.
In the same breath, we have said -- and I believe the
Secretary said it again yesterday here at the Department, as did
Foreign Minister Hurd -- none of us would weep any tears.
Q All right. Now, when you say, "It's up to the
Iraqi people," the United States is a democracy. Do we have
some preference? Do you have some preference that there be a
democratic system of electing leaders in Iraq, even perhaps in
Kuwait and other countries? There aren't too many democracies
out there.
MS. TUTWILER: Obviously, our preferred government and
the model that we think is the most outstanding model is our
own. But, as you know, we deal with many, many, many people who
have different models. And the other fundamental of our policy
is that we do not dictate to other nations what type of
government they should have.
Q Margaret, could you tell me, do you or the people
in INR or anywhere else see any significance in the fact that
communications in the last couple of days have come less from
Saddam Hussein than from the Revolutionary Command Council and
from Tariq Aziz? Do we have any ideas that perhaps Saddam
Hussein might not have the kind of powers he has had in the past?
MS. TUTWILER: I've heard people muse, is the only way
I could characterize it for you now, Saul, along those lines,
but I don't believe as of today that we have a definitive
analysis yet of what exactly is going on inside that country.
Q One other thing on the economic sanctions: I take
it that there is a possibility that some economic sanctions
could be relaxed and other sanctions remain in place. I assume
that it's not an all-or-nothing sort of proposition that we're
discussing. Is that fair?
MS. TUTWILER: Well, there's never been, as you know, a
sanction on medical. On food, it has always been that you had
to go the Sanctions Committee for food. As I remember, you had
to go to the Sanctions Committee if you were going to, for
instance, charter an airplane and take in food. That,
obviously, would be very difficult right now because of the
situation at the airport.
So I can't answer for you -- since these discussions,
believe me, are going on at very senior levels in many, many
capitals -- exactly what's going to come out in this resolution.
Q I'm just asking as a matter of principle whether
the sanctions -- whether what you're discussing on the sanctions
is not whether they should be all on or all off, but whether
there could be the lifting of some sanctions on some things that
may be necessary for Iraq's well-being or reconstruction, or
whatever?
MS. TUTWILER: I can't guess that for you. That's
pushing me too far at this moment.
Q Does the United States favor an Arab peacekeeping
force, a United Nations constituted peacekeeping force? What
sort of peacekeeping force does the U.S. favor for that part of
the world?
MS. TUTWILER: Number one, John, I'm not aware that
there's a coalition decision for a peacekeeping force, and that
again is a subject that I don't have a lot of details to fill in
for you. Those are things that are right now being discussed.
Q Would that be one of the subjects to be discussed
on Baker's trip, the peacekeeping force?
MS. TUTWILER: That subject was discussed yesterday in
his meeting with the Foreign Minister of the U.K., and I would
envision it will continue to be discussed.
Q Margaret, one of the four points that the
Secretary is discussing with his colleagues is the Arab-Israeli
issue.
MS. TUTWILER: Correct.
Q How is that different from the linkage which this
Administration once avoided like the plague?
MS. TUTWILER: This is not a condition, and the way it
was being presented by Saddam Hussein was that he was
conditioning his behavior on this. We have never said that we
would go with any type of linkage or any type of conditionality.
And we have -- if you go back to President Bush and President
Gorbachev's Helsinki statement -- the Foreign Minister of the
Soviet Union in fact referred to it himself this morning in his
press conference -- if you go back to the President's statement
at the United Nations, if you look at our most recent joint
U.S.-Soviet statement, we have all said, the whole world has
been saying, that it is a very serious subject that does need to
be addressed but not linked and not conditioned.
Q But by linking it with the post-war planning,
isn't that a form of linkage?
MS. TUTWILER: Jim, the way it was coming for the last
six months was Saddam Hussein saying, "I will do X, if you do
this." That is quite different than what we were saying, which
was: this is a very serious subject that needs to be returned
to. It's not like we hadn't addressed ourselves to it in this
Administration. As I remember, we spent 14 months on it.
That's very different than saying, "I'll alter my behavior based
on you, the world, doing the following." We said, "No dice."
Q Margaret, follow on this one --
Q Margaret, could I just follow up on this?
MS. TUTWILER: Yes, Margaret.
Q On the Arab-Israeli issue. Prime Minister Shamir
gave a pretty tough speech a day or two ago. What are you --
what is Washington looking for from the Israelis in the way of
-- as you said, this issue has been worked on extensively before
this crisis. Are you looking for a different approach or a
different attitude on the part of the Israeli government, and,
if so, what are you looking for?
MS. TUTWILER: I think, Margaret, not to pre-empt the
Secretary of State's trip -- he is going to Israel. These are
obviously subjects he will be discussing with the Israeli
government and with others. He said here yesterday, which
you've heard him say many, many times, that you are not going to
make progress on Arab-Israeli peace unless the parties
themselves really want to make progress. And that has been his
view throughout. It's his view now.
And this is again something that I don't have the type
of detail yet that you would like. I think that it is
appropriate that he hear others' ideas also on this subject.
Q Margaret --
Q (Multiple questions)
MS. TUTWILER: Yes, Ralph.
Q You made an announcement today that the Secretary
would be visiting Israel for the first time in over two years in
this Administration.
MS. TUTWILER: Yes.
Q What was the purpose -- on what basis, for what
reason, did the United States decide it was now time after more
than two years to visit one of its closest allies in the Middle
East?
MS. TUTWILER: To be quite honest with you, I didn't
even think to ask him. Nor did I, Ralph, ask about any of the
other places he was going. You've been on a very fast track, as
I have. I just didn't think why I needed to ask him this
question. I think it's perfectly obvious. He's going.
Q Did he perhaps get a call from Israel saying they
were serious about peace?
MS. TUTWILER: He has not talked to the Foreign
Minister of Israel, I believe, since Saturday night.
Q Did the Prime Minister tell him they were serious
about peace and "Come on"?
MS. TUTWILER: In that conversation, John, I do not
believe that they discussed Arab-Israeli issues. As I remember
that conversation, it was to discuss the commencement of the
ground war.
Q Margaret, there are reports from Israel that
Israel will ask the U.S. Administration to come up with the --
in any contacts, whether it's the military contacts with the
Iraqis or the diplomatic contacts, to come up with the
assurances from the Iraqis regarding missile launching from west
Iraq. Are you aware of this Israeli, I would say, sensitive
attitude toward this issue? Have you got anything from
Jerusalem regarding this issue?
MS. TUTWILER: Number one, I'm not aware of anything
that we have gotten from Jerusalem on that issue. Number two, I
would refer you to the President of the United States' address
last night where he himself says, "Scuds launched at any other
countries." Israel is an obvious country. And, number three,
obviously, the United States is very sensitive to the Scud
attacks that Israel has had throughout this crisis. So, I mean,
of course, we're sensitive to it and know about it.
Q Margaret, in the post-war equation, what role do
you assign to Jordan? Are U.S. relations with Jordan likely to
improve following the war? And do the Jordanians still have an
important role in the Arab-Israeli peace process?
MS. TUTWILER: I can't answer the question for you,
Norm, on what role the Jordanians themselves want to choose to
play in the Arab-Israeli question.
Q What role was assigned by the United States?
MS. TUTWILER: I don't have an answer. That's getting
me beyond where I think we are this morning. And as far as our
relations with Jordan, we have expressed throughout this crisis
some of our disappointment over some of the statements that have
been made, but we have, at the same time, said that they are an
important country, obviously, in the region. They are our
friend, and we hope now that this is behind us that we can move
back to the good relations that we had before this crisis
started.
Q Any idea when the aid review will be completed?
MS. TUTWILER: No. I have to be honest with you, all I
know is it's still under review, and I haven't heard the results
of that review or when it's going to conclude.
Q What is your reaction, Margaret, to the reports
that Jordanian ammunition was found with Iraqi forces that was
shipped after the U.N. embargo?
MS. TUTWILER: We've seen those reports. We're looking
into them, but I have nothing to say about whether they're true
or false.
Q Do you believe that they violated the embargo --
that Jordan violated the embargo?
MS. TUTWILER: I'd rather, George, until we ourselves
actually have a chance to investigate what is there, to refrain
from answering "what if's." We are aware of it. We are
definitely looking into it. We just don't have any conclusions
yet.
Q Might it affect --
MS. TUTWILER: What, Connie?
Q Is it safe to assume the Secretary will go to
Israel last since he's not going to go first? And also, will he
be specifically asking the Arab countries to hold one-on-one
dialogues with Israel? Will he make that suggestion?
MS. TUTWILER: I do not know if that will be part of
his brief when he is in the region. And, as I said, in trying
to be helpful to you all, we have said where he's going. We do
not have the order, other than he will be going to Saudi Arabia
first. We started last night at 10:00 working with other
capitals to try to make all of the arrangements and handle the
logistics, etc., so I can't answer the first question.
Q Margaret, when you folks were ticked off at
Jordan, you still kept repeating, as far as the U.S. knew,
they're observing the embargo.
MS. TUTWILER: Correct.
Q Is that not operative anymore?
MS. TUTWILER: That is operative.
Q As far as you know, they're still observing the
embargo but you're looking into this particular report?
MS. TUTWILER: We are looking into this particular
report -- correct -- of arms that have been found that were --
this is the report; not what we think or know -- shipped after
the embargo. That is what we are looking into.
Q And a quick other arms question. Naturally, I
don't know if your wish list was an abbreviated description of
the various things you want.
Now, we have heard about the embargo of arms to Iraq in
a graduated sense, the emphasis being on denying them the major
stuff -- the nuclear, the chemical. Is the United States
clearly for a total ban on all arm shipments to Iraq if Saddam
Hussein remains in power -- all arms, all weapons?
MS. TUTWILER: That's my understanding, Barry. I have
never thought to ask the question. But the Secretary has always
expressed it as the arms embargo should remain in effect if
Saddam Hussein is still in power, is the United States' view. I
would imagine that means all.
Q He's emphasizing weapons of mass destruction --
chemical, nuclear.
MS. TUTWILER: That's right. But if you look at his
testimony last week, he said our view would be an arms embargo.
He did not literally say the word "total," but I just assume
that's what he means.
Q Margaret, is there any consideration or planning
being given here on the issue of perhaps -- when you were
talking about humanitarian aid through the United Nations to
Iraq, is there any consideration of humanitarian aid by the
United States to Iraq? I'm thinking along the lines of -- the
Army Corps of Engineers is helping the Kuwaitis with some basic
sort of sanitation repairs.
We all know that during the course of the air war,
things like the power grid were destroyed in Iraq and there's a
sewage problem in places like Baghdad -- the possibility of
disease. Is the United States at all considering offering to do
things like get the power grid back up for the Iraqis or --
MS. TUTWILER: Not that I am aware of, Mary, at all.
As you know, the Iraqi government broke relations with the
United States several weeks ago. I'm unaware of any type of
thought that is being given along those lines.
As far as medicine and food, as you know, it would be
through international relief agencies of which the United States
is a member and contributes to.
Q Margaret, the Secretary said in recent testimony
that the Allies would assist in the post-war reconstruction of
Iraq. Are you telling us now that that is conditional? And, if
so, what is it conditional on?
MS. TUTWILER: I believe that he said it is something
that would need to be discussed. But when Mary asked me, are we
literally looking into the level of detail of electrical grids
or generators, or those types of things, which we are looking
into for Kuwait, my answer is, no, we're not.
Q Is it being discussed?
MS. TUTWILER: So far in the discussions that I have
attended with the Secretary of State -- he's had two -- I have
not heard this type of subject being discussed. Medicine and
food, yes.
Q Does it depend on who's in power there?
MS. TUTWILER: Well, let's go back to the facts. The
Iraqi government has broken, severed relations with the United
States Government. So the ball, it would seem to me, before you
would ever get to all your hypotheticals, would be, are they
ever going to recognize the United States Government? It's
their deal.
Q Margaret, can you tell us whether there's any
efforts that the suggestions or the requests of Bessmertnykh to
prevail upon the Iraqis had any effect?
MS. TUTWILER: Well -- and I wanted to put this in the
timeframe -- I don't know. I know that the Foreign Minister
definitely said, yes, they would -- I checked right before I
came here and to my knowledge, either through political channels
at the United Nations or checking with the Pentagon, I am
unaware of any Iraqi contact with us to meet with General
Schwarzkopf.
Q Not only to meet with General Schwarzkopf, but
apparently --
MS. TUTWILER: On sanctions, I don't know the time.
Q They accepted the sanctions late or early this
morning, apparently after Baker's call. Do we know whether
there's any connection between the Soviet influence and Baker?
MS. TUTWILER: I don't, Saul. I don't know if that
decision and instruction had already been sent. I think their
instructions, because of their lack of communication ability,
are coming through Amman, Jordan. It is no secret that the
Soviet Union and many other countries that have contact with the
Iraqi government have been telling them this for weeks and days.
So at what moment Saddam Hussein, or the Revolutionary
Council decided, I don't know.
Q Margaret, can I go back to the decision by the
Secretary to go to Israel?
MS. TUTWILER: Yes.
Q Last June, the Secretary, in a dramatic appearance
before Congress, sent a public message to the Israelis saying,
"If you're serious about peace, -- when you're serious about
peace -- give us a call." What has changed?
MS. TUTWILER: The only reason for this trip and these
consultations, John, is not one dimensional. I have said the
other three baskets, the other three topics, the other three
subjects they will be discussing. What you're pulling out is
obviously factual and correct but that was addressing itself to
a specific issue.
The Secretary of State has said for the last two years
how much he very, very much wants to go to Israel; how he wanted
to go -- in fact, when he was Secretary of the Treasury and at
the White House, those trips, for other reasons, got cancelled
on him. He has very much wanted to go. He is very much looking
forward to going. He believes, and the President believes, that
this is the appropriate time and he's going.
Q I reiterate my question: What has changed in the
world situation that makes him believe that it is now possible
to talk to the Israelis about peace?
MS. TUTWILER: That will be one subject that he will be
discussing with the Israelis as he will with all the others he
is seeing in the region. It is not the only subject that he
will be discussing. Obviously, the world is quite different
today than it was, I believe -- what was that? -- 12 months ago
when he made that statement.
As he said to you yesterday, "There may be
opportunities here. We do not know but we do not underestimate
the challenges and the difficulties of many of these issues in
this region." He, in fact, I believe yesterday, said that many
of these issues are believed to be intractable. So he has said,
we don't underestimate this. The President said it last night
by saying how difficult and challenging it will be to secure the
peace.
At the same time, he and others believe that there
could be opportunities here.
Q If I could just make one more try and then I'll
leave it.
MS. TUTWILER: OK.
Q So it is a generalized belief that the world has
changed rather than any specific indication from Israel that
they are now ready to get serious about peace, that is causing
him to go to Israel next week?
MS. TUTWILER: To my knowledge, Secretary Baker, in the
conversations that he has had with the Foreign Minister -- and I
know with the Defense Minister when he was here -- this was not
a subject that was being discussed. At that time Scuds were
falling into the country of Israel. They were discussing
emergency military assistance that they needed.
John, people were discussing other things at that time.
If you recall, back when Secretary Baker made that statement, I
believe that was either shortly before the Israeli government at
that time fell, or quite close after that. I think everyone
acknowledges, we're in a different time here. A lot has
happened in the last 7 months.
Q When you say he's not going to the region just to
talk about Arab-Israeli --
MS. TUTWILER: That's what I said.
Q Right. One construction from what you said -- I'd
like to hear you say it, that he's going to talk to the Israelis
about these three other baskets; that he's thinking in terms of
Israel playing a role in regional security; he's thinking --
MS. TUTWILER: Sure. He has said that.
Q He is? Israel might --
MS. TUTWILER: He said it in testimony last week.
Q You mean Israel might be part of some regional
structure, including Arab countries that would protect the Gulf;
is that what you saying?
MS. TUTWILER: He has said all this.
Q OK. And are you saying that Israel should be
considered to receive some kind of reparations for the damage to
Israel from the Iraqis; is that part of it?
MS. TUTWILER: We have said, as you know -- and the
Secretary has -- that Israel definitely has economic needs, as
you know. I've told you this, I think, a dozen times. The
Secretary has raised this issue with the Foreign Minister of
Luxembourg who is currently the President of the EC. As you
know, the Germans have given a contribution. As you know, we
are aware of and are trying to help on Israel's economic needs.
Q And the fourth basket -- arms: Does that mean the
United States is now ready to consider -- after all, the United
States is virtually the only arms supplier to Israel -- is the
United States now ready to consider attacking the proliferation
problem by limiting or ending arm shipments to Israel?
MS. TUTWILER: The United States is prepared to have
these issues discussed with the players in the region, and the
United States is going, as I said, in a listening mode and also
is going for what we want to characterize as true consultations.
That is what this first round of trips will be. I cannot tell
you, Barry, that the four baskets are subjects that the
Secretary is going to discuss in every other country, including
the Soviet Union, that he isn't going to discuss with Israel.
Of course, he's going to.
Q I don't suspect the Israelis are going to say,
"Please stop arming us." So if it's discussed, it would have to
be -- the thrust would have to be some United States interest or
even half-warmed goal of cutting back on arm shipments to
Israel. Is that something he's liable to tell the Israelis?
MS. TUTWILER: You are taking this --
Q Literally -- yeah.
MS. TUTWILER: -- this issue way beyond where -- there
haven't been kind of decisions made, Barry, details fleshed out.
But is he going to address the same four areas of discussion in
Israel that he did yesterday with the UK, he will today with
France, he will with Germany on Friday, he will with Italy on
Monday, he will with Canada on Tuesday, he will in every country
he's going to? The answer is yes.
Q Margaret, can I just ask about Kuwait? The Amir
of Kuwait has declared a 3-month period of martial law which
will include press curbs as well. Does the U.S. support that?
Was Washington consulted about that?
MS. TUTWILER: What we said, Margaret, was that that is
a legitimate decision for the legitimate Government of Kuwait to
make. We said that we were definitely aware that they had been
thinking that they might need this. You didn't know how many
snipers would be in there. You didn't know how many people
would be still shooting, etc. Without us having an opinion on
it, we definitely view this as a legitimate decision for their
government to make. It's theirs to have made.
Q Margaret, what about the reports that Kuwaitis may
be hunting down Palestinians in Kuwait City in terms of
retaliation for what they believe is Palestinian collaboration
with the Iraqis? Have you heard anything? Do you know
anything? Have you asked the Kuwaiti government about it? Are
you concerned?
MS. TUTWILER: I have not seen one report like that.
It is something that, again, just like martial law, has been in
discussion with the Kuwaiti government. They are very well
aware that type of thing could have happened.
It is my understanding, Mary, it's the exact opposite;
that they have issued orders -- or not orders -- however they
communicate with their people -- to not take retribution, to not
take law and order into their own hands.
Q Can I go back to a subject to see whether you are
prepared to make any kind of comment on Shamir's statement?
MS. TUTWILER: I haven't seen it, Saul, to be honest.
Q It was in all the papers.
MS. TUTWILER: It probably was but I've been trying
like crazy this morning to get on top of what's going on at the
U.N. and this proposal --
Q I want to make sure you don't have the statement
on that.
MS. TUTWILER: I really don't. I honestly have
concentrated on this ball of wax today.
Q Margaret, can I go back to an earlier question?
Q I wanted to follow up on George for just a minute
and pin down. You said that the U.S. would be investigating
these reports of Jordanian shipments of arms after the embargo.
Is it safe to say that the fruits of that investigation would be
a factor in the decision on Jordan's aid?
MS. TUTWILER: You're taking me way beyond where we are
today. I have said we're aware of the report. We're aware of
the situation. We are taking it seriously. We are looking into
it. I don't know what we'll find. Once you see what you find,
what type of decision would that make? I can't answer those
things.
Q Also, I wanted to repeat my question of yesterday
and ask if there have been any discussion with the Saudis about
the Iraqi POWs, especially those that may not want to be
returned, as part of a political settlement at the U.N.?
MS. TUTWILER: I'm sorry. If we didn't get an answer
for you yesterday, that's something that I did not personally
follow up on, and it has not been raised in any meeting I've
been in all day yesterday and through the night and all day
today. I don't know.
Q The United States still regards Jordan as a friend
even though a strained friend. Why is Baker not going there in
this new world, as he is trying to discuss a New World Order?
MS. TUTWILER: I think that he thought that in the
timeframe that he has in his schedule and what all he has to do,
that the places that he is going to on this trip are the
appropriate places to go at this time.
Q So it's his busy schedule. It has nothing to do
with the political attitudes of the Jordanian government? It's
too far out of the way?
MS. TUTWILER: We don't want you all to get tired.
Q The last two trips that Secretary Baker has gone
to the Middle East, he goes to Syria. Everytime he goes there,
he has conversations with them about the problems we still have
with their past history with terrorism. But as far as we know,
nothing has come of this, but yet he's going back to Syria
again.
Does the United States believe that Syria should be a
major player in determining regional security for the region
since there's been no real progress that we can see with their
support of terrorism?
[Syria: US Relations and the Terrorism Issue]
MS. TUTWILER: The United States, as you know, has
serious discussions with the Syrian government concerning
terrorism. It is no secret that many people are very
appreciative of the role that Syria has played. Syria has been
considered throughout as a member of the coalition. They have
-- I've forgotten the last time we did this -- between 20,000
and 40,000 troops on the ground, there fighting.
So I would only answer you by saying -- you know,
because you go with us and travel with us -- that the Secretary
of State has made terrorism and our views on it very well known
to President Assad. And at the same time, President Bush and
the Secretary have been very appreciative that they have been
throughout a strong and loyal member of this coalition and had
troops on the ground.
Q But at some point in time we have to hold them
accountable, don't we? It's well and good that they contributed
20,000 troops to the effort but that doesn't erase the past that
they have with terrorism?
MS. TUTWILER: It also is a fact that before this
crisis we had a full-flown embassy and ambassador in that
country. As you know, in many countries we have issues that we
continue to press on and continue to discuss. It doesn't mean
that we don't continue. That's the only way I know how to
answer it.
We will continue. It has not lessened our interest in
it. But I've got to say that they have been a very important
part -- and many people believe this; many nations believe this
-- of this coalition.
Q Margaret, can I go back to a question earlier that
Mary raised about the potential of U.S. humanitarian aid to
Iraq?
It's my understanding that the OFDA actually has some
contingency plans.
MS. TUTWILER: The who?
Q The Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. I
wonder if you would look into it, because they have said that
they've got contingency plans. It all bears on whether or not
they're requested by the government, or whichever government is
in power in a particular place, to go in and help.
MS. TUTWILER: And they've put an announcement out to
this effect -- that they're ready to go?
Q They haven't put an announcement out, but On
Background they've talked about it.
MS. TUTWILER: We'll look into it.
Q If you could check into it.
MS. TUTWILER: Sure, Jan.
Q (Inaudible) Jordan to go over there. Would we
accept that invitation?
MS. TUTWILER: That, again, would get me right back
into a scheduling situation. I'd have to take a look at it. As
I've said, these are the places that the Secretary is going
to at this time. I said when I started this, "please don't hold
me to that." We could add places onto his trip. As many of you
know who travel with us, that usually is what happens at the
end. But I am not suggesting that the Secretary is looking
right now at any other place to go.
Q Have they asked, though?
MS. TUTWILER: Not to my knowledge.
Q Margaret, just to make sure we understand
something, you said before that in your view it is legitimate,
on the part of the Kuwaitis, to curb press freedoms?
MS. TUTWILER: I have not addressed myself to that part
of the question. I'm unaware of that, that they are doing that.
I addressed myself, I believe, to martial law. I don't know
about what they're doing with the press.
If there were restrictions, I would have to say they're
probably not holding up too well from what I've seen on my
networks. All of you correspondents, it appears to me --
Q It hasn't gone into effect yet. It would go into
effect once they get there.
MS. TUTWILER: I'm not familiar with what the Kuwaiti
government has determined to do, as you're telling me now, in
the future concerning the press. I just don't know.
Q Could you take the question, because it is part of
the package of martial law?
MS. TUTWILER: I'll be glad to.
Q OK, and one other thing. Is the Administration in
contact with the Iraqi exile groups at all, opposition groups
abroad?
MS. TUTWILER: Not that I know of, no. I can't say a
"no" emphatically, but not that I've ever heard of.
Q During the war, the U.S. Government had expressed
appreciation to Israel for the restraint it showed when the
Scuds were falling on its territory.
MS. TUTWILER: Absolutely.
Q Would the U.S. expect continued Israeli restraint
for what happened during the war?
MS. TUTWILER: That, obviously, is a decision the
Israeli government would have to make. They're a sovereign
nation. They made the decision to pursue the policy of
restraint over the last 7 months. I cannot answer that
question, nor have we ever been in a position of dictating to
other governments what they should or should not do.
But as you know, the President's statement last night
addressed itself to Scuds being shot at other countries.
Q To clear up one little thing on the original
statement --
Q If Israel takes action, as has been speculated in
some instances, even though they're not a party to it, would it
be a violation of the ceasefire?
MS. TUTWILER: It's a total hypothetical for me, Saul.
Q Would you take kindly to Israel taking action at
this point? They've promised to take action.
MS. TUTWILER: They've what?
Q At some point, on their terms, in their own good
time. I wonder whether --
MS. TUTWILER: It's just a total hypothetical.
Q Margaret, can I just come back to one -- clean up
a detail in your original statement on the U.N. resolution? You
listed --
MS. TUTWILER: On a potential resolution, would deal
with some of these types of things.
Q Right. You listed some things that you said were
in the U.S. proposal. You listed detainees and third country
nationals. You talked about arms embargo, but then it seemed to
me as though you drew a distinction -- drew a line -- and then
there were other issues: War crimes, reparations and economic
sanctions, you seem to put in a separate category. Is there a
reason for that?
MS. TUTWILER: No. What I've tried to do -- I hope
I've been clear -- is that the United States is looking at, on
that whole long list I gave you, the types of things that would
be in such a resolution that the Security Council is going to
work on.
I answered war crimes and war reparations by saying war
crimes, our view is exactly as it's been over the last many
weeks; and on reparations. And those discussions concerning
those two issues are also going on.
Q Are being proposed -- are not being proposed as
part of the suggested U.S. resolution?
MS. TUTWILER: I do not know, Ralph, because these are
just our initial, preliminary ideas overnight for the United
States and -- for 5 hours of this morning. I can't tell you
that it will or will not -- where it will end up.
My point was just to acknowledge those conversations
were going on so that you didn't ask me, well, you've just
dropped those things.
Q Margaret -- I'm sorry -- is the Secretary not
going to Turkey? That's not on the itinerary.
MS. TUTWILER: I said Turkey.
Q You did say Turkey?
MS. TUTWILER: I think I said Turkey. I intended to.
He is going to Turkey.
Q Margaret, has the Amir of Kuwait made a request
for permanent U.S. presence in Kuwait?
MS. TUTWILER: Not that I know of.
Q (Inaudible)
MS. TUTWILER: I don't know if I have anything, George.
Q On your list of things that are being discussed at
the United Nations and those consultations about what might be
in a resolution, did you say anything about the prisoners of
war?
MS. TUTWILER: No. Remember, the President last night,
I believe, said that General Schwarzkopf would be discussing
that military-to-military.
Q So that's a separate negotiation?
MS. TUTWILER: That's being discussed right now.
Q Thank you.
Q Barry, that's not fair. Filing break.
Q Filing break.
Q Do you have anything on U.S. contacts with the
Soviets concerning their relationship with the Sandinista
military?
MS. TUTWILER: No.
Q OK.
(Press briefing concluded at 1:17 p.m.)