US Department of State Daily Briefing #41:
Wednesday, 3/13/91
Boucher
Source: State Department Deputy Spokesman Richard
Boucher
Description: 12:15 PM, Washington, DC
Date: Mar 13, 19913/13/91
Category: Briefings
Region: MidEast/North Africa, Central America,
North America
Country: Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia,
El Salvador, United States
Subject: Terrorism, Military Affairs, Human Rights,
Democratization, State Department,
Regional/Civil Unrest, POW/MIA Issues
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
MR. BOUCHER: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. If
I might, I guess I'll start off by updating you with everything
I can tell you about the unrest inside Iraq, and then we can go
on to your questions.
[Iraq: Civil Unrest Update]
As we have noted previously, the situation inside Iraq
remains very fluid. Our latest information indicates the
government is using larger forces in the Kurdish north in order
to suppress the widespread unrest there. Unrest continues in
the south, but it's difficult to give a clear picture of the
overall situation there today.
The government continues to employ particularly large
Republican Guard and regular army forces in the Basra area and
in and around the Shi'ite holy cities of Najaf and Karbala,
suggesting that the situation in these areas remain unstable.
We can confirm now that there was unrest in Baghdad
yesterday, probably in the Shi'a neighborhoods in the eastern
portion of the city.
With that, I'd be glad to take your questions.
Q Richard, does the fact that it's going on and on
have a accumulative eroding effect on government control?
MR. BOUCHER: Well, Jim, I think first of all we've
made clear with our statements over the past few days that
government control, when it's established, can often dissipate
rather quickly into renewed violence.
Second of all, we've refrained from trying to make
predictions about how this will go in the future. We see the
situation as very fluid, and we're not in a position to do that.
I think it does reflect how widespread the dissatisfaction is
with the government. But by saying that, it's still not
possible to predict the ultimate outcome.
Q What kind of unrest in Baghdad exactly? Can you
tell me a little bit more about it?
MR. BOUCHER: I'm afraid I just can't be more specific
about the indications that we have. There have been reports of
groups outside the country of demonstrations and road blocks and
various things.
Q Is this the first time in Baghdad?
MR. BOUCHER: I can't confirm anything.
Q Is this the first time you have specific reports
of unrest in Baghdad?
MR. BOUCHER: As I said, there have been reports that
have appeared in the media of unrest over the course of days. I
wasn't in a position to independently confirm those. But at
this point, we do know at least that there was unrest in Baghdad
yesterday and very likely some of those reports of early unrest
are probably true.
Q What is the status of our diplomatic relations
with Iraq, or the lack of them?
MR. BOUCHER: As you know, Iraq announced it broke
relations with the United States. We are currently considering
or engaged in discussions on the issue of a protecting power for
Iraq. Those considerations -- that hasn't concluded yet.
Q Have they indicated an interest in having a
protecting power here?
MR. BOUCHER: Yes.
Q You can't identify who they might have in mind?
MR. BOUCHER: No, I can't.
Q Are there any indications that those who are
engaging in unrest in Basra or in the north are getting any
overt support from countries outside of Iraq? For example, Iran
in the south?
MR. BOUCHER: There's nothing in that area that I could
confirm for you.
Q Anything in any area that you can confirm?
MR. BOUCHER: On the question of outside support, I
have no confirmation of that report.
Q So nothing by Hezbollah in the north or Turkish
Kurds in the north or anything --
MR. BOUCHER: Again, I'm not in a position to go into
any specific detail, but I know that there's no -- I don't have
any information that I would confirm for you here.
[Iraq: Status of Diplomats and Properties in the US]
Q Richard, just to get it on the record, could you
outline for us the status of diplomatic properties belonging to
Iraq in Washington?
MR. BOUCHER: Last Friday afternoon and evening, the
Department of State's Office of Foreign Missions took custody of
the chancery building which housed the Iraqi Embassy, as well as
the Iraqi-owned building which was previously used by the Iraqi
Ambassador as his residence.
It's customary in situations where a country has
severed diplomatic relations but in which no protecting power
has been arranged that after a period of time the Department of
State would assume custody of that country's diplomatic
premises. This would continue until either diplomatic relations
are restored or arrangement is made to transfer custody to
another country as the protecting power.
Q What happened to the three remaining diplomats who
were using that place as their headquarters?
MR. BOUCHER: They are excluded from the buildings, and
they remain subject to the travel restrictions which have been
previously in effect. That is, that they can't travel more than
25 miles from 1801 P Street, Northwest.
Q Do they still have diplomatic status?
MR. BOUCHER: I frankly don't know what the exact
definition of that is at this point. I think we said in the
past that they continue in their diplomatic status for a
reasonable period of time until a protecting power can be named.
Q Could you find out, because diplomatic status
brings with it all kinds of little perks and privileges, like
places where they can buy things without tax and God knows what
else? It depends on what kind of rights they still enjoy.
MR. BOUCHER: Well, I think the assumption has to be
made that their diplomatic status continues for a reasonable
period of time. If there's been any change in that, I'll try to
tell you.
Q Richard, what is the holdup in finding a
protecting power? I realize that you don't want to tell us the
names of the specific countries that might be in consideration
for this. But is it a problem that they haven't proposed one or
you haven't accepted one, or whatever?
MR. BOUCHER: The question of protecting power, first
of all, lies with the country that breaks relations to indicate
an interest in a protecting power and then for us to discuss
with the protecting power some of the arrangements and details
that have to be worked out. So we are in discussion with a
third country about this. At this point, we just haven't
concluded.
Q So they have suggested a third country and you are
discussing it with that third country now?
MR. BOUCHER: Yes, basically, although I can't remember
if they suggested the third country first or whether the third
country came forward and said we've been asked. That's the only
detail that I can't pin down for you.
Q Is there a status of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad?
MR. BOUCHER: As far as I know, it's unchanged.
They're obligated under international law to respect and protect
our mission in Baghdad.
Q Is there any consideration being given to evicting
the Iraqis?
MR. BOUCHER: You mean expelling the diplomats?
Q Yes
MR. BOUCHER: I've heard of no discussion or decision
to that effect.
Q They are in this country --
MR. BOUCHER: As far as I know, yes.
Q And none of them --
MR. BOUCHER: -- (inaudible) 25 miles of 1801 P Street.
Q And none of them has asked for political asylum?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't think we'd confirm it if they
had, but I'm not aware of anything with regard to that that we
wouldn't confirm.
I don't want to set a precedent that we have to talk
about it if somebody does. I haven't heard anything about --
just dealing with that whole area.
Q You were not supposed to smile in answering the
question.
MR. BOUCHER: I know.
[Iraq: War Crimes]
Q Same country but a different subject. Yesterday,
the Pentagon talked of mistreatment of the American prisoners of
war, and that information is still being gathered on possible
war crimes but they say the State Department will decide what to
do with that information. I'm wondering if you can shed any
light on what will be done with that?
MR. BOUCHER: No, I can't really at this point. As I
think we've said in the past, there are decisions on mechanisms
and options and ways to pursue this that have to be made in
consultation with coalition partners and others. The
information is being collected and gathered at this point.
The Secretary is discussing this, among other issues,
during the course of his trip. It gets into sort of the whole
arrangements for the future questions that he is discussing
during the course of his trip, and at this point I just don't
have any decisions to relate to you.
Q Can you give us anything on the whole subject of
when will the U.S. and it allies be satisfied that the terms
that have been laid out for a ceasefire have been satisfied?
Where does that process stand? Who's going to decide?
MR. BOUCHER: There's really nothing definitive I can
give you at this point, David. The terms for a formal ceasefire
have been laid out in various fora, including in the U.N.
resolution that was passed. It's obviously a matter for
consultation and discussion with coalition partners and with the
United Nations Security Council members. It's something the
Secretary, of course, is exploring with other people during the
course of his trip.
So at this point, I don't have any predictions of
exactly how or when those formal decisions will be made.
Q Are they going to be made at the U.N. Security
Council? Is it the Security Council that will decide when the
terms have been met?
MR. BOUCHER: I think, basically, yes. The Security
Council set out those standards and it's up to the Security
Council to decide when they've been fulfilled.
Q And then will that require the Security Council to
pass a resolution nullifying some of its previous resolutions?
What form will the acceptance be?
MR. BOUCHER: Again, as a basic rule, when the Security
Council sets out terms and conditions, it's up to the Security
Council to decide when those terms and conditions have been
filled and up to the Security Council to decide whether it wants
to modify any of its previous actions, but I can't give you a
specific course of action at this point.
Q Richard, there have been some fairly gruesome
stories about some people -- Palestinians and others -- who have
been beaten-up in Kuwait and then thrown across the border into
Iraq.
One, have you been able to confirm these stories, and
(2) is there anything that you can or will do about it?
[Iraq: Reports of Torture of Palestinians and Others]
MR. BOUCHER: Jim, you're right. There are some pretty
shocking stories that have been relayed. And these sorts of
things, if they are true, would obviously be of great concern to
us. We have previously explored allegations of this nature
through our Embassy in Kuwait. We've been in touch with Kuwaiti
officials and with independent observers in Kuwait. We have not
been able to confirm any of the previous stories like this.
As with all of these allegations, we have brought them
to the attention of our Embassy in Kuwait. Our embassy out
there will follow up on such reports.
Senior Kuwaiti officials have assured us that actions
of the type described in the news report this morning are not
the policy of their government. In addition, Ambassador Gnehm
has had both high-level discussions about broad human rights
concerns in Kuwait and he and other embassy officials have also
investigated specific allegations with appropriate Kuwaiti
officials, and we're in regular touch with the ICRC and other
observers out in Kuwait City.
As I said, this is the kind of thing that we do follow
up on, that we are concerned about, that we have brought to the
attention of our embassy and asked them to look into. But I
have to point out that previous reports of this nature have not
checked out.
Q Richard, for some time now you've been saying that
the previous reports haven't checked out, and you've issued
several statements to that effect. And yet there are still
credible reports, journalist eyewitness reports, accounts of
people being beaten in front of people. Are you the only people
saying this is not going on, from what you've been seeing, and
everybody else who's out there says, "Well, we actually saw it,
and it is going on"? It's just very strange.
MR. BOUCHER: Well, I guess I could say that despite
the fact that we've made strenuous efforts and have an embassy
out there that is following these things closely, despite the
fact that the Kuwaiti government has in the past denied these
reports and has been on the record as saying that they want the
Palestinians, in particularly in Kuwait City, to be treated
properly, there continue to be these reports and allegations by
various parties. I don't know where they all come from.
Some of the reports are quite specific, and, if they
prove true, obviously they're of great concern to us. But, I
mean, I give you the best information that we can get, and I
think we've been very active, both in talking to the Kuwaiti
government about our concerns and sharing our concerns with them
and in investigating these reports. And what I can do is give
you the best information we have. I can't explain where all the
reports come from, because I can't explain the sources and
methods of the people in the news media. You can do that.
Q One of the reports, Richard, quoted someone as
saying a U.S. military doctor had shown up. As part of his
investigation, does Ambassador Gnehm check with U.S. military
authorities?
MR. BOUCHER: I'm sure he will. I think I mentioned
before that in surveying the situation and looking at reports
that had come out, that one of the things is our embassy is, of
course, working closely with the Civil Affairs group that's out
there, and that group has people who go to the hospitals
regularly and in the course of their work on reconstruction in
Kuwait, and that the other day they had had no reports of people
showing up in hospitals with such injuries.
Q Can we do anything more than just express our
concerns?
MR. BOUCHER: Well, again, as I said, this is a subject
that has been addressed by the Kuwaiti government, a subject
that we have addressed with the Kuwaiti government. And I'm
sure if there are problems and specific incidents, that those
will be pursued and investigated. So at this point it's a
matter of trying to get the information. I think everyone's
concern is evident.
Q Has the United States actually tried to talk to
people who have claimed that they've been beaten up, rather than
sort of going to the community and doing a house-to-house chat?
MR. BOUCHER: In many cases, I'm sure we have. As I
said, the Ambassador and other embassy officials also
investigate specific allegations. There was the man who was
shot who was in the hospital. I think we saw him, talked to
him. He was in fact going to come to the United States for
medical treatment. I believe the Kuwaiti government was paying.
Pat?
Q I came a little late. Did anyone ask about the
reports of Scud missiles going from North Korea to Syria?
MR. BOUCHER: No, they haven't.
Q What do you know about that, and what's the U.S.
reaction?
MR. BOUCHER: Well, I want to hesitate a little bit on
this point, because the Secretary is currently in Syria and may
very well have something to say and, of course, what he says is
more authoritative than what I say.
As far as the specific information, Syria has had Scud
missiles in the past, and we understood that they were trying to
get more, probably from North Korea. However, at this point I
don't think I can confirm for you whether or not they have
arrived there.
Q If in fact they have gotten additional Scuds, some
reports say they're more powerful and more effective, more
precise. What would that mean in terms of the Middle East?
MR. BOUCHER: Again, I want to hesitate in drawing any
specific conclusions about a specific country or a specific
report of a sale. Non-proliferation and weapons of mass
destruction, non-conventional weapons in the Middle East have
been subjects that we've long expressed concerns about. They
are subjects that are being addressed by the Secretary during
the course of his trip.
Q But you would take a dim view if Syria acquired
Scud missiles?
MR. BOUCHER: Again, Pat, I would just say that the
issue of the proliferation of non-conventional weapons in the
Middle East has been one that's been of great concern to us in
the past.
Q Is it one that's still of great concern to you?
MR. BOUCHER: Yes, it is.
Q Of conventional weapons?
MR. BOUCHER: Excuse me?
Q Of conventional weapons?
MR. BOUCHER: Again, the question of armaments in the
Middle East, I think, has been amply discussed by the Secretary
during the course of his trip. He addressed conventional
weapons -- I think it was in the press conference on the way out
there on the airplane. We can get you a transcript of how he
addressed that.
Q Richard, how would you -- would you please define
the Administration's policy with respect to the Kurds and
Mideast?
MR. BOUCHER: I have addressed that over the course of
the past several days. I don't really have anything further to
say on it.
Q Because in 1988, when Talabani, the Iraqi
opposition leader, was here, there was a detailed readout by the
State Department. Is that readout still valid, or is there any
modification of that, or do you intend to state it for the
record again?
MR. BOUCHER: I have no idea what we said in 1988 about
that visit. We put up something about two weeks ago about the
Kurdish officials who were in town for human rights meetings,
and our meetings with them and our policy on meetings. I
repeated that in the last few days, and we'll get you copies of
that. That's the most current expression of our policy on
visits and meetings.
Q Have we received any letters from Jordan from -- I
know Bush has received -- any letters of trying to re-establish
contact, but has the State Department?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know anything about letters. I
know there have been reports of a letter to the President, and
you can check with the White House on that. The President has
said that he wants to keep channels of communication open with
Jordan. We have an Ambassador out there. Our Ambassador has
been meeting with senior Jordanian officials. They have an
Ambassador here we meet with, and so there are ample channels of
communication. We communicate with Jordan.
Q Is there any foreseeable future when the Secretary
might be visiting Jordan?
MR. BOUCHER: I know of no specific plans for visits
one way or the other.
[Saudi Arabia: Arms Sales]
Q Do you have anything on these reports that the
proposed Saudi arms sale is being trimmed down?
MR. BOUCHER: Just to say that we haven't made a
decision on the follow-on Saudi arms package. As you remember,
in January the Administration and the Saudi government jointly
decided to defer action on the follow-on package until after the
Gulf crisis. We are currently considering the issue of security
and stability in the Persian Gulf, and what measures we can take
to enhance security in the post-crisis period.
A decision on the follow-on arms sales would have to be
considered in the context of those measures and in consultation,
of course, with the Saudi government. And when a decision is
reached, we would, of course, expect to consult fully with the
Congress.
Mike?
Q Richard, there was a hearing today on the House
side on burden-sharing, and Congresswoman Schroeder was quite
peeved at the State Department. She said they refused to send
an official to speak to that committee. Do you know anything
about that, and can you comment on it?
MR. BOUCHER: No. I don't know anything about that,
frankly. We reach agreement with various congressional
committees based on the numerous requests we get for people to
appear at hearings, and we try to work our arrangements that fit
everybody's needs.
I think the issue of burden-sharing and the financial
contributions have been addressed not only by various
Administration spokesmen but in testimony on the Hill. And
there was a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday on the whole issue
of financial assistance for affected states, and they put out
some very detailed information there on what people were doing.
Q There is no reason you can think of as to why you
wouldn't want to send somebody to talk about this?
MR. BOUCHER: I have no idea what went on with regard
to that specific hearing.
Q Do you have a more complete schedule for the
Secretary in Moscow yet? Is he going to see Boris Yeltsin?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't have a more complete schedule.
Details on his schedule in Moscow are up to the party to put
out, and, when they do, I expect we will get them back here.
[El Salvador: Expanded Investigations]
Q Do you have anything on El Salvador today?
MR. BOUCHER: Anything specific you want to know about,
George?
Q The rebel attacks?
MR. BOUCHER: Well -- no. (Laughter) Not the rebel
attacks.
Q How about aid?
Q What about the Jesuit case and the 12 --
MR. BOUCHER: O.K. Let's review the Jesuit case and
the developments with that. That's something I can address.
On February 22, the Salvadoran armed forces High
Command sent a letter to the Minister of Justice, asking for an
expanded investigation into the Jesuit killings. We believe
this is a significant step forward in the progress of the case.
The High Command acted in the three main areas which
we, the Congress and specifically the Moakley Commission, have
been focusing our concern. It called for an investigation into
a November 15, 1989, meeting at the Military Academy, and it
named ten officers who have been ordered to cooperate.
It called for an investigation into the intelligence
service's November 13 search of the Jesuit Central American
University campus and a November 16 meeting, and it also named
three more officers ordered to cooperate with that. Then
Minister of Defense Ponce informed the judge that in addition to
his three written depositions, he would also appear in person to
answer questions.
We believe this makes it clear that the prosecution and
investigation of the Jesuit killings are continuing, and that
neither the Salvadoran government nor the United States
Government will tolerate any attempted coverup. We applause the
willingness of President Cristiani and the High Command to take
this initiative, and we expect and trust that it will be
followed by full cooperation with the expanded investigation for
which the High Command has called.
Q Why do you think it took so long if there wasn't a
coverup going on?
MR. BOUCHER: Mike, I think we've expressed in the past
our hope that this investigation would proceed expeditiously,
and at times we've expressed our disappointment with the pace of
the investigation. However, it isn't just a judicial process;
it is a process that is continuing, and it is a process in which
now you have the High Command being responsive to some of the
specific concerns that have been raised.
[El Salvador: Status of US Aid]
Q Richard, have there been any decisions on whether
aid to El Salvador will resume?
MR. BOUCHER: Yes. And I think we have information on
that that I can get for you. I don't remember the details of
where we stand at this point.
[El Salvador: Charges of Election Fraud]
Q Do you have any comment on the charge by one of
the leaders of the left that there was vote fraud?
MR. BOUCHER: The international observers who were in
El Salvador for the elections have noted some problems with the
elections, but they concluded that El Salvador's legislative and
municipal elections were free and fair. For example, the OAS
observer mission stated that the irregularities reported to it
could "not be considered sufficiently grave so as to affect the
voting."
The U.S. observer delegation called the elections a
"free and fair expression of the popular will." Candidates and
parties can bring charges of fraud to the Central Electoral
Commission, which is a multiparty body that adjudicates charges
of election irregularities.
In one town, Santa Tecla, defective ballots for mayor
left off the symbol of the Democratic Convergence Party, and in
this town the mayoral election will be held next Sunday, using
correctly printed ballots.
Q Thank you.
(The briefing concluded at 12:39 p.m.) (###)