US Department of State Daily Briefing,#56,
Friday: 4/5/91
Tutwiler
Source: State Department Spokesman Margaret Tutwiler
Description: 12:05 PM, Washington, DC
Date: Apr 5, 19914/5/91
Category: Briefings
Region: MidEast/North Africa
Country: Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, Iran,
Egypt
Subject: Regional/Civil Unrest, Development/Relief Aid,
Refugees, Democratization, Human Rights,
Security Assistance and Sales, United Nations
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
[Iraq: Details of Relief Efforts by All Countries]
MS. TUTWILER: I have three things that I would like to
do before I take questions, the first of which is to hand out to
you all -- I think it will be a useful document -- at the end of
this briefing a 2-pager that the Department has done that will
break out for you by country, amount, description, and receiving
organization, all relief efforts that have taken place. You
will see that the totals are, to be exact, a little over $136
million. It's closer to $137 million. I think this might be a
useful document for those of you who wish to have it.
Q Is the U.S. by any chance number one on that list?
MS. TUTWILER: To be honest with you, John, I didn't
look.
Q Actually, Japan is.
MS. TUTWILER: I would have to sit here and figure this
all out. It's literally every single cash contribution.
[Iraq: Emergency Planning for Refugees]
The second statement I'd like to make is, yesterday, to
emphasize our continuing concern, the Secretary dispatched
Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs, John
Bolton, to Geneva for emergency meetings with representatives of
major donors to United Nations relief organizations and to
coordinate relief efforts for Iraqi and other refugees and
displaced persons.
He is meeting with the heads of the International
Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees, the World Health Organization, the U.N.
Development Program, the International Organization for
Migration, the U.N. Disaster Relief Organization. In order to
assist our own plans, we are hoping to receive a more detailed
assessment from international relief agencies on what is needed.
[US Contributions to Relief Efforts]
Since August 2, as many of you all know, we have
provided $35.5 million in cash, grant, and material assistance
to United Nations agencies and the ICRC. This includes $7.6
million that we have given to the U.N. Regional Plan of Action
designed to assist refugees.
Yesterday, at a meeting of the U.N. relief
organizations in Ankara, Ambassador Abramowitz announced that
the United States is ready to provide immediately 12,000 metric
tons of wheat and rice as well as all transport costs. This
food can feed 150,000 people for three months.
We are presently reviewing options for further
assistance to the multilateral humanitarian assistance effort.
We are considering what diplomatic and economic steps might be
taken to convince the Iraqi government to cease its repressive
measures that are causing the refugee flow. Meanwhile,
humanitarian needs exist in all parts of Iraq and the flow of
refugees toward border areas requires massive international
efforts to deal with the problems.
I might also mention that Under Secretary of State
Robert Kimmitt attended a meeting at the White House this
morning concerning this situation.
[Secretary Baker to Visit Israel and Egypt]
I have one other thing that I would like to do and then
I'll be happy to take all of your questions. The President
would like the Secretary to return to the Middle East. Prior to
Secretary Baker's departure for the Middle East, he will meet
with the President in Houston this Sunday.
Secretary Baker will be in Israel on Tuesday for
meetings. He will also visit Egypt and other countries in the
region. The Secretary anticipates returning to Washington on
Friday, April 12.
The purpose of this trip is to see if we can bring the
parties closer together. On the first trip, as you all
remember, the Secretary sought to establish agreement on a basic
approach. There was general agreement on the 2-track approach
that he was suggesting. We began that trip to explore possible
steps that each side could take. As you all know, we have had
discussions since that time to see if we could develop points of
convergence, as we've mentioned before, on these steps.
The President and the Secretary feel that another trip
at this time will be helpful in this process and that it is
important if we are to try and take advantage of the window of
opportunity that all believe exists. It also underlines our
commitment to work actively to promote peace and real
reconciliation among Israel, the Arab states, and the
Palestinians.
I would like, on a housekeeping matter, to strongly
suggest, or urge, that those of you wishing to go on this trip
sign up immediately after this briefing, at this conclusion. I
do not have and will not have, so please save your calls for
other important matters, we will not have today the details that
you are accustomed to on this trip until tomorrow.
Kim (Hoggard) will be here tomorrow and will be happy to provide
those types of details.
I would urge you all to please, as quickly as possible,
because you know that we have to secure your visas, etc., please
let us know at the conclusion of this briefing. At the
conclusion of the briefing, I will be more than glad, as we
routinely and always do, go into with you departure times and
those types of things.
Q What are the countries to be visited again?
MS. TUTWILER: The only two that I'm announcing at this
briefing are Israel and Egypt.
Q Are others likely to be added?
MS. TUTWILER: That's what I said.
Q So this appears to be an Arab-Israeli peace
initiative kind of trip?
MS. TUTWILER: Correct.
Q Not a post-Persian Gulf war type trip?
MS. TUTWILER: No. But I do not, as we have -- this is
something that the President and the Secretary have been
discussing for a number of days. I do not want to rule out,
John, since we're still in the process of developing the
Secretary's trip, that he could not do other things, see other
people. We're just not at that point yet. But, yes,
predominantly, it is exactly as you said. This is, without
question, a trip to deal with that issue.
Q So that indicates, I guess, that you've seen some
measure of progress from the time that Baker last left the
region and now? Forward progress, not backward progress?
MS. TUTWILER: I believe that I've refrained for the 27
months I've been in this job, when dealing with this subject, of
characterizing whether there is progress, non-progress,
stagnation, staying where you are. I don't believe that I said
there was progress.
I would refer you back to the Secretary's comments on
the first trip that he made where he said this is the early
stages of this process. He mentioned, in many other countries
that he visited, too, there's a window of opportunity here. He
said this will be a step-by-step process. I would, if I was
going to characterize it, say this is yet another step in his
step-by-step process.
Q The President had a number of things on his agenda
for next week including Congressional testimony.
MS. TUTWILER: You mean the Secretary?
Q I'm sorry, the Secretary. What happened to make
him decide to undertake this very hastily-arranged visit?
MS. TUTWILER: It's hastily. I can certainly
understand why you would characterize it this way. As I said,
this is something the President and the Secretary have been
discussing for a number of days. So it was finally decided
yesterday. As proper protocol, we do not notify you who, in
turn, notify our public, until we have had an opportunity to
talk to the various governments.
You can even note that today I cannot -- because we
have not completed all of our call-backs from governments -- say
all the countries that we are definitely going to. But I would
not characterize this has hastily at all.
Q Is this a follow-up to General Scowcroft's recent
trip to Saudi Arabia?
MS. TUTWILER: No.
Q He didn't lay any groundwork there or come upon
any information there that is helping to prompt the Secretary's
trip?
MS. TUTWILER: We all work together, Mark, as you know,
for one Administration. So I cannot say as literally as you're
asking me that something specific that happened on General
Scowcroft's trip determined that the Secretary of State would
make a trip. I don't believe that we have ever ruled out -- the
President or the Secretary -- future trips to the region. In
fact, I believe it has been quite the opposite.
The President, in Florida, in his press conference, if
you go back and look at the record, said, in response to a
question, "The Secretary may, indeed, be returning to the
region." He said that about three days ago. As it turns out,
he is.
Q Margaret, does this trip have anything to do with
the refugee situation concerning the Kurds? Would the Secretary
perhaps become directly involved in that situation, for example,
through a visit to Ankara?
MS. TUTWILER: I cannot announce such a thing right
now, John. There are many options on this trip and many ideas
are being explored.
Q Margaret, is there some development or some
convergence of views that makes the trip necessary at this time?
In other words, is there something in the region that has
dictated the timing of this trip?
MS. TUTWILER: As I have said, the President said
earlier this week that he could see -- I can't get his exact
phrase -- that it might be necessary for the Secretary to return
to the region, I believe is literally what he said. The
Secretary himself has said, when he was in Israel, when he was
in any number of these countries, that he did not rule out
coming back. It was determined, after a number of days of
discussions with the President and the Secretary, that this is a
good time to go, an appropriate time to go, and so he's going.
Q I hate to keep trying to pin you down here on
whether or not there is, in particular, any signs whatsoever
which indicate that there is progress here? But it would
appear, from the public signals that have been sent out by both
the Arabs and the Israelis, that not only are they not moving
forward, they're moving backward since Baker left the region.
Is this an effort to stop backsliding?
MS. TUTWILER: This is an effort to continue to take
advantage of what we all agree is there, a window of
opportunity. All have agreed and none that I'm aware of have
said how long that window would exist. This is another step in
what he originally characterized as this is going to be a
step-by-step process.
Q Will he meeting with Palestinians?
MS. TUTWILER: I will respond to that the same way he
did on our previous trip. If there is such a request, then,
yes, of course he would meet.
Q Do you have any comment on the report today in
today's Washington Post about additional trailers and
settlements and housing units in Israel? I take it that it goes
without saying this is something that's going to come up on the
Secretary's trip?
MS. TUTWILER: Do I have a report on it, or do I --
Q No. Do you have a response to that report?
MS. TUTWILER: A reaction?
Q Your reaction. Yes.
MS. TUTWILER: I certainly do. We are obviously
concerned about that report, and Secretary Baker will take the
issue up directly with the Israeli Government next week.
Our strong opposition to settlement activity in the
Occupied Territories is very well known. We continue to view
such activity as an obstacle to peace and to current efforts to
revive the peace process.
We have been told in the past that the Israeli
Government would have to approve expanded settlement activity
and that no decisions had been made by the government. We trust
that that is still the case.
Q Margaret?
MS. TUTWILER: Yes, Mark.
Q When the Secretary was last in Israel, he was told
that there had been no Cabinet decision?
MS. TUTWILER: That's right.
Q The Post reported this morning that, in fact, no
Cabinet decision was necessary; that the budget process that was
already in place allowed for the settlement planning to move
forward. Were you given any indication of that when the
Secretary was in Israel?
MS. TUTWILER: You have characterized correctly, in the
first part of your question, what the Secretary and other United
States officials were told on his trip. What I'm not going to
do, other than the statement that I made today, is to delve into
this. I, myself personally, am not that familiar with the
internal workings of their budget process, their governmental
decisions, their Housing Minister's authority under their
constitution, etc.
What I am going to continue to point out is -- let's
see, today is Friday -- on Tuesday, Secretary Baker will be
having meetings in Jerusalem. I have said that this is one of
the things that he will discuss while there, with the Israeli
government.
Q Just to pin it down, is it his understanding that
it requires a Cabinet decision to expand settlements?
MS. TUTWILER: What our understanding is, and what I
have just stated, is that our understanding is that it requires
an Israeli government decision.
Q Is that Cabinet-Prime Minister?
MS. TUTWILER: I can't pin it down for you or refine it
more for you other than to say, our understanding, to be quite
honest with you, since I've been here, has always been that it
is a government decision. It's what is required. We went
through this, I believe, about 6 or 7 months ago, as I remember.
With the Housing Minister, as I remember saying, we
were going to do X. In fact, as I believe I recall, even the
Israeli government came out and said this requires a Cabinet
decision, a government decision.
Q Do you feel like you've been sandbagged by this?
MS. TUTWILER: No.
Q Has the $400 million been disbursed?
MS. TUTWILER: Richard (Boucher), do you remember?
Well, it was going in one tranche. I remember that decision. I
honestly don't know, John. I'll check.
Q But the decision was made to give it to them --
MS. TUTWILER: Oh, absolutely.
Q -- on the basis of that. You don't know whether
it has been disbursed. Does this put the $400 million in
jeopardy if it has not been disbursed? Are you going to
"review" once again, like you do with Jordan and other
governments when you're not happy with --
MS. TUTWILER: If we are, I haven't heard that
mentioned. As you know, Secretary Baker went through quite
lengthy and detailed negotiations with his counterpart, the
Foreign Minister, to reach agreement on the assurances that the
United States Government was seeking concerning the $400
million. Those were, indeed, given by the Israeli government
many weeks ago. At that point, you remember, Secretary Baker
announced that the $400 million will be going in one tranche.
The mechanics and the process of if, indeed, it has
gone, I just hadn't checked on, so let me check.
Q Does he plan to discuss the possibility of a trip
by President Bush?
MS. TUTWILER: I have no idea, Mark, if that will come
up or not. There isn't a literal agenda yet to that level of
detail.
Q Will Mr. Baker also meet Palestinian officials or
representatives?
MS. TUTWILER: I answered that just a minute ago to
this gentleman and said that if such a request comes in, that,
of course, he would.
Q Just so we understand each other here, is there
any positive sign that has caused this trip to be initiated?
Are you acknowledging in public any positive sign?
MS. TUTWILER: I'm not going to play positive,
negative, progress, non-progress. I will answer you back in the
reverse of, I guess you could draw the conclusion, if there was
absolutely no reason whatsoever to go and you were so
discouraged, you probably wouldn't be just going through the
motions to go on the trip.
Q Well, who knows what motivates the Secretary.
MS. TUTWILER: You've observed this Secretary of State
for over two years now, and I'm not aware of a single trip he's
taken just for going through the motions.
Q Saddam Hussein. Do you have anything to say about
his amnesty offer?
MS. TUTWILER: We have just seen this this morning. We
have noted it. Based on past performance, we are very
skeptical. We also note it involves a limited period. This is
unlikely to inspire confidence in the offer.
The Iraqi regime should cease unconditionally its
killing and brutalization of its own citizens. The Iraqi regime
should facilitate international efforts to bring protection and
relief to all Iraqi civilians throughout the country.
Q Margaret, do you have anything on the People's
Mujahedin of Iran in Iraq fighting Iranian regulars?
MS. TUTWILER: No.
Q Do you have any response to the ceasefire
resolution yet from Iraq?
MS. TUTWILER: No, we have not received a response yet.
[Iraq: UN Discussion on Resolutions to Halt Attacks]
Q Margaret, do you have any update on the U.N.
resolution -- discussions on the U.N. resolution about Iraq's
civil war?
MS. TUTWILER: The Security Council was due to meet
informally this morning at 11:00 a.m. to consider a draft
resolution on displaced persons and may vote on the text shortly
thereafter.
The United States fully supports this resolution. We
are deeply concerned about the plight of these defenseless
civilians.
As the President said on April 3, "The United States
condemns in the strongest terms the Iraqi Government's continued
attacks against defenseless Kurds and other Iraqi civilians.
the President also publicly called upon Iraq's leaders
to halt these attacks immediately to continue to allow
international organizations into Iraq and demanded that Iraq
ensure that humanitarian aid reaches these needy civilians
throughout the country.
We urge all Security Council members to vote in favor
of the resolution.
Q Margaret, some of the Kurds -- one of the
Kurdish-American gentleman who met with a State Department
official yesterday said that he had asked the State Department
to consider allowing 25,000 Iraqi-Kurds into the United States
on an asylum basis, or refugee basis. Is this something the
United States would consider, is considering?
MS. TUTWILER: I haven't seen a readout of that
meeting, Carol. I'm not aware of this gentleman's suggestion.
Was it a suggestion or a request?
Q It was a request.
MS. TUTWILER: A request. I unfortunately -- I'm
sorry, that has not been brought to my attention. That would
obviously be something that would have to be decided at a higher
level than me just sitting here today and saying, yes. But I do
know, as I mentioned earlier, that Under Secretary Kimmitt
attended a meeting this morning at the White House. I know that
interagency, and in our government, any number of things are
being discussed to address the situation of these refugees and
displaced persons. But that specific one, I just can't address
myself to.
Q Margaret, do you have an update on the situation
either in Iraq, on its borders, in Turkey?
MS. TUTWILER: That's a lot of questions, Jan. Which
is it that you would like. All of the above?
Q Well, start at the top and work down.
[Iraq: Civil Unrest Update]
MS. TUTWILER: On an Iraqi update: Fighting continues
in northern Iraq between government forces and dissidents.
Sulaymaniyah is now in government hands, but we believe there is
heavy fighting southeast of the city. There is also unrest in
the city of Irbil.
In the south, there has been some scattered fighting
along the lower Tigris River and in the vicinity of the Shi'a
holy cities of Najaf and Karbala as government forces attempt to
put down pockets of armed dissidents.
[Iraqi Refugess]
Q How about the border? How many refugees do you
think are actually moving, if that is possible gauge? How many
people have come across --
MS. TUTWILER: Can we do this -- it's the only way I
could get it organized this morning. There's so many facts and
figures. Let's do Turkey. I'll do southern Iraq for you, and
I'll do Iran.
Turkey:
The Turkish government announced April 4 that
the border is not closed. We welcome that statement. President
Ozal reportedly said on British television that over 100,00
displaced persons have already entered Turkey and remain in the
immediate area of the border. As many as two to three times
that number may be on the Iraqi side of the border.
The Turks have also said that they are not in a
position to receive massive numbers of displaced persons and
that "necessary measures have been taken to ensure that it will
not be possible to come into Turkey in massive groups." The
Prime Minister has stated nonetheless that "it is out of the
question for our troops to use arms to stop the refugees."
We also understand that the Turks have initiated a
cross-border relief operation.
We are working with the Turks and relevant United
Nations agencies to mount a more intensive relief operation to
mobilize international assistance for the displaced persons and
to persuade the Turkish government to facilitate entry across
its borders as soon as sufficient resources are available.
There have been reports concerning Turkey of as many as
up to 250,000 new arrivals in Turkey. We cannot confirm that
number that is floating out in the press.
U.N. and other relief officials agreed on the need to
augment emergency preparations now underway in Turkey.
Prepositioned supplies held by United Nations agencies are
sufficient for approximately 20,000 persons, including tents,
blankets, and cots have been turned over to the Turkish Red
Crescent and the Turkish government for refugee relief efforts.
Medical kits for large numbers of refugees have also
been turned over and preparations are underway to provide 250
metric tons of U.N. food supplies.
We understand that the Turkish government is supplying
food and medicines to displaced persons from Iraq and that some
of these are being transported across the border into Iraq.
The food and medicines are being given to the refugees
along the border and further distributed by them.
We have one report, initially, that 30,000 loaves of
bread were sent across the border. According to the same
report, flour is now being sent since the refugees are able to
prepare their own bread.
We understand that the Turkish government is eager to
see cross-border relief take place on a large scale.
The United States, as I've said -- and Richard said
yesterday -- is working with United Nations agencies to mobilize
international assistance for these displaced persons, and we
have been in constant contact with the Turkish government on how
we may work together to get relief.
Q Hold on for just a moment.
MS. TUTWILER: Could I finish Turkey?
Q Now, could we ask you just a couple of questions?
MS. TUTWILER: Sure.
Q Are the refugees who are pushed up against the
Turkish border -- are they under attack by the Iraqi army?
MS. TUTWILER: I can't speak specifically about
the Turkish border, but, yes, we would confirm for you that
along the entire border, John, that we have evidence of
individuals, displaced persons, refugees -- yes -- being
attacked. We don't have a lot of information, but we are
definitely in a position to confirm that that is going on.
Q Do you have a scale?
MS. TUTWILER: I don't have a scale for you. I can
tell you that government helicopters have most certainly fired
on and killed or injured unarmed Iraqi civilians.
Q Near the border.
MS. TUTWILER: Government forces continue to
employ helicopters against dissidents in northern and southern
Iraq -- yes.
Q The helicopters are firing at them near the
border. That's very important versus -- are we literally 200
miles away?
MS. TUTWILER: Are we literally on the border with the
helicopters? Let me check it that they're literally on the
border.
Q O.K. Secondly, when there is the cross-border aid
being done --
MS. TUTWILER: Yes.
Q -- are there any Iraqis wandering around here --
soldiers, government officials? They're just allowing the Turks
to come across the border and hand out food and lollipops and
stuff? That sounds very uncharacteristic of them.
MS. TUTWILER: Well, as hard as we try, I probably do
not have for you the cleanest, clearest picture that you would
like. I can't pinpoint every single, solitary thing.
As I understand, many of these people are in mountains,
many of them are in roads all over this border -- meany people
who are trying to flee and who are displaced persons and
refugees. So I can't tell you, John, categorically, that it is
a very organized system that has evolved out there that someone,
if they were an Iraqi troop, knows to go to Borderpost A and
shoot or maim people.
Do you see what I am saying?
I think that it is a little right now, obviously,
confused and unsettled situation and that people are
improvising, in many instances -- Iraqis, Turks, U.N. relief
organizations -- with individuals who are down there to try to
help in this situation.
Q Margaret, do you think the majority of the
refugees are in danger? You said there may be some shooting,
but can this --
MS. TUTWILER: I can't categorize it as "the majority,"
other than to say the majority shouldn't be forced to leave
their country.
Q Do you think this cross-border refugee effort can
work? Is this something that the U.S. supports because they
think that they can be safe inside Iraq along the border, or is
this going to be a grave mistake because they will be in danger
of --
MS. TUTWILER: I don't think I have a crystal ball for
you today, Pat. on that this is going to be a mistake or that
they are in grave danger. What I'm trying to do is do the best
job that I can, gathering as much information in the mornings
that we can for you of our assessment of what is going on. But
I don't believe right now that we are in a position to step back
and do a lot of analytical work for you.
What we are doing is in a very -- in my mind --
action-oriented mode dealing with a situation that is real, that
is developing there on the ground, as are many others from many
other countries.
Q So this is Turkey's idea. They are insisting on
this. And whether it will be a workable way to deal with
refugees is not clear to the U.S. at this point?
MS. TUTWILER: I don't believe that I said that it was
Turkey's idea. I believe it is a situation that has developed.
I believe that it is a situation that I'm not aware of that
anyone is condemning, and it is what's going on on the ground.
So I'm in a mode of trying to gather for you and
express to you what we know at this moment of time is going on.
I can't say to you this is the system that will exist
in three weeks; I don't know if the need will be there in two
weeks. But it is a way that has developed there on the ground
that's been improvised that is getting food and supplies to
people who are in Iraq.
Q And for the moment the U.S. is not discouraging
that effort.
MS. TUTWILER: No. Why would we discourage it?
Q Well --
MS. TUTWILER: I mean these people --
Q -- if they were in danger of being killed by
Iraqis, then the people --
MS. TUTWILER: The people are there. What we are doing
is giving them humanitarian assistance -- food, medicine if
needed, blankets, water. They're there.
Q Turgot Ozal has argued that he would be willing to
take many more refugees if he could get commitments from
European governments, and probably our Government, to take some
of these people on a permanent basis. Is the United States
engaged in a diplomatic effort to pressure other European
governments to make room in their population base for more
Kurdish refugees?
MS. TUTWILER: Not that I'm personally aware of, but I
will check on that particular for you.
Q Margaret, can we go on to other areas or question
one?
MS. TUTWILER: Yes.
Iran
Next we will do Iran, and its basically the same
information that Richard gave you yesterday.
International organizations reported yesterday that
over 50,000 refugees had crossed into Iran. The Iranian
government has reported to the U.N. that over ll0,000 Iraqi
civilians have sought refugee in Iran, including 45,000 in the
north and that thousands more are waiting to cross the border.
No other sources have confirmed this one report that we have.
As we stated yesterday, the U.N. and other relief
agencies have been augmenting their relief facilities in Iran to
assist the new arrivals.
And then I've got southern Iraq -- all right, one
second.
Q Before you go on to that, yesterday Richard said
that if the need was deemed in northern Iran to put up camps to
absorb these people, then they would be there under U.N.
auspices. Do you know if that's now deemed to be the case?
MS. TUTWILER: My understanding, Jan, is throughout
this crisis the Iranian government, in coordination with the
U.N. and their own International Red Cross organization, have
been helping all types of people. So I'm not aware that that's
anything new.
Q There were attempts in the south, but in the north
they --
MS. TUTWILER: Well, if they help in the south, why
wouldn't they in the north? I don't understand.
Q Because in the north they're absorbed into --
according to Richard yesterday, they are absorbed into Kurdish
villages. But he said that if it was deemed that there were too
many of them to be absorbed, then they would need to rethink the
situation. Now, 45,000 people in northern Iran is a lot of
people. And do you know whether this has, therefore, triggered
a rethinking mechanism?
MS. TUTWILER: No, but I would stick with what Richard
said. If -- and I don't know and have at my fingertips the
villages or the communities where these people are fleeing --
they can't handle it, I would imagine that the Iranian
Government, in contact with the United Nations and the ICRC,
would assess the situation and develop alternative plans.
Q So that sounds good.
Southern Iraq
MS. TUTWILER: Southern Iraq:
Although U.S. forces operate no dislocated civilian
camps in Iraq, U.S. forces continue to provide humanitarian
assistance -- which includes food, water, medical care, and some
shelter materials to displaced persons and local civilians in
need. This aid is being provided to thousands of dislocated
civilians within the area of coalition control.
DOD estimates that 750 to a thousand people are
entering this area daily and that the number is growing. These
figures, I would like to remind you, are estimates only as of
this briefing, since the refugees are free to move in and out of
the coalition-controlled area.
Saudi military forces have established a camp for Iraqi
refugees north of Rafha. Currently, there are about 5,000
refugees in this camp.
Also, the Kuwaiti Red Crescent-run refugee camp in the
vicinity of Safwan, but inside the Kuwaiti border, currently has
over 3,000 refugees.
Q Margaret, on that subject --
MS. TUTWILER: Yes.
Q -- one of the people who met with State Department
officials -- one of the Iraqi dissidents -- registered deep
fears that when the Americans leave these areas, these tens of
thousands of people face, actually, murder.
MS. TUTWILER: Right.
Q And they're going to be handed over, indeed, to
the Iraqi government.
MS. TUTWILER: Right.
Q Can the United States do anything to help them?
MS. TUTWILER: This is something that we've addressed
all week long, and at present we have said -- which happens to
still be true today -- that we are in discussions with the
International Committee of the Red Cross concerning this
situation, Barry. It is one that we are very well aware of.
And you came in late -- maybe you maybe you heard me from your
office -- Assistant Secretary John Bolton is in Geneva right now
discussing refugees and displaced persons with any number of
organizations, all of which I stated earlier.
Q But, I mean, is there anything that the
Administration can do or intends to do or wants to do directly
with the Iraqi government? What these people are suggesting is
that the United States, as a matter of policy, could do various
things -- like threaten to keep the sanctions on, if there is
some genocide.
The Red Cross, which existed in World War II also, has
never been able to prevent genocide. It provides bandages to
wounded people. But it can't -- you know, it's not a
government; it's just a relief organization.
The United States is the powerful government. Is there
anything the United States will do to directly with Iraq to try
to avoid this?
MS. TUTWILER: You're asking me future-oriented
questions, Barry. I've told you that we are well aware of this
--
Q Yes.
MS. TUTWILER: -- that these discussions are going on.
Q Right.
MS. TUTWILER: You act like, by the preface of your
question , that somehow our government has a great deal of
influence with the Iraqi government. I'm not so sure that they
really care too much what we think.
A United Nations resolution has just been passed, which
as been characterized as the most extensive resolution
concerning a resolution passed on a member nation that has been
passed. And, as you know -- again, you weren't here -- we said
earlier that we are working right now, since ll o'clock this
morning, on yet another resolution concerning the situation on
refugees, not just in this part of the country but in the whole
country in the displaced persons and refugees.
So I think that we are very well aware of the
situation, and at this moment all I have to tell you that we are
doing are the things that I just briefly mentioned.
Q The Washington Times has a story today saying the
Administration is weighing the option of resuming bombing in
Iraq.
MS. TUTWILER: I didn't see that story, and I've
certainly never heard that mentioned. And the President last
night, I think, could not have been more clear about the mandate
that the United States troops were in the region; and I believe
that I would just refer you to his record of last night. He was
quite clear.
Q Another question. There's a hundred and twenty
days for Iraq to accept the U.N. resolution. We're withdrawing
troops at the rate of about 5,000 a day. Is the Administration
thinking of slowing down that rate to make sure they're not all
gone by the time the deadline is reached?
MS. TUTWILER: You'd have to ask the Defense
Department. It's an operational question.
Q Back on the question of th cross-border in Turkey,
two quick things. One is you mentioned that a number of
operations are providing food to the refugees, who are then
passing it on.
MS. TUTWILER: Yes.
Q Can you characterize that as "mostly what's
happening," or what portion --
MS. TUTWILER: I'm not in a position to tell you which
percentage is going that way or not. I'm sorry; I'm just not.
Q And then another one on the -- you mentioned that
the Turkish Government said that no large numbers of displaced
persons would be allowed in large numbers across the border. Is
that a difference between what the U.S. is asking Turkey to do
with respect to its border?
MS. TUTWILER: No. As you know, several days ago, a
Foreign Ministry spokesman of the Turkish government had said
that they intended to close their borders. I believe they,
indeed, then did close their borders. And they have now -- it's
my understanding as of April 4 -- said that their borders are
open.
They have also said -- and the President addressed this
last night in his Q∧A with Prime Minister Kaifu in California --
we recognize that even if you take the numbers that we have
right now, this is an enormous amount of people that would be
flooding into any country; and we can certainly understand the
concerns of the country that is receiving these people.
Physically, they're in their land. And so we are all -- our
country and any number of countries -- looking at what we all
can do to help in this very tragic situation that exists right
now.
Q Margaret, following on what you said, you and
other officials have made a great point of saying that the
United States and other countries had expected, since the
invasion and since this whole war-planning took place -- you
expected some refugee movement to be caused by all this
conflict. Is it fair to say that the numbers are vastly beyond
your wildest imaginations?
[Iraq: Capacity of Relief Agencies]
MS. TUTWILER: No, because it's my understanding the
refugee people here at the State Department, in coordination
with the refugee organizations, had been anticipating anywhere
from ll5,000 to 400,000.
I would also remind you, which I know you're well aware
of, in a little over two months, when the first Gulf crisis
broke out and Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, it's my
understanding that processed at the Jordanian border -- if
you'll remember those refugee camps -- were over one million
displaced persons. And that happened. It took place and
transpired in a little over eight weeks is my understanding.
And I think that in fairness to the international
community, we have a lot of experience in dealing with these
types of situations. I have no reason to believe at this moment
in time that the international community is not going to be able
to properly, professionally, adequately deal with this
particular situation. But it is one that we had always
anticipated would happen. To be quite honest with you, we
really thought this would have happened weeks ago, not at this
particular moment in time. It is now happening.
We had many things that we pre-positioned and ready to
go, and we are making adjustments as the situation calls for.
[Iraq: US Meetings with Dissidents]
Q Margaret, there was to be a meeting with an Iraqi
opponent today?
MS. TUTWILER: Today? That's correct.
Q Can you tell us about it?
MS. TUTWILER: I'll be glad to.
Mr. Jabr, President of the Free Iraq Council, is
scheduled at 2 p.m. today with Deputy Assistant Secretary David
Mack. He is a Shi'a, it is my understanding. In requesting the
Department meeting today, Mr. Jabr stated he would be bringing
messages from several other opposition factions in addition to
the Free Iraq Council.
The Free Iraq Council is a coalition of democratic
opposition groups based in London. Mr. Jabr was for many years
head of the new Umma -- U-M-M-A -- Party, also based in London,
which combined last January with a number of other independent
opposition groups to form the Free Iraq Council. The meeting
will take place in this building.
Q Is this Saad Jabr?
MS. TUTWILER: Yes.
Q O.K.
Q About what time?
MS. TUTWILER: 2:00.
Q Could you spell the first name?
MS. TUTWILER: The first name is S-A-A-D. Second name
is J-A-B-R.
Q Margaret --
MS. TUTWILER: Yes, Connie.
Q Anything new today on South African sanctions
beyond what was said yesterday?
MS. TUTWILER: No.
Q Nothing closer toward a resolution?
MS. TUTWILER: I really don't, Connie.
Q Thank you; thank you.
Q Are there any other meetings scheduled?
MS. TUTWILER: For today?
Q No.
MS. TUTWILER: For next week?
Q Yes. You might want --
MS. TUTWILER: I really don't know. I knew about the
four this week. We told you about this is the fourth one. I
don't know.
Q Margaret, these opposition figures are telling us
that they're requesting that the State Department meets publicly
with the representatives of the Iraqi opposition. I mean, not
the individuals here but those who represent the various
political groupings that are based either in Iraq or in Damascus
or in London. Can you confirm that?
MS. TUTWILER: I, for myself, have only had brief
readouts of these meetings from Ambassador Kelly, and I'm not
aware of that level of detail of the meetings. But I don't know
exactly what your question is since we have said over the last
ten days publicly that each request that comes into the State
Department will be evaluated as all requests are and that, as we
have shown you this week, we have been meeting with individuals
who are Iraqi individuals or say they represent certain groups
that are of the opposition in their country.
Q Going back to Barry's question if I may, you said
that the United States has little influence in Iraq, but in fact
we do occupy 20 percent of Iraqi territory and we control a
hundred percent of its air.
MS. TUTWILER: It certainly hasn't stopped them from
what's going on in that country, has it?
Q Well, my question is: Is there anything the
United States or the world community can do to prevent the
massacres, because genocide, after all, is against international
law and the picture is emerging that the genocide is taking
place in Iraq.
MS. TUTWILER: The international community is, in my
opinion, doing everything that it can on the humanitarian side.
It is my opinion that they will continue to do even more on the
humanitarian side and that that is how this is being addressed.
Q Margaret, can I ask you about that term
"genocide"? The German Foreign Minister used it today, and
President Ozal has used it. Does the United States consider
what Iraq is doing to the Kurds genocide?
MS. TUTWILER: I have not heard the President express
that belief. I'd be happy to look into it for you. I haven't
heard a United States Government official use that, use that
term.
Q Genscher, isn't it?
MS. TUTWILER: He's German.
Q Yes.
Q Thank you.
Q Thank you.
Q Excuse me. A minor issue, but nonetheless. I
understand that Assistant Secretary John Kelly met last night
with former Lebanese President Amin Gemayel. Is this a courtesy
call or --
MS. TUTWILER: It is. He was President, it is my
understanding, when the Ambassador was United States Ambassador
to Lebanon. It was a personal call and a courtesy call.
Q No political significance?
MS. TUTWILER: No.
Q O.K.
(The briefing concluded at l2:47 p.m.)