US Department of State Daily Briefing #68:
Thursday, 4/25/91
Boucher
Source: State Department Deputy Spokesman Richard
Boucher
Description: 12:40 PM, Washington, DC
Date: Apr 25, 19914/25/91
Region: MidEast/North Africa, Subsaharan Africa
Country: Iraq, Kuwait, Ethiopia, Angola, Iran, Turkey
Subject: Regional/Civil Unrest, Development/Relief Aid,
Refugees, State Department, Travel
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
MR. BOUCHER: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Let me go
through the update on refugee assistance efforts, and then I'll be
glad to take your questions.
[Iraq: Refugee Update]
The numbers, first of all: The number of refugees in Turkey and
near the border remain the same. That's about 450,000 in Turkey
and about 400,000 near the border. But, in addition, relief officials
estimate that about 100,000 Iraqi displaced persons are located in
the mountains further south in Iraq.
Relief officials report that the concentration of tent sites on
the Isikveren mountainside seems somewhat thinner than it did a
week ago. We think this is due mainly to the transfer of
approximately 2,000 people per day to the new facility near Silopi.
International organizations, private voluntary organizations, and
U.S. military personnel are working at refugee facilities in Turkey.
They're establishing medical facilities, developing supply
distribution systems, and improving sanitation systems.
Special forces health teams are making significant progress with
sanitation, but it continues to be a problem due to the poor
management of water resources, and clean water has been one of
the focuses of our efforts over the last several days -- bringing in
water purification equipment and such things, in addition to, of
course, providing water in our air drops and other relief supplies.
The latest information we have from the European Command is that
there have been 1,320 missions that have air dropped a total of
6,570.2 tons of supplies to the refugees, as of late yesterday in
Washington. This figure is the total amount dropped by coalition
partners -- the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada,
Italy, and Germany. Some of this has been done by fixed-wing
aircraft. Some has been done by helicopter.
The multinational force continues to work in the area
of northern Iraq around Zakhu, setting up the first of the
temporary refugee centers. To date, more than 600 tents are up,
and we expect refugees to start moving to the village in the
next few days. There are about 2,200 coalition personnel in the
Zakhu area.
The site for a second temporary refugee community has
been selected. The site is west of Zakhu near the town of
al-Amadiyah. It's approximately 15 miles east of al-Amadiyah at
Dohuk. It will be designed along the same lines as the one just
outside of Zakhu.
In Zakhu, they have dug water wells. They've provided
generators and fuel to get water systems operating. The
hospital has a generator, and they're attempting to put that
generator into operation at the hospital. We've assessed
medical needs, and we're working with the hospital there to get
it in full operation as quickly as possible.
Basically, in general, the helicopter flights are
continuing and water is being supplied to Silopi. That's the
new area where refugees are going.
U.S. officials working with the refugee population in
Turkey report that a majority of the Kurds there appear to want
to go to their homes in Iraq. Their main concerns, however, are
security and the question of continued protection.
On the Iranian side: The numbers are about the same.
One million refugees entered Iran and about 500,000 are near the
border. The Iranian Red Crescent Society is now providing
assistance to approximately 500,000 refugees in 50 camps. In
addition, as I think Mark [Dillen] said yesterday, the ICRC has
announced that it plans to establish camps in northern Iran for
200,000 refugees.
Assistance is also being provided to those who took
refuge in towns and villages near the border. The EC, Belgium,
German, Swedish, and other teams are assisting the ICRC and the
Iranian Red Crescent inside Iran.
As you know, for our part, the President has said that
we want to help the refugees wherever they are. The refugees
being assisted by Iran are facing a desperate situation. We've
been providing assistance to the international organizations
which are operating in Iran, and which have been operating since
the beginning of the crisis. The President offered further
assistance on April 5.
We've been consulting with international organizations
and with other governments, including Iran, through our
protecting power, the Swiss, on how best to respond to the needs
of the refugees. Arrangements are now being made for a shipment
of relief supplies on Saturday. Specifically, a U.S. Air Force
aircraft will deliver a large cargo of blankets to Meherabad
Airport in Tehran on Saturday. That's M-E-H-E-R-A-B-A-D Airport
in Tehran.
That's a U.S. Air Force aircraft. It will deliver a
large cargo of blankets on Saturday to the airport in Tehran.
In southern Iraq: Coalition forces continue to provide
assistance to the 24,000 refugees and to the local civilian
population within the demilitarized zone. They will continue to
do so until UNIKOM forces assume full responsibility for the
area. U.S. forces continue to work with the UNIKOM advance
party in preparing to turn over observation posts.
Officials of international organizations report that
cholera is evident in this area. They report that it's the
result of the severe damage done to water and sanitation systems
during the civil conflict. Of course, that is, therefore, a
focus of the relief efforts in that area.
Q In southern Iraq?
MR. BOUCHER: That was in southern Iraq, yes, that
cholera has been reported.
With that, I'd be glad to take your questions.
Q First, could you spell al-Amadiyah; and second,
could you give your reaction to the meeting that Saddam Hussein
had yesterday with the Kurdish representatives?
MR. BOUCHER: al-Amadiyah: al-A-M-A-D-I-Y-A-H. The
site is approximately 15 kilometers east of al-Amadiyah at
Dohuk.
We've seen press reports about an agreement in
principle between the Kurds and Saddam Hussein. We really don't
have any independent details for you. I guess they said that
they would be working on the details in coming days.
Earlier this week, I think, we gave our basic position
on rights for the Kurds. Let me say that we would welcome any
agreement which establishes democratic practices in Iraq which
protects human rights of the population and which provides
assurances which would allow the refugees to return home
promptly in safety and dignity.
Q When was the last time that a U.S. plane flew to
Tehran -- or to Iran?
MR. BOUCHER: Apart from the Desert One situation, I'm
not aware of anything since about 1979.
Q Robert McFarland --
MR. BOUCHER: I guess there were flights involved in
that as well. But as far as this sort of flight, this is the
first one.
Q Since the Iranian revolution, are you saying that
this is the first one that has taken place with the agreement of
the Iranian authorities?
MR. BOUCHER: Well --
Q No, no, no. Sorry. McFarland --
MR. BOUCHER: You can't -- (inaudible) -- thing that
way. Apart from anything that might have gone on in those days,
I think we're all familiar with the history of that and you can
probably look up what the aircraft were. This is the first such
direct flight of a U.S. military airplane.
Of course, there have been charter flights by
AmeriCares and other groups, in this instance, and by private
groups in the earthquake situation.
Q Will it be followed by subsequent flights?
MR. BOUCHER: This is the first of the flights. I
don't have a complete description of what will come next at this
point. But we see this as the first of the flights and there
may be others.
Q Richard, the United Nations seems to be
questioning whether the United States and other allies should be
setting up -- whether their military should be setting up camps
inside Iraq, and whether we have a right to order the Iraqi
soldiers to clear out of the area.
I understand Ambassador Pickering gave the Iraqi
Ambassador to the U.N. a letter to that effect last night.
MR. BOUCHER: Marlin, I think, has already explained
the situation about the Iraqi presence in the town of Zakhu.
And, yes, we did communicate that last night; Ambassador
Pickering did.
As far as the United States being there, there have
been some reports which we find at variance with what we are
being told by U.N. officials. As you know, we've been in close
touch with the United Nations all along. We see this as
complimentary efforts to help people. That is their goal. That
is our goal. U.N. officials recognize that our goal is to
provide humanitarian assistance as quickly as possible until the
United Nations is in place to assume responsibility for this
operation.
In fact, yesterday, the Secretary General was asked a
question along these lines, and he responded that "everybody is
in agreement -- the Iraqis, the coalition, and myself."
Q Are you talking about the "agreement to vacate"
order delivered to the Iraqis?
MR. BOUCHER: No. This is about the original question,
which is a general question, about criticism by U.N. officials.
Q Can you address the specific question about the
vacate order, whether the U.N. had been approached by the United
States?
MR. BOUCHER: About the--
Q I'm sorry, the order by the United States.
MR. BOUCHER: The question of the presence of the
troops in Zakhu?
Q Exactly. Was it approved by the United Nations?
MR. BOUCHER: I'm not aware that it was. I'll have to
check and make sure. Chris.
Q Back to the Kurdish autonomy pact for a moment.
The Kurds, when they came in this building on Monday and again
yesterday, they called for international guarantees for any such
pact. What is the U.S. view of that?
MR. BOUCHER: The talks that are taking place are talks
between the Government of Iraq and elements of its own
population. As you know, we're not part of those talks.
We have said that our role in establishing the relief
operations in Iraq is temporary and that we will pass on
responsibility for relief operations to the United Nations and
to international relief organizations as soon as possible.
Q Richard, Security Council Resolution 688 does give
the United Nations unprecedented rights to be involved in the
affairs of a sovereign state, in terms of compelling it to get
rid of certain weapons. The United States has further stated
that it won't --
MR. BOUCHER: You mean 687.
Q Right. The United States has further stated,
through Ambassador Pickering, that it won't look kindly on Iraqi
requests to be allowed to sell oil unless Iraq complies with
that resolution on the destruction of weapons.
Since you are already compelling them to do things, why
would it not be in order to compel them to guarantee the safety
of a people whom they have repeatedly abused through their
history? What's wrong with this idea of having the U.N.
guarantee the safety of the Kurds? What's wrong with it?
MR. BOUCHER: You want to do a reprise of the last two
day's of briefings? The question of the safety of the Kurds, I
know, is something that we've been discussing with you for many
days now.
Q This is a different question. I was talking in
the last two days about U.S. guarantees for the Kurds. Now,
you're switching --
MR. BOUCHER: (Inaudible) U.N. to offer a guarantee.
Alan, I can't, nor can the U.N., guarantee that you won't be
shot or run over by a truck this afternoon. There are
provisions being made --
Q Is that a threat?
MR. BOUCHER: No, it's not.
Q Are you trying to shut me up?
MR. BOUCHER: There are provisions being made that
ensure the safety of the international relief effort. I think
you're aware that all along one of the main principles of our
effort and of the international effort is that it should go
forward without any interference from the Iraqi government, with
us or with the refugee populations that are involved. That
involves a whole succession of things that provide those sorts
of assurances to people, or which are intended to.
First, you have the very presence of United States
forces and other coalition forces in the area where we're
setting up those operations and the availability of a rapid
reaction force should there be any problems in setting up those
operations.
It then involves, in successive stages, other things,
such as the turning over of the operations to the United Nations
personnel. We've said that the presence of the United Nations
personnel, we think, would act as a deterrent to the Iraqi
government. Of course, they would be there with the authority
of the United Nations resolution that says that Iraq shouldn't
interfere.
There are also steps being taken in terms of the United
Nations agreements with the Iraqi government -- the Memorandum
of Understanding that was signed by the U.N. representatives
that provides that Iraq should facilitate those operations and
where Iraq agreed to facilitate those operations. Then you have
the additional element of whatever these agreements with the
Kurds turn out to be and how much reassurance that would give to
people.
So there are a series of steps which provide, or are
intended to provide the assurance of the security that we think
the refugees want. We will see -- I guess we'll all see -- what
choices the individual refugees make about going home under
those conditions.
Q Richard, you didn't mention the possibility of a
peacekeeping force. Talabani in his press conference yesterday
mentioned that. Has that been discussed between the United
States and U.N. officials, and can you tell us where that stands
now?
MR. BOUCHER: The only thing that I know that relates
to that is the fact that we've said in the past that should
there be any attempt to interfere with the relief operation,
that we would be consulting with other U.N. Security Council
members about steps that might be necessary by the Security
Council. I'm not aware of any such discussions or consultations
at this point.
Q Do you know if the U.N. agreement with Iraq would
prevent the establishment of a peacekeeping force?
MR. BOUCHER: That's an interpretation of something I
read over a week ago that I just wouldn't hazard a guess on now.
I think you can look at the document yourself.
Q The U.S. Quick Reaction Force that's in the area
now and serving as a deterrent, once refugee camps are handed
off to the U.N. or other private agencies, would that still
remain as a deterrent of the same kind?
MR. BOUCHER: I really don't know, Chris. Perhaps the
Pentagon can tell you, but my guess is that sort of detail might
not have been worked out at this point. The emphasis right now
is on getting relief to the people who need it -- setting up
these camps, setting up the operations, delivering supplies,
delivering help to people -- and that's what's going on right
now.
Q Richard, do you have some guidance on the
situation of the deadline and the police forces in Zakhu?
Because if Marlin wasn't on camera and on tape, could you go
through it?
MR. BOUCHER: This is a special request. You want me
to substitute myself for Marlin.
Q Do you want to?
MR. BOUCHER: No. I'll give you a shortened version.
The United States' concern is to make sure that the Kurdish
refugees receive prompt relief. An atmosphere of security is
essential to facilitating the relief operation, and we believe
that the presence of Iraqi security forces goes counter to
conveying such an atmosphere.
While the U.S. and other relief participants have not
encountered any problems with these forces, nonetheless we think
it's prudent that these forces be pulled back in order to
prevent any accident. It's therefore essential for them to pull
out if we are to signal to the refugees that they are safe to
come down from the mountains, and this view has been conveyed to
the Iraqi government.
Q Was there a 48-hour deadline?
MR. BOUCHER: We expect the Iraqi security forces to
pull back over the weekend.
Q Richard, do you know if this includes the
dismantling of the artillery that's on the heights?
MR. BOUCHER: On the ridge?
Q Yes.
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know. And we have, I think,
declined -- Marlin did, and I will as well -- to get into
specific detail.
Q Were you prepared to use military force if they
don't withdraw by the deadline?
MR. BOUCHER: That's a purely hypothetical situation at
this point. We'll see what they do.
Q Have you informed them whether you would use
military force?
MR. BOUCHER: I'm not prepared to get into any more
specific details of what we said to them.
Q How long are they to stay away?
Q (Inaudible)
MR. BOUCHER: Again, I'm going to -- Alan's question
was, "How long have we asked them to stay away?"
Q Are they going to stay -- should they stay away as
long as those camps are there or --
MR. BOUCHER: The answer to that is the same one I
gave. I don't know, and I think we'll decline to get into
specific details anyway.
Mark? Do you want that to answer to another question
as well?
Q Any response from the Iraqis?
MR. BOUCHER: No reportable response at this point.
There was nothing significant that I heard about their response
at this point.
Q That was done at the United Nations?
MR. BOUCHER: That was done at the United Nations --
that's right -- last night by Ambassador Pickering.
Q Is Shewayish coming here to get the same message?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't think so.
Q What about the Kurds? Have they said that this is
something that they welcome? Are they starting to come down?
Have they given you any indication that they would come down
into the refugee camps, or are they still in the mountains?
MR. BOUCHER: At this point I think it's too early to
tell. As I said before, the Kurds that we've been talking to
appear to want to return to their homes as soon as they can, but
their concerns, I said, were primarily in the area of security.
So I can't report to you exactly whether they will move or not.
I'm not aware of any significant numbers that have moved as of
yet.
As you know, we're still in the process of establishing
the camps, and I think I said that we hope to have people there
in the next few days.
Q How many cases of cholera have been reported in
southern Iraq?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know.
Q This is on cholera, actually. Can you confirm --
there's just a question as to whether these cases are cholera or
not or diarrhea or something like that, the symptoms in the
early stages being the same.
MR. BOUCHER: I'm sorry. I really don't have any more
information on cholera than the information that we got from
officials at international organizations that there is some
cholera in the area. I'll see if I can get you more than that.
I just don't know anything more at this point.
Q Do you know if there's any cholera in
Iraqi-controlled Iraq?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't personally know. I know that the
International Red Cross, UNICEF, other organizations, are
operating inside Iraq. They have been in various areas since
the end of the war basically, helping with water purification
needs, and things like that, and that we have contributed to
those operations. But I think since they're the ones operating
in other parts of Iraq, it's probably they who would be best
placed to describe the conditions.
Q Richard, in your rundown of things that you
welcome from the Hussein-Kurdish talks in Baghdad, you didn't
mention the idea of an autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan. How does --
what does the United States feel about that particular point?
MR. BOUCHER: That particular point is really for them
to decide and agree on. Our interest is in ensuring their
rights as full citizens, in seeing that anything that would move
Iraq toward a more democratic situation, towards greater respect
of human rights, would be very welcome to us, and we think would
help the situation.
[Ethiopia: Americans Urged to Depart; Conflict Talks]
Q Has the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa begun
evacuating personnel?
MR. BOUCHER: We are on the verge of taking a step like
that. Let me describe it to you.
Today we expect to order the departure of all Embassy
dependents and non-essential personnel and urge private
Americans to leave as soon as possible, based on the
recommendation of the Embassy. A new travel advisory is being
issued at the same time. As I said, I expect that to be done
this afternoon.
I would point out that previously the U.S. has
authorized the departure of all dependents and non-essential
personnel who wish to leave Addis Ababa. We advised U.S.
citizens to defer travel to Ethiopia, and we recommended that
U.S. citizens in Ethiopia consider departing.
And at this point, in fact, we don't have any
dependents at the Embassy right now, but we're moving from an
"authorized" to an "ordered" departure status for our own
personnel.
Q Has Ambo fallen? Who's controlling that front?
MR. BOUCHER: It appears to have fallen. I don't have
any specific details on that. The insurgent forces have made
several recent advances around the capital of Addis Ababa. This
makes the situation there very uncertain and, given that level
of uncertainty, we believe it's prudent for U.S. citizens to
leave.
Q What effect will this have on the relief efforts
in that area?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't think I can cite any direct
effect on the relief efforts in that area. The relief efforts
have been pursued despite the difficulties of the situation. I
think Mark gave a rundown on that situation yesterday, and a lot
of the relief efforts are going through various channels that
have been set up. I don't expect this to have any impact on the
relief efforts.
Q If the government falls really quickly, couldn't
this speed up the relief effort?
MR. BOUCHER: That's what we call a "hypothetical."
Q Do you know how many Americans there are in
Ethiopia?
MR. BOUCHER: There are about 600 private U.S. citizens
in Ethiopia. Most of those are missionaries or relief workers.
Eight U.S. Government employees and 30 dependents left under the
previously authorized departure, leaving 28 U.S. Government
employees there now. There are three more employees who are
expected to leave now, and there are no remaining U.S.
Government dependents in Ethiopia.
Q Back on Iraq for a second: Can you confirm and
comment on reports that Saudi Arabia will set up camps for
50,000 Iraqis now in southern Iraq?
MR. BOUCHER: I have to leave announcements on what
specific countries intend to do to those countries themselves.
I think we told you several days ago that we were in contact
with international organizations, with the Kuwaitis and with the
Saudis about the situation of displaced persons in the southern
Zone, in the demilitarized zone, and that we would be working to
ensure that their safety is not jeopardized by the departure of
U.S. troops.
Q I believe Saudi officials have announced this.
What do you think of it?
MR. BOUCHER: So why ask me?
Q Well, I know that was one of your concerns.
MR. BOUCHER: The point, Chris, I think of my previous
answer is to say that I'm not going to describe exactly what the
Saudis are doing, but that we have been working with them as we
have with others. You're aware of our concern that the safety
of these people not be jeopardized, and I'm sure we would
welcome any steps that are taken, whether it's by the U.N. or
other countries, that would help ensure the safety of these
individuals, and that they continue to be taken care of.
[Angola: Peace Talk Progress]
Q Richard, do you have any reaction to the Angolan
government's acceptance of dates for the ceasefire and the
election?
MR. BOUCHER: The situation, as we understand it, is
that President dos Santos made a statement yesterday in Luanda
about the acceptance of proposals put forward by Portugal, the
United States and the Soviet Union to sign a ceasefire next
month and to hold elections between September and November 1992.
This statement is consistent with a position taken by
Luanda's negotiators at the peace talks which are now taking
place in Lisbon. I understand that the talks are continuing;
that significant progress has been made, and as a matter of fact
our Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Hank Cohen is now in
Lisbon.
Q Richard, going back to Ethiopia for a moment, do
you have the current formulation of U.S. policy towards
Ethiopia?
MR. BOUCHER: I think the thing that we've been
focusing on, that we've commented on before, is the recent peace
proposals put out, and we continue to support the proposal for
roundtable talks on transitional arrangements for a new
Ethiopian political system. We have urged all sides to take
this approach seriously as a way to end the conflict before
further human suffering is done in Ethiopia.
Q Do you support the territorial integrity of
Ethiopia?
MR. BOUCHER: I'm sure we do, George. I haven't really
said anything on it recently, but I think I can confidently
answer yes.
Q Richard, do you have anything on the takeover of
buildings in Vilnius this morning by the Russians?
MR. BOUCHER: No, I don't. Let me see if I can get an
update on that situation.
Q Do you have a reaction to the latest agreement
between Gorbachev and Yeltsin and leaders of nine republics in
the Soviet Union?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't think I have it with me. Let me
post something after the briefing.
Q Thank you.
MR. BOUCHER: Thanks.
(The briefing concluded at 1:09 p.m.)