US Department of State Daily Press Briefing #77:
Wednesday, 5/8/91
Boucher
Source: State Department Deputy Spokesman Richard
Boucher
Description: 12:30 PM, Washington, DC
Date: May 8, 19915/8/91
Category: Briefings
Region: MidEast/North Africa, South Asia, Eurasia
Country: Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria,
USSR (former), Armenia, Bangladesh, Ethiopia
Subject: Regional/Civil Unrest, Development/Relief Aid,
Refugees, Arms Control,
Security Assistance and Sales, Democratization,
Military Affairs
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
MR. BOUCHER: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
If I can, at the beginning, let me, again, give you the highlights of
the relief efforts. We will put up more extensive information after
the briefing. This is what I see in it that's new.
[Iraq: Situation Update]
We have some estimates from combined task force personnel
of the number of refugees that are leaving mountain camps. The
estimates are around 5,000 per day. We are pleased to see the
refugees begin to move down from the mountain camps to areas
where adequate medical care and additional assistance can be
provided for their onward movement to their homes.
I can't characterize these movements as being faster than
expected because we really had no expectations as to what the rate
of return would be once people felt secure to start moving towards
their homes As we've said on many occasions, our objective has
always been to provide for the care and protection of this needy
group of people and to facilitate the return to their homes in
safety.
In southern Iraq, the Defense Department reports that more
than 8,400 displaced persons were moved from the Safwan area to
the temporary refugee camp in Saudi Arabia. In addition, 2,118
Iraqis were moved to Iran by the International Organization for
Migration.
All of those displaced civilians who wanted to depart the
area were moved. In fact, I'm told that the last flight for people
out of this area to the refugee camps left virtually empty.
Local civilians remaining in the area were provided with
food, water, and other supplies sufficient to last for one week. We
do not have information concerning the number of Iraqi civilians
who decided to remain in the area.
On May 6, the United Nations peacekeeping forces completed
their deployment into the demilitarized zone, and they are now
prepared to carry out their monitoring and observation functions.
As a consequence, 8,000 U.S. troops began withdrawing from the
demilitarized zone on May 7. The withdrawal is scheduled to be
completed by no later than May 9.
That's the only update I had. I'll be glad to take
your questions.
Q On other subjects as well?
MR. BOUCHER: Anything, Barry.
Q Let me try a couple of things with you on the
Soviet Union. The Foreign Minister arrived in Damascus today.
I wonder, first off, what the expectation is here, in the State
Department, as to the Soviet recognition of Israel -- full
diplomatic recognition?
MR. BOUCHER: The expectation, as you call it, if
you're meaning predictions, I'm not going to try to give any.
As you know, we all would support the idea that Israel should
get full recognition not only from the Soviet Union but from
other countries as well.
Q Secondly, is it still a matter of policy -- the
Baker policy, in fact -- that the Soviets are not eligible to
play a role -- certainly as co-sponsor of a Mideast conference
-- until they upgrade their relations with Israel to full
relations?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't have anything new or different
from what the Secretary said before, Barry.
Q Because there now seems to be some question
whether this Bessmertnykh tour of the Middle East will result in
full relations and yet the U.S. is going out there -- Baker is
going out there, evidently, to keep trying to set up a
co-sponsored peace conference Is there any problem, mechanical
problem, trying to do something that's based on a prerequisite
that hasn't happened yet?
MR. BOUCHER: There's certainly a problem on my part in
trying to predict how things will turn out since they haven't
happened yet. But I don't really have anything new on that
since the last time the Secretary left it, and I think I really
just have to leave it there.
Q All right, one last thing. Could you venture some
comments on how the Soviets and U.S. interests in any way, or
whatever way, are in alignment so far as the Middle East? What
is it that you want from the Soviets? What do you expect from
the Soviets?
Bessmertnykh made a strong statement today. Of course,
he's in Syria, but he made a strong statement supporting the
Arabs. He said he wouldn't let them down, etc., etc. What is
it that Baker is looking for from the Soviet Union, particularly
on this trip?
MR. BOUCHER: Let me leave that one where the Secretary
last addressed it with Minister Bessmertnykh as well. I don't
have anything particularly new to say on that.
Q Did he address it since his last trip? I've been
away a couple days.
MR. BOUCHER: Yeah, he did. He talked about our common
interests and where he left it on the last trip.
Q Where he left it on the last trip? I'm familiar
with that.
MR. BOUCHER: Yeah, I think he talked about it in
Kislovodsk when they were out there.
Q Right, he did, indeed.
Q Richard, in announcing his trip, I think it was
Margaret who said or suggested that there might be other parties
who would take part in the conference and possibly act in a
hosting role. I presume talking about here the European
Community or the United Nations. Are those still possibilities?
MR. BOUCHER: It was the Secretary, I think, that
mentioned the Soviet Union, among others, when he was downstairs
Monday morning. So certainly, yes, those are possibilities.
Q And is that one of the things that is being
actively explored?
MR. BOUCHER: Those are things that the Secretary has
been working on during the course of the last trip, and he will
continue to work on this kind of conference that he described
again for you on Monday.
Q Richard, would you like to comment on the decision
of Egypt and Syria to withdraw their troops from Kuwait?
MR. BOUCHER: I think just to say that, first of all,
we've always said it was for the governments of the area to take
the lead in these post-war security arrangements. As you know,
Secretary Cheney is out in the region right now discussing these
very issues.
Q Was it a surprise, that the decision was taken?
MR. BOUCHER: I really don't think I want to go into it
more right now, because Secretary Cheney is out there meeting
with many of these people, and I don't have a readout on his
discussions.
Q But, Richard, U.S. policy was -- and even though
Cheney's out there, just to see if there's any change now, the
idea was that you would have a security force. You were very
much in favor of stabilizing the region with the Gulf states
plus Egypt and Syria.
Now, doesn't this suggest that maybe that plan is not
going to work out?
MR. BOUCHER: Barry, the Gulf states, Egypt and Syria
have in the past addressed these issues. The way we've
addressed it is to say that the states of the area and regional
organizations have to take the lead in post-war security
arrangements, and that the United States and other countries as
well could support this; that we had certain ideas in mind as
far as what the U.S. role would be in supporting their security
arrangements.
Q I thought you meant inactively, not immediate
withdrawal. That's hardly a lead when you decide to move out.
That could leave the Gulf with a negative result.
MR. BOUCHER: The Gulf states and regional
organizations and regional states will take the lead in
establishing these security arrangements. Secretary Cheney is
out there now talking to them, and I'm not informed on the full
course of his travels or his discussions, and I'm not about to
try to tell you how that might be modified through his
discussions.
[USSR: Civil Unrest in Armenia]
Q Richard, back on the Soviet Union, if I can. Do
you have any comment on the fact the Soviets have seized three
more villages in Armenia? Any comment on Soviet behavior
generally towards Armenia? And also I understand that there are
two American reporters stranded in Armenia and surrounded by
Soviet troops and can't get anywhere. Do you have any knowledge
of that and any comment?
MR. BOUCHER: I personally had not heard about that.
That's something, I'm sure, we'll want to look into, and, if we
can get you something on that later, I'll try.
As for the general situation in Armenia, I guess I have
to start out by saying that we don't have people ourselves on
the ground. We don't have firsthand information from the
region, and so I can't really confirm for you the exact purpose
of the Soviet troop deployment, or what exactly they're doing.
As a general matter, I would say, however, that we are
very concerned by the worsening violence in the Armenian/
Azerbaijan area and in the areas surrounding the disputed
territory of Nagorno-Karabak.
We deeply regret the loss of life and hope that all
parties to this dispute will step back from confrontation. I
would remind you of what the Secretary has said before. I have
the quotes from a November 1989 press conference where he talked
about the distinction between forcibly suppressing peaceful
dissent, on the one hand -- with which we would have great
trouble -- and maintaining order in the face, for instance, of
inter-ethnic rivalries that might themselves be leading to
violence and bloodshed.
So we would hope to see an early resumption of the
political dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan that began
last year, and we have conveyed our concern to the Soviet
authorities about these situations. And we have urged all
parties to step back from confrontation and rely upon reason and
restraint.
Q Following up, conveying your concern, that was
done by Matlock?
MR. BOUCHER: It was done by our Embassy. I think it
was the DCM who went into the Foreign Ministry last weekend.
Q A follow-up on that: In repeating the distinction
that the United States draws between suppression of dissent and
maintaining order, have you determined which case it is in this
instance?
MR. BOUCHER: That's something I really can't do,
because we don't have a specific assessment of the situation on
the ground. It's a very complex issue. Our desire is to see
the peaceful resolution of these issues and to see the parties
take steps that will avoid bloodshed.
On the one hand, that means where force is used to
re-establish order, that it's a minimum of force. On the other
hand, that means that there be some other way for solving
political disputes. "Some other way" meaning some sort of
dialogue that can solve these disputes peacefully, and only
really in that way can you get a legitimate and lasting solution
to these kinds of disputes.
Q Are you trying to get somebody on the ground in
this case so that you can make your own assessment?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know that we are. I'll have to
check.
Q Richard, a few hours ago the President didn't have
anything to say about the firing on a plane -- an American plane
in Iraq. Do you want to step into the breach?
MR. BOUCHER: No, I don't, Barry. (Laughter.) Some
other time.
Q Can you tell us where (inaudible) is?
MR. BOUCHER: No. You might check with the Pentagon.
I'm sure they'll give you that kind of military information if
they feel comfortable.
Q Have they responded in any way -- whether U.S.
planes responded to the incident at all?
MR. BOUCHER: Again, you're dealing with military
airplanes, military situations, which our military well be glad
to inform you on. I'm not going to jump into this one, sorry.
Q With all due respect though, the Pentagon and the
State Department yesterday issued the same information about the
relief operation, which is also military. But you won't talk
about this. Why?
MR. BOUCHER: Relief operations is a much broader
issue.
Q It doesn't involve the military at all?
MR. BOUCHER: It certainly does.
Q Well, you talk about that then.
MR. BOUCHER: I'll be happy to check with the Pentagon
on your behalf and get you a copy of anything that we jointly
decide to say on this issue.
Q Has there been diplomatic communication with the
powers that be in Iraq about incidents such as this shooting at
the aircraft? Apparently it's not the first time, but it is the
first identifiable one from Iraqi forces -- or are you allowing
that to be a military-to-military matter and the diplomats are
not getting involved?
MR. BOUCHER: No. I'll have to check on that, John.
I hadn't heard of any, but let me check.
Q Can we get back to Armenia for a minute? On the
one hand you're telling us that you can't say anything about the
Armenian allegations of -- the Armenians are describing this as
state terrorism, and you're saying you can't say anything about
that or if this is an excessive use of force at least, because
you don't have anybody on the ground to make an assessment. But
in answer to Carol's question on whether you're trying to get
anybody on the ground, you say that you don't know. Is there
some reason why we wouldn't be trying to send -- why wouldn't we
be sending someone to check it out?
MR. BOUCHER: I can't answer that because I don't know
that we're not trying to send somebody to check it out, and I
will find out the answer to the question. And if we're not
sending somebody, we'll try to explain to you why.
Q Richard --
MR. BOUCHER: Let's go back here.
Q Yes. Czechoslovakia today announced I think that
in spite of protest of the United States, it is going to go
ahead with the sales of tanks to Syria. Do you have any remarks
concerning this issue, you know, which you would add to
yesterday's remarks?
MR. BOUCHER: I hadn't seen that they had made a new
announcement on it, so I don't have anything to add. I think I
made our position clear and Margaret made our position clear
with our statements over the past few days.
Q Well, in light of what she said, does that put
into jeopardy any U.S. aid program for Czechoslovakia?
MR. BOUCHER: I haven't seen a Czech announcement, so
I'll have to check on that and see.
Q Well, I'll put it this way: Given a Czech
decision to go ahead, would that put into jeopardy any U.S.
assistance?
MR. BOUCHER: Let me check.
Q Can we stay on Eastern Europe for a minute if we
can? Have you any reports of any demonstrations outside the
Embassy in Bucharest on the part of American parents who want to
get babies out, who are having problems there with the Embassy?
MR. BOUCHER: I hadn't seen anything on that. I'll
have to check on that too.
Q We're hearing reports that the Embassy there has
stopped issuing visas for babies that were adopted through
private means, not through the official agency. Is that
correct? Can you confirm that?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know. I'll have to check. I'm
sorry.
Q Richard, the Jordanians say that they're having a
problem with ships still being stopped and searched at the Aqaba
Port to the extent of every container in ships delivering
anything to Jordan being opened and searched; and they say that
this was brought up between the King and Baker during their
meeting in Aqaba, that they were given assurances that this
would stop happening. They say it's still happening, and they
say that it's all but dried up shipping to Jordan.
Do you have anything on that? Do you know if that's
true, if these allegations are true; and do you know if
anything's been done about it?
MR. BOUCHER: I'm afraid I don't know, Mary.
Q Can you take the question?
MR. BOUCHER: I'll look into it.
Q Thank you.
Q Do you have an update on the schedule of the
Secretary's travel?
MR. BOUCHER: We will put out a tentative summary
schedule but one that's more complete than what I'll give you
here. But to give you the basic outlines, in repeating some of
the things I've said before, on Friday evening the Secretary and
party will depart Washington.
They will go to Syria. On Sunday, in Damascus, he
expects to meet with President Assad.
Q On Sunday?
MR. BOUCHER: On Sunday, yes. I think it's a Saturday
evening arrival there.
Then on to Egypt on Sunday. He'll be meeting with
Foreign Minister Bessmertnykh in Cairo on Sunday and Monday, and
meet in Cairo with President Mubarak and others in the Egyptian
government as well on Monday.
Q All on Monday?
MR. BOUCHER: On Monday.
Tuesday on to Amman, Jordan for meetings there.
And then proceed to Israel Wednesday and Thursday, some
meetings in Israel.
And tentative return time is Thursday to Washington.
Let me add one more time, as we do every time we give
you this kind of information, this is all tentative. We may add
things or change things. And, as I said, we'll get you the
tentative summary schedule in more detail this afternoon.
Q Even though we're getting towards summer, it is
Amman and not Aqaba; right?
MR. BOUCHER: That's right.
Q And it's an overnight in Amman, Jordan?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't think it is, but we'll have a
schedule for you shortly.
Q But it's been announced in Lisbon that the
Secretary will appear with Mr. Bessmertnykh at the Angola peace
accords on the 3lst [of May]. Can you confirm that
MR. BOUCHER: No, I can't. Nothing is scheduled yet.
We're taking this one step at a time.
Q That's not the same trip, is it? (Laughter.)
Because he could hang around for some time.
MR. BOUCHER: No, I don't think so, Barry.
Q He'll settle something else while he stops there.
Q Will he be going up to brief Senators this
afternoon on the trip, is that correct -- the Secretary?
MR. BOUCHER: Let me check on that and get you
something.
Q Richard, is he part of a commencement to address
next week? I heard some notion that there's another speech.
It's important to us not because we cover speeches but because
it may bring him home. (Laughter.)
MR. BOUCHER: Barry, I just told you today that he
plans on coming home --
Q But would he?
MR. BOUCHER: -- and that he plans on coming home a
week from Thursday. And then, yes, I do believe he has a
commencement speech shortly after that.
Q Can we return just briefly to northern Iraq? For
the last week, what the U.S. has been saying from this podium is
that the effort in northern Iraq is to get the United Nations to
take over the care and feeding of the Kurds as they come down
out of the mountains. But there has not been a statement by the
State Department as to who is going to provide the security and
the safety net which you feel -- the web, as you put it -- which
you feel is necessary for them to come down.
Who's going to provide that when the United Nations is
giving them food and water and medical care? Who's going to
make them safe if the U.S. and the coalition goes away?
MR. BOUCHER: John, this is an issue that we have
discussed in this room rather extensively before, I think you'll
remember. We've discussed the various steps being taken by
various people to provide the kind of assurances that people can
get relief and that they presumably need in order to feel safe
enough to go back to their homes.
There are various things being done by the United
States. There is the issue of a U.N. police force or some sort
of security presence along with their relief presence that is
being explored and discussed by the United Nations. And there
are other steps that the United Nations has already taken in
terms of their discussions with the Iraqis in their memorandum
of understanding about monitoring and observers and sending
people out to towns.
Q I wasn't aware that there was any great interest
on the part of the U.N. in creating a police force for the
northern part of Iraq. Are you telling me that there is
interest on the part of the U.N. in doing this?
MR. BOUCHER: The issue of safety, protection, security
-- whatever you want to call it -- for the U.N. relief efforts
is part and parcel of the discussion fo relief efforts that
we've had. We've had discussions with other U.N. members. Up
in New York, I think the Secretary-General is currently studying
this issue.
And you'll remember the President just this morning
once more said that he was looking forward to discussing the
hand-over process with Secretary-General Perez de Cuellar
tomorrow.
Q He said he didn't want to get caught in a
quagmire, and some people think he may already be caught in a
quagmire. But I'll leave it that.
Q Richard, given that the refugee situation is a
direct result of the Persian Gulf war, which was --
MR. BOUCHER: Excuse me?
Q Is that --
MR. BOUCHER: You can go, but I will question that.
Q You don't think the refugee problem has anything
to do with the war?
MR. BOUCHER: I didn't say anything.
Q Well, assuming for a moment --
MR. BOUCHER: Keep going with your question and I'll
take my shot later.
[Role of Syria and Egypt in Relief Effort]
Q Assuming for a moment that it does have something
to do with it and that the coalition was very united in ousting
Iraq from Kuwait, why is it not important for Syria and Egypt to
be part of the relief operation?
MR. BOUCHER: You're mixing a hole bunch of things,
some of which I have not heard said before and some of which I
have heard said before and I object to.
The first is that the refugee situation is the result
of Saddam Hussein's brutality against his own people.
Q You're agreeing or disagreeing with that?
MR. BOUCHER: I'm disagreeing with what you said about
it being the result of the war.
Q And you're saying?
MR. BOUCHER: Second of all, the question of Syria and
Egyptian roles in the relief operation is not something I've
seen addressed before. I know that in the early part there were
some supplies in Syria, that we worked with them to have turned
over and moved up to Turkey since that's where the people where
and that was part of their role.
But the role of different countries I think we've
talked about in different ways and run it down in the sitreps.
I don't precisely remember what Syria or Egypt may or may not be
doing in the relief effort.
Q But it's not of any real concern to the United
States Government, what they're doing?
MR. BOUCHER: The point is to provide assistance to
people who need it, and there are a large number of countries.
Each country is deciding how to contribute in its own way. Many
of these countries contribute to the international organizations
that are doing work out there. And I think if you want to know
what Syria and Egypt are doing, you can either check out our
situation reports, if we've reported on that before, or you can
ask them directly.
Q Can you give us an update on CFE and what's
happening on negotiations?
Q I've got some more on the Gulf.
Q How about --
MR. BOUCHER: I'll be glad to bounce around.
[Iran: AmeriCares Relief Workers Depart]
Q Have you seen the report of the U.S. medical
clinic which has been harassed and, in effect, driven out of
Iran?
MR. BOUCHER: You're talking about the AmeriCares
people?
Q Yes. The ones where they --
MR. BOUCHER: Yes, Jan.
Q -- threatened to shoot --
MR. BOUCHER: The organization themselves I think can
talk about some of the detail. Let me give you our general
understanding of the situation overall with the AmeriCares.
They have sent planeloads of relief supplies to Iran,
and they report that they generally had good cooperation from
Iranian government officials.
The problem that caused them to withdraw the
humanitarian assistance team that was working at a refugee camp
near Bukan was apparently the result of harassment and
confrontations with local Iranian authorities present in the
camp.
Prior to departing Iran, AmeriCares officials turned
over their medical supplies and facilities to Iranian doctors
working in the camp. And, in addition, they trained camp
personnel in the use of the equipment and supplies that were
left behind.
Q And what does that tell you bout the Iranian
attitude in general about U.S. efforts?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't think I'm prepared to try to do
an analysis of Iranian politics for you here. I would just say
that we have heard stories from several Western aid donors based
on their experience, and our general view is that it would be
distressing to us if political views were an obstacle to relief
efforts for refugees in Iran.
Q On the announcement last night concerning the
Iraqi Interests Section and plans for Algeria to be the
protecting power, will the United States have a protecting power
in Baghdad?
MR. BOUCHER: Funny you should ask.
First of all, we haven't finalized any arrangements of
that sort yet and the opening of an Interests Section for Iraq
is a separate issue from our own arrangements in Baghdad.
Q What about al-Mashat? What can you tell us about
his movement from Austria to Canada? (Laughter.)
MR. BOUCHER: Just that we had really no part in it and
that the Canadians didn't ask us before they approved whatever
they approved for him. It appears to be one instance in which a
senior Iraqi official discerned the difference between his own
interests and those of Saddam Hussein. (Laughter.)
Q Did he request to come to the United States and
stay here at any point that you're aware of?
MR. BOUCHER: Not that I'm aware of.
Q But was he asked to leave in mid-January?
MR. BOUCHER: I can't remember. I'm sure we said so.
We'll find out for you, George.
[Arms Control: Status of CFE Negotiations]
Q Richard can you address this issue of what's
happening with CFE and the status of --
MR. BOUCHER: Yes.
Q -- negotiations?
MR. BOUCHER: In a meeting yesterday with U.S.
Ambassador Matlock, President Gorbachev said he would ask
General Moiseyev to lead a delegation to Washington for
high-level discussions on outstanding CFE problems. We don't
have a schedule -- precise dates for you yet -- on that.
The problems with the CFE Treaty have been the subject
for some time of high-level exchanges between the United States
and the Soviet Union. We're in close and continuous contact
with our allies as well.
Both President Bush and President Gorbachev very much
want to resolve the problems with the treaty so that the process
of ratification can begin and the treaty can be fully
implemented.
Q Do you regard this news of the General's departure
for the United States as encouraging insofar as this treaty is
concerned, and also how might this affect food aid to the Soviet
Union, if at all?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't see a connection with food aid to
the Soviet Union. The issue of food aid was discussed by the
President this morning, and I'll leave that where it stands with
him.
As far as the question of what it means, I think we
just have to note that these exchanges are occurring, that we
are trying to solve these issues. We believe the Soviets are
trying to solve these issues, as well. We see the upcoming
exchanges as aimed at satisfactorily resolving the concerns that
we have in a pragmatic and practical manner that will allow the
signatories to move ahead with the process of ratification.
Q Richard, can you run down what the differences of
opinion are on this matter at this point?
MR. BOUCHER: The basic issue is Soviet failure to meet
the treaty obligations. I don't have the specific rundown for
you. I think the last one that was done was by the Secretary
and Bessmertnykh in Kislovodsk, and we can get that for you.
Q It was done by an Administration official right
after that?
MR. BOUCHER: I think it was done by the Secretary a
little bit, as well.
Q Richard, does the State Department have any
observations on Mr. Aziz's interview in The Post and the reforms
that he talked about?
MR. BOUCHER: You are interested in democracy for Iraq?
Q Yes.
Q Do you think they made a mistake, Richard?
(Laughter)
MR. BOUCHER: We have an abundance of irony today.
On the question of mistakes, his assessment of Iraqi
mistakes is an understatement. (Laughter) Iraqi officials are
understandably cautious, however, about discussing these matters
in public.
We have consistently urged the establishment of
democratic practices in Iraq as we do elsewhere in the world.
We are skeptical, however, of any claims of movement in this
direction so long as Saddam Hussein is in power. We think we
have ample reason for skepticism.
[Ethiopia: US Urges Roundtable Talks]
Q Richard, what do you have on Ethiopian peace talks
and the U.S. role in such?
MR. BOUCHER: Both the Ethiopian government and the
insurgents have called for a cooperative effort by all factions
to create a peaceful transition to more democratic forms of
government.
The United States wishes to be helpful in fostering a
peaceful settlement to Ethiopian disputes. With this in mind,
we are planning to organize a round table meeting of the
Government of Ethiopia and the principal insurgent groups in the
next few weeks.
Assistant Secretary Cohen will chair the meeting. I
don't have a time and a place yet.
Q To follow up on that, the rebels have accused the
United States of delaying food supplies in an effort to try to
press them to negotiate?
MR. BOUCHER: The answer to that is, food is being
delivered to northern Ethiopia through a variety of routes. Our
policy is to use the best possible means to get food to where it
is needed. That is currently being done using the Ethiopian
ports of Massawa and Asseb. There are back-up possibilities to
these ports, and at this point, nothing has been cut off.
Q Was there no sort of hiatus at all?
MR. BOUCHER: Absolutely none that I'm aware of. You
are aware of the difficulties that we faced last year, I guess,
with the opening of the port of Massawa. But since it has been
open, I am told nothing has been cut off.
Q Richard, is there anything new on Ethiopian Jews?
MR. BOUCHER: At this point, the rate of departures of
Ethiopian Jews remains about where it was for the past month or
so, an average rate of about 250 people a week.
You, I think, probably noted that when Senator Rudy
Boschwitz met with the President on Monday, the President
indicated that we had some encouragement from the Ethiopian
government on this score, and Senator Boschwitz indicated that
as a result of his talks, he hoped that we would see some
lifting of restrictions on emigration soon.
Q Richard, on this round table, the war that has
been involving the shifting cast of characters, who do you
understand would actually take part? What parties?
MR. BOUCHER: The Government of Ethiopia. The
insurgent groups that would be invited are the Eritrean People's
Liberation Front, the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front, and
the Oromo Liberation Front.
Q Would the Soviets be invited to the round table?
MR. BOUCHER: That I don't know.
Q Richard, does the State Department still consider
the Soviet Union to be a super power? (Laughter)
MR. BOUCHER: You are referring to a speech by Bob
Gates in Vancouver yesterday. I looked at the speech this
morning. He was describing the U.S. role in the world. He was
justifiably proud of the strengths of the United States, but
basically what he was describing, if you read the full context,
was how we work with other governments. He was talking about
the new world order.
I think you will remember that the Secretary has
pointed out that in this crisis, we were in the best position to
take the lead. We worked with other governments to create the
coalitions that managed to solve it, and that's the kind of role
that we see for ourselves in the world, in terms of working with
other governments.
Q On that same speech, is it now the policy of the
U.S. Government that there will be no relaxation of sanctions
against Iraq as long as Saddam Hussein is the proprietor?
MR. BOUCHER: Again, I go back to what the President
has said many times. There will be no normal relationships with
the United States or many other countries by Iraq as long as
Saddam is in power. The President said the sanctions are going
to stay there as far as we are concerned. We note that in the
resolution that provides for periodic review of the sanctions,
that the review is based on the policies and practices of the
Iraqi government as well as the implementation of the U.N.
resolutions.
Q Yes, but the President has never stated it as
categorically as Bob Gates stated it in public yesterday: that
as long as Saddam Hussein is in power the U.S. will continue to
impose sanctions on Iraq. Is that a new U.S. position?
MR. BOUCHER: Well, I pulled up the quotes from the
President. I didn't really see that much differece, but if you
want to ask if there is a difference between Bob Gates and the
President, I think you ought to ask Marlin.
Q Richard, just to come back to a quote that was in
one of the papers this morning. In it he said that today no one
questions the reality of only one superpower and its leadership.
Would the State Department concur with that opinion?
MR. BOUCHER: Again, I really think I explained to you
how I saw the speech. I read the speech. We said different
things about the U.S. leadership role in the world before, and I
didn't find the speech that surprising, frankly.
Q One more on Ethiopia, have the parties that you
listed, have they agreed to attend this round table wherever it
takes place?
MR. BOUCHER: At this point, the arrangements are still
being made.
Q Richard, you said in the last couple of days that
the U.S. is still considering the matter of agricultural credits
to the Soviet Union.
A number of leaders of the republics, including the
Baltic republics, have suggested that the United States should
make credits available directly to individual republics.
Is that under consideration as well, as opposed to the
Soviet Union?
MR. BOUCHER: I hadn't really heard of that angle on
it, and you know the President addressed the general issue this
morning.
Some of our previous shipments, the medical supplies
that we transported, for example, in February, went in to the
Baltics as well as Ukraine. So that has been the case with some
previous things that we sent in.
[Bangladesh: Situtation Update]
Q Can I move on to Bangladesh? Obviously you issued
a situation report this morning. Can you go back to whether or
not the United States is going to provide helicopters for
Bangledeshis, and if you could respond to the government's
decision that it needs about $l.4 billion to rebuild?
MR. BOUCHER: Let me take the opportunity to answer
your question on helicopters once again, and then to give you
kind of a rundown that is a little broader than the rundown of
specific steps that you will get in the situation report that we
put out.
On the issue of helicopters, our position, first of
all, is to note, as you will see in the situation report, that
India has loaned five helicopters to Bangladesh for the
emergency. I was asked yesterday about Pakistan. Also in the
situation report it says that Pakistan is sending two
helicopters to Bangladesh.
If helicopters turn out to be the best use of scarce
resources available for emergencies in Bangladesh and around the
world, we will pursue that option along with other options such
as boats that I talked about.
Let me take the opportunity to sort of give you a
rundown of what is being done and the kind of approach that we
and others are taking to the problems in Bangladesh. Forgive
me, it is long. I hope you find it interesting.
The Bangladesh government has established a centralized
relief mechanism, including a donor coordinating group, under
the Ministry of Finance, and a relief operations cell under the
Military Supreme Command. The Bangladesh army has been given
control under civilian government authority of all relief
operations.
The United Nations is one of a large group of
well-organized donors actively assisting Bangladesh. The United
Nations Disaster Relief Organization is taking the lead among
U.N. agencies as the foreign donor coordinator.
So that's the general organization of the effort. Of
course, in a disaster of this magnitude, in addition to what we
have done, there is always more to be done.
Our approach to that is to note first of all that the
Bangladesh government and donor community is faced with
responding to several tiers of need. The most immediate one is
getting water, oral rehydration salts and food to the survivors
of the cyclone in the remote coastal areas and offshore islands.
In addition, our mission in Bangladesh estimates that
at least 2.7 million people are seriously at risk. Most of
these people are being reached by land or water. They have a
long and sustained need for the relief that will help them
rebuild their homes and reestablish their livelihoods.
While stocks of water purification tablets, basic foods
and other essentials are already in country, the second phase of
relief will be replenishment of those supplies.
Based on assessments from our Mission, we are
responding to the disaster in both near- and long-term ways.
In addition to the measures that we have announced
previously, to respond to the most immediate needs, the U.S. is
planning to send a C-5 transport plane to Bangladesh this
weekend. This will carry medications and high protein food
supplements.
In addition to that, there is a consignment of half a
million dollars worth of oral rehydration salts that are being
flown from Zurich this weekend as part of the U.S. relief
effort.
Again this weekend, we are flying a shipment of
disaster relief supplies into Bangladesh from Okinawa on a C-l4l
transport plane.
With the $5 million that I announced yesterday, we are
making cash grants to non-governmental organizations to procure
in Bangladesh and distribute life-sustaining food, medications
and shelter.
Some of the $5 million grant is also being used to step
up domestic oral rehydration salts production in Bangladesh, and
this will be used to combat dehydration as a result of dysentery
and other diseases.
The donor community, in coordination with the
government of Bangladesh, is assessing the longer-term needs of
the affected people.
We delivered 67,000 tons of wheat to Bangladesh six
weeks ago under our grant food aid program. On Monday, the U.S.
Agency for International Development authorized $70
million for Bangladesh under the 1991 PL 480 Grant Food Aid
Program. Wheat supplies under this program can arrive in
Bangladesh within three months to replenish the stocks being
drawn down during the current emergency.
In addition, at the end of May, the donor community
will meet in Paris to discuss the needs of Bangladesh in the
wake of the cyclone disaster.
Q So you are not prepared at this point to respond
directly to the request, government request, for over a billion
dollars for restructuring. Do you think that should await the
May Paris meeting? Is that it?
MR. BOUCHER: Well, since there are various tiers, and
we are doing these tiers, sort of as we proceed, we are working
on the most urgent needs, planning for some of the nearer-term
replenishment kinds of needs, and looking at the long-term
needs. I can't give to you sort of an exact total of how much
that will amount to in the end.
Q I may be wrong on this, but my understanding is
that the government has requested more helicopter support, and
is there a reason we are not able to respond to that need?
MR. BOUCHER: The position that I have given you over
the past several days is the one that I have given to you today,
that the important thing is to get relief to people who need it;
that we think that most of the people are being reached by land
and by boat.
Some countries have already sent in helicopters, and
there are helicopters operating as part of this relief effort,
and if we find that helicopters are a good use of scarce
resources, we will also be willing to look at that again.
Q Richard, is the $5 million that was authorized
earlier this week part of the $70 million that was authorized on
Monday?
MR. BOUCHER: No. Five million was cash grants for
non-governmental organizations. We talked about the 67,000 tons
of wheat that were in country. I think the value of that was
$l4 million, if I remember correctly, and in addition to both of
those, this is the 1991 grant of PL 480 food assistance for
Bangladesh that comes to $70 million. That food will be used to
replenish supplies in country that are being drawn down now.
Q All right. So for an ignorant foreigner, where
does that come from, the $70 million? Is that out of
(inaudible)? Does it come from the Hill? Where does that money
come from?
MR. BOUCHER: That comes from the normal aid program.
I would assume that PL 480 food aid has been part of our aid
program for Bangladesh over many years.
Q Do you have a more detailed description of what
will be aboard the C-5 and the C-141 in a dollar value perhaps?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't have that at this point. I'll
see if I can get that for you.
Q Okay.
Q Thank you.
(The briefing concluded at 1:10 p.m.)