US Department of State Daily Briefing #16:
Thursday, 1/30/92
Snyder
Source: State Department Acting Deputy Spokesman Joseph
Snyder
Description: Washington, DC
Date: Jan, 30 19921/30/92
Category: Briefings
Region: Caribbean, East Asia, MidEast/North Africa,
E/C Europe, Europe, Southeast Asia
Country: Haiti, North Korea, Cuba, Iran, Iraq,
Czechoslovakia (former), France, Vietnam, China
Subject: Human Rights, Regional/Civil Unrest, Refugees,
Immigration, Security Assistance and Sales,
Nuclear Nonproliferation
12:35 P. M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
MR. SNYDER: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I'd
like to begin with a statement, if I could.
[Haiti: US to Screen Haitians for Refugee
Status in Port-au-Prince]
The Department of State has directed the Embassy in
Port-au-Prince to establish immediately information and
screening services in Haiti for those who wish to apply for
refugee status. Details about this program will be announced
soon.
The temporary holding facilities at Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba, have reached capacity. The great majority of those who
have been taken to Guantanamo Naval Facility seeking entrance to
the United States, have been found inadmissible under U.S. law.
Those who do not qualify will be returned to Haiti.
We urge Haitians once again not to put out to sea
expecting to be transported to U.S. territory or facilities.
The journey is long and dangerous and could well result in loss
of life.
Q In connection with that, Joe, do you have anything
on reports taken from court filings or papers filed with the INS
which allege that there are 20,000 people along the coasts of
Haiti preparing to debark?
MR. SNYDER: I don't have any further details. We do
have -- a statement was made by Assistant Secretary Aronson
before the court to that effect. I don't have any further
information on that, however.
Q So this came from Aronson?
MR. SNYDER: From Aronson. Yes.
Q So your new program is sort of an orderly
departure program, right?
MR. SNYDER: We're not using that phraseology, but the
idea is to let people apply for refugee status actually in
Haiti.
Q And what's the cause -- or what's the reason
behind the timing? This recent surge of boat people?
MR. SNYDER: We think that the time is right now to do
this. I don't want to attribute anything further to that.
Q Can I ask you to take the question on Aronson's
statement and provide us whatever details --
MR. SNYDER: Yes. Further details. Sure. Be happy
to.
Q What is your information on the situation at
Guantanamo? How much more room is there, and what are you going
to do when there's no more room?
MR. SNYDER: I don't have any further information. You
might want to check with DoD on the situation at Guantanamo.
I've got the numbers that are there. If you'd like, I can give
you the new numbers.
Q Yes, please.
MR. SNYDER: There were 286 Haitians picked up
yesterday, according to information provided by the Coast Guard.
This brings the total number of Haitian boat people picked up
since the coup to 14,276. A further 165 Haitians were flown
from Guantanamo to the U.S. yesterday, making a total of 1,402
Haitians who have already gone to the U.S. to pursue their claim
to asylum.
To date, 3,379 Haitians have been found to have a
plausible claim to asylum, and the total -- the status of those
who remain are approximately 9,250 ashore at the Naval Facility
in Guantanamo Bay. This number includes those who have been
screened in and who are awaiting transportation to the U.S.
There are some 2,300 Haitians now on board Coast Guard
cutters, and then we have the numbers who are in Venezuela and
Honduras which haven't changed.
Q So how is this system in Port-au-Prince going to
work?
MR. SNYDER: We'll announce the details later. We
don't have the details now.
Q But among the details that raise questions now are
the fact that you have, what, about a dozen people left at the
Embassy, and you're going to have tens of thousands of people
lined up outside the Embassy?
MR. SNYDER: We will be announcing the details of the
program later -- how we're going to be doing this. I don't have
that for you now.
Q Do you have anything on reports about the
possibility of tightening the sanctions as a means of bringing
increased pressure to bear on the Haitian authorities?
MR. SNYDER: No, nothing specifically on that.
Q Joe, regarding returning the people who are at
Guantanamo who will not qualify to come to the United States,
has it been determined that's within the legal parameters of the
judge's order about repatriation?
MR. SNYDER: No, the legal situation remains the same.
The ban remains in effect, and we are urging the judge to change
that decision.
Q In other words -
MR. SNYDER: We're not going to be moving anyone as
long as the ban remains in effect, certainly, from Guantanamo.
Q But by accepting applications on the ground in
Haiti, aren't you acknowledging that you are there for the long
haul; that the sanctions are not really working, and you are in
effect giving up on pressing ahead with the return of the ousted
president?
MR. SNYDER: I wouldn't say that at all. I think that
the OAS efforts remain active, and we remain strongly behind
them. However, we are dealing with a practical situation. Some
of those who have left by boat -- dangerously by boat -- have
been found eligible for refugee status, and we want to
discourage people from leaving the country. It's dangerous,
people are losing their lives, and we want to see that stopped.
Q Are you making appeals via the Voice of America to
encourage Haitians to stay home?
MR. SNYDER: We have been in the past. I don't know
that this is something especially new.
Q Do you have any comment concerning the North
Korean signing of the International -- IAEA Safeguard Agreement
this morning?
MR. SNYDER: Yes. We welcome this first step by North
Korea to fulfill its obligations under the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty. Given the extent of international
concerns so clearly expressed over this issue, we look for North
Korea to now move quickly to fulfill its public promises to
ratify and implement the IAEA Agreement without further delay.
Q And how soon do you expect that the (inaudible)
inspection could be worked out in North Korea with the general
procedure of the IAEA?
MR. SNYDER: That will be up to the North Korean
Government in terms of its ratification and implementation of
the agreement. We've set no timetable, but we want to see that
happen without further delay.
Q I thought they've already ratified the acceptance
of the treaty but just had a condition on inspections, isn't
that right?
MR. SNYDER: They've just signed the Safeguard
Agreement, and that needs to be ratified --
Q I see.
MR. SNYDER: -- and we want them to do it as soon as
possible.
Q In light of the recent North Korean signing of
the Safeguard Agreement, do you have any schedule to re-open the
high-level talks with North Korean officials in the near future?
MR. SNYDER: No. Our dialogue continues in Beijing,
but we have no plans for another high-level meeting.
[Cuba: Cuban Security Forces Shoot Cubans
Attempting to Enter Guantanamo]
Q Joe, what can you tell us about that assault on
that Cuban family trying to gain asylum in Guantanamo yesterday?
MR. SNYDER: In the early morning hours of Saturday,
January 25, a family of 13 tried to jump the fence at Guantanamo
Bay Naval Base. They tripped an alarm. Cuban security forces
opened fire and wounded a young boy and girl.
The Cuban authorities proceeded to round everyone up
except for one man who was able to make it to the Naval Base by
crawling through a cactus field. He is receiving medical
treatment at the base for cuts and bruises. He was not shot.
We have no information about the individuals who were
taken into Cuban custody.
Q Did he make an asylum request, and what's the
status of that?
MR. SNYDER: We have a policy of not confirming whether
particular individuals have requested asylum. I should add that
we deplore this whole incident -- the Government of Cuba
shooting people as a way of stopping them from fleeing their
country. It's reminiscent of ugly activities that took place at
the Berlin Wall.
Now that Germany is free, two border guards who shot at
individuals trying to cross to the West have been convicted of
manslaughter.
We're concerned by the fact that Cubans attempting to
enter the base were fired on by Cuban border guards. When
incidents of this nature arise which are of concern to the U.S.
Government, we review them with the Government of Cuba. We will
be raising our concerns about this incident.
I should also note that it is extremely dangerous to
attempt to enter the Naval Base at Guantanamo because it's
surrounded by Cuban minefields, and we strongly encourage
individuals wishing to immigrate to the U.S. to do so in
accordance with U.S. immigration law.
[Iran/Iraq: US Exports of Arms/Dual-Use Equipment]
Q Joe, on another subject, there have been a spate
of reports in various papers about U.S. arms sales to both Iran
and Iraq. Have you been looking into those, and what can you
say?
MR. SNYDER: I've got something on the sales to Iran --
the story in -- I believe it was The Times this morning -- The
Post this morning.
First of all, I should say general export trade with
Iran is not barred. We have export limitations on arms and
items which have military applications. Export Administration
regulations are administered by the Department of Commerce.
These provide guidance regarding the export of such controlled
commodities to Iran.
The Department of State does make recommendations on
the licensing of dual-use equipment when cases are referred by
the Department of Commerce. But absent any details on a
specific export to Iran -- there are no details in this article
-- we are unable to comment on these reports, and I would refer
you to Commerce for further information.
Q Well, generally speaking, is it the State
Department's policy in its recommendations to oppose the export
of dual-use equipment such as computers?
MR. SNYDER: Each of the requests are examined on a
case-by-case basis. I don't want to make a general statement.
We do have a policy of banning the export of dual-use items --
items with military applications.
Q And so if any of these dual-use items such as
computers got through, then it was a breakdown in the system, is
what you're saying?
MR. SNYDER: I think it's very much a question of
interpretation. I'm not going to characterize it as a breakdown
in the system. To answer questions, I think it's important to
have the specific details. I don't think it's fruitful to
discuss the question in general. There were no details in the
two articles in question.
Q But you can't discuss specific cases because of
proprietary restrictions; is that right?
MR. SNYDER: To be able to answer your question, I
think it's important to know the specific details that they're
talking about in terms of whether there was a breakdown. We
could do that without discussing individual cases.
Q Okay. Did the State Department recommend against
shipment, or at least give a non-approval to items which were
later shipped?
MR. SNYDER: I don't know. I'll have to check
specifically on that.
Q And on the issue of weapons to Iraq, it has been
alleged in a series of articles, I think, in The Times that the
sales were much earlier and much larger than earlier reported,
going back to 1982. Have you been looking into those?
MR. SNYDER: I don't have anything on that.
Q Have you been looking into them?
MR. SNYDER: I'll check and see.
Q Joe, speaking of arms shipments, the Germans have
apparently intercepted a freighter carrying Czech tanks to --
Czechoslovak tanks -- to Syria. Any knowledge of that? Any
comment on it?
MR. SNYDER: I don't have anything. Let me look into
it. I don't have anything specifically here.
Q Do you have anything generic on the pledge of the
new Czech government to stop relying so much on arms exports?
MR. SNYDER: We've been working closely with the
Czechoslovak Government to try to discourage arms exports, to
work on defense conversion activities, and we welcome that.
Q Do you have an update? How are they doing?
MR. SNYDER: Sorry, I don't have anything in the
absence of anything that led me to ask about it. I don't have
anything specifically. Do you want a report card?
Q In light of this story, it would be interesting to
know how the Department of State feels they're doing.
MR. SNYDER: All right.
Q Do you have any comments of the hospitalization of
Mr. Habash in Paris, please?
MR. SNYDER: No, not really. No comment at all.
[Vietnam: Update on Meeting with Deputy Assistant Secretary Quinn]
Read Q Joe, do you have a readout on late yesterday's
meeting between senior U.S. and Vietnamese officials?
MR. SNYDER: Yes, I do. The first working group
meeting between the U.S. and Vietnam lasted for about two and a
half hours yesterday. We would characterize the session as
constructive and useful.
The U.S. side reiterated that progress toward
normalization depends upon continued implementation of the
Cambodia peace settlement and on Vietnam's cooperation on
POW/MIAs and other humanitarian issues.
Discussion then moved to consular issues, financial and
property claims, and humanitarian assistance. Both sides agreed
on the need for further meetings for continued discussion on
these subjects, but no date was set.
Q Can you say anything specific about the financial
and property claims -- what value you're sort of working with?
MR. SNYDER: No. The discussions continue, and we're
going to continue them in private, so long as they're
continuing. So I don't have details.
Q And you have no specific date for the next
meeting?
MR. SNYDER: No date has been set.
Q Can I follow up on the Habash thing?
MR. SNYDER: Yes.
Q This man has a rather notorious record, and he
always figures prominently in U.S. Government reports about
terrorism. Does the United States not have any feeling about
France, an ally, harboring him, providing him with assistance?
MR. SNYDER: France's decision to admit Mr. Habash was
its own decision. We don't have any comment on that.
Of course, our views on Habash himself and his group --
the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine -- are well
known. This is an extremely violent terrorist group that was
most active in the 1960s and 70s and it is responsible for
numerous terrorist atrocities, including highjackings, armed
attacks and bombings that killed scores of innocent people.
We have frequently condemned Mr. Habash and the
terrorist activities of his group.
Q But despite this, you think it's okay that France
would open its doors?
MR. SNYDER: We think the question of admitting him to
France is a question for France. We don't have a comment on it.
Q Is he wanted in the U.S.? Is he under indictment
here?
MR. SNYDER: I don't know. I'll ask.
Q Joe, a housekeeping question. What are your plans
about the Human Rights Report?
MR. SNYDER: We will be releasing the report to
Congress on Friday, and we will be making copies available in
the Press Office some time on Friday. We don't have that pinned
down specifically. It will not be today.
Q And Schifter is going to come here?
MR. SNYDER: Yes. I think Schifter will be coming in
-- right now, it's tentatively planned for a 4:00 p.m. briefing
on Friday.
Q This is designed entirely to keep the story out of
the press -- 4:00 p.m.?
Q You make nobody's deadline that way.
MR. SNYDER: I'm sorry. We're trying to do our best.
The report is going to be released to the Congress during the
workday on Friday, and we're not going to be releasing --
Q What's the reason for the delay?
MR. SNYDER: It's not ready -- not ready to be
released.
Q Does it have anything to do with the President's
meeting with Li Peng on Friday?
MR. SNYDER: There are reports on every country in the
world. It takes time to put the whole thing together. There
are controversies about many of them, and they're just not
ready.
Q So is it accurate to say that the report is
delayed because the State Department is still debating its
judgments on certain countries? Is that the conclusion to draw
from your remarks?
MR. SNYDER: You can draw your own conclusion, but some
of the individual country papers will not be ready until that
time.
Q Have you taken into consideration the fact that
the lateness of the briefing may make it necessary for members
of the press to go with the leaked version from the Hill? Those
portions which are leaked from the Hill earlier in the day are
likely to be the very portions that others in the Administration
might wish to de-emphasize? You can protect yourself.
MR. SNYDER: Yes, we have taken that into consideration
and we're prepared to live with it.
Q I see.
Q Are you worried at all that what you report on
China might sort of muddle the President's meeting with Li Peng?
MR. SNYDER: I'm really not going to comment on the
President's meeting with Li Peng from this podium. If you want
to check with the White House, you can.
Q What sections are still being written at this late
hour?
MR. SNYDER: I don't know.
Q I thought the report is for the previous year? In
other words, it goes up to December 31, 1991. So what's still
unsettled?
MR. SNYDER: What the reports are going to say.
Q Isn't it fudging a bit? You're supposed to be
dealing with 1991.
MR. SNYDER: That's right.
Q It's now 1992.
MR. SNYDER: Right.
Q So why are you still writing? It should be pencil
down time.
MR. SNYDER: The reports are factual. They certainly
contain judgments and it takes time to write these things and
get them exactly right.
Q And they're not written yet? Today is the day
before the report is going up. It's not written?
MR. SNYDER: Of course --
Q I just want to make sure I understand correctly.
MR. SNYDER: Yes, the individual reports are largely
written, but they go through a process of drafting and review
and that process will not be finished until --
Q At the right --
MR. SNYDER: They will be released when that process is
finished and we're ready to release them.
Q Will they be released by 12:00 o'clock tomorrow to
the press?
MR. SNYDER: I don't know when they'll be ready. I'm
sorry.
Q Also on China, there's a report that written
assurances -- or assurances have been received from Chinese
authorities that they will provide a written promise to abide by
the terms of the Missile Technology Control Regime. What do you
have on that?
MR. SNYDER: During the Secretary's November visit to
Beijing, the Chinese agreed to observe the MTCR guidelines and
parameters in their exports to all countries and specifically
acknowledged that these would apply to transfers to Syria, Iran,
and Pakistan.
In return, the Chinese requested that we lift the
sanctions we adopted in June 1991 in response to transfers of
PRC missile technology to Pakistan. The Administration's goal
in adopting these sanctions was to induce Beijing to cease such
transfers and to join with other ballistic missile-producing
countries in adopting the Missile Technology Control Regime
guidelines.
Since the November meeting, the two governments have
exchanged views on modalities for finalizing this agreement.
This exchange continues.
Once the two sides finalize the November agreement, the
Administration plans to take the steps necessary to lift the
June 1991 sanctions. We have no set timetable for lifting the
sanctions.
I should point out this Administration decision would
affect only the package of missile sanctions adopted in June.
Other U.S. sanctions adopted after the suppression of the
Chinese democracy movement in 1989 and intended to encourage
human rights improvements remain in effect. These include such
things as a ban on weapon sales and support of international
lending, only to meet basic human needs.
Moreover, U.S. law would require re-introduction to
missile sanctions if China were to undertake new transfers that
are inconsistent with the MTCR.
Q Can you say specifically what's holding up
committing all of this to paper? Are the Chinese reneging in
any way?
MR. SNYDER: We are continuing our discussion. I can't
go any further than that.
Q A follow-up to yesterday's Vietnamese talks. Even
though you said that the next meeting has not set the date, are
you going to keep contact with them by telephone or mail to
narrow the gap between the U.S. and Vietnamese?
MR. SNYDER: On many of the issues that were discussed
at the meeting yesterday, we've got regular contact. There's a
technical office in Hanoi, for instance, to deal with POW/MIA
questions. Of course, we remain in touch with Vietnam.
Q Thank you.
MR. SNYDER: Thank you.
(Press briefing concluded at 12:56 p.m.)