May, 1992
US Department of State Daily Briefing #66:
Friday, 5/1/92
Boucher
Source: State Department Deputy Spokesman Richard
Boucher
Description: Washington, DC
Date: May, 1 19925/1/92
Category: Briefings
Region: MidEast/North Africa, Eurasia, East Asia, E/C Europe,
South America, Caribbean, Subsaharan Africa
Country: Israel, USSR (former), Sierra Leone, South Korea,
Kuwait, Vietnam, Peru, Bahamas, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Subject: Mideast Peace Process, Development/Relief Aid,
State Department, Military Affairs, Science/Technology,
Terrorism, POW/MIA Issues, CSCE, Regional/Civil Unrest, OAS,
Travel
12:50 P.M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
MR. BOUCHER: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I
don't have any statements or announcements today, so I'd be glad
to take your questions.
Q Richard, has the State Department been hearing
from foreign governments in any way, shape or form about the
events in Los Angeles? Anything special? Any special
inquiries, concerns, whatever?
Q Offers of humanitarian aid?
MR. BOUCHER: I haven't seen any cable traffic from
embassies. I've seen a number of statements on the wires that
governments have said things. But I'm not aware of any special
approaches that we've had.
Q You don't detect any special anxiety about
conditions in this country and maybe -- well, I don't want to
tell you what they might be asking, but things occur to me they
might want to know. But nothing, nothing except --
MR. BOUCHER: Again, you see on the wires reports of
advice that companies or countries might have given to their
citizens and travelers. There have been a few statements that
I've seen by foreign government officials. I'm sure we're all
anxious and concerned about the tragedies in Los Angeles. I
don't really have any analysis at this point.
Q Have any countries issued travel advisories about
the United States?
MR. BOUCHER: I've seen some things on the wires. I
don't know exactly how they described them, but I'll leave it to
them.
Q Any reaction to the French President's rebuke that
he delivered publicly?
MR. BOUCHER: No. I think just what I said before, I'm
sure we're all concerned about the tragedies that are there and
various people are saying different things about it. Nothing
specific on any individual's comments.
Q Does the U.S. have any advice to offer travelers
from other countries? It often offers advice to U.S. travelers
about travel to other places.
MR. BOUCHER: Not that I'm aware of, Ralph.
Q And has the U.S. offered any kind of explanation
to other governments about the events in Los Angeles? Or does
it trust the American news media to handle that?
MR. BOUCHER: I'm sure we trust the American news
media, Ralph, but we might perhaps supplement your efforts in
our conversations. I'll have to check on that.
Q Richard, really, on a lot of occasions we've been
told -- I think specifically of the Middle East some 20 years
ago -- where American diplomats had to explain the American
process to countries that didn't know too much about how the
U.S. process works in various ways -- the kind of system we
have.
MR. BOUCHER: I understand that. There may have been
questions. There may have been questions at our Embassies about
the judicial procedures or about what's going on or about what's
happened and what the Federal Government can or should do or
will do.
Q Is this a blot on --
MR. BOUCHER: The President has explained some of that
already and I'm sure he and the White House will explain more on
that. To the extent that foreign governments inquire, I'm sure
we'll be glad to explain it to them as well.
Q There's no special guidance that's being
distributed to U.S. posts abroad?
MR. BOUCHER: Not that I've seen, Howard. I'll check
on it.
Q In the Administration's view, will it be harder
for the United States Government in the future to criticize
handling of judicial cases and human rights cases in countries
-- just to name a couple but not to limit it to those -- such as
South Africa or North Korea or China as a result of the pictures
and scenes that are being shown from Los Angeles?
MR. BOUCHER: I would not draw that conclusion at this
point, Ralph. As the President said the other day in his
statement, he said the legal process continues. As I said, I'm
sure we'll be glad to explain to foreign countries the legal
process that we have here, the judicial process, the various
responsibilities that different levels of government have, if
anybody asks. We believe in our system. We're happy to explain
it to people.
We're obviously as concerned as anyone about what's
going on out there.
Q Another country with a problem? Is it all right
to ask specific --
Q I just wanted to ask one thing. I understand
South Korea has closed their consulate in Los Angeles, at least
temporarily. I was wondering if the United States advised them
to do that?
MR. BOUCHER: I'd have to check. I have not heard
that.
Q That's an interesting point, though. There are
several foreign consulates in Los Angeles. Is the United States
going to offer special protection for them?
MR. BOUCHER: You mean in terms of police and security
protection out there?
Q Yeah. I mean, lots of buildings are being
torched. I'm not suggesting that --
MR. BOUCHER: I'm not aware that they are targets. I
have no idea where they might be located. I'm sure, if anybody
asks, we'd try to do something. I'll check and see if we have.
[Sierra Leone: Update]
Q Can you shed any light on the situation in Sierra
Leone? Specifically, the 18-member commission, and there's
someone named Kanu, the top man there, or what?
MR. BOUCHER: I haven't seen the 18-member commission
-- I'm told that the membership in the National Provisional
Ruling Council has not been made public, but let me explain as
much as we do understand of the situation.
President Momoh has been overthrown and the National
Provisional Ruling Council has declared a state of emergency.
The Council states that it overthrew the Momoh government to
solve chronic domestic problems. A new government is expected
to be formed today.
The membership of the Council has not been made public.
Mid-level officers of the Sierra Leonean army -- military --
Lieutenant Colonel Yaya Kanu and Captain Valentine Strasser are
believed to be the leaders of the Council.
Diplomats from our Embassy in Freetown, as well as
diplomats from other countries, have met with these apparent
leaders of the Council, and they have assured the diplomatic
corps that foreigners will be protected.
Q A typical -- the usual question: Americans there?
MR. BOUCHER: The number of Americans, we have -- for
some reason, we forgot to add it up, but I'll give you the
figures. You can add them.
The Embassy estimates that there are approximately 800
private Americans, 27 U.S. Government employees and 16 U.S.
Government dependents. There are also 80 Peace Corps
volunteers, and there's an 80-member U.S. military medical team
that arrived in Sierra Leone recently on a previously scheduled
mission. There are no reports of injuries to American citizens
in Sierra Leone. The Embassy has advised U.S. citizens to
remain in their homes until the situation stabilizes.
Q Any thought of airlifting dependents out?
MR. BOUCHER: We're keeping the situation under review.
There have been no decisions like that at this point.
Q Richard, can you tell us what the date is for the
next round of the Middle East peace talks?
MR. BOUCHER: No.
Q Has one been suggested to the United States?
MR. BOUCHER: I read what the parties said. I did not
see that there was any agreement on dates at this point.
Obviously, it's for the parties to decide when to meet again.
As you know, at the end of previous rounds, they've not always
set a date as they ended one round. We'd expect them to share
their ideas with us as co-sponsor and with the other co-sponsor.
As usual, we'll do what we can to help them work it out.
Q Are you aware that this morning the question was
put -- there was a press conference. It was more kind of a
series of speeches by the four chief Arab negotiators. When we
finally got around to questions, they asked about that --
MR. BOUCHER: And they said?
Q -- and their answer was, "It's up to the host,
which they meant Italy, and, of course, in consultation with the
sponsors, meaning the U.S. and Russia. So it looks like they're
waiting for you to -- you and the Italians and the Russians --
to give them a date?
MR. BOUCHER: I guess I would say, Barry, we're at the
same situation that we've been at the end of previous rounds.
The parties, we expect, will go back and evaluate the rounds.
The Israelis have made publicly some suggestions on dates. We'd
expect that the Arabs would go back and they would evaluate this
round and possibly be back in touch with us as regards their
views on possible dates.
In previous rounds, I think sometimes we have made a
suggestion and sometimes we've not.
Q What about the Israeli suggestion of how to get
over this problem of the multilaterals? They made a suggestion
and it's been pretty widely reported. You don't want me to go
through it, I don't suppose, but you know what I mean -- a way
to get Palestinians from beyond the territories into the talks?
MR. BOUCHER: Margaret said to you a day or two ago
that they raised a suggested approach with Ambassador Djerejian.
The position of the co-sponsors on participation in
various multilateral working groups remains the one that we
stated in Moscow. The Israelis have been considering their
position on attendance at the multilateral talks. We're
encouraged that they've developed some ideas, and we hope that
they continue to consider the issue.
Obviously, as we've said all along, we hope that they
will find a way to participate in all the working groups.
Q Is their suggestion in agreement, in accord with
Mr. Baker's expressions of what the ground rules are?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't really want to try to
characterize their suggestion at this point, Barry. I can't do
that.
Q For the record, can you just remind us what the
U.S. position, as stated in Moscow, was?
MR. BOUCHER: I'll get you a copy of Secretary Baker's
statements.
Q Well, just to elaborate -- as I recall, he said
that the United States would favor the participation of
Palestinian exiles from the occupied territories as long as they
were not PLO members or residents of Jerusalem. But to my best
recollection, he didn't say which delegation they should be a
part of.
MR. BOUCHER: That's approximately my recollection as
well, Alan, but I'll be glad to get you a copy of the text.
Q I'm just trying to get some more clarity on your
answer when you said the co-sponsors' position remains the one
we stated in Moscow. Does that mean that the Israeli suggestion
didn't solve the problem? Their formula was not in accord with
the position that you stated in Moscow?
MR. BOUCHER: As I said, we're encouraged that the
Israelis have developed some ideas. We hope that they will
continue to consider the issue, and we certainly hope they can
find a way to participate. That's about as much as I can say
for the moment.
Q Could I go to another area?
Q A different part of the Middle East? Any comment,
Richard, on continued governmental pressure and harassment of
the press in Kuwait? There was a story to that effect in ---
MR. BOUCHER: There is a story to that effect today.
We've looked into it. The reports apparently say that charges
have been brought against two journalists on the grounds that
they published secret military information.
We understand that this may be followed by a court
inquiry to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to
substantiate the charges.
The Kuwaiti Government abolished censorship of the
press on January 12. The Kuwaiti press since then has covered
events with remarkable vigor. You know our strong support for
freedom of the press and freedom of expression. I would just
say that we'll follow the situation closely, and at this point
we'll see whether the court inquiry determines that there is
sufficient grounds for these charges.
Q Would Ambassador Gnehm raise that issue with the
Kuwaiti Government? Because there is concern that this could be
a harbinger of things to come before the election next October.
MR. BOUCHER: I think it's probably premature to start
making predictions like that at this point. I'm not sure if
Ambassador Gnehm has raised this at this point or not.
Q If the censorship is lifted, I mean, this is an
example that the press will not be allowed to be as vibrant as
you would like it to be.
MR. BOUCHER: I don't think I can get into analyzing
the different laws that different countries have about the
press. You know there are different laws, not only between us
and Kuwait, but between us and many countries. So that I don't
think is the point. The point is that censorship has been
lifted. There's a process that's underway. They have brought
some charges and it will be followed by a court inquiry.
We're obviously concerned. We continue to support
freedom of expression, freedom of the press. We've made that
very clear to other governments, including the Kuwaiti
Government, many times, so we'll keep watching this one.
Q Staying in the region but go to the terrorism
report and note that -- ask you, Syria is still on the list of
countries that support state-sponsored terrorism for two
reasons. Those same two reasons are listed in the report on
Sudan -- that it has also enhanced relations with international
terror groups; that it allows terror groups to train on its
territory, and that it offers a safehaven.
Why is Sudan not on the list of countries that sponsor
state-sponsored terrorism when Syria is?
MR. BOUCHER: The publication of this report, Jan, is
not necessarily the specific occasion for changing the list.
It's a review of the evidence.
The annual report from the Commerce Department, I think
it is, goes in January. It's a report to Congress concerning
legislation on export controls relating to foreign policy. In
connection with that report, the State Department formally
reviews the terrorism list.
We've made, I think, very clear in statements from this
podium our concerns about the situation as regards Sudan and
terrorism. The evidence is recounted in the report. I think
we've said before that consideration was being given to their
status as regards the list. That remains where it is now. But
there's no -- the publication of the report doesn't necessarily
prompt the addition. That's something that we keep under
review. We can do it, really, at any time. The only scheduled
and formal review is the one that happens in January.
Q How close is Sudan to becoming one of the outlawed
six?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know. I don't think I can
describe any particular time frame for you. I think the
evidence of their association with terrorist groups has been
made clear, not only in the report, but in the things that we've
said before. So I think we have serious concerns about the
situation there.
Q Do you happen to know when the phrase "a leading
supporter of terrorism" is used in the report only for Iran or
Iraq, is that just a matter of --
Q Libya.
Q Libya, too?
Q Yes.
Q That phrase. It wasn't used for all six, and I
wondered if it was just -- you know, when you write something,
you don't use the same words all the time, or is there something
pointed about that? Are they the worst case examples of state
sponsors of terrorism?
MR. BOUCHER: Barry, I haven't gone through and
compared individual phrases for individual countries, so I don't
know that your premise is correct. I would assume that whatever
characterizations are in there are based on our experts' and
analysts' conclusions.
Q No. I have no premise. I'm just saying the words
-- that that phrase is used.
MR. BOUCHER: Well, I don't know. I haven't counted
the number of times that that phrase is used. Somebody says --
you say two, he says three. I haven't analyzed it to that
point.
Q It's not used for Syria. It's not used for --
Q It's not used for Libya.
Q It's not used -- I don't think it's used for
Libya.
MR. BOUCHER: Well, I really don't -- the report is
extensive. It provides extensive information. It provides
analytical conclusions by the experts, and I think I'll just say
it's -- you know, it's an attempt to describe the situation as
we see it.
Q Last year's report was extensive and probably met
all the same criteria you just mentioned. Last year's report
named Syrian President Hafez Assad as being personally
responsible for supporting terrorist attacks in Israel. This
year's report makes no mention of Hafez Assad, although Syria
is, of course, mentioned in the document.
Is there any explanation as to why the President of
Syria was removed in personal reference from this year's report?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't really know, Ralph. I haven't
checked.
Q Richard, could I ask you about Sudan also. Could
you give us an update on the food situation there? If you don't
have anything current on this, could we -- could you take the
question?
MR. BOUCHER: Yes. It's something I'd have to check
on. I'd be glad to.
Q Richard, twice in the last two weeks the U.S. has
eased the embargo on Vietnam, and I was looking for some
assessment from the government as to whether you think the pace
of improved relations is quickening, and when you thought full
normalization might come.
MR. BOUCHER: I don't think I'd make an assessment like
that for you, Carol. We tend not to try to predict events. As
we've made clear in the statements on the steps that we've taken
with regard to Vietnam, we were prepared to undertake certain
humanitarian steps because we believed that they were
cooperating in the areas of POWs and MIAs. I think we've
reported to you fairly extensively on some of the efforts we've
had underway after Solomon's trip, some of the things that we
have worked out, that we've done, in that area with the
Vietnamese. And so we've taken some actions of our own, but I
wouldn't draw any particular conclusions about the pace and make
predictions out into the longer term for that.
[Former Yugoslavia: CSCE Calls for Cease-Fire in Bosnia]
Q Richard, could you explain to us what was finally
decided by the CSCE in Helsinki, and what the meaning of that
decision is?
Q Yugoslavia, you mean.
Q I'm sorry. Yugoslavia.
MR. BOUCHER: Yugoslavia. O.K. First of all, let me
say I have the statement that they have issued today -- three
pages. We'll give it to you right afterwards. It's their
declaration on Bosnia-Hercegovina.
The CSCE's Committee of Senior Officials met on the
29th and the 30th and continued to meet today, May 1, even
though it's a holiday for most of the countries in Europe.
They're considering the situation in Bosnia-Hercegovina.
Today they issued a declaration on Bosnia-Hercegovina
that calls upon all parties to the conflict to end violence and
to cooperate fully in efforts to achieve a stable and a lasting
peace. They stated in particular that continuing aggression by
the JNA and Serbian irregular forces must immediately cease. As
I said, we have that text available for you.
On April 30 -- that is, yesterday -- they admitted
Bosnia-Hercegovina to full CSCE membership, subject to formal
approval by the Foreign Ministers. The U.S. fully supported
this decision. Bosnia-Hercegovina took its place immediately at
the CSCE table and is welcomed to participate in all CSCE
activities.
Representatives from Belgrade remain in place in
Helsinki, and they are participating in the CSCE discussions.
The U.S. and many others made clear at the meeting that this
procedural arrangement is without prejudice to any succession
issues, including the status of the "Yugoslav" CSCE seat.
The U.S. view is that the best mechanism for resolving
succession issues is the EC peace conference. Agreement there
on succession issues among the former Yugoslav republics would
form the basis for other decisions on representation in the
CSCE and international fora. As we've said before, we continue
to strongly support the efforts of the European Community in
arranging a political solution.
Q That's you -- the last sentence?
MR. BOUCHER: That's me -- the last sentence. Yes.
Q Can I just follow up --
Q That's the U.S., the last sentence?
MR. BOUCHER: Yes. These are not quotes all the way
through from the text -- you'll see the text that they issued.
Q On about April 14 or 15 when the civil war was
raging in Bosnia-Hercegovina, your colleague, Ms. Tutwiler,
threatened to make Serbia -- not threatened -- said that if
Serbia continued its aggression, it would become a pariah state,
and she told us to watch out, because in two weeks' time, on
April 29, the CSCE was going to have a meeting and some
countries valued their legitimacy. In the intervening two weeks
the fighting didn't stop and the cease-fires were broken; dozens
of people have been killed; thousands of people have been made
homeless. And come April 29 and the great occasion when Serbia
would become -- begin to become a pariah state, you leave them
at the table.
How on earth can you expect anyone in Belgrade to take
what you say seriously?
MR. BOUCHER: Alan, I've pulled out the piece of paper
that my colleague, Margaret Tutwiler, used on April 15, and
let's go through this and say what we've said.
On April 15, in a statement at the Helsinki Conference,
our representative, Ambassador Kornblum, said that we were
suggesting three things: One is that on April 29, there would
be a meeting to examine carefully the situation in
Bosnia-Hercegovina and especially the actions of the Serbian
authorities and the JNA. That meeting has taken place now.
It's in its third day. It has set up a process to continue
that, and basically that those actions are subject to the
careful scrutiny by the 51 member countries of the CSCE.
The second -- we said that they would consider stronger
actions, such as the full membership for Bosnia-Hercegovina in
the CSCE on an emergency basis. That stronger action was taken.
As we said, Bosnia-Hercegovina has taken its place in the CSCE
immediately, and they, too, are participating in this scrutiny,
in this review and in this discussion.
And the third -- we said that if the situation is not
improved by April 29, careful consideration should be given to
the possibility of a decision to suspend their participation.
That remains an option, that remains a subject for discussion,
and we have made clear that their continued participation in the
discussions at this point is without prejudice to eventual
decisions on representation issues.
Q You said a few moment ago, though, that -- I think
you said the U.S. position was that those decisions on that very
last point would be taken in the context of the EC peace
conference. Did I hear that correctly?
MR. BOUCHER: I said that the chief venue for
discussion of the status of the Yugoslav successor state is the
EC-sponsored peace conference, which is an attempt to work out
political arrangements to settle those issues; that if those
issues are settled there, then their status in other fora would
flow from that. What we suggested and what the CSCE Committee
of Senior Officials continues to have as an option is the
possibility of a decision to suspend participation in those
discussions.
Q And because that meeting is still going on, that's
still an option. When that meeting ends, will that option end,
or does the U.S. think that --
MR. BOUCHER: No. Once you see the statement that
was issued at the Committee of Senior Officials, you'll see that
they have set up a process of scrutiny to keep this situation
under careful observation and discussion. The issue here is the
possibility that Serbia might be excluded from those
discussions. At this point, that step has not been taken, but
it remains an option.
Q Well, would you say that things have improved
since April 15?
MR. BOUCHER: If you look at the fighting on any given
day, if you look at the situation on any given day, frankly it's
gone back and forth. Today Sarajevo is much quieter than it was
before. There's no shelling. We have reports of some sniper
fire. Very heavy fighting continues in Mostar. There's
shelling from combined Serbian and JNA artillery. Several
towns, some fighting continues. We remain gravely concerned
that the JNA continues to join Serbian irregular forces. That's
an aggression that we find unacceptable.
So at any given -- that's the situation today. The
situation yesterday -- the fighting was intense. It was much
worse. There have been various declarations and statements and
promises that have been made. Those have been a matter of
discussion at the CSCE. We've worked closely with the European
Community, with our other partners in the CSCE, on this
situation, and we continue to do so.
Q So the situation hasn't improved.
MR. BOUCHER: I'd say it's gone back and forth. As
Margaret noted the other day, there were some potentially
hopeful signs. Some of them didn't pan out. Most of them
probably didn't pan out, but there remains the potential for
progress.
Q Richard, is Assistant Secretary Aronson in Peru?
MR. BOUCHER: I'm not quite sure if he's there yet.
He's on his way to Peru today. In Peru, he will meet with
President Fujimori and other Peruvian officials. Mr. Aronson
will urge Peruvians to work with the OAS Mission to develop a
solution that all democratic parties in Peru can accept in
accordance with the OAS resolution.
He will also point out that a democratic solution is
necessary before Peru can expect the support of the
international community.
Q Having brought him back when he was down there --
when the, well --
Q Coup.
Q Coup. I was going to say "coup" happened. Why
have you decided to send him back there now?
MR. BOUCHER: The specific mission that he and his team
are on, when President Fujimori issued his declaration, was a
mission to discuss -- I believe it was assistance, especially in
the counter-narcotics area.
We said at the time that we felt that would be totally
inappropriate, given the moves against democracy which had just
been made. In the intervening weeks, you've had an OAS meeting;
you've had an OAS mission. As I think I tried to make very
clear, Mr. Aronson is going down there to support the OAS
effort. He's consulted with the OAS Secretary General and the
head of the OAS mission. He's not going to Peru to mediate.
That's the task of the OAS. And, in fact, there's an OAS
permanent council meeting this afternoon on their trip at 3:00
p.m., and at that point they will announce their own next trip
to Peru.
Q This trip was at U.S. initiative?
MR. BOUCHER: I believe so. Yes.
Q And why do you think that the United States -- I
mean, the U.S. seems to have had little influence with Fujimori
to date. Why do you think that a face-to-face meeting might be
more successful?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know that I can characterize our
level of influence at this point. Obviously, we have been an
important participant in the OAS process. We had previously
been an important provider of aid to Peru. I can't say what
influence he will have, but certainly any efforts in support of
the OAS and their mission and their calls for the restoration of
democracy is worth making.
Q Will the U.S. attempt to resolve the outstanding
questions in the Peruvian aircraft -- U.S. aircraft incident?
MR. BOUCHER: I'm not sure if I could go so far as to
say "attempt to resolve." I'm sure that will be discussed down
there. I haven't checked to see where we are in terms of our
investigation. I'd have to check with Defense and see whether
he had any results to share, or anything like that.
Q Will he be meeting with the Vice
President/President? I don't know what you all referred to him
as, San Roman.
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know at this point. I really
don't have his full schedule at this point.
Q And do we have a position on these reports that
they're going to try Mr. -- the Peruvian Government is going to
try Mr. San Roman?
MR. BOUCHER: I hadn't seen those reports.
Q Is he taking with him some military officials to
look into that -- either the air incident or U.S. military
presence?
MR. BOUCHER: The only other official that I know of
that's going is Phil McLean, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for
South America. I don't have anything on military officials,
Don, but I'd have to double-check whether that's a statement
that no military officials are going, or whether I just don't
have the names of any that might be going.
Q What is the status of U.S. military personnel in
Peru at this point? Are they still under review? Is their
status still under review, or does his -- does Aronson's trip
indicate the review is complete and some decision might be told
to the Peruvian Government?
MR. BOUCHER: I really think I have to leave that to
the Defense Department to say. My recollection is that they
have announced the withdrawal of the Green Berets that were down
there on training.
Q What about other anti -- counter-narcotics
personnel?
MR. BOUCHER: I'm not aware of any other personnel that
have been withdrawn at this point. As you know, we have
continued some counter-narcotics efforts, although they remain
under review.
Q One last question, Richard. Will the Secretary be
going to the Bahamas May 18 for the OAS meeting?
MR. BOUCHER: I had not heard that. I don't think I
know one way or the other at this point.
Q Could you check to see if there's an answer?
MR. BOUCHER: I'll see if we have anything to say at
this point.
Q Thank you.
(The briefing concluded at 1:20 p.m.)