US Department of State Daily Briefing #76:
Friday, 5/15/92
Tutwiler
Source: State Department Spokesman Margaret Tutwiler
Description: Washington, DC
Date: May, 14 19925/14/92
Category: Briefings
Region: MidEast/North Africa, Eurasia, Southeast Asia,
Subsaharan Africa, E/C Europe
Country: Israel, USSR (former), Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan,
Thailand, China, Afghanistan, Mozambique, South Africa, Iraq
Subject: Mideast Peace Process, Development/Relief Aid,
Cultural Exchange, Resource Management, Science/Technology,
Arms Control, United Nations, Military Affairs,
Regional/Civil Unrest, Travel, Democratization,
Trade/Economics
l2:07 P.M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
MS. TUTWILER: Most of you know, but I'd like to officially
announce Secretary Baker's trip.
He will travel to London, England, and Lisbon, Portugal, on
May 22nd through 24th. The Secretary will meet with Prime
Minister John Major in London on Friday, May 22nd.
This is something that he had discussed with the Foreign
Secretary, and they both agreed that this would be a good time
just to get together for consultations while the Secretary was
en route to Lisbon.
On Saturday he will travel on to Lisbon to attend the
follow-on Coordinating Conference on assistance to the new
independent states.
He will return to Washington late Sunday evening.
A sign-up sheet has been posted in the Press Office for
those journalists wishing to travel with the Secretary. The
sign-up sheet will be taken down at noon on Monday, May l8th.
One thing I would like to do is an update on the situation
in Yugoslavia and to let you know that Ambassador Zimmerman will
be back in Washington this weekend. I don't want to get more
specific than that. And we are going to request of him, when he
returns, that he would please do a briefing for all of you; so
I'll hopefully have something for you.
Q (Inaudible)
MS. TUTWILER: No; not that way, probably.
We will be -- in fact, it's more than "not probably" -- we
will be, hopefully, having something for you about that on
Monday after I have an opportunity to speak with him.
[Former Yugoslavia: Update]
On Yugoslavia: Last night joint Serb/JNA forces shelled
Sarajevo in a ferociously heavy attack. This set many buildings
on fire; parts of Sarajevo are still burning today.
And it's my understanding that there are elements there
that control the water supply and they are not letting the water
free to even put out these fires.
Heavy Serbian shelling and fighting continues
throughout the city, particularly near the airport. Serbian
snipers continue random shooting. We have no figures on recent
casualties in Sarajevo.
We understand electricity is out in about one-third of
the city. A substantial portion of the city is without water,
including the center of the city and one hospital.
Food supplies in Sarajevo are desperately short to
non-existent. We are particularly concerned that small children
have no access to milk or baby formula. The city has also run
out of medical supplies. Delivery of remaining supplies is
impossible in many neighborhoods.
Elsewhere in Bosnia, sometimes intense fighting and
shelling continues in several other towns, reportedly causing
many thousands of additional displaced persons. We understand
there is a fairly high level of fighting in northern Bosnia.
And we have reports of increased Bosnian Muslim resistance to
Serb forces in a few areas in eastern Bosnia.
In recent days fighting also increased in Eastern
Croatia, including Serbian and JNA attacks on several towns.
We unreservedly condemn and deplore this further
Serbian and JNA aggression.
I had mentioned yesterday to you all an international
convoy for humanitarian relief that is trying to get off the
ground and to be organized. The only thing that has changed is
the timing. I had told you they were aiming to leave sometime
this weekend, specifically on Sunday. The tentative plan now is
for the convoy of about 35 trucks to depart Zagreb on Tuesday.
Again, that same convoy will make a number of stops en
route to Sarajevo.
The second convoy I mentioned yesterday, which is about
a dozen trucks, is still planning to leave -- it's my
understanding -- on Sunday, from Belgrade, on a similar
stop-along-the-way route into Sarajevo.
The United States' contribution to the convoy is about
40 metric tons of food; and obviously those people on the ground
there from the various countries I mentioned yesterday, and the
UNHCR international relief organizations, are trying to insure
safe passage of these two convoys.
That is the only update that I had concerning
Yugoslavia.
Q What's the remaining status of the U.S. diplomatic
representation in Belgrade after Zimmerman departs?
MS. TUTWILER: The Charge will then automatically
become in charge -- the No. 2 man.
Q No other drawdown of U.S. diplomatic personnel
from Belgrade at this point?
MS. TUTWILER: Not at this point, no.
Q What kind of U.S. diplomatic activity is under way
either in Belgrade or through the EC as the fighting and the
destruction appears to escalate? What sort of efforts, other
than just talking and wringing hands, is the U.S. trying to do?
MS. TUTWILER: Other than talking, I don't have a
specific for you today; and we are, obviously, staying in very
close contact with the EC, with our allies.
As you have seen, the EC has explored various
proposals. The United States, at the same time, discussed those
various proposals with members of the EC. But there's nothing
really specific right now that I know of, other than a number of
countries -- and that's why Ambassador Zimmerman did not come
out on Tuesday -- are trying desperately to try to insure safe
passage into Sarajevo for these two convoys.
Q Is armed intervention being discussed at any level
in any of these forums that you know of by the United States or
by the EC?
MS. TUTWILER: I can only speak for the United States,
which I have knowledge of, and the answer is "No."
Q Margaret, what about some sort of multi-
national effort to guarantee the convoys? I gather you need
Serbian acquiescence to send them on their way; but what about
accompanying this with a warning to the Serbs, for instance,
that they'll suffer consequences for any interference with the
relief convoys?
MS. TUTWILER: Well, what kind of consequences are you
talking about? I mean I have stated any number of days -- if
you're talking about United States force --
Q Well, I said more than that.
MS. TUTWILER: -- I've said no.
Well, I don't know what other nations or countries are
thinking about or deciding. I can only speak for our own.
I would point out also that today the United Nations
peacekeepers that are there in Sarajevo, as of this briefing --
continue to check with the United Nations -- are still trapped
and penned in. So I mean I don't know, to be honest with you,
what makes an impression in this situation.
And those are approximately 350 individuals, 200 of
which the Secretary General in his report had said should leave
-- a hundred of which were going to stay. They can't even get
out.
Q Margaret, by the way, whose convoy is this? This
is a U.S. convoy?
MS. TUTWILER: No, sir. It is a United Nations HCR
predominantly, with support from about six nations that I named
yesterday.
Q I'm sorry.
MS. TUTWILER: The United States is contributing to
this.
Q Thanks.
Q Another area?
Q One last question on the convoy, if I can.
MS. TUTWILER: Yes.
Q Will representatives of these six nations be
involved in actually delivering the supplies?
MS. TUTWILER: Diplomatic personnel?
Q Or whatever -- accompanying the trucks
immediately.
MS. TUTWILER: Not that I've heard of.
Q Margaret, still staying on Europe. The British
Secretary of State for Defense yesterday gave a speech in which
he called for the Western European Union to become an important
power -- a defense power -- within NATO. Does the United States
feel that there's a role for the WEU in that sort of category?
MS. TUTWILER: I don't know if I can be that specific
for you, Jan. The Secretary of State has addressed this
previously.
Concerning the Defense Minister's speech yesterday, we
see this speech as a positive contribution to the ongoing trans-
Atlantic dialogue on the development of the European security
and defense identity.
The proposals in his speech appear fully in keeping
with the framework for the development of the European identity
agreed at the Rome NATO Summit and the Maastricht EC Summit.
We look forward to continuing to work closely with our
European partners on the development of a European security and
defense identify that strengthens the Atlantic Alliance.
Q Is it something that's likely to come up in the
meeting between the Secretary and Mr. Major?
MS. TUTWILER: I haven't seen an agenda yet. I
couldn't prejudge that for you.
Q O.K.
Q Margaret, in another part of the Libyan statement
that was not covered by your comments yesterday, they kind of
proclaimed they are ready to provide the West -- or the United
States of America -- with information about their cooperation
with organizations, or terrorist organizations, in the past --
including those of the Irish [Republican] Army. Do you have any
comment now on that?
MS. TUTWILER: I'm not familiar with that part of the
statement. I will be more than glad to have our experts take a
look at that part. I'm just not familiar with it.
[Azerbaijan: State of Emergency]
Q Margaret, opposition forces in Azerbaijan have
stormed the parliament there and are trying to depose the
president, who was reinstated yesterday. Do you have any
comment on the situation?
MS. TUTWILER: Yes. The United States Government is
deeply concerned about the political instability in Azerbaijan.
We believe the most effective means of restoring stability is
through free elections that will allow the Azerbaijani people to
express their own political choices.
We urge the Azerbaijani government to reschedule the
presidential election as soon as possible.
President Mutalibov has declared a state of emergency
throughout Azerbaijan. The emergency includes the imposition of
a curfew and a ban on public gatherings in Baku. Restrictions
have been placed on the freedom of the press and other media.
Entry and exit restrictions have been imposed in Baku.
The U.S. Government urges the Azerbaijani government to
lift these emergency provisions as soon as possible.
Our Embassy in Baku has reported that the situation in
Baku is tense and uncertain at this time. At l700 Baku time,
the Embassy reported machinegun fire in the streets in the
vicinity of the Presidential Palace.
At ll:30 this morning, we talked to Embassy personnel
in Baku; and that individual reported that there was a large
demonstration on -- I believe the correct name is -- Parliament
Square.
Press reports say that there are approximately 30,000
people there. Our Embassy official thought it was a smaller
number but said that, yes, a large crowd was gathered.
And at ll:30, when we last talked to the Embassy, there
were no more incidents, that we know of, of firing.
Q Can I ask you about the United Nations, and more
about the funding? Yesterday, when we got the figures -- can I
ask if the State Department feels that the delay in contributing
funds to the peacekeeping forces of the United Nations, in fact,
jeopardizes the success of those forces?
MS. TUTWILER: A United States delay?
Q No. The fact that the United States delayed
paying money to the United Nations actually jeopardizes the
success of United Nations peacekeeping forces?
MS. TUTWILER: I think that you've got an almost --
small amount of misinformation.
Full funding for the U.N. has been requested in every
budget submitted by President Bush and Congress has appropriated
that amount.
The President has also requested, and the Congress is
funding, a plan to pay back our arrears over a period of five
years.
In 1990, including delayed payments for 1989, the
United States paid a total of $302.6 million to the United
Nations, nearly $70 million more than our 1990 assessment.
In 1991, we paid a total of $301.3 million, nearly $30
million more than our assessment.
Thus far, in 1992, we have paid $230 million for U.N.
peacekeeping operations and are current for all of our
peacekeeping assessments, with the exception of the U.N. Interim
Force in Lebanon. Previous years' arrears are also being paid
over a five-year period.
Over the last two years, the United Nations has
received payments amounting to 102 percent of the amounts
assessed. In view of this, we would question whether or not the
U.N.'s current financial situation can be considered critical.
Q But Margaret, if you've paid up every year, how
can you be in arrears?
MS. TUTWILER: We have said that we are doing this,
it's my understanding, under the Bush Administration, over a
five-year period of what we have said we were going to do to get
us out of arrears. We are in complete compliance on these two
budget items, both on our normal assessments for our percentage
of our U.N. share and on arrears.
Q But how come you're in arrears? What items have
put you in arrears? I don't understand.
MS. TUTWILER: I'll get it for you. I'll get it for
you.
Q But this does not include the operation budget of
last year and this year at the United Nations? You said about
the United Nations peacekeeping forces -- are they?
MS. TUTWILER: I'm obviously not the financial officer
for the United States for our U.N. budget. I'll be happy to get
more facts and figures for you, if you would like.
Most recently, it's my understanding, in our own budget
cycle, we asked for an amount for peacekeeping that is to be
spread out over a longer amount of time. We got the portion
that we are due for this year, so we are in compliance.
If we do not get what the Congress fell short on of our
request -- I believe our request was around $350 million; we got
$250 million -- then, obviously, we would have to go back. But
those are for future peacekeeping endeavors that might come up,
it's my understanding.
Q But you still owe money for the regular budget, I
think?
Q (Inaudible)
MS. TUTWILER: We owe $500 million? This, which they
gave me this morning, says that every year we have paid our
percentage of our budget and we have paid our arrearages. I
will go back to the experts and say there's a question about
this.
Q What says is that you've paid a certain payment on
your arrears -- $70 million in one year, $30 million in another
year; right? It doesn't say you've paid up your arrears?
MS. TUTWILER: Right. We're doing that -- the big
picture over five years. But for the years I listed. In two
years -- in 1990 and '91 -- we paid more than was even our
assessment. One year was $70 million more. One year was $30
million more.
Q Right. But that's like saying, you know, I
overdrew my bank account and now I'm paying all my debts and I'm
paying a little bit toward the back payment. It doesn't absolve
the arrears.
MS. TUTWILER: Right. I'm not doubting that the United
States has arrears. I'm also stating that President Bush, as I
did yesterday, made this one of his priorities in this area when
he was elected, and we have been diligent in trying to correct
our arrearages at the United Nations.
Q When you question whether the U.N. can have a cash
crunch in view of the fact that it's received over one hundred
percent of its assessment --
MS. TUTWILER: We do.
Q -- is that from one hundred percent of the
assessments which we owe it, or is that worldwide?
MS. TUTWILER: My understanding is, that is worldwide,
from this morning. That worldwide, what everybody owes, what
everybody's dues are, etc., that they received payments
amounting to 102 percent of the amounts assessed.
You know there are individuals -- I'd leave it at
individuals -- who say that there is a severe, severe, severe
crisis. What we're saying, based on this data, is that for that
year, over the last two years, if you have a 102 percent of the
amounts assessed, that we do have a question which we work with
the United Nations about whether there is a critical financial
situation.
Q Can we get a copy of that?
MS. TUTWILER: Sure.
Q Can I take you to the Middle East? You had a
statement yesterday on Israeli radio or television by Mr. David
Levy, attributed to Mr. Djerejian who met with an Israeli
Embassy attache to explain the United States resupport of
Resolution 194. The statements, according to Israeli media,
says that the United States flees from Palestinian rights like
fleeing from a disease. Could this be attributed to Mr.
Djerejian saying this to the Israeli attache? Do you have any
comment on this, or this is a campaign of disinformation?
MS. TUTWILER: I haven't seen that comment, and I have
not spoken with Mr. Djerejian concerning any such comment.
Inasmuch as I would love to engage with you on this subject,
just as I declined to do so yesterday with one of your
colleagues, I'm going to decline to engage on this entire
subject with you today.
Q But, again, Mr. Shamir also said, in a political
rally in Tel Aviv yesterday, addressing the United States -- and
I quote -- "The United States knows how to correct its mistake
about resupporting Resolution 194." Did you commit a mistake?
My question is, did the United States commit a mistake by
restating their position -- an earlier position?
MS. TUTWILER: That falls right in that category of
engaging on this subject, which I am going to continue to refuse
to do.
Q Well, perhaps you'd like to restate your support
-- the U.S. support -- for Resolution 194, which you did here
the other day?
MS. TUTWILER: Because I'm not going to engage on this
subject, I did not bring our statement concerning the subject
that you're raising, because I have no intention of re-getting
into that subject. We did it two days. Two days is all we're
going to do.
Q Just tell us, then, if you're statement on the
subject stands --
MS. TUTWILER: Well, of course.
Q -- as it appears in the record?
MS. TUTWILER: Of course.
Q So there's been no change?
MS. TUTWILER: Got it! Now, you lead with those words.
Okay? (Laughter) You get a lead out of that.
Q The lead is, Tutwiler says U.S., of course, "still
supports Resolution 194."
MS. TUTWILER: That will probably be what it'll say.
Q Let me turn your thoughts to a different part of
the world. The Commonwealth has just concluded sort of a summit
with six Presidents attending, I believe.
MS. TUTWILER: Who has?
Q The Commonwealth of --
MS. TUTWILER: CIS? Uh-huh, got it.
Q The former Soviet Union.
MS. TUTWILER: I understand now. I didn't hear you.
Q They signed a security agreement -- a collective
security agreement -- but Ukraine and Byelarus, the two nuclear
powers, did not join in on that. Do you have any comment on
this?
MS. TUTWILER: I wasn't aware that they had finished
their meeting. I am aware -- my information was that five
Presidents did not attend; and I'm not aware of any statement or
communique they have come out with.
Concerning overall, the Commonwealth meeting, many
people have asked me over the last several days, what is our
opinion of X president going or not going, etc.? The United
States would like to see continuing cooperation among the new
states of the former USSR, but the extent of that cooperation is
up to those nations to determine. And how the new independent
states pursue cooperative policies is also for them to
determine.
But competition and conflict over military issues,
political issues, or economic issues will serve no one's
interest and only prevent these states from moving forward with
their overriding imperative of building democracy and free
markets.
Q In Lisbon, is Secretary Baker scheduled to discuss
about the START protocol with his counterparts?
MS. TUTWILER: Yes, he will be.
Q Do you have any update on that situation?
MS. TUTWILER: No. He is continuing to work it. I
don't believe that he has had any personal phone calls in the
last several days. I'm almost positive he has not. The experts
have been working it between our capital and the various
capitals, but there's nothing to report. They're continuing to
work on it.
Q Would you anticipate any kind of a -- I would
imagine there might be bilaterals between the Secretary and any
number of people in Lisbon --
MS. TUTWILER: Correct.
Q -- perhaps including the four nuclear republics of
the former Soviet Union. Would you anticipate any kind of a
joint meeting of all four of those republics -- representatives
of those republics and Secretary Baker?
MS. TUTWILER: That could well happen.
Q What would the purpose of that be?
MS. TUTWILER: They decide to have a meeting.
Q Okay. Can I ask --
MS. TUTWILER: If they have a reason to get together,
Ralph, then, sure, they could have a meeting. Right now that is
not scheduled, but I don't want to be cute by half and mislead.
Of course, that is something that has been thought of and is one
of the options that we look at.
Q Can I ask about another subject? What is the
status of the nomination of Jock Covey to be Assistant Secretary
of State for the new South Asian Bureau of the State Department?
MS. TUTWILER: Number one, I'm going to refrain from
answering it. Has the White House announced this? I can't
remember. I don't want to get ahead of the White House.
Q I think they had, but I'm --
MS. TUTWILER: That's what I thought. I thought that
Jock had already gone up and testified, but maybe I'm wrong.
Q I don't think so.
MS. TUTWILER: We've got a number of people -- a lot --
that are either getting out of our system. As you know, we've
passed the end of the three years where a number of both
political and career appointments are changing. I just don't
keep up with it. I don't know particularly where his is in the
train.
There are a lot of them. Some are still here, it's my
understanding -- going through the system here. Some are still
going through the White House system. Some have been confirmed.
But I know there are a lot between now and when, as you know,
in a political season, whichever party is -- they stop at some
point confirming people. So I know there are a number we're
trying to get done. Where, particularly, his is, I don't know.
I can find out for you from the Congressional office.
Q As far as you know, there's no change in that?
That's still in train for him?
MS. TUTWILER: Oh, yes.
Q Apropos of that subject, do you have anything to
say at this point yet about the future of Assistant Secretary of
State Clarke?
MS. TUTWILER: No.
Q Margaret, the other day the United Nations
Secretary General expressed his support for the idea of a kind
of rapid deployment force for the United Nations peacekeeping
within each of the big powers, like France. Do you have any
comment on that?
MS. TUTWILER: I'm not familiar with that. This is
something he said when he was here on his visit?
Q Yes, during his lecture at the CSIS the day before
yesterday.
MS. TUTWILER: I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with those
remarks, and I'll be happy to take a look at it. I'm sure that
our mission in New York is familiar with it. I'm just not.
Q Thank you.
MS. TUTWILER: Thank you all. Have a nice weekend.
Goodbye.
(Press briefing concluded at 12:30 p.m.)