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US DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING #13:
Source: State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
DPC #13
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1993, 12:27 P.M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
MR. BOUCHER: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I don't
have any statements or announcements, so I'd be glad to take your
questions.
Q What's the situation with the barges down the Danube?
MR. BOUCHER: The situation with the barges. It's more and
more interesting.
First of all, there are radio reports in Romania that indicate
that the Romanian Government has positioned two gunboats, police
and customs units at a place called Kalafat in order to stop the
vessels.
Our Embassy in Romania reports that the Romanian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs has issued a communique that authorizes Romanian
forces to use whatever means are necessary, including measures of
force, to uphold the U.N. sanctions.
The Bulgarian and Romanian authorities have challenged the
vessels earlier at a place called Giurgiu -- G-I-U-R-G-I-U -- but
the tugs that were pulling the barges refused to stop. In one
case, the Serbian tug nearly rammed a Romanian naval vessel.
Three Serbian tugs with nine barges have lashed themselves
together and continue to threaten to blow themselves up if
interfered with. However, two of the nine barges have run
aground on the Romanian side and the whole convoy has stopped.
The one that was in the lead, that was ahead of these three --
the Bihac -- has already reached Serbian waters.
So that's what the situation is.
Q And does the danger still exist that the captain will set the
barges afire or dump the oil into the river?
MR. BOUCHER: Well, that's apparently what they're threatening
to do, at least when they got to the previous point where they
were challenged by the Bulgarians and the Romanians.
Q What do you think might be done about that?
MR. BOUCHER: As you know from what we said yesterday,
the U.N. resolution authorizes the riparian states to take
whatever measures are necessary in this situation to halt the
violation of sanctions. That has been looked at and
communicated to the governments involved by both the U.N.
Sanctions Committee and by ourselves.
They're going to have to determine what force is
necessary in this situation to ensure the strict implementation
of these Security Council resolutions. They're obviously --
well, so far they have been somewhat reluctant to do that.
They're aware of the problems that that could cause. But, as I
said, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has authorized
its people to take appropriate steps, including possibly the use
of force to stop the barges.
Q What kind of problems could that cause?
MR. BOUCHER: I think they're the obvious environmental
concerns and the problems on the river. The issue is a serious
one. It's a matter of violation of U.N. sanctions. We've told
them we think they have the authority and, indeed, the
responsibility to stop these barges.
Q Is Serbian retaliation another potential problem?
MR. BOUCHER: It could be, but I wouldn't say it's one
that necessarily deserves a lot of concern, or at least deserves
-- is a reason for not acting. They'll have to decide what
measures are appropriate and necessary in this situation,
including what kind of use of force might be appropriate and
necessary.
We made clear to them, as the U.N. has, that they're
authorized to stop these; they're responsible for stopping
these, and, indeed, they should. They have made some
deployments, and we'll see what they can do to stop them.
Q Have they asked for any military assistance from
us?
MR. BOUCHER: Not that I'm aware of. You're aware that
we're already out there assisting them in monitoring and in
customs and in this whole effort.
If you're talking about specific military deployments,
I hadn't heard about that.
Q I was thinking more of equipment.
MR. BOUCHER: I'd have to check and see exactly what
there is.
Q The Italian navy stopped a shipment of weapons, I
think, to the Bosnians. Do you know from where -- from what
country this shipment was coming? And do you have any
indication that more weapons are coming into Bosnia?
MR. BOUCHER: The shipment was stopped by an Italian
ship in NATO's fleet that patrols the Adriatic. The ship was
called the Dolphin. It's a Turkish-registered ship. It flies
the flag of St. Vincent. It was stopped on January 17. It was
escorted to Italy on the 18th. It's tied up there. A search of
its cargo continues.
They've opened 18 of the 59 containers on the Dolphin,
at least as of yesterday, I think. They found over 1,000
rockets, 4,000 rounds of a 107 millimeter artillery shells,
300,000 rounds of 7.62 millimeter shells, 11 pistols, and a
container of solid fuel propellant which could be used to power
rockets.
Now, at this point, the Italians are still looking at
the situation. And in response to your specific questions, no,
we don't know specifically where this came from.
Q What was the country of manufacture of the
weaponry?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know that at this point. You may
be able to get some more information from the Italians.
Q Richard, what is the status of a possible review
of Bosnian policy, perhaps with a view to lifting the arms
embargo on Bosnia?
MR. BOUCHER: As we've said before, we're looking at a
whole number of options. We're looking at all the various
things that we might do to advance the efforts. We've specified
the efforts that we've said were important in this situation.
We're reviewing options. It is a top priority. I'm not going
to go into specifics on the review, but there are people looking
at all kinds of different options. There have been
conversations going on between agencies and people in this
building who work on the subject at all kinds of different
levels.
Q Could you give us a sense at all as to when we
might be expecting something?
MR. BOUCHER: No, I don't think I could. It's an
ongoing process.
Q Is lifting the arms embargo still one of the
options?
MR. BOUCHER: We're looking at all the options.
That's one the Secretary -- an idea that the Secretary said
ought to be considered, so, certainly, that's being looked at.
Q Richard, this Administration, as was the last, is
very committed to enforcing the "no-fly" zone over Bosnia. The
last Administration, despite all its promises, was unable to get
that through the U.N. Security Council. Are the prospects any
better now than they were then?
MR. BOUCHER: Indeed, to date, despite all our efforts,
we have been unable to get that resolution passed in the
Security Council. In the context of this review, I'm sure that
will be looked at, how we can move that forward. That is
something that the Secretary said he thought was important. I
think he talked about it in his confirmation hearings as well.
We are working with other governments up in New York.
We've been able to work out some of the differences in language
for the resolution that have been discussed up there. But my
understanding is that there are still some differences that
remain and we'll continue to push forward on that, working with
the other governments that have to be involved.
Q Richard, in the same ball park, the Turkish
President this morning said that the extension of the permission
to use Incirlik Air Base to enforce the "no-fly" zone, which is
renewed every six months -- it was most recently last -- which
expires this June -- said that the parliament is considering and
he's considering supporting a rider to that authorization saying
that they will not extend it unless the allies -- the United
States, Great Britain and France -- do something in Bosnia. He
mentioned lifting the arms embargo as well as enforcing --
pushing through an enforcement resolution for the "no-fly" zone
over Bosnia.
What would this Administration say to Turkey on that
point?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know, Sid. I hadn't seen those
statements either from parliament or from the President, so I
don't want to try to give a reaction without seeing it.
Q Richard, back on the ship. Did you say who the
intended destination was of the arms?
MR. BOUCHER: Of the weapons ship that was diverted?
Q Yes.
MR. BOUCHER: Let me see if I have that. I don't think
I said it.
Q Is the fact that it's Turkish-registered suggest
that the cargo might be going to Bosnia?
MR. BOUCHER: You can never tell with ships, frankly.
According to the manifest, the Dolphin One was bound for Rijeka,
Croatia. R-I-J-E-K-A. But to our knowledge, the Italian
authorities have not made a final determination on the
destination of the weapons.
The captain, it turns out, disclaims all knowledge of
the shipment of weapons.
Q Richard, can you speak to the -- in the discussion
about options, I'm wondering how the recent fighting from
Croatia into Serb-held territory on that front is affecting the
options? Is it complicating your life, narrowing the things
that the U.S. might be prepared to do? Can you speak to the --
MR. BOUCHER: I don't think I can do that. Certainly,
we've tried to look at all the various ways that are available,
might be available to advance the kind of agenda that we've set
in Yugoslavia, the kind of policy that we want to pursue.
The fighting, certainly, is something of concern to us.
We've supported the U.N. resolution the other day. We are
certainly continuing to follow that situation closely. And,
obviously, as we all address this in the Security Council and
elsewhere, it's something that we have to look at and take into
account.
Q Has that fighting interfered with humanitarian
deliveries?
MR. BOUCHER: That fighting is in the Croatian side
near some of the U.N.-protected areas. I'm not sure if that was
the prime destination, or to what extent there were deliveries
in that area. I don't know, is the answer.
Q Could you take the question?
MR. BOUCHER: I'll see if I can find out, if there was
a humanitarian problem there that's been exacerbated by the
fighting.
Q Any comment on today's meeting between Secretary
of State, Mr. Christopher and the Greek Foreign Minister, Mr.
Papakonstantinou?
MR. BOUCHER: Sure. They met today at 10:30. I think
you saw them both right before the meeting and heard the
Secretary's remarks at the beginning. They were joined by
various people from our building, including Assistant Secretary
Niles and the Acting Assistant Secretary for International
Organization Affairs, George Ward. This was the first time that
they met.
They feel that they established a cordial working
relationship. The Secretary said he was determined to continue
the historically close relations between the United States and
Greece. They talked about the issue of -- the question of
Macedonia and the issues that are up at the U.N. right now.
The discussions are continuing with other governments
that are involved in that. We had a useful discussion with the
Greek Foreign Minister today. The Secretary expressed his
support for the process that's going on at the U.N. to try to
work out something that's acceptable and that works.
Q Do you have anything to say on the statement
attributed to the French Foreign Minister, Mr. Dumas, that the
United States, France and Britain had a plan by which Macedonia
would be temporarily called "Macedonia, former Yugoslavia," in
quotation?
MR. BOUCHER: There's a process going on at the United
Nations. We're discussing the various possibilities up there
with others, and the Secretary discussed them this morning with
the Greek Foreign Minister. At this point we support the
process of trying to work this out in a manner that's acceptable
to all the sides.
Q Are you (inaudible) of this plan at all?
MR. BOUCHER: We're certainly aware of the ideas of the
Europeans, but it's something that we're discussing with them.
Q To another area: The issue of rapes in Bosnia was
addressed very rapidly in the report that -- the fifth report
that was released yesterday. I was wondering whether -- if the
U.S. Government has any more to say about reports coming out
from Europe, especially the EC, the European Community report
and also the Amnesty International Report talking about 20,000
women or young girls raped in Bosnia?
MR. BOUCHER: The situation is something, of course,
that we're concerned about, and that we're aware of. We have
reported on some of these allegations in the reports that we've
had before and our previous reports on war crimes, I think, as
well as in this present report.
I'd have to check and see if we have any way of
evaluating the figure of 20,000. I'm not sure we do.
Q Richard, the U.S. Ambassador in Israel made a
statement I'm sure you are familiar with. He said that the
Administration wouldn't like to see the whole (inaudible) going
to sanctions against Israel, and at the same time he's saying
the U.S. wouldn't like to use veto rights in the Security
Council. What would be the third option?
MR. BOUCHER: You may have seen more of the statement
than I did, because I don't remember seeing everything that you
did, and I haven't seen the full text of what he said. I think
I talked yesterday about our position on this, our view that we
think that there is an opportunity for active diplomacy; that we
are in touch with the parties; the parties are considering this.
The Israeli Supreme Court is looking at this and a decision is
expected soon. So we do think that there's an opportunity here
to try to resolve it through diplomacy. We think that those
diplomatic efforts should be exhausted before we go back to the
Security Council with further action.
Q What are you saying to resolve -- you mean letting
the deportees back to their homeland?
MR. BOUCHER: That is certainly what the U.N. Security
Council resolution calls for, and we supported that resolution.
I guess the bottom line is to find one that's -- find a solution
that's consistent with the Security Council resolution and with
the requirements of the different parties.
Q Richard, are you saying that you would -- the
United States would prefer to avoid any action until after the
Israeli Supreme Court hands down its decision?
MR. BOUCHER: That is certainly one of the things that
we see that's happening, that we think we should see how it
turns out. We think there is, in addition to that, an
opportunity to try to solve this through diplomacy. We think
that those diplomatic efforts should be pursued, and we'll see
how it develops.
Q Richard, can you tell us why is it taking such a
long time to name an Assistant Secretary for Inter-American
Affairs?
MR. BOUCHER: We don't get into announcements before
they're announced. There are still some Assistant Secretaries
to be announced and, when it's time to announce them, we will.
Q Is the Department aware of the controversy that is
surrounding the name -- one of those names (inaudible) --
MR. BOUCHER: I've seen a few stories on it, yes.
Q Right. Any reaction to that?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't get into candidates or
considerations until things are announced, I'm afraid.
Q Richard, is there anything new on Angola today?
MR. BOUCHER: In terms of the fighting, the fighting
continues in various parts of the country. The situation with
regards to Soyo and oil production and water in Luanda is all
the same as it was.
There are now government and UNITA delegations that are
arriving in Addis Ababa for discussions on military and
political issues out there under U.N. auspices. The talks are
tentatively scheduled to begin this afternoon and to continue
through Saturday.
The U.N. Special Representative has gone to Addis to
attend the talks, as have delegations from the three observer
countries, the U.S., Portugal and Russia.
Q Who is leading the U.S. delegation?
MR. BOUCHER: I'm not exactly sure who the leader is.
The people there involved -- some of the people from Washington
who work on this issue, the desk people. I think the Office
Director is out there, as well as the head of our Liaison Office
in Luanda. He's gone to Addis as well.
Q Any plans for a visit by the Angolan Foreign
Minister?
MR. BOUCHER: I forgot to check on that today. I have
to double-check that one.
Q On the Addis meeting, we have a report that the
UNITA people are not showing up.
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know which one of our reports is
more current, Jim. I'll try to double-check that this
afternoon. When we checked this morning, our understanding is
that they had -- that they were arriving in Addis Ababa for the
discussions.
Q I'd like to go back to Israel for a minute.
MR. BOUCHER: One over here, too. Can we go over here
first?
Q Do you have any reaction to the election of Vaclav
Havel as President of the Czech Republic or anything on this?
MR. BOUCHER: We congratulate President Havel on his
election as the Czech Republic's first President. The United
States Government worked closely and productively with him as
President of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, and we look
forward to continuing that close relationship in the future.
Q I'd like to go back to Israel for a question.
There's a very interesting article this morning in the Op Ed
section of The New York Times, saying that Hamas control center
and command center has been moved from the occupied territories
to the United States, and I was wondering whether you could
confirm or comment on this claim?
MR. BOUCHER: I hadn't seen that article, Jacques, so I
think --
Q It's very detailed. It gives names and location
of --
MR. BOUCHER: Well, I think for anything involving such
activities inside the United States, I'd have to refer you to
the Justice Department and the FBI.
Q Does this Administration do editorials?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't think we'll break the old rule if
I can help it.
Q Is the Department satisfied with the reaction of
the Haitian military to the proposed sending of observers and
all? Apparently they're backing off of that somewhat. And what
would be the participation of the U.S. in that group?
MR. BOUCHER: I hadn't gotten an update since the last
time I checked, which was a couple of days ago, which was that
the authorities, the military, in Haiti had basically accepted
the plan and Dante Caputo was working on the details of the
arrangements. And I think we'd probably have to leave it to him
to try to work that out.
In terms of U.S. participation, I think there are some
Americans who are already participating in the group of I think
16 or 18 people that they have down there already. And so we
would expect that there would be Americans also with the larger
group as well.
Q There is talk about a group of 500.
MR. BOUCHER: Yes. It's a much larger group. I'm not
sure the number has been defined at this point, but we've
strongly supported that. I think I reported to you last week
about how we kicked in a million dollars already, and we were
trying to work with the Congress to get another million dollars
for them, and certainly I think we'd find Americans with them as
well.
Q Richard, is the State Department playing any part
in the episode of the U.S. police officer who was accused of
selling reports -- secret reports of his department in San
Francisco to South Africa and Israel about Arab-Americans in
this country?
MR. BOUCHER: I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that.
It's something I'd have to check on. But I think, you know,
again whatever part we play, I think the information on any
situation like that inside the United States would have to come
from the Department of Justice.
Q My question is because the man is said to have
fled to the Philippines, so maybe the State Department will have
to play a role to extricate him --
MR. BOUCHER: In that case, we might have to get
involved. I'll check and see if there's anything that I can
tell you from our side about it.
Jan.
Q Richard, did the United States promise the Soviet
Union -- I mean, promise Russia $400 million to help dismantle
its nuclear weapons as part of the $800 million that was
appropriated for Congress?
MR. BOUCHER: Without trying to get into whatever
reports you may have seen on conversations that are inaccurately
reported, let me tell you about the Nunn-Lugar money and the
assistance.
On the $400 million: We've had discussions with the
Russians about the safe and secure dismantlement of nuclear
weapons. We've been working on a variety of cooperative
programs that will be funded with the Nunn-Lugar funds. We've
reached agreement on some of these programs, and I think we've
outlined many of those for you before. We're still negotiating
on others, including a program of U.S. assistance for ballistic
missile dismantlement in Russia.
The negotiations are still in progress, so the full
scope of the program is not yet clear. So it's premature to
assign a precise total to the value of all these programs when
you put them together.
Nevertheless, we recognize that Russia has the most
strategic offensive arms to be dismantled under both START I and
START II, and it's the place where nuclear weapons of the former
Soviet Union are being dismantled. So we expect that Russia
would receive at least $400 million in the Nunn-Lugar
assistance.
Q Well, what about the promise to the Ukraine, I
mean do you --
MR. BOUCHER: We've said that we would support programs
in the Ukraine; that we've been talking with Ukrainian
authorities about those, and that we would expect them to
receive at least $175 million. I think you're aware, the total
amount of Nunn-Lugar funds is $800 million, so, you know, more
will come out.
Q Has Russia protested to the U.S. in any form over
the decision to give funds to Ukraine?
MR. BOUCHER: Not that I've heard of. I guess I better
check before I tell you absolutely none.
Q What about the larger issue of this transcript
being leaked?
MR. BOUCHER: We, as you know from the past experience,
don't get into a war of transcripts, and we hadn't really seen
the full text of the article that's referred to in the
Washington Post story this morning. But judging by what we can
see in the Post article, it would appear that the newspaper
article in Russia is in many places inaccurate.
Q Do you want to put out any -- I mean, you guys --
did you leak it?
MR. BOUCHER: No, I didn't.
Q Richard, on Pakistan, please --
Q Can we stay on Russia -- just a little question.
What is the reaction of the U.S. Government to the dispatch of a
group, a commando or (inaudible) nationalist (inaudible) to
Iraq, or do you have any reaction to that? Do you see it as a
demonstration of a growing discomfort in Russia towards the
attitude of the United States?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't have any specific prepared
reaction on that. What I have seen is a reaction, I think, from
the Russian Government that made clear that they did not intend
to violate Russian -- the U.N. sanctions on Iraq which prevent
that kind of military assistance to Iraq. And I think it's
something that the Russian Government has to deal with. I don't
draw any broader implications than that.
Q The Russian Government didn't do anything to stop
them to go to Russia -- to Iraq.
MR. BOUCHER: I'll see if we know anything more about
it, but I've seen some stuff out of Russia that made clear that
the government was not supporting this in any way.
Q Richard, can you tell us anything -- and if you
can't now, maybe get something later -- about this U.S.
delegation that's going to Pakistan to discuss extension or
stopping of the lease of the eight U.S. Navy ships?
MR. BOUCHER: Well, I can't now. I'll have to see if
there's anything we can say on it.
Q Thank you.
(The briefing concluded at 1:53 p.m.)
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