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US DEPARTMENT OF STATE DAILY PRESS
BRIEFING #16
Source: State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher
Description:Washington, DC
Date:02/02/93
Category: Briefings
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
DPC #16
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1993, 12:35 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 Do you have any thoughts about the prospects for the peace
process resuming?
MR. BOUCHER: The Secretary, as you know, addressed that
yesterday. He said that it's time to look ahead, time to concentrate
our efforts on invigorating the Arab-Israeli peace negotiation. The
Russian and U.S. co-
sponsors will be consulting shortly with the parties about next steps,
including dates for the ninth round of bilateral talks.
Q Richard, the multilaterals are scheduled to take place
next week. In fact, one round of arms control talks are supposed to
start here in Washington.
Is the United States sending out invitations to those talks,
and is it the intention of the United States that those talks should
proceed as scheduled?
MR. BOUCHER: Alan, that's something I'll have to get you an
update on. As you know, the Steering Group that last met after the last
round scheduled dates for them. I think I told you last week that we
hadn't yet issued the oral invitations. It is something that we're
talking to the co-sponsor, the Russians, about -- about getting the
actual invitations out. So let me double-check on that and see where we
stand.
Q Richard, what's the status of a sanctions resolution at
the U.N.? Have the Palestinians yet agreed to -- or the Arab states
agreed to withdraw it?
MR. BOUCHER: At this point, John, I don't think there was
actually any proposal on the table up in New York. There had been some
discussion. As the Secretary made very clear yesterday, we think that
the breakthrough that has been achieved and the important process
that's been established obviates the need for further action in the
Security Council.
We are in touch with Arab and Palestinian officials. The
Secretary has sent messages to a number of interested governments, and
that's the view that we're taking.
Q But do you yet have agreement not to go forward with the
resolution?
MR. BOUCHER: I'm not at this point able to characterize the
positions of the others that we're getting in touch with.
Q Richard, now that the Hamas has rejected it, where do we
go from here? Do you consider that a final rejection on their part?
MR. BOUCHER: Connie, the point, I think, to make is the point
that was made by the Secretary yesterday: that we don't believe that
there is any further action required or useful in the Security Council
now; that there is an important process that was set up. It has a
number of elements to it. Israel has allowed to immediately let 100 of
these deportees return to Israel or the Occupied Territories.
They agreed to reduce the sentences of the other deportees by
half, which as a practical matter means that some will return by
September and all will return by the end of the year.
They'll maintain an appeals and review process, so that the
prospect exists for others to be able to return. They'll allow
humanitarian assistance that assures the delivery of humanitarian
assistance by international organizations through Israel to the
deportees.
And we think that this process makes it unnecessary and indeed
unuseful for any further action by the Security Council at this point.
Q So it's business as usual. Even if none of the Hamas
people return, the U.S. proceeds and issues invitations for the peace
talks. What happens if they remain intransigent?
MR. BOUCHER: Well, the peace talks, we've always said, are
very important. We think there is an interest on our part and an
interest on the part of the parties to continue the peace talks, and
we'll be talking to the co-sponsors very shortly about how to continue.
Q But, Richard --
Q Richard, has the United States -- I'm sorry --
Q Go ahead, Saul.
Q Has the United States or its representatives talked to the
people on the mountaintop to see whether they agree with your assessment
that it's consistent with the Security Council resolution and that it's
a breakthrough?
MR. BOUCHER: Let me double-check to make sure. I'm --
Q Has the United States consulted --
MR. BOUCHER: -- I'm not aware that we have any contact or that
we've had anybody in there. As I said, the Secretary sent messages to a
number of interested governments. We're in touch with Arabs and
Palestinians about this issue, and I think our views have been stated
very clearly by the Secretary.
Q Richard, I just want to find out whether the United States
did consult about this specific plan or proposal -- before it bought
onto it, whether the United States consulted with the Palestinians or
with the people up on the mountain?
MR. BOUCHER: I'll check and see if we've had any contact at
all with the people up on the mountain. There's none that I'm aware of.
We've been in touch with other governments and with the Palestinians all
along to discuss this whole issue.
Q But did we discuss with them this Israeli offer or this
Israeli proposal before we gave it our blessing yesterday?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know, and I'm not sure I'd be in a
position to go into that level of detail. But I think we've made very
clear we think this is a breakthrough, we think this is very important,
and we think it makes further action in the Council unnecessary.
Q Richard, what has the U.S. been hearing from other
Security Council members?
MR. BOUCHER: Again, at this point I think I was asked what the
reaction was. I can't characterize the responses at this point. We
believe that, with the process in place, there's no need for further
action in the Security Council. I said we're in touch with other
governments. The Secretary said yesterday he discussed it with the
Secretary General. We continue to be in touch with other Security
Council members up there in New York, and that's where we stand right
now.
Q Well, Richard, the Palestinians, most notably their
spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi, have said it's not enough to get them back.
This morning Ambassador Shoval from Israel indicated that perhaps the
peace -- in an oblique way, that perhaps the peace talks could go on
without the Palestinians.
Does the Administration hold that -- share that belief?
MR. BOUCHER: Sid, we believe that the peace talks are
important to all the parties who are involved, and we'll be consulting
with the co-sponsors about how to move forward.
Q But could we stage a round without the Palestinians?
MR. BOUCHER: At this point that's hypothetical.
Q Richard, the Secretary General in his letter to the
Security Council last week suggested that Israel was in non-compliance
with 799. How does the return -- immediate return -- of one-quarter of
the deportees put Israel in compliance as far as the United States is
concerned?
MR. BOUCHER: Well, Jim, I think the problem is that the
importance of this process doesn't just lie in the fact that 100 of the
deportees will be allowed back in immediately. As we said, there are a
number of very important elements here which the Secretary laid out for
you yesterday, and that will result in the return of all these people.
Because 100 now, more by September, all of them by the end of the
calendar, and the prospect of review to speed up the return of others
and a prospect for the provision of humanitarian assistance -- all these
elements resolve the problem, and therefore nothing further is required
in the Security Council.
Q In other words, you say that Israel is, with these
measures, these proposals at least, in compliance?
MR. BOUCHER: The Secretary said yesterday that he believes
that this process is consistent with the terms of the resolution.
Q Richard, I have two questions, one which I would ask if
you can take it -- I asked last week: What, if anything, is the U.S.
Government doing to ensure Israel gets a fair shot at some day sitting
on the Security Council? And the question I'd like to ask now is how
does the United States Government view Hamas? How do we characterize
it? Do we consider it a terrorist organization or what?
MR. BOUCHER: Well, on the question of Israel and the Security
Council, I think you're aware of our general thoughts on the Security
Council. I don't think we've tried to address the question of Israel at
this point, so I'm not sure I can get you anything on that.
On Hamas, we've been obviously aware of their activities. The
Department's annual terrorism report, "Patterns of Global Terrorism,"
comes out at the end of April. But, when it comes out, we would expect
that to include a discussion of terrorist acts committed by Hamas. The
report covers calendar year 1992. The group's violent activities
increased dramatically during 1992; and the group, in our view, used
increasingly lethal tactics such as roadside explosives and car bombs.
So the report will discuss their activities.
Q Richard, was the decision to place Hamas on the terrorist
list a part of the deal with Israel?
MR. BOUCHER: Of course not, John. And I have to correct as
well the sort of miss-impression that many people have. There's no sort
of official list of terrorist organizations. There is a list for export
control purposes of state sponsors of terrorism, of countries that
support terrorism.
The annual report on "Patterns of Global Terrorism" reports on
activities by various organizations, and in this case we would expect it
to report on the activities of this organization.
Q Well, in any case, it's an organization that -- I mean,
it's a list that most organizations try to stay off of, whether they're
a state or an organization.
MR. BOUCHER: We would hope so.
Q But was discussion of the placing of Hamas on this list a
part of the discussions that the Secretary had with the Israeli
Government?
MR. BOUCHER: No.
Q Richard, do you have anything on --
Q Follow-up --
MR. BOUCHER: Hang on. Slow down.
Q -- the Americans who were --
MR. BOUCHER: Hang on.
Q Do you have anything on the Americans who were arrested in
Israel who are accused of being associated with Hamas?
MR. BOUCHER: Yes. There are three Americans that were
arrested last week by Israeli security forces in Jerusalem and in the
West Bank. They have all been visited by officials from our Consulate
in Jerusalem.
Two of them -- Mohammed Salah and Mohammed Jarad -- are
appearing today before a military court in Ramallah. An officer from
our Consulate in Jerusalem is present at these two hearings. The
hearings were still in progress when we last spoke with Jerusalem this
morning, so I can't tell you anything more about how that's proceeding.
Q The third one?
MR. BOUCHER: The third one is Mohammed Tawfik Omar. He was
arrested January 24 and visited by a Consular Officer on Thursday,
January 28.
Q Richard, the gap between when these people were arrested
and when they were visited was, I think in two cases, four days and in
one case five days. And I understand that a complaint was given to the
Israelis that there was this delay between request for access and access
being granted. Has there been a response to that complaint?
MR. BOUCHER: Not that I'm aware of. There was indeed a delay
of several days between the time that we requested permission, which was
immediately, and the time that we were allowed to visit these people.
We've raised that issue of delayed access with the Israeli authorities.
Q Richard, I'd like to return to an earlier question. How
is the agreement that we approved yesterday consistent with the Security
Council resolution? Is it because the Security Council resolution calls
for their return but doesn't set a time limit? Is that the reason?
MR. BOUCHER: Saul, it's consistent in that it provides for the
return of these people. It provides for a process which has a number of
elements that provides for these people to be able to return.
Q But if it's a return over a year's period, does that -- do
you think that fulfills the requirement?
MR. BOUCHER: Well, as the Secretary said yesterday, we think
it's consistent with the Security Council resolution. It's an important
breakthrough that allows us to resolve this issue and allows these
people to return.
Q Just for my information, there is no immediate -- I mean,
the Security Council resolution does not call for their immediate return
--
MR. BOUCHER: I don't remember the exact wording of the
resolution.
Q Richard, I believe the Security Council resolution calls
for the immediate return of all the deportees to the Occupied
Territories. What meaning does the United States attach to the words
"immediate" and "all?"
MR. BOUCHER: Mark, I don't have a copy of the resolution with
me. I think the Secretary made very clear yesterday that this process,
with a number of very important elements, was indeed a breakthrough. It
provided a means to resolve this issue. It was consistent with the
Security Council resolution. And we felt it was a very important step
forward, and we wanted to refocus our energies on the peace process.
And, indeed, that's what we will be doing with the co-sponsor.
Q Richard, another subject?
Q One more on the Americans arrested in Israel. Do you have
any indication that those Americans were engaged in any illegal
activities while being here in the States?
MR. BOUCHER: While being here in the States? That's a
question you'd have to check with the FBI and the Justice Department on.
Q Richard, one more on that. Does the Administration have
an opinion on whether those people were engaged in terrorist --
promoting terrorist activities or promoting Hamas or financing Hamas
while they were in Israel?
MR. BOUCHER: Sid, it's not for us to take positions on the
activities of Americans overseas. Those are dealt with by local courts,
by local authorities. Our job is to make sure that they receive fair
treatment and due process under the laws of the country which has
arrested them, to make sure that they're treated decently, to assist
them in contacting family, and things like that.
Q Richard, the issue of whether there is a ring funding
Hamas in the United States, has that issue been addressed yet?
MR. BOUCHER: I've seen allegations like that in the press; but
I'm afraid, as far as activities that go on inside the United States,
it's is something you'd have to check with the FBI and Justice.
Q Is there any preliminary judgment on whether these three
Americans are being treated equitably under Israel's laws?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't have any judgment one way or the other on
that, Mark. I haven't seen any complaint at this point.
Q Another subject?
MR. BOUCHER: Another subject. I guess he had the first other
subject.
Q The leader of the Bosnian Serbs, Radovan Karadzic, intends
to come to the Security Council, I believe tomorrow. Will the United
States give a visa to this man who it has branded as a person who ought
to stand trial for war crimes?
MR. BOUCHER: We have approved a C-2 visa, which relates to
U.N. activities, for Radovan Karadzic, so that he can participate in the
continuing negotiations of the International Conference on the Former
Yugoslavia, meetings which are going to be held at the United Nations in
New York.
He was invited to U.N. Headquarters by the U.N. Mediator, Cyrus
Vance. The visas will be limited to a single entry to allow travel to
the United Nations, and it will restrict him to travel within a 25-mile
radius of U.N. Headquarters.
Q Is there any restriction on his activities?
MR. BOUCHER: The visa is issued for the purpose of coming to
the United Nations meeting. I don't have all the particulars, but the
essential limits are the ones I told you about.
Q What about if he were to appear at some public forum,
address a meeting, raise funds, things like that?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know. That's something I'd have to check
on, Alan.
Q Could you, please?
MR. BOUCHER: I will.
Q Did he seek and was he given any assurances that he would
not be arrested for war crimes while he was here?
MR. BOUCHER: I'm not sure if he sought or was -- I'm not sure
if they sought any such assurances. I mean, the fact that we issue a
visa is not prejudicial to the right to bring him before an eventual war
crimes tribunal or some sort of justice in that situation. But at this
present time, there is no such tribunal.
We do agree with what we've said before, of course, that we
think that he has things to answer for.
Q I don't understand. You're saying that -- you're ruling
out any possible detainment of this alleged war criminal when he comes
to the United States? Is that what you're saying?
MR. BOUCHER: That's not in the plan. He's coming here because
the U.N. mediators and negotiators felt it was important that he be here
to participate in U.N. activities. And, of course, we have an
obligation under the Headquarters Agreement that we have with the United
Nations to permit entry of people who are invited to U.N. Headquarters
for official business.
Q Well, remember the issue of Yasser Arafat's visa which
came up repeatedly in previous years, and the United States didn't have
any problem in denying it even though he was going to the U.N. So how
can you explain this discrepancy?
MR. BOUCHER: Not all cases are alike. There is U.S. law that
excludes members of the PLO from entry into the U.S. because of their
affiliation in an organization that engages in terrorism -- has engaged
in terrorism -- against Americans and others.
In this situation, we consider that Mr. Vance's invitation
reflected official United Nations business. We don't believe that there
is evidence at this point that Mr. Karadzic's presence would be a threat
to the security of Americans or people in the United States, and we do
have the obligation under the Headquarters Agreement to allow people to
come here for U.N. business. In this case, the business is to continue
the negotiations that are aimed at reaching a peaceful settlement.
Q Does the new Administration stand by former Secretary
Eagleburger's characterization of this man?
MR. BOUCHER: As I just said, we continue to believe that this
man has things that he has to answer for.
Q Secretary Eagleburger said a little bit more than "he has
things to answer for."
MR. BOUCHER: Well, that's essentially what he said, Alan.
Yes, we stand by the earlier characterizations and the fact that he
would have to explain what he did to prevent the war crimes from
occurring.
Q North Korean Ambassador to the U.N. --
Q Yugoslavia?
MR. BOUCHER: Yugoslavia.
Q I wanted to ask you about barge traffic in the Danube?
MR. BOUCHER: Barges in the Danube. Okay, and then we'll go on
to North Korea.
Q I understand there might have been some activity
yesterday.
MR. BOUCHER: Despite the challenges that were mounted by the
Romanian-Bulgarian Government forces, all five of the tug and barge
convoys succeeded in transporting their cargoes into Serbian waters.
Once there, however, the Bihac dropped some cargo. It dropped
some cargo, first of all, at the Serbian port of Prahovo on or about
January 25. It then left Prahovo and continued upstream, presenting
itself on January 31 with five barges at the Romanian-controlled lock at
the Iron Gates. Apparently the Serbian lock at the Iron Gates is under
construction and currently inoperable.
At that point, Romanian authorities denied permission for the
Bihac and its barges to enter the locks. The Bihac remained at the Lock
for 14-18 hours, blocking the river traffic.
Having been denied permission by the Romanian authorities to
proceed upstream, the Serb captain headed back downstream toward
Prahovo. For reasons unknown, he cut loose five barges of petroleum
products. The barges apparently remain tethered in the Danube. We've
urged the Romanian Government to detain the barges.
So they all made it into Serbian waters; but this one barge,
for a series of reasons, had to at least drop some of its barges, and
they remain tethered in the Danube.
Q And there were no new ones?
Q No environmental impact, no discharge of oil, or any of
that?
MR. BOUCHER: Not that I'm aware of. They are barges full of
oil that are tethered.
Q Do we have a reaction to the fact that they apparently ran
the blockade and got away with it?
MR. BOUCHER: Well, the reaction is the reaction that we've had
all along, and that's that these sanctions are very important. We feel
that the countries next to -- along the Danube -- the riparian states --
should, indeed, enforce the sanctions. You know that we've been working
with them. You know that we've been working with people like the
Ukrainians where it was reported that this oil might have come from, and
we will continue to look at ways of tightening enforcement and we'll
continue to assist countries to enforce the sanctions.
Q The point is they obviously didn't enforce the sanctions.
Is there any price to be paid for that?
MR. BOUCHER: I think, John, we've described the various
efforts they've made. I've described the fact that they denied
permission for at least some of this to pass through a lock. We'll
continue to work in every way we can to see the sanctions enforced.
Q Didn't it set a precedent? Are there any other barges
that loading up about to make that run?
MR. BOUCHER: I know there have been some reports out there.
There were some reports of barges loading in Ukraine. That's why I told
you last week that we had a team out there to try to work with the
Ukrainians to make sure that their ships were not involved in breaking
the sanctions.
Q What's happened since then?
MR. BOUCHER: That's something I'll have to check on.
Q Richard, the Bush Administration suggested, I think, last
fall that Romania be granted Most Favored Nation trading status. It's
the only country in Eastern Europe, I believe, that doesn't have it.
But due to irregularities in the Romanian election at that time, the
Senate never acted on the proposal. Will the Clinton Administration be
recommending that Romania get MFI?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know, Alan.
Q MFN -- sorry.
MR. BOUCHER: I'll have to check and see if there's anything to
say at this point.
Q Could you take the question?
MR. BOUCHER: I'll see if there is, at this point.
Q Is there anything new on the situation in Kinshasa or in
Zaire -- the government, or one of the governments, sealing off the
capital? What's happening with that?
MR. BOUCHER: Our reporting is that as of mid-day on February
2, which is today, Kinshasa was quiet for the second straight day.
Order has been restored to most of the city, although there has been
some sporadic fighting during the night. A curfew has been imposed in
some parts of the city, and this seems to have had a calming effect.
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Hank Cohen
will travel to Brussels on Thursday for consultations with Belgium and
French officials.
Q Richard, back on Bosnia. Is there any further
illumination you can shed on the Secretary's discussions yesterday? The
Secretary drew a distinction between the Vance-Owen plan and the Vance-
Owen process. Can you explain in any more precision what he meant by
that?
MR. BOUCHER: He talked about it yesterday at his press
conference. He talked about it yesterday as he came out of the
building, on his way out. I'm not sure if you have the transcripts of
those.
But, basically, he said that we've supported the process; we
think that the process should continue with the parties meeting in New
York. And, indeed, we issued a visa to Mr. Karadzic so he can do that.
He said the process is desirable, and he said we welcome any
agreement between the parties. That's about where we stand on that. He
said he had a good meeting, a helpful meeting, to hear directly from
Vance and Owen --
Q At some point, are you --
MR. BOUCHER: -- and he will be coming back to Washington to
discuss what they said.
Q At some point, are you going to be able to speak, in any
concrete terms, about your views of the deficiencies in the current
plan?
MR. BOUCHER: As we've made clear, Doyle, we've supported the
process. We've talked before about the Secretary's remarks about the
difficulties of it. He said that yesterday he had indeed discussed with
Vance and Owen a number of difficult questions about feasibility,
practicality, and enforceability of the plan that's been put forward.
And if we have more to say, we'll say it when we have it to say.
Q Does support for the process preclude other action?
MR. BOUCHER: I think the Secretary made clear in testimony
that it didn't.
Q Going back to Africa, did you have anything on Angola?
Apparently there are some moves to rearm the government now?
MR. BOUCHER: The situation with regard to Angola I have. The
fighting appears to be concentrated around Huambo, a former UNITA
stronghold. Cabinda continues to be quiet.
We are indeed concerned by the reports that both the Government
and UNITA are acquiring additional munitions from sources outside
Angola. We strongly urge Angolan parties and potential suppliers of
weapons to respect the provisions of the peace accords and to avoid acts
that would contribute to the cycle of violence which has engulfed the
country.
We have strongly supported the progress that was made so far in
the discussions in Addis Ababa, and I'll probably have a little more for
you in a statement later on that.
Q Is Angola getting any of its arms from South African
sources -- government or non-governmental?
MR. BOUCHER: I'll have to check, Jim, and see if there's
anything more I can say about potential suppliers.
Q And also back on Zaire, I think it was Radio Zaire
yesterday said that there had been some 1,000 people killed in the
fighting so far. Does that correspond to what you have been hearing?
MR. BOUCHER: It's very difficult to give you any solid
estimates or solid figures on the casualties. At present our best
estimate is that at least 200 people have lost their lives.
Q And there's still no thought of pulling Americans out?
MR. BOUCHER: No, we don't intend to evacuate the official
Americans -- 32 official Americans -- that we have at post. We have
advised private Americans of the opportunity to leave on the evacuation
ferries to Brazzaville if they choose to do so. Apparently
approximately 20 American citizens have done so over the past several
days.
Q Have any more of those evacuation ferries been blocked by
Mobuto's yacht or any other --
MR. BOUCHER: I don't really know, Steve. I haven't seen any
reporting on it.
Q A few more on southern Africa, please. Is the Foreign
Minister of Angola still going to meet here?
MR. BOUCHER: I'll have to check on that. I didn't check
today.
Q And also if you can look into this one -- it just kind of
happened, but there's a lot of street fighting going on in Johannesburg.
I don't know if you want to comment on that?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know either.
Q Could you look into it and let us know?
MR. BOUCHER: Yes. Saul?
Q Richard, are the other participants in the Yugoslav talks
getting visas with the same restrictions?
MR. BOUCHER: I'll have to check on that, Saul.
Q Could you, please?
MR. BOUCHER: I haven't had a chance to check.
Q One more on Yugoslavia. German parliamentarians are
saying there's a perfectly good airport at Tuzla which is not being used
but could be used for humanitarian flights. I don't expect you'd have
anything on it, but maybe you can respond to why that airport is not
being used?
MR. BOUCHER: I'll have to check and see if we know. But,
clearly, although we're heavily involved in the planning of the
humanitarian relief, it's in the hands of the U.N. High Commissioner for
Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross, so you better
check with them, too, and see what they have to say.
Q Richard, the Secretary also said yesterday that he and
Boutros Ghali had come to a meeting of the minds on Somalia. What does
that mean, and what can we expect to see in regards to the hand-
off/withdrawal?
MR. BOUCHER: Well, it means what he said it meant. He said
that they had come to a meeting of minds, that they had a very good
discussion on Somalia. He said it's time to begin the transition and,
indeed, we will be working out the transition in more detail with the
United Nations.
As he said yesterday, the Secretary General's report will be
issued soon and then that will be followed up in the near future with a
resolution that would establish the second -- the UNISOM II.
So, in terms of what you should expect to see, you should
expect to see us discussing -- as we indeed are with the United Nations
-- continuing to discuss the details of this process; and then you
should expect to see the Secretary General's report; and you should
expect to see a resolution soon.
Q Any idea what "soon" and "near future" mean?
MR. BOUCHER: Not exactly, since obviously the Secretary
General is preparing his report. You'd have to check and see what it
means to him.
Q Is a text of the resolution being circulated?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know for sure, Sid. Certainly we've
talked quite a bit to other governments, to the Secretary General's
office about the transition process. We've had planning both in New
York and in Somalia between U.S. and U.N. officials, and we're talking
to other governments.
I don't think there's a draft at this stage because there has
to be his report first, and then on the basis of that the resolution
will be drafted.
Q Richard, I need clarification on Sarajevo. What is the
position of the U.S. Government on the future of Sarajevo? Does the
government believe that the city should remain unified, or does the
government believe that it could be divided? Is there any position --
MR. BOUCHER: I don't believe we've tried to address any
specific city in that much detail. We certainly have said that Bosnia-
Hercegovina needs to be unified and remain a country, a sovereign
entity.
Q But there was nothing said specifically on the fate of the
capital of the state?
MR. BOUCHER: I don't think we've tried to address any of the
details in that regard.
Q Richard, do you know why the Secretary's is meeting with
Senator Leahy today?
MR. BOUCHER: Not in any detail, no. He has regular contacts
and will expect to have regular contacts with members of Congress, and I
assume it's in that context.
Q Richard, did the Secretary get an assurance from Boutros
Ghali that the post of Under Secretary for Management of the U.N. would
go to an American and that, therefore, the Norwegian lady, Mrs. Sham
Poo, would be, so to speak, blown dry? (Laughter)
MR. BOUCHER: Is that a real question or just the opportunity
for some of your puns?
Q No, no, no. The Washington Post --
MR. BOUCHER: I don't have anything new on that issue, I don't
think.
Q -- has reported that the Secretary got an assurance from
Boutros Ghali that that post would be given to an American when
Thornburgh retired.
MR. BOUCHER: I'll have to check and see if there's anything I
can say on it.
Q Does this mean you're washing your hands of this issue?
(Laughter)
Q Could you confirm that the North Korean Ambassador to the
U.N. is allowed to visit the Washington area to participate in a certain
political meeting? Meanwhile, you denied to issue visas to the North
Korean politician, including Kim Yong Sun --
MR. BOUCHER: Pretty much, yes. The organizers of the National
Prayer Breakfast extended invitations to various North Koreans to
participate in the National Prayer Breakfast on February 4.
The North Korean Permanent Representative to the United Nations
and his wife will attend, we understand. We waived the travel
restrictions on the Ambassador for this event as we've done before for
North Korean diplomats at the United Nations for other special events.
But the organizers also invited the Korean Worker's Party
Secretary, Kim Yong Sun, to lead a delegation here. Visas were denied
to them because they did not fall within our guidelines on the issuance
of visas to applicants from North Korea.
Our policy is to encourage unofficial, non-governmental visits
from the DPRK in academics, sports, culture, and other areas. These
applicants clearly had official status as Korean Workers Party officers
and/or they hold offices in the Supreme People's Assembly, North Korea's
legislative body. And for that purpose, we didn't think it was
appropriate to issue them visas.
Q So that policy could continue for the new Clinton
Administration also?
MR. BOUCHER: That's the way we treated this case, yes.
Q Have you any -- that decision is related in any way --
that the North Korean rejection for the IAEA nuclear inspection team to
the two nuclear waste storage points?
MR. BOUCHER: This are decisions that were made for the reasons
that I explained. I won't link it to anything broader than that. We
certainly are concerned about inspections. Nuclear inspections
continue.
Q The Japanese Foreign Minister said yesterday that he was
going to ask the Clinton Administration to maintain the MFN trade status
to China. How are you going to respond to this?
MR. BOUCHER: At this point, I'm not. I don't have anything
for you on that.
Q Thank you.
(Press briefing concluded 1:09 p.m.) (###)