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1993 DAILY PRESS BRIEFING #24: WEDNESDAY, 2/17/93
Source: State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher
Description: Washington, DC
Date: Feb 17, 1993
Category: Briefings
Region: Central Europe, Subsaharan Africa,
MidEast/North Africa, East Asia
Country: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia-Montenegro,
Israel, Zaire, Angola, China
Subject: Regional/Civil Unrest, Military Affairs,
Development/Relief Aid, United Nations,
Mideast Peace Process, Arms Control, Terrorism,
Human Rights
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DAILY PRESS BRIEFING SUMMARY
Wednesday, February 17, 1993
[Use the Outline key (Alt-O) to locate text. Accuracy of
page numbers will depend on your printer and software.]
Subject Page
ANNOUNCEMENT
Background Briefing on Secretary's Trip to the Middle East. 1
FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
Humanitarian Relief Flights/Convoys........ .........1-5
-- Flight Suspension....... .........1,5
-- Convoys Blocked.. ...........................1-3
-- U.S. Needs Assessment Team.................. ........4-5
Asst. Secretary Niles' Meeting with President of Kosovo...........3
MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
Russian Co-Sponsor Role. .............................5
Secretary's Trip to Region.................... ...5-6
CHINA
Release of Two Tiananmen Square Protesters........... ..........6-7
ZAIRE
Report U.S./France/Belgium to Push for Political Transition. .... ..7
Situation Update.......... ...............7
ANGOLA
Policy re Arms Supplies to the MPLA................. .....7
ISRAEL/TERRORISM
Reported Hamas Activities in the U.S........ ......7-8
Access to/Treatment of Detained Arab-Americans. ........7-9
MISCELLANEOU.S.
Answered "Taken" Questions from the Media
-- ZAIRE: Increasing Pressure on Mobutu
-- ANGOLA: Rearmament
-- ZAGREB: Relief Flights
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TEXT
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ANSWERED "TAKEN" QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA
As posted in the Press Office, U.S. Department of State
February 17, 1993
ZAIRE: Increasing Pressure on Mobutu for a Peaceful Transition
Taken Question 2/17/93
Q: Did Secretary Christopher and the Belgian Foreign
Minister discuss in their meeting yesterday increasing pressure on
Mobutu to allow transition to any elected government?
A: YES. WE ARE ALSO IN CLOSE CONSULTATIONS WITH THE FRENCH.
THE U.S. BELIEVES THAT MOBUTU MU.S.T TRANSFER EFFECTIVE
AUTHORITY
TO THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT AND THAT HE MU.S.T STOP INTERFERING IN
ITS
EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORMS. THIS IS
PARTICULARLY URGENT GIVEN THE DISASTROU.S. ECONOMIC SITUATION AND THE
SUFFERING OF THE ZAIRE PEOPLE.
Q: What is the U.S. planning to do to put pressure on
President Mobutu of Zaire to allow a peaceful transition to an elected
government?
A: WE ARE HOLDING A SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH BELGIAN AND FRENCH
OFFICIALS TO EXPLORE POSSIBLE WAYS TO ENCOURAGE A PEACEFUL TRANSITION TO
DEMOCRACY IN ZAIRE.
WE ARE CURRENTLY DECIDING WHICH OF THESE IDEAS ARE PRACTICAL AND
CONSULTING ON WHICH OF THEM CAN BE IMPLEMENTED JOINTLY WITH OUR ALLIES
AND OTHER COUNTRIES.
Q: What is the situation on the ground in Zaire?
A: THE HIGH COUNCIL OF THE REPUBLIC IS CONSIDERING PRESIDENT
MOBUTU'S REQUEST TO REPLACE PRIME MINISTER TSHISEKEDI (TSHEE-SAY-KAY-
DEE), THE HEAD OF THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED BY ZAIRE'S
NATIONAL CONFERENCE.
WE AFFIRM OUR SUPPORT FOR THE TRANSITIONAL PROCESS AGREED UPON
BY THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE. THE INSTITUTIONS THAT IT ESTABLISHED--THE
TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT, THE HIGH COUNCIL, AND THE PRESIDENCY--CAN, IF
THEY COOPERATE, ACHIEVE THE DEMOCRATIC REFORMS DESIRED BY ALL ZAIRIANS
OF GOOD WILL.
WE REPEAT OUR CALL THAT PRESIDENT MOBUTU TRANSFER EFFECTIVE
AUTHORITY TO THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT, AND THAT HE STOP INTERFERING
IN ITS EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORMS.
IT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT THAT HE TURN OVER MANAGEMENT OF THE
COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS, INCLUDING MANAGEMENT OF THE
NATIONAL CURRENCY, TO THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT WITHOUT FURTHER
DELAY.(###)
ANGOLA: Rearmament
Taken Question 2/17/93
Q: Is the U.S. considering allowing the provision of, or
providing, arms to the MPLA in Angola?
A: THE UNITED STATES BELIEVES ALL PARTIES TO THE BICESSE PEACE
ACCORDS SHOULD ABIDE BY THE PROVISIONS OF THOSE ACCORDS, INCLUDING THE
BAN ON IMPORTATION OF WAR MATERIEL. WE SEE NO REASON FOR ANYONE TO FAN
THE FLAMES OF AN ALREADY DEVASTATING CONFLICT. (###)
ZAGREB: Relief Flights
Taken Question 2/17/93
Q: Who is responsible for anti-aircraft fire and radar lock-
ons on relief flights out of Zagreb?
A: UNPROFOR SOURCES HAVE STATED THAT THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT
SERBIAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY FIRE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACK ON
THE RELIEF AIRCRAFT OUT OF ZAGREB.
WE CANNOT SAY FOR CERTAIN WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RADAR LOCK-
ONS.(###)
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