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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman Taken Questions of August 30, 1993 1. NIGERIA Q: What is the read out on today's meeting between Chief M.K.O. Abiola and Assistant Secretary Moose? A. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AFRICAN AFFAIRS GEORGE MOOSE MET WITH CHIEF ABIOLA FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR ON MONDAY TO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON NIGERIA'S CURRENT POLITICAL SITUATION. --CHIEF ABIOLA TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS HIS CONCERNS ABOUT THE NIGERIAN PEOPLE'S ONGOING STRUGGLE TO ESTABLISH ELECTED CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT IN THEIR COUNTRY. --ASSISTANT SECRETARY MOOSE REITERATED U.S. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR THE RIGHT OF THE NIGERIAN PEOPLE TO EXERCISE THEIR SOVEREIGNTY BY ELECTING THEIR LEADERS THROUGH LEGITIMATE DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES. --ASSISTANT SECRETARY MOOSE ASSURED CHIEF ABIOLA THAT THE UNITED STATES IS CONTINUING TO FOLLOW THE SITUATION IN NIGERIA CLOSELY. 2. SOMALIA Q. What do you know about a ship allegedly carrying arms to Somalia? A. THE DJIBOUTIAN AUTHORITIES RECENTLY COMPLETED SEARCHING THE YUSR, A UAE-FLAGGED MERCHANT VESSEL THAT ARRIVED IN DJIBOUTI ON AUGUST 18. THE DJIBOUTIANS WERE RESPONDING TO INFORMATION SUGGESTING THAT THE VESSEL MIGHT BE VIOLATING THE U.N. ARMS EMBARGO AGAINST SOMALIA BY CARRYING ARMS DESTINED FOR GENERAL AIDEED. --AS THE EXHAUSTIVE SEARCH DID NOT TURN UP ANY WEAPONS, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE SHIP IS RELOADING A CARGO OF SUGAR TAKEN OFF AT THE BEHEST OF HARBOR AUTHORITIES TO FACILITATE THE SEARCH. AFTER THIS TASK IS COMPLETED, WE BELIEVE THE YUSR WILL THEN DEPART DJIBOUTI. WE HAVE NO INFORMATION ON ITS NEXT PORT-OF-CALL. --A U.S. COAST GUARD TEAM WITH SPECIAL EXPERTISE IN SEARCHING VESSELS ASSISTED THE DJIBOUTIANS, AT THEIR REQUEST. THE U.S. PERSONNEL SERVE ON BOARD A U.S. NAVAL VESSEL STATIONED IN THE REGION. 3. MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS Q: Were there any meetings today between the U.S. peace team and members of the Middle East Peace Process delegations? A: YES. MEMBERS OF THE U.S. PEACE TEAM WERE IN TOUCH WITH THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS DELEGATIONS IN ANTICIPATION OF THE RESUMPTION OF THE NEGOTIATIONS. 4. ASSISTANT SECRETARY DJEREJIAN'S ACTIVITIES Q: Can you describe Ambassador Djerejian's activities over the past two weeks? A: AFTER AMBASSADOR DJEREJIAN ACCOMPANIED THE SECRETARY TO THE REGION, HE CONTINUED TO MOROCCO WHERE HE MET WITH KING HASSAN II TO DISCUSS BILATERAL RELATIONS, THE SECRETARY'S TRIP, THE SITUATION IN SOUTHERN LEBANON AND RECENT PROGRESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. SUBSEQUENTLY, AMBASSADOR DJEREJIAN TRAVELLED TO PARIS WHERE HE MET WITH FRENCH OFFICIALS AT THE QUAY D'ORSAY, INCLUDING FOREIGN MINISTER JUPPE. (###)