U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
Questions Taken September 24, 1993

1.  US POLICY ON IMF LENDING TO SOUTH AFRICA

Q: What is the US policy on IMF lending to South Africa in light of 
Nelson Mandela's request that all economic sanctions be lifted?

A:  AS THE PRESIDENT INDICATED IN HIS STATEMENT TODAY, WE WILL BE TAKING 
THE NECESSARY STEPS TO PERMIT IMF LENDING TO SOUTH AFRICA.



2.  CUBA: PLANES, VISAS

Q.  What's the procedure for returning Cuban planes and boats when 
Cubans use those vessels to defect to the United States?

A.  WE CONTACT THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT, TELL THEM WE HAVE AN AIRCRAFT OR 
BOAT, AND OFFER TO RETURN IT.  TYPICALLY, THEY SEND A CREW WITHIN A FEW 
DAYS TO CHECK THE CRAFT AND BRING IT BACK TO CUBA.

Q. Who's getting a visa to address the UN General Assembly?

A.  CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROBAINA HAS RECEIVED A U.S. VISA TO 
TRAVEL TO NEW YORK FOR THE OPENING OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL 
ASSEMBLY.

THE VISA PERMITS HIM TO TRAVEL ONLY WITHIN 25 MILES OF COLUMBUS CIRCLE.



3.  LAST BILATERAL WORKING VISIT BY A SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

Q: When was the last time a Syrian Foreign Minister visited Washington 
on a bilateral working visit?

A: THE LAST BILATERAL WORKING VISIT TO WASHINGTON BY A SYRIAN FOREIGN 
MINISTER WAS AUGUST 22-25, 1974 WHEN THEN FOREIGN MINISTER ABD AL-HALIM 
IBN SAID KHADDAM MET WITH THEN SECRETARY OF STATE KISSINGER TO DISCUSS 
SYRIAN/ISRAELI DISENGAGEMENT.



4.  PAKISTAN: HALT TO ITS NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM

Q: What is the U.S. reaction to Pakistan's announcement that it has 
halted its nuclear weapon program?

A:  -- THE U.S. STRONGLY OPPOSES THE PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS 
AND ALL OTHER WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. IN SOUTH ASIA, WE HAVE URGED 
GOVERNMENTS TO CAP, THEN ROLL BACK AND ULTIMATELY ELIMINATE ALL WEAPONS 
OF MASS DESTRUCTION FROM THE REGION.

WE WOULD WELCOME A VERIFIABLE HALT TO ALL ASPECTS OF THE NUCLEAR WEAPONS 
PROGRAM OF PAKISTAN AS AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO NONPROLIFERATION.

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