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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman Taken Questions for October 6, 1993 1. Somalia Q. Are we aware of the man who claims to be General Aideed's representative in the U.S.? A. WE ARE AWARE THAT ALI GUILAD CLAIMS TO BE A REPRESENTATIVE OF GENERAL AIDEED. WE DO NOT RECOGNIZE MR. GUILAD AS ACTING IN ANY OFFICIAL CAPACITY FOR GENERAL AIDEED. WE HAVE MET WITH HIM, AS WELL AS A WIDE RANGE OF SOMALI EXILE GROUPS, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS IN WASHINGTON. 2. CUBA Q: Was there an inter-agency meeting at State today to discuss preparations for a possible mass exodus from Cuba to the United States? A: YES. IT WAS A ROUTINE REVIEW AT THE WORKING LEVEL AIMED AT UPDATING CONTINGENCY PLANS CREATED TWO YEARS AGO TO DEAL WITH A POSSIBLE MARIEL- LIKE EXODUS FROM CUBA. 3. RUSSIA Q: Has Russia informed the USG and Allies that it is prepared to pull out of the CFE Treaty if tanks cannot be moved to the Caucasus? A: NO. HOWEVER, THE RUSSIANS HAVE STATED PUBLICLY THAT THEY BELIEVE THE CFE FLANK ZONE EQUIPMENT LIMIT IS OVERLY RESTRICTIVE. THEY HAVE RAISED THIS ISSUE IN BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS, INCLUDING IN THE CFE JOINT CONSULTATIVE GROUP IN VIENNA. THE FLANK LIMIT DOES NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL 1995, WHEN CFE EQUIPMENT REDUCTIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. --THE RUSSIANS HAVE SAID THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO JEOPARDIZE THE CFE TREATY. --BOTH THE U.S. AND NATO ALLIES HAVE MADE CLEAR THAT IT TS IN NO STATE'S INTEREST TO REOPEN THE CFE TREATY. (###)