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US DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
Friday, October 8, 1993
BRIEFER: Michael McCurry
Subject Page
HAITI
Mission of UN/US Military Personnel/Deployment .1-3,6,14
-- Police Training/Engineering Projects .......1-2,6-7
-- Security ...................................2-3,6-7,14
-- Arrival/Departure Date .....................3
US Interests ...................................3
US Training Aristide's Security Detail ........4-5
Implementing the Governor's Island Accord ......5-8
PAKISTAN
Elections ......................................8-9
Relations with US ...............................9
SOMALIA
US/UN Efforts at Political Settlement ..........9-13
-- Participation by Aideed/Aideed's Clan ......12-13
Departure Date for US Troops ...................9-10
Mission of Ambassador Oakley ...................10-11
MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
Bilateral Talks in Washington/Next Round .......14
RUSSIA
Report of Doomsday Machine .....................15
CUBA
Prospects for Lifting US Travel Ban ............15
Reported Trip by Wayne Smith Group .............15-16
Interagency Meeting re: Contingency Plan for
Exodus .......................................16
GABON
Election Preparations ..........................16
(###)
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
DPC #137
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1993, 1:17 P. M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
MR. McCURRY: Good afternoon, everybody. I apologize for being
tardy. I don't have any prepared statements. I'll take any questions
you might have.
Q Do you have anything about the pending deployment of
troops to Haiti and whether or not there is any disagreement between
State and Pentagon on this question?
MR. McCURRY: Everyone is shaking their heads "no" already. I
guess you already have the answer.
I think that there is always an interagency process that
reviews questions like that, and I think maybe there was a report today
that exaggerated some of the questions that we worked through in the
interagency process.
The President's policy is very clear. We support the
restoration of democracy in Haiti. To that end, we have worked
aggressively to help shape the Governor's Island agreement and to make
it work, and we're providing economic assistance to help the Haitian
economy. We're committed to participate with some military personnel in
the U.N. mission in Haiti.
Our military personnel are part of a multinational mission, as
you know. There are some advance -- members of the advance party
associated with that mission that have already arrived in Haiti. There
are other personnel ready to be deployed, and the deployment will
continue.
Now, obviously, as we go along, we address security
conditions. We address logistical questions that arise, we evaluate the
situation on the ground. But my understanding, the latest I've heard,
is that the deployment is going forward, and that they will be in place
to conduct the work that they will be doing.
Now, let's review the work they will be doing, because I think
that's very important. I think, as some of you know, there are
approximately 300 military engineers from the United States and from
Canada that will perform a variety of humanitarian and civic action-
related projects. They're going to be building roads, renovating
clinics and schools. There will be about 100 military trainers who will
provide some instruction to the Haitian army in basic non-combat skills
-- organization, physical training, things like that -- and then there
will be about another 200 support personnel.
So while this is a mission somewhat limited in its scope and
designed to be oriented towards engineering projects and assisting with
the implementation of things called for in the Governor's Island
accords, it is important that the conditions be safe for any U.S.
personnel stationed abroad, and those questions we will obviously work
at together with the Pentagon and others.
Q Do you feel it is safe now for this deployment to go
forward?
MR. McCURRY: They will evaluate that situation as they go
along. I think we have every confidence that the security of personnel
stationed in Haiti will be assured.
Q So the deployment mission has been delayed while you work
out security arrangements?
MR. McCURRY: No. I'm not sure it's been delayed. I think
the Pentagon can tell you more about what their deployment schedule is.
My understanding is that the bulk of the personnel is still scheduled to
arrive on Monday. Those personnel are, I think, either in Puerto Rico
or underway now. But, as I say, the deployment is in progress right
now, and it's probably best to check at the Pentagon on exactly what the
schedule is as they complete the deployment.
Q But when they arrive, will they go ashore, because that
question has been raised.
MR. McCURRY: They're going to go ashore. I mean, arriving --
it would be awfully hard to carry out the engineering work that they are
tasked with if they are still on board a ship.
Q How will they be protected?
MR. McCURRY: How will they be protected? I don't want to get
into how they will be protected, but we're confident that they will be
secure, in that they will be well protected.
Q Did the Pentagon raise a lot of questions about the
operation -- raise them -- ask Secretary Christopher to explain a series
of questions, and was the effect, if not the purpose, to delay the
operation?
MR. McCURRY: I doubt very much that there was any attempt to
use questions about logistics or how the deployment -- what the status
of the Governor's Island accord is. I wouldn't want to speculate on
motives, but I don't think that that's the way you would go about
delaying it, nor do I think that was the intent here. I think there
were very legitimate questions on logistics, the status of implementing
the Governor's Island accord and things called for in the Governor's
Island accord, and, of course, we work these things out.
Q Mike, I'll lay down the three big questions. Why don't
you answer them, if you would.
What's our strategic interest in Haiti? What is the military
objective there? And when is the exit date?
MR. McCURRY: The exit date, as you know -- I'll take them in
reverse order -- the exit date is six months. The deployment is for six
months, and I think you heard recently Prime Minister Malval recommit
himself to that six-month deadline and indicate that he thought that was
a satisfactory deployment.
The second question, going backwards.
Q The military mission.
MR. McCURRY: The military mission, I think, has been very
well defined. It's in support of the Governor's Island accord, and it's
to carry out those engineering projects and training that this force is
tasked with. Then the first is the interest. We have very strong
interests, as you know, in the successful restoration of democracy in
Haiti, not the least of which is to avert another exodus of boat people
coming to our shores. I think that's a very clear interest that is in
our neighborhood and is very well-defined and understood.
Q Mike, could I ask you whether any American troops would
be sent down with the sole purpose of protecting the engineers and the
trainers that are going?
MR. McCURRY: The engineers and trainers that will be carrying
out their work -- my understanding is they'll carry side arms for their
personal protection. They'll be doing training and engineering
projects, but that's not a combat force, nor is it a force equipped to
respond to any combat-like situations.
Now, will there be force in the region that could carry out
that mission? I really would prefer not to answer that. I think the
Pentagon would be better equipped to answer that question for you.
But, again, I would say we are certainly going to take steps
to assure the safety of our personnel in Haiti.
Q Mike, do you confirm that the United States Government is
training and is going to provide bodyguards for President Aristide?
MR. McCURRY: Yes, at the request of President Aristide, the
Department has got some security training going on for approximately 60
Haitian officials who will be responsible for the protection of
President Aristide upon his return to Haiti. We customarily have these
security details working with local police, and of course part of the
Governor's Island accord calls for the creation and establishment of an
independent civilian police force.
If you're interested, the officials that are getting this
training, are being trained in protective security, and that includes
classroom instruction on protective security operations, firearms
training and counter-terrorist driving techniques. This is training
being conducted by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security here at the State
Department.
Q How long is this going on?
MR. McCURRY: I do have an answer to that -- oh, I do have an
answer to that. The first group of Haitians began a two-week course
September 27. We've got a second and a third group that will be
receiving additional training in the coming weeks.
Q That's here? Is that in Washington?
MR. McCURRY: I'm not sure exactly where they train. I think
they train at various facilities that we've got in various places.
Q In the United States?
MR. McCURRY: Yes. Here in the United States.
Q How long is the average training course? Is it two
weeks?
MR. McCURRY: Two-week course.
Q Oh, two-week. That's it?
MR. McCURRY: It's described as a two-week course of training.
Q Will the instructors speak French? I know the people
going down there -- especially the bodyguards.
MR. McCURRY: I don't know the answer to that, since they are
French-speaking, a lot of the personnel associated with the
multinational force are French-speaking.
Q That's why I asked.
MR. McCURRY: I think these probably are French-speaking, but
I don't know that for a fact.
Q Because I know the selection is to look for French-
speaking -- multilateral.
MR. McCURRY: I think they've been looking mostly in French-
speaking nations for some of the -- to raise the members of this
multinational force.
Q Well, how about questions like control and access to the
airport and things like this, resupply routes? Have all of these been
-- I mean, these are supposedly the questions that were raised on
Saturday. Have they been taken care of yet?
MR. McCURRY: They are working through -- those questions that
have been raised, they are working through. There were questions about
status-of-forces agreement, questions about rule of engagement. My
understanding is that they are successfully working through all the
questions that have been raised, as they properly would be in
interagency discussions of this nature.
Q Has it been resolved? Have those issues been resolved,
or are they in the process of continuing to work on those issues?
MR. McCURRY: My understanding is that most, if not all, the
arrangements for the deployment have been taken care of. But I can
double-check and be absolutely sure that there aren't some questions
that they're still working on resolving. I think there probably are --
you know, as you go into any deployment like this, you continue to
review how the mission will unfold. I'm certain right up to the final
deployment there will be questions that will be raised and answered.
Q Can you give us your assessment -- the U.S. Government's
assessment of the degree and how well that the Governor's Island accord
is being implemented on specific things like, do you regard Aristide's
proclamation of amnesty as sufficient? Do you regard the military
leaders who are supposed to resign and leave the country as moving in
good faith towards doing that? Things like this.
MR. McCURRY: There are specific things called for in the
Governor's Island accord -- requirements placed on all the parties. It
is not incorrect to say that there is some testing of wills going on at
this moment -- that's quite clear -- but again we call upon all of the
parties to live up to the agreements that they have made in the
Governor's Island accord, and we look forward to the successful
restoration of democracy in Haiti.
We do believe that the people of Haiti themselves deserve the
full implementation of this agreement, and we will continue to press
upon the parties the importance of meeting all the commitments and
obligations they have under the Governor's Island accords.
Q If we can return again to the issue of security for the
American forces. They are carrying side arms. Understanding that the
Pentagon is handling a lot of the heavy lifting on this, it's still not
clear to me how American forces would not be vulnerable to anybody with
a gun. How are they going to be protected?
MR. McCURRY: I would not suggest that there is not risk
associated with this deployment, but there are people who are there now,
people who have been there already. They are not encountering
difficulty. We will obviously continue to assess the nature of any
risks that might exist for U.S. troops deployed and make sure that we
are completely satisfied that we are in a position to protect our
personnel.
Q Is one of the unanswered questions about this mission is
the final total number of Americans who will be sent?
MR. McCURRY: Not that I'm aware of. I think I outlined it
for you -- about 300 engineers, 200 -- I had that wrong. About 300
engineers, about 100 military trainers, about another 200 support
personnel -- a total of around 600.
Q Would this training mission have the Haitian military and
police units agreed beyond what it says in the Governor's Island accord?
Do you have specific agreements for specific units to submit to
training, and, if so, who did you make the agreements with?
MR. McCURRY: Have certain police elements of certain police
forces currently there under certain commands agreed to participate in
training?
Q Yes.
MR. McCURRY: That I can't answer. I don't know the answer to
that. I do know that part of this, not associated with the U.S.
presence, but part of the multinational presence in Haiti, is police
monitors, themselves, who will actually be in a position to monitor
elements of the police force itself. Now, they have agreed --
Q They've received no cooperation at all from local
authorities, according to the U.N. and the OAS.
MR. McCURRY: The U.N. and the OAS do have human rights
observers and also monitors that are associated with this mission. They
will report as to the success of their mission.
Q You said several aspects of this story in today's paper
were exaggerated. Could you be more specific as to what was
exaggerated?
MR. McCURRY: Exaggerated. I think that's making a mountain
out of a mole hill. You know, there are always in policy-making
discussions within the United States Government questions that different
agencies raise as they discuss policy. That's a fact of life within the
interagency process.
I think The New York Times chose to make that a page one
story. They can. That's their right.
Q Mike, shouldn't these key questions have been raised a
little sooner than two days before the troops were supposed to go?
MR. McCURRY: Well, I think they weren't raised two days
before they were scheduled to go. I think there were issues that
certainly needed to be addressed by -- a Cabinet member felt needed to
be addressed, and they were addressed.
Q Dante Caputo has said that Colonel Francois -- he's named
him -- is responsible for the continuing terror in Haiti. What is the
U.S. reaction to that?
MR. McCURRY: We have not suggested any one individual is
responsible, but we have called upon those parties in Haiti to be
responsible for the security situation in Haiti itself as this
transformation takes place. We have made it very clear privately to
whom we direct those comments.
Q Latest reports would indicate that the military, Cedras
and company, have not accepted the amnesty terms offered by Aristide.
MR. McCURRY: The amnesty terms were offered on Sunday, and
again these are aspects of the Governor's Island accords that are
currently pressed and looked into with the parties themselves.
Q Mike, can we ask about Somalia a little bit?
Q Wait a minute. I want to finish up with this. At the
risk of making the question a little bit editorial, you say you've made
this very clear privately. We've been making things very clear
privately down there for two years now, and what we get all the time is
a public acknowledgment that, yes, we will do as we're being asked.
But, if you just read the wire copy or headlines out of Haiti this past
week, it's very clear that you do not seem well on track to fill an
October 15 transition that will be in any way smooth. What are we going
to do in that case?
MR. McCURRY: It's both an editorial question and a
hypothetical question. But, as I say, we have been -- it is clear that
there are those who would like to test the resolve of the international
community at this moment as to our willingness to support and back the
Governor's Island accord. And, if we care about the restoration of
democracy in Haiti, those who are trying to thwart this agreement need
to be overcome and the agreement itself needs to be implemented.
Q Mike, can you name names?
MR. McCURRY: Read the wire copy that John just referred to.
Q Yes. But, I mean, that's the answer we've been getting
for over two years.
MR. McCURRY: Look, there is a schedule for the implementation
of these accords. The parties know what their responsibilities are
under these accords, and you're right, we'll have to see if they're met.
But we are certainly doing everything on our part of this accord to
ensure that the Governor's Island accord can be implemented
successfully.
Q Mike, can we leave Haiti?
MR. McCURRY: Any more on Haiti? Go ahead.
Q Anything on the elections in Pakistan?
MR. McCURRY: I don't have a lot, because I think my latest
check didn't indicate that they had had a result that gave us a lot to
talk about at this point. It appears that no party has a majority of
seats in the National Assembly. We understand final results probably
won't be available until October 10, and then, of course, they then will
form the new National Assembly some time after October 15.
We look forward to working with the new government once it's
formed. It does appear to us that the voting itself was orderly. There
were no reported incidents of violence.
Q Were there any State Department observers who went to --
MR. McCURRY: I'm not sure that there were State Department
observers that went. The Government of Pakistan invited a number of
international groups to observe the elections, and we are looking
forward to receiving the reports of those groups that were there to
witness the voting.
Q Overall, do you feel elections were free and fair?
MR. McCURRY: Were the elections free and fair?
Q Yes.
MR. McCURRY: That's one thing we will assess as we look at
the reports of these groups that didn't actually monitor the voting
itself.
Q Mike, just one quick follow-up. Generally what's the
prognosis for U.S.-Pakistan relations?
MR. McCURRY: As I say, we look forward to working with a
government. We continue to have discussions bilaterally with the
Pakistani Government on a range of issues of concern, both proliferation
issues and others, in the region; and I think the prospect for good
relations with the new government is certainly available.
Q But there's going to be likely another unhealthy
coalition.
MR. McCURRY: We can't speculate on the nature of the
coalition because it's entirely unclear which side at this point is in a
better position to form a government.
Q Somalia? Do you have an idea where Oakley will go
besides Addis Ababa? And, more to the point, what is it about this
diplomatic initiative, the multifaceted diplomatic initiative, that
gives some hope, whereas previous efforts failed?
MR. McCURRY: Well, I reject that premise of the question.
Q I mean, the African-led --
MR. McCURRY: I mean, that's not a fair characterization.
There was an Addis Ababa agreement back in March by the 15 clans. There
have been interests on the part of governments in the region to assist
in helping the Somalis constitute some type of governing authority; and
our sense is that that political track, those efforts, need to be
addressed again and the whole mission of UNOSOM needs to be refocused on
that political track because it's ultimately the one that will give the
Somali people the best possible chance of taking over responsibility for
their own affairs as the United States and other participants in UNOSOM
leave.
Q I was wondering if the projected departure of American
troops is an incentive in the U.S. view for these folks to pursue a
political settlement.
MR. McCURRY: For the Somali people who wish to live in
democracy and see their nation prosper and turn away from the violence,
the chaos and the famine of recent years, they now know that they have
to make progress on taking responsibility for setting up institutions of
government during this six-month period. That does create an incentive
for them to do it.
Now, others I know would suggest that also gives an incentive
to those who would like to thwart that process to just ride it out.
Ultimately the success or failure of the effort of the Somali people to
create a government that can sustain the people of Somalia will depend
on who triumphs. Is it going to be the thugs in the clans? Or will it
be the vast majority of people in Somalia who wish to see a democratic
government?
Q Mike, specifically what are Oakley's marching orders?
MR. McCURRY: His marching orders specifically begin with the
exact -- I don't have the exact wording, but the charge given to him by
the President and by the Secretary in their remarks that you saw
reflected yesterday: to go to Addis Ababa to begin to meet with leaders
in the region, including the President of Ethiopia, to investigate the
possibility of bringing a regional grouping together that could be
supportive of the effort to establish a political dialogue in Somalia
that would lead to the formation of a governing authority -- some type
of transition council, for example.
That's what's called for in the Addis Ababa agreements of
March 27, and we think that's a good place to begin as Ambassador Oakley
begins that form of dialogue. Clearly there are many others in the
region that can be supportive. We believe Kenya, Djibouti, Eritrea,
Egypt, among others, indeed involving, as you heard the Secretary say,
the Organization of African Unity will be one of the things that we
attempt to do. And all of those efforts will be things that Ambassador
Oakley will pursue as he arrives first in Addis Ababa.
But to get to your question, Barry, I don't have an itinerary
for him beyond that. I think he's going to begin -- I think he's
already arrived. I think he'll begin this work, and he'll see how
things develop.
Q Just to follow that up, this morning the Foreign Minister
of Ethiopia was at CSIS; and they are now exploring the region with an
idea that there can be no military solution but there can be a political
solution only after disarmament. And they've come up with the idea of
making future food shipments contingent on the various clans giving up
their arms supplies. Is that something that the United States has
signed off on?
MR. McCURRY: I wouldn't say that we have signed off on that.
Those are the kinds of ideas that are now going to be explored in the
context of opening up the political dialogue that we will pursue through
Ambassador Oakley, and I should also say through others. I mean,
clearly there will be others that will continue to work on the policy
and on the political track as we move ahead.
But those are the types of ideas -- frankly, those are the
ideas that we've needed to have in play and in mix that have been sort
of on the side, as the focus has been more intensely on the military
mission. That's exactly one reason why we now wish to refocus the
mission on the political track, so ideas like that that might prove
useful in bringing an end to the violence can be explored and can be
negotiated.
Q Mike, to what extend would it be Ambassador Oakley's
mission to secure the release of the captured American?
MR. McCURRY: He doesn't go over with that immediately in his
portfolio. We clearly are going to be in dialogue with people who
themselves have dialogue with the various clans and factional leaders
within Somalia. There are several channels that will be pursued. In
fact, indeed, I would say the United States is doing everything possible
to secure the release of those who might be detained. But I, for many,
many different reasons, just cannot get into a discussion of what might
happen when.
Q To follow that up, what's the American policy now on
negotiating with hostage-holders?
MR. McCURRY: The United States does not negotiate for the
release of hostages.
Q Mike, just to be clear on this point: On March 3l the
withdrawal happens even if one or more Americans are still being held by
an armed faction in Somalia?
MR. McCURRY: I'm sorry. Say again?
Q Do we pull out on March 3l even if an American or one or
more Americans are still being held by armed factions in Somalia?
MR. McCURRY: Well, that's not a question that we expect to
face. You know, the President has called for the immediate release of
any of those who are detained, and so "immediate" does not mean March of
l994. So the question doesn't arise, I don't think.
Q There are people who say we should not pull out if we're
leaving Americans behind.
MR. McCURRY: We're talking about March of l994. The question
just doesn't arise, I don't think.
Q Mike, do you have anything more on the circumstances
under which these two bodies were recovered? Was it the result of some
sort of mediation or negotiation?
MR. McCURRY: I don't, I'm sorry. I saw that wire report. I
was trying to get more information from UNOSOM in Mogadishu. I
understand that they are preparing additional information. It might be
available later.
Q Mike, to get back to the political reconciliation track,
you mentioned the talks in Addis eight months or so ago. Aideed
participated in those talks, was a key participant. Will the current
talks Ambassador Oakley is trying to get going will include Aideed? Do
we welcome his participation? Will we allow his participation?
MR. McCURRY: At this very moment it's nearly impossible to
imagine him as a participant in those talks. There has been nothing
about his behavior that would suggest that he would be a willing
participant in these types of negotiations nor anything which suggests
that he would be a welcome participant, given the violence that he has
engendered and directed against the U.N. peacekeepers and in some cases
against his very own people.
Now, that said, I don't rule out the possibility that elements
of his clan might in fact want to participate in these discussions.
That's something that -- we'll have to see how that develops.
Q Well, don't you agree that clearly his is a very large
faction, very powerful; it controls Mogadishu? So the Americans -- the
U.S. -- has to deal with him in some form. You can't just -- or is your
strategy to isolate him by bringing everybody else on board?
MR. McCURRY: I think our strategy is to attempt to bring
together a dialogue on national reconciliation that will involve, you
know, all the factions and all the factional groupings.
Now, that doesn't necessarily mean that General Aideed is the
type of person who has to participate; but you are correct in suggesting
that his clan, Habr Gedr, is large enough and influential enough in
south Mogadishu that it has to be part of the solution. And I'm just
not going to speculate on ways in which you might carry out negotiation
or a discussion that could help involve them. It's just too early to
tell at this point. But those are the kinds of things that need to be
explored.
Q But just to follow up, it's correct to say that if his
clan wants to participate, it's O.K. but not the individual, not Aideed?
MR. McCURRY: I'm not, you know, barring anyone from any
discussion about peaceful reconciliation in Somalia. That's not our
intent here. I'm just saying that at the moment there's nothing about
the disposition and behavior of General Aideed to suggest that he would
play a part in any type of discussion like this.
Q Could General Aideed participate in the talks without
fear of arrest?
MR. McCURRY: That's a good question. He faces a U.N. arrest
warrant, in effect, as a result of U.N. Security Council Resolution 837.
I'm not aware of any effort to suspend that provision of U.N. Security
Resolution 837, so he does face an arrest warrant. He's a fugitive from
international justice. But I don't want to --
Q (Inaudible)
MR. McCURRY: What?
Q Well, maybe if they meet in Oslo. (Laughter)
MR. McCURRY: Look, I cannot speculate on what would happen if
he presented himself in a fashion that suggested that he was willing to
negotiate and willing to be involved in the type of discussion that
we're talking about here which would lead to some type of reconciliation
and some effort to establish a governing authority within Somalia.
Certainly all I'm saying is pointing out the obvious. That's
not his disposition at the moment.
Q Are we still actively pursuing him?
MR. McCURRY: Are we active? I think we are --
Q With helicopters and the rest of it. That's the
question.
MR. McCURRY: I think that the mission that the President
outlined yesterday and the four points he outlined were pretty clear. I
heard him discuss continued pressure on those who would attempt to
disrupt the process of peace and reconciliation; I didn't hear anything
about hot pursuit of fugitives.
Yes?
Q Mike, another question on Haiti. Does the U.S., under
the Governor's Island accord, rule out the use of its armed forces for
any kind of military enforcement of that pact?
MR. McCURRY: Yes. There's no discussion of a military force
deployed or used to implement the Governor's Island accords within the
accords themselves. This is a peaceful effort to bring about the
transformation of Haiti and a restoration of democracy.
Q Well, would it rule out? As you know, military
intervention is a hot word down south.
MR. McCURRY: Absolutely. And that's why that question was
addressed very carefully and deliberately as it was discussed in New
York at the time that the parties negotiated the Governor's Island
accord.
Q Mike, I have a question on the Middle East.
MR. McCURRY: And it's exactly why the deployment of those
connected to the U.S. personnel, those deployed, are again -- to repeat
-- engineers, trainers, people who can do logistical and support work.
Q A question on the Middle East. Have formal invitations
now gone out for the next round of Washington talks?
MR. McCURRY: Not that I'm aware of, no.
Q Well, was one handed over this morning to the Lebanese
Foreign Minister, for example?
MR. McCURRY: Not that I'm aware of. Do you have information
to the contrary? I'll check it out.
Q No, no. Everybody keeps talking about October l3.
MR. McCURRY: October l3?
Q Yes.
Q That's in the region.
MR. McCURRY: You may be referring to when Chairman Arafat and
Prime Minister Rabin met recently and established some working groups,
working committees, that were going to meet to implement the Declaration
of Principles -- meeting in the region.
Q I'm talking about the bilaterals.
MR. McCURRY: The bilaterals here? I'm not aware of any plans
to have them reconvene here on October l3.
Q Mike, just two quick questions.
MR. McCURRY: By the way, I do want to point out, although I
think you probably did see it, in Cairo both Prime Minister Rabin and
Chairman Arafat did reiterate their desire to participate in discussions
here in Washington connected to working the peace process that has been
underway here in Washington. They did reaffirm that and did reaffirm
their intent to see delegations, but I'm not aware of any date that has
been set at this point.
Q A different subject? What is your assessment of that
report in today's paper about a doomsday machine in Russia?
MR. McCURRY: That was interesting. Look, I'm not in a
position to comment on Mr. Blair's article or the specifics. I will say
that we continue to believe that nuclear weapons in the former Soviet
Union are under reliable command and control. And then I think I would
also add that one of the benefits now of being in a period in which the
Cold War no longer hovers above us is that we're in a position to talk
to the Russians about issues like this.
Q Well, did it come as a surprise or were you aware of
something like this?
MR. McCURRY: In talking to those who are very familiar with
this type of subject, I didn't think -- there were some things in this
story that were not surprising.
Q Not surprising?
MR. McCURRY: Yes.
Q Have we talked with him about it?
Mr. McCURRY: I'm not aware that we have talked to him about
it, but I think this is one area in which we can have a fruitful
dialogue with Russia now. If there's anything about this article that
-- I am not aware that this is on anyone's agenda at the moment; but if
there are aspects of this study by Mr. Blair that should be pursued with
the Russians, you know, that could conceivably be raised in discussions
we have directly with the Russians. But beyond that I really don't have
any specific comment on the article.
Q I'd like a couple of things on Cuba.
A hundred seventy-five Americans, led by Wayne Smith, say
they're going to go to Cuba in violation of the travel ban in their
effort to see it eliminated. Is there any discussion at this point of
changing that travel ban, and will those l75 people be arrested when
they return?
MR. McCURRY: I wasn't aware of this venture on the part of
this delegation, but I'll see if I can find something about it.
Q Do you have a readout at all on the meeting that was
held, the interagency meeting on Wednesday?
MR. McCURRY: Yes, I do on that. That meeting, I think, was
related to contingency planning that first was created, I guess, two
years ago as the United States looked at how to deal with the
possibility or the contingency of an exodus of people from Cuba similar
to the Mariel boat lift in l980. Those plans -- as I say, they were
initially drawn up two years ago. I think there was a feeling that it
was important to take a look at the status of that planning, not because
there is any immediate prospect of a boat lift but because it's wise to
take steps to update any type of contingency planning of that nature
from time to time. So an interagency group did meet here at the State
Department, had a good, useful meeting that was described to me as a
fairly routine planning exercise.
Q There's a clipping on Gabon. They're getting ready to
have elections ready there in December. There's been a national
democratic group going down there to discuss preparation for the
elections. There's been some irregularities -- shutting down newspapers
and stuff. Do you have --
MR. McCURRY: I'd be happy to take your question.
Q Thanks.
MR. McCURRY: You're welcome.
(The briefing concluded at l:54 p.m.)
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