USIA - State Department Report, 97-03-05

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From: The United States Information Agency (USIA) Gopher at <gopher://gopher.usia.gov>

STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1997

(Iran aid, Israel/PA offices, Albania, Swiss/Jews) (710)

IRAN AID -- The United States will be donating $25,000 to the international relief effort for the victims of the earthquake in Iran. "The U.S. regrets the misfortune that has befallen the Iranian people and offers its condolences to the families of those who died and to those who have been injured or suffered other losses," Burns said. "Our problems with the regime in Teheran are separate from our willingness to help people in need. The U.S. will make the funds available to international agencies providing relief to the earthquake victims."

He emphasized that the aid will not go to the Government of Iran but to independent agencies, but no decision has been made yet as to which relief organizations will get the money. The Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance has the authority to disburse the funds within a few days, Burns said.

ISRAEL/PA OFFICES -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's March 4 decision to close four Palestinian Authority offices in east Jerusalem has left the United States "somewhat surprised," according to Burns.

"We do not understand why this decision was made at this time -- at a time when the climate surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian negotiation is quite difficult and quite strained. Given all of the problems that have been caused by the Jabul Abu Ghenaim housing decision, we just frankly do not understand the timing of this decision by the Israeli Government -- and that message is being sent to the Israeli Government," Burns said. (Jabul Abu Ghenaim is the Arabic name for Har Homa, a forested hill in east Jerusalem. Israel has announced plans to build 6,500 housing units there for Jewish settlers, a move the Palestinians oppose.)

"If Israel wants peace with the Palestinians," Burns said, "it needs to negotiate with the Palestinians in a spirit that tries to build trust. And the same is true for the Palestinians; they have got to look at Israel as a negotiating partner in the same light. Given the fact that there has been a very strong political and emotional reaction throughout the Arab world to the Jabul Abu Ghenaim decision, and given the fact that the United States has already expressed our unhappiness with that decision, we do find the timing of this latest Israeli Government announcement somewhat surprising and somewhat unusual."

ALBANIA -- "While the (Albanian) Government has the responsibility to maintain law and order, we think it is going beyond the bounds to effectively shut down the opposition political parties and to shut down the press, the independent media," Burns said.

He added that "The OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) is now planning a fact-finding mission, which we think is a very good idea.... I don't know if the United States will participate in that mission ... but we very much support this."

Press reports say that at least 20 people have died in unrest in Albania following the collapse of "pyramid schemes" or high-risk investment funds. About 1600 U.S. citizens are in Northern Albania, according to Burns.

SWISS/JEWS -- Burns noted that Switzerland's President Arnold Koller proposed on March 5 that his country endow a fund that would aid Holocaust victims. Koller told Parliament that the Swiss Foundation for Solidarity would use proceeds from Swiss gold reserves to help Nazi victims as well as others in need.

"This is very welcomed news," Burns said. "We applaud the decision by the Swiss Government to make this gesture to the Jewish community."

Burns added that "When President Koller made this announcement, he was very frank about the shortcomings of Switzerland in the past and present and the sense of defensiveness that had been present in a lot of Swiss Government statements over the last couple of months. We welcome the spirit with which he spoke about the need for Switzerland to overcome doubts around the world about its own position on these issues." Swiss Banks have been accused of keeping Jewish fortunes that were stolen by the Nazis during World War Two.

From the United States Information Agency (USIA) Gopher at gopher://gopher.usia.gov

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