USIA - State Department Report, 97-06-30

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From: The United States Information Agency (USIA) Home Page at <http://www.usia.gov>

REPORT ON THE STATE DEPARTMENT NOON BRIEFING, JUNE 30, 1997

(Albania/elections, Sierra Leone, Africa/peacekeeping force, DROC/Kabila) (640)

There was no regular briefing, but Acting State Department Spokesman John Dinger did speak on-the-record with reporters. No transcript is available of this briefing.

ALBANIA/ELECTIONS -- John Shattuck, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, led an official U.S. delegation which, along with 55 other American observers, monitored the June 29 Albanian parliamentary elections. "The delegation noted that the (voter) turnout was very high, the atmosphere was relatively calm," Dinger said. "They also noted that reports of violence in some parts of the country didn't appear to indicate widespread problems that affected the overall process.

"The delegation also had an opportunity to observe the vote-counting process that was complicated and sometimes contentious but seemed to be within the boundaries of overall international standards," Dinger said.

The United States will await the judgment of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) regarding the quality of the election, Dinger said, but he added: "We do want to make clear, however, that the initial reports indicate that this (the elections) was clear evidence that the people of Albania want to return to the democratic process."

SIERRA LEONE -- The United States is calling for a restoration of democracy in Sierra Leone, where rebels have overthrown the elected government of Ahmad Tejan Kabbah. According to Dinger, the United States applauds the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to bring a peaceful solution to the crisis in Sierra Leone. "We particularly welcome ECOWAS's June 27 communique that calls for the early reinstatement of President Kabbah and a return to peace and security. We are prepared to work with Sierra Leone's neighbors in helping to reach a peaceful settlement."

AFRICA/PEACEKEEPING FORCE -- Dinger was asked to respond to press reports that say the United States will train battalion-size military units in Uganda and Senegal next month for international peacekeeping duties. (The Washington Post, June 20, "U.S. Ready to Train African Peacekeepers: Mission to Seven Nations Encounters Resistance on Capitol Hill," by Thomas W. Lippman)

Dinger acknowledged that the United States supports the African Crisis Response Initiative and continues its effort "to promote a multilateral initiative aimed at enhancing the capabilities of selected African militaries to respond collectively to requirements for joint humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping operations in Africa. Through this we hope to strengthen African capacities and to decrease African reliance on outside intervention."

Dinger declined to name those countries that might receive training from U.S. military personnel, or when those American personnel might be assigned. Dinger said only that "a number of African countries have indicated a desire to receive common training and some interoperable equipment -- mostly communications equipment."

DROC/KABILA -- Dinger was asked to respond to press reports that Laurent Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has refused to allow the United Nations to investigate reports of massacres of refugees -- mostly Rwandan Hutus -- near Kisangani. (The Washington Post, June 30, "U.N. Accuses Kabila of Delaying Probe: Congo Leader Wants Massacre Query Altered," by John Pomfret)

Dinger noted Kabila's assurances to Bill Richardson, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan that a investigations would be allowed.

Dinger reported that the U.N. advance team has had a number of meetings with the Kabila government. "We expect the investigation to go forward as planned," Dinger said.

He added that "We believe that Secretary General Annan should explore all options to insure that an investigative team travels to the Democratic Republic of the Congo by approximately July 7 as agreed," Dinger said. "We expect President Kabila to honor his commitment to allow the team to begin its work on time."

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