U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing #166, 97-11-18
From: The Department of State Foreign Affairs Network (DOSFAN) at <http://www.state.gov>
632
U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
I N D E X
Tuesday, November 18, 1997
Briefer: Lee Mcclenny
IRAQ
1 Consultations with Russian Government re: Diplomatic
Efforts to Ensure Iraqi Compliance with UNSC Resolutions
1,8 Secretary's Travel Schedule
2 Possibility of PermRep Meeting in Geneva
4 Activities of Under Secretary Pickering
5,6 USG Consultations with Allies to Press for Iraqi Compliance
7-8 Proposal by Iraqi Foreign Minister for Committee of Inquiry
CYPRUS
8,10 Amb. Holbrooke Participation in Brussels Conference of
Business Leaders
RUSSIA/IRAN
9-10 Expulsion by Russia of Iranian Diplomat for Alleged
Purchase of Sensitive Missile Technology
NORTH KOREA
10-11 Four Party Preparatory Talks to Begin on November 21
EYGPT
11 No Americans Killed in Attack on Tour Bus in Luxor
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
OFF-CAMERA PRESS BRIEFING
DPB #166
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1997, 12:50 P.M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
MR. MCCLENNY: Good afternoon. Let the record reflect, I'm 25 minutes
earlier today than I was yesterday, but the book's pretty skinny.
I don't have any announcements or statements to make; other than that, I do
not have an update on the Secretarial travel plans at this point. So we can
start there. It is also my intention, if I possibly can, to keep the
briefing really short. I was originally shooting for 12:30 p.m.; I got
caught up in some phone calls attempting, at least partially, to solicit
that information. But I haven't been able to get it yet.
With that caveat, if I may steal a word from an earlier Administration, I
will answer your questions.
QUESTION: Obviously, a lot of our questions will parallel what's being
asked out there; but we're here. How is the Secretary going to get a better
idea of what Primakov and the Iraqis have discussed?
MR. MCCLENNY: Well, we have contacts with the Russian Government at a
number of points. At this point, as I said just a moment ago, I don't have
any announcements about possible, rumored travel by her. I've asked the
party, but don't have an answer back.
QUESTION: Well, I mean, could you be more explicit about how we're
getting a read-out?
MR. MCCLENNY: Through the various diplomatic means we have. Now, she may
or may not meet with him, but I don't have an announcement about that at
this time, Barry. I'm sorry, but I just don't.
QUESTION: Well, you have ambassadors at the UN --
MR. MCCLENNY: We have ambassadors in Moscow, and they've got an
ambassador here; and there are a lot of ways this could be done.
QUESTION: Well, what's happened to Richardson in this mix? He was the
point man.
MR. MCCLENNY: He's in New York right now, I believe.
QUESTION: Yeah, but I mean, he was the busy, visible person because it's
a UN action, and you wanted to underscore that by having him up front do a
lot of the TV, et cetera. Is he seeing any Russians of note?
MR. MCCLENNY: I don't honestly know. I'm sure he's meeting, as we are at
every point of contact, with all of our allies and friends. This is an
important issue - one that occupies the majority of people's working
time.
Sandy Berger went through, I think, about as much as can be said. Really,
he did as comprehensive a job as one could do - a much better job than I
could do at this state of play. I'm not going to add anything to it.
QUESTION: Well, I'm thinking of exactly where he left off --
MR. MCCLENNY: Which is where I'm not going to go - beyond what he's
already said, but ask away.
QUESTION: Well, he didn't say anything. What I'm asking you --
MR. MCCLENNY: I'll tell him.
QUESTION: What he said is, we have to find out from the Russians a little
bit more.
MR. MCCLENNY: And we haven't found anything out.
QUESTION: And the implication was that we're about to do that.
MR. MCCLENNY: And we haven't found anything more.
QUESTION: All right --
MR. MCCLENNY: Yes, he indicated that we're going to find out - there are
many ways we can find out. I don't know exactly how the messages will be
passed, but there are many points of contact in the two governments.
QUESTION: All right, if we're not dealing in facts, maybe you'd like to
deal in philosophy. I don't suppose I'm the only one who gets the
impression that somehow the crisis is off, or is ebbing; because when you
hear a lot of talk about diplomacy - even though Clinton is talking about
some more military moves - it implies that you've got something to work
with. Do you have something now to work with?
MR. MCCLENNY: We've been talking about diplomacy from the outset. We
emphasized from the beginning that we --
QUESTION: Not a lot on Monday.
MR. MCCLENNY: From here?
QUESTION: Well, all over town. I mean, ships are moving and grim faces
and you better back up what you have.
MR. MCCLENNY: The point is, we've been arguing from the very beginning
that our efforts are focused on diplomacy first; ideally, with the help of
our allies and friends. We want to get Saddam Hussein back in compliance
with all of the resolutions that have been passed. I don't think anybody
here has talked very much about potential, hypothetical, theoretical
military actions, other than to say that we don't rule anything in; we
don't rule anything out. We're focused on diplomacy. We're in active
diplomacy, and have been for some time. But it doesn't do much good to
talk about it publicly, I don't think.
QUESTION: Back to a factual matter. Without getting into travel plans or
people, does the United States intend to be represented tomorrow at the
meeting of the perm five in Geneva?
MR. MCCLENNY: I'm not sure that there's a perm five meeting in Geneva
tomorrow. There are wire reports out there suggesting that there may be,
but there are also wire reports out there contradicting that.
QUESTION: In other words, you haven't been told that there is one?
MR. MCCLENNY: No, I said that I've seen wire reports suggesting that a
Russian official has said that there might be one. But at this point, I
don't honestly know whether there will be one or will not be one.
QUESTION: The US Government has not been told --
MR. MCCLENNY: I have not been told here. The Secretary is in New Delhi,
and I've attempted to contact and communicate with the party, but haven't
gotten an answer back on that particular question yet. It wouldn't be the
perm five if we weren't there. Now, it could be the Secretary; it could be
someone else. But I'm not even sure that there is, for sure, a perm five
meeting tomorrow, Wednesday. There may be a perm five meeting Thursday;
there may not be a perm five meeting at all.
QUESTION: Logistically speaking, given crew rest considerations for the
Secretary, would it be possible for her to be in Geneva tomorrow in time
for this meeting?
MR. MCCLENNY: Sandy Berger suggested that it wasn't. I assume that his
staff has looked at this, one way or the other. It would be difficult for
her to complete the bulk, I believe, of her scheduled India stop and make
it to Geneva at that period of time.
QUESTION: Because of the crew rest issue?
MR. MCCLENNY: And because of things she's doing on the ground in
India.
QUESTION: Looking ahead to the 21st Century, in a speech downstairs, what
is Ambassador -- or Secretary Pickering doing? He seems to be the resident
point man, at least in this building, on Iraq. Has he had any interesting
meetings, any interesting telephone conversations?
MR. MCCLENNY: Not that I can give you details of. I know that he's been
in contact here with various interested parties, our friends, our friends
in the region, our friends in other places, members of the Security Council,
here in Washington.
QUESTION: Could you give some examples?
MR. MCCLENNY: No.
QUESTION: I don't know how many friends we have on this besides Britain,
but could you list a couple of friends he's been in touch with?
MR. MCCLENNY: No. If you read the briefing yesterday, I said yesterday --
and I'll repeat it now for the benefit of those who didn't see it -- that
I'm not going to get into the diplomatic biplay.
QUESTION: Let me ask you - well, you know --
MR. MCCLENNY: Period. But go ahead.
QUESTION: Well, presumably, you can do what anyone else standing there
could do, and there's never been a problem in this --
MR. MCCLENNY: Bounce a ball on my nose.
QUESTION: No, no. In the Rubin era - and there's never been a problem -
she talked on the phone to Primakov; she talked to the French Foreign
Minister, et cetera. Can't you tell us which countries Pickering has been
in touch with?
MR. MCCLENNY: We've been - no. I think we're not being specific about
that at any point in time. If I told you who we talked to today, then you
would compare that with who we talked to yesterday and what's going on.
It's not our intention to give a read-out on exactly the back and forth on
all this. We're in touch on a regular basis with all of our allies on all
of this. We're working hard to come to some conclusions.
But I'm not here to give hints today, and wasn't here to give hints
yesterday either. Maybe tomorrow, or maybe with the traveling party,
there's a feeling that they want to say more about it, but I don't have
anything to provide in that regard.
QUESTION: Back in the Gulf War days, President Bush used to call Turkish
President a couple times a week, and I think Turks would certainly dispute
what you have said, with all due respect. They said they haven't received a
single phone call, either from President Clinton or from Secretary
Albright. She didn't even stop on her way to the Middle East. And they are
questioning why there's no consultation --
MR. MCCLENNY: I'm sorry. You're jumping from a point of departure that's
an inaccurate one. I didn't say that the President or the Secretary had
called anybody in Turkey. I said, we, the US Government, at a number of
levels, have had contact with all of our friends and allies in the
region.
QUESTION: Can you tell why Secretary Albright did not call her Turkish
counterpart, given the fact that Turkey is the only NATO country with a
border with Iraq?
MR. MCCLENNY: I'm sorry, why the Secretary did not talk with her
counterpart in Turkey?
QUESTION: Yes.
MR. MCCLENNY: A question that would be better addressed, I think, to the
Secretary or the spokesman with the traveling party.
QUESTION: Aren't you a spokesman of the Secretary?
MR. MCCLENNY: I'm spokesman for the Department of State here in
Washington, not dealing with those issues.
QUESTION: Maybe we can approach it this way - she has been in face-to-
face contact with only about four or five states or friends of the United
States that are in that region that are potentially militarily helpful in
the case of attack. The only one she didn't meet with, that I know of, is
Turkey. That leaves the question, were there other communications with
Turkey by other folks?
MR. MCCLENNY: My understanding is yes; but I don't know by whom at what
level. But my understanding is yes, we've been in touch with the Turks
about these matters, as well.
QUESTION: Are you confirming that she hasn't spoken to her Turkish
counterpart?
MR. MCCLENNY: No, I said --
QUESTION: You don't know.
MR. MCCLENNY: I said at the outset that I don't honestly know. My Turkish
colleague here says that he understands that --
QUESTION: But you're not expecting that as --
MR. MCCLENNY: No, at the outset of my answer, I said, without accepting
the premise of your question.
QUESTION: You can't confirm it, right?
MR. MCCLENNY: I cannot confirm it.
QUESTION: Back on Primakov, seven years ago, just before the Gulf War, he
went off on a volunteer mission to deal with Saddam Hussein, and then
turned out to have strayed very far off the reservation - offering things
that were not on the table, as far as the United States and its allies were
concerned. Does this government have any misgivings about his willingness
to adhere to the strict guidelines that the United States and others
are laying down?
MR. MCCLENNY: We've welcomed the participation of nations, our allies,
other members of the Security Council, nations in the region, whatever -
those who have better contacts, better communication with the Iraqi
Government than we have historically had. We welcome their efforts to make
it clear to Saddam Hussein and his government that this is a very grave
situation, and he has to get back in compliance.
QUESTION: And you have no concerns that he might stray, as he did once
before?
MR. MCCLENNY: I think the Russian Government will act in a responsible
manner.
QUESTION: Does the US have any concern about the passage of time? What
Jim refers to as a lengthy period, which -- Baker kept busy, though --
MR. MCCLENNY: We've addressed this --
QUESTION: -- and you kept marshaling an army. There's no indication that
you're getting Egyptians or Syrians or whatever, because it's a different
situation. But you did lose time while Primakov wandered around the Persian
Gulf, and mostly was in contact with the Russians, I should say.
Is there any concern that Saddam Hussein is concealing more weapons; that
he's fortifying himself, bracing; using this time, while he's playing a cat
and mouse game with you?
MR. MCCLENNY: Sure. I answered this question a little bit yesterday.
QUESTION: It's another day.
MR. MCCLENNY: Indeed it is. I am not a technical expert in this matter.
There is concern that over time, the lack of monitoring will give him an
opportunity, some sort of an opening. But we've also made it clear that the
actions of UNSCOM, over a number of years can't be turned around in an
unreasonably or very rapid period of time - days, weeks, something like
that.
I don't honestly know what the timeline is. I know that our experts do, and
that's something that we have very much in our mind as we're working the
diplomatic front very aggressively.
QUESTION: Does the Administration see a link between negotiations between
Israel and the Palestinians and the crisis, the stand-off with Iraq?
MR. MCCLENNY: In what sense?
QUESTION: Well, there was a suggestion in a story written off of the
Secretary's aircraft that one of the five thrusts of this policy was to
prod Israel into making concessions to the Palestinians so that Arab
nations would not see the United States as being one-sided towards
Iraq.
MR. MCCLENNY: I'm sorry, I've still missed the link. Can you start at the
beginning and go back through it again, if you would?
QUESTION: If you're going to be tough on Iraq, you need to be tough on
Israel, too. That was the suggestion in this story that was written by a
reporter who was citing sources on the Secretary's aircraft.
MR. MCCLENNY: Don't know about the sources on the aircraft. My own view
is that the issues are essentially distinct and separate. They're taking
place in the same geographical region of the world. We have an effort
that's underway to try to dismantle Saddam Hussein's programs - or the
development of weapons of mass destruction. Separate from that, but
geographically co-located, if you will, and with a cast of actors --
nations who are partially overlapping, largely overlapping, but not
entirely all - who are the same. But no, I don't see there being a track
there.
I'd like to think that our policy with regard to Iraq is even-handed; and
our policy with regard to Egypt - excuse me, Israel, Egypt, other
participants in the Middle Eastern peace process is even-handed, as well. I
hope that our allies see it that way as well.
QUESTION: Do they?
MR. MCCLENNY: I hope that they do.
QUESTION: Do you know whether the Arab nations the Secretary has spoken
to are seeing it that way?
MR. MCCLENNY: I don't honestly know, no.
QUESTION: The Iraqi Foreign Minister gave a news conference a little
while ago, in which he apparently did float a proposal for a committee of
inquiry, composed of representatives of the five permanent Security Council
members that would go to Iraq and try to ascertain the facts under dispute.
What's the Department's reaction to that?
MR. MCCLENNY: I don't have a reaction for you right now. This happened,
as you indicated, just before I came out. I was working on some other
things and wasn't watching closely that. I'm going to go back and take a
look at it. I know people at the Department will look at it, people at the
White House and other places will look at it. Maybe we'll hear something
more later in the day.
QUESTION: Do you believe that this is the core of the Primakov proposal
that - (inaudible) - talked about?
MR. MCCLENNY: I would not hazard a guess. We haven't gotten a read-out
from Mr. Primakov yet.
QUESTION: Another subject?
QUESTION: Can I do one quick one? As it stands now, is the Secretary
going to go to Vancouver?
MR. MCCLENNY: As I indicated at the start of the briefing, I don't have
any word for you on possible changes or whatever in her schedule. I had
hoped to have one - some kind of a read-out by 12:30 p.m., but don't have
it yet.
There were strong hints in stories on background that the Bangladesh
portion of her trip would likely be canceled. I don't have that confirmed
finally yet, either. I would note that if she adheres to the original India
schedule and doesn't stop in Bangladesh, she would be back on the original
schedule for departure to Vancouver.
QUESTION: Which never had her hometown of Denver in it, did it?
MR. MCCLENNY: Denver?
QUESTION: Well, he's making stops, the President, in Denver and Seattle -
your hometown and her hometown.
MR. MCCLENNY: My hometown and her hometown.
QUESTION: But she's going to Vancouver - which is someone else's hometown,
probably.
MR. MCCLENNY: Probably so; Wayne Gretzky, I think.
QUESTION: I don't know.
MR. MCCLENNY: Gretzky's from Vancouver, British Columbia; is he
not?
In the back, Mr. Lambros. I know I have no Greek guidance today, but I'm
happy to answer your question.
QUESTION: No, no, no. Do you have anything on Mr. Holbrooke's conference
the other day in Brussels, with businessmen from Greece, Cyprus and Turkey,
to find a solution to the Cyprus problem? In other words, the business
involvement is a new approach, on behalf of the State Department, for the
Greek-Turkish differences?
MR. MCCLENNY: I'm sorry. Could you repeat the question?
QUESTION: I would like to know --
MR. MCCLENNY: I was admiring your delivery.
QUESTION: Mr. Holbrooke participated the other day in a conference in
Brussels --
MR. MCCLENNY: Yes, he did.
QUESTION: -- involving businessmen from Greece, Cyprus and Turkey, to
find a solution to the Cyprus problem. My question is --
MR. MCCLENNY: No, to encourage investment, I think, in Cyprus, and look
at business and commercial ties. That's what it was; not looking for a
solution, necessarily.
QUESTION: One more question. Any comment on Turkish Government measures
against Erbakan for religious purposes?
MR. MCCLENNY: Any comment on --
QUESTION: Any comment on the Turkish Government measures against Erbakan
for religious purposes?
MR. MCCLENNY: I apologize. I don't have any guidance on it. But if you'd
like to come with me to the Press Office afterwards, we'll make a couple of
calls and see if we can find something for you. I didn't prepare anything.
QUESTION: Thank you for your effort.
QUESTION: Do you have anything to say about the Russian expulsion of an
Iranian diplomat who was allegedly acquiring missile technology?
MR. MCCLENNY: Yes. We are encouraged by this action, which demonstrates a
positive step by the Russian Government in countering the proliferation of
sensitive technology to Iran. We are continuing to work closely with the
Russian Government on this issue.
The arrest - and subsequent expulsion - is yet another indication that Iran
has under way an active official campaign to acquire various technologies.
If the international community needed more evidence of Iran's objectionable
policies and practices, this is it. This appears to be a flagrant episode
of an Iranian diplomat, an official of the Iranian Government, flouting the
international community's efforts to halt proliferation. We hope others in
the international community will join us in condemning this effort by
Iran.
QUESTION: Back to Mr. Holbrooke. I think you said --
MR. MCCLENNY: I don't have anything more on Mr. Holbrooke, but go
ahead.
QUESTION: No, just something that you said. You said Holbrooke's effort
was geared towards sending more investments to Cyprus.
MR. MCCLENNY: In Brussels, yes.
QUESTION: In Brussels.
MR. MCCLENNY: In Brussels, at this particular meeting.
QUESTION: You mean Greek-Cyprus, right, since the United States does not -
this is a serious matter. If the United States --
MR. MCCLENNY: It is a serious matter. I don't have an answer for you. I
suggest that we talk to Mr. Holbrooke about it, one way or the other. I
haven't followed closely his activities there. I know we had some guidance
a couple of days ago, but I haven't brought it with me.
QUESTION: You don't know which part of the island even --
MR. MCCLENNY: I don't know the exact parameters of the meeting that's
going on in Brussels right now. I prepared for a really short briefing, and
I had hoped we wouldn't get into Turkey and Greek issues. Clearly, if
wishes were fishes, we'd all --
QUESTION: Where do we stand on the Korean four-party talks?
MR. MCCLENNY: We posted a statement yesterday, announcing that there
would be preliminary talks on Friday. We'll go into preliminary or
preparatory talks on Friday, which we hope will lead to a decision to hold
plenary talks, maybe as early as sometime this year.
QUESTION: The Egypt attack, a day later, is it pretty solidly clear now
that no Americans were among the --
MR. MCCLENNY: Yes, it's our understanding, at this point, there were no
Amcits there. There have been a number of claims of responsibility, but I
don't think the Greek Government has yet made a determination of who, in
fact --
QUESTION: Egyptian. Egyptian.
MR. MCCLENNY: Did I say Greek?
QUESTION: Yes.
MR. MCCLENNY: Greek's on my mind. I apologize to the Greek Government and
Greek and Turkish journalists here.
No, the Egyptian Government has not yet made a determination of who was
responsible.
Thank you very much.
(The briefing concluded at 1:10 P.M.)
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