U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing #131, 98-11-24
From: The Department of State Foreign Affairs Network (DOSFAN) at <http://www.state.gov>
582
U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
I N D E X
Tuesday, November 24, 1998
Briefer: James P. Rubin
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1 Middle East donors' conference briefing rescheduled for
late tomorrow morning.
1 US welcomes Emile Lahoud's ascendancy to presidency of
Lebanon.
1 US pleased at first meeting of Israeli-Palestinian
committee on anti-incitement.
IRAQ
1 US has no independent confirmation of attempt to
assassinate high-ranking official.
2 Assistant Secretary Indyk is meeting a variety of
opposition leaders in London today.
2-3 US believes opposition can develop into a credible
alternative to present regime.
3 UNSCOM monitors continued activities for seventh straight
day.
3,4 Impugning UNSCOM's professionalism an Iraqi attempt to
dodge responsibility.
3 US has no illusions, maintains high degree of skepticism
toward Iraqi intentions.
3 Saddam's refusals to comply with UNSCRs keeps Iraqi people
in crisis.
4 Diplomacy is necessary every day to maintain international
vigilance.
TERRORISM
4-5 US continues to be in contact with all relevant governments
in Ocalan case.
5 US continues to want a resolution in which Ocalan faces
justice.
CUBA
5 Secretary Albright had constructive meeting with three
congressmen on Cuba policy.
5 US is giving every consideration to proposal for bipartisan
commission on Cuba policy.
6 No decisions have been made about forming such a
commission.
IRAN
6 List of major drug-producing countries is under
presidential review.
6 Presidential determinations on the list are based on
factual criteria.
9 US views on Bushehr nuclear facility are well known.
NORTH KOREA
7 Secretary Albright met with former Defense Secretary Perry
yesterday.
7 US expects Ambassador Kartman to meet again soon with DPRK
officials.
7 Topics of their meeting included deep concern over DPRK
missile, nuclear issues.
8 US concerns about suspect facility not satisfied by DPRK
statements: Access required.
8,9 US expects Dr. Perry to travel to Japan, South Korea, China
to discuss DPRK.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
DPB #131
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1998, 12:45 P.M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
MR. RUBIN: Greetings. Welcome to the State Department briefing, today
being Tuesday, two days before Thursday which, of course, will be
Thanksgiving.
One schedule change, the briefing on the Middle East Donors' Conference is
going to be moved to tomorrow in the late morning. That's where we are
right now.
On announcements, let me say the United States welcomes Emile Lahoud's
assumption of the office of President of Lebanon. We look forward to
working with him on the many important issues of mutual interest to our
countries, and we are pleased that Congressman LaHood and Congressman
Rahall were present at the inauguration - that is the same name.
Secondly, we are pleased that the US - this is a day for being pleased, as
opposed to concerned, which we are on other days. We are pleased that the
US-Israeli-Palestinian Committee on Anti-Incitement, agreed to as part of
the Wye River memorandum, met for the first time today in Jerusalem. The
committee will meet on a regular basis to monitor cases of possible
incitement to violence and terror and to make recommendations and reports
on how to prevent such incitement.
Our announcement will include the members of that committee. And with a
special note when all of you ask me what I will do in the future, I would
point out that the noted journalist from the American side who is the
participant is Bernard Kalb, former State Department spokesman.
QUESTION: (Inaudible.)
MR. RUBIN: I think that's all we have in the realm of announcements.
QUESTION: Just to clear away one thing - there was an attempt on the life
of a deputy to the Iraqi President. I wonder if the State Department could
shed any light on it.
MR. RUBIN: We've heard these same reports, but we do not have independent
confirmation of the assassination attempt. We would note that the town of
Karbala has, in the past, been an area of militant Shiite opposition to
Saddam's regime.
With respect to our efforts, of course, I would remind you that our
opposition plan is aimed at building and helping to build an effective
democratic political opposition.
QUESTION: As opposed to?
MR. RUBIN: As opposed to this kind of thing.
QUESTION: I don't know if you've had a chance to see Cohen's comments --
MR. RUBIN: I agree with them.
QUESTION: Basically, I don't know - I haven't heard it at least - he said
that you all were evaluating the opposition, trying to, sort of, sift
through and figure out which ones are committed to democracy, which ones
you can work with. I sort of had the impression you were embracing all of
them as a group. Perhaps you could expound on that a little bit.
MR. RUBIN: I just got off the phone with Assistant Secretary Indyk, who
is in London, and he is going to be meeting with a group of opposition
figures from both the INC and other groups. Obviously, we are stepping up
our activity with the Iraqi opposition, and we want to, in Assistant
Secretary Indyk's case, to take advantage of the fact that he was in London,
where many of the opposition leaders are based.
We are listening to their views, encouraging them to work towards greater
unity and effectiveness. We do believe the opposition can develop into a
credible alternative to the present government in Iraq. We are speaking to
a variety of opposition groups in an effort to build a strong and effective
opposition.
With respect to the identification issue, where that comes into play is
with respect to the Iraq Liberation Act which is something that we would be
implementing the requirement that a list of groups eligible be identified.
The eligibility criteria include support for the territorial integrity of
Iraq and support for basic democratic and human rights.
QUESTION: Why do you think that the opposition can develop a credible
alternative in Iraq?
MR. RUBIN: Can develop into a credible alternative.
QUESTION: Right, I mean, it has - you tried in the past and it hasn't in
the past; so why do you think you can do it now? Why do you think they can
do it now?
MR. RUBIN: We think that with time and a step-by-step approach and with
the obvious fact that Saddam Hussein's regime has been one of the most
brutal exercises in modern history in that part of the world, that there
are very good reasons that the people of Iraq would want to look towards a
democratic alternative.
Obviously this is a difficult enterprise, and nobody has suggested that
this is something that is going to happen overnight. But we do believe that
we should and will be supportive of those who are coalescing, we hope, into
a more effective opposition that can present a credible alternative. We'll
have to see how well they do, but we think it's appropriate for us to
provide diplomatic assistance in the ways that we've been doing and
financial assistance, depending on specific requirements. That's what we're
doing.
QUESTION: Jamie, on the issue of inspections and all, could you just step
back a minute and try to, if you will, evaluate what the US policy seems to
be. I mean, I know you want the documents, but the Secretary and other
folks are no longer speaking in crisis rhetoric. Is this - are you in sort
of a waiting game now, trying to see how much Saddam Hussein complies with
the various criteria?
MR. RUBIN: Well, cooperation requires a broad spectrum of activities. It
includes documents, as I said yesterday; it includes allowing the
inspectors to go where they need to go. In that regard, I think it's fair
to point out that according to UNSCOM, the monitoring teams continued their
activities for the seventh straight day and have not reported any problems
with the work of the monitoring teams.
On the document side, let me say quite clearly that the response from the
Iraqis demonstrates an Iraqi desire to dodge their obligations rather than
comply with their obligations. The familiar tactic is used of shifting the
blame, changing the subject, primarily by impugning the professionalism of
UNSCOM and Chairman Butler.
The focus is on Iraqi compliance, not on their assertions about Ambassador
Butler. So cooperation with UNSCOM is a multi-faceted exercise, which
includes access. It includes documents; it includes interviews; it includes
answering questions when the UNSCOM inspectors have them. We are monitoring
this very closely. We're going to remain vigilant about this, and we are
going to judge it day by day, based on what is happening on the ground in
Iraq and in the Security Council and in the exchanges between the Iraqis
and UN officials.
We have no illusions about this regime. We approach this problem with a
high degree of skepticism about their intentions. What we want to see is
cooperation, and we're going to be monitoring this very closely.
QUESTION: So this is not a crisis at this point?
MR. RUBIN: We don't normally use those words; normally those are words
that you all use. I understand that, and what I am saying is that there's
always a crisis in Iraq's refusal to comply with Security Council
resolutions. That has been an ongoing crisis that has caused great, great
harm to the people of Iraq; because had Iraq complied with Security Council
resolutions long ago, the people of Iraq would not be suffering so
greatly.
So for the people of Iraq, every day that Saddam Hussein fails to comply
with Security Council resolutions is a crisis.
QUESTION: Jamie, does not reacting immediately to an act of non-
cooperation - not immediately bombing - what does that do for you
diplomatically, if anything?
MR. RUBIN: Again, we are taking this day by day. We are examining the
Iraqi actions, judging them by what they're doing and working with our
friends and allies in the Security Council. But many of these judgments, as
I said yesterday, are professional technical judgments that can be best
made by the professional technical experts. Based on our read of the round
of discussions between UNSCOM and Iraq, it's our view that Iraq is seeking
to dodge its responsibilities rather than comply with them and seems
to forget that it is mandatory that Iraq comply with Security Council
resolutions and, therefore, with the requirements of UNSCOM.
As far as diplomacy is concerned, every day on Iraq is a day of diplomacy.
It involves meetings in the Security Council, it involves discussions. The
Secretary has had some with foreign ministers in recent days. I don't have
a list for you, but I know she's done so. So every day diplomacy is
necessary to maintain international vigilance on this subject; because
let's remember, many years ago people doubted that we could work to retain
the vigilance that would have, had we not retained it, seen Iraq get out
from under the sanctions regime long ago. So every day is a day of
diplomacy in this area.
QUESTION: Iraq has changed the representatives or is changing the
representatives to the United Nations; and apparently there are more
changes going on in Iraq. Do you have anything about this?
MR. RUBIN: I've seen reports of that; I really don't have any comment.
All I can say is I feel sorry for those who have to defend such a sorry
case.
QUESTION: Do you think they should go home?
MR. RUBIN: It's really - I have no comment on that more specifically.
QUESTION: Has he requested any sort of permission to stay on in the
states - asylum?
MR. RUBIN: I haven't heard anything about that.
QUESTION: Anything new on the Ocalan case?
MR. RUBIN: Not really. We continue to be in discussion with the relevant
governments. I understand that some senior officials from Germany are going
to be in Italy and vice versa in the coming days. We certainly hope that
this issue is resolved with a simple goal -- which is that the terrorist,
Mr. Ocalan, supporter of terrorism, faces justice. We are continuing to
discuss the matter with Turkey, with Italy and with Germany.
QUESTION: Is it fair to say, though, that the US focus right now is on
persuading Germany to extradite him there?
MR. RUBIN: I think what's fair to say is that we're in contact with all
the parties, and we want a resolution of this. There are a number of
options, but we do want whatever option ensues for him to face justice.
QUESTION: What are the options?
MR. RUBIN: Well, I wouldn't be in a position to discuss all the matters
that are discussed between governments on a matter as sensitive as this;
other than to say that we would like to encourage the three - Turkey,
Germany and Italy - Turkey and Germany being countries that have either
sought extradition in the past or are currently seeking it and Italy being
the place where Mr. Ocalan is - to come up with an arrangement that leads
to the result I described.
QUESTION: Do you have any assurances from Italy that they will not give
Ocalan political asylum?
MR. RUBIN: My understanding is that issue has not yet ripened in any
serious way; that all that's happened is that legally and politically that
hasn't ripened. Other than some comments by a few here and there, that
hasn't ripened. But I'm not in a position to detail every diplomatic
discussion between us and the Italians.
QUESTION: Jamie, the Secretary met this morning with three Cuban-American
congressmen and the subject was the proposed bipartisan commission on Cuba.
Do you have anything on that meeting, and has any decision been made with
respect to the proposal?
MR. RUBIN: The short answer is no, with respect to your last question.
Let me say that the Secretary routinely meets with members of Congress who
have diverse interests in foreign affairs. Obviously, this group was
particularly focused on the full range of issues with respect to Cuba;
other issues did come up. It was a very constructive meeting, a good
exchange of views.
We have stated, with respect to the commission idea, we are giving every
consideration to this proposal, which is backed by a sizable group of
senators, members of Congress and former senior officials. We welcome the
views of such officials. We are considering questions such as the
composition and mandate of the commission and in view of Fidel Castro's
unwillingness to undertake any internal reforms, how such a commission may
promote the goal we share with friends and allies on protecting human
rights and facilitating a transition to democracy in Cuba.
I think it's safe to say that the Secretary was not lobbied heavily today
to adopt that commission, but I will leave the specific views of those
members for them to speak themselves.
QUESTION: Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart says that he feels he's an --
MR. RUBIN: I didn't understand - could you repeat that, please?
QUESTION: He said he sees the adoption of this commission as an imminent
act by the Administration.
MR. RUBIN: Imminent?
QUESTION: Yes.
MR. RUBIN: Okay.
QUESTION: Act by the Administration. And also, he accused Senator Warner
to have an economic interest in Cuba. Do you see that people in this
commission or who suggest this commission have any economic interest?
MR. RUBIN: I think that's definitely a matter between congressmen and
senators, and I don't care to get in the middle of that.
With respect to being imminent, no decision has been made is all I can tell
you.
QUESTION: Do you have any reaction to the liberation of two political
prisoners in Cuba?
MR. RUBIN: I haven't seen that particular report, but I'll get you
something after the briefing.
QUESTION: I just wanted a point of clarification, Jamie. What would this
commission do?
MR. RUBIN: Review US policy towards Cuba and what best could promote the -
I mean, you'll have to get their documents, their proposal. My understanding
of the proposal is it would be designed to promote the democratic
development in Cuba and how best to do that and review the history of
American policy on that subject. But I'm sure that they have a much more
elegant formulation than I just gave you.
QUESTION: Is there anything you can say, speaking of reviewing policy,
about --
MR. RUBIN: I think I was back there.
QUESTION: It may be the same subject. There are reports that the
Secretary has recommended to the President that Iran be removed from the
list of major illicit drug-producing countries. What can you tell us about
that?
MR. RUBIN: With respect to that issue, the majors list - the list of
countries that are so-called major; we call them the majors list; I'm sure
there's a more technical term than that - is currently under review by the
President and will be submitted to Congress very shortly.
The President's determinations on the majors list are based on factual
criteria dealing with a country's cultivation and/or transit of illicit
drugs through that country that significantly affect the US, as defined by
the Foreign Assistance Act.
We are not in a position to comment on the list or the recommendations of
the Secretary until that time.
QUESTION: Are you suggesting that Iran has made progress over the past
year in eradicating or eliminating --
MR. RUBIN: I think I was specifically giving you a long no comment.
QUESTION: Do you have anything to say about William Perry's meetings here
yesterday?
MR. RUBIN: Yes. Secretary Albright hosted Dr. Perry yesterday, and they
then had a lengthy dinner here at the Department with several senior
officials from around the government. They talked about the issues that are
in play, including our deep concern on the missile front, on the nuclear
front, on the fact that North Korea is not responding to the South's
efforts to promote the North-South dialogue and what the future portends.
Dr. Perry's been getting briefed during the course of this week from
Department officials, getting up to speed from the time when he was
Secretary of Defense. Secretary Albright is enjoying immensely having Dr.
Perry here to work with her on this important issue. He brings to bear not
only experience on the subject matter from his time in government during
the 1994 period when this was such a large issue, but also brings to bear a
knowledge of the military consequences of the question of North Korea if
it's not resolved satisfactorily and what the different dangers might
be.
They had a good couple of meetings and a good dinner, and he's been working
closely with key Department officials. At some point soon, I'm sure he'll
have something to say to all of you.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) - meeting has been decided yet, Jamie? Kartman's
meetings --
MR. RUBIN: I don't have a date or a time yet, but we do expect it to be
soon.
QUESTION: Just to clarify, did you mean to suggest that there would be
military consequences if the issue of the site inspection is not satisfied,
settled satisfactorily?
MR. RUBIN: I merely suggested -- and will never use those words again in
your presence - the obvious fact that in 1994, there was a crisis with
North Korea. During that crisis, as you probably remember because I suspect
you were sitting in that same seat, the question of sanctions was put on
the table by the United States. The North Koreans said that an imposition
of sanctions would be an act of war, and there were other steps taken by
the Pentagon that you're quite familiar with.
So this is an issue that has always had and carried with it the military
question. That is all I was suggesting, and any implication or interpretation
beyond that would not be consistent with the intent of the spokesman.
QUESTION: Just a quick follow-up - is there a - for this review is there
a deadline of any sort? Is this review of the policy supposed to be
completed by a certain time?
MR. RUBIN: It's not days, it's not years, but it's somewhere in the
middle of that. I mean, I would expect him to take a few weeks to get
settled, a few weeks to travel to the region, some weeks to examine various
options and examine other matters. I would expect it to reach fruition
sometime next year, but exactly when, I wouldn't be in a position to say at
this particular moment.
QUESTION: The North Koreans today made a statement through their usual
media channels, denying - rather vigorously -- that this underground
facility had anything to do with a nuclear weapons program. I just wondered
how - I mean, obviously they're taking pains to kind of put out the
message. How do you read that?
MR. RUBIN: Well, we are not unfamiliar with their denials. They've made
verbal assurances to us to that effect. But we have strong information that
makes us very suspicious. We don't have conclusive evidence that the
intended purpose of the underground site is nuclear related and if so, what
type of nuclear facility it would be. But obviously, our concerns and our
information is strong enough to justify our demand for full access and our
statements to the effect that failure to provide access and to resolve
these concerns would call into question the viability of the agreement.
With respect to North Korea's public statement, the easiest way to resolve
this question is for them to give us access to the site and then we would
be in a position to resolve the serious suspicions we have one way or
another.
QUESTION: Regarding Dr. Perry once again, can you tell any --
MR. RUBIN: I'm sure he'll be looking forward to your presence here when
he comes down to the briefing room. I know you were a regular with
him.
QUESTION: He's a great guy; I look forward to seeing him. But can you
tell me about what his travels might involve? Will he go simply to South
Korea, Japan or do you know yet?
MR. RUBIN: I think initially my understanding - I don't want to speak for
him on his schedule, but my understanding is that in the initial phases,
the first step would be to consult closely with Japan and South Korea, our
key allies in the region, and probably talk to the Chinese. That's, I think,
in the first tranche of activities that is being envisaged.
QUESTION: Did I hear you say that you didn't know when or if even Chuck
Kartman would make other forays into the Korean Peninsula?
MR. RUBIN: Right, I said that I expected that meeting to be soon, the
follow-up meeting; but I don't have a date or a place for you yet.
QUESTION: Follow up with the North Koreans?
MR. RUBIN: Right.
QUESTION: Do you expect Perry to go to South Korea and Japan for these
consultations?
MR. RUBIN: I think I just said that.
QUESTION: You didn't; you said that would be the next step. You didn't
say by him, but if that's what you meant by that - maybe I misheard
it.
MR. RUBIN: Yes, no, I clearly intended to say - and certainly in this
case, the intent of the spokesman was to communicate that a next step
envisaged is for Dr. Perry to go to Japan and South Korea to discuss with
our key allies this issue, and then on to China to discuss this issue with
them. I don't have dates and times for those meetings, and don't want to
presume to announce his schedule for him. But I believe that it was
envisaged as a next step.
QUESTION: Thank you.
QUESTION: Back to Iran real quick, any reaction to the agreement between
Iran and Russia to speed up construction of a nuclear power plant in
Bushehr?
MR. RUBIN: I haven't seen that particular announcement, and will have to
get something for you. I just haven't seen that, but obviously our views on
Bushehr are quite well-known.
QUESTION: Thank you.
(The briefing concluded at 1:10 P.M.)
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