U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing #27, 99-03-05
From: The Department of State Foreign Affairs Network (DOSFAN) at <http://www.state.gov>
630
U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
I N D E X
Friday, March 5, 1999
Briefer: Lee Mcclenny
ANNOUNCEMENT
1 Senior State Department official will brief on background
today on Dayton Accords
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT'S TRAVEL
2 Secretary Albright has left Indonesia on her way to London.
2 Secretary will meet with ex-Sen. Dole in London.
KOSOVO
3 US stands by Sen. Dole's comments on optimism for Kosovar
Albanian acceptance of the Rambouillet accords
4 Visa issue is now essentially moot.
5 Nothing to announce on Kosovar Albanian visit to
Washington.
5 US hopes Brcko decision does not influence events in
Kosovo.
BOSNIA
5 General situation in Balkans is tense, has been for a long
time.
5-6 Brcko decision was made by Roberts Owen and Carlos
Westendorp.
GREECE-TURKEY
6-7 US believe both governments should tone down public
rhetoric, discuss disagreements through diplomatic
channels.
NORTH KOREA
7 Bilateral talks continue in New York today.
7-8 US cannot comment on alleged intelligence matter of
deployment of No Dong missiles.
CUBA
8-9 Discussions ongoing between Orioles and Cuban national
baseball team. Reports that an agreement has been reached
are premature.
MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
9 FY 2000 budget request includes assistance for both Israel
and Palestinian Authority, and is before the Congress.
UGANDA
10 Remains of two US victims will arrive in Portland, Ore.,
sometime tomorrow.
10 Some US survivors may still be in Uganda. US cannot yet
verify report of killing of Hutu attackers by Rwandan
troops.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
OFF-CAMERA DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
DPB #27
FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1999, 12:50 P.M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
MR. MCCLENNY: I should start with an apology, actually. I told myself,
come hell or high water, I'd be here at 12:30 p.m. today. Typically,
however, it was neither hell nor high water that came at me, so --
(Laughter.)
I have no statements to read, but I should let you know several things
administratively. In the Press Office, you can find statements on release
of a State Department report on coral bleaching - an interesting and
important environmental matter. It may sound dry - that's sort of an ocean
joke.
QUESTION: It sounds wet.
MR. MCCLENNY: There we go, much better. It's very interesting. Also,
we're posting a statement today welcoming the release of a number of
political prisoners in Nigeria.
Finally, a reminder that at approximately 2:30 p.m. this afternoon, or
shortly after the conclusion of the press conference of President Clinton
and Prime Minister D'Alema, we will have a senior State Department official
here at the podium, who will discuss Dayton agreement implementation. There
have been a number of developments in the last few hours. He will be here
to speak to you about all of that. As a consequence, I have very little on
those subjects; particularly the more recent, fast-breaking ones. You can
ask, but I really don't have anything for you.
QUESTION: Will he talk at all on Kosovo?
MR. MCCLENNY: Will he?
QUESTION: The senior State Department official.
MR. MCCLENNY: Or she, as the case may be. No, I don't think so. I have a
little bit on Kosovo, and I'd be happy to share that with you. But George
has the podium.
QUESTION: I wanted to talk about Kosovo, including the Secretary's Kosovo-
related travel plans, and the denial of a visa to Senator Dole.
MR. MCCLENNY: Let's start with travel plans. The Secretary of State will
be traveling - indeed, I believe she's already left Indonesia. She'll be
traveling to London, arriving Saturday morning. At this point, I don't
really have any details on her schedule or topics, but you know that
Senator Dole is leaving Skopje later today, I believe. He will also be
traveling to London, and they will be meeting in London to discuss what
he's discovered. I believe also that the Secretary of State will have
meeting or meetings with British officials. I would anticipate that Kosovo
would be a subject of discussion, though it's possible other things
might also be on the agenda.
As we get more information about her schedule, as things firm up, I'll try
to make that information available to you.
QUESTION: What are the chances that they'll sign the agreement in
London?
MR. MCCLENNY: I'm not in a position, really, to handicap it, Carole. I'm
sorry; I'm not close enough to the story. It's located in two different
places and I'm pulling together as many details as I can, but I don't have,
really, anything for you.
QUESTION: Did she leave Indonesia early to go to London; or just did she
finish her schedule and just go to London instead of going all the way back
home?
MR. MCCLENNY: My understanding is she finished her schedule on time,
completed her normal round. I don't think there was even a change - that
I'm aware of - in departure time.
QUESTION: So it would be wrong if anyone is reporting or would report
that she left Indonesia early to go to London?
MR. MCCLENNY: Yes, I believe that would be factually incorrect.
QUESTION: Okay.
QUESTION: Lee, do you know if Dole is going to get to London tonight, or
will he overnight in Skopje?
MR. MCCLENNY: I don't know. I listened with one ear to his press
conference, which just ended a little while ago. I thought he indicated
that he would be in London tomorrow morning. But since it's already
nighttime there -- he must be overnighting, I would assume; but I don't
honestly know.
QUESTION: Lee -- (inaudible) - indicated he had another meeting tonight.
Is it with representatives of the KLA?
MR. MCCLENNY: I don't know whether he will manage to meet with a
representative of the KLA. I know there's an effort underway for someone
from the KLA to meet with him in Skopje.
QUESTION: That's who the meeting is supposed to be with tonight -
supposed to be with a representative of the KLA?
MR. MCCLENNY: I think it's his hope that he might still be able to meet
with a KLA representative.
QUESTION: Okay. And he said - obviously, he said - the Secretary phoned
him. Is that right; did she phone him on her way from Indonesia to
London?
MR. MCCLENNY: I understand that they've had telephone conversation or
conversations.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) - people?
MR. MCCLENNY: I don't believe he's met with any KLA people yet, but it's
his intention still to do so. He's met otherwise with representatives of a
broad range of people who represent various Kosovar Albanian factions and
interests - the Rambouillet group.
QUESTION: You probably can't answer, but how can he be so optimistic that
the KLA is going to sign the pact? He didn't even meet with them.
MR. MCCLENNY: I'd stand by his comments. I don't believe he's met with
anyone face-to-face from the KLA, but I believe he's had some conversations.
We also have regular conversations with the KLA on a regular basis. These
are people we talk to.
QUESTION: I don't suppose creating the perception for Milosevic that
pressure is increasing is behind this at all?
MR. MCCLENNY: Well, I think that's not just a perception; I think it's a
reality.
QUESTION: What is?
MR. MCCLENNY: That there is increasing movement towards an agreement on
the part of the KLA - excuse me, not the KLA, on the part of Kosovar
Albanians -- to sign onto the Rambouillet agreement. They said so before
they left, and --
QUESTION: They said a lot of things. But you think that increased
pressure on Milosevic in any way?
MR. MCCLENNY: I didn't say that. I said I think it's a reality that
there's forward movement in this area.
QUESTION: But you won't say the pressure is increasing on Milosevic?
MR. MCCLENNY: I think there's a lot of pressure on him already, and leave
it at that.
You asked a question about his visa. The visa issue is essentially mooted.
He went to Skopje; he met with - or will meet with, we believe - all the
people he wanted to meet with. So, we'll go from there.
QUESTION: Dole also suggested that this agreement could be signed by the
Kosovars within 48 hours. Do you have any reason to know anything more
about that?
MR. MCCLENNY: I think the Senator said everything that I could say, at
this point in time. He has a much more textured understanding of what's
going on than I do; he actually met with them. But that - his comments
should stand as they are, and let's let it go at that, I think.
QUESTION: Very shortly after you issued the warning on Bosnia, a story
came out of Belgrade that the US Table Tennis Federation apparently has
pulled out of some competition that was going to be in Belgrade later this
month. They said that they were doing that at the suggestion of the State
Department.
MR. MCCLENNY: The first I've heard of it. I'd be happy to look into it
and see if there's some --
QUESTION: I just wondered -
MR. MCCLENNY: -- what role, if any, we played in that decision.
QUESTION: Yes, yes.
MR. MCCLENNY: I'd be happy to look into it.
QUESTION: I just wondered, is it connected to the whole Kosovo - the
bombing threat?
MR. MCCLENNY: I'm not aware of the very basic fact that the table tennis
association was, A, going or B, not going. But I'd be happy to look into it
and see if there's something.
QUESTION: Two questions - even though the visa point is moot, you say,
did the US Government ever hear back from the Yugoslav Government about
this visa? Did they say, "No way we're giving him one;" or they just never
granted him the visa?
MR. MCCLENNY: To be honest, Kelly, I'm not absolutely certain. The key
point is, we asked for a visa, he didn't get one. We managed to have, or
will have, the meetings that we want to have anyway. This is a fairly
consistent pattern of behavior on the part of the Serbs. It's not an
encouraging sign, but I wouldn't read too much into it.
QUESTION: And just the other question - anything more you can say on
plans for Richard Holbrooke to go to Belgrade?
MR. MCCLENNY: Nothing to announce; no plans that have been finalized that
I know of.
QUESTION: (Inaudible.)
MR. MCCLENNY: Not as far as I'm aware of.
QUESTION: Lee, I'm sure it's all connected to what Dole's doing, but do
you have a better idea of if and when a KLA delegation or Kosovar Albanian
delegation will come to Washington?
Is that still something that's going to happen?
MR. MCCLENNY: Well, Jim spoke to this, I think, a few days ago, and I'm
not aware of any change in the status since then. I certainly don't have
anything to announce.
QUESTION: The other question I have is - I know we're supposed to be
briefed on this later - but in the context of Kosovo, are you concerned or
is there any concern that the decision on Brcko could have any influence on
the Serb side, maybe angering them more and fuel the resentment among the
Serbs? And could that affect the Kosovo negotiations?
MR. MCCLENNY: I think it's too speculative, too hypothetical. Certainly
we hope not; certainly it's fair to say that we hope not. But I wouldn't be
inclined to try to psychoanalyze and figure out how this might play
out.
There are a lot of connections and different points of contact and
certainly we hope not. That's about the best I can say.
QUESTION: Lee, since you're on the record here - I know we're going to
get more of that sort of thing later on. It's not just Brcko; it's also the
decision to sack Bosnian Serb President. It's Brcko; it's the threat of
bombing in Belgrade; and it's also the warning issued to Americans in
Bosnia. So clearly, you all are concerned that this confluence of events
could cause problems, not only for Americans, but for perhaps the whole
fragile Balkan peace. Can you address that?
MR. MCCLENNY: You're connecting dots that I just wouldn't connect the
same way. Yes, the general situation in the Balkans is a tense one. It's
been tense for a long time. We're watching things closely. We're going to
take the steps we think are appropriate. I think I'd leave it there and let
our senior Administration official talk to you in detail and depth about
matter later today.
QUESTION: Just for the record, the Brcko decision and the Bosnia and the
decision on the Bosnian Serb President was not a decision the United States
ramrodded through?
MR. MCCLENNY: They're decisions taken, in the first case, by - I always
get his name wrong - Roberts Owen - thank you; and in the second case, by
Carlos Westendorp, -- (inaudible). These are people who have set institutional
persona in the Dayton implementation situation. I don't think either
decision comes as a total surprise to anyone, either, frankly, given the
pattern of behavior in the past.
QUESTION: I don't understand that.
MR. MCCLENNY: Let's let it sit at that, and you'll get a better briefing
and a more complete briefing later from the special representative.
QUESTION: Turkish Foreign Minister described Greece as a terrorist
sponsor country. For that reason, he's announced that Turkey cut all kind
of sensitive and intelligence matter, which includes the NATO exchange of
information with Greece. Do you have any reaction?
MR. MCCLENNY: I confess, I have not heard that; haven't seen a report on
it at all, one way or the other. There have been public statements of a
variety, back and forth, for some time. I have something to say about that;
let me review my notes.
We think that the Turkish Government and the Greek Government should tone
down their public rhetoric, and focus on working things out between them
through diplomatic channels in private. That's the extent of what I can
offer you, I think.
QUESTION: There are reports that some Kosovar Albanians are supposed to
go to NATO to meet with military folks there about the implementation of
Rambouillet.
MR. MCCLENNY: I'll look into it; that's the first I've heard of
it.
QUESTION: The leader of the Greek opposition, Kospas Karamanlis, is
arriving tomorrow here in town for an official visit. Earlier today, his
spokesman at the Greek Embassy confirmed that Mr. Karamanlis also is going
to meet with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright next Tuesday. May we
have something on their agenda?
MR. MCCLENNY: I apologize, I didn't bring anything on that. But if you'd
like to come see me after the briefing, I'll see if I can scare something
up for you.
QUESTION: A follow, your Charge d'Affaires in Athens met yesterday with
the Secretary General of the Greek Foreign Ministry. The Greek Ambassador
here in town, Alexandre Philon, came here to the State Department
yesterday. Similar activity has taken place also in Ankara by your embassy.
Do you know anything about this?
MR. MCCLENNY: Mr. Papantoniou, we don't discuss publicly our diplomatic
exchanges with friendly governments. We have said, however, many times,
that we believe that Turkish and Greek Governments should tone down their
public rhetoric and discuss issues between them in diplomatic channels.
We're doing so with both governments, and I would leave it at that.
It's worth adding: Our ambassadors and charges routinely meet with
officials of friendly governments. I think this is what's going on
here.
QUESTION: A follow-up - you said earlier that you advised both countries
to avoid provocative statements. But in this particular case, only Ankara
is raising the issue and making statements against the territorial
integrity of Greece and Cyprus.
MR. MCCLENNY: My comments would apply the same, one way or the other.
QUESTION: The Korea talks - did they end up going to Iowa? Did they
continue the talks?
MR. MCCLENNY: They have continued the talks today. We're watching the
talks to see how they progress, and I encourage you to check in later in
the days to see where we stand on talks as the day progresses.
QUESTION: Do you think that they might end today?
MR. MCCLENNY: It's possible. They might go on. Really, it depends on how
things progress.
QUESTION: You don't want to use the "p-word" more emphatically than you
just did - "progress?"
MR. MCCLENNY: No, I want to use it as a verb rather than as a noun.
(Laughter.)
QUESTION: Do you have anything on reports in Japan that North Korea has
deployed some No Dong I's on the Chinese border? Up to 20 or 30 or
so?
MR. MCCLENNY: Yes, I do have something on this. I apologize. When Jim
can't find something in his book, I think he's - and now I can't find it,
either; but I will, I promise. Really, there's no rush. I've got it
here.
I'm not in a position to comment about intelligence matters or alleged
intelligence matters, including when, where, or how many No Dong missiles
may or may not have been deployed.
(Laughter.)
I wanted to be sure I got it just right.
QUESTION: Can I ask that question in another way?
MR. MCCLENNY: Can I ask a favor, please? Would somebody type that up and
put it up on the wall in the Press Office over there?
QUESTION: Well, the thing is that you don't want to comment on intelligence
until you want to comment on intelligence; and then it's not intelligence,
it's just information. So I want to ask this question a different way. Have
there been any movements or deployments by the Koreans that concern
you?
MR. MCCLENNY: With regard to missiles of this type or something like
that?
QUESTION: Yes.
MR. MCCLENNY: I think our analysis of that would, in fact, be intelligence
and not that we want to talk about. I would say that it's well-known that
North Korea is in advanced stage of developing a No Dong missile with a 1,
000-plus kilometer range. We continue to press North Korea to cease all
development, testing, export of such missiles or missile technology. But I
couldn't say anything more than that.
QUESTION: Is there anything which would preclude you from talking about
the Orioles in Cuba and their efforts to arrange a game, or is this under
the heading of an intelligence matter?
MR. MCCLENNY: No, that wouldn't fall under that area. Discussions are
ongoing between Major League Baseball and the owners of the Baltimore
Orioles on the modalities of two possible exhibition games between the
Orioles and the Cuban national team. I can't speculate on the outcome of
those talks at this point in time. I can say that reports that an agreement
has already been reached are premature.
It is the policy of the US Government to encourage these kinds of exchanges,
and we hope the Orioles will succeed in their discussions, and the people
of Cuba will have an opportunity to watch US baseball in action. I
encourage you to watch that, too - watch that story.
QUESTION: If there is an agreement between the Orioles and the Cubans on
the game down there, does there have to be the game up here? Is that part
of the agreement? Can that game go on without there being a return game up
here?
MR. MCCLENNY: I don't think I can be specific about it. This is a
complicated issue with a lot of moving parts, and there isn't agreement
until everybody's in agreement about everything they need. We're not there
yet; we might get there soon. There's obviously time pressure building on
it, one way or the other.
As I say, I think this is one story that is worth watching and keeping your
eye on, but we're not there yet.
QUESTION: Today is a deadline of sorts - that if there's no agreement by
Friday, today, that they might as well forget about it. What is your
understanding?
MR. MCCLENNY: I've read the same reports, and don't understand the nature
of the deadline: why the deadline would be today or yesterday or Monday or
a week from Monday or whatever - picking dates at random. But I did
indicate, it's clear to anyone who saw the story at all that there is a
time pressure of a sort. It can't drag on forever, at least not if one
wants to play a game before major league baseball starts here in the United
States.
I would encourage you to keep asking and keep your eye on the story.
QUESTION: Different subject - on the subject of US aid following the Wye
talks, there are reports in the Israeli press that say aid is moving ahead
on two fronts and not on a third. Can you bring us up to date no whether
that's accurate or inaccurate?
MR. MCCLENNY: My understanding is that the report is inaccurate. Let me
find it for you.
The report is false. The President of the United States included in the
Administration's FY 2000 budget submission to Congress a supplemental
request for assistance to Israel and the Palestinians to support the costs
associated with the Wye Memorandum. The request is currently before the
Congress.
It's our expectation that the Wye Memorandum will be implemented and that
the funds will be approved by the Congress.
QUESTION: Is it moving forward on any one track faster than any other
track?
MR. MCCLENNY: No, the entire request is still before the Congress.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) - move forward faster?
MR. MCCLENNY: Yes, the Jordan track is a separate track. I apologize, I
don't frankly recall what we've been saying about that, but, yes, the
Jordan track was on a separate arrangement. You've got to be careful with
the use of the word "track," because it has other connotations as well. But
the Jordan supplemental appropriation was on a different trail.
QUESTION: Who's the acting secretary today?
MR. MCCLENNY: I believe it's Under Secretary Tom Pickering.
QUESTION: All right, because the daily schedule shows Talbott.
MR. MCCLENNY: Really?
QUESTION: Yes.
MR. MCCLENNY: I'll check on that; we may have made a mistake.
QUESTION: And it also doesn't show him being out of the country.
MR. MCCLENNY: That's odd; I'll check on that. I was at the morning staff
meeting, which was chaired by Under Secretary Pickering. So I base my
assumption on that. He was in the building.
QUESTION: He's in the building.
MR. MCCLENNY: Well, there we go: a sighting.
QUESTION: Lee, on Uganda, is it still that the bodies of the two
Americans will be flown to Portland tomorrow?
MR. MCCLENNY: Yes, it's my understanding that the bodies of the two
Americans, escorted by a State Department officer, will arrive in Portland
sometime tomorrow - probably in the afternoon, subject to the vagaries of
commercial air flights and connections and what not. It's a complicated
process getting someone from Central Africa to the West Coast of the United
States.
QUESTION: And after the bodies are back, have all the US survivors
returned, or are some still in Uganda?
MR. MCCLENNY: Some, I believe, are still on the ground in Uganda, but I'm
not absolutely certain about that. I think most of the assistance that
they've been asked to provide to the Ugandan law enforcement authorities
has largely been cleared up, I think. People are beginning to try to get
back to - try to put their lives back together and get on with things.
QUESTION: Are they going to come back - is there a military escort?
MR. MCCLENNY: They would normally come back on a commercial flight. If
they need assistance or help of some kind, we're always happy to provide it,
as in the case of the return of the bodies of the two Americans.
QUESTION: (Inaudible.)
MR. MCCLENNY: I don't have anything to report. It's obviously in the
hands of Ugandan law enforcement authorities. You will have seen reports
that Rwandan army units or unit fired on and killed a number of ethnic
Hutus they report to believe were those or some of those involved in the
attack on the Americans and on other tourists in Uganda.
At this point in time, I don't have any confirmation of the fact that these
were the people. I think it would take some time to verify that kind of
information. We're not certain. It's plausible, but beyond that I don't
have anything to report.
QUESTION: Thank you.
(The briefing concluded at 1:25 P.M.)
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