U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing #42, 99-04-01
From: The Department of State Foreign Affairs Network (DOSFAN) at <http://www.state.gov>
785
U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
I N D E X
Thursday, April 1, 1999
Briefer: James P. Rubin
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA (KOSOVO)
1 US is contacting Belgrade about the illegally detained
servicemen.
1-2 Subjecting detained soldiers to court martial would violate
Geneva Convention.
2-3 Soldiers were illegally abducted.
3-4 US has committed another $50 million in humanitarian aid;
new total now $141 million.
4 Total refugees in Albania now total almost 120,000,
including 14,500 yesterday.
4 FYRO Macedonia now has 47,500 refugees, while Montenegro
has 55,000.
5,10 US will be seeking an opportunity to speak with Dr. Rugova.
5-6 KLA's Mr. Thaqi reported to US on current situation in
Kosovo
6 KLA hopes for humanitarian support, including air drops.
6 Serbs continue to loot, burn, expel people from villages,
transport them by train, bus.
7 US believes reports of mass murder and forced expulsions
are credible.
7,8 US very concerned about possibility of strife in
Montenegro.
7 US has warned Belgrade not to overthrow democratic
government of Montenegro.
8 For diplomacy to be pursued, Milosevic must reverse course.
9 Continued air strikes will increasingly undermine bases for
Milosevic's power.
9-10 Milosevic is jeopardizing his claim to Kosovo; population
is increasingly radicalized.
10 Kosovo is being "ethnically cleansed" right now.
11 Secretary Albright has been in touch with leading members
of NATO.
11 NATO is determined to stay the course.
12 US hoped for peaceful outcome, but were not surprised that
force proved necessary.
LIBYA
12-13 No way to speculate when Qadhafi will provide the suspects.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
DPB #42
THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1999
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
MR. RUBIN: Greetings. Welcome to the State Department briefing, today
being Thursday. Let me start with a statement with regard to our servicemen.
The United States Government is contacting authorities in Belgrade through
our protecting power, Sweden, in regard to the illegal abduction of three
American servicemen who were serving in non-combatant status in Macedonia.
There is no basis for their continued detention by the Belgrade authorities.
We insist that they be provided any necessary medical assistance and
treated humanely and in accordance with all prevailing international
agreements and standards. We will hold Belgrade authorities responsible for
their safety and treatment.
QUESTION: Have you been working with the Swedes, the protecting power in
Belgrade? Have you heard back from them?
MR. RUBIN: I don't have any new information to report. Clearly, under the
Geneva Convention which would apply -- whether or not we're at a state of
war it applies -- the Serb authorities are responsible to, under the
convention, to pursue through the protecting power, allowing access to them,
and also access through the ICRC. That is required.
QUESTION: You sort of got into it just there, the crux of the whole
question here. You don't think these men or prisoners of war? The Serbs
aren't calling prisoners of war. Can you explain what's behind all of
that?
MR. RUBIN: Well, obviously there's armed conflict between NATO forces and
the Serbs in Serbia and in Kosovo. But as far as the legal definition of a
state of war and all that would apply, it's just not relevant to this
circumstance. All I'm saying is that there is very clear international law
that applies here. What it requires in a circumstance like this is that
humane treatment at all times, including protection against acts of
violence, intimidation, insults and reprisals; all medical attention
required by their state of health; protection from any form of coercion or
a threat to secure any information beyond the name, rank, serial number
and date of birth; evacuation from any area of danger; adequate food,
clothing and quarters; and access, as I said, by protecting powers in the
international committee of the Red Cross.
QUESTION: This is under the Geneva Convention?
MR. RUBIN: Correct.
QUESTION: There apparently has been a report on Tanjug that these men
would be subjected to some sort of military trial.
MR. RUBIN: Well, that would be a violation of international laws I've
just specified.
QUESTION: Okay, but you're not aware of that -
MR. RUBIN: I mean, I've seen the report on Tanjug, but I'm not aware of
it.
QUESTION: If there is such a trial, will the US be asking the Swedes to
monitor or participate?
MR. RUBIN: Well, such a trial is obviously ridiculous for the Serbs to
try to court-martial American soldiers. The fact is, it was illegal for
them to be abducted. They were performing a mission in a neutral country.
There is no basis for their detention and under the Geneva Convention, to
subject to them to some phony trial called a court-martial is just
ridiculous.
QUESTION: So there's no way that the US would recognize the legitimacy of
this by asking a protecting power, the Swedes, to go and attend?
MR. RUBIN: It's very clear what the Serb responsibilities are. I've
described them, and we don't - it just doesn't fly in the face of
international law for them to be subjected to that. It would be a violation
of international law.
QUESTION: But is your argument on them based on the fact that they were
in Macedonia as - I forget what the official title was - but essentially -
MR. RUBIN: A non-combat border patrol in a neutral country.
QUESTION: Right, but didn't that mandate expire?
MR. RUBIN: Regardless, to be abducted like this is simply - the situation
is that they were illegally abducted. There's nothing more to say. They
should not have been abducted and brought to Serbia, and the requirements
under international law are pretty clear from what I said.
QUESTION: When this incident took place, were they under UN control or
under NATO control?
MR. RUBIN: You'd have to check with the Pentagon on their exact status of
the forces there.
QUESTION: Jamie, is there absolute certainty that these troops run a
Macedonian side of the border, or is that under investigation by this
government?
MR. RUBIN: The Pentagon is obviously looking into it. They have spoken to
this during the course of the day. I don't have anything to add to it. It's
really up to the Pentagon to describe their exact location and the
circumstances of their abduction. But clearly, we believe they were
illegally abducted.
QUESTION: Jamie, I may have missed this at the beginning but did you say
that they are to be treated as prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention?
MR. RUBIN: What I said was they are prisoners, clearly. The Geneva
Convention provides for certain treatment. We're not at a state of war but,
nevertheless, the international lawyers advised me that the requirements --
that they be treated humanely, that they get the necessary medical
attention, that they're protected from any for of coercion, that they get
the adequate food and clothing, that they get access by our protecting
power and the international committee of the Red Cross -- still pertain.
QUESTION: But the question is, if we're not at a state of war, how do you
describe the state?
MR. RUBIN: Well, I don't have a legal definition but clearly, NATO is
conducting air operations against Serb forces. I just don't have a legal
description. Clearly, we're conducting air operations. The facts are quite
clear to everybody.
QUESTION: This may be a question that Carol was asking, but let me try it
from a different direction. With the end of a UN mandate, what is the
international authority for -
MR. RUBIN: Certainly they were - the Macedonia Government had no problem
with them being there. So there's no question that they were appropriately.
What precise form their state of deployment is, is something that I just am
saying you have to ask the Pentagon about. But clearly, they were in
Macedonia, that the Macedonia Government was happy to have them there. So
there is no question of whether they were appropriately there. Describing
their precise status is something I would like to leave to the Pentagon.
QUESTION: Can you tell us if the Swedes have already contacted the
Belgrade -
MR. RUBIN: I don't have that information. We've asked them to.
QUESTION: Is their a time limitation? I mean, is it 48 hours for consular
access?
MR. RUBIN: I don't have that kind of information but clearly, it should
be in deliberate speed.
QUESTION: Can you bring us up to date on the refugee situation?
MR. RUBIN: With respect to the refugees, let me make a broader point
about the humanitarian situation. The White House announced yesterday that
the President has committed $50 million more in assistance to meet the
humanitarian needs of refugees in Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and the
region. This increases to $141 million, the money the United States has
committed in humanitarian assistance to meet the crisis.
Half of the $50 million comes from the President's Emergency Refugee and
Migration Act Fund and will be funneled to aid agencies, such as the UN
High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Committee of the Red
Cross and non-governmental organizations, which will procure lifesaving
food, health supplies and shelter materials for refugees and internally
displaced persons. The other $25 million will be used by the Defense
Department to provide logistical and operational support to aid agencies in
this difficult region. The ability to transport life-saving aid safely and
quickly is as important as the aid itself.
A USAID Disaster Response Team left for Albania yesterday and should arrive
later today. This seven-member team of humanitarian experts will immediately
begin assessing the nutritional and health status of refugees, provide
health care support and provide recommendations for additional government
support. The AID has also moved crucial materials assistance from
warehouses in Italy to the region, including $260,000 in tents, clothing
and water to Albania and $430,000 in blankets, shelter material and health
kits to Macedonia.
The Department of Defense and the State Department's Bureau of Population,
Refugees and Migration have also dispatched experts to Albania. One of them
is working to facilitate registration of refugees in Northern Albania. We
are coordinating very closely with the UNHCR and other international
organizations and with a number of countries to provide sufficient funding,
relief supplies, transport and a secure environment for the refugees. Italy,
for instance, as part of its Operation Rainbow will focus on relief
and security requirements in Albania.
With respect to your specific question on the numbers, in the past 24 hours
- and again, these numbers come from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees -
another 14,500 refugees arrived in Albania. This brings the total number to
almost 120,000, including 100,000 in the past eight days. The UNHCR,
together with the government of Albania, has moved over half of these
refugees away from the border area further south into the country, where
they will have better access to assistance. Another 14,500 refugees have
also arrived in Macedonia.
Since yesterday, this brings the total number there to 47,500, including 29,
000 in the past eight days. These include the ethnic Albanians in Pristina
the Serbs put on trains bound for Skopje. 7,000 Kosovars have entered
Montenegro in the past 24-hours bringing the total in this republic to
approximately 55,000, including 27,000 since March 24th.
QUESTION: One detail on that figure. The $25 million that you announced
yesterday is part of the $50 million mentioned by the White House, is that
right?
MR. RUBIN: Correct.
QUESTION: Do you think Ibrahim Rugova is being held against his will by
Serbian forces?
MR. RUBIN: I have no way of knowing the answer to that. All I can say is
I'm just not in a position to react to statements he's purported to have
made until we have the opportunity to discuss directly with him and make
sure that he has freedom of movement and his family has freedom of
movement. I just have no way of assessing that situation.
QUESTION: Would you say at the very least the circumstances of his
movement, his appearance on Serbian TV, the way he looked and his sudden
appearance yesterday at a news conference not calling for an end to air
strikes, would you say at the very least, having known him very well, that
that would be suspicious?
MR. RUBIN: I'm not going to speculate. This is a very important time.
We're in a situation where NATO is conducting a massive air campaign
against the Serbs. I don't intend to speculate on things we don't know.
What I can say is that we would like to have an opportunity to speak to
him. We're going to be seeking that opportunity. We'd like to know that he
and his family have freedom of movement. At that time, we will be in a
position to assess what his statements are and his views are. In the
absence of that, I'm not going to speculate.
QUESTION: How do you want to talk to him -- by telephone, in person,
somebody go to Belgrade?
MR. RUBIN: In the first instance, I'm not aware that anyone is considering
going to Belgrade. But in the first instance, obviously, the telephone
would be a good start.
QUESTION: I actually had a different question. There was a story in the
Post today which suggested that the KLA was all but decimated as a force. I
just wondered what your assessment was. I recall when you talked about
Thaci the other day, you said something about him saying that their forces
were overwhelmed or being overwhelmed, I think was phrase. I just wondered
whether you felt they were that -
MR. RUBIN: Well, clearly, as I said the KLA is having a very tough time
of it, given the overwhelming fire power of tanks and artillery and armored
personnel carriers that the Serbs are bringing to bear there. As you know
from the briefings in NATO and from the Pentagon, we are now bringing to
bear our air power directly on the Serb capabilities. I did speak again to
Mr. Thaci this morning. He said that, with respect to the soccer stadium,
he said it is empty, and there is no concentration camp as he earlier
reported. He just got this information, and he wanted to pass it on. He
does believe that various stadiums are being used for other purposes,
including ammunitions.
He said that people in the outlying Pristina areas are being forces to
leave. He said the KLA has been able to get some people out of Pristina. In
Podujeve, he said that Arkan and Seselj forces are looting, torching and
burning the city; that he said the KLA is working to try to protect the
population there. In the mountainous area of Shala of Bajgora, a large
concentration of civilians is being shelled, and they are coming down with
diseases and suffering from the cold.
He said that in Vucitrn, the 5,000 people that were previously held by the
Serbs have been freed are now moving to the mountains. He said they still
don't have any information on the 20,000 in Kenderaj who are being used by
the Serbs, he thinks -- he's received information that's hard to be sure of
- to protect their ammunition factory there by locating them there. He said
the fighting remains fierce in several regions, including the Malisevo
region, and that increasing numbers of the civilian population are
moving towards Macedonia and Albania.
So the short answer to your question is clearly the KLA, the Kosovar
Liberation Army, is having a tough time of it, but they continue to,
according to Mr. Thaci, continue to do what they can in these difficult
circumstances.
QUESTION: Did they ask for heavy weapons from the United States, and what
was the reply?
MR. RUBIN: I'm not in a position to get into all the details of our
contacts with the KLA. Let me say, they clearly are looking for humanitarian
support, including air drops. That is something that people are looking at
but is obviously made difficult by the fact that it's unclear which areas
are fully under the control of the KLA and obviously the air defense
question.
QUESTION: Hanging onto another root of a question, while you may want to -
or this building, they want to talk to him to find out the circumstances
under which he said what he said, in general, does this government consider
Mr. Rugova to be the principal spokesman for the Kosovar Albanians?
MR. RUBIN: Well, at Rambouillet, the Chairman of the Kosovar delegation
was Mr. Thaci, as elected by all the delegates at Rambouillet, including
Dr. Rugova, and he was the chairman of the delegation. In the meetings that
I intended, Dr. Rugova allowed Mr. Thaci to be the chairman and to be the
leader of the discussions. There has been some discussion amongst the
various Kosovar Albanians on how they would formulate a provisional
government of some kind. Dr. Rugova and Mr. Thaci have talked about
different positions each of them would hold. So I'm not going to declare
this situation, other than to say when the Secretary of State had to meet
with one person in Rambouillet, by self selection and by selection
of the delegation at Rambouillet, the Kosovars selected Mr. Thaci.
QUESTION: Getting back to what Mr. Thaci told you on the phone this
morning, how much of the information that he gave you is the US in a
position to be able to say is actually -
MR. RUBIN: Again, it's a real time situation. There are a lot of
constraints on what I can say publicly and in a forum like this I tried to
provide you -- and I'll try to provide you each day the best information we
have, with respect to the basic point, that the Serbs continue to maraud
and loot and burn houses, and forced expulsions, and send people in trains
and buses and on foot and in cars out of their land. That is something we
believe is going on.
With respect to specific information, I know that we do believe that around
the Malisevo area, there were a large number of tens of thousands, perhaps
as many as 50-75,000 civilians that were under threat. That is something we
believe. But again, I've tried to be very careful with you during the
course of these briefings. I know you're anxious to get as much information
as possible -- and I'm certainly anxious to be able to provide you as much
information as possible -- is to be very clear on our source. That's why
I've been reading accounts from him very directly, and indicating
where they come from and telling you what we do know, in general,
is that we have our own independent ways of confirming that there
are large refugee outflows; there are burning of houses; and we believe the
reports of mass murder and forced expulsion are credible.
QUESTION: I may have missed it yesterday, but did you all issue the
compilation of atrocities you had said you would yesterday?
MR. RUBIN: Well, we're certainly going to try to do the best we can to
issue all the documents we can. Whether you missed it or not, we'll still
try to do the best we can.
QUESTION: (Inaudible).
MR. RUBIN: I don't obviously have the answer to that question and when we
do have the answer to the question like that, I'll be happy to provide it
to you.
QUESTION: Do you have anything on Montenegro?
MR. RUBIN: On Montenegro, let me say that the situation is troubling. We
are highly concerned about the possibility of civil strife within
Montenegro as a result of provocation by Belgrade, and we urge continued
calm in this sensitive republic. A Belgrade takeover in Montenegro would
destroy the most credible and potent democratic force in the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia and have negative implications throughout the
region. We urge the public to remain calm and avoid confrontation with
public security forces.
We have reiterated to President Milosevic that world attention on Kosovo
does not mean that Yugoslavia has a free hand to cause problems in other
parts of Yugoslavia or the region. Our message to the FRY leadership is
clear: any attempt to overthrow the democratically elected Montenegrin
Government would only fuel wider regional instability, lead to deeper
isolation for Yugoslavia and escalate the conflict with NATO.
QUESTION: I'm wondering if this takes into account the replacement of the
head of the second army commander?
MR. RUBIN: Well, we are aware of that. That is one of the reasons why
we're so concerned about that. That's a very clear indicator that Milosevic
has doubts about the loyalty of his forces there, and it's a matter of deep
concern to us.
QUESTION: Can you spell out what escalate would mean?
MR. RUBIN: No, I'm using the terms of art that are provided to me.
QUESTION: You talked about provocation's by Belgrade. Can you be more
specific?
MR. RUBIN: Well, for example, as I indicated in response to Roy's
question, the changing of the leader of the army there and the reports and
indicators we've been getting, that they are going to challenge Montenegrin's
democratic course, are troubling to us. We've had a variety of indicators
over the last couple of years that at various times Milosevic has
considered trying to suppress the democratic course that the Montenegrins
have been on. (It was made available yesterday.) The reporting is troubling,
and that's why we're making such clear public statements.
QUESTION: Jamie, Russian President Boris Yeltsin has called for an
emergency meeting of the G8 foreign ministers. First off, does the
Secretary - does the State Department have a reaction to that request?
MR. RUBIN: Secretary Albright, by the way, has been in touch twice in the
last two days with Foreign Minister Ivanov, once today and once yesterday.
With respect to that particular suggestion, let me say that we think that
the basis for a halt to NATO air strikes is well known, that Milosevic must
halt his offensive, pullback troops and embrace the Rambouillet accords
as the basis for the settlement in Kosovo.
We have said that diplomatic initiatives that reinforce these principles
would be constructive. The Secretary is in constant contact with the
foreign ministers of the G8 countries. We are not sure that an emergency
meeting of this kind is, therefore, an appropriate venue for the discussion
of Kosovo. What we need to see is a reversal of course by Milosevic. That's
what will enable diplomacy to be pursued and, nor do we necessarily
believe that this is the appropriate venue for that.
QUESTION: In her conversations with Ivanov, did she discuss this issue of
the Russians sending troops to the Balkan air -
MR. RUBIN: Troops?
QUESTION: I'm sorry, not troops, ships, to the Balkans.
MR. RUBIN: She did raise the issue, and she made clear what I indicated
yesterday is we don't think this sends a very helpful message at all.
QUESTION: What kind of a reply did she get?
MR. RUBIN: Well, I don't normally provide you with the Russian Foreign
Minister's end of the conversation. I think they've spoken publicly to what
they said about that in the Russian press.
QUESTION: Have you seen government assessments - I understand there may
be one from the US Navy that in a matter of days, Milosevic's aim of
ethnically cleansing Kosovo will have been largely complete. Does this
building agree with that assessment, and what does that mean for the
situation confronting NATO?
MR. RUBIN: Again, let me say that there are a lot of people doing a lot
of Monday morning quarterbacking and people will do that. I think everyone
understood who's been through the Bosnia experience, and we watched the
humanitarian catastrophe last fall, that the prospect of a massive outflow
of refugees was part of the picture. That's why so much food and other
supplies were stored in the region and, as Julia Taft has informed you,
that, for example, that all the food that was necessary for these people
has been stored in the region.
In the short-term, President Milosevic may think that he is accomplishing
his objectives of driving ethnic Albanians out of Kosovo and presenting the
international community with a fait accompli. But NATO's commitment to this
crisis is not a short-term one. NATO strategy is aimed at disrupting and
crippling the assets that enable Milosevic to carry out his atrocities in
Kosovo. Those assets also form the basis of Milosevic's power. The longer
he refuses to stop his campaign of terror, withdraw his forces and embrace
a settlement based on Rambouillet, the longer NATO air strikes will
continue. If Milosevic refuses to comply with the demands of the international
community, he will increasingly find himself stripped of the military and
police assets that have enabled him to maintain dictatorial control over
Serbia and to wage a campaign of terror against the population of
Kosovo.
The basis of his power will be increasingly undermined. Sooner of later, he
will have to come to terms with the demands of the international community,
will remove his forces from Kosovo and allow the return of the refugees he
has driven out.
QUESTION: General Clark this morning addressed what he said, his
discussions about using the enabling force in Macedonia for some kind of
small scale sanctuary. Do you know anything about that?
MR. RUBIN: I'm not familiar with what General Clark said on that. On our
policy and the policy of the allies has not changed on the subject of
ground troops.
QUESTION: Jamie, you've made mention of Rambouillet as a basis for a
settlement several times. In your discussions with Mr. Thaci or others with
the KLA or the Kosovar leadership, do they still believe that Rambouillet
is a basis for a settlement after what's happened since they signed?
MR. RUBIN: Well, clearly I indicated the President made very clear that
Milosevic is losing his claim to Kosovo, and that is a result of the
actions he's taking on the ground. Obviously, part of the calculation of
that analysis is the increasing radicalization of the population of Kosovo.
While I don't think the Kosovar Albanians have walked away from their
signature, I think they do believe that Milosevic has been, by his actions,
decreased the legitimacy he has to his claims to Kosovo, and they do
believe that. But on the other hand, I'm not aware that they have walked
away from what they signed. Remember, what the basis principle of
Rambouillet was, was self-government and that self-government backed up
by a NATO-led security presence, and that remains our view.
QUESTION: A problem to your answers to both Mark and Charlie, in light of
everything that's happened, is it any longer conceivable that NATO can
allow Belgrade to rule Kosovo post-war?
MR. RUBIN: Well, I don't want to in a real time situation start
speculating about the long-term. What we need to see, if we're going to get
beyond the current NATO air campaign or the terms that I've described --
and that is the pulling back of his forces, the stopping of the offensive
and embracing peace based on the Rambouillet accords. As far what will come
out of that, again, self-government and security presence to back up that
self-government remains our view. On the other hand, as the President and
others have indicated Slobodan Milosevic is jeopardizing with each
passing day his claim to Kosovo.
QUESTION: Well, in Bosnia, there's been problems with return of refugees
because various factions control various places they'd like to go to. Do
you think it would be possible for ethnic Albanian refugees to return to
Kosovo if Serbia is still in control?
MR. RUBIN: We are determined to do what we can to ensure that the
refugees have an opportunity to return, and that remains our view. I'm just
not going to speculate on what a situation would be after President
Milosevic reverses course other than to make the general analytical point
the President made, which is that he's losing his claim to Kosovo.
QUESTION: You gave a very full answer to Mark's question, but I think the
core issue - I'm still unclear about your response to that - how long, how
many days or weeks, do you think are left before Kosovo will be ethnically
cleansed?
MR. RUBIN: Well, it's being ethnically cleansed right now. As far as what
the future will hold, we're quite aware of President Milosevic's brutal
tactics and what that means on the ground. I'm not going to give you an
assessment of the number of days it will take to drive the remaining
Kosovar Albanians out of there. Clearly, we are concerned about the
situation; we're working on the situation; and, as I said, that NATO is
going to continue to disrupt and cripple the assets that enable Milosevic
to carry out this policy in Kosovo. But I'm not going to try to track
exactly how long it will take him to pursue this brutal policy.
QUESTION: Today is the Serbian television's broadcast Milosevic and
Albanian leader meeting. Were you convinced he went to Milosevic his free
will?
MR. RUBIN: We just discussed this earlier, maybe you missed it. What I
indicated was that I'm not going to speculate on Rugova's state of mind. We
would like an opportunity to talk to him and to be able to ensure that he
has freedom of movement and his family has freedom of movement. I'm not
going to speculate on that.
QUESTION: Once the cleansing of Kosovo is complete, Milosevic would be in
a position to call for a cease-fire. Based on your answer to your previous
question, it would appear that such a call for a cease-fire by Milosevic
would probably be ignored and NATO would continue. Is that what you're
saying?
MR. RUBIN: That's not an outcome that we intend to accept.
QUESTION: As far as you all are concerned, is Milosevic responsible for
rebuilding these towns, villages that he's destroyed so that these people
will have something to come back to?
MR. RUBIN: We obviously would be delighted to be in a situation where we
could begin to work on the rebuilding of the Kosovar Albanian towns that
have been destroyed by allowing these people to go back. Clearly, he's
responsible for what's gone on there. There's no question about that.
QUESTION: Jamie, going back to the servicemen that were abducted, I mean
does the US believe that Milosevic is going to try to use these men as a
bargaining chip in terms of halting this military attack?
MR. RUBIN: Well, I wouldn't rule out any tactic on the part of someone
who's conducted the terrible policies that he's conducted in Kosovo.
QUESTION: Let me follow up - no concern that this latest crisis is going
to lead to any cracks in the alliance and the alliance's resolve here?
MR. RUBIN: Secretary Albright has been in daily contact with most of the
members of the alliance or certainly leading members. Today, I know she
spoke to Secretary General Solana; she spoke to Foreign Minister Vedrine,
Foreign Minister Dini. What we have been quite heartened by is that as
European leaders see and their public see more and more about what
Milosevic is doing in Kosovo, the determination of the NATO alliance to
stay the course only grows. Regardless of whether a particular abduction
occurs, the President and the other leaders of NATO are determined to stay
the course.
QUESTION: Is it totally a military decision on what level of degradation
of the Yugoslav forces is sufficient for NATO to -
MR. RUBIN: That would be a decision for the Commander-in-Chief to decide
that the military objectives have been met in consultation with other key
leaders of NATO.
QUESTION: Jamie, I understand the consistent line the Administration is
taking about how everyone always knew this was not going to be easy and
that given his penchant for violence, Milosevic was capable of almost
anything. But is there a single person in this government who was surprised
that the NATO air strikes to this point have not had any discernible effect
on Milosevic or his polices?
MR. RUBIN: Well, we've said from the beginning one of the goals was to
deter the continuing offensive, and so we did set as a goal deterring the
continuing offensive. It has not bee deterred as yet. So that was one goal.
But we also made clear, recognizing that that might not happen, that if he
wasn't deterred, that if necessary in the original statement by the
President, that we would pursue this policy of disrupting and damaging his
offensive capabilities.
QUESTION: I understand that. But the question is, is any one of the
planners surprised, a single person surprised, that the strikes have not
had their desired effect up to this point?
MR. RUBIN: I'm not going to get into the personal views of members of
this building or any other building. I think people hoped that Milosevic
would see the wisdom of avoiding this kind of conflict and pursuing peace.
I think everyone hoped it in the government, outside the government, at the
think tanks, in the editorial pages, in all the commentary in this room,
I'm sure, so everyone hoped that. But the idea that one expected that
is simply not correct. One knew one had to try to pursue a peaceful
outcome. One also knew that in the absence of the credible threat of force,
there was no chance of getting a peaceful outcome.
What we knew was last fall, there was a terrible tragedy in Kosovo. Over
the last year, there was a terrible tragedy in Kosovo. So what we tried to
do is pursue a peaceful path through negotiations through the winter
because we expected - and I indicated this to most of you in this room - an
offensive in the springtime; that if we didn't solve the problem in the
winter, the underlying political problem, that we faced another tragedy in
the spring.
So that was always our understanding. The question was what to do about it.
So we pursued what we thought had the best chance of succeeding peacefully,
that is a policy of backing diplomacy with the threat of force, knowing
that if we didn't succeed peacefully, it was going to happen anyway. Once
the offensive began well before the air strikes began, I think it only
accelerated the decision-making to pursue the air campaign because we would
not accept a situation where we stood idly by while this kind of terrible
thing was happening.
QUESTION: Do you intend to brief tomorrow?
MR. RUBIN: I don't have an answer to that question yet.
QUESTION: Has the Chinese told you that they do or do not or are they
still discussing the opening of its Yugoslav interests section?
MR. RUBIN: I do not have an answer to the question of who will be the
protecting power, yes.
QUESTION: On Lockerbie, are you anticipating any break in that today?
There's been some speculation.
MR. RUBIN: There's no way to speculate when Muammar Qadhafi will provide
the suspects as required by the UN resolutions. When it happens, we'll
react to it.
QUESTION: There are some more reports out of the UN saying that US
officials have told the relatives of people who were on the plane that it
could happen as early as Saturday, it could happen by Monday. Are you aware
of it?
MR. RUBIN: I don't know. I wouldn't dispute any such reports but again,
from this podium, we will believe that when it happens.
QUESTION: One more thing, completely a different continent, Zimbabwe.
There's some report, the US has cut off all aid to Zimbabwe. Do you have
anything about that?
MR. RUBIN: I don't have anything on that. We can check for you.
Thank you.
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