U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, 01-03-01

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From: The Department of State Foreign Affairs Network (DOSFAN) at <http://www.state.gov>

Richard Boucher, Spokesman

Washington, DC

March 1, 2001

TRANSCRIPT:

MR. BOUCHER: Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. What I would like to do at the beginning is talk a little bit about Burma, the meeting, and tell you about the statement we are putting out on Fiji.

Secretary Powell met today with UN Special Envoy for Burma, Razali Ismail. The Secretary was encouraged by Ambassador Razali's report that dialogue between the Burmese regime and Aung San Suu Kyi is moving forward. We hope that the dialogue will lead to national reconciliation in Burma and democratic transition to a civilian government.

Ambassador Razali has brought an energetic, far-seeing and balanced perspective to his efforts at facilitating communication between all parties in Burma. We strongly support his mission, and we are ready to assist him in any way that we can.

Although we are encouraged by the ongoing dialogue and recent releases of some political prisoners, we are mindful that the Burmese regime continues to systematically violate the fundamental basic human rights of its citizens. We urge the Burmese regime to move forward in its dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma's democratically elected representatives.

So that is my way of rundown on part of the meeting between Ambassador Razali and the Secretary.

I would like to say something as well on the appeals court decision in Fiji. We have repeatedly stated that upholding basic principles of democracy and international standards of human rights, as embodied in Fiji's 1997 constitution, would be a benchmark for determining our reaction to the crisis in Fiji. The constitution was drafted to recognize the rights of all citizens of Fiji to equal and democratic representation in Fiji's Government.

We therefore welcome the appeals court decision upholding the validity of Fiji's 1997 constitution, and we call on the interim administration to implement the court's findings without delay.

The United States encourages the rapid and positive response from all parties that will lead to an end to the current crisis in Fiji, and to welcoming Fiji back into the community of international nations.

Let me then turn it over to you for any questions you might have.

Q: If there's nothing on those two subjects -- Macedonia. Reports there suggest that the situation is getting rather tense. What is the State Department's current size-up? Is Macedonia about to slip into that awful mess?

MR. BOUCHER: Well, we are certainly quite concerned and quite aware of the situation in Macedonia. As you know, the Secretary, Lord Robertson, and other representatives at NATO talked about the situation there and made some decisions with regard to sending envoys down and trying to help out in that situation. And NATO continues to work on this closely.

There was, late yesterday, an extremist group that was in a village in the Kosovo-Macedonian border that attacked Macedonian military positions with self-propelled rockets. The rockets missed the target and the military didn't return their fire.

We certainly condemn this kind of violence by extremists who are trying to undermine the stability of Macedonia, Kosovo and the region as a whole. We have supported the Macedonian Government's measured response to these acts, and we will continue to work within NATO and with NATO military to do whatever we can to help Macedonia bring this situation under control.

Q: Do you have any clarification on this supposed -- I don't know -- disagreement about whether NATO is considering sending troops into this buffer zone? France says it is; NATO says it's not. Do you have any clarification?

MR. BOUCHER: Well, I will tell you what we know of this situation, and I think it is important to be fairly precise in our speaking and your writing about this situation on this buffer zone. The buffer zone is not occupied by NATO, and it is not correct to say that NATO is pulling out of the buffer zone. At the same time, we have seen some reports of statements about an international military presence inside southern Serbia. That is not our intention either. An international presence is not envisaged by us. I think NATO, in looking at various options about how to conduct this phased and conditioned reduction of the size of the ground safety zone, is looking at various options and how to phase it, what the conditions should be. But putting an international presence in there is not what is considered.

What we are looking at is that there would be a phased process where -- let me get the details here -- there would be a phased process where the ground safety zone, which is now five kilometers, would be progressively reduced and there would be a phased return of Serbian security forces into this zone, but under the continued authority of NATO-led peacekeeping forces. The NATO commander and the KFOR commander would still have authority over the zone, and progressively on phased and under certain conditions, the Serbian security forces would move into the zone. So that is what is being discussed, how to do that.

Q: (Inaudible.)

MR. BOUCHER: I don't know exactly what the quote was, but there are a number of different discussions and perhaps misunderstandings about this situation.

Q: Do you have anything to say about Ukrainian police pulling down a tent camp of anti-Kuchma protestors?

MR. BOUCHER: We regret the actions by Ukrainian law enforcement authorities this morning. They disbanded what we saw as a peaceful demonstration, which has been in place along Kiev's main street for several weeks. We would call upon the Ukrainian authorities to observe their international commitment to freedom of assembly.

The Ukrainian Government has stated its commitment to resolve political issues using constitutional means, to engage in dialogue with the opposition, and to take steps to conduct and conclude a transparent investigation of the Gongadze case. And we would strongly urge the government to honor those commitments.

Q: There was also a report in Kiev that President Bush had sent a letter to President Kuchma preceding this. Can you give any clarification on that?

MR. BOUCHER: Our Ambassador conveyed an oral message from President Bush to President Kuchma on February 27th. He covered in that message three main themes that will, I think, be familiar to you. The first is the present situation in Ukraine presents Ukraine and its leaders with a test of their commitment to the rule of law, democracy and human rights; second, the United States and Ukraine share the long-term goal of seeing Ukraine become an independent, democratic, market-oriented state committed to the rule of law and integrated with the Euro-Atlantic community; and, third, success in reaching that goal and our ability to provide support towards that goal depend on the Ukraine's taking concrete steps toward meaningful reform.

Q: It's slightly coded. I mean, it's not specific. Has the Administration come to any conclusion about these allegations of corruption, and when you're talking about -- I mean, they are repressing journalists, but are there any instances of anti-democratic activities? I guess theft would be one, if true. But what's behind your concern?

MR. BOUCHER: There are a lot of allegations. A lot of them have to do with these audiotape recordings. Some of them talk about repressing journalists, some talk about attitudes towards opponents, some talk about undermining elections. We have no basis for speculating as to which ones of those might be true and which ones might not be.

As you know, the Government in Ukraine has pledged an investigation. I think we have pledged to help with that investigation in some ways. But in the end, what we want to see is an investigation and respect for constitutional process. And our ability to help this government, to help with the process of reforms, depends on their honoring their commitments to respect the constitution and democracy and the rule of law.

Q: Any consideration of assistance, which is what, the third largest? They are our biggest recipient of US aid. Anybody thinking of maybe using aid as leverage to get a little more democracy in Kiev?

MR. BOUCHER: There is no change in our aid program at this point, but I think the message that we delivered makes quite clear that our ability to help them in the future depends on their ability, on their willingness, to abide by the constitution, abide by the commitments to the rule of law.

Q: Are you concerned that this crackdown of the protestors, and some of the press incidents, that perhaps President Kuchma doesn't have the moral authority to govern?

MR. BOUCHER: I wouldn't make a statement like that.

Q: Can you confirm that Ukraine is still the third largest recipient of US aid? Do you know the numbers?

MR. BOUCHER: I don't have the numbers in my head. I have to check.

Q: Do you have any comment on the British decision to ban 21 groups, which are considered as terrorists from operating within the country?

MR. BOUCHER: I was trying to figure out if they put it on the terrorism or put it under the UK. Okay. The British produced a list of 21 proscribed organizations. It is similar to our list of 29 designated foreign terrorist organizations. The differences have to do with the definitions that are in the two laws, our law and their law, that provide for such designations.

We certainly welcome the effort by the British to identify and help curtail the financing of terrorist groups. In both of these cases, both in our case and the case of the British, our governments are in fact using legal means, legal tools, to deal with what is a very serious problem in the world today, and that is terrorism.

Q: Can I ask a question on Ukraine?

MR. BOUCHER: Okay, Ukraine.

Q: Do you have anything to say about the possibility of trade sanctions being imposed as a result of its ability to deal with piracy of CDs?

MR. BOUCHER: No, I wouldn't have anything to say here. That would be a question for determinations by the Trade Representative's offices.

Q: Will this list mean more coordination in efforts between us and Britain on anti-terrorism efforts? And do you know how many other countries, if any, publish lists like this?

MR. BOUCHER: I don't know how many other countries might have a list. I will have to check on that.

As far as more coordination between the United States and Britain, I would like to say yes, but I don't think there is anything at all lacking in our coordination right now. This is one of the governments with whom we work extremely closely and very extensively on matters regarding terrorism.

Q: But they didn't have these kinds of -- they didn't use these kinds of legal tools before now, so will that help crack down?

MR. BOUCHER: Now they have the ability to take steps against the financing -- the financing of terrorist groups, and that is obviously a very welcome thing. As we try to curtail financial flows or use of the United States system for financing terrorist groups, we also welcome steps like this by others to crack down on the money that supports terrorism.

So, yes, London is one of the major financial centers in the world, like New York, and it is important that they have this ability to work on the financing of terrorist groups.

Q: But it wasn't done with (inaudible)?

MR. BOUCHER: I assume it was, but I can't tell you exactly how.

Q: Mr. Mahendra Chaudhry in Fiji have said that he is still the prime minister, and now you made a statement earlier. Now, number one, do you or US still accept him as prime minister? And also, what steps will theUS take to bring the 1997 constitution or him as the prime minister and his government back in power?

MR. BOUCHER: Well, I don't think it is for us to return somebody to power. We have expressed very clearly our view. The method of returning to democracy is for the people of Fiji to decide. We do expect the interim administration to implement the court's ruling. The court called for a return to democratic government under the 1997 constitution, so we would expect them to do that and to carry out those steps.

As far as the status of Prime Minister Chaudhry, I think that is the same answer really, that we would expect them to return to a constitutional government under the 1997 constitution. And how they do that is up to the Fijian people to decide.

Q: Another question on Burma. Now, Burma is one of the two countries -- Burma and Afghanistan -- in this new narcotics report -- which is not certified, and this morning the Ambassador met with the Secretary. Was there any discussion about the drug -- why his country was one of the two only not certified?

MR. BOUCHER: There was not any discussion of the drug certification report. They talked about the dialogue, they talked about our desire to support Ambassador Razali's effort to foster a dialogue. But at this point, there was no discussion of the drug report or -- well, as I pointed out in the statement, we still think Burma has many human rights problems that need to be addressed as well, so this is the beginning of a dialogue. There are many issues that need to be addressed by Burma.

Q: This is not maybe the right place geographically, but do you know about the IMF and whether they have taken a decision on assistance to Turkey?

MR. BOUCHER: You know, the IMF is right across town, and anybody that wants to go over there and ask him could probably get an answer from them.

Q: Couldn't do that and be at the briefing at the same time.

MR. BOUCHER: Sorry.

Q: Do you have anything on China's ratification of this human rights accord with conditions? Is there any US response to it? Are you satisfied with it?

MR. BOUCHER: Overall, I think we welcome the ratification of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. As before, we would continue to urge the Chinese Government to ratify and implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

There is reportedly a reservation about labor. I'm not sure we have had a chance to examine that reservation at this point, so it is hard for me to do an analysis. But certainly we would urge China to abide by all international labor standards and to respect the free formation of labor unions, which is part of that Covenant.

Q: If they were to ratify the entire thing, this would have no bearing on the US decision to sponsor the human rights resolution next month, or would it?

MR. BOUCHER: Our decision to sponsor the resolution is based on the facts, the facts as you saw them in our Human Rights Report; the need, we think, based on those facts to press for improvements in the human rights situation in China. While we could welcome their signing of the Covenant, we would look to changes on the ground if we were to be able to change -- to affect our decisions on going forward. So this wouldn't change our decision.

Q: The legislation that's authorizing a number of these special offices for particular regions has expired today. Could you go into what new envoys are expired, and do you have plans to reauthorize them?

MR. BOUCHER: It's not legislation. It was the National Security -- what do they call is -- NSPD? The first directive, the prime directive, of the Administration on the organization of the national security apparatus said to all of us that as of March 1st that the special envoys/ special coordinators/special advisors positions would expire on March the 1st unless the Secretary of State designated them to continue or revive them.

At this point, we don't have a list. The Secretary hasn't gone through and decided exactly which ones to continue, so I suppose technically they all expired. There are various categories. Some of them are, in fact, established by legislation. Obviously those don't expire by Executive decision. But the Secretary will take all this into account as he makes his decisions on which ones he wants to continue, and which ones not.

So the bottom line is we are quite aware of the date, quite aware of the expiration. But the Secretary still has it within his power to make his decisions, and when he does so, we will inform you.

Q: So just to follow up, technically, today the Special Middle East Coordinator Office is no longer?

MR. BOUCHER: And the Secretary could revive it or not at any moment.

Q: Okay.

MR. BOUCHER: So I wouldn't draw too many conclusions from the timing, from the date or the time of day.

Q: Any comment on the bombing today? And also, any reaction on The Washington Post story that Israel may go in and retake Palestinian territories? There have already been denials from Israel, but I just wanted to know if this had ever come up or whether the Secretary may have any inclination of how possible this really is after his talks there.

MR. BOUCHER: I don't believe that came up. I have not heard that discussed during the meetings that I was in at least. There were some of the meetings I was not in. But we have seen the report. Obviously we oppose actions that might exacerbate the situation.

In terms of the car bomb today, it apparently left one dead and several injured. It is a cowardly act of terrorism, which we wholeheartedly condemn. The Secretary said this past weekend he and President Bush have been profoundly troubled by the violence that has occurred over the last six weeks. Nearly 400 people have been killed. The loss of so many lives is a terrible tragedy, and we will take the occasion once again to urge everyone to do everything they can to stop the violence.

Q: Can I get your reaction on The Post article?

MR. BOUCHER: On The Post article? Sure. We have seen the reports; it hasn't come up that I am aware of; and we don't like things that would exacerbate the situation.

Q: And that is such a thing?

MR. BOUCHER: What?

Q: That is such a thing?

MR. BOUCHER: Well, if there is such a thing, it would be such a thing.

Q: And we wouldn't like it?

MR. BOUCHER: And we wouldn't like it. But because you have something that is reported in The Washington Post that may or may not be occurring -- it's a bad idea. But is it a real idea that somebody has? I don't know. The Israeli Government, as you have pointed out, has already said it is not their idea.

Q: (Inaudible.)

MR. BOUCHER: We read the wires, too.

Q: (Inaudible) read in The Washington Post, which isn't here to defend itself, as usual. (Laughter.)

MR. BOUCHER: Don't let that stop you.

Q: No, no. No, but this -- it may stop me because I know the constraints on you, and I also know a little bit about legal constraints. Are you able to discuss the obvious, that Mr. Hanssen was able to walk around with secret documents from here? Forget the back of Ambassador Roy's car. I mean, was Hanssen in a position to have frequent access to secret documents by the nature of his job -- carrying them from here to there?

MR. BOUCHER: I'm not in a position to answer anything having to do with what his specific activities might have been or what might be under investigation, but I do believe at the time we described him as a liaison between the State Department and the FBI, between the Office of Foreign Missions and the FBI. And that would involve helping transmit documents, move documents and information back and forth between the two agencies. That is what a liaison does.

Q: What is China saying to the US Government at this point about these allegations of Chinese technological help to Iraq? Are they being helpful to us at all?

MR. BOUCHER: The Chinese have told us that they will investigate, that they will look into the matter. We are looking forward to the results of those investigations. We are looking forward to hearing back from them. That is about where we are.

Q: Do you have any comments on the trafficking, on the modern-day slavery in America, according to the television and news print reports? And Congressman Chris Smith is taking the lead that over 50,000 women are being imported in the US from around the world and they are placed in various states, including many of them in this area.

MR. BOUCHER: This is a topic that we have talked about very frequently in the past, and it is a topic that remains of concern to us. Trafficking is a human rights violation. Trafficking is, as we have called it, a modern-day form of slavery. Trafficking is a criminal enterprise that is enormous and corrupting in many ways. The estimate is that there are 50,000 women, women and sometimes children, who have been brought to the United States under these trafficking things. There is a very active law enforcement program.

Last year, Congress passed a new law governing this. So there is a lot of effort, has been a lot of effort, from the United States and will continue to be a lot of effort from the United States to combat trafficking, both in the United States and around the world.

Q: (Inaudible) in the US and many of these countries where these women -- any country have in any way spoken with anybody in the State Department?

MR. BOUCHER: Constantly. We work with countries all around the world. There have been international conferences. It has been a feature of the President's and the Secretary's visits -- Secretary Albright's visits certainly, and I'm sure it will be as Secretary Powell takes up these issues. The Secretary has made quite clear that we are going to have a strong human rights policy. Human rights will be a principal issue as we pursue things around the world, and fighting these criminal enterprises that violate human rights will be part of that policy as well.

Q: Could you say -- sort of a catch-all question -- but has the Secretary had reason to be on the phone with people in the Middle East, anybody in particular, about either the violence or the follow-up on tightening controls against smuggling, et cetera? Since he has been back a couple of days, did he have cause to call anybody?

MR. BOUCHER: I can't remember what we talked about yesterday. Yesterday, he talked to King Abdallah of Jordan. Today, he talked to the Emir of the United Arab Emirates, both of these conversations being about Iraq, about tightening controls on weapons, money and smuggling vis-à-vis Iraq, and smoothing out the flow of civilian goods for the Iraqi people.

Q: Walker hadn't been there yet?

MR. BOUCHER: No, Walker has not been there yet. He should be in Turkey today. I'm not sure where he goes from there.

Q: Thank you very much.

MR. BOUCHER: Thank you.

[end]

Released on March 1, 2001

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