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USIA - State Department Report, 96-11-29
From: The United States Information Agency (USIA) Gopher at <gopher://gopher.usia.gov>
STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1996
(Serbia, North Korea, Belarus, Zaire, Cuba) (650)
State Department Office of Press Relations director John Dinger briefed
informally in a midday walk-thru of the correspondent's press room.
(There is no transcript of this briefing)
SERBIA -- The United States, Dinger said, has once again called on Serbian
authorities to reverse "their unacceptable decision to annul the results of
last week's municipal election." On November 27, Dinger said, the U.S.
chief of mission met again with President Slobodan Milosevic "to underscore
our grave concern. We have, as yet, not received an adequate response from
President Milosevic to our concerns. As we have already stated, the results
of the first round of elections were clear and did not necessitate further
polling. We condemn the government's attempt to stifle information about"
citizen protests over annulment of the election results and "have
continually pointed out to Milosevic that restricting a free media
is counterproductive" and "further hinders Belgrade's reintegration
into the international community." Counter to some press reports,
Dinger said, "our opinion is that these demonstrations do not have
any anti-American overtones."
NORTH KOREA -- The State Department, Dinger said, has thanked Rep. Bill
Richardson (Democrat of New Mexico) for his efforts in securing the release
of U.S. citizen Evan Carl Hunziker. The North Koreans, Dinger said, raised
a number of matters with Richardson, including relations with South Korea
and bilateral relations with the United States. The tone of the North
Korean talks with Richardson, Dinger said, were good and "we hope that they
are a harbinger of an improved situation in the Peninsula. We would note
that an important element of an improved situation in the Peninsula is an
appropriate North Korean response to the recent submarine" incident that
raised tensions in the area, and Congressman Richardson raised that issue
also, Dinger said. Richardson indicated, Dinger said, that the North
Koreans want to put the submarine incident "behind them but they did not
offer any gesture or intention" in that regard.
ZAIRE -- On November 29, about a dozen potential troop contributors met in
Ottawa discussing, among other things, a tentative schedule for a
multinational deployment of troops to Africa. The United States was
represented by its charge d'affaires in Ottawa, Tom Weston. All the parties
who were at the meeting are potential contributors to the multinational
force on a humanitarian mission to Central Africa. Dinger said an airdrop
of relief supplies to the refugees remains an "option," which, as Defense
Secretary Perry has said, the United States will "seriously" consider in
consultation with Canada, the country heading the multinational mission.
BELARUS -- Dinger said the United States reiterates its concern about a
number of recent moves taken by President Alexandr Lukashenko, including
his signing of a new constitution, appointing a new parliament "apparently
by those who supported him in the previous parliament," creating that
parliament in a closed session by unanimous vote, appointing a new
parliament chairman, and signing a decree ending impeachment proceedings
against himself. All these actions, Dinger said, represent "a seriously
flawed process" that the United States has "grave reservations about."
CUBA -- The United States has seen reports that the European Union may be
considering announcing a tougher stance on democracy and human rights in
Cuba. "We, of course, are pleased with any effort by the E.U. to help
expedite a transition to democracy in Cuba and welcome any move on the part
of the E.U. along those lines," said Dinger. The United States wants to put
its emphasis on the E.U. to take a more "pro-active" stance in bringing
about a transition to democracy and better human rights in Cuba. President
Clinton's Special Representative Stuart Eizenstat has worked "very
diligently," Dinger said, "to that end and is showing some success and
we're very pleased" about that.
(There is no transcript of this briefing)
From the United States Information Agency (USIA) Gopher at gopher://gopher.usia.gov
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