Summary

Source CONUS Archive
Record ID 247641
Story Slug State Department Briefing (1992)
Location WASHINGTON, DC
Format TVD
Date 6/18/1992
Archive Time 12:02
TRT 7:42
Supers Margaret Tutwiler
Video Description News conference with cutaways
Script (SUGGESTED TRANSCRIPT FROM AUDIO) 0:15 outskirts of the city. We understand Serbian forces have expanded their control over areas adjacent to the airport, including dobro. Kenya, which is you recall the other day as it was a suburb they are at the airport. Serbian forces are using tanks and armored vehicles and their attacks on Verbania. We understand that the dead remain uncollected on the street. Residents report that Serbian forces are taking away non Serbs from areas they now control. Clearly the ceasefire is not holding. Serbian forces continue to control Sarajevo is air continue to voice peaceful intentions. While continuing their brutal tactics on the ground. Over the past 48 hours, they have flaunted the latest US ceasefire and a flagrant attempt to seize further territory around the Syria EVO airport. Instead of moving to comply with United Nations resolutions. Serbs are continuing their attacks on Sarajevo while talking about possible cooperation with United Nations efforts to reopen the Sarajevo airport for humanitarian relief. They should realize that these tactics do not fool anyone in the international community and will only earn them stronger condemnation in continuing isolation. Concerning convoys, the United on the effects of the sanctions. 1:39 We note reports from Belgrade media that the termination of natural gas deliveries has caused over 60 factories to close among these are serves only printing paper producer. Belgrade media also reports that over 500,000 workers will be laid off in the near future. 1:58 We note continued report that organized labor is dis satisfied with regimes policies. We also note continued reports of shortages and panic buying of food and fuel and Belgrade 2:11 on June 15, the Bosnian president and the Croatian President President issued a joint statement expressing support for Bosnia independence and resistance against aggression by Serbian military forces. The statement is an agreement on generally shared principles which both sides have previously reiterated. We are seeking further clarification of the agreement. We have not seen it. We remain committed to the principle of no forcible changes of borders. The United States view is that all military forces in Bosnia must come under the authority of that state's legitimate government or habits agreements to remain on its territory. We also reiterate that all sides in this struggle must stop the fighting and resume serious negotiations. So under the situation, Scowcroft mentioned this morning when he was on I believe it was NBC. Today show he mentioned a team that was going today, a team of American and Russian investigators left Moscow this morning on a Russian plane leased by the embassy to look into reports that an American POWs from the Korean War had been held in a prison camp near the town of Bashara as recently as 18 months ago. The American portion of the team is composed of an embassy official, a offices of the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Defense Intelligence Agency. The staff is conducting interviews with persons who might have information relative to American POWs and is investigating any information which becomes available. They also maintain contact with the Russian pow commission members to coordinate the archival work being carried out by the Commission. 3:52 Not just data the Secretary of State did this morning. And as our standard policy, the Defense Department will be saying the same thing today. We did not discuss names for obvious reasons. But having said that, I will tell you, you're assuming that we have a correct name. I would steer you not on that assumption. We're not sure what a name is or names are. We have said the President has said just yesterday to a disputed area of the South China Sea by China. 4:22 Crestone is a private corporation and the United States government takes no position on the contract itself, given the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. We have informed Crestone that Vietnam also claims waters covered by crackdowns agreement with China regarding the competing territorial claims in the South China Sea. The United States takes the position that the countries involved in this territorial dispute should resolve their differences peacefully and that freedom of navigation should be preserved. And American Embassy officer attended the signing ceremony. The officers presence at the event should in no way be interpreted as 5:00 showing support for Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea. The Embassy had no involvement in this matter prior to the announcement of the agreement at the reception, 5:11 US residence and the joint understanding that was signed yesterday to use their literal language and I quote, The two Presidents directed this agreement be promptly recorded in a brief treaty document, which they will sign and submit for ratification in their respective countries. Because this new agreement is separate from the bills on the START treaty, they continue to urge that the START treaty be ratified and implemented as soon as possible. It's understood that is that understood with between the US now and I can't find it. One second. Yes. 5:46 Our policy as you know, which I'll restate is it we repeat our call for the immediate unconditional and safe release of all persons held outside the legal system in the region, as well as a full accounting of all persons who may have died while in captivity. President Bush's you know, said that he was very pleased with this release, and that he viewed this as a significant step forward. 6:11 Again, want to go back to this decision is my understanding I'm not a lawyer, was a Supreme Court ruling on on the domestic legal system here in the United States? I know it was interpreted as meaning that well, the headline writers of the United States can now go kidnap people around the world. All I'm going to continue to do is to state for you what our policy is concerning that subject should that was beaten, it was an absolutely horrendous thing that an American citizen was was put through in my mind there is there is no comparison within a state of war. Americans in the line of duty doing what what what what their their country has asked them to do, and then being called over no matter where it is to to publicly put themselves through after all, for just doing what what their job is. There's just no comparison to me around the country apart from home of alliances between Bosnia and Croatia, and if so do you have any comment on it? Alliances is what we have knowledge of. We don't have a lot of knowledge of it. I'm Alan estate announced arm in London if you recall after his visit with the Prime Minister, one of the things the United States would be doing your staff there and Belgrade that is being implemented. Now. Our
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