Summary

Footage Information

CONUS Archive
336189
State Department Briefing (1991)
Washington, DC
TVD
4/19/1991
:10
13:38
Richard Boucher, State Dept. Spokesman
News conference
(SUGGESTED TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO) 00:20 As for the numbers of refugees in Turkey on an area near Turkey, we now count about 450,000 Iraqi refugees who have entered Turkey, and about 400,000 located near the Turkish Iraqi border. Government of Turkey continues to move about 2000 Refugees a day to the new camp and Silopi priority is being given to the most vulnerable groups that is people who are ill, pregnant women, newborns and the elderly. The number is now over 6000 at this facility. American embassy personnel report the tremendous progress is in relief efforts is being made. Though much much work still remains to be done. The Turkish Red Crescent Society The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and other international and private voluntary relief organizations are actively involved in the relief efforts on the Turkish side of the border. The main plot problems that still need to be overcome are potable water supply, sanitation, and organization. US military reconnaissance teams are working inside Iraq assessing areas for possible camps. They're also identifying the location of displaced civilians, they haven't yet completed their survey operation. In addition, the International Committee of the Red Cross is working in northern Iraq and is delivering relief supplies to refugees. The ICRC is dispatched to a mountain pass near the Turkish border. A convoy which is carrying blankets kitchen set stoves, tents and medical supplies, and the ICRC is setting up a dispensary near that mountain pass. There is another ICR group that has gone up to work in northeastern Iraq. On the Iranian side of the border, the numbers are approximately the same. nearly 1 million Iraqi refugees mostly Kurds have entered Iran, as many as 500,000 are moving towards the border. Yesterday, the ISI and the Belgian government announced a jointly financed effort to dispatch equipment for a camp of Iraqi refugees in Iran. For see 130 planes are scheduled to depart Brussels this weekend to ferry tents, beds, blankets and other relief supplies to Iran. In southern Iraq, there are approximately 24,000 refugees in the area of coalition troops in southern Iraq. About 7000 refugees are in the vicinity of soft one. In addition to that the Saudi Arabian military has established a camp for Iraqi refugees north of Rafah. There are about 17,000 refugees in that camp. Allied forces continue to provide protection and assistance to refugees in need in the demilitarized zone, including in the town of soften. Allied forces are also providing protection to the to the 17,000 refugees in the camp run by the Saudi military, near Rafa. And that's about it, as far as new things on refuge right into the Iraqi letters if that's what you want to do. And then there any other questions on refugees, we'll be glad to take them later. Iraq is submitted two letters, one on nuclear related items submitted to the IAEA in Vienna, and the second on chemical, biological, and missiles to the UN in New York, and the second on chemical and biological weapons and missiles to the UN in New York. We've seen informal copies, we don't yet have the formal translations from the Arabic originals. We note that Iraq has responded on the date required by the UN Security Council resolution 687. In some areas to pledges appear to meet the requirements of resolution 687. Though we as I said before, don't have an official copy. We will be studying these letters more thoroughly. The declaration delivered in New York shows clearly that the Iraqis have significant stocks of chemical munitions, ballistic missiles and warheads for these missiles. But the responses appear to fall short of reality. Note for example, the declarations of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and ballistic missiles and their development, manufacturing and support facilities that we think fall short. The special commission that is to be created under the UN resolution is entitled to inspect any location in Iraq to enable them to carry out their mandate and we will assist them in drawing up a list of sites for onsite inspection. It is important to us and I think to the whole world community, that Iraq not be allowed to evade the obligation set out for them by the United Nations. And with that, and be less, I think I gave you the general appraisal that in many respects, we believe that these these declarations fall far short of reality. We are obviously going to study the letters carefully against all the available than the Yeah, on the nuclear items, they admit to only having nuclear materials safeguarded by the International Atomic Energy Agency. And they declare no nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons usable material, or other related facilities or activities, that we don't think that response is satisfactory. The resolution obligates Iraq to declare all activities actually or potentially related to nuclear weapons development. Once again, I'd say that the special commission and the IAEA are entitled to inspect any locations in Iraq. And we will assist them in drawing up a list of sites United States take the position that the Iraqi should turn over this, what is it 12 kilograms would fall short of the information that's generally available. And I think you're aware of we've been in the past often expressed our concerns about Iraqi nuclear activities. I can't get into all our fire information, obviously, but you're aware of such things as the attempt to purchase capacitors last year. Because and the sanctions committee is actually meeting now on this request. I would note though, in this context, that the resolution 687 makes it clear that the prohibition on Iraqi exports will remain in place until certain conditions have been fulfilled. These include things like the elimination of the nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and the establishment of compensation fund for claims against Iraq. Those conditions are still a long way from being fulfilled. The Iraqi government request refers to paragraph 23 of the resolution, which allows for an exception to the ban on Iraqi exports under certain limited circumstances. Now we're examining that request. And obviously, we'll be discussing it with other countries in the sanctions committee. But we do have a number of concerns related to the implementation of Resolution 687. And related to the situation of the Kurds. But the we have, we're not willing to go ahead and let me run through those. First, noting that one of the areas where it falls short is that Iraq stated it doesn't have biological weapons. But one of the some of the things that it does respond to are paragraph seven of the resolution. In that connection, Iraq submitted a statement that the presidency subject to ratification had accepted the provisions of the agreement banning development, production and storage of biological weapons and toxic weapons in 1972. In response, also in response to paragraph seven, Iraq stated it also reaffirmed its obligations under the 1925 convention that relates to chemical weapons. In response to paragraph nine a Iraq submitted a list of locations, quantities and kinds of chemical and ballistic missiles. But I noticed that there was some questions about that, in compliance with paragraph 10. Iraq pledged unconditionally not to use introduce, build or acquire any chemical weapons or missiles, in accordance with paragraph 11. Iraq said it unconditionally reaffirmed Iraq's commitments under the 1968 Treaty on Non Proliferation, and in accordance with paragraph 12. Iraq said it unconditionally agreed not to acquire or produce nuclear weapons or materials which can be used in nuclear weapons, or to acquire components or to support research and development on nuclear weapons, and consented to making all materials which may be used in nuclear weapons and subject to immediate inspection. And agreed to the requirements of paragraph 13 of UN Security Council resolutions 687. Saddam Hussein, is it worth any more? We hope that the United Nations will take over very quickly the administration of the camps. As you know, these are being established not just by up us, but by the United States, the British and the French acting together. And I think there may be other countries cooperating with the effort. So at this point, that's kind of where we stand whether it requires further resolutions to do some of the things I think we believe that the basis of resolution 688 provides a basis for our efforts, provides a basis for the UN effort that is going on, including inside Iraq that will go on inside Iraq. The President spoke to this the other day about the possibilities But something like blue helmets, deployment of blue helmets would require further resolutions. It's really too early to say whether further resolution would be required. If more is needed to deal effectively with a situation we would discuss with other security council members, what the Security Council might do. 10:19 I said in the biological area, they provided no real information on that night that they had any. And of course, you remember from the so called baby milk factory, our firm view that they had a biological weapons program with some source. Destroyed. Yeah, but the the resolution requires reporting of all facilities that are related to this. And I think we assume that that includes whatever state of repair they happen to be in logical. I mean, all the evidence from people who were there, that it wasn't i Yes, President de Klerk announced yesterday that he will appoint a commission of inquiry to investigate the causes of factional violence in South Africa. And he also proposed a two day conference on the issue in late May. We welcome any initiatives that could end the violence, and help provide for security in the transition period. We agree with President declare that it is important for a wide range of individuals, organizations and parties to meet to discuss ways of achieving this goal. We also support the proposal for a standing Commission of Inquiry on the violence. But of course, the composition and authority of such a commission will determine its credibility and effectiveness. We hope that all parties will give these proposals serious consideration. comment about the eighth this report in our continuing dialogue with the Chinese government on this issue. We have suspected for some time that some Chinese prison products were making their way to the US market. We've been cooperating with the customs service for over a year now to investigate the extent of such imports and whether they violate the Tariff Act of 1930. Should those investigations uncover exports in violation of US laws? We will take firm steps to enforce those laws that have any bearing on whether or not well, the the administration is still considering the question of whether to renew China's MFN status. Under the law the President has until June 3 To make this decision. The Jackson Vanik amendment obligates the president to consider whether MFN renewal would substantially promote freedom of emigration. But in reaching his decision to extend MFN in 1991. The President will also consider whether extending MFN would cause the would advance the cause of human rights and reform in China as well as other vital US national interests. If there's a naming and charging those responsible for the violence in Chicago, where we remain strongly opposed to the use of force against peaceful demonstrators who are exercising basic human rights, including the right to peaceful assembly, and we would again call on the Albanian authorities to investigate these acts of violence thoroughly and promptly.
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