ACCESSION
NUMBER:346826
FILE ID:POL303
DATE:06/01/94
TITLE:STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1 (06/01/94)
TEXT:*94060103.POL
STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1
(Colombia-radar, Cuba, North Korea, Cambodia-Thailand) (690)
NEWS BRIEFING -- Deputy spokesman Christine Shelly discussed the following
1opics:
REAL TIME RADAR INTELLIGENCE CUT OFF FOR COLOMBIA, PERU
The U.S. Defense Department continues to review the May 1 suspension of a
four-year program for sharing "real time radar intelligence" with the
governments of Colombia and Peru.
The suspension "puts the governments of Peru and Colombia at a disadvantage
in interdicting air shipments of cocaine to the United States," the deputy
spokesman said. The United States estimates that traffic was approximately
600 metric tons in 1993.
U.S. officials have said the intelligence information was being used by
Colombian and Peruvian air force planes to shoot down drug traffickers
rather than intercepting them and forcing them to land and stand trial.
"There's a very long history to this and these are very, very serious
discussions and exchanges that we've had," Shelly told reporters. "The
review has not yet been completed, and I think until that review is
completed and some of these other issues that have emerged have been
addressed, this is about all I can tell you."
She said it was too early to speculate about whether the program would be
reinstated. But she emphasized "we are very concerned with having the
strongest possible drug interdiction programs."
U.S. WANTS PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF ASYLUM ATTEMPT IN HAVANA
The United States hopes for a peaceful resolution of the situation in Havana
where over 100 Cubans are seeking asylum at the residence of the Belgian
ambassador, Shelly said.
She dismissed Cuban allegations that a restrictive U.S. immigration policy
is responsible for this incident, commenting that "Our view is that it's
the lack of political and economic reform in Cuba which creates an
environment which can be conducive" to this kind of situation.
The deputy spokesman pointed to a 1984 bilateral migration agreement with
Cuba "which we believe is working quite well and which does satisfy the
interests of both countries."
Under the provisions of agreement more than 33,000 refugees, immigrants and
parolees have been admitted to the United States from Cuba, Shelly said,
noting that "Only those who qualify under the appropriate provisions of
U.S. immigration law, of course, may be admitted."
NORTH KOREA STILL DISCHARGING FUEL FROM REACTOR
North Korea continues to discharge fuel from its nuclear reactor at a "rapid
place" and "in a manner which may block" the International Atomic Energy
Agency's (IAEA) ability to determine how much plutonium has been separated.
"So far, the IAEA has not informed us that it would be impossible to carry
out analysis of the fuel to determine the reactor's operating history.
(But) The continuing fuel discharge at the pace that we've described is
certainly jeopardizing that ability," Shelly pointed out.
She said North Korea's test of an anti-ship missile on May 30 in the Sea of
Japan "can only add to the tensions which already exist in the region."
The United States has "repeatedly warned of the potential implications for
regional stability of North Korea's separate ballistic missile program,"
the deputy spokesman stressed.
THAILAND URGED TO CUT OFF AID TO KHMER ROUGE
Asked about a Washington Post story which alleges Thailand is supporting the
Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, Shelly said the United States will continue to
urge Thai government and military officials to make sure that all such
1upport is cut off.
The Thai government, including the military, has a "clearly-enunciated"
policy of non-support for the Khmer Rouge, she noted. "Questions have
certainly arisen over the implementation of this policy."
"We have raised this matter with the Thai government and military
officials," the deputy spokesman continued. "We have strongly urged that
every effort be made to ensure that all support for and contact with the
Khmer Rouge would be cut off."
Regarding the situation inside Cambodia, she stressed that the United States
"supports the freely-elected Royal Cambodian Government and commends the
Royal Cambodian Government for its attempts to bring about a cease-fire in
Cambodia."
NNNN
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