ACCESSION NUMBER:00000
FILE ID:95062207.POL
DATE:06/22/95
TITLE:DEFENSE DEPARTMENT REPORT, THURSDAY, JUNE 22
TEXT:
(Bosnia, China/Iran/Pakistan, Perry/Moscow-Warsaw trip) (670)
NEWS BRIEFING -- Spokesman Ken Bacon discussed the following topics:
BOTH U.N., NATO APPROVAL REQUIRED FOR AIR STRIKES IN BOSNIA
Asked about recent prohibited Bosnian Serb flights in the no-fly zone
and the reported rejection by U.N. commanders of a NATO request for
air strikes, Bacon stressed that the authorization for air strikes
"remains a dual-key approach" requiring approval by both the United
Nations and NATO.
Either the U.N. or NATO can "refuse" to turn the key, he noted, and
the decision is for them to resolve.
Earlier in the day, Defense Secretary Perry told reporters that NATO
continues to enforce the no-fly zone over Bosnia. During an appearance
with Norwegian Defense Minister Jorgen Kosmo, he noted that the
unknown mission of two Bosnian-Serb aircraft was "aborted" after NATO
airborne early warning radar aircraft detected the flights and two
NATO F-18 aircraft were dispatched to the vicinity. As a result, the
secretary said the Serb aircraft "immediately landed," proving the
effectiveness of the no-fly enforcement effort.
Commenting on the Rapid Reaction Force (RRF) which is being deployed
to Bosnia to protect the U.N. Protection Force (UNPROFOR), Bacon said
the 10,000-person British-French-Dutch force is designed to provide
"added protection" to UNPROFOR and to help the peacekeepers carry out
their mandate "more effectively."
Bacon said the United States would participate in providing NATO air
cover if requested to do so. The United States has also offered to
provide strategic airlift to the RRF, he said, and will probably do so
in July when a request is forthcoming. U.S. and NATO officials, the
spokesman said, are still working out "the parameters" of the RRF
support package.
Earlier, when Perry was asked about the provisions for possible U.S.
air cover for the RRF, he noted that the United States would not be
asked to do so "unilaterally." While the request would be made to
NATO, the secretary said, because the United States represents about
half of the NATO force, "there is a fifty-fifty chance that it would
be U.S. airplanes actually called upon to do it."
Asked about the cost of RRF support and the possibility of obtaining
Congressional approval, Bacon indicated that there are "elements" of
support which could be provided without specific congressional
authority, but he stressed that the goal of the administration is to
consult "fully" with Congress.
NO FIRM EVIDENCE OF CHINESE MTCR VIOLATION
Bacon said the United States will continue to monitor "very closely"
the possible transfer of Chinese missile components to Iran and
Pakistan, following a June 22 New York Times report alleging that the
Central Intelligence Agency believes that certain components have been
delivered.
"We are concerned about any actions that encourage or produce the
proliferation of weapons," the spokesman said.
As of now, the spokesman said, there is "no firm conclusionary
evidence that the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) has been
violated."
Bacon said Defense Secretary Perry has discussed the subject with his
counterparts in China and Pakistan. While U.S. officials continue to
look at the issue "very carefully," the spokesman said, there is still
no evidence the MTCR has been violated "by any ongoing or recent
transactions."
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
PERRY WILL TRAVEL TO POLAND AND RUSSIA
Defense Secretary Perry will depart Washington June 26 for a trip to
Poland and Russia.
The secretary will hold bilateral meetings with senior Polish
officials in Warsaw on June 27.
On June 28, he will arrive in Moscow where he will participate in a
regularly scheduled meeting of the Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission,
co-chaired by Vice President Al Gore and Russian Prime Minister Viktor
Chernomyrdin, that will be held June 29-30.
Perry also will meet with senior Russian government officials and
members of the Russian parliament before returning to the United
States on June 30.
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