DATE=11/18/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=EGYPTAIR / MEDIA SPECULATION (L ONLY)
NUMBER=256336
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The U-S State Department is appealing for an
end to premature speculation about the crash of Egypt
Air flight 990. As VOA's Kyle King reports, officials
are concerned about possible damage to U-S Egyptian
relations.
TEXT: U-S officials say it is still too early to make
a judgement about the cause of last week's crash,
which killed all 217 people on board the Boeing 767.
Many Egyptians have responded with anger to U-S news
reports suggesting the co-pilot of the plane may have
deliberately sabotaged the flight.
State Department spokesman James Rubin expressed
concern about the speculation, which has been based on
preliminary transcripts of the plane's cockpit voice
recorder.
/// Rubin Act ///
We are concerned and troubled by speculative
conclusions coming out of those in the United
States involved in this general investigation
and we are doubly troubled and concerned by wild
conspiracy theories coming out in the Arab
media.
/// end act ///
Some Egyptian media have suggested that the co-pilot
of the plane is being blamed to cover up some other
cause.
Mr. Rubin said the Arab media reports are being fueled
by what he termed the tremendous amount of speculation
in the U-S media, and he appealed for calm on all
sides.
U-S officials stress cooperation between U-S and
Egyptian authorities has been good. Assistant U-S
Secretary of State Thomas Pickering was scheduled to
meet late Thursday with Senior Egyptian security
officials to discuss the probe.
U-S officials, who are leading the air crash
investigation, say they have not ruled out any
possible cause. They say they are prepared to pursue
all leads in the case, no matter where they go.
(Signed)
NEB/KBK/PT
18-Nov-1999 15:32 PM EDT (18-Nov-1999 2032 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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