U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE DAILY PRESS BRIEFING Briefer: Philip T. Reeker, Deputy Spokesman MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2000, 1:45 P.M. (ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED) QUESTION: I'm wondering if you - last week, the comments that Richard made last week about paying ransom for hostages. In light of that, if you have any comment on the release of some of the hostages from the Philippines. And if that - obviously it is a good thing that they have been released, but is that good thing kind of tainted by the fact that there are these reports that the Libyans paid millions of dollars for their release? MR. REEKER: Well, I can just echo what Ambassador Boucher did say last week - I believe it was last Tuesday - that we don't think payment of ransom for hostages is appropriate. We are against it. We always have been, and we will continue to be. Our policy is very clear. The United States does not make deals with terrorists. We will not pay ransom, we will not change policies, we will not release prisoners or make any other concessions that reward hostage-taking. Doing so only encourages additional terrorism, and therefore endangers innocent people. QUESTION: And on the release of the hostages? MR. REEKER: Certainly it is a blessing to see those people released after the ordeal they have been through. I think it illustrates what I said, that innocent people are endangered, lives are lost, because of terrorism. We certainly talked about that at great length, and our view is that dealing in terms of ransom or other concessions is not the way to go. (The briefing was concluded at 2:40 P.M.)
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