THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release October 2, 2000
PRESS BRIEFING
BY
JAKE SIEWERT
The James S. Brady Briefing Room
1:10 P.M. EDT
Q Mr. Milosevic said today in a televised address that he fully
intended to take part in a second round, and making clear that he had no
intention of conceding defeat in the first round. What's your reaction?
MR. SIEWERT: Well, we think, obviously, that there was a clear
victor in the first round. The Serbian people have spoken and we think
it's time for the government to recognize that they lost in the first
round and that the opposition has prevailed.
The opposition has made a decision to boycott the second round,
that's their decision to make and we'll support them in that decision.
Q Jake, how can the West be so sure that the opposition got more
than 50 percent in the first round?
MR. SIEWERT: Well, even the Federal Election Commission, which is
under Milosevic's complete control, concedes that they came within a
percentage point of winning -- and that's a tally that we have no reason
to believe is accurate. There were many reports of fraud and every
independent, credible election monitor that was on the ground there
believes that the opposition prevailed.
Q Jake, what is the procedure if Milosevic finally steps down?
Is he to be arrested immediately and brought to the Hague?
MR. SIEWERT: Well, our position is clear, that we believe he
belongs in the Hague; he belongs out of power, out of Serbia and at the
International Tribunal. We'll do everything we can to make sure that he
makes his court date there.
Q Along that point, Jake, Mr. Kostunica has today criticized the
U.S. for emphasizing that desire for Milosevic to go to the Hague,
saying that that is an emphasis he wished were put aside and more
emphasis on trying to help him and the opposition obtain the victory he
believes he won at the polls.
MR. SIEWERT: We're very focused on that. That's exactly why -- on
ensuring that the opposition prevails. That's exactly why the President
spoke to Mr. Putin over the weekend. And we are working with our allies
in the region to ensure that the opposition prevails. That's why
Secretary Albright has been discussing that with her counterparts in
Europe today. And we're going to continue to make the case that
Milosevic lost and that he ought to step down.
Q Is there any more leverage the administration, or the U.S.
government could exert to help the opposition?
MR. SIEWERT: Well, I think we've made clear that a change in
regime in Yugoslavia would lead us to review all the sanctions that we
have in place, and that the opposition, if it were to prevail, would
enjoy some of the benefits that come from such a review. And we've made
it perfectly clear that they have many incentives to do so.
Q Jake, would the United States be against any arrangement in
which Milosevic would be granted asylum or exile outside of Serbia and
would not have to stand trial at the War Crimes Tribunal?
MR. SIEWERT: We believe he belongs at the War Crimes Tribunal;
that's our position and we don't see any reason why he shouldn't be held
accountable for the crimes he committed.
Q Is that what the President discussed with Vladimir Putin over
the weekend?
MR. SIEWERT: I don't believe that came up in their discussions.
Q Can you tell us what did?
MR. SIEWERT: They discussed the results of the election and a way
to resolve the impasse. I think that they share the concern that the
will of the Serbian people ought to be met in this case. And we're
working with the Russians and our counterparts in Europe to ensure that
the will of the Serbian people is honored here.
As you know, the Orthodox Church in Yugoslavia has now indicated
they believe Kostunica is now the rightful victor. And we're continuing
to work with the Russians. They have an important role to play in the
region, given their longstanding ties to the people of Serbia.
Q In the Middle East do you see any sign that anybody is heeding
the President's call for an end to the violence?
....
Q Jake, back on the Yugoslav elections. Reconcile this for me.
Kostunica has said he's not interested, nor would he participate in
making Milosevic available to the Hague if he became the President. The
United States has said it wants Kostunica to be elected -- that election
to stand, and would reduce or eliminate economic sanctions. How do you
square these two? The number one priority of the administration, or a
priority, is to have Milosevic sent to the Hague, and he doesn't want to
do it --
MR. SIEWERT: We have several aims in there. We want to see
Milosevic out of power. We believe he's been a destructive force for
his own people and in the region, generally. We also want to see him
out of Serbia. And we'd like to see him in the Hague. Those are all
objectives that we're working towards and we'll continue to offer some
promise to review sanctions if there is a new power in Serbia. But
we'll have to balance that against any actions they take to bring
Milosevic to justice.
Q Is making Milosevic available in any way a condition to
receive a reduction of economic sanctions?
MR. SIEWERT: At this point, that's a hypothetical question. We're
focused entirely on our efforts to ensure that the victor in the
elections that were held in Yugoslavia prevail.
Q But, Jake, aren't you worried about the fact that every time
you threaten to get Mr. Milosevic to go to the Hague, you're entrenching
him further in power? What does the --
MR. SIEWERT: We don't think -- if anything, his power has ebbed
quite a bit. The elections are evidence of that. And we think that the
international campaign to bring pressure on Milosevic and his regime has
worked, to a large extent, in that he's lost the majority of support of
his people, he's lost the claim to have any backing from the church
there, which is a powerful influence. If anything, day after day his
power seems to ebb in that region.
Q I know, I understand that, but my point is he voluntarily
won't --
MR. SIEWERT: And throughout the process we've said he belongs in
the Hague. It doesn't seem to have helped him win the election. It
doesn't seem to have helped him get more support from his people.
Q Right, but he also won't leave office at this point, and
that's my issue.
MR. SIEWERT: That's what he said today, but we're going to keep up
the pressure.
END 1:32 P.M. EDT
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