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U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

.................

QUESTION: Can we go back to Asia? Has the United States written a check to the Chinese Embassy for the bombing? When will it be sent? If it has been written, how much is it for? And, also, is there any consideration to follow, which some members of Congress are suggesting, to ask for reparations for what they did to the US Embassy there?

MR. FOLEY: Well, on the latter question, I can answer affirmatively that that's something we've already begun doing with the Chinese during several visits to Beijing by the legal advisor David Andrews. He has taken up that issue separately of compensation for damage done to our diplomatic facilities in China. So that's something we are pursuing.

In terms of the compensation that we have pledged to pay to the Chinese victims and families of the mistaken bombing of their embassy in Belgrade, I'd have to get the latest information for you on that. I certainly don't have a piece of paper ready for you, Toni, with that kind of detail at this moment. But let me look into it and see if we have that.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) -- for the embassy, itself, though? Is that something you have to look into, too; or do you know if that's --

MR. FOLEY: Well, there's the issue of compensation for the victims, those who were injured or killed. There's the separate issue of the damage or the fact that the Chinese Embassy was destroyed and our work to help compensate the Chinese for the loss they suffered in material terms. I'll have to look into that for you in terms of where we are on that.

QUESTION: Do you have any more on Mr. Meston?

MR. FOLEY: Yes, give me one second, please. The US Embassy in Beijing informed us earlier today that there's been progress on both Mr. Meston's possible medical evacuation from the hospital in Xining and the resolution of the charges against him. On the afternoon of August 25, local time - in other words, today - Qinghai provincial officials indicated to the embassy that Mr. Meston could be Medivac'd and that they will resolve his legal case prior to his departure.

In other words, we have indications from the Chinese that the case or the investigation they had been pursuing vis-à-vis Mr. Meston will be wrapped up by the time he's able to travel, able medically to travel. So that issue of his ability to travel is also not merely a legal question, but it's a question of medical clearance, given his condition. So that is a hopeful piece of news that we've received.

We continue to urge the Chinese Government to expedite a resolution to the situation, and we're hopeful that this will happen within the next couple of days. We're also working with Mr. Meston's family on logistical arrangements.

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

MR. FOLEY: The precise timing and details of his departure have not yet been finalized. They're dependent on decisions within the Chinese Government and logistical arrangements that are being coordinated with his family. So that's not something that's been determined yet.

I think I indicated yesterday, though, that we believe the case against him will be resolved quickly. We have assurance - nor reaffirmed by the Chinese today - that he'll be able to be Medivac'd. Therefore, we would expect that he'll be Medivac'd out of the country. Whether he were to stop somewhere en route outside of China for further medical examination would be one of those factors that remain to be determined. Remember, he has serious spinal injuries; he needs to be seen by spinal specialists. It may be that that would be necessary before he's Medivac'd completely back to the United States. But I don't have those details yet; they're being worked on.

QUESTION: The provincial officials have agreed to this?

MR. FOLEY: Right.

QUESTION: I take it you're drawing a distinction between officials in this faraway province and officials in Beijing. Is that fair?

MR. FOLEY: I'm drawing a distinction without implying that there's a difference of opinion or a view that we're getting from local officials and officials in Beijing. There's no daylight between them. The fact of the matter is that the local officials in Xining have responsibility, both medically and legally. But we have received similar assurances from the authorities with the central government in Beijing.

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

MR. FOLEY: I'd have to check on that. It doesn't seem terribly relevant to me though. I think the fact is we've received the same assurances.

QUESTION: When you talk about a resolution before he's Medivac'd, do you know what kind of resolution you're talking about? Is this an admission of guilt on his part; a dropping of charges, if there are any; or a conviction on whatever these charges are and deportation? What kind of resolution are we talking about.

MR. FOLEY: Well, we believe he should be released and allowed to leave the country, apart from the fact that he's been injured; and we've said that from the beginning. I can't be prescriptive for you on this. We want him released and able to travel insofar as his medical condition permits as quickly as possible.

I would only point out to you - again, I'm not going to be prescriptive - but I would only point out to you that the Chinese, to my knowledge, did not proffer charges against Mr. Lafitte, the Australian; they allowed him to leave the country.

QUESTION: Well, yes, but after he basically confessed to doing a lot of things that he allegedly shouldn't have been doing.

MR. FOLEY: Well, that may or may not be the case.

QUESTION: But, I mean, would it be the US preference that the American be allowed to leave without any charges placed against him, or without any --

MR. FOLEY: I'm not aware that there have been charges placed against him or that -

QUESTION: Without being required to confess to something.

MR. FOLEY: -- or that there were charges placed against the Australian, who has already been allowed to leave the country.

QUESTION: Right. But, then, forget about the charges, but what about without having to confess to some kind of wrongdoing? Is that a preference the US has?

MR. FOLEY: I don't think we have a particular view on that. Our view is that his medical condition is urgent, that he needs to be, when medically able, allowed to leave where he is and go and get the medical treatment that he needs; that apart from the medical issue, that he ought to be released anyway. I'm not aware that there are any criminal charges against him or that there have been any against the Australian.

I pointed out yesterday and the day before that the Chinese are sovereign in their own country and they are in their rights to enforce their laws; again, without implying that any laws have been broken on anybody's part. But my understanding is they have made an issue about visits to sites that were marked inaccessible, about photographing at sites that were marked as not subject to photographing. These are issues that they can resolve, I'm certain. We believe he should be released and we also are hopeful that this is going to occur shortly, as I indicated.

QUESTION: Do you have anything to say about China's plans to prosecute senior leaders of Falun Gong?

MR. FOLEY: Yes, we've seen the reports that the Chinese government plans to prosecute leading members of the Falun Gong movement. The United States strongly believes that individual spiritual beliefs should be respected in accordance with international covenants that China has signed. It's also our long-standing belief that no one should be persecuted for peaceful assembly, association or peaceful expression of their views. We therefore urge the Chinese government to live up to its obligations under international human rights instruments and protect freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

QUESTION: I want to refresh my memory. Have the Chinese officially asked that the leader be sent back to China from this country?

MR. FOLEY: I'd have to check that for you, but I'm certainly not aware of any such effort on their part. I have no information that -

QUESTION: In China they have called for his extradition from this country.

MR. FOLEY: But I am unaware of any request from the Chinese authorities for his extradition. There are practical obstacles. First of all, we do not have an extradition treaty with China. Secondly, I believe the gentleman is a legal resident of the United States. As I indicated, we don't believe that people should be persecuted or prosecuted simply for peaceful assembly or for exercising their religious beliefs or practices, as long as they're not harming anybody.

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(The briefing concluded at 2:15 P.M.)

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