16 December 1999
Transcript: State Legal Adviser on PRC Embassy Bombing Compensation
(U.S., China agree on compensation amounts for both sides) (830) U.S. State Department Legal Adviser David Andrews announced in Beijing December 16 the successful conclusion of negotiations between the United States and China to resolve property issues stemming from the accidental bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade. The U.S. negotiating team has agreed to seek Congressional funding of $28 million to compensate China for damages to the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade in May, while the Chinese side has agreed to pay $2.87 million for damage to U.S. facilities in China. "These figures reflect what both sides see as a fair payment for the property damage based on our delegation's five meetings that comprise an exhaustive review," Andrews said. In August, the United States agreed to extend humanitarian payments to the injured and the families of those killed in the bombing. Following is a transcript of the briefing: (begin transcript) State Department Legal Adviser David Andrews Statement at Conclusion of Negotiations Beijing, China December 16, 1999 MODERATOR: I'd like to introduce first Ambassador Prueher who will introduce Mr. Andrews. Ambassador Prueher. AMB. PRUEHER: Thanks for warming up the crowd. And I do thank you for coming out so early this morning. My role is really just in the introduction mode but some of you I've had a chance to meet and I'm glad to be here with you very much. As you know, after the tragic bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade and the aftermath here we've been going through a lot of resolution of trying to work through the issues of our nation and China. The role that the Legal Adviser David Andrews has played in his five trips out here has been prominent. He and his team, as well as their Chinese counterparts, have worked very, very long and hard at these negotiations and supported by the Embassy team they've been able to reach an agreement. Mr. Andrews has been up all night working on this and so I would like to step out of the way, David, and ask you to talk about that. And thank you very much for your efforts. ANDREWS: Thank you Mr. Ambassador. Good morning. I have a brief statement. At approximately 2:30 this morning, Beijing time, the United States and China completed negotiations stemming from the tragic mistaken bombing, last May, of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade. Two agreements were signed: one regarding the US intent to seek funds from Congress for payments to China for damages to the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade and one regarding Chinese payments to the US for damage to diplomatic and consular facilities in the PRC resulting from demonstrations that occurred in the aftermath of the bombing. As Ambassador Prueher said, this was the fifth round of discussions on payments following Under Secretary Pickering's June visit to Beijing to explain the tragic circumstances of the bombing. In August, the United States agreed to extend humanitarian payments to the injured and the families of those killed. These latest agreements represent the culmination of serious efforts by both sides to resolve property issues. I am sure this settlement will be conducive to the improvement and further development of US-China relations. I want to thank my negotiating team, including Mr. Stephen Schlaikjer, who is not here, who had to get an earlier plane. He's the Director of the China Desk at the State Department; Nick Ferro of the Foreign Buildings Office, who is also not here; Bill Kissinger and Paula Barton, who are here, of my office. I also want to thank our Chinese counterparts who were led by the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Director General for Treaties and Law, Madame Xue Hanqin, and the Director General for Consular Affairs, Mr. Zhong Jianhua and his deputy Mr. Liao Zhihong. Our team received excellent support from the Embassy staff as well. It is fitting that we were able to conclude these negotiations on the day that our new Ambassador to Beijing, Joseph Prueher, presented his credentials to Chinese President Jiang Zemin. I hope this day marks the beginning of a more positive trend in US-China relations. Let me give you just a bit more in detail and then I will depart. The figures involved: We will seek funding in Congress so that we can provide $28 million for damages to the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade. The Chinese have agreed to pay for damage to US facilities in China in the amount of 2.87 million dollars. These figures reflect what both sides see as a fair payment for the property damage based on our delegation's five meetings that comprise an exhaustive review. We will include the 28 million in our fiscal year 2001 budget request. That concludes my statement and thank you for getting up so early this morning. (end transcript) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State)
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