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U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

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QUESTION: On Algeria, does the US Government have any evidence of Iranian support or backing to the GIS groups - the armed Islamic groups that are alleged to be committing some of the massacres.

MR. RUBIN: I'll have to take that question. I haven't heard any, but I don't know that it's --

QUESTION: And as long as you're mentioning Ambassador Pickering's travel, could I just ask you, how close is the Administration to a decision on how to handle the --

MR. RUBIN: ILSA?

QUESTION: -- the ILSA apparent violation by Total, Gazprom, and others?

MR. RUBIN: We are continuing to study that issue. As we get closer to a time when the Secretary will be in a position to make a judgment, we'll let you know, but we're not there yet.

QUESTION: When does Wisner go to Moscow; do you know?

MR. RUBIN: I'll have to get that date for you.

QUESTION: I mean, is it --

MR. RUBIN: I think it's this week.

QUESTION: Oh. All right.

QUESTION: On Iran -- I guess we've discussed this in the past, but not this year -- can you go over the conditions again for a dialogue between the US and Iran?

MR. RUBIN: Yes. We have made clear two procedural issues and three substantive issues. Procedurally, we've made clear we would want this dialogue to be authorized and acknowledged openly. We've also made clear that our issues of concern would be something that we would like to discuss in such a dialogue, and those three substantive issues are our concerns about weapons of mass destruction; our concerns about support for terrorism; and our concerns about opposition to the Middle East peace process. These are topics that we would think ought to be part of a serious, and substantive, and authoritative, and openly-acknowledged dialogue that we have long said we'd be prepared to enter into.

QUESTION: And a simple willingness on the part of Iran to discuss those rather than to necessarily pre-commit to doing anything about them is sufficient?

MR. RUBIN: Well, again, the first step towards progress is discussions, and what we're saying is we would want to know, procedurally, that the dialogue would be authorized with an authorized representative; that it would be publicly acknowledged; and substantively, that our agenda items would include those, and that would have to something that was acceptable.

QUESTION: On the other hand, the President, downstairs in the press conference, said something about - that any Islamic countries can have opposition on the peace process, and this would be - this is permissible for Iran to oppose the peace process, but not violently. Does this change the substantive issue that you're talking about?

MR. RUBIN: I think the President was making clear that it's one thing to have an opinion; it's another thing to support or applaud or finance those who take specific steps to kill the peace process, as some groups have done in the Middle East. And there are many countries in the world who have opinions, and there are only a few of them who interfere to the extent that I described.

Let's bear in mind, the Middle East peace process is something that is supported across the board, by countries around the world, and there are very few who see wisdom in attacking something that is supported by the legitimate representative of the Palestinians -- Chairman Arafat, on behalf of the Palestinians. So we still don't understand what possible rationale there would be for opposing a peace process that is supported by the people who are affected.

QUESTION: So you are against Iranian opposition to the peace process, as far as the Iranians are supporting groups like Hezbollah, and stuff like that?

MR. RUBIN: Again, I'm -today is no day to get too specific on these subjects. I think I've been quite clear.

QUESTION: Could you get for us a run-down as to what Iranian assets there are in the United States; what moneys might be in dispute between the United States and Iran? For example, at the time of the hostage crisis - what is it, 19, 20 years ago - they had paid for quite a few weapon systems that they never received. What's the status of all that? Could we get a --

MR. RUBIN: Let me get you, for the record, an answer for all those questions.

QUESTION: Thank you.

QUESTION: Jamie, how many Iranian leaders, spiritual and otherwise, have to sign on to make a dialogue authentic, authoritative?

MR. RUBIN: We'll know that when we see it.

QUESTION: No, no, it's a serious question because --

MR. RUBIN: It was a serious answer.

QUESTION: I know you know the problem, as we do, on this side of the roster. I guess it could be said, if the President approves a dialogue, it is authoritative. But the notion that there are two voices - two loud voices - in Iran.

MR. RUBIN: Well, I was asked this question yesterday, and I'm not sure that one should assume that there are two voices in Iran. The President and the Secretary will both be listening very carefully to see what it is that President Khatami has to say, and we will respond appropriately.

But as far as knowing when you have authorization, I don't think that's a major problem. I think the bigger problem is what the discussions would be, rather than the procedural question of authorization.

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