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U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

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

QUESTION: Also on Primakov, have you seen the article in the current New Yorker magazine, suggesting that Primakov had been on the take from the Iraqis in terms of supplying them weapons?

MR. RUBIN: I even had the distinct pleasure of reading it.

QUESTION: What do you think?

MR. RUBIN: I can't comment on intelligence matters.

(Laughter.)

QUESTION: Jamie, going back to Kosovo, I know the State Department --

QUESTION: Follow-up --

MR. RUBIN: It's not going to get you anywhere, but you can try.

QUESTION: It's just provocative - you're saying this is, in fact, an intelligence matter now?

MR. RUBIN: Well, the particular allegation that is being referred to is based on intelligence information.

QUESTION: Okay, so you all are taking it seriously then?

MR. RUBIN: No, I am just saying that it's based on an intelligence matter and I'm not going to comment on it.

QUESTION: Did you enjoy the article?

MR. RUBIN: Personally?

QUESTION: Yes.

MR. RUBIN: It's not relevant.

QUESTION: For the record, you're not disputing the content of the article?

MR. RUBIN: I could, but then I would start down a road where I would have to dispute some things and then in order to dispute them, I would have to get into an area I'm not prepared to get into. I'm not accepting anything in the article. I am simply saying that, to answer Jim's perfectly legitimate question, it would require me to refer to intelligence information that I refuse to do.

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

(The briefing concluded at 1:15 P.M.)

[end of document]