THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release November 6, 2000
PRESS BRIEFING
BY
JAKE SIEWERT
The James S. Brady Briefing Room
10:45 A.M. EST
Q Jake, on the Middle East again. Iraq has now begun flying
passengers in military aircraft into the no-fly zone. What sort of risk
does this present and what do you think they're trying to do?
MR. SIEWERT: We have not - I'm not going to speculate on their
motives, but we have never had an objection to civilian flights. But
the no-fly zones remain in effect and are designed to protect people on
the ground.
Q I think the Iraqis have rejected a U.S. proposal that would
give them - that the Iraqis provide 48 hours notice on these flights.
MR. SIEWERT: Well, we think that notice would be helpful and that
we're maintaining a no-fly zone there that's designed to stop military
aggression against Saddam Hussein's own people on the ground there and
against the Kurds. And we're going to continue to have that no-fly zone
in place. It's important that we have the best information in order to
do so.
Q Jake, is the meeting that are going to be here designed to
shore-up Sharm el-Sheikh or move also beyond that, and try to move
somewhere back in the peace process, in other words, to get the
President in a position where he can do more with the two leaders before
leaving office?
MR. SIEWERT: They are designed to discuss the current situation on
the ground, to find ways to restore calm and lower the level of violence
there, and how best to move forward towards a political dialogue. But,
ultimately, that's a decision the parties will have to make.
END 11:07 A.M. EST
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