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14 April 2003

U.S. Investigating Death of Ukrainian Journalist in Iraq

(April 10, Vienna: Amb. Stephan Minikes to OSCE Permanent Council)
(290)
The United States takes "most seriously" the recent death in Iraq of
Ukrainian journalist Taras Protsuk, Ambassador Stephan Minikes, head
of the U.S. Mission to the OSCE, said April 10.
Minikes also told the OSCE Permanent Council that the United States is
"re-examining the measures that are taken to guarantee the security of
journalists in the conflict zone and will obviously continue to do
everything that is possible to prevent future incidents."
Following is his statement:
(begin text)
United States Mission to the OSCE
Vienna 
April 10, 2003
RESPONSE TO THE UKRAINIAN STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF A UKRAINIAN
JOURNALIST
Delivered by Ambassador Stephan M. Minikes to the Permanent Council
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I heard with great sorrow about the death of your countryman, Taras
Protsuk, as well as of the others, in the April 8 incident.
My government takes these deaths most seriously and is investigating
the incident and we will report back the results of that
investigation.
In that connection, I might add, that Vice President Cheney just
yesterday commented on the allegations that US troops deliberately
targeted journalists was totally false.
We thank our Ukrainian colleagues for the acknowledgement of U.S.
adherence to its commitments within the framework of the OSCE and for
Ukraine's confidence in our investigation of this tragic death of one
of its citizens.
Finally, we take and, in the light of the April 8 incident, are
re-examining the measures that are taken to guarantee the security of
journalists in the conflict zone, and will obviously continue to do
everything that is possible to prevent future incidents of this sort.
Thank you.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)