ACCESSION NUMBER:00000
FILE ID:95070502.POL
DATE:07/05/95
TITLE:STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT, WEDNESDAY, JULY 5
TEXT:
(Colombian arrest, Mideast, Iraq, Pakistan/missiles, Iran) (1030)
NEWS BRIEFING -- Spokesman Nicholas Burns discussed the following
topics:
NO DETERMINATION ON REPORTED CHINA-PAKISTAN MISSILE TRANSFER
The spokesman said the United States takes seriously allegations that
China has provided Pakistan with M-11 ballistic missiles, but he
emphasized the U.S. has not yet determined that such a transfer has
actually taken place. The allegations that surfaced in the Washington
Post earlier this week have been around for well over a year.
"They are allegations that we take seriously, that are under review in
this government, that have been mentioned to the Chinese government on
several occasions," Burns said. "Based on the information available to
us, we have not determined whether or not these actions constitute a
violation, either of U.S. sanctions law or of China's international
commitments under the Missile Technology Control Regime.
"It's a very serious accusation that's been made," the spokesman said,
"and therefore there needs to be very serious and concrete factual
evidence produced to substantiate those claims. If in fact, we
determine that that concrete, substantial, factual information is
present, then we will act accordingly. But we have not yet made that
determination."
The problem is the difference between circumstantial evidence and
concrete, straightforward, direct, factual evidence, Burns said. "What
China is being accused of in the papers and by some unnamed government
officials is quite serious. It would lead to the imposition -- if the
administration chose to go that route -- of sanctions that would be
quite serious." The administration is dealing with the issue
"responsibly," he maintained.
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