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U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

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QUESTION: I just want to refer to yesterday's statement of the spokesperson of the Slovak Government saying that the United States has never requested dismantling of SS-23 systems; while you said on Monday that there have been ongoing negotiations or talks with Slovak parties about this. And also, I want to refer to yesterday's statement of the American Embassy in Slovak Republic saying that if something that is happening, it is at an unofficial level. What's your standpoint?

MR. RUBIN: My view today has not changed - that we have been discussing with many governments over recent months - including Bulgaria and Slovakia - the need to try to limit the dangers from so-called Category I missiles. Those discussions will continue and we will be offering our assistance to try to ensure that missiles capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction don't spread. That is our view and we've been discussing it with many governments.

As far as how we make those discussions, who that we have them with at what level, that's not something we normally discuss, publicly.

QUESTION: But the spokesperson said that they didn't know anything about this issue. So how do you describe this? There's a discrepancy.

MR. RUBIN: I would ask you to maybe keep asking and maybe he'll find out.

Yes.

QUESTION: According to the Slovak press, the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava yesterday declined to comment on this - that the talks were confidential. Can you confirm the talks were confidential, or that the State Department provided the American press with the information concerning confidential talks?

MR. RUBIN: I can confirm that the United States doesn't get into public discussions of precisely what we say during diplomatic negotiations.

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