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U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

U.S. Department of State
97/09/03 Daily Press Briefing
Office of the Spokesman

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

QUESTION: I can't touch any usual bases. Are the North Koreans telling the Americans in any diplomatic way what they are saying publicly -- that the acceptance, the haven to these defectors creates hurdles in the path of the preliminary peace talks that are apparently still scheduled for September 15?

MR. FOLEY: The week of the 15th, yes.

QUESTION: Or the week of the 15th.

MR. FOLEY: Well, we have been in some contact. You know we had a meeting with them in New York on August 27. We haven't had a meeting since then, although that's not to be excluded. But we've been in at least telephonic contact with them. Without getting into specifics, though, what you've seen publicly has been reflected. But we've seen no indication, to this point, of a change of plans in regard to the four-party talks, which we still hope will take place the week of September 15. So we have nothing --

QUESTION: But no word from them.

MR. FOLEY: No word from them on that, no.

QUESTION: But no word that they are coming, either?

MR. FOLEY: No.

QUESTION: There's nothing new about rescheduling?

MR. FOLEY: No. North Korea still? Yes.

QUESTION: The investigation of Ambassador Chang, I know, is going on. When do I have the expectation that, officially, the State Department will announce his defection - his political asylum is accepted; specifically, what his defection motive is? Some kind of official announcement, can I expect that?

MR. FOLEY: No.

QUESTION: Do you mean, if he's granted asylum, we won't know it, unless he shows up in the briefing room?

MR. FOLEY: Well, if we have something to announce of that nature, we will. We will announce it. But I have nothing new to add to what Mr. Rubin had to say on the subject last week.

QUESTION: What he said, of course, it was premature to have said asylum.

MR. FOLEY: Yes.

QUESTION: The process is in train.

MR. FOLEY: If we have something to announce of that nature, we will.

QUESTION: I can't recall if you announce asylums.

MR. FOLEY: Well, you'll know it when you see it.

QUESTION: Or don't.

MR. FOLEY: Yes.

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

QUESTION: Yesterday evening, the Turkish foreign minister announced that they found some Russian missiles on Egyptian cargo ships, which before they denied, you know. They didn't make any announcement.

MR. FOLEY: Who denied?

QUESTION: Both the Egypt and Turkish officials. But yesterday, officially, they announced that they found some missiles on the ship. Egypt claimed that those missiles belong to them. Even if those missiles belong to Egypt, do you have any concern on the arms race on the eastern side of the Mediterranean?

MR. FOLEY: Well, I'm glad you asked the question, because I owed Sid Balman an answer on that yesterday. Apparently, there were some erroneous press reports on that. What I can say today is that we've seen the press reports that Turkey stopped and inspected a vessel transporting missile parts in Turkish waters. We have no indication that these parts were destined for Cyprus. In fact, the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Ecevit, made a statement acknowledging that the missile parts are not destined for Cyprus.

QUESTION: All right. Let's take it apart. There were missile parts on an Egyptian ship; is that right?

MR. FOLEY: That's my understanding.

QUESTION: Are they North Korean missile parts destined for Egypt?

MR. FOLEY: I don't have -

QUESTION: Are you alarmed at all by missile parts in the area, which is a tinder box: Arab-Israeli, Turkish-Greek? You've got lots of problems there. State won't have any -- can you clarify, while you're denying that these are to land in Cyprus, where were the missile parts going?

MR. FOLEY: Well, Barry, I'd be happy to look into the matter for you. We're dealing with press reports at this point. We're not dealing with verifiable information or diplomatic information. So, to the extent that I am able, I'll get back to you on it.

QUESTION: All right. So what do we have? Has the U.S. Government asked Egypt about this yet?

MR. FOLEY: No. As I said, we've seen the press reports that indicate clearly that the wire report, or whatever was referred to yesterday was erroneous, that claimed that, apparently, Turkish authorities had alleged that they were destined for Cyprus. Those reports were incorrect.

QUESTION: Turkish authorities have made no such claim?

MR. FOLEY: No.

QUESTION: Okay.

MR. FOLEY: So I can't give you more information now, but if I'm able to, as we follow this --

QUESTION: There are missile parts afloat someplace and where they're bound for, it would be interesting.

MR. FOLEY: Yes.

QUESTION: Well, the State Department is curious; right?

MR. FOLEY: Certainly.

QUESTION: Well, because North Korea and Egypt have a missile arrangement, for one thing.

MR. FOLEY: No, the question was raised, are we concerned about an arms race and weapons deliveries in the region? And the answer is, of course, yes, and we're going to look into this. I don't have specific information I can give you today.

...........

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

[end of document]