19 December 2000 Defense Briefing: Forces in the Balkans; NMD Tests; Vieques Treaty Obligations Likely to Keep U.S. Troops in Balkans Asked at the December 19 Pentagon briefing about the status of U.S. forces in the Balkans, spokesman Ken Bacon said that General Colin Powell, secretary of state-designate in the administration of President-elect George W. Bush, has said that the incoming administration is going to review U.S. force commitments and obligations around the world. "They've also said that they are very clear about the need to honor their obligations to our allies under various treaties. So I assume that they will be looking at our obligations around the world shortly after they take office and will have their own announcements to make on that." Bacon added that Defense Secretary William Cohen has said that he believes the U.S. will "remain engaged in the Balkans for some time" because of the importance of stability in the area and the progress the United States has already made toward that goal, and in order to honor U.S. treaty obligations to its allies in Europe. Cohen will not be part of the new administration, he said. NMD Flight Tests to Take Place Between January and June 2001 Asked about future tests of the ballistic missile defense system, Bacon said that there would be "a number of tests in the coming year," which are "subject to change because of weather or last-minute operational glitches." No firm schedule exists at this time, but flight tests are planned to take place between January and June of 2001. One of the decisions President Clinton made "when he decided not to go ahead with a specific deployment or pre-deployment...was to continue a robust development program. Secretary Cohen said at the time that he would assure that such a program continued," the spokesman said. Cohen to Recommend Continued Use of Vieques Test Range Asked whether Secretary Cohen will recommend to his successor in the new Bush administration that the U.S. continue to use the Vieques training range in Puerto Rico, Bacon answered "Yes. This will be an issue that I'm sure he'll discuss with his successor, whoever that is." "Secretary Cohen strongly believes that we need a naval gunfire and aviation training range in this hemisphere for the Atlantic fleet. He and others have worked hard to come to an agreement to give the Navy an opportunity to use Vieques," Bacon continued. He said an agreement is being worked on now by Navy Secretary Richard Danzig, and "We'll do our best to see that the Navy has adequate training arrangements for as long as Secretary Cohen and Secretary Danzig are in office, and to make sure the Navy continues to maintain this readiness after they leave office. After January 20, those will be decisions for the new administration to make." (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov) Return to the Washington File