*EPF302 07/02/2003
Transcript: State Department Noon Briefing, July 2
(Liberia, European Union, Middle East, Algeria, Laos, Japan/Korea, China, India, Iraq, Libya, Greece/Macedonia, International Criminal Court, Israel/Palestinians, Consular Affairs) (7580)

State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher briefed

Following is the State Department transcript:

(begin transcript)

U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing Index
Washington DC
July 2, 2003

BRIEFER: Richard Boucher, Spokesman

LIBERIA
-- Diplomatic Channels and Peace Efforts
-- Secretary Powell Call to UN Secretary General Annan
-- Implementation of the Cease Fire and U.S. Role
-- Proposal of a West African Military Force/Article 98
-- Departure of Charles Taylor and Nigeria Exile Offer

EUROPEAN UNION
-- Labeling System for Genetically Modified Foods

MIDDLE EAST
-- International Conference Proposed by Italian FM Berlusconi

ALGERIA
-- Release of Prisoners

LAOS
-- Release of Reverend Mua

JAPAN/KOREA
-- Informal Consultations and Multilateral Talks on
North Korean Nuclear Weapons Program
-- Secretary Powell's Meetings in Cambodia

CHINA
-- Vice-Foreign Minister's Meeting with Secretary Powell and Officials
-- Human Rights Issues

INDIA
-- Meeting of Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal with Deputy Secretary Armitage

IRAQ
-- Reconstruction Efforts and Iraqi-American's Request to Return
-- Arabic Speakers to Help with the Reconstruction Process
-- U.S. Treasury Licenses in Iraq

LIBYA
-- U.S. Passport Ban and Travel to Libya

GREECE/MACEDONIA
-- Article 98 and Formal Recognition
-- Letter from Foreign Minister Papandreou

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
-- Reaction to the Implementation of the American Servicemembers'
-- Protection Act/Signers of Article 98 Agreements

ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS
-- Ceasefire/Transfer of Authority in Bethlehem, Gaza
-- Humanitarian Aid
-- Dismantlement of Terrorist Groups

CONSULAR AFFAIRS
-- Visa Restrictions

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2003
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

MR. BOUCHER: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. It's a pleasure to be here. I don't have any statements or announcements, so I'd be glad to take your questions.

QUESTION: Has the Secretary been back on the phone with Mr. Annan, and does Mr. Annan like what he's hearing from him?

MR. BOUCHER: Whether Mr. Annan likes what he's hearing or not, I think I'll leave to Mr. Annan. What I would say, as the President said, we are working in diplomatic channels on what we can do to help bring peace to Liberia, to help the people of Liberia in their current circumstances, dire circumstances.

The Secretary spoke twice yesterday to Secretary General Kofi Annan, who is traveling in Europe. I expect he'll speak to him again today, but he hasn't talked to him at this moment.

QUESTION: Will that be the decisive telephone call?

MR. BOUCHER: I'm not sure any single phone call will be decisive. The point is to sort of work the issue with the Secretary General, to consult with other governments, and then to make the decisions in the U.S. Government about how we can help this process.

QUESTION: What is the current -- today's assessment, if you have one, of the situation on the ground?

MR. BOUCHER: Our embassy is still reporting the situation as calm in Monrovia, that the insurgents have withdrawn to previous positions. As I think I mentioned yesterday, the parties provided the Joint Verification Team with the locations of their combatants. They've got the assurances of safe passage, and so today they will be -- the team will leave from Ghana for Liberia to begin implementing the ceasefire.

So we continue to urge all the combatants to cooperate with the team, cooperate with the ceasefire terms and conditions.

Matt.

QUESTION: When the Secretary talks to the Secretary General about what the United States might or could be willing be willing to do, is it now just simply a question of how many U.S. troops, or is it still a question of if, whether there will be any? In other words, has it gotten narrowed down into any --

MR. BOUCHER: It's not -- no, it's not. The answer to your question is no. It's not one or the other of those things that you raised.

Let me try to explain it this way. There were ceasefire accords, agreements made by the parties in Ghana. Those included an international component in terms of a West African force. The Secretary General and others have suggested there needs to be more than that, some additional force, including, possibly. Americans.

So that's what we're discussing with them: How would that work? What is it the Americans would or would not add to the operation? Is that the way to help bring peace to Liberia? What other steps are necessary and how would this whole thing operate?

Whether that is the best step to bring -- to help in the current circumstances in Liberia or not is something we have to look at.

QUESTION: When you say how -- whether one of the things they are discussing is, "How would that work?" The "that" in that sentence is how would a U.S. contingent operate in relation to an ECOWAS force?

MR. BOUCHER: No, I can't get that fine on it. The whole concept that's coming from the UN is that there would be a West African contingent and there would be some additional forces. The question is: What's the purpose? What's the operation? And, you know, it's a back-and-forth conversation. That's about all I can tell you at this point. It's not asking a question, and when we get answer then it's go or no go; it's working a number of issues to try to define the concept further so that we can make a decision.

MR. BOUCHER: Right. But I was under the impression that they didn't just come up with this idea for an international component to a West African force, you know, on the fly; that there actually was a purpose to it and that they had that in mind. Is that --

MR. BOUCHER: Yeah.

QUESTION: Well, you seem to be saying that that's still open to debate whether there is a purpose.

MR. BOUCHER: The -- no, the proposal -- I mean, yes, the purpose is to add some heft to the force and to -- thinking that that would help bring peace more quickly.

QUESTION: And are you suggesting this in Washington that --

MR. BOUCHER: But -- no, I'm not --

QUESTION: -- you guys are not convinced that that is a --

MR. BOUCHER: I am just saying that you need to look at these things carefully, what exactly -- I don't want -- I can't take you farther into the kind of things. It's examining the proposal from its various aspects, trying to think it through, look at how it would work, decide if this is the best way to do things, if there are alternatives. Once we have, you know, a full discussion of this, a back-and-forth with the information on this, the United States will be in a better position to decide.

QUESTION: Yesterday, the Secretary said no proposal had yet gone forth to the President on this. Is that still the case today?

MR. BOUCHER: As far as I know, yeah.

QUESTION: Richard, we were hearing this morning that there is a possibility of 2000 U.S. troops being involved in this operation. Is that something you have heard? Is all of this a possibility as well?

MR. BOUCHER: That is in some of the wire reports. I read that in some wire reports. I may have read it in Reuters at one point, as a matter of fact.

QUESTION: Yeah.

MR. BOUCHER: But, no, I am not entertaining any specific proposals from you or anybody else at this point.

QUESTION: I'm not proposing anything. We are just reporting it. But you haven't heard that?

MR. BOUCHER: No, I haven't. I mean, have I heard that? Yes, I have heard that. I have read it in wire reports.

QUESTION: Yeah, but I -- yeah, but other than -- other than from the media?

MR. BOUCHER: I haven't heard it anywhere else, no.

QUESTION: Okay. Another one. What's the status at the moment of ACRI, which you may remember, the African Crisis Response Initiative?

MR. BOUCHER: Well, I'd have to check on that. It's been an ongoing program for a number of years.

QUESTION: And how is it affected by the Article 98 fiasco?

MR. BOUCHER: I don't know. I'd have to check on that. It's an ongoing program. It's been going on for a number of years. Many of the West African forces who have deployed have been trained through these various initiatives the United States has taken in the past. But I don't know the current status, in terms of funding and operations.

Charlie.

QUESTION: Richard, the President just spoke a little while ago and you've talked about Charles Taylor leaving. Is Charles Taylor's leaving one of the things that the U.S. is waiting for before making a decision? Would forces go in if he hadn't left yet?

MR. BOUCHER: I can't condition U.S. involvement of one form or another because I don't know that that kind of involvement will occur. As I said, we're exploring the various conditions. We're exploring the situation and defining this further, and then we'll make our decisions.

What I can say is that we have always said that Charles Taylor's departure is an essential part of bringing peace to this country.

QUESTION: Well, you've only said that for the past couple weeks.

MR. BOUCHER: Okay. We've always said it for the past couple weeks, but that was -- it was agreed in Ghana that there would be transitional arrangements that would not involve Mr. Taylor.

Elise.

QUESTION: But some of the options that seem available to him to leave possibly could involve him avoiding extradition from the court on Sierra Leone. Do you think his absence from -- his departure from the country and it possibly stabilizing the situation is more important than any kind of accountability for past crimes? Could you talk a little bit --

MR. BOUCHER: That's not a question I could answer. There are many things that are important to us in this situation. I can't start weighing one against the other at this moment.

QUESTION: But, I mean, if there are options for him to leave the country that might avoid prosecution in the future, I mean, is it more important to get him out of the country?

MR. BOUCHER: I wouldn't want to speculate at this point.

QUESTION: There does seem to be a move afoot to convince President Obasanjo of Nigeria to take in Mr. Taylor. Do you have any feelings about, you know, if he leaves he's got to go someplace. Do you think he should just park himself right in the court in Sierra Leone, or is there another way for this to happen?

MR. BOUCHER: Again, on this question, we've seen the reports about that Nigeria has offered him some kind of asylum. We've seen conflicting reports about his alleged response. And, really, we'll defer to the Government of Nigeria on the question of whether he goes there or not.

QUESTION: Okay. Well, so then to follow up on Elise's question, you do not have a position at the moment on whether an exile offer should or should not include some kind of immunity guarantee? You've said in the past that you support the work of the court and you think that justice should be done.

MR. BOUCHER: And we continue to support the work of the court.

QUESTION: So, presumably, you think that he should not be -- any opportunity for him to leave to go into exile should not come with some kind of immunity guarantee.

MR. BOUCHER: That would be a question for the court. I think that's what I've said before.

QUESTION: Well, no, it's a question between -- of the receiving country and --

MR. BOUCHER: Well, the question of whether he goes there or not is a question for the Nigerians. The question of whether he's prosecuted or not ends up being a question for the court. And so I'm here, but I'm not Nigeria and I'm not the court, so I'm not going to pronounce on either of those topics at this moment.

Sir.

QUESTION: Richard, there is afoot to implement by the European Union a labeling system for genetically modified foods, and a lot of those foods and other items are going to shipped, hopefully, into Africa to help with this famine. And will the U.S. Government counter-sue to prevent that labeling system?

MR. BOUCHER: The question of an actual suit and complaint in WTO or wherever else it might go, I think you'd have to ask at the Trade Representative's Office. This has been an important issue to us. As you know, it's been an issue in trying to bring food [to people] who were affected by the drought in Southern Africa, where we felt that there were countries who were not receiving good U.S. food, food that Americans eat, because of pressure or interpretation of some European rules, even after the Europeans put out some clarifications.

So it's been an ongoing issue. There is a U.S. complaint that's been filed already at the WTO over the moratorium the Europeans have had on genetically modified food, and so it's an ongoing issue. But the specific new development in terms of the labeling regulations, let me see if there's something I can get you on that.

Okay, Jonathan.

QUESTION: Can we move to the Middle East? Mr. Berlusconi -- his country is the new president of the European Union -- is proposing a Middle East conference and is offering to host it in Sicily.

QUESTION: Sounds good. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Yeah, we're all gearing up to go.

What does the United States think of this proposal?

MR. BOUCHER: As you know, the idea of an international conference is part of the roadmap. It's in phase two of the roadmap. It is certainly one of the things on the agenda down the road. But at this point, I wouldn't be able to speculate on when and how and where it could be held.

QUESTION: So, in principle, you think -- since it's in the roadmap, you support the --

MR. BOUCHER: Oh, the idea of international conference, yeah, has long been around, long been what we've supported.

QUESTION: In your view, what would the purpose of the international conference be?

MR. BOUCHER: Well, as I said, it's in the roadmap. It's part of the process of generating momentum, bringing things together at a certain stage. And we've always said that it's appropriate at a time when it can be useful in that regard, but it's a little too early for us to speculate at this point on when, where and how it might be held or might prove useful in that regard.

QUESTION: Richard, Abassi Madani and Mr. Belhadj were released today from Algeria after, I think, 12 years in prison. Two questions. One, what is your reaction to the fact that they have been released? And, two, the Algerian authorities have said that they may not take part in political activities and announced that Madani had agreed to this and signed something to that effect and Belhadj had not. What is your view on the Algerians' demanding that they not take part in political activities.

MR. BOUCHER: I'm going to have to check on it.

QUESTION: The answer is a lot shorter than the question. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Yeah, I'm sorry. It was --

MR. BOUCHER: I appreciate all the information. It gives me a lot of things to go check on, but I will have to check on it for you.

QUESTION: Can you get back to us on it?

MR. BOUCHER: I will get back to you later.

Elise.

QUESTION: In Laos, it looks as if the two European journalists and American are -- news that they could be freed within days. Do you know anything?

MR. BOUCHER: I don't think so. I don't think I have any news like that.

We're in contact with the Lao Government in Vientiane regarding the cases, continuing to convey our concern about the health and welfare of Reverend Mua, explore all avenues to seek his return to his family. So no, I don't have any news of that sort at this moment. Continuing to press.

Matt.

QUESTION: Richard, can you tell us about what's going to be discussed at the non-TCOG TCOG meeting this afternoon?

MR. BOUCHER: As you know, we have Japanese and Korean, South Korean delegations in town, and we'll be meeting with them this afternoon and subsequently to that. These are informal consultations among the members of the group that does meet more formally sometimes on North Korea. The principal subject of discussion, obviously, will be the situation with regards to North Korea.

QUESTION: And in terms of proceeding -- pushing ahead with your multilateral talks plan --

MR. BOUCHER: How to continue to pursue a peaceful and diplomatic solution that we have sought that results in the verifiable and irreversible end to North Korea's nuclear weapons programs.

QUESTION: And there is also a senior Chinese diplomat in town who you talked about yesterday.

MR. BOUCHER: There is?

QUESTION: There is not any thought of him either joining in or having some kind of peripheral discussions?

MR. BOUCHER: Not that I know of. We have already had a number of discussions with him. He met yesterday with the Deputy Secretary, and the Secretary came down and joined that meeting for part of it, met with the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Jim Kelly. This is Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi, for those who didn't hear me say it, since I didn't say it. He is meeting today with Assistant Secretary for South Asia Christina Rocca and Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton. He has also had some meetings with the National Security Council and will have meetings at the Pentagon.

We have discussed with him issues of nonproliferation, issues of North Korea, issues of South Asia. He has reiterated Chinese support for a non-nuclear Korean Peninsula and further explored with us the cooperation that we have with China to bring North Korea's nuclear programs to an end.

QUESTION: Can you be a little bit --

MR. BOUCHER: I point out, as well, Deputy Secretary also conveyed our serious concern about deterioration in the human rights situation in China.

QUESTION: Can you be a little more specific on that? Which part of China? What part of the deteriorating situation --

MR. BOUCHER: I don't have the details with me now. I'll have to check on that.

QUESTION: Okay. And on the South Asia discussions, can you be more specific about what? I mean, South Asia -- were they talking about the Maldives or were they talking about?

MR. BOUCHER: We have frequently talked with China about developments in India and Pakistan, particularly the effort that we have made with the parties -- and the Chinese, I think, have expressed some support for it -- to try to move the parties forward with their own relationship and look for the possibility that they themselves can start talking about these other issues, including Kashmir.

QUESTION: And, on that, is there any relation at all between that and the Deputy Secretary's meeting today with an Indian -- a senior Indian diplomat?

MR. BOUCHER: Not particularly, no. No, the meeting today --

QUESTION: Well, since we're on South Asia --

MR. BOUCHER: Since we're on South Asia, I'll tell you about the meeting today. I mean, the fact is the meeting today is part of our ongoing work with the Indians, the Indian Government and the Pakistani Government -- to talk about both our bilateral relationships, which are very important to us, but also to talk about regional issues.

So today the Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal was meeting Deputy Secretary Armitage. He is in Washington to chair the Indian delegation at the High Technology Cooperation Group meeting chaired on the U.S. side by Commerce Under Secretary Ken Juster. He is also meeting with National Security Advisor Rice, and spoke yesterday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. So he is in town for that purpose. Deputy Secretary Armitage is meeting with him.

Ma'am.

QUESTION: Has Chinese Vice Foreign Minister, Mr. Wang, particularly expressed China's concern about Taiwan may have a referendum on whatever issue --

MR. BOUCHER: You'd have to ask him about that. I have told you the subjects that we have discussed with him so far.

QUESTION: Richard, does Mr. Kelly have any proposal to put to these people at the trilateral meeting this afternoon?

MR. BOUCHER: I am not going to get into any details of the meeting now, or probably even afterwards. But suffice it to say we're talking with them about the situation, about how to move forward along the track that we have set, finding a peaceful and diplomatic solution that results in a non-nuclear peninsula.

QUESTION: Why -- can you explain why you are not calling this a TCOG meeting, and why you are so reluctant to raise any expectations that it might make any decisions on anything?

MR. BOUCHER: Because we don't want to mislead you. We want to tell you the truth. The truth is it's not a TCOG meeting. The truth is it's informal consultations between allies who talk to each other all the time. The truth is that not every time that the allies get together do they come out with some big announcement or press statement. The truth is we like to talk to our friends and keep working the process with them. And that's what this meeting is. So why do we say it that way? Because it's the truth.

QUESTION: Okay, fair enough.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) about today's informal meeting. We had a TCOG meeting in Hawaii just three weeks ago. It's a very short period, a short interval of time. Why this timing, you know?

MR. BOUCHER: I haven't gone back and mapped all of the intervals.

QUESTION: Oh, sorry.

MR. BOUCHER: But it seems to me, the TCOG meeting was perhaps an even shorter period between some of our discussions before that. The TCOG meeting would have been about three weeks in the meeting at the presidential level, if I go back and count all of the dates on the calendar.

So I don't -- all I can say is what you're doing is confirming my previous answer. We talk to our allies and friends all the time. Remember, the Secretary in Southeast Asia said there is nothing that we would raise in talks with North Koreans that we would not have discussed with our friends and allies. And there is nothing that would be said in those meetings that we would not tell our friends and allies.

So you have to understand we work this process very, very closely with the Japanese and South Korean governments. And that's an ongoing thing that takes place, not every three weeks, frankly, but, you know, virtually every couple of days, in terms of somebody back and forth, or meetings at the embassy, or whatever.

QUESTION: So, if not, you're saying there was also a non-TCOG TCOG meeting in Cambodia as well, which was only 12 days ago or so, or at least the --

MR. BOUCHER: The Secretary in Cambodia met with the -- let me get this right -- met with the South Korean Foreign Minister, and had -- I can't remember if there was a separate meeting with Foreign Minister Kawaguchi if they talked to each other in corridor.

But, yes, the Secretary talked about North Korea with both the Japanese and South Koreans there, as well.

QUESTION: And the North Korean.

MR. BOUCHER: And the North Korean.

Terri.

QUESTION: Can I change the subject?

QUESTION: Please. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: So when is the TCOG meeting --

MR. BOUCHER: Do you want some more truth?

(Laughter.)

QUESTION: Are you going to put out a statement?

QUESTION: When is the next TCOG meeting?

QUESTION: Oh, yeah, what about a statement?

QUESTION: As a follow-up, what's a TCOG?

MR. BOUCHER: Okay. We got one more?

QUESTION: Yes. Is any, like, statement be released afterward, like -- (laughter).

MR. BOUCHER: I am not aware of any plans to issue a statement after these meetings, these continuing consultations.

QUESTION: Well, that's what I was going to ask. (Laughter.)

MR. BOUCHER: You can change topic if you want to, Terri.

QUESTION: Are we going to change the subject?

Some Iraqi-Americans, particularly in the Detroit area, are complaining that they had been encouraged to go back to Iraq before the war to help with reconstruction, and now they are not able to get back. And they feel that the U.S. Government should be doing more to facilitate their return to Iraq via -- I mean, I don't think they are asking for travel. But they are upset that they can't get back in on an American passport, and feel like the U.S. should be doing more to help them get in.

Do you have any reaction to that, or have you addressed these concerns with some of the people that you were working with in the working groups and other contacts like that?

MR. BOUCHER: Yeah, we have -- we have talked to groups of Iraqi-Americans who want to go back and help, who want to travel to Iraq for a variety of reasons. And we certainly understand their desire to do so, and their concerns about the situation there, and their desire to do whatever they can.

The situation is that U.S. passports remain invalid for travel to Iraq, as they have been for a long time. The situation is still dangerous. Security conditions remain unstable, as you all know. And we don't think we're in a position yet to start widely having travel to Iraq by people with American passports. So at this moment we don't think it's quite time yet to validate American passports for travel to Iraq.

But we certainly understand the desire of people to go there, and when we can, we'll make it happen.

QUESTION: If they are just green card holders or have passports from other countries, still maybe countries they traveled to before coming to the U.S., what's the rule on that? And if they leave, can they get back in on these -- I mean, I guess they wouldn't have any trouble if they have a green card, but what does the U.S. have to do with that?

MR. BOUCHER: I wouldn't want to speculate on what other countries might do. I think the facts of the matter on the ground are, whether you're a green card holder or American citizen or some other citizen, it's dangerous and difficult to go there right now, and that the people who are going there are going in authorized capacities and proper security conditions. So it's not just a place you can go and show up and help --

QUESTION: There are exemptions if you -- you can apply to get permission. Right? Do you know if many people are doing that?

MR. BOUCHER: Yeah. I don't know how many. I think I would have to check on that. Reporters and journalists have an exception. Certain persons providing humanitarian and other services in support of the Iraqi people, U.S. Government personnel, contractors who are on official assignment, and U.S. citizens who have resided in Iraq since 1991.

QUESTION: On this thing with the passport issue, I don't expect you to have an answer, it just occurred to me while she was asking her question, but as you have rightly said, the situation in Iraq is demonstrably unsafe and there major security concerns. The only other country in the world that has a passport ban on it such as this is Libya. And I'm just wondering -- can you go back -- can we find out exactly what the security threat is to Americans there? It's been a long time, I believe, since any of the kind of violence that you're now justifying this ban in Iraq has happened in Libya.

MR. BOUCHER: I will go back and see if there's anything new to say on that, but I think that's a well know, public policy, and it just hasn't changed at this point.

QUESTION: Richard, I believe the Secretary took part in the conference call with Mr. Bremer a few days ago. Yeah? Is that right?

MR. BOUCHER: Yep.

QUESTION: Did Mr. Bremer bring up the question of perhaps reinforcing the U.S. military force in Iraq?

MR. BOUCHER: I'm not in a position to speak for Mr. Bremer and I'm not in a position to brief on internal meetings that might have been held between him and senior administration officials. So I'm just afraid I can't answer that question.

QUESTION: Okay. But does the State Department have a view on whether it was a good idea to --

MR. BOUCHER: I would suggest that one check with Mr. Bremer, first and foremost, to find out if he thinks it's a good idea.

QUESTION: Same topic. Can you update us on the Department's efforts to meet Bremer's request for more Arabic speakers, apparently in large number, to help with the civil administration of Baghdad?

MR. BOUCHER: We have been working with the provisional authority and the Pentagon to see if we can't help provide more Arabic-speaking Foreign Service diplomat personnel. I think this is a natural evolution of things. As we see Iraqis taking charge, as we see a political council being formed, as we see a constitutional convention being formed, as we see Iraqis take over in the ministries, we need more people who can do liaison, who can help work with those people as they go forward. That requires certain diplomat and language skills, and to the extent we can provide those people, we will be happy to do so.

QUESTION: Do you know -- does the Defense Department pay for this or does this come out of State budget? Does Defense have to sign off on each name, as happened in the past?

MR. BOUCHER: I don't know. I would have to check on that.

Elise.

QUESTION: Along the same lines --

MR. BOUCHER: Along the same lines.

QUESTION: I just wanted to know if there's any update on your embassy. You know, there was all that money that was allocated for a temporary embassy, and I realize that, you know, it may not be yet time to start thinking about that, but has there been any movement? Has there been any --

MR. BOUCHER: I don't know. I would have to check.

Elise.

QUESTION: This is on Cuba and the administration offering Treasury licenses to businesses and medical groups trying to do business there. I know that, technically, the issue is the Treasury loan from OFAC, but certainly the Treasury Department takes its cues from the State Department and the administration in terms of which groups to provide license to or not.

Is there anything you can say about why denying businesses is not better for -- it hurts U.S. businesses more than it's hurting Castro right now.

MR. BOUCHER: I can tell you that the licenses are in the charge of the Treasury Department, and I'm sure they'll be happy to talk to you about it.

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

(Laughter.)

MR. BOUCHER: Okay. I'm sure they are the responsibility of the Treasury Department, and they can talk to you, should they choose to do so.

Sir.

QUESTION: Mr. Boucher, United States and FYROM signed a bilateral yesterday with you side, however, accepting the legal name of the so-called "Macedonia" on the document. I'm wondering, that means recognition of FYROM as "Macedonia" by the United States Government?

MR. BOUCHER: The use of the word/name "Macedonia" is an informal name that's been used in the agreement. It's not a change of recognition. The U.S. formally recognizes Macedonia as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. We continue to support the ongoing discussions between Greece and Macedonia under UN auspices on a solution accepted to both sides on the name.

QUESTION: In the talks at the United Nations, why, then, you signed the document something like that if it was misspelled the name of it? (Inaudible.)

MR. BOUCHER: As I said, it's not a change in policy. We used the informal name, Macedonia, in this agreement that's important to us.

QUESTION: What agreement are we talking about?

MR. BOUCHER: Article 98 agreement with Macedonia.

QUESTION: It was signed yesterday? Because the other Article 98 news of yesterday, I noticed that the President used the full name -- Former -- in his -- in giving them a waiver. But you're saying that the Article 98 agreement just said Macedonia, but that was just -- it doesn't mean anything?

MR. BOUCHER: It means that that's the informal name we used in this agreement. Recognition policy remains where it was.

QUESTION: Richard, on --

QUESTION: It doesn't say "America and Macedonia." It says, "The United States of America." (Laughter.) Actually, I thought these things were pretty formal, were supposed to be formal agreements so that it would use a formal name.

MR. BOUCHER: This is an agreement that we reached with Macedonia. We used the word "Macedonia" because that's the informal name we used. I know that doesn't mean very much, but it's the way we've done this.

QUESTION: Well, it does -- but, actually, Richard, it does mean a lot because every NATO document has to be -- you know, and UN document, has to be -- you know, it has to be an asterisk at the bottom of the page to identify who this is. So, I mean, if there is a --

MR. BOUCHER: I just did an asterisk.

QUESTION: Oral asterisk. QUESTION: All right.

MR. BOUCHER: That's what I just did for the last five minutes. I put an asterisk on it that said -- effectively, I explained what the situation is.

QUESTION: Prior to the signing, did you were in touch with the Greek Government since the dispute is pending under the UN in order to avoid any misunderstanding, because in Athens already they protested with the U.S. Embassy in Athens.

MR. BOUCHER: I don't know if we were in touch with the Greek Government in advance. Certainly, on the overall issue, we are in touch with the Greek Government and we've always been in touch with the Greek Government, just to see if this can't be worked out.

QUESTION: Did you answer to the protest?

MR. BOUCHER: I think we got a letter from the Foreign Minister. I'm not sure if we've responded, frankly. I don't know.

QUESTION: Richard, on that, in relation to that --

QUESTION: You got a letter from the Greek -- from Papandreou?

MR. BOUCHER: Yeah.

QUESTION: Addressed to the Secretary?

MR. BOUCHER: To the Secretary.

QUESTION: Complaining about this?

MR. BOUCHER: Raising the issue.

QUESTION: Or asking for an explanation?

MR. BOUCHER: Raising the issue.

QUESTION: Okay. So if the Greek Foreign Minister is asking for an explanation, it's not entirely inappropriate for us to be asking for one either.

MR. BOUCHER: I didn't think it was.

QUESTION: Oh, okay.

MR. BOUCHER: That's why I was so forthcoming in my answer.

QUESTION: Well, was it raised in the phone conversation Secretary Powell and Papandreou had two days ago?

MR. BOUCHER: Not that I know of. I would have to check.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) and the letter was politically (inaudible)?

MR. BOUCHER: Again, I will have to check on that.

QUESTION: On a related matter, have you been overwhelmed by a deluge of inquiries or complaints about your decision yesterday to suspend military aid to those 35 countries? And have any of those 35 since shown any willingness to suddenly sign one of these agreements with you?

MR. BOUCHER: This is an ongoing process of signing agreements, negotiating agreements, so there have been a number of developments in that regard. I think we noted that -- somebody asked about Botswana. We had signed with Botswana just yesterday, I think it was, or Monday. And it's an ongoing process of negotiation, so I can't -- I guess I can't say there's been a deluge, but there has been, certainly, any number of agreements that are in some stage or another of the process.

QUESTION: But, I mean, I was particularly interested in any hostile ones.

MR. BOUCHER: I know you would be -- (laughter) -- but we have over 50 agreements already, which is -- everybody, I think, will admit a substantial number, even those who scoffed at the numbers that we had some time ago.

QUESTION: Well, that when you had three.

(Laughter.)

MR. BOUCHER: You've got to start with three if you're going to get to 50. So we're over 50 now. We continue to work on these with other governments. We continue to manage this process in a way that provides the incentive to other governments to work these agreements out with us, that gives the -- those who participate in the treaty itself -- to respect their obligations to the court, but which then respects our decision not to be a party.

QUESTION: Do you have a new, specific number of public and non-public -- and is it correct that -- I guess Botswana and Macedonia would be the last two? Or is that not correct?

MR. BOUCHER: I've got Botswana and Macedonia both listed for June 30th, and a list of 45 publicly identified signers that's current as of today.

QUESTION: So the 45 includes Botswana and --

MR. BOUCHER: That's right.

QUESTION: And there's -- there's seven, is it still seven who -- that are non --

QUESTION: Or was Botswana added and therefore it's six now?

MR. BOUCHER: I don't have an exact number of those who have not talked publicly about their agreements yet.

Sir.

QUESTION: Richard, as of earlier today, the Israelis have pulled out from Bethlehem. And how do you view the situation with the roadmap now? Is it on schedule? And also the talks with the various terrorist groups -- one of, I believe, Al-Aqsa Brigades say they won't partake in this so called ceasefire.

MR. BOUCHER: I guess a couple things to say about that. First, I was wondering if I would get a chance to talk about the positive developments in the Middle East, and I'm glad I did. The President did.

The transfer of authority in Gaza is fully in process. This is a very important and significant step. The main north-to-south thoroughfare of the Gaza Strip is open to Palestinian traffic. That facilitates movement. It allows commerce and activity to begin again in Gaza and we think is quite important. We've always been told it's very important to the inhabitants of Gaza.

The transfer of authority in Bethlehem began Tuesday, today -- yesterday, excuse me -- and has now been completed. That, too, is a significant step. I would note, as well, that our Consul General in Jerusalem, or our Acting Consul General, today announced a $30 million funding initiative. This is $30 million of USAID funds that are designated to help relieve humanitarian conditions in Gaza, including reconstruction of roads throughout Gaza and the West Bank, waterworks, repair for infrastructure, and support for private sector. That money is part of the $50 million the Secretary talked about when he was in Jericho and that he announced on May 11th.

QUESTION: How will that money be channeled, by the way, Richard?

MR. BOUCHER: That money will be channeled as before, either through NGOs or directly into projects that are handled by our people.

QUESTION: What? I'm sorry. It will be channeled as before, meaning not directly?

MR. BOUCHER: Not to the Palestinian Authority, but, rather, to NGOs, contractors, people directly working for AID in that regard.

Adi.

QUESTION: There's talk that there might be some joint patrols, Israelis and Palestinian joint patrols, possibly occurring later on this week. Will Ambassador Wolf's team play a role in any way, shape or form in terms of being part of these teams? And, generally speaking, what is your sense about these patrols going out?

MR. BOUCHER: First, as to when and how there might be joint patrols, you'll have to check with the parties. It will be for them to account for.

Ambassador Wolf and his team have been working on all aspects of the security arrangements for this handover, and all aspects of making sure that both sides have a clear understanding, that both sides get the security they need in the new situation.

Joint patrols have been used in various places in the past. So I think we have always considered them a possibility in these circumstances. But if the parties -- the parties have to agree to do them. We have been working on all aspects of this situation, though.

QUESTION: Richard, a different subject. How receptive, if at all, is the State Department to complaints from the U.S. travel industry that the new visa restrictions are hurting their business? And, I mean, is there any -- do they have any hope of seeing any changes to these or -- to the new restrictions -- or is it pretty much a done deal?

MR. BOUCHER: Some of the new visa requirements are impact-legislated. I think our effort has been to implement to secure what we called "Secure Borders, Open Doors." And that's part of the publicity campaign that we have done overseas about our procedures and will continue to do to make people understand we do have new procedures that make it more secure, in terms of the situation in the United States that prevent certain threats, that prevent terrorists and others from entering into the United States. At the same time, we still welcome foreign visitors, and we'll do everything we can within the current security environment to facilitate their travel.

QUESTION: But does --

MR. BOUCHER: So we have tried to implement these laws, implement new requirements and regulations as best we can to smooth out the process of traveling to the United States, although we do recognize it is more complicated and sometimes more lengthy than before.

QUESTION: Okay. But -- I'm sorry -- more likely than before?

MR. BOUCHER: More lengthy.

QUESTION: Oh, lengthy, right.

MR. BOUCHER: The application process.

QUESTION: Right, well, so then you also recognize that the -- what some might call onerous new requirements have discouraged legitimate tourists or businesspeople from coming to the States?

MR. BOUCHER: I think we have heard from a variety of American groups over time, and people involved in the travel industry, people in various businesses, arts and performance-oriented people, some of the universities exchange-oriented people, that this has caused some difficulties.

And we have been able to tell them there is a reason for these rules and regulations and we will work with you, but we'll work with our applicants. But we'll try to make the system effective in maintaining security, but also as smooth as possible for the people who are coming.

QUESTION: Okay. So the bottom line, though, is that they don't have a prayer of getting any of this stuff changed?

MR. BOUCHER: I certainly didn't say that. I said we will work with them. We'll work with the applicants to try to make it as smooth as possible. But we're not going to drop the security requirements just in order to have people come here faster.

QUESTION: Could I ask you about Hamas? The President was very hard on Hamas today. Maybe he didn't have his guidance in front of him. He did not call for --

MR. BOUCHER: Did he call them an "enemy of peace?"

QUESTION: Oh, haters, everything. But I am beginning to hear a different tone here. Now I am beginning to hear that Hamas is kind of a two-headed operation -- you know, bad guys, and then a social side to it, running all sorts of nice sociable programs.

So I just want to do a reality check. Is it still the administration's position that Hamas has to be -- no, it's a serious question because it's been described --

MR. BOUCHER: Yes. The answer to your question is yes. And if you're not --

QUESTION: Do you want it dismantled or just its weapons taken away from them?

MR. BOUCHER: We want the terrorist infrastructure dismantled. We want the funding that goes to Hamas stopped. We have made that point at Sharm el-Sheikh. We have made that point in our contacts with the Europeans. The Secretary himself has made that point in his -- things he said when he was out in the region, things he said subsequently.

We understand the argument that people make that, "Well, they have these social services." We have said, "You can't separate the body of Hamas into two parts."

QUESTION: Okay.

MR. BOUCHER: That this is a organization that terrorism is a main component of, that you cannot think that you are funding part of it, and not think you're funding another part of it. And, therefore, we have listed it for a long time as a single organization and stopped the finance. We have asked others to do the same thing. And that is the effort that we have underway to dismantle the terrorist organization, Hamas.

QUESTION: Period, put it out of business?

MR. BOUCHER: Period. And the Secretary of State called them an "enemy of peace." The President was very strong this morning. That has been our view and continues to be our view.

QUESTION: Thank you.

MR. BOUCHER: Okay.

(The briefing was concluded at 1:45 p.m.)

(end transcript)

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