Cablegate: Press Guidances - Uta Crash/Angola/Swapo

O P 202216Z SEP 89
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN IMMEDIATE
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AMEMBASSY PRETORIA IMMEDIATE
USOFFICE WINDHOEK IMMEDIATE
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AMEMBASSY KINSHASA IMMEDIATE
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UNCLAS STATE 302065

FROM AF/P: INFORM CONSULS AND PAOS

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: OPRC PREL SF US
SUBJECT: PRESS GUIDANCES - UTA CRASH/ANGOLA/SWAPO

1. THE FOLLOWING THREE GUIDANCES WERE PREPARED FOR THE NOON
BRIEFING, SEPTEMBER 20, 1989.

2. Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE CRASH
OF UTA FLIGHT 772?

A. WE UNDERSTAND THAT UTA FLIGHT 772 BOUND FROM NDJAMENA
TO PARIS CRASHED 650 KMS NORTHWEST OF NDJAMENA IN CENTRAL
NIGER. THE CRASH SITE HAS BEEN LOCATED AND THERE DO NOT
APPEAR TO BE ANY SURVIVORS. THERE WERE SEVEN AMERICANS
BELIEVED TO BE ON BOARD, INCLUDING THE WIFE OF OUR
AMBASSADOR TO CHAD, MRS. BONNIE PUGH.

Q. WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH

A. WE HAVE NO INFORMATION ON THE CASE OF THE CRASH AT THIS
TIME.

Q. WHAT ABOUT THE CLAIMS THAT AN EXPLOSION PRECEDED THE
CRASH?

A. WE ARE UNABLE TO VERIFY PRESS REPORTS OF A POSSIBLE
EXPLOSION AT THIS TIME, ALTHOUGH WE ARE AWARE THE AIRLINE
IS NOW SAYING A BOMB MOST LIKELY WAS THE CAUSE.

Q. WHAT OF THE CLAIMS THAT THIS WAS A TERRORIST ATTACK BY
THE ISLAMIC JIHAD ORGANIZATION?

A. WE HAVE NO INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION ON THIS.

SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORT: U.S. INVOLVEMENT:

EFFORT IS BEING MOUNTED AND COORDINATED BY THE FRENCH WHO
HAVE EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL IN THE REGION. THEY ARE
WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE GOVERNMENTS OF NIGER AND CHAD.

OUR EMBASSIES ARE IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH THE FRENCH AND THE
GOVERNMENTS OF NIGER AND CHAD, AS WELL AS THE AIRLINE.

WE HAVE DISPATCHED EMBASSY PERSONNEL TO THE CRASH SITE.

WE HAVE OFFERED U.S. ASSISTANCE TO THE OTHER GOVERNMENTS
INVOLVED; WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THEY NEED.

WE HAVE OFFERED ASSISTANCE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF NIGER IN
INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH, AND A TEAM OF
INVESTIGATORS IS STANDING BY IN WASHINGTON TO TRAVEL TO
NIGER. AMONG OTHER THINGS, THESE INVESTIGATIONS CAN HELP
WITH THE RECOVERY AND ANALYSIS OF THE PLANE'S FLIGHT
RECORDER.

THE U.S. HAS A DEEP INTEREST IN THE FATE OF THE PASSENGERS
AND CREW OF FLIGHT 772.

THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE, ED PERKINS,
HAS SENT A MESSAGE TO AMBASSADOR PUGH ON BEHALF OF ALL HIS
COLLEAGUES. HANK COHEN HAS SPOKEN WITH AMBASSADOR PUGH.
OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH HIM.

3. Q: DO YOU HAVE A READ OUT ON THE KINSHASA SUMMIT?

A: HANK COHEN WAS IN AFRICA LAST WEEK. HE MET WITH MOBUTU
AND SAVIMBI SEPARATELY. ATLHOUGH WE WOULD HAVE PREFERRED
THAT DR. SAVIMBI ATTEND THE SEPTEMBER 18 MEETING IN
KINSHASA, SAVIMBI DID SEND A PERSONAL DELEGATION TO THE
MEETING.

WE URGE ALL PARTIES TO BEGIN A MEANINGFUL NEGOTIATION
WITHOUT ANY POLITICAL PRE-CONDITIONS OR NON-NEGOTIABLE
DEMANDS.

THE UNITED STATES STRONGLY SUPPORTS UNITA AND ITS GOALS OF
NATIONAL RECONCILIATION -- FOLLOWED BY FREE AND FAIR
ELECTIONS.

THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT ACCEPT THE CONCEPTS OF EXILE --
AMNESTY OR INTEGRATION.

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN AND SUPPORT PRESIDENT
MOBUTU.

WE REGRET DR. SAVIMBI'S DECISION NOT TO ATTEND THE KINSHASA
SUMMIT.

DUE TO HIS ABSENCE, IT APPEARS THAT THE SUMMIT WAS UNABLE
TO MAKE ANY SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS TOWARD SIGNING A CEASEFIRE
AND BEGINNING DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS FOR NATIONAL
RECONCILIATION.

4. Q: CAN YOU COMMENT ON REPORTS THAT SWAPO DETAINED AND
TORTURED ITS MEMBERS?

A: THE UNITED STATES DEPLORES SWAPO'S REPORTED USE OF
TORTURE AGAINST ITS OWN MEMBERS.

WE URGE SWAPO TO CONDUCT A PROMPT INVESTIGATION AND
IDENTIFY ALL INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MISTREATMENT.

THE SECRETARY GENERAL'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE (SR) IN
NAMIBIA HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO ASSURE THAT ALL POLITICAL
PRISONERS AND DETAINEES HAVE BEEN RELEASED, WHETHER HELD BY
NAMIBIAN OFFICIALS OR SWAPO.

THE SYG HAS SENT A TEAM TO LOOK INTO ALLEGATIONS AT SWAPO
CAMPS IN ZAMB1A AND ANGOLA, A MEASURE WE FULLY SUPPORT.

WE CALL UPON THE GOVERNMENTS OF THOSE COUNTRIES AND UPON
SWAPO TO COOPERATE FULLY AND RAPIDLY WITH THAT
INVESTIGATION.

BAKER

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