News Article by AP posted on September 18, 2001 at 18:26:52: EST (-5 GMT)
U.S. Contacts Sudan, Cuba for Help
By GEORGE GEDDA Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON, Sep 18, 2001 (AP) -- The Bush administration has been in contact
with Sudan and Cuba - both on the U.S. terrorist list - in search of cooperation in last
week's terrorist attacks, the State Department said Tuesday.Secretary of State Colin Powell called Sudanese Foreign Minister Osman Ismail
Mustafa and took note of Sudan's offer of cooperation in combatting terrorism.It was the highest level communication between the two countries in years, and State
Department spokesman Richard Boucher called the conversation a good beginning.Boucher also said a U.S. official visited Cuba's diplomatic mission in Washington and
asked for whatever information Cuba may have about the terrorist attack. Cuba has
strongly condemned the Sept. 11 disaster.The United States lists Cuba, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Iran, Iraq and North Korea as
supporters or sponsors of terrorism. The United States has contacted only Cuba,
Sudan and Syria in investigating the attack.Boucher said the there was no promise of U.S. assistance for Pakistan in exchange for
that country's cooperation in American efforts to hunt down those responsible for the
attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon."It was entered into without any demands, without any conditions, without any quid
pro quos," he said. "Our friendship with Pakistan and desire to be helpful to them on
economic matters or other things has not changed. And we'll work on those issues,
certainly, but it was entered into without conditions and without quid pro quos."Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., said the United States should lift trade sanctions on
Pakistan and back World Bank loans for economic development in Pakistan, "so the
population can see a positive reason to engage with the United States."Sanctions against Pakistan were imposed in response to its nuclear weapons program
and to the October 1999 military coup that installed Gen. Pervez Musharraf as
president.Meanwhile, South Korean Foreign Minister Han Seung-soo met with Powell on
Tuesday and pledged full cooperation for U.S. efforts in "eradicating the crimes of
terrorism."The meeting took place amid Bush administration hints that the surrender of prime
suspect Osama bin Laden might not by itself prevent U.S. military action in response
to last week's terrorist attacks.With Powell at his side, Han said he was making the pledge of support in the spirit of
South Korea's role as a defense treaty ally of the United States."We strongly condemn the heinous act of terrorism," Han said, referring to the
hijacking and crashing of four commercial jetliners and the loss of thousands of lives."We, the Koreans, are with you in this hour of national distress and anguish," said
Han, who is president of the U.N. General Assembly.Han was the first of a number of foreign leaders who have scheduled visits here this
week. French President Jacques Chirac was arriving in the afternoon for a meeting
and dinner with President Bush.Also scheduled to visit after Tuesday are British Prime Minister Tony Blair, top
officials of the European Union and the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Russia,
Germany, China and Italy. Saudi Arabia could be a key player in any U.S. military
operation.Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld raised doubts Tuesday about whether the
surrender of bin Laden by the Taliban militia that control Afghanistan would be
enough to avert a U.S.-led military campaign against terrorism."Clearly you begin on a journey with one step, and he would be one step," Rumsfeld
said on CBS' "The Early Show." But he added, "If bin Laden were not there the
organization would continue doing what it's been doing. So clearly the problem is
much bigger than bin Laden."Bush, meanwhile, discussed the terrorism issue with U.N. Secretary- General Kofi
Annan and with Brazilian President Fernando Enrique Cardoso. He also called
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien to express his gratitude for Canada's support
for the United States in the wake of the terrorist attacks.Administration officials said they don't hold out much hope for a Pakistani effort to
persuade Afghanistan's Taliban movement to surrender bin Laden, perhaps to a third
country.The State Department also issued a warning for Americans to consider their safety
before traveling to Pakistan. The warning notes that neighboring Afghanistan is
harboring bin Laden and that Pakistan has militant groups that support the suspected
terrorist.