State Department Noon Briefing

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2000 - 12:45 P.M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

Q: No, different. I think you'll be interested in this one. The US and
Yemen have signed an agreement on the parameters of the investigation
into the COLE?

MR. BOUCHER: Yes, we have. Earlier today, the United States and Yemen
signed a document called the "Guidelines for Joint Investigation." As
we have informed you in the past, we have been working with the Yemeni
authorities to reach understandings about the modalities of
investigations. We have done this in the form of a document. It was
signed in Aden by Ambassador Barbara Bodine for the United States and
by Rasheed Ahmed Al-Gholom, the Deputy Secretary of Interior for
Police Affairs, on behalf of Yemen.

It sets out the modalities, the arrangements for cooperation, between
the United States and Yemeni investigators as we proceed with the
investigation into the bombing of the USS COLE. These arrangements
will build upon the excellent cooperation that we have already had
that has already been developed between US and Yemeni investigators.

This is not a public document. It involves the arrangements for a
criminal investigation, so I'm not really in a position to go into
much detail about it. But I can say it lays out ways of proceeding,
access to information, and evidence and potential witnesses that meet
the needs of both sides in terms of being able to conduct their
investigations in a manner that is consistent with their legal
principles.

Q: Can you say whether FBI investigators are going to be able to
question suspects or to be in the room?

MR. BOUCHER: No, that is the kind of detail I am just not in a
position to provide.

Q: So you will not be releasing the document?

MR. BOUCHER: We don't intend to release that.

(The briefing was concluded at 1:20 P.M.)