ACCESSION NUMBER:00000
FILE ID:96042604.txt
DATE:04/26/96
TITLE:26-04-96  TRANSCRIPT:  SECDEF PERRY ON EARLY WARNING AID TO ISRAEL

TEXT:
(In answer to questions from reporters at DoD 4/25)  (680)

Washington -- Defense Secretary Perry says that on a selected basis in
the past, the United States has "provided early warning information
from our satellites on missile launches" to Israel.

"And we are looking at a way of making this more systematic and more
detailed and systematic way of providing this information," he told a
reporter April 25 following a ceremony welcoming Minister of Defense
Jean-Pol Poncelet, of the Kingdom of Belgium, to the Pentagon.

"So it has to do with satellite warning information," Perry said,
"although we will be talking about other intelligence sharing, as
well.

"I have committed several times to taking the actions which will
assist Israel in maintaining a qualitative edge in their military
forces, and we will be discussing those in some detail with the Prime
Minister this weekend," the defense secretary said. "That will include
work in technology sharing and support in the area of missile defense,
rocket defense, intelligence, and early warning. The details of what
we will be discussing are better announced I think after the meeting
with the Prime Minister when I have had a chance to discuss it with
him."

Following is the official transcript from Defense Link:

(begin transcript)

DoD News Briefing: Secretary of Defense William J. Perry
Thursday, April 25, 1996 - 10:30 a.m.

(This media activity took place following a Full Honors Arrival
Ceremony April 25 welcoming Minister of Defense Jean-Pol Poncelet, of
the Kingdom of Belgium, to the Pentagon)

Q: Secretary, in your speech the other day you mentioned that the U.S.
and Israel might be cooperating in the area of providing some early
warning capability to Israel. Could you tell us at all what you're
talking about there -- are you talking about UAVs or sharing the
satellite information?

A: I will answer that question in a moment, Jamie. Let me first of all
see if there's any Belgian press here, and if there is, give them the
chance to ask the first question. No, all right, let me go to Jamie's
question then.

I have committed several times to taking the actions which will assist
Israel in maintaining a qualitative edge in their military forces, and
we will be discussing those in some detail with the Prime Minister
this weekend. That will include work in technology sharing and support
in the area of missile defense, rocket defense, intelligence, and
early warning. The details of what we will be discussing are better
announced I think after the meeting with the Prime Minister when I
have had a chance to discuss it with him.

But specifically, to direct myself to your question on early warning,
we have in the past, on a selected basis provided early warning
information from our satellites on missile launches. And we are
looking at a way of making this more systematic and more detailed and
systematic way of providing this information. So it has to do with
satellite warning information, although we will be talking about other
intelligence sharing, as well.

Q: Could you also just tell us if you have made any decision yet about
the safety upgrades to military passenger carrying planes? I know that
you have been briefed on that by the services. Have you made any
decisions...

A: Well, it's a few days away yet, Jamie; we are pretty close to
within a few days of a decision. I want to review the final decision
on this with the Chairman when he returns tomorrow. So, probably we'll
have an announcement to make on that early next week. There are going
to be some significant and substantial programs and changes announced
at that time.

Q:  Is this going to cost a lot of money?

A:  It's going to cost a lot of money.  Yes.

Q: Any idea how much? Are we talking about billions or hundreds of
millions?

A:  I'll announce that early next week.  Thank you.

(end transcript)
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