FOREWORD This joint subcommittee print is a compilation of required reports from the Department of State pursuant to Public Law 95-426 (Foreign Relations Authorization Act, fiscal year 1979) and the conference report and House committee report on the enacting legislation. The findings of these reports are those of the Department of State and do not necessarily reflect the views of the members of the Committee on Foreign Relations or the Committee on Foreign Affairs. GEORGE MCGOVERN, DANTE B. FASCELL, Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives. (V) CONTENTS Reports pursuant to Public Law 95–426: Section 108—Americans incarcerated abroad-calendar year 1978---- Assessment of assistance provided to American citizens incarcer- Tabulation of assistance provided by posts to American citizens incarcerated abroad-calendar year 1978.-- Section 115-Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics Secton 121-Assistance to bereaved U.S. families_ Consular officer's present role.. Alternative procedures for assisting bereaved families of Ameri- Private company insurance policy ---- Compulsory surcharge on passport fee_ Voluntary surcharge on passport fee. Section 122-Systematic information sharing - Section 126— Travel restrictions on foreign citizens. Section 401--Employment of family members overseas. Conversion of alien positions--- Reciprocal arrangements with foreign governments- Employment in noncareer positions-- Activities of family liaison office. Section 413--Review of foreign service personnel requirements and Section 504 (e)-Report to Congress on science, technology, and U.S. IV. Coordination and oversight- Section 601-International communications policy. IV. Direct broadcast TV satellite (DBS). VI. De velopment communications - Section 603--International journalistic freedom.. I. Multilateral efforts—The UNESCO General Conference - Section 606--Report on discriminatory trade practices affecting U.S. Section 608__Actions taken by the U.S. Government pursuant to seek- ing a multilateral agreement governing the use of nuclear-powered satellites in space_- I. Introduction II. U.S. Government steps in the U.N. Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space--- Section 609_World Energy Conference-- 114 114 115 117 2 rather than incarceration of Americans found with minute quantities of drugs as well as closely monitor and expedite the judicial process for jailed Americans, have reduced the United States prisoner population in Bolivia to less than 20. A similar treaty with Canada became effective at mid-year and so far 29 American prisoners from Canada have returned to the United States. After much difficult negotiation a final draft of an exchange of penal sanctions treaty with Turkey was initialed by Deputy Secretary Christopher during his visit to that country last month. It is anticipated that once this treaty has been signed and ratified it will resolve the plight of those Americans who have been incarcerated there for an extended period of time, facing lengthy prison terms. An exchange treaty with Panama has been signed and is pending ratification. The Department has submitted a draft proposal to the Peruvian Government and this draft is in its final stages of deliberation by the legislative and judicial bodies there. The Department has also entered into preliminary discussions with countries such as Thailand, West Germany, and Denmark, and is exploring the possibilities of utilizing the existing European convention as a potential vehicle for establishing transfer of sanctions agreements with several European countries at once. Posts abroad continue their efforts in areas such as conducting seminars for consular officers on the legal and judicial systems of the host country and preparing detailed fact sheets for distribution to new prisoners so that Americans arrested will at least have a fair idea of the type of judicial system with which they will be dealing. Certain posts are continuing to utilize the services of local attorneys on a contract basis to provide expertise and guidance in local law to United States consular officers. The Emergency Medical and Dietary Assistance Program continues to be a useful tool for consular officers abroad in their efforts to ensure that Americans incarcerated abroad have access to emergency medical treatment when needed and sufficient vitamins or other dietary supplements to maintain an adequate standard of health during incarceration. During the year the Department dropped its rigid requirement that all Americans imprisoned abroad be visited by a consular officer on a monthly basis. This decision was made partly because of the strain on Department resources but primarily because of a number of convicted prisoners in the more advanced nations who neither desire nor derive any measurable benefits from a monthly consular visit as opposed to a bi-monthly or quarterly visit. Each Ambassador or Chief of Mission was asked to survey the situation in each country, and to establish an appropriate visitation schedule. About 80 percent of our envoys decided to retain a policy of monthly visits, and in those areas where bi-monthly or quarterly visits were substituted, posts were instructed to devote as much of the manpower savings as necessary to more frequent visits during the arrest and interrogation stages, and greater attendence at trials and hearings. This slight shift in emphasis is both proper and important, particularly given the pattern of prisoner mistreatment discussed later in this report. The Department has continued its efforts to develop bilateral consular agreements, particularly with nations which have significant |
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