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Roberts Owen to Servce as Senior Federal Negotiator for Pacific Salmon Statement by James F. Foley, Deputy Spokesman, March 10, 1998.

The U.S. Department of State today announced the selection of Mr. Roberts Owen as Senior Federal Negotiator for Pacific Salmon. Mr. Owen and a team of negotiators representing the Governors of Alaska, Oregon and Washington, and the Treaty Indian tribes, will undertake the important task of attempting to resolve U.S.-Canadian differences concerning the Pacific Salmon Treaty. These negotiations will build upon the January 12, 1998, joint report on Pacific Salmon issued by U.S. Special Representative William Ruckelshaus and Canadian Special Representative David Strangway, and to expand upon the work done by the stakeholders last year.

Mr. Owen brings to the team considerable expertise in negotiations and dispute settlement. Mr. Owen, who served as Legal Adviser of the Department of State from 1979 to 1981, is Senior Counsel (retired) with the law firm of Covington and Burling. His substantial experience in dispute resolution includes his service as the Presiding Arbitrator for the Brcko Controversy in Bosnia-Herzegovina, his work with Richard Holbrooke during the 1995 Bosnia negotiations, and his work with Warren Christopher in the 1980-1981 hostage negotiations.