DATE= 11/4/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222173
TITLE=U-S-SUDAN SANCTIONS (L)
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS IMPOSED COMPREHENSIVE NEW AMERICAN
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN. RON PEMSTEIN
REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE PRESIDENT ACTED BEFORE THE
U-S CONGRESS PASSED SIMILAR LEGISLATION.
TEXT: CONGRESS WAS READY TO PUNISH SUDAN WITH ITS OWN SANCTIONS
LEGISLATION, BUT PRESIDENT CLINTON DECIDED TO ACT FIRST TO BLOCK
SUDAN'S ASSETS IN THIS COUNTRY AND TO END 70 MILLION DOLLARS
WORTH OF TRADE AND MOST FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS WITH THE
GOVERNMENT IN KHARTOUM.
SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT ACCUSES SUDAN OF SPONSORING
INTERNATIONAL TERROR, OF TRYING TO DE-STABILIZE ITS NEIGHBORS AND
OF VIOLATING HUMAN RIGHTS, ESPECIALLY RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION. THE
UNITED STATES ALREADY HAD RESTRICTED SOME EXPORTS TO SUDAN AND
LIMITED VISAS TO SUDANESE OFFICIALS.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS MORE COMPREHENSIVE SANCTIONS ARE
NEEDED.
///ALBRIGHT ACT///
WE TAKE THESE STEPS BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN HAS
FAILED TO RESPOND TO REPEATED EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN, OR
TO THE IMPOSITION OF LESSER SANCTIONS. INSTEAD, IT HAS
EARNED INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION BY PERSISTING IN ITS
OBJECTIONABLE POLICIES, CAUSING US TO CONCLUDE THAT MORE
DRAMATIC ACTION IS REQUIRED.
//END ACT///
A SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL SAYS THE COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS ARE A LOGICAL EXTENSION OF THE AMERICAN EFFORT TO
INCREASE PRESSURE ON SUDAN. IN 1993, SUDAN WAS PLACED ON THE
STATE DEPARTMENT'S LIST OF SPONSORS OF TERRORISM. IN 1995, THE
UNITED STATES JOINED EGYPT AND ETHIOPIA IN ASKING FOR SANCTIONS
IN THE UNITED NATIONS BECAUSE SUDAN HARBORED FUGITIVES FROM THE
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK.
HOWEVER, THE UNITED STATES FAILED TO GAIN WIDER INTERNATIONAL
SUPPORT FOR COMPREHENSIVE SANCTIONS AGAINST SUDAN, SO PRESIDENT
CLINTON HAS IMPOSED UNILATERAL AMERICAN MEASURES. THE UNITED
STATES WILL MAINTAIN HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO SUDAN. THAT HAS
AMOUNTED TO 650 MILLION DOLLARS SINCE 1988.
THE ADMINISTRATION OPPOSED THE CONGRESSIONAL EFFORT TO LEGISLATE
SANCTIONS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT GIVE THE PRESIDENT A CHANCE TO
ISSUE WAIVERS. SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT SAYS THE
ADMINISTRATION IS STOPPING AMERICAN INVESTMENTS IN SUDAN, BUT NOT
ALL TRADE, IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST.
///ALBRIGHT ACT///
THE PURPOSE OF THE SANCTIONS IS TO DEPRIVE THE REGIME IN
KHARTOUM OF THE FINANCIAL AND MATERIAL BENEFITS OF U-S
TRADE AND INVESTMENT, INCLUDING INVESTMENT IN SUDAN'S
PETROLEUM SECTOR. TO ENSURE FLEXIBILITY THE
ADMINISTRATION WILL CONSIDER ISSUING LISENSES ON A CASE
BY CASE BASIS FOR ACTIVITIES THAT ARE IN THE U-S
INTEREST.
///END ACT///
THE STATE DEPARTMENT EXPECTS ONE OF THOSE ACTIVITIES TO BE GUM
ARABIC, 80 PERCENT OF THE AMERICAN SUPPLY COMES FROM SUDAN. THE
PRODUCT IS USED IN SOFT DRINKS, MEDICINE AND CANDY. THAT
ACCOUNTS FOR NINE MILLION OF THE 20 MILLION DOLLARS THE UNITED
STATES IMPORTED FROM SUDAN BEFORE THE SANCTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/GKT/EH
04-Nov-97 4:22 PM EST (2122 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
