DATE=4/1/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229072
TITLE=CLINTON / PEACEKEEPING (L)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=DAKAR
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS OUTLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF
PEACEKEEPING IN AFRICA TO PREVENT THE OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE ON THE
CONTINENT. MR. CLINTON -- IN SENEGAL -- HIGHLIGHTED U-S PLANS
FOR AN ALL-AFRICAN PEACEKEEPING FORCE AFTER OBSERVING A TRAINING
EXERCISE WITH U-S AND SENEGALESE TROOPS. V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE
REPORTS.
TEXT: // MUSIC ACTUALITY //
SCORES OF TROOPS IN CAMOUFLAGE WATCHED AS MR. CLINTON --
ACCOMPANIED BY HIS SENEGALESE COUNTERPART PRESIDENT ABDOU DIOUF
-- OBSERVED U-S SPECIAL FORCES TRAINING SENEGALESE TROOPS AT A
DRY AND DUSTY MILITARY BASE AT THIES, 70 KILOMETERS EAST OF
DAKAR.
// OPT // A U-S SOLDIER DEMONSTRATED HOW A SENEGALESE SOLDIER
WOULD INSPECT A SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE AND ITS DRIVER -- MAKING CLEAR
THAT THE DRIVER WOULD BE TREATED 'WITH RESPECT' DURING THE
SEARCH. // END OPT //
IT IS ALL PART OF WHAT MR. CLINTON ENVISIONS AS AN ALL-AFRICAN
PEACEKEEPING FORCE, DUBBED THE 'AFRICAN CRISIS RESPONSE
INITIATIVE'.
THE PRESIDENT HOPES IT WILL PREVENT THE KIND OF GENOCIDE THAT
OCCURRED IN RWANDA IN 1994.
// CLINTON ACTUALITY //
TO MEET THE THREATS TO PEACE AND FREEDOM WE WILL FACE IN
THE 21ST CENTURY, WE MUST STRENGTHEN OUR RESOLVE IN THE
FACE OF HATRED AND VIOLENCE. WE MUST TELL THE
AGGRESSORS AND THOSE WHO TEAR SOCIETIES APART 'YOU WILL
NOT PREVAIL'. WE MUST PROVE THAT THE PEACEMAKERS ARE
GETTING STRONGER, AND ABOVE ALL WE MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT
THE PEACEMAKERS ARE WORKING TOGETHER.
// END ACT //
BUT THE INITIATIVE HAS COME UNDER CRITICISM FROM SOME WHO SEE IT
AS AN EXCUSE FOR THE UNITED STATES TO AVOID BECOMING ENGAGED IN
PROLONGED BLOODY CONFLICTS IN AFRICA.
SOUTH AFRICA, MEANWHILE, HAS SAID IT WOULD OPPOSE SUCH A FORCE IF
IT IS NOT LED BY AN AFRICAN.
MR. CLINTON RESPONDED TO THE CRITICS.
// CLINTON ACTUALITY //
OUR PURPOSE IS NOT TO DOMINATE SECURITY MATTERS IN
AFRICA OR TO ABANDON AMERICA'S ROLE IN AFRICA'S
SECURITY, BUT INSTEAD TO BUILD ON EXISTING EFFORTS,
INCLUDING THOSE OF AFRICAN NATIONS, THE ORGANIZATION OF
AFRICAN UNITY, THE UNITED NATIONS, FRANCE, BRITAIN AND
OTHERS TO STRENGTHEN THE CAPACITY FOR PRESERVING PEACE
HERE.
// END ACT //
THE PRESIDENT ALSO ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO ESTABLISH AN AFRICAN
CENTER FOR SECURITY STUDIES THAT WOULD OFFER PROGRAMS ON DEFENSE
POLICY PLANNING AND THE ROLE OF MILITARIES IN DEMOCRATIC
SOCIETIES.
MR. CLINTON PRAISED THE LEADING ROLE SENEGAL PLAYS IN
PEACEKEEPING AROUND THE WORLD, AND NOTED IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
AFRICAN NATIONS TO EMBRACE THE U-S PLAN FOR AN ALL-AFRICAN
PEACEKEEPING FORCE.
THE INITIATIVE ALSO HAS THE SUPPORT OF UGANDA, MALAWI, MALI AND
GHANA.
PRESIDENT DIOUF, IN TURN, THANKED MR. CLINTON FOR HIS ROLE IN
ASSISTING AFRICAN NATIONS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND PREVENTION.
(SIGNED
NEB/DAT/PLM
01-Apr-98 1:02 PM EST (1802 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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