DATE=7/6/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-43811
TITLE=U-S / TALEBAN SANCTIONS
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=STATE DEPT.
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS IMPOSED ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST
AFGHANISTAN'S TALEBAN, ACCUSING THE GROUP OF SUPPORT FOR OSAMA
BIN LADEN -- THE SAUDI MAN WHO THE UNITED STATES SAYS WAS BEHIND
LAST YEAR'S BOMBINGS OF TWO U-S EMBASSIES IN AFRICA. V-O-A'S GIL
BUTLER TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DECISION.
TEXT: THE SANCTIONS FORBID ANY DIRECT U-S BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS
OR TRADE WITH THE TALEBAN. THERE IS CURRENTLY ONLY ABOUT
24-MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN TRADE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND
AREAS OF AFGHANISTAN CONTROLLED BY THE TALEBAN -- THE COUNTRY'S
DOMINANT POLITICAL AND MILITARY FACTION.
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY SAYS WHILE THE AMOUNT OF
TRADE MAY NOT BE GREAT, THE DECISION TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS
AGAINST THE TALEBAN IS IMPORTANT.
/// FOLEY ACT ///
WHATEVER THE CONCRETE IMPACT, THIS SENDS AN UNAMBIGUOUS
MESSAGE OF THE COMMITMENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO TAKE
ACTION AGAINST THOSE WHO SHELTER INTERNATIONAL
TERRORISTS LIKE BIN LADEN AND (IT) WILL HELP TO FURTHER
ISOLATE THE TALEBAN INTERNATIONALLY.
/// END ACT ///
PRESIDENT CLINTON TOOK THE ACTION ON GROUNDS THAT BY HARBORING
OSAMA BIN LADEN, THE TALEBAN CONSTITUTES A THREAT TO THE NATIONAL
SECURITY INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES.
U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY BELIEVE THE BIN LADEN ORGANIZATION IS
STILL INSIDE TALEBAN-CONTROLLED TERRITORY. THE STATE DEPARTMENT
SAYS OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TERRORIST BOMBINGS
OF AMERICAN EMBASSIES IN TANZANIA AND KENYA LAST YEAR THAT KILLED
MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE -- AND THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN PLOTTING
FURTHER EMBASSY ATTACKS.
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY, IN ADDITION TO GIVING SAFE
HAVEN TO A TERRORIST GROUP, THE TALEBAN FACTION CONTINUES TO
ABUSE HUMAN RIGHTS -- ESPECIALLY IN ITS TREATMENT OF WOMEN AND
GIRLS -- AND THAT IT IS INVOLVED IN NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING.
SPOKESMAN FOLEY SAYS THE TALEBAN HAS PLACED ITSELF OUTSIDE
INTERNATIONAL NORMS OF BEHAVIOR.
/// FOLEY ACT ///
THIS IS A GROUP THAT ASPIRES TO INTERNATIONAL
LEGITIMACY, TO ACCEPTANCE, TO PLAYING A RECOGNIZED,
LEGITIMATE PART IN AFGANISTAN'S POLITICAL FUTURE. AND
WE ARE STATING HERE VERY CLEARLY TODAY THAT, BASED ON
THEIR ACTIONS SO FAR, THEY ARE BEYOND THE PALE (BEYOND
ACCEPTED STANDARDS) THEY ARE NOT ACTING IN A WAY THAT
ALLOWS THEM TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT INTERNATIONALLY.
/// END ACT ///
/// OPT /// ONE OF THE EXAMPLES STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS GIVE
OF HOW INTERNATIONAL ISOLATION IS AFFECTING THE GROUP IS THE
NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE TALEBAN'S EFFORTS TO TAKE OVER
AFGHANISTAN'S UNITED NATIONS SEAT. /// END OPT ///
THE SANCTIONS ANNOUNCED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON TUESDAY DO NOT
EXTEND TO HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS OR THE CLEARING OF LAND MINES.
THE SANCTIONS, HOWEVER, DO AFFECT PLANNED BUSINESS CONTRACTS,
SUCH AS TELEPHONE SYSTEMS AND PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION.
U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE TO MEET WITH TALEBAN
REPRESENTATIVES.
BUT THE STATE DEPARTMENT PUT THE ISSUE FACING THE TALEBAN FACTION
IN PLAIN, "EITHER / OR" TERMS: IT CAN HARBOR OSAMA BIN LADEN AND
LIVE WITH THE U-S SANCTIONS -- OR IT CAN STOP HARBORING HIM AND
SEE THE SANCTIONS REVERSED. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/RRM
06-Jul-99 4:47 PM EDT (2047 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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