DATE=2/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S / CIVILIAN POLICE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259534
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton has ordered the State
Department to establish a new program that would train
civilian police for international peacekeeping
missions around the world. From the State Department,
V-O-A's Kyle King reports.
TEXT: The president's directive calls on the State
Department to be the lead agency in the training of
police for duty in places such as Kosovo and East
Timor.
The administration has asked Congress for 10-million
dollars to fund the effort, which will bring together
several U-S Government agencies.
The United States currently has about 700 civilian
police officers taking part in U-N peacekeeping
operations.
Under the new plan, that number would be about two-
thousand and the police would be trained ahead of time
so they could be deployed quickly to trouble spots.
Secretary of State Albright says U-N civilian police
can provide a sense of security and perform tasks that
heavily armed troops are not well trained to handle.
/// Albright Act ///
The international community needs to identify
and train units that are able to control crowds,
deter vigilante actions, prevent looting and
disarm civilian agitators, while at the same
time winning the trust of the communities where
they are deployed.
/// End Act ///
In addition to encouraging other countries to develop
similar programs, U-S officials are hoping for greater
coordination with the United Nations.
Officials say the goal is to develop training programs
that will get local police and criminal justice
systems functioning once stability has been restored
by peacekeeping forces. (Signed)
NEB/KBK/ENE/JP
24-Feb-2000 16:29 PM EDT (24-Feb-2000 2129 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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