DATE=9/13/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON -INDONESIA (L WRAP)
NUMBER=2-253795
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=AUCKLAND
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S officials say hundreds of American troops
are expected to be involved in a U-N peacekeeping
operation in East Timor that will help restore order
and implement an independence referendum.
Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from Auckland, New
Zealand, where President Clinton is traveling.
Text: National Security Advisor Sandy Berger offered
the first indication of the scope of U.S.
participation in the Australian-led peacekeeping
mission.
// BERGER ACTUALITY //
We are talking about hundreds, not thousands, of
Americans that would be involved, and not
necessarily all of those would be based in East
Timor.
// END ACT //
U-S troops would not have a combat role, but would
provide logistical support -- transporting troops, and
providing communications and intelligence. Details
are yet to be worked out.
Mr. Berger says he hopes the force would be deployed
in East Timor in a matter of days.
He estimates there are about 200-thousand displaced
people in the territory, and says many are not close
to food distribution points. He says a U-N
Development Program ship is heading toward East Timor
with supplies.
// BERGER ACTUALITY //
There is not only a need to restore stability,
but the need to provide humanitarian assistance,
and therefore, I think there is a sense of
urgency about this.
// END ACT //
That sense of urgency was underscored (Monday) to
President Clinton by East Timorese independence
activist Jose Ramos Horta. The Nobel Peace Prize
winner expressed concerns about continued violence in
the territory unless peacekeepers are mobilized
quickly. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/RAE
13-Sep-1999 06:52 AM LOC (13-Sep-1999 1052 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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