DATE=4/3/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ISRAEL / LEBANON / U-S (L-UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-260899
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Defense Secretary William Cohen says he does
not expect the United States will deploy any soldiers
in southern Lebanon as part of an international
peacekeeping force, after Israel withdraws from the
area. As V-O-A Correspondent Meredith Buel reports
from Jerusalem, Mr. Cohen made the remarks during a
visit to Israel.
TEXT: After a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister
Ehud Barak, U-S Defense Secretary William Cohen said
the United States will not participate in the current
United Nations peacekeeping force in south Lebanon,
known as UNIFIL, when Israel withdraws from the
region.
/// 1ST COHEN ACT ///
No decision has been made about a United Nations
force on the border. I do not anticipate that
the United States would be a participant, should
there be such a UNIFIL.
/// END ACT ///
Prime Minster Barak told reporters he does not expect
the U-N force will be expanded significantly after the
Israeli pullback, which is scheduled to occur by July
of this year.
Mr. Barak also says he is "frustrated" by a lack of
progress in efforts to resume peace negotiations
between Israel and Syria, after a recent summit
between President Clinton and Syrian leader Hafez al-
Assad failed to achieve a breakthrough.
/// BARAK ACT ///
We mentioned that we were frustrated by the
Syrian response to the ideas raised by President
Clinton in Geneva. We did not close the door on
this track, but we are realistic enough to
understand that probabilities are quite low, as
of now, that negotiations will be resumed on the
Syrian track in the foreseeable future.
/// END ACT ///
Defense Secretary Cohen also spoke to Prime Minister
Barak about concerns that Israel plans to sell China
early-warning AWACS [pron: `AY-wax] radar aircraft,
which could pose a threat to Taiwan's air force.
/// 2ND COHEN ACT ///
The United States does not support the sale of
this type of technology to China, because of the
potential of changing the strategic balance in
that region. With tensions running as high as
they are between China and Taiwan, we see this
as being counterproductive.
/// END ACT ///
Prime Minister Barak says Israel is aware of U-S
opposition to sales of sophisticated arms to China,
but he stopped short of saying they will not proceed.
/// 2ND BARAK ACT ///
We are aware of the sensitivity in the United
States with regard to China. We, of course, are
aware of our commitments and contracts that we
have signed. We are aware of the need to
coordinate, to be in close coordination and
contact with the United States on every issue
that might risk American interests, especially
when it is clear the American people, the
American administration and the Congress is
traditionally the greatest ally of Israel. We
will take it into account.
/// END ACT ///
Chinese President Jiang Zemin is due to visit Israel
next week, and discussions regarding arms sales are
expected to be on the agenda. (Signed)
NEB/MB/GE/WTW
03-Apr-2000 14:53 PM EDT (03-Apr-2000 1853 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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