DATE=5/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON - SIERRA LEONE (L)
NUMBER=2-262254
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Clinton administration is warning rebels
in Sierra Leone that the world community is serious
about reinforcing the U-N peacekeeping presence and
stabilizing the situation in the West African country.
The comments followed a telephone conversation between
President Clinton and U-N Secretary-General Kofi
Annan. V-O-A's David Gollust reports from the White
House.
TEXT: Administration officials say the president
reiterated to Mr. Annan the United States' readiness
to do whatever is necessary to help reinforce the
beleaguered U-N peacekeeping contingent.
White House National Security Council spokesman P-J
Crowley says a U-S Air Force C-17 transport plane is
in Jordan and will fly Jordanian special forces troops
and equipment to Sierra Leone in 48 hours.
He says additional U-S airlifts of Indian,
Bangladeshi, and more Jordanian troops will follow
over the next two weeks and that rebels of the
Revolutionary United Front, the R-U-F -- who are
menacing the capital Freetown -- would be well-advised
to take notice.
/// FIRST CROWLEY ACTUALITY ///
It should send a clear signal to the R-U-F that
this mission is going to be reinforced, that the
U-N is serious about stabilizing the situation
and bringing additional capabilities to try to
get Sierra Leone back towards the peace process.
/// END ACT ///
The spokesman said the United States also has a
military logistics team in Nigeria helping coordinate
the reinforcement effort, though the administration
has ruled out sending U-S ground troops to Sierra
Leone.
Under questioning, Mr. Crowley rejected the notion the
current crisis was at least partly a result of U-S
neglect of African problems.
He said while critics are often "fixated" on troop
commitments, diplomatic engagement is equally
important and that the administration is heavily
involved in African conflict-resolution.
/// SECOND CROWLEY ACTUALITY ///
We haven't let anything slide. We are deeply
engaged in various conflicts that are underway
in Africa. For example, Ambassador (Richard)
Holbrooke is currently in the region seeing what
we can do to prevent a conflict between Ethiopia
and Eritrea. We have a deep engagement with
Rwanda and Uganda, for example, as their forces
seem to be - we hope - ready to disengage from a
conflict that is currently raging outside
Kisangani.
/// END ACT ///
Russia, Canada and the Netherlands have also offered
airlift support to reinforce the Sierra Leone
peacekeeping operation.
The envisaged reinforcements by the end of the month
would bring the largely-African U-N force - which now
numbers less than nine thousand - close to its
authorized ceiling of just under 12-thousand troops.
(Signed)
NEB/DAG/gm
11-May-2000 17:26 PM EDT (11-May-2000 2126 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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