DATE=5/23/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SENATE-SIERRA LEONE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262719
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Clinton administration and Congress are at
odds [EDS: disagreeing] again over money for United
Nations peacekeeping operations. Though centered on
Sierra Leone, the dispute is delaying funds for other
regions and causing concern at U-N headquarters. V-O-
A's David Swan has details.
TEXT: Republican Senator Judd Gregg, chairman of a
subcommittee that oversees the foreign affairs budget,
is standing firm in his decision to hold up the money.
Mr. Gregg is blocking the release of funds to support
four peacekeeping missions -- in Sierra Leone, Congo,
Kosovo and East Timor.
On the Senate floor (Tuesday), Mr. Gregg said he is
not isolationist or opposed to all peacekeeping, but
is concerned about how these dollars would be spent.
/// Gregg Act ///
American taxpayers have to ask themselves, "Why
are we spending money -- why would we want to
spend money to support, encourage and endorse
people who are essentially criminals?"
/// End Act ///
By criminals, the senator means the rebels in Sierra
Leone. He was angered by the administration's support
for the peace plan that brought them into the
government in hopes of ending the nation's long civil
war. Mr. Gregg says the United States was giving in
to forces that killed and brutalized innocent people.
/// Gregg Act ///
The policy being pursued in Sierra Leone was
misdirected from the start. We shouldn't have
been making peace -- we should not have been
bringing into the government people who acted in
such a barbaric way toward their own people. We
should have been taking a much harder line.
/// End Act ///
The rebels subsequently reneged, refused to disarm and
took hundreds of U-N soldiers hostage. The senator's
office and the State Department disagree over how much
money (for U-N peacekeeping) is involved, but say the
figure is in the range of 225-million to 300-million
dollars. The sides have been trying for months to
settle their differences. Meanwhile, department
spokesman Richard Boucher says the senator's action is
hurting both the United States and United Nations.
/// Boucher Act ///
The major holds are on (funds for) Sierra Leone,
Kosovo, East Timor and the Congo. And as a
result the United Nations either has to defer
payments to nations that are providing
peacekeepers or skimp in some other area.
Either way it damages U-N peacekeeping.
/// End Act ///
U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan has echoed the
statement, warning the situation could hamper and
disrupt the world body's activities. U-N officials
are hoping other lawmakers will step in and pry loose
at least some of the money. (Signed)
NEB/DS/JP
23-May-2000 17:15 PM EDT (23-May-2000 2115 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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