Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=6/4/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233382
TITLE=CLINTON / CHINA (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL BE OFFICIALLY
WELCOMED TO CHINA IN CEREMONIES AT TIANANMEN SQUARE DESPITE 
CRITICISM FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS. 
V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT:  CRITICS ARE UPSET AT THE SYMBOLISM OF AN OFFICIAL WELCOME 
FOR MR. CLINTON AT THE SCENE OF THE CHINA'S 1989 MASSACRE OF 
STUDENT PROTESTORS.
BUT SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAYS THE CEREMONY AT THE GREAT HALL OF
THE PEOPLE ON THE EDGE OF THE VAST TIANANMEN SQUARE IS STANDARD 
PROTOCOL FOR OFFICIAL VISITORS -- AND SOMETHING MR. CLINTON MUST 
ACCEPT IF HE WANTS TO ADVANCE AN ALREADY-PRODUCTIVE DIALOGUE WITH
CHINA ON HUMAN RIGHTS: 
                     ///MCCURRY ACTUALITY///
         THE SYMBOLIC IMPORTANCE OF THE EVENTS IN TIANANMEN 
         SQUARE IN JUNE OF 1989 WILL NEVER BE LOST ON THIS 
         GOVERNMENT. AND IN INDEED WE HAVE ADDRESSED THEM MANY, 
         MANY TIMES. BUT THE VALUE AND UTILITY OF ENGAGING THAT 
         GOVERNMENT AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS, AND EXCHANGING STATE 
         VISITS, HAS LED TO EXACTLY THE KIND OF PROGRESS THAT ONE
         WOULD PRESUME THAT THESE CRITICS WOULD WANT TO SEE. SO 
         WE FIND A LITTLE HARD TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THE 
         LOGIC BEHIND SOME OF THE CRITICISM, THOUGH WE CERTAINLY 
         UNDERSTAND THE EMOTION.
     ///END ACT///                                          
MR. MCCURRY NOTED THAT A SUCCESSION OF RECENT CHINA VISITORS 
INCLUDING FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC AND PRIME MINISTERS 
RYUTARO HASHIMOTO OF JAPAN AND BENJAMIN NETANYAHU OF ISRAEL HAVE 
ALL BEEN GREETED AT THE SQUARE.
WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS HAD HINTED THAT CLINTON NATIONAL SECURITY 
ADVISOR SANDY BERGER WAS TO HAVE RAISED A CHANGE OF VENUE FOR THE
CEREMONY DURING HIS VISIT TO CHINA EARLIER THIS WEEK.
SPOKESMAN MCCURRY, HOWEVER, SAID THERE HAD BEEN NO EXTENSIVE 
DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUE AND THAT MR. BERGER'S MEETINGS FOCUSSED 
ON THE AGENDA FOR THE CLINTON VISIT -- INCLUDING HUMAN RIGHTS BUT
ALSO THE SOUTH ASIAN NUCLEAR CRISIS AND OTHER NON-PROLIFERATION 
ISSUES.
MR. CLINTON GOES TO BEIJING FOR THE JUNE 27TH OFFICIAL GREETING 
AFTER OPENING THE TEN-DAY CHINA TRIP WITH A VISIT TO THE CENTRAL 
CITY OF XIAN.  IT IS THE FIRST CHINA VISIT BY A U-S PRESIDENT 
SINCE THE 1989 CRACKDOWN AND A FOLLOW-UP TO PRESIDENT JIANG 
ZEMIN'S WASHINGTON VISIT LAST OCTOBER. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/JO
04-Jun-98 4:58 PM EDT (2058 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.