DATE=12/16/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-U-S COMPENSATION UPDATE (L)
NUMBER=2-257208
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United States and China have reached an
agreement on compensation for property damage, caused
when NATO bombs hit the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia
in May. V-O-A's Stephanie Ho reports from Beijing,
the United States will also receive compensation for
damage to U-S diplomatic buildings in China, that
occurred during the angry demonstrations following the
bombing.
TEXT: U-S State Department Legal Adviser David Andrews
says the agreement is the result of an exhaustive
review that stretched over five meetings in more than
six months. The American official says both sides
consider the final settlement to be fair.
// ANDREWS ACT //
We will seek funding in Congress so that we can
provide 28-million dollars for damages to the Chinese
embassy in Belgrade. The Chinese have agreed to pay
for damage to U-S facilities in China in the amount of
two-point-87 million dollars.
// END ACT //
He adds the funds will be included in the White
House's budget request for 2001, and expressed
optimism that the U-S Congress would approve it.
Three people were killed and 27 others wounded, when
NATO bombs struck the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia.
Immediately afterwards, tens of thousands of Chinese
protested by throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at
the U-S embassy in Beijing and American diplomatic
missions in four other Chinese cities.
Several months ago, Washington agreed to pay four-and-
one half million dollars in humanitarian compensation
to the families of those killed in the Belgrade
bombing and to the injured. Thursday's deal on the
property damage closes out the issue of compensation.
But the monetary settlement does not signal an end to
the incident.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue,
speaking through an interpreter, says China is still
waiting for what she says are more satisfactory
answers.
// ZHANG INTERPRETER ACT //
As far as I know, some U-S officials have promised to
China that the U-S side will continue the
investigation into the incident and will report to the
Chinese side on the outcome of the investigation at an
appropriate time.
// END ACT //
The United States has said the bombing was a tragic
accident, resulting from faulty intelligence.
Meanwhile, Ms. Zhang rejected suggestions that the
Chinese compensation payment to the United States is
Beijing's acknowledgement that it did not adequately
protect U-S diplomatic facilities in China.
// ZHANG INTERPRETER ACT //
The Chinese people expressed their indignation and
protest, lodged a protest. And, actually, at that
moment the Chinese side made tremendous efforts to
protect the foreign diplomatic missions from being
damaged, but some problems occurred at that moment.
// REST OP //
State-run Chinese media reported the U-S agreement to
compensate China, but did not report the Chinese
compensation to the United States.
Thursday's deal came one day after the new U-S
ambassador to China, James Prueher, presented his
credentials to Chinese President Jiang Zemin.
(signed)
NEB/HO/GC
16-Dec-1999 06:16 AM EDT (16-Dec-1999 1116 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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