DATE=10/27/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CONGRESS/NORTH KOREA AID (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-255532
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A new report on American aid to North Korea
is creating controversy in the U-S Congress. The
report was compiled by a team of government auditors
without political ties. But as V-O-A's Paula Wolfson
tells us, it has ignited a partisan debate in the
House of Representatives.
TEXT: The General Accounting Office regularly
researches issues for Congress. The G-A-O staff
usually gets high praise for its independent analysis.
But the reviews of its report on aid to North Korea
are mixed at best.
The report says the North Korean government has too
many constraints on shipments of U-S aid, which enter
the country through the U-N's World Food Program. The
researchers stress monitoring is insufficient, and it
is difficult to account for aid shipments once they
reach North Korea.
Benjamin Nelson led the research team.
/// NELSON ACT ///
The W-F-P under current conditions cannot
provide assurance that the food is being stored
and used as planned.
/// END ACT ///
The study was requested by the Chairman of the House
International Relations Committee, Republican Benjamin
Gilman of New York. Mr. Gilman - a strong critic of
the Clinton Administration's Korea policy - embraced
the findings.
/// GILMAN ACT ///
North Korea continues to hold out one hand for
aid, while in the other hand it holds a gun.
This has resulted in a very successful cycle of
political blackmail and extortion within the
international community.
///END ACT///
But the report angered Tony Hall. The usually mild-
mannered Democrat from Ohio is known as the strongest
advocate of food aid in Congress. He was so concerned
about the General Accounting Office study that he
requested an appearance before the (International
Relations) Committee to present his own views.
/// FIRST HALL ACT ///
Their report is biased. It is not accurate.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Hall has traveled to North Korea five times in the
last three years. He said food is getting to those in
need. And he made clear he fears the G-A-O report will
push Congress to put restrictions on the aid program.
/// SECOND HALL ACT ///
If conditions in North Korea or any desperate
place were perfect enough to get the G-A-O seal
of approval, there would be no famine there in
the first place. It's never open and
transparent societies that are the ones in
trouble. They can always feed themselves. It's
other places like Ethiopia and Somalia and North
Korea and Sudan.
/// END ACT ///
Congressman Hall said the G-A-O report is based on
second hand information, and the researchers never
traveled to North Korea for a personal look at the
situation. The G-A-O's Benjamin Nelson said they
applied for visas, but were turned down by the North
Korean government. (Signed)
NEB/PW/LTD/gm
27-Oct-1999 13:51 PM EDT (27-Oct-1999 1751 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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