TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-209377
TITLE=SAF/U-S (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-S AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH AFRICA SAYS THE QUESTION OF POSSIBLE SOUTH AFRICAN ARMS SALES TO SYRIA IS, IN HIS WORDS, "A NON-ISSUE." V-O-A JOHANNESBURG CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS ENVOY JAMES JOSEPH SPOKE WITH REPORTERS AHEAD OF NEXT MONTH'S SCHEDULED VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA BY VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE.
TEXT: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH DENIES THE UNITED STATES WAS PUBLICLY BERATING OR THREATENING SOUTH AFRICA WHEN OFFICIALS WARNED EARLIER THIS MONTH THAT ANY ARMS SALES TO SYRIA COULD JEOPARDIZE FUTURE AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE.
MR. JOSEPH SAYS STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMEN, RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS, WERE MERELY ACKNOWLEDGING THE EXISTENCE OF U-S LAWS BARRING AID TO COUNTRIES SELLING WEAPONS TO ANY NATION ON THE U-S LIST OF ALLEGED STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM.
HE ALSO DENIES SOUTH AFRICA WAS BEING SINGLED OUT AMONG THE SEVERAL COUNTRIES REPORTEDLY IN THE RUNNING FOR THE SYRIAN ARMS DEAL, WHICH INVOLVES TANK FIRING SYSTEMS. HE SAYS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT ANY COUNTRY'S MILITARY DEALINGS WITH THE MIDDLE EAST STATE.
SOUTH AFRICAN OFFICIALS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA, REACTED ANGRILY TO THE AID CUT-OFF WARNING. THEY SAID NO COUNTRY, NO MATTER HOW POWERFUL, WOULD BE ALLOWED TO DICTATE TO SOUTH AFRICA.
MR. JOSEPH SAYS THE UNITED STATES SUPPORTS SOUTH AFRICA'S SOVEREIGNTY AS AN INDEPENDENT, SELF-GOVERNING NATION. HE SAYS TOO MANY AMERICANS FOUGHT TOO LONG FOR CHANGE IN SOUTH AFRICA TO UNDERMINE THE GOODWILL THAT NOW EXISTS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.
// REST OPTIONAL //
HE SAYS HE HAS BEEN REASSURED BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI THAT NO FINAL DECISION ON AN ARMS SALE TO SYRIA HAS BEEN MADE. SOUTH AFRICAN OFFICIALS ARE STILL HOLDING CONSULTATIONS, INCLUDING TALKS WITH U-S AUTHORITIES.
THE AMERICAN ENVOY DENIES U-S OFFICIALS HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THE POTENTIAL SALE BEFORE IT FIRST APPEARED IN SOUTH AFRICAN NEWS REPORTS. HE SAYS THERE HAD BEEN, WHAT HE TERMS, "WHAT-IF" DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN LOW-LEVEL U-S AND SOUTH AFRICAN OFFICIALS, BUT THESE WERE NOT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT SYRIA.
MR. JOSEPH'S COMMENTS COME AHEAD OF A SCHEDULED VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA NEXT MONTH BY U-S VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE, WHO WILL TAKE PART IN MEETINGS OF THE TWO COUNTRIES' BI-NATIONAL COMMISSION. THE PANEL, LED ON THE SOUTH AFRICAN SIDE BY MR. MBEKI, WILL CONSIDER VARIOUS ISSUES INVOLVING TRADE, SCIENCE, ENERGY, AGRICULTURE, THE ENVIRONMENT AND EDUCATION. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/PCF/MMK
29-Jan-97 10:23 AM EST (1523 UTC) NNNN
Source: Voice of America .
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