ACCESSION NUMBER:214009
FILE ID:PX-190
DATE:02/10/92
TITLE:EDITORIAL:  STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM  (450) (02/10/92)
TEXT:*92021001.TXT
*PXF190  02/10/92
EDITORIAL:  STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM  (450)
(Following is an editorial, broadcast by the Voice of America February 8,
reflecting the views of the U.S. government.)

The U.S. Commerce Department, with the assistance of the State
Department, recently sent its annual report to the U.S. Congress
identifying countries subject to export control legislation because of
their sponsorship of international terrorism.  U.S. law imposes trade and
other restrictions on any nation which "has repeatedly provided support for
acts of international terrorism."  This year's review of the list has been
completed, and the U.S. government has concluded that no changes are
warranted.  The nations on the list remain:  Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Cuba
and North Korea.

Iraq's most dramatic acts of terrorism in the past year and a half were its
barbarous invasion and occupation of Kuwait and its murder of thousands of
Iraqi Kurds, Shiites and others in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf war.
In addition, Iraq continues to be a haven for several terrorist groups.

In recent years, Iran has provided extensive support for terrorism, using
its intelligence services to facilitate and conduct terrorist attacks, as
well as assassinations of dissidents living in exile.  Iranian involvement
is suspected in the assassination of former Iranian Prime Minister Shahpur
Bakhtiar last August in France.  Iranian officials have also refused to
rescind the 1989 call for the murder of British author Salman Rushdie.

Despite the efforts of the international community, Libyan involvement in
terrorism remains extensive.  The most horrific act of Libyan-sponsored
terrorism was the 1988 murder of 270 persons in the bombing of Pan Am
flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.  Libya is also one of the largest
financiers of terrorists worldwide, and it continues to permit terrorist
groups, such as that of Abu Nidal, to operate at camps throughout the
country.

Syria has provided safe haven and support for a number of international
terrorist groups.  The Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine-General Command is one of several terrorist groups headquartered
in Damascus.  Terrorist groups have operated for many years from the
Syrian-controlled Bekaa Valley in Lebanon.

Cuba has a long history of providing training, weapons, funds and guidance
to radical groups that have carried out terrorist attacks throughout Latin
America.  North Korea also has provided support for terrorist groups.
1
State sponsorship remains one of the most important factors in fostering
international terrorism.  For this reason, the United States has focused on
raising the costs for those governments which support, tolerate or engage
in terrorism.  It is U.S. policy to hold any state sponsor accountable for
the mayhem and murder their terrorist clients commit.

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.