ACCESSION NUMBER:308266

FILE ID:POL301

DATE:10/20/93

TITLE:ALBRIGHT: PEACEKEEPING TROOPS TO BE TIED TO U.S. INTERESTS (10/20/93)

TEXT:*93102001.POL

ALBRIGHT: PEACEKEEPING TROOPS TO BE TIED TO U.S. INTERESTS



(But U.S. supports improvement of U.N. capabilities)  (550)

By Paul Malamud

USIA Staff Writer

Washington -- The Clinton administration will be unlikely to commit

substantial numbers of troops to future U.N. peacekeeping operations unless

the United States has vital interests at stake, says Madeleine Albright,

U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations.



But the administration wants to work with the world organization to help

build up its peacekeeping capacity in the long run, the difficulties of the

Somalia operation notwithstanding, Albright told the Senate Foreign

Relations Committee October 20.



"Where it is in our interests," she said, the United States "should support

and sometimes participate in well-planned U.N. peace operations."  However,

she anticipated that "the U.S. contribution to such operations will most

often be in areas such as logistics, intelligence, public affairs and

communications, rather than combat."



When "large-scale or high-risk operations are contemplated, and American

involvement is necessary," Albright said, "we will be unlikely to accept

U.N. leadership."



Instead, she said, "we will ordinarily rely on our own resources, or those

of a regional alliance such as NATO, or an appropriate coalition such as

that assembled during Operation Desert Storm."



While Albright acknowledged that "American interests dictate that we remain

active and engaged on the world stage," she added, "Current U.N.

peacekeeping capacities and decision-making procedures are not adequate and

must be strengthened."



She said the U.S. share of U.N. peacekeeping expenses should be reduced and

noted, "We now pay more than 30 percent under a scale of assessments that

1as not changed in 20 years."



Albright said "the changing nature of U.N. peace operations has led us into

uncharted territory," but she conceded that the United States should

provide "appropriate levels of personnel, technical assistance and

equipment (credited against our assessment) to improve the management and

improve the effectiveness of U.N. peacekeeping capabilities."



U.N. Secretary General Boutros-Ghali is attempting to improve peacekeeping

capabilities, and the United States supports his effort, she said, but

added that the administration is "very concerned about...what looks like a

growth industry in peacekeeping" by the United Nations.



In the future, she emphasized, "We are not likely to have American troops in

most of these peacekeeping operations except where U.S. vital interests are

involved."



Albright warned against U.S. withdrawal from world affairs, noting that "an

overriding objective of American foreign policy" has to be a "vibrant

economy" in a "functional international system."  She said it is "essential

for us to have a dialogue with the American people about how we fit into

the world."



U.S. special envoy to Somalia Robert Oakley has made a "successful" effort

to "kick-start the negotiating process" there, Albright said, and "it is

our optimistic sense at the moment" that the peace process is "moving

forward."  She pointed out, however, that the administration "intends to

maintain military pressure" on disruptive Somali clan factions.



Asked about "nation-building" as a goal, she said "None of us believes that

we can build a nation for anybody....People in that nation have to do it

for themselves" with appropriate international assistance.



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