DATE=  11/4/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222173

TITLE=U-S-SUDAN SANCTIONS (L)

BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN

DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:



INTRO:  PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS IMPOSED COMPREHENSIVE NEW AMERICAN

ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN. RON PEMSTEIN

REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE PRESIDENT ACTED BEFORE THE

U-S CONGRESS PASSED SIMILAR LEGISLATION.



TEXT:  CONGRESS WAS READY TO PUNISH SUDAN WITH ITS OWN SANCTIONS

LEGISLATION, BUT PRESIDENT CLINTON DECIDED TO ACT FIRST TO BLOCK

SUDAN'S ASSETS IN THIS COUNTRY AND TO END 70 MILLION DOLLARS

WORTH OF TRADE AND MOST FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS WITH THE

GOVERNMENT IN KHARTOUM.



SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT ACCUSES SUDAN OF SPONSORING

INTERNATIONAL TERROR, OF TRYING TO DE-STABILIZE ITS NEIGHBORS AND

OF VIOLATING HUMAN RIGHTS, ESPECIALLY RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION.  THE

UNITED STATES ALREADY HAD RESTRICTED SOME EXPORTS TO SUDAN AND

LIMITED VISAS TO SUDANESE OFFICIALS.



THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS MORE COMPREHENSIVE SANCTIONS ARE

NEEDED.



                       ///ALBRIGHT ACT///



         WE TAKE THESE STEPS BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN HAS

         FAILED TO RESPOND TO REPEATED EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN, OR

         TO THE IMPOSITION OF LESSER SANCTIONS. INSTEAD, IT HAS

         EARNED INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION BY PERSISTING IN ITS

         OBJECTIONABLE POLICIES, CAUSING US TO CONCLUDE THAT MORE

         DRAMATIC ACTION IS REQUIRED.



                          //END ACT///



A SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL SAYS THE COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC

SANCTIONS ARE A LOGICAL EXTENSION OF THE AMERICAN EFFORT TO

INCREASE PRESSURE ON SUDAN. IN 1993, SUDAN WAS PLACED ON THE

STATE DEPARTMENT'S LIST OF SPONSORS OF TERRORISM. IN 1995, THE

UNITED STATES JOINED EGYPT AND ETHIOPIA IN ASKING FOR SANCTIONS

IN THE UNITED NATIONS BECAUSE SUDAN HARBORED FUGITIVES FROM THE

ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK.



HOWEVER, THE UNITED STATES FAILED TO GAIN WIDER INTERNATIONAL

SUPPORT FOR COMPREHENSIVE SANCTIONS AGAINST SUDAN, SO PRESIDENT

CLINTON HAS IMPOSED UNILATERAL AMERICAN MEASURES.  THE UNITED

STATES WILL MAINTAIN HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO SUDAN. THAT HAS

AMOUNTED TO 650 MILLION DOLLARS SINCE 1988.



THE ADMINISTRATION OPPOSED THE CONGRESSIONAL EFFORT TO LEGISLATE

SANCTIONS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT GIVE THE PRESIDENT A CHANCE TO

ISSUE WAIVERS.  SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT SAYS THE

ADMINISTRATION IS STOPPING AMERICAN INVESTMENTS IN SUDAN, BUT NOT

ALL TRADE, IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST.



                       ///ALBRIGHT ACT///



         THE PURPOSE OF THE SANCTIONS IS TO DEPRIVE THE REGIME IN

         KHARTOUM OF THE FINANCIAL AND MATERIAL BENEFITS OF U-S

         TRADE AND INVESTMENT, INCLUDING INVESTMENT IN SUDAN'S

         PETROLEUM SECTOR. TO ENSURE FLEXIBILITY THE

         ADMINISTRATION WILL CONSIDER ISSUING LISENSES ON A CASE

         BY CASE BASIS FOR ACTIVITIES THAT ARE IN THE U-S

         INTEREST.



                          ///END ACT///



THE STATE DEPARTMENT EXPECTS ONE OF THOSE ACTIVITIES TO BE GUM

ARABIC, 80 PERCENT OF THE AMERICAN SUPPLY COMES FROM SUDAN. THE

PRODUCT IS USED IN SOFT DRINKS, MEDICINE AND CANDY.  THAT

ACCOUNTS FOR NINE MILLION OF THE 20 MILLION DOLLARS THE UNITED

STATES IMPORTED FROM SUDAN BEFORE THE SANCTIONS.  (SIGNED)



NEB/RP/GKT/EH



04-Nov-97 4:22 PM EST (2122 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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